Mutambara backs Mugabe over ambassadors row

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
21 October 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has tipped the already unbalanced
scales of power firmly in Robert Mugabe's favour, by backing him in the
current ambassadors row.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week told the EU and the UN that
ambassadors appointed solely by Mugabe don't speak on behalf of the whole
government. This position has put further strain on the fragile coalition
government, with Tsvangirai urging foreign hosts of Zimbabwean ambassadors
not to recognise those appointed unilaterally by Mugabe.

Mugabe has threatened foreign countries with retaliation if they heed
Tsvangirai's advice and expel the diplomats he appointed. His spokesman
George Charamba on Monday told NewsDay news service that Zimbabwe would
reserve the right to 'reciprocate' if its diplomats were thrown out of their
postings.

"In diplomacy there is a principle called reciprocity," Charamba said. "You
do to the other countries what you want them to do unto you. If country A
refuses to recognise ambassadors from country B then country B reserves the
right to do the same."

As the third principal to the 'unity' government, it was hoped that
Mutambara would also stand against Mugabe's unilateral decisions, which are
in direct contravention of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). But the
Deputy Prime Minister, and leader of the break away MDC-M faction, shocked
MDC-T MPs by appearing to side with Mugabe.

Mutambara told Parliament on Wednesday that appointments of provincial
governors and ambassadors were determined by the Head of State, and that
Tsvangirai was "ill-advised" in his position. Mutambara made the remarks
during Parliament's Question and Answer Session and angry MDC-T MPs
reportedly reacted by calling him a sell-out who should "just buy a ZANU PF
membership card."

Mutambara was responding to a question by Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora
who wanted him to explain government policy on provisions in Amendment 19 of
the Constitution, especially concerning the appointment of governors and
Ambassadors.

"We value what we do in this country as an inclusive government and we must
be aware how international law is enforced," said Mutambara. "The
relationship between countries is determined by a Head of State of that
country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Mutambara said if any party had qualms about matters of constitutionalism,
the Supreme Court, which is the Constitutional Court of the country, should
be able to deal with them. He said the appointment of governors, judges or
ambassadors by Mugabe was done according to the Constitution and the country's
leaders needed to adhere to that Constitution.

"Mr Speaker, we are a constitutional democracy which is very clear in terms
of how our appointments are done pertaining to judges and ambassadors and
these are done according to the Constitution of Zimbabwe," he said.

Mutambara's party has however given an opposite official position on the
issue. Last week, MDC-M spokesperson Edwin Mushoriwa told NewsDay that his
party sided with the MDC-T on the position that Mugabe should have consulted
when he made the appointments.

Tsvangirai last week wrote a series of letters stating his position that
appointments made unilaterally by Mugabe were "null and void," as they were
done without consultation. This included a letter to EU president Jose
Manuel Baroso and letters to the UN and four countries. The UN has since
said it cannot expel Zimbabwean ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa, but urged the
coalition government to abide by the GPA.

The EU meanwhile is still facing pressure to take action by not recognising
the nominated Zimbabwean ambassador, Margaret Muchada. Geoffrey Van Orden
MEP, who spearheads the European Parliament's campaign for freedom and
democratic change in Zimbabwe, has urged EU leaders to heed Tsvangirai's
plea and refuse to accept Muchada's credentials on the grounds that her
appointment is "unconstitutional."

The European Parliament was set to pass a resolution condemning the unity
government for their planned forced evictions of citizens from a settlement
at Hatcliffe, Harare. Van Orden told SW Radio Africa this week that "under
these circumstances it is unacceptable for the EU to accept the credentials
Margaret Muchada, who has been nominated unilaterally by Mugabe, in direct
violation of the Zimbabwean constitution."

Van Orden said that "the human rights tragedy unfolding at Hatcliffe is yet
another example of the continuing tragedy of Zimbabwe and will continue as
long as Mugabe and his fellow exploiters hold on to power."

 

WOZA slams harassment by state prosecutors

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
21 October 2010

The harassment of activists from the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise
(WOZA) has continued this week, when police attempted to serve summons to 14
WOZA members arrested in May 2008.

Only one member, Clara Manjengwa, received the summons to appear in Harare
Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning. According to WOZA head Jenni
Williams, the court had no documentation to support the case, and there were
no witnesses or any record of the matter being due to be heard.

"The police themselves were not even present. In fact the only evidence that
a summons had been served was the copy that Clara herself had," Williams
told SW Radio Africa.

Instead of dismissing the matter, State Prosecutor Chigota insisted on
calling out the names of the 14 WOZA members originally arrested two years
ago, from Clara's copy of the summons. This was despite Clara being the only
member to receive the summons.

The matter was postponed to 11.30am to give time for the docket to be found.
When at 11.30 the docket still had not been found and neither the
Investigating Officer nor witnesses were present, Magistrate Munhamato
Mutevedzi dismissed the matter. The state will have to proceed by way of
summons when they have their case in order.

The 14 members had been arrested on 28th May 2008 near the Zambian Embassy
in Harare, where they planned to hand over a petition to the then chair of
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), calling for an end to
post-election violence. 12 of the group spent 17 days in Chikurubi and
Harare Remand Prisons after the state contested the Magistrate's granting of
bail. WOZA leaders Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu spent 37 days in
Chikurubi Prison before being granted bail.

The group was charged under Section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Act, and accused of "participating in a gathering with the intent to
promote public violence, a breach of the peace or bigotry." After appearing
in court on remand several times, the group was finally removed from remand
on 15th October 2008.

WOZA said it condemns this attempt by the state to resurrect the case over
two years later without any additional evidence, calling it pure harassment
of human rights defenders. The group added that the situation raises
concerns of renewed violence and persecution of pro-democracy activists
ahead of possible elections next year.

Zim Diamond Researcher And Activist Set Free

http://news.radiovop.com

21/10/2010 18:19:00

Harare, October 21, 2010 - A Harare Magistrate on Thursday set free Centre
for Research and Development Director, Farai Maguwu who was facing charges
of leaking a document on human rights abuses at Chiadzwa Diamond Fields.

Maguwu who was accused of passing on the information which was described as
prejudicial to the state, to the Kimberely Process monitor Abeey Chikane.
The document also detailed how security agents and soldiers were smugglind
diamonds from Chiadzwa.

Maguwu was arrested and was detained for over a month. He was later freed on
US$1 500 bail and ordered to reside at his Mutare residence and not to
interere with state witnesses. His lawyers said he was detained under very
appaling conditions.

Maguwu told journalists on Thursday after the charges were dropped that he
was happy to be a free man.

"I am happy to be a free man," he said. He was flanked by his lawyer, Trust
Maanda.

Zimbabwe's National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (Nango)
recently nominated Maguwu its Kimberely Process focal person but the
Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Obert Mpofu said the Zimbabwe
government would not recognise the appointment because he was facing
criminal charges.
 

Zim Students Hospitalised After Brutal Police Assault

http://news.radiovop.com/

21/10/2010 16:20:00

Masvingo, October 21, 2010- About 10 students from Great Zimbabwe University
(GZU) are battling for their lives in Masvingo General Hospital after they
were brutally assaulted by the police on Wednesday for allegedly trying to
influence others to boycott lectures.

Anorld Batirai who sustained serious face and back injuries told Radio VOP
on Thursday that he may have to travel to Harare to seek specialised
treatment.

