Mbeki recalled to define Mugabe's powers

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
17 April 2009

It's reported that Thursday's discussions between Robert Mugabe, Morgan
Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, over the outstanding issues facing the
unity government, hit a brick wall after Mugabe insisted that he has the
right to make independent decisions.

We could not get official comment but sources close to the discussions said
the principals were supposed to meet again on Friday, but that didn't
happen.

Our source said the principals have now agreed that it was pointless to meet
Friday because of Mugabe's attitude. So they have agreed to invite former
South African President Thabo Mbeki to a meeting on Monday, so that he can
interpret the terms of the global agreement regarding Mugabe's powers.

There has been an ongoing wrangle between the rival parties over key issues,
such as the appointments of governors, permanent secretaries and
ambassadors, plus the land invasions and the freeing of the media.

The 85 year old leader is also refusing to shift on the issue of the
appointments of the Attorney General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank
Governor Gideon Gono, despite the two MDC formations insisting that the
appointments were irregular.

And most recently Mugabe has been refusing to swear in Roy Bennett, the MDC
Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, and has stripped Nelson Chamisa's
Information Ministry, of the department of communications.

Zimbabwean vice-pm orders farm invaders 'off the land'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Zimbabwe's deputy prime minister pledged on Friday to act against illegal
farm seizures as he ordered invaders to leave one farm amid claims that
Robert Mugabe and a top politician were behind a fresh invasion.

By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
Last Updated: 7:46PM BST 17 Apr 2009

Arthur Mutambara accused the invaders of "reaping where you did not sow",
breaking the law, and destroying the economy, while glaring at policemen and
telling them to uphold the law. He also called one of Mr Mugabe's loyalists
"immoral."

Mr Mugabe's land minister, Herbert Murewha, was forced to endure Mr
Mutambara's volley of anger when he saw tens of thousands of pounds of
export fruit rotting because the farmer, Ben Freeth, had been prevented
entering his pack shed in the last few weeks.

Mr Freeth's farm, Mount Carmel, has been given to Mr Mugabe's biographer,
the former information minister, Nathan Shamuyaria.
"You are giving Mr Shamuyarira a bad name" he told Landmine Chigombira, who
had ordered workers to be beaten and houses pillaged in the last few days.

Mr Mutambara told the assembled crowd on the farm that Mr Freeth and his
team must be allowed to live in their homes peacefully and return to work
the same day.

But an hour later, after Mr Mutambara left, Mr Freeth and his workers were
chased away.

"What matters is that the next time Mugabe denies there have been fresh land
invasions I can say that is not true, I saw it for myself," said Mr
Mutambara.

Mr Freeth and his father-in-law Mike Campbell are still recovering from
injuries sustained in vicious attacks last year.

"It didn't make any difference today but at least he [Mutambara] came and he
took control, he questioned workers and they told him how they had suffered,
and he was obviously angry at what has been going on.

Let's see how this works out," he added.

Farmers in the area, 120 kilometres south west of Harare, told officials
that 17 farms had been affected since January and that the Zanu-PF president
of Zimbabwe's senate, Edna Madzongwe, was behind one of the seizures.

Mr Mutambara said: "We will not tolerate any government official who is
prolonging lawlessness in the country. Our country is trying to attract
investment, attract foreign aid, we can't afford to be damaging business
confidence in this country."

"It's going to be interesting to see what comes out of this," said Colin
Cloete, former president of the Commercial Farmers Union who was first on Mr
Mutambara's list of invaded farms on Friday.

"Word got out early in the morning that he was coming and some of them
packed up and left. I was quite impressed." Zimbabwe's economic collapse
began with the destruction of commercial agriculture when Mr Mugabe began
seizing white-owned farms in 2000.

Ministers hang heads in shame on farms

No sacred cows on farms, Mutambara vows

Zimbabwe farmers say Mugabe allies invading farms

http://uk.reuters.com

Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:57pm BST

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

CHEGUTU, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwean white farmers accused President
Robert Mugabe's allies on Friday of leading a fresh wave of farm invasions
that could cost millions in exports and undermine the new unity government.

The government formed by Mugabe and his former rival Morgan Tsvangirai, now
prime minister, is trying to persuade reluctant Western donors to pledge
financial support that is crucial to ending the country's devastating
economic crisis.

Zimbabwe's commercial agriculture sector has plummeted since Mugabe's
supporters occupied white-owned farms in 2000, and the country has had to
rely on aid to feed its people. New farm invasions would probably stoke
donors' and investors' fears.

A government team led by deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Friday
visited farms in Chegutu, a rich farming district west of Harare where
farmers' groups say 17 farms and 2,000 workers have been affected by new
land occupations.

James Etheredge told reporters his $3.5 million (2.37 million pounds) farm
was occupied in February by Edna Madzongwe, president of the senate and a
senior official in Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

"We were forced to leave our farm under cover of darkness by armed thugs,"
Etheredge, who lived with his wife and his son's family at Stockdale Citrus
Estate, some 100 km west of Harare, told Reuters. Local media say Madzongwe
owns three other farms.

The farm invasions in the Chegutu farming district have intensified and
appear to be aimed at white farmers who successfully challenged Mugabe's
land reforms at a regional Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
tribunal last year.

Mugabe, the country's only ruler since independence from Britain in 1980,
has vowed not to reverse his controversial land policy and accuses the
former colonial power of organising Western sanctions to punish his
government for the seizures.

Madzongwe's daughter Farai said her mother had given up a previous property
so that the government could resettle more black farmers and had had a
government offer dated September 2007 when she first tried to occupy
Etheredge's farm.

Madzongwe moved onto the 100 hectare farm in February. It

exports 400,000 boxes of oranges a year and other citrus fruit.

"We are just making assessments of operations in the eventuality that we
take the farm when all the court issues are resolved," Farai said, as an
armed police officer paced nearby.

Mutumbara, head of a breakaway opposition group until he joined the unity
government, told reporters "problems" on Zimbabwean farms should not be
allowed to undermine the unity government and said illegal occupations would
not be tolerated.

