March 24, 2006
By
Andnetwork .com
ZIMBABWE'S National Security Minister Didymus
Mutasa on Thursday
dramatically halted the trial of the editor of Zanu PF's
mouthpiece, The
Voice.
Lovemore Mataire was facing charges of
stealing $6 million from his
employers, Jongwe Printers, by ordering the
newspaper's street vendors to
deposit money from sales into his personal
bank account.
But in a dramatic development, Mutasa, who is Zanu
PF's secretary for
administration, intervened and withdrew all charges
before plea.
He gave no reason for withdrawing the charges, and
would not say if
the charges had been proved to be false or
not.
Mutasa filed a withdrawal affidavit, read out Thursday,
stating: "I
Cde D N E Mutasa do hereby solemnly and sincerely swear/declare
the
following: in my capacity as the Secretary for Administration for Zanu
(PF)
Party and one of my responsibilities is to supervise and co-ordinate
the
efficient administration of the party.which was represented by Cde
Nathan
Shamuyarira as a complainant in a case involving Cde Lovemore Mataire
of
theft by conversion have decided to withdraw all charges against him
unconditionally with immediate effect and all current court processes should
thus fall away."
Shamuyarira is chairman of Jongwe Printers,
publishers of The Voice.
He is also the secretary of information and
publicity for Zanu PF.
Magistrate Rebecca Takavadiyi withdrew all
charges and let the former
Herald reporter free.
The case
against Mataire was that between August 21 and October 12
last year, he
instructed the paper's vendors to deposit proceeds from
newspaper sales into
his personal CABS account instead of The Voice's
account held with
Zimbank.
Prosecutors were alleging that Mataire would subsequently
withdraw the
money and convert it to his personal use, prejudicing The Voice
of $6 110
000. The money was not recovered.
Shamuyarira, in an
affidavit attached to court papers, had stated:
"Mataire had no right
whatsoever to convert company funds to personal use."
Source :
New Zimbabwe
Zim Daily
Friday, March 24 2006 @ 12:05 AM GMT
Contributed by: correspondent
The ruling Zanu PF yesterday
called for the detention of
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for
allegedly inciting violent protests
aimed at overthrowing President Robert
Mugabe, charging the mass action call
constituted treason. The agitation in
Zanu PF came as opposition leaders
urged the nation's soldiers and police to
disobey orders to crush any show
of dissent against the government. "The
time has now come for the security
forces to make that historic choice of
either being with the people or
against them," Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa
said.
The MDC
spokesman, who was elected unopposed at the party's
historic congress held
weekend, said nonpartisan troops had nothing to fear
under any new
government, but warned that those who had been perpetrators of
violence
against ordinary Zimbabweans for expressing their democratic rights
would be
arrested, tried and jailed.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo
Mohadi accused Tsvangirai of trying
"to cause unrest and civil commotion"
under the guise of fighting for
political rights. Mohadi's call follows
another threat from the ruling Zanu
PF party to Tsvangirai calling on him to
desist from advocating war
following his call for mass protests. The MDC has
shook Mugabe's government
with the threat for fresh protests to push Mugabe
out of power. Mohadi said
the MDC was led by "punch-drunk" puppets sponsored
by the West to subvert
Zimbabwe's national sovereignty.
"This treachery has now gone beyond all forms of decency and
must be
stopped," he said. "The courts must take note of Morgan Tsvangirai's
open
call for violence which, in essence, constitute high treason," Mohadi
said.
"Government cannot allow him to continue to orchestrate acts of
violence. We
urge the judicial system to take note of the MDC's statements
which are
clearly treasonous," he added. Repeated efforts to obtain comment
from
Tsvangirai were fruitless yesterday. But Chamisa told Zimdaily the
government would not be able to crush the MDC or its program against
dictatorship.
"This government has been threatening the
MDC leadership for
years now and we are not frightened. We are pursuing a
popular cause and
they cannot crush that," Chamisa told Zimdaily.
Tsvangirai, who was
re-elected president unopposed on Sunday, warned
President Mugabe, charging
"the dictator must brace himself for a long,
bustling winter across the
country." The former trade union leader called on
more than 15 000
supporters at a weekend conference to take part in a
"sustained cold season
of peaceful democratic
resistance."
But Mohadi warned that the government would
crush any protests
"Those who would like to cause unrest and civil commotion
under the guise of
freedom of expression and democracy...will be dealt with
severely," Mohadi
said. "Let it be known that we are ready for these
miscreants masquerading
as political opposition members when in fact they
are outright criminals."
Mohadi's threats comes in the wake of threats by
Zanu PF to "desist from
attempts to incite civil disobedience" as it "could
lead to bloodshed and
undermine democracy."
"It is
surprising that those leaders who never went to war are
the ones advocating
it," said the Zanu PF statement. "Those who reject the
legal and democratic
way of running the government and choose confrontation
will be confronted by
the long arm of the state," it added. Zimbabwe is in
crisis with soaring
unemployment and shortages of fuel, foreign exchange and
food, which many
Zimbabweans blame on Mugabe's policies. Mugabe denies
mismanaging Zimbabwe
since winning power after the country's independence
from Britain in 1980.
