Zimbabwe fails to get go-ahead to export diamonds

Associated Press

(AP) – 2 hours ago

JERUSALEM (AP) — Conference organizers say the global diamond industry's
oversight body has upheld a ban preventing Zimbabwe from exporting its vast
stockpile of diamonds from a large mine.

Israel Diamond Institute spokeswoman Sharon Gefen says talks by the
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme ended Thursday without a compromise.

Israel sponsored this year's gathering of the 75-nation global body
responsible for ending the trade of diamonds that fund fighting across
Africa.

Zimbabwe wants to export diamonds from its Marange field. It denies
allegations by human rights groups of forced labor, torture, beatings and
harassment by government troops there.

The African nation has threatened to flood the world market with underpriced
diamonds if it is not allowed to export.

Six diamond mining executives arrested in Zimbabwe for fraud

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Nov 4, 2010, 14:20 GMT

Harare - Police in Zimbabwe confirmed Thursday they had arrested six people
linked to a mining company operating in the controversial diamond fields of
the eastern Marange region.

Wayne Bvudzijena, Zimbabwe's police spokesperson, said five of the six are
officials from the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation
(ZMDC). The sixth is an employee of a private South African diamond mining
company, Core Mining and Minerals.

The two companies are mining Marange diamonds in a 50-50 joint venture.

'We are hoping that they will be taken to court today or Friday,' Bvudzijena
said on Thursday.

The detainees face charges of misrepresenting to the Harare government that
they had the capacity to mine diamonds at the field, which experts describe
as one of the biggest diamond finds of the last century.

The state-owned Herald on Thursday said Canadile had been barred from mining
the gems, leaving only the state-owned ZMDC running the operation on its
own.

The Marange diamond fields have been tainted by allegations of human rights
abuses by the army and police.

Skepticism greets Zim diamond arrests

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
04 November 2010

The arrest this week of top officials from a joint mining venture at the
controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields has been described as very convenient
for Zimbabwe, as it contests its ‘compliance’ with international trade
standards.

Police have arrested six directors linked to the Canadile Mining group, on
allegations of fraudulently acquiring the concession. The arrested
executives include five officials from the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation (ZMDC) and a Zimbabwean representative of its South
African partner, Core Mining and Minerals. The two groups are part of the
Canadile joint venture that was granted a licence to mine at Chiadzwa. The
directors are facing charges of misrepresenting to the government that the
joint venture firm had the capacity to fund its mining operations.

According to the state’s mouthpiece, the Herald newspaper, Canadile has
since been barred from Chiadzwa, with the ZMDC now running mining operations
on its own. Apart from Canadile, two other firms currently operate in the
alluvial fields in partnership with the government. The other two are Mbada
Diamonds, jointly owned by South Africa's New Reclamation Group, and Anjin,
a Chinese joint venture.

The arrests coincide very conveniently with a meeting of the international
diamond trade watchdog, the Kimberley Process (KP), which has been
discussing Zimbabwe’s future this week. The country was barred from selling
its diamonds on the international market last year because of human rights
abuses at the hands of the military controlling Chiadzwa. But despite
evidence of ongoing abuses, the KP has refused to take strong action against
Zimbabwe, and instead of banning the country, gave it time to fall in line
with international trade standards.

Earlier this year, KP members met to debate what solution could be reached,
after the six month deadline placed on Zimbabwe had passed. In that time, a
monitor appointed by the KP had visited the country, and recommended that
exports be allowed to resume. The same monitor was implicated in the arrest
of diamond researcher, Farai Maguwu, who was detained for five weeks in
connection with exposing the ongoing abuses at Chiadzwa.

It was only when a solution by the KP looked unlikely that Maguwu was
finally released and in the same week that he was bailed, the Mines Ministry
and the KP reached a working agreement. This agreement saw two auctions of
Chiadzwa diamonds, under monitoring conditions, which were meant to pave the
way for full exports to resume.

The decision on allowing Zimbabwe to resume exports is set to be made this
week at the KP’s Jerusalem meeting, but by Thursday evening agreement by KP
members still looked unlikely.

The arrests of the Canadile officials smacks of the same convenient
manipulation of the situation as the release of Maguwu, as it demonstrates
Zimbabwe’s ‘compliance’ with the minimum trade standards outlined by the KP.
The monitoring group has come under intense pressure by the Mines Ministry
to give Zimbabwe the green light to starts sales, with Minister Obert Mpofu
even warning that sales would go ahead, with our without KP approval.