"Our country right now is trying to attract investment, attract aid, we
can't afford to be damaging business confidence," he said. "We will not
tolerate any government official who is promoting lawlessness in our
country."

Mutambara said some blacks were using fake land offer letters as an excuse
to occupy farms, and his team would present its findings to the cabinet next
week.

Chris Dhlamini’s sworn account of his experiences after he was abducted last year

Prosecutors get permission to block detainees bail in Supreme Court

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
17 April 2009

On Friday a High Court Judge granted the Attorney General's office
permission to appeal against the granting of bail to three political
detainees.
MDC officials Ghandi Mudzingwa and Chris Dhlamini, plus freelance journalist
Shadreck Manyere will remain in jail as the political games over their
detention continue.

Welshman Ncube, one of the JOMIC chairpersons, said recently that the
monitoring group had been trying to get the Executive, the Minister of
Justice and the Attorney General to stop blocking the granting of bail to
the three accused.  But Friday's ruling clearly shows the Attorney General's
office wants to prolong their continued detention. They have been in custody
more than four months, after their abduction by state security agents in
December.

Last week Justice Charles Hungwe granted them bail, but the Attorney General's
office immediately invoked a section of the Criminal Act to oppose this.

The State's application seeking leave to appeal in the Supreme Court was
heard on Wednesday and a ruling on the matter was decided on Friday, when
the High Court gave the State leave to appeal the granting of bail in the
Supreme Court.

This means Mudzingwa and Chris Dhlamini will remain under police guard at
the Avenues Clinic, where they are receiving treatment after they were
tortured by state agents after their abduction. Manyere remains at Chikurubi
Maximum Security Prison.
The three are among a group of civil and political activists who were
abducted from their homes last year and are accused of an alleged plot to
overthrow the Mugabe regime. They deny all the charges.
On the eve of Independence Day commemorations calls were being made for a
return to the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Respected human rights group Amnesty
International warned that the continuing human rights abuses undermine the
inclusive government.  Amnesty expressed particular concern about the
continued detention of Mudzingwa, Dhlamini and Manyere and also said they
face charges widely believed to be fabricated by ZANU PF.

The rights group said other detainees released in March, including civic
leader Jestina Mukoko, also still face charges and this raises real doubts
about the government's commitment to ending the culture of human rights
violations against perceived opponents.

Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International's expert on Zimbabwe warned: "A lot of
hope is invested in this new inclusive government, and they must establish
the rule of law and a climate of respect for human rights to maintain their
credibility worldwide. This is a very critical phase they are in."

The rights body also criticised the government for failing to investigate
reports of missing activists who were allegedly abducted by state agents
between October and December 2008. "It is a scandal that the new government
has still not fully investigated the enforced disappearances of more than 30
people last year. Nor have allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the
victims been investigated by the authorities. In fact, the state appears to
be protecting the perpetrators," said Mawanza.

Amnesty said it was especially disappointed by the "hands-off attitude" by
SADC and the African Union, despite clear evidence showing that ZANU PF is
undermining the Global Political Agreement.

MDC MP remains in Chipinge prison

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
17 April 2009

Mathias Mlambo, the MDC MP for Chipinge East, is being held in police
custody. He was arrested Monday for allegedly inciting violence at a funeral
of an MDC member who died recently. Magistrate Zuze said he did not have
time to study the bail submissions made by the legal teams and will only
give his ruling next Wednesday.
The MP was granted bail on Tuesday and was ordered to pay bail of US$10,
reside at his home, report once a week to police and not interfere with the
police. But he remains in Chipinge Remand Prison because of a disagreement
by the legal teams over his bail conditions.
His lawyer Langton Mhungu is arguing that his client is innocent and should
not be made to report once a week as this interferes with his work as an MP.
He also says it is impossible for him not to interfere with police because
the key witness is a police officer, who caused his arrest.
An altercation had erupted last Friday between ZANU PF and MDC supporters at
the funeral of the MDC member in Chipinge. It is alleged that ZANU PF
supporters came to the funeral and started mocking the MDC, resulting in a
fight breaking out. Mlambo says he was at the graveside burying the deceased
with other mourners and was not aware that a fight had started elsewhere at
the funeral. The police were called in and it is alleged that a police
officer discharged a firearm into the air causing a serious commotion.
Mlambo went to report the incident to the local police station, but he was
the one who ended up being detained. He was charged with obstructing or
defeating the course of justice and stands accused of preventing police
officers from arresting people who were involved in the altercation.
Hi lawyer said the people who were allegedly assaulted remain unknown and no
one else was apprehended.
The MP told his lawyer that when he tried to confront the police officer
after he discharged his firearm, the officer mockingly told him to go and
report the matter to his Prime Minister - referring to Morgan Tsvangirai.
The MDC spokesperson for Manicaland, Pishai Muchauraya, said the arrest of
the MP has nothing to do with alleged crimes committed but that there is
still an agenda by ZANU PF to harass the MDC. He said: "We also realised
that Mugabe is running parallel government structures, with his own court
systems, meant to just frustrate us."
The outspoken MDC MP said there is a big difference between what the chefs
are saying at the top and what is happening on the ground, where not much
has changed since the formation of the inclusive government two months ago.
"At the top there is talk of unity and inclusivity, but on the ground there
is exclusivity and impunity."
Meanwhile Muchauraya also said 12 MDC activists who were arrested in early
April on charges of extortion and assault in Buhera, were finally granted
bail of US$10 each on Friday.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said: "10 of the accused persons
are facing charges of extortion in that on 17 March 2009 and at Makumbe
Village, the accused persons threatened to assault one Alphas Nhachi for
having stolen their chickens during the 2008 presidential run-off elections
and recovered six chickens from Nhachi."
"The other two MDC members are facing allegations of assault in that they
assaulted one Philip Gundungwa, whom they accused of murdering their mother
during the 2008 presidential run-off election period."
The Human rights lawyers, led by Blessing Nyamaropa, report that the
political environment in Buhera remain tense and that some members of the
army who are still present in the area, are instigating the arrests instead
of the police. The group said army officials are reportedly giving
instructions to court officials on how they should treat suspects.

