The Zimbabwe Situation

http://www.iol.co.za

May 6 2012 at 01:43pm
By SAPA

Harare - Zimbabwe will send government ministers this week to hold talks
with European Union officials over sanctions slapped on President Robert
Mugabe and his circle a decade ago, state media said on Sunday.

“We have confirmed the meeting and the ministers will leave on Tuesday” for
Brussels, foreign affairs secretary Joey Bimha told the state-owned Sunday
Mail newspaper.

He said the officials were travelling at the EU's invitation and would meet
with Catherine Ashton, EU foreign affairs chief and vice president of the
European Commission.

Six ministers from the three main political parties in the coalition
government of Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will attend, the
Sunday Mail said.

The paper quoted Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa saying the Zimbabwe
delegation's objective is to push for the removal of sanctions on Mugabe and
top officials in his Zanu-PF party.

“Our position is that the sanctions should be removed unconditionally and
that is what we are going to take to the table,” Chinamasa said.

“We are happy that they have invited us and we pray that the goodwill they
have shown in inviting us will also be extended in removing the embargo.”

The 27-nation EU removed a visa ban and asset freeze on 51individuals in
February to encourage “further progress” of political reforms in Zimbabwe.

It also suspended the travel ban on Chinamasa and Foreign Affairs Minister
Simbarashe Mumbengegwi so they could travel to Brussels for talks, but
maintained asset freezes against them.

But 112 people are still subject to the measures.

Human Rights Watch had urged the EU to maintain the travel ban and asset
freeze on Mugabe until the country follows through on promised political
reforms.

The EU sanctions were imposed in 2002 following elections marred by
widespread violence and intimidation.

Mugabe, who is 88, has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980.

After failed elections in 2008, he was forced into a power-sharing
government with his rival Tsvangirai, a move meant to clear the way to new
polls. - Sapa-AFP

Mugabe calls for make or break emergency Politburo summit

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By JAMA MAJOLA 21 hours 5 minutes ago

EMBATTLED Zanu-PF, which has dominated Zimbabwean politics for 32 years,
will hold an emergency politburo meeting in two weeks' time to tackle
intensifying factionalism and infighting which is now spreading like a veld
fire within its ranks.

The meeting is expected to be explosive given President Robert Mugabe's
growing anger at the escalating internal strife which is being fuelled by
the succession battle.

The divisions and wrangling have left the party fractured and weak ahead of
crucial elections which Mugabe insists will be held this year.

The veteran ruler's viability as the Zanu-PF candidate in the next polls is
increasingly becoming uncertain, due to old age and ill-health.

There are fears that he might not withstand the rigours of a tough campaign,
with reports of several recent incidents in which he reportedly lost his
balance and almost fell.

As a result aides have now reportedly been instructed to stick close to him
just in case he falls, especially during strenuous events or when he is
going up and down steps.

The latest incident was reportedly in front of a huge crowd of Zanu-PF
supporters at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on April 27
where the president was again rescued by his security aides. Zanu-PF had
ferried supporters to the trade fair to give the impression to international
exhibitors and visitors that Mugabe was still popular.

Mugabe's health condition and the uncertainty surrounding his availability
or effectiveness - particularly if elections are held next year - is partly
fuelling factionalism and growing succession fights.

The party's main factions are grouped around Vice-President Joyce Mujuru and
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The infighting flared up recently during ongoing district elections.

Bickering is also playing out within the constitution-making process, where
rival camps are battling to outmanoeuvre each other in order to position
themselves to produce a successor to Mugabe.

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo confirmed the party's politburo had received
a report from secretary for the commissariat Webster Shamu on factionalism
and infighting during its meeting on Thursday.

Gumbo also confirmed that the politburo would meet soon to confront
heightening internal power struggles.

Fireworks are expected at the next politburo meeting, given Mugabe's fury
over faction leaders and their succession clashes ahead of the crucial
elections.

On Friday Mugabe vented his anger over factionalism on mourners at the
Heroes Acre during the burial of politburo member Edson Ncube, who died at
Mpilo hospital in Bulawayo last Sunday.

He said divisions and greed were threatening the survival of the party ahead
of elections he is pushing for this year.

Mugabe told mourners that Zanu-PF leaders had become "too materialistic" and
were fighting each other for top posts ahead of elections to protect their
selfish interests, while weakening the party.

He said bitter factionalism was rampant mainly during internal elections. He
condemned vote-buying and rigging of elections, for which Zanu-PF is now
notorious.

"It is bad to do that, you are not a leader if you do it and if you buy
votes," Mugabe said. "The leadership needs transforming. We have become too
materialistic and that is going to destroy the party."

Fears abound that Zanu-PF will disintegrate along regional and ethnic fault
lines when Mugabe dies - as happened with other former liberation movements
in Africa.

Mugabe's remarks set the tone for the next politburo meeting which is
expected to be volatile, given the tensions in the party. Already, outspoken
Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo has lambasted faction leaders, saying
they are just pursuing self-aggrandising agendas because their groups have
failed to define what they stand for in ideological and policy terms. -
timeslive

Sata gives Mugabe $42.5m worth of Maize for campaigns

http://www.zambianwatchdog.com/?p=34478

May 6, 2012 |

The truth is beginning to emerge on the 300, 000 metric tonnes of maize worth US$42.5 million which the Food Reserve Agency is sending to Zimbabwe.

A Zimbabwean newspaper, the Zimbabwean Mail, reports that FRA has signed a US$42.5 million contract with a shadowy Zimbabwean company linked to State Security agency CIO, Sakunda Trading of Zimbabwe for the sale of 300, 000 metric tonnes of maize in a deal believed to be a secret pact between President Mugabe and his Zambian counter-part Michael Sata.

Last week Sata visited Zimbabwe on an official engagement and sources said he pledged his backing for Robert Mugabe re-election by providing him with maize for campaign in the countryside.

FRA public relations officer Mwamba Siame said in a statement issued in Lusaka that the sale of the 300,000 metric tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe will reduce the surplus stock kept by the agency to 330, 435 metric tonnes.

In Zimbabwe, maize procurement is supposed to be carried out through the State Company, the Grain Marketing Board, GMB and paid by the Ministry of Finance and sources said the deal has been financed by a diamond company Mbada Private Limited which is run by a cabal of military and Zanu-PF officials.

On its website Sakunda says it is an Energy company, and claims its largest supplier of liquid fuels and other petrochemicals, and business of providing energy solutions that which it says keep the wheels of industry and the economy turning.

Sources said the company is linked to high-level Zanu-PF leaders.

Zimbabwe already owes Zambia millions of US Dollars but has failed to pay.

In November 2011, the Zimbabwean government finally agreed to clear its long- outstanding debt of about $260 million owed to Zambia for the shared Kariba Dam infrastructure the country inherited at independence.
However, energy minister Elton Mangoma said the country had no capacity to settle the 30-year-old debt.

