TEXT only 13 August 2013

• How an exultant Robert Mugabe took on the world and won Zimbabwe
• Mugabe to dump losers
• UNWTO General Assembly Preparations
• Zanu (PF) wants Diasporas back home
• Aids-Free World calls for UN, ICC action on Mugabe
• Mugabe will not yield
• Heroes Day: Time to reflect
• Mugabe dismisses MDC-T on Heroes Day as rigging evidence mounts
• ‘Go hang,’ Mugabe tells election critics
• Tsvangirai takes proof to Sadc
• Tsvangirai’s Heroes Day message
• UN watchdog urges international boycott of ‘disgraceful’ Zim meeting
• Russian firms invest in Darwendale platinum project
• Mugabe makes first speech since Zimbabwe poll
• No election celebrations
• Marange sues Core Mining

How an exultant Robert Mugabe took on the world and won Zimbabwe by – 08-12-2013
via The Guardian – How an exultant Robert Mugabe took on the world and won Zimbabwe With charm, manipulation, intimidation and power president swatted away all opposition to claim a decisive victory by Richard Dowden for African Arguments, part of the Guardian Africa Network From the moment Robert Mugabe said he would step down from the presidency of Zimbabwe if he lost the election, it was clear that he knew he would win it. If he had not been certain of winning, he would not have called the election. Power – military, political, bureaucratic – is what he understands, loves and has enjoyed for 33 years. It’s more than love – it’s an addiction. Other African presidents try to cajole him. He charms and patronises them. British prime ministers and American presidents lecture him. He swats away their words and plays the colonialist card. Opposition movements challenge him. He crushes them with violence. Then he charms them. Mugabe will leave power when he wants to – or when his body gives out. Right now he will be exultant. He took on the internal opposition, his fellow African presidents and the western powers – and won. Yes the voting rolls were manipulated. Yes his government managed the polling stations. Yes mobile phones, that great democratic information exchanger, were shut down. Yes the vast Zimbabwean diaspora – the country’s brightest and most ambitious – were not able to vote. Yes everyone assumed the MDC would win and so became complacent. And had the result been a 51% – 49% split, there might have been a case to challenge it. But a 61% – 33% victory is decisive. Zanu-PF also won 150 of the 210 parliamentary seats, a two-thirds majority which allows it to change the constitution and amend laws. Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo headed the African Union election observers. His key vote had imposed Commonwealth sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2003 but now he passed this election as credible and fair. Game, set and match to Robert Gabriel Mugabe. And, I suspect, many middle class Africans throughout the continent and the world will stealthily clench a fist and whisper “yesssss” – without of course agreeing with what he has done to Zimbabwe. They would be appalled if such a man took over their own countries but Mugabe has stood up to the former colonial powers and won. It may have been a 20th century battle but many people in Africa feel that the relationship is still not one of equality: multi-party democracy has been imposed, resource nationalism is blocked by a western-controlled economic system and attitudes to Africa are still patronising and sometimes bullying. Apart from state control and manipulation of the election process there are two other factors that might explain the scale of Mugabe’s victory. One is a mistrust of Morgan Tsvangirai. Not that people think he is a bad person, but he lacks both the leadership skills to draw Zimbabweans together into a vision of a new Zimbabwe and the political and managerial skills to make it happen. Up against a bureaucracy and, more importantly, a security system which is personally loyal to Mugabe, Tsvangirai would have stood little chance of pushing through real change. The second factor is one I have heard expressed many times in Africa: do not upset a Big Man. If he is a Big Man and is president and wants to go on being president, then let him have it. Otherwise he will create problems. “I will vote for him because he is president,” is a phrase I have heard in many elections in Africa. What will Mugabe do now? He may arrange for a successor. Until now he has been manipulating the rival candidates but now he needs to ensure that, if he steps aside from the day-to-day presidential chores, he and his family will be safe. But even if he allows a new president to be sworn in he will retain ultimate power as president of the party, much as Julius Nyerere did in Tanzania in 1985 when he stepped down but retained leadership of his party. I also suspect Mugabe will now go into reconciliation mode as he did after his first (also unpredicted) election victory of 1980 and again after he brutally crushed the Ndebele uprising in the mid 1980s. Now he will deploy his considerable charm and hold out a hand to African and western governments that have criticised him in the past. At home he may offer posts in government to MDC leaders, maybe even to Tsvangirai himself. He may not fully implement the indigenisation programme which demands that black Zimbabweans must own 51% of all foreign-owned companies, just as he failed to implement socialist policies in the 1980s after he took power. In all these moves, the only question in his mind will be: will this keep ultimate power in my hands? Richard Dowden is the director of the Royal African Society and author of Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles published by Portobello Books

