Tsvangirai threatens to boycott early polls

http://af.reuters.com/

Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:11pm GMT

* MDC may boycott elections if called this year

* Tsvangirai says Mugabe inciting violence

By Alfonce Mbizwo

HARARE, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on
Thursday threatened to boycott presidential and parliamentary elections if
rival President Robert Mugabe called them for 2011.

Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, forced into a unity government with
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after a disputed election
in 2008 that was marred by violence, is pushing for early elections this
year.

"If Mugabe proceeds to announce an election without my agreement, that will
be a unilateral action and we as MDC will not be party to that," Tsvangirai
said.

Tsvangirai told visiting German business executives he expected a vote by
September on a new constitution, one of the prerequisites for an election.

"Once the constitutional making process is complete and a referendum is
held, Mugabe and I will sit down as the main parties and decide on the
election date," Tsvangirai said.

MDC officials say a vote this year could lead to a bloodbath and deal a
heavy blow to an economy crushed by hyperinflation about two years ago.

"I do not see elections this year, probably early next year, because it's
not just a question of holding elections, it is about creating the
conditions for a free and fair election," Tsvangirai said.

The uneasy unity government has been credited with bringing stability back
to the impoverished country, which has vast mineral deposits but has been
shunned by the West for suspected human rights abuses by Mugabe and his
party.

The MDC and ZANU-PF have traded blame for increasing violence in the past
weeks apparently tied to ZANU-PF calls for elections this year.

ZANU-PF, which lost to the MDC in the 2008 parliamentary election, feels it
is to its advantage to call an early election as the MDC is losing some
popular support as it tries to settle internal disputes, analysts said.

Critics say early elections without political reforms, including a new
constitution guaranteeing basic rights, would favour Mugabe and ZANU-PF, in
power for more than 30 years.

Zimbabwe to nationalise mines, spare Chinese firm

http://af.reuters.com/

Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:53pm GMT

* Finance minister orders audit of diamond sales

* Government ordered nationalisation last year

By Alfonce Mbizwo

HARARE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe will proceed with plans to take majority
stakes in foreign-owned diamond mines in the east of the country but will
spare a Chinese-owned mine from a state takeover, a minister said on
Wednesday.

"Cabinet will meet next week Tuesday to decide on action to take on
foreign-owned companies that fail to meet requirements to cede majority
ownership to locals," Saviour Kasukuwere, youth and indigenisation minister,
told Reuters.

Referring to the Chinese firm which owns a diamond mine in the east of the
country, he said: "We have companies that are already on the ground and have
agreed to partner with us. We will respect the conditions offered to such
companies."

Zimbabwe's government announced last year it would nationalise all alluvial
diamond mines in Marange, in the east of the country. Local media have
reported that the army had formed a diamond mining company there. The army
has not commented on the reports.

Kasukuwere said the decision to nationalise alluvial mining operations in
December was an attempt to curb diamond smuggling.

His comments come as the coalition government formed in 2009 between Mugabe
and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is embroiled in a row over diamond
revenues. Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a Tsvangirai ally, has said proceeds
have not reached the treasury.

Local media quoted Biti on Wednesday as saying he had commissioned an audit
of revenues from diamond sales after receiving $62 million so far against
the projected $174 million.

"As a result of these discrepancies, I have since instructed the
accountant-general and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to verify figures of
the diamond proceeds received so far," he was quoted by the state-owned
Herald as having told parliament.

Global gem trade regulator Kimberly Process last year allowed Zimbabwe to
conduct two auctions for diamonds from Marange. Biti says the country has
since secretly sold more but the money remains unaccounted for.

Cabinet to decide on ghost workers

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya
Thursday, 17 February 2011 17:00

HARARE - The civil service audit report which has unearthed the existence of
75 000 ghost workers will be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday where  a
decision will be made on the way forward.

According to the report, the ghost workers, who are blowing about US$20
million a month in salaries, were employed by Zanu PF.

The ministry of youth is said to have employed over 6000 in one day and they
were used to perpetrate violence in 2008.

Most of the ghost workers do not have appropriate qualifications and were
used by Zanu PF against Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters.

In an interview with the Daily News, the Minister of Public Service, Eliphas
Mukonoweshuro said the Ernst & Young report had revealed the existence of
the ghost workers and said the issue must be discussed by Cabinet first
before any decision is made."

"I am going to present the audit report to Cabinet and it is not for me to
comment on the findings.  I do not want to speculate on anything. I can only
say that some of my Cabinet colleagues are not happy with the audit
findings.

“The company was tasked to do the work by the Government of Zimbabwe and we
have to finalise their findings. So it is not for me to judge whether they
are ghost workers or not," said Mukonoweshuro.

Government employs about 188 019 workers among them the 75 000 ghost
workers.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, speaking at a public lecture on Tuesday,
expressed his concern on the findings of the audit and criticised attempts
by some government officials to rubbish the audit.

