Zimbabwe PM: Military involved in violence

Associated Press

Aug 7, 8:39 AM EDT

By ANGUS SHAW

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwe's prime minister on Sunday accused the
military of deploying to villages to attack civilians appearing to back the
former longtime opposition leader who now shares power with the country's
president of more than three decades.

"They should be at the epicenter of defending the people and not attacking
and brutalizing them," Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said of the military
in a nationwide message on the eve of a two-day public holiday marking the
guerrilla war that led to independence in 1980.

Tsvangirai urged the military to "leave politics to the politicians," and
said the symbolic Heroes Day and Armed Forces Day holiday needed to be a
reminder of the impartiality demanded of police and the army in the
constitution.

Military commanders loyal to President Robert Mugabe have refused to salute
Tsvangirai, a former labor leader who did not fight in the guerrilla war
that ended British colonial rule.

They accuse him of being a security threat for his pro-Western links. One
general in the military command has spoken out against Tsvangirai and vowed
the military will not recognize him as the country's leader if he defeats
Mugabe in elections.

"We naturally take umbrage at the militarization of our politics and the
politicization of the military," Tsvangirai said.

Rights groups blame police and troops for much of the state-orchestrated
violence surrounding election campaigning since Tsvangirai founded his
Movement for Democratic Change a decade ago as the first major challenge to
Mugabe's party.

Military officers have also been drafted into posts in the electoral
administration and other state bodies.

The prime minister's party has called for reforms in what it calls "the
security sector" under the power-sharing agreement that followed disputed
and bloody elections in 2008. It has demanded "securocrats" return to their
barracks, but Mugabe has refused to allow regional mediators to investigate
the party's complaints against the police and army.

Monday honors fallen guerrillas in the seven-year bush war that swept Mugabe
to power as well as political leaders of his party buried at Heroes Acre, a
shrine in western Harare. Tuesday's holiday is celebrated with military
parades.

Tsvangirai said troops deployed in villages across the country had a
national duty to be disciplined and non-partisan.

He said lawmakers and ordinary Zimbabweans were assaulted, arrested and even
killed for supporting his party.

"We must think long and hard whether this can be the legacy of true national
heroes" who freed the nation from colonial-era domination, Tsvangirai said.

Leave Politics To Politicians: Tsvangirai Urges Zim Military

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare August 7, 2011- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for the
confinement of the country’s military forces to barracks saying that would
stop them from brutalising defenseless civilians.

Tsvangirai made this statement ahead of the heroes and defence forces days
commemorated on the second Monday and Tuesday of August every year.
Tsvangirai castigated certain members of the military and urged them to stop
meddling in politics.

“The past few years have seen the deployment of some members of the army
into the villages to brutalise and attack innocent civilians on the basis of
their political affiliation”.

Tsvangirai added, “It is international best practice that the army should
confine itself to the barracks and leave politics to politicians,” said
Tsvangirai.
The Zimbabwean army has in the last 30 years been accused of perpetrating
coordinated killings of innocent civilians.

More than 20 000 people were killed in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 80s
during a massacre led by fifth brigade against President Robert Mugabe’s
opponents.

In June 2008 more than 500 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were killed
in state sponsored violence masterminded by the army.

Tsvangirai said soldiers be “at the epicenter of defending and protecting
the people and not attacking and brutalising them”.

The Prime Minister has received condemnation from the army for calling on
them to stop ‘militarising villages’.

“As leaders, we have no reason to be fighting our national institutions if
they are performing their national duty. But we naturally take umbrage at
the militarisation of our politics and the politicisation of the military.
Zimbabweans want protection from their defence forces,” Tsvangirai said.

The MDC has called for the reform of the security sector before the next
elections. But Mugabe and his Zanu PF are blocking the reforms.

Tsvangirai criticised Zanu (PF) for turning the Heroes and Defence Forces
commemorations into political party events. He said the actions by Mugabe
and Zanu PF were demeaning the sacrifices made by those who fought in the
liberation struggle.

“It is demeaning to the great sons and daughters of this land; indeed an
affront to their national contribution, to give the impression that their
sacrifice should be the narrow and parochial possession of Zanu (PF), the
MDC, ZAPU or Mavambo,” said Tsvangirai.

He added: “So this great day cannot be privatised by any political party.
Even the selection of our heroes and heroines must not be the exclusive
preserve of any political organization”.

The Premier added, “the MDC’s national council, the Zanu (PF) Politburo or
any organ of any party cannot bastardise a great national day such as this
one to be a day of cheap rhetoric and sloganeering; a day of name-calling
and politicking.”

Zimbabwe near Test win

http://www.sportal.co.nz/

8/8/2011 04:51 AM

Zimbabwe need seven wickets to win their first Test match since 2005, as
they restricted Bangladesh's second innings in Harare on Sunday.

The hosts began their second innings on day four at 92-4, but a maiden Test
century from debutant captain Brendan Taylor helped Zimbabwe to a commanding
position.

Taylor struck an unbeaten 105 from 175 deliveries, putting on a partnership
of 113 runs with wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (59), before adding another 86
with Craig Ervine (35 not out) at the crease.

The Zimbabwe skipper then declared with his side 374 runs ahead with four
sessions remaining.

Bangladesh got off to a flying start, indicating their intentions to try and
win the match, as Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes shared in a partnership of 65
in less than 14 overs.

Iqbal departed for 43, bowled by Chris Mpofu, but Kayes and Nafees continued
cautiously, putting on 22 for the second wicket.

Kyle Jarvis was the man to strike for Zimbabwe, as he dismissed Kayes and
Nafees in 15 of his fast-medium deliveries to deliver a blow to the
tourists' hopes of winning.

Mohammad Ashraful (19) and Mushfiqur Rahim (four) are unbeaten at the
crease, with their side requiring 263 more runs for an unlikely triumph.

For Zimbabwe, it would be an historic victory, as the Test marks their first
five-day encounter since they lost to India on the same ground in 2005.

The African nation consequently voluntarily rescinded their Test status
after that embarrassing defeat - with encouragement from the International
Cricket Council - but recently regained it in their attempt to add to their
eight wins in 84 Tests.

MDC wants police to act within law

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

VLADIMIR MZACA | 07 August, 2011 03:00

The Zimbabwe Republic Police should operate within the confines of the law
in a way that seeks to serve justice, MDC-T MP for Mutare Central, Innocent
Gonese, has told the Senate.

