Suppliers cut off fuel to Air Zimbabwe

http://www.iol.co.za/

June 16 2011 at 01:51pm

Harare -

Zimbabwe's debt-ridden national carrier has cancelled flights to London and
South Africa after gas firms stopped supplies over outstanding payments,
officials said on Thursday.

A senior manager at the troubled carrier confirmed the flight cancellation.

“We had no option besides to cancel the London flights because suppliers
refused to give us fuel for the trip,” the manager told AFP on condition
that he was not named.

“We also made similar arrangements for passengers who were travelling to
South Africa yesterday (Wednesday).”

Air Zimbabwe general manager Innocent Mavhunga could neither deny or confirm
the grounding of the planes as a result of failing to pay suppliers. “I
would not want to comment on that,” he told AFP.

“We have cancelled the flight to London, but these are just operational
challenges. We have re-scheduled our flights until Sunday,” he said.

Officials at Air Zimbabwe said the airline was Wednesday forced to put
passengers onto other airlines as a result of failing to secure gas to
transport clients as a result of a $1.6 million debt.

On Thursday privately owned NewsDay also reported that Air Zimbabwe had
cancelled several flights, including to London and Johannesburg, because it
could not meet its fuel obligations.

Air Zimbabwe owes various creditors in excess of $100 million, according to
government estimates.

Last month the International Air Transport Association suspended Air
Zimbabwe from its flight booking services because of $280 000
in unpaid fees.

The carrier is one of several state-owned firms that have posted losses and
have been short-listed for a sell-off.

The airline is weighed down by debt, an aging fleet and high staff
turnover. - Sapa-AFP

Zimbabwe’s Inflation Rate Fell to 2.5% in May, Agency Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/

By Brian Latham - Jun 16, 2011 9:52 PM GMT+1000

Zimbabwe’s inflation rate fell to 2.5 percent in May from 2.7 percent a
month earlier, said Moffat Nyoni, director of the country’s statistics
agency.

Prices in the month increased 0.1 percent, he said by phone from Harare, the
capital, today.

An IMF report released in Washington on June 14 said Zimbabwe may miss its 4
percent inflation target this year because of high fuel costs and rising
wages.

“Twelve-month inflation is forecast to reach about 7 percent by December
2011 on account of higher food and fuel prices as well as wage-driven
increases in prices for non- tradeables, for example rents and services,”
the IMF said in the e-mailed report.

Election roadmap talks to resume in July

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 June, 2011

It has been reported that talks for a roadmap for Zimbabwe’s elections will
resume in the first week of July, as political parties in the inclusive
government attempt to resolve outstanding issues and set a time line for
implementing them.

It was understood that a roadmap had been developed and was due for review
by SADC leaders last weekend, during discussions on the Zimbabwe crisis at
the COMESA Free Trade talks in South Africa.

But a communiqué issued by the regional leaders after the discussions simply
“noted” resolutions made by the Troika in Livingstone back in March, calling
for an end to violence, full implementation of the GPA and completion of a
roadmap. None of the resolutions have been fulfilled.

A report in the Daily News on Wednesday quoted MDC-T Secretary General
Tendai Biti, one of the negotiators, as saying they will meet in early July
“to discuss timelines” for the roadmap.

“We will also discuss other issues that we are still in disagreement, such
as the security sector, and try and get an agreement by the end of July
because we must have an agreed document with time frames before the next
SADC Summit in August in Angola,” Biti told the newspaper.

The Crisis Coalition, who released a report last weekend about the role of
the military in political affairs, said they are not happy with the pace of
the negotiations for a roadmap. Crisis spokesperson Philip Pasirayi told SW
Radio Africa on Thursday that there appears to be no urgency to the
negotiations.

“We are concerned that people are suffering and hold ZANU PF squarely
responsible for stalling progress,” Pasirayi explained. He added that the
position of civic society is that the roadmap must have clear time lines for
implementation.

Back in March SADC committed to appointing a three member team to assist the
Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) in making sure there
is progress on the GPA. This has not been done.

And according to the Daily News, Minister Biti said the negotiators had
agreed on a number of issues, including the appointment of new media boards.
This has also not been done.

Pasirayi said ZANU PF will continue to drag its feet but warned that they
need to be careful. “Everyone is watching. SADC is fed up and may end up
referring the issue to the United Nations Security Council,” explained the
activist.

$98m Zino-Zim loan agreement criminal: Biti

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

By Chengetai Zvauya, Staff Writer
Thursday, 16 June 2011 18:27

HARARE - Finance Minister Tendai Biti has described a US$98 million loan
agreement between Zimbabwe and China to boost the military as “criminal”,
despite penning his signature to the mortgage.

The deal, signed by Biti on behalf of government on March 21 this year,
bonds Zimbabwe to a 20-year deal of using Marange diamonds to pay off the
loan.

The loan is being used to construct a state-of-the-art Zimbabwe Defence
College near Mazowe.

