Southern Africa Mediators Report Progress in Zimbabwe Political Talks

http://www.voanews.com/

Peta Thornycroft | Johannesburg  May 09, 2011

For the first time mediators have reported progress toward agreement on a
multi-party plan for elections in Zimbabwe. South African mediator Lindiwe
Zulu said she hopes the Southern African Development Community will endorse
this progress.

Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu, who is also South African President Jacob Zuma’s
international advisor, said the Southern African Development Community
recognizes all is not well in Zimbabwe.

“What is happening in Zimbabwe should not be happening," she said. "It is
ourselves as Africans who have recognized the fact that what is happening
should not be happening.”

The SADC recently condemned political violence in Zimbabwe that most
observers blame on President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. The rare SADC
criticism provoked a strong rebuke from Mugabe, who said Zimbabwe would not
accept any interference from abroad.

But Zulu said there have been robust negotiations between ZANU-PF, the
Movement for Democratic Change party led by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, and the small MDC party led by Welshman Ncube, on outstanding
issues from the political agreement that is the foundation for the
26-month-old unity government.

Zulu said these negotiations have produced a "road map" toward free and fair
elections.

She said some outstanding issues remain between the three political parties
but that South African mediators will try to resolve them Tuesday in Harare.

Independent observers say the most difficult issues concern the mostly
pro-ZANU-PF security forces and details in election laws. In addition,
negotiators are concerned about the succession law should Mugabe die or
retire before adoption of a new constitution.

Zulu said the Zimbabwe plan would be put to the region’s leaders at a May 20
SADC summit.  She said the proposed plan would call for SADC personnel to
assist Zimbabwe's monitoring and implementation committee.

Zulu spoke in Johannesburg to media and diplomats from African and Western
countries. She asked the world to respect decisions made by Africans to try
to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis.

“All the decisions that were taken by SADC to assist the process need to be
respected," said Zulu. "The issue of the respect of human rights, the issue
development, the issue of holding free and fair elections - we are not being
taught by anybody else, it is something that we ourselves believe in.”

She said lifting Western travel and financial sanctions against the ZANU-PF
leadership and several mostly state-owned companies is also a priority of
Zimbabwe's political agreement.

"As a matter of principal the three parties have agreed sanctions must go,
SADC has agreed the sanctions must go," she said. "But also at the same time
there must be understanding, which we understand, the slower the pace goes,
the more it becomes difficult to sell this idea.”

Zulu said the mediators recently travelled to Europe to discuss the
sanctions that were imposed following violent and disputed elections in
2002. She said she saw some progress from the European Union and the United
States on the sanctions issue.

“The word we came back with from almost all was, 'We are not inflexible to
the discussion about the lifting of sanctions.' What does that mean?  They
are not saying, 'We shall not lift sanctions.'  They are now saying, 'Let us
talk,” added Zulu.

Zulu said there will not be elections in Zimbabwe this year because there is
not time to fully implement the political agreement to ensure the next polls
are free and fair.

Zimbabwe stalemate can't go on forever, says mediator

(AFP) – 8 hours ago

PRETORIA — A member of the southern African mediation team for Zimbabwe said
on Monday that the country's political stalemate "cannot go on forever", but
said new elections would be impossible this year.

"Elections this year are out. We need to create a conducive environment and
strengthen institutions," said Lindiwe Zulu, a member of the three-person
mediation team for Zimbabwe.

"There is clear acceptance by all three parties that they need time for
doing all the work that needs to be done," Zulu told a conference to discuss
Zimbabwe's political future.

Last year, a frustrated President Robert Mugabe said he wanted Zimbabwe to
hold elections in 2011 to end his two-year-old power-sharing government with
rival Morgan Tsvangirai, formed to stem a political crisis and stop an
economic meltdown in the wake of violent and contested polls in 2008.

But the veteran leader appears to have abandoned the call for a rush vote
after regional leaders insisted at a March summit that Zimbabwe draft a new
constitution as agreed in the power-sharing deal before going to the poll.

Several Zimbabwean leaders, including Tsvangirai, have said elections will
not be possible before the constitutional reforms are finalised.

Last month, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said polls could be held as
late as 2013.

But Zulu, who is South African President Jacob Zuma's foreign affairs
adviser, said the country was moving "very fast" toward a new vote.

"I can tell you the wheel is moving very fast. There are going to be
elections in Zimbabwe. What is happening in Zimbabwe now cannot go on
forever," she said.