"Rather than investigate the findings of the recent Public Service audit,
they are condemning the terms of reference, because it has exposed their
abuse of the Public Service. The ghost workers prevent us from increasing
the civil servants' salaries, 6 000 employees were contracted in one day by
one ministry, after the March 2008 elections," said Tsvangirai.

The Public Service Commission has dismissed the findings of the audit report
arguing that it was incomplete.

Public service commission disputes payroll and skills audit

http://www.afriquejet.com

Administration-Zimbabwe - The payroll and skills audit conducted by Ernst
and Young (India) under contract from the Public Service Ministry is
incomplete and makes unsubstantiated claims about the number of State
employees on Government's payroll, the Public Service Commission has said.
In its response to the audit, the PSC also pointed out that the Public
Service Ministry has only availed volume one of the audit and the two others
have not been heard of. The report, it is alleged, ignored Cabinet's terms
of reference and limited itself to checking "noncompliance to regulations in
relation to police clearance, medical clearance, appointment forms and
appointment letters".

The audit proceeds to characterise 75 273 people without any one of these
documents as "ghost workers".

This is against a full staff complement of 188 019 civil servants,
suggesting that each line ministry has 2 281 ghost workers. It also means
there are just 112 746 "genuine" civil servants.

The PSC said, "Of the 112 746, 99 868 are teachers for both 5 600 primary
and 2 500 secondary schools.

"Thus if this figure (99 868) is subtracted from 112 746 (alleged genuine
civil servants) for the remaining 32 ministries (excluding Education),
including the Health Services Board (nurses, doctors and paramedical staff),
this technically translates to a figure of 403 employees per ministry."

The PSC said such an assertion -- that the other 32 ministries had an
average of just 403 employees -- was "ridiculous to say the least".

The commission pointed out that apart from Education, other big ministries
in terms of staff were Home Affairs, Agriculture, Higher and Tertiary
Education, Health, Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Public Service.

Observers have said the attempt to create a huge "ghost" workforce was
designed to make State workers think they are being poorly paid because of
corruption within the civil service system. They said this was to draw
attention away from the fact "certain politicians had promised workers more
money but are now backtracking".

The PSC itself said: "The statistical misrepresentation of facts on the
ground is a clear sign of Western machination on Zimbabwe."

The commission said the figures in the audit were "manufactured in the
Ministry of Public Service's Human Resources Repository Database".

"In the same audit report, the external auditors acknowledged that the Human
Resources Repository Database had serious statistical errors . . .

"Furthermore, the socalled payroll audit supposedly audited 188 019 civil
servants for 2008, against an authorised establishment of 193 159 posts
concurred to by Treasury for the same year.

"This means that at the time of the audit there was a vacancy rate of 5 140.

"Therefore, to allege that the socalled payroll and skills audit unearthed
75 000 over the establishment is preposterous to say the least.

"In essence, there can be no ghosts on the payroll before vacancies are
filled."

The PSC also warned against an audit recommendation that the Public Service
Ministry investigates the allegations, saying no line ministry had the
authority to probe another.

Only the PSC has such a mandate because of its statutory nature.

The PSC indicated that it carried out its own periodic audits as a matter of
course.

An audit recommendation that 2 191 civil servants who were not present
during enumeration be investigated to consider their possible dismissal was
also slammed.

"The commission concedes that there could be civil servants who could not
have turned up for enumeration due to a number of reasons such as various
leave types and school holidays.

"However, failure to show up for enumeration is not an act of misconduct.

"The recommendation contravenes provisions of the Public Service Act.

"The report is silent on who should investigate this further."

The PSC said the inconclusive nature of the audit made it hard to take
seriously and the recommendations on further investigations would be looked
at sceptically within the framework of value for money as the initial
objectives had not been met or completely ignored.

Mabasa Sasa

The Herald/16/02/2011

Wage bill threatens Zim recovery

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Edward Jones     Thursday 17 February 2011

HARARE -- Zimbabwe’s wage bill is expanding at a fast pace and will likely
grow bigger with restless civil servants clamouring for a huge wage rise,
which analysts warn would stymie a nascent economic recovery.

The unity government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai is under pressure from state employees to up their salaries,
pegged at an average $250, but the coalition is already squeezed with wages
taking up 70 percent of the country’s revenues.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are
embroiled in a bitter role over cash from diamond sales from Marange, which
Mugabe has said is available to pay civil servants but finance minister
Tendai Biti says the money is yet to reach treasury.

Economic analysts said the salary bill was unsustainable, reflecting
Zimbabwe’s government was still focusing on consumption at the expense of
creating jobs and building infrastructure.

“This state of affairs will clearly impact negatively on economic recovery.
It is unsustainable to achieve growth with a budget that focuses only on
consumption,” said John Robertson, a Harare-based economic consultant.