"We were severely beaten...the police details just came to us and accused us
for moblising students to boycott lessons. We were taken to Rujeko police
station where we were beaten by officers who released us without a charge."

Some of the students who are in hospital are Joshua Chinyere, Godfrey
Kurauone, Tobias Simango, Zivanai Munjodzi, Buta Makuvire, Tiringindi
Prosper, Gamuchirai Makura , Tafadzwa Kutya and Batanai Chauke.

Police provincial spokesperson Tinaye Matake confirmed that Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU) leaders were arrested for 'trying to
organise a strike'.

However, Matake said he was not aware that the students were in hospital.

"We can confirm that ZINASU leaders at GZU were arrested for trying to cause
commotion at university campus this week. I am however, not aware that they
were beaten," said Matake.

Former students' union leader at GZU Hardlife Janyure condenmned the
beatings saying: "Surprisingly the police has decided to continue harassing
already stressed students."

GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Obert Maravanyika could not comment as he was
not asnwering his mobile phone.
 

Tsvangirai says he won't pull out of government

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Guthrie Munyuki
Thursday, 21 October 2010 15:09

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai  says he will not pull out of the
inclusive government despite flagrant violations of the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) by President Robert Mugabe and his allies in Zanu PF.

"Who doesn't know that this unity Government is a shared compromise? Mugabe
alone cannot constitute the GPA, he came begging me to form the transitional
government with him," Tsvangirai told his supporters in Harare's Mabvuku
township, Tuesday during a consultative meeting.

The MDC leader said he was the legitimate winner of the elections and would
not walk away from government regardless of  frustrations that have been
brought by Mugabe who has  not been forthcoming  in implementing fully the
GPA.

"If Mugabe thinks we can leave this transitional Government then he must
forget, it.  It is him who is supposed to leave it because the MDC won the
elections; we don't want to be diverted from our goal which is to respect
the will of the people," said Tsvangirai.

Mugabe has been accused of mutilating the GPA by making unilateral
appointments and refusing to swear in MDC treasurer general Roy Bennett as
deputy minister for Agriculture.

The ageing Zimbabwe leader at first contended that Bennett had to be cleared
by courts before being sworn in after the combative MDC strongman was
arraigned before the High Court to answer charges of terrorism.

He has been since cleared although police say they might bring fresh charges
against the former Chimanimani legislator.

Tsvangirai has said he won't recognise any of the appointments which Mugabe
made unilaterally including those of ambassadors, governors, and central
bank boss Gideon Gono and the Attorney General, Johannes Tomana.

An infuriated Tsvangirai has also written to the European Union, South
Africa and the UN urging them to ignore Mugabe's ambassadorial appointees.

The EU has said it is taking the Prime Minister's letter seriously and its
legislators have out rightly rejected the appointment of Margaret Muchada to
the EU although the body is yet to make a decision.

Tsvangirai told his supporters that he is ready for elections which he has
agreed to with Mugabe but assured his supporters that there won't be
violence.

"I can assure you there will be no violence because we will use all our
powers nationally, regionally and internationally to have a credible
election. We are tired of people who want to intimidate people if they want
violent elections why don't they do it alone,"

"We need international observers, SADC must bring peace keeping force who
will be monitoring the situation. Only a peaceful, credible and legitimate
election will solve us from this ZANU PF mess.

What happened in 2008 must not be repeated," Tsvangirai told his supporters.

Rights groups and western countries have also implored Sadc, the African
Union and the United Nations to deploy peace-keeping forces before, on and
after elections.

Concerns have been heightened following violence and intimidation during the
constitutional outreach meetings.

Pro-democracy groups and the civic society, however, remain wary of Zanu PF
threats and are yet to see repentance from the liberation movement whose
supporters have been fingered in previous violence.

They argue that the national healing which should have been the first
serious step in addressing  the wrongs of 2008 pre run-off violence, has not
taken place.

Instead, suspicion and vengeance, argue the groups, are still etched in the
minds of victims of the 2008 violence which erupted in Mashonaland East and
Central provinces, respectively.

Euro MPs urge Zimbabwe to halt settlement evictions

http://news.yahoo.com/

AFP

- 2 hrs 8 mins ago

STRASBOURG (AFP) - The European parliament urged Zimbabwe President Robert
Mugabe on Thursday to drop a threat of mass evictions from a settlement
outside the capital Harare.

Up to 20,000 people living in an informal settlement known as Hatcliffe
Extension have been threatened with eviction for failing to pay
"prohibitively high fees" charged by authorities, the parliament said.

Euro MPs adopted a resolution calling on Zimbabwe "to scrap the arbitrarily
imposed lease renewal fees, which residents simply have no means of paying."

Many Hatcliffe residents are victims of a 2005 eviction campaign called
Operation Murambatsvina (Drive Out Filth) that forced 700,000 people from
their homes when Mugabe's government destroyed shacks and vendor stands.

The authorities described it as an urban clean-up.

The government promised to build houses and vending stands for the victims
of Murambatsvina, but only a handful of houses were built.

The European parliament resolution also criticises Mugabe over the country's
reconciliation efforts.

"Robert Mugabe and his close supporters continue to be a stumbling block in
the process of political and economic reconstruction and reconciliation in
Zimbabwe, plundering as they do its economic resources for their own
benefit," it states.

Mugabe splashes $300,000 on Big Brother runner up

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Thursday, October 21 2010 at 14:00

HARARE, Wednesday

Zimbabwe's representative in the Big Brother All Stars reality television
show, Munyaradzi Chidzonga on Wednesday met President Robert Mugabe and was
feted with $300 000 compensatory 'prize money.'

This means that Munya got more than the winner of the competition, Uti from
Nigeria who pocketed $200 000 for winning the contest sponsored by Multi
Choice.

Zimbabweans felt Munya was robbed after surviving eviction nine times when
he was nominated and political heavyweights from President Mugabe's Zanu PF
party jumped at the opportunity to exploit to their favour.

The move was initiated by business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa, a nephew of the
president and David Chapfika who initiated a fundraising campaign.

After meeting the president, Munya said: "That was something I wanted to do
since I was very young. They say when you are young you are given the power
of dreams.

"You live that dream until a certain time it is realised. I have always told
young people around that we are a product of a group of men's dreams and we
have been given a platform.

"And I can proudly stand on that platform and say a black man is more
powerful in Zimbabwe than anywhere else in the world.

"I have been given the blessing of travelling and seeing, not all of it, but
much of the world and this is the best place. It is thanks to men like you
Your Excellency."

During the course of Big Brother, Munya said he wanted to meet President
Mugabe and usually went around the house with the Zimbabwean flag draped
over his shoulders.

President Mugabe said Munya was a people's hero and the true winner of the
Big Brother All Stars reality television show.

He hailed Munya's performance in the "grueling" and "rough contest".

"This is quite a joyous moment not just for Munya, not just for me, but to
all of us in the country. you have done well for the country," he said.

"And you went through it all. I didn't think you would survive because you
looked so young, perhaps the youngest of them all.

"The most handsome of them all. We were very proud of you and of your
performance.

"When it came to the end, the top decision, the judges had to make sure that
one (person) had to win. It was Nigeria versus Zimbabwe and Nigeria is a
very big country so you deferred to Nigeria.

"But both of you won and from our point of view, for us, you were the
winner. You made us proud. I want to say congratulations to you and the
young Zimbabweans represented by you."

