Conservancy slams ‘criminal’ handover of hunting permits to ZPF

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
13 August 2012

The Save Valley Conservancy has called the decision to hand over hunting
permits to ZANU PF cronies, under the guise of indigenisation, a purely
‘criminal act’ that threatens the future of tourism in Zimbabwe.

The government last week issued hunting permits to 25 so-called indigenous
‘farmers’ who were given land in the wildlife-rich Save Valley Conservancy
in the Lowveld. National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, director
general Vitalis Chadenga, said this was part of the government’s ‘wildlife
based land reform’ exercise, saying beneficiaries have been allocated
25-year land leases in conservancies throughout Masvingo province.

Included in the list of beneficiaries are top ZANU PF officials and
loyalists, such as Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, former Gutu South
legislator Shuvai Mahofa and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan
Mudenge.

The state media reported last week that the exercise was a result of a
refusal by white safari operators in the areas to ‘coexist’ with the new
farmers, who reportedly were given the leases in 2004.

But Wilfried Pabst, the Vice Chairman of the Save Valley Conservancy, said
the permits are ‘illegal’ and granting them is a “criminal act” that will
ultimately destroy the hunting industry and, in the long run, have a major
impact on tourism.

He dismissed the allegations that there had been a ‘refusal’ by
conservancies to engage, saying a number of proposals on the reform of the
wildlife industry had been made. He said these proposals were never
discussed, and added that ‘wild life land reform’ has not been ratified or
approved by Parliament.

“The people now involved have specifically stated that they don’t care about
wildlife in meetings I have been in. They only care about the cash to be
made,” Pabst said.

He added that this in itself shows the ignorance about the very complex
hunting industry, because of the assumption that easy money can be made.

“This is a slow and low return business and not something that makes you
rich overnight. We have said that need a passion for wildlife and
conservation and an understanding of how it all works and if you don’t, you
shouldn’t get involved,” Pabst said.

He warned that this is “another sector in Zimbabwe that will be destroyed,”
while insisting the plans have nothing to do with indigenisation. He said
this will put current safari operations out of business, meaning more people
will be unemployed.

“The motivation here is purely personal enrichment and has nothing to do
with indigenisation,” Pabst said.

Zuma heading to Zim as deadlock over constitution looms

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
13 August 2012

A deadlock is looming between ZANU PF and the MDC formations over the draft
constitution, amid reports the SADC mediator to the Zimbabwe crisis might be
flying into Harare on Wednesday to rescue the situation.

Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesman said problems that have emerged since
ZANU PF reneged on the draft they signed on 18th July may have prompted
President Jacob Zuma to intervene.

‘What I know is that President Zuma has indicated his intention to come to
Harare. Clearly there are problems in the constitution making process and
these are some of the delays that are worrisome to the SADC bloc.

‘We need to finalise the issue of the constitution before a referendum and
elections. The mediator and his facilitation team are interested in the
holding of elections in Zimbabwe and I suspect this is one of the major
issues Zuma will talk about if he’s coming,’ Mwonzora said.

Lindiwe Zulu, spokesperson for Zuma’s facilitation team, told SW Radio
Africa that Zuma’s visit to Harare was not yet finalised.

‘We are still working on that and as I speak to you now, I’m in a meeting
working out details for that trip,’ Zulu said. But Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka, confirmed to Newsday on Sunday
that the South African leader will be in Harare on Wednesday.

Zuma’s anticipated visit will come two days before a SADC summit in
Mozambique on Friday. It is believed Zimbabwe will be on the SADC agenda
following differences that have emerged in the constitution process. The
adoption of a new constitution is one of the regional bloc’s requirements
for Zimbabwe to hold free and fair elections.

While the two MDC formations have endorsed the new charter, the former
ruling party says it won’t accept the draft constitution without amendments.

Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo told the state controlled Herald newspaper last
week that the draft was unacceptable in its present form and ‘we cannot
commit ourselves’ to untenable clauses.

Mwonzora suggested that a long drawn out battle could be ahead, by declaring
that the draft doesn’t have to be satisfactory to ZANU PF or to any
political party, insisting the people of Zimbabwe will have a major say on
that.

‘ZANU PF has no right to alter the draft, amend the draft or to review the
work of COPAC. They (COPAC) do not report to ZANU PF. If they are unhappy
about anything, then they must take that to the Second All Stakeholders’
conference and not try to adulterate the people’s views,’ Mwonzora said.

The MDC-T MP for Nyanga North claimed the constitutional process has simply
become a battleground within ZANU PF’s factional infighting to control the
party.

‘This fight is a manifestation of deep seated factionalism. It’s not a
genuine desire to have a constitution that is gripping ZANU PF but underhand
manoeuvres to wrest control of the party,’ he said.

Zimbabwe's president calls for an end to violence

Aug 13, 9:36 AM EDT

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwe's president on Monday called for an end to
violence and hostility as the country moves toward a constitutional
referendum and elections.

President Robert Mugabe, 88, in an hour long address at a national shrine
known as Heroes Acre outside Harare, said he wanted all parties and
religious and activist groups to show tolerance for each other in the coming
months.

