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Zim Journos, MDC MP Beaten Up by Zanu (PF)

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, July 23, 2011 – A Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator
and five journalists were Saturday beaten up by hordes of Zanu (PF)
supporters who invaded the Parliament building to disrupt a public hearing
by a parliamentary committee on the Human Rights Bill.

This follows similar disruptions at Mutare's Queen Hall and Masvingo on
Friday.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Bill is part of democratic reforms that Mugabe and
Tsvangirai agreed to in 2008 when they signed a power-sharing agreement.
Zanu (PF) favours elections this year, but Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the
Movement of Democratic Change (MDC-T) insists key political reforms must
first be implemented.

Brian Tshuma, an MDC-T legislator for Hwange Central constituency was beaten
up inside the senate chamber where the hearing was taking place while
journalists Levy Mukarati (Financial Gazette), Tsvangirai Mukwazhi (Daily
News), Nqaba Matshazi (The Standard), Aaron Ufumeli (Newsday), John Cassim
(freelance photographer) were also beaten up by the mob.

More journalists from both the State and independent media were also forced
to seek refuge in offices within the parliament building as Zanu (PF)
supporters ran riot.

Most of the assailants were identified as commuter omnibus touts and vendors
from the Harare's biggest fruit and vegetable market, the Mbare Musika. The
meeting was abandoned as a result of the skirmishes.

Tshuma, a member of the Justice and legal, parliamentary and constitutional
affairs committee, met his fate when Zanu (PF) supporters who packed the
senate chamber for the hearing noticed he had not been singing the national
anthem.

“Zanu PF supporters accused me of not singing the national anthem when we
were going through the introductory stages of the hearing. They grabbed me
by my tie, my belt and some joined in and the next thing I was shoved
outside the building. Some buttons from my shirt were torn off," said
Tshuma.

"Instead of helping the situation, police shoved me outside the building at
the instigation of the vociferous Zanu (PF) supporters."

Matshazi also related his experience. “I was also approached by Zanu (PF)
supporters while inside the parliament building who accused me of not
singing the national anthem. I denied that but they insisted on my leaving
the parliament building.”

“Someone came from nowhere and beat me with a fist and more people joined
in. I was grabbed by my jacket and kicked all over. They told me they did
not care about human rights and they do not respect our newspapers which
they said write lies about the country. They insulted me with all sorts of
unprintable words and told me they only cared about President Mugabe and
no-one else.”

Levy Mukarati also spoke about his ordeal.

“I was inside parliament for the hearing and was forced to move out when I
noticed the security situation had degenerated,” said Mukarati. “When I was
outside the building, one of the ladies who was inside identified me as
among the journalists who had been inside and that’s when I was mobbed by
more Zanu (PF) supporters who beat me up. I was saved by the police.”

Zanu (PF) supporters were already outside the parliament building as early
as 7am when the public meeting had been set for 10 am.

Some 300 more tried for hours to force their way through the entrance of the
parliament building as they sang and danced in praise of President Mugabe
and in denouncing of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his party.

A dozen anti-riot police watched the situation unfold.

In Mutare war veterans in this eastern border city disrupted a hearing of
the same bill. In Masvingo the hearing ended prematurely after Zanu (PF)
activists also caused mayhem.

Members of the public that had gathered to give their submission started to
question why the bill was read in english instead of using the vernacular
that every can understand.

“The bill was read in English and we did not understand anything, we also do
not understand what is human rights versus criminology,” said one Zanu Pf
supporter.

Some members of the public were saying that it is not fair for the hearing
to be read without accommodating the deaf.

Amongst members of the crowd was a visually impaired man who said the
purpose of the meeting was not justified as he needed time to read and
comprehend the details of the bill before making an informed contribution.

Commotion started when Zanu (PF) deputy secretary for information and
publicity said the meeting should stop forthwith as there was consensus that
they did not understand the bill.

“This meeting has to stop because everyone here is agreeing that we did not
understand what was read, so we should leave,” said Samuriwo amid a wild
cheers from a group of war veterans and Zanu (PF) supporters.

War vets and some Zanu (PF) youth started to sing songs accusing the
Chairman Douglas Mwonzora of leading the committee which was waylaying
people’s views.

The chair was forced to end the meeting prematurely after about 40 minutes
into the proceedings as charging war vets and other Zanu-PF supporters broke
into songs and dancing in front of the 13 delegates from the Parliament.

In an interview after the meeting Mwonzora said they have noted the
submissions that have been made by the people of Mutare.

“Some expressed that they have not been made aware of the bill and some
think that it’s a duplication of the constitution making process and they
want the constitution to be released first.” They were definite submission
that were made and one was that the bill is not supported and there was also
a submission that the investigation of human rights must not only start in
2009 as envisaged by the bill but must go back to pre-colonial time,” said
Mwonzora.


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Zim Finance Minister Takes Police To Supreme Court Over Phone Spying

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, July 23, 2011 - Zimbabwe’s tormented Finance Minister, Tendai Biti
has taken his battle to the Supreme Court after the high court dismissed his
bid seeking to interdict the police from obtaining details of his mobile
phone transaction.

Biti, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) secretary-general
petitioned the high court early this month seeking a court order to bar
police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri, Chief Superintendent Patrick
Maguta and Senior Assistant Commissioner Simon Nyathi who had allegedly
secured a search warrant from the magistrate court to enter Econet Wireless
and seize records pertaining to the call history of Biti’s three cell phone
lines. Biti also wanted Econet to be interdicted from providing the required
information.

The police claimed that they wanted to pry into Biti’s communications as
part of an investigation into allegations that the MDC secretary-general
unlawfully authorised an employee in his ministry Petronella Chishawa to
travel on several foreign trips on special per diem rates thereby showing
favour to her.
But high court judge justice Chinembiri Bhunu on Friday dismissed Biti’s
application and ruled that he could have committed an offence emanating from
Chishawa’s foreign trips.

“While the applicant has the right to privacy under section 18 of the
constitution, that right is not absolute. The police also have the legal
right to detect, investigate and arrest suspects. Thus where the police have
reasonable cause to investigate crime the subject’s right to privacy must of
necessity give way for the common good and public interest to fight crime.
The law does not prohibit lawful inversion of privacy. What is prohibits is
wanton and unlawful inversion of privacy. In this case as the police appear
to be acting according to law, the application cannot succeed,” read part of
Bhunu’s ruling.

In response to Bhunu’s ruling, Biti’s lawyer Innocent Chagonda on Friday
filed a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court against the judge’s ruling.

In his grounds of appeal Chagonda argued that Bhunu had misdirected himself
in dismissing Biti’s application for an interdict. The feisty lawyer said
the search warrant obtained by the police interferes with the Finance
Minister’s constitutional rights and is void.

“In refusing the application, the court a quo (lower court) is enforcing an
illegality,” Chagonda said in his notice of appeal.


