The ZIMBABWE Situation
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Arrested
CSU workers transferred to Bulawayo
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tererai Karimakwenda
07
November, 2012
Three employees from the Counselling Services Unit (CSU),
arrested Monday in
a police raid on their Harare offices, were transferred
to Bulawayo on
Wednesday without any charges being specified against
them.
A total of five CSU employees were initially taken by police, but
the
manager, Fidelis Mudimu, and senior staff members Zachariah Godi and
Tafadzwa Gesa, are the ones still in police custody.
Kumbirai Mafunda,
spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
(ZLHR), told SW Radio
Africa that the three detainees had reached Gweru when
they last made
contact, and had been handed over to officers from Bulawayo.
“They have
not been formally charged yet and lawyers have not seen the
charge sheet or
the warned and cautioned statement outlining the details of
where the crime
allegedly took place. But lawyers have gathered through
interaction with the
police that it may happen in Bulawayo,” Mafunda
explained.
The law in
Zimbabwe stipulates that a suspect be charged within 48 hours of
arrest,
after which their detention becomes unlawful. Mafunda said they were
worried
because that 48 hour period had already passed. He added that
lawyers in
Harare and Bulawayo were also working hard to secure the trio’s
release.
Asked whether the three employees were being treated well by
the police,
Mafunda said the right platform for that will be when the
suspects appear in
court and get the chance to register a complaint if they
had been unfairly
treated.
James Zidzimu and Penn Bruno were released
late Monday evening, along with
the Daily News photojournalist Watson
Ofumeli, who had been caught up in the
chaos at the CSU offices Monday.
Police confiscated a computer, client files
and other materials during the
raid.
CSU is a non-governmental organization that provides psychological
and
medical assistance to individuals traumatized by political violence and
torture. The police warrant said they were looking for “offensive and
subversive material.”
The raid has been condemned by civic groups and
political parties in the
country, who accused the government of conducting a
crackdown on human
rights defenders and political activists. There have been
several other
raids and arrests of journalists and MDC-T officials in the
last few months,
which some observers have linked to elections due in the
country next year.
NGO
Employees Spend Two Nights In Police Custody
http://www.radiovop.com
By Professor Matodzi
Harare, November 07, 2012- Representatives of a local
Non-Governmental
Organisation on Tuesday endured their second night in
police custody after
they were detained overnight at Harare Central Police
Station without
preferring charges against them.
Police detectives on Monday arrested
Counselling Services Unit (CSU)
representatives Fidelis Mudimu, Zachariah
Godi, Tafadzwa Gesa, James Zidzimu
and Penn Bruno in a sustained onslaught
against Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGO)’s after raiding their offices
in search of “offensive
and subversive material” from the organisation’s
offices in Harare.
Two of the CSU employees James Zidzimu and Penn Bruno
were released from
police custody late Monday evening together with Daily
News photo-journalist
Watson Ofumeli, while Mudimu, Godi and Gesa remained
in police custody,
where the police had not formally charged them by late
Tuesday evening.
Police detectives told lawyers Dr Tarisai Mutangi,
Tonderai Bhatasara, Rose
Hanzi, Kennedy Masiye and Jeremiah Bamu from
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights (ZLHR), who are representing the three CSU
employees that they intend
to, transfer them to Bulawayo on Wednesday
morning, where they claim the
offence which they intend to charge them for
was committed.
In a statement, ZLHR said the police had indicated that
the three CSU
employees had damaged a bill board in Bulawayo, the country’s
second largest
city.
“From their interactions with the police,
lawyers have been advised that the
CSU employees allegedly defaced a bill
board and an information centre in
Bulawayo,” ZLHR said in a statement
Tuesday night.
During the raid, the police confiscated a computer, some
files and other
materials.
According to a search warrant, issued by
Superintendent J. Murenje, the
police officers who raided the CSU offices
claimed that the organisation was
in possession of material that “defaces
any house, building, wall, fence,
lamp post, gate, elevator without the
consent of the owner or occupier
thereof,” in contravention of Section 46 of
the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act.
Poor
Service Delivery Irks Harare Residents
http://www.voazimbabwe.com
Blessing
Zulu
06.11.2012
Residents of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, demonstrated
and petitioned city
fathers at Town House on Tuesday expressing serious
concern over the city’s
alleged move to attach and auction residents’
properties because of arrears
going back to 2008.
The Harare
Residents' Trust, which organized the demonstration, accused the
council of
failing to provide locals with clean water and other services.
In a
petition to Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo and the mayor,
residents said they are "alarmed and saddened by the City of Harare’s
issuing of summons and letters of final demands that have resulted in some
people having their property attached and sold at auction
floors".
The residents believe that the move has left "both the City of
Harare and
the victim poorer and wallowing in debt.”
They are calling
on city leaders to write-off debts accrued before 2010
saying the "incomes
of the majority of the residents are too low to even
consider settling
outstanding debts, meaning the City of Harare has no
prospects of recovering
outstanding debts from these impoverished residents.“
The residents
further noted that continuing to charge residents interest
rates of 10
percent on overdue accounts does not address the situation.
"This form of
punishment has failed to enlist the support of ratepayers,
therefore new
strategies have to be explored, through positive dialogue and
compromise
rather than remain confrontational.”
Harare Residents Trust coordinator,
Precious Shumba, told VOA that residents
might consider legal action as
dialogue efforts seem to be failing.
Responding, acting Harare Mayor
Emmanuel Chiroto, said the local authority
is set to review the petition.
City Council of Harare Gets a Rude Awakening from Disgruntled
Residents
6 November 2012, Town House, Harare- the Harare City Council
was left shaken
yesterday after plus 200 residents stormed the building
demanding that the
Mayor and his council scrap all debt accumulated to end
of the 2010, and
ensure that water is made available to all residents,
without any limits.
This action followed a false start to the process of
negotiations between
the residents and the City of Harare, which has
continued to hoodwink
residents that they are serious about resolving their
issues. Efforts by HRT
officials to engage the City treasury on these issues
of collapsed service
provision and debt cancellation have yielded negative
results. Focus group
discussions, public meetings were held, consistent with
the HRT’s policy of
engagement but this has not helped the communities
much.
The perennial attitude by Harare City Council of turning a deaf ear
to the
concerns of the residents has resulted in legitimate anger mounting
within
communities, and on Tuesday 6 November 2012, the seams burst and
residents
gathered for a peaceful protest, marking a new season of lobbying
and
advocacy within the HRT.