Mukoko trial date set

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

Friday, April 17, 2009

Court Reporter

THE trial of Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko - accused of
recruiting people to undergo training for purposes of banditry, insurgency
and terrorism in Botswana - has been set for July 20 at the High Court.

According to the list of cases to be heard during the second term of the
High Court which begins on May 4, the trial of MDC-T activists charged with
involvement in the alleged acts of banditry, insurgency and terrorism would
start in June.

The first to go on trial on June 8 are Concillia Chinanzvavana, Fidelis
Chiramba, Violet Mupfuranhewe and Collen Mutemagawu.

The State alleges that between July and October last year the four connived
and recruited people to undergo training in order to conduct acts of
insurgency, banditry, sabotage and terrorism.

The trial has been set down for two weeks. This would be followed by the
trial of Chris Dhlamini, Gandi Mudzingwa, Andrison Manyere, Zacharia Nkomo,
Regis Mujeyi and Mapfumo Garutsa on June 29.

The six are accused of conducting acts of banditry and sabotage by allegedly
bombing police stations in Harare, a railway bridge at Manyame using P677
type of bombs.

The trial of Mukoko and her co-accused Boderick Takawira and Audrey
Zimbudzana would start on July 20.

However, the suspects were yet to be served with indictment papers in terms
of the law, which stipulates that before a suspect is provided with the
trial date he or she should be furnished with indictments.

Apart from the trials of the MDC-T activists, 36 murder cases have been
lined up for hearing during the second term of the High Court.

The trial of a 16-year-old boy who shot and killed his parents with a
revolver at the family home in Ruwa last year would be a major highlight.

The teenager allegedly first shot and killed his father who had awoken him
for purposes of studying. It is alleged that after killing his father, the
boy turned the gun on his mother who was fast asleep.

Exiles to demand amnesty for Zim prisoners during London demo

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
17 April 2009

As Zimbabweans gather to celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, exiles in
the UK will be using the day to demand amnesty for all prisoners inside
Zimbabwe's jails.

The demonstration in London has been organised by protest group the Zimbabwe
Vigil, which has been demonstrating outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in the
British capital every Saturday for almost seven years. The group has vowed
to keep protesting until free, fair and democratic elections are held in
Zimbabwe to usher in a period of real change.

The Vigil's coordinator, Rose Benton, explained that this Saturday's event
will be highlighted by a demonstration calling for a blanket amnesty for all
Zimbabwe's suffering prisoners. The group's demand follows the recent
screening of a shock TV documentary entitled 'Hell Hole', which revealed the
true horror of Zimbabwe's prisons. The film, produced by a South African
filmmaking team and broadcast by the SABC, showed hidden camera footage of
emaciated and ill prisoners, literally starving to death in filthy
conditions in three of Zimbabwe's main jails.

The film has sparked outcry from international human rights groups and is
visual evidence of the rights abuses still taking place in Zimbabwe, despite
the formation of the unity government. Benton explained that the Vigil's
demand for prisoner amnesty is a 'challenge' to the unity government, which,
despite global condemnation of the prison situation, has done nothing except
deny the situation is real.

Benton said that the government should only imprison the number of people
the prison system can cope with humanely, and explained that other prisoners
"should be given non-custodial penalties."

"After all," Benton added, "most people still inside prison are saints
compared to the havoc that has been caused and is still being caused by ZANU
PF thugs."

The protest on Saturday afternoon will include speeches from former
Zimbabwean prisoners, who will talk about their experiences, and there will
also be accounts from torture victims. A collection will be started to help
pay for food, in order to feed Zimbabwe's starving prisoners.

Chinamasa ordered prisoner released

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15280

April 17, 2009

By Owen Chikari

MASVINGO - Sources within the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs have fingered the minister, Patrick Chinamasa, as the official who
allegedly ordered the recent release of Zanu-PF activist, Edmore Hwarare
from police custody behind the backs of court officials in Chiredzi.

The action prompted a work stay-away by prosecutors in the Lowveld town in
protest at the alleged ministerial interference in a case.

Hwarare, a former Zanu-PF provincial political commissar in Masvingo, was
arrested for fraud involving a large quantity of processed sugar worth over
US $132 000.

Chinamasa allegedly ordered prison officials to release the self proclaimed
chairman of the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Workers Union after he was remanded
in custody. Prosecutors at the Chiredzi magistrate courts promptly boycotted
their duties in protest at the irregular handling of Hwarare's case and what
now turns out to have been Chinamasa's action.

Sources close to the case say Hwarare's loyalty to Zanu-PF is
unquestionable. He is well-known for his generous donations of money and
goods at major party functions in Chiredzi. More relevantly in this case, he
is said to enjoy a special relationship with Chinamasa.

"We were ordered to release him by the minister", said one source, speaking
on condition of anonymity. "The minister also cautioned prosecutors over the
way they had handled the case."

Chinamasa refused to comment on the issue on Friday, saying, "I cannot know
about everything that happens (in) every court in the country and therefore
I cannot comment".

However Masvingo area prosecutor Mirirai Shumba said Hwarare was released
from custody after the state had failed to launch an appeal against the
granting of bail.

"The magistrate had granted Hwarare bail and the state had appealed against
the decision and what it meant is that he was supposed to be remanded in
custody", said Shumba.

"We have since withdrawn our intentions to appeal and he was released".

Shumba could not explain why the state was shifting from its earlier
position to appeal against the granting of bail.

A record 300 witnesses have been dramatically lined up to testify against
Hwarare, who is also a self-proclaimed war veteran. He will appear in court
on April 24 for a routine remand.

Hwarare was arrested along with the chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe
Sugar Association, Daniel Tsingo, and Darlington Chiwa the secretary general
of the organisation.

Hwarare and his co-accused were responsible for collecting sugar from the
mills
for distribution among association members.

