Women miners take a break from digging for diamonds in Marange, Zimbabwe, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. Police in Zimbabwe arrested 16,290 illegal miners, mostly gold panners, in a countrywide blitz that began just over a month ago, the official media reported Thursday, Dec, 28, 2006
http://www.radiovop.com
Harare, January 10, 2010 - The Zimbabwe Republic
Police Commissioner (ZRP)
General Augustine Chihuri blocked Prime Minister
and Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai from
touring police stations around
the country in December, Radio VOP has
learnt.
Highly placed sources in the police, told Radio VOP,
at the weekend that
Tsvangirai wanted to visit the country's police posts to
meet officers and
assess their work conditions and hear their concerns but
was blocked by the
police chief.
During the scheduled visit
Tsvangirai was to make a firsthand assessment of
police cells whose
conditions have been roundly condemned by human rights
activists.
"The Prime Minister was supposed to Harare Central Police
Station and
several other stations around the country in December but the
visit was
blocked by Chihuri who is afraid that he was going to use the
visit to
cement the already growing support that Tsvangirai has among
members of the
force," highly placed sources at Harare
Central Police
station told Radio VOP.
"A radio was sent in December instructing
officers to prepare for the visit
of the Prime Minister. But while officers
were busy preparing for his coming
another radio was sent to all stations
instructing everyone not to entertain
the Prime Minister and anyone
representing him. That was the last we heard
of his visit."
The
sources said they would have wanted the Prime Minister to visit so that
he
can see for himself the rot at many police stations in the country.
The
cells at Harare Central Police Station are inhabitable with prisoners
crowded in the cells and diseases flourishing.
Chihuri is a hardline
Zanu PF supporter whose term of office has been
continuously renewed by
President Robert Mugabe. He vowed, together with
other security chiefs,
before the March 2008 harmonised elections, that he
will not salute
Tsvangirai if he was to become president of the country.
In 2007 on March
11, Chihuri sanctioned the assault of Tsvangirai and many
other civic
leaders during the aborted prayer meeting at Zimbabwe grounds.
Tsvangirai
was beaten all over his body until he passed out.
Just recently Chihuri
refused to facilitate a civil servants audit programme
from accessing police
files.
It is believed that the police force has on its pay roll thousands
of war
veterans who are neither police officers nor police
constabularies.
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Own Correspondent Monday 11 January
2010
HARARE - The new regime in Harare risks tracing the
footsteps of the
previous ZANU PF-controlled administration, with a
London-based think-tank
expressing misgivings about the credibility of and
inconsistencies in some
of the economic programmes pursued by the coalition
government.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) observed last week that
Zimbabwe does
not lack medium-term economic policy documents - what was in
short supply
however are detailed and credible projections as shown by last
month's
release of two "rival documents" by two economic
ministries.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti published a medium-term policy
framework, some
11 months after the original Short-Term Economic Recovery
Programme (STERP)
was formulated.
STERP II, which covers the period
between 2010 and 12, is a much longer and
more detailed document but,
according to EIU, the blueprint "has
disappointed many businesspeople and
donors partly because of its generally
non-technical approach".
The
EIU said further discrediting the government's turnaround programme was
the
fact that the Ministry of Economic Planning had earlier in December
published a rival document, the Medium-Term Economic Programme (MTEP)
containing different figures and assumptions.
STERP II says it
contains the macroeconomic policy instruments that will
"anchor the rolling
budget for the years 2010-12" while the MTEP will deal
with "broad
developmental and growth-oriented policies".
The STERP estimates are also
striking in a number of respects.
"They are far more modest - and
substantially more realistic - than the
Economic Planning ministry's draft
economic plan, which assumes GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) growth of 12.5
percent in 2010 and averaging 15 percent
annually over the period to 2015,"
said EIU.
The GDP growth rates and implied investment growth rates are
however
incompatible with sectoral figures.
For instance, it is
difficult to see how mining output can grow by 40
percent in a year in which
electricity production is predicted to rise by a
mere three
percent.
More broadly, STERP II seeks to put a price tag on the "critical
financial
investment" needed to restore the economy to 1997 levels, emerging
with a
grand total of US$45 billion.
Of this amount, some US$20 to
US$30 billion would be needed over the three
years to 2012.
Biti's
blueprint assumes that between US$4 billion and US$6 billion would be
raised
through the domestic financial sector while government revenues from
the
national budget could contribute a further US$5 to US7
billion.
Public-private partnerships are expected to raise between US$1
and US$2
billion while the government would look abroad for international
support for
another US$7.5 to US$10 billion.
STERP II concedes that
international support would depend on the authorities
devising a strategy to
deal with the country's US$3.8 billion of external
debt arrears.
The
Harare administration therefore hopes to raise US$25 billion to finance
its
ambitious investment programme over the next three years.
"On any count,
however, this looks very ambitious for a country with a GDP
of less than
US$5 billion. The implication is that investment must average
140 percent of
GDP over the three-year period," the think-tank said.
Militating against
such a high investment rate are the fact that domestic
savings are currently
negligible at present and the balance-of-payments
deficit averages more than
one-quarter of GDP.
There is scepticism, therefore, about the projections
contained in the
programme, not least because much will depend on a
sustained improvement in
the political environment--of which there is little
sign at present. -
ZimOnline
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Nokuthula Sibanda Monday 11
January 2010
HARARE - Zimbabwe's rift-ridden Anglican Church has
appealed to the police
to uphold the law and stop harassing worshipers by
blocking them from
attending their weekly Sunday services.
The appeal
follows bitter wrangling for the control of the church by two
factions - one
led by excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga - which has
police backing but
has fewer worshipers while the other is controlled by
Reverend Chad Gandiya
and has more people but does not have police
protection.
The rift
within the church has become so serious that the police have been
allegedly
barring worshipers from the Gandiya faction from attending
church.
"Disruptions of weddings, funerals confirmations etc are now very
common,"
the Anglican church said in a rare public statement on
Sunday.