Mugabe to dump losers by  – 08-12-2013
via Daily News – Mugabe to dump losers HARARE – Zanu PF heavyweights who lost in the just-ended harmonised elections, among them serial political flip-flopper Jonathan Moyo, have little chance of getting into government following President Robert Mugabe’s vow not to let “losers” get into government. Mugabe made this clear in June while he was in Japan for the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The 89-year-old leader who has just received a fresh mandate to form a new government after winning the disputed elections, said Zanu PF members who would have been rejected in their constituencies would not be allowed to take part in government. He said Zanu PF would not go the MDC route which appointed professors Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube who had been “dishonoured” by their people into government as “honourable” ministers. Last week, Moyo desperately tried to save himself by appealing to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) for a recount of the votes but this was thwarted when the winner, MDC’s Roseline Sipepa-Nkomo took the matter to the High Court. The court turned down Moyo’s request after the former Information minister reportedly said there were flaws in the Tsholotsho North Constituency where he was contesting on a Zanu PF ticket. The Daily News has been told that Moyo was dumped by the people of Tsholotsho North following his controversial decision to join Zanu PF when he had been elected in 2008 as an independent candidate. The people in his former constituency were reportedly angered that he duped them into believing that he had nothing to do with Zanu PF only to rejoin the party after winning his ticket to Parliament. Moyo was minister of Information and Publicity between 2000 and 2005 and was reportedly eyeing the same ministerial post but if Mugabe stands by his vows, then the former University of Zimbabwe lecturer will be reduced to a mere strategist at Zanu PF. During his time, Moyo orchestrated the crafting of draconian media laws that saw the arrests, of media practitioners and the closure of several newspapers including the Daily News and its sister paper the Daily News on Sunday. Businessman, Phillip Chiyangwa who was hoping to make a massive political comeback, lost to MDC’s Peter Mataruse, making him the only Zanu PF candidate to lose in Mashonaland West. In March 2012 his appointment as the vice chairman for Mashonaland West Province was nullified by Zanu PF’s politburo following a complaint from another candidate who had lost. Chiyangwa was reduced to a mere card-carrying member. Not only has this election seen people like Moyo and Chiyangwa being left out in the cold but has seen the resurgence of perennial losers like Amos Midzi (Epworth) and Tendai Savanhu (Mbare). Midzi was in the Zanu PF government as the minister of Energy and Power Development and later as minister of Mines and Mining Development from 2002 to 2009 but began to systematically lose to MDC candidates. Other Zanu PF bigwigs including Joseph Made (former minister of Agriculture), Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana and Sikhanyiso Ndlovu were ousted from the race earlier at the party’s primary elections. However, the Zimbabwean Constitution gives the president powers to appoint up to five non-constituency MPs. Chapter 5 Section 104 (3) states that “… Ministers and Deputy Ministers are appointed from among Senators or Members of the National Assembly, but up to five, chosen for their professional skills and competence, may be appointed from outside Parliament…” It remains to be seen what Mugabe will do following his vow that losers will not be allowed into government as they were ‘dishonoured’ by their constituencies. Besides the losers, Mugabe is also scratching his head on the tribal balancing, appeasement of Zanu PF factions and rewarding young politicians who also made it to Parliament when he makes his Cabinet appointments.

UNWTO General Assembly Preparations by  – 08-12-2013
Via Eturbonews.com – UNWTO General Assembly Preparations … only just over a week to go for Zambia The tourism sector alongside Governments is gearing themselves for the UNWTO General Assembly to be held August 24-29 in Livingston, Zambia and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. There is much cooperation between the two countries Zimbabwe and Zambia as well as some healthy rivalry. The hotels to be used in Livingstone will be The Royal Livingstone, David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Zambezi Sun, Protea Hotel, Courtyard Hotel, Chrismar Hotel and Fallsway Lodge. In Victoria Falls Town it will be Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Ilala Lodge and possibly Cresta Sprayview which has just completed its renovations. All the hotels are in tip-top condition and many have undergone rehabilitation works recently. The Royal Livingstone, as an example, spent US$7million last year to upgrade its facilities – it is really now a hotel to compare with the best in the world. The conference facilities are being set up at Elephant Hills on the Zim side and at the Falls Resort on the Zam side. All hotels have high-speed internet connection as the conference is trying to become a paperless one with no trees cut down for its deliberations! I have not heard much about transport and the logistics of busing the delegates between each country. I really hope that the trucks are removed for the period as not only do they clog up proceedings but they are an eyesore. Also I have not heard anything about the yellow fever inoculation requirement for people visiting Zambia. It seems such a ridiculous rule when we do not have yellow fever here at all and that anyone visiting the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe does not require a yellow fever certificate and yet if they travel half a kilometre over the border to Zambia they do. Don’t we just love bureaucracy … the purpose of which often seems to be keeping people in jobs … On the rivalry side I know that both Zambia and Zimbabwe are keen to present the best of their talents during the event. Zambia will hold a Miss Tourism Show where the best looking young ladies of Zambia will vie to become top. This will be held at Chrismar Hotel on 26th August. On the Zimbabwe side a music festival will be held at the beginning of the Congress and a Golf Tournament too. I am sure there will be lots of fringe events with both countries showing their best sides. In the meantime the townsfolk are wondering if they will see anything of this much-hyped event. The chances are that the delegates will be holed up in meetings every day and not get the chance to see some of the local colour. But it is not the delegates that the people have to impress; it will be the camera crews from TV stations all over the world who will come. I am sure we will find them out and about in the towns, in the markets and talking to the local people. In Zambia tourism professionals say : We must all be on our best behaviour …