“We discussed and agreed that the interest would no longer be paid but only $70,8 million plus the initial evaluation of $70,8 million,” he said.

“It was agreed interest should be written off but the capital amount should be paid within 3 years, but Zimbabwe does not have the capacity to pay,” Mangoma said.

So does Zimbabwe have the USD 40 million to immediately pay for the maize or that was another donation by president Michael Sata?

Time will tell.

Western Election Observers Will Never Recognise Mugabe Victory - Gumbo

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, 06 May, 2012- Zanu-PF will block attempts to bring European Union
(EU) election observers to monitor oncoming polls as they will never
recognise President Robert Mugabe and his party’s victory since they support
the opposition, party spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo has said.

Gumbo said Zanu-PF does not have any problems having election observers from
United Nations (UN), Asia, the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), African Union and countries form BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa).
“They (Western and EU) have preconceived ideas about Zanu-PF and will never
recognise a victory by our leader and Zanu-PF. Such observers will sham a
Zanu-PF victory because they are on the side of our rivals.
“We cannot have institutions that want to see our downfall assisting us or
monitoring us. They imposed sanctions on us and they have been pushing for
our ouster and for that they will not be fair in judging our elections after
we win,” Gumbo said in an interview.
Britain and other EU countries as well as the US imposed targeted sanctions
on Mugabe and his inner circle after he controversially beat then opposition
leader and now Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in the 2002 president
elections.
Mugabe has called for elections to be held this year saying the coalition
government formed in 2009 had failed.
The MDC’s and the civic society have however insisted on electoral reforms
before elections to ensure free and fair voting.

Biti hits out at Zuma over credit, trade

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

06/05/2012 00:00:00
by Wonai Masvingise I NewsDay

SOUTH Africa is not keen on fulfilling a R1,5 billion line of credit
facility promised by former President Thabo Mbeki, Finance Minister Tendai
Biti has said.

Biti, who is also MDC-T secretary-general, also accused the neighbouring
country of putting up barriers and hindering Zimbabwe from joining the rand
monetary union (RMU).

He said Pretoria had become hostile to Zimbabwe after President Jacob Zuma’s
ascendancy to power.

The finance minister also said South Africa’s trade policy had become
hostile to Zimbabwe after Zuma’s rise to power.

“The bottom line is they do not want to see us,” Biti said. “Have you asked
yourself what Zuma has done for this country since he got into
power?Nothing!

"In March 2009 we were promised R500 million, but we have not been given
that money. If you speak to (Industry and Commerce minister) Welshman Ncube
he will tell you more on this.”

But Ncube said South Africa had only promised R60 million split equally into
a grant and lines of credit.

“As I recall, there were two tranches, one was a R30 million line of credit
and the other was a R30 million grant,” he said.

“I know the R30 million grant was paid, but I am not sure how far the
Finance ministry has gone with the line of credit.”

The MDC leader also dismissed Biti’s assertion that South Africa’s trade
policy towards Zimbabwe had changed during Zuma’s tenure.

“There is no change,” Ncube said. “The policy framework has not changed from
the time that Mbeki was there to now.”

Biti also hit back at critics accusing him of delaying the adoption of the
rand as Zimbabwe’s currency.

He said Zimbabwe did not meet the criteria required for a country to join
the RMU.

The RMU is a monetary union made up of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and
Namibia.

“South Africa right now has put up barriers and we cannot join the rand
monetary union,” he said. “Zuma has yet to consent to that. There are
certain requirements that a country needs to meet before it can join the
monetary union.

“Sadc protocol requires that inflation must be below 7% and in this regard
we are fine, but the problem comes in on our debts and that is where we are
not in compliance,” Biti added.

Zanu-PF throws out Copac draft

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

JAMA MAJOLA 21 hours 22 minutes ago

Zanu-PF has rejected the controversial draft constitution compiled by the
select Committee of Parliament on the Constitution (Copac) which strips
President Robert Mugabe of his vast executive powers.

The draft, which initially proposed to bar Mugabe from running for
re-election on the grounds of his age and term limits, has caused turmoil
across the parties involved amid hotly disputed issues threatening to
collapse the process and the unity government.

Zanu-PF threw out the draft at its politburo meeting on Thursday after its
point man in the process, Paul Mangwana, presented a report saying they were
about to resolve remaining issues and finish the draft to be presented to
the Global Political Agreement (GPA) principals.

Mangwana confirmed the politburo meeting had rejected the draft, giving
Copac a deadline for next week to come up with a final document for Mugabe,
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
"I updated the politburo on behalf of Copac on the progress we have made. We
have now come up with the first draft and we have agreed on it, as the
select committee and the management committee also adopted it as work in
progress," he said.

"If the parties fail to agree on the draft we have to come up with another
draft.

"We have been directed by the principals that we should give them the final
draft before the end of next week.

"If we fail to agree on the outstanding issues we will submit the issues to
the principals."

Senior Zanu-PF officials said vocal politburo member Jonathan Moyo, a Mugabe
loyalist, had led the campaign for the rejection of the draft and had been
supported by most senior party officials.

Moyo has described the draft as a "fraud" produced by a "Copac mafia" making
a "shameless attempt" to use the constitution-making process to resolve
political disputes and deal with Mugabe and his loyalists through
personalised clauses.

He has also said the draft is not based on people's views gathered by Copac
but on the sentiments of Mugabe's opponents.

Copac last week presented the draft to the management committee of the
process, which comprises negotiators of the GPA, the three co-chairs of the
parliamentary committee on the constitution and the Minister of
Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, but there was no breakthrough on
deadlocked issues. The management committee is expected to meet again this
coming week to try to resolve the issues.

Copac was formed in April 2009 in terms of the GPA to come up with a new
constitution to help create conditions for free and fair elections. It
comprises 25 MPs from the three GPA parties and has three co-chairs. Besides
the management committee, there is also the steering committee.

Mugabe has said he will not accept a constitution which proposes a weakened
executive presidency, devolution and dual citizenship.

Alert: Youth Assembly Organising Secretary dies

http://www.mdc.co.zw

Sunday, 06 May 2012

Simangaliso Chikadaya, the MDC National Youth Organising Secretary died in a
car accident at 3am today.

Chikadaya died on the spot after the car he was travelling in hit an
electricity pole and he was thrown out the window. .

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

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

Mujuru most patient woman in marriage: Mugabe

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

You deserve a medal ... President Robert Mugabe and Joyce Mujuru
05/05/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

VICE President Joyce Mujuru has told of the sacrifices she made to preserve
her marriage to Zimbabwe’s first army commander and independence war hero,
General Solomon Mujuru.

Mujuru was speaking at a memorial service Saturday for the General who was
killed when an unexplained fire razed in Beatrice farm-house in August last
year.