He has also defended the government's seizure of
white-owned commercial
farms for redistribution to landless blacks, which
critics say is partly to
blame for food shortages affecting nearly three
million of Zimbabwe's 12,5
million people.
|
Zim Daily
Friday, March 24 2006 @ 12:03 AM GMT
Contributed by:
correspondent
Dear Gushungo
I write to update
you, Gushungo (President Mugabe), on what is
happening outside the fortified
walls of your castle - State House. Far away
from your favourite route, the
airport road, there is misery in the streets
where I am convinced your
highness can never walk alone and talk to the
people freely like what Morgan
Tsvangirai did during his weekend congress. I
am talking about the dusty
streets of Mbare, Kuwadzana and Highfield, let
alone Mucheke or Makokoba. I
am told Grace finds the company of the
residents of the above-mentioned
locations highly degrading and irritating.
Their singing at
the airport when they come to welcome you from
your highly successful and
productive business trips in the Far East, is one
of Amainini Grace's
dislikes. Amai Chatunga fears you can get snatched by
one of those lasses.
Well, I don't know, Gushungo, but I think she knows
better - remember she
snatched you from Amaiguru Sally (may her soul rest in
peace). Chef, I am
also in great fear for my comrade Chiwenga. The way
Jocelyn and this young
man Sporadic are hanging out leaves a lot to be
desired.
Back to business Comrade Chef. I am sure you heard about the
planned "cold
season" mass action, advocated by the British-sponsored MDC. I
have no
apologies to the mass action being a complete flop, Mr President. Mr
President, some of our people must be punished for insubordination,
especially those of your servants at our own Jongwe Printers. They now
prefer to listen to Morgan rather than listen to you. I am sure in the
secret ballot they cast their vote in favour of Morgan. No wonder why we had
to employ the services of Tobaiwa in order for us to achieve the landslide
victory in the parliamentary and senate polls.
Gushungo,
I am not happy about what Tazzen Mandizvidza is doing
at ZBC or is it ZBH.
First and foremost, he has stopped playing the most
requested jingle on TV
and radio (Hondo YeMinda/ Uyadela). I am told
Mandizvidza said our
advertising contract had expired. What contract? What
expiry? When we fought
for this country did we have any contracts, Gushungo?
What has hit this
young man? Iboora ngoma chairo! Thina sifuna amadoda
sibili! He is reversing
the gains of our hard-won independence. I have this
feeling he is not
patriotic enough. I hereby propose we replace Mandizvidza
with Cde
Chinx.
Secondly, on 19 March, 2006, Mandizvidza gave the
green light to
have a vox pop to hear what the povo thought about the famous
MDC mass
action. Although he heavily edited what was said by the povo on the
instructions of that other editor-in-chief Chris Chivinge, by the way there
are two EICs at ZBH Gushungo, Mandizvidza must be told that it is illegal
under POSA to listen to what the masses have to say. Mandizvidza must make
it known to all his operatives that Mbare studios were constructed not for
the masses, but for you, Gushungo.
When you have a thing
or two to say, you use the ZBC. It is the
mouthpiece of the State, not of
the people. I am disturbed to say most of
the callers applauded the mass
action. Punish these people, Comrade Robert.
Freeze their salaries and hike
prices of basic commodities. Expand the tax
burden, cut fuel supplies to all
the major urban centres. Ask Cde Herbert
Murerwa (is he a war vet,
Gushungo?) to introduce some funny policies that
can force their companies
to close down. Then they shall know you are His
Excellency in this sovereign
state.
Starve their wives, assault their infants with batons,
especially on the forehead, and inflict permanent scars. Then democracy can
be born.
Arrest their ring leaders. Under POSA it is easy -
even the
innocent are guilty. Beat up their mayors, torture them by putting
electric
current on their genitals. If they are female, beat them until they
menstruate. From then on, democracy will be with us. From then on, Gushungo,
I can tell you they will be very afraid of you. They will call you Bob.
Comrade Chef, I am also not happy to say the British-sponsored MDC are
trying to gang up with that ZCTU and the NCA.
The writing
is on the wall, changamire: we at Zanu PF also
failed to stop them from
doing what they thought they had to do. I am also
very afraid to say the
people are in love with this MDC thing, mambo wangu.
The masses are behind
Tsvangirai, chef. We must step up our smear campaign.
Can't you cobble
another treason case against this Tsvangirai chap, he is an
idiosyncratic
snob, chef. This time chef just get a clever liar. Ben-Menashe
was a stupid
liar, chef. What we need is a clever liar - much clever than
Jonathan.
But, Gushungo, I must say you continue to do a
good job at our
comrades funerals. You must continue in that path without
shame. Using your
degrees in violence, you amaze by your ability to convert
any platform you
get into a political rally; politicise church meetings (it
worked for the
late Madzibaba Border remember), global meetings; and
politicise funerals
even though the bereaved are in a state of mourning. Who
knows, Gushungo,
you might last this term of office if you do not decide to
relocate from
State House to some single quarters nearer to the National
Sports Stadium.
Zim Daily
Friday, March
24 2006 @ 12:02 AM GMT
Contributed by: Zimdaily
Once my body itched all over, and tablets from my GP could not
help. Later I
realised it was an allergy, and it stopped after I changed my
bath soap. If
the diagnosis and the treatment had been otherwise may be up
to this day I
would be complaining of itching. This is what happens when we
take the wrong
approaches to problem solving - we run around in circles
circling the
problem but not dealing with it. The Zimbabwean problem is one
such, and
this conclusion was arrived at after considering the failures we
have had in
addressing our issues. Zimbabwean problems are manifest through
state
repression of its nationals, absence of the rule of lawand violence.