Zanu (PF) wants Diasporas back home by  – 08-12-2013
via The Zimbabwean – Zanu (PF) wants Diasporas back home Zanu (PF) is urging Zimbabweans who left the country for greener pastures and other reasons, to return home ‘since the situation has normalised following the recent Zanu (PF) landslide victory at the harmonised elections’. Millions of Zimbabweans fled the country beginning end of the 1990s, when the country’s economy assumed a down turn and lives of MDC supporters were endangered by Zanu (PF) and partisan security service members. The majority of them crossed the Limpopo into South Africa while others went abroad to countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada among others. Following announcement of election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission recently, Zanu (PF) spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, told The Zimbabwean in a telephone interview that, there was no longer any reason for Zimbabweans to continue living outside the country. He said results of the election had silenced the MDC and brought to an end all political bickering. “Peace and tranquility has returned to the country following the Zanu (PF) landslide victory. There is no more troublesome GNU arrangements and Zimbabweans in the Diaspora should return home and help develop the country,” said Gumbo. Gumbo said the Zimbabwe economy had space for the returnees and will facilitate their participation in the country’s economic activity. Experience and exposure gained by Diasporas was described as invaluable in Zimbabwe’s bid to regain its position as a regional economic power house. Some Diasporas who had returned to the country to cast their vote vowed never to return to Zimbabwe with Zanu (PF) clinging on to power. They said Zanu (PF) caused untold suffering to the people resulting in some of them taking flight. Political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said people fled Zimbabwe starting 1999 when violation of human rights by Zanu (PF) was at its peak. Ngwenya said the same perpetrators of the violence were announced as the election winners and it would be difficult for Zanu (PF) to fool Diasporas into returning home. He described the ‘come home message’ by Zanu (PF) as a wild clarion call by perpetrators of violence who were desperately seeking political relevance. “Zanu (PF) government should put its economic policies in order and activate industry before urging Diasporas to return home,” said Ngwenya. He said Diasporas cannot be asked to return home, but have to be attracted back by a conducive economic, social and political environment. Ngwenya described the recent calls by President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF) for cancelling of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority bills as a recipe for investor flight. Expropriation of profits from companies such as Zimplats and parceling them to non-shareholders, under the guise of indigenisation was also cited as one of the reasons why investors will not come to Zimbabwe any time soon. Economic analyst, Eric Bloch, said there was no need for Zanu (PF) to urge Diasporas to return home, since they will willingly do so as the economy shows signs of recovery. Block told The Zimbabwean that any unplanned return of Diasporas would worsen the already desperate economic crisis, as the returnees would join the over 85 percent jobless people. “Only a few Diasporas with essential skills lacking in the economy would find something beneficial to do in the meantime. Our situation does not look like capable of creating employment soon,” said Bloch. He said unless there is a major foreign investment into Zimbabwe, the economy will not create any jobs. “No foreign investment will come into Zimbabwe if there are no attractive investment policies.” South Africa based chairperson for Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Gabriel Shumba, could not be reached for comment.