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Pressure mounts on AG, Chihuri

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw

Friday, 22 July 2011 16:54
Njabulo Ncube, Assistant Editor

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Attorney General (AG)'s Office
are under pressure from the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee
(JOMIC) to come clean on allegations that there is the selective application
of the law in favour of ZANU-PF within the two institutions. JOMIC has
written to the police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri and AG
Johannes Tomana demanding feedback on allegations contained in two dossiers
accusing their officials of persecuting ZANU-PF critics.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's faction of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC), the Elected Councilors Association of Zimbabwe (ECAZ) and
other concerned citizens have sent several letters of complaint to JOMIC
alleging the selective application of the law by law enforcements agents and
the prosecuting authority, charges both institutions have previously flatly
denied.
Despite the denial, JOMIC is pushing for a meeting with the ZRP Commissioner
General and Tomana to enlist their responses.
In particular, ECAZ, made up of MDC-T councillors, has accused the AG and
law enforcement agents of refusing to inve-stigate Local Government
Minister, Ignatius Chombo over alleged corruption involving land deals in
and around the country.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai's office specifically wants feedback from the
police on 64 cases of political violence in which police officers are
accused of not treating the cases with the seriousness they deserve.
Chombo has previously been quoted saying his hands are clean.
The party claims that ZANU-PF members who perpetrated violence against MDC-T
supporters in the 64 cases have not been apprehended even though in most of
the cases, the culprits were known to the police.
The cases date back to October last year.
Forty of the cases were committed against its supporters by known ZANU-PF
activists. In some cases, the ZRP details were accused of not taking any
action despite witnessing the crimes.
The 64 cases cited in the report are supported by reference numbers, the
names of the alleged perpetrators and in some cases the names of the
arresting officers.
On May 24, 2011 JOMIC held a meeting with the co-Ministers of Home Affairs -
Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Mako-ne - to discuss JOMIC's concerns regarding the
implementation of the Global Political Agreement - the document that binds
the activities of the inclusive government - and the attitude and behaviour
of some members of the poli-ce in dealing with incidents of violence.
The same documents show that JOMIC officials have met with representatives
from the Office of the Commissioner General highlighting  the same concerns.
The police, according to minutes of the meeting with the ZRP
representatives, made a commitment to work with JOMIC in dealing with issues
of political violence.


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Mugabe’s “catch-and-release” tactics under fire

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

President Robert Mugabe's “catch-and-release” methods of intimidating
political opponents came under fire last week as civil society groups
accused the dictator of using the legal system to cow the opposition.
23.07.1102:46pm
by Vusimusi Bhebhe

Opposition to Mugabe’s strong-arm tactics increase last week as the state
dropped corruption charges against Energy Minister Elton Mangoma and altered
the charge-sheet against group of human rights activists initially charged
in February with treason for allegedly watching videos of pro-democracy
rallies in Egypt and Tunisia.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a global movement of
civil society dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society
across the world, accused Mugabe of using the legal system to undermine
democratic processes in Zimbabwe.

It urged the Zimbabwean authorities to unconditionally drop all charges
against the six rights activists who were arrested on 19 February for
allegedly plotting Egypt-style protests against Mugabe.

The six, who include former legislator Munyaradzi Gwisai, were supposed to
stand trial in the Harare Magistrates Court last Monday but the State
suddenly altered the treason charge to a lesser one of conspiring to commit
public violence and had their case postponed to 22 August.

"The subjection of the activists to protracted, inconsistent and unclear
legal processes constitutes a flagrant violation of their basic rights as
citizens of Zimbabwe. How can a government charge its citizens with treason,
subversion and now with conspiracy to promote public violence for simply
watching videos of uprisings in other countries?" said Netsanet Belay,
director of policy and research at CIVICUS.

The six were part of a group of 46 human rights activists, trade unionists
and student leaders initially charged with treason for the same offence. The
other 40 were released on 7 March and their charges dropped.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, an umbrella body of local democracy and
human rights groups, also called for the immediate and unconditional release
of the activists and the withdrawal of all charges against them.

"The spurious charges levelled against the six activists are a gross form of
abuse of the law; it is persecution through prosecution which must cease
forthwith," said Dewa Mavhinga, regional coordinator for Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition Mugabe has arrested scores of supporters of Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s MDC-T and pro-democracy groups since the end of 2010 when his
Zanu (PF) party announced plans to hold elections this year.


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Teachers flee schools as threat of violence increases

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Hundreds of teachers at schools in this violence-prone district have
abandoned free houses offered by the government in rural areas fearing
violence threatened by Zanu (PF) during the next election, The Zimbabwean
can reveal.
23.07.1102:42pm
by John Chimunhu

The teachers now rent rooms in Zvishavane town and commute to their schools
daily at great expense, they said.

At Makovere school, 10 kilometres east of the town, this paper found only
one teacher still living in a school house. The rest of the teachers had
relocated to the town. Their houses had been taken over by Zanu (PF)
militants and villagers loyal to President Robert Mugabe's violent party.

“We are now being forced to fork out huge amounts of money in bus fares and
rents every month, but there is nothing we can do,” said a teacher at
Dambudzo school in defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa's home village.

The teacher said they faced daily threats from party thugs who threatened
violence similar to what was unleashed in the area in 2000.

During that year's violent election campaign, Zanu (PF) hooligans led by one
George Funhiro killed the MDC activist Chigwindiri Chidhakwa and dumped his
body in the Dambudzo school football grounds to scare teachers. The Zanu
(PF) mobsters said the MDC had committed a cardinal sin by campaigning in
Mnangagwa's village and they had 'embarrassed'

the minister.

Many teachers said they faced transport problems after many buses withdrew
from the areas where schools were located citing threats from 'war
veterans', bad roads and lack of meaningful business. Some of the teachers
said they had to walk distances of more than 20 kilometres daily when they
failed to get public transport or when their meagre pay ran out.

Teachers in the district are bearing the brunt of a backlash against all
people perceived to have voted against Mugabe in the 2008 election, which
the long-time dictator lost to long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai of the
MDC-T.


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South African Facilitators Wrap Zimbabwe Talks With Electoral, Rights Commissions

http://www.voanews.com

22 July 2011

Sources said that the Media Commission declined to receive the facilitators,
though it is understood that Mr. Zuma's delegates were to have wide access
within Zimbabwe's national unity government

Violet Gonda | Washington

South African facilitators in Zimbabwe this week for talks with negotiators
from the three Harare unity government parties have headed home, promising
to return soon to meet with the Zimbabwe Media Commission to discuss the
pace of reforms in that sector.

Lindiwe Zulu, facilitator and foreign policy adviser to South African
President Jacob Zuma, said her team hopes to see more progress in Harare
ahead of a Southern African Development Community summit next month at which
Mr. Zuma is expected to present a progress report including a road map
toward Zimbabwe’s next elections.

Both President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the Movement for Democratic
Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have rejected the
latest version of an elections road map, though for different reasons.

The South African facilitators held in-depth talks with the Electoral and
Human Rights Colmmissions and the parliamentary committee in charge of
revising the Zimbabwean constitution, all highly relevant to eventual free
and fair elections.

Sources from the Tsvangirai MDC formation said they held extensive talks
with the South Africans on security sector reform - but Zulu said the issue,
highly contentious from the standpoint of ZANU-PF which controls the
military and police, did not come up.

“That has not been put directly to us by the negotiators," Zulu said. "And
at such time when that is being put in front of us we will deal with it when
it comes."

Sources said that the Media Commission declined to receive the facilitators,
though it is understood that Mr. Zuma's delegates were to have wide access
in the government.