Residents’ anger is primarily driven by
the arrogant manner in which the
City of Harare has issues letters of final
demands, and summons, a clear
attempt on the part of the local authority to
provoke residents and cow them
into submission, and settle illegally
accumulated outstanding debts. The
city has threatened property attachments
for debts accumulated from
estimated bills and unrendered water and refuse
collection services. During
the HRT’s consultative meetings, the residents
were clear that they wanted
the council to bill them for rendered services
and not solely rely on
estimated billing which short-changed them.
It
is against this background that suburbs like Mabvuku, Highfield and Glen
Norah mooted the idea of holding a demonstration against City of Harare for
non compliance in cancellation of debt accrued from February 2009 to
December 2010 where services from City of Harare were non-existent in their
areas. Residents from other suburbs concurred with the three suburbs and
willingly participated in the Town House demonstration, which had the
participation of residents from Mbare, Tafara, Kuwadzana Phase 3, Rugare,
Waterfalls, Mufakose, Highfield, Dzivarasekwa 3, Crowborough, Glen Norah and
Mabvuku, among others.
During the demonstration, which the police
were informed about, the HRT
Director Mr Precious Shumba addressed the
residents in front of Town House,
explaining that the HRT will no longer
contain the anger of residents and
the council had to genuinely engage and
attend to their demands for debt
cancellation and urgently improve water
delivery to their households. He
then handed over a petition signed by 3 000
residents from across Harare.
“This demonstration is symbolic by nature,
and marks a change in the
approaches of the HRT where residents’ grievances
are concerned,” Shumba
said. “The people who continue to earn monthly
salaries on the sweat and
blood of residents are not thinking of submitting
themselves to the supreme
authority of residents of Harare. Services have
collapsed, and life remains
extremely painful for most residents in Harare.
From today on, be warned
that residents will gather in their thousands,
especially towards month-end
at community District Offices, until the
council has responded to the
demands of residents.”
In response,
Deputy Mayor Chiroto, who received the HRT petition on behalf
of the Mayor,
who is away, said residents had a right to quality services,
and it was
indeed a collective responsibility to ensure a better life for
all
people.
“As council we are receiving your petition,” he said. “We are
going to read
through it and adequately respond to residents’ grievances. We
are going to
have a meeting with the Mayor, the Town Clerk and residents’
representatives
so that we discuss and find a common position that will be
beneficial to
everyone at the end of the day.”
Residents sang songs
of encouragement, displaying placards with various
service delivery messages
some that read as follows: Tired of drinking
sewerage water! Bvisai
zvikwereti kubva February 2009 kusvika December 2010!
No to Interest! Reduce
Salaries for management! Taneta nemasamanisi and
tired of chaotic billing
system! among others. The suburban leaders took
turns to share their
communities’ struggles. Mabvuku residents are bitter
that parts of the
suburb have not received any water for more than six years
to date yet they
are receiving final demands and summons, as a result of the
City of Harare’s
actions.
Going forward, the demonstrators said the City of Harare had
until 30
November 2012 to resolve the residents’ grievances, failure of
which
residents will select dates to gather at community District Offices
where
council revenue is paid, and transmitted to Rowan Martin Building, the
City
Treasury headquarters. If councillors fail to resolve this matter,
residents
vowed to disrupt council full council meetings, because the
councillors
cannot ignore residents’ issues. They came from the
residents.
Ends//:
Email: hretrust79@gmail.com/ info@hrt.org.zw Mobile: 0772 869 294/ 0772 771
860/ 0772 547 394
Website: www.hrt.org.zw
Disgraced officer linked to torture of Glen View murder suspects
By Tererai Karimakwenda
05 November, 2012
An officer from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who was booted out of the
peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in 2003, has been linked to the torture of some
of the MDC-T activists on trial in the ongoing Glen View cop murder case.
Defence lawyers revealed shocking information on Tuesday, during cross
examination of the investigating officer Clever Ntini. He had testified in the
murder trial of 29 MDC-T officials and activists accused of killing officer
Petros Mutedza last year.
Detective Inspector Henry Dowa and Chief Superintendent Chrispen Makedenge
were named in court as leaders of the teams that arrested and severely tortured
some of the accused MDC-T activists.
Dowa’s history of torturing hundreds of MDC and civic society members
in
police custody saw him removed from the UN peacekeeping force in 2003. He
had been named by several victims as having used his fists, boots and pickaxe
handles during beatings.
Dowa is also alleged to have administered electric shocks, to the point of
convulsions, to detainees at Harare Central Police Station throughout 2002 and
in early 2003. Medical examinations showed that the injuries were consistent
with torture, reinforcing the allegations against him.
Councillor Tungamirai Madzokere and Yvonne Musarurwa are among the
activists who sustained injuries during torture in police custody. Madzokere
suffered a broken arm and Musarurwa had visible wounds consistent with severe
assault.
Makedenge, the other officer named in court, was linked to the 2008
abduction of
human rights activist Jestina Mukoko and dozens of others. He was also
linked to
the abductions of several MDC supporters in Harare. This history is
believed to have led to Makedenge’s removal from a UN peacekeeping operation in
Sudan.
In court on Tuesday, defence lawyers questioned why investigating officer
Ntini had ignored a ruling made last year at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts,
which stipulated that he investigate allegations by some of the accused that
they had been assaulted and tortured by these two abusive cops while in
custody.
Questioned by lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, Ntini also failed to name the
informers whose information led to the arrest of the 29 MDC-T members jailed for
the Glen View cop’s murder.
Cops
speculating, say defence lawyers
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Richard Chidza, Staff
Writer
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 10:51
HARARE - Lawyers representing MDC
activists on trial for the murder of a
police inspector last year have
accused cops of relying on hearsay to nail
the suspects.
This emerged
during the cross-examination of investigating officer Clever
Ntini as the
long drawn case continues before High Court Judge Chinembiri
Bhunu.
Ntini confirmed that other than the version of police
informers, the state
had nothing else to link some of the accused to the
crime.
“So except the information you got from your faceless, nameless,
sexless,
homeless and non-existent informants you have nothing to link the
fourth
accused, and all other people who have been languishing in
jail.
“You want an innocent man to be hanged because your informants told
you he
was seen at the crime scene. There is no other evidence?” charged
defence
lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
“If we are to take away the
information that you were given by your
so-called informants, what else do
you have against these people? Nothing,”
she said.
Ntini disputed
Mtetwa’s assertion.
“No, that is not my intention. They were seen at the
crime scene so that is
what we have and we cannot take the informants’ out
of this,” said Ntini.
The 31 activists deny the murder charge, saying
they were arrested because
of their known MDC links.
Mtetwa said
police had not only failed to investigate alibis of some of the
activists
but also charges of assault against police.
Ntini said the activists had
not furnished any alibis in the warned and
cautioned statements signed by
the activists.
