Zimbabwe wildlife group: tens of thousands of animals face annihilation in nature preserve

http://www.washingtonpost.com

By Associated Press, Published: August 26 | Updated: Monday, August 27, 2:17
AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Tens of thousands of wild animals face annihilation in a
wave of land takeovers in southeastern Zimbabwe by politicians of President
Robert Mugabe’s party, a consortium of wildlife ranchers charged Sunday.

The Save Valley Conservancy said thousands of people’s livelihoods also are
threatened in the 1,000 square mile (2,600 square kilometer) nature preserve
and surrounding districts after hunting permits and land leases were granted
to 25 leaders of the ZANU-PF party under a black empowerment program.

In Sunday newspaper advertisements, the consortium said “greedy
individuals” — including a provincial governor and a Cabinet minister —
wrongly claimed it was white dominated. The conservancy said Mugabe had used
color as “a racial tool” to collapse world-renowned conservation efforts for
short-term gain.

“When humans behave like animals, we destroy not only each other but
generations to come,” the group said.

The advertisements, the most strongly worded statements in the dispute so
far, said politicians “want to destroy agreements and policies that have
made Save the world leader in conservation management.”

Save, pronounced Sa-veh in the local Ndebele language, is a habitat for
elephant, zebra, giraffe, as well as the nation’s second largest surviving
population of endangered black rhinoceros. The area also supports an array
of African antelope and most species of birds and small animals.

“We as humans can help stop using color as a racial tool to destroy the very
people who are working for our common good,” said the advertisements, under
the heading: Animals don’t see in color.

Several Western investors, the World Wildlife Fund and conservation groups
in Europe and the United States have funded breeding and animal research
programs in Save.

European Union officials in Zimbabwe have warned the Save land takeovers put
at risk bilateral agreements on conservation between Zimbabwe and European
countries ahead of the U.N. World Tourism Organization summit scheduled in
the northwestern Zimbabwean resort of Victoria Falls next year.

The state Herald newspaper, controlled by Mugabe loyalists, reported
Saturday that the new conservancy members linked to Mugabe’s party fired the
consortium’s longtime chairman Basil Nyabdaza, an agricultural estates
executive, and his deputy, rancher Willy Pabst.

A Mugabe party lawmaker was chosen to replace Nyabadza, the paper reported.

It also reported that Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, seen as a moderate in
Mugabe’s party, said he was opposed to new conservancy members from the
ZANU-PF party hierarchy in the southern Masvingo province being “imposed” on
the existing grouping of conservation enterprises and small-scale ranch
operators.

Mzembi said many of those party officials had already benefited from black
empowerment programs since the often violent seizures of thousands of
commercial farms began in 2000, The Herald reported.

Diplomats: Aid cut proposed as Zimbabwe seizes famed reserve

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu

Europe26.08.2012
By our dpa-correspondent and Europe Online

Harare (dpa) - The seizure by the government of a massive, prized wildlife
reserve in Zimbabwe could spark a targeted withdrawal of Western aid, two
European diplomats told dpa on Sunday.

The privately owned Save Valley Conservancy group says only people who are
part of President Robert Mugabe‘s inner circle stand to benefit from the
land grab, while the reserve and the animals, including endangered species,
would suffer.

Lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs and the often-poached rhino all live on
the land. As part of the seizure, hunting licenses are being granted to
politicians, in a move that has conservationists worried.

The plan is regarded as one of the largest seizures since 2000, when the
Zimbabwe government began to kick white farmers off their land and transfer
ownership to blacks.

The land reform programme was meant to rectify colonial-era imbalances which
heavily favoured the white minority. However, critics say it has largely
benefited politically connected elites from Mugabe‘s Zanu-PF party.

"We are all very concerned," said one diplomat, speaking on condition of
anonymity. "We are considering appropriate reactions. It‘s a very serious
situation."

One measure could be the withdrawal of support for a United Nations‘ World
Tourism Organization congress next year, being hosted jointly by Zimbabwe
and Zambia at Victoria Falls, a tourist site on the shared border.

"Zimbabwe depends entirely on international support for the congress," said
a European diplomat. "It cannot go ahead without us."

The idea would be discussed in Berlin this week, during a meeting of German
officials, the diplomats said.

Zimbabwe‘s state wildlife authority announced August 9 it was granting 25
top officials from Zanu-PF control over most of the Save (pronounced Sa-Veh)
reserve, which covers 2,600 square kilometres in the country‘s arid
south-east.

Running along the banks of the Save river, the conservancy - respected as a
leader in wildlife management and research - is collectively controlled by
international investors, white ranchers who formerly ran cattle on the land,
local black businessmen and hundreds of peasant farmers.

