Harare indigenisation focus turns to private schools

http://www.businessday.co.za

Hotels, private schools, sports facilities, engineering and construction
companies, and the telecommunications and energy sectors will be expected to
comply with rules on local ownership within a year
RAY NDLOVU
Published: 2012/07/04 06:33:28 AM

THE Zimbabwean government has expanded its indigenisation campaign to
include hotels, private schools, sports facilities, engineering and
construction companies, and the telecommunications and energy sectors.

A notice in a government gazette dated last week but made public yesterday,
indicated that businesses in these areas would be expected to comply with
rules on local ownership within a year, fast-tracked ahead of elections
likely to be held in the first quarter of next year.

Business Day could not establish yesterday whether the powersharing Cabinet
had approved the takeover of the new sectors listed in the government
gazette, but a senior official in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office,
Jameson Timba, said yesterday that the move by Indigenisation and
Empowerment Minister Savior Kasukuwere was "regrettable".

"Those schools are owned by public trusts and there are no shareholders. To
that extent, there are no shares to alienate or sell to anyone," said Mr
Timba.

Zanu (PF) spokesman Rugare Gumbo said he was not "up to date" with the
latest plans in the indigenisation ministry, but was certain these would
uphold the Zanu (PF) policy of empowering locals.

Meanwhile, foreign-owned banks operating in the country will be required to
meet indigenisation regulations by month-end.

Nedbank , which owns MBCA, and Standard Bank ’s Stanbic, which both posted
impressive financial results in the year ending April, are among the foreign
banks trading in Zimbabwe that will be affected.

Sources at Barclays Zimbabwe said last month that the bank had agreed to
start the implementation of the contentious indigenisation policy by
transferring a significant portion of shares to employees.

Standard Chartered is also understood to have already submitted
indigenisation proposals to Mr Kasukuwere, although details were not known.
Standard Chartered’s stake is valued at $30m.

National Indigenisation and Economic Board chairman David Chapfika insisted
that the takeover of foreign-owned banks and the newly listed sectors would
go ahead in spite of concerns of dire consequences for the economy. "There
are no sacred cows, there is no special sector. At this point saying the
banking sector is special would be foolhardy," he said.

Mr Kasukuwere, who has been locked in a war of words with Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono — who warned him in May "not to come near my
banks" — is certain to clash with more Cabinet colleagues as he turns up the
indigenisation heat in their sectors.

Education Minister David Coltart, Power and Development Minister Elton
Mangoma — who are linked to the Movement for Democratic Change party — and
Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi of Zanu (PF) are likely to clash with
firebrand Mr Kasukuwere.

Officials at the different ministries canvassed by Business Day indicated
yesterday that they were still trying to figure out what steps to take next
now that their sectors had come onto the radar of the indigenisation
programme.

Trevor Maisiri, a political commentator based at the International Crisis
Group in Johannesburg said: "If this expansion is about creating conditions
for indigenous people who want to enter these sectors, then it is
progressive.

"The moment it becomes about taking over established entities without paying
fair value for them and without necessarily creating business partnerships
between indigenous people and foreigners, then it is retrogressive for the
country."

Tony Hawkins, an economics professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said the
lack of clarity and contradictory statements on the indigenisation programme
made it difficult to know what to do next.

"What is being indigenised? Is it money or brand names? The truth of the
matter is that the majority of Zimbabwe’s banks are already indigenised," he
said.

Zimbabwe bid to take over schools illegal -minister

http://af.reuters.com

Wed Jul 4, 2012 9:33am GMT

* Private schools targeted along with mines, banks

* Coalition gov't sharply divided over policy

HARARE, July 4 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's bid to force private schools to come
under majority black control under a much contested empowerment law is
illegal, the country's education minister said on Wednesday, highlighting
divisions within the coalition government over the policy.

A government notice issued last week by empowerment minister Saviour
Kasukuwere gave foreign-owned banks and private schools a year to comply
with a law requiring 51 percent shareholding by local blacks.

But Minister of Education David Coltart, a member of the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) party in a coalition government formed with
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF, said the directive was illegal.

"This action is unlawful, unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable,"
Coltart said on his official Twitter account.

Coltart also told the state-controlled Herald newspaper on Wednesday that
Kasukuwere had previously assured him that private schools would not be
targeted under the empowerment drive.

He said most private schools, formerly the preserve of whites but are now
largely multi-racial, were owned by churches and trusts.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who is sharing power with long-ruling
Mugabe in a shaky coalition, has also sharply criticised the empowerment law
and said Kasukuwere's latest announcement does not reflect the cabinet's
position.

Kasukuwere, a Mugabe ally, has already forced mining companies such as Rio
Tinto and Impala Platinum , the world's second-largest platinum miner, to
turn over majority stakes in their local units to black Zimbabweans.

Gono asks Mugabe to intervene in bank shares row

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

04/07/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

CENTRAL Bank Governor, Gideon Gono said Wednesday he would seek President
Robert Mugabe’s intervention as the row over the takeover of foreign-owned
financial institutions escalated after Empowerment Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere ordered the banks to transfer majority control to locals within a
year.

Gono, who is out of the country on business, has launched a scathing attack
on Kasukuwere and National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board
chairperson, David Chapfika, saying they were not “fit and proper persons”
to be involved with banks.

“The fact that the two main proponents of the recent illogical moves have
presided over the failure of their two banks before, namely Unibank and
Genesis, calls for Solomonic wisdom on the part of Zimbabwe’s population and
leadership,” Gono said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Ordinarily, anyone who was near a failed bank is not a fit and proper
person to deal with banking matters or to ever own, run or talk about the
ownership of a bank again until cleared by the central bank; his is a
universal practice.”

Chapfika was involved in the collapsed Unibank while Kasukuwere was
reportedly one of the shareholders in Genesis Bank which surrendered its
licence after failing to meet the minimum capital requirements.

