No coup: Mugabe tells Tsvangirai

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

By Tonderai Kwenda, Investigations Editor
Sunday, 21 October 2012 12:26
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe reportedly told Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai at their Monday meeting not to worry about coup threats from his
Zanu PF officials and hardliners.

Addressing the New Zimbabwe Lecture Series organised by his MDC party on
Thursday evening at a Harare hotel, Tsvangirai said he raised the issue of
“coup” threats with Mugabe who simply told him not to worry about the
comments, the latest one which was made by Justice minister Patrick
Chinamasa.

Mugabe’s comments suggest he will be willing to surrender power if he loses
the forthcoming watershed vote, his toughest election battle in 32 years.

Tsvangirai took the issue to Mugabe after Chinamasa told BBC’s southern
Africa correspondent Andrew Harding that a win by the MDC leader in the
forthcoming elections will be unacceptable to the military.

“I raised this with President Robert Mugabe and I asked him, kangozi kaya ke
Zanu kauya ka? Zvikanzi, ‘ah, vamwe vanhu vanongotaura zvisina nemusoro
wese.’ Ndikati, ‘ah, this time hakusikungotaura chete. (That avenging spirit
in Zanu PF seems to have returned, Mr President. And he said this is just
political rhetoric.

And I replied it seems this is not empty talk), this is a calculated threat
by a coward because that’s what cowards do,” said Tsvangirai while urging
his supporters not to be cowed by the coup threats which were also repeated
by Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo.

The Zanu PF spokesperson told South Africa TV station eNCA that it will be
difficult for “our guys” to accept a Tsvangirai win. He was referring to the
army.

Tsvangirai said though he is taking these threats seriously, this reflected
a Zanu PF terrified of electoral defeat.

“The signs are that our colleagues are already afraid of a free and fair
election,” Tsvangirai said.

“They know that the people’s verdict will be with the MDC. They are aware
that the people of this country want a break from the past, that they want a
new democratic culture and a new Zimbabwe,” he said.

“How does one explain the fears of one Patrick Chinamasa, a minister of
Justice, a negotiator and a lawyer who should be a stickler to
constitutionalism and the rule of law? Why should he tell the world that
there will be a coup if Tsvangirai wins the next election?”

Tsvangirai said statements by Chinamasa and Gumbo were treasonous.

In the past, members of the security sector have also openly declared that
they will not accept a Tsvangirai presidency.

Describing the next election as his last chance at the presidency,
Tsvangirai urged his supporters to mobilise Zimbabweans to participate in
the elections and not be intimidated by the coup threats.

“The question of apathy as a result of these threats, I don’t think it
applies, it may intimidate one or two but let’s all go and mobilise people
because this is our last chance,” he said.

“This is our watershed test as a nation to achieve change. I am sure what is
important for the people of Zimbabwe is to remove fear, I am sure they will
come out and make their choice.”

In addition, he had a word for Chinamasa and Gumbo.

“There will be bloodbath, bloodbath to who? Who is dying? Let’s put you at
the forefront, Rugare Gumbo and Chinamasa, you die first. Who are you trying
to sacrifice, someone’s child?” Tsvangirai questioned.

“President (Jakaya) Kikwete (of Tanzania) once told me that you hear someone
saying we are prepared to shed blood but whose blood, someone else’s child’s
blood, we will die until the last man but only when you reach him when he
says, ‘oh, lets negotiate.’

How can any right thinking national leader propagate for a bloodbath.”

Mnangagwa Sold Out: Mangwana

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, October 21, 2012 - There was drama at the police headquarters where
Zanu PF delegates to the Second All Stakeholders Conference are meeting
after the party’s Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana publicly
declared that senior Zanu PF officials including Emerson Mnangagwa sold out.
The revelation that the faction leader sold out during the
constitution-making process is likely to worsen fissures within Zanu PF
ahead of possible elections next March.

Mangwana made the disclosures after he was confronted by Joseph Chinotimba.
The self styled war veteran demanding that Mangwana leave the venue where
Zanu PF delegates were gathered to strategise ahead of the conference on
Monday.

Chinotimba was scolding Mangwana accusing him of selling Zanu PF out during
the constitution-making process.

In his defence a visibly shaken Mangwana told Chinotimba and those present,
including Zanu PF national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo, that Mnangagwa,
Nicholas Goche and Patrick Chinamasa were responsible for anything that may
have had gone wrong.