Zulu explained that the panel invoked special procedures for such
consultations and that her team will meet with the commission the next time
it is in town. “There are certain processes that they are asking us to
follow and we don’t have a problem with that.”


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PM dresses down Chiyangwa

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Friday, 22 July 2011 15:27

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday gave the boastful Harare
businessman Philip Chiyangwa a dress down telling him to stop “primitive”
accumulation of wealth.

Tsvangirai gave the business tycoon the low down at a housing delivery
indaba where he was the guest of honour.

“The problem I have is primitive accumulation of wealth, you cannot be
everything to everybody and everywhere, and you refuse to focus on your best
capacity,” said Tsvangirai speaking at the meeting organised by his office
with officials from all the country’s local authorities.

“I am not jealous of your millions and billions if you have them. No one
should pull you down but you must work within the confines of law.”

Tsvangirai made the comments in response to Chiyangwa’s earlier  complaint
about the continued repossessions of most of the land he acquired during the
hyperinflationary period from local authorities.

He told Tsvangirai that he had helped most local authorities who were
struggling to pay salaries by giving them cash and vehicles in return for
the properties and the vast tracks of land.

However,  some of the land that he lays claim to is currently a target of
repossessions by the Harare City Council. One such example is the Ballantyne
Park which the city is in the process of repossessing.

“I helped most local authorities with cash and I bought vehicles for some of
them, we agreed to exchange it for land, but they are now after me,” said
Chiyangwa adding that “the change of administration has resulted in all
spears against me saying I am a thief just because I have been labelled
such.”

Chiyangwa has come under fire from the Harare city councillors on
allegations of fraudulently acquiring land in Harare. He is currently
engaged in a court battled with a group of war veterans over an estate in
Waterfalls which has since been turned into a housing area by war veterans.

Chiyangwa boastfully told the premier that he has constructed a 98-roomed
house in one of Harare’s splash suburb which he is now turning into a hotel.
He said this was just but one of the many properties he owns, among them 5
000 undeveloped land and 57 000 residential stands.

Tsvangirai told local authority officials that his office was prepared to
assist local authorities to improve housing delivery.

He said local authorities should work closely with private developers to
reduce the bloated housing waiting list.

Zimbabwe has a staggering 1.2 million housing backlog according to Ministry
of Local Government statistics. Harare leads the pack followed by Bulawayo,
Masvingo, Mutare and Gweru.


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Ministers' spending cut

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer
Friday, 22 July 2011 12:31

HARARE - Cabinet ministers can no longer travel outside the country with
security aides, while the civil service job freeze will be widened and
tightened in new government measures to cut runaway spending.

President Robert Mugabe and his ministers have since the beginning of the
year blown about $30 million on foreign trips with the 87-year-old leader
having chewed up half of it.

Mugabe has been to the Far East at least five times this year and will soon
be travelling to the United Nations with his extravagantly large entourage.

The expense cutting measure on ministers might come to nothing given that
Mugabe’s travels have not been included on those embargoed.

The veteran Zimbabwe leader travels with an entourage of more than 70 people
each time he flies out of the country.

According to an internal government circular in possession of the Daily
News, the tendency by ministers to carry large entourages of intelligence
officers and personal aides was wasteful and should stop with immediate
effect.

Only Finance Minister Tendai Biti, State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi
and Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi are allowed to travel
with aides.

The rest of the ministers in President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai’s bloated government will have to get special presidential
consent.

“The remaining Cabinet ministers and the rest of deputy ministers will not
require services of aides on travel outside the country, unless advised
otherwise on the basis of threat assessments by the President’s department,”
read the circular, dated  July 7, 2011.

“The current practice where most ministers are accompanied by security aides
cannot be sustained,” read the circular.

Biti proposed the cuts to find ways of financing civil servants’ salary
increments that he says were done behind his back and cannot be sustained by
Treasury under current revenue collection levels, highly-placed government
sources said.

Last year for example, government forecast its revenue at $1,44 billion
against expenditure of projected at $2,25 billion.

This year, government has struggled to meet a revenue target of $230 million
a month, according to Biti.

Biti told Parliament a fortnight ago that civil servants’ increments would
cost the government an extra $29 million per month, warning that with the
decline in government revenues, the country would not sustain the new
salaries.

Mugabe, who pushed for the salary increments, approved the spending cuts
that have caused friction in government because they also target senior
departmental directors. Foreign trips have particularly bled the fiscus.

Biti says foreign travel by top chefs gobbled in excess of $30 million in
the first half of this year alone.

The circular, signed by Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President
and Cabinet, has been distributed to all government departments.

“There ought to be cut-backs in sizes of delegations travelling for any
business outside the country,” according to the circular.
Where government representation and participation is required for regional
and international functions, the lead ministry will only travel after
justifying the importance of the trip and confirmation of the sources of
funding.

“With the above position, it is hereby directed that travel allowances shall
be calculated on the basis of per diem rates as regulated in the relevant
Treasury Circular. It therefore follows that applications for ‘special’
rates should not be accommodated,” the circular read.

“Regarding training of members outside the country, it is a pre-requisite
that members can only proceed to travel outside and participate where full
sponsorship from other sources is secured.

“Accordingly, attendance at all courses outside the country is cancelled,
unless fully sponsored from other sources,” read the circular.

According to the circular, government will no longer be employing new staff
until year-end.

“Notwithstanding the current stance on the freeze of vacant post, the Public
Service Commission and Treasury are required to tighten the freeze across
the board, especially over the period to December 2011.

“To that effect, accounting officers are advised against making applications
for the filling of posts under their establishments. Given the above, there
is no scope for creation of posts under ministries’ establishment,” read the
circular.

Government is already reeling under the burden of a heavy wage bill that
Biti says will now choke 74 percent of expenditure after the latest salary
increases.

A civil service audit by a professional accounting firm from India recently
revealed that government was paying over 75 000 ghost workers, mostly put on
the payroll to work for Zanu PF during the 2008 election mayhem.

Zanu PF elements in government have refused to accept the audit findings and
have forced a fresh audit, according to Public Service Minister Eliphas
Mukonoweshuro.

As part of government spending cuts, the purchase of any new vehicles has
been frozen, while the use of official cars for private business by middle
managers will be heavily curtailed.

“Given the pressure piling on the treasury for resources for the procurement
of vehicles and taking into account the growth in the bill for vehicle
maintenance as well as fuel costs, procurement of vehicles and any budget
provisions for the purpose are hereby suspended until further notice,” read
the circular.

Sibanda also ordered an immediate stop of government vehicles after hours by
workers who are not entitled to them.

“It would appear accounting officers are turning a blind eye to transport
management. This is evident from use of vehicles almost on a permanent basis
by members such as drivers and middle management levels whose conditions of
service do not provide for personal or official issue vehicles,” read the
circular.


