Zimbabwe fails to secure external funding for referendum

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
22 February 2013

With less than a month before Zimbabwe holds a constitutional referendum,
funding continues to be a thorny issue, with Finance Minister Tendai Biti
announcing Friday that Zimbabwe had failed to secure funding for the
referendum expected on March 16th.

Biti revealed that the Zimbabwean government is likely to fund the
referendum on its own, despite facing financial challenges. Biti made the
remarks soon after meeting the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming at
his offices in the capital.

He told journalists: “We are also pursuing the UN, and in fact they are
sending a team at the beginning of March but unfortunately because the date
of the referendum is so close they have already written to indicate that
whatever they are going to do will only be for the election and not for the
referendum. So we are on our own for the referendum.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe further cemented bilateral relations with China after
signing four agreements with Chen Deming.

Zimbabwe signed the interest free loan of about US$10 million to purchase
road and agricultural equipment, food and an outside broadcasting van for
the ZBC.

China is a close ally of the ZANU PF party and the visit had raised high
hopes that Mugabe’s allies would offer a rescue package for the polls.

It’s reported that Zimbabwe is scouting for over US$200 million for both the
referendum and general elections this year.

With the government coffers in the red, Biti had appealed for funding from
Mugabe’s allies and neighboring countries, though with little success.

The presence of the Chinese Minister of Commerce in Zimbabwe, just weeks
before the referendum, had raised hopes that aid would finally trickle in.
However, speaking through an interpreter, the visiting minister said
elections in Zimbabwe are a domestic affair.

Critics have questioned why Zimbabwe, with vast resources such as diamonds
in Marange, is in the red and battling to find money.

UN To Send Team To Harare To Discuss Electoral Funding

http://www.voazimbabwe.com

22.02.2013

The United Nations says it will visit Zimbabwe next week to see how the
international body can support the constitutional referendum slated for
March and a general election later this year.

Two weeks ago the UN resident coordinator in Harare received an official
request from the government of Zimbabwe for help raising US$225 million to
fund the both the referendum and election.

The request went to the UN Focal Point for Electoral Assistance at the
Headquarters in New York, who said Monday that it has reviewed the request
and will send a team to Harare to conduct what it calls a “needs assessment
mission.”

Any followup, according to the u-n, must be guided by the findings of that
mission. Harare officials are told VOA that the UN visit is sparking fears
that the UN may not provide Zimbabwe with the resources it is requesting.

Director Tawanda Chimhini of the Electoral Resource Centre told VOA that the
u-n is simply following its standard procedure to make its own assessment of
such requests.with the funding question unclear, president robert mugabe is
urging the country to use diamonds and other tangible resources to fund the
voting.

Officials have also asked local firms to make donations. In an interview in
today’s herald, mr mugabe confirmed that he rejected suggestions from
finance minister tendai biti to postpone the referendum to allow for more
time to acquire funding.

meanwhile, the high court today postponed until monday a ruling on the
urgent chamber application filed by the national constitutional assembly,
requesting that the referendum date be pushed back

.n-c-a lawyer alec muchadehama tells studio 7 that judge president george
chiweshe pushed back the ruling because he had other pressing
commitments.n-c-a’s application asks the high court to set aside the march
16th referendum date and order president mugabe to give voters no less than
2 months from the set date of proclamation, which came only last week.

Court postpones NCA attempts to delay referendum

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
22 February 2013

The High Court has postponed a court application by the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA), which is seeking to delay the start of the
constitutional referendum.

The referendum has been set for three weeks time on 16th March, when
Zimbabweans will have 12 hours to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on the new charter for
the country.

That process will ultimately decide if and when a general election can be
called.

The NCA is now trying to have the referendum date moved to at least two
months later, saying there is not enough time for Zimbabweans to analyse,
question and debate the contents of the draft.

The group filed their application on Tuesday and the matter was meant to be
heard on Friday morning at the High Court. But the NCA was notified through
a letter that Judge President, Justice George Chiweshe, would not be able to
attend to the matter as he had “State duties”.

The matter is now set to be heard on Monday.

CiZC report on their 'Yes No' Constitution debate

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/cizc-report-their-yes-no-constitution-debate/22022013

FEB 22, 2013

Via CiZC mailing: Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition convened a ‘Yes or No vote’ ground-breaking debate on the COPAC Draft Constitution at Cresta Jameson Hotel in Harare on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.

On the ‘Yes’ front from political parties were COPAC co-chairperson and MDC-T Spokesperson Hon. Douglas Mwonzora, Director of Research and Policy Coordina-tion for MDC-N Qhubani Moyo and ZANU-PF Deputy Director of Information and Publicity Psychology Maziwisa.

Women’s Coalition Virginia Muwaningwa and University of Zimbabwe Lecturer and Political Scientist Dr. Charity Manyeruke also threw their weight behind adoption of the COPAC Draft at the referendum.

MDC-99 President Job Sikhala, ex-Finance Minister and ex-SADC Executive Secretary and now MKD President, Dr. Simba Makoni, Former ZINASU President and NCA representative Clever Bere and Former Highfields MP and International Socialist Organisation (ISO) leader in Zimbabwe, Munyaradzi Gwisai took to the tug of war from the ‘No Vote’ side.

Close to 500 people shrugged off the usual end of day fatigue to gather at the evening meeting.

The no holds barred debate was moderated by Institute for a Democratic Alternative for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM), Programs Director and Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) chairperson Joy Mabenge.

Co-hosting with Mabenge was Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Vice-Chairperson and Zimbabwe Young Women Network for Peace Building (ZYWNP) Director Ms Grace Chirenje.

Those who canvassed for a ‘Yes Vote’ said the COPAC Draft Constitution was not a compromise document but a consensus document for all Zimbabweans who seek to promote national cohesion and stability.

Pitted against this stance was the logic that the Draft Constitution needed to be rejected to pave way for a fresh process on the basis that the process and content had not met expectations.

Speaking before the debate kicked into motion, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson and ZIMRIGHTS Director Okay Machisa thanked the congregants and assured the discussants that there would BE fair moderation in this and any future debates on the Draft Constitution organized by the Coalition.

COPAC Draft Constitution Represents Incremental Gains

The proponents of the YES Vote in the constitutional referendum have said that the COPAC Draft Constitution represents incre-mental gains in the quest for a democratic constitution for Zimbabwe.

The speakers were debating with their opponents who are canvassing for a NO Vote at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition ground-breaking talk show held at the Cresta Jameson Hotel in Harare on Wednesday, February 20.

The Yes Vote proponents argued that the Draft Constitution should be viewed as a consensus document for all Zimbabweans as it encourages national cohesion in the country.

COPAC co-chairperson and MDC-T Spokesperson Hon. Douglas Mwonzora said: “To say that this document is half a loaf is untrue.

“It is only half a loaf from a partisan perspective considering that the other half which completes the loaf to make it a full one is with the other stakeholders.

“There are things that the MDC may like in this draft which ZANU-PF may dislike, while the docu-ment also contains things that ZANU-PF may like which the MDC may dislike and the same truth applies to other stakeholders.”

Mwonzora also pointed out that there were many good clauses in the envisaged new Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“We have the most comprehensive Bill of Rights on the African continent even if you compare it with the Malawian, Ghanaian, and Benin constitutions.

“For the first time in the history of the country we have devolution of power.

“The Draft Constitution introduces the culture of term limits for the president and Commander-in-Chief, heads of com-missions and the clerk of Parliament among others,” Mwonzora said.

Psychology Maziwisa dismissed those who are campaigning against the COPAC Draft Constitution like Media Commission chair-person Tafataona Mahoso who is believed to be aligned to Zanu-PF, saying it sufficed that President Mugabe wanted the draft and his position was adopted by the party.

Though, Maziwisa added that should Zanu-PF win the forthcoming elections they could amend the envisaged new constitution.

“Zanu-PF will vote yes to honour President Robert Mugabe who made historic compromises to allow this process to move forward.

“We were operating under a coalition government and we had to employ a give and take approach because Zanu-PF wanted to work collaboratively with its coalition partners,” Maziwisa said.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Lecturer and Political Scientist Dr Charity Manyeruke said:

“What this draft does is that it enables cohesion and stability in the country.

“These political parties and other stakeholders have checked out each other, but it creates a balance.

“There is power balance in this constitution.”

Manyeruke added: “The majority of Zimbabweans had grown sick and tired of the amendments and we now have a consolidated document, a total package. Fundamentally, it speaks to our val-ues and principles as Zimbabweans.

“The public was informed at every stage, whether it was the drafting that was the problem, or it was the money which was lacking.

“What is also important is that all the security institutions are mentioned in the draft which de-mystifies what security is all about and this is important for transparency and accountability.”

Women’s Coalition chairperson Virginia Muwanigwa said:

“What we did was to look at the draft and compare it with the Lancaster House Constitu-tion and we saw that there won’t be discrimination among Zimbabweans on the basis of gender, religion or anything.

“The constitution is a posterity document and it sets the scene for our children and grand-children because gender equality is found in this document.

“Think about your mothers, sisters and daughters who are suffering from customary practices.”

Qhubani Moyo, the director of Research and Policy Coordination in the MDC led by Prof. Welshman Ncube said:

“Let us not allow our quest for the perfect to stand in the way of the common good.

“While this document is not a perfect document, it is a perfect incremental gain.

“The chances of this document being rejected are between zero and zero because we only have two options to accept it, or accept it.”

Proponents of the NO Vote had other ideas.

MDC-99 President said he was against adoption of the draft constitution.

“We have only been shown areas of attraction in this document,” said Sikhala.

International Socialist Organisation leader and former Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisa said:

“Incremental gains are nothing new in the history of constitution making in this country.

“In 2000, we were given a constitution that had incremental gains and we rejected it because it did not meet our expectations.”

However, Moyo said Gwisai was a flip-flopper because at one time he supported the COPAC process, charging that Gwisai “like a robot is sometimes red, green and at times amber.”

Ironically, Prime Minister and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was the founding National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairperson, has since publicly regretted the NO Vote decision in 2000, saying it could have allowed some incremental gains.

Government has set aside March 16 as the date for the referendum and Zimbabweans from all walks of life will be given a chance to either reject or endorse the draft constitution as the new charter for Zimbabwe.

Political Stakeholders Argue Why Referendum Date Cannot be Extended

The political stakeholders in the COPAC constitution making process have defended the need for the country not to delay the referendum scheduled for March 16.

There has been stern opposition to the date with the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) having recently filed a Supreme Court application for the referendum to be held in not less than two months.

However, COPAC co-chairperson and MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora and Director of Research and Policy Coordina-tion in the MDC led by Prof. Welshman Ncube gave reasons why the referendum should be held early.

“The tenure of the Inclusive Government will come to an end in June. So in the short period between now and June 30 we need to hold a referendum and after that we need to implement reforms related to the constitution before elec-tions,” said Hon. Mwonzora.

“The GPA does not say there should be a referendum ‘in’ two months after the Parliamentary debate, but ‘within’ two months,” Moyo said.

Moyo admitted the current constitution allowed the President to delay elections until September, which could allow the refer-endum to be delayed.

Moyo said the route was not desirable because by then the tenure of Parliament would have ended giving the Head of State too much power and operate without checks and balances from Parliament.

The pair from the two MDC formations in the Inclusive Government was responding to statements from ISO leader and former Highfields MP Munyaradzi Gwisai.

“In Kenya, the people were given four months to look at the constitution, but here we are being given one month be-cause they want to hide the deception,” said Gwisai.

The accusation was given a rebuttal as the two MDCs’ representatives, notwithstanding from different angles, explained why the referendum could not be delayed.

Kenya recently had a constitution making process and Kenyans adopted the document when it was put to the referendum.

The East African nation has had a political transition almost similar to Zimbabwe after contested elections marred by violence and is also due to have elections in March , 2013.