Mangwana said Mnangagwa, Goche and Chinamasa made him sign Copac documents.
He said all the concessions he did on behalf of Zanu PF during the
constitution-making process came from the three top politicians.

Early this week Mangwana said the party’s Copac Management Committee
representatives — Goche and Chinamasa were to blame.

“The whole debate on the constitution-making process started with the method
to use when sifting the information gathered during the outreach programme,”
Mangwana said.

“I stood firm in support of the quantitative method because it was in line
with the exercise that we had carried out. There was a stalemate and it was
our representatives in the management committee who compromised on the
qualitative method. I was not willing to give in. That is where we lost out.
I am not the one who sold out.”

“I don’t accept the nonsense that I sold out. I acted in accordance with
instructions that I was given by my party (Zanu PF) and I am clearly aware
that there are pressures from my party to discredit me.”

Mangwana was reacting to a TV programme screened by the national
broadcaster, ZBC, on Tuesday night where panelists accused him of selling
out, describing him as worse than those who massacred Zimbabweans at Chimoio
and Nyadzonia during the liberation struggle in
the 1970s.

The Chivi Central MP is now suing ZBC for $1 million for defamation.

The panelists claimed Mangwana was worse than Morris Nyathi, the alleged
traitor who guided Rhodesian forces in the brutal pre-independence massacres
at Nyadzonia in Mozambique in 1976.

The panelists further claimed that Mangwana supported homosexuality and was
paid by imperialists to sell out on Zimbabwe’s interests.

Chinamasa deserves prison time: MDC- T

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Chinamasa is a justless minister of Justice who deserves to be in prison for
uttering treasonous statements, an MDC-T minister said.
21.10.12

by Staff Reporter

Addressing hundreds of party supporters at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in St
Marys Chitungwiza today, MDC- T Secretary General and finance minister said
for the justice minister to think that he has the power to reject an elected
leader is wishful thinking.

“Chinamasa is well versed with the constitution and he knows that election
results should be respected. For him to incite a coup in Zimbabwe is
treasonous which deserves jail time,” said Tendai Biti.

He warned army generals that for them to think that they have the power to
refuse saluting an elected leader has adverse implications with the law.

“We are poised for victory and we will not allow the next election to be
stolen. The party is ready to defend the vote in the event that Zanu (PF)
refuses to hand over power in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

MDC- T organizing secretary who is also Chamisa warned ‘old cronies’ within
government under the Zanu (PF) ticket that their time was up and they are
supposed to start packing.

“The Politburo and Senate just to mention a few is composed of very old
people who should retire,” he said.

He accused their Zanu (PF) partners in the GNU of derailing development by
introducing policies that destroy investor confidence in the country.

“They are gurus in stealing from resources meant for the majority.

Zanu (PF) destroys companies. Look at what they did to Zupco, Lobels, NRZ,
Bata and Air Zimbabwe just to name a The MDC- T has embarked on massive
campaigns countrywide ahead of the forthcoming general election expected
early next year.

We’ve failed to run parastatals: Mutambara

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

20/10/2012 00:00:00
by Paradzai Brian Paradza

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said the government needs to come
up with a clearer policy position regarding state enterprises, many of which
are badly managed and cost the fiscus millions of dollars every year.

Singling out Air Zimbabwe, which is effectively grounded due to a mountain
of debt and other operational problems, Mutambara said the government must
decide whether it should remain involved in the running of parastatals.

He however, said the experiences of countries like China, Malaysia and
Singapore showed that governments could run companies profitably.

"On Air Zimbabwe, as a government we accept that we have failed. Shame on
us! I do not want to be defensive. However, the fact that the government of
Zimbabwe has failed to run parastatals does not prove the incorrect theory
that States cannot run businesses," Mutambara told New Zimbabwe.com in an
interview.

“If we are going to have our parastatals work, we must learn from those who
have excelled at it, such as China, Malaysia, and Singapore. What is it that
they do that we do not do?

“Furthermore, we must appreciate the role of the partnerships with the
private sector, and get over the obsession with ownership. It’s better to
own 10 percent of an elephant than 100 percent of a rat. Air Zimbabwe is a
dead rat; NRZ rava zi rat, ZESA is a dead rat.”

Mutambara said the government would “soon” come up with a position on Air
Zimbabwe which has been pushed to the wall by debts said to be over US$140
million.

The airline was forced to pull out of regional and international routes
after its aircraft was seized by restive creditors in Johannesburg and
London. The company is now only offering a truncated domestic service.