Gono said President Mugabe would give final direction regarding Kasukuwere’s
notice ordering foreign banks to reduce shareholding in their local
operations to 49 percent, which he dismissed as “devoid of detail and
rationality”.

“The Zimbabwean banking sector needs to be advised that there is no law that
provides for arbitrariness on the part of anyone and/or expropriation of
banking assets in Zimbabwe yesterday, today or tomorrow,” he said.

“I will soon be consulting with and obtaining further guidance from
President Mugabe on the latest moves by the Minister in relation to the
sector that I superintend, the Banking Sector, and his instructions will be
final in the manner in which we will proceed.

“Until such guidance is received from the President, we regard the
regulations as gazetted as devoid of detail and rationality as they are
contradictory in many respects with existing laws in the country such as the
Banking Act and the RBZ Act which stand at par with any other law in the
country except the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”

Gono, along with Finance Tendai Biti have long opposed Kasukuwere’s bid to
force banks to comply with the indigenisation legislation, warning the
programme could destabilise a key economic sector.

Kasukuwere says he is simply implementing the law and accuses the foreign
banks of undermining economic recovery and growth by refusing to lend to
black Zimbabweans. British-based Barclays and Standard Chartered banks as
well as Stanbic, which is owned by South Africa’s Standard Bank, dominate
the sector.

Gono said the RBZ was ready to issue new licences to individuals keen to own
banks, giving the example of Mines Minister Obert Mpofu who now owns ZABG
bank.

“As the Reserve Bank, we repeat our earlier invitation to any Zimbabwean
wishing to start a bank to come forward with their application and we will
give them a licence to join the sector at 100 percent ownership than waste
money taking over other people's banks,” he said.

“The example of Minister of Mines Dr Obert Mpofu who came forward with his
money and sought permission to take over ZABG bank which was ailing then is
a case in point.

“We gave him two years within which to regularise the ownership structure of
that bank to a maximum of 25% for any single shareholder which he committed
to do but for the time being he has put in money and is a 99,9 %
shareholder.”

Gono, who has been pushing an alternative empowerment model, said the money
is banks did not belong to foreigners but to the depositors adding that the
foreign equity component was no more than 20 per cent.

He repeated earlier warnings that Kasukuwere’s forced equity transfers would
not benefit the ordinary people insisting: “You do not need to be a rocket
scientist to realise that someone is (trying) to take Zimbabweans for a
ride!”

The RBZ chief also dismissed claims he was protecting foreign banks because
they had advanced loans to his family businesses.

“It has falsely and mischievously been suggested in some quarters that as
governor, I am protecting the foreign banks because I owe them huge amounts
in the form of loans given to my family business entities,” he said.

“Well, for the record, my family and I have had business dealings with
Barclays and Standard Bank dating back to 1977 (Barclays), 1980 (Standard
Chartered), 1996 (Stanbic Bank). At present, I do not owe any of these banks
a single penny by way of loans or facilities.”

Zanu PF abandons Gono

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By Staff Reporter 12 hours 41 minutes ago

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono’s battle to save
foreign-owned banks from Zanu PF’s indigenisation crusade has suffered a
major blow after government gazetted new regulations ordering such banks to
cede their majority shares to locals.

The regulations, contained in a Government Gazette published last Friday,
effectively mean that Gono is now at the mercy of Indigenisation and
Economic Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who last week went into a
rage when this paper asked him to comment on his feud with the governor.

Gono and Kasukuwere have exchanged bitter words over the minister’s
insistence that foreign-owned banks must sell their stakes to locals after
forcing major mining companies to do the same.

The RBZ chief has argued that such a move would be a final nail on Zimbabwe’s
comatose economy, but the move to gazette the regulations could mean that
Zanu PF has left him out in the cold.

He, however, has support from Finance minister Tendai Biti, who yesterday
insisted that Kasukuwere’s mode of indigenisation of banks would not work.
Biti maintained that the government position on banks had not changed.

“Gono is out of the country at the moment and when he comes back, we will
hold a joint Press conference to announce that nothing has changed and that
banks will not be touched,” he said.

“The central bank and the Ministry of Finance have always said the banks are
sufficiently indigenised . . . so we should protect the goose that lays the
golden egg.”

Gono, who once warned against “dishing out threats to sensitive institutions
that are custodians of people's hard-earned savings”, had all along boasted
that he had support from Zanu PF’s presidium in the fight to save banks from
indigenisation.

He revealed this at a function where he sat alongside Vice-President John
Nkomo in Bulawayo early this year.

He described Kasukuwere’s statements on banks as a sign of “irrational
exuberance during these times of necessary soberness”.

“Tendencies towards firing harmful verbal economic gunpowder must be
minimised by all stakeholders in the interest of the economy and the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe board forewarns people playing with economic gunpowder to
leave the game to those well-trained in its use and safe custody, lest the
unintended will happen, to everyone’s future regret,” Gono once warned.

Kasukuwere hit back at Gono saying: “We cannot run a nation based on profane
language.

“Let’s respect the laws of the land and not personalise issues.”

Kasukuwere has received support from Zanu PF-linked politicians and
activists who claim the banking sector must not be treated as a sacred cow.

Mugabe — who has stood behind Gono even after demands by his inclusive
government partners that he be relieved of his duties — has steered clear
from commenting about the banks.

A top Zanu PF insider, who refused to be named, dismissed Kasukuwere as “a
daydreamer”.

“He has been talking about indigenisation since 2009, but nothing tangible
has really happened,” the source said.

“This is just an aspiration and we can only say there is indigenisation when
someone has paid up and there is a transfer of shares. There is no money.
Who has $300 million to pay for Zimplats shares? Who has $30 million to buy
Stanchart?”

He said companies that had indigenised like Schweppes had done so
voluntarily with local consortiums pooling resources to buy shares.