The 24- year old Munya touched down at the Harare International Airport
around midday and was driven straight to the State house.

According to host of BBA IK, this was the closest ever finale with the
winner securing the votes from eight countries and the runner up from seven.

Uti initially participated in the third season of Big Brother Africa and was
one of the housemates from previous seasons chosen to enter the Big Brother
All Stars house.

The final five housemates were Sheila (Kenyan), Mwisho (Tanzanian), Lerato
(South African), Munya (Zimbabwean) and Uti.

IK said Munya and Uti were tied after getting votes from seven countries
each, but Uti won after getting the 'Rest of Africa vote'.

ZANU PF scam to pad voters roll in Bulawayo

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
21 October, 2010

SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme has discovered a voters' roll
scam in Bulawayo that involves ZANU PF officials and the registrar general.

Saungweme reports that ZANU PF put the scam into action now, so that by the
time elections come next year, the party will have many names on the voters'
roll which can be used to inflate Mugabe's support in a city that always
votes overwhelmingly for the MDC.

According to Saungweme, ZANU PF commissars have been bringing groups of 20
supporters each time to the office of Mr. Marufu, the newly appointed
registrar general in Bulawayo. They are given new identification documents
and their names are added to the voters' roll.

Saungweme said: "This is important in that it excludes all those people who
are of different political persuasions and others who may be apolitical. If
you are not brought by a commissar, your name will be added to a waiting
list which never really materialises."

Saungweme said that this is nothing new for ZANU PF. But this time some
undercover people misled one of the commissars into thinking that they were
ZANU PF supporters. They were put through the entire process and are still
in place to make further observations.

Saungweme believes this information will be critical in proving that Mugabe
cheated during an election and could help to make the voting process more
transparent in Zimbabwe.

But just how these additional names will be used is not yet clear. The vote
counting system was changed to allow counting at the polling stations, so it
would be difficult for any names to be added without raising suspicion.

Saungweme would not reveal the names of the people who were registered by
ZANU PF for obvious reasons. He expects them to continue to provide
priceless information regarding elections, especially next year when the
international community will be monitoring Zimbabwe's polls to ensure that
they are free and fair.

Zimbabweans fear elections after Constitutional outreach exercise

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
21 October, 2010

Discussions in private drinking halls and in political circles have turned
to the subject of elections since last week, when Robert Mugabe said the
coalition government would end when the Global Political Agreement (GPA)
expires in February next year. Addressing supporters, Mugabe indicated that
elections could be held by mid-2011 after a referendum on the draft
constitution.

On the ground, it appears that ZANU PF really is getting ready for
elections. SW Radio Africa has reported over the last few months that ZANU
PF youth militia camps in some areas have been reactivated. And this week
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that they would be ready to
conduct polls if the leadership required them to do so.

SW Radio Africa correspondent in Harare, Simon Muchemwa, reported on
Thursday that he interviewed people in different locations this week,
soliciting their views on the current political climate and whether they are
ready for elections as early as next year.

Muchemwa said people in the capital and in remote areas of Murehwa and Zaka
expressed fear when asked about the subject of elections. Many said that
they are just not ready for elections as early as 2011. Muchemwa found that
the majority were reluctant to even discuss political issues with a total
stranger. Those who indulged him said they still feel intimidated by the
whole exercise.

Muchemwa believes that the Constitutional outreach exercise had reminded
them that getting involved in political affairs is a risky business. It
appears that Mugabe and ZANU PF were using the outreach exercise to not only
test the waters but remind people just how violent his thugs can be and how
far they are willing to go to get their way.

Muchemwa found that these feelings were more intense in Murehwa and Zaka,
areas which experienced the brunt of the violence after the presidential
runoff election that was boycotted by MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai in
2008. There were kidnappings in broad daylight, intimidation, murders and
assaults directed at MDC supporters, and at least 200 people were killed in
that time.

According to Muchemwa, MDC supporters around the country remember the
violence that has come with every election in Zimbabwe. The association is
very strong and this has served Mugabe and ZANU PF well in preparing for
elections. Fear is now widespread that violence is once again on the cards.

 

Mutasa eyes presidency

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

21 October, 2010 12:42:00    KELVIN JAKACHIRA

HARARE - Controversial "Diesel N'anga" Rotina Mavhunga stunned the court
during her trial last month when she claimed Zanu PF stalwart Didymus Mutasa
withdrew a farm gift to her after she refused to assist him ascend to the
presidency in 2007.

Mutasa, then Minister of State Security, also responsible for land reform
and resettlement, accompanied Mavhunga to Manigwa Hills in Chinhoyi on
several occasions for rituals purportedly meant to produce refined diesel
from a rock.

Mavhunga and Mutasa were accompanied by ministers Sydney Sekeramayi, Kembo
Mohadi, Mashonaland West governor Nelson Samkange and deputy police chief
Godwin Matanga.

Mavhunga's claims are contained in the full judgment delivered by Chinhoyi
magistrate Ignatius Mugova after her trial.

The "Diesel N'anga" was found guilty of defrauding the government and
supplying false information to senior government officials and sentenced to
39 months in jail.

In the judgment, a copy of is in the possession of NewsDay, the magistrate
said: "Asked about the offer of a farm, she retorted that all those that
were allocated farms had not discovered diesel and went further to say the
'offer letter' was withdrawn because the spirit medium had refused to assist
Minister Mutasa to ascend to the presidency."

Coincidentally, Mutasa, now a Minister of State for Presidential Affairs,
made an bid for the vice-presidency during Zanu PF's last congress, but lost
to incumbent Vice-President John Nkomo.

It emerged during the trial that experts from the Chinhoyi University of
Technology were called in to carry scientific tests to establish whether
refined diesel indeed oozed from a rock at Manigwa Hills.

A team from the university's Department of Megatronics was led by Solomon
Chimedza.

The magistrate said Chimedza was not given an opportunity to see the source
of the diesel because he was whisked away by one of Mavhunga's aides.

Chimedza on two occasions travelled to Harare to meet President Robert
Mugabe and his Cabinet to explain that the phenomenon was scientifically
impossible, but his advice fell on stony ground leading to the dispatch of a
high-powered delegation to Manigwa Hills.

The findings of the investigations were used to compile a report produced by
Professor Mark F Zaranyika of the University of Zimbabwe's Chemistry
Department, entitled A Report on the Analysis of Oil Collected from
Chinhoyi.

"The report says the sample was received from Tobaiwa Mudede (Registrar
General) who Rotina Mavhunga said supplied some diesel that was taken uphill
and put into containers as she 'played games,' to use her own phase,"
magistrate Mugova said.

"The court respects the findings of the professor that the sample received
from Mudede resembles diesel oil in composition."

The magistrate said Mudede should have testified to that effect.

"This court cannot take it as common cause. From the evidence of Rotina
Mavhunga, it is abundantly clear that Tobaiwa Mudede had an interest in the
matter. Whether it was for the benefit of the nation or for himself, it's
unknown to this court," he said.

"Further, the court noted something disturbing about his behaviour. As the
police sought Rotina Mavhunga, Tobaiwa Mudede kept her in hiding and fed
her."

According to the judgment, Mavhunga approached governor Samkange with the
news of the "diesel deposits".