The contentious issue of referendum timelines is now to be decided by the Supreme Court after the NCA made a court applica-tion for extension.

The matter reared its head again at a constitutional debate held by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in Harare on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 mainly from MDC-99, NCA, International Socialist Organisation (ISO) and Mavambo/ Khusile/Dawn (MKD).

Except for MKD which has not yet made its position known, all the formations who want an extension to the proposed date are campaigning for a NO Vote and claim Zimbabweans need ample time to be read the COPAC Draft Constitution before it is put to the referendum.

US sanctions will only change if Zimbabwe holds credible election

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
22 February 2013

The United States is prepared to end targeted sanctions and re-engage in all
areas of bilateral collaboration with Zimbabwe, if the inclusive government
honors the commitments for reform they made in the Global Political
Agreement and implements the election roadmap. This was said by two visiting
US Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State in Harare on Friday.

Dr. Reuben Brigety and Karen Hanrahan said the US is prepared to meet
‘action for action’ as a result of positive development on the ground in
Zimbabwe.

They said the sanctions policy is unlikely to change unless critical
benchmarks are met including a peaceful referendum and the holding of
credible and non violent elections.

Brigety said: “In the interim there are additional positive steps we are
prepared to take with regard to the nature of our business engagement with
Zimbabwe, with regard to the nature of our stepped-up health support, but
our sanctions policy is unlikely to change unless there are credible and non
violent elections later this year.”

The group said Zimbabwe had made progress since the formation of the unity
government four years ago. However Hanrahan said the United States is
concerned by emerging trends that put that progress at risk. She indicated
elements in the police force who she said, continue to “demonstrate a clear
partisan bias in arrests, detentions, and investigations – or the lack of
such actions – depending on one’s political orientation.”

“Zimbabwe Defense Forces soldiers have been deployed on ‘administrative
support duty’ to rural areas country-wide to pressure communities to support
one political party. At the same time, police officials are being sent for
political indoctrination at Shamva Battle Camp and police commissioners are
visiting police camps around the country to exhort officers and their family
members to chant pro-ZANU PF slogans,” Hanrahan added.

She said government leaders should rectify these disturbing trends and
create more space for civil society, a free media and for political parties
to be allowed to operate without fear and intimidation.

Brigety said: “We are also prepared to meet action for action if the
destructive trends of those few elements – as noted above – are permitted to
continue to deprive the Zimbabwean people of their rights and freedoms,”

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, said the delegation had reached
their own ideas about what is happening in Zimbabwe after having high level
meetings with government leaders, political parties, members of civil
society organizations and business people, since they arrival in Zimbabwe on
Wednesday.

Early this week the European Union said it removed targeted sanctions on 21
members of ZANU PF to reward Zimbabwe’s ‘progress’, as a result of the
finalising of the constitution reform exercise. The EU said this was a
significant step forward in implementing the Global Political Agreement.”

New report details how Zim diamonds are disappearing

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
22 February 2013

A new report released this week has detailed how Zimbabwe’s diamonds are
disappearing, with participation and support from various countries across
the world, including South Africa and Angola.

The report, by a group that uses journalism and whistle blowing to expose
corruption around the world, has detailed who is involved in the transport
of Zimbabwe’s diamonds, using a mysterious airplane that has previously been
reported on. The group, 100Reporters, said that once a month, sometimes
more, “a VIP-configured Airbus jetted into Lanseria International Airport, a
small and privately-owned base facility near Johannesburg, South Africa.”

“The plane, an Airbus 319CJ, also stopped at Zimbabwe’s Harare airport. It
carried important people and was widely believed to ferry some precious—and
illicit–cargo: Zimbabwe’s conflict diamonds,” the report states.

The plane, first identified in a report by the British non-profit
organisation Global Witness, “has played an integral role in moving the
diamonds out of Zimbabwe.” The 100Reporters article goes on to “reveal links
between the mysterious jet, Zimbabwe government officials, law firms and
investors with holdings across the globe, from the UK to China, Angola to
Bermuda to Wall Street.”

“Flight logs for the plane… disclose frequent trips to Singapore, Hong Kong,
Tanzania and Angola, among others. The Airbus appears to enjoy a remarkable
lack of scrutiny, seemingly flying in a perpetual no-oversight zone. In the
South African airport that was the plane’s home base, unless cargo and goods
were self-declared, the plane and its passengers were not normally subject
to inspection by customs, police or civil aviation authorities,” the article
states.

It goes on to name the most frequent passenger on the Airbus, as Xu Jinghua,
a Chinese businessman also known as Sam Pa. They said he visited Zimbabwe
once a month and was believed to carry out diamonds, according to watchdog
groups. Pa has been accused of providing arms and a fleet of Nissan pickup
trucks to Zimbabwe’s feared secret police, according to Global Witness and
other non-profit organizations that monitor extractive industries.
SW Radio Africa will be unpacking the report in more detail from next week.

There are renewed calls for targeted sanctions to be placed against
individuals like Sam Pa to prevent financing more bloodshed in Zimbabwe.

The EU this week partially lifted its targeted measures against Zimbabwe,
despite calls for them to strengthen the measures to prevent election
violence.

Emily Armistead, a campaigner with Global Witness, said on Friday that
‘sanctions gaps’ could allow the Zimbabwean military to keep receiving ‘off
budget funding’ from people like Sam Pa.

“We’d agree that Sam Pa needs to be on the list (of targeted sanctions). He’s
given direct funding to the CIO among other issues,” Armistead told SW Radio
Africa.

She added: “European diamond companies must carry out checks on their supply
chains to make sure their purchases are not fuelling risks of human rights
violations in Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe's disappearing diamonds

http://100r.org/2013/02/disappearing-diamonds/

Click the address above to read this story about Zimbabwe's disappearing
diamonds.

Missing: 1m carats diamonds

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

22.02.13

by Edgar Gweshe

A Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation board member, Ashton Ndlovu today
told the High Court that he was unaware as to what happened to over a
million carats of diamonds after Core Mining was kicked out of Marange
Diamond fields.

This came out during the trial of Core Mining director, Lovemore Kurotwi at
the High Court before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

Kurotwi and his co-accused, Dominic Mubaiwa are facing charges of causing
the government to suffer a loss of $2 billion in potential revenue after
misrepresenting that they had the capacity to mine diamonds in Chiadzwa.

Core Mining used to jointly operate Canadile Mines together with Marange
Resources.

Ndlovu made the revelations during cross examination by Kurotwi's lawyer,
Beatrice Mtetwa.

Ndlovu contradicted the government's claim of suffering a $2 billion loss
saying that the projected revenue that the state was going to get was pegged
at $1 billion, an amount he said would have been realized over a period of
eight years.

He disclosed that the machinery that was left by Core Mining at Marange was
still being used to mine diamonds adding that he was unaware if any rentals
were being paid out to Kurotwi's firm.

Named & shamed: Marange aid looters

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

20.02.13

by Edgar Gweshe

The Chiadzwa Community Development Trust has released a report detailing how
Zanu (PF) officials looted fertiliser and mealie-meal donated to villagers
by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation two weeks ago.

“Before diamond mining, food security in the constituency was stable. The
situation changed when diamonds were discovered and government ordered
people to stop cultivating their land. Vending stalls in Ward 28, 29 and 30
have been closed by the governments, arguing that the vendors (mostly women)
pose a security threat. Major dams in the area have been affected by
siltation during the diamond rush and market gardening activities have been
disrupted,” says CCDT.

The ZMDC donated 260 tonnes of fertilizer, 137 tonnes of mealie-meal and 60
bicycles to Gilbert Marange, the Acting Chief appointed by Manicaland
Governor Christopher Mushowe, to be distributed in the 11 wards, with Ward
16, the biggest, divided into two, making 12 distribution points.

“In Ward 18, on 11 February 2013, Chipo Mwoto, Tawanda Muduri, Elibon
Mapuka, Bunjani Muungani and Bvuma Chingoma (all members of the Zanu (PF)
Ward executive) took over the distribution of the food from the village head
Patikai Muchisi and told him to go away while they worked,” reads the
report. It alleges that these members took 100 X 10 kg mealie-meal and 10
X50 kg fertiliser to the village head’s house and told the people waiting
for allocation that the food was for the village head.

CCDT names one Chipo Mwoto as having addressed the villagers claiming that
Mushowe had given strict instructions not to give the food to MDC-T people
since it was him who had begged the food from ZMDC, while those who had
benefitted from a Plan International food aid initiative earlier would not
get any assistance.

Mwoto allegedly declared that MDC-T supporters should get their food from
NGOs or die from hunger. Others named in the report as having taken food
are: Buwerimwe in Ward 23, Amos Chingondo, Donald Ngorima, Cashmore Mutsago
(also known as Tsikamutanda) and Michael Dukwende; Ward 25, Ndima Masvaure;
Ward 10 District Administrator, Gilbert Marange, Cllr Buka Mudede, Cllr
Muzivi, Denis Marange.

“The biggest mystery is the whereabouts of 160 tons of fertiliser and 62
tons of mealie meal, which have completely disappeared. Ward 16 was not
divided into two distribution points as promised,” reads the report.

Mbada secures more Harare airport space

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
22 February 2013

Marange based diamond mining outfit, Mbada diamonds, has managed to secure
more operating space at Harare International Airport, after building offices
for the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mbada’s chairman, Robert Mhlanga, on Thursday officially handed over the
premises built on the airport grounds and costing more than US$500,000. The
buildings are reportedly going to be used as a training facility.

Transport Minister Goche announced at the handover that the buildings were
built in return for a piece of land at the airport, which Mbada has
requested to extend their operations there.

“My ministry had no reservations with granting Mbada Diamonds space at
Harare International Airport to carry out its commercial activities,” said
Minister Goche.

Mbada’s Mhlanga said the initiative was meant to ensure that diamonds that
passed through the airport were well protected.

Mbada, whose activities remain under a cloud of suspicion, already has a
diamond processing facility at the airport, where the bulk of their
transactions are said to be made. This includes trading with unknown
entities that have reportedly been trading with Mbada, despite a ban that
was only lifted last year.

Concern has been raised that this extra space at the airport will further
help keep Mbada’s activities secret, because it allows diamond buyers from
across the world direct access to diamonds within a government protected
space.

Political analyst Clifford Mashiri told SW Radio Africa on Friday that the
secretive nature of Mbada’s diamond trading is cause for concern. He warned
that, with elections around the corner, there is need for proper diamond
legislation.

“We are concerned that they are trying to conceal their operations and to
what end we don’t know yet. But we are worried because of concerns that
diamond money is being used illicitly,” Mashiri warned.

