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Fears Zimbabwe's election is being stolen by Mugabe allies through purge of electoral roll

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
 
 
 
Allies of Robert Mugabe have been accused of orchestrating a purge of the country's electoral roll through a secretive Israeli company, raising fears this month's presidential election will be stolen.
 
Allies of Robert Mugabe have been accused of orchestrating a purge of the country's electoral roll through a secretive Israeli company, raising fears this month's presidential election will be stolen.
Nikuv operates from offices within Harare's Ministry of Defence, run by Emmerson Mnangagwa Photo: AFP
Damien McElroy

6:38PM BST 03 Jul 2013

Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, has lodged objections to the activities of a Tel Aviv-based technology firm after research showed drastic changes to the numbers on the roll and anomalies in the distribution of voters.

His concerns were echoed by the independent Zimbabwe Election Commission, which has been unable to account for the role played by Nikuv International in compiling and revising the electoral roll.

Nikuv operates from offices within Harare's Ministry of Defence, run by Mugabe lieutenant, Emmerson Mnangagwa, but refuses to answer questions over its paymasters and its procedures.

Robert Mugabe (EPA)

Zimbabwe is due to hold its first presidential poll since the 2008 general election provoked nationwide violence and forced Mr Mugabe to share government with Mr Tsvangirai in a coalition of rivals.

Findings by Harare's Research and Advocacy Unit show more voters than adults that were registered in the 2012 census are on the roll in about half of Zimbabwe's 210 electoral constituencies.

At the same time the electoral roll has been purged of more than 300,000 "dead" voters nationwide from a total of six million.

Efforts to ensure that Zimbabwe turns the corner on its violent past led to a successful referendum this year on constitutional reforms and subsequent international promises to provide funds for a clean elections.

However Mr Mugabe recently forced through early elections and the subsequent dispute over the release of the funds means the Commission, chaired by Rita Makarau, has no resources to carry out its functions.

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (Reuters)

Mr Tsvangirai's complaint to the Commission said there was evidence in the public arena that Nikuv has a record of 'tampering' with Zimbabwe's voters' roll.

"What are they doing with the voters' roll? Why have they got it and who is paying them, because they are not being paid with government funds," said Eddie Cross, a member of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Campaigners for democracy in Zimbabwe have called for international pressure to ensure Mr Mugabe does not rig the poll using sophisticated computer-based data manipulation.

Kate Hoey, the head of the All-Party Zimbabwe Parliamentary Group, warned that previously sympathetic governments appeared to be changing policy in anticipation of a Mugabe victory.

"These revelations show the need for the UK Government and the rest of the world to turn the spotlight back on Zimbabwe and Mugabe's corrupt and despotic regime," she said. "It is incredible that the human rights abuses and election rigging in Zimbabwe is going on in plain sight but no one seems to care."

The firm at the centre of the allegations said it would not respond to numerous requests for comment.

Calls to Zimbabwe's Ministry of Defence for comment were also unsuccessful.

Justice Makarau said she did not have the staff or funds to investigate the claims.

Tendai Biti, the finance minister and an ally of Mr Tsvangirai, also claimed to be powerless to intervene, claiming he would not be able to find out if the Israeli company has been paid by the defence ministry until the end-of-year audit. "I only know how much money is allocated, not what it is spent on, until later," he said.

The allegations have been denied by Zimbabwe's registrar-general, Tobaiwa Mudede who said the voter registration system is open to the MDC to prove there is no manipulation of the roll to rig the election.


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Prove poll fix claim, Mudede tells MDC-T

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

02/07/2013 00:00:00
     by Staff Reporter

REGISTRAR General Tobaiwa Mudede has challenged the MDC-T to inspect its
systems and prove allegations that plans are underway to fix the next
elections.
Mudede said Tuesday that his office and its systems were open for inspection
by all interested parties as he revealed that the country’s registered
voters had now reached more than six million.

“Those who are worried on what we do are free to come and see our systems,”
he said. “It is not proper for us to discuss those issues in newspapers,”
Mudede told a press conference in Harare.

Zimbabwe is due to hold fresh elections to choose a substantive government
at the end of this month.
But the MDC-T and other political parties have expressed concern over the
state of the country’s voters’ roll as well as the way in which the current
registration exercise was being carried out.

"Clearly the voters roll is a shambles. The registration is often chaotic
and frustrating in urban areas and we see this as an attempt to rig the
elections before voting has even started," MDC-T spokesperson Douglas
Mwonzora said.

Party leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai also urged Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission chair Justice Rita Makarau to investigate allegations
of the involvement of a firm said to be linked to Israeli intelligence
services in in the on-going voter registration exercise.

Meanwhile, Mudede said the more than 400,000 new voters had registered to
vote increasing the number of people on the voters’ role to six million.

He rejected criticism by political parties that the process was too slow.

“As at June 30 2013, the total voter population recorded stands at 6 082
302,” he said.
“(Our officers) are not slow; they are examining a variety of things. Our
people are working hard and in some cases they have gone as far as 10pm,” he
said.

“Reports that we are registering 100 people at some centres are not true.
There has been a lot of registration and the average number of people we are
recording is 400 per day.”


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Madhuku says court will uphold July 31st poll date

http://www.swradioafrica.com/
 
 

By Violet Gonda
SW Radio Africa
3 July 2013

President Robert Mugabe has accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of sending mixed messages on the controversial issue of elections dates, as the political parties gear up for the much-awaited hearing on the poll date in the Constitutional Court.

In heads of arguments filed by his lawyers in the ConCourt this week, Mugabe is quoted as saying it is ironic that Tsvangirai is persisting with his legal challenge against the July 31stelection date, even though he has submitted nomination papers to contest in the presidential polls on that day.

Mugabe argues that electoral procedures are at an advanced stage and that the rights and expectations of people who filed their nomination papers last Friday will be violated if elections are delayed.

The ConCourt will hear a number of election related urgent applications, including an appeal by Tsvangirai and MDC leader Welshman Ncube, who both want the ConCourt to extend the voting date from July 31st, to allow the implementation of reforms.

There are already conflicting opinions from legal experts on what is likely to be the outcome of Thursday’s hearing. Constitutional expert Dr. Lovemore Madhuku believes the election extension case will be thrown out by the ConCourt, saying it has no basis in law, but another expert, Derek Matyszak, says either way there will be a constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe after the ruling.

The MDC leaders were caught off guard last month when Mugabe unilaterally declared the election date and used the Presidential Powers Act to bypass parliament to pass amendments to the Electoral law.

But in his heads of argument, filed by his lawyers on Tuesday, Mugabe says he used the presidential decree in order to meet the poll deadline that was set by the same court.

In a judgment delivered on May 31st by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, representing the nine judge panel, the ConCourt said elections are due upon the dissolution of Parliament on June 29thand ordered that the polls must be held not later than the 31st July.

Mugabe’s lawyer Terrence Hussein said: “Had the President awaited Parliament to enact the amendments, he ran the risk that the timeline set by the court would not have been met.”