Human rights groups are urging the KP not to cave in to this pressure, with
Human Rights Watch leading calls for real change at Chiadzwa before the
decision is made. The group said this week that the Zimbabwe government has
not fulfilled its promises to the KP, including the demilitarisation of the
Chiadzwa fields. The group explained that there are still ongoing abuses in
the area, including rampant smuggling and forced labour, and called on the
government to make “clear progress in ending abuses and smuggling.”

The arrest of the diamond officials is also believed to be a result of the
bitter intra-party fighting within ZANU PF. According to the Zimbabwe Mail,
the arrested officials “are victims of ZANU PF rival factions fighting for
the control of Zimbabwe diamond resources.” The news service quotes a senior
ZANU PF government official saying that First Lady Grace Mugabe, Defence
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mines Minister Obert Mpofu are behind the
arrests.

The Mugabes and Mnangagwa, who is the favoured successor in the contested
ZANU PF succession debate, are believed to be fighting the faction led by
retired General Solomon Mujuru, who has a firm place in the diamond
smuggling business. Grace Mugabe and Mnangagwa are said to be at the centre
of Zimbabwe diamond mining company, Mbada Diamonds, and the rival faction
led by Mujuru is said to have been linked to the incarcerated ZMDC officials
at the centre of the alleged fraud. Mujuru meanwhile has previously been
linked to several illegal diamond deals and also reportedly uses his diamond
mine 'River Ranch' to launder his family’s ongoing plunder of resources from
the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Political commentator John Makumbe told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that
this infighting could be the reason behind the arrests, because the
Mnangagwa faction has been very vocal about trying to get more control over
the diamonds, to rival that of Mujuru. Makumbe explained that the fight
boils down to the succession debate raging in ZANU PF, saying that “the
succession battle is dependent on what resources each faction has control
of.”

“With elections coming up it is very unlikely ZANU PF will have money to
sponsor all its candidates, so it will be up to the different factions to
find enough money to sponsor its candidates,” Makumbe said.

He added: “Whoever is able to sponsor more candidates who will therefore
have more parliamentary seats in the next election, will have control of
ZANU PF.”

MDC employees arrested after ‘skirmish’ with police

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
04 November 2010

MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, has confirmed that four people were arrested
at the MDC Harvest House headquarters in Harare on Thursday. Two MDC
employees, Alec Musanhiwa and Pindukai Shonhiwa who work as drivers, and two
visitors, one identified as Tichareva Musama, were arrested in the morning.
‘Some of our guys who man the office have been taken by the police,
including some of our drivers who are always at the office for party duties.
We are still to ascertain the reason why they have been arrested,’ Chamisa
told SW Radio Africa.

‘What we do understand was that there was some kind of skirmish yesterday
between the police and some people whom we have not ascertained their
identity. But we reasonably believe and suspect that could be the reason why
they (police) have also acted in such a manner. We are still to get the
facts,’ Chamisa added.
Party lawyers have been deployed to find out the reason for the arrest. By
late Thursday afternoon, no charges had been placed on those arrested and
detained at Harare Central police station. Chamisa meanwhile said he had no
idea what the uniformed and plain clothes policemen who came to their
offices wanted.

‘This thing will never happen at the ZANU PF headquarters. It’s only at
Harvest House that our colleagues in the police force are always pitted
against us.’

Police launch manhunt for editor based in the UK

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
04 November 2010

In the UK Wilf Mbanga might be running The Zimbabwean newspaper 8200km away
from Harare, but this has not stopped police in the Zim capital claiming
they have launched a manhunt for him.

State television quoted police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri
saying they had issued a warrant of arrest for Mbanga for publishing a story
alleging that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Director for polling,
Ignatius Mushangwe, was murdered for leaking the March 29 Presidential
results in 2008.
According to police Mbanga claimed in the news report that a meeting was
attended by Mugabe, Emerson Mnangagwa, CIO Boss Happyton Bonyongwe and
former ZEC chairperson George Chiweshe, plus other ZEC officials, with an
agenda to eliminate Mushangwe. Police say this meeting never took place and
the story ‘was meant to tarnish the image of the President.’