Mugabe
may be the main beneficiary and perpetrator, but it's a grave sin to
assume
naively he is the sole occupant of the gravy train. There are other
beneficiaries so terrified of a return to sanity in the country. In
identifying Robert Mugabe as the culprit for Zimbabwe's quagmire we are to a
great extent right, but in trying to exclusively and personally deal with
him we miss the point because he is, like Satan, invulnerable to compassion
for humans, to harm, and downloads terror and evil on people
indirectly.
Several writers have argued before that we need
not talk and
write then do nothing. Zimbabwean problems persist because
there are people
who commit every sin under the sun with impunity. While sin
itself is
intangible and we can only deal with it at a cognitive level, its
perpetrators are tangible and subject to correction. This simple logic is
still to be applied through acknowledging that while Mugabe may be the
contractor, actual perpetrators make the ultimate decision of doing or not
doing, and determine the manner and severity of the deeds.From the top, the
perpetrators of sin and evil in Zimbabwean political cosmology are forgiven
and rewarded, but below their victims seek retribution. When we need the
retribution here and now, and we do not have access to the father of all
evil, we should seek not to punish Satan but the sinner
himself.
Christian religion believes that God will punish the
souls of
sinners, but that has not stopped Christian communities since their
conception to judge and punish those who violate moral codes of their
communities. This despite faith in God's ability to judge and punish.
Whether he does or not is God's prerogative, and our anger can only be
assuaged when we mete punishment on the evil in society, thereby getting the
promise that in future others are deterred from commiting the same acts.We
have always known that punishment has to be applied directly here and now.
Satan may be blamed for all evils, but it's inconceivable to expect him to
pay for the murder committed by Kitsiyatota in Buhera or the betrayal of
Jesus by Judas. Kitsiyatota and Judas have to bear the consequences of their
actions if we are to agree and be convinced there are no rewards but
punishment for the evil that men do. Satan will scoff at naïve expectations
that God will punish him much as Mugabe will scoff at any attempts by
Zimbabweans and the international community to unseat or punish him for
crimes against humanity. This because he has created evil and a hell which
he does not manipulate directly, but has given a life of its own. Deny or
give him credit, but this is what is happening and may be happening for some
time to come.
People who have been raped, tortured and
lost their private
property blame Mugabe as they should, for crafting and
being the architect
of lawlessness and hatred of whites and members of the
opposition. Their
anger has been misplaced on Mugabe letting go the direct
perpetrators of
evil. It is superstitious to assume that those who commit
all evil deeds in
the name of Mugabe have been send directly by him or that
Mugabe himself
exercises total control over their mental and physical
faculties. Truth is
that the party functionaries and agents who preserve
ZANU PF and act to
perpetuate his rule are acting of their own volition, use
their own
creativity and initiative, getting their own pecks and privileges
in the
process knowing fully well the blame is squared on someone's
shoulders.
During Zimbabwe's liberation struggle all freedom fighters used
noms de
guerre rather than actual names. This was to protect their
identities from
the RF government and the risk of litigation after the war
for crimes
committed against their own people. The real victims of the war
to this day
do not blame Tongogara or Mugabe for the terror brought upon
their civilian
communities by freedom fighters, but lay the blame squarely
on individuals
murderers and rapists. Despite this name deception those
freedom fighters
and collaborators who killed civilians in cold blood
suffered the trauma of
their deeds and were haunted by avenging spirits
afterwards. In this day and
age it is therefore surprising that the riot
police who rape women every
time there is a demonstration at UZ and destroy
people's home; the soldiers
who thrash people for being alive and possibly
support the MDC; the
Parliamentarians who pass sadistic and primitive
legislation; the senior
civil servant who participates in the genocide of
his own people - all these
tend to be considered innocents who are taking
orders and who have to keep
their jobs by toeing the line. They are not
blamed, marked for the accused,
followed up or made to face any
consequences. The result is that their
consciences are clear whenever they
commit crimes against their own people,
because the people forgive them
before and during each time they commit
these heinous acts. The people, we,
therefore, have become protagonists and
collaborators in the perpetration of
violence upon ourselves.
The motivation for my re-routing
analysis is acceptance and
understanding that the current school of thought,
of Robert Mugabe as the
creator and perpetrator of mayhem and national
destruction, who has to be
dealt using constitutional or unconstitutional
means does not work, or at
most can be invalid. Institutionalised means of
problem solving when not
working deserve a re-think, failure of which
problem solvers are the madmen
attempting to ferry water using a bucket with
no bottom. The Zimbabwean
nationals and the western world have all failed to
stop the rot that is
claiming the very life of the country. It seems in
targeting Mugabe we have
given his messengers free reign to rape and plunder
and derive benefits from
the mayhem without restraint, in the knowledge that
they will not as
individuals ever have to account for their actions. If
Mugabe is the system
and his operatives the parts and elements of that
system, when we go for the
system and totally ignore the parts, the parts
just develop sub-systems that
make the system even stronger and
invincible.
The extent to which brutal activities are
official party or
government policy, and the extent to which Mugabe himself
is personally
aware or sanctions such deeds can at times questionable. Were
Mugabe to die
today everyone will claim innocence or hide behind collective
responsibility, yet we know the bad and the very bad in his party, and the
zealots are also there. What is known is that our people are so fond of
abusing power and privileges that Mugabe and the party can also be mere
ruses through which individuals cunningly get their ends. Murderers claiming
their acts were politically motivated were pardoned or exempt from
prosecution, as were criminals waving ZANU PF cards during arrests or
trials. The rot is not stopped with Mugabe first, but down
under.
