Farmer's elderly wife killed in latest Zimbabwe murder of whites

http://www.earthtimes.org

     
     Posted : Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:17:36 GMT
                  Author : DPA

      Harare - The 75-year-old wife of a farmer on a smallholding in central
Zimbabwe has been murdered in the fourth recent killing of whites on
isolated holdings as violence on beleaguered white farms continues,
relatives said Sunday. South African-born Sophie Hart was alone on their
plot in the Kadoma district 150 kilometres west of Harare when her husband
went at midday to watch a rugby match on a neighbour's television, said Eben
de Toit, a relative by marriage of the couple.

      Jan Hart, 79, come home before sunset to find his wife bound hand and
foot and apparently strangled.

      Du Toit said: "I think it was a robbery that turned into an ugly
scene. The place was in a mess, with all the drawers turned out. Not much
was missing, so I think they were after cash."

      The three previous murders all happened since the inauguration of the
coalition government between President Robert Mugabe and pro- democracy
prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

      Violent seizures of the remaining 300 white farms have since continued
unabated, as Mugabe insists that his lawless revolutionary land reform
programme since 2000 is irreversible. About 4 000 farmers have been forced
off their land, farm union officials say.

      Another elderly farmer from the Karoi area 200 kilometres north of
Harare is still in a critical condition in a hospital after being attacked
earlier this month.

      Elderly farmers still on their land have been soft targets all along,
said John Worsely-Worswick, director of Justice for Agriculture, a lobby
group for dispossessed white farmers.

      "It doesn't matter if we pull back, to smallholdings. We are political
fair game," he said. "The perpetrators think there's a good chance they will
get off or the cases will not be properly investigated. It's demoralising
for the community.

      South African president Jacob Zuma was in Harare last week to mediate
in disputes between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, and made clear he backed
Tsvangirai's insistence that Mugabe had failed to meet his obligations to
restore democratic reforms.

      Observers said he also delivered an implied rebuke to Mugabe over the
continuing lawlessness on white farms when he said that the six- month-old
coalition government should ensure all productivity on all agricultural
land.

      Once a thriving agricultural producer that exported surplus food to
famine-stricken African nations, Zimbabwe's farm industry has crashed since
the land invasions began and the United Nations 2.8 million people will need
food aid to survive.

Zuma came, saw, showed Zim he cares

From The Weekend Argus (SA), 30 August

Peta Thornycroft

Choosing his words carefully, and smiling his way through Zimbabwe's
treacherous political terrain, President Jacob Zuma sweetened the public air
for a few hours in Harare. That may have been all he could do during his
visit on Thursday, because not much is going to change in the short term, in
spite of Zuma's calming statement when he opened the Harare Agricultural
Show, and his touchy-feely, fleeting engagement with the Zimbabwe "problem".
President Robert Mugabe is going to continue obstructing where he can, and
play to the gallery through the public media he still controls. And Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will remain "optimistic" and endure Mugabe's
obstacle course with grace and poise. There will be no sudden turnaround nor
miracle, at least while Mugabe remains in control of the levers of state
power. It's the only power he has, as his constituency has pretty much
disintegrated and almost everyone wants him to go.

Did Zuma's visit last week achieve more than lighten the load, shorten the
pain? This is the question on many lips in Harare. Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) seems to believe that he did achieve more than that,
calling his visit "refreshing". But will the outstanding issues from the
political agreement be resolved now, after Zuma's visit? Will MDC provincial
governors be appointed? Yes, probably in a month or two. Will MDC deputy
agriculture minister Roy Bennett be sworn into office by Mugabe? Yes,
eventually, maybe just before the year's end. Will central bank governor
Gideon Gono go? Probably, in his own time, and probably later rather than
sooner. Of all people he must have got the message loudest and clearest when
Zuma, in his speech to open the Harare Agriculture Show, praised finance
minister Tendai Biti for dropping the Zimbabwe dollar. Gono has been running
a campaign in the state press for its return.

Will the attorney-general Johannes Tomana go? Mugabe's unilateral
appointment of him and Gono after the political agreement to establish the
unity government was signed, was subject of the MDC's complaint to SADC
recently and was raised with Zuma. Tomana's departure will be more
complicated constitutionally, but his determination to prosecute MDC
legislators and human rights activists is weakening, because the hard core
of partisan Zanu PF policemen are also inefficient. They can't provide
evidence for the cases. Zimbabweans have to hope Zuma was right when he said
on arrival that the worst may be over for Zimbabweans. Presumably, if the
country does degenerate, if the youth militia re-mobilise to terrify the
rural population, SADC will find some teeth to stop Mugabe's last desperate
bid to retain state power. But at present Zimbabwe is, in the main,
politically stable.

