(24 May to 2 June)
Campaign diary day 8: 31 May 2010
By the end of Day 7, 3 580 441 children had received measles vaccination and 1 219 419 had been given vitamin A supplements.[1] In Hatcliff, community mobilizers started house-to-house visits to assess by card, ink mark[2] or immunization history whether all eligible children have been vaccinated. This is expected to be replicated in other suburbs of Harare, as well as carried out randomly by supervision teams in different provinces.
Provincial Medical Directors are being urged to advise whether there is a need to extend the campaign in their areas. Some have already indicated they will definitely meet their target populations by the scheduled end of the campaign on 2 June, such as in Harare, where outreaches are currently being done in schools and crèches in all suburbs of the city. Some areas, such as Seke District, have already planned for an extra day.
Erratum from day 7 entry: By the end of Day 6, at least 3 223 034 children had been vaccinated against measles and 1 091 993 had received vitamin A supplements.
________________________________________
[1][1]This figure is expected to change because reports received from the districts for day five and six are not yet complete.
[2][2] All vaccinated children had their fingers marked with indelible ink.
For more information, please contact:
Wendy Julias
World Health Organization
+263 (4) 253 724
+263 (91) 243 1408
JuliasW@zw.afro.who.int
Wed Jun 2, 2010 12:00pm GMT
The Herald
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
2 June 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harare — Government has dismissed reports that health institutions in Buhera are dispensing expired malaria drugs and rapid diagnostic kits.
Addressing journalists in Harare last Friday, Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera said no public health institution in Zimbabwe distributed expired drugs.
He said Coartemether, the recently introduced malaria drug, had its shelf life extended.
"It is more accurate to say that there are still a few institutions that are using the Coartemether whose shelf life was expanded to June and July 2010 by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, after a thorough scientific evaluation to determine its efficacy," he said.
Minister Madzorera said the drugs could effectively cure malaria.
On rapid diagnostic kits, the Minister said these were evaluated in 2006 and re-evaluated in March this year to assess their sensitivity.
"The RTD evaluation results surpass the WHO requirements, above 95 percent for sensitivity and 93 percent for specificity," he said.
Minister Madzorera urged people to visit their nearest health centres whenever they suspected malaria.
Zimbabwe introduced Coartemether last year to replace chroloquine and fancida.
The Herald
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Paidamoyo Chipunza
2 June 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/06/2010 00:00:00
by Sports Reporter
NewZimbabwe
BILL WATCH SPECIAL
[2nd June 2010]
House of Assembly Portfolio Committees and Senate Thematic Committees:
Open Meetings 3rd June
Following
the issue of a revised schedule of committee meetings by Parliament, there are
now two more meetings open to members of the public tomorrow, Thursday 3rd
June. The full list of open meetings for Thursday appears below.
Members
of the public may attend these meetings as observers only, not as
participants. [See note at the end of this bulletin on public
attendance and participation at different types of committee meetings.]
Note: This bulletin is based on the information provided by
Parliament late on 31st May. Last-minute changes are, however, possible. So,
if you wish to attend any of these meetings, Veritas
recommends that you avoid possible disappointment by first checking with the
relevant committee clerk that the meeting is still on and open to the public. Parliament’s
telephone numbers are Harare 700181 or 252936-55.
Thursday 3rd June at
10 am
Thematic Committee: Human Rights
Oral evidence from ZACRO [Zimbabwe Association of Crime Prevention and
Rehabilitation] on its operations
Committee Room No. 2
Chairperson:
Hon
Marava
Clerk: Miss Macheza
Portfolio Committee: Women, Youth Gender and Community Development
Oral evidence from Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and
Empowerment on indigenisation and empowerment of women and youth
Committee Room No. 3
Chairperson:
Hon
Matienga
Clerk: Mrs Khumalo
Portfolio Committee: Education, Sport and Culture
Oral evidence from National Arts Council and National
Art Gallery on their operations
Committee Room No. 4
Chairperson:
Hon Mangame
Clerk: Miss Chikuvire
Thursday 3rd June at
11 am
Thematic Committee: Indigenisation and Empowerment
Oral evidence from National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment
Board on its programmes and activities
Government Caucus Room
Chairperson:
Hon Mutsvangwa Clerk: Mr Ratsakatika
Public Attendance
at and Participation in Committee Meetings
·
Not
open to the public:
Portfolio and thematic committee meetings in which the committees are doing
private business – e.g. setting workplans, deliberating on reports and
findings, or drafting reports for Parliament, or when the committees make field
visits. [Veritas
does not list these in these bulletins.]
·
Open to
the public to attend as observers only: Portfolio and thematic committee meetings where oral
evidence is being heard. [As listed above.] If
attending, please use the Kwame Nkrumah Ave entrance to Parliament. IDs
must be produced.