Gonese was making presentations during the second reading of the Public
Order and Security Act Amendment Bill this week. "We have a serious problem
in that regard where the police have applied or misapplied and
misinterpreted the law," he said.

The Public Order and Security Act (Posa) was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2002
by a Zanu-PF dominated parliament. The Act was amended in 2007. The chief
architects of this piece of legislation when it was formulated were
Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Chinamasa.

Political activists and civic organisations regard Posa as what helped
President Robert Mugabe consolidate his power. The law gave untold powers to
the ZRP. Through this legal framework, the partisan ZRP members have the
final say when it comes to public gatherings such as rallies.

This year, a series of MDC-T rallies have been banned by the police. In
their defence, the police argued that they did not have the manpower to
monitor the rallies.

Gonese, who introduced the Posa amendment drive in 2009, told the Senate
that freedom of association and expression was vital in a democratic system.

"In Article 12 it reads freedom of assembly and association recognising the
importance of the freedom of association in a multiparty democracy and
noting that public meetings have to be conducted in a peaceful and
democratic manner and in accordance with the law the parties have agreed,"
he said.

Gonese said what frustrated people who tried to apply for public meetings
was how the police interpreted the law.

"The first mistake, is mistaking notification with application. You write to
the police informing them that you intend to hold a public meeting or a
public demonstration. In your letter you clearly indicate that you are
simply notifying them and their response will be 'permission is refused' as
if you are applying to them.

"Even in circumstances where they mistakenly think they are giving you
permission, they will say your application has been approved and then they
will continue to give you various conditions," he added.

But Gonese faced resistance from some Zanu-PF members when its MP from
Uzumba-Marambapfungwe, Senator Oriah Kabayanjiri, said Gonese wanted to
undermine the role of the police in Zimbabwe.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwondzora said the police had been unfriendly
towards the MDC-T and there was need to have a ZRP that was not partisan.
"The police have banned many MDC-T rallies with no explanation instead of
supervising them. Everyone should be protected by the police without
favour," he said.

Parts of Posa are carried over from the Rhodesian law used to counteract the
armed struggle in the 1960s and 1970s.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza), a civic group which occasionally has run-ins
with the police, also wants to see change.

Some of its members have been arrested during demonstrations and some beaten
up in the process, and last month the organisation's offices were raided by
the police.

"The police should guide us and not intimidate us. A lot of us have been
arrested and even tortured. If Posa is amended things will become far better
and we will continue to have peaceful demonstrations against bad governance.
Posa takes away civil rights," said Jenni Williams from Woza.

The more antidemocratic sections of Posa are those which make it an offence
to "cause disaffection among police force or defence force", "publish or
communicate false statements prejudicial to the State" and "undermine the
authority of, or insult, the President".

Moyo goes to court over anti-Mugabe articles

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

THENJIWE MABHENA | 06 August, 2011 11:19

Serial turncoat and Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo says the
anti-President Robert Mugabe articles he penned several years ago are now
offending him.

Moyo, the architect of Zimbabwe's tough media laws, made the revelation in a
summons he issued to a local weekly, the Zimbabwe Independent, seeking an
order to restrain the newspaper from publishing, printing, reproducing or
adapting the original work, or selling or offering for sale, copies of his
anti-Mugabe articles.

Moyo wants the high court to order the Zimbabwe Independent to deliver to
him all copies of articles he wrote for the newspaper and those which are in
the newspaper's possession or under its control and all the plates which
were used in the production of the pieces of writing.

In addition, the former information, media and publicity minister is also
claiming $20000 in damages from the editor, Constantine Chimakure, and
publishers, ZimInd Publishers.

Moyo's actions come almost a month after The Zimbabwe Independent reproduced
one of his articles, entitled "Mugabe puts nation's survival at great risk"
which he wrote five years ago and which was first published by the
newspaper.

In the article, which he wrote exclusively for the Zimbabwe Independent in
2006 after falling out with Zanu-PF and Mugabe, Moyo detailed how the
octogenarian leader posed a "fatal danger to the public interest of
Zimbabweans" and was putting "the nation's survival at great risk".

The article is just one in a series of flip-flopping by the Tsholotsho North
legislator.

Moyo claims he is the proprietor of his literary works, which he wrote for
the newspaper after being fired from Zanu-PF for breaking party rules by
flagging himself as an independent candidate in the March 2008 parliamentary
elections.

The ex-information minister is also suing the Daily News for allegedly
republishing articles attacking Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

The relicensed Daily News has been running a series of Moyo's articles under
the title "Gems from Jonathan Moyo" but he has now sought an order to stop
their publication, arguing his rights were being infringed.

No censure for Chinamasa over SMM

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

SIMPLICIUS CHIRINDA | 06 August, 2011 11:24

Zimbabwe's Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa this week
escaped censure on a charge of contempt of parliament.

The reprieve came when Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo ruled that
Chinamasa did not act in a manner that brought the work of parliament into
jeopardy when he executed the takeover of collapsed asbestos mining firm
Shabanie Mashaba Mines (SMM) from businessman Mutumwa Mawere.

A committee of parliament leading investigations into how the firm was taken
over by the government had raised the possibility that Chinamasa might have
lied under oath during parliamentary deliberations.

Chinamasa is said to have promised to make available copies of SMM bearer
share certificates that he said were in the possession of the government to
the Mines and Energy Committee - a promise he never fulfilled, raising the
committee's suspicion that he lied.

The committee wanted him charged under a parliamentary select committee
rule. But in delivering his ruling, Moyo said the committee had not
exhausted all the legal processes at its disposal in its endeavour to secure
the production of the bearer share certificates from Chinamasa.

"The committee should have proceeded by way of summons issued by the clerk
of parliament for the minister to produce the documents. If he had failed to
comply, then that would have amounted to contravening the Privileges
Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act and disobeying any summons issued.
He has no prima facie case against him,'' Moyo said while delivering his
judgment on Thursday.

In the same ruling Moyo criticised Chinamasa's appointed administrator of
SMM, Afaras Gwaradzimba, saying he had undermined the institution of
parliament when executing his duties.

SMM is now under the control of the Ministry of Mines. Mawere, who was
recently cleared of any crimes following his specification in 2004, is still
battling to recover his business empire.

Zim enters diamond big league

http://www.timeslive.co.za

ZOLI MANGENA | 07 August, 2011 04:23

Despite rampant corruption, smuggling and looting of diamonds, Zimbabwe has
entered the top 10 league of the world's gem-producing countries.