The crowds at the agricultural show were proof of that. Nearly all of them
would have been MDC supporters. Tsvangirai was greeted with applause
everywhere he went as he toured the show on Thursday. They were polite but
quiet when Mugabe took Zuma around the show the next day. The showgrounds
were cleaner and brighter than for some years. There were even some hanging
baskets of bright petunias around the Harare Show Society buildings which
had been repainted. The entertainment in the Glamis Stadium, though shabby
and amateurish, still thrilled the crowds. There were hot dogs, hamburgers,
chicken and chips and children with painted faces. The crowds were mostly
well-dressed families, looking as far removed from a repressed, hungry
society as could be imagined. In the exhibition halls, entries were sparse,
and each seemed to have won "first prize". There were some amusingly iced
cakes, embroidered Manchester United wall hangings and a hand-made apron or
two.

Despite the last 10 years of economic collapse and misery, a few communal
farmers, mostly women, using their own cash, had travelled hundreds of
kilometres and put on displays of vegetables, grains, pulses and fruit which
would compare with the best of the best anywhere. Zuma did not visit these
women in his guided tour of the show, but the day before, Tsvangirai did.
The women lamented to him that they had no fertiliser or money to buy any
for this year's crops. He promised to find fertiliser for them. Maybe he
will. They believed him, they said, as he went from cobs of rather poor
quality maize to the Zimbabwe Airforce stand where he was told how their
weapons worked. Beyond these barely visible green shoots, Zimbabwe faces its
most precarious summer season ever. Not even Mugabe's cronies on stolen
farms can raise cash for inputs this year.

"It is cheaper to import mealie meal from South Africa than it is for us to
grow maize. None of us can get loans beyond 90 days," said a reasonably
affluent white commercial tobacco farmer who also grows maize and has some
beef cattle and farms on a tiny section of his original land holding. "It
cuts across all farmers, us commercial guys, the communal and small-scale
and the A2s (mostly Zanu PF beneficiaries of white-owned land) are looking
to us to go into partnerships. I am not sure anyone understands how bad this
season is going to be". Zuma saw the cattle at the show, a very different
breed to those which once earned Zimbabwe's reputation as a world-class beef
producer. The Herefords and Aberdeen Anguses were not on show. There are
hardly any left in the country. This year's cattle were the tough,
short-haired "communal" variety. Their value would baffle traditional
judges, but there are about 4.5 million of them in Zimbabwe.

Zuma, a regular visitor to Zimbabwe when he was in exile in Lusaka, could
not have avoided seeing evidence of the collapse of agriculture, the
shabbiness of the streets. But he must have also noticed the people were
having a good time. His main point in his show-opening speech was about the
need for economic recovery so Zimbabwe could become what it had been, when
he knew the country quite well, the "regional breadbasket". Few, including
Mugabe, could have avoided concluding that Zuma was saying, in other words,
leave productive farmers alone. Let them water the little green shoots. But
Zanu PF predictably only picked up, through the state media, Zuma's call for
Western "sanctions" to be lifted. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation,
which has the only radio stations, did not record the second part of Zuma's
sentence when he said that without full compliance with last September's
political agreement, there would be no Western aid as the West had certain
benchmarks about human rights and governance.

At the end of his speech, Zuma noted, from the podium in the members
enclosure, that Africa needs to respect human rights. One of the victims of
Mugabe's disregard for human rights, Tsvangirai, was sitting a few feet
away. Zuma noted there was more stability in Zimbabwe: that it had started a
"healing" process, and referred obliquely, without naming it, to South
Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He stroked the common bonds of
"history and heritage". Some were disappointed that he didn't have tougher
words for Mugabe. Maybe he did in private because it is impossible not to
know that Mugabe continues to obstruct the power-sharing agreement as he
tries to hold on to his only remaining power, the state. Maybe Zuma's
greatest contribution on his visit to Zimbabwe, was to show, albeit briefly,
that he cares.