·
Stakeholders
by invitation: At some committee
meetings stakeholders [and those who notify Parliament that they consider
themselves stakeholders and are accepted as such] are invited to make oral or
written representations and ask questions. [These meetings will be highlighted
in these bulletins.]
·
Public
Hearings: When committees call for public
hearings, members of the public are free to submit oral or written
representations, ask questions and generally participate. [Veritas
sends out separate notices of these public hearings.]
Note:
Zimbabweans in the Diaspora can send in written submissions to stakeholders’
meetings if they consider themselves stakeholders, and to public hearings, by
emailing their submissions to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable
information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.
_______________________________________________
Bill-Watch mailing list
Bill-Watch@veritas.co.zw
http://mail.veritas.co.zw/mailman/listinfo/bill-watch
02 June at 06:40
SW
Radio Africa News Stories for 01 June 2010
MDC names and shames more
perpetrators of violence
By Tichaona Sibanda
1 June 2010
The MDC on Tuesday published more
names of perpetrators of violence on their ‘roll of shame’. The weekly party
newsletter, The Changing Times, named Morgan Mzilikazi, a colonel in the army,
who is accused of leading ZANU PF youths in murdering and raping MDC activists
in Buhera district.
‘Among those he murdered are; Nyoka
Chokuse of Buhera South, Emmanuel Nyapfungwe, Buhera Central and Maxwell
Machasi, Buhera West,’ the newsletter said
The Changing Times also fingered
ZANU PF MP for Mbire in Mashonaland province, Paul Herbert Mazikani, as one of
those involved in the violence in 2008.
‘Mazikani led a team of ZANU PF supporters
in assaulting Wanzirai Magodo. The group also destroyed his homestead and
looted his property and livestock. The ZANU PF thugs were also involved in the
murder of MDC activists Biggie Zhuwawo in April 2008 and Titus Goho on June 12,
2008,’ the newsletter said.
It also named Newten Kachepa,
another ZANU PF MP for Mudzi north in Mashonaland East province. Kachepa
allegedly led a group of ZANU PF supporters that murdered Temba Muronde on
April 13 2008 and Kingswell Muteta on 25 July 2008 at Chimukoko village in
Mudzi.
The MDC-T party has said it supports the fight for justice for victims of the
2008 election violence and demands the prosecution of people who committed acts
of rape, murder and torture.
So far many sitting ZANU PF parliamentarians and a losing parliamentary
candidate have been named, in a series of these recent disclosures by the MDC
of perpetrators of political violence during the harmonized elections two years
ago.
In the three months between the March 29th vote and the June 27th runoff
election in 2008, ZANU PF militias, under the guidance of 200 senior army
officers, set about battering the MDC.
By election day hundreds of MDC supporters were dead, many more were missing,
tens of thousands had been tortured and badly injured and over half a million
were homeless. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai dropped out of the contest and took
refuge in the Dutch Embassy.
...............
By Alex Bell
01 June 2010
Campaigners from a rights group that
has exposed the abuses taking place at the Chiadzwa diamond fields have
remained in hiding since last week, with the police still set on tracking them
down.
The group from the Mutare based
Centre for Research and Development (CRD) were forced into hiding last week,
after a raid at their offices. Police were apparently searching for Farai
Maguwu, the CRD director. According to one of the CRD officials in hiding,
Maguwu’s deputy, James Mupfumi, was abducted last week Thursday while on his
way to the CRD’s offices. After interrogating Mupfumi, it’s understood that the
police then went to Maguwu’s home and arrested his brother, Lisben Maguwu.
Lisben was finally freed on Monday
after Magistrate Enia Ndiraya granted him bail and remanded him to June 14 to
face charges of obstructing justice. Prosecutor Simon Chabuka told the court
that Lisben “obstructed justice” by preventing the police from arresting his
brother Farai last Thursday. But he did not explain how Lisben was supposed to
have done this.
Lisben’s own lawyer Blessing
Nyamaropa, was also forced into hiding last week while trying to help his
client. Nyamaropa, from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), faced
interrogation and harassment from two notorious Harare police officers, who
threatened him. According to the ZLHR, Chief Superintendent Chrispen Makedenge
and Detective Inspector Henry Dowa, who have been implicated in the harassment
and arrest of several political and human rights defenders, have apparently
traveled from Harare to assist the local police in hunting down Farai Maguwu.
During the interrogation Makedenge
and Dowa asked Nyamaropa why he was representing Maguwu’s brother Lisben. The
two police officers also wanted Nyamaropa to disclose to them the identity of
the person who had given him instructions to represent Lisben. Nyamaropa was
held at the police station where he was forced to disclose personal details,
such as his identity, residence and his mobile phone numbers. He was eventually
released, after being threatened not to continue trying to intervene. He was
also warned that he was being followed and his actions would be monitored.