Aids-Free World calls for UN, ICC action on Mugabe by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Aids-Free World calls for UN, ICC action on Mugabe | The Zimbabwean. by Chris Ncube Aids- Free World, the international advocacy organization, called on the Security Council of the United Nations to ask the International Criminal Court to investigate Robert Mugabe for crimes against humanity after another controversial poll retained him power. In a statement, Gill Mathurin, Aids-Free World Communications Manager, warned the country could spiral into more problems with him at the helm. Mathurin heavily criticized the Southern African Development saying the organizations have shown ‘craven complicity’ in sustaining Mugabe by providing a clean bill of health for the election. “The strongest sanction at this point, to counter the culture of impunity, lies with the Security Council. The Security Council has done it before: they have made referrals to the International Criminal Court in the case of President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. They can do it again. The UK and the United States are the obvious countries to introduce the appropriate resolution. They’ll have to do battle with China and Russia, but the battle is well worth every stitch of diplomatic muscle,” said Mathurin. Mathurin said there was a possibility of violence amid tensions over the election results. “The possibility of violence over the next few months is great. The election results have been hotly contested: even before the MDC lost to ZANU-PF, there were credible allegations of vote-rigging, electoral violations, and intimidation at every turn. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has brought his challenge to Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court, the African Union, and the Southern African Development Community. He and his supporters are enraged with what they term a stolen election. Mugabe does not take charitably to such accusations. Zimbabwe could spiral into mayhem. Human rights activists, members of the opposition, and especially women are at risk. Mugabe has no compunction whatsoever in using violence to consolidate power. And he has never been in a stronger position to wield it,” added the official. Mathurin said fighting the election results as well as other human rights abuses through the courts would be futile. “The judicial system in Zimbabwe is in legal tatters and in thrall to Zanu (PF). It is impossible to pursue Mugabe through that avenue. Zimbabwe has not ratified the International Criminal Court statute, so the court, on its own, cannot launch an investigation into crimes against humanity. The new Zimbabwe constitution guarantees immunity to Mugabe from prosecution so long as he remains President, and even were he to step down, he can invoke the principle of “good faith” to defend actions taken while in office.” In 2009, the Jamaican-based AIDS-Free World was forced to turn to South Africa in pursuit of justice for women violated ahead of the 2008 election. “That is because every other avenue was at a dead-end, save one: action by the Security Council. AIDS-Free World has done its job; now it’s time for the Security Council to rise to the task. The situation is without precedent. Mugabe is systematically closing every lifeline to justice. It’s not just a matter of the fraudulent election; there are other draconian considerations at work. Conflict in Zimbabwe does not require war. It requires only Robert Mugabe,” Mathurin said.

Mugabe will not yield by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Mugabe will not yield – Africa | IOL News | IOL.co.za.  August 12 2013 By Angus Shaw Zimbabwe’s longtime President Robert Mugabe said Monday his party will not yield its victory in disputed elections and proclaimed it has thrown the enemy away “like garbage.” In his first public speech since the July 31 elections, Mugabe spoke at the annual Heroes’ Day gathering that honors guerrillas killed in the war for independence in 1980 at a national shrine outside Harare. Speaking in the local Shona language, in colloquial phrases he does not use when speaking in English, Mugabe called on his challenger and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to accept defeat. “Those who are smarting from defeat can commit suicide if they so wish. But I tell them even dogs will not sniff at their flesh if they choose to die that way,” he said. He described Tsvangirai as the “enemy” in his party’s midst during the shaky coalition brokered by regional leaders after the last disputed and violent poll in 2008. “We have thrown the enemy away like garbage. They say we have rigged, but they are thieves” because of corruption during their time in the government. “We say to them: You are never going to rise again.” Zimbabwe’s July 31 polls gave Mugabe 61 percent of the vote, trailed by outgoing Prime Minister Tsvangirai with 34 percent. Tsvangirai alleges widespread rigging and is challenging the poll results in court. He stayed away from Monday’s gathering. But in a message to his supporters marking the day, Tsvangirai said Zimbabweans are “still shocked by the brazen manner in which their vote was stolen.” “So many sons and daughters of this country sacrificed their lives … and one of the fundamental rights they toiled at, died for was the right to vote,” he said. But the 89-year-old Mugabe said Zimbabweans voted freely: “We are delivering democracy on a platter. Never will we go back on our victory.” Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party won 158 parliament seats on July 31 versus 50 captured by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change that Mugabe accuses of receiving money and backing from Britain, the former colonial power, the United States and other Western nations. One banner displayed at the event at the North Korean-built Heroes’ Acre shrine which was attended largely by thousands of Mugabe supporters showed the party’s clenched fist salute and declared: “July 31. The day we buried imperialism.” Mugabe, in an hour-long address broadcast on state radio and television, said voters confounded the country’s Western critics. “We are proving wrong those who say we are not able to conduct our affairs without outside interference,” he said. He said he thanked regional leaders and the continent-wide African Union organization for what he called “continuing to support our national efforts.” African Union election observers have given cautious approval of the vote but are still compiling their final report. The Southern African Development Community, a regional political and economic bloc, judged the polling itself peaceful and credible but has yet to pronounce it fair. Western nations, prevented by Mugabe from sending observers, have condemned the vote for irregularities in voters’ lists and elections procedures noted by independent local observers. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Minister William Hague expressed what they called grave concerns over the fairness of the vote. The EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said in Brussels last week that economic sanctions against Mugabe and his party leaders to protest a decade of human and democratic rights abuses cannot be lifted unless the vote is deemed credible, free and fair. Australia has called for fresh presidential and parliament elections before further economic measures can be eased. They had lifted some economic restrictions against Mugabe and his loyalists earlier this year to recognize free and unchallenged voting in a referendum on a new constitution. The sanctions involve business, banking and travel bans on Mugabe’s party and its leaders. Mugabe on Monday said he offered his gratitude to “friendly countries who always wish us well and on this occasion have also done so.” China, Iran, Russia, Venezuela and several African presidents, including South African President Jacob Zuma, the chief regional mediator on Zimbabwe, have sent congratulations to Mugabe on his victory. Sapa-AP