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Ministers fail to account for funds

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Friday, 22 July 2011 16:50

Staff Reporter
MINISTERS are among nearly 150 Members of Parliament who have failed to
account for public funds since the deadline to account for Constituency
Development Funds lapsed at the end of March, The Financial Gazette has
established. The funds were disbursed last year following the setting aside
of US$8 million by Treasury for that purpose, with Constitutional and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga subsequently setting March
31, 2011 as the deadline for accounting for the funds.
Each legislator received US$50 000.
However, four months after the announcement of the deadline, the majority of
Parliamentarians have failed to account for the taxpayers' money.
The Fund is presided over by a committee in which Matinenga is the
chairperson.
The funds are supposed to be utilised in developmental projects like
drilling boreholes, repairing schools and clinics and buying transformers
among other projects.
While the country has 210 House of Assembly constituencies, by March this
year 203 members were said to be in the Lower Chamber as a result of death
and suspensions.
As of last week, about 60 members  had accounted for the funds.
At meetings held in Matabeleland provinces last week between Matinenga's
ministry and the lawmakers, some parliamentarians had come forward saying
they were unable to do the returns.
"We send standard forms which forms require them to respond. Sometimes it
was a question of people not having the capacity to do returns. I am told
some of them did not have the capacity to do returns," said Matinenga.
As a result of failure to submit accounts, the electorate would be punished
for the sins of their lawmakers as one condition for the issuance of the
funds was that those who fail to account would not receive additional
funding this year.
There is also a real danger that Cabinet may decide to suspend the
initiative altogether.
When the fund was established, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said he had
struggled in Cabinet, especially in the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs, the only Cabinet committee chaired by President Robert Mugabe, to
have funds set aside for constituencies. He added then that if the funds
were abused there was a high probability that the initiative would be
abandoned.
"It's a trial run. If it is abused we will abandon it. I know some people
have the propensity to accumulate wealth," he said.


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Recruits used for violence

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Twenty-four-year-old James Murimi from Rusape always wanted to be a
professional soldier in the Zimbabwe National Army and after completing his
O’Levels at Saint Faith Mission in 2007, his dream was realised.
22.07.1103:14pm
by Jane Makoni

“I successfully passed the army entrance tests at Vengere Police Station and
with hundreds of other successful candidates, we were transported to
Cranebone Barracks in Harare, March. Cranebone Barracks would be a transit
camp as we were destined to under-go a six month military training either at
Llwellin Barracks (Bulawayo), Magunji Barracks or at All Arms Battle School
in Nyanga.

“On the eve of the harmonised March 2008 elections, we were paraded by
senior army officials and told we would be released so that we go home and
cast our votes.

“It was made clear that if ever Zanu (PF) and Mugabe were to lose in the
elections our chances of joining the army would be reduced to zero. On
returning from voting our fingers would be inspected to verify that we had
cast our votes.

“We were subsequently issued with bus and train warrants enabling us to
access transport on government expense.

The March election was generally peaceful and we cast our vote without
incident. Contrary to instructions given by the army that we vote Mugabe and
Zanu (PF), I cast my vote otherwise, as the wind of change was blowing too
strong to resist.

“As warned, on returning to the barracks we were subjected to a thorough
finger - tip inspection to fish out culprits who would not have participated
in the election.

Those with suspicious and doubtful ink marks were given thorough beatings.

“When the Presidential poll results took long to be announced, anxiety
started mounting among residents in and around Harare suburbs. One evening,
despite having not received military training, we were issued with military
uniform and baton sticks before being deployed to beat up people roaming
about suburbs such as Budiriro, Mabvuku, Glenview and others.

“We were operating in groups of eight under strict instruction to beat the
hell out of anything on two legs moving about in the night. Innocent
civilians on their day to day activities were caught in the cross-fire.
“Beating up civilians suspected to be MDC intensified with the creation of
torture bases across the country by Zanu (PF). The evil exercise became
routine until after the discredited Presidential election re-run.

“At army camps, especially commando barracks, we witnessed suspected MDC
activists brought to the camp for ‘political orientation lessons’ in the
form of severe beatings.

“Soon after the June election, we were put into three different groups
according to where one would receive military training. Army buses were
availed to ferry us to various training camps. I was destined for Llwellin
Barracks.

“The number of deserters ran into several hundreds and this forced army
instructors to pick up any youth moving along the City-Airport road and
around town, as they were suspected to be some of the fleeing recruits.

“I felt betrayed by the partisan senior army officers and Zanu (PF) who
destroyed my childhood ambition to serve my country as a professional
soldier. I found it difficult to believe Zanu (PF) politics was so
institutionalised in the defence forces”.

Army insiders later told the Zimbabwean that hundreds of other recruits in
Murimi’s situation slipped out of training camps to desert the army.

Murimi is now pursuing professional and technical courses at a technical
training college in order that he might make a meaningful contribution
towards the country’s economy.


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No to Zim dollar

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) which carried out a public
survey in June has called upon the government of Zimbabwe not to
re-introduce the Zimbabwean dollar.
22.07.1105:37pm
by Fungai Kwaramba Harare

While Finance Minister Tendai Biti recently said that the Zimbabwean dollar
may make a re-entry in 2015, some sections of the coalition government are
keen for it to happen sooner.

However, in its contribution to the mid-term budget, CZI said that the
government needed to go a step further and issue a Statutory instrument
which demonetises the Zimbabwean dollar.

"The multicurrency system brought about the much needed stability in the
economy and needs to be maintained," said CZI.

CZI also urged the government to accelerate the privatisation of
parastatals.

"Talk of privatisation has gone on for several years with no tangible
results. There is need for government to prioritise parastatals, and ZESA
should be at the top. Alternatively, ZESA should free up licensing to allow
private players to actively pursue incentives.”


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MDC MP names ghost workers

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

HARARE - Goromonzi South legislator Greenbate Dongo says he knows at least
two ghost workers being paid for doing nothing.
22.07.1105:26pm
by MDC Changing Times

Debating a motion in Parliament introduced by Moses Mare (Chiredzi West) on
‘Accountability and Remittance of Diamonds Proceeds’ Dongo stunned the house
when he said: “Zanenga Luke, ID Number 47070923 W47 was vetted and qualified
as a political detainee in 2010 and was paid $2 122.01 in November 2010.

“Posthumous payment was done since this purported pensioner died on the 2nd
October 2010. This person was born on the 1st October, 1968, suggesting that
when the war ended, he was just 12 years old.

“Muswewembudzi Peter, ID Number 42148132 L42, born on 22 September 1975 of
Western Triangle, Highfields. His war veteran number is VT1415094V and he is
receiving receiving $116 per month as a war pension. This guy was born in
1975, which means by the end of the war, he was five years old,” said Dongo.

Mare had earlier called for transparency in the distribution of the proceeds
raised from the sale of diamonds at Chiadzwa in order to improve civil
servants’ salaries.

“Therefore, this august House calls upon the government to ensure that all
proceeds from previous sales of diamonds from Chiadzwa are properly
accounted for and remitted to Treasury.

He further demanded: “That the government puts in place the necessary
legislation and mechanism to enable Treasury to take full control of all
diamonds in the country, ensure that all minerals are sold to the best
advantage of the country and remove the over 70 000 ghost workers from the
government pay-roll,” said Mare.

He added that the country’s resources were not being utilised in the best
interest of the nation. “The other one is; we want to minimise foreign trips
with large entourages especially the trips to Beijing, Singapore and
Malaysia. This will boost financial re-sources towards salaries,” he said


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Constitution will be ready by year-end

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Editor
Friday, 22 July 2011 15:32

HARARE - A committee leading the crafting of the country’s new constitution
has told visiting South African talks facilitators that the final draft will
only be ready by year-end, putting to rest misleading claims by Zanu PF that
polls will go ahead this year.