Meanwhile Farai Maguwu’s whereabouts
have remained unknown, amid mounting fears for his safety and the safety of the
other CRD campaigners.
The CRD has been outspoken in
exposing the human rights atrocities at Chiadzwa, even meeting with an
international diamond expert last week to give evidence of ongoing abuse at the
hands of the military and the rampant smuggling.
But Abbey Chikane, who was appointed
by the international diamond trade watchdog the Kimberley Process, to monitor
Zimbabwe’s attempts to fall in line with trade standards, on Thursday, said the
country was “on the right track.”
.................
By Alex Bell
01 June 2010
Commercial farmers have once again
turned to the regional human rights court of Southern Africa to try and urge
the intervention of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in
ongoing farm invasions and harassment of farmers in Zimbabwe.
The farmers returned to the SADC
Tribunal in Namibia on Tuesday seeking to have the farming crisis dealt with at
the next summit of SADC leaders later this year. Their court application calls
upon the SADC Tribunal to consider measures under the SADC Treaty to terminate
or suspend Zimbabwe’s membership from SADC. The basis of the application is
that the government remains in contempt of the SADC Tribunal by allowing ongoing
farms invasions and arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment of farmers, despite
a Tribunal order to protect the same farmers.
The government was ordered to
protect these rights in a landmark ruling by the Tribunal in 2008, which said
that land ‘reform’ was unlawful and discriminatory. That ruling has been
completely ignored by the government, which was eventually charged with
contempt. The original contempt charge has done nothing to force the government
to intervene in the ongoing land attacks and the prosecution of the remaining
commercial farmers. The farmers meanwhile had tried to get the ruling
registered in the High Court, a move necessary to have it enforced. But High
Court Judge Bharat Patel dismissed these efforts and further dismissed the
ruling itself, saying it was a threat to ‘the greater good’ of Zimbabwe and
against public policy.
Chegutu farmer Ben Freeth, who has
played a pivotal role in fighting the so called land ‘reform’ programme, told
SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that Zimbabwe, as a signatory to the SADC Treaty,
must be forced to obey the Tribunal’s orders. He explained that SADC must
either bring Zimbabwe “in line” or suspend the country altogether, for its contempt
of the Tribunal. Freeth, speaking from Namibia, explained that the court
application this week has been made on an urgent basis “to try and force SADC
to do something about an errant member state.”
The case, brought forward by
Freeth’s father-in-law Mike Campbell, two other farmers and Zimbabwe’s main
farming unions, was heard in a half empty court room on Tuesday, with the
state’s defense team not turning up for the proceedings. Freeth said that the
arguments went well and the Tribunal judges have reserved judgment on the
matter. Their ruling is expected over the next few days.
The remaining commercial farming
community in Zimbabwe meanwhile is waiting for any kind of intervention, to
bring relief from the ongoing intimidation occurring on farms. Since last week
there has been a spate of arrests of farmers, who have all been charged with
remaining on so-called ‘state’ land. In all the cases, none of the targeted
properties were listed for ‘resettlement’, with at least three of the farmers
giving up their farms years ago under the land ‘reform’ programme. The arrests
are widely believed to be an intimidatory tactic to force the beleaguered
farming community to give up their properties before any intervention is
forthcoming.
.................
By Tichaona Sibanda
1 June 2010
MDC provincial youth chairman for
Mashonaland Central, Tonderai Samhu, appeared in court on Tuesday facing
allegations of insulting Robert Mugabe.
The youth appeared before a Bindura
magistrate, charged with undermining the office of the President and for
organizing a political rally without police authority. His case was postponed
to 1st July.
Samhu denies the charges and claims
they are politically motivated and meant to prevent him from actively
campaigning for the MDC party in the province. Police insist Samhu made
derogatory remarks against Mugabe during a party rally in Guruve in April.
The outspoken youth chairman told us
he was merely chanting a well known party slogan, routinely use during party
gatherings. He said the slogan; ‘Mbavha bvisa (remove thieves), Mugabe bvisa
(remove Mugabe), ZANU PF bvisa (remove ZANU PF) was not an insult, but a
rallying call to remove Mugabe through the ballot box.
‘This is what we are campaigning
for. We want to remove Mugabe and his ZANU PF party through the ballot box. We
are campaigning vigorously in the province and are certain that out of the 18
parliamentary seats in Mashonaland central, we might be able to grab many in
the next elections,’ Samhu said.
Currently the MDC only has two seats
in the province while ZANU PF holds 16 seats.
Over the years, numerous people have
been arrested, fined, beaten or jailed under the country’s draconian laws that
make it an offence to make any alleged derogatory comment about Mugabe, the
world’s oldest head of state who has been in power for nearly 30 years.
