Attorney General widens CDF abuse probe

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

11/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

THE Attorney General has ordered a probe into all the country’s 210 Members
of Parliament – expanding an investigation into abuse of the Constituency
Development Fund (CDF) which previously targeted 55 lawmakers.

Four MPs have been arrested over the last two weeks after the Ministry of
Constitutional Affairs – assisted by the Auditor General and the
Anti-Corruption Commission – identified looting of the US$8 million fund in
10 constituencies.

But the Attorney General Johannes Tomana says that probe – a “sample audit”
of 55 constituencies picked at random – may have let off dozens of other
corrupt MPs.

All 210 constituencies were allocated US$50,000 each at the end of 2009
after Finance Minister Tendai Biti established the CDF, which is meant to
give MPs financial resources to aid deserving projects in their
constituencies.

Four MPs - Albert Mhlanga (MDC-T, Pumula), Marvellous Khumalo (MDC-T, St
Mary’s), Franco Ndambakuwa (Zanu PF, Magunje) and Cleopas Machacha (MDC-T,
Kariba) – have all been arrested and charged with corruption over the abuse
of the fund.
But Tomana has ordered a halt to the prosecutions until a complete audit is
done in all 210 constituences.

In a letter to the Constitutional Affairs Ministry, Tomana said: “... I have
noted the need for all of us to properly, comprehensively and fairly deal
with the results of the ongoing CDF audit which has given rise to
investigations and arrests currently being handled by the Anti-Corruption
Commission of Zimbabwe, by doing the following:

“ First complete the audit of the CDF for all constituencies; Forward the
report to me for consideration in terms of Section 76 (4) and (4a) of the
Constitution; and hold in abeyance all current investigations and arrests by
the Anti-Corruption Commission and prosecutions by my office related to the
CDF.”
He demanded that the audit be completed by the end of June 2012.

Tomana’s intervention will send shockwaves through the corridors of power as
more MPs face the real prospect of arrest in the coming months.

One MP said: “An audit, by definition, is about all and not some. I know for
certain that many of my colleagues presented fictitious accounts because
what is in their reports does not match what is on the ground. They
presented good paperwork that is hiding bad practice.”

Zuma's next visit provokes political storm in Harare

http://www.timeslive.co.za

JAMA MAJOLA | 11 March, 2012 00:31

South African President Jacob Zuma could fly into a stormy political
atmosphere when he visits Harare soon to put the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) and preparations for free and fair elections back on track.

Since he came into office in 2009, about the same period as Zimbabwe's
coalition government was formed, Zuma's relations with President Robert
Mugabe and Zanu-PF have never been so low.

Mugabe and his loyalists are firing missiles at Zuma to provoke him into a
fight over the GPA and elections. They have even threatened to give Zuma,
the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitator in Zimbabwe,
the red card if he continues pushing them to implement the GPA and the
roadmap towards elections.

Officials in Harare say preparations for Zuma's next visit are at an
advanced stage and the SA leader could jet in any time for what could be a
defining moment in his relationship with Mugabe. "Zuma should be coming to
Harare any time, even next week," a senior government official said. "It's
going to be a tense meeting with Mugabe."

Zuma's international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu, who with Mac Maharaj
and Charles Nqakula, is part of the facilitation team, told the Sunday Times
on Friday her boss was heading to Harare. "Yes he will be going to Harare
but we don't have a date yet. What I can say is that the meeting with the
principals is in the pipeline," Zulu said.

Zuma's meeting with Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy
Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara could also seal the fate of the GPA and
determine the timing of elections. The meeting could also be affected by
MDC-N leader Welshman Ncube's growing complaints about his exclusion from
the GPA principals' forum.

Tensions between Harare and Pretoria rose dramatically this week after South
African Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane made
remarks on elections in Zimbabwe in Cape Town which provoked angry reactions
by Mugabe's loyalists.

Nkoana-Mashabane told the parliament on Monday that "the GPA envisages that
an election in Zimbabwe will only be held following the finalisation of the
constitution-making process".

"Our government therefore expects that there would be no deviation from the
provisions of the GPA," she said.

This provoked a swift and angry response in Harare. The issue was even
discussed at the Zanu-PF extraordinary politburo meeting on Wednesday which
resolved to reject South Africa's demands.

Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo, who is intensely anti-South African,
led the charge.

"Quite frankly, and this is very disappointing to note, Nkoana-Mashabane's
gross misunderstanding and shocking mischaracterisation of Zimbabwe's
constitution-making exercise as provided in the GPA is somewhere between
mischievous, ignorant and treacherous, and is reminiscent of the misguided
anti-African Union stance that her government took in Libya and Ivory
Coast," Moyo said.

He angrily added: "The South African government is not a GPA facilitator,
this woman, as an official of the South African government, has no business
whatsoever commenting on this thing.

"Zimbabwe has never been a province of South Africa; is not a province of
South Africa and will never be a province of South Africa."

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said Pretoria cannot dictate when elections
should be held in Zimbabwe. Mugabe recently said Zuma could be kicked out as
facilitator "in broad day light".

"We can reject him very easily. We have warned him that we are not forced to
accept him," Mugabe said.

On his part, Zuma has been typically manoeuvring quietly in the region to
mobilise critical support to reinforce his leverage on the Zimbabwe issue.
He recently visited Botswana, Namibia and Angola in preparation for the
battle in Harare.

Chiefs Are Corrupt: Nkomo

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, March 11, 2012---Vice President John Nkomo Friday said some
traditional chiefs are very corrupt and are looting the country mineral
resources through government‘s Community Trust Fund.

Community Trust Fund is a fund whereby communities living in areas where the
mining companies exploit natural resources get shareholding in the
companies.

So far mining companies such as Zimplats in Ngezi, Unki Mine in Shurugwi and
Mimosa in Zvishavane have given shares to the communities in line with the
controversial indigenisation drive by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu
(PF) party.

Traditional Chiefs are the ones managing the Community Trust Fund in their
respective areas.

However during his speech to close the four-day Annual Chiefs conference in
Bulawayo on Friday Nkomo blasted the chiefs saying some are using Community
Trust Fund for self enrichment instead of giving the money to the community.

“We hear some traditional chiefs are now claiming they bought their own
shares in the diamond and platinum mines through community shares. Those
shares are not for you, but for the people in your community.  You should
work for the people.

“You should serve the interest of the people as a chief not to become
selfish. Those community shares in mines are for development in your areas,”
Nkomo told the chiefs.

Nkomo also shot down traditional chiefs demands saying they should not be
“lazy” and learn to work hard.