President Robert Mugabe who also attended the service and launched the
Solomon Mujuru Foundation said the late General was a “tough husband” adding
the Vice President deserved a medal for putting up with him.
“I know his life. He was a tough husband, I can tell you,” Mugabe said.

“Amai Mujuru deserves the medal of the most patient woman in marriage. Mai
Mujuru, Mai Mujuru, you are a tough woman. They (Rtd Gen Mujuru and
Vice-President Mujuru) were both soldiers. So, it was gun to gun!

“However, she said she would obey and submit. The Bible says obey your
husband, but women today say we are equal. There are different roles for men
and women.

“No . . . he loved and respected his wife. He told me quite a number of
things about you, Amai Mujuru, things I never told you. They were all
praises, of course. He loved you and I know you loved your husband.”
Mujuru revealed that she had to make sacrifices for her marriage to the
former army commander to work.

“I married him fully aware that he was a more experienced soldier than I
was. I wanted to be a soldier in our home, and this sparked war! I then
realised that it would not be good if the President heard about this,” she
said.

“I want to tell other daughters-in-law how I managed to stay with my
husband. Most of us fail because we want to fight with other women who are
reportedly seeing our husbands.

“My husband imbibed alcohol; I do not. I carefully thought about it, not
that I do not want to take alcohol. But imagine: two soldiers who drink . .
. pfuti dzacho dzaizogara dzichirira! (There would always be gunfire!).”

“There was trust between Rex and I. The truth is my husband assigned
intelligence operatives to monitor my movements for 10 years. However, they
never caught me with another man; I was at school or church . . . I made Rex
happy for 32 years.”

An inquest failed to establish the cause of the fire which gutted Mujuru’s
farm-house last August but ruled there was no foul play in the fiery death
of the Zanu PF power broker. However speculation remains that he may have
been killed by political rivals.

“What happened here . . . I do not know whether, as a drinker, he was drunk
or it was deep slumber (that saw him losing his life in the inferno),”
Mugabe said.
“He was a very alert, sharp mind. He was a very courageous man who went on
dangerous assignments.”

Vice-President John Nkomo, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy,
Thokozani Khupe also attended the service along with other senior government
officials.

Mugabe Doubts Mujuru's Death Cause

http://www.radiovop.com

Beatrice, May 06, 2012 -President Robert Mugabe says is not convinced that
retired Army Chief Solomon Mujuru died in an inferno which gutted his
Beatrice Farm house.

“What happened to him here was unusual to the REX Nhongo whom I know. Kubva
arara zvakadaro, hameno kuti dzimwenguva semunhu akanga achinwa zvake,akanga
anwa here kana kuti hopedzakanga dzamukunda?.
“He was a very alert, very alert person, sharp minded , asiwaiti ukamuona
waimudherera uchiti hapana nezviripo, he was very brave,” President Robert
Mugabe told thousands of people gathered at memorial service for the late
Army Chief Solomon Mujuru’s Ruzambu farm in Beatrice Saturday .
President Mugabe added, “At one point during our political meetings during
the Geneva conference the late Mujuru’s hotel room was engulfed with fire
coming from a cigarette he was smoking but he managed to escape. In Tanzania
the same happened but he escaped. He was a tactician.”
Mujuru died on August 16 last year in a fire at his farmhouse in Beatrice,
south of Harare. A fire expert told the inquest the fire could have been
caused by arson or an electrical fault, but he could not be certain.
The house had no bars on the windows and the door was unlocked, raising
questions as to why Mujuru simply could not have got out when the fire
started.
Air force Commander Perence Shiri also said Mujuru’s death to them still
remains mysterious.
We are commemorating the life of the Late Retired Army Chief although our
quest to understand the cause of the fire which killed him is still a misty
to us and as such his biography is yet to be fully documented,“ he said in a
speech he read on behalf of Defence forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga.
This contradicts with an inquest ruling by a Harare Magistrate Walter
Chikwanha who last month ruled out foul play on the death of the late Army
Boss.
As a result the Mujuru family is planning to approach government asking for
the exhumation of the late General’s body after failing to agree with the
court ruling.

Mujuru spills the beans

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Sunday, 06 May 2012 10:50

HARARE - Vice President Joice Mujuru chose the memorial service of her late
husband Solomon to lift the lid on his cheating and love life when she
astonishingly described him as a womaniser.

Mujuru, told thousands of people who thronged the late army general’s farm
in Beatrice that she endured 32 years of difficult marriage with a man who
at times could not sleep at home.

Business executives, politicians from different political movements,
diplomats and people in general, braved the hot weather to attend the
long-awaited memorial service.

Mujuru died last August in a mysterious inferno that engulfed his farmhouse.

Speculation and mystery surrounded his death forcing the family to approach
the courts for a public inquiry which ruled that there was no foul play.

Mujuru, said despite the love escapades of the general, she never ceased to
do her duties as a wife and provided love till he met his heartbreaking
death.

“I never stopped to bathe my husband’s feet in June even if I knew that the
previous night he did not sleep at home and he was not at work,” she said
about her husband.

“Shefu ndiri kuzvitaurira kuti kana pamba pako kana uine bulldog, kana kuti
uine bhuru eBrahman,dzichienda kudhibhi haugone kuritaurira kuti servicer
yekwanhingi usaservicer yekwanhingi. (I am a saying that if you have a bull
in your kraal, you cannot instruct it which cow to service or which one not
to service.) I am saying this with a bleeding heart,” she said.

Mujuru said the reason she remained with the late war hero was that she
feared a catastrophic confrontation because “pfuti dzairira mumba, tese
taatiri masoja (there was a risk that guns would go off because we were all
liberation fighters).

She appealed to the family to include her in all businesses as she had no
intention of getting married, again.

“I don’t want to be a daughter-in-law twice, even if I were in my fertility
life. I would not remarry. I don’t want my children to have different
totems. I will die here; that’s where my grave is,” she declared.

Mujuru told the gathering that she would not object to children fathered by
her late husband out of wedlock as long as DNA tests prove the paternity.

“If there is anywhere where my husband reached, he left a mark in my house.
Any child who comes to claim that he belongs to the Mujuru family, he will
have to undergo DNA tests,” she told the massive crowd which included Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputy Thokozani Khupe, Defence minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa, service chiefs, central bank governor Gideon Gono,
several cabinet ministers and Zanu PF politburo and central committee
members.

Mujuru inferred her husband suspected her of seeing other men and
surreptitiously hired intelligence operatives to monitor her movements.

This triggered a chuckle from the Central Intelligence Organisation boss
Happyton Bonyongwe who laughed off her remark with army commander Phillip
Valerio Sibanda.