Biti told parliament this week that revenue inflows for January amounted to
$168 million, accruing a $34 million deficit. Of this amount, $117.6 million
was spend on salaries, pension and medical aid.

Zimbabwe is struggling to attract foreign funding and investment, leaving
little room for the finance ministry to generate revenues to meet its budget
obligations.

This has left cash from diamonds the only source to appease civil servants
in a year that will likely see fresh elections.

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has said there is enough money from Marange
diamonds to increase wages for public servants, which Biti has dismisses as
false and told parliament on Tuesday Monday that he was instituting an audit
to trace the money.

Biti has said ZANU-PF was secretly selling diamonds from Marange, where a
Chinese-owned Anjin and a company owned by the army are part of four firms
allowed to mine diamonds in the controversial area, the sight of gross human
violations by the army against unarmed illegal diggers in 2008.

This is in violation of the Kimberly Process, the global diamond regulator
that has allowed Zimbabwe to conduct two gem auctions.

The International Monetary Fund has said the southern African country should
put a tight lid on rising wage demands in the public sector, amid fears the
government may buckle to the calls for higher salaries to appease voters
ahead of possible elections this year.

The economy has started to grow after a decade of contraction, which
analysts attribute to the formation of a unity government between long time
rivals Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

“We are back at ‘kukiyakiya’ where money is just going to salaries. (This)
leaves very little room for other government operational requirements as
well as projects. It means certain areas will have to suffer,” he said. -- 
ZimOnline

High Court rules that Mutambara is not MDC president

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
17 February 2011

Arthur Mutambara’s attempts to regain control of the smaller MDC faction
took a knock on Wednesday, when the High Court ruled that he cannot ‘purport’
to be president of the party until the leadership dispute is fully resolved
in court.

Mutambara also defied a party directive to step down as Deputy Prime
Minister, claiming he did not recognize Ncube as the new party leader after
last month’s party congress. He also claimed he would wait for the High
Court to rule on an application filed by disgruntled party members unhappy
with the congress.

Bulawayo High Court judge Nicholas Ndou granted an interim relief order
which had been sought by the MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube. The order
temporarily bars Mutambara from exercising any function vested in the
presidency of the party and also stops him from interfering with the
structures and organs of the party.

The urgent application by Ncube’s party followed reports that Mutambara was
considering a reshuffle of Ministers from the party that are in the
coalition government. Mutambara was also rumoured to be planning on sacking
ministers Welshman Ncube, David Coltart and Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga
and had allegedly already approached several party MPs offering them
ministerial appointments.

In the court application the MDC-N said there was a forthcoming meeting of
the SADC Organ on Defence and Security……”at which the facilitator of the
Zimbabwe dialogue, President Jacob Zuma, will present his report on the
outstanding issues in the implementation of the GPA. The party must be
presented by its president at this meeting which is normally attended by the
presidents of the parties in the GPA.”

The MDC-N said it feared Mutambara will seek to represent the party at this
meeting “when he has no lawful right to do so.” The High Court has since
given Mutambara 10 days to file a notice of opposition to the court order.

The saga has seen Mugabe take sides with Mutambara, telling Ncube he will
not swear him in, no matter what happens.

Ncube’s camp has since said they have ‘donated’ Mutambara and the DPM post
to ZANU PF.

UK faces criticism over £100 million ‘reward’ for Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
17 February 2011

The UK government is this week facing criticism for plans to increase its
aid to Zimbabwe to more than a £100 million a year, as a ‘reward’ for
democratic reform, despite renewed political violence and rising fears
across the country.

The UK announced on Tuesday that it is committed to ‘widening’ its financial
support to Zimbabwe, “if crucial progress can be made in terms of political
stability and much needed reforms.” Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s International
Development Secretary, is set to outline the details of the planned extra
spending next month. He said on Tuesday that “it is vital that the
government prepares a new constitution which reflects the interests of the
people and puts in place conditions for credible elections.”

Tuesday’s announcement came the same day that the European Union (EU) said
it was removing 35 people from its list of targeted sanctions against the
Robert Mugabe regime. Some commentators have said that this is the result of
pressure on Western governments from diplomats, who believe the promise of
financial rewards will encourage a free election in Zimbabwe.

But observers have pointed out that these ‘financial rewards’ do not give
ZANU PF or Mugabe any incentive to implement true democratic reform. The UK’s
money is reportedly set to target improved health care, better schooling and
measures to bolster economic growth over the next four years. These are all
meant to be the government’s responsibility. As one commentator said: “Why
would ZANU PF give in to democracy when it’s getting more money this way?
They are getting money and being allowed to stay in power.”

Political analyst Professor John Makumbe agreed that this ‘reward’ approach
does not give Mugabe any reason to step down from power, “because this money
doesn’t go to the government and they have no say on how it is spent.”

He added that: “Even if they did get the money, you and I both know that
ZANU PF are the kind to take the money and still beat you over the head.”