“These warned and cautioned statements were signed in the
presence of the
accused’s legal representatives and do not have any alibi.
They should have
made sure it was there. As I see it these people did not
have any (alibi),”
said Ntini.
Mtetwa was involved in another heated
exchange with prosecutor Edmore
Nyazamba after she referred to police
officers Henry Dowa, Crispen Makedenge
and others as
“infamous”.
Nyazamba objected, saying Mtetwa was scandalising the police
and her
statements bordered on defamation.
Mtetwa stood her
ground.
“Dowa was forced to return from Kosovo on a United Nations
assignment after
he was implicated in torture, while Makedenge has been
implicated in torture
by those he has arrested and if the court wants
evidence we are more than
willing to provide it,” said Mtetwa.
Youth
leaders bailed in cop murder case
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tererai Karimakwenda
07
October, 2012
Two MDC-T youth leaders, accused of murdering a Glen View
cop last year,
were finally granted bail on Wednesday.
Defence lawyer
Gift Mtisi said Jackson Mabota and Tarisai Kusotera paid a
$500 deposit and
were released from custody Wednesday. They have to report
to the Law and
Order Section twice a week and not interfere with any
witnesses.
The
two had appeared in a bail hearing last Wednesday, when Justice Mwayera
reserved judgement indefinitely.
Mabota and Kusotera were arrested
earlier this month and charged with the
murder of officer Petros Mutedza, in
May, 2011. This was over a year after
the incident, in which 29 other MDC-T
members are also being accused.
Mtisi said the main trial of the 29
activists also continued separately on
Wednesday with cross examination of
the investigating officer, Chief
Inspector Ntini, who was challenged to name
the informers who provided
evidence used to arrest the
activists.
They challenged him to name each of them – but he refused to
provide the
information.
The trial continues Thursday.
Principals
have no role yet - COPAC
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
The Constitution Select Committee has insisted
the principals to the Global
Political Agreement have no role to play yet in
the constitution-making
process and will only come in after the draft has
been taken to the
referendum.
07.11.12
by Staff
Reporter
Speaking in Harare today at a press conference to announce
the completion of
the report on the recently held Second All-Stakeholders
Conference,
Co-Chairperson, Paul Mangwana, said the Principals had no direct
interference in the process at the moment, but assisted COPAC through the
management committee.
“Principals have always been assisting in
speeding up the process as they
tasked the management committee to deal with
deadlocks. The management
committee, with the six negotiators, has been
representing the principals
and that is how we have been operating. They are
not taking over the work of
the select committee,” he said.
Mangwana
said the select committee had three months from the date of the
Second All
Stakeholders Conference to finalise the draft and present for a
referendum.
Innocent Gonese, who was standing in for Douglas
Mwonzora, said the
executive would only come in after the draft has been
taken to the
referendum.
“Article 6 (of the GPA) is clear that COPAC
continues until the draft goes
to parliament. The executive will only come
in after the referendum. There
is no need for government to take over the
process because we are not yet
through with our mandate,” he
said.
Meanwhile, MDC-N COPAC Co-chair, Edward Mkhosi, told the press
conference
that the report on the Second All-Stakeholders Conference was
complete and
would be handed over the to the management committee on
Thursday.
Mkhosi said the select committee would soon meet to resolve
contentious
issues.
“A consolidated report on the constitution making
process, together with the
agreed new draft constitution, will then be
produced for submission to
parliament,” he said.
Mkhosi said the
report would be in four sections.
The first section of the report is an
analysis of the conference and gives
information on the delegates who
attended the summit, in addition to the
terms of reference that guided
them.
The second section, Mkhosi said, contained areas where there were
no
contestations by the delegates and would not be changed in the final
draft,
while the third section contained areas where there were
recommendations for
changes but not agreed upon.
Mkhosi said the
final section contained areas where changes were recommended
but not agreed
upon by the delegates while highlighting the different
recommendations made
during the conference.
Zimbabwe
Retailers Increase Basic Commodity Prices
http://www.voazimbabwe.com
Gibbs
Dube
06.11.2012
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) says most
retailers have increased
prices of basic commodities like mealie-meal and
meat in an attempt to cash
in on the Christmas shopping period.
The
consumer watchdog says the retailers have increased the price of a 20
kilogram bag of mealie-meal from $9.98 to $11 and white meat from $4.50 to
$5.50. The price of margarine has also been hiked by 11c.
The CCZ
says prices of commodities like cabbage, tomatoes and laundry soap
have
decreased while others like bread, tea leaves, flour and salt have
remained
unchanged.
Irate Zimbabweans tell Studio 7 that retailers should stop
increasing prices
of basic commodities without taking into account
production costs.
Njambakulwa Mwembe of Dete, Matabeleland North
Province, says retailers are
ill-treating Zimbabweans.
“This should
never be allowed to continue because many poor people cannot
afford to raise
money to buy food,” said Mwembe.
Chinese
businessman denies bankrolling Mugabe's secret police
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
Wednesday, 07 November
2012 10:15
President Robert Mugabe
HARARE - Sam Pa, a shadowy Chinese
businessman, has denied bankrolling
President Robert Mugabe’s feared secret
police, the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO), claiming the money was
for taxes and licence fees to the
Zimbabwe government, Global Witness said
in its latest report published
yesterday.
A July 2012 Global Witness
report titled, Financing a Parallel Government?,
had claimed the CIO had
received $100 million in off-budget financing from
the Hong Kong
tycoon.
Pa claims to be merely an advisor to a company that jointly owns
Sino
Zimbabwe Development (Pvt) Ltd’s diamond concession worth some $1
billion in
the vast Marange diamond fields in partnership with the
CIO.
Through his China International Fund (CIF) representatives, Pa
denied
providing funding and materials to the spy agency in return for
access to
Zimbabwe’s diamonds, cotton and property sectors as
alleged.
“China International Fund has not been involved in sending money to
the
secret police,” said a letter from the representatives to Global
Witness.
“While China International Fund has provided money to the
government of
Zimbabwe it has done so for legitimate business reasons such
as the payment
of taxes, licence fees etc.
“It is a commercial
enterprise and governments are free to deploy monies
they receive as they
deem appropriate.”
Global Witness had claimed that Pa’s secret funding to
the CIO has been
allocated towards Operation Spiderweb, an alleged covert
operation designed
to discredit Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The
international organisation has pulled out of diamond industry regulator,
the
Kimberley Process (KP), branding the scheme “an accomplice to diamond
laundering”.
The mysterious Hong Kong-based magnate admitted
providing the $100 million
but said it was for taxes and other fees, adding
the 200 pick-up trucks were
given to the Zimbabwe government not the
CIO.