Zimbabwe's recovery must be completed with speed

http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/09/09083012151001

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 30 Aug 2009

Harare - In order for Zimbabwe to successfully recover, the Global Political
Agreement must be implemented without any delay, says President Jacob Zuma.

The President was speaking at the conclusion of his two-day official visit
to Zimbabwe at the opening of the Harare Agricultural Society Show on
Friday.

He said the Global Political Agreement, signed in September last year, aimed
at resolving long-running political tensions in the country, needed to move
with speed and progress.

President Zuma reiterated that there were clear signs that Zimbabwe was on
the road to recovery, however the challenge "we now face is to ensure that
the country's recovery is completed in the shortest space of time.

"For this to happen, it is absolutely necessary that the Global Political
Agreement be fully implemented without delay."

As part of efforts to encourage this process, President Zuma met with the
signatories to the agreement in his capacity as Southern African Development
Community (SADC) Chairperson.

In meetings on Thursday night and Friday morning, the parties discussed the
critical issues relating to its implementation.

The parties agreed on the need to speed up implementation and to find
solutions to the current points of disagreement.

The important factor is that there was commitment among all parties, which
will make the movement forward possible. This is important, the President
said, for restoring confidence in the country and the economy.

"The achievement of an effective recovery is also dependent on the removal
of sanctions and other measures that hold back economic development," he
said.

President Zuma used the opportunity of opening the agricultural show to call
on the international community to remove any remaining hindrances to
Zimbabwe's recovery.

At the same time, he called on all parties in Zimbabwe to work together to
remove any remaining obstacles to the implementation of the agreement.

President Zuma further added that South Africa has always stood with
Zimbabwe in the search for a solution to the challenges facing the country,
and remains committed to working with partners in Zimbabwe and the region to
encourage further progress.

This visit takes place ahead of the SADC summit on 7-8 September in the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

This will provide an opportunity to review progress in the implementation of
the agreement, and for the countries of Southern Africa to reaffirm their
commitment to assisting Zimbabwe.

President Zuma expressed his confidence that this visit had served to
strengthen even further the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the
people of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

"Most importantly, it is our wish that it should help take forward the
implementation of the Global Political Agreement", President Zuma said. -
BuaNews

MDC-M chooses Stevenson for Senegal post

From The Sunday Mail, 30 August

Sunday Mail Reporter

The MDC-M has moved to take up its allotment of diplomatic posts under the
Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by the three principals to the
inclusive Government by nominating former legislator Mrs Trudy Stevenson for
the position of Zimbabwe's ambassador to Senegal. Mrs Stevenson, the party's
secretary for research and policy and former Member of Parliament for Harare
North, is already undergoing training with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
as she prepares to assume her new role in the West-African country. The
decision to second Mrs Stevenson to the position came after the party's
first nominee and House of Assembly Member for Insiza South constituency Mr
Siyabonga Ncube, declined the ambassadorial post last week. The MDC-M
leadership had envisaged that Mr Ncube's appointment would create a
parliamentary seat for the party's deputy president Mr Gibson Sibanda who
needs a seat in the legislature to regain his position as Minister of State
for National Healing and Reconciliation. Mr Sibanda was appointed to Cabinet
in February but failed to secure the mandatory legislative seat within three
months forcing him to assume the position of Special Advisor on National
Healing and Reconciliation. MDC-M spokesperson Mr Edwin Mushoriwa last week
confirmed Mrs Stevenson's nomination, adding that the party was looking at
securing a legislative seat for Mr Sibanda

Bob loud about Libya visit

http://www.thetimes.co.za

Moses Mudzwiti Published:Aug 31, 2009

ZIMBABWE'S ageing President Robert Mugabe yesterday departed for Libya to
attend the AU summit, which kicks off today in Tripoli.

Dogged by rumours of ill-health owing to his secret jaunt to Dubai, Mugabe,
85, this time made sure the whole of Zimbabwe knew he was going away and for
what purpose.

State radio had all the details complete with Mugabe's extended title: "The
head of state and government and commander in chief of defence forces,
President Mugabe, has left for Libya."

Much had been pinned on President Jacob Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe last week,
but so far it seems the jury was still out on two matters - Mugabe's health
and Zimbabwe's contentious power sharing.

The octogenarian has reportedly developed a habit of holding onto railings.