Last Wednesday during the same traditional chiefs' conference the chiefs
demanded farms, increase in their allowances ,a share in Community
Development Fund (CDF), guns, free duty on vehicles, body guards during
elections, and diplomatic passports among other things.

“I heard you are making some demands, like an increase in your monthly
allowances, but what I want to tell you is that, if you want money you
should work hard especially in farming. I repeat it again if you want money
be serious with farming. President Mugabe gave you land so work hard in your
farms and get money,” Nkomo said.

Nkomo also urged the traditional chiefs to support Mugabe in the upcoming
elections. This year traditional chief’s annual conference which ended
Friday was attended by 257 out of 270 countrywide.

Zanu-PF Youths in Court for Extortion

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, March 11, 2012-Four Zanu (PF) Bulawayo provincial youth leaders on
Friday appeared in court facing kidnap and extortion charges.

Hardlife Ndlovu, Ngobani Mlilo, Mthunzi Mabhena and Obert Musendo were not
formally charged with kidnapping and extortion when they briefly appeared
before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa.

The youths are accused of extorting money from touts who operate outside Mac’s
Garage along the Masvingo/Bulawayo and the Bulawayo/Harare highways.

The state is alleging that on Wednesday this week the accused ordered the
touts into a blue commuter omnibus which they were driving.

They drove to Davies Hall, which houses the Zanu (PF) Bulawayo provincial
headquarters where they allegedly demanded that the complainants and their
counterparts pay $50 per route daily.

They allegedly told the rank marshals that the money paid would be used to
fuel Zanu (PF) Vehicles which were parked at Davies Hall.

They allegedly told the complainants that if they failed to pay the amount,
they would not operate at the pickup points. The youths were remanded in
custody to Monday for trial.

Two weeks ago, touts at the Harare / Bulawayo long distance pick up point
fought running battles with the Zanu (PF) youths who were demanding money
from the touts.

Mugabe Will Never Die: Chivaura

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, March 11, 2012---University of Zimbabwe lecturer and Zanu (PF)
apologist, Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura said President Robert Mugabe is a “spirit
medium” and will never die.

Addressing traditional chiefs on Friday in Bulawayo at their Annual
Conference Chivaura said Mugabe is a (svikiro) spirit medium just like Mbuya
Nehanda and Chaminuka and will never die.

“The President is a svikiro (spirit medium) which will never die. He might
die physical but his spirit will remain with us just like Mbuya Nehanda and
Chamunika. We will continue fighting the British and other imperialists
using his spirit,” said Chivaura who is also an anchor on ZBCTV program
Zimbabwe together with Tafataona Mahoso.

Chivaura added: “So as traditional chiefs you should support this great man
because he will always be in us. Many youngsters are now admiring him and
they want to be like him.”

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980 and his
critics say the88-year-old leader who is in the twilight of his political
career plans to die in office.

During the Zanu(PF) December 2011 annual conference the party endorses him
as its candidate in next elections with party chairman, Simon Khaya-Moyo
declaring the party presidential post a no-go area.

Recently Mugabe’s main opponent Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai thanked
Zanu (PF) for endorsing the 88 year- old as its candidate for general
elections expected this year or in 2013 saying he will be a “walkover.”

Mugabe and his government embarked on a controversial fast-track land reform
program in 2000intended to correct the inequitable land distribution created
by colonial rule. Several commercial white farmers were killed during the
land invasions.

In 2002, the European Union (EU) , United States,  Britain, Switzerland ,
Australia and New Zealand  imposed targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his top
military, ruling and business associates as punishment for allegedly
stealing elections, perpetuating human rights violations and failure to
uphold the rule of law.

Mugabe denies the charges and instead says the EU and its western allies
imposed the sanctions in a bid to weaken him and eventually cause his ouster
from power as punishment for seizing land from white farmers.

'Mugabe's R1million whisky'

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chris Goko and Farai Mutsaka
Sunday, 11 March 2012 10:18

HARARE - A parasitic group around President Robert Mugabe has “imported” 1
million Rand worth of whisky “duty-free” under the guise of supporting his
Mutare birthday and various charitable initiatives linked to the
octogenarian leader.

The scandal, threatening to ruin several innocent parties including South
African-listed Nu-Africa Comm Trading (Pty) Limited (Nu-Africa Comm) and the
Zanu PF leader, typifies a worrying and decades-long culture eating away at
the core of the once popular party.

Tragically, this is also how thousands of farms and companies were plundered
by party functionaries in the country.

According to documents, the crafty individuals brought in hundreds of cases
of high-value alcohol under the aegis of a Mugabe and Kutama Old Boys
Association (Koba) “fundraiser”, which later turned up at numerous Harare
supermarkets.

While the “costly consignment” was brought into the country on December 10,
several cases of Chivas Regal whisky, Famous Grouse, Jack Daniels and Johnny
Walker Red were delivered at Dimitri Pavlou’s Athienitis Spar (Athienitis)
and other large retailers a few days later.

Under the well-rehearsed plan, the alleged scammers — who have also
prejudiced the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) — acquired an assortment
of whiskies under the president and Koba’s rural Zvimba address, but the
massive shipments ended up in the capital.

With much of the booze procured from the Limpopo Duty Free (LDF) and
entering the country under Mugabe, and Koba’s names, a raft of invoices
tendered at Pavlou’s popular outlets and a warehouse facility belonging to
one of Zimbabwe’s largest, and listed retailers surprisingly reflect
Nu-Africa Comm’s name, investigations by the Daily News on Sunday show.

“It would seem that this is a closely-knit operation and these are people
exploiting their closeness, and proximity to the president (Mugabe).

“However, they got it wrong by using the old man’s name in a venture they
know he would not ordinarily support or approve,” said a source close to the
developments.

A teetotaller, Mugabe is known for his refrain for alcohol.

In their crafty act, the group also allegedly used a slew of trading
companies to disguise their tracks (in smuggling the beer into Zimbabwe) and
these included a trans-Limpopo vehicle called Tashoille (Private) Limited
(Tashoille).

The company has offices in Bulawayo and claims to have a handling facility
in Harare’s Workington industrial area.

Although papers at hand show that the company has a holding facility at
number 4 Simon Mazorodze Road — and even received the LDF supplies there in
December last year — a visit by this paper drew blanks on the company’s
existence and the premises are actually owned by Mashonaland Tobacco
Company.

After calls to several parties, including Nu-Africa Comm managing director
Hendrik Swart and Koba elder Walter Chidhakwa on Sunday, the Daily News on
Sunday confirmed that the former has had a working relationship with
Tashoille and Koba had not commissioned any fundraising initiatives in
recent months.