"It is a working example of how something really special can be a success,
by including all sectors of the community, especially the rural poor who
have previously got nothing out of wildlife," said Wilfried Pabst, a German
businessman who is vice-chairman of the conservancy.

Pabst rejected accusations by the government that the reserve is opposed to
ensuring a fair deal for blacks.

"Two-thirds of stakeholders of the conservancy are blacks. It is now being
threatened by a collection of greedy individuals who are bringing nothing
into the conservancy and will destroy it," Pabst said.

The Save Valley Conservancy noted in a statement that the government had
supported the reserve consistently since the reserve was founded in 1991.

Conservations warn that two other Zimbabwean reserves that were the subjects
of takeovers have since collapsed. Some 600 workers at Save stand to lose
their jobs at Save should it suffer a similar fate, they say.

The Save group also warned that, already, anti-poaching staff were being
removed from their posts and hunting of antelopes was on the rise for sale
on local meat markets, in a move apparently spearheaded by a Zanu-PF
official.

Diplomats say they are in talks with Zimbabwe‘s government in an effort to
reach a conservation deal. dpa jr shg ncs Authors: Jan Raath, Shabtai Gold

Zanu (PF) Politburo okays amendments to Copac draft

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By Staff Reporter 22 hours 53 minutes ago

HARARE - Robert Mugabe's party Zanu PF has endorsed all the proposed
amendments to the draft constitution that were submitted to principals for
consideration setting the stages for a major conflict between the
prontagonists.
The Zanu PF Politburo convened a special meeting at the party’s headquarters
this Saturday and deliberated on its proposed amendments to the draft
constitution which were handed over to the principals last week.
The revolutionary party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde
Rugare Gumbo told ZBC News that the Politburo has approved all the proposed
amendments to the draft as final.
Gumbo, who rubbished claims by MDC formations that the Copac draft is final
as childish, said the ball is now in the principals’ court to take into
consideration the proposed amendments.
Robert Mugabe handed over the amended draft to other Global Political
Agreement principals, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime
Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara and MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube
after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
The MDC formations, however, said they will not accept the Zanu PF document.

In the event of a stalemate, the Zanu PF Politburo has resolved that it will
stand by its position as it serves the best interests of party supporters.
The Politburo rejected dual citizenship saying only descendants of parents
or grandparents of people who are Zimbabweans by birth can be considered as
citizens of this country.
Zanu PF also rejected sections of devolution of power, running mates,
removal of the Attorney-General, among other key amendments to the Copac
draft constitution.
In the amended draft, ZANU-PF, President Robert Mugabe's party, restores to
the president the power to declare war and dissolve parliament, concentrates
power in the central government and sets up a mandatory youth service.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
which formed the coalition government with the rival ZANU-PF in 2009,
immediately rejected the changes. The draft was given to the MDC and an MDC
splinter group this week.
MDC leaders say the mandatory youth service for all school leavers that
ZANU-PF proposes is worrying because a similar scheme was in the past used
to produce pro-Mugabe "militias" used to intimidate and beat up the
opposition.
Mugabe, 88, has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and is under
international sanctions for suspected human rights abuses.
"Even at our most foolish, there is no way we could ever accept those
amendments. Anyone who does so would be committing political suicide,"
Welshman Ncube, leader of the MDC.

Robert Mugabe's supporters are already saying the constitution making
process say Zimbabwe can hold elections using the Lancaster House
Constitution because of the current stalemate.
They noted that the birth of the Global Political Agreement was not about
coming up with a new supreme law of the land.
Professor Jonathan Moyo said the essence of the GPA was never about writing
a new constitution, but to create a conducive environment for the conduct of
free and fair elections.
He noted that since the environment is now proper for the conduct of
peaceful elections, the onus is on President Robert Mugabe to call for
elections under the Lancaster House Constitution.
“The essence of the GPA was never about writing a new constitution so if
there is a stalemate, we will go for elections with the old one. The
conditions are now there and as such there should be a meeting of minds and
people should go beyond personal interests and look at the bigger picture,”
said Professor Moyo.
Constitutional law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said it was very clear
from the beginning that no constitution was ever going to be produced by the
political parties as they have to agree on all the issues.
He said the current scenario demands that political leaders agree on time
lines for elections.
“It was clear from the beginning that the three political parties would not
produce a new constitution. Elections should be held using the old one. The
parties should just agree so that we go for elections,” Professor Madhuku
said.
Zanu PF rejected dual citizenship saying only descendants of parents or
grandparents of people who are Zimbabweans by birth can be considered as
citizens of this country.
The issue of a running mate was also removed. The other two MDC formations
have rejected the proposed amendments resulting in a stalemate.