Notably at the Harare agriculture show on Friday, Zuma easily went up the
small stairway to the podium, while his elderly counterpart had to use a
railing for support.

As for difficult matters about Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's complaints
to Zuma, it appears the South African president has deferred his verdict to
next week when the SA Development Community meets in the DRC.

Zuma, who is the chairman of SADC, told Zimbabweans that "no problem was
insurmountable".

Zimbabwe's schools might not open on Wednesday if the government fails
to persuade teachers to call off their intended strike.
Teachers' unions have warned government of a stay-away if their salaries are
not improved.

Teachers earn less than R1500 a month.

ZEC election funds run out

http://www.herald.co.zw

Monday, August 31, 2009

By Zvamaida Murwira

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not have money to hold by-elections
in constituencies that have fallen vacant across the country in recent
months.

In an interview, ZEC chairperson Justice George Chiweshe said apart from the
fact that the Government has not made any proclamation on by-elections, the
electoral body did not have the funds to carry out such a task.

At least eight House of Assembly and four Senate constituencies have fallen
vacant, either because the incumbents have died or they have been expelled
from the august House.

More seats could fall vacant as a number of legislators are facing criminal
charges in the courts. In terms of the Electoral Act, an MP loses his/her
seat once convicted of a criminal offence.

Justice Chiweshe said ZEC relied on Treasury to run elections and at the
moment no funds had been allocated for that purpose.

"Yes, we have been notified of the existence of vacant seats.

"We can only act if there has been a proclamation setting dates, which is
obviously done by the Executive.

"They, however, do this in consultation with us because we need to prepare
as well.

"There are also budgetary issues. We get money from Treasury through the
Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, our parent ministry.

"At the moment, no budgetary provision has been made to us to carry out that
exercise."

The inclusive Government has since its inception been running on a
shoestring budget, with the bulk of revenue going to salaries and other
recurrent expenditure.

Justice Chiweshe said while his commission was allowed to raise its own
funds, such money would have to be approved by the parent ministry and would
be used mainly to cater for operational expenses.

"So with regard to holding of by-elections, major issues lie with the
Executive," he said.

Senate seats to be filled include Gokwe South, which fell vacant after Cde
Jaison Machaya's appointment as Governor and Resident Minister for Midlands
Province, and Chiredzi following the appointment of Cde Titus Maluleke as
Governor for Masvingo Province.

The others are Chegutu and Gokwe-Chirumhanzu. The Chegutu seat was won by
Cde Edna Madzongwe, but it fell vacant after she was elected President of
the Senate. Gokwe-Chirumhanzu fell vacant after Mr Patrick Kombayi's death
in June.

House of Assembly constituencies that are vacant include Matobo North
following the election of Mr Lovemore Moyo (MDC-T) as Speaker of the House
of Assembly.

Bindura North and Mutare North were left vacant following the deaths of Cdes
Elliot Manyika and Cde Charles Pemhenayi (Zanu-PF) respectively.

Both legislators died in road accidents.

Cde Cletus Mabharanga, who won the Guruve North parliamentary seat on a
Zanu-PF ticket, died last year.

Emakhandeni-Entumbane fell vacant two weeks ago following the death of MDC-T's
Mr Raphel Dube, while the remaining three vacancies arose following the
expulsion of Mr Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East), Mr Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi
South), and Lupane East legislator Mr Njabuliso Mguni from the MDC.

According to Zimbabwe's laws, a by-election must be held three months after
a seat falls vacant.

But under the terms of the Global Political Agreement which gave birth to
the inclusive Government, the three signatory parties cannot for now contest
against each other in any by-elections till after the 15th of next month.

60 Zim cops for SADC peacekeeping exercise

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Correspondent Monday 31 August 2009

HARARE - Zimbabwe will send 60 police officers to take part in the regional
Southern African Development Community Standby Force peacekeeping exercise,
police chief Augustine Chihuri said at the weekend.

The peacekeeping exercise, code named Golfinho, will take place in South
Africa.

"It is the region's thrust to ensure everlasting peace and stability, which
is conducive for sustainable economic development," police commissioner
general Chihuri told the officers who will participate in the exercise.

"You are pioneers that will be involved in setting up precedence of
peacekeeping within the region," he said, adding the SADCPOL code of conduct
would be their terms of reference in the performance of their duties.

The Zimbabwean police team will be led by senior assistant commissioner
Faustino Mazango who would also be the commander of the SADC Standby Force
Brigade.