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Thursday Mbanga said; ‘I deny The Zimbabwean
carried a story saying that Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Bonyongwe met to plot
Mushangwe’s death. What we reported was that Mushangwe had a meeting with
officials from ZEC, ZRP, CIO and the army at which he complained about the
rigging of elections and he was shouted down.’ Mushangwe was to disappear
and was found dead later on.
‘I have lived here for six years and have been in telephone contact with the
police PR department on numerous occasions seeking confirmation of stories.
Instead of launching a manhunt for me in Zimbabwe, to soothe those egos I
might have bruised, the ZRP would best serve the nation by hunting for the
murderers of Mushangwe. We expect ZRP to issue warrants of arrest for those
who killed more than 200 people during the 2008 election period,’ Mbanga
told us.

In 2008 well placed sources had told SW Radio Africa that Mushangwe spilled
the beans on how Mugabe’s regime planned to print surplus ballot papers to
rig the June 27 Presidential run-off. He was allegedly murdered by a
hit-squad from the military intelligence, led by Staff Sergeant Makwande, to
silence him in an operation that was approved by the Joint Operations
Command (JOC).

The sources described the assassination as, ‘a dry operation, a dry disposal’
because it was carried out in a hurry. After being kidnapped in June,
Mushangwe’s partially charred body was found dumped in Norton 5 months
later. Highlighting the involvement of the state was the fact that state
agents forcibly took his body from his Waterfalls home and buried it in the
Mukumba Village of Chihota.

Family members say Mushangwe was meant to be buried at the Granville
Cemetery in Harare but agents from the notorious Central Intelligence
Organization forced his wife and eldest son to sign a letter consenting to
the burial in Chihota. The wife protested the forced change but was told
‘security concerns’ warranted his burial outside Harare.

MDC official beaten up for refusing to buy ZANU PF card

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
4 November 2010

The MDC information and publicity secretary for Makoni South constituency is
lucky to be alive, after she was set upon by ZANU PF thugs for refusing to
buy their party card.

Enia Chiwara is now recuperating at a private clinic in Mutare after she was
severely assaulted by a gang allegedly sent by Chief John Rukweza of Makoni
in Manicaland province. Makoni South constituency is held by the MDC party
and its legislator is Pishai Muchauraya.

Chief Rukweza is known to be closely linked with ZANU PF and has since last
week been moving around the district ‘forcing anyone’ to buy ZANU PF cards
for $2 each.

‘As far as we know, since their indoctrination session with the army in
Mutare two weeks ago, chiefs, headman and village heads have been forcing
people to buy ZANU PF cards. They are forcing anyone whether one is MDC or
ZANU PF, people are being forced to buy the cards,’ MP Muchauraya said.

We reported last week that the commander of 3 Brigade in Mutare,
Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, had summoned close to 200
traditional leaders from Manicaland province for a two day ‘indoctrination’
workshop.

The ‘workshop’ held inside the Brigade barracks in the eastern border town
was attended by chiefs, headmen and village heads from all the seven
districts of the province.

‘ZANU PF is going to hold a conference in Mutare in December and during
their deliberations at the army barracks they were specifically told to go
and fund raise for the party. In essence this is exactly what they are
doing. But we deplore such actions, this is primitive for a party that
boasts of millions of supporters but forces people to subscribe to its
activities,’ Muchauraya said.

The MP said a team selling cards was in his constituency on Tuesday, moving
door to door forcing villagers to part with $2. But the team found it hard
to sell the cards as the constituency is predominately MDC.
Word got back to Chief Rukweza that some MDC supporters were being defiant
and refusing to buy the cards. This reportedly angered the chief who, in a
fit of rage, sent his ‘hired goons’ to deal with the situation.

Some of those who directly participated in the beatings have been identifed
as headman Ephraim Muza, Tyrus Mtanda, Nomard Mataranyika and Enesiya
Mteke - all ZANU PF loyalists.

‘Its unfortunate that they went for the top leadership in the constituency.
Chiwara and 15 others members were rounded up and beaten with logs and
sticks. They were told the beatings were a lesson for defying Robert Mugabe
and ZANU PF,’ according to the MP.

‘Chiwara was singled out as the ring leader and she bore the brunt of the
brutal attack. 15 others received minor injuries but Chiwara had to be
ferried to a private clinic in Mutare where she is being treated,’
Muchauraya said.

The MP told us chiefs, headman and village heads were now running ZANU PF
errands in the province as the party prepares to battle the MDC in an
anticipated election in 2011.