"At some point it has to stop."

The referendum process on drafting the new constitution is set to resume in
September, following repeated delays over outbreaks of violence mostly
blamed on Mugabe supporters.

SA rubbishes Moyo attack

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Chris Goko and Thelma Chikwanha
Monday, 09 May 2011 16:50

HARARE - The diplomatic fallout between Harare and Pretoria is escalating
after the eccentric legislator ratcheted up his criticism of South African
president Jacob Zuma and Sadc yesterday.

Moyo, a former arch critic of Mugabe, said in his latest attacks against
Zuma and Sadc that they were being used by the West to remove Mugabe from
power.

The Zanu PF politburo member’s perplexing vitriol against Zuma and Sadc was
once again delivered via state media, and comes barely three weeks after
Mugabe, his lieutenants and aides scrambled to disown similar diatribe from
him in the same state media.

Reacting to Moyo’s utterances, a curt Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma’s
international relations advisor and a key member of the South African
facilitation team to the GPA, said neither Sadc nor SA had time for “people
who are outside the negotiation ambit”.

“We have said it before that we will not comment on opinions of people who
are not part and parcel of the negotiation process. We have the principals
and the negotiators of the political parties who agree to the current
process. People are free to write opinion pieces,” she told the Daily News
from Johannesburg yesterday.

However, there was overwhelming and ringing condemnation of the
controversial politician from within the ranks of Zanu PF, with one
high-level source saying it was “clear that Jonathan wants to destroy both
Zanu PF and President Mugabe”.

“I do not understand why the party continues to tolerate this man. He is
clearly out to destroy us, otherwise why else would he want to see us fight
with President Zuma, the ANC (African National Congress) and South Africa,
who have been our friends for decades and ahead of an important Sadc meeting
for that. We urgently need to establish what gives him the temerity to stir
this kind of mega problem,” the source said.

A Daily News source in Pretoria, while miffed by Moyo’s “silly and
self-defeating” utterances said it was unlikely that South Africa would
react as badly as it did the first time that he criticised Zuma.

“It would be unfortunate and to Zimbabwe’s detriment if this ongoing
criticism of our president and the facilitation team brought into question
Zanu PF’s sincerity and commitment to the GPA (Global Political Agreement)
process.

“However, we were assured by senior people, and we took their explanations
in good faith, that Moyo neither represented the government nor Zanu PF. It
would be good though if somebody in Zanu PF realised that this (Moyo’s
attacks) is silly and self-defeating, particularly seeing that he is a
senior Zanu PF official,” the source said.

As exclusively revealed by the Daily News last week, Zanu PF’s negotiators
to the GPA are under pressure from securocrats and Zanu PF hardliners to
toughen their position in the ongoing tripartite negotiations.

As a result, Zuma is now said to be preparing to travel to Harare to meet
GPA principals to try and push the negotiations forward, ahead of Sadc’s
extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe to be held in Windhoek, Namibia on May 20,
after the last round in Cape Town yielded very little progress.

Serious differences are said to have emerged over security sector reforms
and the composition of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) at the Cape
Town tête-à-tête.

Writing in state media yesterday, Moyo trashed Zuma and Sadc’s on-going
mediation efforts saying they “created a treacherous opportunity for
weakening the state in Zimbabwe by rendering it vulnerable to hostile
foreign interests”.

“The charade of continuing negotiations on a done deal has been to the total
detriment of the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) at
great disservice to the public and to the embarrassment of the Sadc
guarantors of the GPA, who have all along allowed the anomaly to continue by
facilitating false negotiations that should have long ended on September 15,
2008,” he said.

“It is hard to imagine that any Sadc leader would want the security sector
of his or her country reformed through extra judicial negotiations, which
are neither constitutional nor legal. Proper security sector reforms must
always be done and led by the security sector itself and not by third
parties operating outside the law under the treacherous cover of
negotiations that are in fact not necessary.

“These puppets and their masters will not be allowed to reform something
they did not form using the cover of the GPA negotiations under misplaced
Sadc facilitation which the UK government apparently wants to use to dictate
regime change in the country,” Moyo said.

South Africa has said that it is aware that these kind of articles in the
state media are published with official blessing in Zimbabwe.

Moyo, who has made it his business to be Mugabe’s loudest defender and
bootlicker-in-chief has previously flirted openly with the president’s
opponents, including the MDC, and was recently admitted back into Zanu PF
after an acrimonious divorce five years ago.