Heroes Day: Time to reflect by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Heroes Day: Time to reflect – DailyNews Live Today is Heroes Day and Zimbabweans from all walks of life and across the political divide will take time to reflect on and celebrate the efforts of gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who paid dearly for the country’s independence. This year’s commemorations come after the harmonised elections which saw President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF receive a fresh mandate to form the next government. However, the polls’ outcome is being fiercely disputed by the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai. The 89-year-old Mugabe, who will now serve his seventh term of office, is expected to give a keynote address today, a week after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) declared him winner. Regional election observers, the African Union (AU) and Sadc have since declared the election as free and peaceful but are yet to endorse its credibility. In a statement published in this issue, Tsvangirai says the biggest tragedy was that the independence which brave sons and daughters of Zimbabwe fought for did not come with the freedoms Zimbabweans aspire for. “Up to this day, we remain a nation of a heroic people as we have tenaciously toiled over the last 33 years to complete the unfinished business of our liberation struggle; indeed to achieve the true meaning of our collective national aspiration for a better life for ourselves and our children. “Indeed, so many sons and daughters of this country sacrificed their own lives so that we could be free again and one of the fundamental rights for which they toiled and died for was our right to vote. “We have just come from a disputed and stolen election and the majority of Zimbabweans are still shocked at the brazen manner in which their vote was stolen.” The MDC leader, who urged people not to despair, said he knew that Zimbabweans had voted for change. “I see a brighter tomorrow for all of us. I see the triumph of the will of the people. I see today’s thieves caught up in the shame of their brazen theft of the people’s will,” Tsvangirai said.

Mugabe dismisses MDC-T on Heroes Day as rigging evidence mounts by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Mugabe dismisses MDC-T on Heroes Day as rigging evidence mounts | SW Radio Africa by Tererai Karimakwenda on Monday, August 12, 2013 During Heroes’ Day celebrations on Monday Robert Mugabe dismissed the MDC-T allegations of vote rigging. But more damning evidence has emerged showing that a controversial Israeli firm was paid to manipulate the voters roll to favour him in the July 31st elections. “Those who lost elections may commit suicide if they so wish. Even if they die, dogs will not eat their flesh,” the 89-year old Mugabe told the crowd gathered for the annual celebrations at Heroes Acre, which this year the MDC-T boycotted in protest. Despite his denials, bank records detailing payments received by Nikuv International Projects were revealed in an MDC-T dossier, submitted with their legal papers on Friday at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt). The dossier shows that at least 50 payments were received by Nikuv between February 4 and July 30 this year, averaging about $200,000 each. The total paid to Nikuv came to about $10,578,335. On their own website, Nikuv acknowledge that they deal with elections in several African countries, including Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. But MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai alleges that Nikuv worked with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to rig the voters roll in Mugabe’s favour. The MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora, told SW Radio Africa Monday that they had secured the bank details from their intelligence unit, which he said has contacts “within the system” who are tired of the Mugabe regime. Regarding Heroes Day comments by Mugabe, Mwonzora said: “That is typical of a deranged old man who always says those kinds of things. We would not go to be addressed by the same person we are accusing of stealing the election.” Mwonzora confirmed that the MDC-T will not be a part of Mugabe’s cabinet, but would allow those who won to participate in parliament and local government, as they are “platforms where the party can further its agenda”. The MDC-T are challenging Mugabe’s election victory on 15 grounds and seek to have the elections declared null and void under section 93 of the Constitution. They also want a fresh election within 60 days. ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau and chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi are named as respondents along with Mugabe. But history has shown the judiciary system in Zimbabwe to be highly compromised, being stacked with judges appointed by Mugabe who have ruled in his favour on most occasions. The ConCourt has up to two weeks to rule on this crucial matter. Until this is resolved Mugabe cannot legally be sworn into office.