But he also cautioned sceptics against “looking a gift horse in the mouth.”
While he agreed that this “reward” scheme could backfire, he also pointed
out that this aid is critical for ordinary Zimbabweans whose government is
not committed to serving them and their needs.

Makumbe also pointed out that Zimbabwe would not need to rely on Western
aid, if the country’s diamond wealth was harnessed for real change and was
not “lining the pockets of ZANU PF elite.”

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said this week that over US$100 million,
generated from recent diamond sales, has not been accounted for. The
diamonds were mined at the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields, which are
still being mined under a shroud of controversy. The international trade
watchdog, the Kimberley Process, has still not given Zimbabwe the all-clear
to exports diamonds, amid ongoing reports of illegal smuggling and back door
deals, which are said to involve top ZANU PF officials.

The Kimberley Process last year allowed Zimbabwe to hold closely monitored
diamond auctions, as part of efforts to pave the way for full exports to
continue. But Biti told parliament on Tuesday that the diamond sales “lacked
transparency” and that an official investigation would be launched. The
Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) has indicated that an
estimated US$174 million should have been remitted to the state treasury.
But Biti said that only US$62 million has entered the national coffers.

“Clearly the ZMDC and the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe are not
remitting in full the revenues which they have themselves declared as due. I
hope officials are not speculating with this money,” Biti was quoted as
saying.

Mugabe behind army actions: PM

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by James Mombe     Thursday 17 February 2011

HARARE -- President Robert Mugabe is aware of the security forces’
resistance to the unity government and its change programme, Zimbabwean
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said, virtually holding the veteran
leader responsible for the forces’ relentless effort to block democratic
reform.

In one of his most forthright assessments of the two-year old coalition
government and the obstacles it faces, Tsvangirai said Mugabe – who is
supreme commander of the armed forces and appoints the country’s police,
secret and prison service chiefs -- was in the know or if he wasn’t, then a
third force has illegally seized control of Zimbabwe.

“They (security forces) have deliberately defied the civilian authority in
the country, even those that are under the direct control of the
Commander-In-Chief,” Tsvangirai said in a speech delivered in Harare late
Tuesday night. “Either the Commander-In-Chief is aware of this or there is
now a Third Force that has assumed control in this country without the
mandate of the people.”

Zimbabwe’s security commanders are hardliner supporters of Mugabe who are
credited with keeping the President in power after waging a ruthless
campaign of violence in 2008 to force then opposition leader Tsvangirai to
withdraw from a second round presidential poll that analysts had strongly
tipped the former trade unionist to win.

Tsvangirai had beaten Mugabe in the first round ballot but failed to achieve
outright victory to avoid the second round run-off poll.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai eventually bowed to pressure from southern African
leaders to agree to form a unity government to end a debilitating political
impasse following the disputed presidential election.

But the security commanders have remained resolute in their opposition to
Tsvangirai refusing to recognise his authority or salute him and vowing not
to let him take power even if he wins a democratic election.

And resurgent violence in many parts of the country as well as deployment of
soldiers in some rural areas is seen as part of a grand strategy by the
security establishment to forestall a possible Tsvangirai victory in
elections that Mugabe has said must take place this year.

Tsvangirai’s MDC party has accused the police of complicit in the recent
spate of violence that has gripped some suburbs of Harare, while it has also
accused soldiers of stepping up violence and intimidation against the former
opposition party’s supporters in Masvingo, Mashonaland East and West
provinces.

Police and army commanders deny that their many have either aided or
committed violence and have instead accused the MDC of fomenting the
political disturbances.

Tsvangirai vowed to ensure political and democratic reforms are carried out
despite resistance from security forces and Mugabe’s ZANU PF party, warning
that the MDC would agree to take part in new elections only when conditions
for the polls are free and fair.

He said: “Only when we have achieved the necessary conditions for a free,
fair, credible and legitimate election will the MDC consider giving its
blessing and participating in such a poll.”

Under the power-sharing agreement Mugabe must consult Tsvangirai before
calling elections, however in the event of mutual disagreement between the
two rivals and their unity deal collapsing the President can revert to his
old powers and cause an election to be held. – ZimOnline.

Organisers say media not blocked from Tsvangirai address

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
17 February 2011

The organisers of a talk by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday
evening, have insisted that journalists were not blocked from attending the
event.

SW Radio Africa reported on Wednesday that journalists had expressed their
frustration, after not being allowed to enter the venue of the Prime
Minister’s talk. Our Harare correspondent, Simon Muchemwa, and some other
journalists were not able to access the venue at Jameson Hotel in the
capital, and voiced concerns that the incident was reminiscent of ZANU PF’s
attitude towards the media.

But Fortune Gwaze from the Research Foundation for Zimbabwe, which organised
the event under the 'Zimbabwe Lecture Series Forum', told SW Radio Africa on
Thursday that this was not the case. Gwaze said that all journalists who
arrived on time for the talk were given access to the venue. But he
explained that a number of journalists arrived more than half an hour late
and tried to enter the venue through a secure entrance that was set aside
for the Prime Minister only.

