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Zimbabwe economy to grow by 9.3 pct in 2011 - Biti

http://af.reuters.com

Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:34pm GMT

* Agriculture, mining to boost economy

* Inflation seen ending 2011 at 4.0 pct

* Maize harvest to rise

* Biti sees $700 million funding gap

By Nelson Banya and MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE, July 26 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's economy is on course to grow by 9.3
percent in 2011 due to a recovery in the key mining and agriculture sectors
but wage increases for state workers will be a drag on the public purse,
Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Tuesday.

The southern African country's economy grew by 8.1 percent in 2010, after a
sharp contraction for most of the last decade, which critics blamed on
economic mismanagement by the government of President Robert Mugabe.

Biti said political problems in Zimbabwe would stop the country from
registering the double-digit growth needed for a full recovery.

"We are still on course to achieve our GDP growth rate of 9.3 percent.
Agriculture and mining, with 19.3 percent and 44 percent growth
respectively, are at the epicentre of this growth," Biti said in a half-year
budget review statement.

SINGLE-DIGIT INFLATION

Zimbabwe would achieve a year-end inflation rate of 4.0 percent, lower than
the initial forecast of 4.5 percent. Annual inflation rose to 2.9 percent in
June from 2.5 percent in May.

Annual inflation reached 500 billion at the peak of Zimbabwe's economic
crisis in December 2008, according to IMF figures.

Mugabe was then forced into a unity government that ditched the local
currency in favour of U.S. dollars and South African rand, bringing
stability to the economy once crushed by hyperinflation.

Resource-rich Zimbabwe has experienced single-digit inflation since 2009.

Also helping to keep inflation in check was higher maize output, which Biti
said would rise to 1.45 million tonnes in the 2010/11 season from 1.32
million tonnes in 2009/10.

The agricultural sector has started to recover after years of food shortages
that were blamed on disruptions caused by Mugabe's seizure of white-owned
commercial farms for black resettlement.

Biti however warned that the country could run up a $700 million budget
deficit after wage increases for state employees this month as well as
planned grain imports, state welfare programmes and preparations for a
national census in 2012.

He said state wages would now take up 65 percent of budget revenues.

"The net effect of these (salary) increases is that we have basically become
a salaries government. In 2012 we are going to start with a wage bill of $2
billion, we must brace for a long winter of discontent," Biti said.

The IMF warned in April that Zimbabwe's budget was skewed by a massive
public wage bill and not enough resources for social programs for the poor
and important infrastructure spending.

Biti said on Tuesday the country would increase revenues from alluvial
diamond sales, freeze recruitment in government departments, weed out 75,000
suspected ghost workers on the state's payroll, and reform public
enterprises relying on state funding.


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Zim Diamond Exports And Revenues Do Not Tally - Biti

http://www.radiovop.com/

Harare, July 26, 2011 - Zimbabwe has exported more than 700 000 diamond
carats since the beginning of the year as production levels at the Marange
diamond fields increased in line with market demands but these exports and
revenues declared are not tallying, Finance minister, Tendai Biti has
revealed.

Presenting his 2011-2012 budget review, Biti said it was worrying that while
Zimbabwe exported 716 958 diamond carats to outside markets, only US$103, 9
million was realised by government from the resource.

He said this was happening at a time when diamond prices continued to firm
on the international front, with carat prices hitting lows of US$1, 300 per
carat and highs of US$5000 per carat.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, it is worrying to note that there is no connection
whatsoever between diamond exports made by Zimbabwe and the revenues
realised thereof.

“It is worth noting that out of 716 958, 90 diamond carats exported from
Zimbabwe in the period under review, only US$103, 9 million was accounted
for through forms submitted through CD1 forms at the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe,” said Biti.

“18% of the diamonds mined from Marange diamond fields are of gem quality.
23% of diamonds mined from the Murowa diamond fields are industrial
diamonds.  We need to put in place proper mechanisms to monitor the movement
of the diamonds from the point of mining, marketing, export and trade.

“What this means is that there is need for measures to be put in place to
ensure there are no leakages in the whole process, which therefore calls for
the involvement of ZIMRA in all this,” said Biti.

The finance minister revealed that mineral prices were firming worldwide,
adding there was need for Zimbabwe to benefit financially from the
development.

“We have a situation where gold prices and other mineral prices firmed
recently. This means that we have to take advantage of the firming so that
we cab deal with other issues at home,” said Biti.

He called on the inclusive government to speed up its discussion with
Mutumwa Mawere, the previous owner of Shabanie Mashaba Mines (SMM) over the
handover of the mining concern back to Mawere.

“While mining is doing relatively well, it is disappointing to note that
asbestos is not doing that well. It is this light that I call upon
government to move with speed and conclude its discussions over the
re-opening of Shabanie-Mashaba-Mines.

A speedy resolution of the Government-SMM issues will help re-open the mine
and give the people of Zvishavane jobs again as this town is slowly becoming
a ghost town,” Biti said.

According to Biti, Zimbabwe needs to come up with a process of clearing
international debt amounting to over US$7 billion.

He said failure to clear the debts could see Zimbabwe failing to cash in on
funds set aside by the international funding agencies such as the World Bank
and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for Africa.

“The World Bank has set aside US$75billion to spend in Africa while the
African Development Bank (AfDB) has set aside US$30 billion also for Africa.

“If we do not deal with the debt that continues to hang over Zimbabwe, we
might miss out on these funds whose intentions are to help boost programmes
in African countries. It is important that policies to clear the debt are
developed as a matter of urgency,” Biti said.


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Political issues hitting Zim budget

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Irene Madongo
26 July 2011

Economic experts have warned that political troubles are dealing some of the
biggest blows to Zimbabwe’s economy this year, on the same day the Finance
Minister announced his mid-term budget review.

In his statement on Tuesday, Biti said that he was going to have to make
serious cuts to certain government spending, including procurement of
vehicles and overseas travel. Robert Mugabe and government ministers have
since the beginning of the year reportedly blown about $30 million on
foreign trips alone. Biti also stated that the government should fast-track
the privatisation of the country’s ailing parastatals, which are affecting
the government.

Analysts point out that the main problem facing the Ministry of Finance is a
lack of money, running into millions. The government, which had a revenue
target of $2.7 billion in the 2011 budget, has already admitted it will not
hit this figure, with the International Monetary Fund (which overseas global
financial systems) pegging the shortfall at between $350 million to
$450million. Faced with pressure to promote economic growth and also restore
investor confidence, the Finance Ministry is being hindered by crippling
policies championed by Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF.

A more recent challenge has been the civil servants pay rise, which
observers say ZANU PF forced through to score political points against the
MDC-T Finance Minister, Tendai Biti. On several occasions Biti explained the
country could not afford the pay hike at this stage. Despite reports that it
will be funded by money from diamond sales, analysts now say that because
has been forced through, it will bleed the Treasury purse. The pay increase
reportedly forced the government to fork out $40m, which was not budgeted
for.

“The downside is political,” explains economic expert Tony Hawkins, “It’s a
big political issue as you know because the ZANU PF element, spearheaded by
the president himself, actively pushed hard for a wage increase and Mr Biti,
as the MDC Finance Minister, is saying look we haven’t got the money.”

Another economic analyst Masimba Kuchera told SW Radio Africa that the
sudden wage increase pay-out will have a knock-on effect, as the government
would have hoped to put more money into capital expenditure, such as on
roads, schools and airports, but now this has been compromised.

Hawkins also raised the issue that the wage bill from the Ministry of Youth
and Indiginisation is allegedly contributing to the general wage
overspending problem. These allegations come amid reports that the Youth
Ministry’s wage bill was funding ZANU PF’s youth militia.

Analysts also say that the controversial Indigenisation policy is now
hitting black businesses that ZANU PF claimed it would boost. The law forces
foreign-owned companies to cede more than half of their company shareholding
to locals, and is widely blamed for deterring foreign investors from putting
their capital in Zimbabwe. This has been described as a huge blow for local
business who are baying for foreign help.

Biti is under pressure to provide assistance to this sector, which has seen
numerous companies shut down despite talk of economic recovery. The Zimbabwe
National Chamber of Commerce recently stressed that businesses needed
capital to overhaul antiquated machinery and revamp structures, but this was
impossible without foreign investment. And this month, the Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries threatened to resort to public demonstrations if
government failed to heed its calls to address issues affecting the
viability of local companies.


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Zim's Financial Sector Very Worrying - Report

http://www.radiovop.com

By Ngoni Chanakira - Harare, July 26, 2011 - While Zimbabwe's inflation
outlook has stabilised, concerns still exist with regards to the stability
of the banking sector, says a Top Periodic Report.

The Periodic Report was prepared by the Civil Society Monitoring Mechanism
(CISOMM). It is for April and May 2011.

"The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is still constrained to play its
supervisory role," the Periodic Report said.

"While lending has improved as have deposits, it is worrying to note that
the Ministry of Finance in May raised concern over the high rate of loan
repayment defaults. A Report on the sector noted that only 34 percent of the
loans had been re-paid. Perhaps the biggest default that has triggered
shocks across the sector is the US$50 million loan by mining giant Rio
Zimbabwe Limited (RioZim).

"Related to this are reports that ReNaissance Merchant Bank (RMB) had a
financial gap of US$16,5 million which threatened not only the bank but
several other banks."

The CISOMM Periodic Report said this had prompted the Ministry of Finance
currently under Tendai Biti, and the RBZ to intervene through the National
Social Security Authority (NSSA) which had since stepped in.

"Controversy has, however, shrouded the decision and form of government
intervention and the issue has been heavily politicised," the Periodic
Report points out.

"Challenges in the banking sector severely threaten jobs; with reports
indicating that last year 1 000 jobs were lost in addition to 1 500 lost
from the RBZ this year. On the whole, there are clear signs that lending
needs to be contained and managed carefully to avoid a credit driven bubble
bursting. Meanwhile, interest rates are still high making borrowing very
expensive and unattractive."

Early this month, RBZ Governor, Dr Gideon Gono, revealed that five banks had
still not met the minimum capital requirements by the March 31, 2011
deadline.

In a report Gono said Kingdom Bank Limited (Kingdom), Royal Bank of Zimbabwe
Limited (Royal), the Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group (ZABG), Genesis
Investment Bank Limited (GIB) and Renaissance Merchant Bank Limited (RMB)
remained grossly under-capitalised.

The RBZ had set June 30 as the new deadline for financial institutions
operating in Zimbabwe to meet capital requirements of US$12,5 million for
commercial banks and US$10 million for merchant banks.

Gono said 15 out of 16 Asset Management Firms had, meanwhile, complied with
the minimum paid up equity capital requirement of US$500 000 in Zimbabwe.


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Mines Minister Mpofu in $2bn diamond fraud

http://nehandaradio.com/

July 26, 2011 2:28 pm

By Everson Mushava

Controversial Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu has been implicated in the $2
billion diamond fraud case after lawyers representing diamond dealer
Lovemore Kurotwi said the minister must also stand trial.

Kurotwi is being jointly charged with former Zimbabwe Mining Development
Corporation (ZMDC) boss Dominic Mubaiwa over allegations they defrauded the
state of $2 billion which was supposed to be invested by a South African
company.

They appeared before Justice Musakwa who postponed the matter indefinitely
and scrapped reporting conditions.

Mtetwa told the High Court that if the state insisted on charging co-accused
Kurotwi then Mpofu not Mubaiwa, should also be brought to court to face the
same charges as he endorsed the deal and participated in meetings including
travelling to South Africa to meet the investment company.

The state says Kurotwi and Mubaiwa misrepresented government last year that
Core Mining and Marange Resources had entered into a joint venture TO
comment on this report send your SMS to: 0772470058 which would get $2
billion investment from Benny Steinmeritz Group Resources (BSGR), a South
African company.

But BSGR later pulled out after some of the conditions including guarantees
on property rights and human rights were not met.  BSGR never invested the
money which the state is saying government lost. The state argues that by
conniving to misrepresent information, the two prejudiced ZMDC and the
government of over $2 billion.

However, the court papers in possession of the Daily News show that Mpofu
was aware of the deal and allegedly even briefed government on it. He also
granted BSGR officials access to Chiadzwa diamonds lds and was communicating
with the company and Canadile on the issue.

This is particularly so taking into account the fact that he (Kurotwi) is
now being co-accused with Mubaiwa to whom he was referred by the Minister of
Mines and Mining Development.

“If what is alleged Mubaiwa did constitutes a criminal offence, and it is
alleged misrepresentations were made to the ministry, why is Obert Mpofu,
the minister with whom the first accused (Kurotwi) and his partners dealt
with not either a co-accused or a witness?

“This is particularly so taking into account the fact that the minister also
travelled to South Africa for a familiarisation tour,” argued Mtetwa in the
court papers. Mtetwa said Kurotwi could not have connived with Mubaiwa to
fleece the state because Mubaiwa always acted on the instructions of the
minister. The minister would communicate the ministry’s position to Mubaiwa
for execution.

“His and his partners’ representations were with the minister and if what he
did constitutes a criminal offence, it is the minister who ought to be his
co-accused,” said Mtetwa, adding that the ZMDC decisions could not have been
reached as a result of Mubaiwa’s actions alone, but with the consent of the
minister.

Mpofu, Mtetwa said, was the one to testify on all issues of alleged
misrepresentations emanating from their meetings with Kurotwi arguing that
from the list of witnesses, there can be no doubt that the state sought to
rely on hearsay evidence from persons who were not even at ZMDC at the
relevant time.

“From the list of witnesses, it is quite clear that Minister Mpofu’s name is
missing. It would be grossly prejudicial to Kurotwi to have him tried on the
basis of alleged misrepresentations to a person who does not testify,”
Mtetwa said. Mtetwa said Kurotwi would not entertain the roping in of
suspects into state witnesses.

“What is at issue is the attempt to bring new and fresh facts through the
back disguised as amendments when these are clearly prejudicial
substitutions. Such attempts, as they are, on issues raised by the defence,
completely undermine the accused’s defence as they will now have to proceed
with new costly procedures which would probably require further pre-trial
applications.

“If the state wishes to bring fresh ‘facts’, it must do so afresh,” said
Mtetwa.

Mtetwa said it was also prejudicial to Kurotwi to be indicted on ‘facts’
that did not allege actual prejudice only to face a charge in the sum of $2
billion without showing how that money was arrived at.

“As the document on which the state is relying remains the same, and the
only letter in which $2 billion is mentioned clearly refers to ‘an
investment worth up to $2 billion’, the amendment sought should be
accompanied with a very clear explanation as to how the actual prejudice of
$2 billion occurred,” said Mtetwa.

Representing Mubaiwa, Uriri also said the decision to enter into a joint
venture agreement was made at a very high level and was communicated to the
Mpofu who advised that there was a cabinet approval for the contact and as
such, the misrepresentation also involves the minister. Daily News


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Zimbabwe finmin sees $700 mln deficit for 2011

http://af.reuters.com/

Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:35pm GMT

HARARE, July 26 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe could record a $700 million budget
deficit for 2011 due to wage increases to public servants and grain imports,
Finance Minister Tendai Biti said in a half-year budget review on Tuesday.

Last November, Biti presented a $3.2 billion budget of which $2.7 billion
was expected to come from domestic revenues and the remainder donor
assistance.


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Zimbabwe speaker wants militants arrested

Associated Press

(AP) – 4 hours ago

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's parliament speaker says he wants police
to arrest known militants who violently disrupted four public meetings
called by lawmakers on reforms to the nation's human rights laws.

Speaker Lovemore Moyo said Tuesday police must "move with speed" to
apprehend militants who assaulted lawmakers and journalists at the Harare
parliament on Saturday. Graphic photographs of the mob have appeared in the
local media.

He said those who also disrupted provincial parliamentary meetings were
following a political agenda of violence mostly blamed on loyalists of
President Robert Mugabe.

No arrests have been made and police were not immediately available for
comment. Mugabe's party has demanded colonial era abuses be included in the
scope of the new rights laws to draw attention away from violence since
independence in 1980.


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Press Statement by Hon. Lovemore Moyo On the Recent Public Hearings Disturbances

 
 
Press Statement by Hon. Lovemore Moyo

Speaker of the House of Assembly

Chairperson of the Standing Rules and Orders Committee of Parliament

26 July 2011

On the Recent Public Hearings Disturbances
                                                                                                                        
The events of the past week concerning the disruption of the proceedings of the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary and the Thematic Committee on Human Rights Joint Inquiry of the public views and inputs on the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill are a serious cause of concern.

Parliament has seen disturbing media reports and has received reports from the Chairpersons of the two Committees on the disturbances during the public hearings on the Human Rights Commission Bill.  Further, it has been reported and is now in the public domain that Members of Parliament, journalists and members of the public were assaulted in Parliament by rowdy gangs identified as Zanu PF activists who were dropped off at Parliament as they chanted their party songs and slogans.

Earlier on last week, other public hearings by the same Joint Committee were disrupted in Chinhoyi on the 18th of July, Masvingo on the 21st of July and Mutare on the 23rd of July in a manner that is utterly disrespectful and contemptuous of the law making process and Constitutional mandate of Parliament, that is, to make laws, represent the people and to exercise oversight over the Executive.  Therefore, it is our conclusion that these disruptions are politically motivated, calculated and sponsored.

These premeditated disturbances of public hearings resulted in the savage assaulting of an MP and journalists within Parliament building and its precincts.  This act is unprecedented both in terms of its primitiveness and contempt for the authority and mandate of Parliament, as well as in its violations of the Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act and the related Standing Orders of Parliament.

As an institution and one of the three arms of Government, we feel that these perpetrators have no respect and understanding of an institution such as the Parliament of Zimbabwe since they have attacked the very foundation of public consultation processes we believe in as nation.

This sort of behaviour has in actual fact set us back in terms of the Parliamentary reforms initiated by Parliament in 1997 which resulted in the establishment of the Committee system in 1999 as a way of making Parliament and its proceedings more accessible to the public and to the same individuals who came with the intention to destroy what we have been building as Parliament.  Let it be noted that, when the whole concept of the reform process started, it was to allow the people of Zimbabwe to contribute to the law making process and other Parliamentary activities, in a way, strengthening Parliamentary Democracy.

As the Speaker of Parliament, I am also greatly concerned with the lack of security to such an extent that Honourable Members of Parliament are beaten up and harassed at their own workplace.  Does this mean that we do not have sufficient security as Parliament to protect these individuals?

As if we are not in a position to protect the Members of Parliament, how secure is the property of the institution?  This is a serious cause for concern as Parliament we strongly condemn this act of violence and behaviour.  We trust that law enforcement agents will move with speed and take necessary measures to bring to book the sponsors and the perpetrators of these crimes whose identities are known.

This is yet another unhelpful entry on the long ledger of the political culture on intolerance, violence, and the sanctioning of criminal hordes to do the dirty work of those who cherish violence and violence that continue to keep Zimbabwe high up on the international relations scene for all the wrong reasons.

The Human Rights Commission Bill is part of the negotiated deliverables of the Global Political Agreement, which includes appointment of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the Media Commission (MC), the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with Parliament’s involvement.

These commissions have since been appointed, the exception of the Anti-Corruption Commission, whose appointment is imminent following the concurrence of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.

It must be noted that the Independent Commissions cannot be wished away and Parliament is charged with making laws for the Republic.  Let me put it clear to the sponsors and perpetrators of violence that Parliament will not be intimidated and succumb to this barbaric act.  We will remain firm in discharging our Constitutional mandate.  If members of the public have some grievances in the manner in which we conduct our business, they are civilised and known ways of channelling their complaints.

As Speaker of Parliament and Chairperson of the Standing Rules and Orders Committee and in response to events surrounding the violent disruptions of lawful Public Hearings by the Joint Committees of Parliament I call upon the three political parties who are signatories to the Global Political Agreement to rise up above their party differences and give necessary leadership in order to allow Parliament to do its work uninterrupted.  Parliament is making its own investigations into the matter in terms of what happened and what should be done in order to avoid such occurrences in the future.  In the process we will engage all the three parties to ensure that Parliament as one of the three organs of the state guards and protects its dignity and integrity.  Further, I have asked the Parliament security and the Police to give us a report on the disturbances.

In conclusion, let me further assure the people of Zimbabwe that Parliament is there to serve the interests of the public and therefore we will continue to consult members of public on matters of national interest as we execute our mandate.

I thank you, Siyabonga, Tinotenda
 


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Lindiwe Zulu condemns Parliament violence

http://nehandaradio.com/
 
July 26, 2011 3:07 pm
 

The chief facilitator to Zimbabwean inter-party talks and South African President Jacob Zuma’s international relations adviser, Lindiwe Zulu, has condemned the Zanu PF sponsored violence in and outside Parliament on Saturday.

Foul mouthed and visibly drunk mobs Zanu PF supporters stormed the Parliament building in central Harare and disrupted a public hearing on the Human Rights Commission Bill. The group assaulted the MDC-T’s Hwange Central legislator, Brian Tshuma and also beat up several Harare based journalists.

The Zanu PF mob caused mayhem inside parliament
The Zanu PF mob caused mayhem inside parliament

Speaking to London based SW Radio Africa on Monday Zulu said “any violence coming from any quarter at any time is really not acceptable and the parties have committed themselves through the Global Political Agreement that they will deal with such issues.” She said she hoped the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) ‘will be up and about dealing with this.”

Zulu added, “it’s very unfortunate, that’s exactly what Livingstone (SADC Troika Summit) was about. The leaders at Livingstone took a firm decision to call on all three political parties to deal with the issue of violence. But they also called on them to create an environment that is conducive for political activity for everybody.

“When there are incidents of violence like that it’s very unfortunate and we feel strongly they all need to take responsibility and make sure that does not happen.”

Daily News story and picture on the Zanu PF violence in and outside Parliament
Daily News story and picture on the Zanu PF violence in and outside Parliament

Commenting on the violence on Saturday, the Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo said “This is yet another unhelpful entry on the long ledger of the political culture on intolerance, violence, and the sanctioning of criminal hordes to do the dirty work of those who cherish violence and violence that continue to keep Zimbabwe high up on the international relations scene for all the wrong reasons.”


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Zim Journos Beatean Up By Zanu (PF) Thugs Take Matter To Parliament

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, July 26, 2011 - Zimbabwe Journalists who were assaulted on Saturday
by Zanu (PF) thugs in parliament have formally lodged complaints with the
Parliament of Zimbabwe as outrage continues over the behaviour of the
supporters of the former ruling party who disrupted proceedings on Saturday.

Officials in parliament said the office of the Clerk of Parliament, Austin
Zvoma and the Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo have for the past two days
been inundated with complaints from journalists demanding a probe into the
mayhem inside and outside the august house on Saturday.

Four journalists, including two photographers, were assaulted as they
prepared to cover the proceedings of the joint committee of the House of
Assembly Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and
Parliamentary Affairs.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator for Hwange Central,
Brian Nkiwane was also assaulted for allegedly failing to sing the national
anthem.

Zvoma, the clerk of parliament, said they had been briefed about the
incident and were still receiving reports about the disturbances.

“The issue has been brought to our attention,” he said. “The media will be
advised accordingly,” he said.

But media watch-dogs on Tuesday piled pressure on parliament and the police
to get to the bottom of the assault of journalists and the (MDC) legislator.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa -Zimbabwe (MISA) condemned the
assaults in a statement on Tuesday, calling upon the police to deal with
this lawlessness and arrest any members of the pubic bent on violating the
media’s freedom to access information and the citizens’ right to freedom of
expression and association.

“The fact that the attacks happened at Parliament Building with an MP
reportedly being assaulted under the police’s watch speaks volumes about
these acts of impunity that place the lives of journalists and innocent
citizens at great risk,” read part of the statement.

“This lawlessness is very worrying indeed  given that the  Parliament of
Zimbabwe is not only a high security zone but is also supposed to be the
citadel of civility and permissiveness of diverse views as evidenced by the
multi-party composition of both the House of Assembly and the Senate,” it
added.

The fact that none of the assailants were arrested gave the culprits free
reign and endangered the lives of Zimbabwean journalists especially those
working for the private press as their safety and security cannot be
guaranteed by the police as they conduct their lawful professional duties
throughout the country, said Misa-Zimbabwe.

The media watch-dog said the three principals to the inclusive government,
President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Deputy
Professor Arthur Mutambara and their respective political parties, should
demand explanations from the police on what transpired for purposes of
accounting for the culprits who should face the full wrath of the law.


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Zim's Brigadier Sends Journalists Running For Dear Life

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, July 26, 2011 - Notorious army commander, Brigadier Douglas
Nyikayaramba last week forced two young journalists from a Harare-based
publication to run for dear life after they quizzed him on remarks by a
parliamentarian that he was an “idiot”, Radio VOP has learnt.

Nyikayaramba, the commander of the 3rd infrantry battallion in Manicaland
province allegedly threatened to beat up two journalists from The Mail after
they asked him respond to a comment in parliament by Masvingo Central
legislator Tongai Matutu that the Brigadier General is an ‘idiot’ for his
comments he made on the leader of the mainstream Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC-T) Morgan Tsvangirai whom he labelled as a national security
threat because he supports Zanu (PF).

Matutu withdrew his statement in Parliament when Defence Minister Emmerson
Mnangagwa called for the withdrawal of the statement arguing that it was
'unparliamentary' adding that Nyikayaramba was not a Member of Parliament
and could not defend himself from the allegations.

The two journalists, employed by the recently launched The Mail newspaper,
whose names are being withheld for their security, had been assigned by the
paper’s editors to interview Nyikayaramba on a wide range of issues,
including calls for reforms in the security sector.

"Our two staffers (names supplied) were threatened by Douglas Nyikayaramba
on Friday last week. They called to meet with the Brigadier General; they
met him in his car to have an interview. But he became angry when asked what
was his comment on Matutu's comment in parliament that he was an idiot," a
senior editor at The Mail told Radio VOP.

"He then threatened our journalists with unspecified action resulting in our
staffers running away from the interview. We are shocked about his behaviour
because he had agreed to the interview in the first place."

The paper, though claiming to be independent of Zanu (PF), is seen by many
as having strong links with the former ruling party’s establishments, with
claims that some of its major shareholders are Zanu (PF) heavyweights of
associates of the party.

Names such as Van Hoog Straten, Mines Minister, Obert Mpofu, Zanu (PF)
strongman Emmerson Mnangagwa, among others, are linked to the newspaper
although the publishers are yet to disclose the “direct” owners of the
publication.

According to one of the two journalists, all went well throughout the
interview which centred on mostly, on Nyikayaramba’s sentiments regarding
the armed forces perceived support of President Robert Mugabe.

“We were given an assignment to interview Nyikayaramba by the editors,” said
one of the reporters.

“All was well until we received a phone call from one of our editors who
asked us to ask Nyikayaramba to respond to claims, accusations, and
description by one parliamentarian that he was an idiot. That is when all
hell broke loose,” the journalist added.

Radio VOP is told Nyikayaramba went ballistic, speaking from the top of his
voice and threatening to shoot the bemused journalists.

“When we realised that he was very angry and threatening to shoot us, we
opened the doors...and took to our heels,” the journalist added.

In its Monday edition this week, the paper downplayed the story, preferring
to run it as part of its gossip column, Corridors of Power.

Reads part of the column: “Two reporters from The Mail ran for dear life on
Friday after an army commander threatened to manhandle them for asking tough
questions.

The reporters had called the senior officer seeking verification of a
tip-off they had received that he had been involved in an accident as he had
rushed to hospital after a fight with his wife.”

Nyikayaramba has been at the centre of political discussion in the past
month for labelling Tsvangirai a national 'security threat'.

Nyikayaramba's political statements were given as one of the reasons why
Mbizo MP, Settlement Chikwinya moved a motion in parliament this month for
security chiefs to re-affirm their allegiance to the Constitution of
Zimbabwe and for the military chiefs to desist from making political
statements.

Several security chiefs have made public statements in the past years saying
that they will not support a democratically elected leader in Zimbabwe who
does not have war of liberation credentials.


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ZANU PF hit squad still using murdered victim’s phone

http://www.swradioafrica.com/
 

By Lance Guma
26 July 2011

Every Tuesday SW Radio Africa investigates unsolved and deliberately ignored cases of political violence, torture, murder and other forms of abuse, by people in positions of authority. This week we focus on the brutal June 2008 murder of Abigail Chiroto, the wife of Emmanuel Chiroto, the MDC-T deputy Mayor of Harare.

This year alone police have arrested a cabinet minister for calling Mugabe a liar, a police officer for using Mugabe’s official mobile toilet at a Trade Fair, and a group of activists for watching video footage of protests in Egypt and Tunisia. But a group of well known ZANU PF thugs who murdered Abigail in 2008 remain free. Not only are they said to be boasting about it, one of them is still using the mobile phone stolen from their victim.

Emmanuel Chiroto, the MDC-T deputy Mayor of Harare, with his son Ashley

On the 16th of June 2008, a ZANU PF mob from Hatcliffe that included Justin Zvandasara, a lady called Judy, another man called Zulu and several other militants, descended on the Chiroto house in Hatcliffe on the outskirts of Harare. On seeing Chiroto was not there they destroyed the house using a petrol bomb. The mob then abducted his 26 year old wife Abigail and their four-year-old son Ashley.

Fortunately for Ashley the mob decided to dump him outside a police station but his mother was not as lucky as they took her to a nearby farm. Two days later on the 18th June Abigail was found brutally murdered. She was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head and a deep cut on her stomach. A post-mortem report showed she had been savagely assaulted and her limbs broken.

The absurdity and tragedy of the situation is that the killers are all known in the community, as well as by the police and it’s understood they regularly boast about carrying out the murder. On Tuesday, Chiroto told us the police have shown no desire to arrest anyone or even carry out an investigation despite one of the killers still using a mobile phone they took from his wife on the day of the murder.

Chiroto is pinning his hope of justice on a change of government and said it was only a matter of time before the killers will be brought to book. Already one of the killers has died and another is seriously ill and has been admitted at Parirenyatwa General Hospital. He has already confessed to being the one who tied up Abigail’s mouth before they killed her.

The levels of impunity are so high that in September last year, the killers even had the temerity to taunt Chiroto during disturbances that marred the constitutional outreach meetings in Hatcliffe. Four of the killers taunted Chiroto about the murder and said they would finish him off.

“They were armed with iron bars, sticks and stones and at one time wanted to smash my car because they could not stomach my presence at the meeting. But what struck me most was their audacity to refer to my wife’s murder and their boisterous threats to do the same with me,” Chiroto told SW Radio Africa.


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MPs probed for fraud

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Godfrey Mtimba
Tuesday, 26 July 2011 15:36

MASVINGO - Members of Parliament who abused the Constituency Development
Fund (CDF) will face the wrath of the country’s laws, a top government
bureaucrat has said.

Addressing journalists on the sidelines of a CDF capacity building and
induction workshop in Masvingo yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Virginia Mabiza, said
her ministry had intensified an audit into possible looting of the fund.

She said legislators would be compelled to justify the use of the CDF funds,
warning those that abused the fund to prepare to face the long arm of the
law.

Her statements came as her minister Eric Matinenga told our sister paper,
the Daily News on Sunday, last week that only 60 out of 210 MPs had
accounted for the money.

This newspaper understands that among MPs who are still to account for the
money are Cabinet ministers across the political divide.

MPs got $50 000 each of taxpayers’ money to embark on community development
projects in their constituencies from the finance ministry.

But the facility has been riddled with complaints of abuse.

“We have since started an audit exercise and we expect the legislators to
account for their funds. The money was meant for development of
constituencies and those who failed to do that will be dealt with according
to the law."

“After our audit, we will report to the relevant authorities and those who
will be on the wrong side will be dealt with,” Mabiza said.

Some MPs are accused of squandering the CDF for personal use instead of
spearheading developmental projects in their constituencies.

Others are accused of buying posh and luxury cars while others invested in
their personal businesses.

Mabiza said her ministry had been receiving reports of abuse of the funds in
different constituencies around the country hence the resolution to take up
the audit exercise to bring culprits to book.

“We have received lots of reports of abuse of this fund from members of the
public and other sources and that’s why we are doing this audit to make sure
that every cent is accounted for although I cannot pin-point that so and so
have done this,” she added.

She said her audit team would visit every constituency to inspect projects
undertaken by the legislators.

Mabiza said the auditors had so far started in Midlands province and were
expected to finish about 87 constituencies by end of next month.

She hinted that the process was facing serious financial problems and the
completion of all the 210 constituencies’ country wide could drag beyond
this year.

“We will be able to finish 87 constituencies by end of next month but I don’t
think all the constituencies in the country will be complete by year end.


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MDC official arrested for distributing party newsletter

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Pindai Dube
Tuesday, 26 July 2011 15:32

BULAWAYO - Police in Bubi district in Matabeleland North province arrested
and detained for seven days without charge Sibangani Kesa, an official from
the mainstream MDC party, for distributing the party’s newsletter The
Changing Times.

Kesa, who is the MDC ward 12 chairman in Bubi district, was arrested on 15
July at Drumland Resettlement area by two plain clothes police officers and
detained at Inyathi and Lupane police stations for a week, only to be
released on Friday without charge.

The two police officers who arrested him are believed to have been tipped
off by some Zanu PF officials in the area.

Relating the incident to the Daily News at MDC Bulawayo province offices
where he has sought refuge, Kesa said he was arrested near his homestead in
Drumland resettlement area whilst distributing the party newsletter he had
brought from Bulawayo to villagers.

“I was arrested on 15 July and detained at Inyathi police station for five
days before being transferred to Lupane police station where I was again
detained for another two days before my release without a charge on Friday
22 July,” said Kesa.

He said before his arrest, Sithembiso Ndlovu, the Zanu PF councilor for Ward
12 in Bubi, had threatened him several times that she would fix him over his
MDC activities.

Bubi –Unguza constituency is a Zanu PF stronghold under mines minister Obert
Mpofu. MDC chairman for Matabeleland North Sengezo Tshabangu confirmed Kesa’s
arrest saying: “Zanu PF is on a crusade to intimidate and harass our party
members using the security agents.”

When contacted for comment, Matabeleland South provincial police
spokesperson Trust Ndlovu said he was out office.

Kesa’s arrest came at a time when a 76-year-old white commercial farmer and
miner Mike Van Royen was arrested in Matobo in Matabeleland South province
in a move viewed as meant to facilitate the grabbing of his farming and
mining business by Zanu PF officials.

Van Royen was arrested on Friday in Bulawayo on charges of insulting
President Robert Mugabe.
He runs Cynthia Mine and Asher Estates in Matobo district, which was a scene
of earlier clashes between a group of Zanu PF youth and Van Royen workers as
the Zanu PF supporters sought to take over the venture by force.


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Parly in damage control over Zanu PF violence

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chengetai Zvauya, Senior Writer
Tuesday, 26 July 2011 15:20

HARARE - Parliament is on a fire-fighting mission over the violence that
engulfed a public meeting on the establishment and functions of a Human
Rights Commission, ahead of a Sadc summit where Zimbabwe will be under
pressure to show it has made strides to end violence.

Zanu PF mobsters turned parliament into a war zone on Saturday, beating up
an MDC MP and journalists as they violently disrupted the hearing.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC and the breakaway faction led by
Welshman Ncube are almost certain to use the events as a further indication
how President Robert Mugabe has failed to convince his supporters to adopt
peaceful ways of campaigning.

There was a hive of activity at parliament yesterday in a bid to manage the
fallout arising from Saturday’s events.

Similar meetings of the committee in other areas such as Masvingo were
disrupted in the same fashion, confirming Zanu PF’s resistance to democratic
reforms.

Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo and Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma
held meetings with chairman of the joint committee of the House of Assembly
on Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs and the
Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights to solve the matter.

The committees are chaired by MDC MP Douglas Mwonzora and MDC Senator
Misheck Marawa respectively. Marawa confirmed the meetings.

He said he was summoned together with Mwonzora to meet with Zvoma and Moyo
over the incident.

“I briefed Zvoma on what happened and this included the entire incidents at
other public meetings in Gweru, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Masvingo and Mutare. We
noted the all the disturbances that were happening and in particular this
weekend where rowdy Zanu PF youths
disrupted the hearing at parliament were unacceptable and retrogressive,”
said Marawa.

“Mwonzora met the Speaker later in the day to brief him too but he was not
in Harare on the day of the incident because he was attending a political
rally in his constituency. But he is in the picture of what transpired as he
attended other meetings in the other six provinces,” said Marawa.

Zvoma also confirmed the meeting with the two chairmen but denied that the
meetings were part of a mission to manage the wider international effects of
the violence.

“We received a report on what happened on Saturday as we wanted to
understand what transpired. It is not true that we are on a fire-fighting
mission.

We shall be holding a press conference tomorrow (today) to explain what
happened,” said Zvoma.

According to sources, Moyo had also asked for a report from the security
department of parliament.

The behaviour of Zanu PF members painted the image of the party in bad light
as the political parties are marshalling for support in the Sadc region in
preparation of the summit scheduled for Luanda, Angola next month, said
sources.

The sources said the situation was worsened by the fact that the setting up
of a human rights commission was one of the issues the political parties had
assured Sadc to be on track.


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‘Glen View 8’ hearing postponed to Wednesday

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
27 July 2011

A fresh bail application for the eight MDC-T activists still in remand
prison on charges of murdering a police officer in Glen View, is to be heard
at the High Court in Harare on Wednesday.

The hearing was set for Tuesday but had to be pushed to a day later after
state prosecutors indicated they were not yet ready. The defence team, led
by Jeremiah Bamu is hoping a ‘change in circumstances’ and the ‘weakening’
of the state case will work in favour of their clients.

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

16 of the arrested group have been granted bail and were released from jail.
The eight who were denied bail two weeks ago are; Tungamirai Madzokere,
Stanford Maengahama, Phenias Nhatarikwa, Stanford Mangwiro, Yvonne
Musarurwa, Rebecca Mafukeni, Cynthia Fungai Manjoro and Lazarus Maengahama.
The eight activists have now been detained in remand prison for over eight
weeks.


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Genocide experts say Gukurahundi justice needed for real peace

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
26 July 2011

International experts on genocide have said that justice for the Gukurahundi
massacres is needed, before real peace can come to Zimbabwe.

The killings of tens of thousands of Zimbabweans in the 1980s, at the hands
of Robert Mugabe loyal soldiers, were last year finally classified as
genocide by the internationally recognised group Genocide Watch. The group’s
chairperson, Professor Gregory Stanton, said the Mugabe regime has been
trying to sweep this atrocity under the rug for 30 years now but this
classification now means the perpetrators can be prosecuted no matter how
much time has passed.

This position was reaffirmed last week at a congress of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars in Argentina, where more than 300 delegates
from around the world gathered at the National University in Buenos Aires.
Stanton said at that meeting that dealing with Gukurahundi was essential
before real peace could come to Zimbabwe.

“That must include a chance for survivors to face their tormentors in a
judicial environment, and a full investigation of events, regardless of who
is named among the accused,” Stanton said.

Zimbabwe author and journalist, Geoff Hill, who in 2009 became the first
African to serve on the panel of the Association’s advisory council, was one
of the speakers at the congress. He told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that so
many questions remain unanswered regarding the Gukurahundi, and families of
victims are yet to find any peace.

Hill also explained that lessons from Gukurahundi were especially relevant
to the killings now taking place in Sudan where civilians are being hunted
down and killed in the Nuba Mountains. He said the Gukurahundi killings are
of serious interest, “because they demonstrate how silence by the
international community leads to massacre.”

“The gun is not the deadliest weapon,” he said. “Sadly the real danger lies
in silence because it allows the slaughter to continue, and this was our
crime during Gukurahundi.”

Hill explained that this growing interest, as well as the classification of
the massacres as genocide, will help take the fight for justice to “the next
level.” He said that this could include a case one day being opened by the
International Criminal Court (ICC).

“This is difficult because the ICC only hears cases from countries that are
signatories…and Zimbabwe is not,” Hill said.

But he added that “international law is changing so fast,” and that justice
for the Gukurahundi through the ICC was a possibility. He explained, that,
for example, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese leader Omar al
Bashir, despite Sudan not being signatory to the ICC.
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SA truck drivers' case in Zim may take 4 years

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/

Eyewitness News | 8 Hour(s) Ago

Four South African truck drivers detained in Zimbabwe since February on
Tuesday pleaded for their case not to be delayed any longer.

The four are accused of conniving with South African businessman Ping Sung
Hsieh to defraud Grace Mugabe and her aide of US$1 million.

One of the four men - Cassimjee Bilal - said his wife is very ill.

He offered to leave his vehicle worth R300,000 in Zimbabwe as a guarantee
that he will come back.

State prosecutors want their trial to take place at the end of August.

The men are being held until their alleged accomplice is extradited from
South Africa.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said that the process could take
up to four years and that will mean more misery for the four men.


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Lobel's to engage foreign investor

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Eric Chiriga
Tuesday, 26 July 2011 12:53

HARARE - Lobel's Holdings Limited is set to engage a foreign investor as the
troubled bread-maker initiates its restructuring plan, legal advisor Dube,
Manikai and Hwacha (DMH) said.

“We are dealing with a foreign investor, but it is premature for me to
disclose their identity or anything further,” DMH lawyer Edwin Manikai said.
Manikai said Lobel’s was set to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the
investor.

Lobel’s – saddled by a close $20 million debt – is implementing a
restructuring plan or concept frame following approval by creditors and
stakeholders on July 15.

According to the concept frame, put in place by DHM and Lobel’s financial
advisor, CBZ Bank Limited, the new investor will inject working capital to
facilitate reopening of the confectionary makers’ Harare bakery on August 01
and repay creditors by August 30.

“CBZ as the financial advisor has engaged an investor with the financial
capacity and technical competence to resuscitate Lobel’s within the concept
frame,” Manikai, told creditors about a fortnight ago, but refusing to
disclose the investor’s identity.

“The investor will be announced in two weeks,” he said, adding that the
investor wanted guarantees that creditors would not attach further Lobel’s
property and agreed to the moratorium.

According to market reports, since dollarisation in February 2009, Lobel’s
has pursued financing talks with regional investors, including South African
private equity firm Brait, the Industrial Development Corporation, Premier
Foods, the PTA Bank and Standard Bank’s private investment arm.

Locally, it entertained bids from an Interfin Banking Corporation–fronted
consortium.

Lobel’s owes $15 million to banks, including $4, 1 million and $1, 57
million to NMB Bank Limited and FBC Holdings Limited respectively. It also
owes a total $475 000 to 138 other trade creditors.

Manikai said the banks agreed to have their money converted into three year
debentures at 15 percent interest per annum.

He said Lobel’s would pay the 138 creditors, owed $30 000 and below, on
August 30, a month after restarting operations.

Lobel’s will also spend another $3 million in paying 30 percent of non-banks
debts above $30 000 with the 70 percent balance to be converted into one
year debentures.

The restructuring plan will also involve the unbundling of Lobel’s into two
entities namely Lobel’s One and Lobel’s Two.

The group’s assets will be transferred to Lobel’s 1.

Shareholding or capital in Lobel’s One would be 98 percent through
debentures and two percent ordinary shares.

“Lobel’s Two will lease equipment and pay rentals to Lobel’s one,” he said,
adding that the revenue would be used for redemption of liabilities and also
fund working capital.

Manikai said assets in Lobel’s One will form primary security for the
debentures while CBZ and DMH will be appointed trustees.

He said Lobel’s Two shall be given the first right of refusal to purchase
assets from Lobel’s One.

Lobel’s Two will enter into a management and technical services contract or
agreement with Lobel’s One.

Manikai said following the approval legal procedures to be done included
incorporation of Lobel’s One and Two as separate entities, a lease agreement
between the two and the registration of a debenture trust deed.

He said redemption of the creditors’ debentures will be funded by the issue
of debentures in Lobel’s One and its initial public offer.

Lobel’s has a total capacity of 400 000 loaves per day from both its Harare
and Bulawayo bakeries.

As at June 01, the Harare factory produced 95 000 loaves while Bulawayo
produced 45 000 loaves per day.

The Harare bakery was temporarily closed on June 04 due to working capital
challenges and a huge debt overhang.

Lobels – among the largest break makers in Zimbabwe – held a 30 percent
share of Zimbabwe’s 1, 2 million daily bread market.

According to independent observations, Lobel's is valued between $25 million
to $30 million.


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University of Zimbabwe reopens campus residence

http://www.bulawayo24.com/

2011 July 26 19:26:28

The University of Zimbabwe will in the next semester open its hall of
residence to students following the completion of construction of a water
reservoir that has the capacity to serve the whole campus.

After closing its halls of residence for more than three years, the
University of Zimbabwe will finally re-open in September.

This was revealed by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Stan
Mudenge after touring the 2,5 mega litre water reservoir at the university
that is almost complete.

Dr Mudenge said the closure of the halls of residence was a result of water
problems at the institution due to water cuts by the city council, adding
that the reservoir which was built to the tune of US$600 000 allows the
university to have water for three days in times of water cuts.

"In the country's nine universities, shortage of accommodation has become a
perennial problem and as a result, the government has availed funds for the
construction of halls of residents in four of the universities," said Dr
Mudenge.

University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura said
renovations have also been made at the university with two new block of
residential halls built that will see 100 more students getting
accommodation.

"We have this year set aside more halls of residents for female students,
considering that they are more vulnerable to abuse and that there has been
an increase in the number of female students admitted at the university,"
Professo Nyagura said.

The water reservoir will have a test run this week.

Currently, UZ's halls of residence accommodates more than 4 300 students.

Source: zbc


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Mnangagwa: the limits of vuvuzela politics

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

26/07/2011 00:00:00
    by Dinizulu Mbikokayise Macaphulana

THE important truth of the saying that “those whom the gods want to destroy
they first make mad” has painfully manifested itself in the unfortunate and
tragic case of Emmerson Munagagwa, the Gukurahundi mastermind who recently
pronounced the genocide a “closed case”.

As a suspect in a major case of crimes against humanity and genocide,
Mnangagwa’s careless talk approaches the limits of negligent ‘vuvuzela’
politics, where one blows poisonous and inflammatory words into the air
without a thought.

So insulated from reality is the genocidal ‘vuvuzela’ politician that he is
innocent of the grave fact that as he blows away carelessly, Genocide Watch
International has gathered 300 world experts in Argentina who have agreed
that Gukurahundi is “a genocide” and “one of the worst of our generation”.

Not only that, but “perpetrators must be brought to book” is the consensus
and resolution of the gathering of concerned scholars and legal experts.

Closer to home, while Mnangagwa deludes himself about Gukurahundi being a
“closed case”, Mthwakazi Liberation Front has gathered thousands of angry
survivors and victims of Gukurahundi throughout the world who are ready to
die for justice. It is clear that the Gukurahundi case is only about to open
in earnest, if ever it was closed.

Clearly, Mnangangwa will soon learn that his dream that Gukurahundi is “a
closed case” is nothing but a horrific nightmare that is so rich in tragedy
and sadness.

What gives Mnangangwa enough battery power and temerity to approach such a
grave topic as Gukurahundi with playground simplicity and flippancy are the
equally deluded assurances of Matabeleland politicians like Naison
Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Simon Khaya Moyo, Cain Mathema and John Landa Nkomo.
These politicians, who represent no-one as the former ZAPU leaders still in
Zanu PF, have separately issued insulting statements bordering on extreme
provocation to victims of Gukurahundi and survivors of the genocide.

Ndlovu called the people of Matabeleland tiny mongrels “otitisi” who “cannot
hunt” but continue to complain of marginalisation. Nkomo on the other hand
echoed Mnangagwa that Gukurahundi is “a closed matter”. These politicians
and others in Matabeleland have become Mugabe’s appointed prefects whose job
is to calm the victims of genocide and inject them with sedative so that
they can be raped, to borrow Raila Odinga’s terminology.

Instead of being the representative of the people in government, they have
become Mugabe’s fawning constables whose dirty job is to defend the tyrant
whose hands are dripping with the blood of innocent civilians. Civilians who
died for being Ndebele and for being ZAPU, a party that Nkomo and Ndlovu
claim to represent in government. It is sad that the victims of genocide
have not yet put a clear penalty to selling out!

Mnangagwa’s “reasoning” that the late Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe’s
signatures on the 1987 Unity Accord document are seals that Gukurahundi is
“a closed chapter” amounts to what Ronald Suresh Roberts calls “strong
contempt accompanied by weak analysis”. Joshua Nkomo signed the accord to
stop the wanton slaughter of civilians and not to confirm that the many
Gukurahundi mass graves, the countless orphans and millions of aggrieved
exiles are consigned to “closed” chapters of history.

Mnangagwa’s negligent reasoning and careless ‘vuvuzela’ talk amounts to the
idiotic actions of the unfortunate proverbial traveler who provokes a
crocodile before he crosses a river. As sure as the sun will set today and
rise tomorrow, so it is that the victims of Gukurahundi will extract justice
from the perpetrators. This is not a threat but a promise.

In case Mnangagwa thinks we have short memories, the Joshua Nkomo that he
now pretends to respect is the same man that he boarded the same plane with
from Harare to Bulawayo, on his way to arrest him for fabricated charges
about arms caches and other politically motivated confabulations. It is the
same Nkomo that crossed into Botswana through a rabbit hole as Mnangagwa and
Mugabe’s Gukurahundi hounds pursued him, baying for his blood. What
Mnangagwa is doing in pretending to honour Nkomo, is not only to have his
cake and eat it, but also trying to keep a slice for tomorrow.

As Mnangangwa and other genocidaires in Zanu PF continue to somnambulate and
sleepwalk themselves into their impending doom, they continue to bask in the
comfortable, conniving and conspiring “opposition” of Morgan Tsvangirai and
his MDC-T who have repeatedly promised to forgive Mugabe for Gukurahundi.

Whoever sold to Morgan Tsvangirai the foolishness that he has a right to
forgive Mugabe on behalf of Gukurahundi victims and survivors needs to have
their head examined by a competent expert because during Gukurahundi,
Tsvangirai was a loyal and active member of Zanu PF le­ading the youth wing
that over turned Nkomo’s car in Masvingo. Any wonder then that Tsvangirai is
so protective of Mugabe when it comes to the massacres? In reality
Tsvangirai is a lab creature of Zanu PF’s politics of tribalism and hatred.

A few weeks ago, I wrote to confront and at a certain level to condemn Dr
Dumiso Dabengwa’s suggestion that there could be “meaningful dialogue”
between the victims of Gukurahundi and the perpetrators. Mnangangwa’s
inflammatory blowings confirm that the perpetrators have not only acquitted
themselves of their own culpability but also that they are dancing on the
mass graves of their victims by celebrating their imagined innocence in such
an obscene fashion.

Mnangagwa’s indecent words symbolize laughter at the unburied bones of the
innocents and the tears of the orphans. Exactly what Mnangangwa means when
he talks about “healed wounds” of Gukurahundi boggles the ordinary mind. It
is not in the office of the perpetrator to tell the victims that their
wounds have healed.

Mnangagwa’s mockery of the blood of the innocent civilians who perished in
the ethnic cleansing gives weight to the suggestions by the Mthwakazi
Liberation Front that Matabeleland and Mashonaland be restored to their
pre-colonial boundaries and separate existences. It is clear that justice
for Gukurahundi atrocities will not be donated by the perpetrators but it
will have to be extracted by the victims.

A combination of courage and willingness to die for justice by the victims,
and the efforts of international players like Genocide Watch International,
will turn the laughter of the Mnangagwas of our time into tears.

It does not cross Mnangagwa’s mind or that of Zanu PF that out there, there
are angry orphans who did not go to school, who will never be people again;
people who are toiling in exile, enduring disabilities, haunted by memories
of the slaughter and as a result do not believe in Zimbabwean nationalism, a
nationalism that has only massacred them and not protected them as citizens.

It does not occur to Mnangagwa and to Zanu PF that this which appears like
peace in the deprived region of Matabeleland is not peace but silence.
Mnangagwa is blind to the truth that Gukurahundi victims know that even if
the guns stopped in 1987, the genocide continues in other means. The
occupation of Matabele ancestral lands by settlers from Mashonaland; the
de-industrialisation of the region; the denial of water from the Zambezi;
the killing of the language and culture of the people including the arrest
and the torture of Mthwakazi militant s are all manifestations of the
intention of the genocidal regime in Harare to annihilate Mthwakazians.

And  most of all, Mnangagwa forgets that this endangered species of a people
will one day rise to defend themselves and guarantee their continued
existence and future under the sun, and this in Mnangagwa and indeed Mugabe’s
lifetime.
Dinizulu Mbikokayise Macaphulana is a Zimbabwean journalist who is studying
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Bill Watch 30/2011 of 25th July [MTP on Governance; Adverse Report on Mines Indigenisation]

BILL WATCH 30/2011

[25th July 2011]

Both the House of Assembly and the Senate will meet on Tuesday 26th July

Medium Term Plan: Governance and Development

The Medium Term Plan [MTP] was launched on 7th July.  In his foreword the Prime Minister acknowledged that some previous economic blue prints had fallen short on implementation.  The plan lists some of the achievements made under the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme [STERP] in bringing the country from gross economic instability characterized by hyperinflation to considerable economic stability.  This has enabled the government to improve social service delivery, especially health and education; and to bring about some improvements in infrastructure; but there have been only meagre gains in the rights and interests cluster embracing fundamental freedoms and national reconciliation.  The MTP is supposed to build on STERP’s gains and plans to transform the economy during the period 2011 to 2015.   Meeting the MTP’s growth and development targets is optimistically premised on approximately $9.2 billion being harvested from Zimbabwe’s own natural resources and growth dividend.  Foreign direct investment will be considered “a bonus”. [The glossy 285-page MTP document is available from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, 4th Floor, Block E, New Government Complex, Harare.  It is not on the Ministry’s website.] 

The MTP has a chapter on Governance and Economic Development.  Good governance is acknowledged to be “integral to the successful implementation of the MTP”.  Planned measures presented include: 

·        Independent Budget Office for Parliament  The plan envisages Parliament having its own independent non-partisan professional Budget Office to provide information and analysis concerning the national budget to legislators, parliamentary committees, civil society organisations and citizens.  The idea is to enhance Parliament’s understanding of the budget and enable it to debate it with the executive on equal terms, and also to enhance transparency in the use of public funds by enabling citizen participation in the formulation of budgets and monitoring and evaluating the performance of Government. 

·        Anti-Corruption Drive  There is a promise of intensification of Government efforts to crack down on corruption, and to work towards increased accountability and transparency.

·        Transformation of Security Sector  Paragraph 24:13 of the MTP promises that security organs will be transformed “in a manner that enables them to perform their constitutional duties without fear or favour, in defence of the people, the country and its sovereignty”.  The security sector will be adequately resourced and there will be an emphasis on training and ensuring improved conditions of service for the security forces. 

·        Prison Reform  The need to improve living conditions of prisoners is recognized and there are plans to address it.

Mining Sector Indigenisation: Adverse Report from PLC

On Tuesday 19th July the Speaker announced in the House of Assembly that he had received an adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee [PLC] on the requirements for indigenisation of the mining sector gazetted by the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment in General Notice 114/2011 in late March.  Veritas will provide further details as soon as they become available.  [Prominent lawyers have given opinions condemning the requirements as both unconstitutional and ultra vires the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.]

In the House of Assembly Last Week

The House sat on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th.  The Senate did not sit.

Bills

National Incomes and Pricing Commission Amendment Bill – there was no movement on this Bill, so it remained awaiting its Second Reading.  The responsible Minister is Minister of Industry and Commerce Welshman Ncube. 

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill – this Bill was still under consideration by the Parliamentary Legal Committee [PLC] at week’s end.  The PLC could take until the 19th August to come up with its report on the constitutionality of the Bill – or even longer if the Speaker grants it more time.  The House cannot take the Bill further until the PLC has reported.

Motions 

Unconstitutional Statements by Service Chiefs  On Tuesday, debate on Hon Chikwinya’s motion [see Bill Watch 29/2011 of 21st July] lasted for over four hours, with MDC-T and ZANU-PF MPs putting forward sharply differing views.  ZANU-PF members defended the right of military officers to express publicly their personal political opinions, and also insisted that the main culprit identified by MDC-T members, Brigadier-General Nyikayaramba, was not speaking for the Defence Forces.  Debate petered out at 6.47 pm when the number of MPs present fell below the statutory quorum of 25 and the Speaker adjourned the House.

Question Time  Wednesday saw full use being made of the two hours allocated for Ministerial replies to members’ questions.  Topics referred to included:

Police spot-fines for motorists  Co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone told the House that spot-fines collected by police are, with the permission of the Ministry of Finance, retained for use within the ZRP; she also said that there is no law requiring spot-fines to be paid “on the spot” and that people should be give time [“maybe seven days”] within which to pay. 

Sanctions  The Prime Minister assured a questioner that there was no division within the Government on “sanctions or restrictive measures”; from a government point of view the issue was being attended to from “a united position”.

Ratification of UN Convention against Torture  In a question without notice, Hon Madzimure raised Zimbabwe’s continued failure to ratify this convention.  The Speaker directed that the question be put in writing to enable a properly considered response to be given. 

Asiagate Soccer Scandal  The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture said he had only just received the ZIFA report on this matter, and would be raising it with the police and the Attorney-General.

Police Ban on Public Transport in Diamond Zone  Co-Minister of Home Affairs Makone confirmed the existence of a ban on public transport in the Mutsago, Mukwada and Chiadzwa areas “in the interest of state security”, i.e. to keep the area clear of illegal diamond panners.  Private vehicles are allowed to enter under a permit system administered by police, with permits having to be renewed every month. 

Coming up in Parliament This Week

Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review

The Minister of Finance is expected to present his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review in the House of Assembly on Tuesday 26th July.  The Minister has already said he will not be announcing a supplementary Budget, i.e., a Budget increasing the overall revenue and expenditure approved by Parliament for 2011.  But he could still present Amended Estimates of Expenditure proposing adjustments and re-alignments in certain Ministry votes, without changing the original Budget’s overall revenue and expenditure figures.  That is what happened at this time last year, when Amendment Estimates were approved and an Appropriation Amendment Bill passed.

Bills

Electoral Amendment Bill – the Minister of Justice is due to present this Bill in the House of Assembly on Tuesday 26th July.  After presentation the Bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee for the committee’s report on its constitutionality.  [Standing Orders allow the PLC 26 business days – i.e. up to the 2nd September – to present its report, and also allow the Speaker to grant an extension of that period if the PLC requests it.]

Deposit Protection Corporation Bill [H.B. 7A, 2010] – awaiting its Second Reading in the Senate.  

Public Order and Security [POSA] Amendment Bill [H.B. 11A, 2009] – this Private Member’s Bill, long since passed by the House of Assembly, has been held up for months in the Senate pending an amendment to Standing Orders to grant its sponsor, MDC-T MP Innocent Gonese, the right to speak to it in the Senate although he is not a Senator.  The amendment has now come into force, so Mr Gonese at last has the right to present his Second Reading speech and see the Bill through its remaining stages in the Senate.  [Electronic version of Bill as amended by House of Assembly available.] 

 

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