South African Envoys Again in Harare in Bid to Cool Latest Crisis, Election Fever

http://www.voanews.com/

President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai are barely on speaking terms
and the Senate has adjourned to February 2011 following disruption of the
upper chamber by senators of Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC

Blessing Zulu | Washington 16 November 2010

A team of South African mediators continued efforts Tuesday to calm the
political strife in Harare where communications within the power sharing
government have broken down and two of the three governing parties are
talking elections in 2011.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are barely on
speaking terms and the Senate has been adjourned to February 2011 following
disruption of the upper chamber by senators of Mr. Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change wing protesting allegedly unilateral gubernatorial
appointments by Mr. Mugabe.

The South African facilitation team led by Zuma advisor Lindiwe Zulu held
separate meetings with President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai on
Monday, and met on Tuesday with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, head
of a rival MDC formation.

Mutambara has declared that the country is not ready for elections next
year, accusing his fellow unity government principals of "grandstanding"
with their ballot calls.

MDC sources said Mr. Tsvangirai demanded a road-map to elections and an end
to the steadily rising political intimidation and outright violence,
especially in rural areas.

Mr. Tsvangirai also demanded that Mr. Mugabe's appointments of provincial
governors, ambassadors and judges, which his party says were made without
consultation under the Global Political Agreement for power sharing, be
reversed.

But the presence of the Zuma team not prevent the protagonists from trading
barbs.

Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC criticized Vice President John Nkomo in a statement
Tuesday for saying in an interview quoted by the state-controlled Herald
newspaper that his ZANU-PF party made a mistake by entering the national
unity government.

Nkomo said ZANU-PF entered the unity government "because we thought it was
the best way forward, but obviously we were mistaken.” He added that “we
cannot keep on dining with the enemy... We are strange bed fellows and the
earlier we separate the better."

The MDC statement urged the vice president to "zip his mouth." It said such
statements are "tantamount to creating divisions in a nation that is nursing
bruises inflicted by ZANU-PF functionaries during a reign of terror that
sought to silence any dissenting voice following their landslide defeat to
MDC in 2008."

It said Nkomo was a "purveyor of acrimony" rather than "an agent of national
healing," a reference to his position as a co-chairman of the Organ on
National Healing.

ZANU-PF sources for their part said Mr. Mugabe told the South African envoys
that the impasse in the unity government could only solved by an early
election. In principle the term of the unity government ends in two years,
or February 2009, though its leaders could agree to extend it as the
Southern African Development Community urges.

Mr. Mugabe’s position was echoed by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who
said the MDC disruption of the Senate amounted to a call for early
elections, and that ZANU-PF intended to organize elections even earlier than
mid-2011 as Mr. Mugabe envisioned.

But Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu of the Tsvangirai MDC formation,
commented in an interview with reporter Blessing Zulu that Chinamasa was
misguided.

ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo also contradicted Chinamasa, saying the party
will not rush into an early election.

Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, a civic
group, said the South African mediation was an exercise in futility.

Zim diamond certification scandal revealed

http://www.afrol.com/articles/36926

© CIBJO/afrol News

afrol News, 17 November - Zimbabwean diamonds worth US$ 160 million have
been exported to India following a Kimberley Process certification by a
South African businessman, although Zimbabwe diamonds are barred from such
certification.

In the beginning of November, a high-profiled Kimberley Process meeting in
Israel decided that the export ban on Zimbabwean diamonds would not yet be
lifted. The Kimberley Process regulates the international diamond trade and
especially aims at preventing "blood diamonds" reaching world markets.

Zimbabwe had been blacklisted as a diamond exporter last year over
systematic human rights abuses in the diamond mining industry and due to the
alleged control of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party of the industry.

At the Israel meeting it was noted that, while Zimbabwe had made progress in
some areas, further work was still required on key elements including
demilitarisation, smuggling and the legalisation of small-scale mining. The
plenary discussions on diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange mining area ended
without agreement following four days of negotiations.

The discussion to a large degree was based on a report by the Kimberley
Process' responsible for monitoring Marange, South African businessman Abbey
Chikane. Mr Chikane had earlier been implicated in the arrest of diamond
researcher Farai Maguwu, who had played a pivotal role in exposing the
rights abuses at Marange.

This week, it was known that the same Mr Chikane, still attached to the
Kimberley Process, has acted on his own behalf, issuing Kimberley
certificates for a large number of Zimbabwean diamonds.

According to the pressure group Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), Mr Chikane
had returned to Zimbabwe on Friday 12 November and immediately certified all
production from two controversial mining concessions, "including millions of
stockpiled diamonds."

Mr Chikane's actions took place "without the authorisation or sanction of
the Kimberley Process," according to PAC. Industry sources had confirmed
that the diamonds, worth an estimated US$ 160 million, have already been
sold to four Indian buyers. The controversial gems probably already have
arrived the Indian state of Gujarat, which now cuts and polishes 90 percent
of the world's diamonds.