“We had cordoned off that entrance for the Prime Minister and it posed a
security risk for other people to come through that entrance,” Gwaze said.

He added: “We don’t treat media that way. We respect the media.”

But Muchemwa defended his comments and said that, although he was 25 minutes
late for the talk, he arrived before the Prime Minister. He also said that
he and other journalists tried to use a main entrance to get into the venue
after Tsvangirai eventually arrived, but they were blocked from getting in.

VP Nkomo, Minister Mudenge Clash Over Journalists

http://www.radiovop.com

17/02/2011 11:14:00

HARARE, February 17, 2011 - VICE President and currently Acting President,
John Nkomo, and the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Stan
Mudenge, clashed over the coverage of students attending institutions of
higher learning and the general coverage of politicians in Zimbabwe.

Addressing the same function at the Harare International Conference Centre
(HICC) during the official launch of the three-day Research and Intellectual
Expo (RIE) 2011, Minister Mudenge, scolded a reporter from the Zimbabwe
Independent, who had written that he is "verbose".

The report appeared in The Zimbabwe Independent under the popular Muckraker
Column.

Minister Mudenge told invited guests that journalists are getting away with
misinformation and yet they complain when politicians haggle after their
"false reports".

"Ladies and gentlemen, I read in one of our newspapers that Minister Mudenge
has a tendency to be verbose," he said in his speech.

"To the writer of the said article I have a small advice from my language,
"Benzi bvunza" (a fool must ask if it does not know). By humbling yourself
through asking for the correct information, in the end you will be regarded
a wise man."

The journalist had written that there were only 5 000 places for students at
tertiary institutions this year. Mudenge disputed this pointing out that, in
fact, there are 29 100 places vacant at the tertiary institutions.

However, a few minutes later, when Acting President, John Nkomo, took to the
same podium, he said he would not argue with journalists because "they
always win".

"You cannot win against journalists," Nkomo told the gathering in his
speech. "I won't comment like Minister Mudenge about journalists but what I
can say is that you can never win against journalists."

The invited guests, especially the journalists, then clapped their hands and
allowed the Acting President to proceed with his three hour lecture which
they then said was also "verbose too".

The speech called the inaugural "lecture" went on for three solid hours and
most guests fell asleep while Nkomo was reading through the document.

Zuma urged to stop violence

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

By Staff Writer
Thursday, 17 February 2011 17:16

HARARE - Civil society leaders in Zimbabwe have urged South African
President Jacob Zuma, as facilitator to the Global Political Agreement
(GPA), to step in and help end the political  violence which has been
triggered  by the impending elections  later this year.

In a statement Crisis Coalition spokesperson Phillip Pasirayi said Zuma
should be made aware of the developments in Zimbabwe and weigh them against
claims that the country is ready to conduct free and fair elections in 2011.

“He (Zuma) must be made aware that there is no peace in Zimbabwe; it is
being disturbed by the military.”

“What we are saying is that this country is not ready for elections,”
Pasirayi said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Civil society also wants Zuma to push political parties in the inclusive
government to stop the violence and intimidation because it poses a threat
to regional security through mass migration of displaced people.

The group of at least 49 Non-Governmental Organisations  speaking under the
banner of Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe demand that the South African
president come up with a road map to elections that are democratic. He
(Zuma) should effectively declare that the conditions currently prevailing
are not conducive for democratic elections.

“These should include among others dealing with violence and intimidation of
citizens and the removal of impediments to democratic expression such as
repressive laws and unprofessional and partisan conduct by the justice
system,” Pasirayi said.

Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe has also called upon Zuma to push  the AU to
make good on its promises of an assessment mission in the country during the
first quarter to assess readiness for elections.

This is not the first time that civil society has ever lobbied SADC and AU
to intervene in the Zimbabwean crisis. Last month the AU met but did not put
Zimbabwe on the agenda.

Coordinator of Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Pius Wakatama says he has lost
faith in the ability of civil society to be effective.

“I have lost respect for civil society except for Women Of Zimbabwe Arise
(Woza). At least they go out on the streets demanding, taking their
petitions to the authorities,” Wakatama said.

Pasirayi reiterates that if lobbying and advocacy does not work this time
around, civil society will come up with a programme of action which will see
a coming together of forces similar to the Save Zimbabwe Campaign.

Bishop Ancelimo Magaya of Christian Alliance believes that the solution is
for the church to be more visible and speak with one voice.

“The Bible says rise and shine, for your light has come, see, darkness
covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples. The church must go
out on the streets wielding their Bibles and guitars, no guns,” Magaya said.