Mugabe has said the indegenisation programme is a way of hitting back at
countries that imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe. - NewsDay

ZBC to broadcast Chinese news programmes

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
04 July 2012

Viewers will have more reason to switch off from an already stale Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation after the station entered into a deal that will see
them broadcast Chinese news programmes for the next three years.

On Monday ZBC chief executive Happison Muchechetere, and Luo Ming from China
Central Television (CCTV), signed a Memorandum of Understanding spelling out
the terms of the deal.

It was reported that CCTV will, among other things, provide ZBC with the
necessary equipment to receive the programmes. The deal however is not
expected to help ZBC arrest a shocking decline in audience figures.

Several SW Radio Africa listeners in Bulawayo criticised ZBC for choosing to
promote Chinese programming when there were a lot of groups in the city
being starved of publicity for their activities.

In February a Zimbabwe All Media Products and Services Survey (ZAMPS)
revealed that only 24 percent of the population now watches ZBC TV, down
from 38 percent in 2008. Listenership of its radio channels also slumped to
a new low.

ZBC over the years has allowed itself to become nothing more than a campaign
platform for ZANU PF. Viewers have switched off, choosing instead to invest
in satellite dishes and watch foreign stations.

A coalition government formed in February 2009, to stem the tide of brutal
ZANU PF violence, has also failed to reform ZBC’s biased coverage. The ZANU
PF information minister has blocked all attempts at reforming the broadcast
sector.

Human rights NGO Forum director charged by police

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
4 July 2012

The executive director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Abel Chikomo,
has been charged by the police for allegedly running an ‘illegal’
organization.

Chikomo received the summons on Tuesday and the case has been set to go for
trial on 25th July, according to the chairperson of the forum, Irene Petras.

The police charge has raised eyebrows within the NGO community as it comes
barely two months after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay, visited Zimbabwe. Her five day visit seemed to have
unsettled top ZANU PF officials, with party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo saying
her tour was a ploy for military intervention.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa’s Hidden Story program, Petras said this latest
move by the police was just the start of a planned clampdown against human
rights defenders in Zimbabwe.

‘We are quite surprised that the police say Chikomo is running an
organization that is not registered. That forum has been in existence for a
long time and we will get to the intricacies of the legal aspect if at all
the case goes for trial at end of this month,’ Petras said.

Petras, a lawyer by profession, said that the Forum is operating entirely in
accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe, adding that it was difficult to
understand why they were continuously harassing Chikomo.

In the past year, police have been summoning Chikomo to various stations for
interrogations and it was only on Tuesday that they decided to lay charges
against him.

Petras added that the persecution of NGO’s and civil society goes wholly
against the spirit expected of a government that should be making moves
towards reform

Meanwhile High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, on Thursday granted
the 29 MDC members facing false charges of murdering a police officer, the
right to appeal for bail at the Supreme Court. Justice Bhunu first denied
them bail just before the start of the trial in May.

Defence lawyer, Charles Kwaramba told us they were now working on the new
bail application that they will file at the Supreme Court soon.
‘This is good news, it’s a step in the right direction forward and I hope it’s
the start of better things to come for clients who have been in custody for
a long time now,’ Kwaramba said. The trial of the 29 members will resume
next week following a week long break.

Knives out as military turn on Mnangagwa

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
4 July 2012-07-04

More daggers have been drawn against Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, as
the political jostling to succeed Robert Mugabe in ZANU PF becomes more
intense and vicious.

A storm has been gathering in Mnangagwa’s bid to take over, once Mugabe is
out of the equation. The ZANU PF strongman was dealt a serious blow with
respect to his political influence within the party when the politburo last
week disbanded the District Coordinating Committees.

The decision was made in his absence when he was on working visit to China,
leading many to believe his influence in the party is waning. A source told
SW Radio Africa that hardly anyone who attended the politburo meeting last
week attempted to speak in his corner.

‘There are many candidates with an eye on the highest office in ZANU PF now.
Most have deep roots in the liberation struggle and have been colleagues
with him until ambitions clashed. Then things have been getting murky with
the military now planning to dislodge him,’ our source said.

Newsday reported on Wednesday that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has
been sucked into ZANU PF’s worsening internal fights, amid claims that a
group with links to serving and retired soldiers has embarked on an
elaborate smear campaign against Mnangagwa. It was reported that a group of
soldiers were now working overtime to ‘kill’ Mnangagwa’s ambitions.

Newsday claimed it has seen an internal document detailing how the military,
with help from ZANU PF director of commissariat Retired Air Marshal Henry
Muchena ( linked to the Mujuru faction) is connected to the plot.

The same document claims Muchena was targeting Mnangagwa’s business empire
with named Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials being allegedly used
to investigate his multi-million dollar deals.

‘I think what some of these guys in the military have done is to take a
critical look at Mnangagwa’s chances of winning against the MDC’s Morgan
Tsvangirai. After critical analyzing and realizing he cannot win against
Tsvangirai, they’ve decided to take a stand before it is too late.

‘The military guys believe if Mnangagwa is the ZANU PF presidential nominee
it will have an adverse impact on the party candidates running for
parliamentary and council seats. He is a one-man-band who rarely takes
advice from anyone, so the soldiers are deserting him,’ the source added.

On Tuesday we reported that Mnangagwa was left stunned by the politburo’s
unprecedented decision to disband the party’s District Coordination
Committees.

ZANU PF has been divided into two distinct factions following the
controversial DCC elections in May. It is understood that ZANU PF is clearly
split between the Joice Mujuru brigade and the Mnangagwa cabal.

Since the elections Mnangagwa and Mujuru have intensified their fierce
battle to succeed Robert Mugabe as the party leader and possibly president.

Air Zimbabwe Suspends Flights As Mugabe Ditches The Airline

http://www.radiovop.com

By Professor Matodzi Harare, July 04, 2012 -Ailing Air Zimbabwe has
suspended domestic flights barely two months after it resumed flights as it
emerged that President Robert Mugabe only utilised the airline’s aircraft to
connect his Singapore flight in Johannesburg.