‘This shows you how fractured ZANU PF is in the rural areas. Chiefs, headman
and village heads are now the foot soldiers for the party. This gives you an
idea of how far the party will go to try and reclaim power at all costs even
if its structures are in serious decline,’

The involvement of traditional leaders in ZANU PF politics has been a
practice that started way back in 1980 after Independence. Although over the
years some of the chiefs have been brave enough to realign themselves from
ZANU PF to the MDC.

Others stood as senatorial candidates for the MDC and won in the March 2008
elections. This week some of the chiefs wrote to MDC President Morgan
Tsvangirai pleading with him to restrain ZANU PF from politicising
traditional leaders and abusing their office for selfish political ends.

A spokesperson for five chiefs from Mashonaland East told the weekly MDC
Changing Times that traditional leaders have been abused by successive
colonial governments to work against the people.

‘We are told to hate, to discriminate and to favour members of a certain
political party against our will and better judgement,’ the spokesman said.
In Masvingo three chiefs are reported to have also written to the MDC
seeking an appointment with Tsvangirai to discuss the same issue.

Zim sitting on knife-edge

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

by Own Correspondent     Thursday 04 November 2010

HARARE – An international conflict prevention group has warned that Zimbabwe
is one of three countries sitting on knife-edge and should be watched
closely because of their worsening political situations.

International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report that political
undercurrents in the three African nations of Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Guinea
were threatening the stability of these countries and could easily explode
into full crises at any time.

“Zimbabwe's inclusive government looked increasingly unstable, threatening
to fracture over differences on implementation of the 2008 Global Political
Agreement and elections,” ICG said in the October issue of its monthly
bulletin CrisisWatch.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party last month said Zimbabwe was
sliding into a constitutional crisis and urged the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) to urgently intervene to force President Robert
Mugabe to respect the country’s Constitution.

Tsvangirai accused Mugabe of violating Zimbabwe’s Constitution and a 2008
power-sharing pact through the “illegal” appointments of his close friends
to senior government positions since November 2008.

The contested appointments included those of the central bank governor
Gideon Gono, Attorney General Johannes Tomana, provincial governors,
ambassadors, judges and a commission to oversee operations of the police
force.

Mugabe is accused of unilaterally making appointments of these officials
without consulting the Prime Minister as required under the power-sharing
pact – commonly referred to as the global political agreement (GPA) – that
the two leaders signed in September 2008.

Tsvangirai said the MDC-T national executive had resolved not to recognise
all unilateral appointments by Mugabe who has also refused to swear in the
party’s treasurer-general Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.

Mugabe has linked the implementation of outstanding GPA issues to the
lifting of restrictive measures imposed on him and senior officials of his
ZANU PF party in 2002.

Tsvangirai urged SADC to deploy observers before a constitutional referendum
scheduled for next year in order “to help protect the rights of Zimbabweans
to express their views freely and without violence or intimidation”.

An outreach programme to gather pubic views on a proposed Constitution has
been marred by political violence, with meetings for Harare postponed in
September after inter-party clashes left at least five MDC-T supporters
injured.

Teachers beaten up because of elections

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Godfrey Mtimba
Thursday, 04 November 2010 16:02

MASVINGO - Three teachers from Bikita are battling for their lives at
Silveira Mission hospital after they were severely assaulted by suspected
Zanu PF  youths for pointing out  that the country is not ready for
elections next year because of rampant political violence during  a debate
in a bar.

The teachers had  argued that the country could not go into polls next year
as ugly scenes of political violence were still rampant in the country as
exhibited during the just ended constitution making outreach programme.

Militant  teachers body, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Masvingo
provincial Co-ordinator, Munyaradzi Chauke told Daily News that four
teachers were severely beaten and three of them  arecritical at Silveira
Mission while one of them managed to escape with minor injuries.

Chauke said Charles Gono, Ephraim Huyo and Douglas Muchato were battling for
their lives in hospital while Andrew Mutuzu who escaped reported the
incident at their office after he fled Chizondo secondary school where he
worked with his colleagues.

“Violence against teachers in the rural areas is still widespread especially
when it comes to issues that have something to do with politics. Our members
were beaten up for contributing their views during a debate at a bottle
store. They were assaulted because their views differed with that of the
Zanu PF leader, Mugabe on the timing of elections. This is not fair and we
cannot continue to be treated as punching bags by Zanu PF members, “ said
Chauke.