This does not entail a blanket labelling of the army,
police and
CIO, but identification of individuals, their acts and collection
of
evidence, and establishment of covert and overt means of
accountability.In
Masvingo dialect we say a dog is beaten where and when it
shits to condition
it to do so where appropriate. The people who terrorise
us have no Roman
body armour, do not live abroad but stay in our midsts.
Retaliation should
not affect professional and ethical uniformed forces and
operatives who have
no blood on their hands, but those who have, and the
party functionaries who
move around with no bodyguards.
In traditional Shona society, the emissary who goes to inform a
girl's
parents that she did not disappear but is now married to some man is
given a
thorough hiding or even killed. The passivity to deal with a man who
comes
to rape your daughter or wife, whether he has been send by Mugabe or
purports to be says so is dumbfounding. It is this wrong problem-solving
technique of failing to confront the messengers and punish them, which
strengthens the invincibility of Mugabe, and makes him so evil and abstract
that we suffer and hope for divine intervention.
Morgan
Tsvangirai talks of mass action, Welshman Ncube of
participating in all
elections, and Mutambara undoing the legitimacy of
Mugabe's rule. All these
will take us nowhere as long as there are soldiers,
police, intelligence
operatives, journalists, ZANU PF parliamentarians, and
academics prepared to
fight and be apologists and propagandists for Mugabe.
We will not prevail as
long as some mortals as messengers of brutality obey
orders bent on
eliminations of the country's nationals, act in opposition to
the dictates
of reason, religion, morality and the dissuading arguments of
their best
friends. If we make every individual know that while God might
punish their
souls, but as long as we are alive we get more gratification
from exacting
the punishment ourselves on their living bodies, there will be
less chaos,
lawlessness and repression. No-one will be able to carry out
sadistic acts
for the ruling party and Mugabe in particular.
Zimbabweans
have written extensively, sang and sent text
messages in detail about what
Mugabe has done. But still we do not reveal
the names, pictures, residential
addresses and family member of the actual
messengers who continue to operate
in broad daylight and do not have the
protection of amulets, bodyguards and
motorcades. If we write, sing, email
and publish details of these
messengers, and make a commitment within
ourselves and in signed documents
that these will be punished how, as and
when possible, we provide not only
the deterrent to repression but remove
the middleman in this brutal business
- the middleman who satisfies his
hedonistic tendencies by repressing us and
getting paid by the tyrant to do
it. Mugabe is not being exonerated, but
don't let the cripple lean on the
wall for balance in a fight. Get the
wall!
Thomas Chirasha
chirashawemasvingo@yahoo.co.uk
Xinhua
www.chinaview.cn
2006-03-24 04:15:57
HARARE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The British
government is working on
ways to improve relations with Zimbabwe which have
been strained since the
government embarked on its land reform program in
2000 to resettle landless
people.
British Ambassad or to
Zimbabwe, Andrew Pocock told journalists on
Thursday after paying a courtesy
call on Vice President, JosephMsika, that
relations between Harare and
London could be improved.
He called on the two countries to
build a firm foundation on which
to build bridges. "In the last three weeks,
I have been talking to as many
people in Zimbabwe as possible to take their
views on the possibility of
building bridges," he said.
He
said he had held "frank" meetings with various government
officials,
including ministers, in preparation for an ambassadors'meeting to
be held in
London soon.
Pocock said a lot of groundwork still needed to be
done to
thawrelations between London and Harare, adding there was need to
reduce
areas of misunderstanding and increase areas of consensus to enhance
relations.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Britain soured
when the Zimbabwean
government embarked on the land reform program in 2000
to resettle landless
people. The program saw land being taken awayfrom a
handful of white
commercial farmers and being redistributedto the land less
majority.
This was after the British government reneged on its
promise
tofund the land distribution program as agreed to during the 1979
Lancaster
House agreement.
Since the onset of the land
program, the British Prime
MinisterTony Blair led-government has called for
international sanctions
against Zimbabwe and imposed a travel ban on
President Robert Mugabe and
members of the government.
A
number of Western countries have heeded Britain's call and
isolated Zimbabwe
without justification. President Mugabe, has often
declared that Britain's
misunderstanding with Zimbabwe is not an
international issue, but should be
resolved by the two countries.
He has since called for the
building of bridges between the
twocountries, but warned that Britain should
recognize the sovereignty of
the southern African nation. Enditem
VOA
By Blessing Zulu
Washington
23 March
2006
Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono appealed personally
Wednesday to President
Robert Mugabe to shelve a plan to assume control of
foreign owned mines,
warning this would trigger the total collapse of the
country's already
staggering economy.
Details of the meeting at Mr.
Mugabe's Munhumutapa offices remained sketchy,
and Gono could not be reached
for comment. But sources close to the
discussion said the central bank
chief's lobbying has run into stiff
resistance within the
cabinet.
Minister of Mines Amos Midzi has stated that the cabinet has
already passed
approval on the takeover legislation. Midzi announced the
government's
proposal to take a 51% stake in mining companies just as Gono
and Finance
Minister Herbert Murerwa were meeting the IMF Executive Board in
Washington
to ask that sanctions be lifted.
Gono says Midzi's
"untimely" announcement of the mine takeover plan
eliminated any chance of
obtaining a favorable decision from the IMF on
recovering voting rights and
renewed access to loans. Gono says any reform
of the mining sector must be
carried out in accordance with generally
accepted notions as to property
rights.