The tourism industry is however pushing the government to end Air Zimbabwe’s
monopoly over some regional and international routes such as Harare-Durban
since the airline is unable to service them.

Mutambara conceded that there as need to open up the country’s airspace.

“We must open up the air space to allow other airlines to come and serve the
people,” he said.

“We must concede we have done a bad job in terms of managing the air space.
We want to come up with an air transportation system that goes beyond Air
Zimbabwe but of course we need to salvage this parastatal.”

Tourism executives said an efficient air transport system was needed
especially as the country prepares to host the United Nations’ World Tourism
Congress next year. The event will be jointly hosted with Zambia at the
Victoria Falls resort.

Rushwaya accepts ban, eyes parliament

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

20/10/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

ASIAGATE mastermind Henrietta Rushwaya has sensationally admitted "falling
into the trap" of match fixing as she accepted her punishment over the
scandal.
Rushwaya apologised to players and officials who now face the end of their
careers over the scandal which saw makeshift national team squads being sent
on trips to Asia between 2007 and 2009 at which they were offered bungs to
lose matches.

But the former ZIFA CEO – banned for life from all football activities last
Friday – insists that match fixing was taking place well before she assumed
the position in March 2007.

In her first interview since she and 14 others were banned for life,
Rushwaya offered no apology to the nation and appeared to suggest she was
being made a scapegoat because she was a woman.

“I am sorry for those who are trying to get to grips with their sentences,
but I hope with this conclusion our football continues to grow to the extent
of qual­ifying for the World Cup and African Cup of Nations tourna­ments,”
she said in an interview published on Sunday.

“I feel like they have made me an easy target because I am a woman, but this
began way before I was in office and I just fell into the trap.

“However, I have accepted being the scapegoat and I have dusted myself while
moving on with my life.”
But Zimbabweans hoping to see Rushwaya out of public life – or in jail as
suggested by Sports Minister David Coltart – are in for a new shock as she
announced in the same interview plans to run for PARLIAMENT.

Rushwaya told the Sunday Mail newspaper she had no interest in returning to
football and would now focus on her political career. The former teacher is
thought to be eyeing a parliamentary seat on a Zanu PF ticket in Masvingo
Province.

Rushwaya appeared in court in February charged with corruption over match
fixing but was acquitted on a technicality after prosecution witnesses
stopped cooperating. She was then charged with sending the national teams on
foreign trips without the permission of her employers, ZIFA.

Zimbabwe lost to Jordan 2-0, to Thailand 3-0 and to Syria 6-0 in Malaysia on
tours arranged by Rushwaya and convicted Singapore match fixer Raj Perumal.

She also conspired to send local club, Monomotapa, to Malaysia where they
posed as the national team. Malaysia, ranked 157th in the world, won the
first friendly with the fake Zimbabwe national team 4-0, followed up with a
1-0 victory.

An independent committee led by retired High Court judge Ahmed Ebrahim
recommended that 15 individuals – including Rushwaya, former coach Sunday
Chidzambwa – be banned for life.

About 78 other players and officials face suspensions of between six months
and 10 years. The sanctions will be announced in the coming weeks, say ZIFA
officials.

MDC rally banned in Lalapansi

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

ZANU (PF) youths today terrorized villagers wishing to attend a peace rally
by the MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube here forcing police to
ban the event.
21.10.12

by Brenna Matendere

However the party went on to hold the rally attended by hundreds of fearless
locals in the constituency represented by Defence minister and ZANU (PF)
Legal affairs secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa.

When The Zimbabwean news crew arrived at the venue- Netherburn Grounds, six
police details were manning the entrance but villagers had found their way
in.

“We could not cancel the rally because it was at a short notice that police
sought to reverse their clearance which they had issued earlier on,” said
MDC Organising Secretary Moses Chikwadze.

He added that investigations carried by the party revealed that villagers
had been told that MDC could not hold a rally in the area before ZANU (PF)
held one. Since 2008, the former ruling party has not done so.

“We also gathered that there was a circular from ZANU (PF)’s hardliners
which went around the area dissuading villagers from attending the rally but
no one took it serious, ” Chikwaze told The Zimbabwean.

It is not the first time that the MDC has had its rallies disrupted this
year. Few months back, ZANU (PF) youths in Silobela started playing a
football match at Crossroads grounds on the exact time that MDC intended to
hold a rally. Last month several of the party’s members were also attacked
soon after attending a similar event in Mutoko.