The development indicates the troubled nation could yet recover from a
decade of economic ruin if good governance is restored.

Zimbabwe is now ranked as the seventh biggest diamond-producing nation in
the world, according to global rankings released on Friday.

According to figures released by the diamond regulator, Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS), and reproduced by US trade gem regulator,
Rapaport, Zimbabwe produced diamonds worth $334-million last year and is now
ranked seventh in the world.

The rankings show that Botswana is the world's top gem producer with
$2.5-billion, followed by Russia, which produced diamonds worth
$2.38-billion, and Canada, with diamonds valued at $2.3-billion.

South Africa comes in at fourth position after its mines produced gems worth
$1.8-billion, while Angola produced $976-million and is rated fifth. Namibia
is now ranked sixth after producing $744-million.

Zimbabwe has been operating under strict and tight KPCS monitoring. This is
because most of the country's diamond earnings are from the controversial
alluvial Marange or Chiadzwa fields.

There are, however, other diamond mining operations around the country.

During the period under review, global rough diamond production by value
rose by 39% year-on-year in 2010 to $12-billion, according to the KPCS.

The value figure was still below the peak year of 2008, when production
totalled $12.73-billion.

In terms of carat volume, rough diamond production rose by nearly 7% to
133.12 million carats. The average price per carat produced rose by 30% to
$90.13.

Despite Zimbabwe's entry into the top 10, diamond production is riddled with
corruption, sleaze and theft.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti last week intensified his complaints about the
lack of transparency and accountability in the Chiadzwa field.

Biti said in parliament on Tuesday during the presentation of the fiscal
policy review statement that Zimbabwe had exported more than 700000 diamond
carats since the beginning of the year, but the exports and revenues
declared were not tallying.

Biti said it was worrying that while Zimbabwe exported 716958 diamond carats
to outside markets, only $103.9-million was realised.

He said this was happening at a time when diamond prices continued to firm
on the international front, with carat prices fluctuating between $1300 per
carat and highs of $5000 per carat.

"It is worrying to note that there is no connection whatsoever between
diamond exports made by Zimbabwe and the revenues realised thereof. It is
worth noting that out of 716958.90 diamond carats exported from Zimbabwe in
the period under review, only $103.9-million was accounted for through CD1
forms submitted at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe."

"About 18% of the diamonds mined from Marange diamond fields are of gem
quality; 23% of diamonds mined from the Murowa diamond fields are industrial
diamonds. We need to put in place proper mechanisms to monitor the movement
of the diamonds from the point of mining, marketing, export and trade."

According to Zimbabwe's 2011 national budget, the country's mineral
resources contributed 4.9% of GDP and 65% of its exports in 2010.

By some definitions, this makes Zimbabwe resource-rich, although the mineral
revenues that actually accrue to the state are minimal and significantly
less than one might expect.

Zimbabwe was in June allowed to sell its diamonds under close KPCS
monitoring amid heavy protests from the US, Canada and the European Union.

The KPCS, which evaluates and monitors international diamond trade to
prevent the selling of conflict diamonds, started when Southern African
diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000 to
discuss ways to stop the buying and selling of blood diamonds.

Tourism minister calls for alternative to ZBC

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

HARARE Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi (pictured) has bemoaned governments
reluctance to licence new media companies, saying Zimbabwean society has
been divided by a polarised media.
20.10.1001:56pm
by MISA

Speaking at the official opening of this years Sanganai/Hlanganani Travel
Expo in Harare, Mzembi said the media played a pivotal role in marketing the
country, yet very few media organisations operated in the country. This
situation led to local journalists writing for the foreign media, which did
not tell the Zimbabwean story from a Zimbabwean perspective.

We still have one broadcaster and no alternative, he said.

The formation of Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), which replaced the
Tafataona Mahoso-led Media and Information Commission (MIC), left
Zimbabweans with the hope of seeing other broadcasters coming into play, but
nothing has happened to date, with Zanu (PF) against the idea of freeing the
airwaves.

Mzembi is the first Zanu (PF) member to openly call for the liberalisation
of the airwaves in Zimbabwe.

ZNA deserters fight for justice

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Zimbabwe National Army deserters currently seeking refuge in South Africa
are calling on the Southern African Development Community, the United
Nations and partners in Zimbabwe’s shaky unity government to discuss their
plight.
05.08.1107:33am
by CAJ News

Many of them want to return home, but fear persecution. About 7 000
ex-members of the ZNA have joined forces here to form the Affected Military
Men Of Zimbabwe Association (Ammoza) with a view to tackling the
socio-economic challenges they face in exile.

Ammoza mostly comprises soldiers who joined the army after 1985. They are
bitter that the politicians are ignoring the plight of soldiers whose
careers were brought to a grinding halt by the country’s economic and
political crisis that has tarnished the image of the once professional army.

The former soldiers formed Ammoza in 2007 - partly to show their
disgruntlement at being used by President Robert Mugabe's regime as tools of
oppression by their corrupt commanders.

Zimbabwe’s security commanders have openly declared their allegiance to
Mugabe, declaring that they will not salute anyone who does not have
“liberation war credentials”, while the army is accused of violating the
rights of those opposed to Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party.

The army deserters said the ZNA lost credibility the moment current army
Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, took over as head of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces from the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe.

"Things became so bad that from the rank of Major to Private, if you were
not a war veteran you were daily treated with suspicion that you supported
the opposition,” said Thembinkosi Dube, a deserter from the 5th Brigade
Headquarters in Kwekwe, in Zimbabwe’s Midlands province.

“So whenever you saw a war veteran you had to start insulting the MDC (Zanu
(PF)’s opposition and partners in the unity government) so that you could be
left alone.

"When we joined the army we were taught by great commanders like Colonel
Lionel Dyke not to engage in politics as that was a matter for civilians.
But the moment Chiwenga took over he would send (controversial
Brigadier-General) Nyikayaramba to go about politicising soldiers to be
supportive of his party Zanu (PF) or else they would be thrown out of the
army with nothing," he added.

Nyikayaramba is currently at the centre of a storm after publicly declaring
that Zanu (PF) would win the next polls without stating how he knew this.

Dube is the chairman for Ammoza in Johannesburg and said his organisation
had registered former ZNA soldiers scattered throughout South Africa, mainly
in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Nelspruit in
Mpumalanga.