Samhu added that there was a
rule-of-law crisis in Zimbabwe where authorities protect ZANU PF activists
whilst criminalising almost anyone from the MDC.
‘We are victims of serious political
violence waged by ZANU PF against the MDC yet you always see the police going
after victims and protecting the perpetrators who are well known in most of the
cases,’ Samhu said.
.................
Different Points of View
Duane encourages golfers and others in Zimbabwe and beyond to participate in a
worthy cause...TIM PRICE BENEFIT FUND
.................
Callback
Banda complains that while millions
are suffering from poverty and children are being forced to leave school
because they can’t come up with fees, it’s very insensitive of the government
to spend millions on enticing Brazil to come and play football. Waseh says it’s
unacceptable that people are still being denied ready access to information
because the government won’t open up the airwaves, and, Dumisani says the
legacy of violence and all the other problems that were created by ZANU PF will
continue to affect people for generations to come.
.................
On Diaspora Diaries Alex looks at increasing
fears of more xenophobic related violence in South Africa after the end of the
World Cup next month, amid fears that a scarcity of jobs will further fuel
tensions in the country. Duncan Breen from the Consortium for Refugees and
Migrants in South Africa says there have been increasing threats of violence
against foreigners. Bishop Paul Verryn from the Central Methodist Church in
Johannesburg says the local authorities are guilty of “thunderous silence” over
the treatment of foreigners in South Africa.
SW Radio Africa news stories for 2nd
June 2010
By Alex Bell
02 June 2010
Discussions about a critical report aimed at moving
the country out of the current political deadlock, have again been put on the
backburner, until Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara returns to the
country.
Mutambara has been in Ghana this week for a business
summit and did not attend Monday’s weekly talks with Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe. Monday’s round of talks was hoped to include
discussions about the final report on the Global Political Agreement (GPA),
which was compiled by party negotiators in April. The report is meant to
provide advice to the party principals on how to solve the deadlock reached on
the implementation of the GPA.
The issues that have stalled any progress by the
already fragile unity government include Mugabe’s recent, unilateral
appointment of new judges that the MDC says was done behind its back. One of
those appointed by Mugabe was the controversial former Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) chairman, George Chiweshe, who is now Judge President of the
High Court. Tsvangirai, who only read about the appointments in the state
controlled Herald newspaper, has been expected to challenge Mugabe over the
appointments, but that has not yet happened.
Monday’s usual meeting between the principals was then
hoped to be another chance for the critical discussions to take place. But with
Mutambara in Ghana, Mugabe and Tsvangirai reportedly decided not to discuss the
negotiators’ report until all three principals to the unity government could
meet. The much anticipated discussions will now have to wait until Mutambara is
back in the country, which is reportedly only next week Monday.
Political commentator Professor John Makumbe told SW
Radio Africa on Wednesday that there is “a lot of foot-dragging” and no sense
of urgency to discuss the report, which he said contains “no agreement on the
key issues.” Makumbe added that there is a general weariness over the state of
Zimbabwe’s political stalemate, with even President Jacob Zuma, the facilitator
in the crisis, being “fatigued”. Makumbe explained that the excitement of the
upcoming football World Cup will further divert attention from Zimbabwe’s
politics, which he said was worrying for the majority of Zimbabweans who are
still waiting for change.
“We are now witnessing a dangerous ‘wait and see’
game,” Makumbe said, accusing the MDC in particular of not doing enough “to
rock the boat.” He added: “What we have is an intra-elite cohesion that will
not move the country forward, even though people desperately want and need
change.”
Mediation by the South African facilitation team under
President Jacob Zuma’s leadership is dependent on the principals discussing
their negotiators’ report. But the principals have failed to meet to discuss
the report since it was compiled in April, citing tight travel schedules. Last
Friday was set down as a chance for discussions to take place, but after flying
in from South Africa late the night before, Prime Minister Tsvangirai pulled
out of the talks, saying he was tired.
The delay means that Zimbabwe remains in a state of
political limbo. Last month Lindiwe Zulu, a member of the South African
facilitation team, said President Zuma’s next visit to Zimbabwe depended on the
principals’ recommendations to him on the way forward regarding the contentious
issues in the GPA. She said it would be futile for President Zuma or the
facilitation team to visit Zimbabwe when the three principals were yet to meet
and deliberate on the final report.
“President Zuma can only come once the principals have
met... when he eventually comes, he will be coming to engage but not only after
the principals have set the ball-rolling by meeting,“ she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara told the
business summit in Ghana this week that elections in Zimbabwe would only happen
when the country was ready in terms of national healing, economic and political
reforms. Mutambara described the call for next year’s general elections in
Zimbabwe as premature, adding “when you start talking about elections, you make
people confrontational. It is distractive and unhelpful to the process of
reforms.”
