Zimbabwe poll agency reported too broke to hold election

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

Jul 17, 2011, 11:50 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwe's electoral commission will not able to conduct the
country's elections this year unless it gets a funding injection from the
government, a state-owned weekly newspaper reported Sunday.

'From what we were allocated by Treasury, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) has only been given 8.5 million dollars,' the Sunday Mail quoted
Simpson Mutambanengwe, the ZEC chairman, as saying. 'We are barely
surviving. There is no money.'

Zimbabwe uses the US dollar.

The disclosure follows calls last week from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu
PF party for general elections be held this year to end the country's
two-year-old coalition government.

Earlier this month, representatives of ZANU PF and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change, agreed that it would
not be possible to have elections this year.

Since December last year, Mugabe has said he wants elections this year.
Tsvangirai has countered that democratic reforms, including creating a new
constitution, must precede elections.

A power-sharing agreement Tsvangirai and Mugabe signed in 2008 says Zimbabwe
is to have a new constitution before general elections are held. The work of
drafting a new constitution has been marred by lack of funds, interparty
violence and disagreements between Mugabe and Tsvangirai's parties.

As a result, a referendum on the new constitution which was supposed to have
been held last November is now set for this September. But with ZEC
indicating that it has no money to run polls, the date might be pushed
further away.

Zanu PF lying about elections

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Thelma Chikwanha, Community Affairs Editor
Sunday, 17 July 2011 15:16

HARARE - Zanu PF, plagued by collapsed party structures and in disarray due
to serious divisions and dwindling support, is deliberately misleading the
world on elections in a desperate bid to portray itself as strong and
united, analysts and party insiders have said.

Politburo  sources in President Robert Mugabe’s party told the Daily News on
Sunday that a bundle of obstacles which include inside resistance to
elections makes it impossible for them to contest polls this year.

The sources said the party was in disarray and in shambles and it is not
ready for elections even in the next two years.

The politburo official said contrary to public posturing, Zanu PF is
ill-prepared for elections due to a catalogue of serious obstacles which
include: They do not have a presidential candidate other than Mugabe who at
87 years, is now difficult to sell as a candidate.

The party is broke and has lost support throughout the country.

Serious divisions among themselves that some party heavyweights are seeking
convergences with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC.

The Members of Parliament are not interested in elections because they fear
giving away seats like many of them did in the previous elections in 2008.

Sadc has made it clear there will be no elections in Zimbabwe until a
roadmap which guarantees free and fair elections is put in place.

“Look, it will be utter madness for us to go for elections this year and
even next year. The question is do we go with President Mugabe as a
candidate — No. Do we find a suitable replacement and again it’s No because
of the deep-rooted divisions in the party. We are at a crossroads.

“This is why most of our senior officials are talking to Tsvangirai. They
will talk to anyone who they think might be in power after the elections.
This election talk is cheap propaganda.

“Right now the structures of the party are in tatters, even in the rural
areas. They are joking and playing to the gallery as a propaganda tactic.
The truth of the matter is that nobody wants elections at the moment,” said
the highly placed Zanu PF official.

Political analyst  Ibbo Mandaza said elections could only take place once a
constitution was put in place, adding the process was three years behind
schedule.

“Given the process, elections are dependent on the constitution and only
when it is completed can there be talk of elections.  There will never be
any elections now or in 2012 but maybe 2013,” Mandaza said.

Mandaza suggested that Zanu PF was being dishonest and was engaging in
double speak over the issue.

“Zanu PF is double speaking  because they don’t know what to tell their
cadres who have been getting ready for elections. It’s true they know they
will lose unless they reform and for as long as Mugabe is there, it will
never happen,” Mandaza said.

Added Mandaza:  “Mugabe has killed Zanu PF because he has personalised the
party. He killed the principles of Zanu PF. There is no relationship with
the Zanu PF of the liberation struggle and the current Zanu PF.  What is
left of Zanu PF depends on how long Mugabe lives.”

Mandaza said  people within  Zanu PF, including spokesperson Rugare Gumbo
who went on record on elections were lying to the people.

“They know about it but they do not say it in public, they talk about it
privately and none of them really wants elections this year because they
know they will lose,” Mandaza said.

Human rights researcher Pedzisai Ruhanya said the issue of elections must be
agreed upon by all stakeholders involved in the Zimbabwean crisis, including
Sadc leaders  who have already ruled out elections this year.

“Business will not be conducted as usual after Zanu PF loses the sovereign
will of the people to govern. They must understand that the period of
political party dictatorship is over. Instead, they should help create a
conducive political environment.

Ruhanya said elections could only be held once the toxic issues like the
role of the military in elections was dealt with in a democratic fashion
that fostered political development.

“The military must not become political commissars of a political party but
should operate within the confines of the Zimbabwe Defence Act."