Dube also said chief among the reasons that led to desertions from the ZNA
was refusal by authorities to process resignation and retirement papers,
alleging that those who wanted to leave wanted to join the opposition.

"Life as a soldier had become painful; a commander could take rations and
fuel and sell them in full view of powerless military police. I served
loyally for 21 years and 8 months so you can imagine the pain of deserting
and forfeiting my pension and everything that I had worked for," said a
distraught Dube.

Another deserter, a former Major from 53 Infantry Battalion who requested
anonymity, said he fought with a war veteran in the officers’ mess over
politics and when he learnt that a court martial and jail sentence awaited
him he was left with no option but to run for freedom.

Amoza said they were still waiting to hear from the litigation centre in
South Africa if there was any progress in registering their organisation as
they wanted to collectively sue the government of Zimbabwe.

MDC-T seeks to free Mbare

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

The MDC-T is strategizing ways through which it can free the people of Mbare
from the reign of terror instigated by Zanu (PF) thugs Chipangano – who have
declared a war on the people.
05.08.1107:32am
by Fungai Kwaramba Harare

In an interview the Chairman for Harare Province, Paul Madzore, said that
his party controlled Mbare but Zanu (PF) was bussing in thugs to terrorise
the people.

“We are looking at ways through which we can restore people’s rights in this
area. We are going to look at the strength of our structures,” said Madzore.

Zanu (PF) supporters have declared Mbare a no-go area for MDC supporters and
are harassing people in numerous ways – including preventing those living
with HIV and AIDS from access to treatment.

The police have done nothing to arrest the known perpetrators of violence,
who are also looting from innocent traders.

Chipanagano, sponsored by Zanu (PF), has made life especially difficult for
women and children. The thugs have vandalized boreholes claiming they were
drilled by an MP from the MDC.

“There is no doubt that the MDC has more supporters in Mbare. People who are
beating up vendors are not from here. They are hired thugs,” said a resident
of the restive suburb.

Madzore said his party was looking at peaceful means through which Mbare
residents could be freed from the youths’ tyrannical behaviour. “We are in
the process of reconciling and we will find solutions,” he promised.

Mugabe scared to go

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Writer
Sunday, 07 August 2011 16:05

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has put it straight to Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai that he has no plans to leave office anytime soon because
he fears that doing so would mark the demise of his party.

Mugabe told Tsvangirai that due to acute divisions and a serious battle to
succeed him in Zanu PF, he was scared to quit now because the fights to
succeed him would tear the party apart.

In an interview with The Africa Report, Tsvangirai said he had held
discussions with Mugabe concerning his plans to leave office in which the
87-year-old told him that now was not the right time for him to retire.
Tsvangirai also spoke about Mugabe’s health.

Said Tsvangiraui: “Yes, I’ve talked to him (about his departure). His excuse
is that he needs to make sure his party is strong, but he’s also worried
about the degree of deep divisions, irreconcilable divisions, within his own
party. So that in itself is a matter of concern,” said Tsvangirai.

The divisions Mugabe referred to, Zanu PF sources have indicated, centres
around the two camps within the party whose figure heads are battling to
succeed him.

Vice President Joice Mujuru, who has the backing of her husband, retired
army general Solomon Mujuru, for long seen as a kingmaker, is said to be
leading one faction while Emmerson Mnangagwa, seen in political circles as
Mugabe’s preferred heir apparent, leads another faction.

However, both factions have openly dismissed reports they are interested in
taking over from Mugabe as they are scared of the octogenarian leaders’
response which is usually ruthless.

The divided camps have ensured Mugabe has stayed in power for 31 years
without anyone from Zanu PF challenging him.
They have all often chosen to hide behind the usual Zanu PF tune that there
is no vacancy at the top whenever the succession debate resurfaces.

Tsvangirai used his interview with Africa Report to give his thoughts on
what should happen if Mugabe, who has been to Asia five times this year on
suspected medically-related visits, is incapacitated and declared unfit to
continue presiding over the affairs of the state.

Tsvangirai said there were constitutional provisions that explains the
procedures that should be followed to replace Mugabe.

“There are constitutional measures (in place to deal with this situation).
The Vice President takes over for a while, then we go to an election. That
is the constitutional position. I can’t foresee any situation in which there
would be any measures to try to undermine that. There will not be any
constitutional crisis, because there is a constitution that takes care of
that eventuality,” he said.

Tsvangirai also said the president’s health was now a “matter of national
concern.”

“President Mugabe’s health is a matter of national concern. He’s not getting
any younger. But I think the biggest failing is not about his health, it’s
about a clear succession plan within Zanu-PF."

“That is the crisis because if there was a clear succession plan there would
be no worry."

“People die, they know that. But if he leaves it in a political vacuum it
then creates problems for the country. So that is the concern. His health
for a man of his age fluctuates. There are days when he is strong, there are
days when he also is not,” Tsvangirai said.

In addition, he said, the contentious security sector reform issue that his
party has been pushing for as part of the electoral roadmap discussions was
now a baby of the National Security Council.

“That matter is also getting the attention of the National Security
 Council,” he said.

“But it would appear that there is a conflict between policy and operational
directives.”

Commenting on statements made by Brigadier General, Douglas Nyikayaramba as
well as other high-ranking army officials who said they will not recognise
him as president if he wins the next election and that he was a national
threat who should not be allowed to rule the country, the MDC president said
his party was convinced the generals were aware they submit to civilian
authority.

“When such statements are issued, they’re against policy. And they are
against the accepted norms and standards of a military. How do you get a
third ranking, fourth ranking army brigadier making a statement?"

“The question is not an MDC or Zanu PF government. The question is that to
what extent are these institutions loyal to the civilian authority, as
represented by the mandate of the people. If there’s no respect for that,
then who are you despising? You’re despising the will of the people…then
where do you get your legitimacy?” Tsvangirai asked.

Mutinhiri cleared

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Bridget Mananavire, Staff Writer
Sunday, 07 August 2011 15:50

HARARE - Zanu PF has hauled Tracy Mutinhiri, its deputy minister for labour
and social welfare, before a disciplinary hearing for allegedly working
closely with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

Sources said the hearing, conducted in Marondera on Friday, cleared
Mutinhiri of the charges.

“Allegations were that Mutinhiri was now working more with MDC councillors
and yet at development level she must work with Zanu PF,” said a source. It
was not possible to get an official Zanu PF comment while Mutinhiri was
unreachable.

Mutinhiri has been fighting efforts by internal rivals to liquidate her.