“What I want you to know is that my husband set CIOs on me for 10 years so
that he could know where I was, who I was with. Luckily, he didn’t find me
at a beer hall, he never caught me with another man, he found me either at
school or at church,” said an emotional Mujuru.

President Robert Mugabe applauded her for persevering through the tumultuous
marriage.

Mugabe said the vice president is a role model of resilience despite being
married to a man who was not easy and unchallengeable.

“I knew his life, he was a tough husband. I didn’t tell you, and this woman
deserves to be given an award given to the most patient woman in marriage.

“He never chose, but some women would fight back saying where did you sleep,
I heard that you slept with your girlfriends but Mai Mujuru, Mai Mujuru, you
are a champion,” said Mugabe cheering up the widow.

Speaking at the same event, State Security minister Sydney Sekeramayi said
the general was the only person in Zanu PF who could speak out his mind
without fear.

He said the general at times spoke on controversial issues that most senior
members in the party would not dare mention.

“He always spoke his mind out, at times we would ask him why did you say
this and would respond ‘I have already said it, do you have any problem with
what I have said? He was a man who believed in himself,” Sekeramayi said.

At the same event, Mugabe was appointed to be patron of a Solomon Mujuru
foundation, a trust fund that is expected to preserve the legacy of the late
five-star general.

Other members of the trust foundation include businessman Peter Lobels,
Colonel Tshinga Dube, Mujuru’s brother Joel, and daughter Rungano.

General Mujuru died at his farmhouse in Beatrice in August last year under
suspicious circumstances although a coroner who held an inquest to find
reasons of his death has ruled out foul play.

Yesterday, Mujuru sought to portray a picture consistent with the results by
railing into the private media which she said was sensational in the
coverage of her late husband.

She told Mugabe that the media had made huge sales by going overboard in the
coverage of the late general and jockingly said she wanted to share the
“profits” made from the “Mujuru sales”.

TelOne completes fibre project

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

Written by Bulawayo Correspondent
Sunday, 06 May 2012 10:57

BULAWAYO - Fixed telephone operator, TelOne says it has successfully
completed the Harare to Bulawayo optic fibre project, a development that is
set to improve service delivery.

“We have just finished, and work is currently in progress on the
Bulawayo-Beitbridge link which will connect to the Seacom undersea cable
system,” said TelOne acting managing director Lawrence Nkala.

“This provides alternative routing to the Maputo link and thereby providing
the much-needed resilience in our network, thus making network down time a
rarity,” he said.

Nkala said the project will improve broadband penetration as its Mazowe
Earth satellite was expensive and had limited capacity.

“Last year we completed the Harare-Mutare fibre link which connects Zimbabwe
to the Eassy submarine cable through Maputo landing station in Mozambique
which runs across the east coast of Africa,” said the telecoms executive.

“This means that we will be able to excel not only in the provision of the
traditional voice and data services but also in the delivery of fixed
broadband using ADSL technology at competitive rates,” he said.

Nkala said in addition, TelOne was offering Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
data services for corporates through its IP/MPLS platform with connectivity
to the undersea cable.

“As banks, mines, hotels, and as industry and commerce, you will experience
fast data transfer through the VPN solutions for seamless communication
between your branches inside and outside the borders of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Nkala said this could be complemented by TelOne’s VSAT (very-small-aperture
terminal) solution for connecting remote branches into the main VPN.

“Our flagship product this year is the ADSL Asymmetric digital subscriber
line) broadband. This is a fixed broadband service which is delivered over
the existing copper access network. Customers connected to our copper access
network can therefore enjoy real broadband,” he said.

Nkala said phase 1 of TelOne’s ADSL Broadband rollout has been a huge
success in Harare, Mutare, Marondera, Gweru and Bulawayo.

“In the recent past Internet users could only connect to the worldwide web
through corporate networks.
Today ADSL broadband from TelOne is the Internet access solution for homes
and small to medium businesses,” said Nkala.

He highlighted that plans were underway to roll out additional ADSL nodes at
Norton, Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Victoria Falls as well as capacity
upgrade in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo.

“Capacity upgrade and expansion is expected to be completed in phases
starting in May this year to end of the year,” the TelOne boss said.

Tourism blueprint set for 2013

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

Written by Taurai Mangudhla, Business Writer
Sunday, 06 May 2012 11:07

HARARE - Zimbabwe will officially launch its Tourism Master Plan (TMP) in
August next year at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
general assembly which the country co-hosts with Zambia, Tourism minister
Walter Mzembi said.

“It is a tough deadline to meet but we are working hard,” he said on Friday.

The country is crafting a tourism grand plan to turn its tourism fortunes
after the country’s brand image was tainted by bad governance.

“Also in hand are plans for starting off the long process of putting
together a TMP. It will seek to accelerate development of the industry while
casting a solid framework for the long-term and ensuring sustainable tourism
development,” he said, adding his ministry was also seeking to table “a
concrete financially-backed proposal to establish a tourism revolving fund.”

The plan, Mzembi said last month is meant to guide tourism development while
addressing sectorial challenges in the long term.

“This follows government’s recognition of the need to retool, re-kit and add
new products and services for growth of the tourism sector.”

The plan will be developed with UNWTO’s technical assistance and runs
concurrently with the global tourism body plans to help the Regional Tourism
Organisation of Southern Africa (Retosa) with crafting its Tourism Satellite
Account (TSA).

“The TSA will be completed by 2015 and we will run an experimental TSA in
Retosa. I say experimental because even when it is complete the system is
subject to review and upgrade as it is running,” said UNWTO technical
services executive director Harsha Varma .

“TSA is particularly important because once established it brings out the
real importance and significance of tourism to as country’s economy,” he
said Varma.

“Accurate capturing of tourism data is critical to Zimbabwe’s tourism sector
the industry is in need of capital to retool after a decade long of economic
stagnation.”

Mzembi said the TSA will allow retention of tourism revenue to the sector
and facilitate development.

He said there was need for investment to build a new 1 000 room hotel in the
country’s second largest city Bulawayo to increase bedding capacity and the
quality of service in the area.

This comes after Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Karikoga
Kaseke announced last week two hotels in Bulawayo and more than 10 lodges
could be downgraded if they fail to improve on standards within six months.

He said the facilities were found guilty of poor service delivery during the
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and would be “punished”, tightening screws
on the tourism industry ahead of the Africa Travel
According to the European Commission on Enterprise and Industry, a TSA is a
statistical accountingframework in the field of tourism and measures the
goods and services according to international standards of concepts,
classifications and definitions which allow valid comparisons from country
to country in a consistent manner.

“Unlike output-defined industries, such as agriculture or manufacturing, the
primarily demand-defined tourism industry is not measured as a sector in its
own right in national accounts.

Most of the statistical information provided on the specifics and
developments of tourism is primarily based on arrivals and overnight stay
statistics as well as balance of payments information,” argues the
commission.