"If people have a difference of opinion and want to defect from one party to
another, it must be respected and expressed in elections. We don't want any
more violence or blood spilt," Mugabe said, speaking mostly in the local
Shona language.

The last disputed elections in 2008 were marred by violence blamed mainly on
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and led to a power sharing coalition with the former
opposition brokered by regional leaders.

As the leader clenched his fist and raised it into the air, the symbol for
his ZANU-PF party, he reassured Zimbabweans that the image of the fist is
not a gesture of violence despite its past use and forceful nature when
placed alongside the open hand symbol of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic party.

"It was not for violence against our own kind," he said of the party's fist
symbol. Amid violence in recent years, Mugabe has often raised his fist in
the air as a warning to political opponents. The raised fist, Mugabe said,
was used to fight colonial-era white rule and was "the punch that knocked
them down." He used it Monday to salute guerrillas who died in the bush war
that ended white rule in 1980.

Mugabe has made previous calls for a peaceful transition to a new
constitution and polls to end a shaky four-year coalition. But independent
rights groups say political violence and intimidation has continued with
proposed elections looming.

Mugabe said Monday he was "delighted the curtain is coming down" on a new
constitution after three years of bitter negotiations within the coalition
after nationwide canvassing for voters' views on reformed constitutional
law.

His party has proposed amendments to the 150-page draft that affect a
proposed reduction of presidential powers and, it says, the absence in the
draft of contributions it claims were made by its supporters and ordinary
electors.

"The constitution should unashamedly reflect Zimbabwe's values and
principles. No more, no less," Mugabe said.

Under Zimbabwe's power-sharing coalition brokered by regional leaders, the
proposed constitution must be put to a referendum before fresh elections can
be held. Prime Minister Tsvangirai has urged his party to support the draft
with a "yes" vote in a referendum planned before the end of this year.

His party has expressed fears that if the reforms are abandoned there could
be a repeat of the violent and disputed elections. It has accused Mugabe
loyalists of trying to sabotage negotiations on the new draft that ZANU-PF
representatives took part in creating over three years of delays and
bickering.

Mugabe's politburo, the top policy body for his party, is scheduled to meet
Wednesday to agree on the amendments it demands should be included. The
former opposition insists ZANU-PF negotiators helped complete the final
draft and there's no place for drastic amendments.

"Once there is consensus, we will go for a referendum. It is our expectation
elections will fall soon after," Mugabe said Monday.

Mugabe has threatened to call elections without a new constitution if
disputes over the reforms are not resolved. A panel of lawmakers in charge
of rewriting the constitution says that would be in breach of the terms of
the power sharing agreement that founded the coalition and paved the way for
polls under a democratic constitution.

Regional mediators have proposed mid-2013 as a reasonable timetable for
parliamentary and presidential polls.

Mugabe warns of youth protests in Zimbabwe

(AFP) – 6 hours ago

HARARE — Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday warned frustration
among jobless youths could spark violent protests as the country prepares to
vote on a new constitution, five years after deadly elections.

"Youth unemployment and under-employment present one of the biggest
challenges facing the nation, which if not addressed, is a potential threat
to national peace and stability," Mugabe told about 5,000 people at a
memorial for fallen liberation leaders.

"I wish to urge all Zimbabweans, all political parties, religious groups,
civil society and other institutions to desist from engaging in violent
campaigns during the elections," Mugabe said in the capital Harare.

"Let us fully embrace peaceful, tolerant and non-violent ways of campaigning
before, during and after the actual conduct of elections."

Zimbabwe's unemployment rate stands at 90 percent -- most of them young
people -- as local industry battles to recover from a decade-long economic
crisis.

Representatives of Zimbabwe's rival political parties last month finalised a
draft constitution which now must go to voters for approval. If endorsed,
the charter would pave the way toward new polls.

Mugabe and his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, have shared power in
a rocky unity government after disputed elections in 2008.

Violence, often blamed on militant youths, left more than 200 dead after the
polls, rights groups said. Most of the victims were opposition supporters.

Census skuldugery: Zanu PF plot to rig polls

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

EVERSON MUSHAVA 12 hours 20 minutes ago

HARARE - Political parties and analysts yesterday said the disruption of
preparations for the national population census was part of a strategy by
security forces and Zanu PF to influence the programme that would have a
bearing on the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.

Government was forced to suspend the recruitment and induction of
enumerators and supervisors for the August 17 and 18 census after armed
police besieged training centres.

The army also demanded a quota of 10 000 from the 30 000 enumerators that
will be engaged by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.

Rowdy soldiers reportedly disrupted the exercise even after Cabinet set a
limit to the number of armed forces that can be involved in the exercise to
1 500.

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the army, Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO), police and Zanu PF militia were behind the chaos.
“The moves to involve the army, the intelligence and Zanu PF youth officers
is a well-planned strategy to militarise this civilian process,” he said.

“It is clearly meant to falsify the results of the census, which results may
provide pointers in areas where elections were rigged to suit Zanu PF in the
past.”

Mwonzora said Zanu PF wanted to manipulate figures and “gerrymander”
constituencies in some rural areas where Zanu PF is popular.