Hussein added: “The suggestion that he is required to consult with the applicant (Tsvangirai) is misplaced as the Presidential Powers Temporary Measures Act do not contain such a provision nor does the Eighth Schedule to the former Constitution.”

Mugabe is responding jointly with Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa who, in papers filed earlier, told the court that he was forced to apply for a delay by the MDC formations and a request that came from the regional body SADC.

Mugabe also told the court that his coalition partners appeared before a SADC extraordinary summit instead of dealing with the issue back home.  “As a high ranking public officer of this country, one would have expected him (Tsvangirai) to defend his country’s courts. He, however, unequivocally did the opposite,” Mugabe said.

Madhuku told SW Radio Africa that Thursday’s hearing will be a straightforward one and will be ‘dismissed’ by the judges. “Any genuine lawyer will tell you that there is no basis for that kind of hearing. If there was any basis before the nomination court there will be no basis now after the nomination court and after the automatic dissolution of parliament.”

He added: “I am sure the lawyers involved must be receiving huge sums of fees to be pursuing this matter after the dissolution of parliament.”

However Matyszak said the Presidential Powers Temporary Measures Act cannot be used to amend the Electoral Act and that Zimbabwe will have a constitutional crisis either way. “We are going into the election with either an unconstitutional election date, or an unconstitutional Electoral Act and most likely both. Not a good start,” Matyszak said.

Madhuku disagreed, saying the ConCourt will make a decision first on whether the regulations promulgated by the President were validly enacted and the “court will say they were validly enacted. And so there is no crisis.”

Interview Dr. Lovemore Madhuku


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Mugabe, Tsvangirai Lawyers Fight Over Election Date

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Blessing  Zulu
03.07.2013

WASHINGTON DC — President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
lawyers spent the second day Wednesday filing opposing papers ahead of a
Constitutional Court hearing Thursday to determine the election date.

Lawyers representing Mr. Tsvangirai filed papers in the courts to counter
arguments filed by the president’s lawyers Tuesday.

Mr. Mugabe’s lawyers argued that it was ironic that Mr. Tsvangirai was
persisting with his papers challenging the election date yet he had already
successfully filed papers to run for the presidency.

They also allege that Mr. Tsvangirai was following the dictates of Southern
African Development Community not the court.

The lawyers were responding to an earlier challenge by Mr. Tsvangirai in
which he wants Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation of an election date to be struck
down and polls to be delayed to allow for further reforms.

The prime minister also alleges that Mr. Mugabe abused his presidential
powers.
Mr. Mugabe’s lawyer, Terrence Hussein, said Mr. Mugabe does not want to be
part of those calling for an extension of the election date.

But Mr. Tsvangirai’s lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said they still want the court to
void Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation.


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Voter registration nightmare continues for ‘aliens’

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
SW Radio Africa
3 July 2013

With six days to go before the end of the 30-day mandatory voter
registration exercise, thousands of potential voters countrywide are still
facing bottlenecks to get their names on the voters roll.

This has led to calls for the government to overhaul the system of voter
registration, by introducing biometric voter registration for the 2018
elections. They said the technology will give the electoral system more
transparency and accountability, as well as increase public confidence in
the democratic process.

James Maridadi, an aspiring MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Mabvuku-Tafara
in Harare, said thousands of residents in the constituency are still
battling to acquire the proper documents to register as voters.

The Mabvuku-Tafara constituency that Maridadi is eyeing is historically
resident to thousands of Zimbabweans whose parents were mainly from Malawi
and Mozambique.

The high density suburb was built in the early 1960’s to accommodate
domestic workers who worked in the then Salisbury’s leafy suburbs, such as
Highlands, Greendale and Eastlea. Most of these workers of foreign origin
eventually married and raised children.

But the majority of these children, most of whom are now middle aged, were
categorized as aliens until the adoption of a new constitution in May this
year. Under the new charter they can apply for Zimbabwean citizenship. The
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has been urging those previously
classified as ‘aliens’ to apply for national identity documents reflecting
the changed status.

However, thousands of them are still being disenfranchised by officials from
the registrar-general’s office who are making them run around in circles to
get the proper documentation.

Kimberley Nyatsanga, who’s been overseeing the MDC-T’s push to register as
many people as possible in Mabvuku-Tafara, said instead of being served at
the mobile registration centres, the ‘aliens’ are being told to go to
Makombe building that houses the headquarters of the Registrar-General’s
offices.

‘They are sent to room 100 at Makombe but the bottlenecks that they still
face there is unbelievable. When the exercise started, government announced
that renouncing an alien ID and getting a residence permit would cost
nothing, but officials are charging $10 per individual,’ Nyatsanga said.

He revealed that thousands of potential voters in the constituency have
failed to sign on to the electoral roll and are just stuck at Makombe
building.

‘I think it’s a political plot to block the new and young voters, especially
those they come from MDC-T strongholds in the urban areas. I can tell you
that today in Mabvuku, we had over 350 people who started queuing at 4am to
register but by 1pm only four residents had been served as there was just
one official manning the office.

‘Yet in areas like Murehwa, they are scores of such centers registering
thousands a day. Visit any ZANU PF strongholds you will see how easy it is
to register,’ Nyatsanga added.

Speaking to the state media, Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede said as of
June 30th at least 476,313 new voters had registered, while 142,624 voters
had transferred from their initial voting centers. He said 595,746 people
had inspected the voters’ roll, with 337,030 others acquiring national
identification cards. He added that total number of names on the voters roll
now stands at
6,082,302.


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SABC switch-off a blow to millions of Zimbabweans

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Nomalanga Moyo
SW Radio Africa
3 July 2013

Millions of Zimbabweans have been dealt a blow after the South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) turned off free access to its channels
Tuesday.

The loss of SABC channels, which the majority of Zimbabweans were viewing
through free-to-air decoders, will force many to watch the boring state-run
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as the Dead BC.

Announcing the switch-off, the SABC said in statement that from July 1st
viewers will only be able to view its channels through the newly-introduced
Vivid decoder, which comes with a range of features aimed at limiting free
access.

For example, anyone hoping to purchase the new decoder will need a smart
card/decoder number, South African proof of residence, valid identification
and a valid TV licence.

In addition, the decoders which are available from signal carriers Sentech,
TelJoy and Elsat, will not work outside South Africa.

Zimbabweans can access South African TV channels by subscribing through
MultiChoice but, costing between $10-$95, this is too costly and
unaffordable for most people who are either unemployed or on average earn
$150 per month.

Zimbabweans shared their disappointment with local media, saying the
switch-off had robbed them of a key source of entertainment and current
affairs. Others lamented the loss of children’s programmes which they said
were educational.

Those who spoke to SW Radio Africa said it was unfortunate that they were
now going to be forced to listen to ZANU PF propaganda that is broadcast by
the ZBC.

“When we had the SABC, I could easily switch channels when ZBC started
broadcasting its propaganda, but now that is all gone,” Mandla Tshuma said
from Bulawayo.