He added that his union would  make an offocial police report to make sure
that the perpetrators are brought to book.

Although police in Masvingo declined to comment on the incident, a nurse at
Silveira Mission who preferred anonymity confirmed that they admitted
teachers who were serious beaten.

“We admitted teachers who were in bad shape after they were beaten up over
the weekend. Their condition is bad. We were told that that their assault
was political,” she said.

A  Zanu PF  official  and war veteran from Bikita who identified himself as
Comrade Lenin bragged that his party  would unleash violence to opponents in
the next polls.

“We have since set up our war machinery since we are already in election
mood since the day our president announced that there will be polls next
year and campaigning is already under way. As for those who oppose our party
like these teachers, I feel pity for them because we were ordered to deal
with them,” he said.

PTUZ said the proposed elections by  Zanu pf leader Robert Mugabe and MDCT’s
Morgan Tsvangirai should not be held if the situation was volatile to
members of their fraternity especially in the rural areas.

IMF Team Said to Voice Concern at Deteriorating Political Climate in Zimbabwe

http://www.voanews.com/

Sources in talks with IMF officials said the team carrying out so-called
Article IV Consultations on economic conditions and policy also noted
inconsistencies in Harare’s approach that have held back the economic
recovery

Gibbs Dube & Benedict Nhlapho | Washington 03 November 2010

International Monetary Fund officials who completed a consultative visit to
Zimbabwe last week expressed concern to their counterparts in Harare about
rising political tensions and the need for faster central bank reform.

Sources in talks with IMF officials said the team carrying out so-called
Article IV Consultations on economic conditions and policy also noted
inconsistencies in Harare’s approach that have held back the economic
recovery.

The IMF team is expected to issue its findings this week amid clashes in the
unity government over a broad range of issues, leading to talk of elections
next year. An earlier IMF mission saw improved political conditions.

Economic commentator Masimba Kuchera told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube
that unfavorable findings by the IMF could give pause to Harare hardliners
resisting reform.

“Progressive government elements have been fighting to rectify some of the
economic problems bedeviling the unity government, but cannot do so due to
heightened tensions in the ruling parties,” Kuchera said.

VOA Studio 7 correspondent Benedict Nhlapho reported from Johannesburg
meanwhile that the global economic crisis is having an impact in South
Africa as in the United States and many other countries.

The Pretoria government is under pressure from a population increasingly
disenchanted at the inability of the ruling African National Congress and
President Jacob Zuma to reduce unemployment.

That has put Zimbabweans living illegally there under close scrutiny with a
year-end deadline for them to regularize their status or face deportation.
Many locals accuse Zimbabweans of locking up scarce jobs.

Zimbabwe elections unlikely in 2011 - ZEC Chairman

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

04 November, 2010 06:57:00    By Sapa-AFP

The head of Zimbabwe's electoral commission (ZEC) poured cold water on the
chance of presidential and parliamentary elections taking place next year,
despite President Robert Mugabe saying he wanted the votes to take place by
mid-2011.

ZEC chairman Simpson Mutambanengwe, in an interview with the German Press
Agency dpa, said the ZEC did not have the funding to organize a free and
fair ballot.

And even if it did, the process of drafting a new constitution - a
precondition for the elections - was running far behind schedule.

"I know politicians have been talking about it, saying there is going to be
elections next year," Mutambanengwe, a Zimbabwean-born retired Namibia
Supreme Court judge, said.

But only the ZEC could determine whether the conditions for the holding of
elections were in place, he told dpa.

Last month Mugabe said he wanted elections to replace the transitional
government he formed last year with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to take
place by the middle of next year.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said Mugabe had asked him to set aside 200
million dollars in next year's 2011 budget for the elections.

But that money, if allocated, would only be made available in January at the
earliest.

Mutambanengwe, who was appointed to the head of the ZEC by Mugabe and
Tsvangirai, said the ZEC needed the money "immediately."

"If the funds are made immediately available for us to carry out preliminary
operations then we will be ready to carry on elections."

One of the biggest challenges facing the ZEC is to overhaul the voters roll.

Tsvangirai has complained of the register being inflated with ghost voters
and demanded it be drawn up from scratch.

Mutambanengwe agreed that the roll had to be in a condition "that is
acceptable and that satisfies all stakeholders."

Zimbabwe's 2008 power-sharing agreement also states that elections can only
be held after Zimbabweans vote on a new constitution.