Mugabe rebukes off track spokesman

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

NewsDay 7 hours 30 minutes ago

HARARE - Media, Information and Publicity secretary and Presidential
spokesperson George Charamba could have landed himself in “hot soup”
following his utterances early this week that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM)
Arthur Mutambara will remain a principal in the wobbly inclusive government.

It is understood that President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday reportedly slammed
Charamba’s statements suggesting that Mutambara would remain a principal
despite the recent Sadc resolution to the contrary.
Charamba was quoted by the State media claiming that MDC leader Welshman
Ncube’s recognition by Sadc as a principal would not upgrade him to the
status of DPM in government. He reportedly said Sadc had stressed that it
would be dealing with leaders of political parties for purposes of mediation
only.
But MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga told a Sapes
organised meeting on Thursday that President Mugabe was livid because of
Charamba’s comments and admitted during a meeting to discuss the recent Sadc
summit that Charamba had gone “off-track”.
“I think he (Charamba) got the wrong end of the stick,” Mugabe reportedly
told the principals’ meeting on Tuesday after Mushonga and Ncube brought his
attention to the Sadc Troika Resolution 8, which contradicted what Charamba
was quoted as having said.
The resolution reads: “The facilitator and the chair of the Troika must
engage on the Zimbabwe issues with the three political parties to the GPA
through their Presidents and Principals — namely President Robert Mugabe,
(Zanu PF), Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC -T) and Professor Welshman
Ncube (MDC).”
Debating with Zanu PF negotiator Patrick Chinamasa and MDC-T Secretary for
International Relations Jameson Timba, Mushonga pointed out that Mugabe
would “never go” against a Sadc resolution as suggested by Charamba.
“There has never been a meeting I have gone where President Mugabe has never
been in agreement with Sadc,” Mushonga retorted.
“Our problem here in Zimbabwe is there are people who control the media and
therefore say many lies. As you debate the issues in Zimbabwe there are
always those that speak to a particular positison and those that speak the
facts.”
However, Chinamasa said the fight between Ncube and Mutambara was a party
issue that the MDC had to solve “internally”.
“No one takes cognisance of the internal affairs of another political party.
It’s your problem and I’m not going to give you a solution to your problem.
We are not going to spend sleepless nights over your problems,” Chinamaa
said.
He also declared that Mutambara would remain DPM unless he voluntarily
resigned. NewsDay

MDC-T Eats Humble Pie, Admits Freedom House Survey True

http://www.radiovop.com/

9 hours 39 minutes ago

Harare, August 26, 2012 – Despite vehement public denials by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party in the wake of the Freedom House survey which
claimed the party had been upstaged by Zanu PF in terms of support, the
MDC-T has privately admitted the survey was true and attributed this to its
blunders while in government.
The party held its national executive council meeting on Friday which was
chaired by Tsvangirai.

A senior party official and member of the MDC-T national executive told
Radio VOP on Saturday that the party spent time introspecting about its
blunders while in the inclusive government.

“Members were frank with each other that we have made a lot of blunders
during our time in government,” said the source.

“It made sense to think that the public had lost confidence with the MDC
since most issues that affect the general public fall under our ministries.”

The MDC-T member further said corruption that has been witnessed among its
councillors has also dented the image of the party.

Another senior MDC official said party leader Tsvangirai was not amused by
the party’s information chiefs who ran into denying the genuineness of the
report instead of spinning the contents of the outcome to the party’s
advantage.

“Tsvangirai took Mwonzora to task for opposing the contents of the report
when in the past the party has never had problems with reports by the same
institution which came in the party’s favour. Tsvangirai feels Mwonzora ran
into shooting the messenger who was delivering bad news to the party,” said
the source in reference to the survey.

According to the survey made by the highly respected institution, the MDC-T’s
support base dwindled from 38% to 20% in the last 18 months, while support
for ZANU-PF went up from 17% to 31% in the same period,” said the source.

Party deputy spokesperson Joel Gabuza admitted the party discussed the
matter but insisted they were still questioning some of the issues in the
document.

“What we were saying basically is that we were not involved in the survey
and we do not know the methods used and the sample size," said Gabuza.

"Given this scenario, we told ourselves that we would not want to kill the
messenger who comes with bad news.

“Yes, we don’t want to give 100 percent to the survey but we resolved to
analyse findings and where possible improve.”

He said during the deliberations, the party found itself at crossroads on
whether to accept the survey outcome in its totality as it was apparent that
claims that the generality of Zimbabweans displayed confidence in the
country’s abusive security organs.

