Security sector reform to come under spotlight at SADC meeting

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
8 June 2011

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa is expected to use his negotiating
skills to resolve the most contentious issues still dividing ZANU PF and the
MDC formations during a SADC session on Zimbabwe this Saturday.

While it is almost certain that an electoral roadmap will be endorsed on
Saturday, matters surrounding security sector reform and the composition of
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission still divide the warring parties.

A source who will be attending the Johannesburg meeting told SW Radio Africa
on Wednesday that Zuma, the SADC appointed mediator on Zimbabwe, will have
to use tact to resolve the outstanding issues.

‘I can safely say the roadmap is done and will be adopted by all parties.
The other issue to be worked on is the timetable of when certain things can
be done,’ our source said.

He added; ‘On the contentious issues, I believe the mediator will not want
to deal with these in an open forum like a SADC session. What I believe will
happen is that he will invite the three principals to a private session
where he will try to hammer out the differences.’

The MDC-T is adamant that security sector reform is necessary if the country
is to hold an election that is free and fair. Party leader Morgan
Tsvangirai, in an article published in his official newsletter, said the
army must embrace a new culture that promotes loyalty to the constitution
and respect for human rights.

He said Zimbabwe’s security sector has, in the last 30 years, been turned
into virtually a military wing of Mugabe’s ZANU PF, saying senior military
and police personnel have bragged about their allegiance to the former
ruling party, in clear breach of the security sector work ethic.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told us they expect SADC to come out with
clear benchmarks and timelines that would lead to an uncontestable poll.

‘As a party, the Prime Minister will raise the issue of security sector
reform because this group of securocrats has become a source of great
insecurity when they should be source of security in Zimbabwe,’ Mwonzora
said.

He added that besides the roadmap, the SADC meeting will also discuss the
implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Many of the issues
in GPA have long been agreed upon by all the parties but Robert Mugabe has
stubbornly refused to implement them.

‘If it wasn’t for Mugabe’s intransigency, we wouldn’t be at this crisis
level and we definitely wouldn’t be the topic of each SADC summit in the
last three years,’ the party spokesman said.

Sadc Summit - Are Zim's Political Parties Aiming For A penalty?

http://www.radiovop.com

7 hours 47 minutes ago

HARARE – “Zanu PF and the MDC-T have perfected the art of diving in the 18
yard box hoping to get a penalty from SADC (Southern African Development
Community),” says Mkhululi Mabhena, a Harare resident.

Mabhena, an avid follower of Zimbabwe’s political events, was referring to
the apparent plots, counter plots, accusations and counter accusations by
Zimbabwe’s two main political parties in government that have dominated the
weeks ahead of this weekend’s SADC extra ordinary summit in Johannesburg.

While the genuineness of most allegations being thrown against each other by
the parties are yet to be verified, political experts say the two rivals
view each other as being involved in “antics” meant to attract the attention
of SADC.

First it was the murder of a police officer Inspector Petros Mutedza by
alleged MDC-T supporters in Harare's Glen View suburb. Zanu (PF) went into
frenzy, accusing the MDC-T supporters of killing Mutedza.

This was followed by the wanton arrest of dozens of known party supporters
in the high density suburb who were charged with manslaughter.

The State media also went into delirium and brought voices of traditional
MDC-T bashers who all but convicted the MDC-T of murder and went further to
bring on past incidents in which party supporters were alleged to be
involved.

But the MDC-T saw something more into it and accused Zanu (PF) of trying to
cause a scene ahead of the SADC summit.

“We are also grossly concerned with the fact that Zanu (PF) is trying to
politicise what should an ordinary innocent police investigation,” MDC-T
secretary general Tendai Biti told the media last week.

“We are aware that they are doing this fully aware of the forthcoming SADC
summit in Johannesburg on the 10th of June 2011. The leadership of SADC will
not be fooled.”

Biti said his party had long been at the receiving end of Zanu (PF)
violence.

This was to be followed by a strange boycott of a party star rally by MDC-T
leader Morgan Tsvangirai at Zimbabwe grounds last Saturday.

Tsvangirai said he felt insulted by the stringent restrictions he had been
given by the police and the delay in sanctioning of the rally. Some of the
restrictions involved refraining from making derogatory utterances against
party opponents, no sloganeering and marches by party supporters.

More was to follow.

Biti’s Harare house was bombed Sunday morning in a suspected assassination
attempt.

Zanu (PF) loyalists saw this as a hoax.

“It’s clear this (bombing) is a Rhodesian component within their (MDC-T) own
structures which is sold to raising such silly incidents so as to attract a
psychosis attack of the MDC(T) yet in fact we all know who is sponsoring
violence in this country. We have a story to tell the SADC leaders on
Friday,” President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson later told the State media.

He added, "This was a propaganda political petrol bomb so poorly done ahead
of the Sadc Summit in South Africa. If the idea was to draw attention to
Minister Biti and his party, then the MDC-T needs to be a little bit more
inventive next time."

Zanu (PF) political analysts also described the incident as “cheap
politicking” and a “little scene begging for attention before the summit”.

Chris Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to China urged police to “go
beyond the coincidence between the bombing and the upcoming SADC summit” in
their investigations.” The people of Zimbabwe and SADC will expose them
(MDC-T) for who they are,” said Mutsvangwa.

Martin Dinha, governor for Mashonaland Central province and strong MDC
critic also saw an MDC hoax into it.

“MDC-T’s play game is very clear,” he said, “They are going to SADC to try
and demonise and bastardise the Zimbabwe to give an impression that in
Zimbabwe there is violence, abuse of human rights. The whole idea is to try
and compel SADC to give a roadmap.”

Police, who have been accused by MDC-T of fighting in Zanu (PF)’s corner,
also cast doubt in the genuineness of the attack, pinpointing the 17 hour
delay in reporting the attack as a ploy by the Finance Minister to conceal
evidence of a possible hoax.

Harare based political analyst Ernest Mudzengi says: “Some of these issues
are actually real. They may not be real as antics as alleged by the rival
parties. We need not put all these issues in the same basket. Really there
are some issues that are realistic when we consider the political situation
and there are others that are being played in the wake of the SADC meeting.

Pro Zanu (PF) and MDC-T delegations have also been dispatched to
Johannesburg to stage side campaigns to buttress their positions.