Yet, the process to draft a new constitution is running more than 12 months
behind schedule and is slated to be completed only in April at the earliest.
Then the document has to be put to vote.

"Some of the suggestions that we are going to have elections next year would
seem to imply that the elections would be held without a new constitution,"
Mutambanengwe said. "If that is the case we wait to be advised."

MacDonald Lewanika, head of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a federation
of human rights groups, said the squabbling between Mugabe and Tsvangirai
had led many to believe that elections were the only way to speed up
reforms.

"But clearly, the ZEC is not ready for elections. The environment is not yet
tenable for a credible election. Zimbabweans are still traumatised by the
violence that rocked the country in the last elections," Lewanika said.

The last elections in Zimbabwe in 2008 turned violent after Mugabe lost the
first round of the presidential poll to Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai withdrew from the second round over the killing of dozens of his
supporters in the violence after the first round.

Mugabe declared himself the winner but African leaders refused to recognise
the outcome and forced him to go into coalition with his arch-rival.

Analysts have warned that hastily-organized elections could see a repeat of
the 2008 events.

Zimbabwe on track to grow 8.1 pct this year -finmin

http://af.reuters.com/

Thu Nov 4, 2010 9:06am GMT

* Economy to grow close to 10 pct in 2011

* Over $1 bln foreign investment since January 2009

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's economy is on track to grow by
8.1 percent this year and close to 10 percent in 2011, the finance minister
said on Thursday.

Zimbabwe was battered by a decade of economic contraction and
hyperinflation, which reached 500 billion percent in 2008 at the peak of the
country's political and economic crisis.

The country's economy has begun to recover after a unity government set up
last year dumped the worthless local currency for foreign currencies and
after a revival in the agriculture sector.

"We are on track (for 8.1 percent). Poised for 10 percent next year,"
Finance Minster Tendai Biti told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in
Johannesburg.

Biti told conference delegates earlier that Zimbabwe had approved 1.1
billion dollars in foreign investment in the period January 2009 to May 2010
for 199 projects in the country with 90 percent of those in the mining
sector.

"This train is moving", he said, referring to the economy.

Biti also said Zimbabweans living abroad had shown strong interest in a $50
million diaspora bond planned by the government.

Mayor, councillors clash over Chiyangwa

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

By Stanley Gama, News Editor
Thursday, 04 November 2010 15:06

HARARE - Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and some councillors have clashed
over the probe into the underhand sale of council land in which
controversial businessman Phillip Chiyangwa and the Minister of Local
Government Ignatius Chombo are implicated.

A special investigations committee headed by Mt Pleasant councillor, Warship
Dumba unearthed irregular acquisition of land by top government officials in
connivance with senior council employees.

However, when the report was exposed in the media, the eight councillors who
conducted the probe were arrested and charged with criminal defamation at
the instigation of Chiyangwa. Masunda also faced the same charges.

However, on Tuesday, Chiyangwa withdrew the charges. At a press conference
at Town House yesterday, Masunda seemed to be developing cold feet and said
there was need to set up an independent committee acceptable to both the
councillors and Chiyangwa to investigate the alleged theft of land.

But the councillors insist that they are empowered by the Urban Councils Act
to investigate anomalies in land acquisition among other mandates.

Dumba yesterday insisted that there was no going back.

“The committee, as empowered by the Urban Councils Act, has already
recommended that we recover all land that was improperly acquired and that
is exactly what we are going to do. The mayor might have his personal
opinion on the issue, but he will have to come back to a full council
meeting to discuss this.

“There has been talk that we came to some agreement with Chiyangwa – its
lies. We were voted in by the people to ensure that we stop the rot in our
city. We cannot allow individuals to illegally amass vast tracts of land yet
millions of people are homeless. It is the people who tell us what to do not
individuals,” said Dumba.

At the press conference, Masunda said the special committee which probed the
land theft had also not consulted the accused persons and added that this
called for an independent commission.

The clash between Masunda and the councillors comes as Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which appointed Masunda,
urged council to push for the prosecution of Chiyangwa, Chombo and others
accused of improperly acquiring land.

“On Tuesday, Chiyangwa threw away his side show which he started after an
eight-member commission implicated him in illicit deals involving vast
tracts of municipal land which his companies acquired in suspicious
circumstances between 2001 and 2008.

“Although the council filed a complaint and made a counter report to the
police for investigations into the corrupt deals, citing Chiyangwa as a
prime suspect, the police are yet to do something about it.