A complete TSA contains detailed production accounts of the tourism industry
and their linkages to other industries, employment, capital formation and
additional non-monetary information on tourism.

Trevor Ncube Scoops MISA World Press Freedom Award

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, May 06, 201-Alpha Media owner ,Trevor Ncube was on Friday evening
crowned this year’s Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) inaugural
winner of the press freedom award during a colourful justice John Oliver
Manyarara Memorial Lecture held at a local hotel .

The lecture which was part of MISA’s World Press Freedom commemorations to
honour the late Justice Manyarara, a champion and studious advocate of media
freedom and civil liberties also coincided with MISA’s 20th anniversary.
Ncube, the publisher of Newsday, The Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent
beat other five nominees to scoop the coveted award.
The other nominees of the award were media activist, Takura Zhangazha,
Studio 7, veteran broadcaster Mavis Moyo and Radio Dialogue founder, Father
Nigel Johnson.
Speaking at the commemoration, former High Court judge and Justice Manyarara’s
former workmate, Justice Siwanda Kenneth Sibanda said the late Manyarara who
died in Namibia in 2010 was a great man who had left indelible marks in the
region’s fight for justice and human rights.
“What makes this day even more important in celebrating the life of this
giant in the regional justice delivery system is that it comes just a day
after the world commemorated press Freedom Day.
“His stubborn fight for justice and protection of fundamental freedoms
contributed in the adoption of explicit constitutional guarantees for a free
Press and access to information in the region Sadly , his own home country
is still to provide a constitutional shield to protect the full enjoyment of
these basic liberties,” said Justice Sibanda.
Justice said that its regrettably that as MISA commemorate the life of
Justice Manyarara, there have been threats to corrode the very pillars of
freedom that the late judge embraced.
“Not only have we witnessed the plantation of legislative landmines that
impede on the full exercise of citizens’ freedoms in this country, but we
have also been alarmed by levels of regression in countries that we viewed
as our legislative role models,” he said.
He said that it is sad that South Africa, regarded as a model in the
promotion of freedom of expression is reportedly mooting instruments to
control the free flow of information.
The Memorial lecture was attended by lawyers, journalists, political parties
and representatives of the Manyarara family.

Govts should guarantee press freedom: EU

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

The European Union has called upon governments that include Zimbabwe to
guarantee the safety of journalists and to allow them to carry out their
vital rolewithout fear.
05.05.1203:04pm
by Staff Reporter

Last Thursday,Zimbabwe joined the rest of the worldin commemorating World
Press Freedom day amid misgivings frommedia practitioners and media
watchdogs over the continued use ofrepressive legislations such as AIPPA.

In a statement, EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, said governments
should ensure that journalists report without fetters andfear of reprisals.

“The EU calls on all States to guarantee the safety of journalists andto
allow them to carry out their vital role of reporting andcommenting on
events in an independent manner, without fear of violenceand recrimination,”said
Ashton.

While the country’s severally amended Lancaster House Constitution adopted
in 1979 on the eve of independence espousesfreedom of expression, Zimbabwe
is still far from achieving this.

In Zimbabwe, there is no outright censorship butjournalists who have in the
past been subjected to imprisonmentpractice self-censorship as they fear
reprisals from the government whichis dominated by Zanu (PF).

“Freedom of expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration ofHuman
rights entails everyone’s right to hold opinions withoutinterference and to
seek, receive and impart information and ideasthrough any media and
regardless of frontiers.

‘‘On the occasion ofWorld Press Freedom day, the European Union recalls
these principles and pays tribute to all those who fight for the respect of
freedom ofexpression and for free, pluralistic press and other media,” said
Ashton.

“Censorship and harassment of editors, writers, journalists orbloggers are
unacceptable, as are the use of violence and stateinduced arrests inflicted
upon them. The EU commends the courageouswork of journalists who, in often
highly precarious conditions, continue to provide independent information,”
added the diplomat.

UK paper urges aid to Mugabe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 5th May 2012

Britain is one of the most generous aid donors to Zimbabwe. Official aid alone runs to about £80 million a year. It is carefully dispersed by the Department for International Development but that’s not good enough for the masochistic Guardian. Things have certainly not got better at the Guardian since Murambatsvina seven years ago – hailed by the newspaper at the time as a visionary approach to urban planning! Strangely, it is an event the Guardian has never re-examined, although it is widely accepted that it destroyed the homes and livelihoods of many hundreds of thousands of people.

So the Vigil was not surprised to find the Guardian publishing the latest addled article on Zimbabwe by Alex Duval Smith. She appears to have lost her foothold in the Guardian’s competitor The Independent ( independent of everyone except its Russian oligarch owner who can afford to give it away). Ms Smith’s incoherent article has everything that would endear it to the Guardian: anti-British, ‘victimist’ and off-the-wall irrational (see: Aid to Zimbabwe must take account of resettled farmers on contested land – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/may/04/aid-zimbabwe-resettled-farmers-contested-land).

Ms Smith appears to argue that Britain should stop funding Zimbabwe’s education, health and social welfare, not to mention the food aid programme which is helping to keep many Zimbabweans alive, and instead hand the money over to unsuccessful farmers settled on land violently seized from their former owners. The Vigil wonders why Ms Smith does not propose that some of the estimated $2 billion a year from the state-owned Marange mines is not used for this purpose. After all common sense suggests there must be a lot of money sloshing around since only $19 million appears so far to have been sent to Finance Minister Biti whose ‘pie in the sky’ budget talked of $600 million of diamond revenue this year.

But we agree with Ms Smith that Britain’s aid to Zimbabwe should be reassessed. We are not suggesting that the money should go to Mugabe, however, but that some of it should help fund the fight for democracy as proposed by the Treasurer General of the MDC Roy Bennett. The Vigil doubts that the Guardian will be interested in this proposal. But we recommend that the newspaper looks at a new article by Dale Dore if they want a more rounded understanding of the farming crisis in Zimbabwe (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/may5_2012.html#Z30 - The Nationalist Narrative and Land Policy in Zimbabwe).

· The Zimbabwe Action Forum had a productive meeting after the Vigil at which it was agreed that if the Zimbabwean diaspora is to organize an effective campaign for change it is necessary for all groups – political or other – to work together to put Zimbabwe first. Those attending would think about strategies and spread the word to others to attend the next Forum. Some of those attending would start work on a diaspora database which could be a useful tool in the fight for the diaspora vote. The meeting was attended by: Nelissa Benza, Sandra Chidemo, Ellen Gonyora, Bernard Hukwa, Jonathan Kariwoh, Fungayi Mabhunu. Thelma Majola, Georgina Makaza, Jaison Mawere, Siphelo Moswa, Beauty Musewe, Edward Mutamiswa, Sihle Sibanda, Ephraim Tapa, Crimson Tazvinzwa and Rose Benton.