President Robert Mugabe last week said his party’s politburo had decided to
expedite the completion of the constitution-making process to ensure
elections were held this year without fail.

But Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) leaders from Zanu PF and
the two MDC formations effectively poured cold water on the push for 2011
polls when meeting the SA facilitators yesterday.

The facilitators, representing Sadc appointed mediator to the Zimbabwe
political stalemate President Jacob Zuma, are in Harare as part of
consultations aimed at tying up a roadmap for the country’s elections ahead
of the regional summit scheduled for Luanda, Angola next month.

Copac co-chair Douglas Mwonzora confirmed to the Daily News that although
the committee was yet to work out definitive timelines, it was almost
certain that a final draft would not be ready before the end of December.

Copac had initially set September as the deadline for the production of a
draft, to be followed by a referendum. But the game plan has shifted because
of constant failure to meet deadlines due to political bickering and
underfunding.

He said this had been made clear to Zuma’s envoys.

“Copac had been instructed to work out timelines for the completion of the
constitution but it has not yet completed working on the timelines.  But
assuming that Copac is going to resume on August 1, it means if you impose
the critical timelines, it will push the referendum date from 30 September
to end of the year,” Mwonzora said.


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PM fumes over CIO boss

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Friday, 22 July 2011 16:58
Levi Mukarati, Senior Political Reporter

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is seething with anger over President
Robert Mugabe's alleged unilateral appointment of the deputy chief of the
Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Aaron Nhepera, without consulting
him.

The appointment of Nhepera has also been condemned by the smaller faction of
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Welshman Ncube.
President Mugabe last week announced the appointment of Nhepera as deputy
director of the CIO. A former ZANLA cadre, Nhepera replaced Mernard
Muzariri, who succumbed to cancer three months ago.
The appointment comes as the protagonists in the troubled inclusive
government are locked in a bitter wrangle over security sector reforms. The
MDC formations want the spy agency to fall under the purview of Parliament.
Nhepera's appointment has further widened cracks in the tripartite
government with Prime Minister Tsvangirai and members from the MDC
expressing unhappiness over President Mugabe's continued unilateralism in
the government of national unity (GNU).
Prime Minister Tsvangirai is expected to take up the issue with his rival
during their next principals meeting. The meeting failed to take place this
week due to the unavailability of all the three principals in the GNU.
Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Luke Tambori-nyoka, confirmed his boss was not
happy about President Mugabe's latest unilateralism.
"The Prime Minister was not consulted . . . He (Tsvangirai) is not happy as
it has become a tradition (of ZANU-PF) of not respecting the spirit of the
inclusive government. I would not want to speculate our next move but we are
not happy," he said.
Kurauone Chihwayi, the deputy spokesperson for the MDC, said his party was
worried that ZANU-PF continued to be insincere.
"We are concerned about this as a party in government. We are not going to
keep quiet because we have legislators and ministers in government. This
should come to a stop," said Chihwayi.
Disharmony has been the major characteristic of the inclusive government.
Last year, Tsvangirai's MDC-T threatened to pull out of the GNU after being
infuriated by ZANU-PF's appointment of provincial governors and the
deployment of ambassadors to various countries without its input.
The three parties' negotiators had agreed on a formula that would have seen
the MDC-T getting five governorship posts, while the other four were to go
to  ZANU-PF and one to MDC.
But President Mugabe reneged on the agreement and appointed members from
ZANU-PF forcing the MDC-T to go to the courts in a case which is still
pending.
According to the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by the three
parties President Mugabe is compelled to consult other partners in the
inclusive government when making key senior appointments.
Rugare Gumbo, the ZANU-PF spokesperson, however, said it was folly for the
MDC formations to dare challenge what the incumbent has decided.
"This is an appointment by the President and who is complaining about not
being consulted? Consulted over what? Who said the President is obliged to
consult? It is a general strategy of the MDC to cry over issues. Who are
they to be consulted over security issues? It is a prerogative of the
President as the Commander-in-Chief of the (Zimbabwe) Defence Forces and
everyone should stand by it," said Gumbo.
ZANU-PF's latest position that President Mugabe was not under any obligation
to consult signals its unwillingness to continue working with its partners,
hence last weeks' declaration by the party's supreme decision-making body,
the Politburo, that elections must be conducted this year.
The former ruling party wants elections this year to terminate the unity
government while the MDC formations have been adamant that the environment
is not yet conducive for the staging of fresh polls.
A road-map produced by the negotiators in the GPA has tentatively set the
polls for August/September 2012 or early 2013.


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Kasukuwere censured again

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw

Friday, 22 July 2011 16:52

Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor

PARLIAMENT has censured Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
Minister Saviour Kasukuwere over controversial directives to foreign-owned
companies, which the legislators said contravened the country's
Constitution.

The Parliamentary Legal Com-mittee (PLC) noted that some of Kasukuwere's
directives dealt with issues outside his jurisdiction.
In an adverse report tabled in the House of Assembly on Tue-sday, the
committee said General Notice 114 of 2011 gazetted in May this year was in
contravention not only of the country's Constitution but also of the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act itself.
The censure of the minister by the PLC, which sat last Wedne-sday to
deliberate on the matter, is the second such action inside two months.
Even ZANU-PF members in the legal committee, Paul Mangwana and Beatrice
Nyamupinga, concurred with the  Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T)'s
Shepherd Mushonga, who chairs the PLC, and MDC-T chief whip, Innocent Gonese
as well as the MDC's Thandeko Mkhandla in condemning Kasukuwere, who has
come up with a series of regulations meant to give effect to the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act which seeks to force foreign and
white-owned companies to cede 51 percent of their shareholding to indigenous
blacks.
In the condemned regulations, Kasukuwere directed that mining companies
should only sell the 51 percent shareholding to designated entities approved
by his ministry.
The designated entities are the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, the
National Indigenisation and Economic Empow-erment Fund and a statutory
sovereign wealth fund. An employee share ownership scheme or Trust and
management share ownership schemes were also listed as designated entities.
"The net effect of these directives is that in order to achieve the
prescribed indigenisation quota, a mining business must sell its shares to
designated entities. In other words, mining business entities cannot achieve
the prescribed quota by selling their shares to partners of their choice.
The minister has already found partners for them. This is clearly a fragrant
violation of section 21 of the Constitution quoted above, which is the
freedom of association provision," the PLC said in its report.
The report added that a 1985 Supreme Court judgment in a case between May &
Ors vs the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, had defined shares in a company as
property.
Shares in mining businesses are property and as such Kasukuwere's notices
for the compulsory acquisition of those shares translates to compulsory
acquisition of property, in violation of section 16 of the Constitution that
provides for protection against deprivation of property, the committee said.
It said in General Notice 114 of 2011, the minister went beyond matters that
were allowed by law to be dealt with through notices.
According to the PLC report, one glaring contravention was that whereas the
enabling statutory instrument provides that only businesses with a net value
of US$500 000 or more must submit provisional indigenisation forms, the
minister's general notice had reduced the figure to a single dollar.
"Therefore, from the foregoing, the learned opinion of the Parliamentary
Legal Committee is that General Notice 114 of 2011 should be repealed
because it is not good law. It is bad law because it violates sections 16
and 21 of the Constitution; it is bad law because it is ultra vires the
provision of the enabling statutory instrument, which is the Indigenisation
and Empowerment Regulation 2010," said the PLC.
Kasukuwere is expected to respond to the criticism in Parliament in due
course.
Last month, the PLC also unanimously condemned a set of regulations that the
Indigenisation Minister had issued. The empowerment regulations stated that
businesses that failed to submit indigenisation plans or provisional plans
within 30 days of receiving a notice faced imprisonment of up to five years.
They also said investors who made investments resulting in them having
controlling shareholding without appro-val in a sector in which locals must
have majority control also risked imprisonment for up to five years.
The committee said the stipulated penalties were not proportionate to the
offences as required by the Constitution.
They added that an attempt by the regulations to impose prison terms on
businesses was unreasonable and absurd.