“For the record, the MDC does not condone any form of corruption in local
councils.  The MDC assures the residents and ratepayers that any illegal
land deals and other forms of corruption anywhere in Zimbabwe shall be
exposed and the perpetrators brought to book,” read part of the statement.

Life Expectancy For Zimbabwe Women Falls

http://news.radiovop.com

04/11/2010 14:02:00

Harare, November 04, 2010 - Despite the fact that Zimbabwe's HIV/Aids
prevalence rate has done well, the life expectancy for women has however
gone down, Radio VOP can reveal.

"The life expectancy for women stood at 34 two years ago but is now 30," a
top World Health Organisation (WHO) official said.

"There are now more than 1.3 million people in Zimbabwe who are living with
the HIV/Aids virus and about 60 percent of these are women in the country."

He said children living with HIV/Aids who are orphans would rise to 34
percent by the end of 2010.

A review of the status of children living with HIV/Aids revealed that in
Zimbabwe the main threats to these children was  a shortage of material
resources, food, stationary, child labour, rape, sexual abuse and emotional
abuse.

"Zimbabwe has an estimated 1 025 472 orphans as we speak," he told Radio VOP
in an interview.

"Over all, however, the country's HIV/Aids prevalence rate has gone down.
The percentage of children living with HIV/Aids and who are orphaned will
rise to 34 percent by the end of 2010," he said.

Robert Mugabe to unveil fresh company grab rules this month

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

04 November, 2010 03:50:00    By Ed Cropley - Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, - Zimbabwe will publish guidelines this month on local
ownership of various types of companies, ending months of uncertainty that
has weighed on the stock market, a government minister said on Thursday.

The southern African nation introduced a law early this year saying 51
percent of firms worth over $500,000 should be owned by black Zimbabweans
but accepted that most sectors, especially the capital-intensive mining
industry, will take time to get there. [ID:nLDE68F0QB

Fourteen committees set up to determine minimum initial local ownership
thresholds for various sectors had now finished their work, Saviour
Kasukuwere, Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
said.

"We will review them and publish them before the end of the month," he told
Reuters on the sidelines of an investment conference in South Africa's
commercial capital.

"We are moving. We need to bring about certainty. We can't keep people
hanging there."

This year, Zimbabwe's stock market has failed to build on the strong gains
it posted immediately after the government scrapped the worthless Zimbabwean
dollar in favour of U.S. dollars in February 2009.

The lacklustre performance -- in contrast to other frontier African equity
markets -- has been widely blamed on concerns the indigenisation act was an
attempt by cronies of President Robert Mugabe to get their hands on
foreign-owned assets.

The uncertainty has also deterred the billions of dollars of foreign
investment required to rebuild the economy after a decade of disastrous
mismanagement under Mugabe's ZANU-PF administration.

Mugabe told Reuters in an interview in September that he would press ahead
with plans to transfer control of foreign firms -- including mines and
banks -- to local blacks.

Kasukuwere sought to allay those external fears, saying the bill was simply
addressing the unresolved economic imbalances left by decades of white
minority rule, and would ultimately create a stable and fair economy and
society.

"This is not about nationalisation or expropriation of businesses. This act
is to bring our people on board the economy," he said.

"We accept foreign direct investment is critical in getting our economy to
work. But it is necessary to balance foreign interests and the aspirations
of our people." (Editing by Jon Herskovitz)

EU yet to make decision on Zim ambassador

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
04 November 2010

The European Union (EU) is yet to make a decision on whether or not to
accept the ambassador appointed unilaterally by Robert Mugabe, after the EU’s
own diplomat in Zimbabwe said the ambassador was likely to be accepted.

The EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell'Ariccia on Tuesday said in a
statement that “the EU has given the agreement to Zimbabwe’s
ambassador –designate, Ms Margaret Muchada, but the decision about the
possible presentation of Ms Muchada’s credentials to the President of the
European Commission, Mr Barrosso, has not been taken.”

He was reacting to state media reports that quoted him as having said the EU
will not interfere with Mugabe's unilateral deployment of ambassadors,
following letters of protest by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that they
were unconstitutional. Tsvangirai last month told the EU and the United
Nations that ambassadors appointed solely by Mugabe don’t speak on behalf of
the whole government. He wrote to EU president Jose Manuel Baroso stating
his position that the appointment of Muchada, and those of Zimbabwe’s
ambassadors to the United Nations and four countries, was “null and void”
because Mugabe named them without consultation.