"Upon requesting to be shown the source of the diesel, he (Samkange) was
taken up the hill to a cave at around 5pm when it was getting dark," the
magistrate said. "At the time visibility was poor and accused one (Mavhunga)
produced diesel from a calabash. It was used in motor vehicles and they
moved. Nelson Samkange reported to the Head of State about the claims of
discovery diesel. This generated a lot of interest. It is common cause that
at the time the country was dry. There was no diesel in the country."

Samkange later withdrew his interest on instinct.

During trial, another expert, Clement Shonhiwa, acting chairman in the
Department of Fuels and Energy at Chinhoyi University, testified that the
liquid his team tested "was equivalent to the normal diesel used in the
country".

Shonhiwa was, however, unable to collect adequate samples for further tests
because Mavhunga was unavailable.

Shonhiwa later obtained six litres of diesel as samples for ministers Amos
Midzi, Olivia Muchena and Mike Nyambuya to test. "What is important to note,
however, is that he (Shonhiwa) was not led to the source of the diesel but
that accused (Mavhunga) sent someone to bring the diesel for this witness.

He refuted that the diesel that he examined was from Maningwa Hills, stating
that for mined oil to be diesel it has to get additives for it to be pump
diesel," the magistrate said.

Another expert, Fadzanai Bornwell Mupaya, a geologist, also testified saying
he was taken up the hill but "before reaching the source he was splashed
with diesel and his worksuit got wet".

After his investigations, Mupaya concluded there were no oil deposits, let
alone diesel.

Asked in court whether other geologists might explain the phenomenon in
another way, Mupaya said: "No geologist on earth will say there is diesel
from such rocks."-News Day

US steps in to strengthen Zim public health

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Reporter
Thursday, 21 October 2010 09:42

HARARE - The United States government has stepped in to strengthen the
quality of Zimbabwe's public health laboratories by committing US$10 million
towards the purchase of equipment and reagents.

U.S. Ambassador Charles Ray said the funding given through the US Centers
for Disease Control  and Prevention  (CDC)/ Zimbabwe will also help
laboratory management and accreditation processes.

"Since 2001, the U.S. Embassy, through PEPFAR and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC- Zimbabwe), has supported quality testing at the
national network of hospital laboratories through ZINQAP (Zimbabwe National
Quality Assurance Programme).

"CDC's total partnership with ZINQAP will be worth $10 million for programs
over the next five years.  One of the key results of this support has been
the upgrade of the tuberculosis laboratory at the National Microbiology
Reference Laboratory.

"CDC partnership has also helped to establish a laboratory mentorship
program using international standards, as well as a staff retention scheme
for key personnel at the most critical national laboratories," said the US
embassy in a statement released after the tour by Ray at Parirenyatwa's
ZINQAP laboratory offices in Harare, Wednesday.

Ray also announced that the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR) has committed an additional $3.2 million to strengthen the quality
of Zimbabwean public health laboratories working with ZINQAP.

He said the US support will strengthen national HIV and TB-related health
programs run by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare's Laboratory
Directorate.

Despite being vilified by President Robert Mugabe, the US government has
been visible in the humanitarian and development projects areas.

One of the key areas that the US has been leading, is the health services
sector where it has committed millions of dollars in fighting HIV/Aids by
funding specific programmes.

The US and its allies in the European Union have slapped Mugabe and members
of his inner circles with sanctions in response to their lack of respect for
the rule of law and human rights.

Mugabe, however, insists both the US and the EU are seeking to remove him
from office using the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, whom he
accuses of taking instructions from them.

Hospitals need intensive care, says report

http://www.reliefweb.int

Source: The Zimbabwean

Date: 20 Oct 2010

Written by Fungi Kwaramba

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 14:52

HARARE - Public hospitals in the country are working without vital medical
equipment and are failing to meet even basic standards.

According to the National Health Strategy 2010-2013 report, released by the
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, many hospitals in Zimbabwe are relying
on outdated equipment and most do not have TB testing equipment.

"Medical equipment critical for diagnosis and treatment is old, obsolete and
non-functional. The majority of the physical health infrastructure is in a
state of very serious disrepair. Fixed plant and equipment such as laundry
machines, kitchen

equipment and boilers are also non-functional, " says the report. "As a
result, very few public institutions are able to meet basic hospital
standards for patient care and control measures."

So dire is the situation that at major referral hospitals such as
Chitungwiza and Parirenyatwa only a few people are able to get radiology and
X-rays.

The situation is even worse for district hospitals that don't have equipment
at all. Patients are either sent back home or referred to bigger hospitals
that are then overwhelmed by demand.

In the wake of the devastating HIV/AIDS scourge, most hospitals in the
country are yet to acquire the all important CD 4 count machines, which help
in determining the stage of infection.

At Chitungwiza hospital, pregnant women needing scans are referred to South
Medical Centre, an expensive, private hospital. Many women go without scans
rather because they can't afford to pay.

According to UNICEF, every day at least eight women die while giving birth
because of difficulties in getting medical care.

The sorry state in the public hospitals has led the government to appeal for
$700m to improve hospitals.

Aid agencies assemble US$52mn farm input package for Zimbabwean farmers

http://www.apanews.net/

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) International aid agencies have pledged US$52 million
worth of agricultural inputs to assist Zimbabwean small-scale farmers during
the 2010/11 farming season which begins this month, the United Nations said
Thursday in Harare.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more
than 19 donors and 70 non-governmental organisations are providing input
support in the 2010/2011 season.

"Altogether 556,000 households have been targeted to receive agricultural
input assistance from the humanitarian community during the upcoming
 season," the UN agency said.

About 330,000 households will receive assistance through direct input
distribution or closed voucher system with a pre-determined input pack while
179,000 households will receive open vouchers which give the farmers the
option to buy inputs of their choice.

About 50,000 households will receive livestock vouchers enabling them to buy
farm animals of their choice.

On average, the input support is sufficient to cover an area of 0.25 to 0.5
hectares per household, consisting of maize, sorghum or millet seeds as well
as legumes seed and fertilizer.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Finance has also provided US$30million for
the summer cropping programme, with the amount being divided into two
facilities.

One facility valued at US$8 million will target 100,000 vulnerable
households in areas not supported by the humanitarian community.

Beneficiaries will access inputs through a voucher system after
participating in a government programme to rehabilitate roads and other
state infrastructure.

Another government facility valued at US$22million will support 300,000
communal and resettlement farmers with inputs at a subsidised price.

JN/ad/APA
2010-10-21

Swine Flu Outbreak Affects Women, Schoolchildren

http://www.herald.co.zw/

21 October 2010

Harare - A recent outbreak of suspected swine flu in Tsholotsho District has
mainly affected women and schoolchildren under the age of 15.

This has raised fears the outbreak could disrupt public examinations.

In an interview on Tuesday, disease control officer for Matabeleland North,
Dr Efison Dlodlo, said preliminary findings indicated the majority of cases
treated at clinics were of women and children.

At least 300 cases have been reported. Two of the seven preliminary tests
carried out at Tsholotsho District Hospital have tested positive for
Influenza Type A and both were from pupils at Magama Mission.

Suspected cases have been recorded in Mbamba, Malanda, Tshitawatsha,
Dlamini, Bemba, Nembe and Makhazi.

"The most affected group is that of children mostly those of school-going
age followed by that of females, but we are still receiving statistics from
the teams on the ground," said Dr Dlodlo.

He said teams on the ground have covered a considerable area. There have
been fears that the outbreak might disrupt the ongoing Grade Seven
examinations.