Another Bulawayo resident Chris Moyo, bemoaned the lack of variety on ZTV,
adding that with the elections around the corner, there will be no respite
for ordinary Zimbabweans who will be subjected to non-stop ZANU PF
propaganda.

However, Zambia-based Zimbabwean journalist Herbert Chikosi said this was a
wake-up call for all Zimbabweans to take up the campaign for media reforms
seriously.

Writing on his Facebook page Tuesday, Chikosi said: “When many of us were
calling for media reforms, Zimbabweans called us names and hinted it was a
war for the journalists to fight alone.

“Now that SABC has switched them off, I hear them crying foul . . . This is
what we have been saying (that) the ZTV we have is not the public
broadcaster we want. I am very patriotic but ZTV, eish. Media Reforms NOW,”
Chikosi added.

Patience Zirima, coordinator at freedom of expression lobby network the
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, said with SABC channels gone, Zimbabweans will
realise just how much they have been deprived of by the government’s refusal
to carry out media reforms.

“The free SABC channels ensured a diversity of news sources, entertainment
etc and this is a wake-up call to everyone, including ordinary Zimbabweans,
to say is one TV channel really enough?

“Yes the switch-off is inconvenient but this is also an opportunity for
everyone to start calling for media reforms to ensure that more players are
licenced to provide the much-needed diversity and plurality.

“We would also want the ZBC to be reformed so that their programming
reflects what the public wants instead of the current partisan, hate-filled
items,” Zirima added.

The SABC switch off follows an order granted to Botswana TV channel eBotwana
(a sister company to SA’s commercial station e.tv), by a SA high court
compelling the state-owned Sentech to scramble its signal in a bid to
prevent pirate viewing.

This effectively closes the loophole that was giving millions people from
Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Botswana, and other neighbouring countries, free
access to SABC’s popular soaps such as Generations, Muvhango, Zone 14 as
well as sports programmes.


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Baba Jukwa hits harder

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

FUNGI KWARAMBA  •  3 JULY 2013 8:34AM

HARARE – Popular secrets-spilling character Baba Jukwa has reached 200 000
followers on Facebook, escalating a push for the removal of President Robert
Mugabe’s Zanu PF from power in the pending polls.

In the run-up to the general elections, the faceless Facebook character is
carrying out opinion polls to find out voter preferences for the five
presidential candidates confirmed at the Nomination Court last Friday.

These are President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai,
Welshman Ncube leader of the smaller MDC, opposition Zapu leader Dumiso
Dabengwa and Kisinoti Mukwazhi.

Baba Jukwa, who claims to be a disgruntled Zanu PF official who broke ranks
with the party over grotesque corruption and brutality, is presently
mobilising the nation to go out in numbers and register to vote
notwithstanding the long queues and chaos that have characterised the
soon-to-end mobile voter registration exercise.

“Zimbabwe don’t just be happy here, we need action. Help us in building a
better country,” said Baba Jukwa on his Facebook page. “Please go out in
numbers and register to vote. We are still welcoming plenty of Vapanduki
(rebels from Zanu PF) and we expect more by the end of the day.

“Don’t forget to inbox us names of those victimising you countrywide so we
setup a good example to the evil people and its security henchmen.”

At the time of going to press last night, Baba Jukwa, who joined social
platform Facebook in March, had surpassed 205 224 ardent followers.

With such a staggering following, Baba Jukwa is dominating discussions, not
only among affected Zanu PF officials but also among many ordinary folks who
cannot go a day without clicking his page for the “latest” inside detail in
Zanu PF.

In a daily blizzard of posts, Baba Jukwa has waged an infuriated information
war against Zanu PF.  His seemingly accurate predictions have rattled the
rank-and-file in the former ruling party, insiders told the Daily News.

Baba Jukwa, who remains a mystery, has published phone numbers of
politicians, police members, intelligence agents and army officers he says
are committing heinous sins against civilians and encourages Zimbabweans to
phone them.

The growing list of Baba Jukwa followers and the details he churns out has
rattled Zanu PF officials with Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere
admitting last week that the mole was destabilising his family life.

There is renewed fright that Baba Jukwa’s accurate prediction of Edward
Chindori-Chininga’s death is a harbinger of sinister things to come.

Riding on the crest of popularity, Baba Jukwa says he is going to reveal
more dirty secrets to add to the list of top officials who he says are in
line for assassination from a camp that is up against reformists.

In May, Baba Jukwa claimed to have foretold the sudden death of a top
intelligence commander who was declared a national hero.

He claimed the top agent was poisoned by colleagues. He further claims to
have foretold a road accident that involved a Zanu PF politburo member.

With the nation now in election gear, Baba Jukwa is unrelenting in churning
out what appears to be Zanu PF and government dark secrets.

He claims he heads a grouping of persons from the revolutionary party
totalling 30 000 called Vapanduki (rebels) prepared to make sure Zanu PF
loses the next elections.

Baba Jukwa is also warning of “shenanigans from Zanu PF to rig elections.”

“All opposition parties must know that my evil party is registering every
Zimbabwean with an ID especially those in the ??Diaspora, they went through
the immigration office and took names of those outside the country and
registered them countrywide and their so-called cell chairpersons will vote
on behalf of everyone to give my evil party more numbers,” Baba Jukwa wrote
in a Facebook post on Sunday.

But Zanu PF says it is not concerned about Baba Jukwa.

“We are not worried at all about Baba Jukwa because he wants to cause
confusion and conflict within the party, but he won’t get it,” Zanu PF
spokesman Rugare Gumbo said.

But despite feigning composure, sources in Zanu PF say the party has
deployed well-oiled machinery that is working round-the-clock to sniff out
Baba Jukwa, fearing his destabilising effect could haunt the party ahead of
elections that Mugabe wants held at the end of July.


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PM's aide steps up fight for Supreme Court referral

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

HELEN KADIRIRE  •  2 JULY 2013 11:10PM

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s aide Thabani Mpofu on Tuesday
accused Attorney General (AG) Johannes Tomana and his prosecutors of being
corrupt and insisted that their case be referred to the Supreme Court bench.

Mpofu, is jointly charged with Warship Dumba, Mehluli Moyo and Felix
Matsinde of being found in possession of dockets that could have been used
to discredit the judicial system.

Mpofu, who is still testifying on why their matter should be referred to the
Supreme Court, said they do not want to be prosecuted by officers of the AG’s
office.

He argued that if their matter was successfully ?referred to the Supreme
Court, the court would find merit in hearing their case.

“They should not prosecute us,” Mpofu said. “We want an independent legal
practitioner to be in charge of this case. I am confident the Supreme Court
will not find our case frivolous and vexatious but will find the prosecutor’s
opposition to this application frivolous and vexatious.”

Prosecutor Micheal Reza however, argued that their rights were not infringed
as everything happened within the confines of the law and all procedures
were observed.

“The accused persons’ rights were not infringed other than their right to
freedom which is expected when a person is lawfully arrested as is in this
case,” Reza said.