"There are reports that the police have beaten up, harassed and
arrested
some of the faithful. The Anglican Council of Zimbabwe calls upon,
the
Zimbabwe Republic Police to cease subjecting the faithful in the Diocese
of
Harare to inhuman treatment, desist from disrupting church
services."
The church also appealed to the police to keep order and to do
justice and
to be impartial as law enforcing agents.
The Anglican
Church in Zimbabwe has been embroiled in controversy over the
control of the
church's properties and finances, amid allegations that
Kunonga was
illegally occupying the properties as well as having access to
the church's
funds.
The church's supreme authority in the region - the regional synod
which is
officially known as the Church of the Province of Central (CPCA) -
last year
excommunicated former Bishop of Harare, Kunonga, who had tried to
withdraw
his diocese from the church.
Kunonga - a staunch supporter
of President Robert Mugabe who tried to use
the pulpit to defend the
Zimbabwean leader's controversial policies - was
excommunicated together
with several priests and other church leaders who
backed his revolt against
the mother church.
The CPCA appointed retired Bishop Sebastian Bakare as
caretaker head of the
Harare diocese before he was succeeded by Gandiya, a
move Kunonga has
fiercely tried to resist. - ZimOnline
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Own Correspondent Monday 11
January 2010
HARARE - Key state witness, Peter Hitschmann is expected
to testify in the
treason trial of Roy Bennett, a key aide to Zimbabwean
Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai which resumes in Harare tomorrow after a
nearly two-month break,
the prosecution team said.
The case resumes
Tuesday after Hitschmann failed to turn up at the High
Court on November 27
last year.
Prosecutor, Chris Mutangadura said Hitschmann who is the
state's key witness
is set to testify.
"I am sure that he is going to
testify on Tuesday," Mutangadura said. "He is
scheduled to testify and there
is nothing which will stop him. The case
might be prolonged because as we
are now approaching to cover the real
issues and this may result in the case
taking longer than expected."
The state accuses Bennett - treasurer in
Tsvangirai's MDC-T party - of
plotting to overthrow Mugabe and that he
deposited money into the Mozambican
bank account of Hitschmann to buy
weapons to be used to assassinate the
veteran leader.
The state seeks
to prove to court that guns and other weapons found at the
home of
Hitschmann, a registered firearms dealer, were intended for use to
assassinate Mugabe and that they were bought with money supplied by
Bennett.
But Hitschmann was found not guilty of treason in an earlier
ruling by the
High Court which also found that some of the weapons seized
from the
firearms-dealer were lawfully in his possession.
Hitschmann
has also claimed that investigators tortured him in a bid to
obtain from him
statements that could incriminate Bennett.
Bennett faces a possible death
sentence if found guilty in a case that has
heightened tensions in
Zimbabwe's fragile coalition government. - ZimOnline
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26340
January 10, 2010
By Our
Correspondent
MUTARE - Zimbabwe's ambassador to Tanzania, Major General
Edzai Chimonyo
(Retired), has invaded a large banana plantation owned by
Malaysian
investors in Burma Valley, east of the city of Mutare in a
development that
has potential to upset investment relations with the Asian
nation.
Chimonyo accompanied by a contingent of armed soldiers is said to
have moved
onto the banana plantation owned by Matanuska and immediately
started to
harvest ripe bananas, whose value has not yet been
ascertained.
Based in Mutare, Matanuska is a farming organization owned
by Malaysian
investors and the business falls under the Bilateral Investment
Protection
Agreement (BIPA). Bananas are the main crop cultivated by the
company in
Zimbabwe and Matanuska has become a major banana
exporter.
Chimonyo has reportedly refused to recognize the company's
status. He says
he was legally allocated the plantation back in 2006 by then
Lands Minister,
Didymus Mutasa.
"Chimonyo is here and has taken over
the plantation," said a Matanuska
employee. "Armed soldiers are all over the
plantation."
There was no immediate comment from Chimonyo but Matanuska
officials are
said to have filed an application in the High Court seeking
his immediate
eviction from the plantation.
The Malaysian government
is said to have approached the Zimbabwean
government to formally complain
about the invasion of the plantation.
Sources said soldiers were already
busy harvesting the bananas and selling
them to various outlets in
Mutare.
Enlisted in the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981 and long regarded
as one of
the more enlightened of the senior officers of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces,
Chimonyo was appointed ambassador and posted to Dar es
Salaam in January
2008.
In April 2009 he locked horns with Nigeria's
Nobel laureate for literature,
Wole Soyinka, during the 'Julius Nyerere
Intellectual Festival Week' in Dar
es Salaam.
Named after independent
Tanzania's founding President and leading
pan-Africanist Julius Nyerere, the
festival is a series of lectures,
debates, meetings and other events
exploring the unity and development of
the African
continent.
Chimonyo saw red and dismissed Soyinka as a victim of Western
media
propaganda against Zimbabwe after the renowned writer said: "We cannot
entertain solidarity with African leaders who undermine the rule of law and
good governance as it happened in Kenya and Zimbabwe; but rather, we should
tell Mugabe and Kibaki that they are not legitimate leaders."
Soyinka
said it was in order for President Omar al Bashir to face the
International
Criminal Court since Africa had failed to check the effects of
his regime's
failure in Darfur.
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26351
January 10, 2010
By Ray
Matikinye
BULAWAYO - Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T co-chairperson of the
parliamentary
select committee on the constitutional reform process on
Friday defended the
amount allocated to his committee for preliminary work
towards the drafting
of a new constitution arguing that the money is a
fitting investment in an
enduring constitution for
Zimbabwe.
Addressing a media workshop organized to lobby participation by
journalists
in disseminating information and educating the public about the
constitutional making process, Mwonzora said Zimbabweans should appreciate
that no price can be put on a process that seeks to establish stronger
institutions to guarantee personal freedoms and liberties.
"We are
investing in democracy. What is $43 million in terms of the tasks
that we
want to undertake in bringing enduring democracy to the country?"
Mwonzora
said
Concern has been expressed over the $43 million to be spent over the
next 65
days which the parliamentary select committee has set as its target
to roll
out the constitution drafting process.
Mwonzora said the
money was required to buy electronic equipment such as
recorders for
recording people's contributions and inputs into the
constitution, computers
and video equipment for outreach teams to capture
and store the electorate's
views which will be sifted and assayed before
compilation of the draft
document.
"We do not want to be accused of doctoring people's views to
suit political
ends," he said, "hence the need to store these views in a
safe and secure
manner in cases of contestations."
He hit back at
critics, particularly civic organizations, who have been
canvassing against
the constitution-making process being led by politicians.
He said the
fairness of the process should not be judged on the basis of who
drives it
forward.
"A process is not deemed fair because it is led by civic
society," Mwonzora
said. "It is no guarantee such an arrangement makes a
process democratic."
There has been growing public cynicism about the
prospects of successful
completion of the constitution making process with
civic society
organizations arguing that parliamentarians cannot lead the
process.
Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister, Dr
Olivia
Muchena, who is a member of the select committee, condemned
polarization in
the media and expressed fears that this threatened to
destroy the
constitution making process.
"The media is so polarized
that it can destroy this process. We will seek an
audience with the Ministry
of Information and Publicity officials to
facilitate the effectiveness of
the media during this process," Muchena
said.
Muchena was reacting to
concerns by journalists that the state of the media
in Zimbabwe hindered
their effectiveness in disseminating information about
the constitution to
the public.
http://www.iol.co.za
January 10 2010 at 12:57PM
Continued
farm invasions as well as human and property rights abuses by
Zanu-PF
officials are keeping international investors away, Zimbabwe's last
white
farmers say.
Zimbabwe had 4 500 white commercial farmers and agriculture
was the
cornerstone of the economy before the government's land seizures
began 10
years ago.
According to the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU),
152 of the 300 commercial
farms still in operation are now being targeted
for eviction. The situation
has worsened since last month, when President
Robert Mugabe told Zanu-PF
that white people were not
Zimbabweans.
"The new year has presented nothing but more troubles for
farmers. Farmers
would have preferred to be in the fields. But they are
constantly being
harassed," CFU president Deon Theron said
yesterday.
"The police still fail to act on court orders protecting
farmers, while the
law is being abused to dispossess people of their
property on the basis of
race.
"On one hand they use militia and
violence to drive us out and on the other
they use the police and the
courts. We are in a no win-situation.
"This is happening at a time when
we need investors to revive the economy.
But investors now doubt to risk
their investment in a country that has no
respect for property rights," he
said.
"This is counterproductive in a country that was beginning to show
positive
moves in its economy, and has a negative impact on the
re-engagement with
the international community.
"What is really
disturbing is that there is no prosecution of people who are
violating the
law."
The CFU claims that senior Zanu-PF officials led by former land
reform and
state security minister Didymus Mutasa threatened white
commercial farmer
Gavin Woest with death last week, telling him that he had
minutes to vacate
his property.
Responding to the claim, Mutasa said:
"These white people create stories. I
have not gone to America or Britain to
look for land. I get my land in
Zimbabwe, which is my country. What is wrong
with that?" - Sapa-dpa
o This article was originally published
on page 5 of Sunday
Independent on January 10, 2010
From The Sunday Mail, 10 January
By Emilia Zindi and Kuda Bwititi
The Government has
warned resettled farmers involved in the "new wave" of
subletting farms to
former white commercial farmers that they risked losing
their land. This
comes in the wake of reports that scores of farmers who
benefited under the
land reform programme were now making dubious
arrangements with former
owners claiming that they themselves did not have
enough funding and
equipment to fully utilise the farms. Most of the farmers
who were finding
it difficult to utilise the farms allocated to them had
opted to sublet
their farms, partly or wholly, to the former owners, which
is tantamount to
reversing the land reform programme. In an interview last
week, the Minister
of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Cde Herbert Murerwa,
said reports of
farmers leasing their farms to former owners had reached his
office and
Government was now in the process of identifying the culprits for
purposes
of repossessing the properties. "It is totally wrong for a farmer
to sublet
his or part of his farm without Government approval. This is in
violation of
the offer letter as land remains State property,'' said Cde
Murerwa. He said
it was sad to note that scores of farmers had opted to go
the way of
subletting their farms instead of surrendering the land to the
ministry. Cde
Murerwa said the scenario was worrying, as the invitation of
former white
farmers back on the farms was a clear case of reversing the
land reform
programme. Cde Murerwa said those involved in the practice would
soon lose
the farms.
He said the situation was saddening in that it had spread
to almost every
province where those finding it difficult to utilise their
farms had opted
to invite the former owners back on the land, hereby
defeating the purpose
of the land redistribution exercise. "What it means is
that the land reform
programme was wrong when we now invite the same people
we took land away
from on the grounds that we are redressing the colonial
imbalances on land
ownership,'' he said. Investigations in Mashonaland
Central have revealed
that scores of farmers had already entered into
agreements with former
owners whereby the new farmers are getting as little
as 10 percent of
profits. Some of the farmers were leasing their entire
hectrage to the white
farmers, while others were only leasing part of their
land. In most
instances, the former commercial farmers taken up residence at
the farms
where they virtually command all operations. The former owners
were mainly
targeting large-scale A2 farms, where they use up to 500
hactares of land.
Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister
Advocate Martin Dinha
said the lands authorities in the province had noted
the situation and had
taken a stance to take action against the farmers. He
said most of the
farmers that had been identified were from Mazowe and
Muzarabani districts.
"At a lands meeting we held last week we made a
resolution that a commission
of inquiry be set up in every district to
identify the culprits and bring
them to book. So far we noted that the
practice was mostly common in Mazowe
and Muzarabani," he said. Advocate
Dinha said the lands committee had
resolved that it would repossess the
farms from the farmers. "Our position
is that farmers should not be greedy
with the land. For instance, if a
person has 500 hactares of land and he
feels that he is not able to utilise
it all, they should surrender part of
it because we have a huge waiting list
of capable farmers," he said. In
Mashonaland West scores of farms had also
been identified where
beneficiaries had also entered into such dubious
arrangements with former
owners.
Zanu-PF secretary for lands in the province Cde Temba Mliswa
said the
situation was so sad in the province considering that the party's
resolutions at the people's congress clearly stated that those involved in
subletting farms would automatically lose the land. Cde Mliswa said such a
practice was a true violation of what was stated in both offer letters and
the 99-year lease. Cde Mliswa said there were more than 30 farms that had
been identified carrying out the practice in the area. "At the moment in
Hurungwe West and East rural districts we have former white farmers back at
Born Valley, Buttervant, Shola Park, Pendennis, Kylami and Jacobs Ladder,
amongst others. In Chegutu district there is Pfopojena Farm and Rainbow's
End, among others," he said.
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26360
January 10, 2010
By Our
Correspondent
HARARE - It's all systems go in South Africa as the
countdown to the World
Cup, which kicks off on 12 June 2010
begins.
Across the Limpopo Zimbabwe is finally awakening from its slumber
in a bid
to take advantage of the spillover of soccer fans expected to
descend on the
sub region during and after the tournament, spending money
with wild abandon
in the process.
The Zimbabwe Council for Tourism
(ZCT) has announced that it will spend US$3
million on training key
personnel ahead of the 2010 World Cup to equip them
with skills in customer
care.
Zimhost, a non-governmental organization, made a total of US$1.5
million
available for the programme through the Ministry of Tourism and
Hospitality
Industry. ZCT will raise the other half.
ZCT President
Emmanuel Fundira told the press during the week that the
initiative would
cover all critical customer services personnel, both in the
private and
public sectors ahead of the football showpiece.
Fundira said the training
programme would involve key service personnel from
the tourism sector,
immigration, the police, army and the Zimbabwe Revenue
Authority, among
others.
Fundira says the aim is to change the culture of customer service
in the
country for the better, so that Zimbabwe fully benefits from the
World Cup.
"We initiated the idea to train people in customer service in
various
facets, so that when we interface with visitors, there is a marked
difference in the national customer care delivery culture," he
said
Zimhost was formed to foster the spirit of unconditional collective
hospitality in Zimbabwe by improving service standards nationally through
training and creating awareness of the importance of the individual's role
in their place of work, and as ambassadors of their community and their
country.
Founding sponsors were the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA),
Organization
Training and Development, African Sun Limited, Delta
Corporation, Quantas,
the Australian national airline, Rainbow Tourism
Group, United Touring
Company, Meikles Africa, Barclays Bank, Abercrombie
& Kent, Europe Interrent
and Cresta Hospitality.
Fundira lamented
the chaotic situation that engulfed Beit Bridge border post
during the
festive season when immigration formalities on the Zimbabwean
side fell far
short of expectations.
ZTA projected that Zimbabwe could earn more than
US$500 million if adequate
preparations were made to promote the local
tourism industry ahead of the
soccer extravaganza.
"Apart from
following their teams, fans can fly in and out of Zimbabwe
before and after
the month long World Cup," Fundira said. "Those who choose
to stay in
Zimbabwe will not be disappointed and will live to tell how
amazing the
country is, despite the political and economic challenges facing
the
nation.
"There are historic attractions ranging from the breadth-taking
Victoria
Falls, the mysterious Great Zimbabwe and the scenic eastern
highlands. For
the uninitiated, it must be emphasized here and now, that the
Victoria Falls
are found on the Zambezi River forming the border between
Zambia and
Zimbabwe and not in South Africa."
Zimbabwe boasts a range
of five star hotels and lodges. Budget accommodation
is available to suit
any visitor's pocket. For those who wish to savour
culinary delights, there
is a whole range of excellent cuisine to choose
from.
In South
Africa, the media are awash with sizzling stories of companies
falling over
each other in order to offer the best packages for the
visitors.
Snow at the Vigil. It’s our eighth
winter protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy but the first time it has snowed.
The temperature was below zero centigrade – worsened by a piercing wind from the
During the week the Vigil sent the
following letter to the International Development Committee of the British
Parliament, which is to review the British government’s aid to
“The
We believe, in particular, that to
give development aid to the coalition government is premature and will send the
wrong signals not only to Mugabe and his Zanu PF party but also to members of
the European Union and other countries which have adopted measures against
The Vigil wishes to advise the
Committee that it is running the following petition dealing with aid to
Zimbabwe: ‘A petition to the UK
government: We welcome the UK’s humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe but call
on the UK government to withhold development aid until it is confident that the
money will benefit the people rather than the corrupt Mugabe
regime.’
The petition has been signed so far
by some 9,000 people from all over the world who have passed by the Vigil in
recent months. They are not convinced that there has been real change in
The Vigil has been demonstrating
outside Zimbabwe House,
We would like to take the
opportunity to draw your attention to a recent article by the Zimbabwean
economist John Robertson, which criticises the economic recovery programme of
the ‘inclusive’ government.”
We are still accepting signatures
for this petition and it will present it to the British government at an
appropriate time. There are big changes afoot. The EU is to discuss the renewal
of its measures against
We were pleased to welcome back
David McAllister, who has been cruising the world on a luxury liner as an
internet café manager. He set up our
website and has now added a new feature on our home page – a slide show of the
most recent Vigil photos. These will change as each Vigil set is added to our
Flickr photo website.
Thanks also to Lungile Ncube and
Collin Chitekwe for their athletic lamp post climbing to put a roof over our
shivering supporters.
The documentary film about farm
seizures ‘Mugabe and the White African’ was reviewed in the Times on
8th January – text below:
In
Mugabe and the White African, Michael Campbell, a gentle, dry, 75-year-old
farmer from Zimbabwe, asks: “Is it possible to be white and African?” If you’re
President Mugabe, the answer is a brutal “no”.
This
powerful documentary pits Campbell and his son-in-law Ben Freeth against their
country’s dictator in a battle for their farm, which is holding out – just –
against the land seizure campaign that has already led to thousands of white
Zimbabweans being forcibly evicted. Their plan? To take the Government of “a
country without a rulebook” to an international tribunal that will force it to
stop.
But
it’s a race against time. Groups of men with knives and axes stalk their maize
fields at night, while neighbours are filmed breaking their settler stoicism and
weeping as their own farm is taken for Mugabe’s flunkies, and their friends and
workers — black and white alike — are uprooted. The madness in Zimbabwe is not
news, but here a human story crystallises it first by seeming curious, then
quickly compelling and then horrifically shocking before the final courtroom
drama. The hate, fear and greed on show all hit you in your gut — it’s
impossible not to steam at the sight of the braggart government minister’s son
waiting by his new 4x4 outside the farm, telling Campbell and Freeth how he will
simply take their home. But your lasting emotions are of respect for the two
farmers, mixed with a lingering, helpless sadness.”
This
film is up for an Oscar and is going to be shown all over the world. It will not
improve Zimbabwe’s image.
We
noted that we were quoted in an article
in the Zimbabwe Independent. We
applaud every effort by journalists in
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.
FOR THE
RECORD: 136
signed the
register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·
'Mugabe and the white African'
is showing until
14th January at The Empire,
·
ROHR
·
ROHR
·
ROHR
·
ROHR Hayes fundraising party.
Saturday
27th February from
·
Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s
Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue:
The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre,
·
Strategic Internship for Zimbabweans
organised by
Citizens for Sanctuary which is trying to secure work placements for qualified
Zimbabweans with refugee status or asylum seekers. For information: http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/Strategic.html
or contact: zimbabweinternship@cof.org.uk.
·
For Motherland ENT’s
videos of the Vigil
on
Vigil
Co-ordinators
The Vigil,
outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26356
January 10, 2010
By Addmore
Zhou
THIRTY years have passed since the much-touted Lancaster House
Conference
that ushered in a new political era in Zimbabwe. The Constitution
that
emerged from that conference is still in use today. The government that
emerged from that process is still in power as well although now in some
power-sharing agreement.
More than 13 years ago, a broad alliance of
civic and church organizations,
as well as trade unions was formed to
highlight what they believed to be the
shortcomings of the Lancaster House
Constitution. That's how the NCA was
born. Of major concern was the power
given to one person, the President. The
position of Prime Minister was
scrapped in 1987 to give way to an executive
President until it was
reinstated recently through a constitutional
amendment. The upper chamber of
Parliament, the Senate was abolished but was
reintroduced too.
Giving
in to pressure from a cross section of Zimbabweans including NCA, the
government hurriedly set up a constitutional commission in early 1999. The
NCA refused to participate. Its concerns centered on the fact that all the
more than 400 commissioners were handpicked by President Mugabe and
therefore were impartial. During the public consultations which followed,
Zimbabweans were unanimous about some changes they wanted to see in the new
constitution.
They wanted to see the presidential powers reduced, the
term of office
limited to two terms and the size of cabinet which stood at
50 scaled down
among other amendments. The draft constitution of 2000 was a
better document
than the current constitution although admittedly it was
compromised when
the final draft was crafted. As the country prepares to
undertake another
similar process, these issues still remain.
South
of the Limpopo, South Africa has a constitution regarded as the most
progressive in the world. People's freedoms are guaranteed with a bill of
rights second to none. Presidential terms are limited to two terms together
with other fundamental guarantees. The question is, "How was it written?"
The South African constitution was written by a Constitutional Assembly. The
Assembly consisted of the Senate and the National Assembly sitting jointly.
The Senate had 90 members and the National Assembly had 400
members.
In addition, a handful of independent experts was selected to
advise the
Assembly. The process was conducted over an 18-month period. The
assembly
then embarked on public consultations which were conducted through
political
party representatives. The process was a difficult one,
considering the
acute injustices of the country's undemocratic past. Unlike
in Zimbabwe
where the draft was brought before a referendum, the South
African document
was brought before a constitutional court which ruled on
whether or not the
draft was in line with agreed frameworks established
before the process
began.
The initial ruling was that the draft did
not satisfy the conditions
thrashed out in multiparty talks. The Assembly
had to reconvene to swiftly
fix the irregularities so that the court could
certify it again. At last the
constitutional court ruled that the
Constitutional Assembly had remedied the
defective provisions.
What
followed was an approved democratic Constitution of South Africa. As
the
world applauded both the process and the end product, there were
objections
from a coterie of political players such as the Democratic Party
(DP), the
Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP) and the province of KwaZulu-Natal, as
well as
the complaints of 18 people and interest groups.
Back to the Zimbabwean
situation, whom can we trust to spearhead the process
of writing our
Constitution? There has been much buzz about the process
being a
"people-driven" process and "people-driven" constitution. The NCA
has been
consistent about one thing and one thing only and that is
boycotting the
process.
While it is always a noble idea to consider the ideas of
interest groups, it
has the downside of slowing the process and in some
cases bringing it to a
halt as different interest groups clash over
ideas.
So what does "people-driven" really mean? According to Chapter 5
and article
52 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Parliament has the right to
amend the
constitution. There is nowhere in our Constitution where the
process of
constitution making is assigned to civic organizations. NCA and
its allies
such as the ZCTU and others can only come in during the
consultative process
and present their views for inclusion in the
draft.
They have a right to express their disappointment with the outcome
if their
views are not included. In this case, it is not unreasonable to
assume that
the NCA are boycotting the process because they view themselves
as better
and more credible drivers of the process than
Parliament.