ZANU(PF) Youths Launch Blitz Against Gays

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, August 26, 2012-A hoard of Suspected ZANU(PF) youths in Harare at an
up market bar in the city centre Friday night brutalised four young men
accusing them of practising homosexuality.
It all started with the victims quarrelling amongst themselves at the bar
counter before they dragged each other to the bar toilet.

The scuffle attracted the attention of suspected ZANU PF youths who were
patrons in the bar who followed the group to the toilet shouting that they
have an order to eliminate homosexuals in the country.

ZANU PF has maintained its stance against the practice of homosexual and
judging by the language the assaulters were in line with the party’s view on
homosexuals.

After some few minutes the victims escaped from the bar through the
assistance of sympathizers but it was too let as they were bleeding.

Radio VOP spoke to the leader of the youths who said they knew the group as
being gays who regularly patronise up market bars in the city centre.

“We are on a national blitz on gays. They are antagonising our culture. The
President has on uncountable occasion said this practice should not be
tolerated in this country. More these gays always patronise this beer
gardern. We are saying from today onwards we are going to track them down,
“ the youths leader said.

The issue of homosexuals has aroused emotions in the country with ZANU (PF)
in forefront of denouncing the vulnerable group.

Over the past two weeks in Harare the police have been harassing members of
the Gays and Lesbian association of Zimbabwe until Thursday when they
finally pressed charges against them.

The harassment has been condemned worldwide with EU pledging its support to
GALZ.

In his comment ZANU (PF) Harare province chairperson person Jim Kunaka who
said they will not tolerate homosexuals.

“We will not allow the enemy smuggle their western ideologies into this
country. Every country has its own culture and homosexuality is not part of
our culture. Herein Zimbabwe what is normal is the marriage between males
and females period,”

Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said, “We must launch national blitz
against political violence, corruption. We need a national blitz against
ZANU(PF) impunity, not against gays. In fact the greatest let down of the
prosperity of this country is ZANU (PF) not gays.

“This group has not committed any crimes unless they have proposed love to
those not affiliated with them. If they have not proposed love to you and if
they have not interfered with your wellbeing what problems do you have with
them? It is their own private business and they should be left alone.

“The like of Jim Kunaka and Jabulani Sibanda are the people who have caused
havoc and disharmony in this country. They are an anathema to the police and
governance of this country and these are the people who we need a national
blitz against”.

Observers say politicians are the ones who are giving the vulnerable group
lime light adding that if the issue ceases to be discussed the whole debate
will die a natural death.

Mugabe in panic mode

http://www.theindependent.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in News
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe, walking a tightrope over the contentious Copac
draft constitution after other political principals in the coalition
government rejected his proposed unilateral amendments to restore his
imperial presidency, was forced to call an emergency politburo meeting on
Saturday to discuss the stalemate.

Report by Faith Zaba/Wongai Zhangazha

Zanu PF party insiders told the Zimbabwe Independent on Friday night the
rejection of the amendments by the two MDC parties has left Mugabe, battling
to retain his sweeping powers after they were curtailed in the Copac draft,
panicky following a bruising encounter with Sadc leaders in Maputo,
Mozambique, last weekend.

Mugabe is angry that the draft takes away his overbearing powers and leaves
him even weaker and vulnerable to defeat in the next elections.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo on Thursday confirmed the politburo will
convene on Saturday but refused to give details on the emergency meeting set
four days before their scheduled monthly gathering. The politburo normally
meets once on the last Wednesday of every month.

Mugabe on Tuesday gave his party amendments to fellow principals, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry & Trade minister Welshman Ncube. A
fierce war of words subsequently ensued.

Zanu PF negotiator Patrick Chinamasa on Thursday said the MDC parties were
disrupting national processes by rejecting his party’s demands. “If they are
saying that they won’t compromise, then they are closing the door to
national processes,” he said.

“We should not approach this issue with anger like (MDC leader) Professor
Welshman Ncube and Priscilla (Misihairabwi-Mushonga –– MDC chief negotiator)
are doing because it is a national issue. As far as my party is concerned we
are committed to going to the referendum. We should not be notorious for
bickering.”
Mugabe is expected to meet Tsvangirai and Ncube next week to discuss the
issue.

After working day and night rewriting the draft constitution, Mugabe now
finds his recommendations facing rejection and will tomorrow go back to the
politburo to discuss the situation as Sadc leaders expect principals to
resolve the impasse and take forward the constitution-making process which
is part of preparations for free and fair elections next year.
While Mugabe wants wholesale adoption of his party’s amendments, the two MDC
groups are opposed to that although they have proposed taking both
documents –– the Copac and Zanu PF drafts –– to a referendum.