Their matter will continue on July 11.

Allegations against Mpofu and his colleagues arose on March 17 when
detectives received information that they were in possession of dockets they
were privately compiling to discredit the judicial system.

It is alleged the dockets contained information that the police and the AG
had failed or refused to investigate cases of corruption involving prominent
government officials among them Tomana and police commissioner-general
Augustine Chihuri.

A team of detectives went to Mpofu’s residence and found some of the
documents, including a laptop and a pistol.

It is alleged the suspects indicated that they were legal advisors to the PM
and researching on corruption and criminal abuse of office and the
appointment of Chihuri.

Investigations by the police further revealed that the accused are being
bankrolled by Institute of Democratic Alliance of Zimbabwe, the court heard.


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200 Zanu PF Protesters Besiege Party Headquarters

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Thomas Chiripasi
03.07.2013

HARARE — Zanu PF supporters Wednesday besieged their party’s headquarters
demanding an audience with President Robert Mugabe over the alleged
imposition of House of Assembly candidates in Harare South constituency as
tensions in the former liberation party grow ahead of this year’s elections.

More than 200 party supporters thronged the party’s headquarters complaining
against the alleged imposition of one Shadreck Mashayamombe as the party’s
candidate in parliamentary elections that will be held concurrently with the
presidential poll this year.

The angry supporters waved placards at the entrance of the party’s
headquarters. Some of them read, “President please help us, we don’t want an
imposed candidate”.

They also demanded the return of their former legislator Hubert Nyanhongo,
who has switched base and will now be standing for Zanu PF in Nyanga South
constituency in Manicaland province, after winning primary elections held
last week.

With the nomination court having sat to register candidates who will contest
in various constituencies, it seems highly unlikely the wishes of the angry
Zanu PF supporters will prevail.

Studio 7 was barred by police officers manning the Zanu PF headquarters from
talking to the demonstrators before the party’s chairperson for Harare
province, Amos Midzi, reportedly begged the demonstrators to leave because
Mr. Mugabe was attending a politburo meeting at the offices.

Sources said the politburo urged the party’s cadres to work towards
re-uniting the party’s membership following the divisive primary elections.
The politburo, sources said, also deliberated on preparations for the launch
of the party’s 2013 election campaign at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields
set for Friday.

The so-called rebel issue is also causing problems in the Morgan Tsvangirai
led Movement for Democratic Change formation. On Wednesday, the prime
minister ordered all party members who filed nomination papers to stand as
independent candidates in this year’s election to unconditionally withdraw
them or risk expulsion.

Mr. Tsvangirai, who says he is confident he will beat President Mugabe in
the presidential poll, is in Masvingo to deal with the issue of the
so-called rebels as five House of Assembly constituencies in the province
have disgruntled members standing as independent candidates.

Addressing party structures in the province, Mr. Tsvangirai said those who
do not heed his call are free to join other political parties.

He admitted the party’s primary elections were not perfect but said in the
end no-one was a loser as the big goal is to unseat Zanu PF in the next
elections.

Mr. Tsvangirai is expected to launch his party’s election campaign in
Marondera on Saturday.

Studio 7 failed to get a comment from Midzi and Zanu PF national
spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, who said he was attending a politburo meeting.

Meanwhile, President Mugabe has urged all party candidates for the election
to meet at the party’s headquarters Thursday ahead of the party’s 2013
campaign launch Friday.


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Zanu primaries chaotic: Mutasa

http://www.thezimbabwean.co/

03.07.13

by Edgar Gweshe

Zanu (PF) has admitted that its just ended primary elections were marked by
chaotic clashes among supporters, which analysts have said creates room for
electoral sabotage in the coming elections.

In an interview with The Zimbabwean, Zanu (PF) Secretary for Administration,
Didymus Mutasa, admitted that his party’s primary elections were chaotic and
had left the party in a weakened position ahead of polls.

He said the clashes were a result of a lust for power among party members.

“You have to understand that the primary elections were a competition for
political power. In any competition, you cannot expect people to be in total
agreement with each other,” said Mutasa. “During the primary elections,
party members were rivals and it is common that you would expect them to
fight for political office.”

Mutasa said that after the infighting during the primary elections, the
party’s focus was now on restoring a sense of order and unity.

“Of course there were clashes but it is not a major crisis and we are
regrouping with a focus on ensuring victory in the forthcoming elections,”
said Mutasa. He said his party was rallying its members and supporters to
have a common cause in the next elections.

The public media has tried to put a positive spin on the manner in which the
primary elections were conducted.


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Mliswa clashes with provincial chairman

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

MUGOVE TAFIRENYIKA  •  3 JULY 2013 8:23AM

HARARE - Temba Mliswa, the Hurungwe West aspiring Zanu PF MP has claimed
that Mashonaland West provincial  chairman  John Mafa unsuccessfully tried
to block his candidature for the parliamentary seat.

The claims by the outspoken businessman-cum-politician come hardly a week
after he was confirmed as the party candidate for the constituency.

Mliswa told the Daily News that Mafa, who lost to party national commissar
Webster Shamu in the primary elections in Chegutu East, had called him just
before the sitting of the Nomination Court informing him that President
Robert Mugabe was opposed to his candidature.

“There are people in the party including the provincial chairman Mafa who
were opposed to me and other comrades’ candidature,” Mliswa said.

“After they had failed to stop us in the primaries, they attempted to stop
us at the Nomination Court by alleging that the president was opposed to our
candidature and had ordered our withdrawal.

“The chairman actually phoned to inform me about that and he indicated that
the message had also been communicated to party secretary for administration
Didymus Mutasa.”

Mafa however, denied the allegations.

“It is a lie, I actually signed Mliswa’s papers and if the president had
instructed that he should not stand, I was not going to sign,” Mafa said.

“People are just trying to be slanderous and want to have us fight against
each other using you the Daily News, musashandiswa ne mhandu”.

Didymus Mutasa, the Zanu PF secretary for administration, said Mugabe did
not bar Mliswa from representing the party.

“I don’t think that the president said that, people are lying and being
mischievous,” Mutasa said.

The former ruling party’s primary elections held last week were largely
shambolic with allegations of vote rigging which has seen dozens from
various constituencies countrywide demonstrate at the party headquarters and
some even threatening to sabotage the party in the poll.


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11 journalists enter parly race

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

FUNGI KWARAMBA  •  2 JULY 2013 10:54PM

HARARE – Eleven journalists have entered the 2013 poll race, lining up to
represent Zanu PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC in the
forthcoming polls.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) welcomed the entry of the scribes
into the race, saying if they win, then media practitioners would have a
voice in Parliament.

“At its meetings held on February 1 and 2 and on May 22, 2013, the National
Council of the Union, the top decision- making body in between congresses
resolved to endorse the candidatures of all participating journalists
regardless of party affiliation,” Foster Dongozi, ZUJ secretary- general
said.

“This was on condition they do not use violence and hate speech during their
campaigns.”

Swapping the newsroom or studio for political life is not new in Zimbabwe
with the likes of Information minister Webster Shamu and former legislator
Kindness Paradza, both from Zanu PF, now seasoned politicians.

However, the list has been swelling in recent years as the likes of Eric
Knight, Ezra Sibanda and Supa Mandiwanzira were successfully nominated last
Friday.

Knight, who was based in the United Kingdom for almost 10 years, is
contesting the forthcoming general elections on an MDC ticket and will
tackle Zanu PF politburo member Tendai Savanhu in the volatile Mbare
Constituency.

Another former disc jockey, Sibanda, is targeting the Vungu Constituency
again on an MDC ticket.

Journalist Makhosini Hlongwane, Zanu PF MP for Mberengwa East, is hoping to
extend his term as legislator.

Businessman and broadcaster, Mandiwanzira is eyeing Nyanga North seat where
he is seeking to dislodge the MDC which has been growing in popularity in
Manicaland.

Other journalists also eying parliamentary seats include Geoffrey Nyarota,
who after losing the race to represent the MDC in Makoni South to Pishai
Muchauraya is now standing as an independent candidate.

Seasoned journalist Grace Kwinjeh is also on the MDC line-up along with
James Maridadi, who is eyeing the Mabvuku Constituency.

Former disc jockey Malaki Nkomo and Ladislus Ndoro will be representing Zanu
PF in the forthcoming elections in Insiza South and Murewa West
respectively.

“We...hope to work with them (journalists) if they make it into Parliament
in areas that affect the welfare, safety and protection of journalists among
other issues,” said Dongozi.


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ZANU PF slams SA’s ‘terrier’ Lindiwe Zulu

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
SW Radio Africa
3 July 2013

Robert Mugabe’s party has once again used public forums to slam a senior
member of the South African mediation team, Lindiwe Zulu, with the ZANU PF
loyal state media publishing angry comments from the party.

Zulu, who is South African President Jacob Zuma’s international relations
advisor, has repeatedly been the subject of ZANU PF anger in her role as
part of Zuma’s mediation team. Together with Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac
Maharaj and South Africa’s special envoy, Charles Nqakula, the SADC
appointed team has been tasked with helping facilitate a democratic
political transition in Zimbabwe.

Zulu, who often speaks on behalf of the team, has received praise from other
quarters for speaking plainly about the failures of ZANU PF to engage
effectively with her team. This includes ZANU PF’s numerous snubs of
meetings with the team and ongoing refusal to fully implement the Global
Political Agreement.

Most recently, Zulu over the weekend said that SADC ‘hoped’ that Zimbabwe’s
election date of July 31st would be extended by a month. And it is these
comments that have once again infuriated ZANU PF.

The party’s mouthpiece newspaper the Herald, on Monday published an
editorial which called on Zuma to “tether his terrier”, in reference to
Zulu.

“While Ms Zulu assuaged her oversized ego over the years by arrogating
herself the role of facilitator, SADC spokesperson and Godmother of our
political processes to the extent of not only challenging SADC
pronouncements but even the Constitutional Court ruling that harmonised
elections be held by July 31 this year, she forgot that she had no locus
standi before the SADC,” the Herald said.

Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba then said in another article
that: “There is a SADC resolution that states that government has to lodge
an application to the Constitutional Court so that the court can decide on
an election date.”

“Now we have some lady called Lindiwe Zulu who is not the SADC appointed
facilitator of Zimbabwe but a mere back staffer who is making an executive
pronouncement in place of President Zuma, who is the facilitator, against
the resolution by SADC,” he said.

“What is worse,” Charamba said “is she is addressing herself on the affairs
of a sovereign country and trying to dictate the outcome of the
Constitutional Court.”

McDonald Lewanika, the Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, said
this angry reaction from ZANU PF is “fairly predictable even though it is
unwarranted.”

“ZANU PF doesn’t like straight shooters, people who tell it like it is. And
unfortunately for them Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu is that kind of person. She
tells it like she sees it, she abides by the truth and she takes no
prisoners in her approach. And her approach has exposed ZANU PF in terms of
their non compliance with the GPA, in terms of their stalling of
negotiations and stuff like that,” Lewanika told SW Radio Africa.

Lewanika said that the reaction clearly shows that ZANU PF is ‘uncomfortable’
with the mediation style displayed by Zuma and his team. Zuma’s predecessor,
Thabo Mbeki, was roundly criticised by ZANU PF opponents and other critics
for his ‘softly softly’ policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’.

“This is just about ZANU PF wanting a mediation and facilitation team that
they have in their pockets or who is an ally to them… The Mbeki situation
was one they were comfortable with. So really it (the reaction) is about the
loss of an ally for ZANU PF,” Lewanika said.


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Obama fundraiser pushing for ZANU PF re-engagement

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
SW Radio Africa
3 July 2013

A chief fundraiser for US President Barack Obama is leading a push for
re-engagement with the ZANU PF regime, to secure his business interests in
Zimbabwe.

The fundraiser, Elzie Higginbottom and his wife, reportedly contributed
US$400,000 to President Obama’s campaign tour between 2008 and 2012. They
also donated generously to both Obama inaugurations.

Higginbottom has openly admitted seeking to build a business relationship in
Zimbabwe, despite the targeted restrictive sanctions the US has in place
against the Robert Mugabe regime. These measures, implemented in response to
human rights abuses and vote rigging by ZANU PF, prohibit Higginbottom from
delving into business in sectors he has shown an interest in, namely
Zimbabwe diamond mining.

According to a report by South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper
Higginbottom, a real estate tycoon, has confirmed that his company had “been
seeking business opportunities in Zimbabwe for several years”. Internal ZANU
PF documents seen by the South African newspaper suggest that the Zimbabwean
military hoped that a delegation of Chicago businessmen, led by Higginbottom
in 2011, would lean on key members of the Obama administration to reverse,
or ease, the US sanctions. The security forces, according to the documents,
were also keen to enter into negotiations with Higginbottom to form a
joint-venture diamond mining company in 2011.

Higginbottom has distanced himself from any connection with the
controversial diamond sector, saying: “We are no longer pursuing any diamond
interests,” because “the Zimbabwe state diamond entities engaged in the
diamond trade are sanctioned and thus we have eliminated this area from our
potential ventures.” He has also insisted that his interests in Zimbabwe
have “solely been related to business. We have no political agenda.”

A source quoted by the Mail & Guardian said Higginbottom still retained the
services of a geologist in Zimbabwe, who Higginbottom said was “looking into
other possibilities.” However, according to another source connected with
military leaders in Zimbabwe, Higginbottom was “interested in exploring the
recently discovered diamonds in the Bikita area, near Devure in Masvingo
Province. They made it clear that they were not interested in politics, but
that they were remaining behind while the Chinese and Russians were moving
forward.”

US based political analyst Dr. Maxwell Shumba called Higginbottom’s actions
“self centered” and “unethical”, arguing that any interested Western
investor should be pushing for free and fair elections to take place in
Zimbabwe first.

“Those who are interested in Zimbabwe can come then, because the holding of
free and fair elections will help create a conducive environment for
business….when Zimbabwe holds free and fair elections all tools of
repression will be removed and anyone who cares to do business in Zimbabwe
will be welcome,” Shumba told SW Radio Africa.

He added: “I don’t think it is okay or morally right for a person to do
business with a clique of corrupt officials for their own benefit.”

Ironically, the report on Higginbottom’s interests in Zimbabwe comes as ZANU
PF has expressed anger over comments made by President Obama, who has called
for reforms to take place in Zimbabwe to guarantee a free and fair election.
Obama was speaking inn South Africa over the weekend, during his recent tour
of African nations. His comments about Zimbabwe saw him being blasted in the
ZANU PF mouthpiece Herald newspaper, which quoted party loyalists who
berated the US leader for ‘meddling’.


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Villagers in court for invading State farm

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

02/07/2013 00:00:00
     by Staff Reporter

A GROUP of nine villagers have appeared in court charged with illegally
invading a State-owned farm in Umzingwane District and wreaking havoc on the
property as they allocated themselves farming plots and housing stands.

The nine villagers, from Mbalabala farming area appeared before Esigodini
magistrate Lungile Ncube on Tuesday after they tried to take over Mziki farm
without following laid down procedures.

They however pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to Wednesday.
Prosecutor Eric Murinye said the villagers invaded the farm at the start of
last month and proceeded to allocate themselves plots, in the process
cutting down trees and burning vegetation as they prepared to build their
homes.

The court heard that the farm had in fact been allocated to the 35-member
Phambililokuthula Cooperative under the government’s land reform programme.

The case was reported to the police at the end of last month leading the
arrest of the nine villagers.


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China still Zim’s biggest foreign investor

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

02/07/2013 00:00:00
     by Business Reporter

CHINA remained Zimbabwe's largest investor in the first five months this
year, accounting for 74 percent of the US$134 million of the foreign direct
investments pouring into the country, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Chinese businesses invested US$81.2 million in the manufacturing sector, and
another US$16 million in mining between January and May 2013, according to
the government’s investment promotion agency, Zimbabwe Investment Authority
(ZIA).

The other top investors to Zimbabwe were Mauritius, investing 11 million
U.S. dollars in mining and service sectors, and South Africa, injecting 7
million U.S. dollars in mining.

Zimbabwe is recovering from the abyss of a decade-old economic meltdown
characterized by the hyper-inflation in 2008.
After the authorities abolished the worthless Zimbabwe dollar and adopted a
range of currencies including the U.S. dollar, foreign investments slowly
began to trick in.

Last year, the Zimbabwe Investment Authority approved US$929 million of FDI,
among which 72 percent were from China.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti said last month that uncertainty around the
general elections had been holding back the country's economic growth so far
this year.


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MDC Mudzi west candidate receives live bullets


The MDC Bulletin
:: Issue 20
:: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
MDC Mudzi West candidate receives live bullets
Ushe Menard Paradzayi the MDC parliamentary candidate for Mudzi West in
Mashonaland East on Monday morning found 10 live bullets strewn on his
doorstep.
Paradzayi who is the MDC district chairperson for Mudzi West said he woke up
on the morning of Monday to find five bullets of the FN type and five
bullets of AK47 rifles.
He immediately called the police and told them about the incident since he
felt threatened. The matter was investigated by a one Jana from Mhangura
Police Station who said he would investigate the matter.
He said despite the threats, he is determined to fight for his party.
“I will not back off, I will remain resilient, focused and courageous until
l achieve my goal of being the MP of Mashonaland East”, said Paradzayi.
________________________________________
ENVRONMENTAL SCAN
Voter Registration

MDC Women’s Assembly sign petition against voter reg delays
The MDC Women’s Assembly chairperson, Theresa Makone today signed a petition
that will be presented to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) by several
women organisations over the delays by the Registrar of Voters’, Tobaiwa
Mudede in ensuring that they register as voters in the next elections.
Thousands of women who have been disenfranchised by the slow process in
registering to vote in the coming elections will on Wednesday hold a march
in central Harare before presenting their petition to the ZEC chairperson,
Justice Rita Makarau.
In their petition, the joint women’s organisations petition, the women say
they want to register and demand that the voter registration exercise must
be conducted in a gender responsive manner that,
a. Creates separate queues for women and men,

b. Give first preference to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers women with
children and the elderly women,

c. Give special attention to women with disabilities,

d. Set aside specific days for women only to register to vote.

e. That ZEC must facilitate decentralised and more registration points in
order to minimise distances travelled by women.


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Mugabe and the Junta will not succeed this time if Zimbabweans keep their eye on the ball

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Wilbert Mukori
Wednesday 03 July 2013

In 1975 the white regime in Rhodesia passed a law stating that anyone who
committed any, otherwise unlawful act, “in the hope of suppressing
 terrorism” would not be prosecuted in a court of law. This was a carte
blanche license to kill blacks who supported in anyway the fight to end
white colonial exploitation and oppression.

Many black students tried to hold peaceful demonstrations to protest the
passing of this law and they were refused permission to do so. They were
beaten and tear gassed if they failed to disperse quickly enough.

White students held demonstrations in support of the law and they were
granted police escorts, met the government officials of their choosing, plus
received newspaper, radio and TV coverage.

Fast forward to April, May and June 2008. The whole country was on fire. The
Mugabe and Zanu PF government deployed hundreds of security personal to
assist the Zanu PF militia and war vets to harass, beat, rape and even kill
ordinary Zimbabweans, to force them to vote for Mugabe in the presidential
run-off election in June. Mugabe had been beaten in the March vote.

On Sunday 1st July 2013 the Zimbabwe Independent reported that Joint
Operations Command (JOC) had deployed teams of security personal drawn from
the police, army, CIO and Prison Services; to every corner of Zimbabwe. Yes,
this has every sign of a rerun of the 2008 elections.

Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, a staunch Mugabe loyalist who has
repeatedly and publicly said he will not accept a Tsvangirai victory, is
heading this JOC team in Manicaland.

There is every reason for the nation to be fearful of this JOC deployment
just as there is nothing legal about this Junta JOC itself.

JOC is composed of Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, Zimbabwe National
Army Commander Constantine Chiwenga, the Heads of the other security organs,
CIO and Prison Services, and other key state organs, Minister of Defense
Emerson Mnangagwa and a select few other Zanu PF leaders headed by Mugabe
himself. For the last 10 to 15 years it is this Junta that has ruled
Zimbabwe, making all the key political and economic decisions.

Parliament has been largely reduced into a rubber stamping body; necessary
to give the outside appearance that Zimbabwe still has parliamentary system
of government.

After the March 2008 vote in which Mugabe is widely believed to have been
beaten by Tsvangirai, by a wide enough margin to make the run-off
unnecessary, it was the Junta that delayed the announcement of the results
for five weeks while it planned what to do. It was then that it hatched the
plan to:
a)    cook the result denying Tsvangirai the 50% plus 1 and thus made the
run-off necessary and
b)    Deploy the security personal teams to every corner with instructions
to harass, beat, etc. in what became known as “operation mavhotera papi”
(who did you vote for).

The Junta had been involved in all manner of underhand operations before,
but operation mavhotera papi took the members and their henchmen to a
totally new level of political intrigue and criminality. Up to then Zanu PF
had shed a lot of blood to establish and sustain the dictatorship but it was
all done covertly. In operation mavhotera papi the harassment, beating,
raping and murders were all done openly with the view of forcing the people
against their will to vote for Mugabe.

In December 2009 at the Zanu PF party Congress Mugabe tried to rationalize
and justify Operation Mavhotera Papi by saying the country’s security sector
emerged from Zanu PF, the party of the revolution, and therefore those
serving in the police, army, etc. must support Zanu PF.

All nonsense of course, because, the struggle for independence was about
freedom, liberty human rights and a fair share in the nation’s wealth for
all Zimbabweans. Mugabe and Zanu PF have betrayed the word and spirit of the
struggle to secure for themselves absolute power for selfish gains.

The security sectors, like all other state organs, should have been left
alone to perform their duties and functions without fear, favour and in a
non-partisan way, as is normal in any democracy. The calls for security
sector reforms of the last five years were meant to cut this unnatural
umbilical cord that has resulted in the police, army, etc. abandoning their
core duties to the nation and being co-opted to become Zanu PF thugs.

Mugabe does not want the reforms because without the police and army forcing
the people to vote for him, he will not win any election as the March 2008
vote showed.

“Every one of the commanders from the police, air force, army, then combined
forces, prison service, they all are commanders deriving from the struggle.
All of them, they fought the struggle. Tsvangirai ran away from the
struggle. He actually ran away!” Mugabe made another go at justifying why
there could be no security sector reforms.

“And they (security services chiefs) are the protectors of the nation, you
cannot tamper with an army.” Mugabe argued. The nation should not tamper
with them because they are in “armed struggle mode”!
The country gained its independence 33 years ago. What “armed struggle mode”
is Mugabe talking about after all these years?

The only reason why these security chiefs are still in “armed struggle mode”
is the same reason why all the Zanu PF loyalists in all the other state
institutions, and the politicians, including many in the MDC, are being
generous rewarded and given their share of the spoils of absolute power. It
is no secret that most, if not all, security chiefs have big farms plus
other very lucrative business interests. The late General Mujuru’s amassed a
wealth is rumored to be billions of dollars!

Well “armed struggle mode” or not – whatever that is supposed to mean – the
reality is that all these political machinations, first resisting democratic
reforms and now deploying security hit squads, are about keeping Mugabe and
the Junta in power and thus keep the loot flowing, whilst keeping the regime’s
murderous past under wraps.

The fact that Tsvangirai did not fight in the struggle is immaterial. The
hit squad would have been deployed and would have carried out their dirty
work with just as much zeal against a former freedom fighter as long as
he/she threatened Mugabe and the Junta’s strangle hold on power.

What the Junta has been ignoring, but cannot do so any more, is that the
status quo is both politically and economically unsustainable.

Three decades of gross mismanagement, corruption and looting have created a
tiny minority who are filthy rich but at the expense of millions who have
been forced into a life of abject poverty and despair. How can any nation
justify the complete collapse of the country’s education and health
services, the lack of water and electricity, whilst Mugabe is amassing $5
billion from the sale of the Marange diamonds? Or worse still, whilst an
even bigger fortune is being ferreted out of the country by the Lebanese and
Chinese, Mugabe’s business partners in Marange.

They are flying out plane loads of diamonds worth probably 10 to 100 times
more than whatever they are giving Mugabe. A recent parliamentary report by
the late Chindori-Chininga showed that government is not aware what is
really going on in Marange. This criminal waste of the nation’s resources,
whilst the people are wallow in misery, must stopped.

On the political front the Junta cannot continue to deny millions of
Zimbabweans their basic rights, or more specifically the right to a free and
fair election (the very things the nation fought for and many died for in
the struggle for independence) under the pretext that it is the West, not
the people, who are demanding these things.

But more significantly the Junta must realize it will not get away with the
wanton violence of 2008. If there is violence the international community
will once again refuse to accept Mugabe as “legitimately” elected, as
happened in 2008. This time SADC will certainly not bail him out with
another GPA/ GNU.

Hardliners like Douglas Nyikayaramba will not see the futility of using
violence again. The time of running with the hare and hunting with the dogs
is over. People like Nyikayaramba will be issuing commands to beat, rape and
even kill. The rank and file police and soldiers must however refuse to
carryout questionable orders. Let these hardliners do their own dirty work.

I have nothing but contempt for racists like Ian Smith, but hold tyrants
like Mugabe in even greater contempt. Ian Smith never treated his fellow
whites the way Mugabe has been treating his fellow blacks. It is disgusting
that anyone should ill-treat a fellow human being but it takes a moral
degenerate to beat, rape and murder his own kith and kin.

Ian Smith is akin to the whites who bought and owned slaves two centuries
ago. Robert Mugabe is akin to the blacks who hunted down and sold their
black kinsmen and kinwomen to the white men for a piece of calico cloth and
a handful of beads!

Self-government has proven to be so problematic in Zimbabwe these last 33
years because of leaders like Mugabe who have no qualms about selling their
own fellow blacks’ hopes, dreams and very lives for whatever they can get.

After 33 years of denying the people their very humanity and hope, instead
of apologizing to the nation the Junta has the temerity to rub salt and
pepper into the open wound it inflicted by threating that they are still in
“armed struggle mode” and should therefore not be “tampered” with. Such
contemptuous arrogance and disregard for the suffering and deaths of others
must be repaid with the same currency – contempt.

This election is not about Mugabe vs Tsvangirai or Zanu PF vs MDC. This
election is about Mugabe and the Junta vs the good people of Zimbabwe.

No doubt Mugabe and the Junta will once again try to steal these elections.
But they will not succeed this time if Zimbabweans keep their eye on the
ball and reject those who have sold them these last 33 years for pieces of
calico cloth and handfuls of beads!

Good night!


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http://nehandaradio.com/
 
July 3, 2013

Five years ago communities lost lives due to Politically Motivated Violence. This week the Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) pays homage to the lives of the following heroes and heroines who died in 2008 as a result of politically motivated violence.

Over the years Mugabe’s regime has deployed serving and retired soldiers into non-military structures, to ensure Mugabe remains in power.

Over the years Mugabe’s regime has deployed serving and retired soldiers into non-military structures, to ensure Mugabe remains in power.

These individuals lost their lives between 23 and 29 June 2008 with causes of death varying from assault, abductions to outright murder.

The violence resulted in most families losing not only their bread winners but also lost their sources of livelihoods since 90% of the victims were men who were responsible for fending their families.