Army officers take over control of Nyanga Police Station

Hon. Mwonzora Located, Lawyers Denied Access As Dowa Surfaces In Nyanga

ZBC Ambush Motorists Despite Listenership and Viewership Drop

http://www.radiovop.com/

17/02/2011 11:13:00

Harare, February 17, 2011 - The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has
resorted to intimidatory tactics to force motorists to pay licences despite
a latest survey which shows a significant drop in television viewership and
radio listenership.

According to results of the Zimbabwe All Media and Products Survey (ZAMPS)
released this week viewership of ZBC’s most watched peak hour programme,
News Hour, led the decline with a 26 percent drop from the previous quarter.
Only 24 percent of the Zimbabwean population now watches ZBCTV 1 at any
given time down from a high of 38 percent in 2008.

“Peak membership times for all channels remained between 6:30 pm and 9 pm
with the highest number of viewers being recorded between 8pm and 8:30 pm,”
read the findings in part. “However audience at this peak for ZBC TVI
dropped by almost 50 percent against (results of) the previous quarter.”

About 59 percent of the sampled urban population said they did not think ZBC
TV had any programmes to offer.

Listeners of ZBC radio stations also continued to decline in the last
quarter of 2010 while satelite television viewership remained constant at 46
percent although free to air subscription dropped by a percentage point from
82 percent.

Despite this survey the state-owned broadcaster has launched a blitz against
Harare motorists. The station has dispatched its inspectors, sometimes
accompanied by the Zimbabwe Republic Police officers, to pounce on motorists
at traffic lights, shopping centres and parking lots in Harare and demand
spot fines. The inspectors have also been leaving intimidatory notices on
the windscreen of motorists, asking them to pay for their licences or risk
arrest.

“You are required to pay your licence at the stated date, failure of which
will result in your arrest,” read one notice left on the windscreen of one
car at Avondale Shopping Centre in Harare.

One motorist who spoke to Radio VOP said he will never pay the fees even if
it means getting arrested.

“Why should I pay for something that I don’t need? I don’t listen to ZBC
neither do I watch ZBC TV. If they were asking me to pay for Studio 7, I
would have done so,” said Tapiwa Marwadze a youthful motorist while throwing
away the notice for him to pay up his licence left for him on his car's
windscreen.

ZAMPS is a survey commissioned by the Zimbabwe Advertising Research
Foundation to provide information on media and consumption. The latest study
was carried between October and December last year.

The inclusive government has failed to liberalise the airwaves despite
evidence that Zimbabweans are not happy with ZBC’s output, which remains
heavily biased towards Zanu (PF).

Zanu (PF) Youths To Seize More Buildings In Bulawayo

http://www.radiovop.com

17/02/2011 14:29:00

Bulawayo, February 17, 2011 - Zanu (PF) has threatened to occupy more than
60 Bulawayo buildings and houses owned by white and Indian businesspeople
claiming that they are implementing the controversial Indigenisation and
Economic Empowerment Act.

This comes barely two weeks after more than 700 Zanu (PF) youths in Harare
went on rampage raiding shops owned by foreign businesspeople mostly located
at Gulf Shopping Complex demanding them to move immediately in a move
described as xenophobic. The businesses which were raided by Zanu (PF)
youths at Gulf Shopping Complex were mostly owned by Indian, Chinese and
Nigerians nationals.

Speaking to journalists in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Joseph Tshuma the Zanu
(PF) Bulawayo Province Secretary for Security said they compiled a list of
buildings and houses owned by whites and Indians in the city and will grab
them with immediate effect.

'This is beginning of the implementation of the Indigenisation and Economic
Empowerment Act and black Zimbabweans will use them as business premises”.

In June last year Zanu (PF) youths in Bulawayo seized three buildings
located in the central business district owned by Indian and Italian
families.

The buildings invaded were Zambesia and Canberra flats located between
Leopold Takawira and Sixth Avenue and owned by Laloo family of Indian
origin. They also grabbed the Capri which houses the Pizzaghetti owned by Di
Palma family who are of Italian origin.

Zim Magistrates On Go Slow

http://www.radiovop.com

17/02/2011 11:21:00

Bulawayo, February 17, 2011 - Magistrates in the country’s second city,
Bulawayo have embarked on a go slow ahead of a full blown strike action set
for next Monday in protest over low pay and poor working conditions.

Magistrates, who are one of the poorly paid state workers, are demanding an
increase of their salaries from the current US$250 per month to between
US$US$600 and US$3000 – depending on the grade.

According to a proposal in Radio VOP's possession that was sent to Supreme
Court Judge, Rita Makarau who is the Acting Secretary for Judicial Services
Commission (JSC), the magistrates are demanding US$600 for trainee
magistrates, US$1000 for junior magistrates, US$1500 for senior magistrates,
US$1700 for provincial magistrates and US$2000 for senior provincial
magistrates.

The proposal sent to the JSC, signed by the acting chief magistrate, Hlekeni
Mwayera, also demands US$2500 for regional magistrates, US$3000 for senior
regional magistrates and deputy chief magistrates and US$3300 for a chief
magistrate.