In a telephone interview from Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday, Swart
said he was unaware of Tashoille’s alleged dodgy dealings and his company
would immediately cut ties with any parties operating outside the law.

He stressed that his JSE Securities Exchange-listed group was in the
business of financing stocks for retail firms, including Innscor Africa and
OK Zimbabwe, but was uninvolved in the movement of goods from wherever they
are procured to Zimbabwe.

In the meantime, the companies were entirely separate from a shareholding
point of view and, as far as he remembered, they procured some stuff from
Tashoille and vice-versa.

Attempts to secure comment from the latter’s principals were fruitless —
just as we could get KOBA chairman Dakarai Mapuranga, who said had been in
SA.

After even sending him an sms on the beer-smuggling issue, Mapuranga failed
to acknowledge our inquiries nor take our calls thereafter.

On the other hand, Zimra commissioner-general Gershem Pasi declined to
comment on the issue yesterday, although this paper understands he had been
summoned to a meeting by Koba elders — round about the time the scandal
ruptured — and where the youngsters involved were “sharply rebuked”.

Equally, Athienitis owner Pavlou — whose shop has been one of the major
beneficiaries of the controversial goods — also failed to return our calls
and messages. In fact, investigations by the Daily News on Sunday last week
established that trade between Nu-Africa Comm, Tashoille and the Fife Avenue
establishment — trading as Lucullus (Private) Limited was continuing.

As late as Wednesday last week, inquiries were flying back and forth for the
supply of a variety of goods, including milk, breakfast cereals, dietary
supplements and other household goods or consumables.

The health supplements, include the world-renowned ultimate sports nutrition
energy drink.

Chidhakwa, meanwhile, stressed that there was no such title as “president”
at Koba. Even though he is not an executive member, Chidhakwa and several
other politicians, including Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo
“provide guidance as old boys” to the newer team.

Those in the know say the association holds its meetings monthly, but it had
not tabled any such “fun-based” fundraiser.

Sparks fly over devolution

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

By Lloyd Mbiba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 11 March 2012 10:51

HARARE - Movement for Democratic Change, MDC president Welshman Ncube has
blasted Zanu PF over devolution of power saying the party is made up of
thieves who have been looting resources countrywide.

“Zanu PF is a corrupt party which has been made worse by power; they have
been looting resources throughout the country, now that the people have said
they want devolution of power so that they can take charge of resources to
enable them to develop the country equally, Zanu PF say people want to
secede.

“As MDC, devolution of power is our government policy, we say let us share
the national cake equally. We cannot have one city looking beautiful while
others are like ghost towns; that is unacceptable,” Ncube said.

But Zanu PF dismissed Ncube as emotional and said his allegations were
hollow.

“Ncube is not saying the truth. He has to explain where we have looted and
how much. An honest and rationale leader of any party should give tangible
evidence and not emotional statements,” said Didymus Mutasa, Zanu PF
secretary for administration.

“When he joined our cabinet, it means he was joining the bandwagon of
looting. So he has been looting and the question is how much has he looted?

“It is very wrong for Ncube to be emotional about national issues such as
devolution.

“His position is incorrect because it doesn’t have any iota of truth.”
Mutasa told the Daily News on Sunday.

President Robert Mugabe, in an 88th birthday interview with the State media,
said he would not allow devolution to be included in the new constitution,
arguing it would divide the country.

“We do not want to divide the country into small pieces because it will
cause disunity among our people,” Mugabe said.

“Those things are done in big countries, not to a small country like ours”.

Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban
Development last week said devolution of power is not a suitable governance
system for the country as it poses risks of civil and ethnic strife.

Ncube however, sang from a different hymn book and said the strong
resistance towards devolution by the former liberation movement, is a clear
indication that the party is devoid of people-friendly policies.

“Zanu PF’s strong opposition to devolution is not surprising, as they have
been looting the national resources and developing one province in the
expense of all others.

“There is an abundance of evidence to prove that the Mugabe regime policies
are not people- friendly,” he said.

Ncube further said Zanu PF wants the nation to believe that it is has the
sole prerogative to enjoy the resources and certainly MDC would not accept
that in any way.

MDC supports devolution because the national cake should be shared equally
among all the provinces, Ncube added.

Devolution of power is the transference of power, responsibility and
resources from the central government to democratically elected local
authorities.

It also means investing local government with the power and financial
wherewithal to respond to problems of a purely local nature without waiting
for instructions from the centre.

The constitution-making process is set to hit a logjam over devolution
because the two MDC formations in the inclusive government are for
devolution and Zanu is against it.

Turning to the issue of economic empowerment and indigenisation, the MDC
leader who is also the minister of Industry and International Trade said
that the policy of indigenisation is a good policy but the way in which it
is being implemented is a recipe for disaster.

He said the policy must be implemented guided by respect of international
laws and bilateral agreements to avoid scaring away investors.

He said the current scenario where a few Zanu PF members are getting a
bigger share than the majority of Zimbabwean is unacceptable.

“On indigenisation and economic empowerment as a party, we want to strike a
balance between empowering our people and avoiding scaring away the
investors, we are saying let’s also follow the international bilateral
agreements that we have signed as a country.

“We want indigenisation policy that is colouring blind, a policy that is
apolitical and seeks to benefit the communities of Zimbabwe not some
individuals claiming to be communities.

“If this policy is really driven by the desire to empower the people of
Zimbabwe, why can we not we see the people of Manicaland getting their fair
share of diamonds?” Ncube said.

Chipangano crushes MDC rally

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

By Gift Phiri and Lloyd Mbiba
Sunday, 11 March 2012 10:41

HARARE - Armed police watched helplessly as five people were injured in
Sunningdale yesterday during a violent attack by Chipangango terror group
which crushed an MDC rally that had been cleared by them.

About 200 MDC supporters had turned up for the rally in the working class
suburb of Sunningdale.

“We were attacked as we were preparing for our peaceful rally, we had police
permission and we don't know what made them attack us,” Sunningdale MP
Margaret Matienga, told the Daily News on Sunday.

“It was a violent disruption,” she said.

Police spokesmen for Harare province, Inspector James Sabau said he could
not immediately comment on the disruption of the rally as he was out of
town.

“I’m actually on my way from Bulawayo, and I am not aware of what actually
transpired,”  Sabau said.

MDC spokesman for Harare province, Senator Obert Gutu alleged Zanu PF Harare
province youth chairman Jim Kunaka arrived at the venue of the rally in a
white Defender vehicle mid-morning to assess.

There were about 15 vehicles parked at the venue.