The struggling airline suspended its domestic flights to Harare, Bulawayo
and Victoria Falls on Monday after grounding one of its Boeing 737 aircraft,
which had been servicing the routes to let it undergo a corrosion check
commonly known as C-check.

A C-Check is a maintenance check where most components of the aircraft are
checked and some replaced.

Air Zimbabwe resumed flight services in early May after grounding its planes
for almost four months since January when it suspended domestic, regional
and international flights chocked by debts, industrial action by key
personnel including pilots and engineers and fear that some of its planes
could be seized to recover debts.

Mugabe flew to Singapore on Monday for what state media called a “routine
medical check-up” and is expected to return back in the country at the
weekend where, an Air Zimbabwe’s long haul plane will ferry him to Harare
from Johannesburg after his Singapore flight.

The suspension of flights is the latest setback for the airline which is now
famous for poor service and bungling and had been battling to regain
passenger confidence.

The grounding of Air Zimbabwe’s planes is just but one of the woes affecting
the national flag carrier. Once one of the best airlines in Africa, Air
Zimbabwe has been run down due to successive years of mismanagement and
inadequate funding.

Cops summon Galz director over Mugabe insults

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Staff Writer
Wednesday, 04 July 2012 14:20

HARARE - Police on Tuesday summoned Chesterfield Samba, the director of the
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (Galz) for allegedly undermining the authority
of or insulting President Robert Mugabe in contravention of Section 33 of
the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Samba, who was accompanied by his lawyer, Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights reported at the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s CID drugs
section after he was summoned by detective assistant inspector (DAI)
Mupandawana on Monday.

Mupandawana and the officer in charge of CID drugs section identified as
Chibvuma interrogated Samba over the operations of Galz and advised that the
police intended to charge the organisation for contravening Section 33 of
the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The police claim that in 2010, Galz displayed a plaque of former San
Francisco Mayor Willie Lewis Brown, Jr in their office in which the
African-American denounces Mugabe’s homophobia against gays and lesbians.

These charges were initially pressed against two Galz employees Ellen
Chademana and Ignatius Mhambi when they were arrested in 2010 but they were
never prosecuted on these charges.

The two Galz employees, who stood trial for allegedly possessing
pornographic pictures in contravention of Section 26(1) of the Censorship
and Entertainment Control Act (Chapter 10:04) were acquitted in 2010.

Samba is expected to return to the CID drugs section today in the company of
his lawyer to furnish the police with a letter advising them of who the
legal representative of Galz is. — ZLHR

Gov't Meets Civil Servants Over Pay, But Offers Nothing

http://www.voanews.com

04 July 2012

Jonga Kandemiiri | Washington

The much-anticipated National Joint Negotiating Council meeting between
civil servant and government representatives in Harare Wednesday failed to
produce positive results with officials bringing nothing to the negotiating
table.

The meeting was expected to discuss civil servants' salaries and working
conditions but state officials seemed oblivious of the agenda, angering
union leaders.

The government, through its team led by mines permanent secretary Prince
Mupazvirihwo, then asked the union leaders to present their proposal for the
rise.

Mupazvirihwo and his team, after then discussing the union's position on
salaries, requested the civil servant representatives not to disclose
figures they presented to the government for consideration saying this may
trigger unnecessary price increases with shop owners anticipating their
biggest customers may soon have disposable incomes.

But sources said the Apex Council, led by chairperson Tendai Chikowore,
presented its demands of at least $560.00 for the lowest paid government
worker, currently earning $296.00 per month, a review of all allowances and
better conditions of service.

Since January civil servants have been trying to push for a salary review to
no avail, even after downing tools for one day. The government insists that
it does not have the money to for increments.

Chikowore told the VOA that government officials promised to come back to
them within the next seven days with a response on the figures they
presented Wednesday.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe general secretary Raymond Majongwe
said the government was trying to buy time, especially with officials coming
to the meeting without a position.

Politburo plots Masunda ouster

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Zanu (PF) has devised a plan to push Harare Mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda, out of
office saying he is frustrating their efforts to regain control of the
capital ahead of the next general elections, The Zimbabwean has learnt.
04.07.1211:36am

by Staff Reporter

But a defiant Masunda has dismissed the Zanu (PF) bid as futile. According
to information leaked to this newspaper by a member of the Politburo, the
party’s decision-making body, members are concerned that Masunda was heavily
involved in a housing project in Kuwadzana that could give political
leverage to the rival MDC-T.

The issue of the housing project and Masunda’s perceived dilution of Zanu
(PF) influence were discussed at a recent Politburo meeting, according to
the source.

“The Politburo expressed concern at Masunda’s involvement in the proposed
Kuwadzana 2 housing project, which Zanu (PF) fears will put the MDC in good
stead ahead of next elections,’’ said the Politburo member.

The Politburo meeting was told that Zanu (PF) had gathered intelligence
indicating that Masunda had sourced about $3m from a named local bank to
fund the project, which is expected to benefit about 18,000 people.

‘‘It was resolved that Masunda must be stopped as the project will clearly
hand over the constituency to MDC-T,’’ said the source. Nelson Chamisa, the
MDC-T National Organising Secretary, is the sitting Member of Parliament for
Kuwadzana.

The Politburo expects Ignatius Chombo, the Local Government Minister, to
charge Masunda with incompetence or other derelictions and then fire him.
Chombo has already fired or suspended mayors and councillors from Harare,
Chitungwiza, Chinhoyi, Mutare, Bindura, Gwanda and Rusape on allegations of
misconduct and maladministration – none of which have been proven in court.

Masunda, who was elected mayor in 2008, said Zanu (PF) could not determine
his removal or departure from offices.

‘‘How will they accomplish their mission when they played no part in my
election as Mayor? I was elected at the behest of 46 democratically elected
councillors, of whom 45 belong to the mainstream MDC,’’ Masunda told The
Zimbabwean.