Schools usually discourage pupils with highly communicable diseases from
attending lessons. "Closure of schools will be the last option when all else
has failed. "Right now it is not an option we are contemplating as we are
still assessing the full impact of the outbreak," Dr Dlodlo said.

Efforts to get comment from provincial education director Mrs Boitatelo
Mnguni were fruitless.

Dr Dlodlo said they had received support from NGOs providing logistical
support to the district Civil Protection Unit and Government departments.

"The response from NGOs has been tremendous, especially Plan International
and Doctors Without Borders, who have been helping in distribution of
anti-influenza drugs and at the same time giving health education in the
affected areas," he said.

Dr Dlodlo said samples taken from the district would be sent to Harare after
which they would be sent to South Africa for verification.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in humans
the symptoms of the 2009 swine flu (H1N1 virus) are similar to those of
influenza and of influenza-like illness in general.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and
fatigue.

The 2009 outbreak showed an increased percentage of patients reporting
diarrhea and vomiting.

Last year, the country was on high alert following a few recorded cases of
people who had contracted the virus outside Zimbabwe.

The first case was of an unidentified man who flew into the country from
London, and the second of a schoolboy who had gone to South Africa for a
sports tournament.

ZIFA ‘ready’ to take stern action against match fixers

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
21 October 2010

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is ready to hand out substantial
bans to several players, coaches and officials for their respective parts in
a match-fixing scandal that has rocked the country.

A source in Harare told SW Radio Africa on Thursday ZIFA was waiting for the
Sports and Recreation Commission to go through their report before taking
any action.

“I believe anytime soon ZIFA will announce the course of action it will take
to punish those involved. There is also added pressure from FIFA (the
International Football Federation) for the local controlling mother body to
take action against those that shamed the local game,” the source said.

A recently concluded investigation by ZIFA found out that national team
players were paid to lose matches by an Asian betting syndicate in December
2009. The scandal is the biggest corruption case to rock Zimbabwean football
since independence.

The allegations of match fixing centre on a tour where Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to
Thailand and 6-0 to Syria. The report also said money was sent from the
betting syndicate to ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya.

Rushwaya is currently on suspension for her role in the tour. Jonathan
Musavengana, ZIFA’s programmes officer is also accused of receiving a bunch
of US dollars from a representative of the syndicate.

Commenting on the scandal, Dynamos legend Memory Mucherahowa said the match
fixing claims have done permanent damage to the country’s most popular
sport.

The former long serving ‘Dembare’ captain says he is one of those who
believe those in charge of football in the country must act decisively to
prevent it ever happening again by imposing the harshest penalties possible
against any player found guilty of corrupting the game.

“I’ve been involved with this game for over 30 years now and what I see
happening in Zimbabwe is a disaster to say the least. To an extent you
cannot blame the players because they were pushed to do it. But as a
deterrent they should be punished to send a strong message to others that
match-fixing is as good as fraud and is unacceptable in football,”
Mucherahowa said.

He added: “This is why I advocate penalties and the strongest deterrents. To
me, anyone found guilty of match-fixing should be banned depending on the
part they played.”

“They shouldn’t be too harsh on the youngsters though because they were
pushed into it by greedy ZIFA officials,” Mucherahowa also said. “I’m happy
these officials have been sidelined for now and should not having anything
to do with football for ever.”

There have been various allegations made about match fixing over the years,
with most of the more recent claims involving Far Eastern betting
syndicates.

I’m innocent, says paymaster in Zim match-fixing scam

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Enock Muchinjo, Deputy Sports Editor
Thursday, 21 October 2010 16:01

HARARE - Wilson Raj Perumal, the Singaporean agent accused of paying
Zimbabwe national soccer team players to lose matches in Asia, claims he is
clean.

Daily News is in contact with the man who has been named as the central
figure in a match-fixing scandal that has left the country’s number one
sport with a real sense of shame.

The 44-year-old serial offender has previously been jailed in his home
country for match-fixing.

A Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) investigation committee recently
completed a probe report which has fingered Raj - as he is commonly known -
as the shrewd paymaster in a betting syndicate believed to have been
orchestrated by suspended ZIFA officials Henrietta Rushwaya and Jonathan
Musavengana.

Chief executive Rushwaya , through whose connections Raj got involved with
Zimbabwe, is said to have benefited from the syndicate as the ring leader,
although she preferred to remain in the background. Musavengana, as the
association’s programmes manager, did most of the logistics, traveling with
the team as point man to facilitate payments between the syndicate and
players.

Travelling coach Joey Antipas and players interviewed by the probe team
confessed to have received “dirty money” to throw matches.
In one of the matches highlighted in the report, played in December 2009,
Zimbabwe were under instruction to draw 0-0 or lose 1-0 to Thailand, and the
goal was to be conceded in the 20th minute.

According to the report, Musavengana and Raj sat on the team bench, giving
out instructions on how to concede and lose the match.

The players, who stood to get $3 000 each for losing by the fixed
scoreline, were beaten 3-0 much to the disgust of Raj, who refused to pay
the players and accused them of costing him $1 million.

Raj denied that the match was fixed, saying the players were not paid their
“match fees” because he could not reward them for losing.

“In Thailand the boys were given strict instructions to put up a good match
with the Thai team,” he told the Daily News. “They were told there will be
no match bonus if they lose. They lost 3-0 to two late goals. We were very
disappointed with the performance of the Zimbabwe team and there were no
match fees for that game.”

Raj also denied ever sitting on the Zimbabwe team bench.

“The probe reveals that there was someone on the bench instructing players
on what to do during the Thailand match. For your information, I was not in
Thailand on the day of the match. Whoever was on the bench is not known to
me or my company,” he said.

“Did any of the players mention the name Wilson Raj as the one who gave
instructions to lose the Thailand match by 1-0? If they did then they must
be lying because I was never in Thailand on that day. I never met any
players in Thailand or offered any money to lose matches. In fact no money
was given for their poor performance.”

It also emerged that the Thailand trip almost failed to take off after the
ZIFA council refused to sanction it. Sensing trouble, Rushwaya, according to
the report, unsuccessfully tried to abort the trip.

This was confirmed by Raj in his correspondence with the Daily News.

“I arranged the match between Thailand and Zimbabwe,” he said. “But Rushwaya
sent an email to the Thai FA stating that Zimbabwe will not travel. But
someone from the (Zimbabwe) FA called and said that they can still get the
team on board and there is no need to cancel the match.”

The “someone” is believed to be Musavengana.

Raj claims to be a reformed man following his imprisonment, distancing
himself from the murky world of match-fixing.

“I served my term and then decided to put my knowledge in football to good
use,” he said. “I started an events organisation company and started a
legitimate business.”

He said the matches in Asia had a very low profile and therefore not
attractive to betting syndicates.

“Betting companies do not allow betting for Southeast Asian matches,” he
claimed.

“Even if they do, the betting is on a very small scale. Any irregular
betting pattern allows the betting company to void your bets. It is not easy
to place bets on such matches and it is not worth the while to even think of
fixing a match of such low scale.”

After Zimbabwe lost by the undesired scoreline in Thailand, Raj is reported
to have hastily arranged another match for them against Syria in Malaysia to
recover his money. The players were instructed to lose 6-0.

The players initially refused to play as they were said to be “fearing for
their lives” after Raj threatened them in Thailand. They eventually agreed
to play, and lost to instructions after which they were “handsomely paid”
after the match.