Zanu PF struggling to deny corruption in the indigenisation process

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

BY EVERSON MUSHAVA 8 hours 18 minutes ago

ZANU PF yesterday urged its MPs to “resist with greatest vigour” attempts by
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to push for an audit of indigenisation
deals following allegations that they were marred by corruption.
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said Tsvangirai was attempting to “gain
cheap political mileage by misdirecting people’s attention from his party’s
failures.”
He said such “smear campaigns” were meant to derail a “people’s cause”
championed by Zanu PF.
“For our part, we call on all our Members of Parliament to treat Mr
Tsvangirai’s miserable move with the disdain it deserves,” Gumbo said.
“We are appalled by the Prime Minister’s call for a parliamentary probe into
the on-going indigenisation exercise.
“Zanu PF’s position is that we will resist this latest attempt with the
greatest vigour possible.”
Gumbo alleged Tsvangirai was merely politicking ahead of elections.
“Elections are not won by engaging in baseless and hollow tricks, they are
won through programmes that are genuine and beneficial to the people,” he
charged.
“Regrettably, the MDC-T’s record in this regard has been dreadful.”
Zanu PF is using the indigenisation programme as its campaign strategy for
the forthcoming elections expected in July.
Tsvangirai last week said he was concerned by alleged “misdemeanours and
corruption in the handling of empowerment transactions for several
companies”.
The PM said the the programme purportedly meant for the majority was in
reality benefiting the politically connected.
“I am equally concerned with reports that some relevant government organs
were kept in the dark about the full nature of some of these transactions,”
Tsvangirai said.
“Only a proper investigation will expose the truth about what happened and
whether or not the State and the people of Zimbabwe were prejudiced in any
way and whether all procedures and statutes were followed.
“It is, therefore, imperative and in the interest of transparency that
Parliament, through its relevant committees, should probe this matter.”
This followed media reports alleging gross irregularities in the handling of
the Zimplats empowerment deal which was reportedly done without sufficient
consultations.
Zanu PF politiburo member Johnathan Moyo reacted angrily to the reports,
accusing Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono of providing false information to
newspapers about the deals.
He claimed this was meant to discredit the Indigenisation programme and the
responsible minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.
Moyo attacked Gono, describing him as a “House Nigger” whose
“disappointingly dirty hands” influenced the lies against the indigenisation
programme. - NewsDay

Draft Constitution Empowers President to Declare State of Emergency

http://www.voazimbabwe.com

The process of making such a declaration begins by publishing the
proclamation in the gazette.

Sithandekile Mhlanga
21.02.2013

WASHINGTON — The March 16 constitutional referendum is just a few weeks
away. As part of Studio 7’s continued effort to educate listeners on the
draft constitution, today we’re looking in more detail at some executive
powers - that is, the powers of the president - as detailed in part 4 of the
document. Specifically, let’s look at section 113, “States of Public
Emergency.”

The draft charter allows the president to declare a state of public
emergency in any part or in all of Zimbabwe. The process of making such a
declaration begins by publishing the proclamation in the gazette.

Any declaration is valid for a maximum period of 14 days but beyond these
stipulated days requires parliament’s approval. With or without
parliamentary approval, generally a state of emergency may not last longer
than three months, though extensions are possible in extraordinary
circumstances.

The Constitutional Court also has a check on this power. The court can rule
that a declaration of a state of public emergency is invalid, if someone
requests that the court look into the matter.

For more on why a president might declare a state of emergency, VOA’s
Sithandekile Mhlanga reached out to political commentator Rejoice Ngwenya,
who was involved in the constitutional drafting process.

Mr. Ngwenya explains that a state of public emergency, if declared in
response to a natural disaster, would make it easier for the government to
protect citizens and spend money to address the problem.

However, he says, there were concerns among the drafters that the government
could use a public emergency declaration to clamp down on citizens’
legitimate protests.

Mr. Ngwenya starts by describing a situation in which a president might
declare a state of public emergency.

Ngwenya: When there is a flood or an earthquake or a large, uncontrollable
fire, civil unrest, or maybe as the result of a political deficit, where
there is a mass uprising that may be related to labour unrest or civic
unrest or political unrest, invasion by a foreign army, then it will
automatically fall under another category of the constitution. So, as you
can see, those would be among the three broad areas that would bring about a
state of emergency.

Q: As someone who was part of the team during the constitution making
process, did any arguments arise during the drafting of the section on the
state of emergency?

A: There was a massive argument and debate that arose around the issue of
interpretation of a state of emergency that is the result of a legitimate
civil unrest, where citizens feel aggrieved and they go on to an Arab spring
type of scenario. The writers, the authors, the drafters were saying that it
might be possible that an incoming president might use that section as an
excuse of subverting public expression of discontent against the government.
So that is why it was very important for the authors to clearly explain
what's in or not the state of emergency.

Q: What are the advantages to the citizens?

A: Especially the act of God - drought, flood, massive fires, or disease.
Once a country declares that state, it means even the minister of finance
will invoke special powers to spend money to prevent or mitigate and
minimize.

A declaration of public emergency also allows state security organs to
detain people and limit people’s travel.

Section 87 of the draft constitution allows the government to limit these
and certain other rights during a public emergency, but the document says
the rights listed in point 3 of section 86 may not be limited. Those rights
that may not be limited include the right to life, the right not to be
tortured, and the right to a fair trial.

For details, check out the full draft constitution or our constitution at a
glance. Both documents can be downloaded from our website,
www.voazimbabwe.com. Here is the link:
http://www.voazimbabwe.com/info/constitutional-referendum-2013/3768.html

Role of Zim police remains unclear

http://mg.co.za

22 FEB 2013 00:00 - KENNEDY MAPOSA

President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to agree on a code of conduct to define
the role of the police and army in the upcoming elections, say officials.

This comes after statements by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai this week
that he and Mugabe had agreed on the code of conduct for uniformed personnel
during elections scheduled for July.

A Zanu-PF official familiar with the process said Mugabe and the party were
no longer under pressure to institute any reforms after Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) told the South African mediation team
about three weeks ago that Zimbabwe would hold a constitutional referendum
and later elections without further reforms.

But an official in Tsvangirai's office said that discussions were already
under way between Tsvangirai and Mugabe.

"The code will clearly outline what role the state security agents are
expected to play in the forthcoming elections. The discussions are already
under way," said the official, who declined to be named because he is not
authorised to speak to the press about the matter.

The official said that the talks would involve Tsvangirai and Mugabe, as
well as Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and the leader of the smaller
MDC faction, Welshman Ncube.

Tsvangirai claims code agreed
But Tsvangirai said that the code of conduct had already been agreed upon
between him and Mugabe, insisting: "We want to establish the truth of the
so-called deployment [of military personnel around the country] and the
president, as the commander-in-chief of the defence forces, has assured us
that he will act."

Kurauone Chihwayi, the deputy spokesman for Ncube's MDC, said they were not
aware of a deal on the code of conduct, though they have in the past
insisted on security sector reforms before elections are held.

Chihwayi said he had been informed by Ncube that no talks on the proposed
code had taken place.

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said he was not aware of any talks for
further reforms.

"I don't know under what circumstances he [Tsvangirai] made those remarks,
but I don't think there will be [more] reforms before elections. All parties
agreed that elections would be held under the conditions in the proposed
Constitution. I don't really know where he is coming from," said Gumbo.

An MDC-T national executive member who declined to be named said the recent
arrest of civil society activists has been a "rude awakening" for
Tsvangirai, but doubted he would be able to force Mugabe into agreeing to a
code of conduct.

Fears for MDC sympathisers
However, the issue may come up for discussion at a security council meeting
scheduled for the first week of March, two weeks before the constitutional
referendum on March 16. But sources indicated Tsvangirai is unlikely to have
leverage to force this on to the agenda, given that he had already agreed
that further reforms would be done after elections.

Since January, police have raided offices of or arrested individuals linked
to at least six non-governmental organisations. Police raided the Zimbabwe
Peace Project's offices in Harare on February 13, as well as those of the
National Association of Non-governmental Organisations.

Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko, who was abducted by state
security agents in December 2008 and tortured while in detention for several
months, expressed fear that state security agents could escalate harassment
of civil society activists who are largely viewed as sympathetic towards the
MDC.

In an electoral report, Restore!, the Zimbabwe Institute said political
violence and intimidation had "become an endemic part of Zimbabwe's
political culture" and that the army and police had been willing
accomplices.

"The law enforcement agencies have committed or been complicit in acts of
unlawful violence," the report said.

Police support
Police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri has said he is a supporter of
Zanu-PF, as has army general Constantine Chiwenga and senior prison
officers.

The 2008 presidential election runoff was marred by widespread violence.
Tsvangirai pulled out of the runoff election citing violence, especially by
police and army members, who, he said, were acting on behalf of Zanu-PF.
The MDC claims at least 200 MDC-T members were killed in that violence.

Under the mandate of the Southern African Development Community, South
Africa brokered a power-sharing government of national unity between Zanu-PF
and the MDC in 2009.

Media group says Zimbabwe police ban on hand-cranked, solar radios illegal ahead of polling

http://www.washingtonpost.com

By Associated Press, Published: February 22

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Media freedom campaigners said Friday police in Zimbabwe
are breaking the law by seizing and banning small radio receivers that can
tune in to stations not linked to the state broadcasting monopoly controlled
by President Robert Mugabe’s party.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa said Friday no regulations outlaw the
hand-cranked, solar powered radios that democracy and election support
groups plan to use ahead of a referendum on a new constitution next month
and crucial elections later in the year. Police insist the radios and cheap
Chinese 3G smartphones with GPS capability are being supplied by “subversive
organizations” and pose a security threat surrounding the polling.

The media group said any broadcast receiver only requires a routine
listeners’ license, and the police action was a grave threat to active and
informed participation in upcoming voting.

“The importance of a radio set cannot be overemphasized as it is a generally
affordable legal gadget used for receiving information by the public,” the
group said.

Police efforts to “criminalize the distribution and possession of the radio
sets” infringed citizens constitutional rights to freedom of expression and
basic civil liberties,” it said.

Such radios and other equipment were seized in recent police raids on the
Zimbabwe Peace Project, a human rights group that monitors political
violence, and the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network.

Police allege those and other groups were planning to mobilize “recruits”
with unauthorized communications devices in rural districts across the
country, traditionally voting strongholds of Mugabe’s party.

The Elton Microlink radio, at a cost of about $30, has channels able to
receive Voice of America broadcasts beamed in from neighboring Botswana and
shortwave broadcasts on Zimbabwe from Europe.

The state Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp. has four radio stations fiercely loyal
to Mugabe. State and independent newspapers are not commonly found in
impoverished rural districts where communities rely for information on
radios only receiving state radio and powered by batteries that are often in
short supply.

Police warned this week that the activities of some Western-backed
non-governmental organizations and rights groups now verged on espionage.
People found in remote areas with the cited devices could face arrest.

They said the “specially designed radios are not compatible with state-owned
radio stations” and could inflame election tensions by promoting hate
speech.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party in a shaky coalition with Mugabe
since the last violent and disputed polls in 2008 accused the state
broadcaster of bias against it and blamed all media controlled by Mugabe
loyalists for using hate speech against his opponents.

Penalties of a small fine for receiving satellite television, widely popular
in Zimbabwe, and worldwide shortwave radio programs are only imposed if no
annually-issued radio or television license is held. Receiving equipment
cannot be seized.

The independent Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights reported in a separate
statement Friday what it called a sustained and escalating assault on groups
involved in civic education, human rights monitoring and public outreach
programs.

The clampdown was likely to intimidate ordinary people into shunning civic
groups working in local communities for fear of police threats.

The lawyers called for “sanity to prevail and a reduction of the hysteria
and paranoia currently characterizing the state and its institutions and
actors.”

Rights lawyers to challenge police ban on radios

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

22.02.13

by Edgar Gweshe

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights will soon file an application
challenging a police ban on specially designed radios being distributed to
the public by non-governmental organisations.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson,
Charity Charamba hinted that they will be imposing a ban on specially
designed radios that are not compatible with state-owned stations and other
communication devices.

“We have information that some people or political parties are engaging in
illegal activities, that is to say they are distributing illegal
communicating devices to unsuspecting members of the public.

“We strongly believe that the intentions of such people are not holy but
meant to create and sow seeds of disharmony within the country, especially
now that the country is about to embark on the referendum and harmonised
elections,” said Charamba.

The ZLHR said the move by the ZRP was an attack on freedom of expression and
access to information.

In a statement released today, the ZLHR said: “ZLHR is deeply committed to
freedom of expression and access to information. It is also our firm and
unshakable belief that the police are the least expected to act outside the
law considering that they are mandated in terms of Section 18 (1) to act
lawfully and upholds the constitution.

“We refuse to be passive spectators of such blatant violations and impunity,
and as such ZLHR is preparing to challenge this purported ban through the
courts imminently.”