Observers say SADC is very much abreast with events in the country that it
may not be swayed by the last minute "antics" to attract its attention.

"SADC leaders are well briefed about the situation in Zimbabwe. They have
their own intelligence here," says political analyst Ibbo Mandaza.

Zanu (PF) versus Ngos At Sadc Summit

http://www.radiovop.com

7 hours 47 minutes ago

Harare, June 08, 2011 - Zimbabwe's civil society organisations have
descended on Johannesburg, South Africa ahead of Saturday’s special Southern
African Development Community (Sadc) summit as part of an offensive to
counter Zanu (PF) propaganda blitz.

On Tuesday Zanu (PF) dispatched a high powered delegation to the South
African capital to lobby regional leaders before they review Zimbabwe’s
insecure political situation blamed on President Robert Mugabe’s alleged
refusal to share power.
The delegation comprises Zanu (PF) spin doctors Jonathan Moyo, Tafataona
Mahoso, Vimbai Chivaura and former ambassador to China Chris Mutsvangwa.

Sources said the specific inclusion of the media hangmen, Moyo and Mahoso,
was intended to hoodwink regional leaders into believing that President
Mugabe was fully implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA), citing
piece-meal media reforms.

Since the SADC Troika meeting in Livingstone, Zambia in March, Moyo has
written harsh articles in the state media criticising President Jacob Zuma’s
mediation in the Zimbabwean crisis.

Together with Mahoso, who doubles up as the chief executive officer of the
Zimbabwe Media Commission and the controversial Broadcasting Authority of
Zimbabwe, have roundly condemned Zuma’s international affairs advisor
Lindiwe Zulu and called for her withdrawal from the mediation team.

Mahoso and Mutsvanga are supposed to show the regional leaders that the ZMC
and the BAZ have rolled out media reforms as demanded by under the GPA,
citing the issuing of 25 newspaper licences and the call for two radio
stations. Zanu (PF) insiders said part of the mandate of the delegation was
to convince the regional leaders, through interviews on SABC television and
radio as well as newspaper interviews that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
party was a violent party.

“The other mandate of the delegation is to try and convince the region that
elections should be held this year,” said a Zanu (PF) insider. But Dewa
Mavhinga, the regional information and advocacy coordinator of the Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition – the non-governmental organisation coordinating
activities of civil society organisation at the summit – said they had
prepared enough ammunition to thwart the Zanu (PF) strategy.

“It appears Zanu (PF) wishes to intensify its lobby to get SADC to set aside
Livingstone Troika resolutions,” Dewa told Radio VOP on Wednesday. “On our
part we are prepared - on Thursday - 9 June we have a press conference at
10.30 am at Deveonshire Hotel targeting SADC leaders.

Immediately after the press conference, at the same venue, we shall launch a
new Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition publication - The Military Factor in
Zimbabwe's Political and Electoral Affairs. On Saturday we shall have a
Solidarity March and Rally focusing on a clear, enforceable elections
roadmap for Zimbabwe,” said Dewa.

He added that that from Thursday (tomorrow) a local independent daily
newspaper would be carrying a significant portion of the Crisis in Coalition’s
Zimbabwe Briefing newsletter as an insert.

“This will enable us to reach a wider audience in Zimbabwe and in the
region,” he said.

Scores of officials of Zimbabwe civil society organisation have made a
bee-line to Johannesburg for the summit as part of the lobby to force
President Mugabe to adhere to the GPA.

Zimbabwe's Ruling Partners Trade Barbs Ahead of Crucial SADC Summit

http://www.voanews.com/

ZANU-PF is accusing the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of staging a bombing in a bid to influence
Southern African Development Community leaders

Ntungamili Nkomo & Blessing Zulu | Washington  07 June 2011

With a potentially critical Southern African Development Community summit on
Zimbabwe a few days off, the two main parties in Zimbabwe's unity government
are trading accusations over the gasoline-bombing of Finance Minister Tendai
Biti’s home on the weekend.

ZANU-PF is accusing the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, of which Biti is secretary general, of staging
the incident in a bid to influence Southern African Development Community
leaders, and to neutralize charges that MDC members killed a senior police
officer in a Harare suburb on May 29.

Sources said ZANU-PF will also argue that the attack on Biti’s residence may
have been the result of clashes within the MDC branch. The improvised
incendiary device did little damage.

ZANU-PF Parliamentary Whip Joram Gumbo told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili
Nkomo the bombing incident at Biti’s residence was an inside job by the
former opposition party.

"They killed a police officer and now they are trying to divert SADC's
attention. ZANU-PF did not thrown that bomb which could not even kill a
chicken in the yard," Gumbo said.

Tsvangirai MDC spokesman Douglas Mwonzora insisted the bombing was carried
out by supporters of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

Meanwhile, both parties are dispatching senior officials to Pretoria to
lobby the South African government and regional diplomats ahead of
Saturday's summit.

ZANU-PF sent former information minister Jonathan Moyo while the MDC is
sending Nelson Chamisa, party organization secretary and Information and
Technology minister.

The Zimbabwe discussions are to be held on the sidelines of the Comesa, SADC
and East African Community tripartite summit convened in Johannesburg.

ZANU-PF aims to overturn the resolutions of an April SADC troika meeting in
Livingstone, Zambia, which called for political reform in Harare,
establishment of a road map to the next elections in Zimbabwe, and an end to
political violence.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator Dewa Mavhinga and Goodson
Nguni of the ZANU-PF-aligned Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations
spoke with VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu about the forthcoming summit.
Nguni maintained that the MDC formation of Prime Minister Tsvangirai is to
blame for political violence.

Police take over Glen View home of MDC member

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 June, 2011

The atmosphere in Harare’s Glen View suburb has remained tense as police
continue random arrests of innocent residents, more than a week after the
murder of a policeman at a local bar. An unofficial curfew is reportedly in
effect as residents limit their own movements to avoid getting caught. And a
report from the MDC-T said “scores of armed police” have taken over the home
of a party member in the area.

The report said a former councillor named Dehwa, of ward 30 in Glen View 3,
was “forced to flee the house” as police descended on the area, claiming
they were investigating the death of policeman Petros Mutedza.