It has emerged, meanwhile, that Zimbabwe's platinum and diamond
mines under
the "indigenization" legislation would become quasi-state
companies whose
board and management would be appointed by the government,
raising concerns
that governance of such enterprises would give way to
cronyism.
For perspective on the proposed nationalization of the key
mining sector,
reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe turned
to research
chief Waalter Dewitt of Pan African Capital Holdings in
Johannesburg, South
Africa.
UN
Integrated Regional Information Networks
March 23, 2006
Posted to the
web March 23, 2006
Bulawayo
The Zimbabwean government is stepping
up its efforts to include traditional
medicine in the ailing health sector,
officials told PlusNews, but
traditional healers feel more can be
done.
Although indigenous medicine practitioners have been formally
recognised
since 1981, it has taken a while for the legislation to be put
into
practice.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Edwin
Muguti, said herbal
medicine could play a crucial role in complementing
modern therapeutic
methods offered at public hospitals and clinics,
particularly in treating
AIDS-related infections.
He told PlusNews
that the government would set up centres near existing
health institutions,
allowing easier access to herbal medication. "The
centres that we seek to
establish will be where healers will operate from;
and we encourage members
of the public to consult with them."
According to the World Health
Organisation (WHO), 80 percent of Africans
regularly consult traditional
healers.
"We have started registering all traditional healers across the
country ...
We want to know how many healers there are ... and this
information will
help us ... establish the appropriate number of centres ...
we will also
keep it for our records to know who is a true healer and who is
not," Muguti
noted.
He also expressed concern about the increasing
number of bogus
practitioners, which had forced the ministry to create such
stringent
regulations.
"While we encourage healers to execute their
expertise for the benefit of
the nation, we strongly condemn counterfeit
individuals who have taken
advantage of the ill and swindled them of their
hard-earned cash. We are
opposed to this, and we are currently working on a
code of ethics that will
be adhered to by all registered practitioners,"
said Muguti.
Gordon Chavhunduka, president of the Zimbabwe National
Traditional Healers
Association (ZINATHA), welcomed government's growing
recognition and
acceptance of herbal therapy, but criticised the authorities
for not fully
embracing traditional healing.
"We really support the
... ministry for its efforts to uplift us and work
with us, but what we want
is to see the real integration of our medicine
into their sectors. We want
our members to be allowed to operate from the
same institutions as doctors
and nurses - not to be provided labs of their
own at secluded
places."
He blamed government for refusing to allow members of his
organisation to
operate from rural clinics and hospitals, some of which were
neglected and
had not received medical supplies for a long time. "There are
institutions
that are now there just by name, especially in the countryside,
as they have
no medicines whatsoever," Chavhunduka commented.
"What
we have been trying to negotiate with the government is that they
should
allow traditional healers, who have no proper places from which to
operate,
to be stationed at these institutions to help treat the public, but
government is not agreeable to that."
[ This report does not
necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
Daily Mirror, Zimbabwe
Chakanetsa
Chidyamatiyo
issue date :2006-Mar-24
A CHITUNGWIZA regional
magistrate, Taurai Chigwedu, on Wednesday abruptly
left the courtroom in the
middle of a rape case he was presiding over,
citing undue pressure and
threats from outsiders.
Before his resignation, Chigwedu recused himself
from presiding over one
Misheck Chipunza's case in which the latter is being
accused of raping his
seven-year-old daughter several times.
The lawyer
representing the 42-year-old Chipunza, Charles Chikore, said on
Wednesday he
had anticipated to hear the final verdict but was surprised
when Chigwedu
recused himself.
"My fears are that my client may take longer before knowing
his fate. We
have, in the meantime, agreed with the State to provisionally
postpone the
case to a later date. We are however awaiting the Attorney
General's
decision on whether the judgment would continue or the trial be
started
again," Chikore said.
Chikore said the magistrate left the
courtroom in a huff without following
usual procedures.
Under normal
circumstances, when magistrates leave courtrooms, the audience
is expected
to stand up first and bow to show deference to the court.
"But Chigwedu
suddenly stood up and bolted out of the courtroom after
stating reasons for
his recusal on my client's case," Chikore said.
Sources at the Chitungwiza
magistrates' courts confirmed that Chigwedu had
surrendered several court
records in his possession and failed to report for
duty the following
day.
Before the lapse of his three-month resignation notice, Chigwedu was
expected to finalise over 80 other records, most of them rape
cases.
Attempts to get a comment from him were fruitless as his mobile phone
was
unreachable.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Loyce Matanda-Moyo,
said she was
unaware of the development, as she had just arrived from a trip
outside the
country.
"I have not been briefed on anything because I just
arrived from a visit
outside Zimbabwe," Matanda-Moyo said.
During the
court session at the Chitungwiza Magistrate's Courts, Chigwedu
clearly
stated reasons why he could not continue with Chipunza's judgment.
The
reasons are now part of Chipunza's record of proceedings at the courts.
In
the records, it is indicated that Chigwedu said on March 15 this year a
group of unidentified men approached him at his office.
"They came to me
breathing fire and intended to inquire on matters I was
handling," he
said.
The men confronted Chigwedu on allegations that he had been bribed in
the
Chipunza case to influence his decision.
"They (the men) believed
Chipunza's case was being improperly handled. No
reasons were actually given
for that belief or allegation," Chigwedu said.
