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Zanu activates terror machinery

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Sunday, 03 October 2010 05:31

HARARE -Zanu (PF) is reactivating its terror machinery spearheaded by war
veterans, traditional chiefs and state security agents, in a chilling
reminder to Zimbabweans that the forces of darkness that stalked the run-up
to the June 2008 presidential run-off are still intact and raring to roll
out once orders are given.

The revival of the Zanu (PF) violence structure is chronicled in a
21-page report published by the MDC-T last week which listed at least
50 incidents of violence and intimidation perpetrated by war veterans,
police officers, soldiers, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)
operatives, chiefs and youth militias during the past three months.

According to the report Zanu (PF) has reactivated militia training camps in
some parts of the country. Zanu (PF) youths are known for using such traning
camps as torture basis where perceived opponents of President Robert Mugabe
and his party are assaulted, raped, tortured or even murdered.

"Zanu PF has established youth militia training camps at five schools in
Maramba Pfungwe in Mashonaland East province, disrupting normal learning at
the schools ahead of the  Constitution-making process," the report said.

"The bases are at Museka primary  school in Ward 3, Potsikayi primary
school, Ward 2, Dindi primary school, Ward 4 Chipokoteke primary school,
Ward 4 and
Mungari primary school, Ward 4," it added.

Zanu (PF) spokesman Rugare Gumbo could not be reached for comment on the MDC
report.

But he former sole ruling party has in the past denied its supporters and
allies in the military and war veterans commit violence and human rights
abuses against its opponents.

The MDC report said that war veterans were again taking a leading role in
the terror
campaign, with their 39-year-old leader Jabulani Sibanda said to be
targeting villagers in Masvingo province which Zanu (PF) lost to the
MDC-T during parliamentary elections held in March 2008.

(Xhead) Burning houses

Sibanda -- whose date of birth is listed on the list of persons subject to
Western targeted sanctions against senior Zanu (PF) officials as 31 December
1970 which would make him too young to have fought in the liberation war -- 
is accused of engaging in at least five terror cases since the end of June.

In one of the incidents, the war veterans leader incited Zanu (PF)
supporters to burn down the house of MDC-T Bikita West youth chairperson
David Hollman in August.

No arrests have been made for the arson attack on Hollman's house.

Sibanda allegedly warned MDC-T supporters during a rally in the area
that war veterans would repeat what they did in June 2008 when more
than 200 former opposition members were murdered and thousands others
were displaced.

The former liberation fighters unleashed an orgy of violence after Mugabe
lost the first round of the presidential elections in March to MDC-T leader
Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai -who is now Prime Minister in a coalition government formed
last year - was forced to withdraw from the run-off poll on 27 June
2008, leaving Mugabe to run alone.

Chief Chitanga of Mwenezi in Masvingo province has also allegedly
destroyed a 400-hectare winter maize crop at Makume Ranch, accusing
the owners of being staunch MDC-T supporters.

The crop was destroyed after Chief Chitanga, who is also a Senator,
drove cattle into the fields claiming that the 49 owners of the maize
crop were Tsvangirai's supporters.

"The chief's actions have left the local community in shock as the
maize crop, which was reaching maturity stage was boosting the
country's food security. The chief was assisted by his aides and
police special constabularies in destroying the maize crop," the MDC
said.

(Xhead) AK47 rifle

Soldiers have also taken a lead in the harassment of perceived Mugabe
opponents, often threatening villagers with death for not supporting
Zanu (PF).

The MDC-T cited an incident in which two serving members of the
Zimbabwe National Army - a Colonel Hungwe and Major Neshuro of Ngundu
Halt - threatened villagers in Chingamhi Ward 5 in Mwenezi with death
if they did not support the Kariba draft during the just-ended
Constitution-making process.

Hungwe was allegedly armed with an AK47 rifle when he addressed the
meeting, which was also attended by Justice Sithole, the Zanu (PF)
chairperson of Mwenezi District Coordinating Committee.

Similar cases of violence are cited in another report on the
constitution outreach programme jointly published last week by the
Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Zimbabwe Peace Project and Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights.