‘Go hang,’ Mugabe tells election critics by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via ‘Go hang,’ says Mugabe to election critics | News | Africa | Mail & Guardian.  12 AUG 2013 13:45 AFP Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said those upset by his disputed landslide election victory could “go hang”. The 89-year-old vowed never to let go of his victory as his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai lodged a petition in court challenging the election outcome.”Those who were hurt by defeat can go hang if they so wish,” Mugabe told thousands at a rally to honour heroes of the country’s liberation wars. “Never will we go back on our victory.” Mugabe was declared winner of the July 31 election with 61% of the vote against Tsvangirai’s 34%. Tsvangirai’s lawyers on Friday filed a petition at the Constitutional Court challenging the vote, which extended Mugabe’s 33-year rule by another five years. “We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave it, but the people have delivered democracy,” Mugabe said. Mugabe also said that if critics could not accept the official election results “you can commit suicide”. He called on his rivals as well as Western nations to accept the results. “Those who can’t stomach the defeat, you can commit suicide,” Mugabe said. – AFP, Sapa-dpaThe same story is reported elsewhere today: Robert Mugabe tells opposition to ‘go hang’ – ITV News. ‘Go hang’ Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe tells defeated foe | NDTV.com. Mugabe tells Tsvangirai to ‘go hang’ – Times LIVE. Mugabe Tells Tsvangirai ‘Go Hang’ in First Speech After Poll Victory – Voice of America | Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai takes proof to Sadc by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Tsvangirai takes ‘proof’ to Sadc by Mernat Mafirakurewa of Newsday Zimbabwe The MDC-T party will send the dossier containing “proof” of alleged poll irregularities to South African President Jacob Zuma ahead of the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for next week. The summit to be hosted by Malawi will be held on August 17 and 18. MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai last week lodged a Constitutional Court application challenging President Robert Mugabe’s July 31 polls victory claiming the polls were rigged. Mugabe won the presidential vote by almost 61%, while Zanu PF garnered more than two thirds of the parliamentary seats and insists the polls were free and fair. Sadc executive secretary Tomaz Salamao told a media briefing in Malawi yesterday that Zimbabwe would be on the agenda of the regional body’s summit. This is despite statements by Zanu PF that Zimbabwe would not be on the Sadc agenda and that mediation was no longer necessary. Sadc Troika chair Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to submit a report on Zimbabwe elections. Salamao, however, said he was yet to receive a copy of Tsvangirai’s court application. MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told NewsDay that his party was in the process of forwarding the dossier to Zuma. “We are also going to send representatives to present the dossier. We are sure Sadc will look at the information closely because they have already said they want to see the evidence of the allegations,” he said. Though he could not confirm if Sadc had invited his party, Mwonzora said he was hopeful Tsvangirai would be invited. According to the dossier accompanying Tsvangirai’s application, thousands of people were denied the opportunity to register as voters, traditional leaders and military personnel forced people to associate themselves with Zanu PF and many thousands were denied the right to vote. “In addition, thousands of rural voters were forced to declare illiteracy and forced to be assisted by designated persons aligned to Zanu PF. “The levels of tolerance across rural areas improved from 2008, but voters there were subjected to intimidation to force them to vote for Zanu PF,” Tsvangirai said in his dossier filed at the Constitutional Court. Botswana President Ian Khama last week called for a forensic audit of the electoral process in order to see if there were any shortcomings and, or irregularities that could have affected the poll outcome. “There is no doubt that what has been revealed so far by our observers cannot be considered as an acceptable standard for free and fair elections in Sadc. The community, Sadc, should never create the undesirable precedent of permitting exceptions to its own rules,” reads part of statement issued by his government. “The Government of Botswana hopes, therefore, that at the next Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government, which is scheduled for later this month in Lilongwe, Malawi, this issue will be placed on the agenda.” The Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit set for Lilongwe will deliberate on a wide range of regional issues including the appointment of a new leadership for the secretariat.

Tsvangirai’s Heroes Day message by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Tsvangirai’s Heroes Day message – NewsDay Zimbabwe. TODAY, we celebrate Heroes’ Day and tomorrow, we remember our gallant sons and daughters who have sworn to defend this country and its people when we celebrate Defence Forces Day. We have many brave men and women of this country who paid the ultimate price to bring independence to the country of our birth. Our only tragedy was that independence did not necessarily come with freedom and we still aspire to enjoy the full benefits of the struggle for which so many Zimbabweans died for. Up to this day, we remain a nation of a heroic people as we have tenaciously toiled over the last 33 years to complete the unfinished business of our liberation struggle; indeed to achieve the true meaning of our collective national aspiration for a better life for ourselves and our children. The right to choose freely, the right to health and education and the right to be Zimbabweans with full rights and benefits in the country of our birth were some of the key reasons that drove us to participate in that struggle. Indeed, so many sons and daughters of this country sacrificed their own lives so that we could be free again and one of the fundamental rights for which they toiled and died for was our right to vote. We have just come from a disputed and stolen election and the majority of Zimbabweans are still shocked at the brazen manner in which their vote was stolen. That stolen vote is a major betrayal of our inalienable right to vote for which so many people died. Even the so-called victors are ashamed to showcase and celebrate their stolen bounty. There is no national celebration and all I can see is a nation in mourning over the audacity of so few to steal from so many. The thief left so much evidence at the scene of crime as we shall expose in the people’s petition that we filed last week. We know that the nation voted for change and real transformation. We know that even our patriotic sons and daughters in the security services sector voted for positive change in their lives and they have yet to some to grips with the glaring evidence of their stolen vote. I urge all the heroic people of Zimbabwe not to despair. I want to congratulate all Zimbabweans, including those serving in the defence forces, because we know you voted in difficult circumstances for a better life and for better prospects for the country. We must all remain calm as we celebrate Heroes’ Day. I know that we will always be a heroic people. The people’s will shall always be greater than an individual’s preoccupation with the preservation of personal power. Yes, the people’s will shall always prevail. Today’s theft cannot stand in the way of tomorrow’s loud expression of the people’s will. Let all Zimbabweans enjoy this day. Let us all spend the holiday with our families, including our parents and relatives in the rural areas. Let us inspire them and give them confidence. We know they voted for change and we know their will shall prevail. We are a nation of heroes and heroines. Temporary setbacks have never stood in the way of a people with determination and stubborn will. And I know Zimbabweans are determined to achieve this change within their lifetime. I see a brighter tomorrow for all of us. I see the triumph of the will of the people. I see today’s thieves caught up in the shame of their brazen theft of the people’s will. Yes, I see a new and better Zimbabwe for we are a proud nation of a determined people. We shall remain resolute and steadfast until we achieve the national quest of change and real transformation. That new Zimbabwe is coming soon!