‘‘My mandate is to get our capital city working again for the benefit
largely of the vulnerable and disadvantaged stakeholders of Greater Harare,’’
he said. “The provision of services (to residents) has absolutely nothing to
do with petty party politics!’’ He denied sourcing funds for the housing
project.

Critics say the charges are spurious and politically motivated and are a
strategy to dilute MDC power in urban constituencies that the party gained
from 2000.

“James was a victim of Zanu (PF) racial politics. We decided that it was not
in the best interests of the liberation struggle for Mutare to host Mugabe
21st Movement Birth day Celebrations with a white man as Mayor. Chombo was
then tasked to remove James from Town House at all costs,” said the source.

Zanu (PF) councillors have been used to obtain information about their MDC
counterparts that Chombo has used to victimise them. The party, which still
has influence in the management of councils, is reportedly instructing town
clerks not to implement MDC resolutions so that the party is seen as a
failure.

Chombo acts with utter impunity. He recently vowed to ignore a court order
compelling him to reinstate Zvishavane MDC –T Council Chairperson, Alois
Zhou, who was acquitted of corruption charges by a local magistrate.

It remains to be seen if he will respect a recent High Court judgement
stopping him from instituting disciplinary action against Chinhoyi Mayor,
Claudius Nyamhondoro, and Councillor Owen Charuza on charges of misconduct.
Chombo’s mayoral battles

April 2003 - Chombo suspends MDC Mayor, Elias Mudzuri, without giving
reasons. Sets up a nine member commission led by Jameson Kurasha to
investigate.

Nov 2003 - Kurasha Commission declared illegal by the High Court.

March 2004 - Chombo sets up a new three member commission that recommends
Mudzuri be fired for mismanagement and corruption.

Dec 2011 - Chombo suspends Chinhoyi Mayor Claudius Nyamhondoro, for
allegedly defying his directive to reverse a sewer reticulation tender.

Jan 2012 - Chombo suspends Chinhoyi Deputy Mayor, Willie Nyambi on the same
charges.

Jan 2012 - Chombo suspends Brian James, the Mutare Mayor, for misconduct.
The Mayor is ejected by council security from his office.

June 2012 - Chombo attacks Masunda, describing him as worse than Mudzuri.

Census preparations shoddy

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

In a month’s time, Zimbabwe will be conducting a national population census.
Held decennially, national censuses are a vital tool for any country.
04.07.1211:18am

by Editor

They give the government, civil society, the humanitarian community and
other policy and decision makers comprehensive and reliable information
about the country’s population and its characteristics. They provide an
opportunity to closely examine small and special population groups. Economic
and sociological information gathered through censuses is important for
national and sectional planning by governmental and non-state agencies.

The last national census was held in 2002 and the impending one is special
in that it will be conducted after a debilitating socio-political-economic
crisis that has affected us for about a decade.

It will be interesting to note how the crisis has demographically affected
the population.

However, the census’s reliability and usefulness will depend on how it is
conducted throughout the preparatory, enumeration and information
reconciliation stages. Our immediate worry is that Zimstats, which
coordinates the census, seems not to be doing enough to prepare the nation
for the census.

As it stands, the majority of people are in the dark regarding the
soon-to-be held census. Save for one or two isolated advertisements,
Zimstats is not doing anything to publicise this very important process.

One would expect that, by now, Zimstats would have launched a massive public
awareness campaign educating the population about what the census is all
about, its importance and what role citizens should play to ensure that it
succeeds.

Sadly, nothing of that sort is happening. All the censuses held in the past
three decades suffered the same blight. People have become accustomed to
enumerators waylaying them and attempting to explain issues that they find
alien and confusing.

The net effect of failing to inform people adequately ahead of a census is
that it misses its goal of providing dependable and accurate information. In
turn, any subsequent planning on a broad scale is based on insufficient
information and data.

Granted, Zimstats might be facing financial and other constraints at the
moment. However, this is not acceptable as an excuse because there is always
a way of mobilizing resources for this noble cause.

There is no point in setting aside $100 million for the eventuality of an
election, as is the case according Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, when many
do not want it now. That money should be used to augment Zimstats coffers.

Grace Mugabe takes on Nestle

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

04/07/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe’s supermarkets this week began stocking dairy products from First
Lady Grace Mugabe’s farm in Mazowe – a brazen challenge to Swiss food
conglomerate, Nestle, which bowed to political pressure to stop buying milk
from Gushungo Dairy Estate.

The country’s biggest supermarket chain, OK, on Wednesday was selling pints
of fresh milk and sour milk under Mugabe's Alpha Omega brand.

Also being processed at the farm is powdered milk, ice cream and various
other products which will soon enter a market dominated by Nestle.

Zimbabwean blogger Cynic Harare observed that the packaging was “pretty
dull”, but added: “It tastes like milk, which means it’s better than some
stuff around. It’s a bit cheaper too.”

In a recent interview with state media, President Robert Mugabe’s wife
boasted that her dairy farm had 2,000 cows and was the second biggest in the
SADC region, with the capacity to milk 64 cows at one go.

In 2009, Nestle announced it would stop buying milk from Gushungo Dairy
Estate – built on a farm which was seized from a white farmer – after coming
under pressure from rights activists who threatened to campaign for a
boycott of Nestle products.

Displaced farmers feeding Zimbabwe from Zambia

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
04 July 2012

The Grain Marketing Board has now been ordered to remove stickers on bags of
maize imported from Zambia, because they show the names of dispossessed
white Zimbabwean farmers who are now effectively feeding the country from
Zambia.

A report in the Zimbabwean newspaper says the recipients of the government’s
grain loan scheme in Matabeleland were shocked to discover that the names on
the stickers on the grain bags were of former white farmers.

One of the recipients told the paper he received two bags of maize grain
under the scheme, from the GMB depot in Insiza, and confirmed that one of
the bags had a green sticker inside written ‘supplied by Michel Handris’ a
former Karoi commercial farmer now farming in the southern parts of Zambia.