COPAC cedes to NGO demands

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

COPAC at the weekend gave in to demands by the country’s civic society to
increase their representation at the Second All Stakeholders Conference and
accrediting its members independent of political parties.
21.10.12

by Tavada Mafa

COPAC in that regard increased the number of delegates from 571 to 721.

“As I speak to you now, the additional number of delegates from the civic
society is being accredited. They did not want to come here under political
parties and that has been resolved,”Edward Mukosi COPAC –CO- Chairperson
from the Welshman Ncube led MDC told TheZimbabwean Sunday in Harare.

NANGO and Crisis Coalition last week petitioned South African President
Jacob Zuma who is the coalition government’s SADC chosen mediator to
intervene after COPAC had requested members of the civic society to attend
the Second All Stakeholders Conference under political parties.

The conference starts Monday and ends Wednesday in Harare.

“This amounts to“ paddocking of civil society along partisan political
lines” and is unacceptable because it could compromise civil society’s
independence and impartiality. On 12th October we wrote to COPAC explaining
this and that they wish to participate in the Conference but “not under the
participation regime that is currently being sponsored. Political parties do
not own civil society, and COPAC should not aid the lie that they do, by
pushing this untenable, unprofessional and partisan invitation framework”,the
civic society said in a statement last week.

The second all stakeholders’ conference which starts Monday will now see
1350 delegates attending.

The conference is a platform for political parties, the church and members
of the civic society to propose for the amendment of the draft constitution.

Gwanda police in reign of terror

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Gwanda police have unleashed a reign of terror in the area following the
killing of their colleague by a gold panner last Monday, The Zimbabwean
heard.
21.10.12

by Ashly Sibanda

A gold panner allegedly stabbed to death Constable Blessing Mamimini
officers and left two others seriously injured after a brawl at Phakama
Business centre on Monday.

Gwanda police reportedly teargased and assaulted residents, resulting in
some injuries.

Gwanda North legislator, Thandeko Zindi Mnkandla confirmed to The Zimbabwean
that police have unleashed a reign of terror in Gwanda.

“Residents of the town are now gripped with fear that there will be more
attacks,” Mnkandla said.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), some residents had to be
admitted at Gwanda Provincial Hospital.

ZPP said their investigations reveal that hospital staff reportedly demanded
clearance letters from the police before attending to them.

“The armed anti-riot police invaded bars and nightclubs and assaulted
patrons in the following areas Pakama, Garikai,Ultra and Spitzkop on Monday
and Tuesday night injuring more residents.

“The brutal attack and clashes came after the stabbing to death of a
plainclothes officer by a suspected gold panner on Monday,” ZPP said.

Acting Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Sergeant Nkosilathi Sibanda
refused to comment.

Chiyangwa rally flops

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Sunday, 21 October 2012 12:18

HARARE - A rally organised by businessperson Phillip Chiyangwa yesterday to
prop up sidekick Chamu Chiwanza’s bid to stand in Mabvuku as a Zanu PF
candidate in next year’s Parliamentary elections flopped after a handful of
people attended.

Less than 100 people including children turned up for the much-hyped rally,
where Chiyangwa claiming to be a money prophet, started dishing out money to
people after realising that his mission had collapsed.

Chiyangwa, a former Zanu PF MP arrived in a Rolls Royce vehicle accompanied
by Affirmative Action Group president Keith Guzah and other Zanu PF
officials.

But the rally turned into a nightmare for Chiyangwa as children dominated
the crowd.

The controversial businessperson, like he has done at several past
gatherings, ended up asking people questions, rewarding them with $20 each.

Chiyangwa told the gathering that when choosing a leader they should look
for someone whose qualities included a sound political background, good
manners and has a grasp of the constitution.

The controversial businessperson urged the people to look for someone who
could offer them security.

“When choosing a councillor, MP, Senator or president you must choose a
person who even when you are sleeping, he can decide on your behalf. You
should also examine the party you choose,” said Chiyangwa.

The boastful Chiyangwa urged people not to just wait for hand-outs but work
hard and make money.

Chiyangwa narrated his road to achieving “wealth” and gave a few tips to
those interested in emulating him.

He encouraged the crowd to rally behind the youth empowerment programme and
vote for President Robert Mugabe.

Chiyangwa has plunged himself into the battle for primary elections in Zanu
PF where besides campaigning for himself in Chinhoyi, he is also pushing for
Chiwanza in Mabvuku.

Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa
has for the past two years been laying the ground for Zanu PF in the same
constituency.

MDC’s James Maridadi is also eyeing the Mabvuku constituency seat. - Staff
Writer

Africa’s liberation ideals hijacked— Chamisa

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Sunday, 21 October 2012 12:20
HARARE - Africa’s liberation struggle ideals have been hijacked by greedy
elites who have turned against the people, Information Communication
Technology (ICT) minister Nelson Chamisa has said.

Delivering the third Samora Machel Memorial Lecture in Harare on Friday,
Chamisa described the former Mozambican president as an African giant who
loved his people.

“The tragedy of post-colonial Africa is a tragedy of lack of love,” Chamisa
said.

He said Zimbabwe’s leaders are “sadly” involved in actions which Machel
would have frowned at.

“We vanquished the white settler colonialists, but not colonialism. We
kicked out Smith, yet kicking in and entrenching Smithism. Literally
copying, pasting and perfecting the Rhodesian template of repression,” said
Chamisa.

“Suddenly, we see false enemies, define fictitious saboteurs, behave like a
leopard that accuses its young ones of smelling like goats to justify
cannibalism and misguided infanticide,” Chamisa said.

He added that since independence, Zimbabwe has reproduced the very
institutions that its sons and daughters had valiantly fought against.

“Our conduct continues to provide fuel to our naysayers, cynics and
doomsayers. Remember Van der Byl, Desmond Ladner-Burke and Ken Flower, the
Special Branch, the Law and Order Maintenance Act, the Selous Scouts, the
colour bar policies? Juxtapose these with our own post-colonial realities,”
he said.

“While Machel hosted our liberators who are we hosting; Mengistu?” queried
Chamisa.

Former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam convicted in absentia of war
crimes and human rights abuses by the Addis Ababa administration has been
holed up in Harare for decades.

Former Mozambican president Samora Moisés Machel died in a mysterious plane
crush On October 19, 1986 while coming back from an international meeting in
Zambia.

Dabengwa’s crumbling world

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

By Jeffrey Muvundusi, Own Correspondent
Sunday, 21 October 2012 12:29
BULAWAYO - When Dumiso Dabengwa walked out of the “marriage inconvenience”
with Zanu PF in 2008, many, particularly hard-core Zapu supporters who felt
homeless after the 1987 “Unity Accord”, had something to smile about.

And when he announced that he would re-launch Zapu, thousands in the
Matabeleland region, where the party enjoyed popular support, relished their
chance in national politics again.

That Dabengwa, a liberation war spy chief nicknamed the Black Russian, was
at the centre of Zapu’s revival added to the party’s credibility, given his
war history as a top commander.

So vibrant was the party in its first year of comeback that it somehow shook
the country’s two political heavyweights Zanu PF and the MDC.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC was particularly rattled since it
also claims large support in the same region but lacks the “homeboy”
credentials enjoyed by Dabengwa.

The party’s first full congress, held at the Zimbabwe International Trade
Fair grounds in 2010, was an emotional affair with over 5 000 ecstatic
delegates attending.

Representatives of Zapu branches in foreign countries such as Canada, the
United Kingdom, United States, Swaziland and South Africa graced the event.
Even South Africa’s ruling ANC party, which enjoyed historical war ties with
Zapu sent emissaries to the event.

And what a feast it was as 15 cattle were slaughtered.

Witnessing such scenes, one was left with the impression that Zapu, formed
by the late larger than life Joshua Nkomo in 1961, really had something new
to offer in the highly contested political dispensation.

President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF was formed in 1963 by renegades who broke
away from Zapu.

But two years after the congress, Zapu seems to be a party in decline,
heading towards oblivion.

Broke and disintegrating, Zapu seems unable to match the giant status it
earned during the liberation war and after independence before being diluted
by Zanu PF under the “Unity Accord”.

With watershed elections likely next year, Dabengwa’s “revived” Zapu seems
one of those little parties just there to increase the numbers.

Recent rallies have been telling, with party leaders counting their luck to
get 100 people attending.

Reports say the party has recently been forced to sell 14 cattle to settle a
$15 000 headquarters’ rent debt. The party has since been evicted from the
building.

Infighting has become the order of the day, with some members going for
Dabengwa’s head.

In response, Dabengwa has fired those he suspects of plotting his ouster as
party president.

Ray Ncube, a former army colonel who was the party’s Bulawayo provincial
chairperson, was shown the door last week for allegedly running a parallel
structure.