Witnesses said Mutedza was killed by unknown revelers drinking at the bar,
but the police have targeted residents randomly and more than 25, mostly
MDC-T members, have now been arrested. A group of 12 appeared in court last
week charged with murder and lawyers said many had visible signs of severe
assault and torture. The case was remanded until June 17th, after the
Attorney General’s office asked for more time to investigate.

According to the MDC-T, the armed police officers who took over Dehwa’s
house at number 1329, 2nd Crescent in Glen View 3, “have occupied all the
rooms at the house and can be seen playing music at full blast and cooking”.

Reports received by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) this
week confirmed that police were still harassing residents in Glen View. CHRA
chairperson Simbarashe Moyo told SW Radio Africa that some reports were
disturbing.

“We hear from our structures in Glen View that uniformed and plain clothes
police are arresting residents indiscriminately, hoping to find among them
the person who murdered the policeman last week”, Moyo said.

He explained that people are living with the fear of being arrested for the
murder and others have actually left the area. “When an area resembles a war
zone you can expect that some will be running away, but individual freedoms
must be upheld”, Moyo added.

The police, under orders from the Mugabe regime, have been enforcing an
illegal ban on public gatherings around the country and have disrupted
prayer meetings organized as part of the national healing programme.

Observers have strongly criticized ZANU PF for targeting the MDC-T, who are
supposed to be their partners in a unity government brokered by regional
leaders.

IMF wants Biti to handle all diamond dealings

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Chief Reporter
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 09:28

HARARE - The International Monetary Fund wants Finance Minister Tendai Biti
to handle all diamond transactions by transferring the administration of the
Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to his ministry.
The Bretton Woods institution wants this captured in the Diamonds Revenue
Bill that is now before Cabinet and expected to be sent to Parliament soon
for consideration. The IMF proposal follows indications by  Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai that Zimbabwe will use revenue from diamond sales to repay
part of its external debt totalling $7.1 billion.
Zimbabwe is following a strict IMF prescription that has restored sanity to
the central bank and seen the country's voting rights restored after a
seven-year suspension, a step toward normalizing relations with major
donors. Zimbabwe is, however, not eligible for financial aid until it
clears its arrears,  about $1,3billion, to the Fund, the World Bank and
African Development Bank.
A letter from a consultant drafting the Diamond Revenue Bill, Brian Crozier,
to Biti (seen by The Zimbabwean) says: "The IMF chief of mission suggested
an amendment to the ZMDC Act in order to give you power to direct the
disposition of the corporation’s revenues.”
He said he had inserted a new section, giving Biti power to issue directives
which will in effect place the ZMDC under the supervision of the mMinistry
of Finance and ZimRA. Zimbabwe plans to seek relief for 68 percent of its
debt from foreign lenders and pay the remainder using proceeds from minerals
such as diamonds and platinum.
The resolution of the debt is crucial for Zimbabwe to return to the
international community. The Diamond Revenue Bill is set to stir intense
debate when it is tabled in Parliament. Biti was not immediately available
for comment. Critics say the ministry of Finance should steer clear of the
mining sector and leave the ministry of Mines to handle all mining.

Biti Says Election Deadlock Stalls Plan to Clear Debt

http://www.bloomberg.com

By Mike Cohen - Jun 9, 2011 1:02 AM GMT+1000

Zimbabwe’s efforts to clear its international debt arrears are being
hampered by a deadlock over the staging of elections, Finance Minister
Tendai Biti said.

The government approved a plan in November to pay arrears of about $1.3
billion to the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank and
the World Bank. The move would open the way for the southern African nation
to reschedule other debts and raise new loans needed to rebuild the economy,
which is recovering after a decade of recession.

“Our plan to deal with the question of debt” is behind schedule, Biti said
in an interview at an AfDB meeting in Lisbon today. “A lot of friends that
have to come on board if we are to succeed are worried about recent
political developments.”

The Movement for Democratic Change, of which Biti is secretary-general,
formed a unity government with President Robert Mugabe two years ago after
presidential elections were aborted because of violence. While the coalition
helped end the recession, the parties remain at odds about writing a new
constitution and holding elections.

Mugabe has been pushing for the vote to be held this year, while the MDC and
regional mediators say constitutional changes and election rules need to be
agreed upon first.

A new Zimbabwean law, which gave foreign mining companies until June 2 to
show how they will sell 51 percent of their shares to black Zimbabweans or
state companies, has also concerned the country’s international partners,
Biti said.
Growth Forecasts

He maintained his November forecast that the economy will expand 9.3 percent
this year, up from about 8.1 percent last year.

The estimates are more optimistic than those contained in the 2011 Africa
Economic Outlook, which projected growth would slow to 7.8 percent this year
and to 5.4 percent in 2012. The outlook, published on June 6, was written by
the AfDB, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the
United Nations Development Program and the UN Economic Commission for
Africa.

“We are going to rebound strongly on the back of a strong agricultural
performance,” Biti said. “My biggest fear is that the political noises that
have been coming up will have a debilitating effect on the economy.”

Zimbabwe Governing Principals Order Finance Minister to Boost State Pay

http://www.voanews.com/

Sources said President Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime
Minister Mutambara met Friday and agreed Biti should look for funds to
increase salaries of teachers and other state employees

Gibbs Dube | Washington  07 June 2011

Zimbabwe’s three ruling party principals have ordered Finance Minister
Tendai Biti to award civil servants a pay increase as promised by President
Robert Mugabe.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe meanwhile has warned that it will
call a crippling strike if no increase in pay for its members is
forthcoming.

Sources said President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy
Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara met on Friday and agreed that Biti should
look for funds to boost pay of state employees who want a monthly living
wage of US$502.

The principals did not suggest where the finance minister is to find such
funds. But sources said indications are that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
collected US$619 million in the first quarter of the year, exceeding its
target by 11 percent.

President Mugabe and Biti have traded barbs in recent days over the salary
increase which Mr. Mugabe promised civil servants would be in place by June.
Mr. Mugabe has accused Biti of blocking the increase. But Biti says the
government is not in a position to raise salaries – unless revenues from the
Marange diamond field increase.

Parliamentary Budget Committee Chairman Paddington Zhanda said Biti must tap
the country's mineral resources to increase compensation of state workers.

PTUZ General Secretary Raymond Majongwe said the government should brace for
a strike if civil servant demands are not met. “We have given the government
a 14-day ultimatum to pay us and we hope they will do so before we go on
strike,” said Majongwe.