In 2004, SADC heads of state and government mooted the idea of establishing
a reservoir of peacekeepers after noticing that there was need to
synchronise peacekeeping operations in the region.

The setting up of the body was also a result of diplomatic tiff between
Harare and Pretoria when President Robert Mugabe, who was then chairman of
SADC defence and security, unilaterally sent the Zimbabwean army to
participate in the 1998-2002 war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The then SADC chairperson and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was
not keen for the region to take part in the war which later sucked in armies
from eight African nations including Angola, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe to
protect the late DRC leader Laurent Kabila.

The war ripped the DRC into rival fiefdoms, with rebels backed by Uganda and
Rwanda controlling vast swaths of territory rich in coffee, gold and tin.
Angola and Zimbabwe fought for Congo in exchange for access to copper and
diamond concessions. - ZimOnline

Diamond council wants Zim suspended

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Nokuthula Sibanda Monday 31 August 2009

HARARE - The World Diamond Council has urged government participants in
Kimberly Process Certification System (KPCS) to act decisively to ensure
that mining of diamonds at Zimbabwe's controversial Marange diamond fields
complies with KPCS standards.

The council, which represents the diamond industry in the KPCS, said it
would call for Zimbabwe's suspension from the world diamond trade should
there be further delays in resolving the issue of the Marange fields also
known as Chiadzwa diamond fields, where Zimbabwe's army is accused of gross
human rights violations and engaging in illicit diamond trade.

The KPCS, that includes governments, civil society and the diamond industry
monitors world diamond market to prevent trade in conflict gems or diamonds
mined to fund wars and conflict.

WDC chairman Eli Izhakoff: "The World Diamond Council believes that, in
addition to combating the scourge of conflict diamonds, the Kimberley
Process has helped to safeguard these benefits that are shared and enjoyed
by thousands of people in communities across the region.

"If these recommendations are not implemented, and addressed in an
acceptable timeline, the World Diamond Council will have no hesitation in
calling for the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme."

A KPCS team that visited Zimbabwe in June called in an interim report for a
temporary ban on trade in diamonds from the Marange fields after unearthing
gross human rights violations and other illegal activities at the notorious
diamond fields.

The probe team that was headed by Liberian deputy mines minister Kpandel
Fiya said it discovered abuses of civilians in Marange which it said must be
stopped. The team said it had discovered and observed a variety of illegal
diamond mining and processing activities in Marange.

However Zimbabwe's army and police have refused to leave Marange while
Harare denies allegations of human rights abuses and says calls to ban
diamonds from the controversial diamond fields were unjustified because
Zimbabwe was not involved in a war or armed conflict.

But Izhakoff insisted Zimbabwe must comply with the recommendations of the
KPCS team.

The government of Zimbabwe, in particular, must develop an action plan in
accordance with the recommendations of the review; so that diamonds from the
mine in Marange can be managed in a manner fully compliant with the
requirements of the Kimberley Process and also maximize the value of these
diamonds for the benefit of the Zimbabwean people, Izhakoff said.

In particular, a process for the demilitarization of Marange must be
developed quickly and identifiable milestones established so that monitoring
can occur.

He added: "for this success to continue, and for the sake of the Kimberley
Process' integrity, it is essential that governments act now - and be seen
to act - to provide the political will and resources necessary to assist the
Zimbabwean government in restoring security for the people of Marange and
re-establishing compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification
Scheme." - ZimOnline

Power utility company plunges Bulawayo into darkness

http://sundaystandard.info   Botswana

by Sunday Standard Reporter in Bulawayo
30.08.2009 10:08:25 A

Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo, has been plunged into darkness
after the troubled state-owned electricity company, the Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority (ZESA), disconnected electricity from residential and
industrial areas over unpaid bills.

Zimbabwe is currently facing severe power outages as regional suppliers have
reduced power supplies that the nation's power utility can import into the
country at any given time due to a failure to pay-off debts.

To raise this money, the power utility company issued ultimatums to
customers to pay up their debts or risk being switched off.
The company gave customers who have not paid their bills from February to
settle them by June 30 or risk a switch off.

Since February when Zimbabwe's economy started using multi-foreign
currencies most people are not able to settle their bills as employers are
still paying paltry salaries in foreign currency.