Zimbabwean authorities already after the Israel meeting threatened to openly
defy the Kimberley Process and export its diamonds despite the international
ban still being in place.

Bernard Taylor of PAC says the large-scale export of Zimbabwean diamonds
would be "an unprecedented and serious breach of Kimberley Process
standards." He urged Kimberley Process members to send "a clear and unified
message to Zimbabwe that they will not accept these illegal exports. The
entire credibility of the Kimberley Process as a mechanism to stop the trade
of conflict diamonds is on the line."

"The Kimberley Process is at a crossroads. Either we unite in the face of
such blatant disregard for the rules, or we allow ourselves to be bullied
into irrelevance," added Nadim Kara of PAC. "Zimbabwe must operate within
the Kimberley Process, or the diamond industry will go back to the anarchy
and chaos of the 1990s."

The pressure group demanded the Kimberley Process to "nullify the
certificates Mr Chikane issued and notify all diamond trading countries that
any shipments would be in violation of Kimberley Process standards."

By staff writer

KP Chair: No Trade of Marange Diamonds Can Currently Take Place

http://www.idexonline.com

(November 17, '10, 10:53 IDEX Online Staff Reporter)

(IDEX Online News) - “The Plenary did not come to an agreement regarding
KPCS arrangement for diamonds from the Marange area,” said Kimberley Process
Chair Boaz Hirsch in a first official reaction to the unauthorized KP
certification of Zimbabwe’s goods.

Hirsch said that consultations are ongoing and that Zimbabwe made progress
in terms of compliance with KP requirements, “offering sufficient
reassurance that there would continue to be progress in all areas under the
Joint Work Plan.”

He stressed that it is of utmost importance that all KP participants remain
vigilant and ensure that the terms of the Joint Work Plan JWP and St.
Petersburg agreement are respected.

Last week KP Monitor Abbey Chikane returned to Zimbabwe and diamonds from
the two Marange mines. Chikane was not on an official mission of KP and the
exports have not been approved by the international rough diamond scheme.
Consequently, goods worth some $160 million were sold and may have been
already exported to India.

The KP Chair responded to this, saying, “No trade of Marange diamonds can
currently take place under the Joint Work Plan until an agreement can be
found.”

“Participants are therefore reminded of the need for vigilance and ask
Participant to notify the WGM chair in the event of receipt of an irregular
shipment of Marange diamonds, until new arrangements are agreed that will
allow continued implementation of the Joint Work Plan, including the
supervised export mechanism. I very much count on your support and will keep
you informed of developments.”

Standard journalist arrested and charged with criminal defamation

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 November 2010

Police in Bulawayo on Wednesday arrested Standard journalist Nqobani Ndlovu
and charged him with criminal defamation, for a story he wrote on the
cancellation of promotional examinations in the force.

In an article that appeared in the latest edition of the Standard, the 26
year-old Ndlovu alleged that the examinations were being scrapped to
facilitate the absorption of war veterans and retired officers back into the
police force ahead of next year’s elections.

Our Bulawayo correspondent Lionel Saungweme told us Ndlovu was arrested in
the presence of his lawyer, Josephat Tshuma, when the two visited Bulawayo
central police station in the morning.

‘Police have indicated that Ndlovu will spend 24 hours in custody to help
them with their investigations over the story that he wrote. There are
indications he will appear in court in the morning (Thursday),’ Saungweme
said.

On Tuesday, police had swooped on the offices of the Standard newspaper in
Bulawayo, and taken away bureau chief Dumisani Sibanda for questioning.
MISA-Zimbabwe said police from the Criminal Investigations Department’s Law
and Order section interrogated him over the whereabouts of Ndlovu. He was
only released when he said that the journalist was out of town.

Saungweme said Ndlovu has been charged under Section 96 of the Criminal Law
of Codification act and reform for allegedly publishing defamatory
statements against the Police Commissioner and the police force as an
organisation.

‘Ndlovu’s lawyer also informed me that the police have indicated that they
wanted to arrest the editor of the Standard, Nevanji Madanhire, over the
story. This year alone there has been a serious crackdown on journalists,’
observed Saungweme.

Three weeks ago freelance journalists, Nkosana Dlamini and Andreson Manyere
were arrested in Harare and held overnight before being charged with
‘criminal nuisance.’

In established democracies, charges of criminal defamation have been
outlawed and scrapped from laws that govern many countries in the western
world.

Recently Irene Petras, the director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, said cases of criminal defamation involving scribes was proof that
there were still major challenges facing journalists in the country.

She said; ‘Criminal defamation is not something we need in our statutory
books. People have enough remedies to resolve these issues without
instituting criminal charges.’

In a document on criminal defamation, MISA-Zimbabwe says defamation laws
have the effect of not only silencing the media but also silencing society,
which relies on the media to know and critique government decisions.

Zimbabwe journalists claim police intimidation

http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Written by David Brewer

Zimbabwe journalists Dumisani Sibanda and Nqobani Ndlovu have been
questioned by police following a story published in The Standard, an
independent newspaper. Sibanda, the paper’s Bulawayo bureau chief, was
picked up by police at his office. Ndlovu was taken away for questioning
this morning.