A senior Zanu PF politburo official said his colleagues were opposed to this
as it could end up being “a referendum on Mugabe and the party” instead of a
plebiscite on the draft constitution. Sources said the politburo meeting
would look into possible scenarios of what could happen to the
constitution-making process going forward.

“The meeting at the weekend is important because we have to devise
strategies and tactics of dealing with this complicated situation. One thing
for sure is that we don’t want the referendum to end up as a vote on our
leader and the party,” a senior politburo member said.

Another politburo member said: “There are many scenarios of what could
happen going.”

Zanu PF politburo members want the principals to meet and discuss the draft.
Some of the politburo heavyweights anticipate three scenarios going forward:

• Principals will meet and agree on all the changes proposed by Zanu PF;
• Principals will meet and secure a compromise through give and take;
• Principals will meet, have intense discussions and end up agreeing the
constitution-making process must continue until after the elections,
• Principals will meet and get deadlocked, leading Sadc intervention and
solution, or
• They will meet and after a series of negotiations the process collapses.

Already other principals are anticipating serious problems ahead. Ncube said
on Thursday they would soon write to Sadc to formally inform them of the
stalemate so its facilitator, South African President Jacob Zuma could
mediate.

He was, however, quick to point out they had already proposed to Sadc two
options to deal with a possible stalemate.

“It is now up to President Zuma to come to Zimbabwe to mediate,” Ncube said.
“We will notify the facilitator and troika chair (Tanzanian President Jakaya
Kikwete) that there is a stalemate, which in any event he already knows
about. We will now duly advise Sadc that we have a stalemate.”

However, Ncube said the first option is to try to convince Zanu PF to
abandon its demands to amend the draft. If that fails they would propose to
the referendum with the Copac and Zanu PF drafts.

MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti said yesterday Zanu PF should allow
people decide on the Copac through a referendum.
“The draft has been signed by Copac and is complete in accordance with
Article 6 of the global political agreement. Article 6 doesn’t say that each
of the political parties have to look at the draft and make amendments,”
Biti said.

“If there is going to be a problem, in pursuant with the Maputo communiqué,
the facilitator will come to Zimbabwe and mediate. The proposal to take the
two drafts to a referendum can be a solution but it is not an ideal one.”

Zuma’s international advisor Lindiwe Zulu said Zuma could be coming to
Harare again to engage the principals unless a solution is quickly found.
“We are aware Zanu PF has completed its draft and given it to the two
principals. As per the Sadc recommendations the facilitator must engage with
Zanu PF and other political parties on the way forward,” she said. “The Zanu
PF draft I understand has already been given to our (South African) embassy
and we expect to receive it anytime, then we will be able to make plans to
come to Harare if needs be.”

In his report to the Sadc troika meeting in Maputo last week, Zuma admitted
it was difficult to prescribe a solution at the time.

“MDC-T and MDC-N are of the view that the only way forward, if there are
substantial issues for renegotiation on the part of Zanu PF, is that the
current draft be put to a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ referendum, or that the
current draft and a Zanu PF draft be put to a referendum,” Zuma said in his
report.

“Alternatively the referendum includes not only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on the
constitution as a whole but also a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on each of the clauses
of the constitution with regards to which Zanu PF has an alternative
formulation.”

Zanu PF seeks to restore Mugabe imperial powers

http://www.theindependent.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in News, Politics
IN its bid to retain its political advantage over other parties ahead of
elections next year, Zanu PF has restored President Robert Mugabe’s sweeping
powers curtailed in the latest Copac draft constitution by coming with
amendments that restore the imperial presidency.

Report by Brian Chitemba

The draft constitution curtails presidential powers by distributing some of
the president’s executive powers to cabinet and parliament. But Zanu PF came
up with another raft of amendments to restore the authoritarian executive
presidency.

The imperial powers enjoyed by Mugabe as enshrined in the current
constitution are cited as the major reason why the 88-year old ruler has
managed to cling to power for 32 years.
According to Zanu PF’s proposed amendments seen by the Zimbabwe Independent,
the politburo which met five times in three weeks agreed to retain clauses
and chapters in the current constitution in the Copac draft including
Section 5.2(2) which says: “The president takes precedence over all other
persons in Zimbabwe.”

The Zanu PF amendments restore Mugabe’s sweeping executive powers and
eradicate devolution entirely from the draft by deleting all references to
dispersal of executive authority.
The changes expunge the presidential running mate provisions and replace
them with the current system with the new provision that in the event of the
office of president becoming vacant, the replacement will be chosen by the
party to which the president belongs and reposes all executive authority in
the president by scrapping the provision which vests it in the president and
cabinet.