The Defender vehicle is said to have driven off, but returned with
reinforcements.

Some of the thugs were said to have been bused in a commuter omnibus from
Mbare and were dropped off at the bus terminus and stealthily made their way
to the venue where they pounced on the organisers.

At least five people ended up with broken ribs, fractured arms, concussions
and other soft-tissue injuries as a result of blows from chairs and other
sticks by the Chipangano militia — a youth brigade of President Mugabe’s
Zanu PF.

The five were admitted in hospital.

Gutu said they had no option but call off the rally.

“The rally had been okayed by the ZRP,” Gutu said.

In a letter seen by the Daily News on Sunday from the officer commanding
Mbare district police, Supt P Mthetwa dated March 9, 2012; police explicitly
gave the rally the green light and promised to provide security.

“We have no objection to you holding a political rally at an open space
between Sunningdale 1 and 2 from 10:00-16:00hrs,” the police’s letter to
Matienga states.

“Jim Kunaka actually arrived in a white (police) Defender vehicle,” Gutu
said. “They then started assaulting our youths at the MDC rally venue in
Sunningdale. The Zanu PF thugs also stole our tents.”

Kunaka yesterday rejected the MDC accusations and said he was nowhere near
the MDC rally. He claimed he was at his daughter’s birthday party at that
material time.

Sunningdale councillor for Ward 10, Musa Macheza who is also the district
chairman for Sunningdale said this incident was most unfortunate considering
that Zanu PF is clamouring for elections.

“What happened here is very unfair. This goes on to show that we are not
allowed to hold rallies in Zimbabwe. What even hurts the most is that a
whole load of policemen just stood arms akimbo as we were being attacked.

“I shudder to think what is happening in rural areas if we are beaten here
in towns.

“There is no way we are going for elections when people are being beaten
like this,” he added.

Macheza said police knew about the attack and that is the reason why they
did not take action.

“Yesterday (Friday) we got a warning that the rally should not take place
because it would be disrupted.

“We then duly informed the police about this. When we got here and saw the
heavy presence of the police we thought they were here to protect   us.
However they were here to watch us being beaten.”

Call for reforms 'Zimbabwe people's agenda not MDC's'

http://www.timeslive.co.za/

HARARE CORRESPONDENT | 11 March, 2012 00:32

The secretary-general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), Tendai
Biti, says the call for reforms before fresh elections is not the party's
agenda but that of the people of Zimbabwe, who do not want a farce election
as in 2008.

Addressing a packed audience in a Harare hotel this week during a Zimbabwe
lecture series on whether the country was ready for elections, Biti - who is
also the Finance Minister - said the next election should be a formula to
find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwe crisis.

Zanu-PF has been calling for elections, even without a new constitution and
critical reforms - in defiance of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and the African Unity (AU), the mentors of Zimbabwe's Global
Political Agreement (GPA).

"The call for reforms is not new in Zimbabwe. When Zimbabwe went to
elections in 1980, there was a new Lancaster Constitution which was signed
in 1979 in London - those were reforms," Biti said.

Some Zanu-PF politicians were distorting the reality by telling President
Robert Mugabe that if elections were held this year the Zanu-PF ruler would
beat Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the MDC-T, he said.

"How can someone seriously think about investing in a presidential candidate
who is 88 years old?" asked Biti.

In 2008, Tsvangirai won the election, he said, but there were problems in
the transfer of power as separate structures were running the elections. "As
a result, the people of Zimbabwe do not want an election that will create
another unsustainable Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF benefited from this unsustainable
environment, as they know that they will not win free and fair elections,"
Biti said .

Since the formation of the inclusive government in 2009, the MDC in
government had done a lot. "We now have functional public institutions which
had collapsed during Zanu-PF's rule and Zanu-PF is trying to destroy that by
making the next elections ungovernable," he said.

Despite misguided Zanu-PF election calls , the MDC and Zanu-PF were
negotiating a roadmap to holding free and fair elections.

This roadmap would include having a new people-driven constitution which
will allow dual citizenship, limited terms of the president, devolution and
a strong bill of rights, Biti said. Other changes being negotiated were
having a new electoral act, and reforms of the legislature, the security
sector and the media .

"There is nothing wrong with the regime-change agenda as we will beat
Zanu-PF at the ballot box. When the Ian Smith regime was removed in 1980, it
was regime change - and there was nothing wrong with that," he said.

"We can't allow another Robert Mugabe to emerge - and we will not allow
Zanu-PF to abuse us like they have done for the past 31 years," Biti said.

Mugabe could go ahead with his threats of pulling Zanu-PF from the GPA , but
the MDC would continue to attend cabinet meetings and make laws, he said.

Biti dismissed Zanu-PF's calls for empowerment as nothing but another
attempt by the party to kill the economy. "There is no need for anyone to
take over a commercial bank. If you want a bank, come to me - as the
minister of finance - and Gideon Gono and we will give you the licence to
start a bank," Biti said.

Speaking at the same event, academic and political analyst Dr Ibbo Mandaza
said Zanu-PF calls for early elections were futile.

"Let's stop the election talk, it does not help us. We have the GPA, in
which the SADC region has a stake. There will be no elections in Zimbabwe
until the reforms have been done."Mandaza said the views of Goodson Mguni,
the Zanu-PF panelist at the debate, were those of a minority. The views of
Biti, however, were the views of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

"At the moment we should focus on improving the operations of the inclusive
government, service delivery and restore national institutions. In the past,
when I was in government, we had no army officers speaking on political
issues - it was treasonous.

"Our national issues have been subverted. No one in the security sector
retires now. The priority is not elections, but to restore the economy and
be proud like any other nation," Mandaza said.

He applauded Biti for doing a "great job" of restoring the economy, which
had collapsed before he became Zimbabwe's minister of finance in 2009.

Mnangagwa mobilises rogue States ahead of polls

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

By Staff Reporter 5 hours 5 minutes ago

HARARE - In the same week Chinese military Generals have been visiting
Harare, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi accompanied his country's
military and intelligence chiefs have been in the country and met Minister
of Defense Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and explored what they called avenues
for high level military cooperation, amid reports of a coup plot if the
MDC-T wins elections.

In the past week, Chinese military generals have been visiting Zimbabwe and
enmeshed themselves in ZanuPF succession plots amid reports that they
anointed Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as successor to Mugabe in a
secret pact rubber-stamped by the ageing Zimbabwean leader and his security
service chiefs.

China thinks Mnangagwa is the one qualified to protect their vast economic
interests in the country.