Information obtained from the census process will be usedfor the
delimitation of constituencies for the next elections.

“Zanu PF hoped to abuse the census to force a delimitation of constituencies
that would increase seats in the areas that they think they dominate,”
Mwonzora said.

He said Zanu PF wanted to use soldiers to manipulate figures to give
credibility to “the outrageous figures” that had been accredited to Zanu PF
candidates in most rural constituencies in the past.

“Those behind these sordid moves wanted to use this opportunity to allow
soldiers, intelligence officers and Zanu PF youth officers to harass and
intimidate Zimbabweans into supporting Zanu PF in the coming election,”
Mwonzora said.

“We hope all Zimbabweans now appreciate that the current developments are a
manifestation of the gross abuse of armed forces by Zanu PF.”
But Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said his party was not linked to the
census process, which fell under the Ministry of Finance.

“That is nonsense. Where is the link between Zanu PF and the Ministry of
Finance?"

“Just yesterday (Wednesday) President Robert Mugabe ordered security forces
off the census process and urged them to respect the Cabinet decision,”
Gumbo said. MDC-T MP for Mbizo Settlement Chikwinya said the behaviour of
the military was tantamount to a “gunless” coup.
MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said Zanu PF was
deliberately causing instability to intimidate people ahead of the
referendum and the general elections. Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya
said the chaos showed that the security forces were meddling in the
administration of the county.

“The army is running the affairs of the State outside the provision of the
Constitution,” he said. “The army must stop its partisan behaviour and
operate within the parameters of the Zimbabwe Defence Act under civilian
administration.”

Political analyst and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Charity Manyeruke said
the chaos was unacceptable.

“It’s important that the census programming be done in a transparent manner
and come up with a criterion that allows fairness in the recruitment of
enumerators,” Manyeruke said. - NewsDay

Chinamasa: Draft open to alteration

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

12/08/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

ZANU PF representative on the COPAC management committee, Patrick Chinamasa,
has said the draft charter is open to further discussion and alteration
adding the constitutional reforms could not move forward his party's
agreement.

Zanu PF is pushing for amendments to the draft, a move bitterly opposed by
its coalition partners who have since endorsed the document and want it to
be taken to the next stages of the constitutional reform process.

Chinamasa said the signatures of negotiators did not mean their respective
parties could not propose changes to the document.
“We (negotiators) do not have power over the principals and party organs,”
he said.

“That is why in our (Zanu PF) case we took the document to the Politburo and
the central committee for approval. These are the final arbiters of what we
did so it’s not yet a done deal.”

The draft was largely a result of negotiations between parties to the
coalition government and the MDC parties say their Zanu PF counterparts
cannot now backtrack, having signed up to all proposals during the
negotiations.

Zanu PF has accused its negotiators of making too many compromises and being
insensitive to key party principles.

The party is particularly unhappy with provisions whittling down the powers
of the presidency and has said it will propose amendments to the coalition
principals.

Chinamasa said the draft remained open to further discussions, adding
negotiators simply represented their respective parties which could still
change the provisions of the document.

“As negotiators, we represented our respective political parties not
ourselves. We were not on the negotiating table as individuals and it means
the document is subject to endorsement by the political parties,” he said.

“If any political party doesn’t approve the document we have produced there
is nothing to take to the next stage. This is a document for life and an
important one in our history and no political party should take it lightly.”

However, the MDC parties vowed to block any amendments, telling Zanu PF to
campaign for a ‘No Vote’ during the referendum if it was not happy with the
draft.

MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora, said Zanu PF had signed up to all the
provisions in the draft, signalling its endorsement of the document.

“A signature is not an insignificant and useless addition to a document. It
means something, which in this case conclusion and recording of an
agreement,” said.

“We are not going to make any changes because we respect the views of the
people, views which may not be in tandem with our political philosophy.”

MDC spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi added: “That is a final document to be
presented at the conference. By appending their (Zanu PF) signatures it
means it’s final and there will be no other draft other than that one we
signed.

Mugabe chides ZANU PF youths booing Tsvangirai

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
13 August 2012

There was an embarrassing moment at the National Heroes Acre on Monday when
a small group of soldiers and ZANU PF youths seated next to the VIP area
decided to boo Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when he was introduced to
the crowd.

Tsvangirai and the entire MDC-T national standing committee attended the
Heroes Day commemorations. Our sources say Mugabe, who was seated next to
Tsvangirai, was “a bit embarrassed by the indiscipline of the small group of
soldiers and ZANU PF youths booing the PM.”

Mugabe is then said to have chided those booing telling them: “If you don’t
like these people, vote against them, this is a national event. These heroes
did not die to liberate ZANU PF people only, they died to liberate
everyone.”

A similar booing of MDC-T senior figures took place at the burial of former
army general Solomon Mujuru last year. MDC-T officials then warned Home
Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi that if a similar incident took place, they
would instruct their youths to retaliate and boo Mugabe at the next event.

On Monday MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told SW Radio Africa that the
MDC-T executive will also be attending the Defence Forces Day on Tuesday.
“The MDC executive will be there, it’s our day too and we are ready to
govern. We will be presiding over these events from next year onwards.”