“It is true that 200 Nissan trucks were imported on behalf of China
International Fund into Zimbabwe,” the letter says.
“Hundred of those
trucks were used for company purposes and 100 were
provided to the
government of Zimbabwe without specifying the vehicles’
usage.
“The
report seeks to create the impression that China International Fund or
Pa
were, by virtue of the provision of the trucks in question, in some way
contributing to the “alleged human rights violations” allegedly carried out
by (CIO) agents using these vehicles.”
Pa’s representatives said such
insinuations were “damaging and untrue”.
“It is not correct to say that
Sino Zimbabwe Development (Pvt) Ltd was
“granted opportunities in the
diamond, cotton and property sectors” ‘in
return for the provision of
vehicles to the Zimbabwe government,” Pa’s
representatives
said.
“This claim creates the impression that our clients have been given
undue
commercial advantage in their business activities in these sectors in
Zimbabwe in exchange for these vehicles.
“This is not true.”
While
Sino Zimbabwe Development (Pvt) Ltd is active in the cotton sector in
Zimbabwe, “it has not acted in an unfair manner,” the letter
says.
Pa, a prominent member of the Queensway Syndicate — a network of
companies
with a track record of negotiating opaque resource for
infrastructure deals
across the African continent — denied he was the major
channel of funds to
the CIO.
Pa’s emergence as an alleged secret
funder of the CIO exploded at a
particularly sensitive time as national
attention focused on the role of
diamonds in bankrolling Zimbabwe’s $4
billion cash budget.
Diamonds are fast becoming Zimbabwe’s biggest source
of export earnings but
twice the amount earned is smuggled out illegally
through porous borders by
corrupt officials and criminal networks, according
to Global Witness, an
allegation strenuously denied by Pa’s
representatives.
“The activities of Sino Zimbabwe Development (Pvt) Ltd
in the diamond sector
in Zimbabwe have not resulted in the removal of any
diamonds from Zimbabwe,”
Pa’s letter says.
“In fact, not a single
carat was ever exported by Sino Zimbabwe Development
(Pvt) Ltd.”
The
international NGO has taken a lead in efforts to stop trade in diamonds
from
conflict zones in Sierra Leone, Angola, Congo and Zimbabwe.
‘Rebel
against ZANU PF’s abuse of diamond proceeds’
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tichaona Sibanda
7
November 2012
The militant leader of the MDC99, Job Sikhala, has said it
is high time
Zimbabweans speak out and rebel against ZANU PF’s blatant abuse
of proceeds
from diamond revenue.
Speaking on SW Radio Africa’s
Hidden Story program on Wednesday, Sikhala
said it is clear revenue from the
Chiadzwa diamonds is not being used to
support the general population of
Zimbabwe.
Responding to reports that the former ruling party is spending
a massive
$6.5 million on the construction of a conference centre in Gweru
ahead of
its
‘people’s conference’ in December, the former MDC-T MP said
it’s clear where
the source of that funding is coming from.
The
conference centre stands on a 60-hectare piece of land on the outskirts
of
Gweru, along the Mvuma highway. The state of the art complex will have a
5,000 seat arena and a red tiled roof with a futuristic design. It’s being
put up by Chinese contractors.
‘If there is anybody in Zimbabwe who
is sceptical about where cash from
diamonds is going…there is your answer.
That money is funding ZANU PF
projects in anticipation of winning the hearts
and minds of Zimbabweans
ahead of next year’s poll,’ Sikhala
said.
The former student leader called upon those diverting the diamond
revenue
from the treasury to ZANU PF to be investigated. He asserted that
stamping
out corruption is one of the biggest challenges that Zimbabwe
faces.
‘The issue of cash from diamonds disappearing and not finding its
way to the
Ministry of Finance is a system that requires an urgent
chemotherapy to deal
with a cancer-like situation engulfing the
country.
‘A cancer-like situation is engulfing the inclusive government
which is
harmful for growth. Certainly the country needs chemotherapy at
this
critical hour,’ Sikhala said.
‘Establishing a corruption-free
Zimbabwe is a major challenge. I propose for
now that people speak out and
rebel against these thieves and crooks.
Sikhala said there is a sense of
anguish, despair and concern among people
over the deteriorating service
delivery system which is increasing day after
day and there is need for
urgent corrective actions.
‘If the situation is allowed to continue then
we cannot prevent the people
taking to the streets. The leadership across
the country, irrespective of
their profession or political affiliation, will
have to put the country, its
development and its pride, above their
individualism,’ he added.
MDC-T
old guard to face young turks in party primaries
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tichaona
Sibanda
7 November 2012
As next year’s general election draws nearer
by the day, politics in the
MDC-T, which for over a decade had been
dominated by the old guard, is set
for a major transformation. This follows
indications of increased
participation by youth leaders.
Many of the
senior members of the party are three term parliamentarians and
their
reluctance in the past to be challenged in the primaries has been the
cause
of bitter recriminations at constituency level.
However, this time round
all indications are that the political old guard is
set for a bruising
battle with the young turks, come next year’s poll.
One man facing a
challenge at the primaries is Water Resources Minister, Sam
Sipepa Nkomo.
The Lobengula MP is set to contest the right to represent the
party against
32 year-old Freedom Mazwi, a social and economic justice
activist who is
currently a member of the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial youth.
A graduate of
political science from the University of Zimbabwe, Mazwi
served at
secretariat level in the MDC-T between 2008 and 2012, where he
worked in the
national chairman’s office.
‘We have been spectators for a long time in
the political arena of this
country and this has resulted in many of us
being marginalized. But we want
to change this through youthful leadership,’
said Mazwi when declaring his
interest in the Lobengula constituency. Mazwi
explained that political
leaders, especially from ZANU PF, have for a long
time been viewed as
‘demigods’.
‘We don’t want this to creep into the
MDC. There has been little
representation from the youth in both the lower
and upper House and we have
for long been very supportive of our elders,’
Mazwi said.
He added: ‘Since the MDC-T is a democratic party that allows
individuals to
participate in the electoral process, I will therefore
subject myself to the
party’s internal democratic process and face minister
Nkomo.’
‘After wide consultations with my family, friends and comrades I
have come
to a point where I feel I should broaden myself to a national
level by
offering myself to the people of Lobengula to serve as a member of
the House
of Assembly.
‘The House of Assembly is a critical arm of
the state which plays an
oversight role and thus requires fearless and
strategic thinkers.’
The youth leader discounted any fears that his
challenge will cause
animosity and divide the party cadres in the
constituency, saying the
imposition of candidates was the most dangerous
practice that can easily
destroy party structures.