Early last month, Mutinhiri claimed she was marked for death as hundreds of
people she described as “Zanu PF militia sent by Sydney Sekeramayi” invaded
her farm.

Over 20 police officers in riot gear and armed with AK47 rifles had to
protect Mutinhiri from the mob.

Mutinhiri told the Daily News on Sunday then that she had become enemy
number one within her party because comrades were jealous of her good
fortune and closeness to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mutinhiri said this was not the first time her life had been threatened.

“I was almost abducted at Marondera Hotel about two months ago and the
perpetrators had sprays with them. That is when we started taking caution on
the farm,” said Mutinhiri.

The combative politician is known to oppose Sekeramayi, who together with
Vice President Joice Mujuru are the longest serving government ministers
having worked for President Robert Mugabe in cabinet since Independence in
1980.

This makes them natural candidates to take over from the 87-year old.

Mugabe, who says he will run in the next election, has previously admitted
that internal jostling for his post by top ministers has often turned nasty
hence his hesitancy at retiring.

Mutinhiri’s problems in Zanu PF, particularly in her Mashonaland Easthome
province, have been mounting since she attended the burial of her brother
Innocent Muzuva, an MDC supporter who died in a car crash in September last
year.

She spoke glowingly about the MDC at the event.

Yesterday, Mutinhiri said internal rivals buried her fate within the party
when she accompanied Tsvangirai on a working trip in Mutare late last month.

She said her “enemies” were using her comfortable association with
Tsvangirai to justify their actions.

“I travelled to Manicaland with the Prime Minister for the drought
mitigation programme and when I came back I heard that Sekeramayi held a
meeting to invade my farm,” she said.

“It is not fair to brand me because Saviour Kasukuwere (youth development
minister) went to Gweru with the Prime Minister. So why am I being
 targeted?” Mutinhiri questioned then.

Youths excluded from key policy matters: Madhuku

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Young People in Zimbabwe are excluded from key national events such as
constitution-making and national healing, says a leading youth rights
organization.
06.08.1102:43pm
by Fungai Kwaramba Harare

In a statement issued ahead of International Youth Day on Thursday, the
director of Platform for Youths Development, Claris Madhuku, said the Global
Political Agreement, which ushered in the hybrid government, had failed
young people.

“From the constitutional reform to the national healing programme, the
voices of the young people have been drowned. Violence continues to
escalate, with the security sector fingered in acts of intimidation and
partisanship. By excluding young people the GNU has failed,” said Madhuku.

Youths constitute 60 percent of the country’s total population.

“The ongoing constitutional reform process still leaves a lot to be Desired.
The youth are still not being effectively consulted,” she added.

“PYD challenges the COPAC team to stand strong against manipulation by
politicians of any colour. Participation of young people in the
constitutional process is critical, yet it leaves a lot to be desired. This
is likely to embarrass the government during the referendum stage.”

Despite the youth being often involved in political violence – many as
victims – they feel excluded by the national healing process.

“National healing will remain a farce unless and until the youth, who were
both victims and perpetrators – at the instigation mainly of Zanu (PF) - are
involved at every stage of this important process. Fresh cases of political
violence and rivalry in the rural areas are continuing unabated,” said
Madhuku.

Apart from failing to protect the youths in marginalized communities PYD
also alleges that the coalition government has failed women. “Harmful
cultural practices are still being propagated to violate the rights of girls
and young women,” she added.

Zim, Mozambique’s ‘dirty’ row

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

By Own Correspondent
Sunday, 07 August 2011 15:52

MUTARE - Relations between Zimbabwe and Mozambique are turning dirty.

A rubbish dumpsite near the Mozambican border here is threatening smooth
relations between the historically close neighbours.

So serious is the issue that Mozambique recently dispatched envoys to
Zimbabwe to ensure the matter is resolved before diplomatic ties between the
historically close neighbours start to decay.

The matter has dominated recent Mutare city council meetings.

Mutare city councillor and chairperson of the public works committee Noel
Nezomba said the Mozambicans wanted the dumpsite relocated within three
months but council was too broke to comply.

The Mozambicans are pressurising the local authority to quickly find a new
site as the one along the Forbes border post has been linked to a spate of
cholera outbreaks in Mozambique as the waste is reportedly polluting water
in Munene River which supplies the Mozambicans.

The eastern neighbours are peeved with the garbage at the city’s dumping
site which the Mozambicans say is posing a serious health hazard to its
people.

Mozambique blames past outbreaks of communicable diseases such as cholera to
the dumpsite. The dumpsite is situated about 5km downstream of Munene River
which flows into the former Portuguese colony.

Mozambican authorities recently visited Mutare to push local council
officials to act on the matter.

Moquiene Candieiro, the mayor of Mozambique’s Manica town led the delegation
to Mutare.

Officials said the Mozambicans were irked that the city of Mutare is
continually dumping rubbish near the border which then finds its way into
rivers flowing into that country posing a serious health hazard to its
citizens, livestock and wildlife.

“A delegation of Mozambican officials including the mayor of Manica province
has been here to address the matter which is likely to cause a diplomatic
uproar,” said Nezomba.

“The Mozambicans want the dumpsite moved away from the current site to
another area before the onset of the rains as the rains aggravate the
situation apart from the current hordes of flies that are a nuisance to both
Mozambicans and Zimbabweans staying close to the dumpsite,” said Nezomba.

Attaliah Gweru, who chairs the council’s committee on environment, said the
council had told the Mozambicans it was too broke to immediately move the
dumpsite to an alternative place.

“The council informed the Mozambicans it did not have the money to relocate
the dumpsite elsewhere for now as demanded by the Mozambicans, though plans
are underway to move it to a secluded area,” said Gweru.

Ester Fernando Tondo, head of the Mozambican consulate in Mutare, said
delays by Zimbabwean authorities in moving the dumpsite seriously affected
her country’s citizens.

“The baleful effects of the Mutare city dumpsite occur during the rainy
season as water flows from the dumpsite to rivers which pass through Manica
city, where the community use that same water for consumption, thereby
leading to the outbreak of water-borne diseases,” said Tondo.

Farmers fight on

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

HARARE CORRESPONDENT | 07 August, 2011 04:22

The Commercial Farmers Union, which last week elected a new leadership, is
pushing for the compensation of white farmers dispossessed by President
Robert Mugabe's controversial land reforms.

The CFU says the land grab has cost the Zimbabwe economy $12-billion in lost
agricultural production over the past decade.