Meanwhile Mugabe used the Heroes Day celebrations to give another one of his
tongue in cheek calls for peace. Despite several peace calls by Mugabe, the
repressive state machinery controlled by his ZANU PF party continues to be
deployed against those who are in opposition and civil society.

Police ban MDC-T weekend rallies in Mugabe’s home province

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 August 2012

Police in Robert Mugabe’s stronghold of Mashonaland West banned several
weekend rallies planned by the MDC-T, claiming the party needed to get
clearance from the local chiefs and headman.

The MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti and other senior party officials
were due to address rallies in the districts of Kazangarare, Kenzamba and
Makonde, which are located in the traditionally ZANU PF stronghold.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora described the development as “totally
outrageous and unacceptable” and said the party would fight the decision.
And the organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa insisted the rallies would go
ahead in the future.

The law in Zimbabwe requires that police simply be notified of any public
events that are scheduled, in order to provide security. But the police have
abused this law on a partisan basis, allowing ZANU PF to hold rallies and
public meetings without seeking clearance.

According to NewsDay newspaper, the MDC-T Mashonaland West organising
secretary, Wilson Makanyaire, said the police refused to sanction the
rallies without clearance from chiefs, headman and rural district councils,
who are known to be ZANU PF sympathisers.

Regarding the law, Makanyaire said: “There is no provision under the Public
Order and Security Act where it is stipulated that we need clearance from
all these quarters. In essence, police have banned our rallies.” he said.

Ironically the banned rallies had been dubbed “Real Change Peace Rallies” by
the MDC-T. But nothing has changed since the formation of the unity
government.

In May a ZANU PF mob attacked MDC-T activists who were gathering for a rally
in Mudzi North. Sekuru Cephas Magura was killed during the chaos that
followed and several others were critically injured. Local ZANU PF
officials, including MP Newton Kachepa and Acquilinah Katsande, were later
implicated in the violence.

“Visibly drunk” police assault and detain gay activists

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 August 2012

A team of about fifteen riot squad police, some of them visibly drunk,
disrupted a meeting at the offices of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe
(GALZ) on Saturday, assaulting and arresting a total of 44 members.

Marufu Mandevere, from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), told SW
Radio Africa that the group had gathered for a workshop on the draft
constitution and to launch their “Violations Report”, detailing abuses
against GALZ members.

“After the workshop they had a party and that is when police cordoned off
their offices. They took almost everyone there to Harare Central Station and
detained them without charge,” Mandevere explained.

A statement from GALZ said four policeman had attempted to gain access to
the premises and called for riot squad backup when they failed. “Police,
some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton
sticks, open hands and clenched fists before detaining them without charge,”
GALZ said.

Mandevere did not witness the assaults as he was monitoring events from
outside the GALZ office. He said: “I followed the arrested members to Harare
Central and was denied access to them. A total of 31 men and 13 women
members were detained overnight and released without charge the following
day.”

Homosexuality is illegal, according to Zimbabwean law. Amendments introduced
by government in 2006 defined sodomy as any ‘act involving contact between
two males that would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act’.
The amendment also criminalized a simple show of affection such as holding
hands, hugging or kissing.

Gays and lesbians in Zimbabwe live in a culture that publicly discriminates
and openly despises their sexuality, with Robert Mugabe himself and other
senior officials leading the charge against the gay community.

ZANU PF’s extreme hypocrisy over the issue of homosexuality is
well-documented, with many officials within the party accused of engaging in
the same lifestyle. Canaan Banana, Zimbabwe’s first ceremonial President,
became the most prominent example following his arrest for sodomy in 1997.

Power cut leaves Harare with no water on Heroes’ Day

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 August 2012

A power outage at the main pumping station supplying water to most of the
suburbs in Harare is reported to have left the capital dry, as the country
commemorates the annual Heroes Day.

The Harare City Council said all efforts were being made to rectify the
situation, but an unnamed official told the Daily News newspaper that most
Eastern and Northern suburbs could be without water for the next two weeks.

Water supplies are said to have improved slightly since the Council took
over water management from government in 2008, but the City still produces
only half of the 1,400 mega litres which are needed per day and much of that
is lost due to poor infrastructure.

Mfundo Mlilo from the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) told SW
Radio Africa that there had been no water in Highlands suburb where he lives
for about three weeks. When it came on again two days ago it was brown and
there was algae at the bottom after several hours.

Mlilo said CHRA have been receiving water complaints since 2003 and the
numbers have continued to increase. The City is losing at least half of the
treated water supply to leakages in the infrastructure, meaning only a
quarter of the treated water reaches Harare residents.

“The city has a 2012 to 2017 strategic plan which also covers water. The aim
is to reduce water leakages and to increase water supply by 300 mega litres
per day. But the City is unlikely to meet that target and government needs
to intervene and declare a national disaster,” Mlilo explained.

He stressed that even at full capacity, the main water treatment plant at
Morton Jeffries would produce only half the required amount of water per
day. According to Mlilo, the entire water infrastructure needs to be
overhauled.