They allegedly diverted 90 tonnes of the members' sugar and sold it on the
black market. They pocketed the money. Some of the sugar was allegedly
smuggled out of the country where Hwarare had established a good market.

One of the supposed beneficiaries who lost sugar to Hwarare and his alleged
accomplices is senior Assistant Commissioner Edward Veterai, who apparently
is now also a sugarcane farmer.

It is alleged that Veterai ensured that Hwarare, the man who has allegedly
terrorised the sugar farming community and MDC supporters in the Lowveld
over the years, was finally arrested and brought to justice.

Two years ago Hwarare was allegedly caught red-handed as he embezzled funds
from the Commercial Sugar Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFA) where he
was also the chairman.

"Because of his good record with Zanu-PF he got off scot-free," said a
source familiar with the case.

Over the years Hwarare has allegedly become a multiple farm owner, having
enriched himself through the allocation of several farms in the Lowveld.

The farms include a sugarcane estate belonging to commercial farmer John
Taylor in Mkwasine, a sugarcane farm belonging to another commercial farmer,
the late Jeremy Baldwin, in the Chiredzi area, Samba Ranch 20km north of
Triangle as well as the cattle section of Mkwasine Estates.

Amnesty International Press Release

Zimbabweans Hopeful as Country Celebrates Independence Day

http://www.voanews.com



By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
17 April 2009

Zimbabwe celebrates Independence Day on Saturday and the former opposition,
the Movement for Democratic Change, now in the inclusive government with
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF says it is going to attend the
celebrations for the first time. There are mixed reactions to the first two
months of the inclusive government and several key unresolved problems which
continue to hamper progress.

For some, the establishment of a new government in February has been a boon.
One woman, a teacher with three children living a high density Harare
suburb, says it was a welcome event.

"Myself being a teacher, the inclusive government has changed my life in the
sense that we are now able to go to work," she said. "As soon as they agreed
we began to go back to work based on the promises they gave us and it also
gave light to my kids as well who had for the past seven months not being
going to school, but now they are back."

Not everyone is confident

Another person, who works as TV and radio salesman, said the inclusive
government has brought stability. Hyperinflation is gone and the Zimbabwe
dollar has been replaced by the US dollar and South African rand.  The
businessman says that means it is no longer necessary to go to the black
market to buy hard currency to import goods to sell.

"The inclusive government brought some hope in our business," he said. "I am
a businessman and we can now plan on a monthly basis and we could not do
that in the past."

But he says, not everyone is confident that the new government is going to
succeed in turning the economy around.

"Well, there is no confidence in the business sector like in the big
people's business," he noted. "If these companies continue not having
confidence in this government I don't think we will get anything."

Will inclusive government survive?

There are fears that the inclusive government may not survive.

Critics of Mr. Mugabe say his backers in the security services continue to
arrest MDC supporters and officials, although they acknowledge in fewer
cases.

There are also continued disruptions on white owned farms and MDC deputy
prime minister Arthur Mutambara visited some Friday and called for a
moratorium on disruptions of commercial farming.

Patience required

The teacher we spoke to in Harare, says change will take time.

"We are still feeling the pinch of the previous government and the life that
the people have been living we are afraid if the inclusive government have
arrangements or not work together we are afraid that maybe we will go back
again to the same area where we couldn't even afford a decent meal a day,"
she said.

At independence day the MDC says it will turn out in large numbers and but
will not wear party regalia as this is a national event.

Observers will be watching to see whether Mr. Mugabe's supporters turn out,
given that the gathering will be attended by MDC party leader and new prime
minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

So far the service chiefs who have declared they would not serve him, have
manage to avoid saluting him at public events. Many will be watching
Saturday's events for clues about how the government is getting along.

Comprehensive process of national healing is required

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
17 April 2009

Respected political commentator Dr Alex Magaisa has said the country needs a
comprehensive process of national healing, that will also cover atrocities
and abuses that took place even before independence in 1980. Speaking to
Newsreel on Friday Magaisa said 'accountability' was the key word that would
allow justice and reconciliation to be possible. He stressed that there was
also no use in being selective about the time frame, as the country risked
having a particular group of people bitter about what happened in the past.

The topic of reconciliation and national healing has continued to dog the
new coalition government, which was formed on the back of the murder of over
200 MDC supporters last year and the displacement of thousands. ZANU PF and
Mugabe, who lost the elections to the MDC last year, deployed members of the
security forces to carry out a countrywide operation assassinating key
opposition figures in the grassroots structures. Thousands were also
tortured. The unity deal cobbled together by South Africa has left the
victims bitter and demanding justice.

Magaisa urged the recently established 'Organ on National healing' to
identify what he called the 'national wound' which would 'symbolise the
wrongful acts or omissions that have been committed against individuals and
communities over the years. Some are obvious and well-known, such as the
Matabeleland atrocities, others less so and perhaps forgotten, such as what
happened during the colonial era and the war years.' Only a comprehensive
national healing process will solve the country's many problems, he said.

The academic, who is based at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom,
said 'the wrongful acts visited upon citizens under the guise of Operation
Murambatsvina in 2005, the violence, the killings, torture, loss of property
and various other wrongful acts committed against individuals, especially
during election periods,' should all be addressed.
In October last year three researchers from the Catholic Commission for
Justice and Peace saw firsthand the need for national healing after they
began interviewing hundreds of torture victims. Coordinator Joel Nkunsane
said; 'It was just horrible. We were reopening the wounds. We were
listening, then we would leave them in pain, without giving any help.' They
set up a reconciliation process in Chitungwiza and although they got 17
victims for a 3 day workshop the ZANU PF perpetrators were reluctant to come
and in the end only 7 pitched up.
That workshop was however still able to prove that even the perpetrators who
are haunted by their deeds want to be able to talk it over with their
victims and have forgiveness, to be able to live in peace and harmony. But
in the absence of a proper mechanism they will be reluctant to come out and
confess.