He also stated that he was
aware of a letter that was being circulated
although addressed to the
President's office, which called for an
investigation on his alleged corrupt
behaviour.
But the magistrate pointed out that the allegations were malicious
falsehoods, which could not be substantiated.
"If at all this was true, I
was supposed to be investigated and arrested
rather than have people
spreading such serious, malicious allegations,"
Chigwedu said.
He added
that the unwelcome visitors apparently wanted him to wave his
judgment on
Chipunza's case.
"When I took oath in 1995, I took the oath to deliver any
judgment without
fear or favour. Now I am being forced to convict accused
person (Chipunza).
My discretion.is fettered," he said.
He said the
unidentified men who approached him on March 15 had threatened
him and
branded him a corrupt magistrate.
"It is saddening to note that no arrest has
been made, if at all the
allegations were true. In the interests of
transparency, I therefore recuse
myself in this matter. If it means starting
it (the trial) afresh, that's
it," Chigwedu said, before walking out of the
courtroom.
The dumbfounded Chikore then agreed with the prosecutor, Fortunate
Kachidza,
to postpone the case.
Chipunza is accused of raping his
seven-year-old child who was abandoned by
her mother at the age of 20
months.
Chipunza separated with his wife about seven years ago while the
daughter
was 20 months old.
It is alleged that Chipunza, during their
stay, shared his bedroom with the
daughter.
During the night, he would
allegedly undress her and rape her.
This, it is alleged, went for a long
period until the girl opened up to her
class teacher.
The court heard
that the girl's teacher took the matter to Girl Child
Network in the town
for counselling.
Officials at Girl Child Network in turn took the matter to
the police
leading to Chipunza's arrest.
The girl was taken to hospital
for a medical examination and it was
established that she had been sexually
abused.
The court also heard that the girl initially implicated a neighbour,
one
Edward, as the perpetrator, but later changed and claimed it was her
father.
Daily Mirror, Zimbabwe
The Daily Mirror Reporter
issue date :2006-Mar-24
THERE
is need for the country's building codes to be reassessed because the
ones
currently in use were not created to accommodate the possibility of
earthquakes and tremors such as those that shook the country a few weeks
ago, a cabinet minister has said.
Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and Urban
Development, yesterday said a
seven-member team had been sent to the Eastern
Highlands to investigate the
effects of the tremors that shook the country
late in February.
On
February 23, the country was shaken by an earthquake, which measured 7,5
on
the Richter scale.
"Despite the fact that the epicentre was in central
Mozambique, the quake
was a wake up call for us all. A seven-member team is
currently in the
Eastern Highlands investigating the effects and
interrogating the erstwhile
conventional wisdom on the seismology in the
country. I am quite confident
that among other issues, the team will also
address the issue pertaining to
our building codes which were premised on
minimal seismicity," Chombo said.
He said there was also need for the country
to refocus its attention on the
public awareness campaigns on earthquakes
and disaster management.
He said: "Prior to the event of 23rd February, the
Zambezi Valley was the
only area of major concern for disaster managers.
With the advent of the
recent event and its after shock the public must be
clearly informed of
measures to adopt if and when confronted with a similar
or worse situation
in the future. I am aware that the Department of Civil
Protection in
consultation with the other stakeholders is working on the
do's and don'ts
during tremors or quakes."
The minister was speaking at
the official launch of the Emergency
Preparedness and Response (EPR) manual
for schools and other educational
institutions.The National Civil Protection
Committee prepared the 31-page
long manual whose launch precedes the
preparation of a resource book
scheduled for completion early next
year.
The manual would be distributed to all educational institutions
countrywide.
It was noted that the education sector was vulnerable to
disasters and
scholars ought to be taught how to prevent or act in cases of
disaster.
Several schools had their roofs blown off by windy storms during
the rain
season.
Pupils in Muzarabani were also stranded after a flooded
river swept away a
bridge that connected them to their school.
With the
advent of the rural electrification programme, there have also been
incidents of pupils being shocked by electricity because they did not know
how to use it safely.
The manual broadly covers the topics of disaster
management, preparedness
planning, emergency procedures for potential
hazards and management of
medicinal emergencies.
The efforts by the Civil
Protection Department come at a time national
responses to disasters have
cast doubts over the effectiveness of the
country's disaster management
systems.
The Meteorological Services Department recently admitted its
equipment was
so outdated that they could not anticipate or later measure
the February
tremor that shook parts of the country and left citizens
shocked.
Responses and warnings of a flood at the advent of the rain season
were also
not adequate as there was uncertainty over the magnitude of the
damage
caused by the torrential rains.
Daily Mirror, Zimbabwe
The Daily Mirror Reporter
issue date :2006-Mar-24
A
COMBINED team of Zambian and Zimbabwean air force officers on Tuesday
undertook damage assessment over Kazungula, in Zambia's southern province,
where hundreds of families along Ngwezi River have been displaced by
floods.
The exercise revealed that some villages had been completely
submerged,
while others were surrounded by water.
The team flew over the
area for more than an hour, looking for signs of
distressed people and dead
domestic animals.
Although it noted that the situation had improved as water
levels had
receded, it was reported that there was urgent need for relief
food for the
people who abandoned their homes.
After a request from the
Zambian government for helicopters, Zimbabwe sent
in two choppers with a
team of officers to help with rescue operations.