Dumisani SibandaSibanda was released, but one of his journalists, Nqobani
Ndlovu, who wrote the offending article entitled 'Police exams cancelled',
was handed over by company lawyers at 10am this morning after police arrived
at the newspaper's offices. The Standard, a weekly newspaper, is one of
three published by the independent media house Alpha Media Holdings (AMH).

AMH also publishes The Zimbabwe Independent, a financial weekly, and
NewsDay, a daily. All three have websites.

Trevor Ncube, Chairman of AMH, described the incident at an act of
harassment and intimidation by the police which must not be allowed.

“This confirms our fears that there are elements within the government who
don't believe in press freedom and the freedom of expression. There is a
sense within the police force that they are a law unto themselves and they
can do as they wish."

An editorial in the Standard's sister paper, the daily NewsDay today says
journalists in Zimbabwe are walking in “a political minefield.”

Raphael Khumalo AMH Group Chief Executive Officer said that their newspaper
NewsDay, along with the government-controlled paper the Chronicle, has been
reporting on various cases of "police killings and general brutality against
civilians" in and around Bulawayo. Khumalo says that police have therefore
been looking for a moment at which they can then pounce at the press.

"They are trying to harass and threaten our reporters with force so that in
future should there be cases of police brutality they will be afraid to
report them and the police will go about acting outside the law, killing and
abusing citizens with the press turning a blind eye."

Khumalo says the AMH offices in Bulawayo are located across the road from
Central Police Station. He says there was no need for the police to send
four officers led by a Detective Inspector to effect an arrest and when they
could not find the author of the article or the editor they then proceeded
to arrest the bureau chief.

"This morning at 8:13 am four police officers arrived at our offices to
effect an arrest on Nqobani Ndlovu who wrote the article and when they were
told he was not in the office they went away. Another group of five officers
arrived again at 09:34. Ndlovu was handed over to police by AMH lawyer
Josphat Tshuma 20 minutes later," he said.

A number of news sites have claimed the incident is an assault on media
freedom. Roy Greenslade wrote about the arrest in his blog in the UK's
Guardian newspaper.

Note: Declaration of interest. Earlier this year I ran two week-long
training courses for both independent and state-run media in Zimbabwe,
including a week in Bulawayo. Dumisani Sibanda was one of the participants.

David BrewerDavid BrewerThe author of this piece, David Brewer, is a
journalist and media strategy consultant who set up and runs this site,
Media Helping Media. He delivers media strategy training and consultancy
services worldwide and his business details are at Media Ideas International
Ltd. He tweets @helpingmedia.

Cabinet drama as Deputy PM’s resist security search

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
17 November 2010

The circus surrounding the crumbling coalition government continued Tuesday,
when overzealous security guards attempted to search Deputy Prime Minister’s
Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe, who had come for a cabinet meeting.

Reports say Khupe objected vehemently and walked away, while Mutambara took
a more confrontational approach and ‘bulldozed his way in’.

Despite initially walking straight back to her office Khupe is said to have
later returned, after being asked back. The Daily News website quoted
sources who said the two queried, ‘why they should be searched yet Mugabe
was not subjected to the same treatment. This search business started last
week but is selective,’ they said.
On Wednesday the MDC-T issued a statement saying they were shocked by the
harassment. The party commended Khupe for refusing to be subjected to the
humiliation of a body search and reiterated its demands for what it called
‘comprehensive security sector reform.’

Speculation so far suggests Tuesday’s drama is part of a wider cold war that
erupted in October, after Tsvangirai’s complaint over Mugabe’s unilateral
appointments of judges, ambassadors and governors. Tsvangirai has not spoken
to the ZANU PF leader ‘one on one’ in over a month and continues to boycott
meetings with him.

Speaking to France 24 in a television interview aired last week Wednesday,
Tsvangirai said “I think since the unilateral action, I have stopped
engaging him. Of course we meet in cabinet. But the regular Monday meetings
we used to have, I have ceased them, because I found that it was unhelpful.’

Political Interference In Zim Weather Forecast

http://www.radiovop.com

17/11/2010 14:41:00

Harare, November 17, 2010 - A senior government environmentalist and
meteorologist has admitted that there is heavy political interference and
censorship of the weather forecasts in Zimbabwe before it is issued out to
the public.

He said this was because this information was seen as sensitive.

This information is moderated if I may say,” Climate Change Zimbabwe office
Director Washington Zhakata told journalists attending an on-going five day
Climate Change workshop in Harare.

Journalists had asked Zhakata the reason why the Meteorological Services
Department (MET) had over the years denied of possible droughts which would
later be experienced despite them having told the nation that the country
was expecting normal to above normal rainfall every year.

Sources said the MET Department gave daily weather updates to cabinet before
producing the information to
the public.

Failure by the Meteorological Services department to give accurate in
formation to the public has over the years misled farmers and resulted in
them failing to appropriately plan.