Even villagers in Umguza confirmed receiving the maize bags with the green
stickers. A GMB source has since told the paper: “We are now required to
destroy all the Zambian bags and repackage the grain in our local bags”.

Agriculture Minister Joseph Made admitted in May this year that Zimbabwe
would have a one million tonne maize deficit. Critics have largely blamed
this on ZANU PF’s disastrous land grab policy which rewarded cronies of the
regime at the expense of competent farmers.

Even though Zambia used to import maize from Zimbabwe in the past, the
tables have turned with white farmers who lost their farms in Zimbabwe
moving across the border and helping to grow a surplus there in the last two
seasons.

To rub salt into the wound the Food Reserve Agency in Zambia confirmed in
May that it was destroying “the huge stockpiles of rotting maize in a bid to
create space for this year’s harvest from June 1.”

War vets invade black-owned farms

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

Suspected war veterans here have invaded commercial farms owned by fellow
blacks in a move that flies in the face of Zanu (PF)’s purported empowerment
drive.
03.07.1206:49pm

by Brenna Matendere Munyati

Midlands Provincial Chief Lands Officer, Joseph Shoko, confirmed receiving
reports of the invasions.

“We have ordered everyone who has illegally settled on the commercial farms
to vacate the plots as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Shoko added that it is not the policy of government to forcefully occupy
resettled farms.

Sources in the Chemagora smallholder farming area in Zhombe told The
Zimbabwean that the war veterans were threatening the farm owners with
unspecified action if they refused to vacate their properties.

“I have a lease for about 400 hectares of land here but the war vets have
gone on to occupy it all,” said a farmer who refused to be named.

“What is surprising is that the invaders are not being arrested despite the
fact that we have reported the cases to the police,” said another farmer.

Scores of other farmers said they were terrified by the levels of harassment
coming from the former liberation war fighters.

The Zanu (PF) led government in 2000 embarked on a hurried land
redistribution programme that displaced more than 4 000 commercial white
farmers.

President Robert Mugabe’s government then claimed that the programme was
necessary to empower thousands of black farmers who were landless.

However, political opponents and critics accused the government of using the
land redistribution exercise as a populist vehicle to regain support
following the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change that was
threatening Zanu (PF)’s hold on power.

Most of the prime land that was grabbed by powerful Zanu (PF) functionaries,
while poor communal farmers were resettled on unyielding land, a trend that
forced some of them to retrace their footsteps to their old homes.

Zanu (PF) activists who were used as foot soldiers have also invaded
conservancies, sugar plantations and woodlots.

Interfin allegedly conned Finance Ministry, admits Biti

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

TROUBLED Interfin Financial Holdings Limited allegedly misled Tendai Biti,
the Minister of Finance and gobbled funds from the African Export Import
Bank - Afreximbank, the minister has confirmed.
04.07.1210:54am

by Ngoni Chanakira Harare

Biti revealed that US$47,4 million had been abused by Interfin which has
been put under curatorship by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe - RBZ.

Biti said - Interfins liquidity has now undermined the performance of our
Zimbabwe Economic Trade Revival Facility - ZETRF - a US$70 million facility
jointly funded by the Government of Zimbabwe and the Afreximbank.

He said signitories to the facility agreement were his ministry on behalf of
the government, Afreximbank and four initially participating banks, namely
FBC Banking Corporation Limited, NMB Bank Limited, TN Bank Limited and
BancABC Limited, as well as Interfin Bank Limited as the Local
Administrative Agent.

He said 11 commercial banks are currently participating under ZETREF.

He said the balance of the funds currently held up at Interfin Bank Limited,
which was put under curatorship, from the governments contribution of US$20
was made on October 24, 2011.

The request for release had been made by Afreximbank in September last year,
Biti said.

Biti said - Releases were not forthcoming from Interfin, notwithstanding
follow-ups through meetings and letters over the expeditious processing of
ZETREF loan applications of companies - e development which prompted the
Ministry of Finance to request the RBZ, in April, 2012 to investigate
Interfin and ascertain the financial situation at the commercial bank.

Biti said other funds stuck at Interfin Bank Limited include US$9,7 million
from Afreximbank, being the balance unpaid from US$15 million extended to
Interfin for on lending to clients under a facility separate from ZETREF.

The minister revealed that the problems at Interfin Bank Limited were also
compromising companies access to resources amounting to more than US$21
million availed to the PTA Bank Limited under facilities targetted at
supporting the revival of Zimbabwes productive sectors.

Interfin was suspended from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

It was the least capitalised financial institution standing at about US$400
000 in total.

Problems began when customers were allowed to withdraw a maximum of US$200
daily from the entity in April, which then dwindled to US$100 in May and
finally only US$50 last month before its doors were shut by the RBZ.

Dollarisation to dominate banking seminar

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Wednesday, 04 July 2012 11:23

Business Reporter
THE 43rd session of the Winter Banking School gets underway in Nyanga in
about a fortnight’s time with dollarisation set to dominate discussions at
this annual event this year.

High-profile speakers from banking, mining, industry, Government ministries,
agriculture and academia are scheduled to present papers.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono will be the keynote speaker
at the event that will put recent bank crises under the spotlight.
RBZ senior division chief (bank licensing, supervision and surveillance) Mr
Norman Mataruka would corroborate his presentation.

Fellow experts in the banking sector, namely Barclays Bank (Zimbabwe)
managing director Mr George Guvamatanga, Agribank managing director Mr Sam
Malaba will also grace the occasion. Other high-profile non-banking experts
scheduled to address delegates at the event include Chamber of Mines
president and Mimosa Mining Company managing director Mr Winston Chitando,
and Industry and Commerce permanent secretary Mrs Abigail Shoniwa.