The three organisations, operating under the banner of the Independent
Constitution Monitoring Project (ZZZICOMP), said a total of 307
outreach violations were recorded in Harare alone between June and
last month.

These included 78 cases of coaching, 77 of political interference, 72
of harassment and eight of violence.

"While constitution outreach consultations in Bulawayo went ahead as
planned under relatively peaceful and inclusive circumstances though
with a few isolated chaotic incidents, those in Harare had to be
abandoned midstream as deep-seated inter-party violence reared its
disgusting face," ZZZICOMP said.

Although constitutional outreach consultations in Harare were
scheduled for three days running from 18 September to 20 September
with 84 meetings lined up, ZZZICOMP noted that experiences from day
one "cast a caricature, a farce and indeed, a trivialization of the
essence of constitution making processes".

"It was in essence, a telling case of unbridled inter-party
intolerance and a chilling reminder to the nation-that the forces of
darkness that stalked the run up to the 2008 June run off are still
intact and raring to roll out at the slightest provocation," the group
warned.

One MDC-T activist died from injuries sustained during the Harare
skirmishes.

(Xhead) CIO spies

Zanu (PF) has been accused of deploying CIO spies to speak on behalf
of ordinary participants in rural Zimbabwe during the outreach
meetings.

Mugabe's party is pushing for the adoption of a draft constitution
agreed by negotiators from the three main political parties in the
resort town of Kariba in September 2007.

Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations secretly authored the Kariba
draft in 2007 but critics say the document should be discarded because
it leaves untouched the immense presidential powers that analysts say
Mugabe has used to stifle opposition to his rule for the past three
decades.

The coalition government is expected to call fresh elections after
enactment of a new constitution although the administration can choose
to wait until expiry of its term in 2013 to call elections.

Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will strengthen the role of
Parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guarantee
basic civil, political and media freedoms.


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Zesa ordered to stop billing for no service

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Pindai Dube
Sunday, 03 October 2010 17:46

BULAWAYO - Energy and Power Development minister, Elton Mangoma, has ordered
power utility ZESA to stop billing consumers during load-shedding periods.

Of late most residents of Bulawayo and Harare have been receiving exorbitant
bills despite going for hours without electricity at their homes.  Last
year, residents associations in the two cities wrote letters to ZESA
demanding the electricity company to stop billing its members for the
periods they go without electricity.

Mangoma on Saturday said it would not be fair for ZESA to charge its
consumers for services they did not provide, as this was tantamount to
fraud.

"Due to load-shedding, it would only be fair for ZESA to be paid for no more
than the services rendered," Mangoma said.

"I don't see why people should be made to pay for electricity that they don't
use. Half the day there is no electricity, so people should pay for what is
available."

ZESA claims it is owed close to US$350 million by domestic and industrial
consumers, with more than 100 000 domestic customers in Harare and Bulawayo
not having paid their bills since February last year.

The electricity company is also threatening to take legal action against all
consumers failing to settle its bills.

To adequately fund power generation, ZESA needs more than US$380 million
capital injection. Zimbabwe has been experiencing excessive power cuts in
the last decade due to obsolete equipment, ageing infrastructure, skills
flight and massive vandalism of power cables.

Most households and industries in Zimbabwe are limited to less than 12 hours
of electricity supply daily because of lack of investment in power
generation.

Despite the power shortages, the country is exporting 150 megawatts to
Namibia under a US$40 million deal where Namibia power utility NamPower
provided capital for the refurbishment of power units at Hwange Thermal
Power Station in exchange for electricity.


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Illegal Zim: SA to brief UNHRC

http://www.iol.co.za/

October 3 2010 at 06:13pm

SA will on Monday give a progress report to the UN's High Commissioner for
Refugees on progress documenting illegal Zimbabweans, the home affairs
department said.

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would brief the UNHCR in Geneva,
Switzerland, spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement on Sunday.

"The process of documenting Zimbabweans living in South Africa began on 20
September and includes the extension of amnesty to those Zimbabweans who
return South African identity documents and permits acquired fraudulently.

"South Africa has been inspired by the huge turnout of Zimbabweans living in
South Africa who wish to regularise their stay in South Africa by applying
for valid study, work or business permits."