Some have described Dabengwa as part of Zanu PF projects to try and upset
the MDC in its stronghold Matabeleland region.

Together with another former Zanu PF politburo member, Simba Makoni, they
ran a “failed” campaign supporting Makoni for President under a project
called Mavambo/Dawn, Kusile in 2008.

Dabengwa later opened up in a newspaper interview that the project was set
up specifically to prevent Tsvangirai from taking over from Mugabe.

He described the project as “successful” after Tsvangirai failed to garner
enough majority to take complete control of government. — Weekend Post

Polokwane City Pledges to Partner Revival of Bulawayo

http://www.radiovop.com

:
Bulawayo, October 21, 2012, - South Africa’s Polokwane executive mayor,
Freddy Greaver, has said Bulawayo has the potential to rise from the ashes
of de-industrialisation, and with the right partnership, can reclaim its
industrial-hub position in the SADC region.
Greaver was speaking at a function, held at the Bulawayo Large City Hall on
Friday evening, where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that laid the
foundation for a twinning arrangement between Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second
largest city, and Polokwane, South Africa’s Limpopo province capital city,
was signed.

“From today onwards, the exchange between Polokwane and Bulawayo is going to
mean that our people work together,” he said.

“Indeed many will argue that Zimbabwe and Bulawayo are going through trying
times. We know too well what it means. We are here today because we believe
in the resurrection of the giant called Zimbabwe, the resurrection of a
giant called Bulawayo.

“We are here because we believe the day shall come when the people will look
at this city as the heartbeat of the economy of Zimbabwe, the heartbeat of
the economy of SADC.”

Bulawayo has over the years suffered de-industrialization with the ministry
of industry and trade estimating that slightly over 100 industries closed
down since the beginning of January this year.

Economist Eric Bloch told the gathering on Friday that while the closing
down of industries was countrywide, it was most sad in Bulawayo, “because it
has always been the industrial hub in the SADC region.”

Polokwane mayor Greaver said Polokwane will never turn its back on Zimbabwe
because, “You (Zimbabweans) were there for us yesterday during our struggle
for freedom. In this time of your difficult, it can’t be us, the people of
South Africa; it can’t be us, the people of Polokwane, who turn our backs on
you.”

Bulawayo mayor, Thaba Moyo, said the signing of the MoU emphasised, “the
need to foster economic engagement among our people through the various
sectors.”

“Talk of a global village is meaningless if we cannot as neighbours
establish relationships between ourselves,” he said.

“It has to start from among us. Bulawayo has been on the decline for quite
some time now. Many industries are operating below capacity. Our joining
hands with Polokwane are but one intervention that we hope our business
communities will take advantage of.”

Zimbabwe now on the platinum stage

http://www.bdlive.co.za

BY LONI PRINSLOO AND JANA MARAIS, OCTOBER 21 2012, 13:40

ZIMBABWE, which together with South Africa holds 75% of the world’s platinum
reserves, has grown production of the white metal by 121% since 2006, while
local output has dropped 20% over the same period.

Hamstrung by violent labour unrest, rising costs and increasingly difficult
underground mining conditions, South Africa’s platinum production is
expected to fall by 607,000 ounces this year, costing mining companies an
estimated R8.6bn in lost revenue at current prices. Zimbabwe’s output is
expected to increase by 7%.

Should the political situation in Zimbabwe improve, it will become a more
attractive platinum investment destination than South Africa. “The long-term
potential of Zimbabwe excites me. It’s a low-cost, high-growth area for
investors. I’m much more excited about Zim than South Africa over the long
term,” one platinum analyst said.

Compared with South African mines, which are largely deep underground
operations, Zimbabwe’s platinum deposits allow for opencast, mechanised
mining, making them some of the lowest-cost operators in the world.

Zimbabwean mining companies have also benefited from low labour costs, which
are about a third of what they are in South Africa, and limited labour
unrest. However, the cost and availability of electricity remains a problem,
one fund manager with exposure to Zimplats said.

The share price of the country’s biggest platinum miner, Zimplats, which is
87% owned by Impala, has gained 13% since the unrest at Lonmin started in
August. However, political risk remains a big concern and is depressing the
values of assets in the country.

Other platinum operators in Zimbabwe are Anglo American Platinum, which
commissioned its Unki mine at the end of 2010, and Mimosa, a venture between
Impala and Aquarius Platinum.