“We are busily working on national healing and a free
and fair election. We are busily working on the national constitution, media,
electoral, political and economic reforms. These are more important than
calling for the next elections,” he said.
Mutambara’s comments are therefore a direct
contradiction of indications by both Tsvangirai and Mugabe that elections will
go ahead next year, again highlighting the lack of unity in the coalition
government. Prime Minister Tsvangirai told a press conference in South Africa
last week that he hoped elections would go ahead next year, dependent on the
constitutional reform program. He said that once the constitutional reform
program is completed an agreed timeframe for elections will be outlined. He
said this date will only be set after a referendum to decide on the new
constitution.
Mugabe meanwhile said earlier this year that he was
ready to represent ZANU PF in an election, whether or not there was a new
constitution. Many believe that his recent appointment of Chiweshe, who
guaranteed his previous election ‘win’, is a sign that he is preparing to call
elections at any time. Part of Chiweshe’s new job as Judge President of the
High Court will be to single-handedly pick judges to sit on the Electoral
Court, to preside over any future election related disputes. Analysts have said
that Chiweshe’s appointment is a well-calculated, strategic move by Mugabe, as
he prepares for elections.
....................
By Lance Guma
02 June 2010
Tensions between students and college authorities
countrywide are running high over exorbitant tuition and exam fees, which
students say they cannot afford to pay. With those too poor to cough up being
blocked from writing exams, clashes are being reported at different colleges
and universities.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) spokesman
Grant Tabvurei told us students at the Masvingo Polytechnic last Friday beat up
Principal Nyamukapa and his security personnel after the college failed to
explain why it was charging US$190 in fees when all the other institutions were
charging US$170. Angry students said he refused to explain the extra US$20 and
this led to the scuffles. ZINASU Treasurer Zivanai Muzorodzi and student Arnold
Batirani were arrested by police.
This week on Tuesday there were more protests at the
Mutare Polytechnic and Marymount Teachers College in the city. Again students
said they could not afford the exorbitant fees being charged and accused
authorities of not listening to their pleas for a flexible payment plan that
would allow them to write exams while giving them more time to pay the fees.
ZINASU Vice President Tafadzwa Kutya and Education and Research Secretary
Bestnos Kundishora were arrested and only released the following day, in the
morning.
Tabvurei told us the problem was so serious that at an
institution like the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in
Bulawayo some programmes that had 50 students are seeing only 2 or 3 students
sitting exams. He said most parents who had students in college were civil
servants who are earning ‘paltry salaries’, and cotton or tobacco farmers in
the rural areas who are being paid a pittance for their produce.
Tabvurei was scathing of the new coalition government
saying ‘it was pursuing neo-liberal policies which are skinning poor people
alive.’ A cadetship scheme meant to help disadvantaged students is said to have
only helped about 7 percent of those who applied. The scheme is meant to cover
all the costs but Tabvurei told us students have to top up between US$75 and
US$175, depending on the fees required.
ZBC workers threaten strike over
‘looting’ and salary delays
By Lance Guma
02 May 2010
Workers at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)
are said to be threatening strike action after accusing management of looting
licence fees and splashing out on luxury cars, while failing to pay salaries on
time. Reports say workers got their April salaries 4 weeks late (around the
20th May) and the same situation is anticipated for the May salaries.
Its alleged top managers at the state propaganda
station have splashed out on luxury vehicles worth more than US$1 million. In
addition they are being accused of buying generators and plasma screen
televisions using money looted from licence fees. This money is meant to
finance the operations of the broadcaster, including paying salaries.
Chief Executive Officer Happison Muchechetere denied
the allegations as mere ‘bar talk’ and asked if those making the allegations
were auditors. He admitted buying generators, but argued these were used by his
managers to monitor their programmes when there was no electricity. He
also boasted that ZBC had the highest paid employees in the country.
ZBC now relies on licence fees to fund its operations
after most advertisers shunned the station owing to its annoying and relentless
ZANU PF propaganda. Zimbabweans in urban areas, who have the money, have
installed satellite dishes to watch foreign television channels.
....................
By Tichaona Sibanda
2 June 2010
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday sent a
congratulatory message to long distance runner Stephen Muzhingi, for winning
the grueling Comrades marathon in South Africa on Sunday.
The Prime Minister said the fact that Muzhingi became
only the second person to win the marathon twice and the first person ever to
win it in succession, makes his achievement no mean feat.
‘I am truly humbled. You have done yourself and the
nation proud and I say on behalf of government, the people of Zimbabwe and on
my own behalf, amhlope, makorokoto, congratulations,’ the Prime Minister said
in a statement. ‘I kindly invite you to have a cup of tea with me at my office
at a time convenient to both of us. My officials will be contacting you shortly
to arrange for our meeting,’ Tsvangirai added.