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa exchange gifts with Chinese Generals

Last Friday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira issued a statement saying State
security services chiefs are planning to stage a coup if President Robert
Mugabe does not win elections likely to be held this year.

“We have instead been told by a few individuals at the helm of these sectors
that anyone other than President Mugabe, even if they win an election, will
not be able to take up their mandate,” the MDC-T leader said.

During the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister Salehi pointed to the good
trend of the political ties between Iran and the South African state and
reciprocal meetings among the two countries' officials, and voiced Iranian
and Zimbabwean presidents' firm resolve to improve Tehran-Harare all-out
ties, specially in economic and trade fields.

He also expressed Tehran's preparedness to exchange experiences and
cooperate with Zimbabwe in the areas of economy, trade, agriculture and
defense.

Mnangagwa, too, lauded the progresses made by Iran in industrial, defense
and aerospace fields, and expressed the hope that efforts underway by the
two countries' officials would lead to the expansion of all-out ties.

In relevant remarks today, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad
Vahidi in a meeting with Mnangagwa announced Tehran's preparedness to help
Zimbabwe strengthen its defensive power.

"We are ready to reinvigorate Zimbabwe's defense power," Vahidi said in
Tehran on Sunday morning.

He also referred to the defense cooperation between the two countries in the
past, and stressed Iran's readiness to share its experiences with Harare in
different fields.

Mnangagwa, for his part, underlined Zimbabwe's enthusiasm for the expansion
of cooperation with Iran.

Despite his advanced age and reports of failing health, Mugabe says he is
fit to contest another election.

Some of his close officials say Mugabe has quietly worked on a succession
plan, but party members fear ZANU-PF could implode in a battle over who
takes over power if he dies in office.

The death of retired general Solomon Mujuru in a fire last August has also
changed the party dynamics. Local media reports say Mujuru, husband of Vice
President Joice Mujuru, was pressing Mugabe to step down and his ZANU-PF
faction had courted the MDC.

Some ZANU-PF members see Mugabe as a liability who should hand over power to
a younger leader but they are unsure whether any successor can defeat
Tsvangirai in a free election.

Mugabe, who turned 88 on Feb. 21, was endorsed by his party as candidate for
the next presidential poll.

Pressure for him to retire has been growing especially since reports, based
on a 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks, said Mugabe was
suffering from prostate cancer.

Zimbabwe calls for increased defense cooperation with Iran

http://www.tehrantimes.com

Political Desk

On Line: 11 March 2012 17:40
In Print: Monday 12 March 2012

TEHRAN – The Zimbabwean defense minister has called for the expansion of
defense cooperation between his country and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa made the request during a meeting with Iranian
Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi in Tehran on Sunday.

Mnangagwa, who came to Iran at the invitation of Vahidi, hailed the Iranian
people’s revolutionary spirit and their great achievements in various
fields, saying that Iran is a power which determinedly defends its
territorial integrity and national interests.

Harare is keen to increase relations with Tehran in all areas, particularly
in the area of defense, he stated.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Zimbabwean defense minister commented on the
plots hatched against and the sanctions imposed on his country, saying
Zimbabwe’s revolutionary people and its army have circumvented the sanctions
and defended their independence through resistance.

Iran keen to increase defense cooperation with Zimbabwe

Vahidi stated that the Islamic Republic is keen to share its experiences
with Zimbabwe in all spheres, particularly in the area of defense.

He also said that both countries have put up resistance against colonialism
and the hegemony of certain global powers and expressed hope that Zimbabwe’s
economy would grow despite unfair sanctions imposed on the country.

Salehi meets with Zimbabwean defense minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi held a meeting with the Zimbabwean
defense minister on Sunday, in which he expressed hope that the relations
between the two countries would increase.

Tehran is keen to share its experiences with Harare in all areas, Salehi
stated, adding that officials of both countries are determined to increase
ties.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi commented on the strong will of the Iranian
nation and said, “Despite the outsiders’ efforts meant to hinder and stop
Iran’s progress through the exertion of political and economic pressure,
fortunately, the Islamic Iran, through reliance on its indigenous potential,
has independently succeeded in making outstanding achievements in various
fields of science and technology, including achievements in the fields of
peaceful nuclear (technology), aerospace, and nano(technology), and has
attained self-sufficiency in the defense industry.”

Mnangagwa appreciated Iran’s achievements in the area of defense and called
for closer cooperation with Tehran.

He also spoke about the situation of his country and said that the
Zimbabwean people have surmounted many obstacles through the support of the
government.

Zimbabwe has implemented many political and economic reforms as well as
development plans despite the foreign pressure exerted on the country,
Mnangagwa added.

Air Zim workers' jobs on the line

http://www.timeslive.co.za

JOHN NQINDI | 11 March, 2012 00:32

Air Zimbabwe's 1400 workers are facing more woes - the government is likely
to retrench many of them in an effort to revive the ailing airline's
operations.

Air Zimbabwe's workforce consists of air crew, ground staff, handling
operations, engineering and pilots. It has grounded international flights
while domestic ones have been suspended since pilots went on strike. "Since
the pilots went on strike we have been grounded. We don't know when we will
commence operations," said acting chief executive Innocent Mavhunga.

The national carrier is struggling with debts of over $140-million. Of this
$30-million is owed to international creditors.

This week State Enterprises Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (SERA)
executive director Edgar Nyoni told a parliamentary portfolio committee that
one of the ways to revive Air Zimbabwe is to cut its salary bill through
retrenchment.

"There should be a staff audit looking at the current equipment operating
and current employment levels. Currently the company employs 1 400 people so
there could be a possibility of downsizing the workforce," Nyoni said.

The retrenchment route has been taken by other state-owned companies, such
as Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco), the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ) and Cold Storage Company.

However, they have struggled to pay off the laid-off workers.

Last year Zupco laid off 362 workers at a cost of $2-million, while RBZ
retrenched 1500 workers at a cost of $70- million, so far the largest
retrenchment exercise in the country's history.

Economist John Robertson says the retrenchment exercise by Air Zimbabwe will
end with workers disappointed.

"Retrenchment is a factor that is forced to come around by the company's
failure to run viably. For retrenched workers to get their dues, the
government would have to come in and assist.

"Another avenue is, since the company is under judicial management it would
be to sell-off some of Air Zimbabwe's assets. The tricky thing is that Air
Zimbabwe's assets are not valuable enough to pay the workers that would be
retrenched," Robertson said.

Early this year, Mavhunga wrote to President Robert Mugabe pleading with him
to make sure government takes a more active role in trying to solve the Air
Zimbabwe mess.