On another note, the ZLHR has laid responsibility for the crackdown on civic
society organisations ahead of elections scheduled for this year on the
Inclusive Government.

The ZLHR said politicians were paying more attention to electoral campaigns
while the Global Political Agreement that gave birth to the Government of
National Unity continues to be violated.

“There has been a resounding silence by the politicians who appear to be
more pre-occupied with their electoral campaigns and power retention at the
expense of undertakings laid out clearly in the Global Political
Agreement-undertakings which continue to be broken, discarded and arrogantly
ignored.

“They (GNU partners) have been either powerless to stop the attacks,
directly or indirectly involved in the coordination and implementation of
the attacks, or simply unconcerned with the challenges faced by those
outside their ivory towers,” said the ZLHR.

The ZLHR said failure by the government to stop the persecution of civic
society organisations would paint a negative picture of the pre-election
environment in Zimbabwe.

Civic society organisations that have fallen victim to arrests and
intimidations over the past months include the Zimbabwe Peace Project,
Zimbabwe Election Support Network, ZimRights and the Counselling Services
Unit.

Zanu fears 2002 election report

http://mg.co.za

22 FEB 2013 00:00 - INYASHA CHIVARA

Zanu-PF officials are anxious that a report by South African judges on
Zimbabwe's 2002 election could soon be made public, party insiders say.

The report was prepared for former president Thabo Mbeki by Justice Sisi
Khampepe and Justice Dikgang Moseneke after they were sent by Mbeki to
observe the elections.

Last week the North Gauteng High Court ordered the presidency to hand over
the report to the Mail & Guardian. The newspaper has fought for the past
four years for its release.

Zanu-PF officials said the report contained information supplied in
confidence by people close to President Robert Mugabe and its release might
prove politically awkward for party officials who supplied the information.

The information could relate to Zanu-PF's complicity in violence, election
misconduct that bordered on manipulating the process in favour of Mugabe and
confidential information about how Mugabe conducted party affairs, insiders
said.

The two insiders, who are central committee members of the party, said
Zanu-PF is also worried that the report might finger officials and
destabilise the party ahead of elections.

Analysts said the report was a reminder of the recent WikiLeaks scandal that
created widespread problems within Mugabe's party.

Secret meetings
WikiLeaks identified several ministers, retired and serving military
generals and Mugabe confidantes who allegedly held secret meetings at the
United States embassy where they revealed their lack of confidence of
Mugabe's leadership.

Professor Brian Raftopolous, a developmental studies academic, said the
South African report was similar to WikiLeaks.

There could be a "gnashing of teeth" in the party if there was information
in the report supplied by Mugabe's confidantes that expressed reservations
about the manner in which that election was held.

Raftopolous said it was important for Zimbabweans to know what the report
contained "so that the wrongs committed are known and addressed," especially
in the context of the elections this year.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera said the report was potentially
damaging for Zanu-PF as it was likely to confirm the use of sanctioned
violence in the 2002 presidential election.

Mangongera said Zanu-PF's anxiety about the release of the report was
understandable because the "last thing the party needs is division ahead of
elections". It would be "politically damaging" for any official to be
mentioned.

However, Mangongera said there was hope for those mentioned that the party
would not sanction them because it had not disciplined any of the officials
involved in the WikiLeaks reports.

SA government 'uncomfortable'
A Zanu-PF MP said, however, that no action had been taken by the party over
WikiLeaks because, in that case, the motive of the foreign diplomats was
questionable, but in the case of the Khampepe report, "it will be difficult
for the party to ignore it as the views and information supplied by the
judges will be taken as credible".

A South African diplomat based in Harare said the South African government
was not comfortable with the release of the report because it could throw
the country's mediation role on behalf of the Southern Africa Development
Community into disarray as "no one may want to confide in South African
officials again".

Civil society has enthusiastically welcomed the judgment.

Irene Petras, the executive director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, said the contents of the report were "significant insofar as they
may be able to confirm long-standing allegations of electoral malpractices,
state complicity in violations and/or electoral fraud".

She said the "continued resistance by the South African government to comply
with the order to release the report could lead to negative conclusions
being drawn about the contents of the report and thus fuel presumptions that
there is something to hide".

In last week's ruling, Judge Joseph Raulinga said: "Without disclosing the
contents of the report, I can reveal that the report potentially discloses
evidence of substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with, the
law."

Raulinga ordered the report to be released within 10 days of his February 14
ruling.

Court to rule on Zim helicopter freeze

http://www.news24.com

2013-02-22 16:34

Johannesburg - The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria is expected to rule
on an application by AfriForum to freeze the delivery of South African
helicopters to the Zimbabwean military on Friday.

On 25 January, the same court granted the Afrikaner lobby group an urgent
interim court order to prevent delivery of helicopters to the Zimbabwean
army until the completion of the main application.

AfriForum's legal team presented letters on the matter to the Minister of
Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe,
who is also chairperson of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee.

The letters were written after rumours surfaced that the SA National Defence
Force (SANDF) had decided to donate its entire fleet of used Alouette III
Air Force helicopters to Zimbabwe, AfriForum said at the time.

"We have informed the acting French Ambassador to South Africa in writing of
the potential risk for his country," AfriForum's legal representative Willie
Spies said in January.

"In that France may be contravening the arms embargo against Zimbabwe, as
imposed by the European Union, as the South African government will now be
donating imported French helicopter parts to Zimbabwe," he continued.

He said according to the National Conventional Arms Control Act of 2002, the
National Conventional Arms Control Committee must consider certain
principles before the sale or delivery of military equipment to another
country can be authorised.

Spies said indications were that the Zimbabwean army was enhancing its
visibility and mobility in anticipation of national elections scheduled to
take place later this year.

- SAPA

Zim farmer protests to the EU

21 February 2013

Peta Thornycroft Mercury Foreign Service

Evicted Zimbabwe farmer Ben Freeth has protested to the EU after it lifted
financial and travel sanctions on the leader of a gang of President Robert
Mugabe's loyalists, who fractured his skull nearly five years ago.
Freeth, 43, says he is appalled that sanctions against Gilbert Moyo have
been lifted. He claims Moyo tried to kill him. Human rights activists say
Moyo was also involved in many attacks against Movement for Democratic
Change supporters during the last elections, in 2008.
Freeth, his father-in-law, Mike Campbell, then 76, and Campbell's wife,
Angela, 67, were abducted from their lush fruit farm about 120km south-west
of Harare and taken to a nearby Zanu-PF militia base. There they were beaten
by about 20 party loyalists, who repeatedly hit them with rifle butts in the
head. Campbell never recovered full consciousness and died three years
later.
"The EU's decision is despicable. It is amazing that the EU should lift
restrictions from a man who has shown himself |to be a danger to society,
and who committed crimes against humanity for over a decade," Freeth said
yesterday.
He said Moyo, who is believed to be living in central Zimbabwe, was arrested
weeks after the attack on him and his in-laws, but was granted bail and the
case then disappeared.
Police commissioner Augustine Chihuri was not available at his Harare
office, or on his cellphone to comment yesterday.
Moyo's name appears on a list of wanted people in the Chegutu Police
Station, which is near the Campbell's Mount Carmel farm, which was |taken
from them by Mugabe's former information minister, Nathan Shamuyarira, 85.
He rarely visits the farm, which used to have a thriving export market from
about 40 000 fruit trees, mainly mangos and citrus. Freeth says the trees
stopped producing fruit several years ago.
Meanwhile, 50 000 veterans from the liberation war have sent a committee to
appeal to parliament for a cash gratuity of about R160 000 each, plus
licences to mine diamonds in the alluvial fields in eastern Zimbabwe.
The diamond fields in the Marange communal lands are at present controlled
by Chinese, Lebanese and South African businessmen, in partnership with
senior Zimbabwe military chiefs, or with the Zanu-PF-controlled mines
ministry.
The veterans also want a |review of their monthly allowance of about R1 400,
which they say is below the poverty line.

Gift Konjana: My ordeal at the hands of the police

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Posted by Nomalanga Moyo

22 February 2013

On February 15th human rights activist Gift Konjana, the Church of Christ’s
elderly Reverend Deve plus George Makoni of the Centre for Community
Development in Zimbabwe, were arrested by police over a voter education
meeting held in Chegutu. They were accused of holding an illegal meeting.
Below is Konjana’s first-hand account of his ordeal at the hands of Zimbabwe’s
law enforcement agents.

Part one: How it all started
It was on Wednesday, the 13th of February, when the local Member of
Parliament (MP) called on me to avail myself for a public meeting which he
had organized at a local church in Chegutu town. I told him I had no problem
at all as my scheduled activities were not being disturbed at all.

A day later, the MP called again to ask me if I could chair the meeting. He
went on to tell me that he wanted to report back on the constitutional
process and that some members of a civic group called Center for Community
Development of Zimbabwe (CCDZ) were also going to be present and were
therefore to be some of the speakers on the panel. It all appeared to be OK,
so I pledged to avail myself and help.

On the day in question, I managed to get to the local church and the MP and
some other people were already there, chatting and laughing. When I got
closer, we exchanged greetings and set about talking about the local gossip
and all. I then asked my MP when we were going to start the meeting. He told
me that the other guys from CCDZ were on their way and in time at all they
would be around, I was told. So dutifully, I asked all the other guys
present to get into the church so I could kick-start the program.

I started by acknowledging the presence of pastors, the MP, former Mayor of
Chegutu and some councilors. I acknowledged all the people who had come
despite their numerous other chores they had to attend to. I then asked the
pastor to give devotion as was the program. After which the pastor prayed.
By this time guys from CCDZ had arrived, so as dictated by the program, I
asked one of them to give his presentation. It was on the constitution
making process. He thanked the members of the public for their contributions
during the consultation stages, then thanked parliament for funding the
process, the principals for the relative peace and agreeing to present a
final draft despite their own personal interests and those from their
parties. He then announced the date for the referendum and the fact that
people especially members of the public must choose whether to support or go
against the vote during this period, emphasizing though that it was a better
document than the one currently in use.

After that the MP stood up and told us that the draft was out, that he had
also hoped to bring the copies but was not yet ready from the printers. He
also confirmed the date of the referendum and thanked the residents for
showing up at such a short notice. When he sat down, I stood up to close the
meeting by thanking the people and all the visitors but before I asked the
pastor to pray, I saw a police vehicle coming to an abrupt stop and some
plain clothes police details literally flying from the speeding car. In no
time they were in the church, by this time the pastor had started to lead a
closing prayer. This did not go down well with the police, who had hoped to
get some information of what we were saying and had said to the people.
Before the prayer had even ended, they come to where I was standing and one
of them, a female policewoman, held my hands, maybe she thought I would run
away during the prayer. After praying, she led me, Rev Bere and George
Makoni from CCDZ to the police car. Like sheep we were led away and driven
to the Pfupajena police cells.
However, I was very much surprised by the support I got from the youths and
women there. Some of these guys wanted to go with me to police station, but
only to be restrained by the police. By this time some of the youths had
jumped into the police vehicle and these refused to leave.

They were about seven of them. I could hear the police-woman pleading with
them to get down but they could not have any of that. At high speed the
police van veered off towards the police station about a kilometre away.
They started by asking me why I was involving myself in politics again,
stating that Mashonaland West was better off without me in politics. They
even told me to be like the other guys like the MP and other district
officials who from time to time would tell the police their intentions.

All this time I was quiet. They asked me to respond, but instead of
answering their question, I asked them why they had arrested the three of us
only and not all the people present, including some high profile people.
They got even angrier, skirting my question at the same time. By this time
almost all the police details at this small police station had come to have
a closer look at us especially me, as if I was a notoriously dangerous
personality.