UN watchdog urges international boycott of ‘disgraceful’ Zim meeting by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via UN watchdog urges international boycott of ‘disgraceful’ Zim meeting | SW Radio Africa.  Posted by Alex Bell on Monday, August 12, 2013 An international non-governmental organisation that monitors the performance of the United Nations (UN) has called for a boycott of the upcoming UN tourism meeting being hosted by Zimbabwe this month. The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly begins on 26th August in Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe and Zambia co-hosting the globally significant event. Over 500 diplomats and dignitaries from 150 countries will be participating in the event, which critics have said is a “disgraceful show of support for a corrupt regime.” Among these critics is the UN Watch monitoring group which has called for a high level boycott of the meeting. The group’s Executive Director, Hillel Neuer, told SW Radio Africa that UN is “legitimizing” the Robert Mugabe regime and the just ended, deeply flawed elections that saw Mugabe re-elected as President. “We cannot understand how a major UN body would decide to legitimise that government. The government is also using this (the meeting) for propaganda reasons and we think this is the wrong place and the wrong time,” Neuer said. He added that the decision to allow Zimbabwe to host the conference, despite the Mugabe government’s history of human rights abuses and the current electoral crisis, “brings discredit to UN.” “These kinds of decision only bring harm to the reputation of the UN. We see how much Mugabe’s government is trying to use this international summit and good name of the UN to legitimise massive abuses of human rights that contravene universal declarations of human rights and key UN declarations. So how is someone who is acting against core UN principles, how can that person be regarded as a leader who should be host to the world on tourism?” Neuer asked. He called on UNWTO members to follow in the footsteps of Canada, which last year formally withdrew from the conference on the basis that the meeting “legitimised Mugabe.” The UK is also not participating this year, although the country has not clarified if this decision is linked to the electoral process in Zimbabwe, which it expressed concern about. “We are calling on other countries to stay away,” Neuer said, adding: “If the UN were living up to its own ideals, Zimbabwe would be the last destination for this meeting.”

Russian firms invest in Darwendale platinum project by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Platinum Today: Russian firms invest in Zimbabwe’s Darwendale platinum project.  12 AUGUST 2013 A consortium of companies including Russia’s Rostec and Vneshekonombank is buying a 40% stake in a project to develop one of the world’s largest platinum fields in Zimbabwe. They will invest in Ruschrome Mining, a Russian-African joint venture licensed to mine the field, according to Kommersant. Parties hope to exploit the Darwendale platinum project’s 19 ts in proven reserves and 775 total ts of metals including palladium, gold, nickel and copper. Ruschrome is partly owned by the Zimbabwean government and the Center of Business Cooperation with Foreign Countries, an association of machinery and defence firms that will retain a ten per cent stake in the project. The consortium also includes the Netherlands-based aluminium company Vimetco, It comes after Zimbabwe’s government said it will seize assets held by foreign-owned platinum mining companies operating in the country without recompense. Saviour Kasukuwere, minister in charge of the government’s indigenisation policy, said Zimbabwe “will not pay for her resources”.