Mugabe then accused him of being part of a plot to topple him.

In his state media piece yesterday, the political turncoat also proposed
that Zimbabwe’s much anticipated elections should either be held this year
or in 2016, a view apparently shared by the country’s securocrats.

Moyo is said be closely linked to the country’s top army and security
officials, even as many in Zanu PF accuse him of trying to destroy both
Mugabe and Zanu PF from within - just as he allegedly tried to do in 2004.

Zanu PF, MDC clash over civil service audit

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Tonderai Kwenda, Chief Writer
Monday, 09 May 2011 17:50

HARARE - There are reported differences between Zanu PF and MDC ministers
over the implementation of a crucial civil servants audit to establish the
extent to which the government is staffed by ghost workers.

Different government ministers whose ministries are affected by the outcome
of the audit told the Daily News in separate interviews that there is a
dispute in the interpretation of the findings.

The Minister of Education Sports and Culture, whose ministry has been the
hardest hit by intermittent strike actions said the implementation of the
audit recommendations appeared to be in dispute.

“I have seen the report prepared by Ernest and Young. It has already been
tabled in cabinet and appears to have been bogged down in cabinet,” said
Education Minister David Coltart without revealing the actual nature of the
differences.

“I am not sure what exactly is happening but perhaps the Minister of Public
Service will.”

The skills audit concluded that there are 75 273 ghost workers and
recommended that they be removed from the government payroll raising hopes
of government workers that money saved from the process might start
trickling into their pockets.

However, four months after the report was made public the government is yet
to implement its findings.

Hard pressed civil servants have promised to embark on a massive strike if
government does not increase the salaries of the depressed civil servants.

Coltart said the slow implementation of the audit is having an effect on the
operations of government.

“The audit has a direct bearing. It’s clear that there are workers who
should not be in government employment although the resuscitation of the
economy is the ultimate solution,” said Coltart.

The Minister of Public Service, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said “nothing” has
been done about the issue.

“Nothing is going on but it’s a process. These things take time,” said
Mukonoweshuro.

Asked whether there were problems among ministers of Zanu PF and MDC over
the implementation, he said “I am bound by the official secrets act and
there are things I can’t say.”

The Minister of Youth, Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Saviour
Kasukuwere whose ministry stands at the centre of accusations of hiring
ghost workers said, “Something is happening but where have you ever seen a
ghost working for the government.”

The Public Service Commission (PSC) which runs the administrative aspects of
public employees has previously said civil servants audit made
“unsubstantiated” claims of the discovery of ghost workers.

If the process of implementation was to be put into motion, it is the PSC
which has to implement any cabinet directives on plugging off ghost workers.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it remains concerned by
the lack of implementation of the findings of the skills audit.

“We are concerned by the lethargic manner in which government is handling
this matter. It’s a reflection of the mediocrity in government especially
the Zanu PF side,” said Lovemore Matombo the ZCTU President.

“Money might be going to unofficial structures. It’s a show that Zanu PF has
something to hide.

“They regard themselves as senior partners and don’t want that issue
discussed.”

Raymond Majongwe whose Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has in
the past held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Public Service
over the same issue, said the issue was not being treated with the urgency
it deserves.

“The issue might be the least to be discussed in cabinet because they are
failing to acknowledge the importance of this issue.

“Nobody must be paid for doing nothing but the problem is that Zanu PF is
defending its own people,” said Majongwe.

Zimbabwe mines threatened with forced takeover

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

By Jan Raath May 9, 2011, 17:04 GMT

Harare - The six-week deadline passed Monday for white and foreign-owned
mining companies in Zimbabwe to show the government of President Robert
Mugabe how they plan to meet demands to ensure black Zimbabweans take
control of their businesses.

The regulations would force many mining companies to sell 51 per cent of
their shares to indigenous Zimbabweans were issued in late March.

This provoked fears that the most lucrative sector of the country's economy
would be wrecked in the same way the country's agriculture was when Mugabe
grabbed white-owned farms in 2000, bringing chaos and impoverishment.

The mines have to submit details of their current shareholdings, and how
they intend to sell the majority stakes to blacks, and to name the
beneficiaries.