Mugabe is Air Zimbabwe's biggest client. His travelling entourage on the
national airline on average is 70 people . On average Mugabe spends
$40-million a year on travelling expenses.

It has been reported that Mugabe pays his Air Zimbabwe bills. It has also
been reported that when the president wants to fly out of the country Air
Zimbabwe calls its best workers to report for duty.

Fears grow after missed deadline for constitution

http://www.timeslive.co.za

ARTHUR SIMUCHOBA | 11 March, 2012 00:32

The 20-member technical committee writing Zambia's new constitution has
missed the February month-end deadline for the first draft of the new
constitution.

The draft will now be ready for public scrutiny by next month.

"We will deliver by this new date. It's better we don't rush. We want to do
a good job," said Simon Kabanda, spokesman of the committee.

He explained that failure to meet the deadline was on account of the
"overwhelming volume of work" and gave the assurance that this delay would
not affect the overall timetable of completing the work within one year.

By June, the draft would be ready for discussion by provincial conventions.

"The final draft constitution will be presented to the general public and
the president in September, after which the referendum commission will
assume responsibility," he said.

But the timing was somewhat unfortunate as it fed into a raging row about
gay rights in Zambia.

The gay rights controversy provoked by the repeated exhortations of United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to the country to uphold the rights of
people with a different sexual orientation as part of the overall human
rights agenda raged long after his departure.

Speculation quickly came to be that the delay was no coincidence, but the
result of government's acquiescence to include such rights in the new
constitution in line with Ban Ki-Moon's instructions.

"Has this delay not been caused by the call by the UN secretary-general to
Zambia to include gay rights in the constitution? The Patriotic Front (PF)
government has maintained 'Don't Kubeba' (don't tell them) on the issue of
gay rights. There is silence from the president to the last government
official," observed one on-line publication.

But government broke its silence soon enough.

Government spokesman, Information Minister Fackson Shamenda, said that
Zambian laws were very clear - homosexuality was criminal.

He said government would not entertain amendment to the law to allow
recognition of gay rights and wondered why it had become such an issue when
the UN chief had raised a number of other important issues.

There were other fears. The Civil Society Constitution Coalition (CSCC) was
not at all comfortable with the postponement and warned that shifting
deadlines could undermine the entire constitution-making process.

"We hope that there will be no more shifting of deadlines as this will
undermine the entire constitution-making process," the CSCC said.

The other centred on President Michael Sata's rejection out of hand of the
key recommendation of the commission of inquiry he appointed into the
January 14 disturbance in Mongu.

Some saw that as a bad omen for the constitution.

Fears are that his reaction to the Mongu report could well be the harbinger
of what could happen to the report of the technical committee on the
constitution.

"Since it is operating on presidential trust ... if the report of the
technical committee proposed massive reductions of presidential powers as
always demanded by the public or cancellation of some offices, Sata is
likely to dismiss the report," observed Samuel Mulafulafu head of the
Catholic relief and development agency, Caritas.

"Even the issue of the constitutional referendum promised by the technical
committee will depend on the presidential mood at the time despite that all
stakeholders want it. Why else is the president so reluctant to appoint a
referendum commission if his thinking is in line with the masses?" he asked.

No Sign of Changes as Zimbabwe Information Minister Defies Media Reform Deadline

http://www.voanews.com

09 March 2012

Media reforms remain a distant dream as Information Minister Webster Shamu
refuses to implement changes Prime Minister Tsvangirai says he agreed on
with President Mugabe recently

Violet Gonda | Washington

The three-week deadline reportedly given to Information Minister Webster
Shamu by the unity government principals to implement media reforms is set
to expire next week with no sign of movement from the ZANU-PF minister.

Last month Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told the media he had agreed
with President Robert Mugabe and deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara that
Shamu should announce changes to important media boards, among them the
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, which Tsvangirai's MDC formation says
was not properly constituted.

President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba immediately denied Mr.
Tsvangirai’s statement. But the MDC leader maintained he had agreed with Mr.
Mugabe that urgent media reforms be implemented.

ZANU-PF is pushing for elections this year but Mr. Tsvangirai’s MDC has
repeatedly said it will not participate in elections without broad
electoral, media and other reforms.

Shamu refused to speak with the VOA but his deputy, Murisi Zwizwai, of the
Tsvangirai-led MDC, told Violet Gonda that a deadline was indeed set by the
Principals. He accuses Shamu of undermining the shaky unity government.

“It could be a question of conflict of interest as you are aware that
Minister Shamu also wears a political hat as the commissar of ZANU-PF so he
could be doing all these frustrations in order to try and perpetuate his
party into power in the forthcoming elections,” said Zwizwai.

The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa said Shamu’s
actions show where the real power resides within the coalition government.

Director Nhlanhla Ngwenya said the media reforms the MDC is calling for are
‘superficial’ and are not sustainable, especially as they involve merely
changing figure-heads on media boards, and not also pushing for the repeal
of draconian media laws.

Ngwenya said, for example, simply reconstituting the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation board will not solve the problems at the institution. He says a
comprehensive policy framework is needed to shield the ZBC from manipulation
by politicians.

“As long as the media reforms are tied to a single ministry nothing will
move because we know the position of that ministry and its ideology
vis-à-vis media policy, democracy and governance,” said Ngwenya.

Viewers to cough up more for luxury of satellite TV

http://www.timeslive.co.za

SIMPLICIUS CHIRINDA | 11 March, 2012 00:32

Satellite television viewers are set to pay more for the luxury of quality
viewing.

MultiChoice Zimbabwe announced this week that monthly charges will go up by
$3 across all the bouquets on offer.

"MultiChoice advises that from April 2012 the price of your subscription
will increase by $3. Thank you for your continued support," the company
announced in a terse message sent by e-mail and via television screen
messages.

Many people in Zimbabwe do not watch programmes offered by the state-owned
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the country's sole television
station since independence in 1980.

According to the latest media survey done by an independent advertising
company, 27% of Zimbabweans now watch satellite television.

This is proved by the number of homes in both urban and rural areas that
have satellite dishes, with viewers paying between $50 and $72 every month
for quality viewing.

A full DSTV bouquet costs $72 a month.

Meanwhile, the ZBC is struggling to get Zimbabweans to pay their radio and
television licences.

The corporation is now deploying its licence inspectors at roadblocks and in
busy shopping centres, where they can easily pounce on motorists and
shoppers.

Tsvangirai slams Daily News

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

11/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has taken the extraordinary step of
accusing a newspaper sympathetic to his MDC-T party of “raising political
tensions” in the country through sensational reporting and deliberate
distortions.