· Some Vigil supporters went to hear a talk by Swazi trade unionist Vincent Dlamini who visited the Vigil last week. They were shocked to hear that some Swazi women were reduced to eating cow dung.

· Around 30 people have taken up the Globe Theatre’s offer of free tickets to see the Shona production of ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ on Wednesday afternoon.

· A large group of Hartlepool Smurfs (supporters of Hartlepool United) in their blue and white costumes joined the Vigil today. They were down for a match against Charlton Athletic. Unfortunately they lost – our commiserations.

· Thanks to Vigil regular Louisa Musaerenge who stepped in to look after the front table in the absence of Vigil management team member Lady Shuga (Josephine Zhuga).

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

· ‘The Rain that Washes’ – Zimbabwean theatre production. From 2^nd – 19^th May at 7.30 pm – matinees 10^th May at 1 pm and 19^th May at 3.30 pm. Venue: Studio Theatre, Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PE. It is a one-man show based on a true story. “Following the dream of majority rule, one man sees Ian Smith's Rhodesia become Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. From refugee camps in Botswana to air strikes in Zambia via Marxism in Bulgaria, he returns to Zimbabwe, only to witness the greatest betrayal of all . . .” Running time: 60 minutes. Tickets £8 (£6). To book, call 020 8292 9222, email bookings@chickenshed.org.uk or book online at www.chickenshed.org.uk. Chickenshed is between Oakwood and Cockfosters tube stations, and on bus routes 298, 299, 307 and N91. Free parking is available.

· Two Gentlemen of Verona Shona Production at the Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT. Dates / Times: Wednesday 9 May, 2.30pm. Thursday 10 May, 7.30pm. Tickets available from 020 7401 9919 and www.shakespearesglobe.com. A two-man Zimbabwean riot of love, friendship and betrayal. From Verona to Milan, via Harare and Bulawayo, two great friends, Valentine and Proteus, vie for the love of the same woman. In a triumphantly energetic ‘township’ style, Denton Chikura and Tonderai Munyevu slip into all of the play’s fifteen characters – from amorous suitors to sullen daughters, depressed servants and even a dog – in this new, specially commissioned translation for the international Shakespeare season.

· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 19^th May from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.

· Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 2^nd June from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

· The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.

In SA, the evil men do is oft interred with their bones

Mondli Makhanya | 06 May, 2012 00:54

TimesLive.co.za

We send the wrong message by lionising crooks from the moment they die

There is this very strange thing that happens when someone dies. Their sins,
shortcomings and weaknesses suddenly vanish. They become paragons of virtue
and get turned into valiant heroes. Thieves, murderers and whores (of both
genders) become saints.

While this is not specific to any culture, in our country we are told that
it is "unAfrican" to speak ill of the dead. In this way culture is used to
blackmail us all into whitewashing the legacies of those who did bad things
while they lived.

Remember a man called Brett Kebble? While he lived he swindled investors and
business partners, corrupted politicians, manipulated the criminal justice
system and engaged in very, very adventurous nocturnal activities.

When he was buried, his coffin was draped in the national colours and ANC
heavyweights took turns paying tributes to one of South Africa's greatest
crooks. The then minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, even asked those
who had been close to Kebble to keep the contents of their conversations
with the crook locked in their chests. Curious.

Accolades were also showered on public works minister Stella Sigcau when she
was released from this mortal coil. The former Transkei Bantustan leader,
who enthusiastically took bribes from businessmen and is partly responsible
for the mess that is the Eastern Cape, was described as a stalwart and a
heroine. Glossed over was her contribution to the chaos and corruption that
plagues the Department of Public Works to this day.

The same goes for Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, whose litany of wrongs can make
you weep. Listening to the praises heaped on her, you would have sworn that
this was not the person who presided over the destruction of our public
health system and ensured the deaths of many HIV-positive people whose lives
could have been saved or prolonged by access to proper treatment, care and
Aids education.

So terrible is this propensity to lie about the dead that the Presidency
even sought to cleanse apartheid leader PW Botha of his sins. The revision
of history would have had us remember Botha as the man who planted the seeds
of South Africa's negotiated settlement - instead of the evil monster who
defended apartheid, killed tens of thousands of people and wrought havoc on
the entire Southern African region.

Another apartheid leader who received posthumous cleansing was Kaizer
Matanzima, Sigcau's predecessor in the Transkei. During his rule, Matanzima
impoverished the people he had been imposed upon, stole money by the
wheelbarrow and brutally repressed those who stood up to him.

But when he died, then-president Thabo Mbeki told the nation that the
Matanzima who the ANC had so intensely hated was actually a good guy who had
great dreams of lifting people out of poverty and seeing to the full
education of the masses.

"Taking people out of their suffering would be a fitting tribute to
Matanzima. Do the things Matanzima dreamed of," he said.

To which this lowly newspaperman wanted to respond: "No thanks, Mr
President. If we did the things Matanzima dreamed of, we would all be
thieves."

This week we were being encouraged to emulate the life of the late Sicelo
Shiceka, a former minister of co-operative governance. In the tributes that
poured in following his death on Monday, the father of at least 19 children
was painted as selfless, energetic and exemplary.

I am sure that if he were to do a Mgqumeni on us and rise from the dead,
Shiceka would battle to recognise the person being spoken about.

He may have recognised the tributes about his sterling political activism
and trade union activities in the 1980s, for which he deserves praise. He
would also have recognised the post-'94 ANC leader, for he was a deft player
of the governing party's Byzantine politics.

But he was far from selfless. Blowing public money on stratospheric hotel
bills and personal foreign jaunts is far from selfless. The "energetic" tag
also belies the mess that persists in municipalities, despite his launching
of an ambitious turnaround strategy - which remained just that: ambitious.
His role as Gauteng MEC for local government in the 1990s was disastrous,
begging the question of why he was appointed to national office.

Exemplary? Well, one would have to be a pretty young woman in his department
and in municipalities to know just how exemplary he was. And at what.
Perhaps exemplary to manufacturers of garden sprinklers and farm
fertilisers.

The Shiceka we should remember is a man who was corrupted by power to the
point that he forgot why he became an activist and a trade unionist in the
'80s. Like many of his peers, power was not about the ability to serve but
about access to the good things in life.

One does not expect people to dance or urinate on the grave of a colleague,
comrade or foe. But to rewrite their life stories and sanctify bad people
sets them up as role models.

Court Watch 9/2012 of 4th May [Update on Ongoing Cases]

COURT WATCH 9/2012

[4th May 2012]

Updates on Ongoing Cases

This bulletin surveys progress – or lack of it – in court cases that have already been covered in detail in earlier issues. The beginning of the new court term on Monday 7th May means that the Supreme Court and High Court will be sitting again after a break of some six weeks. It is hoped that these unfinished cases of public interest will be promptly concluded.