‘This is only an
internal process, of which if I lose the contest to
Minister Nkomo, I will
congratulate him, pull our forces together and
campaign for him to win
re-election against other aspiring candidates from
other parties,’ said
Mazwi.
MISA
warns of increasing media intimidation
http://www.swradioafrica.com
by Alex Bell
07 November
2012
Media rights watchdog MISA-Zimbabwe has warned that there are an
increasing
number of incidents involving intimidation of the media, ahead of
the next
elections.
Most recently, the editor of the Weekly Mirror
provincial newspaper in
Mashonaland West was arrested Tuesday on allegations
of operating a media
house without a licence, in contravention of the Access
to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Dennis Kagonye
was held in detention overnight before being brought before
Chinoyi
Magistrate Fanuel Nyakudya on Wednesday. The magistrate sentenced
Kagonye to
two months in prison with the option of a US$100 fine, which he
elected to
pay.
Kagonye was also handed a suspended sentence of six months
imprisonment, on
condition he does not commit a similar offence within the
next five years.
The editor’s arrest comes barely two weeks after he was
summoned by the
police following the publication of an article in the Weekly
Mirror in
September, titled: “Chief terrorises headman”. It is unclear yet
whether his
arrest was in any way connected to this, but observers have said
it all
forms part of the widespread intimidation of media
players
MISA-Zimbabwe information officer, Nyasha Nyakunu, told SW Radio
Africa that
Kagonye’s case also “vindicates our position that AIPPA is
undemocratic.” He
explained that charges against Kagonye should not have
been tried as a
criminal case.
“This shows the need for an electoral
roadmap ahead of the next elections
that will guarantee the reform of the
media to ensure the safety of media
professionals. If these laws are still
in place come elections, then more
journalists will be arrested,” Nyakunu
warned.
Hon Mangoma
summoned on spurious charges
http://www.mdc.co.zw
Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Hon.
Elton Mangoma, the MDC Deputy Treasurer General and the Minister of
Energy
and Power Development this afternoon received summons from the police
to
attend court at the Bindura Magistrate Court on spurious charges of
insulting Robert Mugabe.
Hon. Mangoma was arrested on 10 October this
year by police officers from
the Harare Central Police Station on charges
that he insulted Mugabe at a
rally at Munhenga Business Centre early this
year.
Police officers from the Law and Order Section attempted to drive
him to
Bindura Central Police Station but made a u-turn along the way after
they
received some instructions from unknown people. He was released on the
same
day after the intervention of his lawyers.
However, today Hon.
Mangoma received some summons at his government offices
at Chaminuka
Building instructing him to attend court in Bindura on Tuesday,
13
November.
The summons were delivered at around midday by Detective
Sergeant Ncube and
Detective Sergeant Phiri from Bindura Law and Order
Section.
The MDC position is that the issuing of summons on Minister
Mangoma on such
a spurious charge is nothing but the usual Zanu PF ploy to
frustrate the
Hon Minister from conducting his usual and important
ministerial duties in
government. The continued abuse of state machinery by
Zanu PF to harass and
intimidate MDC leadership and supporters is
deplorable.
The arrests, harassment and intimidation will not deter the
People’s Party
of Excellence from pursuing its vision of transforming the
lives of
Zimbabweans.
The MDC will therefore, continue with greater
vigour to push for a YES vote
in the referendum on the Constitution ahead of
the next elections that will
see the end of the sunset party.
The
Last Mile: Towards Real Transformation!!!
The MDC
Today - Issue 464
http://www.mdc.co.zw
Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Zimbabwe has a
new model of human trafficking where young people, women and
children are
moved from one area to another to commit violence on behalf of
Zanu PF, the
MDC Deputy President, Hon. Thokozani Khupe has said.
Hon. Khupe said this
while officially launching the Anti – Human Trafficking
publicity awareness
campaign in Harare today.
Zanu PF is well known for the reign of terror
it exposed the people of
Zimbabwe since the country gained independence in
1980. At every election
time, Zanu PF activates its torture bases where the
hapless youth are
ferried from different provinces into an area to torture,
maim and even
murder people they do not know on political grounds.
In
2008 alone, more than 500 MDC members were brutally murdered while
thousands
more were displaced when the youth, doused with drugs and beer,
unleashed
violence on the defenceless citizens.
In Bulawayo, the
Mtshabezi-Umzingwane water project, which is set to ease
the century old
city’s water woes, is now complete. The Minister of Water
Resources
Development and Management Hon. Samuel Sipepa Nkomo confirmed. The
project
awaits approval from engineers based in South Africa who are yet to
inspect
the whole project before water can be pumped into the City.
The MDC has
hailed Hon. Nkomo for spearheading this project which was dogged
by ups and
downs for sometime owing to political bickering from Zanu PF
after the party
had failed to solve perennial water shortages experienced by
the city in
three decades.
The completion of the Mtshabezi-Umzingwane water pipeline
is a major boost
to the ailing city which has been dogged by massive
relocation of industries
as companies shunned the city due to lack of water.
The project which has
taken two years to complete will be commissioned soon
after engineers from
South Africa have finished the inspection
process.
Meanwhile, Hon. Elton Mangoma, the MDC Deputy Treasurer General
and the
Minister of Energy and Power Development this afternoon received
summons
from the police to attend court at the Bindura Magistrate Court on
fabricated charges of insulting Robert Mugabe.
Hon. Mangoma was
arrested on 10 October this year by police officers from
the Harare Central
Police Station on charges that he insulted Mugabe at a
rally at Munhenga
Business Centre early this year.
The summons were delivered at the
minister’s government offices at around
midday by Detective Sergeant Ncube
and Detective Sergeant Phiri from Bindura
Law and Order Section.
My
voice is in: My vote is YES!!!
War
veterans warn Mugabe
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Wednesday, 07
November 2012 10:41
HARARE - War veterans loyal to President Robert
Mugabe have told him the
hard truth: Zanu PF is losing support even in his
home province at a time
the 88-year-old is vigorously pushing for
elections.
In no-holds-barred talk, the war veterans’ leadership told
Mugabe that the
decline has nothing to do with the MDC but is the result of
a dictatorial,
lackluster and inept party leadership failing to read the
mood swing in
party strongholds.
Combative war veterans’ leader
Jabulani Sibanda, who delivered the news to
Mugabe, said the party was in
tatters in Mashonaland West Province.
Sibanda told the Daily News that he
met Mugabe recently to inform him about
the appalling state of affairs,
adding some rallies by provincial leaders
attracted no more than 20
people.
“I told the President that there is a problem with leaders who
were imposed
and do not attract voters.
“If someone is imposed, the
effect is that the people will not recognise
him. That is what is obtaining
in Mashonaland West,” he told the Daily News.