But Raj claims the players were paid before the match. The payments, he
said, were in fact match fees, not kickbacks.

“The allegations stating that the syndicate lost money and they had arranged
another match within two days is absolutely false,” he said.

“The team lost to Thailand and were not given match allowances or match fees
for a pathetic performance. When the team was supposed to play against Syria
the team did not want to go into the pitch to start the match. This confutes
that players feared for their lives. The Malaysia officials had to
practically beg the Zimbabwe team to start the match. We had to make
arrangements for $10 000 as match fees for the team in order to start the
match. The team had no spirit or desire to play and succumbed to a 6-0
scoreline. After this bad experience we never had any dealings with
Zimbabwe.”

Asked why as match agent he paid players directly, Raj said he did not trust
ZIFA officials.

“The money usually ends up in the FA because the people in the FA will never
pay the players.”

Raj signed off with a broadside: “In my opinion, Zimbabwe should set up
panels to find ways and means to improve the poverty and education system of
the country than waste time, money and effort on such baseless allegations.
Your players and officials kept their mouths shut about these issues for a
good one year and all of a sudden they start to sing.”

Gokwe falls under a deadly water crisis

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=23333

By Staff Reporter

Published: October 21, 2010

Gokwe  -  A serious water crisis has hit the growing Gokwe cotton farming
town with residents resorting to fetching water from shallow wells, water
flowing under bridges and broken water pipes exposing them to health
hazards.

Residents of Mapfungautsi, Nyaradza, and Sasame high density suburbs wake up
midnight daily to queue at a few water tapes that are produce water with the
rest resorting to dig shallow wells in the nearby wet land for drinking and
other domestic use.

"We find the water we get from the wells we dig (zvitubu) safer to drink
than fetching from Sasame river, because of it's sewerage contamination,"
said Sarudzai Muropa of Nyaradza.

"We are taking advantage  of this broken pipe which leaks  clean water ,but
the problem is that because of its proximity to the main road, there is
high  risk  of being crushed by cars.," a woman identified as Mai Tasara of
Sasame said while fetching water underneath a bridge  using a
cup.gweru-water-crisis1

Petronela Kanengoni of Mapfungautsi said for the past two years her tape had
not been producing a drop of water.

'What we do here is that we wake up at around midnight and queue at our
neighbour's tape which produces some drops during the night. We used to get
drinking  water  from a borehole which was drilled by UNICEF during the
height of Cholera two years ago but  the  borehole broke down because of
pressure from the Mapfungautsi and Sasame residents," she said.

Gokwe uses water drawn from a borehole and because of regular power cuts
experienced here, the machine is always off.

Gokwe town council chair (MDC-T} Darlington Mudondo said the town was in
critical water shortage which could cause another cholera outbreak when the
rainy season comes, if it was not addressed.

"We have a perennial water crisis here which we believe  will  be solved
only  by finishing up the construction of Gwehava dam whose process  is
still in progress, because the  borehole which  pumps water to the entire
area is  being affected  by power cuts and pressure from the growing Gokwe
population," he said.

Gokwe water is still in the hands of the bankrupt Zimbabwe Water Authority
(ZINWA) after the council and the water authority failed to reach a
consensus over sewer and water hand over and take over. The problem remains
unresolved gweru-water-crisis3to date making residents to believe that the
misunderstanding was affecting service delivery.

Efforts to get a comment from ZINWA Gokwe were fruitless.

Only courts can decide on appointments: DPM

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

by Own Correspondent Thursday 21 October 2010

HARARE - Only the Supreme Court can say whether President Robert Mugabe
breached the Constitution when he unilaterally appointed senior public
officials, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and third partner in
Zimbabwe's tripartite ruling coalition said yesterday.

Mutambara, whose smaller MDC-M faction broke way from Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's larger MDC-T party, holds the balance of power in the troubled
unity government.

He appeared to throw his weight behind Mugabe in the veteran leader's
wrangle with Tsvangirai over the appointments, saying the Prime Minister's
decision to write to the United Nations (UN) and several foreign governments
advising them to ignore ambassadors posted there by Mugabe was ill advised.

Mutambara told Parliament: "Matters of constitutionalism and
constitutionality can only be determined by our courts.

"If there are reservations about those appointments, the Supreme Court will
sit as a constitutional court and make a determination. No one has
challenged and there has not been a determination."

The Harare unity government has in recent weeks looked increasingly headed
for dangerous paralysis or even break up as Mugabe and Tsvangirai wrangle
over the former's unilateral appointment of several senior public office
bearers without consulting the Premier as is required under the Constitution
and their political agreement officially known as the global political
agreement (GPA).

The GPA and a constitutional amendment enacted to cement the political
agreement require Mugabe to consult Tsvangirai before appointing senior
public officials.

But Mugabe has flagrantly ignored the requirement to consult Tsvangirai,
unilaterally appointing his allies to key positions such as attorney
general, central bank governor, court judges, ambassadors and provincial
governors.

Tsvangirai has said his MDC would not recognise the appointments as they
were made unconstitutionally and wrote to the UN and countries where Mugabe
has posted ambassadors not to recognise the envoys.

The UN has declined Tsvangirai's request not to recognise Zimbabwe's
ambassador to the world body, while the European Union has voiced concern
over the dispute over appointments and Mugabe's continuing unilateralism.

Mutambara, in a thinly veiled rebuke of Tsvangirai, said diplomatic
communication between Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should
handle other countries and world institutions such as the UN.

"Such interaction is done by the Head of State and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. As ministers, we do not come to this House to say what you want to
hear, we come here to discuss policy issues," he said.

Zimbabwe's unity government has done well to stabilise the economy and end
inflation that was estimated at more than a trillion percent at the height
of the country's economic meltdown in 2008.

But the unending squabbles between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over how to share
executive power and the administration's inability to secure direct
financial support from rich Western nations have hindered efforts to rebuild
the economy. - ZimOnline.

Mutambara must shut up!

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Thursday, 21 October 2010

The MDC dismisses Arthur Mutambara's attempts to act as a Zanu PF side kick.

The formation of the Inclusive Government brought in undemocratic and
un-elected leaders-the likes of Mutambara, who is trying to be relevant on
the political stage by leading a little entity, which at present is
disintegrating.

His contribution in the Inclusive Government has been to try and outshine
Zanu PF by being more Zanu PF. For a man who cannot win an election in a
burial society, we find his actions unacceptable.

The fact of the matter is that Mugabe unlawfully appointed Provincial
Governors, Ambassadors, the Attorney - General, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Governor. The reality on the ground is that Mugabe unlawfully appointed
judges and the Police Service Commission.

Therefore, for Mutambara to pretend that he does not know the reality of
that is not only mendacious but exposes the political opportunist that he
is.

We unequivocally condemn Mutambara's lean thinking by trying to be a
representative of those who rejected him in 2008.

The GPA has in many ways helped the people of Zimbabwe by ensuring that
everyone has, at least, access to basic human rights - the right to food,
shelter, health and education.

Real change to the people of Zimbabwe is irreversible and the will of the
people of Zimbabwe will triumph over mischief and unbridled political
chicanery.

Together, united, winning, ready for real change!

MDC Information & Publicity Department
Harvest House
44 Nelson Mandela Ave
Harare

Zimbabwe's Slapstick Law Enforcers

http://online.wsj.com/

    * OCTOBER 21, 2010, 4:02 A.M. ET

By FARAI MUTSAKA

MUTARE, Zimbabwe-The first slap on the soles of my feet sent shivers of pain
through my body.