However, since Monday this week, ZESA workers went on rampage in Bulawayo's
residential suburbs and industrial areas switching off electricity over
unpaid bills, plunging the city into darkness.

"We have been directed by our superiors to disconnect electricity from all
houses and factories with outstanding bills since February. All those people
who have outstanding bills should know that we are coming to their homes or
business premises to switch off electricity to force them to settle
outstanding bills," said one ZESA worker.

The worst affected areas are Cowdray Park, Sizinda, Pumula, Tshabalala,
Nkulumane, Emganwini, Nketa high density suburbs and Belmont industrial
areas where ZESA workers began disconnecting electricity on Monday.

The outstanding bills for most residents range from US$100 to US$200.

ZESA spokesperson, Fullward Gwasira, said: "We are not going back on this
process. People were given enough time to settle their bills but they
ignored us. The company is broke at the moment and we have also to raise
funds to import more electricity."

In response Bulawayo residents and business people accused ZESA of being
unfair by disconnecting electricity when the company has not been providing
enough electricity everyday due to load shedding.

"Considering that we go for long hours without electricity, our bills become
a mockery. I understand that ZESA, like any other company, would want to
raise money for its operations but what they are doing is unfair," said
Nqobani Ndlovu, a Bulawayo journalist.

ZESA is at risk of being switched off by regional powerhouses if it fails to
settle the more than US$57 million debt it owes.

ZESA imports power from regional powerhouses mainly from Mozambique's
Hidroelectrica De Cahora Bassa, which it owes millions in US dollars.

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 29th August 2009

Despite the upbeat reaction, Vigil supporters were pessimistic about the outcome of Zuma’s visit to Zimbabwe. South Africa has clearly dropped its ‘Crisis – what crisis?’ blinkers – but Zuma doesn’t seem to have grasped that the crisis is not just economic.   There was nothing in his public statements to suggest that he understood the gravity of the situation or was prepared to do anything about it.

For instance, Zuma could start by stopping the supply of SA ammunition to Mugabe. John Huruva, one of the early MDC people in the UK, is convinced that this ammunition is to be used against the Zimbabwean people. Vigil supporters discussed an article he had written in which he says ’we have seen the same kind of scenario in Rwanda where almost a million civilians were massacred’.

What kind of scenario is John talking about? Zanu-PF’s strategy, he says, is to hold on to power at all costs. As its popularity wanes it relies more and more on state brutality driven by the desire to protect their loot, the fear of facing justice and the realisation that their party will not win a free and fair election. Huruva believes that beatings etc as a strategy for ‘winning’ the next elections have already started in remote rural areas.  ‘What is almost certain,’ he says, ‘is that the killings are coming.’

Mr Huruva has agreed to come along to the next Vigil to discuss his article, which you can see via this link: http://www1.zimbabwesituation.com/old/aug29_2009.html#Z15

Some early comments by people at the Vigil:

·         ‘One thing about Zanu-PF: they have always made clear their murderous intentions. People must take them at their word.’

·         ‘Hate speech is getting worse again. You can see from the way the government reported Zuma’s remarks that nothing has changed.’

·         ‘Zanu-PF doesn’t care about aid to rebuild the country. They are OK.’

·         ‘The SADC meeting in DRC will only thank Kabila for flying Chinese arms to Mugabe.’

Given all the talk about the economy, the Vigil was surprised that one announcement seems to have escaped attention. Dun & Bradstreet has rated Zimbabwe as the worst place in the world to invest in – along with Afghanistan. D & B’s credit ratings are used by banks and businesses throughout the world. 

Discussion of the situation at home kept us busy on an otherwise (for us) rather quiet Vigil – not surprising as it was the start of the late summer long weekend holiday. 

We were joined at the Vigil by David Adelstein, who is making a film about Zimbabweans in the UK based around the Vigil, called Vura Nzita – ‘Open the Road’. David said he was invited to show part of the film to an MDC meeting in Oxford but when the organizers found out it would show Tsvangirai being booed at Southwark Cathedral they pulled the plug.  When people asked why the film was not being shown, the organizers said there wasn’t time for it. The large audience was pretty unhappy about this so David says they can contact him on cinema-action@hotmail.com if they want him to show the film.

Thanks to Constance and Takunda Manyimani who were at the Vigil ahead of the start to help unload and set up the Vigil. Thanks also to Edwick Office and Gladys Mapanda who helped on the front and back tables throughout the Vigil.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/

FOR THE RECORD:  115 signed the register.