Changing tone, Biti told Parliament yesterday the country could not afford
to keep on   accumulating more debt as it was already saddled with a
liability of over US$7 billion, which it was struggling to pay off.

“It is criminal for a country like Zimbabwe to enter the agreement with the
Chinese with the interest rate at two percent. There are friends who are
willing to give Zimbabwe the money but the country does have the capacity to
repay that debt. "

“We are one country in the world that does not have the printing press to
print our money. We are depending on cash budgeting and we are not
collecting enough revenue as we are below our target,’’ said Biti.

Biti was responding to a question by MDC MP for Makoni West Webber Chinyadza
who wanted to know government’s policy on settling debts that it had
accrued.

He said the debt that the country was failing to settle started accumulating
in the 1990’s as the previous government defaulted on the repayments.

“The debt is from 1999 to the present day. Even the National Sports Stadium,
we are yet to repay the loan as we have defaulted in paying. We need to
clear the arrears to access cheap money from the International Monetary
Fund, World Bank and African Development Bank.

“One of the reasons we are failing to settle our debt is because our
politics is ugly. We are killing and beating people and this causes us to
fail to pay the debt as no country wants to do any business with us. We need
to correct these issues,’’ said Biti.

Zanu PF MPs, feeling offended at the mention of political violence, heckled
Biti.

Both the House of Assembly and Senate grudgingly approved the loan two weeks
ago.

During the same debate, MPs spoke against poor working conditions, at times
including physical abuse by some Chinese employers who have flooded the
country.

The MPs wanted to know whether it was government policy to allow investors
from China to abuse the nationals of the country.

‘‘Can government tell us about the behaviour of the Chinese who have working
contracts here to explore minerals and operate restaurants?

“They are beating their employees and what is government’s position to that
issue?” asked Festus Dumbu, MDC MP for Zaka West.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara warned Chinese business to follow the
country’s labour laws.

“This is our country and we are in charge of it. They must respect our
 laws,” said Mutambara.

Russia joins China’s fight for Zim diamond control

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
16 June 2011

Russia is set to join China in controlling diamond mining in Zimbabwe, with
the Federation’s state diamond group seeking a license to mine at the
controversial Chiadzwa fields.

The Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Andrey Kushakov, said recently that his
country has pledged to invest in mining and infrastructure development in
Zimbabwe as a way of supporting the country. According to the Times of India
news service, Andrey stated that Russia's state diamond group, Gokhran, will
be investing.

Russia will have to compete with China, which already has a controlling
stake in operations at Chiadzwa. China has two companies operating as joint
venture projects with Zimbabwe’s state diamond firm, namely Anjin and
Sino-Zimbabwe. China has also pledged its support for Zimbabwe to be given
the green light to resume full diamond exports by the industry watchdog, the
Kimberley Process (KP).

India has since raised its concerns that China and Russia will be
monopolising the industry, with the Times of India reporting that the Surat
diamond hub will be forced into relying on Russia and China for rough
diamond supplies. Surat is the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing
centre, and most Zimbabwean diamonds are sent there.

Uncut diamond dealer Rakesh Patel is quoted as saying; “Zimbabwe has a
stockpile of about US$4 to US$5 billion worth of diamonds. Once the KP clear
Zimbabwe to export the diamonds, Russia and China will buy most of the
stockpile. The same diamonds will come to India through different channels
at high premium rates."

"It is a big blow to Indian diamond manufacturers. Both Russia and China
will secure the diamond resources of Zimbabwe and ultimately sell it to
Indian diamond traders via Antwerp, Hong and Dubai," chairman of Blue Star
Group Ashit Mehta told the Times of India. He said that the Surat industry
is in dire need of raw material and only Zimbabwe can fulfill these
requirements.

Zimbabwe’s official trade status remains unclear after the KP chairman
earlier this year made a shock, unilateral decision to allow exports to
resume. Many of the western KP members have since said this decision was
unjustified, but a final decision is still to be made.

In the meantime, pressure is building on the KP to allow Zim sales to
resume, despite ongoing reports of smuggling and serious human rights
concerns. China’s pledge to support Zimbabwe has also been followed by a
statement by a South African diamond group, which said it will start
accepting Zim stones. India’s concerns will now add more pressure to the KP.

Zimbabwean political analyst Clifford Mashiri told SW Radio Africa on
Thursday that Russia’s intentions to join the Zim diamond trade are
“disturbing,” saying their motives must be questioned.

“Russia is no better than China in terms of business and human rights. They
are linked to corruption and they have a bad rights record, like China,”
Mashiri said.

He added that the massive wealth being attributed to Chiadzwa should be a
blessing for Zimbabwe, not something that benefits foreign countries that do
not care about Zimbabweans.

“We have problems that easily could be solved and these are the things
Zimbabweans want the diamond money to fix. But it requires transparency,
audits, and political will,” Mashiri said.