Zhakata said the other reason for inaccurate weather forecasting was caused
by brain drain.

“As you know all the most experienced guys left during the peak of the
economic crisis leaving the department with inexperienced human resources,”
Zhakata said.

Obsolete weather equipment is reportedly affecting the country’s weather
forecasting.

Civic groups to meet Salomao over planned elections

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Guthrie Munyuki
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 10:01

HARARE - Zimbabwe civil society leaders will on Monday meet SADC executive
secretary Tomaz Salomao in Botswana to exert  pressure on the regional body
to ensure that Zimbabwe holds free and fair elections next year.

Dewa Mavhinga, the Crisis Coalition regional co-ordinator told The Daily
News from South Africa that the civic society leaders  want to convey its
concerns on the plebiscite which they want to be held  in an environment
that promotes democracy and eliminates electoral fraud.

“The Zimbabwe Civil Society leaders under the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
banner will on Monday, November 22, meet with SADC Executive Secretary, Dr.
Tomaz Salomao in Gaborone, Botswana to convey their concerns around planned
elections in Zimbabwe and to call upon SADC to play a more direct role in
directing and managing any future elections in Zimbabwe to ensure there are
genuinely credible, free and fair - reflecting the will of Zimbabweans and
are without violence and intimidation.

“The meeting is also meant to build relations between Zimbabwe civil society
and the SADC Secretariat, seeing that civil society has so far been
marginalised in the search for a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's challenges.
This meeting builds upon a meeting last month between civil society leaders
and President Zuma's Facilitation Team where similar issues were raised,”
Mavhinga said.

The delegation will be led by Crisis Coalition chairperson Jonah Gokovah and
spokesperson, Phillip Pasirayi.

Mavhinga said the current environment does not permit the holding of free
and fair elections although President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister
Tsvangirai have both said they are geared for the plebiscite which observers
fear could be bloody.

“Zimbabwe’s political environment remains poisoned with violence,
intimidation and fear, despite the constitution of the National Security
Council, which has failed to ensure meaningful control  over the security
forces and check the existence, as an alternative-governing centre of the
Joint Operations Command (JOC).

“Without external assistance from SADC and its member states in the
management of elections and in setting up mechanisms to prevent violence,
the next election may be no different from the chaotic and violent June 2008
polls, if not worse,” the Coalition said in its earlier meeting with
President Jacob Zuma’s  team in Johannesburg last month.

Mavhinga said the Coalition will be repeating the same message to Salomao
during their meeting “because nothing has changed”.

The Coalition has repeatedly argued that the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) was largely a ‘box-ticking exercise’ lacking full
compliance with the agreement’s letter and spirit.

“The real outstanding issue is holistic and actual implementation of the GPA
itself, especially as it relates to security sector reform and governance,
full restoration of the rule of law, respect for basic rights and freedoms
as well as other institutional reforms that will enable Zimbabwe to hold a
credible election, free of violence and whose outcome can be respected as
the will of the people.

“There is ample evidence that Zimbabwe’s security sector remains highly
partisan, unprofessional and politicised. The National Security Council,
which was intended to provide civilian oversight to the security sector and
take a lead in reforming the sector, is barely functional,” read part of the
document which was presented to Zuma.

The civil society leaders’ regional drive comes as Zuma has re-activated a
plan to bring Mugabe and Tsvangirai together after their fall-out over the
unilateral appointments of provincial governors and ambassadors by the Zanu
PF leader.

Zuma this week sent his emissaries to try and nudge both Tsvangirai and
Mugabe to repair their relationship which has seen the prime Minster
boycotting two cabinet sittings and his weekly Monday meetings with the
President.

Last week, Zuma  said the country should come up with a clear roadmap that
includes instruments necessary for the holding of free and fair elections.

The inclusive government has not defined, in clear terms, the roadmap to
democratic, free and fair elections; neither has  it stated key benchmarks
in that roadmap.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has said it has no money to prepare for
the elections putting into sharp focus both Mugabe and Tsvangirai obstinacy
on the holding of elections.

“Mugabe is nothing if not consistent: he wins by violence, rigging, bribes,
coercion, threats, propaganda etc. It has always worked so why should he
change a winning strategy?

“We call on the Security Council to ensure that the next elections in
Zimbabwe are free and fair. We look to the United Nations to supervise the
electoral process and the handover of power to a new government and believe
peace-keeping troops will need to be in place before, during and after the
polling,” said the London-based pressure group, the Vigil last month.

The Vigil’s call resonates with the British government which recently said
it was working closely with Sadc to ensure that Zimbabwe’s presidential and
parliamentary elections due next year are free and fair.

“Our Government is doing all it possibly can, working with the Southern
African Development Community, front-line countries, the UN and the EU.
There are two important polls coming up next year-the referendum on the
constitution and the presidential and parliamentary elections-and it is
vital that monitors and observers are in place early," Henry Bellingham, the
parliamentary under-secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said
recently.