Impala has said that it could invest as much as $10bn (R87bn) to expand
production in the country if the regulatory environment and indigenisation
rules, which require that black Zimbabweans own 51% of companies, were more
business-friendly. Zimplats, which produces about 180,000 ounces of platinum
a year, has the potential to expand this to a million ounces.

The expropriation of white-owned farmland since the late 1990s caused
investors to withdraw from Zimbabwe and halved its economy between 1997 and
2008. The economy has recovered since the use of the US dollar was legalised
in 2009, but it is still smaller than it was in 1999.

Uncertainty over indigenisation legislation has seen investment into the
country’s mines dry up and investors are expected to remain skittish until a
new constitution is finalised and free, fair and peaceful elections are
held.

South Africa’s government should take note of the effect political risk has
on asset valuation and the ability to attract investment.

“Zimbabwe also holds an important lesson for South Africa in terms of
political risk and the impact on valuations. You can have the best asset in
the world, but any good asset will be damaged by an unfavourable political
environment,” the analyst said.

Despite the challenges facing local mines, South Africa remains the world’s
biggest platinum producer and is expected to produce 4.2-million ounces this
year, out of total global production of 5.87-million ounces. South Africa’s
production is expected to recover slightly next year, with output of
4.47-million ounces.

Zimbabwe’s output is expected to grow 3% to 365,000 ounces this year and is
forecast to reach 393,000 ounces in 2013.

* This article was first published in Sunday Times: Business Times

Pakistan delay Zimbabwe tour in anticipation of India series

http://in.reuters.com

KARACHI | Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:30pm IST

(Reuters) - The Pakistan Cricket Board has postponed a tour to Zimbabwe in
December in anticipation of a bilateral one-day series against India.

A senior official of the board told Reuters that under the future tour
programme of the International Cricket Council, Pakistan were due to visit
Zimbabwe for a test and one-day series in December.

"But since it is too close to the series against India we have informed the
Zimbabwe authorities the tour should be held sometime next year," the
official said.

Pakistan have been invited by the Indian board to play three one-day
internationals and two T20 matches in December.

Bilateral cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours were snapped after
the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed. India blame
Pakistan-based militants for the incident.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars in the past 65 years, and the
already fragile relations were further strained when gunmen attacked two
upmarket hotels, a busy railway terminal and a fashionable cafe in Mumbai.

The last series between the two sides was Pakistan's tour of India in 2007
although Pakistan travelled to India to play the 50-over World Cup
semi-final in Mohali last year.

'Take Back Zimbabwe' - Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 20th October 2012

Picture 1: ‘Operation Take Back Zimbabwe’

Picture 2: Josephine Zhuga posts petition under Embassy door (no letter box)

On the eve of the 2^nd Stakeholders’ Meeting on the new constitution, Zimbabweans exiled in the UK gathered outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London to underline our fears that this ludicrous process would again be hijacked by Zanu PF.

The gathering was part of the 10^th round of monthly demonstrations by the Free Zimbabwe Global Diaspora 21^st Movement. Previous protests were directed at SADC, regional players and the UN. The theme this month was ‘Operation Take Back Zimbabwe’ targeting Zimbabwe embassies (See: 21^st Movement press release –
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1empt9LlblvSr8H1tsxgXrlUdppW1LoTTR3jhgbAYjSQ/edit).

The following petition was drawn up on the spot and signed by participants, including many MDC members as well as Vigil and ROHR supporters, before being slipped under the Embassy’s front door. ‘Petition to Zimbabwe Embassy, London. Zimbabweans exiled in the United Kingdom have gathered outside the Embassy today (Saturday 20^th October 2012) to demand that the 2^nd Stakeholders’ Meeting on the new constitution should be allowed to take place without sabotage by Zanu PF. We deplore the upsurge in political violence and the arbitrary arrests of opposition members and warn you that we will continue our campaign until there are free and fair elections. This demonstration is part of a global diaspora project ‘Operation Take Back Zimbabwe’ in which we are joined by brothers and sisters in the United States, South Africa and others round the world.’

Against a background of exuberant singing and dancing, we displayed the following posters: Independent Monitors for Copac Conference; No violence, No Arbitrary Arrests; Free Fair Peaceful Referendum; Free, Fair, Credible and Indisputable Elections; SADC JOMIC Monitors Where Are You?; UN, AU, Independent Monitors For Referendum; UN, AU, Independent Monitors For Elections; We Want A Clean Voters' Roll; No Repeat of 2008 Ever Again; Fair Justice, Independent Judges Now; People's Parliament Not Mugabe's, Open It Now; Diamond Money For The People; and Chinamasa & Gumbo stop your nonsense.

Other points

· Following the Vigil’s 10^th anniversary last week we were pleased to receive further messages of support:

- Congratulations on your 10 years. Sorry I wasn’t able to be there as I am in South Africa. I did however post this on our facebook page: ZEN is congratulating the Zimbabwe Vigil on their 10th Anniversary. Hopefully it will not be necessary for another ten years of protest outside the Zimbabwean Embassy! – Tor-Hugne Olsen, Co-ordinator, Zimbabwe Europe Network.

- Forgot to say happy 10th birthday/anniversary to the ZImbabwe Vigil Coalition. www.zimvigil.co.uk on the 13th of October. We should surely celebrate and thank God for stalwarts . . . Well done guys you are always in our prayers – Yvonne Gwashawanhu (Zimbabwean lawyer and human rights activist in the UK).

- So proud that the Vigil is 10, it's amazing!! I keep up with your weekly diary and cheer you on. Hope it all goes well and please send love to everyone and keep on the keeping on – Wiz Bishop. Zimbabwe HR NGO Forum.

- Makorakoto – well done, keep it up until the people have won – Eddie Cross MP.

· We urge people to read Eddie Cross’s latest thoughts on the situation in Zimbabwe in which he discusses Zanu PF’s strategy to steal next year’s elections (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/oct16_2012.html#Z21 - The Zanu PF Battle Plan).

· The African philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, whose foundation promotes African leadership, has some stinging comments to make about Zimbabwe this week. Ibrahim said: "Zimbabwe should have been a success story. It is a wonderful country with wonderful resources but unfortunately is at a political impasse. That is really a problem. We really hope the Zimbabwean people will somehow come together to resolve this impasse and enable the country to move forward. It's unfortunate to have this kind of stagnation in the political scene which is affecting the performance of the country. The Zimbabwean people are among some of the best-educated Africans and very enterprising. So let's hope that they get their act together and somehow we see Zimbabwe rising again." (see: Mugabe holding Zimbabwe back: Ibrahim – https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/oct17_2012.html#Z8). Zimbabwe was ranked 47 out of 52 African countries in the 2012 Ibrahim Index. At the same time the influential Economist magazine rated Harare as the 4^th worst capital city in the world to live in.

· The Vigil has been asked to campaign for the diaspora vote by Derek Sparrow (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/448-diaspora-vote-campaign for text of his request and our reply).

· The Vigil has been asked to draw attention to the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum’s children’s competition as part of UN human rights day. They are inviting Zimbabwean children anywhere in the world to submit a story or a picture on the theme of 'The Portrait of a Great Zimbabwe'. For full details check: http://www.swradioafrica.com/Documents/CHILDREN%20STORY%20AND%20DRAWING%20COMPETITION-3.pdf.

· Thanks once again to the ladies from ROHR Slough branch (Josephine Zhuga, Grace Nyaumwe and Iline Manhunzi) who brought sadza and nyama and mealies which they sold for ROHR funds. They were joined by Thandiwe Gwarumba and Anne Chikumba of the ROHR Birmingham branch who also contributed to ROHR funds by selling snacks.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

FOR THE RECORD: 77 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

· Launch of ROHR Central London Branch. Saturday 27^th October from 6 – 9 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. The meeting will take place straight after the Vigil. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

· ROHR Cambridge Branch Meeting. Saturday 27^th October from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: St Andrews Hall, Chesterton, Cambridge, CB4 1DH. Contact: Andrew Mlambo 07826626579; Deon Matola 07786674066, or Elijah Mandaza 07446251197

· ROHR Bournemouth Branch Meeting. Saturday 3rd November from 3 – 5 pm. Venue: 71 Stewart Road, Bournemouth BH8 8NZ. Contact: Memory Dzepasi 07585907566, Arthur Chagadama 07951 269667, Dennis Muringai 07787486839 or Collin Chitekwe 07957712691

· Special Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 10^th November from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Our special guest will be Ben Freeth. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.

· The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.

· The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.

· Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

· Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.

· To sponsor the Mike Campbell Foundation expedition ‘Sailing across the Makgadikgadi Pans’ which will raise money for the work of the Foundation, go to www.justgiving.com/Mike-Campbell-Foundation.

· Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.

Vigil co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.