The meeting may have to wait for a little while as
Muzhingi currently lives in South Africa.
On Sunday the 34 year-old tackled the strenuous 90 km
Comrades marathon course (notorious for its many hills), in five hours 20
minutes. He scooped the R250 000 for defending his title.
The Comrades marathon is also the world’s oldest and
largest ultra-marathon, attracting over 20 000 runners from across the globe.
....................
By Violet Gonda
2 June 2010
The co-Home Affairs Ministers, ZANU PF’s Kembo
Mohadi and the MDC-T’s Giles Mutsekwa recently ordered the de-specification of
business moguls Mutumwa Mawere, James Makamba and John Moxon. The three were
specified by the government on separate accusations of externalizing foreign
currency.
Several other businessmen have in recent years been on
the receiving end of the crackdown from Patrick Chinamasa, whose ministry was
responsible for administering the Prevention of Corruption Act and
Reconstruction of State Indebted and Insolvent Companies Act. But that role to
administer these Acts was reassigned to the co-Home Affairs Ministers when the
inclusive government was formed. They have now completed investigations into
the allegations against the three tycoons.
Mawere, who has been fighting for his companies for
the last six years, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that he is pleased to
note that at last the government can ‘self correct’. He said
investigators were dispatched in February to South Africa, where he is based,
to interview him. It is understood the Meikles boss, Moxon, was also
interviewed around that time.
Mawere said he was accused of externalizing $18million
but that the investigators ‘found out there was no evidence for any
externalization having taken place and based on that they made a recommendation
to the co-Ministers’.
He believed that because of the de-specification order
his companies would be returned, but those hopes were dashed this week when
Arafas Gwaradzimba, the administrator appointed by the government to run
Mawere’s Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (SMM), said the de-specification does not
mean he will get his companies back.
Gwaradzimba is quoted in the Herald saying: “Mr Mawere
was de-specified and that has nothing to do with the reconstruction process. It
is the State that has de-specified him and that will not affect my work to reconstruct
SMM.”
Mawere disagrees saying naturally the assets of a
person should be returned once they are de-specified.
“So obviously we now have to see who speaks on behalf
of the government and as you know Mr Gwaradzimba is earning (his money) and
naturally he will not want to give up what may be a commercially rewarding
enterprise,” said the businessman.
We were not able to get a comment from the co-Home
Affairs Ministers at the time of broadcast.
....................
By Violet Gonda
1 June 2010
A leaked document compiled by the police for the Joint
Operations Command (JOC) is said to be behind the crackdown on the most
important civil society organisation monitoring the diamond fields. It also
highlights the fact that there has been no security sector reform under the
Global Political Agreement.
Reliable sources told SW Radio Africa that Farai
Maguwu, the director of the Center for Research and Development, who was forced
into hiding after police raided his offices in Mutare last week, is being
victimised for allegedly leaking this document compiled by the police for the
JOC.
The CRD has been investigating the ongoing human
rights abuses at the diamond fields in Chiadzwa, Marange, which involve the
police and security forces.
The document is titled: Brief for Sub-National
JOC by Assistant Commissioner Mawere N. on Operation Hakudzokwi Phase V11 on
07/05/201) and has apparently been circulating in Zimbabwe and South Africa for
the past several weeks. It seems to have been obtained from a senior ZANU-PF
source.
Maguwu allegedly passed the document on to the
Kimberley Process monitor for Marange, Abbey Chikane, last Tuesday. Chikane was
appointed earlier this year by the diamond regulating body to investigate
allegations of illegal mining and black market exports of Marange’s raw
diamonds. Human rights groups have claimed that Marange’s diamond production
has fuelled mass human rights abuses in and around the diamond fields, and is
fuelling political tensions within the GPA government.
The leaked document is a review of recent security
forces actions in the diamond areas of eastern Zimbabwe. It confirms recent
allegations by the CRD and other local human rights organisations that illegal
mining continues out of control – and that the security forces are playing a
key role as active participants. This includes the continuing involvement of
security force personnel in illegal mining syndicates in Marange.
The document also shows there has been no security
sector reform under the GPA, particularly with regard to the Joint Operations
Command.
JOC is made up of all the army generals, the police
commissioner, the prison chief, the CIO Director General and the Minister of
Defence.
Under the GPA, the newly formed National Security
Council, made up of JOC members, the Principals to the GPA and some senior
ministers, is meant to assume key responsibilities for monitoring and
redressing rights abuses and politically-linked violence. JOC was accorded
‘operational supervision’ of the national security forces, and is meant to
report in a transparent and non-partisan fashion to the unity government.
But the leaked document is addressed only to JOC and
there is no evidence of the flow of information and delegation of authority
over security reform in Marange to other sections of the inclusive government –
including the MDC.