Meanwhile, the situation has been even worse for residents of Kuwadzana
Phase 3, who have gone without water for 3 months. Apparently the Council
has failed to repair burst water pipes that are believed to be blocking
water from reaching the suburb.

These water shortages have forced many residents to rely on unsafe sources
of drinking water. This has led to an outbreak of communicable diseases such
as cholera and typhoid, which many countries have completely eliminated.
More than 200 cases of typhoid had reportedly been confirmed as of last
week.

According to the Daily News, Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda admitted that
the local authority was “overwhelmed by demand for water” and called for
government intervention to avoid a disaster.

Chombo blocks bid to honour Mujuru

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

12/08/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

LOCAL government minister Ignatius Chombo has blocked a bid by Harare city
council to honour the late army commander and independence war hero, General
Solomon Mujuru, telling the local authority to follow procedures.

The council had renamed a city road after Mujuru in a series of honours also
extended to former Chief Justice Enoch Dumbutshena the late academic
Professor Walter Kamba.

However, Chombo, who has often clashed with the city council and other MDC-T
run local authorities, declared the move “null and void”, claiming he had
not been consulted.

“That resolution is a nullity. The city should follow the proper procedures.
Council should write to the Ministry for approval,” he said.
“We cannot just allow things to happen that way. We need order and
uniformity in the way business is done.”

Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda would not be drawn on Chombo’s objections,
insisting he would not engage in political brinksmanship.
“I am not in a position to make any comment,” he said.

“Besides, given my extensive legal background I prefer dealing with facts
unlike politicians who seem to thrive on hearsay, rumour mongering and
intrigue.”

Mujuru, who was married to Vice President Joice Mujuru, died when an
unexplained blazed razed down his farmhouse in Beatrice last August.

The city council had named Enterprise Road after him, apparently because it
is near KG VI army barracks while Churchill Road was renamed after Prof
Walter Kamba Road because it leads to the University of Zimbabwe where he
was the first black Vice-Chancellor.

Rotten Row Road, which passes next to the Harare magistrates’ courts, had
been named after the late Enoch Dumbutshena, who served as Chief Justice
between 1984 and 1990.

MDC-T appeals for Zambia support

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

12/08/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

MDC-T deputy leader Thokozani Khupe has urged Zambia, whose leader routinely
incenses her party by publicly backing President Robert Mugabe, to help
ensure that Zimbabwe organises “free and fair” elections next year.

Khupe, a deputy prime minister in the coalition government, met Zambia’s
Vice President Guy Scott Friday as part of regional charm offensive by her
MDC-T party ahead of this week’s SADC meeting in Mozambique.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Khupe said: “Our plea to the Zambian
government is that we want them to assist us by speaking…so that the people
of Zimbabwe have got a free and fair election because we don’t want an
election for the sake of it.

“We want an election which is going to be credible and election which is
going to be legitimate; an election which is going to be free and fair and
more importantly an election which is going to respect the will of the
people.”

The MDC-T joined the coalition government violent elections in 2008. Party
leader Morgan Tsvangirai believes he won the elections but was prevented
from taking over power by security services chiefs seen as fiercely loyal to
Mugabe.

Khupe said her party did not want a repeat of the violence which was
experienced during the 2008 election as well as its chaotic aftermath when
the announcement of results was delayed for several weeks.

“We don’t want a repeat of 2008 as you know that we are in this inclusive
government to make sure that we level the playing field. We are working very
hard to make sure that we level the playing field.

“Whoever wins the next elections is allowed to run the country so that we
have got smooth transition of power like what happened here in Zambia,” the
visiting official said.

Zambian President Michael Sata has caused unease within the MDC-T ranks over
his support for President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party at meetings of
the regional SADC grouping.

In January Sata dismissed MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai as a “western
stooge” telling a British newspaper: "We don't know the policies of Morgan –
he has other people speaking for him rather than speaking for himself.

"There will be elections (in Zimbabwe) and Mugabe will go and someone else
will take over, but not someone imposed by the Western countries."

The regional SADC grouping, led by South African leader, Jacob Zuma is
helping parties to the coalition government implement political reforms as
well as draw-up a so-called roadmap to new elections.

The reforms include the recently completed new constitution which the MDC
parties have since endorsed while Zanu PF is pushing for several amendments
to the document.
The constitution will be put to a referendum leading to new elections now
widely expected next year.

ZPF Minister overturns attempts to rename Harare roads

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
13 August 2012

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has overturned a Harare City
Council decision to rename three roads in the City, in what is being
described as a ‘political play’.

A full Council meeting reportedly approved the changes, which include
Enterprise Road being named for the late General Solomon Mujuru. According
to the Council, Enterprise Road was picked to be renamed after Mujuru
because it is near the KG VI army barracks.

The Council also planned to rename Rotten Row after the late Chief Justice
Enoch Dumbutshena and Churchill Road after the late Professor Walter Kamba.
Dumbutshena and Kamba’s families had agreed to the changes.

But Chombo has now reversed the council resolution, insisting it was not
consulted. Chombo said the resolution to change the street names was null
and void.