The mining industry, which accounts for 47 per cent of Zimbabwe's gross
domestic product, is struggling to emerge from a decade of economic ruin
that ended in the collapse of the currency, astronomical inflation, famine
and the closure of schools and hospitals, all of which economists blame on
Mugabe's policies.

Zimbabwe has the second largest reserves of platinum in the world, and the
biggest reserves of high-grade chrome ore, as well as sizable gold deposits.

Mineral output doubled last year to 1.38 billion US dollars, but 90 per cent
of it is provided by the top dozen big companies, led by Zimplats, owned by
South African-based Impala Platinum which has invested 4.5 billion US
dollars in its Zimbabwe operations, and Anglo American Corporations
Angloplats, with a 3.5-billion-US-dollar complex commissioned last year.

Angloplats spokesperson Thabsile Phumo, from the company headquarters in
South Africa, Monday would only say the company was in ongoing engagement
with the government of Zimbabwe on the regulations. Pro-democracy Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, in coalition with Mugabe since 2009, has
described the laws as meant to allow looting and plunder by a greedy elite
among Mugabe's cronies.

The industry has been in negotiations for months with Indigenization
Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, a wealthy oil company owner who insists that
the laws are meant to give poor Zimbabweans a stake in the economy.

But last month Alex Mhembere, Zimplats chief executive, said there was a big
appetite for a stake in Zimplats by people in business and political office.

'How do you ensure the local people will benefit in a way that the industry
and the economy benefits?' asked Gapare. 'You need a balance.'

Both the big platinum companies secured a written agreement with Mugabe when
they started Zimbabwean operations shortly after 2000, to allow them to
receive credit for major investments in the welfare of the communities
around them instead. They have invested millions of dollars in housing,
schools, hospitals, roads and sports facilities, but Mugabe insists they
have done nothing.

Legal sources say that there is ample scope, theoretically, to take the
government to court and have the laws annulled. They discriminate racially
against whites (although Chinese, viewed as political comrades, are exempted
from the laws), they violate constitutional property rights and many other
statutes and contradict themselves.

'But if we could get some sort of agreement without challenging them in
court, so much the better,' said a Chamber of Mines official requesting
anonymity. 'If we take them to court, their reaction will be to make the
laws even worse.'

Foreign miners submit Zimbabwe ownership plan

http://af.reuters.com/

Mon May 9, 2011 4:40pm GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Angloplat and Implats, the world's top platinum miners,
are cooperating with Zimbabwe on proposals to sell majority shares in their
local operations to blacks, a government minister said on Monday.

A government notice issued on March 25 by Indigenisation and Economic
Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere gave miners 45 days to provide plans
on how they would comply with a law that seeks to give stakes of at least 51
percent to locals.

"Most of the major mines are with us; they are co-operating. What is left is
for us to evaluate the substance of their co-operation to see if it meets
our expectations," Kasukuwere told Reuters.

Although 45 days have passed, "the closing date is not today, because it is
45 days excluding public holidays and weekends," Kasukuwere said. This
calculation would extend the deadline to June 2.

Foreign mining companies then have until September 30 to comply with the law
and surrender 51 percent.

Kasukuwere told Reuters last week Zimbabwe's cash-strapped government would
not pay any money for the mining stakes but would base any payment
negotiations on the state's ownership of the southern African country's
untapped mineral wealth.

He said on Monday Kazakh mining group ENRC and Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting
Company (Zimasco), which is owned by Sinosteel of China, had also submitted
their local ownership proposals.

"The companies are continuing to come in with their plans," he said.

The coalition government, formed by bitter foes President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is divided over the implementation of the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, signed into law in 2008.
Critics say will hurt the country's economic recovery prospects.

Tsvangirai has called the empowerment drive "looting and plunder by greedy
elite".

Global miner Rio Tinto and African-focused miner Mwana Africa, which all
have operations in Zimbabwe, did not respond when asked whether they had
submitted their proposals.

Media groups slam Charamba

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Thelma Chikwanha, Staff Writer
Monday, 09 May 2011 16:57

HARARE - Media groups have slammed attempts by Presidential spokesperson
George Charamba to expel foreign journalists warning that he will not
succeed in his attempts to suppress the Zimbabwe story.

The threat by Charamba comes in the wake of Reuben Barwe’s failure to attend
the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy, two weeks
ago when he was denied a visa.

Barwe, a chief correspondent with the state controlled ZBC is one of the six
journalists placed on the sanctions list by the European Union.