Sibanda’s take is
significant as it exposes top Zanu PF leaders who often
mislead Mugabe about
events on the ground and the extent of the party’s
support.
It could
also be a pointer to the divisions ripping the party apart and
could affect
Mugabe’s bid to overturn a March 2008 presidential election
first round
defeat to rival and now coalition government partner Prime
Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai.
Mashonaland West is one of the provinces that stood by Mugabe
and Zanu PF as
the majority of former strongholds deserted the party in 2008
when the MDC
ended Mugabe’s hold on Parliament and executive
power.
During the 2008 harmonised elections, Zanu PF won 88. 89 percent
of the
seats in Mashonaland Central, 82.61 percent in Mashonaland East,
74.07
percent in Midlands and 72.73 percent in Mashonaland
West.
Sibanda said Mugabe can no longer count on such massive
support.
He lost in other provinces that used to back him such as
Masvingo and
Manicaland.
In Mashonaland West, the MDC got 27.27
percent of the vote and Sibanda told
Mugabe the former labour movement could
improve on the tally if factionalism
and candidate imposition in Zanu PF
remain unresolved.
He said he has now camped in the province to drum up
support and revitalise
the party, a move that has left MDC activists in fear
of a violent campaign.
“I am now in Mashonaland West province and I can
confirm that there are some
leaders who do not enjoy popular support,” he
told the Daily News, adding
that unlike some of the local leaders, he wants
to touch base with the
people.
“Even when Jesus said ‘makwayi angu
anonzwa izwi rangu’ (my sheep heed my
call) he was saying so because he had
walked among his people and the people
knew his voice and his works. I am
still in Mashonaland and I will be there
building support for the party,”
said Sibanda.
His move to Mugabe’s home province comes at a time when
Zanu PF has
intensified its campaign ahead of watershed elections which the
party wants
held in March.
Tsvangirai says March is too early for a
free and fair poll and wants the
election pushed to June to allow time for
democratic reforms.
Just last week, Mugabe launched a scheme to dish out
free seed and
fertiliser.
Mugabe’s coalition partners say the scheme
is suspicious and its funding is
secret although Mugabe has previously
stated that it is funded by
“well-wishers”.
Sources say Mugabe,
desperate to extend his 32 year rule, has given the
firebrand war veterans’
leader the nod to mobilise support in the province.
War veterans, often
accused of driving political violence, have come to
Mugabe’s rescue since
2000 when party structures began to crumble and a
newly formed MDC nearly
caused an upset.
Sibanda said some MPs in the province should be forced
to step down for a
new crop.
Sibanda has already been on a
trailblazing campaign in Masvingo and
Manicaland provinces where he rattled
both the local Zanu PF leadership and
the MDC.
It seems no different
in Mashonaland West.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Zanu PF
Mashonaland West provincial
chairperson John Mafa were futile but sources
said local leaders were
unhappy that Sibanda was taking over Mugabe’s
campaign.
The MDC too, is rattled.
“Jabulani Sibanda is here and
he has been calling rallies telling people to
vote for Mugabe. Here the
message that Zanu PF is giving to the people daily
is that crimes of 2008
have not been punished and that will happen again if
you vote for the MDC,”
said Eddie Ndirayire, the MDC Mashonaland West deputy
chairperson.
Chombo
suspends Masvingo MDC councillor
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
Wednesday, 07 November 2012
10:41
MASVINGO - Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo’s
onslaught on MDC
councillors has claimed one official here.
Chombo
has suspended MDC Ward 8 councillor Misheck Gapare on allegations of
mismanagement of council property and unprofessional conduct.
The
suspension is meant to pave way for investigations into charges of
contravening the Urban Councils Act after Gapare allegedly mismanaged
council property.
In a letter date October 29 this year signed by
Chombo, the councillor will
remain on suspension indefinitely.
He
joins dozens of MDC councillors and mayors purged by Chombo in various
urban
and rural councils since 2000 when the MDC began sweeping local
government
elections.
Allegations against Gapare range from allocating himself a
residential
stand, which he developed without council approval, failure to
pay
electricity and water bills at a council rented flat and failing to
settle
$1 080 for a council tent he hired in 2010.
“After carefully
analysing the facts presented to me on the above cases. I
am convinced that
your actions are in contravention of section 114 (1) (d)
of the Urban
Councils Act, and therefore am compelled to suspend you from
the office of
councillor with immediate effect,” reads part of the letter.
The
outspoken councillor, who is also a trade unionist, has been banned from
visiting the council premises while investigations are
underway.
Gapare confirmed his suspension and said he would comply. -
Godfrey Mtimba
Zim
manufacturers in ‘crisis’
http://www.iol.co.za/
November 7 2012 at 05:17pm
By
SAPA
Zimbabwe's manufacturing industry is in crisis with firms
under-performing
due to erratic power supplies and lack of capital, an
industry body said on
Wednesday.
“The sector is in a crisis and to
some extent this has resulted in company
closures. The prevailing status quo
cannot be maintained,” Lorraine
Chikanya, chief economist of Confederation
of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)
warned.
Zimbabwe's economy is slowly
recovering following a nearly decade-long
downturn which saw inflation
peaking to 231 million percent.
A powersharing agreement between veteran
President Robert Mugabe and his
former arch-rival Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai has helped mend the
economy and stem political
violence.
But most companies are still operating below capacity hamstrung
by unstable
electricity supplies, lack of funds and high labour costs while
others have
pulled down the shutters or relocated to neighbouring
countries.
Much anticipated foreign investment has not been forthcoming
with potential
investors seeking reassurance over a law which compels
foreign companies to
sell their majority stake to locals.
Industry
and Trade Minister Welshman Ncube blamed the scarcity of cash and
prohibitive interest charges on loans.
“The challenge is how to make
money available at relatively low rates,”
Ncube said. “There is no money all
around. We think that most critical
factor which is impacting the
manufacturing sector is the unavailability of
money.” - Sapa-AFP
Ten
new power producers licensed
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
06/11/2012 00:00:00
by Roman
Moyo
SOME ten independent power producers with a capacity to
generate over 5,000
megawatts of electricity have been licensed by the
Zimbabwe Energy
Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
The new producers are
expected to complement power utility ZESA which is
struggling to meet demand
and has rationed supplies to both domestic and
commercial users for
years.
ZERA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Gloria Magombo said the
coming on
board of independent power producers will complement the existing
power
stations.
Some of the licensed power producers are already
operational while two -
Pungwe and Duru Hydro-Power Stations - are set to be
commissioned in the
next six months with a capacity to generate 5,2
megawatts.