“That resolution is a nullity. The city should follow the proper procedures.
Council should write to the Ministry for approval,” he said.

Observers have said the drama boils down to politics, with Chombo clearly
trying to override a decision made by a majority MDC-T council. One observer
told SW Radio Africa that the MDC-T was likely to gain political favour by
making these road name changes, and Chombo is trying to prevent the party
from gaining any more popularity.

Former guerrilla commander dismisses concept of ‘hero status’

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Former guerrilla commander Wilfred Mhanda

By Lance Guma
13 August 2012

Former guerrilla commander Wilfred Mhanda has told SW Radio Africa he does not believe in the concept of granting national hero status, arguing that ordinary people also played key roles in the liberation struggle.

Known as Dzinashe Machingura during the war, Mhanda told our Behind the Headlines series: “This conferment of hero status has been based on dispensing patronange.” Anyone who fell out with Mugabe, like ZANU founding figure Ndabaningi Sithole who went into opposition after independence, were sidelined.

Mhanda said he did not doubt that there were people who played ‘truly heroic roles like Chitepo, Tongogara, Mangena and others “the problem is, I know of the sacrifices made by rural folk, peasants in the countryside, the mujibhas and chimbwido’s and ordinary fighters.”

Mhanda said: “Memories of their sacrifices are not harboured anywhere and when you look at Harare and Bulawayo you find streets named after the nationalists, not even ordinary fighters, not even leading fighters like Josiah Tungamirai.”

Over the weekend the ZANU PF controlled Sunday Mail newspaper described the late nationalist Ndabaningi Sithole and Mhanda as ‘sellouts.’

Reacting to the report Mhanda said he could understand the vitriol directed at Sithole because Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had attended a memorial event at his farm last week and “maybe ZANU PF thought Morgan is trying to make political capital out of it.”

Mhanda however was at a loss to explain the attack on him without providing any evidence saying, “it had gone beyond what is reasonable”. He said the journalist behind the article, Munyaradzi Huni, was not even born when he (Mhanda) was fighting the war and yet he had “the audacity to use such strong language.”

Last year Mhanda released his book, “Dzino, Memories of a Freedom Fighter” in which he wrote about how Mugabe ruthlessly suppressed him and other commanders on his way to becoming the Prime Minister. He told SW Radio Africa the state media are still to challenge his version of the liberation war.

Contributing to the same debate on Behind the Headlines, political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said the National Heroes Acre had ‘national thugs’ like Chenjerai Hunzvi, Border Gezi and Elliot Manyika, who were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Zimbabweans as a result of political violence.

Ruhanya said many people played an important role in shaping Zimbabwe, like Sheba Tavarwisa, Ndabaningi Sithole, Enoch Dumbutshena, Welshman Mabhena, Captain Nleya, Dr Tichaona Mudzingwa and Patrick Kombayi. Many were sidelined from the national shrine because of tribalism or because they differed with Mugabe.

“You read ‘The Story of My Life’ by the late Joshua Nkomo, how Mugabe treated him, how he was called a sell-out. When we were in primary school in the 1980’s we used to compose and sing songs led by ZANU PF zealots, denouncing Nkomo. And it was for the sole reason that he differed with Mugabe.”

To listen to the full interview with former guerrilla commander Wilfred Mhanda and political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya on Behind the Headlines. CLICK HERE

Civil society mourns loss of veteran activist

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Eileen May Sawyer

By Alex Bell
13 August 2012

Zimbabwean civil society is mourning the loss of veteran human rights activist Eileen Sawyer, who passed away last week.

Sawyer, who was in her mid eighties, was the founding Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and the former Chair of the Legal Resources Foundation.

She died last week Friday after a short illness.

Although Sawyer handed over the reins of the NGO Forum to current Director Abel Chikomo years ago, she remained a vocal advocate of human rights and a trusted adviser for the Forum.

Chikomo told SW Radio Africa that Sawyer’s death has hit him very hard, explaining that “she was not just a colleague but a friend and adviser.”

“The human rights movement in Zimbabwe will be poorer without her. She was the grandma of human rights,” Chikomo said.

He added that Sawyer was a “selfless and dedicated,” woman who has left a strong legacy in the fight for human rights in the country.

“There are people of great age like Eileen who will leave behind a legacy of destruction and hate. But here was someone who fought, and fought until the day she died, for a better Zimbabwe,” Chikomo said.

Meanwhile, there have also been condolences for Zimbabwean journalist and author Heidi Holland, who died under unclear circumstances in South Africa last week. Holland, who wrote “Dinner with Mugabe” in 2008, was living in Johannesburg at the time of her death. Her body was discovered at her home last week and South African police are still investigating the cause of death.

UK cops launch fraud probe into Zim shipping company

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

13/08/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

POLICE in England have launched a fraud investigation after a shipping
company owned by a Zimbabwean man went under with massive debts and cargo
literally at sea.

Chesterfield police opened the investigation after being contacted by over a
dozen people who fell victim to Crenna Investments, a shipping company run
by 35-year-old Tawanda Mungate.