HZT therefore intervened by carrying out memorial services for the deceased as a way of affording the families a chance to mourn the deceased and ultimately, find closure. The organization also capacitated the communities through various income generating projects meant to restore their livelihoods.

All the cases listed below were recorded during a HZT fact finding mission.

Area, Name of Deceased, Date of Birth

Manicaland-Buhera

Silas Manyere 28/06/2008

Mashonaland Central-Chiweshe

Hama Madamombe 24/06/ 2008
Joel Lewis Musiiwa 28/06/2008
ManjeraWedzerayi 28/06/2008

Mashonaland Central

Guruve Tendayi Mukwenya 23/06/2008

Masvingo-Gutu

Urayayi Mandingo 25/06/2008

Manicaland -Headlands

Mafi Tafundikere Gumare 25/06/2008
Aquiline Sanzenga Gumare 25/06/2008
Robert Ziyenga Musima 25/06/2008
Jessica Musima 25/06/2008
Manomano Ndawi 27/06/2008
Taurai Kamuchira 27/06/2008

Mashonaland East

Mutoko Tom Peter Butawo 28/06/2008

Mashonaland East-Uzumba- Maramba Pfungwe

Paradzayi Katandika 27/06/2008

Elections and Violence

On 24 and 25 June 2000, the first Parliamentary election since independence, in which ZANU-PF faced real opposition were held. The newly formed Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) challenged ZANU-PF’s control of Parliament.

According to international observers, extensive electoral fraud and intimidation of voters occurred during this election. The election marked the rebirth of a culture of violence and impunity in Zimbabwe. -Financial Gazette.

On 24 June 2008, Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai formally submitted a letter of withdrawal from elections to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

This came after he made an announcement on 22 June of withdrawing from the 27 June election run-off, stating that “….Conditions as of today do not permit the holding of a credible poll. We can’t ask the people to cast their vote on June 27 when that vote will cost their lives. We will no longer participate in this violent sham of an election…..”

The MDC President cited political violence against his supporters by suspected ZANU PF supporters as the reason for the withdrawal-. Financial Gazette.

On 25 June 2008, The Head of the 2008 SADC Election Observer Mission, Mr. Jose Marcos Barrica issued a statement expressing the mission’s deep concern on widespread politically motivated violence in the country. He appealed to the relevant authorities, particularly supporters of political parties and candidates to refrain from all forms of political violence. The Mission also urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that there was law and order in the country.Financial Gazette.

On 26 June 2008, ZCTU district chairperson for Chivhu, Tinashe Murau, was beaten up by suspected ZANU PF militia just before the 27 June Presidential Runoff. He sustained several injuries including a broken arm. He was beaten after the youth militias questioned him on why he wore ZCTU t-shirts.in the area-www.sokwanele.com.

On 28 June 2008, 46 members of the General Agriculture Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), an affiliate of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union, (ZCTU) sought shelter in Harare after they were harassed and beaten up by suspected youth militias. The members included men, women and children. -www.sokwanele.com.

On 29 June 2008, President Robert Mugabe was declared the winner of the second round of elections. On the same day, he was sworn in for another term as President.-The Herald.

On 26 June 2013, Zimbabweans were expecting a Supreme Court verdict on election dates. This came after SADC recommended that the date be extended for two weeks from the 31st of July. This was based on the fact that there is insufficient time for meaningful reforms that guarantee a peaceful environment conducive for free and fair polls. The verdict was however postponed to 4 July 2013.-DailyNews.

Hate Speech

On 25 June 2008, Political activists used hate speech to intimidate voters in the run-up to the 27 June election run -off. Addressing mourners at the funeral of Retired Lieutenant General Amoth Chimombe in Zaka East, Major General Engelbert Rugeje said

“… this country came through the bullet not the pencil therefore it will not go by your X of the pencil. Today, I came here by helicopter with the late Chimombe’s body. The next time I will come to Jerera, the helicopter will be full of bullets. You know what you did…”

Here he was referring to the March 2008 election results where MDC won three out of four Parliamentary constituencies in the Zaka District.

During the same event, former Finance Minister, Samuel Mumbengegwi also said that“…this is up to you, if you want peace, you should vote for us, if you vote for MDC, we will go to war…”-Financial Gazette- 19-25 June 2008.

On 22 June 2013, Mary Mubaiwa–Chiwenga, the wife of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga was on a countrywide tour of army barracks where she addressed army officials.

In her speech she said“…let us not take our freedom for granted, let us not sell our country for the love of working for whites, and let us not sell our country for the love of people who do not love us. How does one person and lots of advisers facilitate for the demise of their country? How does a person facilitate for our dear Zimbabwe to be left on its knees?Let us unite and fight the enemy within. I urge all of you to register and vote correctly and by correctly I mean RG Mugabe…” This clearly shows how partisan and unprofessional the Zimbabwean army is.- Newsday 22 June 2013.

Transitional Justice For the UN system, Transitional Justice ( TJ) is the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation.

It consists of both judicial and non-judicial processes and mechanisms, including prosecution initiatives, facilitating initiatives in respect of the right to truth, delivering reparations, institutional reform and national consultations.

Whatever combination is chosen must be in conformity with international legal standards and obligations. TJ mechanisms have been carried out in other countries and in most cases managed to record some significant progress in terms of spearheading the national healing process.

HZT takes a glimpse of what transpired in Rwanda and Iran after periods of conflict. From these examples, one can note that national healing is possible in Zimbabwe and it only takes a genuine commitment on the part of Zimbabweans to spearhead the process.

In June 2008, Rwandan Priest killers pleaded guilty to charges of murder committed during the 1994 genocide. Kigali Archbishop, Vincent Nsengiyumva, was among the 13 clerics murdered in the incident at a church in central Rwanda on 5 June 1994. Many of the priests killed were Hutus.

The soldiers who killed them were at the time members of the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), now the ruling party of President Paul Kagame. Following the massacres, in Rwanda an International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was established in 1994 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 955.

It was established to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda between January and December 1994.

From the Rwandan experience, it can be deduced that justice should first take its course before any call for national healing and reconciliation in any given society.When individuals are held liable for atrocities committed, healing and reconciliation can be attained.

In June 2012, a Truth Commission was set up to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran to account for the massacre of thousands of political prisoners throughout the 1980s.

The commission was established against a milieu of escalating human rights abuses in the country as reported by the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Dr Ahmed Shaheed.

It heard the testimonies of people who escaped the prisons and those whose family and friends were executed in the 1980s prison massacres. Their testimonies were heard by an international panel of experts.

The exact number of prisoners executed remains unclear, however, Amnesty International recorded the names of more than 4,480 political prisoners reportedly killed during that time. Iranian opposition groups suggest that the number of prisoners executed was far higher and as many as 30,000 may have been killed.

The Truth Commission was followed by a further tribunal hearing at The Hague in October 2012. As the country heads towards another round of national elections, there is need to remind the Government of thousands of human right cases awaiting for justice……

It is possible for Zimbabwe to W.A.V.E- Win Against Violent Elections.


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