About 4500 farmers were pushed off their properties.

Due to a diplomatic tiff with Britain, the former colonial master, Mugabe
has refused to compensate the farmers, arguing that successive British
governments should foot the bill for his land reforms.

But Charles Taffs, the new president of the CFU, said the white farmers'
pressure group was taking the issue of compensation very seriously. The CFU
has submitted a proposal to the inclusive government.

"Let me be clear, compensation is not being driven for the sole benefit of
those who have lost their homes and businesses. Compensation is being driven
for all. To achieve compensation will be to reinstate the value of land
tenure, allowing all to move on with the security needed to plan for the
future," said Taffs.

Taffs said compensation for the farmers was an issue of national importance,
saying it was the key to unlocking funds desperately required to revive the
agricultural industry.

"Without compensation being achieved, our country will continue to be a net
importer, it will continue to be a dumping ground for inferior products and
trade, it will continue to be donor-dependent, and, specifically for us, our
sector will continue to decline.

"Until legal transfer has been achieved our farmers will never be
competitive within the region, as funding will always be risk-loaded,
driving production costs upwards, negatively impacting on viability.

"It saddens me that, while the politicians play, Zimbabweans are being
isolated in terms of business participation due mainly to our inability to
source competitive funding, allowing other countries to come in and exploit
those very opportunities. As an example we have become the largest African
supermarket for South African products. This needs to change and it needs to
change now."

Taffs revealed that the compensation drive itself was well advanced and was
beginning to be taken seriously by all, including the government and the
international community.

"Our Way Forward proposal has been canvassed widely both at home and abroad,
creating a strong platform for dialogue which is now really becoming
positive," he said.

Outgoing CFU president Deon Theron, as reported by the Sunday Times last
week, revealed that the bulk of the land seized by Mugabe went to his family
and the Zanu-PF inner circle.

Zimbabwe is bottom of the list for aid

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

Vladimir Mzaca | 07 August, 2011 04:22

Zimbabwe is competing for limited donor resources in a region of conflict.
Government needs $488-million in foreign aid to deal with humanitarian
needs, but as Zimbabwe is not experiencing the worst of the conflict in the
region, it is getting a smaller slice of the funds.

Alain Noudéhou, the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator for
Zimbabwe, said: "We are well aware that globally we are competing for
resources with dire humanitarian situations like the drought in the Horn of
Africa and the crisis in the Middle East and North Africa ."

The UN says since the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed things are
improving in Zimbabwe.

However, there are some grey areas that still need urgent attention, such as
food security, health and child welfare.

"The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to be stable, but elements
of fragility remain cause for concern in key sectors such as food security,
health and nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene," says the UN in its
Consolidated Appeal for Zimbabwe 2011 Midyear Review.

"Food security remains a pressing issue with achievements at risk from a
protracted dry spell which affected six out of 10 provinces this year. Rates
for chronic and acute childhood malnutrition still stand at 35% and 2.4%,
respectively.

"One-third of rural Zimbabweans still drink from unprotected water sources,
and while the scale of cholera has significantly reduced compared to past
years, localised outbreaks continue due to the poor state of the health and
water, sanitation and hygiene sectors."

The UN says politics will determine how Zimbabwe gets out of its troubles.

"The country's economy continues to make progress, but challenges remain in
attracting large-scale investment to push the country out of generalised
humanitarian need towards recovery and development," it says.

The donor community is contributing 29% of the spending on relief efforts in
agriculture, education, food, health, water sanitation and infrastructure.
Food gets a bigger share with 56%.

Presidential herd under fire

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

VLADIMIR MZACA | 07 August, 2011 04:23

The presidential herd - a herd of elephants granted "perpetual protection"
by President Robert Mugabe - faces severe threats as mines and human
settlements mushroom in their conservancy in Matabeleland North.

Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema has
declared that doing anything that harms the presidential herd is as good as
going against Mugabe.

"Anyone who shoots at the presidential herd is as bad as someone shooting at
the president. When you shoot at these animals, you can expect to be shot
back at. If you kill them, you will also be killed. No one should compromise
the presidential herd," said Nhema.

However, it is Zanu-PF officials who have been implicated in poaching
activities around the country.

This is especially so in Matabeleland North, where the biggest national
park, Hwange, is located, as well as investors who have been given mining
concessions in that region.

The presidential herd and all the other animals in the Sinamatella area of
the Hwange are in danger from toxins that are found in the surrounding
rivers.

Makomo Resources, a coal mine given a licence despite protests from
stakeholders in Gwayi and Dete, is in the heart of the Hwange National Park.

"Mining activities right inside the national park are not healthy. You will
find toxins that pollute the water that is taken in by the wildlife.

"So if the presidential herd and other animals consume this water what would
become of our remaining animals?" said Langton Masunda, the Gwayi
Conservatory chairperson.

"Since this is the presidential herd we are talking about, no other activity
should be given priority over a species that the president dedicated to
protect."

Hwange National Park is part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Park
between Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.

It covers 30000 square kilometres encompassing the Okavango and Zambezi
river basin, including a total of 36 national parks, game reserves,
community wildlife areas and wildlife management areas such as Victoria
Falls, Hwange, Okavango Delta, Chobe Game Reserve and Caprivi Strip.

The protected area is the 14th cross-border conservation area in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mining activities on the Zimbabwean side are starting to affect the park's
wellbeing as animals are exposed to dangerous toxins and hungry farmers in
Zimbabwe.

"Activities on the ground are a breach of regional agreements. Part of the
agreement among member states says that animals should move freely and their
ecology should not be disturbed, but now that things are changing on the
Zimbabwean side in a few years the whole region will start feeling the
effects," added Masunda.

With more than 20 mines given licences in the area, humans are also at risk.

The extraction of coal is likely to culminate in water pollution through
acidic mine drainage.

Though water affected by acidic mine drainage can be treated, this comes at
a cost and it would definitely strain the budgets of the country and local
authorities.

South Africa is also struggling to contain acidic mine drainage at some of
its mines.

In the late 1990s Hwange Colliery Company Limited failed to control the
acidic mine drainage from one of its disused mines and the pollutant flowed
into the Deka River, killing aquatic life and livestock. Children also
developed health problems after consuming the polluted water.