War vets kicked off land

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by JEFFREY MOYO
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 06:11

Chinese brick-maker moves in

HARARE - War veterans who were used to invade a commercial farm in
Dzivarasekwa Extension  have been kicked off the land, and it has now been
sold to a Chinese brick-moulding company called Tyger Bricks.
In separate interviews, several war veterans accused Zanu (PF) officials of
being sellouts, bent on dispossessing indigenous Zimbabweans and using the
so-called land reform programme to benefit themselves and foreigners. The
farm, popularly known as kwaBob, was invaded by war veterans and ordinary
community members from Dzivarasekwa Extension.
An irate war veteran, Tirivangani Pabodzi, vented his fury at having had his
farming activities disrupted as a result of the farm having been sold to the
Chinese. “We don’t eat bricks, we don’t eat the horrible smoke that is
coming from these Chinese ovens of bricks,” he said, adding that the new
owners had evicted everybody from the farm.
“We have nowhere else to go. How are we going to farm in order to supplement
our food supplies? This Chinese project is not benefitting the people at
all,” complained Pabodzi. Other community members who spoke to this reporter
alleged that the new owners were “very brutal” when they ordered the people
to vacate the land, claiming that they were protected by President Robert
Mugabe.
When this reporter visited the farm in question, which is now Tyger Bricks,
a makeshift police post, mounted by the ZRP, guarded the entrance. In a
telephone interview, the director of Tyger Bricks, a Mr Tian, denied the
claims of the war veterans. However, he did confirm that his company was not
farming the land.
He said the property had been bought from the government, following all
necessary procedures with the sole intention of starting a brick-moulding
business. “We bought the farm for the purpose of moulding bricks. We applied
for the project that is what we are doing,” he said.
Political observers said this was a classic case of land resettlement being
nothing but a political football. “All over the country since 2000,
impoverished war veterans have been used as a battering ram to get rid of
commercial, mainly white, farmers in order to punish them for supporting the
MDC,” said one observer. “Where their presence no longer suits those in
authority, or where they get in the way of more lucrative ventures, they are
simply kicked off the land without a second thought for their welfare,” he
said.

MDC Hit At Zim Vice President

http://www.radiovop.com

16/11/2010 22:41:00

HARARE: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) says Vice-president John Nkomo is a misguided element who is out to
inflame political tension in the country by making reckless statements.

Nkomo at the weekend said Zanu PF regretted joining the inclusive government
saying the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was out to reverse the gains
of independence. He said it was a grave mistake to enter into an agreement
with the MDC.

But in a statement, the MDC said Nkomo should not be taken seriously saying
the “unelected” Nkomo has chosen to be a purveyor of acrimony instead of
being an agent of national healing.

“The MDC dismisses statements by Zanu PF’s John Nkomo in Esigodini,
Matabeleland South recently, as reckless, irresponsible and misbegotten. Mr
Nkomo should count himself lucky for being the country’s vice president
following the thwarting of his party in the 2008 general election.

“It was through the magnanimity of the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe that
people like Nkomo are still occupying offices in Government.  For the
unelected people to then try and deceive the people in the rural areas
saying it was out of Zanu PF’s benevolence that the GPA came into existence
is regrettable, much as it is dishonest.
“Such utterances are tantamount to creating divisions in a nation that is
nursing bruises inflicted by Zanu PF functionaries during a reign of terror
that sought to silence any dissenting voice following their landslide defeat
to MDC in 2008, from which Zanu PF refused a smooth transition from
dictatorship to a full democracy,” said the MDC is a statement.

The MDC said instead of promoting divisions and hatred among the people,
Nkomo should concentrate on instilling confidence in the people by talking
about fertilizers and agricultural inputs and about bread and butter issues
which are of significance to the people.

The statement reminded Nkomo that the inclusive government was a temporary
agreement whose sole purpose was tom pull Zimbabwe out of the political and
economic crisis. It added that the MDC had come in to bring back the rails
after the Zanu PF bungling.
“The people of Zimbabwe deserve better. The national sentiment on the
inevitability of change and total transformation has never been in doubt.
The sooner Zanu PF and its agents, including Nkomo, comprehend that the
better realisation of a national destiny that meets the people’s
aspirations.
“It is therefore reckless that Nkomo would suggest that the formation of the
inclusive government was a grave political mistake as the only mistake that
the people of Zimbabwe ever made, and regrettably so, was to allow Zanu PF’s
shadow to dance within the frames of the Zimbabwe portrait.

“The MDC remains committed to the agreement and calls on Zanu PF, Nkomo
included, to desist forthwith from inflaming political tensions, poisoning
the people’s mind and polluting ordinary citizens’ heart through misguided
and ill-thought statements issued to people especially in rural areas,” read
part of the highly critical statement.

Since Mugabe announced that elections will be held next year, Zanu PF and
the MDC have been trading insults with Tsvangirai recently revealing that he
had now spent more than a month without talking to President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai went on to describe Mugabe as a crook and dishonest individual.