Mugabe makes first speech since Zimbabwe poll by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via BBC News – Mugabe makes first speech since disputed Zimbabwe poll Robert Mugabe is to deliver his first public speech since he won Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential election. Mr Mugabe will address a Heroes’ Day celebration in the capital, Harare, to commemorate those who died during the country’s war of independence. The Movement for Democratic Change of his main rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is boycotting the event. The party has lodged a legal challenge against the result of the “stolen election”, demanding it be rerun. Mr Mugabe won 61% of the vote in the election on 31 July, while Mr Tsvangirai came second with 35% and Welshman Ncube third with 3%, according to official results. The president’s Zanu-PF party also gained a parliamentary majority of more than two-thirds on the same day, winning 160 of the 210 seats. Deep rifts Heroes’ Day is Zimbabwe’s proud annual celebration, when the country remembers those who died during the 1970s fighting for independence, reports the BBC’s Mark Lowen in Johannesburg. On Monday, Mr Mugabe will make a speech at National Heroes’ Acre, the monument in the capital where some of those killed are buried. Our correspondent says the 89-year-old president’s addresses are traditionally full of his firebrand nationalist rhetoric targeting the former colonial power, the UK, but he is also likely to laud his landslide victory in the last month’s election. The MDC is boycotting the event in protest at what it says was massive vote rigging by Zanu-PF, so this Heroes’ Day will have political overtones too, exposing the deep rifts at the heart of this troubled country, our correspondent adds. Mr Mugabe has not yet been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, since the appeal is ongoing. He maintains that he and Zanu-PF won free and fair elections. The MDC has said it has “strong evidence of electoral irregularities”, including bribery, abuse of “assisted voting”, and manipulation of the electoral roll. African and regional monitors praised the poll for being peaceful but noted some irregularities. But a local observer group, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) and its network of 7,000 observers, said that about one million voters – mainly in urban areas – were “systematically disenfranchised” by being omitted from the voters’ roll or turned away. The nine-member Constitutional Court is expected to discuss the complaint this week. It has up to two weeks to deliver its verdict. But, with several judges being supporters of Mr Mugabe, our correspondent says few expect the MDC challenge to bear fruit. In a separate development on Sunday, state radio reported that the ministry of mines had denied a report in the Times newspaper that it had agreed to sell Iran uranium for its nuclear programme. A ministry statement was quoted as stressing that the report was “a malicious and blatant lie”, and that no export licences had been issued. Iran’s foreign minister has also denied the report.

No election celebrations by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via No election celebrations | The Zimbabwean. Although Zanu (PF) managed to ‘wrestle’ 23 of the 26 provincial House of Assembly seats in Manicaland province from MDC-T in the election, there are few celebrations in the city.

Quiet streets following the announcement of a Zanu (PF) victory.

In the run up to the polls, Zanu (PF) painted the city green, yellow and black. However, following the announcement of the parliamentary and presidential results hardly any locals were seen wearing Zanu (PF) party regalia in the city and surrounding areas. Locals interviewed by this paper dismissed the outcome of the polls as a “fraud and farce”. They said it was surprising that whilst Zanu (PF) won 75 percent of the vote there was only 25 percent of people celebrating. “The outcome does not reflect the will of the people. It’s an undisputed fact that the political landscape in the country has totally changed and we will never have one party running the show alone,” said Munyaradzi Maroto of Zimunya communal lands. There were pockets of celebrations in Sakubva but they quickly faded when none of the residents joined in. People were locked in their houses while vendors continued with their day-to-day business.

Marange sues Core Mining by ZimSitRep – 08-12-2013
via Marange sues Core Mining | The Herald by Martin Kadzere Senior Business Reporter MARANGE Resources has obtained permission from the High Court to proceed with its US$2 billion lawsuit against Core Mining Resources and Minerals for financial prejudice after the latter allegedly misrepresented it had money to invest in a diamond mining venture. Marange, a State-owned diamond miner, is a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Company. It partnered Core Mining to form Canadile in 2009 to exploit diamonds in Marange. Last week, High Court judge Justice Francis Bere granted leave (permission) to serve Core Mining, under final liquidation, with summons through the service of the Sheriff of the Gauteng High Court. The liquidators, Selwyn Trakman and Satish Roopa, are also being cited as respondents. Mr Lovemore Kurwoti, a principal shareholder and director in Core Mining, is alleged to have made false representations that the company was a subsidiary of Benny Steimetz Group Resources, a well established international mining company. BSGR was to provide financial, technical and machinery support to the joint venture with Marange. As a result, the ZMDC approved the joint venture believing that it was dealing with BSGR. It was, however, discovered that Core Mining was not in any way related to BSGR and the international mining firm had no interest in the project. In addition, Core Mining did not have financial and technical resources required for the joint venture project. The guarantors of Core Mining’s financial obligations were Yehuda Licht and Subrithy Naidoo, who had no connections with BSGR, nor did they have capacity to honour their guarantee. Marange, through ZMDC, then instituted an investigation to establish the extent of fraud. The joint venture was subsequently terminated in October 2010 because the agreements entered between the two were considered to have no effect from the beginning. “As a consequence of (Core Mining) representations, (Marange) suffered serious financial prejudice in that (Marange Resources) did not receive the expected investment in value of US$200 million in the joint venture which would have achieved a return of US$2 billion,” according to court papers filed by Marange. “Had (Marange Resources) known the true facts, it would not have signed the agreements.” Last year, a South African court granted a liquidation order against Core Mining after the company failed to settle its debts. According to papers filed at South Gauteng High Court, an applicant, Babcock Africa Services, which operates the Volvo franchise in SA, said Core Mining had failed to pay close to R11 million for equipment supplied. Core Mining had made an application for adjournment of the liquidation hearing to allow Zimbabwean courts to finalise criminal charges against some of its directors. But the South African court ruled that a favourable outcome to Core Mining was “nebulous” and “speculative” to warrant an adjournment of the hearing.