 

Zanu (PF) Officials, Youths Invade Gold Rich Wildlife Conservancy

http://www.radiovop.com

8 hours 24 minutes ago

Gwanda, June 16, 2011 - Senior Zanu (PF) officials including Senator Japhet
Dube have invaded a gold rich wildlife conservancy leaving hundreds of
animals in danger at Longville Ranch 10 km outside Gwanda town.

Hordes of Zanu (PF) officials and youths invaded the farm earlier this week
under the guise of indigenisation. A white commercial farmer Nicole Terrence
who owns the conservancy had to call the police who did nothing to stop Zanu
(PF) youths from demarcating the area for mining purposes.

Terrence argues the area is not suitable for mining as it shelters various
species of wildlife and any mining activity would endanger the existence of
wildlife.

There are also fears that wildlife might flee the enclosure and encroach to
a nearby highway thereby causing road carnage, many accidents along the
Bulawayo – Beitbridge highway have been caused by stray animals.

However Zanu (PF) leaders including politburo member Abedinico Ncube spent
the weekend coercing people to invade the farm so they can achieve economic
independence.

Rennie Kibi the party’s secretary for Administration in Matabeleland South
is also among the Zanu (PF) officials interested in the total takeover of
the Ranch.

Youth in mining Council of Zimbabwe committee member Buletsi Nyathi lamented
the illegal takeover of the conservancy saying only a few Zanu (PF)
individuals would benefit.

“The sad thing is that gold mined there will not benefit the people of
Matabeleland but a few greedy Zanu (PF) officials eager to grab the little
that’s left”, said Nyathi.

Removing Mugabe Alone Not A Solution For Zimbabwe - US Envoy

http://www.radiovop.com

5 hours 14 minutes ago

Bulawayo, June 16,2011 -The United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray
on Thursday said removing President Robert Mugabe alone from power is not a
solution for Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in Bulawayo on Thursday morning Ray said what was
needed was to change the system of governance not individuals.

“There is no way you can build a house from the roof. You have to start from
the foundation going to the top. So I don’t think removing Mugabe will
change anything. What is needed is to change the system of governance. Some
people might argue about this is, but removing him from power will only see
minor positive developments in the country,” said Ray.

Ray also added that he doesn’t see the reason why Zanu (PF) is pushing for
elections this year.

“SADC is working on the issue of Zimbabwe elections and I don’t see any
reason why some political party is pushing for elections this year.
Elections should be held at a time when every Zimbabwean is free to
participate,” said the US envoy.

Leaders from the 15-nation SADC on Sunday at the Johannesburg summit called
on Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to quicken implementation of
their power-sharing agreement known as the global political agreement (GPA)
that gave birth to the Harare unity government in February 2009.

They also resolved that the inclusive government in Zimbabwe should complete
all the steps necessary for the holding of the election including the
finalisation of the constitutional amendment and the referendum and that
SADC should assist Zimbabwe to formulate guidelines that will assist in
holding an election that will be peaceful, free and fair, in accordance with
the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

Zimbabwe's Biodiesel Industry in Trouble

http://oilprice.com

Written by Charles Kennedy
Thursday, 16 June 2011 01:00

Biofuels have been heavily promoted in the hydrocarbon-poor third world as
both a fuel source and a valuable earner of foreign currency.

Now however, The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is seeking to sell is 50 percent
holding of Transload (Pvt) Limited, a biodiesel fuel manufacturing joint
venture between Zimbabwe and South Korea’s Yuon Woo Investments.

In 2007 Transload (Pvt) Limited was established with massive publicity
heralding the project as both a partial solution to the country’s chronic
energy shortages as well as a valuable potential foreign revenue source, the
Standard reported.

Given the plant’s intermittent operations many investment and economic
analysts passed harsh judgment on the joint venture, with one commenting
that no local investor would want to put money in such "a white elephant."

Labor and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe economist
Nyasha Muchichwa starkly commented, "Chances are very minimal that anyone
would put money into such a project considering our economic and political
circumstances."

Complicating the plant’s operations, first of its kind in Africa, has been
its inability to secure consistent feedstocks of jatropha seed and soya
beans.

By. Charles Kennedy, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com

New farmers owe ZETDC $80m

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

The Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company Northern Region is owed over
$80 million in unpaid tariffs by new farmers who were resettled under the
controversial land grab.
15.06.1102:41pm 0 0
Lovejoy Sakala Harare

“The farmers can’t pay up their bills in time and this is affecting our
operations. They just tell us that they don’t have money but they expect a
standard service from us,” said Commercial Manager Kripson Mutyambizi.

“This is contributing to massive load shedding since the operational costs
of running Kariba and Hwange power stations comes from consumption charges.
We want them to pay up so that we can improve our service,” he added.

The company has forged an alliance with the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers
Union to assist in collecting revenue from defiant farmers.

“The deal is that those who want to get assistance from the union must first
settle their electricity bills. You cannot do proper farming without
electricity, because you need to irrigate your crops,” said Mutyambizi.