National healing is not about settling scores

http://www.manicapost.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

By Edward Chinhanhu

OF late, a lot of lip-service has been paid to national healing.

Indeed, there is no way that any meaningful progress can be made on any
front before we come to terms with our past.
Quickly defined, national healing is the process of restoring broken
relationships with the aim of making peace between parties that have been
deeply alienated from each other due to hurtful and destructive conflicts.
To use academic Peace Studies language, national healing, in essence,
represents a place, the point of encounter where concerns about both the
past and the future meet. National healing as encounter suggests that space
for acknowledging of the past and envisioning the future are necessary
ingredients for reframing the present.
To ensure success, a national healing process must follow the following key
elements:
l Acknowledgement of wrongs done by all parties concerned
l Asking for or granting pardon
l Remedying the consequences of the harm
l Defining a new, mutually beneficial relationship that addresses the root
causes of the past conflict and guarantees that past mistakes will not be
repeated.
These processes have also been termed truth telling, administration of
justice, reconciliation, and forging a new basis for future relationships
that are different from a hurtful past.
This is exactly what Zimbabwe needs, and this is why the Government of
National Unity has three Ministers in that department. But what are they
waiting for? While time is an important component of the healing process, it
alone cannot atone, eliminate or justify the wrongs. Time can also work
negatively, especially when people begin to feel their grievances are being
neglected. Recent disturbances in Buhera can testify to that.
Perhaps our ministers do not know where to begin? Indeed, national healing
is a delicate, mammoth task that needs extreme caution, wide consultation
and resources. Yet there hasn't been any public debate on it to date, even
on national TV, but a smattering of lip service here and there.
This need not be the case. National healing is a public thing, and half the
problem is resolved by letting people openly discuss it. It is the people
themselves who should design its form, content and activities, and their
expectations from it are adjusted as they interact.
Incidentally, Zimbabwe is not the first country to go through national
healing. Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone,
Cote D'Ivoire, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Niger and many
others, including Australia and almost all the European countries have all
gone through the exercise.
In fact, the election of Barack Obama as President in the United States is
both a product of, and for purposes of national healing among the American
people. Make no mistake. It is just a question of how.
From my experience, there is really nothing to fear in national healing.
With its highly educated, level headed populace (factors that made us avoid
civil war during our conflict), Zimbabwe can definitely come to terms with
its past, and deal with it with dignity and pride. What we all need to
establish first of all is what we want to achieve from the exercise. From
the jargon of the exercise (ie healing, reconciliation, conflict resolution,
transformation, etc), it is clear that what we seek is restoration of broken
relationships.
This is no witch- hunting exercise, nor an occasion to seek revenge. Doing
so would be defeating the purpose of the exercise. In fact, we don't want
anyone to be on the defensive; an atmosphere must be created so that people
voluntarily confess their wrongs.
We don't want another cycle of conflicts, for God's sake!
This is why the exercise is more of an art than anything else. It needs
skill. This is also why people who were at the centre of the conflict should
not be directly involved in the healing exercise. They will be
understandably driven by emotion, and the desire to revenge.
I get very disturbed when I read threats about national healing in some of
our newspapers. An example is "Perpetrators of Violence Must Face Justice"
or such similar ones. This is blatant lack of tact, and only serves to
threaten people into fleeing their country or harden their hearts against
testifying. All this defeats the purpose of reconciliation and deprives us
of the chance to make a fresh, clean start based on mutual trust.
And perhaps this is also why the parties in the GNU never seem to
permanently resolve the issue of allocating ministries. There is fear,
suspicion and mistrust. Meanwhile, nothing moves and the people wait in
vain, while others die. It becomes a case of so near yet so far for many.
I must say that our media is not serving us well when it publishes such
destructive things and, besides, I don't see anything newsy about it.
Let us remember that so many factors contributed to the conflicts in our
country, some of which the majority of our people had no control over. They
were simply pawns. Give them the opportunity to show remorse and contrition
and, to a large extent, that is all we need. The point is we must never in
future allow ourselves to be so divided again, come what may.
Lastly, as we celebrate this unique independence anniversary, in which all
three parties jointly partake, let us realign our vision towards a real new
beginning; a beginning of new hope, a new future. Real men are not measured
by how many blows have hit them, but how many times they have risen up after
being hit. Remember also that you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening
the strong.

lEdward Chinhanhu is Co-ordinator of Programmes at the Africa Centre for
Peace- building and Conflict Transformation (ACPC), Mutare. Contact:
chinhanhued@yahoo.co.uk.

We must sing the same song: Mugabe

http://www.iol.co.za

    April 17 2009 at 11:15AM

Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe made a strong call for
national unity and urged Zimbabweans to help push for the lifting of
sanctions imposed by the West.

In an interview with Zimbabwe's state broadcaster ahead of Saturday's
29th independence anniversary, Mugabe said Zimbabweans should help the
government put pressure on the Western powers and work together, rather than
against each other.

"The sanctions are unwarranted and it is important that we sing the
same song," Mugabe was quoted as saying in the interview which was published
in the state-owned Herald newspaper. The television interview will be
broadcast on Friday night.

Zimbabwe's economy is in ruins with unemployment at around 90 percent
and millions in need of food aid. After years of hyperinflation, prices are
falling after the government allowed the use of hard currency and abandoned
the Zimbabwe dollar.

The unity government formed by Mugabe and his rival Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai is seeking to rebuild the country's shattered economy
after years of hyperinflation and decline blamed on Mugabe's mismanagement
and authoritarian rule.

The United States and the European Union have said they are waiting to
see whether Mugabe is serious about sharing power with Tsvangirai in the
unity government that took office in February before lifting sanctions and
unblocking aid.

Mugabe said it would take time for sanctions to be lifted, even with
the support of Tsvangirai and his opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The veteran leader said Zimbabweans must work to ensure the country
does not remain divided between supporters of different parties, but work
together to ensure economic and social stability, boost investment to the
country and control the country's resources.