The affected customers – who could be as many as 30 – paid Crenna
Investments thousands of pounds to ship their goods to Zimbabwe, mainly
vehicles, but the cargo never reached Plumtree.
Instead, most of the cargo is stuck at Walvis Bay in Namibia and warehouses
in the United Kingdom accruing storage fees.

When they sought answers from Crenna Investments, they discovered the
company had closed shop, taken down its website and disconnected its phones.
Caroline Maradzirwa sent a van and a minibus on July 8 last month after
paying the company a deposit of £2,050.

Last week, she was shocked to get a call from Estuary Logistics, a company
which Crenna contracted to ship the vehicles to Walvis Bay, asking her to
contact them about her shipment.

“They told me that Crenna Investments had not paid them and as such I should
pay them directly to avoid my goods being auctioned off to recover their
shipping fees,” she told New Zimbabwe.com.
Estuary Logistics have charged her £3,000 to release the two vehicles which
are currently stuck at Walvis Bay.

Before taking down the company’s website, Mungate posted a message saying
Crenna Investments was “in the process of bankruptcy”.

“All business debts will now be assessed by the receiver. These debts will
evaluated in order of priority and the decision to either pay or discharge
the debt will be made by the official receiver throughout the bankruptcy
process,” he said.

He asked that any enquiries be directed to the official receiver, but did
not give details of the company handling the bankruptcy.

He also directed customers with “live shipments” to contact shipping agents
Buzzard Logistics and Estuary Shipping as well as Manica Freight to clear
their goods.
He added: “We sincerely apologise for taking this action, however it has
been painful and difficult and one we cannot avoid.

“All company accounts have been frozen and access to any financial resources
has been restrictive due to ongoing investigations.”

We were unable to locate the elusive Mungate, who says on his Whatsapp
status that he “paid the price for being my own boss”.

In June, he posted a bizarre video online called ‘Mr Dozey’ – which shows
him half naked in bed and striking the pose of someone about to fall asleep.

His customers find themselves in agreement that he dozed off on the job –
leading a life of luxury after pocketing customer funds and failing to pay
service providers.

His wife and two children have since moved in with her sister in Nottingham.
She claims she has not heard from her husband in weeks.

One woman who asked Crenna to ship her Mazda 6 vehicle was told that the car
had arrived in Walvis Bay. But after failing to locate the vehicle, she
carried out her own investigations and found the car at a storage facility
in Kent.
She was told that Crenna Investments had run up a storage bill of £5,500.

Another woman from Grays, Essex, said she paid £1,200 as deposit to ship two
vehicles and two industrial-size vacuum cleaners for her sister’s cleaning
business in March.

She accuses Mungate of telling her a string of lies about the status of her
shipment. She has not been able to recover her goods.
"I am angry with myself because I cannot believe I have been fooled like
that,” she said.

Buzzard Logistics, another shipping agent used by Crenna Investments, has
also contacted affected individuals.

In one letter to a customer, Buzzard Logistics said Crenna Investments owed
them £30,000.

The letter says in part: “As you will be already aware, Crenna Investments
have now disappeared after taking your shipping money and not paying our
shipping charges. Crenna Investments have left almost £30,000 of debt with
Buzzard Worldwide Logistics.
“Because Crenna have disappeared now, Buzzard Worldwide Logistics transfer
the cost of freight owed to the goods shipped.

“In these situations, a shipping company would liquidate all goods for the
shipping cost and the customer would lose their item altogether. We have
approached this situation differently, in a way to help the individual
customers of Crenna Investments.
“We are all in this position due to the non-payment for freight by
Crenna...”

Although Crenna is believed to have been trading for more than a year, it
only registered with Companies House in April this year. The business
address listed was a residential property in Duckmanton, Chesterfield.

A spokesman for Chesterfield Police said: “I can confirm we have an ongoing
fraud investigation into Crenna Investments. Unfortunately, I cannot comment
further but anyone who feels they have been unfairly prejudiced can contact
us.”

The shipping industry in the UK is largely unregulated, and several
companies have gone under leaving a trail of disappointed customers.

In 2007, Protea (Europe) Limited – which was run by Zimbabwean Maria
Appuhamy – collapsed spectacularly with debts of over £200,000 to shipping
companies alone.
Over 100 Zimbabweans were caught up, and many never recovered their
property.

The Insolvency Service wound up the company after finding that Protea and
its sister company, GlobalTrade1Stop Limited, did not have any assets and
had failed to keep proper accounts making it difficult to establish its full
liabilities.

In 2010, John Jabulani Bhule, 54, and Sally Shamiso Theresa Chigudu, 46,
both directors of the UK-registered A & B Shippers, were arrested in
Zimbabwe – where they had fled – and charged with fraud after dozens of
people also lost their property when the company collapsed.

Zimbabwe financial advisory firm funds potato farming

http://www.farminguk.com

13-08-2012 10:16 AM

A Zimbabwe financial advisory firm has mobilised funding for a potato
contract farming scheme for the 2012-2013 season to reduce the country’s
dependence on regional imports.

Patridge Sibanda, the KM Financial Solutions business development executive,
said US$350 000 has been mobilised for the scheme targeting youths aged
between 25-35 years.