Zambian President, Levy
Mwanawasa publicly thanked the Zimbabwean government
for its assistance and
good neighbourliness.
He said the calamity that befell the people of
Kazungula was great and that
the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD)
government would do its utmost
to assist.
Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG
Job Opportunities; jag@mango.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIA
Ad
inserted 18 January 2006
Manager - Hazeldean Pty Ltd
A position is
available for a hands-on manager, with a strong interest in
animal breeding
using measured performance, to take on a close working
relationship with the
managing director in the running of Hazeldean & its
sheep & cattle
seed stock enterprises. The position is at company
headquarters, Hazeldean,
located 15 minutes south of Cooma in
southeastern
NSW.
The
successful applicant will be required to contribute ideas and form
strategies
for the future growth of the property & business. Planning
&
budgeting are essential skills however a desire for hands on
involvement
is equally important.
The position would suit a team
player and one capable and willing to take
on more responsibility in the
future. We are happy to consider
employment of a suitably qualified or
experienced Zimbabwean.
Applications to:
Jim
Litchfield
Hazeldean
Cooma NSW 2630
Email: Litchfield@hazeldean.com.au
www.hazeldean.com.au
THE ZIMBABWE
CONNECTION
MOBILE: +61 414 363 006 (international)
0414 363
006 (within Australia)
EMAIL: jill@zimbabweconnection.com
WEBSITE:
www.zimbabweconnection.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tanzania
Ad
inserted 9 February 2006
A vacancy exists for a farm manager on a mixed
farm in Tanzania.
Our core business is vegetables for export however
various other crops
and livestock operations are undertaken.
The right
candidate should have at least 5 years farming experience in
East/Southern
Africa, preferably with horticultural experience.
Responsibilities would
include daily farm management, record keeping to
Eurepgap specifications,
farm security and community liaison.
The candidate should be either
single or accompanied without children.
To start
immediately.
Package: $1500 per month, medical aid and usual benefits of
farm
management positions. Work permit to be provided by the
employer.
Company details to be found at www.gel.co.tz
Please send CV to: lizzie@gel.co.tz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia
Ad
inserted 16 February 2006
WANTED; Millwrights, Electricians, Diesel
Mechanics, Refrigeration
Specialists, Town Planners and Quantity
Surveyors
Recruit Global will assist in looking for a job and
sponsorship
opportunities for the
right candidates wanting to move to
Australia.
Australia is experiencing a major skills shortage in all states,
we will
provide
services to assist in, visas, trade recognition
tests,
sponsorship, relocation, financial advice.
Contact us today at
Aussiemigrant
www.aussiemigrant.com
Brendon@aussiemigrant.com
Rebecca@aussiemigrant.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 16 February 2006
Vacancy for Live-In Housekeeper
Companion
JOB SPECIFICATION
The applicant should be a single
female, unmarried, widow, or divorced,
and must have a caring nature, and be
interested in cooking and the
welfare of an elderly lady.
Free
accommodation will be provided in a beautiful period house, circa
1700, own
bed-sitting room with television, fridge and microwave and
washbasin,
tastefully furnished with bookcases and easy chair, and
adjoining bathroom.
Use one of the sitting rooms in the house.
Food will be provided for main
meals, as part of the contract.
The Housekeeper will be responsible for
the general running of the house,
and its cleaning. She will prepare and
cook meals, and do some
shopping. Use of car will be available for this
purpose. She will act
as a companion to Mrs H L Franklin who is aged 88
years, a refined lady,
who is a widow.
Mrs Franklin has a Private
Nurse who attends to her personal care in the
mornings.
There will be
some laundry work of personal items for Mrs Franklin, at
present all bedding
goes to the laundry.
This job would be suitable for someone who requires
a comfortable home in
a small village in rural Shopshire. Nearest shops in
the village
including a Post-Office, General Stores, Butcher, Pubs, Doctors,
and
Anglican Church. Nearest Market Town, Church Stretton, 6 miles
South.
Nearest large town, Shrewsbury, 6 miles north. Nearest Railway
Station,
either Church Stretton or Shrewsbury.
Shropshire is an
Agricultural Country and there is no Industry, the
surrounding countryside is
an area of outstanding beauty and cultural
importance.
The
Housekeeper/Companion will have an average of two half days a week
off and at
least two hours per day in either morning or afternoon at
leisure, by mutual
arrangement.
Mrs Franklin's son, Mr Howard Franklin lives next door at
Dorrington
Court, and is normally around most days and often takes meals with
Mrs
Franklin. Mr Franklin is retired, but still travels as a Lecturer
in
Cruise Ships several times a year, and does after Luncheon
speaking
engagements in Great Britain.
Salary of Five Hundred Pounds
Sterling per calendar month and totally
free board and lodging.
Person
travelling from Overseas will be helped with their airfare.
The contract
as Companion/Housekeeper will be for a minimum period of
eight months, to be
extended.
Please apply with details of yourself and any relevant
information to:
HOWARD FRANKLIN Esq.
Dorrington
Court
Dorrington
Shropshire, SY57JD
Telephone 01743
718143
Email: howard@howardfranklin.freeserve.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 22 February 2006
ZAMBIA
PARTNER : FARMING OPPORTUNITY
ZAMBIA
Ex-Karoi farmer looking for a partner to invest in a promising
farming
organization situated 16 kilometres from Lusaka. Currently
farming
seed-maize, paprika, Soya-beans and vegetables. The farm is 340
hectares
with approximately 100 hectares utilised. Excellent water available
for
expansion.