FOR YOUR DIARY:

·         ROHR Coventry party. Saturday 5^th September from 4 pm till midnight. Venue: St Paul's Church, Foleshill Road, Coventry CV6 5AJ. Food, drinks, ne Doro available. Admission £3.50. Contact (Chairman) E. Nyakudya 07876796129, (Secretary) Pauline Makuwere 07533332306, (Organizer) Matambanashe Sibanda 07886660392, (Treasurer) V.J Mujeye 07534034594.

·         ROHR Northampton and Kettering general meeting. Saturday 12^th September from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: St Mary's Church Abbey Road, Northampton, NN4 8EZ. ROHR UK Executive present.  Contact: Norian Chindowa 07954379426, A Chimimba 07799855806, Willard Mudonzvo 07591686724, Marshall Rusike 07884246888, Hazvineyi Masuka 07795164664. P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.

·         Zimbabwe Vigil – 7^th Anniversary. Saturday, 10^th October at 6.30 pm.  The Vigil started on 12^th October 2002 and we are marking this anniversary on the nearest Saturday to that date.  There will be a social gathering after the Vigil, downstairs at the Bell and Compass, 9-11 Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NA, next to Charing Cross Station at the corner of Villiers Street and John Adam Street.

·         ROHR West Bromwich general meeting. Saturday 31^st October from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: St Peters Church Hall, Whitehall Road, West Bromwich B70 0HF. ROHR Executive and a well known lawyer present. Contact Pamela Dunduru 07958386718, Diana Mtendereki 07768682961, Peter Nkomo 07817096594 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 0793221607

·         Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Vigil Co-ordinators

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

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Public officials should declare their assets

It is an irony that some of Zimbabwe's wealthiest people are found amongst
senior  civil servants and politicians   who earn very meagre official
salaries and allowances.These public officials flaunt their ill-gotten
wealth with such reckless abandon that one begins to wonder who Zimbabwe's
most lethal enemy really is ; so-called ''illegal'' sanctions imposed by
Britain and her allies  or the naked greed and rampant corruption of those
who call themselves our leaders? There is,therefore, an urgent need to
introspect and interrogate ourselves in an honest and legitimate endeavour
to exorcise the ghost of corruption in both the public and private
sectors.We will soon ascertain that Zimbabwe's present economic malaise and
socio-political quagmire is largely a direct result of unbriddled corruption
that has been allowed to be a culture of our lives; particularly since we
attained independence in 1980.The cancer of corruption has firmly taken root
in the Zimbabwean society so much so that it has literally destroyed the
fabric of our very being as a nation state.In some instances,we have
celebrated the gains of corruption and deliberately created '' celebrities''
out of people whose wealth is clearly ill-gotten and in some cases, a direct
result of  criminal activities.Thus,in a way, we have condoned downright
thievery and sugar-coated it as a good example of indigenous
entrepreneurship and localised financial engineering.Social tolerance of
corruption has wrecked havoc with the Zimbabwean economy.

Corruption is broadly defined as the misuse and/or abuse of entrusted power
for private gain.In Zimbabwe,like in many other parts of the developing
world,corruption has become institutionalised.It cuts across all facets of
our lives; from the executive,the judiciary and the legislature.In most
government offices in Zimbabwe today, paying a bribe is considered an
essential prerequisite for getting a service done; indeed, the only avenue
for accomplishing results.In Kenya,there is a popular saying that goes : ''
Why hire a lawyer,if you can buy a judge?''  Addressing a workshop in
Bulawayo a few weeks ago,the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable
Lovemore Moyo, promised that he will fight to ensure that all members of
parliament declare their assets in the assets register to be kept at
Parliament; which register is supposed to be a public document.When I read
about this solemn declaration by Honourable Moyo, I was so happy and excited
that I felt like grabbing the telephone and phoning him to thank him for
coming up with such a brave and principled position!  As parliamentarians
elected by the people, we certainly should be exemplary and we should set an
example for all other citizens by starting to declare all our assets in the
assets register.These should apply to all members of parliament; from
Cabinet Ministers and the presiding officers of Parliament down to the
backbenchers.The assets declaration has to be honest and completely
comprehensive and complete.In instances  where a member of parliament makes
a false and/or incomplete  declaration of assets, appropriate penalties that
include dismissal from Parliament should be imposed.Countries like Australia
have similar provisions and this has largely helped in stamping out
corruption amongst elected officials.I am acutely aware of the fact that
Honourable Moyo's plan will  be fiercely opposed by those of our collegues
who have skeletons in their cupboards.But then,this is not a popularity
contest.If we are all patriotic as Parliamentarians and if we are seriously
concerned by the need to mitigate or better still,eradicate corruption in
our motherland,we should all come out in support of Honourable Moyo's grand
plan.Infact, the new constitution should specifically provide that all
members of parliament are obliged to declare their assets immediately upon
being sworn into office.Indeed,this provision has to be constitutionalised.