“The culture of impunity associated with Zanu PF should stop and Zimbabweans
must exercise their civil and political liberties without any military
interference, Posa and other restrictive legislation must be removed,”
Ruhanya said.

“Are institutions ready? Zec cannot run a credible election because it is
filled with Central Intelligence Organisation operatives,” said Ruhanya.

But Gumbo has publicly insisted on elections.

“We are Zimbabweans; we decide what we want to do. Negotiations are not cast
in stone. We can accept or reject what negotiators have decided, so I don’t
want to listen to that kind of nonsense,” Gumbo told VOA’s Studio 7.

Ruhanya dismissed Gumbo’s comments as mere ranting.

“Gumbo shows signs of political drunkenness. If Zimbabwe has failed to have
a clean voters’ roll since 1985 what makes Gumbo think it can be done in 30
days unless he is drunk,” Ruhanya pointed out.

The Daily News on Sunday has been inundated with calls from concerned Zanu
PF members who say the party was not ready for any form of elections.

Members who spoke on condition of anonymity said if elections were held this
year as is being suggested by Gumbo, the party would lose dismally.

“There is no money in the party to campaign and besides party structures are
in shambles.

In some  areas, structures are literally non-existent. The ship is sinking
and that is why the party has resorted to re-engage people Jonathan Moyo but
they are also failing.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera also dismissed Zanu PF’s claims of an
election this year as mere politicking.

“I think they are playing politics, they fully understand that logistically
it is not possible to have elections. What they want to do is manage the
process in order not to lose their people,” Mangongera said.

“You need to understand Mugabe. He puts himself first, his family second,
the party third and finally the nation. He knows he is very old and wants to
secure a fresh term. People in Zanu PF who believe he will retire are in for
a surprise because he cannot face life as an ordinary person,” Mangongera
said.

MDC Activists Denied Access To Medical Attention By Prison Officials

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, July 17, 2011 – Eight activists of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
popular faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, who are in remand
prison on charges of murdering a police officer in Glen View, are being
denied access to medical attention by prison officials despite a court
ruling ordering that they receive treatment.

This was revealed Saturday today by defence lawyer, Jeremiah Bamu at the
Harare Magistrates’ Courts where the eight, including 16 other MDC activists
who are out on bail appeared for their routine remand hearing.

The 24 MDC activists are facing trumped up charges of murdering a police
officer at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre in May.  The police officer was
killed by unknown revelers at a night club. The MDC-T has dismissed the
murder charges as false or trumped up.

Bamu said those in remand prison especially the female inmates are being
denied medical attention and were only getting pain killers.

“Yvonne Musarurwa has a fracture on the left hand and blood is coming out
from a wound on the right leg.  Cynthia Manjoro has a growth on the left
knee but this has not been attended to.  She needs to go for an urgent
biopsy but this has not been done.

The only medication that they are receiving are pain killers and it is
barely adequate for the serious injuries they have,” said Bamu.

On the previous remand hearing, Magistrate Shane Kubonera had ruled that
they should have access to medical attention after they were severely
assaulted by the police.  Councillor Tungamirai Madzokera of Ward 32 in Glen
View who is in remand prison had his left hand fractured after he was
assaulted while in police custody and the hand
is in a plaster.

Bamu further blasted the State for failing to carry out proper
investigations following complaints raised by the accused on their initial
remand hearing that they were assaulted by the police while incustody.

“We are praying that these complaints against the police are carried out,
not by the police but by the Attorney General’s Office or any other
independent body,” said Bamu. He accused the AG’s Office of showing bias and
using “guerrilla tactics” in prosecuting the 24 activists who were at one
time denied access to legal representation.

“I pray that the court censure the behaviour shown at the AG’s Office,” said
Bamu. Magistrate Kubonera said he would make a ruling on the complaints
raised by the defence lawyer at the next remand hearing on 29 July. However,
Bamu insisted that the State should set a trial date on next remand hearing.

Cop fired over MDC song

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Writer
Sunday, 17 July 2011 16:04

HARARE - A popular MDC song, Simudza Ngerengere, by parliamentarian Paul
Madzore has landed a senior cop into trouble.

Assistant Inspector Tedious Chisango was fired from the force on allegations
of playing MDC song and “teaching police recruits on regime change.”

Chisango was dumped in a bush near Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot on the
outskirts of Bulawayo on Friday.

The police officer was evicted from Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot on
Friday morning after his expulsion from the force.

His eviction was witnessed by four journalists Pindai Dube of the Daily
News, Nqobani Ndlovu of The Standard and freelancers Pamenous Tuso and Osca
Nkala who were later detained and released only after being forced to delete
news pictures they had taken.

“I have been dumped in the bush as you can see. I slept in the bush last
night with my wife and two kids. They said they no longer want me at the
police camp alleging that I am now a threat to national security as they
allege that I was teaching recruits about MDC.