The changes effectively reconstitute the imperial presidency by restoring
virtually all the current presidential powers and even add a new provision
that cabinet can only exercise authority under the direction of the
president. They also restore the current presidential immunity provisions.

Zanu PF hawks further shredded the Copac draft to retain the president’s
power to appoint two vice-presidents as provided in the current
constitution, among other powers of appointment.

The new draft constitution stipulates the president and vice-presidents
should be jointly elected but Zanu PF proposes that after assuming office,
the president appoints his deputies drawn from MPs.

On succession in the event of death or resignation of the president, Zanu PF
wants the provision of the current constitution to prevail where the
vice-president who last acted as president takes over, whereas the Copac
draft says the first vice-president should take over while the second vice
president will be elevated as the first VP.

When the president is absent from the country, Zanu PF wants the VP who last
acted as president or VP designated by the president to assume office, but
the new draft says the first vice-president acts as president.

The Copac draft provides that the president can only dissolve parliament if
the Senate and the National Assembly pass a resolution to dissolve it.

Zanu PF seeks an amendment to give the president power to dissolve
parliament without a resolution by legislators in line with the current
constitution.
As in the current constitution, Zanu PF proposed that the draft provides for
presidential powers to declare war without any constraint.

The president’s powers of appointment, including hiring governors, have been
restored.

Mystery surrounds Zim’s gems revenue

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in Local, News
MASSIVE production of diamonds has not translated into improved living
standards for ordinary Zimbabweans because proceeds from the sale of the
gems have been benefitMpofu shifting goalposts, says Maguwuing a few
politically-connected individuals and financing covert security operations,
analysts have said.

Report by Caiphas Chimhete

The observation comes after Zimbabwe, which produced diamonds worth US$334
million last year, was ranked the world’s seventh biggest producer of gems
by the Kimberly Process last week.
But the majority of the country’s citizens remain among the poorest in the
world, with over 80% of them surviving on less than a dollar a day while
education, health and other social services are in a dire state.
The discovery of diamonds in Marange was seen as the panacea to the country’s
myriad of economic ills, also characterised by a serious liquidity crisis
and lack of exports.
But that optimism has since faded away because very little revenue is
flowing into Treasury amid indications that the money was being diverted to
finance parallel Zanu PF structures within the shaky coalition government.
The Kimberly Process report shows Botswana as the world’s top gem producer
with US$2,5 billion followed by Russia (US$2,38 billion) and Canada (US$2,3
billion). South Africa, Angola and Namibia were ranked fourth, fifth and
sixth respectively.
Centre for Research and Development (CRD) director, Farai Maguwu said it was
unlikely that ordinary Zimbabweans would benefit from the diamonds because
revenue was not properly accounted for nor channelled to government coffers.
“I don’t know what they are using the revenue from diamonds for,” he said.
“But national development can only be done through central government and
there is enough reason to suspect that the money is being used to fund
parallel government activities.”
Maguwu’s suspicion is confirmed by a recent report by the Global Witness, an
organisation that campaigns against corruption and human rights abuses,
which urged the international community to prevent off-budget financing of
security forces from diamond sales by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF.
The report, Financing a Parallel Government?, exposes links between Anjin
Investments (Pvt) Ltd, the biggest diamond company in Zimbabwe’s Marange
diamond fields, and the country’s security forces.
“Given the violent reputation of the CIO (central intelligence organisation)
and the military, we fear that this money could fund human rights abuses
during the forthcoming election,” said Nick Donovan of Global Witness.
“Off-budget financing of the security sector undermines Zimbabwean democracy
by subverting civilian control over key organs of the State.”
Elections are expected next year.
The report said Zanu PF lost control of the Finance ministry to the MDC-T
and appear to have engaged on a hunt for off-budget financing for the
military and secret police.
Security forces stand accused of spearheading an onslaught against MDC-T
supporters during the violent 2008 elections to keep the 88-year-old Mugabe
in power.
Security forces have dismissed the allegations.
A source in the diamond industry and close to Zanu PF said the revenue from
diamonds was now the major source of funding for the former ruling party,
most of whose business entities collapsed during the hyper-inflation era.
Sanctions, he said, crippled most of Zanu PF’s operations as companies
linked to the party are failing to access loans to boost their operations.
“They (diamonds) are now the lifeline,” said the source. “Companies such as
Jongwe Printers and other parastatals that used to generate or donate to the
party no longer have that capacity.”
Mines minister Obert Mpofu dismissed claims that diamond mining companies,
particularly Anjin, were not remitting revenue to Treasury arguing that the
budget was being sustained by minerals, mostly the gems.
“We don’t have credit lines, balance of payments and the economy is being
run on diamonds,” said Mpofu. “There is no secrecy as far as diamonds are
concerned because we have the police and Zimra are there (in Marange) and
collection is done in an organised manner.”
Mpofu said diamonds were a national resource that are supposed to benefit
every Zimbabwean.
“All things being equal, we should be among the top three top producers in
world but we are curtailed by sanctions,” said Mpofu.
An expert on diamond cutting and polishing, who requested anonymity, blamed
the crisis in the sector on the absence of a clear policy framework that
guides operations in the billion-dollar industry.
“If there is no clear policy as it stands now, Zanu PF will use the chaos in
the industry to loot the gems for their benefit,” said the expert.