Economist Eric Bloch said the cornered finance minister may have to make
budget cuts elsewhere to be able to increase civil service salaries. Civil
service pay accounts for 70 percent of government expenditures with the
nation on a shoe-string budget.

ZANU PF tries to block civic rally in SA

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
08 June 2011

ZANU PF on Wednesday tried to force South African police to bar a planned
rally organised by civic groups, set to be held at the venue of the upcoming
meeting on the Zimbabwe crisis.

The mass action is being coordinated by a number of different Zim civil
society organisations who are demanding that the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) implement a plan for real democratic change in
Zimbabwe. SADC leaders are meeting on the sidelines of a Free Trade Area
summit being held this weekend, to discuss Zimbabwe’s political crisis.

The public rally is expected to draw hundreds of people, including members
of leading South African civic groups and trade unions, who are all
demanding that SADC once and for all solve the Zim crisis.

Political groups are also set to join the demonstration. Members of the
Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) are reportedly planning to mobilise over
2,000 supporters to demonstrate against what they say is the marginalisation
of the Matabeleland region. At the same time Nqabutho Dube, spokesperson of
the South Africa chapter of the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, has also said his
party’s youth wing would meet to decide whether to join the planned mass
protests.

The plans for demonstrations have been received with anger by ZANU PF, which
has described it as “scandalous and offensive to natural justice.” The party’s
chief spin doctor, Jonathan Moyo said the planned protests “will be seen as
hostile to Zimbabwe if not rectified.” Moyo said that ZANU PF had been
barred from holding their own demonstrations, calling it “scandalous,” that
the civic groups have been given the green light to proceed with their
rally.

His comments have in turn angered observers and human rights campaigners,
because it is ZANU PF and the party-loyal security services that repeatedly
block demonstrations by the MDC and human rights groups in Zimbabwe. SW
Radio Africa also understands that the claims that ZANU PF is not allowed to
hold their own demonstration in South Africa are false.

According to John Vincent Chikwari from the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth
Movement, which is part of the civic rally on Saturday, ZANU PF will be
allowed to have its own demonstration. Chikwari told SW Radio Africa on
Wednesday that the party tried to force local South African police to bar
the civic rally, accusing the MDC-T of spearheading the protests.

“We were at the police station on Wednesday morning and ZANU PF was already
there, saying the rally must be barred because it was organised by the MDC,”
Chikwari explained. “The ZANU PF group even went as far as to try offer
bribes and also said that the MDC did not respect South Africa’s Albertina
Sisulu, so they shouldn’t be allowed to have the rally on the same day as
her funeral.”

Chikwari added that ZANU PF’s application for a demonstration included
bussing in its own contingent of support “to try and discredit what the
civic groups are saying.” He said they do expect some clashes with the ZANU
PF group at the rally, but explained that South African police have promised
a strong security presence to ensure there is no violence.

SADC officials meanwhile are set to be bombarded with proof of the ongoing
abuses at the hands of ZANU PF, with the MDC-T and leading civic groups all
releasing damning reports this week.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Thursday is set to release a report
titled “The Military Factor in Zimbabwe’s Political & Electoral Affairs.” At
the same time the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement will release a
report on Friday, calling for urgent security sector reforms in Zimbabwe.

SW Radio Africa also understands that the MDC-T will be releasing hundreds
of copies of a report titled “Footprints of Abuse” which details how ZANU PF
is still leading the violence and intimidation across Zimbabwe. The document
is believed to have been released, in part, at the March meeting of the SADC
Troika, where ZANU PF was reprimanded for refusing to reform.

Bombshell Harare land scandal report out

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by JOHN CHIMUNHU
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 07:53
Cops refused to arrest Chombo, Chiyangwa

HARARE - The Mayor of Harare, Muchadeyi Masunda  was last night expected to
release a report into the city's infamous land scam, which has implicated
several high-profile individuals, including cabinet minister Ignatious
Chombo and prominent businessman, Phillip Chiyangwa. Both are related to
President Robert Mugabe.
Masunda told The Zimbabwean that the report would be made public after it
was debated by councillors at a special council meeting. “The issue has
escalated to the highest level,” Masunda said. Publication of the report was
slowed after the first investigation committee chairman, Councillor Warship
Dumba, was harassed by Chombo and later removed by a “partisan”
investigation committee set up by the minister, who was named in an earlier
probe as one of the major beneficiaries of the land scam.
The matter was referred to the police, who refused to arrest the named
suspects - Chiyangwa and Chombo. Mugabe's nephew Chiyangwa, who was
suspected of having obtained vast tracts of municipal land under
questionable circumstances, has built a vast empire which could now be
broken up with councillors insisting that the council should repossess its
land.
Last year, the Harare City Council reported the matter to the police and
recommended the arrest of Chombo and Chiyangwa. Instead, the partisan, Zanu
(PF)-aligned police arrested several councillors on what were described as
trumped-up charges to intimidate them and scuttle the probe. Chiyangwa sued
the council and The Standard newspaper, which published details based on the
HCC report to the police, for $900 million. The matter is still pending in
the High Court, but the municipality has said it can provide evidence of
graft against the named individuals and companies.
As if to pre-empt the impending HCC report, Chombo last week gave a lengthy
interview to the party-run Herald newspaper dismissing charges that he was
corrupt. He said it was only the police, accused of being spineless and the
Anti-Corruption Commission, said to be toothless, which could bring
corruption charges against him.
“Creative and highly imaginative elements have accused me of owning a
multitude of houses and stands in every city and town in Zimbabwe. This is a
figment of their fertile imaginations aimed at tarnishing my image,” Chombo
said. High-level sources in the police told The Zimbabwean that they had
been ordered not to investigate Chombo even after the HCC provided the
evidence because he was related to Mugabe.
Details of Chombo's ownership of numerous properties were also splashed in
newspapers after his estranged wife, Marian, filed divorce papers claiming a
share of what she claimed were some 100 properties owned by the minister
countrywide. Chombo is said to have become one of the richest property
owners in cabinet. He is also the Zanu (PF) secretary for lands, in charge
of a decade-old campaign to grab white-owned farms around the country.
Meanwhile, councillors have demanded the return of municipal land allegedly
seized by Herentals College in Budiriro. The councillors claimed Herentals,
in which some influential people in government have a stake, had taken over
a community centre without authorisation. Herentals was recently in the news
for taking over a government school at Cold Comfort farm and hiring thugs to
chase away staff and pupils.

ZINASU factions bury the hatchet and unite

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
08 June 2011

Vicious infighting between two factions of the Zimbabwe National Students
Union (ZINASU) came to an end Wednesday, after the respective student
leaders agreed to dissolve both camps and form a caretaker council that will
oversee a united congress in August.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Wednesday both former faction Presidents
Tafadzwa Mugwadi and Obert Masaraure confirmed the dissolution of all their
National Executive Council (NEC) portfolios. Mugwadi said the NEC has now
been substituted by a National Transitional Caretaker Council, co-chaired by
him and Masaraure.

“All those who held portfolio positions are no more. We are not saying they
no longer have a role to play but they will play a role in this roadmap,’
Mugwadi said.

Other members of the caretaker council will be announced in due course.
Masaraure told us the re-unification process started last year with the
crafting of a roadmap that has now paved the way to a united ZINASU.

The union will hold 5 provincial congresses that will culminate in a
national congress in August this year. Already the Harare province held a
united congress on the 3rd June and elected a new leadership. Other
provinces are also expected to collapse their factional structures and come
up with one leadership.

In a show of unity both Mugwadi and Masaraure were having lunch together
during the interview with SW Radio Africa. They said they were still
finalizing some of the finer details of the re-unification and would host a
press conference on Thursday, around 4pm at a venue to be advised.

Meanwhile both leaders issued a joint statement explaining why the union
split into two factions. They traced the factionalism back to 2006 and
accused the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition of seeking to control the union.
When a decision was made to wean the union from Crisis the decision was
popular with students but “had no sympathy from some funding partners and
other friends of ZINASU,” they said.

The statement from the two leaders added;
“Our generation made an attempt to bury factionalism in May 2010 but due to
the failure to reach consensus, the ugly hand of divisive funders has
haunted the Union to date. It is therefore incumbent upon us as a generation
to bury the ghost of factionalism and set the tone of rebuilding a credible,
robust, student oriented and autonomous Students Union that shall forever be
a beacon of hope for Zimbabwe.”

Other analysts say the factionalism in ZINASU was a tug of war between the
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and the MDC-T via the Crisis
Coalition, on whether to support the government backed constitution making
process or not. This division was highlighted by the fact one faction was
housed at the offices of the Crisis Coalition while the other was at Bumbiro
House, the offices of the NCA.

Apostles invade Chipinge dairy farm

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Tony Saxon
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 09:22

CHIPINGE – Members of the controversial Johanne Marange Apostolic sect loyal
to President Robert Mugabe have invaded one of Zimbabwe’s biggest dairy
farms.
A few individuals from the sect, who are directly benefiting from Zanu (PF),
and some youth militia invaded Spillemeer Farm last Wednesday. Other sect
members were quick to dissociate themselves from the invasion.
“I can confirm there was an invasion of a farm in Chipinge. This was done by
some individuals who have been given money and presents from Zanu (PF). God
does not call for such action. It is unholy for church members to invade
someone’s property,” said a senior member.
The sect’s leader, Noah Taguta, a well-known Zanu (PF) supporter, reportedly
masterminded the invasion. The farmer, Francois Kotze, said that he was in
the process of moving off his property. “I was intimidated by some youths.
They have an offer letter that claims the farm belongs to them,” said Kotze.
The Commercial Farmers Union is trying to negotiate with the invaders to
allow farmers to continue their operations. CFU President Deon Theron said
the suspension of the SADC Tribunal had made an already bad situation even
worse. The few remaining commercial farmers face a fresh onslaught of
invasions by Zanu (PF) land grabbers, in the wake of the closure of the
regional human rights court.

Zimbabwe's smaller political parties cry foul over constitution making process

http://bulawayo24.com/

by Getrude Sibanda
2011 June 08 16:14:25

SMALL political outside the inclusive government have written to the
Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) expressing dissatisfaction over their
systematic exclusion in the Copac led constitution making process.

The parties – Zapu FP led by Sikhumbuzo Dube, Zapu led by Agrippa Madlela ,
Zanu Ndonga and the African National Party (ANP) led by Egypt Dzinemunenzwa
have said they view their continued reference as "civic society" by the is
wrong in that it excludes the church and the real civic society.

Copac co-chair person Munyaradzi Mangwana acknowledged receipt of the memo
and said the co-chairs are yet to meet with the management committee to
discuss the way forward regarding the four political parties’ proposal.

"We are yet to meet over that as co-chairs and the management committee,’ he
said in part.

They have also argued that at no point in time did "they ever claim" to be
representing the civic society and Copac and MDC T, MDC and Zanu PF have
continued to lie about theur status during their deliberations with the
funders of the process.

In a memo written to the Copac co-chairpersons and copied to the main donor
UNDP - leaked to ZimScribes, the four political parties have suggested that
they be consulted and allowed to make recommendations of representatives for
the oncoming drafting stage arguing that the process will lack credibility
if only the three main political parties MDC, MDC T and Zanu PF go it alone.

"Secondly , we feel strongly that it will be unfair  for Zimbabwe as a whole
after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only three political parties in the
government are left to draft a constitution of their own," wrote the
political parties.

The parties also warned that the drafters must know that they are under
watch.

It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched.  The
Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to
give an objective analysis;  after all it is civic society that will be able
to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.

Copac is struggling to finish the thematic committee stage after instructing
political parties to send home some dull representatives who could not
operate computers.

After downsizing, the process flowed but some thematic committees have not
finished forcing the programme to be extended for an unknown period.

The next stage is the drafting stage after which the second all stakeholders’
conference and referendum will follow.

BELOW WE PUBLISH THE MEMO AS IT IS……

MEMORANDUM

TO:         COPAC CO-CHAIRPERSONS
CC:         UNDP, COPAC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN ALL STAKEHOLDERS
COMMITTEE
FROM:  POLITICAL PARTIES OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT (LABELLED CIVIC SOCIETY)
DATE:    31st MAY 2011

RE: UPDATE VIS-À-VIS THEMATIC AND DRAFTING STAGES

We find it prudent that we continue to express our sentiments about the
current Thematic Stage and also indicate how we feel about the pending
Drafting Stage.

Firstly, we shall continue to engage UNDP as a follow-up to our memo
enclosed, dated 21st May.  The memo is a follow-up to the one we wrote to
you.

Secondly, we strongly feel that it would be unfair for Zimbabwe as a whole
that after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only the three parties in
government are left to draft the constitution on their own.  Our humble
proposals in all fairness are as follows:

a)      The composition of the three-some remains as already agreed.
b)      An Observer Group (OG), along the lines of the Speaker’s Gallery
should be created where each political party chooses or seconds two
representatives.
c)       Although we do not claim to represent civic society, it would be
wise to include representatives of church umbrella organizations and other
civic groupings as part of the OG.

The OG is critical to the success of the constitution making process.  The
Group will be an answer to inclusivity, participation and transparency.

It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched.  The
Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to
give an objective analysis;  after all it is civic society that will be able
to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.

Yes, funding is an issue but it is worth the effort.  We are prepared to
discuss the issue to some detail.  The proposals can even be modified as you
see fit.

We are totally committed to work with COPAC to ensure a people driven
Constitution is produced.
We the undersigned Political Parties Representatives:

Chinese loan: cause for national outrage

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by SHOWERS MAWOWA
Monday, 06 June 2011 14:40
Loan was rushed through Parliament

Recent media reports suggest that the Chinese government has unveiled a $98
million loan to Zimbabwe for the construction of a defense college.
Parliament, it is said, has consented to the loan. These reports, if true,
and we know they must be because no journalist has been arrested, are cause
for national outrage. Of particular worry is the fact that the people’s
representatives in parliament have approved this loan -never mind the heated
debate. According to press reports, some legislators, predictably from the
MDC, protested the bill - arguing that no time had been given for their
consideration. The minister justified ambushing parliamentarians with the
bill by saying it was an urgent matter.
Others challenged the wisdom of the loan, given the violence against
citizens by the security forces.  Considering other pressing national
requirements, a defense college was not a priority at the moment, it was
argued. Characteristically, The Herald  celebrated the passing of the loan
as a victory against those who wanted to throw spanners in its works.

Priorities
It is mind-boggling how funding a defense college can be an urgent matter
given other pressing national requirements. Look at the status of our roads,
the railway system, hospitals, industry and other public infrastructure.
Government, it seems, has its priorities all messed up.
The country is already saddled with a debt of close to $7 billion, and has
been defaulting on repayments given the low revenue base and an
underperforming productive sector. We have been unable to pay our civil
servants decent wages - despite their wage bill taking nearly 70% of total
government expenditure.
Those of us in the Debt movement have always insisted that the Public
Finance management system, particularly loan contraction and debt
management, needs to be democratized. That such a matter of national
significance is rushed through parliament betrays a sinister agenda. In
essence the legislature assented to a bill whose content and implication
they did not fully comprehend. The ordinary women and men in the street
ultimately bear the burden of the debt.
It seems not to be in the interest of those who rule for the governed to
know how they are doing business. From the little information that
journalists have managed to put into the public domain, there is nothing
about the loan that warrants public blessing. This $98 million loan is a
classic example of what constitutes an odious debt. With a repayment
schedule spreading over 20 years and the current political status quo
certain to end in less than three years, no future government worth the
people’s confidence will repay such a loan.

Military onslaught
Of course the history of this country does not give us reassurance in this
regard. In 1980 Zimbabwe inherited $1,5 Billion in colonial debts.
Unfortunately, the new government agreed to repay this debt despite it being
clearly odious. It had been accrued by Ian Smith to sustain his 1970s
military onslaught against the people of Zimbabwe.
One cannot imagine that the Chinese are not aware of the risk tied to
issuing such a loan. They probably have it all figured out. The risk of a
new government refusing to honour the loan is real. There is precedence
here. Ian Smith for example chose to default on British guaranteed debt
after Rhodesia had unilaterally seceded from Britain in 1965. Ecuador's
President Rafael Correa did it in 2008.
For China to insist on this path makes me suspect that the risk is averted
somewhere and not in the agreement itself. While the loan has a repayment
period of 20 years it may be that there is guarantee of some quick returns
somewhere to offset the risk associated with a 20 year period. Curiously the
repayment strategy, according to the report, is tied to the extraction of
diamonds in Chiadzwa. Government will have to forgo its dues from Anjin to
settle the loan at a time when civil servants are surviving on peanuts.
The loan will fund a project whose construction is reportedly being done by
a Chinese contractor. What this means is that the Zimbabwe government has
borrowed money from the Chinese government to benefit a Chinese contractor.
Others have pointed to the hypocrisy that the said company does not meet the
empowerment law requirement of 50 plus 1% indigenous shares.
That the loan repayment strategy is leveraged on minerals resources is not
new in Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe’s overall debt strategy is
underpinned by the widely discredited and creditor led Highly Indebted Poor
Country Initiative (HIPC) and resource pledging.  This path infringes on
generational justice. How can one generation mortgage the country’s future?
The God-given natural resources of this country belong to all who live and
shall live in this country. Every generation has the usufruct of the earth
during the period of its existence and no generation has a right to limit
the developmental needs of those who will come 10 or 20 years after it.
Despite the general implications, the contractual economics of this deal
stinks. The agreement assumes that Marange diamonds will last and remain
viable. It is not clear who will pay the costs in the event of a
depreciation of diamond prices or exhaustion of the resource. If repayment
is tied to diamond revenue it means the cost of repayment rises with decline
of world diamond prices. There is yet to be agreement on the quantity of
diamonds in Chiadzwa and longevity of extraction.
The way the bill was passed reflects badly on the legislature. We are still
waiting for that day when MPs across political divide will unite to take a
stand against the excesses of the executive in the interest of the
country. - Mawowa is a PhD Development Economics Scholar at the School of
Development Studies (UKZN) working with the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and
Development (ZIMCODD). He writes in his personal capacity.

Odious debt
Odious debt is a principle of public international law that states that
repayment of a sovereign debt whose contraction did not benefit citizens is
not enforceable. The concept was formulated by Russian legal scholar
Alexander Sack in 1927. It is applied to, firstly were the citizens of the
debtor country did not consent to the borrowing and they did not receive a
benefit from the debt incurred by the borrowing government. Secondly the
creditors knew at the time they lent the money that the citizens of the
borrowing country did not consent to the borrowing and would not receive any
benefit from the money being lent to the government.
The current loan is targeted at supporting a state institution that stands
accused of violating its own people and whose credibility is firmly
contested. Attempts at reforming this institution have been resisted. The
Chinese surely ought to have been cautioned on this.

Released secessionist leader Siwela fears for his life

http://www.rnw.nl/

Published on : 8 June 2011 - 2:47pm

Only three days after he was released from prison, the leader of Zimbabwe’s
secessionist organisation Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) Paul Siwela has
told RNW that he fears for his life and is appealing to the international
community for protection.

By Thabo Kunene, Bulawayo

Siwela, who is one of the three leaders of the movement campaigning for the
independence of Matabeleland province, was released from the notorious Khami
Maximum Security Prison on Saturday after he spent three months in solitary
confinement.

“I am appealing to the international community to help me and my family
because I don’t feel safe. Anyone can walk into my house and kill me,” the
49-year-old politician and businessman told RNW.

According Siwela, the whole aim of putting him in solitary confinement and
denying him bail for three months was meant to break his spirit. He said he
almost lost his sanity during his incarceration at Khami Prison where
hundreds of activists died in the eighties when President Mugabe waged war
against his rival, Joshua Nkomo.

No talking for Siwela
Siwela is charged with treason and complains about his bail conditions which
prevent him from publicly discussing politics and attending or speaking at
political meetings. He should also remain in Bulawayo for the duration of
his case.

The authorities consider him to be the most dangerous of the MLF leaders and
fear his influence in his native Matabeleland. When other MLF leaders, John
Gazi and Charles Thomas, were granted bail on the same treason charges in
April, Siwela was sent back to prison because he had other serious cases to
answer.

“I am a politician and need to be with my people. How do they want me to
survive as a leader when I can’t meet others? I have become a slave because
I am confined to my office and to family and can’t talk to anyone,” added
Siwela. He came out of prison looking frail, sick, emotionally drained and
had lost weight.

Facebook reactions
He had become a mere shadow of the energetic politician the people of
Matabeleland know. The Supreme Court alllowed his release only if he signed
an official document declaring that he would not participate in any
political activities and campaigns for a separate state for the people of
Matabeleland.

As soon as Siwela walked out of Khami Prison social networking site Facebook
was awash with messages of solidarity from the people of Matabeleland. But
most people from Mashonaland see him as a nuisance and think he should
remain in prison. The Shona accuse him of trying to cause war and divide the
country.

“This Siwela guy belongs in prison because he is trying to divide our people
along tribal lines,” read one facebook comment. But Matabeleland political
parties such as the MDC, led by Welshman Ncube, welcomed his release saying
it was overdue because he has not committed any offence.

MDC party condemns arrest
In fact it was the MDC-N party that paid bail money for the release of two
other MLF leaders, Gazi and Thomas, both of them former guerrilla fighters.
MDC-N Bulawayo information chief, Edwin Ndlovu told RNW that although his
party doesn’t agree with MLF policies and ideologies, they condemn his
arrest and incarceration by the state.

“Our party MDC-N is a national party and supports devolution of power to all
provinces not MLF ideology for a seperate state for the Ndebele, ” Ndlovu
told RNW.

SADC urged to take stand against human rights violations in Zimbabwe

http://www.sabcnews.com/

June 08 2011 , 9:32:00

Amnesty International Zimbabwe says the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) must stick to its guns in calling for sanctions over human
rights violations taking place in Zimbabwe at this weekend's regional
extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe.

A team of the global human rights advocacy group from Zimbabwe is in South
Africa lobbying key SADC country diplomats and embassies. They want to
ensure that SADC will not back down on its unprecedented acknowledgement in
Zambia three months ago that arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment
of human rights activists are taking place in Zimbabwe.

Amnesty International Zimbabwe Researcher Simeon Mawanza says: "We have been
calling on the SADC to insist on implementation of article 13 of the Global
Political Agreement which acknowledges that security organisations and other
state institutions have been operating on a partisan basis."

Mawanza adds: "Because that has not happened we are calling on the SADC
particularly to ensure that in the road map to the next election, the
necessary reforms are undertaken to ensure that the police enforce the law
and do not fight with a single political party."

The security situation in Zimbabwe is a critical factor for human rights
activists in determining whether the country can hold a free and fair
election to replace the interim power sharing government of Zanu PF and the
two Movement for Democratic Change factions. The parties remain divided on
when an election should be held.

Refugees suffering in Zim

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/

June 8th, 2011

It’s surprising to note that the country which always complains that its
citizens are being ill-treated across borders are treating citizens of other
countries seeking refuge with contempt.

What is happening at Tongogara camp should stop forthwith if we are a
serious nation which wants its citizens to be fairly treated abroad.

If a senior government official openly condemns what her government is doing
it shows that there is really a problem, because cabinet ministers are
usually public relations officers of their governments.

According to Regional Integration and International Cooperation, Minister
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga who recently visited Tongogara refugee camp
the situation there is deplorable.

Located in Manicaland province, Tongogara refugee camp is home to stateless
persons, the politically displaced and returnees.

Minister Misihairambwi-Mushonga is quite right in her sentiments that if
changes are not made soon, the Zimbabwe government will have to end finger
pointing, because the violations we complain of happening to us outside are
the same as what is happening in our refugee camps.

Posted by Beven Takunda

A letter from Bishop Godfrey Tawonezvi and the persecuted Church in Zimbabwe

http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

His Grace has been sent a copy of a letter from Bishop Godfrey Tawonezvi to
all bishops in the Central Africa region, to Lambeth Palace, and to the
USPG. As Mugabe’s henchmen attempt to take control of Zimbabwe’s Anglican
Church, the evil is manifest.

The source of the persecution is an excommunicated bishop, Norbert Kunonga,
an enthusiastic supporter of Mugabe. Kunonga is using police and sundry
henchmen to seize church property, intimidate believers and inflict violence
upon them. Mugabe, a professing Roman Catholic, will do what he needs to do
to disrupt church services in order that recalcitrant Anglicans are
subjugated. Kunonga is a staunch ruling party ally who once called Mugabe ‘a
prophet of God’; he has been duly rewarded with a sprawling estate. One
bishop observes: “As a theologian who has read a lot about the persecution
of the early Christians, I’m really feeling connected to that history. We
are being persecuted.”