The Magistrates who have deserted the courts to press for better pay,
resulting in prisoners being sent back to prison for further remand, want
their salaries to be at par with their regional counterparts.

“For example, in Namibia, the lowest paid magistrate (entry level) earns R23
000 per month including car and housing allowances as compared to Zimbabwe
where a magisterial assistant earns US$205,” reads in part the magistrates’
letter signed by Mwayera.

The Acting JSC secretary, Judge Makarau could not be reached for comment.

In interviews, magistrates said they would down their gavels on Monday if
there is no response from Makarau.

“We want an increase of our salaries now. We are going ahead with a full
blown strike action on Monday if we do not get a favourable response from
the Judicial Services Commission (JSC),” a disgruntled magistrate, refusing
to be named, said.

Zimbabwe’s judicial system is stricken by long delays in hearings and
prisoners can spend up to two years awaiting trial because of a critical
shortage of magistrates, scores of whom have migrated to neighbouring
countries to escape severe economic privation.

Graduates from the University of Zimbabwe's law department hardly spend a
year with the public service as they quickly resign to join private practice
where they get better remuneration.

Cholera kills two, affects 150 others in Zimbabwe in January-WHO

http://www.apanews.net

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) At least two Zimbabweans have died since the beginning
of 2011 from a resurgent cholera outbreak that affected more than 150 people
during the first three weeks of the year, the World Health Organisation said
Thursday.

The new cases bring to 1,172 the cumulative cases and 25 deaths recorded
since the current outbreak started on 4 February 2010.

“150 cumulative cholera cases consisting of 125 suspect cases, 25
laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths had been reported by the 23rd
January 2011 to the World Health Organization through the Ministry of Health
and Child Welfare’s National Health Information Unit,” WHO said.

The epicentre of the latest outbreak appears to be in Masvingo’s Bikita
district where 17 confirmed and 25 suspected cases were recorded from 1 to
23 January.

Other hardest hit areas are Buhera and President Robert Mugabe’s Zvimba
rural home where 30 and 18 suspected cases have been reported since the
beginning of the year.

The cholera outbreak has been blamed on the lack of clean water supply and
poor sanitation in the affected areas.

The resurgence of cholera cases raises fears of a repeat of the deadly 2008
outbreak that killed more than 4,200 people and infected close to 100,000
others in the 11 months to July 2009.

JN/ad/APA
2011-02-17

Bulawayo's New Party Organising Secretary Arrested

http://www.radiovop.com

17/02/2011 14:26:00

Bulawayo, February 17, 2011- The organising secretary of the secessionist
Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) Maxwell Mkandla was briefly detained by
police in Bulawayo on Wednesday evening. Radio VOP has learnt.

MLF official, Sabelo Ngwenya, told Radio VOP that Mkandla was picked up by
police from his Mzilikazi home and detained at Central Police Station.

The police also confiscated the organisation's calendars with the map of the
imagined state of Mthwakazi, T-Shirts and documents. Last month Police
Commissioner Augustine Chihuri allegedly instructed his commanders in
Matabeleland to monitor the activities of the radical organisation and
arrest its leaders if necessary.

MLF was officially launched in Bulawayo in January. It said its main agenda
was to liberate the oppressed Ndebele people and establish an independent
state of Matabeleland. President Robert Mugabe is on record as saying
Zimbabwe will never be divided into two ethnic based states.

But the militant movement is gaining popularity among youths in
Matabeleland.Two weeks ago it elected a young female school teacher
Nonsikelelo Ncube, to lead the Zimbabwe operations.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara woes continue
after the High Court ordered on Wednesday that he he should not represent
the splinter Movement for Democratic Change in any way until the court rules
on the matter.

Bulawayo High Court Justice Ndou gave an interim relief order sought by the
MDC and its secretary general, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga to prevent
Mutambara from purporting that he is still the MDC president despite
stepping down at a party congress last month to become an ordinary party
member.

Mutambara has refused to vacate the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
after he was redeployed to the Regional Intergration ministry in line with
what the Welshman Ncube executive committee had resolved.

Mutambara went on to announce that he had fired Ncube, who is now the
president of the party after being elected at an annual congress a few
months ago. Ncube national council responded also by firing Mutambara from
the party saying he had tarnished the name of the party by proclaiming that
he was still the president of the party.

Iranian media delegation visits Zimbabwe

http://www.tmcnet.com/

[February 17, 2011]

HARARE, Feb 17, 2011 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A high-powered Iranian state
media delegation on Thursday arrived for a four-day visit to Zimbabwe to
explore areas of cooperation with their local counterparts.

The delegation met Media Information and Publicity permanent secretary
George Charamba who underscored the need for Zimbabwean and Iranian media to
broaden their interaction.

Charamba quoted by New Ziana said that it was imperative for the two
countries to capacitate their media institutions so that they did not rely
on Western news organizations as sources of information.