"Reality must dawn on you that the people of Zimbabwe are divided
between your party and others. Instead of quarrelling and unleashing
violence on each other, isn't it better that you get together and start a
chapter of working together?" - Reuters

Riots break out at NUST University over forex fees

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
17 April 2009

Over 30 students were arrested Thursday after riots broke out at the
National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo. Close to
1000 students, unhappy with exorbitant fees pegged in foreign currency,
clashed with riot police who were armed with rubber truncheons, sjamboks,
tear gas canisters and AK-47 assault rifles. The students marched from the
Delta Lecture theatre, where the Students Representative Council President
Kurai Hoyi, and former Secretary General Vivid Gwede, had earlier addressed
them.
An attempt to meet Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu at his offices
was however scuppered by the police, who fired teargas canisters and used
brute force to beat up everyone on sight. Students retaliated by throwing
stones at the police. Out of the 30 initially arrested, 19 were released
after a screening process at the Bulawayo Central Police station, leaving 11
still locked up. Hoyi, who led the protests, told Newsreel even residents
from neighbouring suburbs like Matshemlope, Riverside and Selbourne Park
fell victim to 'the barbaric and violent police officers who went on a
rampage terrorizing them.'

During the skirmishes 2 students from the university were run over by a
passing Mazda pick up truck outside the campus. They were said to be fleeing
the advancing riot police when they were knocked over. Both have since been
admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospital and their condition is still
unknown. Thursday's protests follow on from another protest held by students
last week in which 6 students were arrested. The majority of students are
failing to pay the US$375 to US$620 being demanded by the university in
fees, before they are allowed to sit for their exams.

Despite police holding 11 students the Zimbabwe National Students Union
(ZINASU) claims the force is still looking to arrest the 4 student leaders
who led the protest. These are President Kurayi Hoyi, Secretary General
Samson Nxumalo, former Secretary General Vivid Gwede and ZINASU Finance
Secretary Sheunesu Nyoni. ZINASU issued a statement condemning 'the vicious
and barbaric actions' of the police, arguing this was 'a clear indication
that the operating environment for students and human rights defenders has
not changed despite the formation of the inclusive government.'
Meanwhile the 11 students currently being detained by police have been
listed as Trevor Vambe, Brighton Mukwari, Christopher Hwada, Brighton
Mukwari, Fortune Karimanzira, Kennedy Chizana, Michael Zvinowanda, Evans
Musara, Mukai Chigumo, Lawrence Bhebhe and Tawanda Saiti. All of them are
being charged with malicious injury to property.

Glitter wears off unity govt

From The Mail & Guardian (SA), 17 April

Jason Moyo

Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe will use Saturday's Independence Day
celebrations to parade their coalition, but the sheen is wearing off the
unity government. The 29th anniversary celebrations will "celebrate the new
governmental arrangement we have put in place", a minister close to Mugabe
told journalists. Some economic stability has been achieved, but new
disputes arise every day and frustration is growing over the failure to
raise aid. This week Mugabe stripped a Tsvangirai minister of his
telecommunications portfolio and handed it to an ally. Tsvangirai called the
move "null and void". Zanu PF hardliners have always seen telecommunications
as key to keeping Mugabe in power, using it to spy on opponents. But a
senior finance ministry official told the Mail & Guardian there may be a
"more commercial factor" to the battle. State telecoms companies are top of
the enterprises Zimbabwe is putting up for sale to fund recovery. Tsvangirai
and Mugabe will meet on Monday to try to resolve the dispute. Critics want
Tsvangirai to assert his authority more, saying he risks falling further
under Mugabe's shadow. Zanu PF denies the existence of a group called the
"Social Revolutionary Council", reported to consist of senior officials and
army figures set up to frustrate Tsvangirai. Frustration continues to grow
among civil servants, who are living on $100 monthly allowances. Mugabe also
has to convince even his most radical grass-roots supporters, some of whom
formed the core of his shock troops against opponents, to support the
coalition. A group of war veterans has written to Mugabe blaming the unity
agreement for the failure of government to pay their monthly pensions. "We
were better off when our party, Zanu PF, was in control," they wrote.

CSO Staff Pilfer Goods At Rainbow Towers Hotel

http://www.radiovop.com

HARARE, April 17, 2009 - POLICE had to be called on Friday morning to
cordone off the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, not because President Robert
Mugabe and his entourage had arrived but to arrest cheeky members of staff
from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) who had stolen goods from their
rooms.

The staff had been staying at the Rainbow Towers Hotel for three weeks
and decided to take towels, sugar, coffee, toilet paper and even kettles
supplied in the luxury rooms.
"This has been going on for the past three weeks," said a Towers
manager. "We knew that they would try and steal items when they left because
some of them had indicated that they would leave early."

The RTG Towers staff then ordered a search of all bags that were
leaving the hotel and were shocked to find the goods stashed away in the
baggage.The ZRP had to be called in and all bags were checked before each
individual was allowed to leave the five star facility but some CSO staff
left the hotel as early as 5 am to avoid detection.

The CSO had been carrying of a mock survey at the Hotel and came from
all provinces in Zimbabwe. RTG Towers Hotel is under the RTG group headed by
Chipo Mutasa.

Know Your Ministers: Samuel Sipepa Nkomo

Daily cholera update and alerts, 16 Apr 2009

Source: Government of Zimbabwe; World Health Organization (WHO)

Date: 16 Apr 2009

 Full_Report (pdf* format - 194.8 Kbytes)

* Please note that daily information collection is a challenge due to communication and staff constraints. On-going data cleaning may result in an increase or decrease in the numbers.

Any change will then be explained.

** Daily information on new deaths should not imply that these deaths occurred in cases reported that day. Therefore daily CFRs >100% may occasionally result

A. Highlights of the day:

- 314 Cases and 10 deaths added today (in comparison with 115 cases and 9 deaths yesterday)

- Cumulative cases 96 591

- Cumulative deaths 4 201 of which 2 582 are community deaths

- 85.0 % of the districts affected have reported today 46 out of 60 affected districts)

- 96.7 % of districts reported to be affected (60 districts out of 62)

- Cumulative Institutional Case Fatality Rate = 1.7%

- Daily Institutional CFR = 0.3 %.