The Brief clearly exposes how an outgoing contingent
of the 2.2 infantry battalion formed syndicates with illegal diamond panners
towards the end of its tour of duty.
It also confirms information, already made public,
concerning the shooting in early April of a suspected ‘gweja’ (illegal panner)
by Lance Corporal Maride of 4.2 infantry battalion.
The report to JOC claims disciplinary action and sweep
operations are underway and that 14 officers have recently been expelled.
The document also reveals continuing major problems in
the volatile Marange district, where mining Minister Obert Mpofu recently
proclaimed the “normalisation” of security. In contrast, the report underlines
the persistence of illegal mining, and the seeming inability of government
security forces to stop it. Worse, the report notes a general slide towards
chaos, citing for example; ‘the need to supply adequate food rations to
security forces to avoid cases of armed robbery and indiscipline’.
It is also suspected that the KP Monitor, South
African Abbey Chikane, was the one who handed the document to state security
agencies. Well placed sources say Chikane defended his decision saying he
wanted to find out if it was ‘authentic’.
A diamond sector observer said: “Although he is
supposed to be investigating security lapses, Chikane said he did not want to
be in possession of an ‘illegal’ document – yet the document in question
provides prima facie evidence of exactly the kind of wrong-doing that Chikane
is supposed to be investigating. The institutions he voluntarily surrendered
the document to, are implicated by that report.”
“The repercussions of this highly selective approach
to discerning ‘legality’ are clear, particularly in the wake of the security
agencies’ invasion of the CRD. This will have a direct chilling effect on
future civil society cooperation with this Monitor.”
Surprisingly the South African monitor has yet to
speak out on the raid by police of the CRD offices, the removal of papers and
computers and the fact that the CRD staff have been forced into hiding. He has
also not spoken out about the victimisation of CRD’s director and his family.
We were not able to reach the KP monitor for comment.
....................
By Tichaona Sibanda
2 June 2010
The samba boys of Brazil beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in a
friendly international played to a capacity crowd at the National Sports
stadium in Harare on Wednesday.
Brazil led 2-nil at half time, because of goals from
Michel Bastos and Robinho. Elano added the third, eleven minutes into the second
half. The match was attended by Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai.
Over 50,000 jubilant fans packed the stadium to watch
five times world champions Brazil take on the Warriors. It was a warm-up match
ahead of the World Cup in South Africa next week.
Brazil got a rapturous welcome when they arrived in
Harare on Tuesday with local fans trying to catch a glimpse of the squad.
Brazil, widely tipped to win the first finals hosted on the African continent,
flew in from South Africa for Wednesday’s high-profile warm-up match.
Brazilian officials said Zimbabwe, whose team stand a
lowly 110th in the world, was chosen to host the top-ranked side because of its
proximity to South Africa, the country's southern neighbour which stages the
month-long tournament from June 11.
Harare’s altitude, at nearly 1,500 metres above sea
level, is similar to South Africa’s.
Hundreds of cheering fans, beating drums, mobbed
Brazil coach Dunga and his players, including former World Footballer of the
year Kaka and Robinho, as they entered a Harare hotel under tight police guard.
The ‘Samba Boys’ rarely play against African teams and
Zimbabwe will became only the fifth to face them during the past 30 years after
Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.
Brazil are with 2006 semi-finalists Portugal, Ivory
Coast and tournament outsiders North Korea in Group G, labelled the ‘Group of
Death’ following draw in December last year. Tanzania host Brazil in another
warm-up on June 7th in Dar es Salaam - eight days before the South Americans
kick off their World Cup campaign against North Korea in Johannesburg.
.................
Callback
Pam says in Mashonaland east ZANU PF thugs are
targeting people from outside the area, accusing them of ‘influencing locals,’
and beating them up; Wilbert is dismayed that the MDC is endorsing elections
next year when nothing has changed since the last elections and there is bound
to be more violence and mayhem. And, Fungi says this is not an ‘inclusive’
government because the MDC has no decision making powers and is obviously being
used by ZANU PF.
...................
Wednesday Forum
The MDC-UK has not had a provincial committee that has
lasted a full term since 2000. Some have attributed this to CIO interference,
while others blame a ‘poor support base.’ Ephraim Tapa is a former chair of the
MDC-UK executive and he discusses this controversial issue.
....................
In the Hidden Story, Kariba Town councilor Kudakwashe
Matura explains how ZANU PF is plotting to reverse progress made so far by the
MDC led council. Matura says the town has been a hot spot of trouble recently,
following persistent demonstrations meant to discredit the MDC Mayor and his
nine councilors
SW Radio Africa (listen on 4880kHz in Southern Africa)
+44 208 3871417
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http://www.swradioafrica.com
(AP)
HARARE, Zimbabwe —
Zimbabwe police say a taxi van has crashed head-on into a military bus, killing
16 people and seriously injuring three others.