"We have to develop platforms that allow us to share information. For far
too long we have relied on the BBC which is hostile to us for us to know
each other. How do we get to know developments happening in each other's
countries without relying on the BBC?" he asked.

He said it was imperative for Iran and Zimbabwe to start media exchange
programs as a way of enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

"We can establish training programs by way of placements, just to have
Zimbabwean journalists attached to one of your organizations will broaden
their scope," he said, adding that Zimbabwe and Namibia had a similar
arrangement.

The visiting delegation comprises representatives from the Jame Jam
Newspaper, the Iran Newspaper and the ISNA News Agency.

Heads of Zimbabwe's media, New Ziana, Zimbabwe Newspapers and the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH), also attended the meeting.

'Zanu PF politburo - a gang of tribalists'

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Ray Matikinye
Thursday, 17 February 2011 12:26

HARARE - The opposition Zapu has labelled Zanu PF’s supreme decision-making
body as a group of “tribal fundamentalists” over statements made by its
Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa on the heroine status of the
late Thenjiwe Lesabe.

Lesabe, a former education minister and a member of the Zanu PF Politburo
died in Bulawayo last  week and will be buried at her farm this Saturday.

A statement released by Zapu on Wednesday berates Zanu PF for not respecting
the dead and victimizing corpses.

Mutasa said Lesabe could not be awarded heroine status because she had
defected to the revived Zapu.

“Zanu PF’s actions confirm that they are a gang of tribal fundamentalists
who think only people who are their tribe and party members are heroes.
Zanu-PF is not ashamed of victimizing corpses. Only fundamentalists are
capable of such behavior,” Zapu said in a statement.

It said Mutasa’s comments that Lesabe was “inconsistent” because she went
back to Zapu are both provocative and silly and not befitting someone of his
age.

In any case, the opposition party says Lesabe declared when she was alive
that she did not want anything to do with Zanu-PF and its Heroes Acre in
Harare, which in Zapu’s view has been devalued to an extent that “it is now
just an ordinary cemetery like Luveve and Warren Hills cemeteries.”

Party spokesperson, Methuseli Moyo said Mutasa and his Zanu-PF know very
well that Zapu is Zimbabwe’s authentic and founder liberation movement and
blamed  Zanu for triggering the first ever split in the nationalist
organization.

“If there is anyone who was not consistent it is the Zanu-PF gang. They
defected from Zapu in 1963, only to defect from one another later. Again
they deviated from the Patriotic Front arrangement in 1980,” Moyo said.

Zapu said Lesabe’s works speak eloquently and no one can deny that she was a
heroic and very brave woman.

“That is why she had the guts to leave Zanu-PF, while some men continue to
be captives of that party and are daily made to cheer something we all know
they do not like,” Moyo said.

Excited by the promise of power for Bulawayo

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/6359

 

Bulawayo cooling towers

Finally there is some good news in the power supply drama that engulfs the lives of each and every Zimbabwean.  Congratulations go to the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association for spearheading demonstrations over Zesa’s extortionate rates and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights for their successful application to reduce tariffs.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply authority has been in disarray for close to a decade and the supply of energy a massive deterrent to investors and an almost insurmountable challenge to local industry, commerce and mining in particular.  Private consumers are overwhelmed with bills that range from $2000 a month to $5000.

Someone I know rents a one room cottage in a garden, his landlord was bowled over when he received the bill for the cottage, which has its own meter. $1700 for a month.  He approached his tenant to find out if he is running a nuclear reactor in the back garden! Most people pay a nominal $100 a month just to prevent Zesa cutting them off.

But Bulawayo residents are excited to see their power station slowly kicking back into action, with the iconic landmark of the cooling towers set to once again belch smoke into the atmosphere. The environmental activist in me winces, but the live-in-the-dark, candle-buying side of me rejoices.

This power station has lain dormant for almost two decades, but with recent investment from Botswana it has been refurbished.  The national railways and truckers have been delivering coal from Hwange and according to eye witnesses the storage area is steadily filling.  The people of Botswana will be the major beneficiaries as they paid for the project, but the residents of Bulawayo are also hopefully set to see an easing of daily load shedding.

The City of Kings is already aware of the activity at the power station as they have been running tests there, and when they “blow off steam” to check the plant the noise can be heard for many miles around.  One woman living close by in a flat in town was sent into a panic attack when the testing took place in the middle of the night.  She cannot remember the noise from the past as she was just a young girl when the station was decommissioned.  She and her children were woken in the middle of the night, terrified at the unidentifiable noise and hid under their beds till morning!

Well we all here need to thank Elton Mangoma, who against all odds is fighting the scourge of power shortages.  I hear that licenses have been issued for three new power stations, Kariba is being refurbished and a solar plant is going up near to Gwanda.  Small steps in progress.

This entry was posted by Still Here on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at 9:40 am

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