A journalist colleague and I wriggled in our handcuffs inside a police
station, as a short, muscular officer beat our bare feet from a plank of
wood ripped from an office table. I received four more hard strokes. My
colleague, who had resisted from being handcuffed, got ten.

"You will learn today that as the policeman, I am king," the policeman
shouted.

I warned the officer that such violence would get him in trouble. He got
angrier and the foot beating became more intense.

We later lodged a formal complaint with the station Officer in Charge,
Inspector Mukandishaya, who in the presence of his second-in-command
Assistant Inspector Takawira, expressed regret at the policeman's actions.
Both declined to give their first names.

"We are an organization with strong values and do not tolerate brutality in
our stations," said Mr. Mukandishaya. "But like any organization, we
sometimes find ourselves with bad apples." He assured us "action will be
taken" in the coming days. On Wednesday, Mr. Mukandishaya said they were
still investigating my case and would inform me when the probe was
completed.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's national police spokesman, superintendent Andrew
Phiri, said most people didn't report cases of police brutality because they
weren't aware of their rights. "It is only a few people like you who know
their rights who come forward to report," he said. "When such reports are
made, we take action against the culprit." He added that Zimbabwe's police
are trained to respect human rights.

So many times I have written about police abuses, almost always from the
perspective of victims or their lawyers. But now it was me experiencing
Zimbabwe's brutal brand of law enforcement, from the soles of my feet on up.

I should've known better. Growing up in Sakubva, a tough and poor
neighborhood in eastern Zimbabwe, I learned to steer clear from a
policeman's path. But after years of working in the capital city of
Harare-where policing is a bit more civilized-my small-town survival
instincts weren't what they used to be.

Human-rights groups accuse Zimbabwe's police of widespread abuse, with
officers sometimes joining youth militia to harass critics of President
Robert Mugabe. In its latest report, the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a group
that monitors human-rights violations, said in its latest report that "human
rights situation in Zimbabwe continued to deteriorate." In August alone, the
group recorded 1,120 cases of human-rights violations, which included police
brutality.

In one of the few incidents of police brutality made public, a local city
newspaper reported in May last year how five officers from the same station
where I was held beat four juveniles. The police forced the kids into a
coffin and continued to beat them until they confessed to theft.

But on a visit home two weekends ago, as I intervened in a dispute over a
missing cell phone, such incidents were far from my mind. A neighborhood
woman identified two children-one seven and the other five-as having taken
the phone, perhaps mistaking it for a toy. Four male police officers who
appeared insisted on taking the two playmates to the local police station
for questioning. My colleague and I thought we could persuade the police
from taking two children to a police station hosting an assortment of adult
ruffians.

"How can four policemen walk all the way from the station to take two
children barely of formal school-going age?" queried my colleague, who like
me, was from the same neighborhood and now worked in Harare.

Without adequate transport, foot patrol is the norm for police officers
here. I suggested instead taking the children and the parents to a nearby
house to talk them through the situation.

Our challenge touched off a scene. A crowd gathered and the police turned on
us.

"So you are the ones who are our bosses now?" said one of the police
officer, charging toward us. "You want to direct our operations?"

"Handcuff them," ordered another policeman. "They want to embarrass us in
front of all these people."

We offered to drive our car to the station, but this only further incensed
the foot patrol. "You are walking. That is what happens to people like you,"
said one of the policemen. He tightened our handcuffs.

At the station, the most muscular of the four summoned us into a private
room. He called a colleague to stand guard and then shut the door. "You were
mistaken if you thought I was done when I handcuffed you," he said.

The policeman beat us for 15 minutes at a time. In between, he lectured us
on the importance of his uniform. When we finally told him we were both
journalists, the beatings suddenly stopped.

We were ushered into the office of the station's second-in-command,
Assistant Inspector Takawira, who ordered our handcuffs removed and offered
his apologies. The constable who beat us demanded we admit our guilt and pay
a fine. His superior informed him we were being released without charge.

Two hours later, I walked out to my girlfriend and my daughter in the
waiting room. I am now a free man, but one with a limp and sore wrists.

Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch: Issue 20

Post-colonial anti-capitalist disposition: real or myth?

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Mutumwa Mawere Thursday 21 October 2010

OPINION: -- ON OCTOBER 1, 2010, Nigerians celebrated 50 years of
independence in this historic year that saw one of Africa's youngest nation
state, South Africa, successfully hosting the first FIFA World Cup on the
continent.

As Nigerians were celebrating, a debate has been raging in Zimbabwe between
Nathaniel Manheru, a columnist for the state-run Herald newspaper, and
Tendai Biti, the Finance Minister, about the nature, character and driver of
the post-colonial state as well challenges and prospects of nation building.

What makes this debate interesting and thought provoking is that it is
underpinned by a contestation for political space by the two dominant
political parties. The dominant voices in the debate are both eloquent and
gifted.

Nathaniel Manheru, it has been convincingly argued, is George Charamba, the
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity. He
is, therefore, a state actor who has chosen to use the name Manheru to add
his insights into the thinking that has informed the Zimbabwean
post-colonial experience.

Although in many constitutional democratic societies it would be unlikely if
not rare for a civil servant to openly take a partisan stance in any
political discourse, the situation in Zimbabwe is unique in that the vacuum
created by the ruling Zanu PF party's inability to use its own party cadres
to define its position on the key issues that confront the nation has opened
the door for gifted intellectual opportunists to fill the void with personal
perspectives disguised as party ideology.

Biti is an office bearer of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as well
as being a state actor. He now finds himself debating with a civil servant,
and not his peer in Zanu PF.

The mere fact that the debate has been opened and other people have joined
in augurs well for Zimbabwe as debates of this nature assist in sharpening
our minds and calling people to action and not take things for granted.

There are many of us who would rather be spectators of history, refusing to
add our voices to conversations that help in shaping our worldview on what
kind of Africa we want to see.

Manheru and Biti must be congratulated for taking the time to convert what
lies between their ears into words that our generation and future
generations can read to better understand what, if any, occupied our minds
on key nation building concepts and challenges.

After a three-month hiatus, I could not find any better subject than the
question of the disposition of post-colonial state actors to wealth creation
and capital formation to resume my weekly contribution to the African
conversation on the kind of Africa we deserve and our collective role in
making it happen.

Biti observed in his article that Zimbabwe had lost 30 years because "those
who have been presiding over the economy have little knowledge of statecraft
and the complexity of nation building."

As expected, Manheru objected to Biti's characterisation of the
post-colonial experience as being led by illiterate state actors.

Although both Manheru and Biti would agree that the post-colonial experience
has failed to deliver its promise, they hold diametrically opposed views as
to the causes of economic and social decay.

To Biti, one of the factors that have led to economic decay has been the
disposition of the state actors to wealth creation. He points to the fact
that the last 30 years have seen the state being used to fight black capital
notwithstanding the fact that the colonial state created no space for black
capital formation and the natural expectation would have been that state
actors that came from the womb of colonial oppression would be the active
and constructive facilitators and supporters of the national democratic
revolution.

Biti then backed his theses using examples of Strive Masiyiwa, Nigel
Chanakira, James Makamba, Jane Mutasa, Julius Makoni, James Mushore, Jeffrey
Mzvimbi, Mthuli Ncube and myself as the group of persecuted black
businesspersons.