Fourteen soldiers on
the bus were slightly hurt in the crash late Tuesday, located about 30 miles
(45 kilometers) northwest of Harare.
Police investigators
blame the crash on an error by the taxi van driver. He died in the collision
and had evidently tried to pass two slow-moving vehicles.
Bus crashes are
common in Zimbabwe and are mainly attributed to speeding on potholed highways,
poor vehicle maintenance, and shortages of spare parts and tires in the ailing
economy.
At least 200 people
have died in bus crashes this year.
Copyright © 2010
The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
VOA NEWS
Economy Updated: 8:37 UTC Wednesday 02
June 2010
Gibbs Dube | Washington 02 June 2010
Parliamentary
mines committee member Moses Mare said workers have not been paid in more than
a year although managers receive hefty salaries while the mining operation
seized several years ago grinds to a halt.
Zimbabwe
parliamentary sources said Afaras Gwaradzimba, curator of Shabanie Mashaba
Mines, control of which was seized from businessman Mutumwa Mawere several
years ago, has been summoned to testify before the Committee on Mines following
reports of irregularities in the operation of the asbestos business.
Committee
member Moses Mare said Shabanie workers have not been paid in more than a year
though managers continue to receive hefty salaries as the mining operation
grinds to a halt.
Mare said
the enterprise is close to collapse due to lack of capital as banks and
investors have over the years shunned the operation on grounds that it was
forcibly seized from a Zimbabwean citizen.
Reports
said some of the mine shafts have been flooded with water, submerging machinery
worth billions.
The
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority recently switched off power to Shabanie
Mashaba Mines because it had failed to pay electricity bills for two years.
Masimba
Kuchera, chairman of the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, said the
committee should urge prosecution of anyone suspected of pilfering funds and
stripping assets at Shabanie Mashaba Mines.
“Our
expectations are that some people will pay for causing the collapse of one of
the biggest mining firms in Southern Africa,” said Kuchera.
Shabanie
posted a loss of US$18.6 million last year. It is said to have reserves enough
for 17 years production.
By ANGUS SHAW (AP)
– 7 hours ago
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Starvation Island in
northern Zimbabwe is living up to its name for the first time in 50 years as
rising lake waters have submerged grazing land for hundreds of animals,
conservationists say.
Rescuers here are holding exhausted
impalas by their horns just to keep their heads above water after the hungry,
exhausted animals desperately tried to escape the flooded island.
Starvation Island was once a staging post
for rescued animals, named after many perished from hunger there during the
building of the massive Kariba hydroelectric dam.
Now Starvation Island has shrunk to
about one-third of its original size after record seasonal rains from central
Africa drained into the Kariba lake.
The two-square-mile
(five-square-kilometer) island has become four dots of land in the lake,
stranding hundreds of animals without enough to eat. At least 200 animals are
in immediate danger of starvation.
"There is zero grazing and animals
are starting to die," he said.
Eight impalas, a common medium-size
antelope, were stuck on the smallest dot surrounded by encroaching water, said
wildlife guide Richard Vickery. Two impalas managed to swim to larger rocks
nearby as their tiny refuge shrank. But on Tuesday, more than 20 animals
plunged into the water and seven of them drowned, Vickery said.
Some of the exhausted survivors swam to
safety and others were assisted by a boat of rescuers holding them by the horns
to keep their heads above water for the last stretch of their escape.
Elephants and some other animals have
routinely swum to and from the island, but smaller species of antelope, kudu,
buck, warthogs and monkeys either won't dare swim more than a few feet (meters)
or are too weak reach the main lake shore about two miles (three kilometers)
away.
Funds are being raised by
conservationists, including the SAVE Foundation of Australia, to take hay bales
and food blocks to the animals who remain on the island.
"We would rather try to feed them
than dart and capture them and bring them out because they are weak and have
not been exposed to predators except for crocodiles," Vickery said.
The largest remaining island dot has
the highest number of animals but the worst grazing conditions on sandy soil. A
breeding herd of waterbuck and a troop of baboons are crammed onto a second
island.
Vickery said high water levels also
drove buffalo herds and other species from their usual grazing below the cliff
atop Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, one of Zimbabwe top wildlife facilities.
"The mainland is under pressure
for grazing and overpopulation," Vickery said.
The Kariba dam was completed in 1960
and stretches about 190 miles (300 kilometers) along Zimbabwe's northern border
with Zambia. During the dam construction on the Zambezi River, tens of
thousands of animals were herded inland from the vast valley as it filled.
Others were captured and relocated from high ground and outcrops like
Starvation Island. That program was known as Operation Noah.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved.