Should we expect the 2005 elections to be different?
'Make Sure They
Count Nicely This Time' The Politics of Election Observing in
Zimbabwe Sara Rich Dorman
This paper examines the controversy
surrounding Zimbabwe's elections in 2000 and 2002. It situates these
elections against Zimbabwe's experiences of elections since 1980. It
argues that the conditions for this controversy emerged from the
institutions and practices that developed in Zimbabwe from the time of
independence. At the same time, election observers - influenced both by
criticism of earlier observation missions in Africa and international
policy concerns - were positioned to make an example of the Zimbabwe
elections. The Zimbabwe elections became an international crisis point
not because of observer reports or electoral fraud, but because of the
politics surrounding Zimbabwe's relations with the outside world. Shut
your dirty mouths. We do not want to hear that [elections would not be free
and fair] from you. You are not our judges. You are not our keepers. Leave us
alone. Robert G. Mugabe2 On the basis of observations made during the
voting, verification and counting process on the ground and the objective
realities, the OAU Observer Team wishes to state that in general the
elections were transparent, credible, free and fair. OAU Observer
Mission3 'It is like when the Organisation of African Unity monitors bad
elections' said Placido Miko of the [Equatorial Guinea] Opposition
Convergencia para la Democracia Social (CPDS) referring to the cessation of
human rights monitoring in Equatorial Guinea, 'They always support each
other and say everything is fine. Things are not
fine'.112 ...International observers were similarly accused of reflecting the
interests of their home countries. The role of international observers
became particularly salient as both the government and the opposition
called upon neighbours and donors for solidarity during the elections. As
the veteran human rights activist and Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) MP Paul Themba Nyathi wrote, .conditions for a free and fair poll don't
exist..it is merely academic to talk of a free and fair presidential election
in Zimbabwe in 2002...Zimbabwe's friends in Sadc, the Commonwealth and the
EU should now concern themselves with two matters only: In the event
of Mugabe bulldozing his way to victory should such an outcome
be recognised? In the event of the MDC winning under such
appallingly difficult circumstances, what package of quick-impact assistance
will they be in a position to offer the people of Zimbabwe? 11 Or, in the
words of a Bulawayo market woman, speaking to a group of election observers:
"Make sure they count nicely this
time".12
The writing of history occurs daily and Mugabe will not escape it's certian
judgement as this extract indictes. How the final chapter reads is something
over which Mugabe's influence is limited.
Zimbabwe Civil
unrest
President Mugabe late January 1998 called in the army as thousands
looted and rioted in Harare, the capital, in the country's worst civil
unrest since independence. The unrest started with one of the biggest labour
strikes ever held in the country, called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions to protest against tax increases. At an emergency cabinet meeting,
Mugabe declared that price controls would be introduced. Important issues
revolved round Mugabe's proposals to redistribute much land of white farmers
to black farmers. In September 1998, after pressure from aid donors, the
government announced that it would redistribute only 118, rather than the
originally planned 1,470, large (and mainly white-owned) farms to landless
farmers. In November 1998 there were violent protests in Harare against the
rise in fuel prices and the country's involvement in the Congo war. In
February 1999 there were more violent protests against President Mugabe. In
June the human rights group African Rights produced a scathing report on
Mugabe's government, accusing it of corruption, human rights abuse, and lack
of respect for the rule of law. In a surprise change the Zimbabwean
President, Robert Mugabe, announced in October 1999 that the government was
ready to compensate the families of an estimated 25,000 people killed in an
opposition stronghold during the civil war in the early 1980s. For 10 years
President Mugabe had vowed to never apologize or compensate the victims of
the feared North Korean-trained Five Brigade army unit, originally deployed
in 1981 to track down armed bandits but which ended up killing thousands of
civilians in Matabeleland, home to the country's second-largest Ndebele
tribal group. Ndebeles constituted about 15% of Zimbabwe's
population. In 1999 Zimbabwe was in the throes of its worst economic crisis
in two decades. The crisis was widely blamed on government mismanagement,
and Mugabe was expected to face his strongest opposition yet at
parliamentary elections scheduled for 2000. Opposition activists elected a
trade union leader to lead their election campaign. The threat to President
Mugabe's 20-year rule was worsened by Zimbabwe's worst economic crisis of
his rule, including fuel shortages, power cuts, and 60%
inflation, as well as involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of
Congo. His popularity was in decline; this was consolidated when a
referendum showed that Zimbabwean voters had rejected a new constitution
which was considered to reinforce his power. Farm invasions 2000 In
early 2000 white-owned farms experienced a wave of invasions by veterans
from the country's war of independence, who claimed that the land on which
the farms stood was their own land by right. The farmers claimed that the
action was orchestrated by the government in order to promote fear prior to
the elections scheduled for April. However, a leader of a veterans' group
maintained that his members were willing to go back to guerrilla warfare,
and to overthrow President Mugabe, to defend their claims to the land.
President Mugabe dissolved his parliament in mid-April 2000, giving no date
for the delayed parliamentary elections, despite having previously said that
elections would be held in May. Around 500 farms had been seized by war
veterans paid by the government, and the country was embroiled in a
deepening economic crisis, as well as rising violence. Speaking on the
20th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence, President Mugabe said that he
was determined to resolve the question of land, and in doing so he declared
that the white farmers were the enemies of Zimbabwe and that they were to
blame for the recent farm invasions and rising violence. Meeting at a crisis
summit at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Mugabe and several South African
political leaders including those of South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia,
claimed that Britain and other Western countries had sparked the crisis by
failing to honour promises made in 1998 to fund a land redistribution
programme. When Zimbabwean ministers arrived in London, England, in April,
Britain offered to fund land reform over the next two years, under the
proviso that the money go to the poorest sector of society and not Mugabe's
personal allies, and that fair law be reinstated in the country; the
Zimbabwean ministers refused to agree to the conditions, saying that they
went back on the 1998 agreement and that they represented British
colonialism. In May 2000, Mugabe denounced Britain and launched his
ruling party's election manifesto, in which he reiterated his support for
the seizure of land. Continuing violence from hit squads trained and funded
by the government began to target school teachers who were accused of being
supporters of the opposition, as well as intimidating any others suspected
of opposing government policy. In the middle of May, it was announced that
elections would take place the following month, although international
concern was levelled at the effect of intimidation tactics on democracy. At
the end of May 2000, Zimbabwe's President Mugabe fulfilled his threat to
seize land without compensation to owners, despite proposals from South
Africa's President Mbeki under which $14 million/£8.75 million was to be
made available by donor countries to buy 118 of the 841 disputed farms in
order to use them for land redistribution. The seizure of the farms without
compensation meant that the farmers owed millions to the Zimbabwean banks,
placing the country's financial sector in turmoil. This compounded economic
difficulties from earlier in the month after the World Bank suspended any
new loans to Zimbabwe following its failure to keep up with repayments to
existing debts. Furthermore, Mugabe announced his plan to seize the assets
of foreign mining companies in his attempt to nationalize his country's
economy. Extracted from: http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019893.html
From: "Isabel Madangure" <mail@zpdp.org> Sent: Monday, January 17,
2005 1:04 PM Subject: Zimabwe People's Democratic Party Announces Launch of
www.zpdp.org
ZPDP Announces the
Launch of zpdp.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan 17, 2005
Harare,
Zimbabwe - Jan 17, 2005 - The Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party (ZPDP) today
announced the launch of its website zpdp.org (http://www.zpdp.org), an online resource for
those concerned about the future of Zimbabwe. The website addresses the
many issues surrounding the situation in Zimbabwe and the ZPDP's plans for
change. This comes at a time when the ZPDP led by "Amai" Madangure prepares
to contest the March 2005 Parliamentary Elections.
The ZPDP leader is
no stranger to Zimbabwean politics. In 1991 she was the first woman to
challenge the presidency of an African nation when the ZPDP launched its
campaign against the long ruling Zanu PF party.
Today, the Zimbabwe
People's Democratic Party has emerged as the only worthy opposition party
capable of breaking the deadlock between Zanu PF and the MDC opposition
party, whose leader is facing charges of treason. The ZPDP is the only viable
source of hope for the future of Zimbabwe and its mission is to foster the
return of economic development and democratization in Zimbabwe. The party has
a zero tolerance for corruption, will promote equal housing for all and
plans to make available efficient transportation systems and other
infrastructures. Under ZPDP leadership, a quality education will
be provided to every child and the party will promote freedom of speech
and of the press. Also the ZPDP plans to promote equality amongst men and
women and to abolish deeply ingrained taboos while also
preserving Zimbabwe's cultural traditions.
The new site provides
users with a comprehensive overview of the ZPDP. The site features news
articles and ongoing press releases in order to provide continued
communications to those concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe. Visitors
to the site also can share their comments about Zimbabwe and
provide feedback to the ZPDP.
Media interested in setting up an
interview with ZPDP representatives or submitting content for the
site should contact our Editor via e-mail at mail@zpdp.org or visit http://www.zpdp.org
Personal view: Wealthy nations must tackle Zimbabwe Aids
first By Dr Roger Bate (Filed: 17/01/2005)
Tony Blair wants to
'sort out' Africa. As this year's leader of the group of eight wealthiest
nations he should start by focusing on the disaster that is Zimbabwe. One
reason among many is that the diaspora of Zimbabweans into neighbouring
states is substantially worsening the Aids problem in southern
Africa.
African leaders have been reluctant to act on Zimbabwe's
politically induced humanitarian disaster but must intervene this year as
their own populations are threatened with disease. And they need support
from the international community, which is trying to combat the Aids
pandemic.
Business as usual is no longer an option; if political
stability is not returned to Zimbabwe soon and the refugee population
doesn't go home then all Aids efforts in the region may become
worthless.
Robert Mugabe, the only president Zimbabwe has ever known, is
the last hero of the African struggle for independence still clinging to
power. Adored by most Africans for the past, he is despised by many of his
countrymen for the present. He came to power in 1980 and has ruled with an
iron fist ever since.
The slide into despotism has halved the value
of the economy over the past five years, inflation is so rampant that bank
notes are only printed on one side and some expired on December 31. More
than 80pc are unemployed; food production this year was less than half that
in 2000 and is forecast to be only 15pc of normal in 2005.
And, while
the president says everything is fine, the World Food Programme says that
over five million people are short of food, out of a population of maybe
11m. It is simply impossible to know how many Zimbabweans have left the
country and how many remain.
Much media coverage has focused on the 4,500
white farmers and their families who have fled Mugabe's reign of terror, but
while this has probably lost the country 25pc of foreign exchange earnings,
the real danger to the region is the ill-health of the black
diaspora.
Twenty years ago, life expectancy in Zimbabwe was 58; in 2002
it was 33 and dropping. The official HIV/Aids rate in 2002 was about 27pc
(the third-highest in the world), but is probably much higher today.
Further, Dr Mark Dixon of Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo says that 70pc of the
cases he sees have HIV.
A possible reason for this extraordinary
number is the large amount of unprotected sex (usually rape) in Mugabe's
youth camps. The president established these camps apparently to
re-orientate the educational sector, but according to all the Zimbabweans I
spoke with, including a couple who had escaped the camps, it was really to
indoctrinate young men and women against the opposition party and white
people.
The worst cases of Aids are tragic - sufferers have no drugs and
no future. And since they are too sick to travel they will not seek
treatment abroad. The only good thing about this is that they won't take the
virus to other countries. But the mobile and generally healthy, if
malnourished, youth leave if they possibly can. Sadly, this is exactly the
age group which carries the highest HIV burden and they carry the virus
wherever they go.
According to Amnesty International, Zimbabwean refugees
are constantly abused in transit or wherever they end up, since they are not
recognised as legitimate asylum seekers and hence live illegally doing
whatever dangerous job they can get. No neighboring state acknowledges the
despotism of the Mugabe regime, and so naturally doesn't accept economic
migrants as political refugees.
An illegal and dangerous existence
awaits the majority, with many women lured into prostitution. Some are lucky
enough to reach the safe haven of places like Bishop Paul Verryn's church in
downtown Johannesburg, where I met some of the 35 refugees who live and
establish stalls selling wares to parishioners and passers-by. But for most
of the estimated two to three million Zimbabweans in South Africa their
existence is nasty and brutish, but not short enough to prevent transmission
of HIV.
South Africa, with a population of 42m, is perhaps big and rich
enough to accommodate her Zimbabwean neighbours. Other countries are less
well-placed. According to figures from various non-governmental
organisations working in the region, neighbouring Botswana now has probably
more than 200,000 illegal Zimbabwean immigrants added to its native
population of just over a million people.
Such an influx has caused a
terrible strain, leading to conflict, rape and the possibility of increasing
the HIV rate from its current and staggering 38pc. And it is not surprising
that, as a result, President Festus Mogae of Botswana has been the most
outspoken against the Mugabe regime.
While Mugabe continues to force his
citizens to leave the country, efforts to control HIV in much of the entire
southern African region will be undermined. It is time the international
community acted on Zimbabwe by pressuring the region's leaders to act, since
aid and trade deals matter to them even if they don't matter to
Mugabe.
South Africa's President Mbeki could stop Mugabe in his tracks by
turning off the electricity supply. But he won't until he feels real
pressure to do so. Zimbabweans want to return home, but not while Mugabe is
president.
. Dr Roger Bate is a visiting fellow of the American
Enterprise Institute and a director of Africa Fighting Malaria.
Johannesburg - The family of the South
African spy who was caught in Zimbabwe are "devastated" by the wait for news
about his fate and the fear that he could receive a 20-year prison
sentence.
A friend of the family told on Sunday how the parents of the
48-year-old spy from Pretoria had not received a word from him after he had
"disappeared" early in December.
"They are ill with worry. And to top
it all, they aren't allowed to talk with anyone about it from fear that it
will jeopardise his case."
Beeld reported on Saturday that the spy was
caught by the Zimbabwean intelligence agency (CIO) and held for the past
five weeks.
A CIO official apparently lured him out of Livingstone in
Zambia to a meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It was a trap.
The
South African Secret Service (Sass) and the government are fighting to
ensure his release amid allegations that he bought Zimbabwean "state
secrets" from top politicians.
Although the man has not been charged
and not yet appeared in court, it is feared that he could be prosecuted in
terms of Zimbabwe's spy legislation.
A Zimbabwean legal expert said the
Zimbabwean Official Serets Act was not applicable to foreigners, but
espionage was a common law crime, and convicted spies could be sentenced to
up to 20 years.
For this reason South Africa will want to prevent him
from being charged.
The spy's arrest apparently lead to the arrest last
month of five senior members of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF
party.
Experts believe "more senior members" of Zanu-PF could soon be
caught.
Witch hunt
Professor Mike Hough from the University of
Pretoria's Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) warns that Zimbabwe might
want to use the South African's evidence in "future cases".
The witch
hunt in Zanu-PF is part of Mugabe's attempt to sink Emmerson Mnangagwa's
presidential ambitions, a source says.
Altough Mnangagwa has not been
directly linked to the "spy ring", his comrade Philip Chiyangwa and four
others have already been charged with selling state secrets to a "foreign
power". Chiyangwa claims this "power" was South Africa.
The four
others all supported Mnangagwa's attempt for the post of Zanu-PF vice
president last year, notwithstanding Mugabe's wish that Joyce Mujuru fill
the position.
Mujuru was eventually appointed.
'Big
fish'
"First only Mnangagwa's lieutenants are caught, but the net will
eventually tighten around the big fish, Mnangagwa himself," a source
said.
The South African spy was caught in the same operation as Godfrey
Dzvairo, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Mozambique.
"People will be
astounded when the whole truth comes to light. It's not just about
diplomats, members of the ruling party and businesspeople.
"It stretches
much wider," the source said.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo
said the issue was being handled by Sass and the office of the president did
not want to comment.
Herald Reporter A
CABINET minister and several sitting Zanu-PF legislators lost in the ruling
party's primary elections held at the weekend to choose candidates for the
March parliamentary polls.
The Minister of Industry and International
Trade, Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi, lost in Chivi North to Cde Enita
Maziriri.
Cde Maziriri polled 6 433 votes, surpassing by far the combined
total of her rivals Cde Mumbengegwi, who garnered 1 633 votes; Cde Makore
(20 votes); and Cde Raymond Takavarasha with 320 votes.
In Makoni
West, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cde Joseph Made,
pulled in 11 171 votes to post a crushing victory over the sitting MP Cde
Gibson Munyoro, who trailed distantly with 581 votes, and Cde Mandy Chimene
with a mere 22 votes.
Cde Made, first appointed into Cabinet in 2000, was
among a number of technocrats who were included as non-constituency Members
of Parliament. Cde Made became the second Cabinet minister and
non-constituency MPs to beat a sitting legislator after the Minister of
Health and Child Welfare, Cde David Parirenyatwa, overwhelmed Cde Victor
Chitongo in Murewa North with 6 979 votes against 3 640 votes.
The
sitting MP in Muzarabani constituency, Cde Nobbie Dzinzi, polled 1 795 votes
in losing to Cde Luke Mushore, who tallied 4 526 votes.
Cde Paul
Mazikana, MP for Guruve North, only managed a paltry 528 votes to see him
lose to Cde David Kutano Butau, who polled 4 616 votes.
In Bikita East,
sitting MP Cde Walter Mutsauri polled 1 675 votes, falling to Cde Kennedy
Matimba who polled 2 035 votes. Cde John Mayowe, the other candidates,
polled 1 856 and 336 votes respectively.
Zaka West MP Cde Jefta
Chindanya's 586 votes were not enough to see him past Cde Mawere, who polled
1 128 votes.
Another contestant in the constituency, Cde L Mutandwa, got
983 votes.
Speaker of Parliament Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa polled 5 572
votes against Cde F Mabenge's 1 470 votes in Kwekwe. Cde Mnangagwa, a former
MP for the constituency, lost to the MDC in 2000.
The Minister of
Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, polled 5 576 votes against Cde
Frank Mbengo's 2 780 votes in Shurugwi.
The Minister of State for Policy
Implementation, Cde Webster Shamu, polled 3 812 votes to shrug off the
challenge of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Cde Edna Madzongwe, who polled 193
votes.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Infrastructural
Development, Cde Tinos Rusere, polled 2 319 votes against Cde M Mudavanhu's
1 285 votes to win the ticket to represent Zanu-PF in Zaka
East.
Another notable winner was Cottco group chief executive Cde
Sylvester Nguni, who polled a total of 5 390 to beat Cde Mavis Chidzonga who
trailed with 1 224 votes. Cde Chidzonga, a former MP for the constituency,
lost the seat to the MDC in 2000.
In Chivi South, the sitting MP, Cde
Charles Majange, was retained by the constituents after polling 980 votes.
His challengers Cde Mugumo and Cde Tichagwa got 59 and 246 votes
respectively.
In Chiredzi North, Politburo member Cde Celine Pote
garnered 2 365 votes to beat Cde Mavis Demba (343 votes) and Cde Autilia
Maluleke (1 337 votes).
The three were the only contestants after the
seat was reserved for women candidates. It had earlier emerged as the
constituency with the highest number of contestants with nine but the others
became ineligible after it was restricted to women.
In Chipinge
South, Cde Paul Porusingazi polled 11 960 votes to ward off Cde Rose
Makwembeni, who managed 339 votes.
Cde Freddy Kanzama won the ticket in
Mutare South, polling 760 votes against Cde Irene Dube, who got 57 votes. In
Nyanga, Cde Paul Kadzima beat Cde Nicodimus Chibvura with 4 234 votes
against 2 127 votes.
Manicaland provincial youth chairman Cde Enock
Porusingazi won the election in Chipinge South, garnering 11 960 votes
against 339 votes polled by Cde Rita Makwambeni.
Reports from Mutare
also said Cde Ellen Gwaradzimba beat Cde J Mawire in Mutare North, but the
actual figures were not available at the time of going to press.
In
Kuwadzana, Cde David Mutasa polled 951 votes against the 338 votes got by
Cde Canaan Chiradza.
Cde Vivian Mwashita polled 1 600 votes and lost
to Cde Nyanhongo, who polled 1 744 in Harare South. Cde Samuel Mvurume
polled 624 votes to win in Kambuzuma where he beat Cde Dzvene and Cde
Charles Gweru who polled 291 and 164 votes respectively.
In
Highfield, Cde Rodrick Nyandoro polled 2 621 votes against Cde Justin
Maombera's 736 votes.
Cde Sabina Thembani polled 1 143 votes to beat
Cde Hilda Ruzawe with 945 votes in Mufakose constituency. In Harare North,
Cde Nyasha Chikwinya polled 1 899 votes against Cde Pauline Zvorwadza's 1
252 votes.
In Dzivarasekwa, Cde Muchada polled 1 483 votes to beat Cde
Muzhamba, who polled 1 183 votes.
Cde Jimiyi Mudauri polled 4 051
votes to beat Cde Tichafa Mutema who polled 1 972 votes in Kadoma
Central.
Cde Sabina Zinyemba polled 1 929 votes to beat Cdes Agnes Dete
and Cde R Chitura, who polled 929 and 272 votes respectively in Mazowe
West.
Cde Sandra Machirori polled 1 315 votes and beat Cde Kadungure, who
polled 967 votes in Rushinga.
In Umzingwane, Cde Abigail Damasane
polled 926 votes and beat Cde Hilda Sibanda, who polled 627
votes.
Cde Thomas Ndebele won in Silobela by polling 2 365 votes against
Cde Soko's 133 votes, Cde Maratera (493 votes) and Cde Dube's 87
votes.
Results from Mutare Central and Chimanimani were still being
withheld pending investigations into some irregularities that cropped up
during the election process.
Though no official statement was
announced by yesterday pertaining to the elections, massive rigging and
vote-buying was reported in the two constituencies.
In Mutare
Central, where Cde Esau Mupfumi and Cde Shadreck Beta were contesting,
reports of voter intimidation and violence were recorded in some wards where
party supporters clashed.
There were also allegations that some
candidates ferried supporters from other constituencies to vote in the
elections, while in some wards the recommended secret ballot system was not
used.
Elections were still going on in Buhera North by late yesterday
where Cde Kenneth Manyonda is contesting against Cdes William Mutomba and
Elasto Mugwadi.
Voting was also still in progress in Mutasa South,
where Cde Oppah Muchinguri is battling against Cde Irene Zindi.
There
were no elections in Mutare West and Chipinge North where Cdes Chris
Mushohwe and S. Sakubaya were unopposed.
Results for Masvingo North,
where the Minister of Foreign Affairs Cde Stan Mudenge was fighting it out
with Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi, and in Masvingo Central, where former MP
Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire and Cdes Shylet Uyoyo and Josephine Chiturumani were
battling it out, were expected late last night.
Those for Chiredzi
South and Mwenezi were not available due to communication
problems.
Zanu PF Secretary for the Commissariat Cde Elliot Manyika
said voting went on peacefully and all the results were expected to be
announced today.
"The process has so far been good except problems of
heavy rains and flooding in Gokwe North constituency," said Cde
Manyika.
He said Government might be asked to help with logistics in the
constituency because some roads were not passable because of heavy
rains.
Primary elections were held in 59 constituencies pitting a total
of 177 aspirants after candidates in 51 constituencies were nominated
unopposed.
Elections in seven constituencies in Bulawayo, Tsholotsho,
Insiza and Gwanda were shelved as consultations regarding candidates
continue.
Voter registration, inspection of roll begins
today
Herald Reporter REGISTRATION of eligible new voters - including
those who have moved to other constituencies since the last poll - and
inspection of the voters' roll for the March parliamentary elections begin
today.
The exercise is expected to run until January 30, starting from
7am to 5pm in rural areas and up to 6pm in urban areas.
In a
statement, Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede said the undertaking would
enable those who have attained the age of 18 and those who moved to other
constituencies to register as voters in their respective areas.
He said
details pertaining to the exercise would be published in the media and could
also be accessed at the relevant district registration offices.
"Location
and information on the inspection centres will be published in the media and
will also be obtainable at the nearest offices of the District Registrars,
Provincial Registrars or the Registrar-General of Elections in Harare," he
said.
"An applicant for registration as a voter must be 18 years and
above, be a citizen of Zimbabwe; or a permanent resident of Zimbabwe since
the 31st December 1985, in terms of sub-paragraph 1(b) paragraph 3 of
schedule 3 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and resident in the prospective
constituency."
Voters wishing to transfer to other constituencies, Mr
Mudede said, would be asked to fill in the relevant documents at the centres
during the course of the exercise.
Applicants are also advised to
take to the registration centres either a national registration card or a
legible national registration waiting pass with a picture of the holder on
it; or valid Zimbabwe passport or a Zimbabwe driver's licence with national
identity number.
Mr Mudede said voters are expected to provide
documentary evidence proving that the applicant is currently residing in the
constituency in which registration is sought, such as a lodger's card,
statement of water or electricity charges, hospital bill or envelope with
postage markings reflecting one's address or a written statement from the
landlord.
Those in rural constituencies should get confirmation letters
from the village head or farm owner.
Mr Mudede urged voters to visit
the inspection centres to verify if their personal details are recorded
correctly and cause corrections to be made where necessary.
The
elections will be held under a reformed electoral system in line with the
Southern Africa Development Commu-nity (Sadc) principles and guidelines on
democratic elections.
President Mugabe has assented to the Electoral Bill
and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Bill, two laws which will reform the
country's electoral system in line with the Sadc guidelines.
Herald Reporter There is a
possibility that a second armyworm outbreak could hit the country barely a
month after the first one, the Department of Agricultural Research and
Extension has warned.
The department said although the previous outbreak
was now under control, chances were high that a new cycle of the deadly
worms could be on the march anytime soon since larvae from the previous
cycle had simply gone underground.
An Arex agronomist, Mr Nelson
Muhau, told The Herald the previous armyworm outbreak was now under control,
but warned farmers to be on the alert for a new outbreak.
"The
armyworm outbreak is now under control and what we have found out is that
the larvae have gone underground and it is likely that another cycle may
begin, so farmers must always be alert," said Mr Muhau.
He, however,
assured the nation that his department had enough chemicals in stock to
fight any fresh outbreak.
"The chemicals in stock are adequate and our
surveys have indicated that farmers also have chemicals capable of killing
the armyworm, although most of them are not aware of that.
"For
instance, the chemicals used in cotton spraying can also be used to kill the
armyworm," explained Mr Muhau.
Mr Muhau, could, however, not be drawn
into giving a time frame for the second cycle of the pest.
An
outbreak of armyworm was reported last month in Bulawayo, Midlands and
Masvingo provinces.
In Masvingo, the worms destroyed about 80
hectares of maize before they were brought under control.
The worst
affected areas were Mushagashe, Victoria, Mutimurefu and Summerton.In the
Midlands, the worms wreaked havoc in areas as far afield as Shurugwi, Kwekwe
and Zvishavane.
The armyworm can destroy large areas of maize and
pastures within a short space of time.
Mr Muhau said farmers in
susceptible areas must be on high alert and report any suspected armyworm
cases to their nearest Arex offices.
Armyworms breed in thousands during
the rainy season and the female armyworm can lay up to 800 eggs, which
usually hatch within five weeks.
Herald Reporter Fixed
telephone operator TelOne last week cut telephone services to Chitungwiza
Municipality over unpaid bills running into several millions of
dollars.
Officials at the local authority*s head office could not
give the exact amount owed to TelOne, but sources said the figure ran into
millions of dollars.
The services were, however, restored a day later
after the local authority had settled the bill.
Chitungwiza Mayor Mr
Misheck Shoko confirmed the phone cuts.
"Yes, they briefly disconnected
services but we honoured our debt and TelOne restored services," said Mr
Shoko.
Chitungwiza is facing a serious cashflow crisis and has been
failing to meet some of its obligations, including staff salaries.
Mr
Shoko has since called for a special meeting this week to find ways of
liquidating the municipality*s crippling debt.
The debt, which
currently stands at a whopping $31 billion, has been attracting interest of
$3,4 billion every month.
The municipality is battling to settle the debt
which arose from a bank overdraft granted to the local authority to offset a
budget
deficit.
Fixed
telephone operator TelOne last week cut telephone services to Chitungwiza
Municipality over unpaid bills running into several millions of
dollars.
Officials at the local authority*s head office could not
give the exact amount owed to TelOne, but sources said the figure ran into
millions of dollars.
The services were, however, restored a day later
after the local authority had settled the bill.
Chitungwiza Mayor Mr
Misheck Shoko confirmed the phone cuts.
"Yes, they briefly disconnected
services but we honoured our debt and TelOne restored services," said Mr
Shoko.
Chitungwiza is facing a serious cashflow crisis and has been
failing to meet some of its obligations, including staff salaries.
Mr
Shoko has since called for a special meeting this week to find ways of
liquidating the municipality*s crippling debt.
The debt, which
currently stands at a whopping $31 billion, has been attracting interest of
$3,4 billion every month.
The municipality is battling to settle the debt
which arose from a bank overdraft granted to the local authority to offset a
budget deficit.
From Bulawayo
Bureau THE fate of the Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial Co-ordinating Committee
members will be known today amid reports that the party*s political
commissar, Cde Elliot Manyika, might dissolve it.
Sources who
attended a meeting to discuss the committee said there were plans to
dissolve the PCC which was being accused of failing to run the affairs of
the party.
The meeting, which was attended by members of the Central
Committee and Politburo, was to decide the fate of the provincial
leadership, which has been accused of not running the affairs of the party
in a transparent manner.
According to sources, some of the leaders
wanted the PCC dissolved immediately while others argued that such a move
would be counter-productive as the parliamentary elections were only about
two months away.
Hundreds of ruling party supporters also thronged the
venue of the meeting but were told that another meeting would be held
today.
Politburo members including the Secretary for Education Dr
Sikhanyiso Ndlovu; Cde Absolom Sikhosana, who is the national youth
secretary; and Matabeleland South Governor, Cde Angeline Masuku; and Central
Committee members, among them Cde Joshua Malinga, also attended.
Cde
Manyika said the problems bedeviling the party in Bulawayo should be solved
as a matter of urgency.
"We are still consulting with the leadership here
and we hope to find a solution,** he said.
Cde Manyika said whatever
decision the leadership takes would be announced today.
"All we want
is stability in Bulawayo," said Cde Manyika.
Meanwhile, Cde Manyika said
he would be travelling to Tsholotsho today to consult both the political and
traditional leadership on the suitable candidate for the seat.
The
constituency was reserved for women under the ruling party*s new quota
system and seven candidates have submitted their curriculum
vitaes.
"We want to come up with a suitable woman candidate in
Tsholotsho, that is the main agenda of tomorrow*s (today) meeting," said Cde
Manyika.
He said the primary elections in both Bulawayo and Tsholotsho
and other remaining constituencies would be held on Thursday.
CHAOS, VOTE RIGGING MAR ZANU PF ELECTIONS Mon 17 January
2005 HARARE - Wrangling and allegations of vote rigging marred an internal
election to choose candidates to represent Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF party
in a general election scheduled for March.
The party, in the
grip of a bitter power struggle linked to President Robert Mugabe's
succession, had to suspend voting in the province of Bulawayo to allow
old-guard members who had been left out to contest, sources
said.
Senior member of ZANU PF's inner politburo cabinet, Dumiso
Dabengwa, party deputy political commissar Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, former
parliamentarians Joshua Malinga and Sithembiso Nyoni are among some of the
party's heavyweights in Bulawayo not originally on the list of contestants.
But they are now expected to take part in the primary election which could
be held on Thursday this week, sources said.
Voting was also
postponed in Gwanda, Chinhoyi, Kariba, Makonde, Kadoma West and in
Tsholotsho, where government information minister and propaganda chief,
Jonathan Moyo, was banned from contesting. ZANU PF's politburo cancelled
voting in the respective areas because it was not satisfied with the list of
prospective candidates.
Elsewhere across the country, there were
allegations of vote rigging and in a few cases police had to be called in to
quell violence between rival factions.
In Mashonaland West
province, supporters of Francis Matongorere angrily protested after their
candidate's name was omitted from the list of aspiring candidates against
sitting Member of Parliament, Zacharia Ziyambi.
In Harare's
Mufakose constituency, there were scuffles with one faction accusing members
of the other of cheating and voting twice. Police had to intervene to
restore order.
Anti-riot police had to be summoned twice to break
up violent clashes between rival supporters at Dzivarasekwa community hall
in Harare, where voting was taking place.
But voting proceeded
peacefully in several other constituencies across the country and there were
no major upsets in results that had been announced by late last
night.
In Kwekwe constituency, parliamentary speaker Emmerson
Mnangagwa, out of favour after working with Moyo to block the appointment of
Joyce Mujuru as ZANU PF's and Zimbabwe's second vice-president won the party
ticket for the March poll.
Agriculture Minister Joseph Made,
who had been expected to struggle after misleading the nation about food
security, won in Makoni West and Health Minister David Parirenyatwa beat his
rival in Murehwa North constituency. The two sit in Parliament after being
appointed to the House by Mugabe under a constitutional clause allowing him
to appoint 30 of Zimbabwe's 150 parliamentarians.
Tourism
Minister Francis Nhema won in Shurugwi constituency and Policy
Implementation Minister Webster Shamu was elected in Chegutu constituency.
Chief executive officer of Zimbabwe's biggest cotton processing company,
Cottco, won in Mhondoro constituency.
Former Cabinet Minister
Victoria Chitepo and retired army general and governor of Manicaland
province Mike Nyambuya were elected unopposed in Glen Norah and Mutasa North
constituencies respectively.
Also elected unopposed is former
Zimbabwe's ambassador to the United Nations, Tichaona Jokonya, who insiders
have indicated might replace Stan Mudenge as Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs
Minister.
Among constituencies whose results were not in by late
last night were Mudenge's Masvingo North constituency and Defence Minister
Sydney Sekeremayi's Marondera East constituency. - ZimOnline
Shaky banks to be forced into liquidation Mon 17 January
2005 HARARE - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says it will force some of
the country's shaky banks to liquidate.
In a sign of continued
crisis in Zimbabwe's financial sector, which has seen at least nine
financial institutions closing down in the last 12 months, Gono said some of
the banks were going to be amalgamated into one bank but others were so
(critically ill) they could only be liquidated.
"Those critically
ill or whose shareholders and/or management impaired the institutions beyond
recovery will be left to the liquidation route," Gono said in a statement
released at the weekend.
Five banks, forced by the RBZ last year to
close down because of mismanagement and corruption, have been merged into
the Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group in which the government is the majority
shareholder.
The new bank was scheduled to open shop on January 3
but failed to do so due to logistical problems and also because shareholders
of some of the merged banks have taken the RBZ to court over its decision to
close their banks. - ZimOnline.
Repatriation of illegal immigrants costs Botswana US$32
000 Mon 17 January 2005 GABORONE - The Botswana government used US$32
000 in the last three months alone to repatriate illegal immigrants, most of
them Zimbabweans.
Home Affairs Minister Moeng Pheto told the Press
at the weekend that of the 5 536 immigrants, 5 356 were from neighbouring
Zimbabwe.
Pheto who has in the past complained that the huge costs
of deporting immigrants were hitting hard on his department's budget, said
US$26 000 was used to feed the deportees and US$6 000 was used to transport
them to their home countries.
Gaborone uses more than US$360
000 annually to send about 30 000 illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe back to
their country.
Pheto, who spoke after touring a government
detention centre for illegal immigrants in Francistown near the border with
Zimbabwe, called on immigration officials not to ill-treat foreigners caught
illegally staying in Botswana.
Relations between Zimbabwe and
Botswana are strained over allegations by Harare that Gaborone ill-treats
Zimbabweans visiting that country. Botswana denies the charge.
Several thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing hunger and political violence in
their crisis-torn country illegally cross into Botswana every day. -
ZimOnline