State v Munyaradzi Gwisai and 5 Others – the Arab Spring Video Case

In Court Watch 2/2012 in February and Court Watch 5/2012 of 14th March, this trial was covered up to the end of the defence case, with the magistrate due to deliver judgment on 19th March.

Case Reminder: In February 2011 a meeting was arranged by an International Socialist Organisation branch to watch videos and discuss the implications of popular demonstrations in North Africa. Police arrived; 45 persons were arrested, taken to court and remanded in custody on treason charges. In March 2011, 39 of them were freed for insufficient evidence. Mr Gwisai and 5 others continued in custody on the treason charge, but were granted bail later in March by judge. In April the State reduced the charge to inciting, alternatively conspiring, to commit public violence. The trial in the magistrates court started on 14th September and proceeded with many interruptions to March this year.

Developments

Conviction and sentence On 19th March the magistrate found all five accused guilty of conspiracy to commit public violence. Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama argued that the appropriate sentence would be a fine of not more than $500, and the prosecutor asked for the maximum prison sentence of 10 years. On 21st March the magistrate sentenced each of the accused to:

· two years in prison, wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour; and

· a $500 fine or, in default of payment, 30 days’ imprisonment; and

· 420 hours of community service to be performed at schools in Harare, starting on 31st March.

Appeals to the High Court by both defence and State The defence lodged an appeal to the High Court against both the conviction and the sentence, which Mr Muchadehama described as “harsh and misplaced”. The State lodged a cross-appeal against the sentence, asserting that it was too lenient. The two appeals will be heard together on a date to be fixed.

High Court suspends community service pending appeal On 27th March, Mr Muchadehama made an application to the trial magistrate for the suspension of the community service order pending the appeal. Three days later the magistrate dismissed this application, obliging Mr Gwisai and his five fellow “conspirators” to start performing their community service. Mr Muchadehama then applied to the High Court to get that decision overruled, and on 13th April Justice Mathonsi suspended the community service order pending the appeal. The judge said this was appropriate because there was a good chance of the defence appeal against conviction succeeding.

Current Status The accused are awaiting a hearing by the High Court of their appeal against conviction and sentence, and the State’s cross-appeal against sentence.

------------------------------------------------

State v Douglas Mwonzora, MP and 21 Others – Charged with Public Violence

This case was covered in Court Watch 3/2011 of November 2011.

Case Reminder After an MDC-T rally in Nyanga, Mr Mwonzora and his co-accused were arrested and detained in February 2011, on allegations of public violence. Their release on bail was delayed until 12th March 2011 by the State’s use of section 121(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act and its subsequent unsuccessful appeal. At a later remand hearing the magistrate granted a defence request to refer constitutional issues [complaints of inhuman and degrading treatment, violation of constitutional rights to liberty and protection of the law, and the unconstitutionality of section 121(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act] to the Supreme Court. The State’s attempt to have the trial started in spite of this referral to the Supreme Court was rejected by the magistrate and the State then appealed to the High Court for that decision to be overturned.

Developments since November On 26th January, at a routine remand hearing, the Nyanga magistrate granted a defence application for the refusal of further remand. This was not an acquittal. It simply meant that the accused would no longer have to make periodic appearances in court for remand hearings while waiting for the outcome of the High Court and Supreme Court appeals arising from the case. If, as a result of these appeals, the prosecution gets a green light to proceed with the public violence case, it would have to revive it by issuing summonses.

Current status The accused are at liberty but still have the possibility of future prosecution hanging over them, depending on the Supreme Court’s decision on the defence’s constitutional issues and on the outcome of the State’s appeal to the High Court to have the criminal case heard without waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court case.

------------------------------------------------

State v Solomon Madzore and 28 others: the Glen View 29 murder case

This case was covered in Court Watch 4/2012 of 9th March. Further developments were noted in Court Watch 5/2012 of 14th March. At that stage the start of the High Court trial, which had been due to begin on 12th March, was delayed for the court to consider pre-trial defence applications. The Easter court vacation, from 7th April to 6th May, delayed the case further.

Case Reminder In May 2011 Police Inspector Mutedza died as a result of injuries received in a scuffle with members of the public at Glen View 3 shopping centre. Seeming to ignore eye-witness accounts, police carried out a blitz, arresting 29 MDC-T members and officials – 26 from May to September, with 2 more arrests in October and one on 25th January 2012. At various bail hearings 27 accused were released on bail but one of them was later remanded in custody on an unrelated charge; 7 of them endured nearly 9 months in prison before release. Solomon Madzore, the MDC-T Youth Assembly chairperson, and Paul Rukanda, a district party office-holder, were refused bail. On 1st March all were committed for trial when the indictment charging them with Mutedza’s murder was served on them at the magistrates court. The committal for trial resulted in all of them being returned to custody in remand prison – even those previously released on bail..

Developments

Defence outline lodged The defence outline was lodged on Monday 30th April. The defence team is now ready for the trial to begin.

No decisions yet on pre-trial defence applications On 22nd March the trial judge, Justice Bhunu, heard defence and prosecution submissions on a defence application for renewal of bail for the 27 accused who had been granted bail before committal for trial on 1st March, and on a separate bail application for Solomon Madzore and Paul Rukanda, who had all along been denied bail. The State maintained its opposition to bail on the grounds that the accused are a flight risk. The judge reserved judgement indefinitely, pending lodging of the defence outline. As this was tantamount to a refusal of bail, the defence team applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court for bail; but there has been no decision from Justice Bhunu on this application either.

Current Status The accused are being held in custody in remand prison, waiting for the start of their trial – and for the judge’s decision on their bail applications. The arrest and continuing detention of Mr Madzore has led to several demonstrations by MDC-T youth demanding their leader be either put on trial or released.

------------------------------------------------

Supreme Court Backlog of Constitutional Cases

In earlier issues of Court Watch Veritas has mentioned cases referred to the Supreme Court that: have been heard and decided, but in which the written reasons for judgment are still awaited; or have been heard but not decided, i.e., have been indefinitely adjourned for later handing down of the court’s decision; or have not been heard or even been set down for hearing.

Developments

There has been no forward movement in any of these cases since our earlier issues.

· Decided Case in which written judgment awaited [Court Watch 2/2011]

Jestina Mukoko case – Mrs Mukoko succeeded in her application to the Supreme Court for a permanent stay of prosecution on the ground that her unlawful abduction and detention and torture and inhuman treatment, by State agents before she was taken to court, were in breach of her constitutional rights. A unanimous five-judge court granted her application in September 2009, saying its reasons for judgment would be given later. Those reasons have still not been provided two and a half years later. This delay is almost certainly inhibiting progress in other cases – both civil and criminal – in which the legal effect of torture and unlawful detention of accused persons by State agents has become an issue.