University of Zimbabwe Professor of Economics Ashok Chakravarti will address
delegates on the eurozone crisis and its impact on Zimbabwe.
Institute of Bankers of Zimbabwe executive director Mr Sij Biyam confirmed
yesterday that dates for the event and presenters had been determined. “We
have completed the programme for the 43rd Edition of the Winter Banking
School. As usual, it will be held in Nyanga,” said Mr Biyam.

The main theme this year’s discussions is “Dollarisation of the Zimbabwean
Economy, Challenges and the Way Forward”.
The theme was chosen in light of the crippling liquidity problems that
followed dollarisation, which has, however, brought its own benefits. Local
firms have struggled considerably to access funding for recapitalisation and
working capital after savings in the Zimdollar era were all lost during the
decade long economic instability.

External funding has trickled in, but in very limited flows while low
production levels and old equipment mean generation of meaningful revenue is
very difficult amidst high external competition. This is despite the fact
that the US dollar brought an array of benefits that has made business
planning easier through predictability, low inflation, stability and
elimination of foreign exchange risk.

Other topics for discussion include infrastructure development in Zimbabwe
as a means for development, creating risk-free environment in banking and
industrial development strategy for job creation.

In addition, presenters will deliver papers on overcoming challenges in
agriculture, improved service delivery in banking and the role of technology
and how to unlock Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth.

Zimbabwe's Bishops Reach Out to Their Emigrants

http://www.zenit.org/article-35121?l=english

2012-07-03

Aim to Keep in Touch With Those Who Have Left Troubled Nation

HARARE, Zimbabwe, JULY 3, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’
Conference has written a letter to those Zimbabweans who have left the
country. Dated June 19 the letter is titled “Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.”

“This letter attempts to cast a little light upon an area of shadow and to
give recognition and hope to those who have left our land,” the introduction
explains.

The letter explained that already in colonial times people left for other
countries. Then, after independence in 1980 others left looking for better
economic conditions. Subsequently, in the first decade of this millennium
“this trickle became a flood as ‘our country (was plunged) into an
unprecedented abyss characterised by economic, social, and political woes
and unimaginable forms of political intimidation and violence.”

“To stay for some meant risking destitution; to go involved a wrench with
all one had known,” the bishops acknowledged.

“As Church leaders and as members of society, we acknowledge, with a sense
of humility and shame, that so many of our citizens no longer felt welcomed
at home, and had to take flight,” the pastoral letter continued.

The letter expressed disappointment at the failure of the country’s leaders
to deal with the phenomenon of migration. “Ongoing displacement, at best,
suggests political challenge; at worst, political ineptitude, division and
failure,” the letter accused.

The letter stated that the bishops remember and embrace those who were
obliged to leave Zimbabwe. “This letter is a testament to our desire to
acknowledge their existence, their story, their pain, their resilience and
their hope,” they said.

Many Zimbabwean migrants have not had their rights as persons respected in
their new places of residence, the letter noted. Many of them encountered
exploitation, opportunism and indifference.

“What has been done, and is still being done, to a good number of the
vulnerable who cross alien frontiers, is cruel indeed,” the letter declared.
“Christ continues to suffer in the members of his body.”

Many of those crossing frontiers have been attacked, raped or robbed, the
letter added.

“Christians must ‘speak the truth in love,” the letter noted. “In this case
the truth is hard and cold.”

The bishops called for a renewed effort of national healing and
reconciliation, warning that without this Zimbabweans will continue to leave
the country in significant numbers.

“In your pain and emotional struggles find strength in each other especially
in the Church,” the letter urged.

“Be assured that there are people - within government, civil society and the
Churches - not least ourselves, who are committed to the road of national
healing and reconciliation, to the common good and to creating a better
society for all people,” the letter concluded.

Free Zimbabwe Global Protest - Round 7

http://www.bulawayo24.com

by Den Moyo
2012 July 04 10:14:19

The 7th Free Zimbabwe Global Protest/Campaign to take place on July 21, 2012
in New York, NY and at NN Offices Worldwiden is inviting all Zimbabweans to
join.

The 21st Movement's Free Zimbabwe Global Campaign has grown in leaps and
bounds from its humble beginnings in January this year. The efforts to put
pressure on South African President Jacob Zuma as the Facilitator to the GPA
and on SADC as the guarantors of the GPA have paid huge dividends as
evidenced by the positive outcome at the June 01, 2012 SADC Summit in
Luanda, Angola where it was resolved that there will be no elections in
Zimbabwe before the full implementation of the GPA reforms which should lead
to free, fair and indisputable elections.

The 21st Movement is a nimble, versatile, and flexible organisation that
reacts to political events as they unfold in Zimbabwe and elsewhere where
Zimbabwe is directly or indirectly affected. The focus of the protests
should now be elevated to deal with the stumbling blocks that stand in the
way of Zimbabwe's democratization process.

The elephant in the room at this juncture is the militarization of the state
by Zanu-PF, which is funded by the illegal looting of the Marange diamonds.
We have a duty to stop this militarization process.

Round 7 will target the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty
that is taking place at the UN Headquarters in NY. From 2-27 July, all
countries of the world will come together in New York to negotiate what is
seen as the most important initiative ever regarding conventional arms
regulation within the United Nations. A robust arms trade treaty can make a
difference for millions of people confronted with insecurity, deprivation
and fear. Zimbabwe is firmly in this category of countries.

The Movement will picket strongly against trade in arms for countries that
are in conflict, especially Zimbabwe where the minority Zanu-PF is
stockpiling arms to use against the citizens during and after the
forthcoming elections. The Movement aims to bring awareness to all countries
of the world gathered in New York that trading arms with Zimbabwe at this
moment is complicit to murder of innocent civilians wishing to exercise
their democratic and human rights. Petitions will be delivered to the UN
demanding a peacekeeping force and or international election monitors before
and after the elections.

Since this month's Protest day falls on a Saturday, all members in the US,
supporters and sympathizers should converge in New York for this historic
event. Others are encouraged to march at all UN Offices Worldwide.