Lack of resources derails justice delivery in Zim

http://www.mg.co.za/

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Nov 17 2010 08:07

Most districts in Zimbabwe are operating with a single magistrate as
understaffing continues to derail justice delivery, a chief magistrate said.

Outlining challenges likely to stall the establishment of a proposed Family
Law Court, Chief Magistrate Hlekani Mwayera said resource constraints
worsened the situation, Zimbabwe's Herald Online reported on Wednesday.

Mwayera said most courts were operating from rented space, with the
Beitbridge Magistrate's Court occupying a hall that the district
administrator also used for other functions.

"Most of our district courts are manned by one magistrate. The same
magistrate who presides over criminal matters, also deals with appeals and
reviews from local courts.

"He or she does police and prison visits as well as performing other
administrative duties."

To this end, Mwayera said, it was practically impossible to create
specialised family law courts.

"While we have a few of our own courtrooms with spacious offices situated
mostly in provincial centres and a few district courts, most of our
courtrooms and offices are situated within rented buildings from the
district administrators' offices."

Women's Affairs Minister Olivia Muchena said family courts would improve
social structures.

"Women with maintenance, custody, marital, property and other problems
complain that no one listens to their stories.

"Reform is clearly needed in those areas that directly affect people's
personal and family lives," she said.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry will review the recommendations. -- 
Sapa

Makone fears election bloodbath if no reforms are made

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
17 November 2010

Co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone foresees a ‘bloodbath’ if Zimbabwe
holds an election next year without implementing any meaningful reforms.

Speaking in Part 2 of our Question Time programme Makone said not only would
the country have a repeat of the election violence in 2008 but, ‘I see a
worse scenario because the perpetrators have gained experience in what they
did in 2008. So I see a bloodbath not an election.’

Explaining her prediction, the MDC-T minister said; ‘Free and fair elections
are possible provided that we implement those things in the GPA that we
agreed to which would lead to a peaceful environment and a tolerant
environment.’ She cited the need for reforms in the security sector and the
need to build political tolerance.

Makone said it was important for the Zimbabwe Election Commission , Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission and Zimbabwe Media Commission to do the work that
they were set up for. All these things she said would contribute to a
conducive environment being put into place.

Asked if it had been a mistake for the MDC-T to enter into the coalition
government Makone said; ‘It was not a mistake at all because when you read
the Amendment Number 19 (the clause in the constitution, adding the GPA) and
all its provisions, it had taken into account all the things that were of
concern to the people of Zimbabwe. The problem she said was the non
implementation of the agreement.

NB: For the full Part 2 of the interview with Theresa Makone tune in to
Question Time this Wednesday.

Graca Machel tells Zim leaders to respect Constitution process

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 November, 2010

The globally respected wife of former South African President Nelson
Mandela, Graca Machel, arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday on a three-day mission
to assess how the coalition government and other institutions are dealing
with children’s rights.

Machel is known as a champion of women and children’s issues, and after
meeting children from different organizations on Tuesday, said the young
should not be the ones to pay the price for the country’s economic and
political decline.

She had listened to children talking about their personal lives in Zimbabwe
and described the experience as ‘emotional’ and said that the children had
spoken to her heart. Machel is quoted as saying: “This session was enough
and I don’t need any more to understand the situation on children in the
country.”

Machel belongs to a group called The Elders, respected global leaders who
were brought together by Nelson Mandela to use their influence to assist in
peace building efforts and promote human rights issues.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa, who has followed Machel’s progress
in Zimbabwe, said the campaigner addressed journalists at the UNESCO
headquarters on Wednesday, and stressed the importance of respecting the
constitution in order to protect the rights of children and women.

Machel said she had met with civic society leaders, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and Vice President John
Nkomo separately. She also said that she had hoped to meet with Robert
Mugabe, but this was not possible due to Mugabe’s schedule.

Muchemwa said Machel explained that she had told the leaders she met to
allow COPAC to finalise the Constitution making process, because it was
fundamental to upholding the rule of law, regardless of whether elections
are held next year. She said some progress had been made in the places that
she visited, especially hospitals, but added that Zimbabwe still needed much
help in development.

Life for children in Zimbabwe has deteriorated greatly under the Mugabe
regime. A BBC documentary titled ‘Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children’, shown
earlier this year, chronicled the lives of several poor children in the
urban and rural areas. After filming, producer Xoliswa Sithole wrote:
“Children are now not only living on the streets, they are giving birth on
the streets. A second generation of street children is growing up. The
system was supposed to take care of its people, but it has failed.”

It is not clear whether Machel’s trip to Zimbabwe was intended to raise
awareness only or whether she plans to raise funds for the charities that
she visited. But like other SADC leaders, Machel did not openly criticize
Mugabe or ZANU PF for any of the abuses that have been widely reported.
She only pointed to the constitution as the fundamental document that would
protect the vulnerable if the process is allowed to take its course.

Zim Deputy Prime Minister Sues Paper

http://www.radiovop.com/

17/11/2010 17:00:00

Harare, November 17, 2010 – Deputy Prime Minister Thozani Khupe is suing an
independent Sunday newspaper for a whopping US$ 500 000 over a story which
claimed she was heavily pregnant from a Harare businessman.