ZERA has since licensed Essar Africa Holdings (600MW), China
Africa Sunlight
(Pvt) Ltd (120MW) and Nyangani Renewable - Duru Minihydro
(3.8 MW).
Essar Africa Holdings’ commissioning is expected in 2016, China
Africa
Sunlight (Pvt) Ltd commissioning is in 2014 while Nyangani Renewable
Duru
Minihydro commissioning is in 2013.
The country is facing a huge
power deficit which has impacted negatively on
industry’s performance, with
the country generating an average of 1,000
megawatts out of a requirement of
2,200 megawatts.
In a bid to compliment power generation at Kariba,
Hwange and other small
power stations, government opened up the sector to
independent power
producers.
“Power projects by their nature are
capital intensive and will cost US$2,5
million per megawatt and take up to
five years before completion,” Magombo
said.
ZERA has licensed nearly
20 independent power producers, of which four small
ones located in outlying
areas are already operational with a combined
capacity of 83MW, generally
lighting up the Lowveld and keeping a sawmill
running.
Some of the
companies that have been licensed but are not yet operational
include the
proposed giant Sengwa Power Station (2 400 MW), Lusulu Power
Plant, to the
north of Sengwa in Binga (2 000 MW), which is expected to be
completed next
year.
Eunafric Power Station, with an initial capacity of 120 MW, is in
discussions with Harare City Council and the Zimbabwe Electricity
Transmission and Distribution
Diamond
industry: Diamond revenue revised downwards
http://www.afriquejet.com
Zimbabwe - The diamond
industry is expected to contribute only a quarter of
the US$600 million that
Treasury had projected would come from the sector
this year. This has
serious bearing on the total budget projections that
Finance Minister Tendai
Biti had hinged on the diamond sector when he
presented the 2012 National
Budget. Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation
chairperson Mr Godwills
Masimirembwa yesterday said about US$150 million was
going to be remitted to
the Treasury by year-end.
He attributed the low revenue to the
effects of the illegal sanctions
imposed on diamond mines by the Americans
coupled with the embargo the
European Union imposed on
Zimbabwe.
"From January to September this year, we have remitted about
US$113 million
to Treasury from royalties and dividends, a figure that is
way below the
projected US$600 million," he said.
"The main reason
why the figures are low is because we have a limited
customer base due to
the illegal sanctions.
"That limited customer base is under threat of
being punished by Ofac
(Office of Foreign Assets Control) of America for
buying Zimbabwean
diamonds."
By the end of December, Mr Masimirembwa
said, the diamond sector would have
contributed an additional US$37 million,
bringing the figure to US$150 this
year.
He said the trading
environment was not conducive for the Zimbabwean
diamonds to realise optimal
prices.
"From January to September 2012, we have managed to realise
US$542 288 512
from diamond sales. It is clear that the gross sales have
failed to reach
the projected US$600 million that the sector was supposed to
contribute to
the Treasury.
"The reason is because we are under siege
from the US and the EU. The
revenue from diamonds could have been higher,
were it not that the ZMDC and
the diamond mining companies are under these
illegal sanctions.
"At the moment, the US and the EU markets are not
available to us and those
available to us are under threat from the
Americans," said Mr Masimirembwa.
Since diamond mining started in 2010 up
to September this year, he said,
US$1 226 270 000 was realised from the
diamond sales with US$425 850 455
being remitted to the Finance
Ministry.
Mr Masimirembwa said the diamond mining companies were
currently operating
at less than 50 percent capacity because of these
stringent conditions.
The four diamond mining companies each have a
capacity to produce 500 000
carats per month.
At two million carats
per month in a normal trading environment, Mr
Masimirembwa said, the diamond
sector would have been grossing about US$140
million a month.
He said
this would have been sustainable to have a national budget hinged on
the
diamond sector.
Mr Masimirembwa dismissed the allegations that there was
no transparency in
the handling of diamond proceeds.
He said Zimra,
the Reserve Bank and Treasury had access to diamond sales
figures.
"Allegations of mishandling of diamond money are totally
false and
mischievous. All the institutions that are interested in the sales
of
diamonds have the figures.
"There is total transparency in the
handling of diamond money. It is also
clear from the figures that people of
Zimbabwe are directly benefiting from
the sale of diamonds through royalties
and dividends.
"The only mining industry that is contributing to the
Treasury through
dividends is thediamond sector. Other sectors like platinum
have no
dividends accruing to the Government," said Mr
Masimirembwa.
He said mining in these areas only benefited foreign
owners.
This is contrary to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance
Minister
Tendai Biti's claims that there was no transparency in the sale of
diamonds.
Mr Masimirembwa said from the revenue figures in the mining
sector that were
presented by the Chamber of Mines recently, it was clear
that the diamonds
sector contributed about 36 percent to Treasury.
Mr
Masimirembwa dismissed claims that diamonds were selling at US$1 500 per
carat on the world market.
"Some people talk of huge prices per
carat. They are peddling figures of
about US$1 500 per carat. We challenge
them to bring such customers to the
ZMDC, the Ministry of Mines and Mining
Development or the Minerals Marketing
Corporation of Zimbabwe.
"These
people who are against the indigenisation exercise are the same
people who
are peddling falsehoods about diamonds. They are just
politicking. The same
people have not bothered to tell us how much is coming
from diamond sales at
Murowa Diamonds but they are only concentrating on
Marange," he
said.
Minister Biti was forced to review downwards the national budget in
his mid
term fiscal policy review to US$3,64 billion from US$4 billion,
citing poor
revenue inflows.
He also reviewed this year's Gross
Domestic Product growth projection to 5,6
percent from 9,4
percent.
By Lloyd Gumbo
The Herald/07/11/2012
Makumbe
leaving UZ ahead of elections
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell
07 November
2012
John Makumbe, the highly respected University of Zimbabwe (UZ)
Professor and
vocal political analyst, will be leaving the university this
year to
concentrate on his own election campaign.
Makumbe, who has
for years been one of the most outspoken critics of Robert
Mugabe and the
ZANU PF regime, will be contesting as an MDC-T candidate for
the Buhera West
constituency in the next elections. He plans on leaving his
post as a
political science lecturer at the UZ at the end of the year, to
focus on his
plans to contest for the seat.
Although an MDC-T supporter and member,
the Professor has also been critical
of Morgan Tsvangirai’s party. He told
SW Radio Africa that he hopes this
critical nature will help him to “remain
on course.”
“There are various ways of emancipating Zimbabwe from the
tyrannical system
of government we have endured under ZANU PF. You can
either make noise from
your white castle or you can put on your boots and
overalls and fight for
the emancipation of the country,” Makumbe
said.