Asylum-seekers still look for refuge in SA

http://www.timeslive.co.za

ANDREW MUBAYIWA | 06 August, 2011 11:16

Close to 900000 Zimbabweans have applied for asylum in South Africa,
official figures show, dashing any hopes that an exercise to issue work and
study permits to the immigrants could help to ease the overload on the
refugee-handling system.

Department of Home Affairs statistics also show a steady flow of new
refuge-seekers from Zimbabwe, with an average of about 5000 a month received
since December, when the department closed applications for work, business
and study permits under its Zimbabwean documentation project, which is due
for finalisation by month-end.

The department launched the project last year in a bid to regularise the
stay of immigrants who had entered South Africa illegally, offering a
temporary amnesty, during which migrants, many of whom had either initially
sought refugee status or fraudulently obtained permits, were invited to
apply for permits.

But the offer appears to have failed to entice Zimbabweans to drop claims
for asylum, with only 275762 people - or about a third of the number that
have sought refugee status - applying for permits.

The department said there were 849988 Zimbabwean nationals in the country
with Section 22 permits, also known as asylum seeker temporary permits,
which indicates the number of applications processed since 2008.

Applications received between January and July this year amounted to 34774,
said the department.

The vast majority of asylum applications fall outside the Geneva Refugee
Convention's definition of a refugee as someone forced to flee his or her
country because of persecution, war or violence.

Many are ordinary job-hunters or economic migrants seeking refugee status
because it is easier to obtain Section 22 permits than work permits. Holders
of Section 22 permits are allowed to work while awaiting a hearing of their
application.

Civil society groups said the department should have invested more resources
in building trust among the immigrants.

"Some (immigrants) felt it was a trap to get them deported . maybe not
enough was done to build trust within the migrant community," said Mpilo
Shange-Buthane, the director of the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in
South Africa.

The People against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty's Braam Hanekom said
the department was viewed with suspicion among immigrants, because what the
senior department officials say is often contrary to the actions of their
junior staff on the ground.

Massive increase in 2nd hand car imports

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Second-hand motor vehicles imported from the Far East have taken Zimbabwe by
storm, with the vehicles now familiar in most cities and towns.
05.08.1107:27am
by Zwanai Sithole Harare

The influx of imported cars began with dollarization of the economy
following the formation of the inclusive government in 2009, and has created
a lot of congestion on the roads.

Imported vehicles like Ipsums, Spacios and Mazda Bongos are now common on
the country’s major highways, where they are being used by public
transporters. Streets in the main cities are clogged with vehicles.

According to clearing agencies, the importation of the vehicles has soared
following the government announcement that it would soon ban second-hand
vehicles that are more than five years old.

Already cars dealers have started stocking up before the government effects
the ban. Statistics show that at least 3 400 vehicles are imported per
month, compared to about 3 000 imported for the whole year in 2007.

Most of the owners of these second-hand cars are middle-class citizens,
whose dreams of living a modest life, let alone owning a car, were shattered
by years of hyperinflation.

“I bought my Toyota from Japan for $500, but the total landing costs
amounted to $1600. This is really nothing comparing that local companies are
selling cars at an average price of $25 000. Without this facility, I could
not have owned a car in my entire life” said Elliton Ncube, a teacher at a
private school.

Miriam Machingauta , a sales lady at local footwear manufacturing company,
said she bought a Toyota Subaru from Japan last month at a total landing
cost of $ 2 000.

“I have been working for the past 20 years and I could not afford to buy
myself a car. With these second-hand imported vehicles, everyone working
person in the country can now afford to buy a car,” she said.

The “boom” in the second –hand motor vehicles has emerged as a serious
threat to such major players in the industry such as Zimoco and Wilowvale
Mazda Motor Industries, who are accused of selling cars at prices beyond the
reach of many ordinary Zimbabweans.

Zim govt has suspended holiday lessons

http://bulawayo24.com

by Ndou Paul
2011 August 07 12:33:59

The Zimbabwe government has suspended holiday lessons for non-examination
classes with immediate effect following the revelation that some teachers
are unfairly "extracting" money from parents under the guise of helping
pupils.

In an interview last week, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister
Senator David Coltart said his ministry wanted to curb tendencies by some
teachers of relaxing during the term while hoping to conduct paid extra
holiday lessons.

"We are not against holiday lessons, but we have noticed that some teachers
don't do adequate teaching during the term for them to facilitate paid extra
holiday lessons. The Government cannot tolerate such tendencies thus the
idea that extra lessons must be opened for (exam) writing classes only,"
said Sen Coltart.

The minister also said extra holiday lessons for writing classes - Grade
Seven, Form Four and Six - would be conducted under the inspection of
education officials that would monitor unscrupulous teachers taking
advantage of the facility to generate money.

Recently, the Government distributed 59 Nissan Hardbody trucks worth US$1,3
million to enable education inspectors to monitor teaching standards in
schools.

Each province across the country was allocated at least four vehicles with
Bulawayo and Harare receiving two each.

Monitoring of schools had been slowed as most education officers did not
have transport to move around the schools.

"Holiday lessons should be driven by the honest motive to assist pupils
fully prepare for their examinations. If schools and teachers feel there are
certain areas pupils need to catch up on, that’s when they should facilitate
holiday lessons rather than to initiate them for monetary benefits,"
Minister Coltart said.

Of late, there have been numerous complaints by parents accusing teachers of
masterminding holiday lessons to line their pockets.
In some instances even primary teachers have been fingered for piloting
extra lessons for non-exam classes.

In Bulawayo, teachers from schools including Mpopoma, Milton High and St
Columbus have been accused of abusing holiday lessons for personal benefits,
where they are allegedly charging between US$10 and US$15 per subject a
month for O- and A-Level pupils respectively.
Meanwhile, Sen Coltart says his ministry has prepared a five-year strategic
plan to be presented to Cabinet for approval. He said the plan is a roadmap
that will guide the

Government in the resuscitation of the education sector. “There has been
significant improvement within the education sector since the formation of
the inclusive Government. Therefore, the main thrust of the plan is to
consolidate the achievements we have scored so far as Government intensifies
efforts to stabilise the sector,” he said

Source: The Sunday Mail

Zimbabweans and Money . . . Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 6th August 2011

Details of how elements in Zimbabwe are trying to hi-jack our sister organisation Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) were given at the Vigil by ROHR’s President, Ephraim Tapa. He said the organisation was becoming increasingly prominent with its non-party political campaign for human rights but – like most Zimbabwean organisations – it had been infiltrated by people with other aims. Now that ROHR was attracting the interest of potential donors a small group had seized the opportunity to unconstitutionally try to take it over. Four people have consequently been expelled.