The Herald quoted Dell'Ariccia as saying that the posting of diplomats
should be left to individual sovereign states. But in a statement to the
media late on Tuesday Dell'Ariccia said the newspaper report was incorrect.

The United Nations has already said that it cannot expel the Zimbabwean
diplomat appointed by Mugabe, saying the ambassador has been ‘properly
accredited’ in July. UN deputy spokesperson Farham Haq said: “The
appointment of an ambassador is an internal matter for a member state which
is to be decided upon in accordance with the provisions of its own domestic
law.”

But there is no sign yet that the EU will follow in the UN’s footsteps. The
grouping remains under firm pressure to heed Tsvangirai’s letter, with MEP
Geoffrey Van Orden, campaigning for the body to take strong action against
the Mugabe regime. Van Orden who spearheads the European Parliament’s
campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, said this week that
no EU decision has been made.

Press release from ActionAid

Click here to read a press release from last weeks meeting on the future of Zimbabwe

Wildlife mismanagement

Click here to read an article refuting remarks made by National Parks

UK-based Zimbabwean professionals give back to the Zimbabwe through the ZGClub Scholarship Fund

U.S. expands assistance for grassroots HIV/AIDS groups

Masvingo, November 1, 2010: U.S. Ambassador Charles Ray last week unveiled a new U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Program to support care and support projects for people infected and affected by HIV in Zimbabwe.

“I am excited to share this news with you here today and hope that your project, and the many others like it, will prove to be enduring proof of America’s commitment to a strong, healthy and prosperous Zimbabwe,” said Ambassador Charles Ray when he handed over two diesel powered grinding mills to Marozva Community Based Organization, also known as the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWADS), in Masvingo’s Bikita West constituency on October 28^th.

PLWADS received funding from the U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program and the African Development Foundation to purchase two grinding mills located at and near Sosera business center.

During the unveiling of the grinding mills, Ambassador Ray announced the new small grants scheme specifically for HIV/AIDS groups.  Funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the small grants scheme is the most recent new program to come from the $57.5 million U.S. commitment to Zimbabwe in 2011.  This is a 20 percent increase over the 2010 PEPFAR budget for Zimbabwe.  The PEPFAR small grants program will fund approximately 10 grants of up to $10,000 for community groups working with HIV/AIDS to improve their operations in practical ways.

“The United States remains fully committed and engaged with Zimbabwe in the fight against HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR, including through significant support for the Government of Zimbabwe’s scale up of antiretroviral treatment.  In 2010, the number of people receiving ARVs with direct PEPFAR funding increased to 59,000, up from 40,000 in 2009,” said the U.S. Ambassador.

Zimbabwe is one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that has been worst affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic with a projected population of 12 million people infected with the disease. The estimated HIV prevalence among adults 15 years and above was 14.3% according to the National HIV Estimates of 2010.

Over 200 people attended the handover ceremony in Bikita West, including parliamentarians, traditional leaders, district council officials and various HIV and AIDS groups in the province.

Heya Shoko, representative of Bikita West in Parliament, hailed U.S. support and the initiative by PLWHADS.  He noted that PLWHADS helps ensure targeted interventions on HIV and AIDS and will boost household food security in the constituency.

“The government of Zimbabwe, NGOs and international community recognize that approaching HIV initiatives collectively results in significant gains for people living with HIV and AIDS,” said the legislator. He added that the “PLWHADS project will go a long way in fighting stigma and is a catalyst in unifying people since HIV has no boundary, it’s universal and does not discriminate on the basis of political, religious and other allegiances.”

Coordinator of the Sosera PLWADS Stanley Chabvepi said the grinding mills would enable PLWADS to generate income, as well as reduce discrimination due to stigma.

“The entire community here at Marozva will benefit from the Ambassador’s Self Help Fund, and people living with HIV and AIDS will access grinding mill services at affordable prices. People who are tested and confirmed HIV positive will have their grain ground at half the commercial price,” said Chabvepi. He said they hoped more people would go and get tested as a result of this scheme- ZimPAS 2010

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Images available on request.

This report was produced and distributed by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section. Queries and comments should be addressed to Sharon Hudson Dean, Public Affairs Officer, hararepas@state.gov, Tel. +2634758800-1, Url: http://harare.usembassy.gov

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