“Now I am stranded and I don’t know what to do because they are refusing to
give me their truck to carry my property and family to Marondera, my rural
home,” a traumatised Chisango told Daily News on Sunday.

According to the charge sheet, Chisango force number 114321L, is being
charged for contravening Chapter 11:10 of the Police Act of actively
participating in politics whilst in the police force.

Allegations against Chisango who was  working as a police medical officer at
Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot are that he was caught playing the MDC
song Simudza Ngerengere by Madzore on his personal cell phone while on duty
by his superiors.

“Further Investigations were then conducted by Police Internal Security
Intelligence (Pisi) officers from Bulawayo provincial police headquarters
and Matabeleland north police headquarters and it revealed that even a
computer in his office had music which promoted the MDC.

A file code named Tedy Chisango was found containing other MDC songs like
Saddam Waenda, Shinga Zvichanaka, Hondo Yacho and others”.

"When contacted national police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said: “I haven’t
received the details about that case yet. I am still checking.”

Chisango’s expulsion from the force came at a time when another police
officer in Bulawayo, Alois Mabhunu was last month reportedly arrested and
also dragged before the police internal court for using President Robert
Mugabe’s toilet during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

No joy for civil servants

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Bridget Mananavire, Staff Writer
Sunday, 17 July 2011 15:39

HARARE - Civil servants will this week make their way to the bank aware of
what is in store for them.

They will know in advance that despite the endless promises of a salary
increment, they will not  be any manna from heaven in their bank accounts.

Responding to comments by the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti this week that
there will be a lot of belt tightening to be done as government has no cash
to review salaries of public workers.

Civil servants’ representatives say it is the government’s responsibility to
look for the money.

“We are for salaries, it’s government’s duty to look for money, it is like
in a household, the father does not tell the kids that there is no money but
rather he goes out to hunt, gather and even borrow money to sustain the
family,” said Raymond Majongwe Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe
(PTUZ) secretary general.

He however added that if the children are not satisfied they will “abandon”
their father and that it should be a warning to the responsible parties to
act.

Tendai Chikowore, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive
officer said, “As of today I have no comment on the issue because I am not
part of government, what we can only do is wait. The matter is now political
and I have no access to government information.”

Early this month, government awarded civil servants salary increments which
will see the least paid worker getting a total package of $253.

The salary increment was not unanimously received with some civil servants
describing it as an insult.

War vets declare war

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer
Sunday, 17 July 2011 15:35

HARARE - War veterans and poor people occupying the controversial Waterfalls’
Nyarungu Estate which the High Court says belongs to flamboyant businessman,
Phillip Chiyangwa have declared war on the property dealer saying they would
rather die fighting than vacate the land.

Describing Chiyangwa as a “sheep in wolf’s clothing” the war veterans say
the bid to remove them from their “homes” is tantamount to creating a black
versus black farm grab.

The Daily News on Sunday last week visited the contested farm and discovered
the determination and zeal by the occupiers to stay put.

The battle for Nyarungu Estate and the recent invasion of a farm belonging
to Zanu PF official Tracy Mutinhiri has led to fears of a bloody black
versus black farm invasion situation.

When the land reform programme started in 2000, it was a simple case of
blacks taking away land from whites.

But judging by the recent land fights, it is now a case of what goes around
coming around.

While Chiyangwa had successfully applied for an eviction order from the High
Court, the war veterans have vowed to stay put at the disputed estate and
promised to fight off any attempt to evict them.

The businessman is arguing that he bought the land that the war veterans
took away. The war veterans have since registered a housing co-operative
known as Pungwe Chimurenga and claim that the land was gazetted by
government so Chiyangwa cannot claim it.

For the past five years, Chiyangwa had been in running battles with the war
veterans who recently protested at  one of his companies, Jetmasters,
against the eviction from the land they have occupied for the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, the war veterans have made an urgent High Court chamber
application that was heard last week challenging their eviction from that
farm which they have named “Eyrecourt Township” and judgement was reserved.
The eviction was meant to be effected on June 14.

It was business as usual when the Daily News on Sunday crew visited
Eyrecourt Township on Friday.

Groups of people could be seen moulding bricks to build their houses a sign
of their determination to stay put despite Chiyangwa’s efforts to push them
out.

“We do not trust anyone who comes here, we need to prove if you have not
come to spy on us,” quipped one war veteran, adding that they were prepared
to fight everyone representing those who “wanted to grab our land.”

“Phillip hatidi kutombomuona pano (We do not want to see Chiyangwa here),”
he continued.

But after the introductions were made the war veterans started opening up
more.

One of the occupiers More Everson, said  Chiyangwa barred from visiting the
farm.