Instead of defending his position with facts, it is startling that Manheru
would then choose to describe the above-mentioned individuals as
"pseudo-black capital".

What would make me "pseudo" and Charamba using a pseudo name "authentic"? He
makes the point that the discourse on wealth creation is more complex and
the conduct more versatile.

I was tempted to keep out of this debate but when Charamba chooses to
describe some of us as "pseudo", I felt compelled to respond and add my
voice to the dangers inherent in engaging in the kind of dishonest
intellectual discourse in the name of misguided nationalism and patriotism.

I should like to believe that black capital does not exist in as much as
"pseudo" black capital because commerce does not recognise colour at the
point of exchange. If capital can be "pseudo", then it falls to reason that
the market is irrelevant in such situations.

What may not be obvious to Charamba is that the wealth is created by ideas
and that there is nothing inevitable in not only business but also all
aspects of human existence.

What is obvious is that the harder one works, the luckier one becomes. If
wealth created is pseudo, then it can only be underpinned by pseudo
transactions.

However, business success is guaranteed by service to a customer and not to
the opinions of political commentators like Charamba.

It is obvious that anyone whose worldview is not aligned to Charamba
automatically assumes the label of pseudo.

Charamba should be honest by addressing the question of whether in fact and
truth a case can be made that the individuals mentioned above have been
affected by the actions of the very actors of a state that claims to be a
custodian of political and economic transformation and democratisation.

Charamba makes the point that "much further, to the man Biti's so-called
persecuted black capitalists are neither 'black' nor owning or controlling
capital. I take it that black ain't a mere colour; it is an outlook. I
challenge Biti to take us through each of the businesspersons he enumerates
indicating to us as Finance Minister of this country what capital they own,
beyond an ornamental shareholding. Why does he pretend not to know what lies
beneath and behind?"

For the record, I am black. It is remarkable that Charamba would
opportunistically choose to describe us as "coconuts" ignoring the fact that
we have been persecuted not because we had token or speculative interests in
Zimbabwe but that we have substantial interests as principals and not agents
of anyone.

It is common cause, for example, that the founder and driving force of
Econet is Strive Masiyiwa. He is black like me. It is also common cause that
the sector in which he is operating in and its history and background
exposes the bankruptcy of Charamba's argument that it is not true that the
state has been used to frustrate the progress of black entrepreneurs.

Three licenses have been granted to operate the mobile cellular business.
Of the three, Econet is now the largest. If the arguments proffered by
Charamba were valid, NetOne, the wholly owned state network operator, would
be the largest and most profitable. The third license was granted to
Telecel, led by a consortium of indigenous groups. In this case, we have
three licenses with varied ownership structures but what is significant is
that no white person was involved from the outset.

Instead of reviewing the problems, progress and challenges faced since the
launch of the first mobile connection, Charamba chooses to ignore all the
empirical evidence that confirm that the state does not have all the
commercial answers for his own political expediency.

Masiyiwa is no longer a resident of Zimbabwe and yet his business has
continued to thrive in Zimbabwe not because of Charamba's benevolence or
lack of harassment by state actors.

We have not witnessed the same shareholder disputes that have visited
Telecel in Econet and yet Telecel was styled as a platform for collective
indigenous ownership.

How many of the original Telecel shareholders are still holding shares in
the company? This ought to be the question that Charamba should address.
Some of the shareholders sold their shares at the outset for cash and yet
today they would want the public to believe that they are victims of fraud.

It is ironic that Charamba sounds today as the champion of indigenisation
and yet his voice was silent when institutions built by black persons were
targeted. Where was Charamba when Strive was in court fighting for Econet to
be licensed as an operator?  Why is it that NetOne is struggling when the
state is privileged to have the kind of brains that Manheru exhibits in his
weekly column?

The millions of customers who have made Econet the kind of business that it
now is must be allowed to make a comment about Strive's patriotism. Both
Telecel and Econet have demonstrated against all odds that private solutions
are superior to state driven solutions.

It is important to note that all the businesspersons referred to by Biti got
into business without the assistance of the Indigenisation legislation.
Instead of helping people to benefit from the experiences of these
individuals, Charamba contemptuously dismisses all of us. This kind of
arrogance helps explain why Zimbabwe finds itself in an economic quagmire.

Charamba recklessly goes further to state: "And between Ngwerume and
Masiyiwa or Mushore is no Chinese wall, both being privileged proletariats
only in similar set-ups with different forms.

"This is a stratum which in outlook is as anti-nation as the MDC itself,
indeed a stratum that benefited the most from the imposition of sanctions.
Is it not a fact that 'burning' was done in their banks? Is it not a fact
that to the man, externalisation was done by them?

"Is it not a fact that when the State responded, they all ran to Europe and
South Africa? Is it possible to found indigenous middle class on the
malpractice of externalisation? How do you ensure national accumulation with
a managerial class whose bearings are external and western?

"And is it not a fact that this sub-class was most opposed to the land
reform programme, itself the basis of founding a genuine middle class in a
plantation economy with limited scope for industrialisation for a start?"

He makes the case that our outlook is anti-nation and that we benefited from
the imposition of targeted economic sanctions. On what basis would Charamba
arrive at the conclusion that our conduct is anti-nation ignoring the
contribution made to Zimbabwe and not to an imaginary foreign state?

If we were not involved in business, our names would not inform the debate
that is raging. It is evident that Charamba's understanding of business is
limited if not dangerous.

There is no business enterprise that succeeds because the state wants it to
but business progress is a consequence of hard work and consistent service
to the relevant stakeholders.

Charamba ignores the thousands of people who are employed by the enterprises
led by the individuals he chooses to denigrate let alone the income that is
taken by the state as tax to pay his salary.

He talks of burning in banks and externalisation as if he were a judge. One
would expect a senior civil servant in a democratic constitutional order to
understand the separation of powers doctrine. None of the individuals
described as criminals by Charamba have been determined as such by any court
of law and yet Charamba has no problem assuming the role of judge, jury and
executioner.

If Charamba has a point to make, he should do so on the basis of facts
rather than use state institutions to propagate malicious and defamatory
garbage in the name of political point scoring.

There is a lot to learn from businesspersons like Mutasa, Makoni, Nyemba,
Makamba, Masiyiwa, Mzvimbi, Mushore, Ncube and others. Their experiences
must be cherished and where the state has been abused, it is never too late
to say "sorry" and look for ways to move forward than attempt to re-write
history.

I do hope that Charamba would one day take time to explain to all of us what
externalisation means. Nowhere else in the world is the term used to
describe commercial behaviour. We have been accused of externalisation but
no-one has taken the time to explain precisely what this term means.

How can one externalise a currency that is external anyway? Who, in any
event, would be a complainant in a transaction described as externalisation?
Whose funds are involved? How does the state get involved? These are the
questions that Charamba must help address?

Charamba's worldview can be toxic and if generally held can undermine nation
building. What is clear is that he is not alone in holding the kind of views
that he holds compelling us to be part of this important conversation.

As we seek to build our moral capital in Africa, we need to broaden and
deepen our understanding of what is required to make Africa a winning
continent. We need to understand how capital can be created and multiplied
to the benefit of all. Wealth is allergic to any form of abuse.

* Mutumwa Mawere is a Zimbabwean-born South African businessman based in
Johannesburg, South Africa.