Tsvangirai reacted after the privately-owned Daily News splashed with a
story on Saturday under the headline, ‘Mugabe wants war: Tsvangirai’.

Waving a copy of the newspaper while addressing a prayer meeting organised
by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo,
Tsvangirai said: “This story claims that I said (President) Mugabe wants
war. I never said that, it's not true."

He added: "We want peace to prevail in the country, but we have problems
with some newspapers that write misleading and inaccurate stories.”

Tsvangirai has previously reserved that treatment for the state media, which
he has publicly accused of falsifying stories to discredit his party.

But the MDC-T’s distrust of the stridently pro-Zanu PF state media has been
conversely matched by Zanu PF’s mistrust of The Daily News – both sides of
the media divide accused of abandoning professional standards in pursuit of
sensational headlines.

The Daily News report relied on quotes which Tsvangirai made at a news
conference last Thursday at which he demanded political reforms before new
elections.

“Zimbabweans want a peaceful election and not a war. That is what the people
of this country want and that is what SADC wants,” Tsvangirai told delegates
at the launch of a document by his party outlining ‘Conditions for a
Sustainable Election in Zimbabwe’.

Tsvangirai said pro-Mugabe military chiefs had told him that even if he won
elections expected this year he would never be allowed to take over from the
Zanu PF leader.

“We have instead been told by a few individuals at the helm of these sectors
that anyone other than President Mugabe, even if they win an election, will
not be able to take up their mandate,” the MDC-T leader said.

“They have even gone further to dismiss the significance of an electoral
process by saying that they will not tolerate a new regime in Harare ushered
in through the ballot because President Mugabe cannot be removed by a ‘mere
pen which costs less than five cents’.”

Tsvangirai said such utterances by a clearly partisan security
infrastructure made implementation of political reforms his party is
demanding even more urgent.

“The security of the person (who wins the elections), the security of the
vote and the security of the people needs to be guaranteed before we even
start to cast our ballots,” he said.

Asiagate: 20 players interviewed

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

11/03/2012 00:00:00
    by Sports Reporter

A COMMITTEE which will decide the fates of 98 players and officials
implicated in match fixing has so far interviewed 20 individuals, but ZIFA
officials say it is unlikely to meet the March 31 deadline to conclude the
hearings.

FIFA has given the Zimbabwean authorities until May 31 to wind-up the
investigation and impose sanctions on the guilty players, but ZIFA is eyeing
an earlier finish.

The ZIFA Independent (ADHOC) Disciplinary Committee was set up in October
2012 to conduct hearings and pass sanctions on the players and match
officials who are accused of accepting payments from Asian betting
syndicates in order to lose matches by fixed scores.
The former ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya has been arrested and charged over
the corruption.

ZIFA suspended all the implicated players and coaching staff from national
team selection. The decision saw national team coach Norman Mapeza and his
assistant Joey Antipas being forced to stand aside when Zimbabwe lost 2-1
away to Burundi in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on February 29.

Caretaker coach Rahman Gumbo is anxious to see ZIFA conclude the hearings
before the return leg on June 5, hoping some suspended players would be
cleared and become available for selection.

ZIFA communications manager Nicky Dhlamin Moyo said on Sunday: "We
acknowledge the anxiety that has gripped the nation, and like all
stakeholders ZIFA would like to put a lid on Asiagate and start a new
chapter. This will be done before the FIFA set deadline of May 31.”

Dhlamini said the committee, chaired by retired judge Justice Ahmed Ebrahim,
began interviewing players and officials in February with the intention of
completing the investigation process by March 31.

But he says due to the complexity of the cases and non-availability of some
of the players, the process has taken longer than expected.

The hearings follow tours to Thailand, Malaysia and Syria by make-shift
Zimbabwe squads between 2007 and 2009 during which some players have
admitted receiving payments to lose by set scores.
Champions League matches involving 2008 champions Monomotapa have also come
under review, amid claims the results were fixed.

Zim's Saviour an enigma

http://www.fin24.com

Mar 11 2012 11:42 Ray Ndlovu

Saviour Kasukuwere, the Zimbabwean government minister who has become the
bane of foreign-owned businesses, is an enigma.

Zimbabwe’s youth development, indigenisation and empowerment minister has
his eyes set on Impala Platinum Holdigs [JSE:IMP] subsidiary Zimplats if the
South African owners do not comply with orders to hand over more stakes in
the company to black people by the end of this week.

The 41-year-old minister is different things to different people. His flashy
lifestyle has earned him the “Kenny Kunene of Zimbabwe” moniker, while his
political rhetoric rings of Julius Malema at his fieriest.

To friends and family members, Kasukuwere, a former boxer, is affectionately
known as “Tyso".

Colleagues in Zanu-PF see him as the proverbial “Young Turk” whose political
star is on the rise.

He has come a long way from the days when he was part of President Robert
Mugabe’s security detail in the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation.

In fact, some in Zanu-PF’s ranks look favourably on Kasukuwere’s age, as he
is the youngest-serving Cabinet minister from the party and covert talk has
been taking place in the faction-riddled Zanu-PF that Kasukuwere could be a
successor to the 88-year-old Mugabe.

After all, his political credentials are “tried and tested” – a prerequisite
for climbing Zanu-PF’s ladder.

He has a track record of experience. As an MP for the Mount Darwin
constituency since 2000, he enjoys the backing of the militant-styled youth
empowerment outfits Chipangano and Upfumi Kuvadiki (Wealth to the Young) and
has been in government circles since 2005, where he served as the deputy
minister of youth development and employment creation until 2009.

A close ally of Kasukuwere, Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo, said:
“Kasukuwere has been given a serious mandate under his portfolio in
empowerment and youth, but the jury is still out on him, although he has
already shown some skills people didn’t think he had.”

If Kasukuwere harbours any ambitions to land the country’s top job, he has
kept mum, instead focusing his energy on turning up the heat on
foreign-owned companies through the controversial 51% indigenisation law.

As a result, foreign-owned companies Zimplats, Caledonia, Barclays, Stanbic
and Anglo Platinum have had a run-in with Kasukuwere and have seen another
side to him - an aggressive, tough and sharp-tongued minister set to enforce
the indigenisation plans.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has labelled Kasukuwere
a “thug bent on looting”, re-enforcing a view held by US diplomats in
WikiLeaks disclosures, who also said he was a thug, but added he was “young,
smooth and ambitious”.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last year complained to Mugabe that Kasukuwere
was the organiser of the youth-led violence that flared up in Harare -
attesting to the young minister’s ambitions to shape the country’s politics
through violence.

Last week, South Africa’s Implats, which holds an 87% stake in its Zimbabwe
subsidiary, Zimplats, was on the receiving end of Kasukuwere’s
indigenisation crusade as it received a 14-day ultimatum to meet the country’s
51% indigenisation law.

In a rant, similar to Mugabe’s belligerent speeches against the West,
Kasukuwere shot down any overtures of leniency being extended to Implats.

“The problem with David Brown (Implats CEO) is that he talks too much. We
are sick and tired of his delaying tactics. I don’t need to meet them over
anything. Why are they coming to see me? I am not a zoo,” said Kasukuwere.

Observers say Kasukuwere’s influence has been catapulted by the
indigenisation campaign, to the point where he could now talk down large on
multi-nationals companies desperate to protect their investments in
Zimbabwe.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera said: “For now Kasukuwere can bask in
the glory. Only time will tell whether Mugabe considers him a part of his
inner circle, or like Julius Malema was to President Jacob Zuma, he will
just be a useful cog that will be cast away as soon as it has outlived its
usefulness.”

Popular approaches of trying to unravel Kasukuwere have hinged on drawing
comparisons with Malema, the embattled ANC Youth League leader who visited
Zimbabwe in 2010 to see how “Comrade” Kasukuwere was rolling out the country’s
indigenisation drive.

Like Malema, Kasukuwere has carved himself as a firebrand youth leader, to
the point of almost sidelining the party’s official 60-year-old youth
leader, Absolom Sikhosana.

He is champion of the poor, notwithstanding being a recipient of multiple
farms, and runs successful businesses in oil, agriculture and tourism.

His acerbic tongue has seen him publicly chide Gideon Gono, the country’s
Reserve Bank governor and a staunch Mugabe ally, as differences emerged over
how to implement the 51% indigenisation law.

At times, however, Kasukuwere has seemed uncertain over how to implement the
law and recently reacted angrily to questions asked by lawyer Derek Matyszak
of the Research and Advocacy Unit on the glaring contradictions in the
indigenisation law.

“I am not a lawyer, but the courts are there. If you are not happy with the
policy go to the courts.”

Critics say the indigenisation drive is meant to canvass support for
Zanu-PF, which after 32 years in power has nothing else to offer weary
voters - and has now shifted to a takeover of mining companies.

But in an interview with City Press this week, Kasukuwere rebuffed concerns
that the indigenisation law was an extension of Zanu-PF politicking.

“Companies have to respect our laws. It’s not about elections; it’s about
fighting poverty and improving the wellbeing of our people.

“I am continuing with our programme to empower the people of Zimbabwe. We
are our own liberators”.

- City Press

Rape a Mugabe weapon – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 10th March 2012

Women from the Vigil took part in a programme to mark International Women’s Day on Thursday 8^th March. Led by management team member Josephine Zhuga, they danced, sang and drummed at a well-attended event at City and Islington College, one of England’s largest further education colleges.

A majority of the Zimbabweans turning up for the Vigil outside the Embassy in London every Saturday are women and many of them have been victims of sexual abuse. Josephine, an official speaker at the event, told the audience how rape was used as a form of political control in Zimbabwe. Her message reinforced a speech made in Geneva that day by Steven Lewis of the organization Aids-Free World at a UN Human Rights Council meeting. Mr Lewis said his organization had gathered evidence from 70 women in Zimbabwe who had been subjected to 380 separate rapes because they supported the MDC.

“The raping was diabolical, completely without conscience, merciless in its ferocity, committed by members of Mugabe’s Youth Corps and War Veterans. The pattern of rape was identical and uniform in every part of the country. It was carried out in every province. There was no doubt as to its orchestration. There was no doubt that it constituted crimes against humanity.”

Mr Lewis said every country on the Security Council knew what was being done to the women of Zimbabwe but no action  was being taken. Mugabe seemed to be exempt. “Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe beats them all (other countries) for the scale of oppression and rape.” He went on to warn that unless there was outside intervention the same horrific abuses would be perpetrated in the elections Mugabe has insisted on this year.

Josephine told the Vigil she had heard that  two MDC ministers, Nelson Chamisa and Theresa Makone, had warned people in the UK against going back to Zimbabwe and confirmed that the MDC had no real power in government. The two attended an MDC UK meeting in Birmingham recently but few details have been released except that Makone had a meeting with the UK Immigration Minister Damian Green to ask him to suspend deportations until after the elections. “Tsvangirai, himself, says he will never be allowed to take power. Why doesn’t Mrs Makone point out to the UK that any woman sent back to Zimbabwe will be subject to rape. The evidence is there.’ (See: Honour women by naming and shaming Zimbabwe – https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/mar9_2012.html#Z24)

Other points

·        Thanks to Mary Muteyerwa and Louisa Musaerenge who accompanied Josephine and Vigil co-ordinator Rose Benton to the lively women’s day event at City and Islington College which featured one of the staff having her head publically shaved to raise money for cancer treatment for the daughter of a fellow staff member. Sympathies to Wendy Ziyambi and Edna Mdoka who made great efforts to reach the college for the event but were prevented by serious disruption on London Underground.

·        We were surprised to hear that long-term Vigil supporter and committed activist Kelvin Kamupira had his asylum application turned down. He is lodging an appeal and we will do everything we can to support him in this.

·        Thanks to Patricia Kahanda who has been coming at the start of the Vigil to help set up, helping at the front table throughout and clearing up at the end.

·        Our Swazi friends joined us again after what they described as a very lively vigil outside the Swazi High Commission.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

FOR THE RECORD: 73 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·        Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 24^th March from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.  Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria.

·        Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 7^th April from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent.  Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

·        Two Gentlemen of Verona Shona Production at the Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT. Dates / Times: Wednesday 9 May, 2.30pm. Thursday 10 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 - £35 (700 £5 tickets available) from 020 7401 9919 and www.shakespearesglobe.com. A two-man Zimbabwean riot of love, friendship and betrayal. From Verona to Milan, via Harare and Bulawayo, two great friends, Valentine and Proteus, vie for the love of the same woman. In a triumphantly energetic ‘township’ style, Denton Chikura and Tonderai Munyevu slip into all of the play’s fifteen characters – from amorous suitors to sullen daughters, depressed servants and even a dog – in this new, specially commissioned translation.

·        Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011.  Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.

·        The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

·        ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.

·        The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.

·        Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

·        Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.

Vigil co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.

Court Watch 4/2012 of 9th March [MDC-T Activists Face Murder Trial : State v Madzore and Others]

Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 9th March 2012 [Meetings Open to Public 12th to 15th March]