With the advent of multi-currencing in Zimbabwe,it is a notorious fact that
civil servants are very poorly paid.I am not ashamed to announce to the
world that members of parliament earn USD200 per month.But then as members
of parliament,we should not expect to earn a living through the salaries
that we get.Ours is a public service where monetary reward should not be the
primary motivation.We are there to serve and not to be served.Anyone who
aspires to be a member of parliament so that they can earn a fat salary and
become rich overnight, be my guest! As parliamentarians,we are supposed to
play an oversight role over the activities of the executive arm of the
State.We are the eyes and ears as well as the mouths of those people who
elected us into office.It is incumbent upon us to behave honourably and
honestly all the time both in our public and private lives.As
parliamentarians we are public figures to whom society looks up.We are role
models.Assuming that we are as honest and forthright as we promise the
electorate when we are on the campaign trail,we should not have any problems
at all in declaring our assets.That is as it should be ; the more so when we
refer to ourselves as agents of democratisation.

Lest I am misunderstood by the readers; I am not by any stretch of the
imagination, suggesting that members of parliament should be poor people who
live rough.No.What I am submitting is that members of parliament should be
free to acquire wealth,as long as they do so honestly and
legitimately.Personally,I believe in the accumulation of wealth and I have
absolutely no apology to make about this.I sincerely and whole-heartedly
believe that the honest accumulation of personal wealth is one of the
cornerstones of a normal and ambition-driven human existence.Thus,anyone who
desires to live the life of a pauper cannot be my role model.Whilst I hate
and denounce naked capitalism with a passion,I also
believe,passionately,that every normal human being should strive to lead a
life of comfort and relative affluence.There is no contradiction
there.Denouncing naked capitalism doesnot make me a proponent of poverty and
destitution.

The declaration of personal assets should not be limited to members of
parliament alone.My argument is that all civil servants,without
exception,should be made to declare their personal assets immediately upon
commencing work in the public service.The necessary constitutional provision
should be contained in the new constitution under the Public Service
Commission.The same should apply to all members of the judiciary as well as
the Police and armed forces.If we are serious about fighting corruption,we
have no other choice but to follow this route.Our judiciary faces a very
pecular problem.Judges and magistrates are expected to perform their duties
impartially and independently.However,the politicisation of the selection
process for magistrates and judges has led to a judiciary that is severely
compromised; a judiciary that is predisposed to the executive and
thus,vulnerable to corruption and manipulation.

Recent press reports in Zimbabwe have caused a stir.We have read about the
exploits of a certain cabinet minister who has managed to accumulate
fabulous wealth over the years of his service in government.For here is a
man who owns an immovable property in literally every city and town of
Zimbabwe.This man is incredibly wealthy and we are all interested in
knowing,exactly,how this honourable member of Parliament and Cabinet
minister  has managed to become so filthy rich whilst the majority of
Zimbabweans wallow in poverty.Is it becauses he is such a gifted
enterpreneur or is it simply because he is so horribly corrupt and greedy?
The jury is still out on this one.It also appears our moribund
Anti-Corruption Commission has a clear opportunity to prove that it is
actually still in existence.Going forward, as a nation we should never
tolerate corruption.Our corruption-fighting tools should now be sharpened
and made more lethal.Whether you are MDC or ZANU( PF) if you are found to be
corrupt,you should be send to jail and all the ill-gotten wealth should be
confiscated by the State.The inclusive government has to come out very
clearly against corruption.It should make it abundantly clear that
corruption will not be tolerated in the new political dispensation in
Zimbabwe.The time to eradicate corruption and all the evils associated with
it is nigh.

By Senator Obert Gutu