Court documents in possession of VOP indicate that Khupe is suing for
defamation for the page- two story which appeared in The Standard newspaper
on October 24. The paper is part of a newspaper empire owned by media mogul
Trevor Ncube.

Lawyers representing Khupe delivered summons to the newspaper on 17 November
2010, advising them that the deputy premier was suing over the article
entitled “DPM Khupe Dispels Pregnancy Rumours”.

The lawyers said the article, which claimed among other things that Khupe
was expecting a fourth child and was seeing a Harare businessman, was
defamatory.

The paper also published a picture depicting that Khupe had a bulging
stomach.

But the lawyers said it portrayed her as “a woman of loose morals, a
reckless woman who engaged in unprotected sex and does not deserve the
ambassadorial role she plays as President of the United Nations Aids Global
Women Power Network for Africa and is not a fit and proper person to be
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Deputy President of the MDC- T, or a leader at
all.”

“Alternatively, in the context of the article as a whole, the intention of
the writer, editor, publisher, printer and distributor was to convey the
innuendoes that the Plaintiff (Khupe) was a careless person, an
embarrassment to her family, women, her party, the government and to
Zimbabwe in general, that she was without moral fibre, was unfit for public
office, she is reckless as she engages in unprotected sex and bad example to
women folk.”

Her lawyers said Khupe was examined by an obstetrician and gynecologist who
confirmed that there was no evidence of a recent or current pregnancy of the
Deputy Prime Minister.

The lawyers added that on 27 October, three days after the offending article
was published, they wrote to the publishers of The Standard demanding an
apology but were rebuffed by the Editor who communicated over the telephone
that “they would neither apologise nor retract the story".

“As a result of the defamation, the Plaintiff has been damaged in her
reputation and has suffered damages in the sum of US$500 000,” reads part of
the lawsuit.

Mawere warns investors to Zimbabwe

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

17 November, 2010 02:25:00    Radio VOP

Harare, - Zimbabwean born and South African based businessman, Mutumwa
Mawere has warned investors to Zimbabwe that as long as there is no rule of
law they may wake up and have no business to run like what happened to him.

"If there is no rule of law, the same law which exists can be used against
you tomorrow, when you do business with ZESA and someone turns up and
appoints an administrator," Mawere told journalists on Tuesday after his
appearance before the Mines and Energy Parliament Portfolio Committee.

Mawere is battling to get his Shabanie Mine and other businesses from
government control after he was specified and accused of externalising
foreign currency. Mawere who has been staying in South Africa had since
aquired citizenship of that country but was recently despecified by
government.

Shabanie Mashava Mine (SMM) has been lying idle over the years as it has
failed to re-open. The company used to employ more than 10 000 workers at
its peak while it is said it used to contribute about 10 percent of the
country's export earnings.

Mawere told journalists after his hearing of his side of the story that the
rule of law needs to be protected saying the country was at stake from
unscrupulous politicians.

"The country is at stake, jobs are at stake. There are people whose lives
are at stake and they need the answers. Are you satisfied that you are
secure?"

Chairperson of the committee, Chindori Chininga asked Mawere if there was
something that he will change if he knew he would face the problems he is
facing and Mawere responded that he would not have invested in the country.

"I would not have invested in Zimbabwe if I knew that this will happen,"
Mawere said.

Mawere is battling to control the SMM which is under reconstruction under a
government appointed adminstrator Arafat Gwaradzimba.

Mawere accuses Gwaradzimba and Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa of
wrestling his businesses from him through urging parliament to enact the
reconstruction law which he says must be struck off as it is not a fair law.

Mawere said despite his company owing creditors more money than the value of
his assets, the government erred through Chinamasa to wrestle his business
from him.

Mawere was de-specified this year by the government after meetings with
President Robert Mugabe in South Africa and when co-Home Affairs ministers
said he had no case to answer.

Chinamasa tried to stop Mawere from appearing before the Mines and Ernergy
portfolio committee when he wrote to parliament to stop the hearing because
the SMM issue is still subjudice. However, Chinamasa's letter arrived when
Mawere had already appeared before the Mines and Ernergy committee.

Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma said Justice Minister Patrick Chinamana had
misinterpretated the law by claiming Parliament was in contempt of court by
summoning Mawere to a hearing.

Chinamasa claimed the matter could not be heard by Parliament as it was
still before both the High Court and the Supreme Court. Chinamasa is also
set to appear before the same committee.

Zimbabweans in SA facing deportation crisis

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
17 November 2010

Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa could be facing a deportation crisis in
the coming weeks, after warnings that it will be impossible to meet the
deadline to regularise their stay in the country.

The South African government announced earlier this year that it was
scrapping its moratorium on Zimbabwean deportations and launched a
documentation process, giving Zimbabweans a chance to get relevant permits
to stay in the country legally from 2011. The process is entirely dependent
on the issuing of valid Zimbabwean passports.