He added: “I have been doing a lot of talking and now it is time to
show
that I can also walk the walk.”
Makumbe explained that
politicians are given their power by the people, and
it is something he says
he will not forget as a member of the political
field.
“I believe
that authority and power should be given to those who are
governed by the
people, so I am asking people to represent them, and be
their voice,”
Makumbe said.
He also added that his own personal and professional morals
will be tested,
but insisted that he aims to stay true to himself throughout
his venture
into the political sphere.
“There are certain rules I
have to abide by, but I hope I won’t ever bend my
own ethical code or
violate my own very high standards of ethics. If that
happens, I will have
no option but to exit the political arena,” Makumbe
said.
ZCTF Report - Nov 2012
ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
Only after the last
tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been
poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been
caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be
eaten.
Cree Indian Prophecy
3rd November 2012
URGENT APPEAL
Several months ago, we circulated a report
about a baby elephant that was rescued on the Kariba road. The elephant, Kunda
was given to Debbie and Gordon Putterill of Mwanga Lodge to try and hand rear.
Sadly, Kunda contracted pneumonia and died.
Debbie and Gordon have now asked for our
assistance because 2.5 kilometres of 14 strand game fencing has been stolen from
their game reserve and a number of animals have already escaped. They have
obtained a quotation to replace the fencing and the amount they are trying to
raise is USD8 640.00.
This is a very urgent matter because the
longer the fence remains in a state of disrepair, the more animals will escape
and they will become a prime target for poachers once they leave the safety of
the game reserve. If anyone can help either with funds or with the fencing
itself, please contact us immediately. We would be most grateful to anyone who
can assist.
The Zimbabwe Conservation Task
Force relies soley on public donations. Your donation can help to preserve the
wildlife in Zimbabwe. If you would like to assist, please contact
us.
Why Zimbabwe's tobacco industry
is unhappy with WHO
The World Health Organisation says its
guidelines aim to alert governments to declining demand for tobacco. But
producers say they put farmers' livelihoods at
risk
A curing house for grading, sorting and weighing tobacco leaves in
Zimbabwe. Photograph: Chad Ehlers/Alamy
There is hustle
and bustle on the tobacco trading floors of Zimbabwethese days. After a decade of agricultural
turmoil that crashed the economy, this sector is seen as
one of the few bright spots. The crop's value has bounced back from
£105m in 2008 to more than £330m this year. Moreover, whereas tobacco production
was once dominated by a white elite, now tens of thousands of farmers are
black.
Yet this precious gain
is under threat, the industry claims, not from renewed political violence or
economic turbulence, but from the global anti-smoking lobby.
"In Zimbabwe we are very dependent on tobacco," says Dr Andrew Matibiri,
director of the country's Tobacco Industry and Marketing
Board. "It makes up 26% of our foreign currency exports. Any movement
towards reduction of the exports will affect our economy, especially poverty
alleviation."
Growers in Nigeria, Tanzania and other
African countries accuse theWorld Health
Organisation (WHO) of cracking down on struggling farmers
and putting millions of jobs and livelihoods at risk.
The WHO insists this is
a misrepresentation. It says it is merely issuing guidelines for governments
around the world on how to deal with a projected decline in consumer demand.
From this point of view, thetobacco
industry has set up a straw man so it can take an
unaccustomed position of the moral high ground.
Matibiri, who claims to
have the backing of both the president, Robert Mugabe, and prime minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, argues that more than 70,000 Zimbabwean farmers would suffer
immediately under the WHO proposals. "We say farmers should be allowed to grow
tobacco," he says. "It's not illegal. They grow it very quickly and easily; they
have been doing it for over a hundred years so there's a lot of knowhow. So far
there have been no alternative crops put on the table."
The WHO says tobacco
kills almost 6 million people a year. Matibiri does not deny that smoking is
harmful, but adds: "We understand all the issues and we agree with them. There
are few beneficial consequences of smoking. But we are appealing to the WHO to
understand our peculiar position as tobacco producers."
The issue has
flared up because the WHO guidelines, known as articles 17 and 18 of the
landmark framework
convention on tobacco control, will be discussed next week at the Conference of the
Parties in Seoul, South Korea. Potential measures
include restricting growing periods and the amount of land used for tobacco
while encouraging alternative crops.
In a pre-emptive
strike, the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa (Tisa)commissioned a
study of 15 regional economies that shows 4.4
million Africans are employed – and 24 million dependent – on a tobacco value
chain worth more than $10bn. In Zimbabwe, according to the research, the
industry employs 1.13 million people with 5.67 million dependents and generates
$579m in exports. In Malawi, another country with economic woes, tobacco employs
1.4 million people, generates $428.2m in exports, and represents 15% of
GDP.
Francois van der Merwe,
chief executive of Tisa, said of the WHO: "Their motivation has been the ongoing
failure to decrease the demand for tobacco products that has resulted in an
ill-conceived attempt to tackle the most vulnerable people in the supply chain,
namely farmers. Should this ill-advised and misguided proposal [article 17] come
into effect, it will have a dire impact on the livelihoods of farmers and
tobacco growing countries more broadly."
Tobacco
representatives in various African countries have also expressed
opposition. Julius Masongo,
chairman of the Tanzania Tobacco Co-operative Apex,
said: "The WHO has consistently refused to listen to tobacco growers
in drafting the proposal that directly impacts Tanzania's farmers. By doing so,
they act like a blind man driving a steamroller without paying any attention to
the consequences of their folly. Now is the time for governments to act and
oppose these draconian measures."
Tobacco growing
countries charge that, in its zeal to curtail an industry it regards as evil,
the WHO is failing to appreciate the paradox that tobacco throws a lifeline to
those who grow it. Unsurprisingly, the WHO has a different
view.
It it not issuing
orders to anyone, it says, but seeking to help governments that have signed up
to the convention to manage what it sees as tobacco's inevitable decline. Dr
Haik Nikogosian, head of the convention secretariat for the framework
convention, says: "The document is called 'policy options and recommendations'
for governments, not farmers. It's developed to help governments to help farmers
transition to alternative crops. The demand for tobacco will gradually diminish:
it is clearly known. People will not be smoking tobacco in 200
years.
"It's not asking
farmers to do anything. It doesn't have any deadlines or requirements. It's
advice and guidelines, and should be seen in a positive light. The WHO wouldn't
involve itself in agricultural business in that negative way. This is about
supporting farmers, not restricting them."
Asked about the vitriol
being poured on the WHO, Nikogosian says: "I'd be surprised if it only comes
from the tobacco growing organisations. There are other organisations and forces
that are not to be trusted in giving information. If you look at the value chain
and the profits, they are not sitting with the farmers. You can see where the
interests are."