· Case in which decision nearly two years overdue [Court Watch 4/2011]

Chimakure and Kahiya case – a freedom of expression/press freedom challenge to the constitutionality of section 31(1)(b) of the Criminal law Code [false news story alleged]. Arguments were heard in June 2010 but the court’s decision has still not been handed down. A decision in this case, if accompanied by reasons for judgment, would assist the lower courts and the Supreme Court itself in dealing with the many cases – criminal cases in particular – in which freedom of expression issues have arisen. Several such cases already referred to the Supreme Court for guidance remain unheard [examples below].

· Cases awaiting set-down for hearing

Previous bulletins have mentioned several such cases, for example:

Freedom of expression cases – cases referred for Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of statutory provisions invoked in prosecuting newspaper editors and journalists and civil rights activists and a well-known artist [sections 31 and 96 of the Criminal Law Code – spreading falsehoods, criminal defamation]:

· State v The Chronicle editor and a journalist [Court Watch 2/2011]

· State v Three Media Monitoring Project staffers [Court Watch 6/2012]

· State v The Standard editor and journalists [two cases] [Court Watch 4/2011]

· State v Pishai Muchauraya MP [Court Watch 6/2012]

· State v Owen Maseko [Court Watch 2/2011 notes this case, which involves the constitutionality of the prosecution of Mr Maseko for his Gukurahundi murals at the Bulawayo Art Gallery]

Cases challenging section 121(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act

State v Mwonzora and Others; State v Shonhe; State v Karenyi [Court Watch 9/2012 of 25th April]

Case challenging State’s revival of an old criminal charge

State v Matutu [see Court Watch 6/2012 of 29th March for a note on the State’s 2011 revival of a 2005 case against MDC-T MP Tongai Matutu].

Need for Improved Transcription Services to Fully Utilise Supreme Court

The time-worn excuse for delay in setting down cases for argument in the Supreme Court is failure by the official transcription service to provide in good time the necessary records of proceedings in the courts from which the cases come. The serious shortage of transcribers has been notorious for many years, and as a result the Supreme Court’s capacity to hear cases is not being fully utilised. As the transcription service is now under the control of the Judicial Service Commission, it is to be hoped that the Commission can take effective steps to remedy the situation.

As things are, the new Supreme Court term will get off to a very slow start. The cause list for the first week of term is empty – no cases at all will be heard. No constitutional cases have been set down for hearing during the whole of May – even though one day every week – Thursday – is traditionally reserved for the hearing of constitutional cases. It seems the supply of cases ready for hearing is insufficient to keep the Supreme Court judges fully occupied. But this is no excuse for delays in delivery of written judgments on which other cases hang.

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.

Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 5th May 2012 [Meetings Open to Public: 7th to 10th May]

BILL WATCH

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES SERIES

[5th May 2012]

Committee Meetings Open to the Public: 7th to 10th May

Thematic Committee and Portfolio Committee meetings resume on Monday 7th May after a recess that started at the end of March. The meetings listed below will be open to the public as observers only, not as participants, i.e. members of the public can listen but not speak. The meetings will be held at Parliament in Harare, entrance on Kwame Nkrumah Ave between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

This bulletin is based on the latest information from Parliament on 4th May. But, as there are sometimes last-minute changes to the schedule, persons wishing to attend a meeting should avoid disappointment by checking with the committee clerk [see below] that the meeting is still on and open to the public. Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 and 252936. If attending, note that IDs must be produced.

Monday 7th May at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Higher Education, Science and Technology

Briefing from Zimbabwe National Students Union [ZINASU] on challenges faced at tertiary institutions

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon S. Ncube Clerk: Mrs Mataruka

Monday 7th May at 2 pm

Portfolio Committee: Budget, Finance, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion

Presentation Zimbabwe Revenue Authority [ZIMRA] officials on the projects and master plans for development of border posts

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Zhanda Clerk: Mr Ratsakatika

Thematic Committee: HIV/AIDS

Oral evidence from Ministry of Health and Child Welfare officials on the procurement of anti-retroviral drugs [ARVs]

Government Caucus Room

Chairperson: Hon D. Khumalo Clerk: Mrs Khumalo

Tuesday 8th May at 10 am

None of the Tuesday meetings is open to the public

Wednesday 9th May at 9 am

Thematic Committee: Peace and Security

Oral evidence from the Minister of Energy and Power Development on the provision of electricity to wheat farmers by ZESA

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Mumvuri Clerk: Miss Zenda

Thursday 10th May at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Media, Information and Communication Technology

1. Oral evidence from AB Communications and Zimpapers Talk Radio on their preparedness to start broadcasting

2. Oral evidence from Hot Media on their views on the criteria used for awarding broadcasting licences

Committee Room No. 413

Chairperson: Hon S. Chikwinya Clerk: Mr Mutyambizi

Portfolio Committee: Women, Youth, Gender and Community Development

Oral evidence from the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development on their first quarter budget reports and planned activities for 2012

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon Matienga Clerk: Mr Kunzwa

Portfolio Committee: Education, Sport and Culture

Committee Room No. 4

Oral evidence from Zimbabwe Sports Writers Association, Zimbabwe Soccer Supporters Association and Footballers Union of Zimbabwe on soccer administration in Zimbabwe and issues surrounding the Asiagate scandal

Chairperson: Hon Mangami Clerk: Ms Chikuvire

Other Committee Activities of Interest in the Coming Week

[Not open to the public]

Prison conditions The Thematic Committee on Gender and Development will be discussing its itinerary for a fact-finding visit to local prisons.

Urban Councils Amendment Bill The Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development will be considering its itinerary for public hearings on this Private Member’s Bill.

Indigenisation and empowerment The Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment will be considering its draft report on the status of implementation of the indigenisation and empowerment policy.

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied

Zim, EU officials to hold sanction talks

Mugabe calls for make or break emergency Politburo summit

Sata gives Mugabe $42.5m worth of Maize for campaigns

Western Election Observers Will Never Recognise Mugabe Victory - Gumbo

Biti hits out at Zuma over credit, trade

Zanu-PF throws out Copac draft

Alert: Youth Assembly Organising Secretary dies

Mujuru most patient woman in marriage: Mugabe

Mugabe Doubts Mujuru's Death Cause

Mujuru spills the beans

TelOne completes fibre project

Tourism blueprint set for 2013

Trevor Ncube Scoops MISA World Press Freedom Award

Govts should guarantee press freedom: EU

UK paper urges aid to Mugabe – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 5th May 2012

In SA, the evil men do is oft interred with their bones

Court Watch 9/2012 of 4th May [Update on Ongoing Cases]

Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 5th May 2012 [Meetings Open to Public: 7th to 10th May]

The Success Story of Zimbabwe Achievers Awards ZAA