Farmers interviewed said they cannot pay because they were not receiving
adequate support from the Government. They said they need massive capital to
buy equipment and inputs so that they embark into meaningful commercial
farming.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said people who took over farms should take
farming as a serious business, which should boost the struggling economy.

The minister said he was against Zanu (PF)’s idea of parcelling out free
inputs to farmers every farming season saying such system had promoted a
culture of laziness and dependence.

Panic grips Masvingo

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Godfrey Mtimba
Thursday, 16 June 2011 18:21

MASVINGO - Panic has gripped white businesspeople in Masvingo following the
emergence of a militant pro-Zanu PF youth group demanding majority stakes in
white-owned firms in the province.

Tavara Mudukuti, a top ranking official with Masvingo Youths in Business
Association (MYBA) said the organisation had already lined up its targets
and was working on a takeover plan.

Businesses, on the other hand, said they were living on the edge.

“The indigenisation law that states that white-owned companies should cede
51 percent but this should also benefit the youths of Masvingo and we have
programmes lined up to get this,” said Mudukuti, refusing to name the firms
targeted by his organisation.

“That I cannot tell for now but we definitely want a stake in the companies
in this province that are still not in the hands of the blacks,” he said.

Abrasive threats such as the one by MYBA have kept investors at bay since
indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere began talking up the
implementation of the controversial law enacted in 2008.

The white business community in Masvingo told the Daily News yesterday that
the situation was tense as fears were running high that the MYBA could
strike any time.

The businesspeople also fear that they could be hapless if the takeovers
proceed, given the police record in refusing to intervene in property
seizures by pro-Zanu PF groups as witnessed during the land reform
programme.

Mining firms such as gold producer, Renco Mine and Bikita Minerals, the
country largest lithium mine could be prime targets, sources say.

Provincial retail and property magnates are also targeted, according to the
sources.

“Our businesses are no longer safe. We are scared that we will lose our
properties and shares from the group that we hear is coming after us,” said
one businessman, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.

It was not possible to get a comment from Kasukuwere on whether MYBA had his
backing.
But he has previously voiced support for the seizure of white-owned
businesses.

Kasukuwere has dismissed advice from legal experts, including the
Parliamentary Legal Committee that the indigenisation law was fraught with
constitutional irregularities and could easily be challenged in court.

Deputy indigenisation minister Tongai Matutu, who is also the MP for
Masvingo Urban constituency, said he was against expropriation of
white-owned businesses under the guise of indigenisation.

“The programme should not be done violently and should not benefit
individuals from certain political parties.

“Youths should work for their business not to demand shares from someone who
has been working so hard over the years to establish business.

“Why don’t people just start their business and have 100 percent shares,”
said Matutu, whose views have often contrasted those offered by Kasukuwere.

Suspected Spy Agents Ransack Masvingo Mirror Paper Offices

http://www.radiovop.com/

5 hours 16 minutes ago

Masvingo, June 16, 2011 - Suspected members of President Robert Mugabe’s
dreaded spy agency, the Central Intelligence Office (CIO) allegedly broke
into Masvingo Mirror Paper offices on Wednesday night and got away with
memory cards containing the papers vital data, information and pictures, in
yet another attempt to muzzle the private press.

Recently suspected members of the same organisation broke into the News Day
newspaper offices in Harare and got away with computer hard drives
containing information.

Masvingo Mirror is the biggest privately owned weekly provincial newspaper
and is viewed as a threat to Zanu (PF) and other organisations sympathetic
to it due to its impartial coverage of news.

Masvingo Mirror Editor, Garikayi Mafirakureva, said they were shocked and
wonder what the intention of the intruders was because they didn’t steal
anything like cash but only took away the memory cards.

“The intruders tampered with computers and laptops and we are surprised that
the burglars stole nothing except memory cards and a bunch of keys. They
searched every corner of the offices and left the place turned upside down
with laptops removed from their bags and lying open on the floor. Documents
were strewn all over the place,” said Mafirakureva.

He said the intruders are suspected to have gained entry from a sanitary
lane at the back of the building and broke into a safe containing personal
information and administration documents but left the cash box intact.

He said that he suspected the job was done by spy agents and the motive was
to spy on the newspaper.

‘’The administration at the Mirror suspects that the motive of the break in
was nothing but a mission to spy on us and intimidate us from carrying our
duties. The Mirror will not be distracted or intimidated from carrying out
its mission of getting people to hear and be heard because of such thugery,”
said Mafirakureva.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Secretary General, and Foster
Dongozi condemned the ransacking of the Mirror and called for urgent
investigations by the law enforcement officers.

“As a union we condemn strongly such acts of aggression against journalists
and media houses. We are appalled by this cowardly act of aggression against
law abiding and professional journalists and we call on the law enforcement
officers to institute an urgent, effective and productive investigation and
bring the culprits to book,” said Dongozi.

Thugs raid Biti

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

By Guthrie Munyuki, News Editor
Thursday, 16 June 2011 18:16

HARARE - In A fresh act of thuggery against finance minister Tendai Biti,
Zanu PF thugs yesterday raided the offices of the MDC secretary general to
try and force him to sign their party’s controversial anti-sanctions
petition or resign.

Although Biti was inside the building, the hooligans could not gain access
to his offices as security personnel locked them out. He later came out and
addressed the press after the thugs had left.

The gangsters carried placards which called for Biti’s resignation, while
others threatened his life.

It could not be established at the time of going to press if the vigilantes
had been given police clearance to march and storm Biti’s office. Biti said
the visit to his offices by the hooligans was the latest act in a
contemptible catalogue of continuing intimidation against him, but vowed not
to “bow down” to the thuggish behaviour by Zanu PF and its supporters.

“This is political intimidation. There are certain sections of this
population that continue to think I am a soft target. I grew up in the
ghetto and the ghetto blood runs in me. I will not be intimidated."

“I was in meetings. Even if I was not in meetings, I was not going to sign
that stupid petition because I am not open to political and bankrupt thugs.
I am bound by a principle and that principle is what I am,” Biti declared.

He said while it was Zanu PF’s democratic right to have its anti-sanctions
programme, it was illegal to try and force him and others to sign it.

“I cannot and was not going to legitimise an illegitimate process. The
entire sanctions issue has been heavily politicised and the gymnastics you
witnessed at my offices are part of the politicisation of that issue,” the
combative MDC secretary general said.

The militia gathered at the New Government Complex and disturbed traffic at
the adjacent Causeway Post Office by taking control of Central Avenue, which
was littered with the mess and placards they left behind.

They sang derogatory songs about Biti and demanded that the finance minister
sign the anti-sanctions petition “because he had invited sanctions”.

Two menacing ruffians rode the lifts to the sixth floor on Block E where
they forced their way through before members of the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO) led them away from the corridor leading to Biti’s office.

Journalists were kept at bay by police officers who later took over control
of the entrance to Biti’s offices.

Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said he was not aware of the raid. “Nobody
told me about it.

You should have asked them why they wanted Biti to sign the anti-sanctions
petition,” he said.

Yesterday’s incident comes at a time that Zanu PF militia have gone on the
rampage throughout the country, forcing people to sign their anti-sanctions
petition while failing to explain what they will do with the two million
signatures they are looking for.

So desperate is Zanu PF with this campaign that they are now reported to be
planning to besiege offices in Harare and other towns, to force people to
sign the petition.

The siege on Biti’s office also comes a few weeks after a powerful explosion
rocked his Harare home, amid suspicions that this was the work of rogue
elements within the military.

Police are yet to make public their investigations around the bomb attack —
which they only undertook 17 hours after the explosion.

“When I joined the inclusive government, I knew I was going into a sewer.
But even in a sewer there are rules. I had no doubt or illusions about Zanu
PF. I have no doubt in my mind that the people who did this (throwing the
bomb) intended to harm me and my family."

“I can see the fingerprints of the state (in the attack), the military to be
precise. Zanu PF has no capacity to do that, it’s the work of the military,”

Biti said at the time of the bomb blast. The finance minister has had to
endure many harrowing experiences in his 12-year political career.

There have been what he has described as “organised” accidents, a bullet
sent via mail, torture at Goromonzi by the CIO, a search at his residence,
beatings and treason charges.

PM Tsvangirai Charges Insubordination by ZANU-PF Ministers

http://www.voanews.com/

15 June 2011

Key ministers from President Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime Minister
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change formation were refusing to take
orders from Mr. Tsvangirai and President Mugabe, respectively

Blessing Zulu | Washington

Days after southern African leaders meeting in summit in Johannesburg urged
the unity government in Harare to step up cooperation on reforms to allow
free and fair elections, tensions were already rising Wednesday among
Harare's the power-sharing partners.

Sources said key ministers from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change formation were
refusing to take orders from Mr. Tsvangirai and President Mugabe,
particularly the former.

The prime minister in his weekly newsletter said that the ministers of Home
Affairs, Defense, Mines, Information and State Security were now refusing to
answer to anyone but President Mugabe, and were bypassing his office.

“We have seen a distinct division between the two parties where certain
ministries are no longer accountable to the collective. They are only
accountable to the president. So you can see that there is growing discord
and fissures within the government and these are causing the government to
be dysfunctional,” Tsvangirai complained.

He said the 28-month-old government is becoming dysfunctional, which if
continued could plunge Zimbabwe into chaos. But ZANU-PF sources said Finance
Minister Tendai Biti, secretary general of Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC, has refused
orders from Mr. Mugabe.

Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu
that Mr.  Tsvangirai's remarks are a political ploy as he has always
cooperated with him.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said he cannot violate the Constitution to
please anyone. He has been at loggerheads recently with the president, who
promised civil servants to give them a raise while Biti has insisted the
government cannot afford to do so.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera says power sharing was always destined
to fail.

Work on Zimbabwe's New Constitution Again Halts; Parties Dispute Method

http://www.voanews.com

15 June 2011

President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has insisted on a so-called
quantitative method in which a position is weighted by the number of times
it was mentioned in public hearings

Jonga Kandemiiri | Washington

The much-interrupted and often disputed process of revising Zimbabwe's
constitution came to a halt again this week as the country's three
co-governing parties clashed for a second time on the method that should be
used to compile public comment collected in 2010.

President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party insists on a so-called quantitative
method in which a position is weighted by the number of times it was
mentioned in public hearings. But the Movement for Democratic Change
formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wants a qualitative approach
taking an overview of the data. It also says ZANU-PF was manipulating the
public outreach process through coaching and intimidation.

Douglas Mwonzora, co-chairman for the Tsvangirai MDC formation of the
parliamentary select committee in charge of revising the constitution told
VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that the stalemate has been referred
to the management committee which incorporates negotiators for each of the
three parties in government.

ZANU-PF Co-Chairman Paul Mangwana said disputes over methodology were
hindering progress on the constitutional revision. Sources said ZANU-PF,
which has been pushing for new elections this year, wants a draft
constitution to be completed by the time the Southern African Development
Community holds its next summit in August in Angola.

Rwandan Genocide Tribunal Complains Zimbabwe Uncooperative on Fugitive

http://www.voanews.com

15 June 2011

Gacaca Tribunal Justice Hassan Jallow says the former Rwandan presidential
guard commander Protais Mpiranya is hiding somewhere in Zimbabwe but Harare
has not cooperated in his extradition

Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington

Rwanda’s tribunal on the 1994 genocide in the Central African country has
complained to the United Nations Security Council alleging a lack of
cooperation from the Zimbabwean government in pursuing a fugitive believed
to be hiding in Zimbabwe.

Gacaca Tribunal Justice Hassan Jallow says the former Rwandan presidential
guard commander Protais Mpiranya is hiding somewhere in the southern African
country but the Harare government has not taken action on Rwanda’s request
for his extradition.

The 1994 genocide left more than 800,000 people from the Tutsi ethnic group
dead, and Mpiranya is one of the top suspects still being sought for
prosecution.

The Zimbabwean government and police have denied Mpiranya is in Zimbabwe.
But sources say he enjoys ties with the military and may be enjoying their
protection.

Political analyst Effie Dlela Ncube told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo he
believes Mpiranya is in Zimbabwe, saying he should be extradited to face
justice in his own country.

Judgement reserved in bail application for MDC members

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
16 June 2011

High Court Judge, Justice Uchena, on Thursday reserved judgment on a bail
application made by twenty MDC-T members arrested last month over the
alleged murder of police Inspector, Petros Mutedza.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told SW Radio Africa that the ruling on the
matter would probably be made next week Tuesday. This is the fourth time in
a week that judgement on the case has been delayed.

The accused, all MDC-T members will now remain in custody in a ‘murder’ case
Mwonzora described as ‘very, very, very, weak.’

‘I’ve read the state outline and this ranks as one of the weakest cases I
have ever seen. There is no assertion on what each particular person did.
There is no assertion for example to say accused number 1or 2 stoned the
policeman.

‘There is nothing that links all the accused to the offence. They are saying
the scuffle started inside a nightclub, but assailants in the nightclub are
not known,’ said Mwonzora.

He added; ‘The outline goes on to say when the deceased fled from the
nightclub he tried to get into someone’s car and that owner of the car is
not known.’

The party spokesman went on; ‘When he mistakenly tried to open the door to
that car he was struck by a brick and again that person who struck him is
not mentioned. To me, that is a very weak case because twenty people could
not have picked up one brick and fatally struck the officer.’

Mwonzora said they were astounded to read in Thursday’s Herald that bail for
their members had been refused when the matter had not been completed.

‘In today’s (Thursday) Herald there is a big headline proclaiming that bail
has been refused when the judge had not even made his ruling public. The
matter was eventually heard and judgement was reserved. How the Herald knew
that in advance remains to be seen. How could the Herald have predicted the
judgment has left everyone wondering,’ Mwonzora said.

Though disappointed with the outcome to deny their members freedom, the
Nyanga north MP was adamant the accused had no case to answer.

‘As MDC we do not have respect for the arrest of these people. We will not
have respect for the prosecution of these people. This is a political trial
other than a criminal trial.

‘Even before any investigation was instituted, police blamed the MDC for the
murder. Now our members are being kept in custody simply because they’re
MDC,’ the MP said

SA urged to seize white farms

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by James Mombe     Thursday 16 June 2011

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa must seize white-owned farmland without paying
compensation, ruling ANC party youth leader Julius Malema has said.

Malema, whose youth league does not determine policy but is one of the most
influential voices in the ANC, said the government’s preferred willing
buyer/willing seller policy has failed to ensure transfer of enough land to
the country’s land hungry blacks.

"Willing-buyer, willing-seller is not an alternative... The alternative from
the youth league is that we take the land without paying. That is what we
are proposing," said Malema, who was speaking ahead of the league's 24th
national congress that began today in Midrand just outside Johannesburg.

Under the willing buyer/willing seller policy the government pays market
prices for land voluntarily offered on the market.

But Malema queried why black South African should pay for land that was
originally stolen from them, echoing the argument of neighbouring Zimbabwe’s
President Robert Mugabe who has refused to pay for land grabbed from whites
saying it was stolen from black Zimbabweans in the first place.

"They never bought the land, they stole the land. They did not only steal
the land, they converted the owners of the land into slaves ... now we must
pay for that with the willing-buyer, willing-seller," said Malema.

There was no immediate reaction from the main ANC wing to Malema’s calls for
land seizures. But the President Jacob Zuma and other senior ANC leaders
have previously not backed the vocal youth leader’s radical positions on
land reform or the nationalisation of mines that he has also called for.

Thousands of poor blacks are still waiting for the ANC government to deliver
on its promise on coming to power in 1994 when it set itself an ambitious
target of redistributing 30 percent of all agricultural land to the black
majority by 2014.

With four years before the delivery date the South African government has
acquired only about four percent of land from private owners for
redistribution, and says it needs to accelerate the process amid growing
unrest among the poor landless blacks.

South Africa – just like its northern neighbour Zimbabwe – inherited an
unjust land tenure system from previous white-controlled governments under
which the bulk of the best arable land was reserved for whites while blacks
were forced to crowd on mostly arid and infertile soils.

But South Africa, which has Africa’s biggest farming sectors and its biggest
economy, has repeatedly said it will not follow the example of Zimbabwe
where Mugabe has confiscated most of the farms owned by that country’s about
4 500 white commercial farmers and gave them over to blacks.

The farm seizures are blamed for plunging Zimbabwe — once a net food
exporter — into severe food shortages since 2001 after black peasant farmers
resettled on former white farms failed to maintain production because the
government failed to support them with financial resources, inputs and
skills training. -- ZimOnline.

Young people arise

WOZA lodges High Court application

Press statement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)

ON 15 June 2011, Police officers were served with the copies of urgent

chamber application submitted on 14th June to the High Court by WOZA.

They were served by Kossam Ncube, the defence lawyer. The matter has

been set down for 9am Friday 17 June 2011 before Justice Mathonsi.

The relief sought from the court is in the form of an order compelling

Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, Officer Commanding CID

Law and Order Section Augustine Kubvoruno Commanding CID Law and Order

Section at Bulawayo and Chief Superintendent P. R Moyo, the Officer

Commanding CID Law and Order Section at Bulawayo Central Police

Station and the Officer In Charge CID Law and Order Section at

Bulawayo Central Police Station to remove all police officers from the

house and the yard outside with immediate effect and to bar the police

from removing anything whatsoever from the house. WOZA are requesting

the High Court restore back to the organisation full and undisturbed

occupation of the house. The Suburbs house is under armed police

guard.

The reaction from the police officers upon being served with court

documents was more threats and intimidation. Officer Ngwenya

complained directly to the Human Rights lawyer that he was mentioned

in WOZA press statements and that he will now have to 'deal personally

with Williams', this is the second time he has made such a threat upon

the person of Williams. He went on to vow that even if the court

orders them to leave the premises, they will continue to guard from

outside the house until they can get Williams and search the house and

vehicles parked in the yard.

On Friday 10th June WOZA members had gathered to finalise their

petitions and power cut timesheets in Suburbs, Bulawayo. WOZA planned

to hand these over to the Parliament Committee dealing with the

electricity issue. Police officers so desperate to protect their

'power company' - ZETDC from the successful 'anti abuse of power

petition campaign' and they pounced like hyenas threatening peaceful

women. They broke the gate and forced their way in assaulting a lodger

and are still occupying the house 6 days later. The excuse is that

they are looking for subversive documents that oppose the government

but we suspect that they have 'planted' evidence over these days they

have been in sole control of the house.

The House of Assembly Portfolio Committee on State Enterprises and

Parastatals Management is holding public hearings on ZESA, in response

to the outcry over electricity supply and cost. There has been wide

militarisation of state enterprises, and ZESA Holdings is no

exception. In April last year it was intelligence agents masquerading

as security officers who enforced the arrest of Jennifer Williams at

ZESA in Harare during a peaceful protest. The same scenario prevailed

on 10 May when a journalist was arrested at the Bulawayo also by

Security officers. We therefore expect ZESA have prevailed upon the

police to prevent WOZA from continuing their 'anti abuse of power'

campaign and issuing the threatened 'red card' to ZESA.

The officers leading this oppression are Law and Order police, namely

George Levison Ngwenya, Lindani Mpofu, Chikango, Nkomo, Chuchu, S. G.

Ndlovu, known as MaNdlo and another know as Moyo. These officers are

involved in oppression of human rights defenders and some of them are

involved in the torture of members during detention in March of 14

members.

The Joint Monitoring Implementation Committee is yet to respond to WOZAs
report.

Court documents will be available on our website www.wozazimbabwe.org

16th June 2011 For more information, please call Jenni Williams +263

772 898 110 or +263 712 213 885 Magodonga Mahlangu +263 772 362 668 or

email info@wozazimbabwe.org or wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com or

wozazimbabwe@googlemail.com. Visit our website at

www.wozazimbabwe.org. You can also follow us on Twitter at

twitter.com/wozazimbabwe or find us on Facebook.

A glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe

Release: immediate
Released by: Geoffrey Van Orden MEP
Contact: 0032 2 284 7332
 
A glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe

Brussels, 16 June 2011 -- Mr Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, who spearheads the European Parliament's campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, yesterday (15 June 2011) hosted a conference with leading Zimbabwean civil society activists. McDonald Lewanika (Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition), Cephas Zinhumwe (National Association of Zimbabwean NGOs) and Gabriel Shumba (Zimbabwe Exiles Forum), joined MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) representatives, MEPs and EU diplomats for the discussion. They focused on the need for more rapid progress towards real democratic change in Zimbabwe and a route to free and fair elections. Diplomats from the Zimbabwean embassy were also present and responded to questions.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP commented:

"The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be most disturbing but there are some glimmers of light. We heard first-hand accounts of the recent upsurge in violence and intimidation against those that Mugabe fears. But at last, Zimbabwe's neighbours have begun to demand action.

"We have always advocated an African solution to the ongoing problems in Zimbabwe and are pleased that, at long-last, SADC (the Southern African Development Community) has recognised the true nature of the situation and has called for an end to all political violence and for free, democratic elections that meet international standards.

"Elections are not a single event but a process.  A road map to elections needs to be set out. Elections cannot be judged free in an atmosphere of intimidation and where the media does not give expression to all opinions. The people need education in the electoral process and a proper system of voter registration needs to begin very soon.

"Zimbabwean delegates also agreed that until there is real evidence of change, the EU's "restrictive measures" - aimed specifically against Mugabe and his inner circle and not bearing in any way on the wider Zimbabwean population - must remain in place and be better explained."

ENDS

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP is Conservative Defence and Security Spokesman. Over many years he has initiated the European Parliament's tough resolutions on Zimbabwe. He has been personally banned by Mugabe from entering Zimbabwe.

He can be contacted on: 0032 2 284 7332 or by email: geoffrey.vanorden@europarl.europa.eu

Cancel Chinese USD98m loan or turn it into a grant

By Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 16th June 2011

What is left now is for the Parliament of Zimbabwe to cancel the Chinese
US$98m loan or turn it into a grant. There are overwhelming reasons for
taking such a drastic move in the national interest but we will focus on 5
key reasons.

Firstly, it is standard practice in contracts to reverse a loan deal which
you feel does not meet your expectations. It is normal for any loan
agreement to have a 28 or 30 day cancellation or ‘cooling-off’ period. It
would be unusual if the Chinese loan was an exception.

Although some loan agreements have cancellation clauses which provide for a
penalty fee, in this case, it would be worthwhile to pay any reasonable
penalty fee and opt out of such an unbearable national burden in good time
than to recklessly mortgage our children’s future.

Should the Chinese refuse to cancel the US$98 million loan deal, they can be
told in no uncertain terms will Zimbabwe ever seek a loan from them again as
long as they refuse to cancel it or turn it into a 100% grant with no
strings attached e.g. use of Chinese labour and materials at the expense of
Zimbabwe’s own unemployed population and abundant materials. One recalls the
case of the National Sports Stadium which was built by the Chinese allegedly
using sand imported from their country.

Secondly, the public outrage that the loan deal has provoked is enough to
forewarn the MPs about the trouble that lies ahead if they don’t sort out
their blunder before the elections. Among those who have spoken out against
the loan are civil society e.g. Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
(ZIMCODD), Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD), the press editorials and ironically,
the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti called the loan “criminal” (Voanews.com,
15/06/11).

Thirdly, it is not needed now especially for constructing a spy centre which
could potentially be used against the very people whom the spies purport to
be protecting especially ahead of the referendum and general elections when
State security agents suddenly turn into Zanu-pf activists 24/7.

Fourthly, we cannot afford it because we are already over-borrowed at over
US$7 billion.

Fifthly, it is unfair by being tied to our diamonds for 20 years and
depriving our children and grandchildren of any breathing space from the
toxic loans some of which were amassed by the pre-GPA regime under
mysterious circumstances.

Civil society should keep pressure on the government for a full audit of
Zimbabwe’s US$8billion debt to determine how much was borrowed when, by
whom, from whom, for what and how was it spent? Similarly, a full forensic
audit is needed on the diamond sales, again to establish the quantity sold,
the dates, the value, the buyer, the seller and what happened to the
proceeds. These audits are very important in holding those in public office
accountable and to prevent corruption and money laundering.

©Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London,
zimanalysis2009@gmail.com