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UNDP sponsors consultant

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

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said it is sponsoring a
consultant to assist Zimbabwe’s discredited Organ for National Healing,
Reconciliation and Integration breathe life into its programmes.
22.07.1105:38pm
by Vusimusi Bhebhe

UNDP announced last week that the consultant would craft a code of conduct
manual for Zimbabwe’s feuding political parties and to organise a national
healing meeting involving all stakeholders.

The consultant is also expected to advise the organ on development of
packages for national healing, reconciliation and integration. Zimbabwe’s
national healing process has been dogged by problems and is viewed by most
people as an exercise in futility.

The failure by the unity government to come up with transitional justice
mechanisms adds to the growing disappointment of victims who have lost faith
in the organ.


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Plot to oust Mtambanengwe

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Hate messages were broadcast on state radio last week as Zanu (PF) mounted a
campaign to discredit Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman Simpson
Mtambanengwe ahead of crucial elections.
23.07.1102:31pm
by John Chimunhu

The campaign to tarnish the image of the man who is expected to run the poll
and announce the results started after Mtambanengwe embarked on reforms to
make the ZEC more transparent in line with the Global Political Agreement
(GPA).

Zanu (PF)'s shock troops, the 'war veterans' have since taken up the issue.
War vet and Chivi North MP Trynos Huruva called on Mtambanengwe to resign
over the affair, claiming he was a puppet of the British, the usual label
for anyone who does not fulfil the wishes of Robert Mugabe's party.

The Mugabe loyalists have also vowed to invade Mtambanengwe's offices in
similar fashion to what they did to finance minister Tendai Biti, if he
announces election results they do not like.

The hate messages claimed Mtambanengwe had refused to read an official
speech drafted by the ZEC officials for him to present at a conference in
the United Kingdom last week. The state-sponsored Zanu (PF) propaganda arm
claimed the retired High Court judge had abandoned his official speech in
favour of a damaging report allegedly authored by a British embassy
official.

State radio said the report presented by Mtambanengwe had given the
'erroneous' impression that Zimbabwe was not ready for polls. Zanu

(PF) has been calling for elections to be held before the end of the year.
However, Mtambanengwe has reportedly said the ZEC needs more time to make
sure the money is available and to sort out the voters'

roll, said to be in a shambles.

The MDC and several advocacy groups have also alleged that Central
Intelligence Organisation officials dominate ZEC. They say these must be
weeded out of ZEC before the elections as they have been placed there to
help Robert Mugabe rig.

The official speech reportedly prepared by the CIO for Mtambanengwe to
present at the recent UK conference, which the chairman allegedly did not
read, purportedly painted a glossy picture of the electoral terrain in the
country. The discarded speech also recommended elections this year, saying
ZEC was ready to hold them.


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Economic Recovery Benefits Zimbabweans Despite Low Incomes - Gallup Poll

http://www.voanews.com

22 July 2011

Eighteen percent of Zimbabweans surveyed are said to be living comfortably
on their present household incomes, twice the share seen in 2009

Gibbs Dube | Washington

Zimbabweans seem to be benefiting from two straight years of economic growth
after the formation of an inclusive government in 2009, according to a new
Gallup poll.

Eighteen percent of Zimbabweans surveyed said they are living comfortably on
their present household incomes, double the 9 percent share in a 2009 poll.

Meanwhile, the 16 percent who reported they are finding it very hard to get
by has significantly declined from the 31 percent found in 2009.

But the Gallup polling firm warned that election-related violence and
instability could jeopardize the modest economic gains that Zimbabweans have
garnered.

Gallup said the results are based on 1,000 face-to-face interviews with
adults aged 15 or older conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Nonetheless, Mabvuku resident Robert Matava said most Zimbabweans continue
to struggle to make ends meet. “We usually sell cigarettes to our colleagues
at work in order to raise money for transport and other needs,” Matava said.

Mberengwa teacher Onwell Chiponda said the majority of Zimbabweans are
living below the poverty line of US$502 for a family of five.

A Bulawayo resident who asked to be identified only as Dube said some
Zimbabweans make ends meet by supplementing their main source of income.
“Some families sell domestic animals and other valuables to send children to
school and buy basic commodities because of low salaries in the public and
private sectors,” he said.

The survey found that Zimbabweans' personal economic situations improved
dramatically in the past two years. “In 2011, 39 percent of Zimbabweans
reported they did not have enough money at times in the past year to buy
food they or their families needed, down from 73 percent in 2009 and 80
percent in 2008,” said Gallup.

Now that ordinary Zimbabweans "no longer need to pay Z$10 million for a loaf
of bread, many Zimbabweans are finding such basics more affordable," Gallup
said. But it acknowledged that "a sizable percentage ... are still
struggling.”

Zimbabwean perceptions improved greatly relative to other countries.
“Zimbabwe stands out because its scores on the Personal Economy Index
increased more than those of any other country surveyed, rising from 8 in
2007 to 43 in 2009.”

Gallup said the outlook of Zimbabweans regarding each of the four items in
the Personal Economy Index improved, which might be attributable to the
easing of hyperinflation in 2009 and economic growth that year for the first
time in a decade.


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Police, Attorney-General lose credibility

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Friday, 22 July 2011 15:25

. . . as they lose more cases than they win

National Agenda with Bornwell Chakaodza

THIS week alone, two State cases against political activists collapsed like
a deck of cards because prosecutors could not sustain the charges without
sufficient evidence.

On Monday, State prosecutors dropped treason charges against six activists
accused of plotting an "Egyptian Style" uprising to overthrow President
Robert Mugabe's government. The substance of the State case was that
Munyaradzi Gwisai, a former MP and opposition activist, invited a number of
people to watch videos of the unrest in Egypt which toppled President Hosni
Mubarak and to discuss democratic reform in Zimbabwe.
In the wisdom, or lack of it, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)
investigating officers were convinced that the meeting, attended by mostly a
handful of concerned intellectuals and ordinary Harare workers, was a
prelude to a treasonous uprising in Zimbabwe. How a professional police
force which prides itself in being regularly called upon for UN
peace-keeping duties can come to this preposterous conclusion and then
proceed to arrest and cause the prosecution of people purely on the basis of
conjecture about their motivation defies logic.
Earlier on Monday, State prosecutors announced they were withdrawing
corruption charges against Energy Minister, Elton Mangoma.
Last month, Mangoma was acquitted of allegations that he corruptly bypassed
government procedures in buying fuel from a South African company in
January. This case also exposed a disturbing phenomenon of collusion between
some civil servants and police in seeking to embarrass or humiliate those
belonging to other political parties other than their own.
There are many other cases dating back 10 or so years ago including arrest
of journalists in the course of doing their work, police have routinely
failed to secure convictions because of the paucity of evidence they
offered. In many of the cases involving journalists, the sum-total of police
investigations have been intimidatory interrogations of accused persons
apparently in order to force them to disclose sources of information, which
in itself, is a violation of journalistic ethics.
In countries where the State institutions function normally, the
Attorney-General would take umbrage and anger with the police for
continuously bringing for prosecution, cases without proper evidence. But
that would be too much to expect from Johannes Tomana, the current
Attorney-General who, by virtue of being a self- confessed supporter of one
of the parties represented in the inclusive government, has proved time and
time again that he cannot be relied upon to be impartial in his decisions.
While the Zimbabwe judiciary has remained largely professional and
independent in delivering justice where cases have been handled properly,
the same cannot be said about the police and the Office of the
Attorney-General. Indeed, as one observer noted recently, the acquittal of
Minister Mangoma was an indictment on the office of the Attorney-General who
wasted the tax payer's money in besmirching and persecuting an innocent
Zimbabwean.
Little wonder therefore, that so- called abuse of office charges against
Mangoma failed to stick, just as similar cases against thousands of others
which crumbled like a deck of cards over the past 12 years. The effect of
all this has been to completely destroy the credibility of the police and
the o ffice of the Attorney-General which is most unfortunate indeed for our
country. We do not need this state of affairs in this day and age.
What is even more disturbing is that in all these cases which have
invariably come to zero, the accused persons have been made to suffer
humiliation and needless incarceration exposing them to physical discomfort
and possibly chronic diseases at the hands of the police.
In many of the cases, suspects were arrested publicly, bundled into police
vehicles and driven away to be locked up in some filthy police cells where
neither their relatives nor lawyers could reach them. It is therefore
difficult to escape the conclusion that in many of these cases, the police
were aware that it would be impossible to secure a conviction but were still
determined to punish the suspects by subjecting them to these inhuman
conditions.
It is also worth noting that many of the arrests, particularly those which
appear to be politically motivated, seem to go beyond normal law
enforcement. For instance, it is difficult to understand why senior MDC
officials, a recent example being that an MDC Minister, Jameson Timba,
always seem to end up at the notorious Matapi police station when there are
many other less frightening places they could be taken to.
In the Timba case like in many others before and after it, the police motive
appeared to be persecution than prosecution. Apparently, in a deliberate
effort to cause him as much anxiety as possible, he was shuttled between
police stations including the infamous Matapi police station. I do not know
whether there is something in the Police Act or Police Charter that
authorises such shuttling between police stations. But to what purpose
anyway?
It is blatant miscarriage of justice when the police, whose role is simply
to arrest and hold people in custody while prosecuting authorities present
their evidence before courts which have the final authority to prescribe
punishment for offenders arrogate themselves  the role of judge, jury and
executioner - all rolled into one. This is an untenable situation which, if
not dealt with as a matter of urgency, will one day come back to haunt those
responsible for allowing it to happen.
Beneficiaries of this miscarriage of justice being perpetrated by their
loyalists today must not cry foul when the same injustices are turned on
them by the same people they are turning to subvert the law. If you train
your child to be a hooligan, you should not be surprised when that child
turns against you when it suits him to do so at some point in his or her
lifetime.
It is also unfortunate that professional policemen who have distinguished
themselves over the years in ensuring that laws of the land are scrupulously
observed, find themselves lumped together with rogue elements who believe
that the more brutal and feared they are in the execution of their duties,
the more acceptable they are to their paymasters. A number of senior police
officers have gained notoriety not for their "Sherlock Holmes" skills but
for their brutal and amoral methods of extracting confessions from suspects.
It is this behavior of the police that justifies the on-going calls by
well-meaning Zimbabweans for security sector reforms. A police force that
becomes a willing tool of politics to persecute perceived opposition
elements cannot be relied upon to be impartial in carrying out its duties.
More than 600 senior police officers who were linked to the Mubarak regime
Egypt were forced to relinquish their positions because they could not fit
in the new system. They became the proverbial square peg in a round hole in
the new democratic Egypt.
Surely, this is the last thing that Zimbabweans would want to see happen in
their country.
borncha@gmail.com


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Zimbabwe fight back but Australia A on top

http://www.espncricinfo.com
 
 
 

The Report by Liam Brickhill

July 23, 2011

Text size: A | A

Zimbabwe XI 300 (Taylor 85, Siddle 4-45) and 49 for 3 (Taylor 32*, Starc 2-8) v Australia A 498 (Finch 122, Warner 211, Price 4-116)
Scorecard

Chris Mpofu picked up two wickets in an over against Australia A, Zimbabwe XI v Australia A, Tour Match, Harare, July 23 2011
Chris Mpofu picked up two wickets in an over as Zimbabwe XI fought back on the third day in Harare © Zimbabwe Cricket
 
 

Zimbabwe XI fought back gamely for most of the third day after Australia A's openers had put on a 289-run stand, Ray Price leading the way with four wickets as the visitors were restricted to a lead of 198. The Zimbabwean batsmen were soon under real pressure, however, as Mitchell Starc's early strikes left them precariously placed at 49 for 3.

The second day had belonged almost entirely to Australia but Zimbabwe made a good start on the third morning, taking just three overs to break a massive opening stand between Aaron Finch and David Warner. Price provided the breakthrough, bowling Finch for 122, and in the very next over Chris Mpofu had Usman Khawaja caught behind for a golden duck as Australia slipped to 290 for 2.

Callum Ferguson's fluent 48 helped Warner to stem the tide, the latter bringing up a 330-ball double hundred - his first in first-class cricket - in the course of their 78-run stand for the third wicket. Once Ferguson was removed, caught behind off Elton Chigumbura, there was another flurry of wickets and Price had Tim Paine caught by Craig Ervine for his second scalp.

Zimbabwe immediately took the new ball, with dramatic results. Mitchell Marsh had his stumps re-arranged by Mpofu, who trapped Warner in front of his stumps for 211 four balls later. Vitori got past both Luke Butterworth and Trent Copeland in the space of an over, and Australia had lost four wickets for one run in 10 balls.

Australia A were 437 for 9 when Price bowled Peter Siddle for his third wicket, but then came a determined fightback by Jason Krejza and Starc, who clung on to add 61 for the tenth wicket to frustrate the Zimbabweans. Krejza brought up a 72-ball fifty and was prised out by Price soon after, Australia A reaching 498 in the 138th over.

The momentum swung firmly back Australia's way in Starc's opening spell as he removed both Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo within the first six overs. Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor began to re-build the innings but Masakadza was removed by Copeland minutes before the close, and Zimbabwe's fortunes may well now hinge on Taylor, unbeaten on 32, as they look to save the game on the final day.


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Fermenting carpets

Dear Family and Friends,

The view from Zimbabwe’s window is gorgeous at the moment. The bush
is gold and bronze and many of the deciduous trees have started
shaking off their dusty old leaves as they prepare for a new season.
Spectacular sunbirds give flashes of crimson and emerald as they flick
in and out of the flowering aloes and succulents which have given us a
spectacular show this winter. It’s always such a treat to see the
vast range of delicate pink and purple bells, bright yellow spikes and
blazing orange and red flowers emerging from these thorny, prickly
plants.

The Paperbark Acacia trees are crowded with pods at the moment and it
takes just a glimpse to transport me back to the time before farm
invasions, war veterans and greedy, ugly politics ravaged our country.
A time just eleven years ago when Zimbabwe was prosperous, peaceful
and so very productive. The pods on the Acacia trees remind me of the
time when my then young son and I would gather them up by the sack
load around our farm; lay them in the sun to dry and then mix them in
with the winter feed for the sheep and cattle.

Another sight that always brings back memories is a huge Fig tree
growing on the roadside of a main highway. The trunk and branches are
covered in thick clusters of figs. They are green and clinging on at
the moment but in the next few weeks will turn orange and red and
start covering the ground in heady, fermenting carpets. This too
reminds me of winter afternoons on the farm. Followed by a straggle of
dusty, barefoot kids we would go out to collect wild figs and fill
bags with the intoxicating sticky fruits. The kids, of course, would
soon get bored and scamper off with home made bows and arrows,
reluctantly emerging when it was time to head home. The figs were
another natural bounty to add to the winter feed mixture, relished by
all the livestock. The gathering of the fruits was a task not without
hazards as the figs were always smothered in ants.

Happy memories were banished when suddenly a line of vehicles stopped
on the road ahead bought me back to the present. It’s yet another
police roadblock and this time they are obviously looking for
something as everyone is being stopped. Three or four police stand in
the highway questioning drivers while a few metres off the road other
police stand, rifles in their hands and hanging from their shoulders.
After a cursory glance at the drivers licence, the policeman asks:

‘Any firearms on you?’

No, was the answer.

‘What about behind the seat? Any weapons there?’

Again: no.

‘In the glove compartment?’ the policeman asks, indicating that it
must be opened so he can look inside.

Cars have to open their boots and covered freight is looked at. You
don’t ask what’s going on, just quietly, unquestioningly, comply.

For a moment a conversation from a few years ago suddenly came into my
mind. I met a woman who had returned to Zimbabwe for a visit. She had
left the country in the mid 2000’s when political violence was
raging. She had gone to New Zealand and when I asked her if she had
any regrets, she said the best thing was that her children had learnt
to trust police and not be scared of them. I fear Zimbabwe is still a
very long way away from that.

I end this week with a message of condolence for people in Norway
engulfed in the horror of bombs in Oslo and mass murder in Utoya. Our
thoughts and prayers are with you. Until next time, thanks for
reading, love cathy. 23 July 2011. Copyright � Cathy Buckle.
www.cathybuckle.com


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Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees and Status of Bills Series - 22nd July 2011

BILL WATCH

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE AND STATUS OF BILLS SERIES

[22nd July 2011]

Committee Meetings Open to the Public 25th to 28th July

The meetings listed below will be open to members of the public, but as observers only, not as participants, i.e. members of the public can listen but not speak.

Note: As there are sometimes last-minute changes to the meetings schedule, persons wishing to attend a meeting should avoid possible disappointment by checking with the relevant committee clerk that the meeting is still on and still open to the public.  Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 and 252936.  If attending, please use the Kwame Nkrumah Ave entrance to Parliament.  IDs must be produced.

Monday 25th July at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism

Oral evidence from Parks and Wild Life Authority on CAMPFIRE operations

Committee Room No. 311

Chairperson: Hon                                              Clerk: Mr Munjenge

Portfolio Committee: Mines and Energy

Oral evidence from various players in the chrome mining industry

Senate Chamber

Chairperson: Hon Chindori-Chininga              Clerk: Mr Manhivi

Tuesday 26th July at 10 am

Thematic Committee: MDGs

Oral evidence from the Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development on the impact of the 2011 budget on achieving targets for Millennium Development Goal 1 [MDG 1 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.]

Government Caucus Room

Chairperson: Hon Senator Chief Mtshane      Clerk: Mrs Nyawo

Portfolio Committee: Health and Child Welfare

Oral evidence on the functions of the Private Hospitals Association

Committee Room No. 1

Chairperson: Hon Parirenyatwa                       Clerk: Mrs Khumalo

Portfolio Committee: Industry and Commerce

Briefing from the Lobels Bakery Board of Directors and Representatives of the Lobels Bakery Workers Union on the operational constraints at Lobels Bakery

Committee Room No. 311

Chairperson: Hon Mutomba                             Clerk: Ms Masara

Thursday 28th July at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Agriculture, Water, Lands and Resettlement

Meeting with the Minister of Agriculture on the Ministry’s position and role re joint venture agreements between the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and partners

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Jiri                                         Clerk: Ms Mudavanhu

Portfolio Committee: Media, Information and Communication Technology

Oral evidence from the Ministry of Information Communication Technology on the First and Second Quarter Financial Statements and Reports

Committee Room No. 2

Chairperson: Hon S. Moyo                               Clerk: Mr Mutyambizi

 

Status of Bills as at 22nd July 2011

Bills Passed and Awaiting Presidential Assent and/or Gazetting as Acts

Small Enterprises Development Corporation Amendment Bill [final reading in the Senate 12th July]

Bills in the Senate

Deposit Protection Corporation Bill [H.B. 7A, 2010] 

Passed by House of Assembly:  1st June 2011 [with amendments]  [Electronic version available]

Ministry:  Finance

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading. 

Public Order and Security Amendment Bill [H.B. 11A, 2009]

Private Member’s Bill introduced by Hon I. Gonese, MDC-T.

Passed by House of Assembly:  8th December 2010 [with amendments] [Electronic version of Bill as amended by House of Assembly available.]

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading

Bills in the House of Assembly

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill [H.B. 2, 2011]  [Electronic version available.]

Gazetted:  10th June 2011

Ministry:  Justice and Legal Affairs

Portfolio Committee:  Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs

Introduced:  12th July

Stage:  Awaiting report from Parliamentary Legal Committee

National Incomes and Pricing Commission Amendment Bill [H.B. 10, 2010]

Gazetted:  5th November 2010  [Electronic version available.]

Ministry:  Industry and Commerce

Portfolio Committee:  Industry and Commerce

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading

Bill Being Considered by Parliamentary Legal Committee [PLC]

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill [H.B. 2, 2011]  [Electronic version available.]

Referred to PLC:  12th July, immediately after First Reading in House of Assembly

[Note: The PLC has 26 “business days” – until 19th August – within which to report back to the House, but can be granted an extension by the Speaker.  The House cannot proceed to the Second Reading stage of the Bill until the PLC has reported.]

Bill Awaiting Introduction

Electoral Amendment Bill [H.B. 3, 2011]  [Electronic version available.]

Gazetted:  27th June 2011   

Ministry:  Justice and Legal Affairs

Portfolio Committee: Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs
[Note: The Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs is due to present the Bill on Tuesday 26th July; the Bill will then be referred to the PLC for a report on its constitutionality.]

Bill being Printed

Older Persons Bill [H.B. 1, 2011]  [Electronic version NOT available.]

Ministry:  Labour and Social Welfare

 

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.

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