Mpofu shifting goalposts, says Maguwu

Farai Maguwu said he was worried that Mines minister Obert Mpofu continually
changed statements on why some mining firms were not remitting proceeds to
Treasury.
He said at first Mpofu argued that companies were not remitting any money to
Treasury because the KP had banned the country from selling diamonds on the
global market.

When the KP lifted the ban in November last year, Mpofu announced that they
expected at least US$2 billion diamond revenue annually and of that amount,
Finance minister Tendai Biti was promised US$600 million, which could have
had a significant impact on the country’s budget of US$4 billion.

But it never came as promised. Biti only got US$41,6 million during the
first half of the year.
Biti was forced to cut his 2012 budget from US$4 billion to US$3, 4 billion,
blaming poor revenue inflows from diamonds.

UNWTO general assembly preparations in disarray

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in Local
VICTORIA FALLS — The much-anticipated United Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly set for next year hangs in the balance
as Zimbabwe has not yet started the renovation and construction of
infrastructure to host the global event.

Report by Lesley Wurayayi

A year after winning the bid, government is yet to start constructing a
convention centre, hotel, villas and a shopping mall on 1 200 hectares of
land.
Government is also yet to secure enough money for the construction work,
throwing the entire preparatory process into disarray. In its 2012 budget,
Zimbabwe only set aside US$1 million for the construction of the convention
centre, which is not enough for all the projects.

Government is instead mulling building a semi-permanent structure made from
aluminium glass fabrication — which it claims would last for 15 to 20
years — at Chogm Park, north of Sprayview Hotel in Victoria Falls.

However, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister, Walter Mzembi said that
the country will successfully host the assembly next year.
“Every resource we need is in place, what’s left is the implementation part
of making it a success” he said.

Despite Mzembi’s optimism, The Standard observed that surveyors only began
working on the centre on Friday last week.
“Surveyors are going to start working on the conference centre and temporary
structure,” said Mzembi. “We are still going ahead with the conference
centre, shopping mall and Victoria Falls will become a Victorian City from
now onwards. As long as I am the chairman of tourism, we are going to
successfully host the congress,” he said.
Former Tourism and Hospitality Industry secretary, Sylvester Maunganidze was
recently transferred from the ministry after he disclosed to parliament that
Zimbabwe had lied about the state of its infrastructure in order to win the
bid to host tourism’s biggest global event.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are set to co-host the prestigious event where up to 4
000 participants are expected to attend from the 180-member countries.
Last week, Mzembi and Zambia’s Tourism and Arts minister, Sylvia Masebo
signed a joint communiqué which is in line with the provisions of the
Bilateral Implementation Framework on the co-hosting of the UNWTO assembly.

The joint communiqué stated that the co-hosts would share costs equally and
that they would also use the Joint Implementation Framework as a guideline
for the successful hosting of the event.

Zimbabwe last week launched a countdown to the 2013 UNWTO assembly in
Victoria Falls, an event that will see the city celebrating every month with
various artistic performances.

What Zimbabwe is expected to do

Zimbabwe has to upgrade the Victoria Falls airport, revamp water and sewer
reticulation systems, resurface roads and rehabilitate the hospital in the
resort town.
There is also need for an efficient airline, but Air Zimbabwe — which is
reeling from debts and problems associated with old equipment — is only
servicing the Harare-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls route, only three days a week.

Zimbabwe life expectancy increases to 50

http://www.zimdiaspora.com

SUNDAY, 26 AUGUST 2012 10:05

Zimbabwe’s life expectancy has risen to 50 years for men and 47 years for
women from 37 years following massive improvements in general healthcare and
nutrition.

According to latest World Health Organi­sation (WHO) statistics, the average
Zimbabwean is living longer.

The WHO report does not, however, inter­pret the data.

Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera said in an interview
last week that economic stability and better health delivery have seen the
welfare of Zim­babweans improve.