Do not watch things happening let alone wonder what has happened. Be part of
the growing global movement.

Spread the message. Lets finish it.

Torture not a crime in Zimbabwe

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Zimbabwe has been accused for many years of allowing members of the police
force, the Defence Forces and the Central Intelligence Organisation, youth
militias, and members and supporters of Zanu (PF), to enjoy impunity for
violence against those perceived to be opposition supporters.
04.07.1208:20am

by Veritas

Much of the violence undoubtedly constitutes torture or inhuman or degrading
punishment or treatment. But two recent cases suggest that cracks in that
impunity may be developing, and with them the prospect of a more even-handed
application of the law by the police and prosecuting authorities.

One is the criminal trial of three women police detectives in Bulawayo who
subjected two women they had picked up on suspicion of theft to brutal
assaults, apparently in an effort to extract confessions. The assaults
included beating them on the soles of their feet with pieces of wood and
batons. They were also beaten elsewhere on their bodies with a sjambok and a
bottle, causing numerous bruises. One victim sustained a broken leg, with
permanent disability.

The other had an arm broken. After their beating, they were detained for two
days at Bulawayo Central police station and denied food, water and medical
treatment. The officers responsible were convicted of assault and sentenced
to pay fines of $200 each or serve four months’ imprisonment.

In a case which came before the High Court on circuit in Mutare last week, a
police chief superintendent is being tried for causing the death of a
suspected illegal diamond panner and assaulting three members of his family
also taken into custody accused of illegal panning.

The victims had apparently claimed that as residents of the area they were
digging a shallow well to obtain water for domestic purposes. The State’s
case is that the accused officer perpetrated the assaults to extract
confessions or to punish the suspects for attempting to find diamonds. One
of the victims died in a police holding cell shortly afterwards. The others
survived; and one of them has suffered lasting disability as a result of the
assault.

Zimbabwean law does not have a criminal offence specifically called
“torture”. This does not mean that acts of torture are not punishable as
crimes. They are – but as the crime of assault, indecent assault, aggravated
indecent assault, rape, murder, etc – depending on what the perpetrator did
to his or her victim. We may, at some future stage, find ourselves with a
new offence, specifically called “torture”, when Zimbabwe becomes a party to
the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, but for the time being acts of torture will be
prosecuted under other names.

For police officers specifically, conduct amounting to torture is a serious
disciplinary offence under the Police Act, which amongst other things
condemns “using unnecessary violence towards, or neglecting or in any way
ill-treating any person in custody or other person with whom he or she may
be brought into contact in the execution of his or her duty”. Again,
however, the word “torture” is not used.

Innovation Prize for Africa 2013 to recognize innovations that unlock African potential

Prize will award $150,000 USD to winners who deliver market-oriented solutions for African-led development

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 4, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.africaninnovation.org) announced the call for the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) (http://ipa.uneca.org/aif) today. The prize aims to support Africans’ efforts to develop new products, increase efficiency and drive cost-savings.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-innovation-foundation-aif.jpg

At an event organized by the ECA and AIF, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators will be invited to propose projects that unlock new African potential under one of five categories which include: 1) agriculture and agribusiness; 2) ICT applications; 3) health and wellbeing; 4) environment, energy and water; and 5) manufacturing and services industries.

“The IPA team believes that best way to build Africa’s capacity is to invest in local innovation and entrepreneurship,” said AIF Chairman Walter Fust. “This prize encourages Africans to develop creative ways to overcome everyday challenges.”

Only innovations by Africans and for Africans are eligible to enter. Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance to Africa. The winning proposal will be awarded a cash prize of $100,000 USD, with the two runners-up receiving $25,000 USD.

The organizers expect the prize to promote among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers and business applications.

The aims are to:

- Mobilize leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovation;

- Promote innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest through the competition;

- Promote science, technology and engineering as rewarding, exciting and noble career options among the youth in Africa by profiling success applicants; and

- Encourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service

providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

In pursuing those aims, the IPA expects the following outcomes:

- Increased commercialization of research and development (R&D) outputs in Africa;

- Increased funding of start-ups, adoption of new and emerging technologies and accelerated

growth of an innovative and dynamic private sector; and

- Increased economic activity and African led development that results in lasting impact.

The registration deadline for the 2013 prize has been set for 31 October 2012 with no possibility for extensions.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Innovation Foundation (AIF).

For detailed information of competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission procedures, please visit: http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org/. For highlights and more information, follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/IPAprize) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/InnovationPrizeforAfrica).

Contacts

AIF Pauline Mujawamariya

Phone + 41 44 515 5466

Email ipainfo@africaninnovation.org

ECA Eskedar Nega

Phone + 251 11 544 5315

Email ipa@uneca.org

About UNECA

UNECA (http://www.uneca.org/istd) is implementing the Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology for Development (ISTD) program to meet its mandate to advance economic and social development in Africa. ISTD manages the African Technology Development and Transfer Network (TDTNet), the African Science, Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund (ASTIEF), the African Science to Business Challenge (ASBC) and the Technology in Government Award (TIGA) and is experienced in addressing Africa’s special needs, emerging global challenges and hosting and managing initiatives in Africa. For more information please visit: http://www.uneca.org/istd

About AIF

AIF (http://www.africaninnovation.org) supports innovations and other novel initiatives with potential of contributing to sustainable development of African countries. This includes supporting home-grown innovations, facilitating technology transfer as well as supporting other platforms that enhance the exchange of ideas and collaboration among researchers, inventors, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers. AIF also promotes transparent processes and procedures within the public sector and combat illegitimate appropriation and dissipation of resources within both the private and public domains. AIF’s areas of activity encompass programs & projects in the fields of: Innovation & Access to Technologies, Governance, Education & Culture and Health. For more information, please visit: http://www.africaninnovation.org

SOURCE

African Innovation Foundation (AIF)