The drivers of the constitution are important and so are the
people. The
concerns of NCA are easily addressed by making sure the process
will reach
as many people as possible using multiple fora, ensuring high
quality
dialogue, and making sure people's views are included. In our case,
Parliament is better placed to lead the process because of the legal
implications of assigning the process to anyone else.
Parliament is a
credible and legal representative of the people on the
ground. NCA's
concerns may seem justified especially taking into account the
pandemonium
witnessed during the aborted initial stages. However, the
presence of
hooligans does not in itself invalidate the process. There is no
doubt that
all Zimbabweans agree about the need to craft a new Constitution
and
therefore such passionate crowds are not a surprise.
While boasting of an
active constituency, civic society is not a bona fide
representative of
everyone. But Parliament is. If Zimbabweans had voted
"Yes" to the draft
constitution of 2000, the political landscape would be
significantly
different today. We all know the Chidyausiku Commission
manipulated the
final draft especially with regard to the executive but that
could have
easily have been solved by a few amendments.
Such draconian laws as POSA
and AIPPA would not have been introduced had we
voted yes. The notorious Law
and Order Maintenance Act which has been used
to take away people's freedoms
would be a thing of the past. Following NCA's
advice, Zimbabweans sunk
deeper into the political abyss. Instead of
dwelling on the process, NCA is
better off educating the public about the
provisions of the current
constitution which require a revamp and any other
provisions for
inclusion.
The people of Zimbabwe expect a working document from the NCA
which
unfortunately is not available. They have failed to produce their own
draft
in more than 13 years despite the fact they are supposed to be working
on a
new constitution on daily basis. The South African constitution is
testimony
to the fact that politicians can be trusted to come up with a good
and
progressive constitution.
We may not trust our own politicians
but they are what we have. I hope NCA
and its allies will come forward and
work together with the commission to
produce a better document for our
country.
(Addmore Zhou writes from Johannesburg, South Africa.)
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26331
January 10, 2010
John
Robertson
ALREADY this year, the mythical economic sanctions monster has
had its
mythical head pushed into the all too real faces of Zimbabwe's
Movement for
Democratic Change. This accompanied a repeat of Zanu-PF's
demand that MDC
must have those wretched sanctions lifted before it has any
right to expect
Zanu-PF to help Zimbabwe's Government of National Unity to
actually work.
Zanu-PF members are constantly being reminded that any
Zimbabwean business
can trade with businesses in any country in the world
and therefore the
sanctions that do exist are political, not economic, and
apply to named
individuals, not the whole country.
But this seems
only to annoy them, and they are now making efforts to claim
that Zimbabwe's
exclusion from the United States' Africa Growth
Opportunities Act as a clear
case of vicious, illegal economic sanctions.
But it is not. The Act
rewards African countries that make measurable
efforts to improve their own
standards of economic and political behaviour,
and the reward takes the form
of duty-free access to United States' markets.
To qualify, countries have
only to show that they are making progress
towards entirely acceptable
objectives, most of which relate to the
observance of the rule of law, the
protection of intellectual and other
property rights, the reduction of
poverty and the efforts needed to increase
access to health care and
educational opportunities.
All these have been found so readily
acceptable that most African
governments have been happy prove their
eligibility and to make the most of
their duty-free and quota-free access to
the US markets. Nearly all the
others are working on the outstanding issues
and hope to qualify soon.
But not Zimbabwe, simply because strengthening
the rights of ordinary
citizens would weaken the powers of a government that
has nothing to offer
but threats of violence. The clear intention of the US
is to promote the
interests of people who deserve better standards of
governance. However,
Zimbabwe's veteran politicians do not believe the
citizens deserve any such
thing and instead prefer to accuse their critics
of imposing "illegal
economic sanctions".
But even though Zimbabwe
does not qualify for preferential treatment, the
country exports more to the
US than 35 of the 39 countries that do qualify.
And if this fact is not
enough to persuade Zanu-PF that economic sanctions
do not exist, perhaps one
more will do it: about half of Zimbabwe's
population is currently dependent
of food aid that is supplied by the very
countries that are accused of
imposing economic sanctions.
Instead of conjuring up fictions to deflect
attention from embarrassing
facts, would it not be easier for all concerned
to simply meet the
requirements that so many others have met? Easier, yes,
but clearly too
costly for the few hundred people who insist that their
personal interests
far outweigh the interests of the twelve million or so
that make up the rest
of Zimbabwe's population.
As twelve million
Zimbabweans have not effectively taken exception to this
bizarre situation,
the concerned international community has identified the
few hundred
culprits on their travel ban and blocked bank account lists.
Zimbabwe has
not been singled out on the AGOA list, as Zanu-PF claims, and
neither have
these individuals. When the government chooses to make the
effort, the
country will be admitted as a member of the club.
The Millennium
Challenge Corporation, also based in the US, offers a similar
set of
requirements, but countries that meet its evidence-of-progress
criteria are
eligible for direct financial help. The MCC programme offers
support to
countries that have made commitments to rule justly, to invest in
their own
people and to provide a business climate that is based on economic
freedoms
that are attractive to the private sector.
Broad categories covering 17
indicators are used to assess the eligibility
of each country. One of the
tricky ones is to achieve a track record of
genuine efforts to control
corruption. The MCC argues that development
assistance does not achieve very
much unless corruption is brought under
control.
Other indicators
relate to civil liberties, the rule of law, property
rights, access to
health and education services, government effectiveness
and accountability
and the procedures for starting a business. The scores
achieved on all of
them are fully disclosed so that governments keen to
qualify for assistance
can see how they are doing and compare their
positions with those of other
countries.
Zimbabwe's scorecard for 2009 shows that 15 of the 17
indicators were below
acceptable standards, and on 0 percent to 100 percent
scales that rank the
measures from worst to best, six of these were so bad
they had measures
below 0 percent, or negative numbers. The two acceptable
figures were for
health expenditures and natural resource management, but
two that were
considered acceptable in 2007, spending on primary education
and girls
completing primary education, could not be assessed in 2009 and
appear to
have been assumed to have slipped below acceptable
standards.