- Kadoma Cholera Updates

• Most of the Kadoma cases reported yesterday were reported retrospectively
• 222 cases reported in retrospect from Sanyati
• Situation stable

- C4 to assess Cholera epidemic preparedness and response in Mashonaland West ( 16-17 April 2009)

- No report received from Mashonaland Central, Marondera, Mudzi, Ruwa, Gweru and Mberengwa.

- Data Cleaning

• Kariba denotified 201 cases, 12 Institutional deaths and 1 community death after verification

Twice-delayed COMESA summit scheduled for Zimbabwe in June

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Business News
Apr 17, 2009, 15:43 GMT

Harare - The 19-country Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(Comesa), Africa's largest trading bloc, will finally launch its customs
union at a long-awaited summit in Zimbabwe in June, COMESA said Friday.

The summit of heads of state and government, which was twice postponed last
year, will be held on June 7 and 8 in Victoria Falls resort, Comesa
secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya told journalists in Harare Friday.

'We shall have the launching of the Comesa customs union during the summit,'
he added.

Comesa said it will finance the summit, as Zimbabwe's new unity government
struggles to find money to feed the population and pay public sector
workers.

The government is looking for 10 billion dollars towards rebuilding the
economy after a decade of disastrous policies under Mugabe, who remains
president but had to give up some of his powers to his longtime rival and
now prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Ngwenya revealed that the bloc was considering providing aid to Zimbabwe.

'We are not going to talk numbers. We are working with the ministries,
governments and industry (of COMESA member states) to discuss their
requirements,' Ngwenya said.

COMESA's members include Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Sudan and Zambia.

Government confirms River Ranch vehicles were registered in the name of UNDP

http://www.insiderzim.com

Two vehicles with civilian number plates belonging to River Ranch diamond
mine were indeed registered in the name of the United Nations Development
Programme.
This was confirmed by the then secretary for Transport and Communications,
George Mlilo, in a letter to River Ranch's lawyers, Costa and Madzonga.

The letter, dated 15 November 2007, says that the two vehicles, AAQ9041 and
AAQ9042 were registered in the name of the UNDP due to incompetence by
Central Vehicle Registry staff.

It blames the error on a student who was on attachment and her senior who
verified the data she had entered.

The vehicles in question have been at the centre of diamond smuggling
allegations from the mine to South Africa. The allegations are that the
vehicles were not subject to search at the border posts and so were the
drivers because they had UNDP permits.

The UNDP got involved with River Ranch through African Management Services
Company (AMSCO) a company which it jointly owns with the International
Finance Corporation, the commercial arm of the World Bank.

AMSCO helps African companies to build their capacities and seconded five
managers to River Ranch.

River Ranch is owned by Saudi Arabian billionaire, Adel Aujan and Kupukile
Resources where former army commander Solomon Mujuru and former legislator
Tirivanhu Mudariki are major shareholders.

The contract ended in July 2007.

The UNDP has vehemently denied any link to the smuggling. It has also
insisted that vehicles with civilian number plates could not have been
registered in its name because it has its on technical cooperation
designated number.

The letter from Mlilo seems to be part of the evidence that was given to
special investigator Frank Dutton, a former South African police officer,
who was hired by the UNDP headquarters to look into the operations of the
UNDP office in Harare from July to December last year.

Dutton submitted his report at the end of January but the UNDP has refused
to release the report to the public.

In a short summary it released, the UNDP said the vehicles registered in its
name were "fraudulently registered" but it does not say who committed the
fraud.

Stephane Dujarric, the Communications Director at the UNDP headquarters in
New York, today reiterated that the investigation had found that the
vehicles "were fraudulently registered with Zimbabwean authorities under
UNDP's name by an unknown individual."

"As for who committed this fraud, that is for Zimbabwe's national authority
to answer," he added.

From Mlilo's letter, the UNDP cannot claim to be totally innocent because
Mlilo says from the start applications for the registration of the two
vehicles were not in order. "They both depicted the UNDP and River Ranch
Mine as the joint applicants and by extension, the proposed registered
owners for the two motor vehicles."

The Insider has not been able to get copies of the critical CVR4 forms which
would show the details of the applications. The registration books for both
cars do not also show who the previous owners were or the previous
registration numbers of the vehicles though they show that the vehicles were
imported from Japan.

Mlilo says Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) processing officers at
Beitbridge issued registration books in the name of River Ranch but when the
applications were sent to the Central Vehicle Registry, the data capturer,
Mercy Kuliwa, a student on attachment "unnecessarily restricted herself" to
what was on the "incorrectly completed" application form and put the UNDP as
the registered owner.

The data capture office verifier, Victor Mutswangwa "incorrectly verified
and passed" the data as being correct.

The Insider was not able to trace either Kuliwa or Mutswangwa to get their
side of the story. It could also not get comment from Mlilo as he is no
longer with the ministry.

Mlilo said his office had taken the necessary corrective steps, including
reprimanding the incompetent staff and amending the incorrect data entries.

Sources said they could not understand how the ministry could have amended
registration details of the vehicles as AAQ9041 was stolen in South Africa
on 26 October 2006 and has not been recovered.

South African police have confirmed receiving the report of the theft which
was made by Lloyd Das, one of the employees seconded to River Ranch by
AMSCO. Das was the security chief at River Ranch and had UNDP accreditation.

Posted- 17 April 2009

A letter from the diaspora

http://www.cathybuckle.com

17th April 2009

Dear Friends.
Tomorrow April 18th is the 29th anniversary of Zimbabwe's Independence. For
the first time the MDC will be officially represented by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change. On the
face of it, this seems like a momentous occasion: a so'called Unity
Government is in place and there are some slight reasons to hope that at
last Zimbabweans may have genuine cause to celebrate Independence tomorrow.
Will Robert Mugabe once again use the occasion to remind the country that it
was he and his party who, single'handed, brought freedom to Zimbabwe or will
he focus on the future shared with his political opponents for the good of
all the people of Zimbabwe?