Interested parties please contact : jogs@zamtel.zm / 096 444 466
(Zambia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 2 March 2006
RETIRED COUPLE OR SIMILAR, TO LIVE IN
SELF-CONTAINED COTTAGE ON GARDEN
SMALLHOLDING 5 KM FROM STELLENBOSCH. LIGHT
DUTIES IN MANAGING AND
SUPERVISING GARDEN STAFF AND GENERAL HANDYMAN/WOMAN
ACTIVITES ON THIS
SUPERBLY LOCATED COUNTRY PROPERTY. REMUNERATION BY
NEGOTIATION WITH
PRINCIPAL, WHO CAN BE CONTACTED IN CONFIDENCE AT: MINER@MWEB.CO.ZW
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 2 March 2006
Looking for someone to fill this position. One side
of the company is
Haigar Tyre and Fitment Centre - small company with only 3
on the
payroll. We are looking for an elderly man - probably retired
and
looking for something to keep himself busy - he will be required
to
basically be there to order tyres, stock, monitor cars that come in
for
alignment etc; mainly be in the office on the phone - no great
physical
work.
If you are interested please give Darrell Haigh a call
on 331726 or 011
220 606. Many thanks.
We are also looking for a
reliable driver
?????
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 16 March 2006
VACANCY
FARM MANAGER, HARARE SOUTH -
TOBACCO/MAIZE. TO START ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY. MUST BE CONSCIENTIOUS AND
COMPETENT.
CONTACT be1371@mweb.co.zw with
C.V.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 23 March 2006
Positions Vacant
Maintenance Manager wanted
for busy dairy & cropping farm 30kms outside
Harare. Position includes
maintenance of tractors, boreholes etc,
running
of workshop and buying of
spares. Office work available for spouse.
Small house available on farm with
other company perks. Suitable
applicants
please phone 091 202692 or
email account@kefalos.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 23 March 2006
Farm Manager
Farm located 12km from Gweru
city centre. We are looking for a
horticultural manager with experience in
flowers mainly roses. Will also
be required to assist in
potatoes,
tomatoes, cabbages and paprika. Good accommodation is provided
on the farm,
also good perks for the right candidate.
Interested qualified persons
should contact Evans/Bongi +263 9 889420 fax
+263 9 889421, goldsoil@adtech.co.zw.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 23 March 2006
Wanted
Looking for a maid/cook to work in
the Ballantyne Park area. Must be
able to read and write and have some
cooking experience. Duties also,
include general housework and
childminding. Accommodation is offered and
would suit someone without any
dependants.
Please contact on jonskill@mweb.co.zw or 494404 or 091
248460.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT
SOUGHT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 16 February 2006
"Fitter and turner seeking position as
handyman, technical sales rep,
stores man etc.
Phone Fred Harmse
091-319272,
882866."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 16 February 2006
EMPLOYMENT SOUGHT
I am a hard working,
loyal and honest man aged 34 with many years of
valuable work experience
looking for employment in a Managerial Role with
the right company. I have
been primarily involved in the Plastic &
Chemical Industry with past
experience in the Freight Sector (Import /
Export) working my way from the
bottom to a top position of Managing
Director for a successful company in
previous employment. I am currently
employed and can be contacted on the
following E-Mail Address for further
details and a copy of my Curriculum
Vitae: abutler@siltrade.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 22 February 2006
WAITER/CASHIER
Experienced waiter - very
well trained also trained by ex owner of
Restaurant in Stock control and
Cashier
Smart and well spoken, very good with the public
If any
business requires this young and enthusiastic male please write to
sherrols@zol.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 2 March 2006
Employment Sought
Young Lady aged 19 years,
educated to ZGC level: Diploma in Silvana
beauty academy, Diploma in
modeling, and have just completed computer
courses, in excel - word - etc,
willing to learn and do anything. Hard
working, out going and
enthusiastic.
Please contact: Rochelle Vermaak 091 347 982 or email: ed@zol.co.zw or
caps@zol.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ad
inserted 16 March 2006
SEEKING CONTRACT
WORK
ZAMBIA/MOCAMBIQUE/MALAWI
I am a specialist in tractor
service/repairs, with 32 years experience,
having worked for several years in
hands-on and management positions, for
such companies as Bain New Holland and
Duly's. After leaving Duly's, I
become self-employed (since 1990) with
similar work. Our work has
consisted of repairs/service work carried out at
our workshops in
addition to field service work as and when required. In
addition to the
above my business includes the sourcing of spares and
organising outwork
such as injector pumps, clutches, brakes and engine
machine work being
carried out by those companies offering the best service.
One department
of our business specialises in the service/repair work of all
tractor
steering related components such as steering boxes, orbital valves,
rams,
hoses, etc.
I would like to stress that I wish to work on a
contract basis,
preferably for a farming syndicate or a large, well
established farm
set-up as I have been self employed for 16 years and have a
commitment
towards children who are being schooled locally. I am seeking
such work
outside of Zimbabwe as we feel the economics of our country have
made it
impossible to continue a viable business. My wife and I wish to keep
our
home as a base for the stability of our children. We would like
to
travel back to Zimbabwe every 3 to 4 weeks to be with them.
We hope
the above meets with the approval of those looking for a
contractor for this
type of work.
For further information contact Doug or Tracy Edwards
-
tracspray@zol.co.zw or 068-22463 /
011212454
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
(updated 23 March 2006)