“We are targeting small scale farmers to take up more than one hectare.

“The amount of money to be disbursed will be determined by the number of
farmers that register for the scheme,” Sibanda said in an interview.

Sibanda said this is not the first time that the financial advisory firm has
mobilised funding for agricultural production.

“We have been funding farmers in the last two years and in 2011 alone we
supported 1000 farmers to do 2000 hectares of tobacco.”

He indicated that the response from potato farmers has been overwhelming
given the failure of the country’s banks to fund agriculture owing to a
liquidity crisis.

Government has declared potatoes as a strategic and potential food security
crop to promote its farming.

However, the Zimbabwe Farmers Development Trust notes that despite having
generated a lot of interest, potato farming has been hampered by the high
costs of production.

Power outages have also affected irrigation of the crop.

The cost of producing a hectare of potato seed is US$9 000 that is further
compounded by fuel and labour costs.

WFP Seeks to Avert Zimbabwe Hunger

http://www.voanews.com

Village headman Kennedy Rusere in Buhera rural district, about 300 kilometers southeast of Harare. The food situation in his village is desperate. (Photo: VOA / Sebastian Mhofu)

32 years without water

On the precipice – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 11th August 2012

The SADC summit in Maputo on Friday and Saturday will be a crucial test of SADC’s sincerity. This has been seriously compromised already by its arbitrary suspension of the SADC Tribunal for its ruling against Mugabe.

The Vigil believes that SADC leaders must make it clear to Mugabe that they will not accept his foot-dragging over the already agreed new constitution and his readiness to unleash the security forces to undermine the census – a taste of what is likely during the referendum on the constitution.

We were pleased to see the remarks on Zimbabwe by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, in an article in the Times. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3501037.ece. Dr Sentamu says now is not the time for the international community to turn its back on the people of Zimbabwe. He criticized the easing of targeted sanctions on the Mugabe regime and called for the reinstatement of the SADC Tribunal.

The Vigil hopes President Zuma will take the Archbishop’s advice to heart and stand up to Mugabe. He must know that Zanu-PF paid for the recent bizarre visit to London by the ANC renegade Julius Milema during which he boasted that Zuma would soon be ousted. It is not just Zimbabwe that is on the precipice . . .

Other points

· The Vigil was attended by Ephraim Tapa, a member of the management team who also leads the Zimbabwe We Can Movement and the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe. He said that ZWC and ROHR, with the support of the Vigil, would be targeting the Mozambique High Commission on 21^st August as part of the Zimbabwean Diaspora Global protests. Mozambique takes over as chair of SADC at the annual summit.

· At a commemoration at the Vigil of Bernard Hukwa’s life, Ephraim Tapa reminded us of Bernard’s committed activism with the Vigil, ROHR and the MDC. Susan Chikonyora led prayers and heartfelt singing. Gladys Mapanda spoke of working with Bernard in the ROHR North London branch and Louisa Musaerenge spoke of his work with the Central London Branch of the MDC. She said they were surprised when he did not attend their last meeting and it was a shock to realise he was already dead when the meeting was held. For those who don’t know, his body was found in the Thames on 9^th July.

· We were pleased to hear from Vigil supporter Arnold Kuwewa that he and Agnieszka Mizerek got married on 3^rd August in Tunbridge Wells.

· The Vigil received this strange email commenting on our last diary: ‘I hear what u say . . . but I am a European from. I'm and we need to ignore poison and have a fresh start stop this. Negative approach to change please.’

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

FOR THE RECORD: signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

· ROHR North East Fundraising Event. Saturday 18^th August from 2 – 7 pm. Venue: Longbenton Methodist Church Hall, Chesters Avenue, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8QP. Directions: from Four Lane Ends Metro Station, start out on Benton Road. At roundabout take the first exit onto West Farm Avenue. Turn left onto Chesters Avenue. For more information contact Tapiwa Merrymore Semwayo on 07412236229, Catherine Tshezi on 07428189705 and Susan Ndhlovu on 07767024586.

· Eighth 21^st Movement Protest. Tuesday 21^st August. Outside the Mozambique High Commission, 21 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6EL. Times still to be decided.

· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 25^th August from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.

· Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 1^st September from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn. Future special ZAF meetings: Saturday 13^th October when we mark the 10^th anniversary of the Vigil and Saturday 10^th November when our special guest will be Ben Freeth. These two meetings will take the place of the regular ZAF meetings in October and November. Both events at 6.30 pm at Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see entry above.

· The Rain that Washes showing at The Lounge, Leicester Square Theatre, from Monday 17^th September – Saturday 6^th October at 7 pm. Check: http://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/126523428/events or phone the booking line: 08448733433 for specific dates and to book tickets. ‘Instantly plunged into a young man’s compelling story of growing up in turbulent Zimbabwe, we live and breathe his extraordinary journey from innocence to escape, finally returning to his homeland to witness the greatest betrayal of all . . . Inspired by a series of interviews between Zimbabwean Christopher Maphosa and writer Dave Carey, The Rain That Washes is a true story that is poignant, political and, most of all, personal’.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vigil co-ordinators

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