In his book, The State of Africa, Martin Meredith recounts how, in an
interview Mugabe gave in 1980, the then Prime Minister expressed his
disappointment that the peace negotiations in London, ie. the Lancaster
House talks, had "deprived him of the ultimate joy" of a military victory
and thus the opportunity to "dictate terms."Mugabe had been compelled by
expediency, Meredith writes, to agree to a coalition government with his
Zapu rival Joshua Nkomo. The two armies, Zapu and Zanu were merged into one
national army but within six months of that first Independence, Mugabe was
already plotting to destroy Zapu. He entered into a secret agreement with
the brutal dictatorship of North Korea to train the notorious Fifth Brigade
to deal with the so'called 'dissidents' in Matabeleland. Using his now
familiar technique of the 'discovery' of arms caches, by early 1982 Mugabe
was ready to move against his enemy, Joshua Nkomo, "the cobra in the house"
as he described the Ndebele leader. And we all know how that terrible story
ended with thousands of Ndebele massacred in the Gukurahundi.

It is all in the past, people will say. Forgive and forget! Truth and
reconciliation are the new buzz words. I say that without justice there can
be no true forgiveness or reconciliation. But now we have a Unity
Government, people will say, and Mugabe and Tsvangirai will stand side by
side on the podium on Independence Day,2009. My question is will they stand
there as equals or is Mugabe already swallowing up his former enemy, the
MDC? Despite the hope, Zimbabweans may feel, they must not forget what this
man, Mugabe and his band of fanatical thugs, have done and are still doing
to destroy the burgeoning shoots of democracy. What Mugabe wanted, what he
has always wanted, was a one'party state. He may have failed in that regard
but the fact is that since Independence he has ruled Zimbabwe as a virtual
dictator. If he has agreed to a Unity Government it is only because he has
once again been forced by outside pressure and expediency to accept his
opponents as partners. History has repeated itself; supported by a partisan
police force that refuses to obey court orders and openly sides with the
law-breakers, there is no hope of true unity of purpose in the country. It
is unity in name only. Why should the MDC call for sanctions be lifted when
the world sees a country where the police force are so lamentably failing to
enforce law and order, on the commercial farms and for the generality of
Zimbabwean people?

Back in 2000 when I was still living in Zimbabwe I embarked on a series of
books designed to illustrate this very point. I chose fiction and the
detective story as my medium and from the start my purpose was to show that
without impartial policing it is impossible for justice to be done. The
books are fiction but the factual reality they represent has been lived out
over the past nine years. I remain convinced that without an impartial
police force and judiciary, true democracy remains an illusion. Until the
MDC partners in this Unity Government find the political strength to force
through the total restructuring of the police and courts, nothing will
change in Zimbabwe.

From what I hear from friends on the ground, the people are putting all
their hopes on the elections that must be held within 18'24 months of the
signing of the GNU. With commendable patience they are giving the present
arrangement a chance to succeed while waiting for the opportunity to defeat
Zanu PF at the polls and vote for their party of choice. Sad to say, there
is precious little chance of that happening unless the courts and police are
truly independent of all political bias and interference and international
monitors are present every step of the way. That's how I see it.
Yours in the continuing struggle, PH.

The Flame Lily Weeps - new book

http://www.free-press-release-center.info
Author Ross G. Cooper Releases His Unique Zimbabwean Autobiography - the
Flame Lily Weeps
White Zimbabwean Ross G. Cooper releases a unique autobiography which
reveals his perspectives on the poignant issues in the country's transition
from a British colony to an independent, one-party state.

April 11, 2009 (FPRC) -- This unique autobiography describes the life of a
white Zimbabwean growing up in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and subsequently
after the attainment of independence on 18th April 1980, in Zimbabwe, and,
thereafter, his move and settling in the UK. It provides a comfortable,
quick read and is not meant to be an exhaustive, family, historical or
political account. Instead, it was born from a desire to reveal and
elucidate the perspectives and truth of poignant issues in the country's
transition from a British colony to an independent, one-party state. This
book gives an insight into the build up to the political and economic
anarchy that has thrown Zimbabwe into a financial abyss and that transformed
the bread basket of Africa - a one time flourishing country into a land
ravaged by hunger, disease and poverty. Highly Recommended!

Covered era includes: Life in Harare (1970 - 1973); Growing up in Chipinge
(1974 - 1978); Move to Harare (1979); School and life in Harare (1980 -
1989); Life as a student and employee at the University of Zimbabwe (1990 -
1993, 1995 - 2001, 2003); A dark cloud descends (financial, economic and
productive demise); Move to England; Academic life in England.

Published by Pneuma Springs Publishing, Publishers that believe that
talented authors deserve to be published and read. Here at Pneuma Springs,
we are absolutely passionate about assisting authors to turn their writing
dreams into reality. We make the whole publishing process hassle free and
plain sailing.

The Flame Lily Weeps can be obtained at the following address:
http://www.pneumasprings.co.uk/The%20Flame%20Lily%20Weeps.htm

Comment from a correspondent

I have been connecting to the internet from home since July 2007. I connect
to the internet using a wireless land line (CDMA). For the past few years we
have been paying a fixed monthly charge for internet use. Imagine the shock
I got yesterday when I went to Telone to inquire about my internet bill...I
was told that I owe Telone US$4 633.74...for the month of March. The lady
dehind the desk had no shame in informing me that they are now charging
US$0.21c per kilobyte....anyone who knows what a kilobye is would
immediately stop using the internet. Only in February...were we advised that
we would be paying a fixed monthly charge of US$11.50.

If our government is serious about developing the IT sector, they should
seriously look into these charges. If my internet bill for the month of
March is anything to go by, we might as well say goodbye to the
internet.....welcome to the stone age of technology.... Mr. R Ndlovu might
as well stop writing articles on IT because his advice will be falling on
deaf ears.

AK