Some were saying, is this ‘The Konjana’ we hear about. While some even asked
me why I do what I do. I did not answer all these questions at all. I could
hear them saying I was troublesome and only wanted to cause trouble, so I
should be dealt with once and for all. All this time I was wondering, what
type of training and doctrine these police had got at college and whether my
life was in professional people’s hands or not.

After what felt like eternity, they asked me to get into the charge office
and not to chat with my colleagues, before calling George, into the
interrogation room. By this time they had asked all the youths to go home
and to come back the next morning.

I was really humbled by these youths they were my real heroes, they made my
day. The police spent some time with him (George) and then it was the pastor’s
turn. We had been arrested at around 3.45pm, and now it was around 7pm, and
the guys had no clue what charges they would prefer against us.

I asked them if we could go home and come back the next day if they were not
ready. They refused to let us go. It was only at around 9pm when they got
instructions from Chinhoyi and Kadoma, when they started to prepare the
docket.
During this time, I told them of what we were telling the people. I told
them about the constitution and that we had also thanked the people of
Zimbabwe for being brave during the outreach period, which sometimes tended
to be violent. We had also thanked COPAC for finally delivering a draft that
we were going to see and make a decision at the forthcoming referendum,
although it was regrettable that COPAC had not met its own timelines.

We also thanked the principals for keeping the promise to deliver a draft
although it was not totally a people’s draft. We then announced the
referendum date and what the people were supposed to do before the vote. We
encouraged them to read the constitution and also to attend all public
meetings which were going to be held once the document was out.
All this time the officers were taking notes, but I told them I was not
going to tell them how I was going to plead as I was only going to do so in
the presence of my lawyers. At around midnight, we were then taken to
Chegutu Central Police Station, some 3km away and locked away in the police
cells.

Early Saturday morning some detectives and CIO operatives came and took us
to Kadoma Law and Order Section. There, we met our lawyer who then responded
to the allegations, and kept us informed of everything. After that the
detectives took us to police cells where we spent the weekend.

My colleague was taken away from the cells on Sunday. He literally spent the
whole day outside with the detectives. When he came back very late in the
afternoon, he told me of some interrogation and fingerprints being taken.
Early Monday morning some fingerprints were taken from us before they took
us to Kadoma court where we were told to go Chegutu because the case had
happened there. They did not have transport so we asked them if we could use
a CCDZ kombi. They had little choice so we drove to Chegutu and got at
lunch. We got into the court after lunch and we got bail of US$50 each.

Part two: Inside the cells
Life in a Zimbabwean prison cell is not at all fashionable nor is it
enviable. This is the last person that any person would want to be. This is
a place where you meet the criminally hardened, with crimes ranging from
petty to serious. You also see and hear them boasting of their exploits,
some of them bragging to do it again and again, if they get out there.
I remember when we were given some time to refresh and meet our relatives.
They kept us in an enclosure of some security mesh wire. The police kept a
vigil on us. They wanted to hear anything we said to our loved ones, while
at the same time they insisted we had to eat while we talked. It was really
a mission impossible. It meant that if you talked you would not eat; if you
ate you would not talk. I remember in Kadoma, picking up an old small
Gideons bible. At once I knew God wanted to talk to me and that I had to
tell the people in the cell about God’s love. Once in the cell, I opened
Psalms 23. I shared the word with the inmates. They loved it. I kept telling
them of God’s love. I was amazed how they received it.

At once two guys stood up, they were all members of a bible believing
church. They asked me to pray for them. After which they prayed for me and
most in the cell. It was the most refreshing time. We sang some popular
songs of praise, it was amazing how most joined and seemed to enjoy. At that
I praised the Lord for his people and to forgive us for our sins. Before all
this there was a lot of mistrust but soon after the prayers, we started to
talk to each other.
We heard of the charges of some in the cell faced. Some faced murder, theft,
fraud, rape, drugs and some were gold panners and gold buyers who had been
nabbed at the numerous sites around Kadoma and Chegutu. Some in the cell had
spent nearly a week and some had gone to court but had come back again
because the police had applied for an extension of detention.
The stories we heard were like fiery stories from Mars. You just could not
believe them. I heard from a man in his early 40s who had raped a minor, an
old man of around 60 who had stolen a bicycle, a young boy of 13 who had
stolen a laptop and some computer accessories from a shop. The list goes on
and on. We were about 40 in a cell supposed to hold about half the number.

We were so crowded at both Chegutu and Kadoma police cells, we could hardly
sleep. All the time we slept on our sides, if you wanted to change the
position and wanted to use the other side you would wake up everyone on your
side and everyone would also change, because you had to sleep facing the
same direction if you were to be comfortable. This, despite the fact that we
were sleeping on the hard, concrete slab. At first you may get this
impression that the cell is still under construction and that one day the
workmen would come to finish off by putting the floor. But when you look
closer you would then see that this has been like this since the colonial
times.

There has not been any effort at all to correct this abnormality, even
though we are not going to be a colony again. The walls are dirty as if they
have been using the cell as a kitchen. I could smell the soot and all the
walls are blackened by what looks like smoke. The concrete ceiling is awash
with names of some people who could have been held in these squalid
conditions some several decades ago, maybe before independence. I saw some
graffiti which read: ‘Chikowore was here’. The name Chikowore reminds me of
one post independence minister who died sometime in the late 90s or
thereabouts who hailed from Kadoma. He had been an MP for the town since
independence.

I thank God that I was in these places during this time of the year when the
weather is relatively fine, otherwise I could have suffered as there are
virtually no blankets. I had protested in Chegutu as there was only one old
blanket which we were supposed to share. They had not responded quickly
although, when I came in later I discovered they had supplied new blankets
there. I was sleeping on the dirty floor at both Chegutu and Kadoma, without
any blankets at all.

My arms are still sore as I was using them as my pillow throughout my
ordeal. During the day we spent the time either sleeping or talking to each
other and preaching. By the time we went to court, my whole body was aching.
There was no time for exercise which I think is mandatory for someone in
quarantine. For four days I hardly walked a kilometre.

In the cells on the right-hand side, there was what should have been a
toilet pan. This actually added misery to our plight. Human waste and urine
were overflowing onto the floor. There was no water to flush that away. If
you wanted to then you would have to get permission as attempting to flush
would bring all this down onto the floor, which would mean you would not b
able to sleep or sit there at all.

I tried to talk to the officers but they would hear none of it. They told us
that the cell had to be unpleasant so that you would not come back again.
You could see the maggots moving threateningly towards you. But we had no
choice as this was to be our room for the rest of our ordeal. The smell was
too strong for one even to say something in there, but we got used and
started to chart. That way we managed to tell out inmates the good word and
the politics of the day. We knew that this was another chimurenga and we had
to play our part.

In no time my nails grew and they had collected a lot of dirt and so there
was need for me to cut them. I had asked my wife to bring a nail cutter so I
could do that. When she wanted to give me the nail cutter they refused to
let me get it. The police told me I was not supposed to handle anything that
would hurt me. They told me some of the people in the cell were dangerous so
they could not give me the nail cutter. I also wanted to brush my teeth but
they could not allow me that as well.

There was no water to bath and no shower room for us. The situation in these
two police cells is very very bad. Something really needs to be done
urgently. Because we could not bath the police also refused us a change of
clothes. They told us there was no need. I had asked my wife to take a
picture of me in dirty clothes and uncombed hair and overgrown beard, but
they would not have any of it. They even took her into the charge office for
that and gave her a warning.
At Chegutu police cells they at least provide some food. The food though is
below standard, I don’t know whether they conform to the minimum standards
set by the prison services themselves. I mean the minimum nutritional
standards. The meal was sadza and boiled beans without cooking oil or
tomatoes.

For most of the inmates, our coming in was a blessing as we had to share all
we got from friends and relatives. The sadza and beans from the police was
all the time left like that as we shared. In Kadoma, there was nothing
served by the police. We met some inmates who had spent some three to four
days without eating anything at all. Some were very weak and looked sickly
because of hunger.

There was virtually nothing else to entertain us. We had no reading material
like books or magazines. My wife brought me a newspaper to read but they
would not permit that. There were no lights in all the cells at Chegutu and
Kadoma. There were some lights outside which also helped to give us some
light in the cells. They would be switched on and off from outside.
The light would penetrate through two of the four vents in the cells. You
could hardly see each other as the rooms were dimly lit by this limited
lighting. The vents which were supposed to help us breathe clean and fresh
air were positioned at the apex of the room close to the concrete ceiling
and so did very little to help.

I am sure you remember when I was given the US$50 fine at the Chegutu court.
Earlier the police at Kadoma had been scanning my name throughout the
Mashonaland West Province, for any other crime that I might have committed.
They had told me then that they had got Kariba and Karoi confirming that I
had some cases, however they had then said they had the cases cleared and so
I had no case. They even went on to say Chinhoyi had cleared me as well. But
on this day in question, when bail had been granted and paid, the police
suddenly told me I had another case pending in Chinhoyi.

They told me they were not going to let me go home unless I talked to the
investigation officer. They gave me a phone number. I phoned the policeman
and told him of how tired and dirty I was and that I would come early
morning, the next day. He agreed, I gave the phone to the detectives who
were with me and they talked and seemed to agree.

However after their conversation, they asked me to accompany them to the
nearest CID offices so they could tell their bosses in Kadoma what they
intended to do with me. After what seemed like an hour and a half, they
emerged from the offices. All this time I was talking to family and friends
who had come to court to hear my case.

When I saw them coming out of the office I immediately approached them, I
was shocked to hear that they had been told not to release me. They then
took me to Chegutu holding cells where I was promised that policemen from
Chinhoyi would come and take me there. When I was put back into the cells at
Chegutu, I was surprised to hear from the police details there that they had
supplied new blankets and had cleaned the cell since I had made a lot of
noise about it the other day.

They even chided me by saying I had done that as if I knew I was coming back
again. Before they locked me away I reminded them to phone Chinhoyi and tell
them I was no longer coming on my own account. They promised they would do
that. I slept once again on the hard concrete floor, but this time with some
blankets. I was still in my dirty clothes for the seventh day now.

The next morning, I asked the officer in charge at Chegutu police station
whether they had phoned, he rudely told me to keep quiet and not to teach
him what to do. But I insisted that if the Chinhoyi guys were not coming
then they had to release me. Later my friends and relatives came in with
some food. I was happy to meet and see all them all. But deep inside me I
felt uneasy. I definitely knew I was on a collision course with the police.
At noon when my friends and relatives came with some food, I said silently,
‘this is the time.’ I asked the policemen present when their guys from
Chinhoyi would be coming. I even challenged them that had I been released
yesterday, I would have finished the business in Chinhoyi.
I told them I was not going to eat until I got answers. I even told them
that I had a better place where I could eat and drink and that I was not
amused to be locked away like this. They tried to persuade me. My wife tried
too. I didn’t want to see the tears already forming in her eyes so I got
back into the cell. Some of the police officers followed me into the cell,
tried to persuade me but I refused to listen.
I then asked them to ask their boss to come and see me. The other cell mates
were not very much happy either as they wanted the food which I normally
shared with them. I told them, they could have it, but my wife would not
have any of that, telling them that I had kids and so they could eat it
instead.
When the officer in charge (OIC) heard that I wanted to see him, I think he
phoned Chinhoyi first; probably he got an unpleasant answer or something.
What I know is that he did not want to see me at all. After about some 30 or
so minutes, I heard the prison gate being opened and then the heavy steel
door, at that time I heard a voice calling my name. I got out and was
quickly taken to the charge office. Still the officer in charge was avoiding
me.
I was told by some police details that I had been released because they did
not want me to die of hunger while in their custody. I asked them if the OIC
had phoned Chinhoyi at all. I told them I was going to Chinhoyi on my own
but if there was no case I would sue them for keeping me in prison. Finally
the OIC came after the threat to sue. He apologized to me on behalf of the
Chinhoyi police. He then asked me to go there any other time as it was not
urgent, but I told him I would do that the next day as I felt humiliated,
and wanted to clear my name. Before he left, he told me to see the OIC in
Chinhoyi.
The next day, very early in the morning, I went to Chinhoyi with my wife. We
got to the police station just before 8am. We went into the charge office
and asked to see the OIC. The officer asked me why we wanted to see him. I
told him everything and he led us away to the OIC Crime. He was a pleasant
guy. He introduced himself as Assistant Commissioner Kanogwere (AssComm).
I told him my story and he seemed familiar to the story. He told me if I
ever recall any case I had at their station. I told him I finished all the
outstanding cases. He went out to the other office. I could hear him
talking. He seemed to be talking to a female police detail. She kept on
asking why the Chegutu police release me. After a lengthy discussion, they
agreed to let me go but not before taking all my details. The AssComm came
back, apologized for the inconvenience before taking my details.
I told him I was going to see what my lawyers would say about this. He gave
me a telephone number to contact him on regarding this issue. I then left
for the provincial party office, where I met party cadres who were also
wondering what was happening and what all this meant.
We then left Chinhoyi for Chegutu. However I would not have made it had it
not been for the prayers I received from family and friends from all corners
of the country. People in Chiredzi near the Limpopo, south of the country,
in Figtree near Plumtree, west of the country, in Nyazura near the
magnificent mountains of Nyanga, east of the country, in Kariba along the
Zambezi, north of the country, in the churches and homes.
Families and friends spared precious time to pray, some of them for the
first time in their lives. Some brave enough even paid me visits at the
cells, bringing food and warm regards from their friends who are also my
friends. There were both black and white families all concerned.
The party was not to be outdone. Activists from both the civic and political
movement all came in full support of a comrade. First on a Saturday when
everybody was spending quality time with their loved ones, Mr Bhatasara from
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) came to represent us and then at
Chegutu court Mr Bhamu, also from ZLHR, came and took over from where he had
left. I did not deserve all this. But in the end it was God at work, like
what one of my many valued friends wrote: ‘What, then, shall I say to all
these things? If God is with us, who can be against us?’ Romans 8: 31. Thank
you and God abundantly bless you all. You are truly the good neighbours.

Suffering amid Zimbabwe's diamond fields of plenty

http://www.irinnews.org

Photo: Foto Mafumo/IRIN

One of the Marange diamond mines, about 90km southeast of Mutare in Manicaland province

MARANGE, 22 February 2013 (IRIN) - A chain-link fence topped with coils of razor wire separates Zimbabwean subsistence farmers, who endure perennial crop failures and scarce rainfall, from what may be one of the world’s richest diamond deposits.

Marange’s diamond fields, about 90km southeast of Mutare in Manicaland Province, drew tens of thousands of artisanal miners in 2006 as word spread that diamonds had been found. Two years later, they were flushed out in a heavy-handed security operation called ‘Hakudzokwi’ - meaning “you will not return” - to allow commercial mining companies to exploit the roughly 60,000-hectare site.

Rodrick Nyauyanga, 50, briefly gave up his life as a Marange farmer to become an artisanal miner in 2006. With the earnings, he built himself a five-room brick-and-mortar home with a zinc roof. He also purchased six head of cattle and several farming implements, as well as a motorbike.

Following the security clampdown, his 20-year-old son trespassed on the diamond fields and was killed by guard dogs set on him by soldiers. After that, Nyauyanga returned to his life as a farmer and slowly lapsed back into poverty.

First, he sold the motorbike to pay for food and for his youngest child’s school fees. Then, most of his cattle died from tick-borne diseases.

“The only dip tank we had in the area was destroyed to make way for one of the mines, [so] we no longer dip our cattle. Villagers here believe that the mines are polluting the river from which our cattle and goats drink,” Nyauyanga told IRIN.

Now the diamond companies are beginning to encroach on Nyauyanga’s land. He lost about half of his five-hectare plot when the Chinese mining company Anjin Diamond extended its boundary into his fields.

A 2012 report by the UK-based NGO Global Witness said Anjin Diamond was a joint venture with the “obscure” local company Matt Bronze and Anjin Zimbabwe’s board members, which “include senior serving and retired military and police officers.”

Impoverishment

“Officials from Anjin recently visited us and notified us that they were considering moving us because more diamonds have been discovered where we live. Many of us have already lost farming and grazing land to the mines, forcing us to depend on food from donors,” Nyauyanga said.

"I tried to sink a well on my homestead to water my garden but was arrested by the police who accused me of illegally mining for diamonds"

“These diamonds are supposed to make us happy, but they have brought misery to people in Marange. We can’t even grow vegetables. At one time I tried to sink a well on my homestead to water my garden but was arrested by the police who accused me of illegally mining for diamonds,” he said.

Melanie Chiponda, project manager for the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust (CCDT), an NGO monitoring human rights abuses in the area, told IRIN the consequence of mining have been “catastrophic” for the Marange community.

“The people of Marange believe that the discovery of diamonds is a curse. Of course, they at one time enjoyed the fruits of the diamonds, but they were happier before the minerals were discovered. People are suffering in the midst of plenty,” she said.

Mine authorities and security services were preventing the community from engaging in livelihood opportunities, such as hawking, she said. “The mine owners, soldiers and the police destroyed vending sites because they felt they were being used to illegally sell diamonds.

“Besides, villagers who used to harvest and sell wild fruits along the roads can no longer do so since the mines have cut down the trees, while small wild animals that locals hunted for sale have disappeared,” she said.

The area has no medical facilities, and the nearest clinic is 50km away. “The villagers who used to depend on herbs as an alternative to modern medicines no longer have access to trees and shrubs that the mines have also razed,” Chiponda continued.

Small-scale farmer Theresa Samuriwo, 46, from Mavhiza Village in Marange, told IRIN, “Most of the farming here is done by women, the majority of whom are single mothers. We can no longer sufficiently look after our children, whom the mines have failed to give employment. We used to grow and sell crops at irrigation projects, but the dams have been polluted and silted-up by the mines.”

The few boreholes that were sunk several years ago are overwhelmed by villagers and their livestock, said Chiponda, and the water table has been affected by heavy mine use.

Relocations

Between 2010 and 2011, the mines relocated nearly 700 families from Marange to Arda Transau, a sprawling settlement about 40km north of the diamond fields. Each family was provided a four-room house.

But Chiponda said the houses were overcrowded. “Some of the children from the relocated families have since married. They don’t have anywhere to go, which means the households are now severely overcrowded.”

She says that, on average, six people are living in each house, and that there are 33 relocated families who had yet to be allocated houses; they are living in the houses of relocated relatives.

“They are vulnerable to manipulation by mining authorities and government officials as they do not have social leaders, and they have no leases to the land on which they now live,” she said.

"Most of those that were relocated are yet to be compensated, and the mines are not doing anything meaningful to improve people’s livelihoods"

Shuwa Mudiwa, the member of parliament for Mutare West, which includes Marange, told IRIN, “The people [from Marange] are very disgruntled as there are no benefits that have accrued to them. Most of those that were relocated are yet to be compensated, and the mines are not doing anything meaningful to improve people’s livelihoods.”

But Munyaradzi Machacha, a director at Anjin, insists the companies are doing their best to cushion people from nearby villages against the shocks of displacement.

“We have done quite a lot for the communities. We have provided portable [delivered in containers] water, a school and a [satellite] clinic [servicing residents at Arda Transau], and sometimes [we] give food hand-outs to households. We have also invited doctors from China to restore eyesight to a number of people, and we are planning to start irrigation schemes for the locals.”

In 2012, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), an initiative to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the multibillion-dollar international market, permitted Zimbabwe to sell Marange diamonds with KPCS certification after barring it for years over claims of widespread human rights abuses at Marange’s diamond operations.

The European Union (EU) recently decided to keep the government-controlledZimbabwean Diamond Mining Company (ZDMC) on its sanctions list, even though Belgium, an EU member, had proposed lifting the sanctions.

Global Witness welcomed the retention of EU sanctions against the ZMDC in an18 February statement, although it noted that Anjin Diamonds was not covered by the “restrictive measures.”

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Mugabe cast in gold

http://mg.co.za/

22 FEB 2013 00:00 - RAY NDLOVU

President Robert Mugabe will receive a set of gold and platinum coins valued at about $800 000 as a birthday gift from the Zanu-PF youth league

A limited edition of the replica coins will be auctioned off at a fundraising dinner for Mugabe's 89th birthday.

An auction of the replicas was supposed to have taken place on Wednesday night, the eve of Mugabe's birthday, but failed to happen after senior party officials attempted to wrestle control of the coin project, which sparked a furore among Zanu-PF youth league leaders, people involved in the process told the Mail & Guardian. The sources also said all the replicas, minted in South Africa, did not arrive in time for the dinner.

Sources close to the project said the metals for the coins were sourced from a company called the Great Zimbabwe Mining Circle Trust.

"They are like the Nelson Mandela coins and will not be used for commercial purposes but for commemorative purposes," said a youth league official.

The source said the youth league is looking to rake in close to $1-million from the auction of the replicas.

The number of replicas that will be offered for the auction could not be established.

The proceeds from the auction will go to a charity of Mugabe's choice.

Mugabe is seeking his seventh consecutive presidential term in office at elections slated for later this year.

Zim's upcoming poll in disarray

http://mg.co.za/

22 FEB 2013 00:00 - JASON MOYO

Zimbabwe's electoral commission is completely unprepared for the upcoming
referendum, say insiders.

It has taken more than three years for Zimbabwean politicians to agree on a
draft constitution, but voters now only have three weeks to study it ahead
of next month's referendum.

As further evidence of how unprepared the government is, officials have
announced that private businesses will, over the next few weeks, be squeezed
for the cash that is needed to run the poll.

Donors are staying away and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) seems
largely unprepared, but critics say the country's leaders are so eager to
pave the way for elections they are risking the credibility of the country's
poll machinery by rushing the referendum.

Less than a month before the March 16 referendum, election observers say
there is not enough time to get the draft constitution out to voters. The
biggest hurdle is finding the money, over just a few weeks, to fund the
referendum.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara says the government needs $20-million
for the referendum and $80-million for the election itself.

"The biggest part of the internal effort is going to be borrowing from the
private sector; from the mining companies, the banks, the cellphone
companies."

Conflict likely
In return for the cash, companies would get tax exemptions and treasury
bills. That is a promise unlikely to win over businesses, which have little
trust in the government's ability to pay its debts.

It also raises the prospect of conflict between big business and the
government, as a desperate government is likely to force companies into
lending it the funds. There was no immediate comment from large business
groups on the matter.

The to-do list is long for the constitution select committee and the ZEC.
This week, the committee's Jessie Majome announced that 90 000 copies of the
draft constitution had been printed, to be shared by millions of voters in
more than 200 constituencies countrywide.

About 20 000 copies were to be printed in 10 local languages, 500 more would
be in braille, while audio copies would also be made.

None of these were available by the middle of this week. Members of
Parliament said they had each been given just 20 copies of the draft for
distribution to their constituencies.

The draft was still being distributed to non-governmental organisations,
business groups, churches and rural authorities such as district
administrators and chiefs.

Public apathy
Still, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai insisted it did not matter how long
voters were given, implying perhaps that voters would vote as directed by
their parties.

"It doesn't matter how many months you give," Tsvangirai told reporters. "If
you have not already made a decision, I am sure that even if you are given
10 months you will never arrive at any decision. One month is sufficient."

While admitting funding would be the biggest worry, Tsvangirai said: "We
will stick to the 16th of March for the referendum, whatever limitations
there are."

There is little excitement over the referendum, and election observer groups
fear a poorly organised vote will worsen apathy.

"The date raises questions about the ZEC having sufficient time to organise
a credible referendum consistent with the laws of Zimbabwe , as well as the
Southern African Development Community and international principles and
guidelines governing the conduct of democratic elections," elections
observer group Zimbabwe Election Support Network said.

This will be the first poll that the ZEC will run since it was set up in
2010, and the commission is eager to prove it can run elections efficiently.
But the short deadline threatens its credibility. The ZEC had previously
said it needed 60 days to hold an election, but its officials admit they too
had been caught by surprise.

"To handicap the ZEC by requiring it to conduct an acceptable referendum
exercise in less than half the time it has said it needs, is to run the risk
of a botched process – and to imperil the chances of an election result that
will be widely accepted later in the year," legal watchdog Veritas said this
week.

Leadership vacuum
The ZEC has been without a substantive head after Simpson Mutambanengwe
resigned because of ill health. Judge Rita Makarau was this week appointed
as the ZEC's new chair.

But legal experts have said that she has not had enough time in office to
prepare a credible vote.

ZEC officials admit privately that they will struggle to raise the thousands
of staff needed to act as polling officers. Civil servants are usually
relied upon to do the task, but many of them have yet to be paid for their
role in the census last year, and they are reluctant to take up the job.

Thousands of vehicles will have to be hired, but no funding is available.
The commission also has to map out polling stations across the country in
time, and print ballots.

Disorganistion brings fairness of elections into doubt

The credibility of Zimbabwe's upcoming election faces a litmus test as the
voter registration exercise that began last month faces a financial squeeze
and has been marred by reports of disorganisation.

The country will hold elections in July, after the referendum on the
Constitution on March 16.

The voters' roll is a tightly contested platform between Zanu-PF and the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and is yet to be cleaned up owing to
the unavailability of funds.

Media reports that the voters' roll, which is tightly controlled by Tobaiwa
Mudede, an ally of President Robert Mugabe, contains the names of deceased
persons have persisted in the past elections with allegations by the MDC
that Mudede has used the roll to boost Zanu-PF's winning margins in the
past.

"Everything is at a standstill at the moment as we are waiting for the funds
from the treasury to bankroll the electoral processes, attention is on the
referendum and that explains the slow pace on the election side of things",
said Joyce Kazembe, who was the acting chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) until the appointment of Rita Makarau this week.

Thabani Moyo, the director of the Bulawayo Agenda, said village heads in
Lupane were telling people under their jurisdiction that they would only
register those who had Zanu-PF party membership cards.

"In Lupane, traditional leaders say voter registration is not a national
process, but a party- driven process, so people are told to go to their
parties and register," said Moyo.

In Hwange and Manicaland, allegations have surfaced in media reports that
residents are being required to pay a registration fee of $2 at centres
before they are allowed to register. Registration centres are also allegedly
not open every day.

The MDC has also taken issue with the ZEC over the voter registration
exercise not being publicised enough, arguing it is a deliberate tactic to
avoid detection of irregularities in the voters' roll.

MDC legislator for Bulawayo East, Tabitha Khumalo, said Zanu-PF is not
cleaning the voters' roll as it realises it will not win the poll.

Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said the ZEC needed to get "on top of the
situation" as a matter of urgency and deal with the disorganisation.

Meanwhile, the constitutional parliamentary committee has rolled out
publicity awareness campaigns for the draft Constitution.

It started deploying teams this week with 90 000 copies of the draft
Constitution. Its co-chairperson, Douglas Mwonzora, said it would use local
government structures to distribute the documents. –Ray Ndlovu

Mugabe still firmly in power at 89

http://www.iol.co.za

February 22 2013 at 11:23am

Peta Thornycroft

Independent Foreign Service

ROBERT Mugabe, “life president” of Zimbabwe, celebrates his 89th birthday
today more quietly than usual, but remains just as strongly in power as he
was when he took the oath of office in 1980.

He has become the oldest president in Africa and third after Angola’s José
Eduardo dos Santos and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema – by just
months in longevity in office.

When he lost the first round of the presidential election in 2008, Zanu-PF
sent in gangs to kill so many supporters of rival Morgan Tsvangirai, that
the MDC president pulled out of the run-off.

Thereafter, former president Thabo Mbeki persuaded both sides to go into a
unity government.

Mugabe has held on to all his powers, but did ensure that a new constitution
was agreed, despite opposition from his hardliners who wanted to keep the
present charter. His illness of previous years seems behind him, although he
is still tired, like any other person of his age, according to those who
work with him.

“He is feeling more secure than before as he does trust Morgan (Tsvangirai)
will not hand him over to the ICC (International Criminal Court), even if
that was possible. So he is more relaxed about losing elections… that is if
he does lose, and that is uncertain at present,” said a source in Harare.

Another source in a sensitive government position said: “He is thinking
about legacy now. He doesn’t want violence in these elections. But he wants
to win, that is for sure.”

Mugabe’s second wife, Grace, became a grandmother this week when Russell,
son from her first marriage and his wife Gladys announced the birth of their
first child, a boy.

Mugabe’s birthday comes as he struggles to come to terms with the behaviour
of his youngest son, Chatunga, expelled from school weeks ago, and his
oldest boy, Robert, who cannot pass school-leaving exams. Robert is now a
leader in Zanu-PF's Mashonaland West province. His eldest child Bona is
studying in Singapore to become a chartered accountant

Mugabe’s birthday party for his Zanu-PF colleagues will be held in Bindura
district, where his deputy, Joyce Mujuru lives.

The lunch is expected, as usual, to be chicken or beef relish and sadza
(pap).

Elections are expected in July.

If Mugabe loses, most expect Mujuru to succeed him as president of Zanu-PF
and to form a loose coalition with the new president, Tsvangirai.

However, if Mugabe wins, his term will end when he is 94.

Would he fight another round? Analysts say Mugabe wants to be life president
and die in office, as did his previous deputies, Joshua Nkomo, Simon
Muzenda, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo.

Old age haunts Bob’s political life

http://www.iol.co.za/

February 22 2013 at 10:19am
By Reagan Mashavave

Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe turned 89 on Thursday determined
to extend his grip on power despite concerns over his health and advanced
age.

Africa's oldest leader and world's second oldest after Shimon Peres of
Israel, Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Despite speculation over his physical fitness Mugabe accepted nomination
from his Zanu-PF party to stand for another five-year term in elections due
in July.

But doubts have been cast on whether he still has the physical and mental
stamina to go through an election campaign and complete another full term.

“Mugabe's age and health will not allow him to remain active,” said Blessing
Vava, a Harare-based independent political commentator.

“Look at Pope Benedict XVI who recently announced his retirement at 85,
saying his body and health does not allow him to carry duties that he used
to do.”

Observers think Mugabe wants to cling onto power for as long as is possible,
then pick a successor of choice who will ensure he is shielded from
prosecution for any rights abuses he may face.

“He is looking for a safe exit from politics by remaining in power until
death or handing over to a successor who will guarantee that he will not be
prosecuted for rights violations,” said Charles Mangongera, another
independent analyst

He added “Mugabe realises that this is a do or die situation” and “for him I
think it is an issue of personal interest rather than national interest.”

But the longtime leader, who is blamed for having driven the country to
pariah status, is likely to have a tough time working through an election
campaign.

“Mugabe is an old man, he is not going to be moving around (the country)
like he used to,” said Vava. Mangongera said Mugabe faces an election hurdle
in contesting with a much younger candidate, arch-rival Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, who is nearly 30 years his junior

“I don't see Mugabe withstanding a gruelling election campaign,” Mangongera
said.

“Look he is 89. I have seen ...television footage of him struggling to scale
steps. That is indication that he is frail. Age will not allow Mugabe to
mount a credible election campaign.”

Mangongera said Mugabe's calls for peace ahead of the referendum on the
draft constitution next month and elections are signs that he wants to
redeem himself from past wrongs that have tainted his international image.

“If you listen to his language in the past months, he has been conciliatory,
speaking like a statesmen. It is an attempt to secure his legacy,” he said.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai were forced into a power-sharing government to avoid a
tip into full scale conflict in the aftermath of a bloody presidential
run-off election in 2008.

Mugabe is expected to offer his black empowerment drive to take over
majority stakes in foreign owned companies as the main campaign tool.

A victory for the 89-year-old Mugabe would extend his 32 years in power, a
reign that in the last decade has been marked by economic meltdown and
serious rights violations. - Sapa-AFP

Division will be Mugabe's true legacy

http://mg.co.za/

22 FEB 2013 00:00 - JASON MOYO

A commemorative gold coin is to be launched at a fundraiser to mark Robert
Mugabe's birthday, a rather apt illustration of Mugabe's two-faced legacy.

Aged 89 and still hungry for more years in power, there is no telling how
much more Mugabe can add to or subtract from his legacy.

What can be said now, though, is that there will always be two sides to it.
He has always been deeply divisive — depending on who you ask, he will
either always be known as an evil tyrant or a liberator.

In a bookstore in Harare last week, the store manager asked an assistant
what Peter Godwin's book, The Fear, was doing in the fiction section. I
resisted the urge to quip it may have something to do with the book's
subtitle, The Last Days of Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe is preparing himself for a new term in office, which will end when he
is 94, still trying to keep those last days at bay. Even among his enemies,
there is a secret admiration of his resilience. For decades, he has kept a
tight lid on the ambitions of his would-be successors. He is fit for his
age, despite now needing support to walk up and down stairs.

But there will never be agreement on the legacy he leaves behind. There are
many Mugabe books on the shelves of bookstores around the world, all taking
turns at trying to peel away the mystery that is Mugabe. In the Harare
bookstore, in one corner, there is Heidi Holland and her attempted
psychoanalysis of the man in Dinner with Mugabe and Godwin's tome of
frustrated dispossessed privilege.

All try to answer how the shy Catholic boy turned monster. His legacy, most
of the books in the "Mugabe genre" will have it, will be that of destruction
and repression.

Split personality
The truth is there will never be a definitive legacy. Mugabe is different
things to different people.

To victims of his strong-arm rule and the West, he will forever be the evil
dictator. But to his backers, he is some kind of deity, a liberator who
stood up to the West and delivered land and economic control to them.

Mugabe's early years in power were marked by economic growth and a globally
celebrated education system. Yet recent years of ruin have rolled back much
of that.

Although Mugabe was doing good in the 1980s, rights abuses were going on in
the country. Although his economic management and investment in health and
education built a heroic legacy that lasts until today, he was a villain to
some.

Even during the war, he was loathed and admired in equal measure. In Dzino,
an autobiography by Dzinashe Machingura, who was a commander of Zanu's
military arm, Zanla, Mugabe rises to power not only on the support of fellow
leaders but also by stepping on the toes of other comrades.

He was unknown to fighters in the camps. Rugare Gumbo, one of the few senior
guerrillas who knew him, "spoke highly of him and described him as
articulate".

'Loves the limelight'
But when Mugabe's name appeared at the top of a list of political leaders
submitted to Samora Machel in Maputo, "Machel leapt from his chair in
disgust. He was clearly not happy that we had included Mugabe, let alone as
the leader". Mugabe "loves the limelight", Machingura quotes Machel as
warning the fighters.

"We lived to regret the day we had put forward Mugabe's name," he writes. As
Mugabe purged the ranks, "Dzino" — and Gumbo himself — found themselves
imprisoned by Mugabe loyalists, accused of treason.

Because of his ruthlessness, it was Mugabe who addressed a crowd of more
than 100 000 at the Highfields' Zimbabwe Grounds at the end of the war,
casting himself as the sole liberator. Those who had contributed more were
confined to the shadows.