He accused him of derailing the land reform programme saying they will not
obey any orders from anyone except Mugabe.

Showing how deep- rooted his hatred for Chiyangwa was, gnashing his teeth,
he said, “I will do anything in my powers to stop him (Chiyangwa) from
taking our land.

“He wants to destroy the unity of purpose within Zanu PF. He is a wolf in
sheep’s clothing and now wants to eat the sheep. We will not tolerate that
and let him know that we will fight him to the end,” he said.

Simbarashe Mafakadza, 26, a Zanu PF youth accused Chiyangwa of amassing
wealth through sell-out activities at the expense of national sovereignty.

“We know him, what was he doing during the war? Even after independence why
was he arrested? We are no stupid,” said Mafakadza.

Another war veteran said, “We are victims of Murambatsvina and after 10
years on this farm, Chiyangwa wants to bring another Murambatsvina on us. We
will teach him to respect war veterans,” said Brian Chirozva, another war
veteran, pointing at the co-operative offices named after the late Vice
President Simon Muzenda.

He said he suspected foul play in the ownership wrangle of the estate and
questioned why local government minister Ignatius Chombo has remained mum on
the matter.

“Chiyangwa should leave us alone. We are building our houses without any
help from him. He is igniting another Chimurenga,” said Paradzayi Mawariro,
a Zanu PF youth.

The leader of the co-operative refused to comment referring the Daily News
on Sunday to the District Administrator’s office.

But in the meantime, the war rages on as the feuding parties await a High
Court ruling on the matter.

Contacted for comment, Chiyangwa as has become the norm when probed on his
land deals became aggressive “I do not deal with issues that are  handled by
the court, who are you, you and your useless newspaper want  to be law unto
yourself.

You want to sell your newspapers using Chiyangwa’s headlines. Tell your
editor to go F**k off. Do not ever call my number again”

Blacks are now turning against each other as the fight for land intensifies.

Several land disputes involving Zanu PF bigwigs, either in an attempt to
purge some unwanted political elements in the party or through greed have
become common.

The case of Mutinhiri is a classical example.

Her farm was invaded by war veterans last week who wanted to force her out
of the farm allegedly under the orders of  state security minister Sydney
Sekeramayi.

The incident came just after she had completed a tour of Manicaland province
with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
With the Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo describing her as a nobody, her
fate seems to have been sealed.
Only time will tell.

Ncube Lambasts Mugabe Over His Military Credentials

http://www.radiovop.com/

Harare, July 17, 2011 – Leader of the smaller formation of the MDC,
Professor Welshman Ncube says President Robert Mugabe should stop boasting
about being Defence Forces Commander In Chief but should grant the people's
wishes to tame and turn the meddle some security organs into non partisan
institutions.

“He (Mugabe) is not Commander In Chief by the decree of God,” Ncube said at
a party rally in Harare’s high density Dzivarasekwa suburb Saturday.

“He is Commander In Chief by the choice of the people of Zimbabwe and when
the people say we must reform this institution, he must accede to it because
he is not Commander In Chief for himself.”

On Friday President Mugabe lashed out at both MDC formations for clamouring
for security sector reforms over their continued biased towards the veteran
leader’s party.

At a party meeting in Harare Friday, Mugabe was adamant no one would touch
the country's security organs and further berated the MDC for trying to seek
the House’s support in taming the meddlesome service men.

Ncube told the estimated 200 plus crowd that President Mugabe should first
allow the country's security forces to do their work free of any political
interference, stop manipulating electoral systems to his advantage as well
as order his followers to stop violence on political opponents if he was so
intent on having early elections in the
country.

“Zanu PF should stop all the violence, disband the militias, and let our
people be free. If the people are free, we can have an election next week,
next month,” he said.

“It is within the power of Zanu PF to allow free to withdraw the violence,
to allow free political activity, everywhere, every corner of this country.

“They must allow the police, the military to be free of political
interference. They must allow the police and the military not to be the
armed wing of a political party. If we had a free police force, if we had a
professional police force, the violence in this country would stop
 tomorrow.”

The MDC leader was responding to continued utterances by President Mugabe
and his party that the country would hold elections this year.

Ncube, who was accompanied by a handful of party leaders, among them his
deputy Edwin Mushoriwa, further said Zanu PF was insincere in insisting on
elections this year.

“The reality is that Zanu PF knows there would be no elect this year,” he
said.

“They are insisting on elections only rhetorically to keep galvanising their
violent base. That’s the sole reason. So that their violent base thinks
there are elections around the corner and they continue intimidating the
people.”

By calling for early elections, Ncube said, Zimbabwe risked another disputed
electoral outcome that will leave Zimbabwe a perpetual item on SADC’s
agenda.

Zim in Polocrosse World Cup final

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

ZIMBABWE stormed into the finals of the third edition of the Polocrosse
World Cup, currently underway in England, with a 100 percent winning record
when they overcame United States 24-10 in a semi-final match.
17.07.1112:24pm
Staff Writer Zim Office

The Zimbabweans had a dream start after accounting for New Zealand, Zambia
and champions Australia to finish top in their group.

Their opponents, United States, had finished second in the other pool, which
was won by neighbours South Africa, and also included United Kingdom and
Ireland.

Zimbabwe will play in the final tomorrow against winners between South
Africa and Australia, who were scheduled to meet later yesterday in another
semi-final.

The Zimbabwe team comprises Andy Baker who is the captain, Michael Krynauw,
Danie Swan and Graham Keith in the men's side while Audrey Logan, Kelly
Redford, Susan Sargeant and Sophie Sargeant make up the women's side.

For starters, polocrosse is a game played on an outdoor field with players
mounted on horseback.

It is a combination of polo and lacrosse. Each rider uses a stick to which
is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, in which the ball is
carried and the objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between
your opponent's goal posts.

A team consists of six players, divided into two sections of three who play
alternate chukkas of a maximum of eight minutes each.

Six or eight chukkas compromise a full match. The three players in each
section play the position of a number one (attack), number two (centre), or
number three (defence).

Zimbabwe beat New Zealand 17-15 in their first game. According to a report
from sports marketing and events management company Dominus Sport, "this was
a particularly hard fought game, possibly the best of the day as the crowds
were kept on the edge of their seats right up to the last chukka!"

Zimbabwe scored the first goal, but New Zealand quickly settled in to the
pace of the game to equalise and then pull ahead. For the men it was goal
for goal, with some particularly strong play from New Zealand's Dean Gower
and Zimbabwe's Andy Baker, both in the number one slot, and after two
chukkas the score was sitting 5-5.

As the game went on it seemed to be goal-for-goal as the Zimbabweans brought
out the big throws down the pitch and New Zealand displayed some excellent
teamwork. However, during the last few minutes of the final chukka Zimbabwe
came out fighting to take the lead and win 17-15, to the howls and cheers of
each camp.

Zimbabwe then outplayed the champions Australia with a 21-12 victory in
their second game. This was the point at which everything was turned on its
head as Australia went down to a ferocious Zimbabwe team after both teams
had started off on a winning note.

Zimbabwe were 3-2 up at the end of the opening chukka. In the second chukka
the Zimbabwe men came out strong to dominate the play, with Andy Baker
becoming a goal machine on Joel Sics' Chispa.

For possibly the first time in the history of polocrosse Australia didn't
score a goal during the chukka. The Australia ladies were quick to put in
the first goal in the third but again Zimbabwe came back fighting and a few
mistakes by Australia gave away goals.

Some particularly strong play by Kelly Redford and Sophie Sargeant as the
Zimbabwe one and three respectively meant that at the half way point
Zimbabwe were seven goals up.

During the final chukkas Australia seemed to be back in the game, with Jodi
Tiver as the number one pulling back several goals. However, Zimbabwe were
just as quick, matching the Australian ladies goal for goal.

By the final chukka the Zimbabwe supporters were thoroughly fired up and it
was truly Andy Baker's chukka with five goals that sealed Australia's fate.

It was some thrilling polocrosse from both sides, but from the start
Australia were playing catch-up, and this was a strong Zimbabwe side who
really wanted - and got - that win.

They then came up against northern neighbours Zambia who are taking part for
the first time at the World Cup and won 22-10. According to Dominus Sport
the play was fairly even between the two sides, and by the end of the first
chukka Zimbabwe were 4-2 up.

In the men's Zimbabwe had opted to put their goal-scoring machine Andy Baker
in as a two, while Zambia kept Murray Evans out front.

This young Zambian team kept the pressure on to win the ball back, but
Zimbabwe were not to be contained and with four goals to Zambia's one they
began to stretch out their lead. As the game progressed Zambia began to
struggle to keep possession, and the return of Andy Baker as a one mid game
meant that the gap in the scores widened all the more.

The Zambians started to bring in some big throws and tackles, and these
tactics paid off. Zimbabwe were not running away with the game as they had
the day before against Australia, and a brilliant final minute for Murray
Evans brought the score to 16-8.

Into the final chukkas, and the Zim ladies started to show what they are
made of, with an incredible catch from Zimbabwe number one Kelly Redford, to
which the crowd shouted their appreciation.

The final men's chukka saw Zimbabwe decisively finish the game 22-10. They
were worthy winners, unbeaten at this pool stage and showing that they are
well in contention for this World Cup title.

Zimbabwe are now itching for their first silverware after taking part in all
the three events to date. The year 2003 marked a significant milestone in
the development of the sport with the staging of the inaugural Polocrosse
World Cup at Warwick, Queensland in Australia.

Eight nations gathered (Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand,
South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe) and the hosts won the event and repeated the
feat in 2007. This marked the sport's most prestigious event to date. Again
it was held at Warwick, Queensland, Australia, with the same eight nations
from 2003.

Dominus Sports sent a congratulatory message to the Zimbabwe team in the
quest for glory. "Dominus Sport would like to show our support for the
Zimbabwe polocrosse team playing in the World Cup in England.

"Our cricketers may not have beaten Australia A this time around but
Zimbabwe PoloCrosse players have just thrashed them. We would like to
especially show our support for our very own Kelly Redford, flying the flag
for Zimbabwe," said Dominus Sport in a statement.

Zimbabwe battle but Australia A in charge

http://www.espncricinfo.com/

The Bulletin by Liam Brickhill

July 17, 2011

Zimbabwe XI 230 and 134 for 3 (Masakadza 40*) trail Australia A 439 (Hughes
125, Paine 98, Vitori 4-86) by 75 runs
Scorecard

Australia A captain Tim Paine narrowly missed out on a century as the
visitors built a healthy lead on the third day at the Country Club in
Harare. Paine was the last man out, dismissed for 98 to give hardworking
left-arm seamer Brian Vitori his fourth wicket as Australia A finished on
439, 209 ahead of Zimbabwe XI's first-innings effort. Openers Vusi Sibanda
and Tino Mawoyo once again survived the new ball but wickets fell late in
the day to cement Australia's dominance.

Australia had started the day in a similarly healthy position, with Paine
and Mitchell Marsh at the crease, but Keegan Meth struck almost immediately
to remove Marsh and Vitori got rid of Jason Krejza shortly afterwards to
lift the Zimbabweans. Australia A's lower order rallied, however, and Paine
added 66 with Trent Copeland before taking the score well past 400 during a
53-run ninth wicket stand with Ben Hilfenhaus.

Paine had upped the tempo as he ran out of partners and looked set for a ton
before he was caught by Elton Chigumbura off the bowling of Vitori, who had
found the edge of Hilfenhaus's bat five deliveries previously. He finished
with 4 for 86, while the expensive Tendai Chatara picked up two wickets and
Chigumbura seemed to be starting to re-discover his bowling form with two
wickets of his own.

Sibanda and Mawoyo had clung on for close to 55 overs in Zimbabwe XI's first
innings and once again showed impressive tenacity, although neither was able
to push on once they had seen off the new ball. The defensive Regis Chakabva
then fell cheaply to Krejza but Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe hoping with
a fluent 40 that included six fours. The hosts will be hoping for a lot more
from him as they attempt to save the match on the fourth day.

Stormy weather ahead – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 16th July 2011

As we prepared for a threatened downpour, Vigil supporters’ spirits were buoyed by the no-nonsense remarks of President Zuma’s international relations adviser Lindiwe Zulu. Commenting on Mugabe’s renewed insistence on elections this year. Ms Zulu made it clear they were out of the question. A poll could be held only after all the provisions in the GPA and the election roadmap were fulfilled. (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/jul16_2011.html#Z2 – No elections this year - South Africa tells Robert Mugabe.)

The South Africans are clearly not taken in by the politburo’s argument that the so-called ‘timelines’ leading up to elections are too long – given the common knowledge that it is Zanu PF itself that has constantly worked to delay them. Well, the Vigil is confident that Zanu PF’s fantasy will be punctured by the SADC summit in Angola next month, which is likely to coincide with the launch of a programme to expel many hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans from South Africa.

People at the Vigil wondered whether this is part of a co-ordinated plan to swamp Zimbabwe with returnees. We say this because there are clear indications that the UK is preparing to send back failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers. A number of our supporters say they have recently received letters from the Home Office refusing their asylum claims. One person was given a date by which she had to be out of the country.

Could the aim be to boost the anti-Zanu PF forces in the run up to the elections?  What a difference a million  angry Zimbabweans from South Africa and the UK would make . . .

As for the threatened downpour at the Vigil, we managed to avoid the worst of it with our tarpaulin strung between the four maple trees outside the Embassy. Headman Mahlangu, with Olympian prowess, put up a cat’s cradle of string while balanced on a drum. This is the first time we have had to put up the tarpaulin since Westminster Council unaccountably removed our two handsome lampposts which carried the burden of the tarpaulin.

Other points

·         We enjoyed reading Vigil supporter Clifford Mashiri’s article demolishing Jonathan Moyo. He lists some of Moyo’s botched projects:

-         Jingles – which backfired as research later showed they are counterproductive

-         Anti-sanctions campaign – is terminally ill and abandoned for being too problematic

-         Indigenisation – backfired when parliament found it to be unconstitutional; even the promise to pay for the shares is unconvincing and too risky when the state is failing to pay 75 000 ghost workers a living wage

-         Insisting on second opinion on ghost workers – backfired because the Auditor General also confirmed there are over 10,000 ghost workers on the civil service payroll

-         Using over a thousand Chibondo skeletons – backfired, because of outraging public morals and opening Pandora’s box as some of the dead bodies had fluids suggesting they did not die 30 years ago during Ian Smith’s regime

-         Hate speech especially against President Zuma and SADC – backfired, as Zanu-pf had to embark on fence-mending diplomacy to nearly all regional leaders

-         Resisting a diamond audit, backfired as it showed there was something to hide

-         Threatening the ‘the looming danger”  a military coup – backfired when some in Zanu-pf distanced themselves from the cowardly act

-         Elections now or in 2016 – proving unrealistic without constitution and voters roll

(For full story see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/jul16_2011.html#Z21 – Is Jonathan Moyo regretting his anti Mugabe stance?)

·         Thanks to Hellena Gusinyu for her generous gift of paper and pens for the Vigil.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website. For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check http://www.zimvigiltv.com/.  

FOR THE RECORD: 76 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

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

·         ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News. 

·         The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QukqctWc3XE.

·         ROHR North East (Newcastle) general meeting. Saturday 23^th July from 12 – 3.30 pm. Venue: Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 9SJ. 3 mins walk from the Gateshead Interchange. Contact: Susan Ndlovu 07767024586, Sharon Masocha 07751610298, Collin Matongo 07775987006, Rugare Chifungo (Coordinator) 07795070609.

·         ROHR Manchester Vigil. Saturday 30^th July from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Cathedral Gardens, Manchester City Centre (subject to change to Piccadilly Gardens). Contact; Delina Tafadzwa Mutuambizi 07775313637, Chamunorwa Chihota 07799446404, Panyika Karimanzira 07551062161, Artwell Pfende 07886839353. Future demonstrations: 27^th August, 24^th September, 29^th October 26^th November, 31^st December. Same time and venue.

·         ROHR Wolverhampton general meeting. Saturday 30^th July from 1.30 – 5.30 pm. Venue: Heath Town Community Centre, 208 Chevril Rise, Wolverhampton WV10 0HP. ROHR National Executive and a well-known lawyer present. Contact:Tsvakai Marambi 07915065171, Flora Nyahuma 07501843253, Rumbi Mudyanadzo 07867844699, P Chibanguza 0798406069 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 07932216070.

·         ROHR Nottingham general meeting. Saturday 30^th July from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: St Saviour Community Hall, Arkwright Walk, Nottingham NG2 2JU. The church is just a few minutes’ walk from the train station. ROHR National Executive members will be attending to discuss the abuse of human rights and political situation in Zimbabwe. Contact: Allan Nhemhara 07810197576, Raymond C Chisuko 07832927609. Mary Chabvamuperu 07412074928, Christopher Chimbumu 07775888205, P Chibanguza 07908406069 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 07932216070.

·         ROHR Woking Summer fundraising barbeque. Saturday 6^th August from 2 pm till late. Venue: The Old Ford, Lynchford Road, Ash Vale, Aldershot GU12 5QA. Everyone is invited – come and enjoy a fun-filled day out.  Braai, sadza, rice, chicken, salads, cakes, snacks, drinks. Games for children including karaoke. Boot sale, auction and raffle with amazing prizes.

·         ROHR Ipswich launch meeting. Saturday 6^th August from 2 – 5.30 pm. Venue Citizens Advice Bureau, Tower Street, Ipswich IP1 3BE. ROHR National Executive and a well-known lawyer present. Contact:  Dhumisani B Muchipisi 07432722907, Lovemore Muzadzi 07552560184, R Chifungo 07795070609, P Chibanguza 0798406069 or P Mapfumo 07915926323 / 07932216070.

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

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

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

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

·         Workshops aiming to engage African men on HIV testing and other sexual health issues. Organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust (www.tht.org.uk). Please contact the co-ordinator Takudzwa Mukiwa (takudzwa.mukiwa@tht.org.uk) if you are interested in taking part.

Vigil co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk

Zimbabwe's slide into kleptocracy

http://www.politicsweb.co.za

Eddie Cross
17 July 2011

Eddie Cross says at one stage the Zanu-PF elite was stealing a third of
annual GDP

The Criminal State in Africa

In the old Rhodesian days, many whites expressed the view that Independence
under a majority rule government would bring chaos and collapse. Their
justification for such a view was based on experience in other newly
independent States in Africa where the post colonial experience had been
pretty disappointing. For me, a long time opponent of Ian Smith and right
wing politics, I felt that majority rule was inevitable and that a tiny
white community could not expect to govern for very much longer and what was
needed was a managed transition.

The war that led to majority rule started in earnest in 1972 and by 1976,
the Smith government had all but collapsed and a transition was accepted as
being inevitable. The problem was how to hand over a relatively
sophisticated government and economy to people who had not run anything
bigger than a cash box in a bush camp. I was part of the transition team and
worked with the top leadership of both Zanu and Zapu as they prepared for
elections and then to take over control of the State.

Many of the new leaders became friends and I found that between them there
were considerable intellectual and professional capabilities. I had
confidence that this team of men and women would take up the reins of power
and make good use of their new opportunities. In particular there was this
aloof intellectual in the form of Robert Mugabe who spoke eloquent English
and was clearly well tutored in all aspects of public life.

Assisted by the major nations of the world, the transition came and went and
the new leadership took control of the State. The transition itself was
unexpectedly smooth, despite tens of thousands under arms, not a shot was
fired and on the 18th of April 1980, minority rule ended and the new
government under Robert Mugabe was sworn in.

Restrained by many different elements in the complex situation of the day,
the Mugabe regime was slow in its expected lapse into chaos and anarchy but
when challenged by newly emerging democratic forces in the form of Zapu in
the south west in 1983 and the MDC in 2000, the reaction was the same - a
savage, unbridled attack on the leadership of these opposition elements
resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread abuse of human rights.

In 1983 the campaign to wipe out Zapu did not lead to a national collapse
being confined to the region in the south west of the country, but its deep
wounds remain unhealed and will haunt us for many years to come. However the
campaign to crush the MDC was in a different league.

By 2000, 20 years of proliferate spending and unsustainable deficits in the
budget funded by printing money, had begun to sap the resilience of the
economy. The international community had got beyond its early belief that
Mr. Mugabe and his band of not so merry men could do no evil, were in less
of a mind to look the other way as they had in 1983/87.

The consequence was a rapid collapse of the domestic economy with GDP
declining by more than half and exports by two thirds associated with the
withdrawal of support by the majority of the international community. What
is less well documented is the parallel slide into what has become a well
entrenched kleptocracy.

In the beginning, the new elite that made up the Zimbabwe government and
corporate executive class, behaved in an exemplary manner. There was respect
for the rule of law, property rights were observed and contracts awarded
with very little graft and corruption.

Gradually this changed, first the rights of Zapu and its membership were
abused and the law simply brushed aside. Then creeping patronage and corrupt
practices in government contracts and business in general started to gain
momentum.

By the time the conflict with the MDC was launched in 2000, the Reserve Bank
had become the bank of the Zanu elite, printing money at artificial exchange
rates had begun to strip away the assets of established business and
citizens and the looting of national resources had started. By my own
estimates, when the final collapse came in late 2008 and Zanu was forced in
to a coalition government with the MDC by regional leaders, the Zanu elite
were stealing a third of annual GDP.

This was achieved in many different ways, fuel imports were subjected to
huge premiums that were channelled into private accounts overseas, pension
funds were looted and the State Social security Agency used as a private
savings bank. Through the Reserve Bank the Zanu elite literally stole the
gold stocks and siphoned off the accumulated national wealth created by a
100 years of enterprise and hard work. Connected individuals were able to
acquire assets for virtually nothing.

Zimbabwe, once regarded as a promising middle income developing State,
became the second poorest country in the world in a decade, one of the only
countries to experience such a decline without being engaged in a war. A
tiny (no more than 2000 people) criminal cabal became some of the wealthiest
individuals in the world. Zimbabwe abandoned any pretext of being a law
abiding State and the theft of State and individual assets was only curbed
when finally regional leaders imposed a coalition government on Zanu PF.

Stripped of access to the Reserve Bank, fuel resources and the artificial
blood supply created by the printing presses in Harare, the criminal elite
concentrated their efforts on what was left. The alluvial diamond fields in
the eastern areas of the country were taken away from their rightful owners,
handed over to an international criminal cabal drawn from Israel, South
Africa and China. Where the elite still controlled the administration
(mining and agriculture) the looting simply accelerated and broadened its
base fuelled by the international appetite for all raw materials.

A similar process has crippled many African States, the book 'It is our time
to eat' published in Kenya reveals the depth of State led corruption and the
difficulty of rooting it out. The Congo is our Brazil, but remains one of
the poorest and most brutal States in the world where life is pretty
dreadful for all but a few. Zambia is only slowly climbing out of the hole
that it was left in after Kaunda.

South Africa shows frightening signs of a similar slide into theft and
corruption on a scale seldom seen on other continents. In Angola the elite
steal a third of oil revenues and nobody takes any interest except the Banks
that become host to this flood of wealth that bleeds Africa and for which
the aid inflow is simply a rather bloody band aid.

Eddie Cross is the MDC MP for Bulawayo South. This article first appeared on
his website www.eddiecross.africanherd.com