Dlamini-Zuma would also brief the UNHCR on South Africa's efforts to review
its immigration policy to separate economic migrants from asylum seekers. -
Sapa


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Nearly 1mn Zimbabweans to need food aid until December : FEWSNET

http://www.apanews.net/

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) A United States-funded famine early warning system
said Sunday that close to a million Zimbabweans will require food aid until
the end of the year and the number could rise by more than 40 percent before
the next harvest in March 2011.

According to the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET), the
food-insecure population in Zimbabwe's countryside is estimated at 904,463
between October and December, up from about 536,000 during the third quarter
of 2010.

It was estimated that at the peak, 1.3 million people would be food insecure
during the 2010/11 consumption year which ends in March next year.

"The highest prevalence of food insecurity was projected to be in the
provinces of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and the
northern parts of the country, all of which experienced dry spells in the
second half of the 2009/10 cropping season," said FEWSNET.

It said the worst affected areas are Binga, Kariba and Hwange districts
which are close to the border with Zambia and the Beitbridge, Chiredzi,
Gwanda and Matobo districts in the south of the country.

The early warning system however noted that food availability was generally
stable this year throughout Zimbabwe compared to the same period in 2009.

Zimbabwe's Meteorological Services Department has predicted a favourable
2010/11 farming season, with increased chances of normal to above-normal
rainfall across the whole country during the rainfall season that runs from
October to March next year.

JN/daj/APA
2010-10-03


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HIV patients in Zimbabwean border town flock to Zambia for CD4 count testing

http://www.apanews.net

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Hundreds of Zimbabweans living with HIV and AIDS are
being forced to travel to Zambia to undergo CD4 count testing due to the
non-availability of equipment to carry out the tests in the northern border
town of Kariba, state media report Sunday.

The Sunday Mail said health institutions in the resort town do not have CD4
count-testing machines and equipment to test for biochemistry liver
functions and urea.

The nearest testing centre on the Zimbabwean side is in Chinhoyi, about
260km from the town while the nearest health institution in Zambia is only
10km away.

The CD4 count is a measure of the level of anti-bodies in a person, which is
essentially their level of resistance to infection.

People living with HIV and AIDS are supposed to be tested before being
placed on anti-retroviral treatment.

JN/daj/APA
2010-10-03


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US$35m vanishes from Noczim

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

03 October, 2010 02:52:00

MORE than US$35 million owed to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) in
taxes has "disappeared" from the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim)
under unclear circumstances.

Forensic experts have since been called in to investigate the suspected
fraud. Sources revealed last week that the auditors swooped on Noczim's head
office in Harare on Wednesday to carry out preliminary checks.

The details gathered so far could not be immediately ascertained, but
sources said the probe - led by foreign auditors - would be conducted over
two months.

"The auditors moved in on Wednesday morning and are already carrying out
investigations," said a source. According to information at hand, Noczim is
supposed to periodically remit taxes to Zimra but failed to do so for almost
a year. Preliminary checks are said to have set the outstanding payments at
a cumulative US$35 million.

However, it is alleged, the money, which had been set-aside, could now not
be accounted for. The alleged fraud was discovered early this year.
It is understood the Ministry of Energy and Power Development immediately
ordered an investigation with former minister Engineer Elias Mudzuri being
the first to "demand explanations".

His successor, Mr Elton Mangoma and Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti later
proposed a full-scale forensic audit and commissioned the Comptroller and
Auditor-General's Department to handle the task.

However, the department had to rope in a private auditing firm with the
requisite expertise. Foreign forensic experts are believed to be part of the
auditing team. Minister Mangoma yesterday said there was suspicion that
Noczim could have diverted the money on question to other purposes. He said
the audit would cover the period between February last year and March this
year.

"It is true that some money was used up at the parastatal. The money
belonged to Zimra but disappeared; it went missing," he said.
"When questions were asked, no one could give satisfactory responses. I am
not really sure about the specifics (of the audit).

"However, what I can say is that we are waiting for the audit results."

Noczim acting chief executive officer Mrs Tendai Mangezi could not be
reached for comment by late yesterday afternoon.

However, insiders hit out at the minister, saying the investigation was a
"witch-hunt".

They said the parastatal's operations were above board.

"This is nothing more than a witch-hunt," said an insider.

"We are in fact aware that they are spending a huge some of money on the
audit and interestingly, the Ministry of Finance is footing the bill.

"Noczim normally conducts internal audits which are up-to-date by any
standards.

"For one to then go out of their way to hire auditors shows a clear motive.
Whichever way one looks at it, this 'probe' is linked to what happened in
May."

In May this year, Noczim was again accused of failing to remit about US$150
million to Zimra after collecting tax from oil companies.
It was accused of using the money to settle some of its debts.

Two senior managers were suspended "for failing to advise the Noczim
leadership" on its debt-settlement programme.


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Cde Mutambara backs Chinese currency

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

02 October, 2010 11:05:00

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has backed calls to include the
Chinese Renminbi among the country's basket of currencies.

Professor Mutambara made the suggestion during a visit to China where he
attended the World Economic Forum, the Shangahi World Expo as well as
meetings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAG)
Forum.

He also held meetings with the Chinese Deputy President Xi Jinping and Prime
Minister Wen Jia Bao.

Professor Mutambara backed recent calls by other leaders of the coalition
government to include the Chinese Renminbi among the foreign currencies
being used in the country.

Vice President Joyce Mujur recently said use of the Chinese currency could
help ease Zimbabwe's liquidity constraints.

Trade between Zimbabwe and China has increased over the years as the country
actively pursued the so-called Look East policy after falling out with the
West.

The coalition government abandoned the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009, replacing it
with more stable currencies such as the Botswana Pula, the South African
Rand and the US dollar.

However, the country continues to battle liquidity constraints as the
economy's export sectors take longer to recover from a decade-long decline
while international support remains limited.

Meanwhile, Professor Mutambara also urged Chinese investors to give Zimbabwe
a look-in saying the coalition government had managed to bring about
economic and political stability since assuming office.

"(We) take our challenges as opportunities and not insurmountable problems,"
he said.

He said attractive "win-win" opportunities existed in the country's mining,
infrastructure, agriculture, financial services as well as manufacturing
sectors.

Professor Mutambara urged Chinese investors to look beyond resources and
consider "diversification . into professional services, financial services
and beneficiation".

He said developing countries such as Zimbabwe could learn important lessons
from China's economic success.

These included the importance of growing domestic demand and driving
indigenous entrepreneurship.

The Chinese economic model showed the significance of "focus, discipline,
self-respect, national cohesion, self belief, history of achievements", he
added.

"(There is no need for) regrets (over the) past, without Mao there will be
no Deng Xioping (Chinese reformist leader who led the country to a market
economy)!"


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People want jobs, not indeginisation: Khupe

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

03/10/2010 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

DEPUTY Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe has said Zimbabweans are more
interested in jobs rather than ownership of companies and inisted the
government's indeginisation programme was a death knell for the country's
largely comatose productive sectors.

Khupe, who is the deputy leader of the MDC-T told the party's supporters in
the United States that the government's controversial indigenisation laws
would impede economic recovery by scaring away much-needed foreign
investment.

"Our people are not crying for ownership of industry. They need jobs to be
able to feed their families," she said.

Under the country's empowerment laws, foreign-owned companies are required
to ensure at least 51 percent of their shareholding is controlled by locals.

But Khupe said the legislation was a threat to economic recovery.

"This is not the time to implement the indigenisation program in the form
and shape defined by ZANU PF.

With 90 percent of Zimbabweans unemployed and whole industries closing down,
it is very futile for the ZANU PF leadership to be calling for wholesale
indigenisation of the few remaining industries," she said.

The coaltion government is split along party lines over the legislation.

Khupe said Zimbabweans did not have the resources to acquire the 51 percent
shareholding in the targeted companies adding that the programme was not
aimed at empowring ordinary people.

"Who has the money to buy the 51 percent of the shares they want off loaded?
Who will buy those shares?

"Is it the people in my constituency of Makokoba, or Dotito or Muzarabani?
No. (It) will be the same connected individuals that continue to feed on the
economic and corruption trough," Khupe said.

Zimbabwe's coalition government appears split along party lines over the
indeginisation programme which has also triggered gitters among foreign
investors.

A review targeted at coming up with sector-specific thresholds is underway
and companies, particularly in the mining sector are also hoping that
consideration will be given to social spend in communities as well as
infrastructure development.


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'Mugabe Must Go To Hell Man' Rearrested

http://news.radiovop.com

03/10/2010 11:38:00

BULAWAYO, October 03, 2010---Heavily armed police officers on Saturday
raided a company owned by a man who once said President Mugabe must go to
hell and re-arrested him on new charges.

Gareth Fury managing director of Fisher Motor Engineering Company was
initial arrested last week and appeared in court for saying President Robert
Mugabe "should go to hell"  after  clashes  with his  co-company director
Nkululeko Tshuma a  known Zanu PF activist.He was  released  on bail.
However in a move suspected to have a political hand, heavily armed police
officers raided Fury's company and arrested   him on new charges of violence
and of calling President Mugabe a dictator.
According to the state outline, the new charges arise from incident on
Friday where Fury is alleged to have gone to Tshuma's office and shouted:
"Leave my office and go and practice your dictatorship in President Mugabe's
office and if you keep coming here your life will be in danger."
Fury re-appeared before Sibongile Msipa and was again charged with
contravening Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act).He was granted
US$100 and ordered to surrender his passport to the Clerk of the Criminal
Court and to report to Hillside police station every Friday until his case
has been completed.Khucaca Phulu  of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practioners
represented Fury in court.
 


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Ex-minister fights council for rented house

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

By Oscar Nkala
Sunday, 03 October 2010 17:49

BULAWAYO - The fight for a Gwanda council house has taken a turn for the
worst with Town Clerk George Mlilo now being the victim of death threats
allegedly at the instigation of former foreign affairs deputy minister
Abednico Ncube.

Mlilo is reportedly living in fear following the death threats from people
allegedly linked to Ncube who is also a ZANU PF Politburo member, in an ugly
turn of the dispute over a council owned house which the former minister
previously rented but has refused to vacate following the expiry of the
lease.

Council sources said the municipality rented out house number 82 Senondo
Township to Ncube on a gratuitous basis. This was after Ncube had won his
first parliamentary seat in 1995, but because he had no house in town,
council made the overture to enable him to be where his new role as Member
of Parliament required him to reside.

Ncube and his son Leslie, also a senior ZANU PF Youth League office holder,
are reported to have invaded the Town Clerk's office several times
threatening him with death for leading council efforts to reclaim the
property.

"Last month, Ncube and his son invaded the Town Clerk's office and told him
he would meet with terrible consequences if he pushes ahead with
repossessing the house and refusing to sell it to them,"  said a source who
preferred anonymity for fear of retribution.

"Since then he has received many telephone calls from people who just tell
him he is going to die, some even tell him they are leaving Harare and
coming to Gwanda to kill him. He is living in fear,"

Mlilo confirmed that he has "very serious" problems with the former minister
and his son over the council house but declined further comment saying the
matter between the council and Ncube was now before the Civil Court.

Court sources told the Daily News that the matter, which deals only with the
issue of the house and not the death threats, has been heard once and
adjourned because the Municipality is yet to provide the court with copies
of the original lease agreement in terms of which the former minister became
its tenant.

Contacted for comment, Ncube threatened the Daily News against publishing
the story.

"That is a private matter between myself and the council," Ncube said. "It
is no business of yours and I can assure you I will take legal action
against you personally and the Daily News as an organisation should you
publish this rubbish you are trying to stick to me.

"I have visited Mlilo in his office to talk about this issue but I never
threatened him with death or anything, and I am not linked in any way with
those who call to him to make death threats on my behalf, if they exist at
all," he said.

The council source said the fight between Ncube and council was the
"culmination of a long-running dispute".

"In the recent past this dispute led to the assault of a senior council
housing officer by a group of ZANU PF thugs allegedly hired from Bulawayo to
cow the council into handing the house over to the Ncube family," said the
source who requested anonymity.

" The house at the centre of this dispute was rented out to Ncube by the
council when he had no house of his own.  But since he used his time in
government to build himself a spacious mansion at Jacaranda Suburb, has
acquired lots of sudden wealth such as gold mines, council felt he no longer
deserved the gratuity as he is now able to stand on his own.

"Mlilo is being targeted because he is the Town Clerk and therefore the man
in charge. Besides, Ncube has never liked the professionalism of the man and
his refusal to toe any party line," the source said.

The council has reportedly written several letters asking Ncube to vacate
the property but he has refused saying instead that he wants council to
allow him to buy it as he has rented it for a long time.

The former minister has previously made the headlines for bully-behaviour,
starting in 1996 when he engaged in a fist-fight with some Milton High
School boys whom he accused of bullying his son. In 2003, he made headlines
for threatening the then Mayor of Gwanda and fellow ZANU PF provincial
leader Rido Mpofu over the council's decision to legal action to recover
more than Z$230 000 dollars which he owed in rents and rates for the same
house he is refusing to vacate now.


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Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 2nd October 2010

Next week the Vigil marks its 8th anniversary protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. It will not be something to celebrate – in fact we will be wearing mourning bands for the occasion.

 

The Vigil was started on 12th October 2002 by a small group from the Central London Zimbabwe Forum principally at the suggestion of MDC stalwart Roy Bennett now the target of vindictive persecution by ZANU PF.

 

The Vigil had to affirm its independence from the MDC when the UK and Ireland Executive was high-jacked by a group which has now been suspended by the Harare leadership following allegations of corruption.  (A report on the suspended executive has still not been published by Harare, presumably because it is too embarrassing.)

 

In the early years our attendance – particularly in bleak winter weather – dipped to a handful.  But we always believed that one person and a banner could make a Vigil. Nowadays we draw an average of more than 150 people per week and many of them travel long distances to be with us. The Observer newspaper described the Vigil as the largest regular demonstration in London.

 

The Vigil is not party-political and welcomes anyone who supports its mission statement: ‘The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 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’.

 

We have run various petitions – notably one to the UN calling for an investigation of human rights violations in Zimbabwe signed by some 100,000 passers-by. We have also lobbied Parliament and other bodies and staged many demonstrations.  We are currently running two petitions:

·    A petition to the UK government: We welcome the UK’s humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe but call on the UK government to withhold development aid until it is confident that the money will benefit the people rather than the corrupt Mugabe regime.

·    Petition to the UN Security Council: We call on the Security Council to ensure that the next elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair. We look to the United Nations to supervise the electoral process and the handover of power to a new government and believe peace-keeping troops will need to be in place before, during and after the polling.

 

Both petitions have been signed by thousands of people passing by the Vigil (we do not run online petitions). From our understanding of the British government’s position we do not believe it is yet necessary to present the first petition. But we are making preparations to submit the petition to the Security Council given suggestions by both Mugabe and Tsvangirai that elections will be held next year.

 

The Vigil has always argued that elections are the way forward and have watched with despair the misconceived preoccupation with a new constitution when what really matters are preparations for a free and fair election.

 

Mugabe is nothing if not consistent: he wins by violence, rigging, bribes, coercion, threats, propaganda etc. It has always worked so why should he change a winning strategy? (See: JAG open letter forum, Ben Freeth - Protecting Communities in Zimbabwe from Violence: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/sep18_2010.html#Z17). Mr Freeth concludes that the MDC should go on an all-out campaign to call on international peace-keepers to protect the rural voters. The Vigil fully supports the Voice for Democracy’s call to immediately start putting in place structures to assure violence-free and fair elections (https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/sep17_2010.html#Z17, ‘Silence of the Lambs’).

 

Other points

·       Vigil team member Sue Toft arranged, at St Mary’s Church, Speldhurst, Kent, a showing of the film ‘Mugabe and the White African’ which documents the fight by white farmer Ben Freeth and his father-in-law to stop their Zimbabwean farm being taken by Mugabe's regime. In the audience was Ben’s mother Claire Freeth. About 70 people attended and Sue reports that many were in tears.  Sue was interviewed by the local press (see: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/won-t-stop-Mugabe-reign/article-2704389-detail/article.html).

·       One of our key activists attended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) video link with voluntary returnees in Zimbabwe on Wednesday 22nd September. He reports as follows: The three featured returnees are all running their businesses and none of them has yet suffered any persecution or had their business taken away in the name of indigenisation. One is running a poultry farm and says he has to bribe the suppliers of chicks to fulfill his orders. Another returnee invested her IOM package in her father’s shop in a predominantly ZANU (PF) area – she has links to ZANU and has no reason to fear returning to Zimbabwe. She even said that she claimed asylum after being denied an extension of her student visa. In a way she abused the asylum system in UK. People like her are the ones who make lives of actual asylum seekers hard in the UK. The third returnee is operating a small scale farm which he claims belongs to his cousin who is US based. This returnee went in May and now he is running a farm. It seems he took voluntary return because he knew that he would be offered a farm. Only those with acquaintances in the top ZANU brass can acquire farms. The three were asked if the political situation had affected their daily business.  They said as long as you stay away from politics you will certainly not be in trouble with the authorities. But they all agreed that the situation politically has not yet improved as expected. The GPA is not working as promised. I am not sending out a message that Zimbabweans should not take the voluntary return offered by IOM. People who are politically involved need to consider their security if they decide to go. The IOM strongly said “we are not responsible for your safety in Zimbabwe”.  The destitution of some asylum seekers in the diaspora and domestic situations in Zimbabwe are reasons that might force an individual to take the package. The IOM claims hundreds of Zimbabweans have taken the package. It would be good if all the Zimbabweans who have returned home gave us a clear picture. The three chosen may have been staging the whole event to deceive Zimbabweans in the diaspora. Contact the IOM directly to see what they are offering and make an informed decision before deciding to go back to Zimbabwe voluntarily. For those with disputed nationality the IOM promises they will help with a Zimbabwean travel document if you can prove you are Zimbabwean.

·       This week has seen Jacob Zuma appealing to the EU to drop targeted sanctions. For reasons why the sanctions should not be dropped, check: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/sep30_2010.html#Z18 – Opinion: Is the EU about to sacrifice Zim for Mugabe by Clifford Chitupa Mashiri.

·       We welcomed Josiah Sibanda and Mazwi Marshall Lujika who arrived in London at 2 am on the coach from Glasgow and were returning home at 11 pm in the evening.

 

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check the link at the top of the home page of our website. 

 

FOR THE RECORD:  156 signed the register.

 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·       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.

·       Zimbabwe Vigil’s 8th Anniversary. Saturday 9th October from 2 – 6 pm.

·       ROHR Liverpool Vigil. Saturday 9th October from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Church Street (Outside Primark), Liverpool City Centre. For details please contact: Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Trywell Migeri 07956083758, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161. Future demonstration: 9th October. Same time and venue.

·       ROHR Stevenage general meeting. Saturday 16th October. Venue: Poplars Bandley Hill Community Centre, Magpie Crescent, Stevenage, Herts SG2 9RZ from 1.30 – 5.30. ROHR Executive present. Contact Jemitas Mare 07570191705, K Mashonganyika 07962383872 or P Mapfumo 07915926323, 07932216070 

·       ROHR Wolverhampton relaunch meeting. Date to be advised. Venue: Heath Town Community Centre, 208 Chevril Rise, Wolverhampton WV10 0HP. It's time for you to join in the Struggle for Peace, Justice and Freedom for Zimbabwe. Contact P Chibanguza 07908406069, P Nkomo 07817096594, P Dunduru 07958386718, D Mtendereki 07771708800 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.

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

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

·       ‘Through the Darkness’, Judith Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe.  To receive a copy by post in the UK please email confirmation of your order and postal address to ngwenyasr@yahoo.co.uk and send a cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA. All proceeds go to the Budiriro Trust which provides bursaries to needy A Level students in Zimbabwe

·       Workshops aiming to engage African men on HIV testing and other sexual health issues. Organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust (www.tht.org.uk). Please contact the co-ordinator Takudzwa Mukiwa (takudzwa.mukiwa@tht.org.uk) if you are interested in taking part.

 

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

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