Although Mugabe has mellowed over recent months, he seems to have long given
up on winning over his Western critics. Land and indigenisation are the
get-rich-quick schemes of his corrupt hangers on but he hopes they are the
two pillars upon which he his legacy will be built — that of a black
empowerment crusader. He knows the policies will win him enemies and infamy.
But he also knows they are building a solid legacy elsewhere. As throughout
his career, he is picking his side and sticking to it.

In Dinner with Mugabe, Holland asks Mugabe if he ever compromises at all. He
replies: "No, we compromise a lot. But with principles, no. You don't
sacrifice principles — you don't, you don't, you don't sacrifice
principles."

This is what's happening in Zimbabwe

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/

Vince Musewe
22 February 2013

Vince Musewe says buffoonery accelerating in the run up to the elections,
but change will come

Third letter to Zimbabweans in the Diaspora

Zimbabwe has such gigantic and unimaginable volumes of minerals in its belly
and it is estimated that it has the highest per capita mineral reserves in
the world.

I last wrote to you last year in November, and I hope those of you who
threatened to come home for Christmas actually did come. I calculate that
that was the last Christmas in Zimbabwe under the GNU. I also hope that
those of you who came from South Africa managed to return safely. The fiasco
at Beitbridge border post was embarrassing and reminds us again how in
Africa, we are hopeless at planning and managing infrastructure. I was
actually there the other day, and could not believe our failure to build and
maintain a world class border post as it is one of the busiest in Africa
which benefits the country tremendously. Home affairs must get its act
together and things must change.

In these times, the buffoonery we are seeing here In Zimbabwe is
accelerating, as politicians try to do all they can to, once again, hoodwink
the ever naïve voters. I hear that some wealthy ones have even resorted to
giving out goats and pigs at rallies, as a promise of better things to come.
What a comedy. Others are shouting at the top of their voices with regard
to seizing stakes in established companies, as the drive to indigenize picks
up momentum. I still question the ultimate motive behind this because, if
indeed this was a genuine effort to empower you and me, there would be no
need to be an "approved" empowerment partner. I shall certainly try my luck
to be "approved" but will not be surprised if, for some reason, I am deemed
unsuitable to pursue my ambitions and create wealth in my country of birth.

There is also a lot happening in the spiritual realm as Zimbabweans who are
desperate for money are flooding the new prosperity preaching evangelical
churches that have sprouted in every unused building in the city. It is a
sad spectacle as you see huge numbers of hopeful Zimbabweans stampeding to
be blessed, so that they too can get their hands on that mountain of dollars
in the shortest possible time. It is now reported that gold now even falls
from the heavens at some of the gatherings. With that who needs
indigenization? The Reserve Bank has now entered the fray, and endorsed the
so called miracle money preachers as genuine and therefore they pose no
threat to Zimbabwe's money supply .How preposterous. Doesn't this man have
more serious work to do?

I continue to encourage some of you to begin investing in property or land
at home. I expect a scramble for Zimbabwe to start this year and you will be
well advised to get in before the crowd thickens. Your country is poised for
greatness and we only have a few who continue to hold it back and wish that
things would not change. These of course, can be found in the army, police
or within the structures of our liberation party ZANU (PF). I am really not
worried about them because, the fresh winds of change will soon sweep them
aside. Mark my words.

You all would have heard of a new political party that has been established
that is led by Mutumwa Mawere. I tried to get more information on it, but
was duly referred to a press release that spoke of its formation. No help
there, but I guess we will all soon find out who is involved and what they
really stand for. I would be interested in evaluating that before I comment
further on them. There is the risk, of course, that we are splitting the
vote and I agree with that. But are we going to create another one party
state in our haste for change?

There have been a few articles talking about how Zimbabweans are so educated
and how, if those in the Diaspora return, the country will boom. I think
this will only be the case once we have democracy and free enterprise
without the government telling us what we can become. In addition, I think
the country has just too many MBA's and PhD's as opposed to technicians and
entrepreneurs. For once, I agree with Ignatius Chombo, the infamous property
mogul who happens to be the minister of local government, who talked about
how the country needs to tailor its academic endeavors in line with what the
country really needs. Even the not so bright bulbs on the chandelier are now
being called doctors here, without them even setting a foot at any
university.

Money talks I guess. We desperately need people who make things here in
Zimbabwe as the country is now full of traders and Chinese products.
Basically, every second person in Zimbabwe is selling some imported
trinkets. It's a rat race. ( "Mujawe we makonzo" as a friend of mine said
to me the other day). I am told that the city of Mussina in South Africa is
now a mini Beijing mainly because of the troops of Zimbabwe traders that are
seen flocking their daily. God help us.

I learnt with surprise that Zimbabwe has such gigantic and unimaginable
volumes of minerals in its belly, and it is estimated that it has the
highest per capita mineral reserves in the world. That is, if you divide the
total quantity of mineral reserves by our total population, each Zimbabwean
would own the highest tons of gold, diamonds, chrome and platinum and 1000
other minerals in the world. Now this means there is enough to go around for
every Zimbabweans alive today and more and yet, we still have unprecedented
selfishness and greed by some.

For me, a better approach to this indigenization fiasco would be where every
Zimbabwean over 18, receives a once off endowment of say 100,000 hectares of
arable land and 100,000 tons of minerals of diamonds and gold. There would
be plenty more left for other investors and we would turn out to be the
wealthiest indigenized country in the world. Simple isn't it. Who needs the
nefarious community share ownership schemes that we are seeing?

The referendum is finally here in March and hopefully the elections will
come in July. I trust that God will keep his promises to us and reward our
patient suffering over the last 32 years. I also hope that the MDC will meet
our expectations. One thing we cannot afford is to sit back as we did in the
past, and hope for the best. We all must participate in creating a new
participative democracy and must be vigilant and astute. I continue to pray,
that all of you, black and white, will come back home so that we can build a
new Zimbabwe beyond our dreams and expectations.

I shall invite the President of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, to begin to
share with us what he intends to do in the first 100 days of independence.
Yes, I am calling it independence because the first one we had in 1980 has
turned out to be a complete disaster, so we can have another can't we?

I heard the late Paul Matavire's song the other day and I laughed out loud.
It said: "manomano emuroyi, kunyebera kutya dzvinyu iye akasunga nyoka
muchuuno". While listening to the song, I had a picture in my mind of some
prominent ZANU (PF) politicians here, but I shall leave their names to your
imagination.

As always, until later, I wish all of you good health, patience and hope.

Sincerely Vince Musewe

Vince Musewe is an economic analyst based in Harare. You may contact him on
vtmusewe@gmail.com

Reward for being a police state perhaps?

http://www.cathybuckle.com/

February 22, 2013, 1:09 pm

The news that the EU is to remove some of the sanctions against Zimbabwe
as a ‘reward’ comes as a shock. ‘Reward for what?’ was my immediate
reaction. Reward for being a police state, perhaps? Yesterday’s news that
the police have banned certain radios revealed just how intolerant and
one-sided the ZRP is. Like Zanu PF, the police are keen to ban all
dissenting voices. Hence, the ongoing raids on NGOs. This week it was ZESN
offices, the second raid in a week, by ‘armed men and women’ who stole a
computer and drawers full of printed material. The police claim they are
looking for electronic gadgets used for espionage and once again Jestina
Mukoko’s ZPP is in the firing line. Zimbabweans have surely not forgotten
how she was imprisoned and tortured by the Mugabe regime.

The radios that are banned said Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba,
are those that are “incompatible with state owned stations.” She went on to
say, “We strongly believe that the intention of such people (ie. SW Radio
Africa, VOA and other independent radio stations) are not holy but meant to
create and sow seeds of disharmony.” I find it hard to apply the adjective
‘holy’ to the state broadcaster but, in the light of Mugabe’s claim on his
89th birthday that he was appointed by God to rule Zimbabwe, perhaps the
word is not inappropriate! What the Assistant Commissioner did not say is
that the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act refers specifically to the
possession and operation of signal transmission equipment. The short-wave,
solar powered radios owned by many rural Zimbabweans are not transmitters,
they are simply receivers.

The fact that this same regime is regarded as worthy of a ‘reward’ by
the EU implies either that the EU is incredibly naïve or that they have some
hidden motive for rewarding Zimbabwe. And that, I suggest, is where diamonds
come into the picture. The world’s largest diamond trading centre is in
Antwerp, so in this case Belgium and the EU share a vested interest. Not
surprisingly, the EU’s decision to lift sanctions against certain named
individuals and, conditionally, against a state-owned diamond mining company
provoked a massive outcry from human rights organisations. One of the
individuals removed from the sanctions list is said to have been the war
veteran responsible for the violent attack on a couple of elderly white
farmers. Human Rights Watch commented that the EU’s decision has given
Robert Mugabe a free hand to continue with his repressive policies. “They
have put profit before principles” said Human Rights Watch; principles go
out the window when diamonds are involved. In the case of Zimbabwe’s
diamonds, a war veteran revealed this week what everyone always suspected:
that it is Mugabe himself who is controlling the diamond industry and
needless to say the profits – or some of them - are going into Zanu PF’s
coffers. Coincidentally, across the world this week in the Belgian capital
a diamond heist was being carried out that had all the makings of a
Hollywood movie with $50 million worth of the ‘sparklers’ stolen. The
thieves appeared to know exactly how the stones were to be transported, not
via Antwerp, the diamond cutting centre, but from Brussels and they simply
cut through Brussels airport fence and in a black car with flashing blue
lights drove straight up to the bay where the diamonds had just been
unloaded from the security car. It would be interesting to know where those
diamonds came from – or where they were going.

If Charity Charamba has her way, Zimbabweans will never hear that on their
radios.

Yours in the (continuing) struggle, Pauline Henson.

Diamonds are our new dictator

http://www.cathybuckle.com/

February 22, 2013, 10:45 am

Dear Family and Friends,

Already Zimbabwe has got that tired sort of ‘here we go again’ look on its
face as the silliness of pre-election season starts again. Already the
adjectives are littering the speech making; words like: peaceful, non
violent, free, fair, transparent and credible but the everyday actions of
authorities are contradicting the descriptive words. Confusion is lying
heavy in the air like the dank, unexpected mist of mid- summer.

For watchers of the never ending situation in Zimbabwe, this latest round
started at Christmas with Zimrights; first two employees were arrested and a
few weeks later the director of Zimrights was arrested. The next unexpected
and dramatic news came when we heard that the Chairman of ZEC (the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission) had resigned. From then on the news reports have been
growing increasingly disturbing as they changed from political bickering to
an onslaught on human rights groupings. The headlines tell it best:

Police force their way into Peace Project offices in Hillside (11th
February)

WOZA women beaten & detained after anti-constitution demo (13th February)

WOZA: 195 arrested, scores beaten (13th and 14th February)

Elderly Pastor and 3 others arrested from Church of Christ in Chegutu (15th
February)

Police raid MDC MP home (17th February)

Reporter arrested while reporting death threat by ZANU PF official (19th
February)

Crackdown on civic groups continues as police raid ZESN offices (19th
February) (Zimbabwe Election Support Network)

Police ban ‘radios’ in Zimbabwe (20th February)

Gunmen raid ZESN offices again and ZPP accused of espionage (21st February)
(Zimbabwe Peace Project)

MP’s home raided by security agents as crackdown intensifies (21st February)

For people in Zimbabwe it has been very, very hard to understand why, when
all these things are happening, the EU went ahead and lifted their targeted
sanctions against 21 people. It’s hard not to believe that diamonds are our
new dictator. Cynicism perhaps best describes our response to the two news
reports which offered the most likely explanation to the EU’s decision:

Belgium and UK clinch deal on Zimbabwe diamonds (15th February)

Violent Chegutu ‘war vet’ removed from sanctions list (19th February)

Until next time and as we get closer to elections, please keep watching,
following, lobbying and praying for Zimbabwe. Thanks for reading, love cathy