As most of the news coverage of the Church here tends to be consumed with
the politics of Pope Benedict’s ordinariate or Archbishop Williams’ gay
headache, let us remember that our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe truly
know what it is to be despised, rejected, tortured and murdered.

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

    Greetings from the Diocese of Masvingo.

    I would like to update you on the recent developments at Daramombe
Mission.

    Kunonga continues to destabilise the Mission in an effort to forcibly
take control of the institution.

    He 'ordained' two men who live in different places near Daramombe. These
men will obviously assist Kunonga in his efforts to take control of the
mission.

    I am informed that two Kunonga priests who are also teachers went to the
Education office seeking employment in Chivhu. Daramombe mission is in
Chivhu area. We are also Responsible Authority to many schools in the Chivhu
area.

    This is a new method that Kunonga is now using, ie getting his thugs to
infiltrate our churches and institutions.

    Kunonga is using any means necessary to achieve what he wants to
achieve. In my message on April 30, I informed you about a nurse who was
suppose to leave Daramombe mission. This nurse is working with Kunonga and
she has publicly announced that she recognises Kunonga as the owner of the
clinic. I am also in formed by others at the mission that Kunonga promised
to appoint her the nurse in charge once he [Kunonga] takes over Daramombe.

    On Tuesday 31 May 2011, the Bishop, Priest in Charge, and clinic staff
had a meeting at the clinic to discuss some administrative issues. The
Kunonga nurse refused to attend the meeting. After the meeting, the Bishop,
Priest In Charge and Nurse In Charge went to the concerned nurse and told
her to go to Marondera to discuss her transfer with Ministry of Health
officials. We also informed her that her services were no longer required at
Daramombe mission. Our conversation with her did not even last a minute. The
Bishop and Priest In Charge then proceeded to the Primary School for a
meeting.

    Ministry of Health had transferred the nurse from Daramombe in April
2011. Kunonga stopped this transfer and last week we got a letter from the
Ministry of Health stating that the transfer had been reversed.

    On Wednesday 1 June, the Nurse In Charge and the Priest were picked up
by the Police and taken to Chivhu Police station. They were released after
statements were recorded. Kunonga nurse had made false reports of indecent
assault to the Police. On Friday 3 June the Bishop was summoned to Chivhu
Police station.

    Kunona and his thugs always resort to lies and criminal activities such
as forging of documents. Recently they forged documents for Daramombe
mission Secondary School which they took to the Ministry of Education. All
these are efforts by Kunonga to try and take over Daramombe mission. We
informed the ministry of Education that the documents they had been given
were not authentic.

    We will continue to resist efforts by Kunonga to take over Daramombe
mission. We are grateful for your prayers.

    +Godfrey

Statement by the SADC Lawyers Association

Smear campaign won’t translate into votes

With or without any form of propaganda against the MDC, indications on the ground are that Zimbabweans have already made up their minds regarding which party they will vote out come next elections, whenever they are called. What’s most important to them is to have a non-violent free and fair election. Everything else is fait accompli.

The ongoing sustained campaign to discredit MDC as a party as well as its officials in their individual capacity is doomed to fail as it will not translate into any votes for ZANU PF. Securocrats, through their willing, tireless and chameleonic mouth piece, Mr. Motor Mouth better known as the Nutty Professor, have their guns cocked and ready to be fired in any direction as long as they will hit a perceived MDC target.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, have not been spared either. With Tendai Biti, the attack even went beyond verbal abuse when some spineless wimpy dropped a poorly-made petrol bomb onto his security wall. Listening to some in ZANU PF denigrating Biti for not raising salaries for civil servants and not advancing Gideonic handouts to remote-control farmers, one would be forgiven for thinking that Biti drops American dollars whenever he visits the lavatory. You would also think that there is a natural spring that shoots millions of dollars at Harvest House which the nation is being unfairly denied access to by the “irate” MDC.

Fortunately, Zimbabweans don’t suffer from amnesia. They know that it is not the MDC that is sitting on or pillaging diamonds at Chiadzwa. They are aware that it is not the MDC that sent thousands of soldiers to fight a useless war in the DRC in 1998 which benefitted individuals at the expense of the nation to a point where working families could not even afford a ride on a kombi to work until 18 months ago when Biti and the MDC salvaged whatever little remained and took the nation to the levels everyone enjoys today. Through the efforts of the MDC, an optimistic mantra  “mari yako chete” has now been born. We no longer have filling stations displaying “we sell fuel” as if it was a miracle to do so.

Clearly running out of both time and ideas, ZANU PF strategists have now resorted to their very old ploy; keep throwing as much mud at them as possible, some of it will eventually stick. They used the same trick with Joshua Nkomo when they went around the country telling the nation that he was a snake that deserved to be killed. Progressive minds knew he wasn’t and the mud did not stick.

Add to the current mix is what I would call the Canberra Circus where a mere housekeeper has gone into a bitter fight with the official representative of the government of Zimbabwe who also represents the head of state.  Reminiscent of Judas Iscariot succumbing to a few pieces of silver, an amateurish informer or simply an attention-seeking imbecile, reportedly went out of his/her way and took the effort to take photographs of the inside of a young adult’s bedroom which are now circulating around the globe. Even if the photos were doctored, it still beats the mind as to why any person in their right frame of mind would ever take their camera into a young adult’s bedroom unless they were on a clandestinely sponsored mission. Fortunately, the reasons behind the operation are getting clearer by the day.

Those who are familiar with the dynamics of our diplomatic missions particularly since the late 90s, will not be surprised at all to hear that a top diplomat has gone for months without a salary. At the height of ESAP, those talented with humour even joked that Dr. Mzee once said the country was no longer receiving enough rains because of FOREX shortages. Those in foreign missions then would understand better that this was not just another joke. Why it should be news today when a mere housekeeper misses a salary for three months, only goes to show the motive behind the stories. Nevertheless, the most encouraging reality about the lies and misinformation being peddled against the MDC and its officials is that those who are at the receiving end, are actually developing thicker skin by the day as they are fully aware that now is the proverbial darkest hour before dawn.

At this rate, one wonders how many secret cameras have been planted in Ambassador Zwambila’s bedroom, bathroom and office by those paid to discredit her and the MDC. However, when all lies and shenanigans are exhausted and exposed for what they are, the truth shall be known as it will.

chambokom@gmail.com