Vigil supporters were glad to hear of the situation at first-hand from Ephraim. The Vigil founded ROHR and has financially supported it from the beginning.  Here are some of the comments the Vigil has received following the press statement we released on the situation (http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/press-releases/325-zimbabwe-vigil-statement-on-rohr-). 

·         ‘Clear hijacking. It happened to me but I stopped it. Typical work of CIO, causing confusion and havoc. Let’s unite against such thugs.’ Betty Makoni. Founder of Girl Child Network.

·         ‘Well done to all concerned’ – a Zimbabwean parliamentarian.

·         ‘From my own observations and studies, I have noticed that the Mugabe regime targets NGOs involved in human rights activities for infiltration, destabilisation and harassment using terror laws like POSA and various others. While I don't mean to suggest the named four individuals may be CIO agents, I would not be surprised if they were found to be through a good vetting process.’ Clifford Mashiri, Zimbabwean political commentator.

·         ‘Oh dear – sorry to hear that. Zimbabweans and money . . . grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr’ – a newspaper publisher.

Zimbabweans and money rang a bell given reports that the police in Harare are ‘intensifying their probe’ into the alleged misuse of government money for the Prime Minister’s house (see: Tsvangirai under US$1,5m probe – https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/aug6_2011.html#Z1). These allegations have been floating around for a while but their deadly seriousness only became clear to us when we realised that Tsvangirai’s uncle Hebson Makuvise is said to be involved. Vigil supporters remember how Makuvise (now Ambassador to Germany) was responsible for the destruction of the MDC in the UK when he was Tsvangirai’s high representative here. The MDC has yet to publish a report it commissioned on the alleged corruption in the MDC UK during his time here. Instead Tsvangirai has chosen to marginalise the diaspora.

Continuing on the theme of Zimbabweans and money, Vigil supporters were not surprised that:

1.     Chitingwiza town council has spent US$500,000 on cars for the town clerk and three other council officials.

2.     Mugabe has given US$50,000 to Wendall Parson, co-winner of this year's Big Brother Africa reality show who had already received loads of money from the competition. Mr Mugabe would have been better advised to donate this money to the starving millions in the horn of Africa. We have heard about the UN’s appeal for going-on half a billion dollars for the annual Zimbabwe humanitarian aid necessary because of his misgovernance – but we have yet to hear  how much Mugabe is giving to save the starving children on whose behalf he was speaking at the UN conference on youth a couple of weeks ago. (Check: Famine crisis: Africa's leaders postpone fundraising conference by two weeks – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/
8682144Famine-crisis-Africas-leaders-postpone-fundraising-conference-by-two-weeks.html)

Other points

·         One of our supporters Louisa Musaerenge said she had received the following threatening email apparently targeting Vigil supporters: ‘Murikupedza nguva muchiimba ku London pasi peziso ra baba Mugabe kupusa chose ticha kubvumburisai one by one you want boiling oil over you heads your brain has bin frozen there come here we sort you out dogs of english man. They laugh you all the time this whities, you bin used to wipe ass come and agriculture here home is gud’. (For attention UK Border Agency.)

·         We were glad to have with us Josephine Chari who has just been released from detention. She said how grateful she was for the Vigil’s support when she was threatened with deportation.

·         There was a smaller attendance today because of travel problems. Vigil team member Fungayi Mabhunu spent most of the day trying to escape from the M25 motorway around London paralysed by a 30-mile tailback caused by an accident which closed both carriageways. 

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: 59 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe.

·         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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QukqctWc3XE.

·         ROHR Manchester Meetings. Saturday 13^th August (committee meeting from 11 am – 1 pm, general meeting from 2 – 5 pm). Venue: The Salvation Army Citadel, 71 Grosvenor Road, Manchester M13 9UB. Contact; Delina Tafadzwa Mutyambizi 07775313637, Chamunorwa Chihota 07799446404, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161, Artwell Pfende 07886839353. Future meetings: 10^th September, 8^th October, 12^th November, 10^th December. Same times / venue.

·         ‘Rituals’. Tuesday 23^rd August at 7 pm. Venue: Amnesty International UK, The Human Rights Action Centre, 17 - 25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA. This is a musical and inspirational journey through community-driven healing processes following traumatic and violent experiences in Zimbabwe. It is produced by author Stephen Chifunyise and director Daves Guzha, whose cast spent four nights in jail. They were acquitted in March in what has been described by the press as a landmark case in terms of freedom of expression and artistic creativity. Tickets from Amnesty at £5 can be booked via: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/events_details.asp?ID=1907. Amnesty is hosting this production by the Zimbabwean theatre company Rooftop Promotions following its run at the Edinburgh fringe festival.

·         ROHR Manchester Vigil. Saturday 27^th August from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Cathedral Gardens, Manchester City Centre (subject to change to Piccadilly Gardens). Contact; Delina Tafadzwa Mutyambizi 07775313637, Chamunorwa Chihota 07799446404, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161, Artwell Pfende 07886839353. Future demonstrations: 24^th September, 29^th October, 26^th November, 31^st December. Same time and venue.

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

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

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

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.

A generation of readers

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

A non-profit organisation has been established to encourage the general
public to read.
06.08.1106:21am
by Rejoice Ndlovu

Rava Zimbabwe Rava Trust (which means Read Zimbabwe Read in English) was set
up to inspire and motivate a reading culture for self-development and to
empower the general public.

“We believe this will positively change mindsets and empower the people and
society to do their best in all endeavours of life,” the founder, Alfred
Munonyara, said.

The trust sources self-improvement/motivational/spiritual books and
magazines and sells them on at a reduced rate. It aims to provide
disadvantaged communities with the opportunity to read. It is committed to
stocking public libraries, prisons, mines and high density suburbs around
the country with books and computer equipment.

“The main function of our trust is sourcing and providing books as well as
advocating a reading culture through various initiatives. In order to
achieve these objectives Rava Zimbabwe Rava Trust will source funding by
appealing for support from individuals, both within and without the country,
civil society, charity organisations, and business corporations to donate
towards reading,” said Munonyara.

Rava Zimbabwe Rava is also carrying out a status audit of all libraries.
Librarians in charge of both private and public libraries have been asked to
contact the organisation on 0722410333 or email info@ravazimrava.com.

For more information on this initiative visit http://ravazimrava.com