By contrast, the scorecard for Mozambique showed four
unacceptable scores
out of 17, and Tanzania showed two. Listings of MCC
beneficiaries show
Mozambique and Tanzania, but do not show Zimbabwe. Nobody
questions the
thought that Zimbabwe needs help, but it sees that nobody yet
believes that
Zimbabwe is deserving of help. So the country's escape from
its own
self-inflicted handicaps has to start with plausible efforts by its
own
authorities, at home.
For those people who still wield authority
to constantly bleat about being
disqualified from certain benefits because
of the conduct of the self-same
people is to insult the intelligence of the
hundreds of countries and
thousands of organisations that wish Zimbabwe
well.
Diplomatic niceties and good manners stop them all from coming
right out and
saying, "Why are you so stupid?" Zimbabweans are also too
polite. But the
sentiment behind that question will be answered in the next
election in the
form of a blank square. A bold X will appear in an
alternative box on
millions of ballot papers.
http://www.zimonline.co.za
by Mutumwa Mawere Monday 11 January
2010
OPINION: Year 2009 was a remarkable and defining year that began
with the
inauguration of President Barack Obama as the first African
American
President of the United States (US) only to be followed by the
election of
President Jacob Zuma as the fourth President of democratic South
Africa.
The election of these two men captured eloquently what Obama
called the
"audacity of hope".
Obama represents the most powerful
nation on earth at this troubling time in
the history of human civilisation
and Zuma represents the most powerful
African nation.
It is safe to
say that God has used these two men as instruments to
demonstrate his glory
and power that anything is possible and more
importantly that nothing is
inevitable.
As a founding member of Africa Heritage Society
www.africaheritagerivonia.com, I
was one of many concerned about what it
means to be African and how to best
capture and celebrate our heritage. It
is true that there is nothing that
prepared many of us to occupy the
positions that we now occupy.
Obama
is not just another American president; he represents a departure from
the
norm to the extent that the founding fathers of the US must surely be
cursing in their graves about the fact that he is a legitimate resident at
the Whitehouse.
Equally, the founding fathers of corporate South
Africa and the framers of
the apartheid state must also be cursing in their
graves about the fact that
a man born on April 12 1942 in a remote place
called Inkandla in
KwaZulu-Natal province whose father was a policeman and
who only attended
school up to Standard 3 (the fifth grade at school) and
did not receive any
formal schooling after primary is the President of the
Republic of South
Africa and not just of the Zulus, his ethnic
tribe.
To some extent the architects of the dualistic South African
political
economy were inspired by the American experience to transform
Africa into a
consolidated political and economic formation with South
African playing a
critical and pivotal role.
Like the American
founding fathers, people like Rhodes believed in the
superiority of English
civilisation and had no respect of native values,
beliefs and
principles.
To the extent that South Africa and America can boast of the
progress made
in terms of physical and human development, the founding
fathers would be
proud of their achievements.
A Eurocentric
civilisation was deemed to be the most appropriate and
relevant for human
development and everything that was native American and
African was
naturally looked down upon.
Although the second sentence of the
Declaration of Independence states: "We
hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, they
are endowed by the
Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness", it was clear to the framers
of these words
that the equality doctrine could not have been intended for a
person like
Obama.
The road to statehouse for both Zuma and Obama was filled with
potholes of
pain, injustices, life loss, unhappiness and inequity.
Restoration of civil
rights that has permitted us to celebrate these strange
occurrences was a
consequence of struggles.
Without shedding blood,
the presidencies of Obama and Zuma would be just a
mirage. Obama understood
that he had to be the change that he wanted to see.
In the African heritage
community, he stands out as a pioneer in converting
an idea that ordinary
people when they stand together can produce
extraordinary
outcomes.
Whether Obama will be a good or bad leader is not as relevant
as the fact
that just for him to be the Commander-in-Chief of the US
represents change
from which we can build on.
The mere fact that he
is the President of the US as a consequence of an
electoral process in a
country where African Americans are not in the
majority is historic and path
finding.
In selecting both Obama and Zuma as the AHS-Men of 2009, we were
mindful
that the journeys to statehouses were different.
One did what
he had to do in following the American dream. He went to the
top schools and
not only excelled in school but acquired an understanding of
what it took to
rally people behind a cause.
He understood that a people driven change
agenda could succeed only when it
is properly communicated and grounded. His
choice of words and slogans will
remain legendary.
His writings will
also remain as a useful guide to all who surrender to
hopelessness that the
future is theirs only when they seize the moment.
Like faith, hope can
make the impossible possible.
Some said it was not his time while others
said that American would never be
ready for a person of African heritage to
be its leader. Obama has
demonstrated that nothing is inevitable.
For
the first time in American history, we can say that America through
Obama
has lived up to its promise.
For 232 years, it was not self evident that
all men are created equal but
now we can partially say that it must have
been the intention of the framers
of the Declaration that a person like
Obama would one day rise up the ladder
to prove that anything is
possible.
Now it is possible for not only people of African heritage but
also other
heritages to dream the impossible in America.
With respect
to Zuma, his journey has been infested with roadblocks and
pain. If he
thought that it would be only the framers of corporate South
Africa who
would be cursing at his Presidency he was wrong.
Some of his colleagues
who worked with him in the struggle to eradicate
prejudice became his most
potent enemies.
It is self-evident that he represents what was not meant
to happen in South
Africa. In him, the extremes of African heritage are
embodied. For those who
believe that Africa must shun its pre-colonial
values, beliefs and
principles to advance its cause, Zuma is not their
man.
He was inaugurated on May 9 2009, and after seven months in office;
we can
safely say that he has managed to demonstrate that one does not have
to
compromise who he is in the quest for power, fame or glory.
He has
successfully straddled between our past and present. Who could ever
imagine
that a man of Zuma's profile would be at home at a G-8 Summit and
also at a
traditional ceremony in Inkandla?
There are many who were afraid of what
Obama and Zuma's leadership would
mean. As we begin the new year, we can say
that both men have made Africans
proud. They have raised the Africa Heritage
flag high and we all have a
cause to celebrate. Their experiences have added
value to the heritage of
Africa.
History will record this phase of
human development and progress correctly
and will be kind to both
men.
No doubt cynics would not wish them well. However, we have no choice
but to
pause and reflect on the message that we all can draw from the
ascendancy of
these two unusual custodians of the best that African heritage
can offer.
They have both taught us that organised, disciplined, mature,
and purposeful
people can overcome any odds and obstacles that history or
men places upon
us.
They have also taught us that an idea whose time
has come cannot be stopped.
We never thought that in our lifetime, the world
would look up to a person
of African heritage for leadership on complex and
path finding issues like
climate change, just peace, and
development.
There are many of us who believe that a college degree
should be the minimum
that a leader should possess before they assume
political office.
What Zuma has taught us is that knowledge can be
acquired even more
efficiently and effectively through the many experiences
that make life what
it is. Formal education can help but it is not
sufficient to make one a good
leader.
Although our constitutions are
as clear as the American declaration of
independence that all men are equal
there are many of us who believe that
education and economic power makes one
more human than another.
As we rapidly count down to the 2010 games, we
should be inspired that the
African heritage flag will be flying high with
two of the most powerful
people who share our heritage on the world stage to
proclaim that Africa
does not have to compromise anything in its past but
can enrich the world's
understanding of humanity from its diverse
heritage.
Through Zuma and Obama's experiences my knowledge of what is
possible in
life has greatly expanded and I do hope that we all can take
time to reflect
on what we all need to secure and protect our
heritage.
Obama is an American President and not an African President of
America. He
represents even those who despise him and equally Zuma
represents all the
people of South Africa.
They both have not been
elected to represent the global African family but
there is no doubt that
all the people who call themselves African will be
judged by the actions of
these two men.
If this is the case, it makes all of us who believe in
Africa and its
rainbow heritage to redouble our efforts in organising
ourselves for real
and sustainable change.
Obama and Zuma have done
their part what is left is for us to unite around
new inclusive values that
best show case who we are as members of the
African heritage family.
If
Obama can be President of America so can a white person be a President of
an
independent African state. The question is are we prepared for this
outcome?
- ZimOnline
CONSTITUTION WATCH 2/2010
[9th
January 2010]
List of Delegates
for Outreach Training Programme 10th to 12th January
2010
This is the list released by
the Constitution Select
Committee [released by the COPAC Secretariat late on 8th January]. This list supersedes the previous
published list and is the only list which is valid. Any queries to be directed
to the Project Coordinator, Mr. P.F. Kunjeku, on 0912 824 955 or 0912 814
902.
Sunday 10th
January: All delegates are expected to be at
Monday 11th and Tuesday
12th January: Training workshop for all listed
persons.
Please
note that although the official figures given for the total number of people in
outreach teams is 560 [70 teams of eight persons], the number on this list is
628. The 68 extras are MPs and Senators who have been included to facilitate
the meetings in their constituencies. All
will participate in next week’s training – but the consultations on the ground
will be conducted by the outreach teams.
The
Independent Secretariat has still not been able to make available the lists of
persons in each thematic committee. They have said this will be ready in time
for the training sessions.
The list
is as supplied:
1. Ailess Baloyi; 2. Beremauro Godfrey; 3.
Bhasikiti Kudakwashe; 4. Chaderopa Fungai; 5. Chanetsa Peter; 6. Chikava
Betty; 7. Chininga Edward Chindori; 8. Chimomona Marble; 9. Chihota Phineas:
10. Chirongwe Richard; 11. Chiwamba Kizito; 12. Dzingirai Irvine; 13. Goto
Rosemary; 14. Haritatos Peter; 15. Hlongwane Makosini; 16. Huruba Trainos;
17. Kachepa Newton; 18. Kanzama Fred; 19. Kapesa Risipa; 20. Katsande
Aquliah; 21. Madubeko Josphat; 22. Mafios Itai Dickson; 23. Mahoka Sarah;
24. Mandebvu Noel Tarirai; 25. Mangami Dorothy; 26. Mangena Jabulani; 27.
Maramba Phares; 28. Masukume Neddie; 29. Matonga Bright; 30. Matshalaga
Obert; 31. Mavhima Lawrence; 32. Mazikana Paul Hebert; 33. Mbwembwe Edgar;
34. Mhanda Cairo; 35. Mlilo Shakespear; 36. Moyo Jonathan; 37. Mpukuta
Lovemore; 38. Mudarikwa Simba; 39. Mukanduri Samson; 40. Mushore Luke; 41.
Musaire Washington; 42. Mutindiri Ambrose; 43. Mutomba William; 44. Muza
Isheunesu; 45. Navaya Eric; 46. Ndava Ronald; 47. Ndlovu Anastasia; 48.
Nyakudanga Ordo; 49. Nyamupinga Beata; 50. Parirenyatwa David; 51.
Pasiwomusha Matiza Biggie; 52. Paradza Edward; 53. Sai Shaddy; 54. Samukange
Nelson; 55. Shirechena Ellina; 56. Sibanda Clifford; 57. Sindi Cephas; 58.
Sithole Abraham; 59. Zhanda Tendai; 60. Zhuwawo Patrick; 61. Zinyemba
Margaret; 62. Ziteya Kingston; 63. Ziyambi Wurarayi; 64. Chibafu Gertrude;
65. Chimbudzi Alice; 66. Dete Agnes Angeline; 67. Dinha Martin; 68. Gava
Chiratidzo; 69. Hungwe Josiah; 70. Kabayanjiri Obert; 71. Katyamaenza
Virginia; 72. Mabhiza Gladyz; 73. Makunde Tendai; 74. Mandava Maina; 75.
Manyeruke Jenia; 76. Mambo
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot
take legal responsibility for information
supplied