He said malnutrition and high HIV preva­lence were major factors that
precipitated the decline of life expectancy from 59,2 years in 1980 to 37
years in 2006.

However, most Zimbabweans are now expected to live beyond 37 years largely
because of increased access to HIV and Aids therapy as well as better
nutrition.

The global life expectancy rate stands at 69,2 years.

“Life expectancy has been rising slowly in Zimbabwe. This is to be expected
consider­ing the general improvement in the welfare of the people through
economic recovery,” he said.

“Droughts have been pulling us back in terms of nutrition, but, in general,
we are bet­ter off than we were a few years ago.

“There have been short-term interventions that have made an impact on
survival and longevity in Zimbabwe. These include improvements in the health
delivery system, near-universal access to HIV care and treat­ment as well as
the all-out war on maternal and child mortality.”

Life expectancy indicates how long a per­son can expect to live. It is read
against the mortality rate in a given country.

Dr Madzorera said although Zimbabwe has recorded a major success in this
area, there was a need to continue improving hous­ing, transport, education,
health, water and sanitation, infrastructure and agricultural services, all
factors which are fundamental in stimulating higher life expectancy.

He said the country should also be wary of the fast-emerging threat of
non-communica­ble diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

“For the country to match the global life expectancy rate, there is need to
be on guard against the emerging epidemic of non-com­municable diseases,
which threatens to reverse our gains in the arena of infectious diseases.

“It is the emphasis on the conditions peo­ple are born into, grow, live,
work and age that will see us live beyond 70 years on aver­age. Hospitals,
clinics, hi-tech medicine and health workers, among others, are all
impor­tant. However, they are a form of fire-fighting on behalf of those
among us who are unfor­tunate to get sick. As the economy improves, these
will also naturally improve.” - Sunday Mail

Bleak future for UZ students

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in Community News
AMY GAYNOR SHIRTO
THOUSANDS of University of Zimbabwe students might this coming academic year
be forced to drop out of college.
This is so because the college is turning away all students on cadetship
because government is failing to pay the learning institution.
This issue has caused unrest within the student community.

Cadetship is a scheme where government pays fees for students in State
universities, who cannot afford to pay the full amount.

University authorities are turning away the students from paying the
mandatory fees of US$69 saying the scheme had been scrapped and are
demanding full tuition fees.
It is disheartening that the government has chosen to neglect its obligation
to pay for the students and in the process jeopardise their future.

It is our understanding after talking to officials from the Ministry of
Higher and Tertiary Education that this contract (cadetship) is still
standing.
However, the ministry alleges that government has not been paying the
institution for the cadetship scheme and owes the university millions of
dollars.
So who is the culprit responsible for this fiasco?

The blame may lie with the Treasury.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance would not tolerate any questions from
student leaders who tried to seek clarity on the matter.
The students left the building disheartened and humiliated.

Many students are saying going back to college is no longer an option as
they cannot find the money to pay the fees.
A number of students have made the decision to abandon studies and cross the
border into neighbouring South Africa in search of employment.
It is feared that some will turn to prostitution and crime in a bid to raise
fees to complete studies.

It is also pathetic that students, who are supposed to be the future of the
nation, have been reduced to such invalids.

After 32 years of independence, education, which is a basic right of every
Zimbabwean, is still unaffordable to a majority of the people in the
country.
Amy Gaynor Shirto is the secretary general of the University of Zimbabwe
student representative council (SRC).

Tragic end to UZ horses

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

August 26, 2012 in Community News
The Veterinary Science department at the University of Zimbabwe recently put
down three horses using an axe after they failed to maintain them, according
to a Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe (VAWZ) report.

In early February, reports received from members of the public expressing
concern at the poor condition of three horses at the UZ led to an
investigation by VAWZ inspectors. The horses, which had been abandoned by
their previous owner, were found to be in an extremely emaciated state, with
their ribs and hip bones prominent, their hooves in bad shape and with coats
indicative of malnutrition. Their living conditions within the large animal
house gave cause for concern; often there was no hay, their water was dirty
as were their stables.

The staff admitted that they had had no training in looking after horses.
After concerted efforts by the VAWZ to take custody of the horses and
rehabilitate them, the UZ decided to kill them.

They allegedly sent the horses to a nearby animal park in a UZ vehicle and
horse-box accompanied by five UZ staff. On arrival, the horses were found to
have collapsed in the horse box — they were dragged from the box, an
inexperienced attempt made to stun them with a captive bolt stun gun —and
finally, the horses were killed by blows to the back of the head with an
axe.—Our Correspondent

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 25th August 2012