But Zimbabwean Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede has warned that the
estimated 1.4 million Zimbabwean nationals living illegally in South Africa
are unlikely to have regularised their stay by the December 31 deadline.
Speaking before Parliament's committee on Defence and Home Affairs on
Monday, Mudede said his office was unable to cope with the demand for
Zimbabwe passports. He said that as of October 31 only 7,500 passports had
been issued.

The South African authorities meanwhile have insisted they will not be
reviewing the December 31 deadline. Sibanengi Dube from the MDC in South
Africa told SW Radio Africa this week that the authorities have shown no
intention of extending the deadline, which he called “impractical and
totally impossible.”

“Such an arrangement just opens up Zimbabweans to even more abuse, because
the (public) view is that as of next year, all Zimbabweans will be illegal,”
Dube said.

Dube explained that Zimbabweans are already falling victim to “carnivorous
policemen” that are deliberately harassing the foreigners for bribes. He
said that police officers are targeting all Zimbabwean nationals and trying
to solicit bribes. Even nationals with legal papers are being charged with
crimes like loitering, which Dube said is “all part of their plan to fleece
Zimbabweans for bribes.”

Meanwhile there are also reports of xenophobic threats with local South
Africans warning they will ‘attack’ any undocumented Zimbabweans after the
December 31 deadline. It is also understood that many Zimbabweans trying to
secure some form of work, to get the necessary affidavits to apply for a
work permit, are not being hired, because employers are concerned about the
threatened deportations. The situation means most undocumented Zimbabweans
in South Africa are left with few choices.

Breakthrough in rhino conservation

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Farirayi Kahwemba
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 09:08

RUSTENBURG - In a development that might have far reaching benefits for
Zimbabwe’s fight against rhino poachers, scientists and conservationists in
neighbouring South Africa have developed a first of its kind GPS device that
will enable game rangers to be made aware of poachers when they strike, The
Zimbabwean has learnt. (Pictured: Rhino – hunted for their horns)
Five rhinos in South Africa’s North West province have already been fitted
with these gadgets as part of a study before the tracking system is
implemented in wildlife and conservation areas throughout the country. Rusty
Huslter, head of Counter Poaching in the North West province, said the
technology would go a long way in aiding the fight against rhino poaching
not only in South Africa but in other regional countries such as Zimbabwe
and Zambia, who face similar challenges.
He said: “This is the first time that the device is going to be used and we
are very happy that we will be able to help other countries such as
Zimbabwe, Zambia and others who face numerous challenges when it comes to
dealing with rhino poaching.
“The GPS gadget is fitted into the rhino’s horn by drilling a hole in the
inert part of the horn. The animals’ movements are then tracked twenty four
hours a day and if they are attacked, game rangers will be alerted via the
alarms.” The device is battery-operated and connected to a computer and
cellular phone. The lifespan of the batteries in the device is two and a
half years after which they will be exchanged for new ones.
The GPS can be programmed to emit a signal every 60 seconds and can be
adjusted from an operating room. It is programmed to set off the alarm if
the rhino remains motionless for more than six hours or if there is
excessive movement. In South Africa, more than 240 rhinos have been killed
since the beginning of the year and of these, 40 were from the North West
Province.

A ridiculous solution to a serious problem

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by The Editor
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 10:51

We believe the banning of the importation of all vehicles more than five
years old is a terrible mistake and should be reviewed. According to the
recently published regulations, the government is concerned about the high
number of road traffic accidents on our roads and believes this step will
reduce the carnage. This is a ridiculous solution to a serious problem. It
is evident that not much thought has gone into it. Certainly it is not a
reasonable solution and we very much doubt whether it will have the desired
effect.
It is our contention that the age of the vehicle has very little to do with
the causes of accidents. Rather – the major causes are the manner in which
the vehicle is driven and the levels of mechanical maintenance. And at the
root of these two causes can be found none other than the root of much of
Zimbabwe’s crisis – corruption and the mismanagement of our economy by Zanu
(PF) over the past three decades.
A further contributing factor in the high number of traffic accidents is, of
course, the appalling state of the roads. Here again – the blame lies
squarely at Zanu (PF)’s door. Banning the import of older vehicles will
simply make life even more miserable for those not comfortably seated on the
Zanu (PF) gravy train. In a country where public transport is totally
inadequate, peoples’ right to freedom of movement is dependent upon access
to affordable vehicles.
The economic collapse and widespread looting of resources presided over by
Zanu (PF) has already pushed up the price of second-hand vehicles way beyond
that of neighbouring countries. The local manufacturing industry has been
brought to its knees – for reasons cited above – limiting further the
options available to desperate Zimbabweans.
Has a thought been spared for the likely impact of this stupid regulation on
the fiscus? The importation of second-hand vehicles must surely have brought
in a tidy sum for ZIMRA over the years. We would have thought, that with the
revenue base already so minute, the authorities would want to ensure that
all possible sources of revenue are maximised.

'Progress' in Zimbabwe Conference