Others on the list are Judith Makwanya, ZBC diplomatic correspondent, Caesar
Zvayi, the Herald deputy editor, Munyaradzi Huni, Sunday Mail assistant
editor, Happison Muchechetere, chief executive of the ZBC and Musorowegomo
Mukosi.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalist secretary-general Foster Dongozi said banning
foreign correspondents from the country would be taking the industry several
steps backwards.

He dismissed Charamba’s threat as mere personal feeling, which did not have
anything to do with government policy since he was just the presidential and
not government’s spokesperson.

“In as much as he may not have been representing the inclusive government of
Zimbabwe, such thinking is in line with rogue regimes,” Dongozi said.

“From a professional and ethical point of view, in the age of new media, it
will become difficult to make sure that the Zimbabwean story is not known
outside the country.

“What is dangerous is that when you create a black market for news, you will
then leave Zimbabweans vulnerable to unethical and unprofessional news
products produced in an environment of fear,” Dongozi said.

EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell’Ariccia last week said journalists who
had been placed on the travel bans were there because of their reports which
incited hate in the state controlled media.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe director Nhlanhla Ngwenya
agreed with Dongozi adding that banning foreign journalists would only
secure Zimbabwe’s position on the list of press freedom violators.

“It is an ill-advised position which will not stop the Zimbabwean story from
filtering to the outside world. In this world of information technology, it
is a shear waste of time,” Ngwenya said.

Paris-based press watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Mugabe among
Africa’s media predators.

Mugabe is now ranked among Africa’s seven press freedom predators who are
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki,
Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Rwandan President Paul
Kagamé, Swaziland’s King Mswati III and Somalia’s Islamist militias
(Al-Shabaab and Hizb-Al-Islam).

“It is thanks to its president that Zimbabwe’s privately-owned print media
are constantly harassed and that the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation (ZBC) has a monopoly of radio and TV broadcasting.

“Robert Mugabe blocks everything, prevents the national unity government
from functioning properly, makes sure the independent media are unable to
express themselves freely and, with the help of his closest aides, keeps the
state media under tight control,” said Reporters Without Borders in a
statement marking the Word Press Freedom Day.

“Despite being hailed as a “liberator” when he came to power in the 1980s,
Mugabe has no problem with the arbitrary arrests and harassment, to which,
most of the country’s journalists are exposed,” said the Paris-based media
watchdog.

“Mugabe has no problem with the arbitrary arrests and harassment, to which,
most of the country’s journalists are exposed,” the report added.

Zimbabwe Not Ready To Issue Broadcasting Licenses - Matonga

http://www.radiovop.com/

09/05/2011 12:07:00

Bulawayo, May 09,2011 - Bright Matonga, the Zanu (PF) legislator for
Mhondoro-Ngezi, who is also a member of Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on
Media, Information and Communication Technology told journalists here over
the weekend that government was not yet ready to free the broadcasting
airwaves because it had no capacity to monitor and control them.

Matonga who was addressing journalists at a Media Institute of Southern
Africa - Zimbabwe chapter belated celebrations for World Press Freedom Day,
said research he carried together with Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) chief
executive officer, Tafataona Mahoso recently had shown that government had
no capacity to monitor and control the airwaves.

“There is no way the government can be pushed to issue the broadcasting
licenses now because according to a research that we carried together with
Mahoso the government has no capacity to monitor and control those airwaves.
This means anybody who wants to get a licence to broadcast should buy
monitoring equipment first and hand it over to government so that you can be
monitored,” said Matonga.

Matonga also accused journalists and some political parties of demanding
broadcasting licenses now because the country is heading towards elections.

“Some of you and your parties are demanding broadcasting licenses now
because we are heading towards an election, that is wrong, what about after
elections will you continue broadcasting?” he asked.

The Zanu (PF) legislator defended the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
(ZBC) for aligning itself to his party, saying currently there is
competition in the inclusive government over the control over the state
broadcasting company.

“We have three parties in the inclusive government at the moment and all the
parties are in competition over the control of ZBC. So I don’t have a
problem if Zanu (PF) gets the upper hand at ZBC because this is competition.
Who would not want his party to be on top?”

Zimbabwe has no private or community radio stations at the moment. However,
it has exiled radio stations such as Radio VOP, Voice of America’s Studio 7
and SW Radio Africa.

UK-bound passengers shun Air Zim

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

By Chengetai Zvauya, Staff Writer
Monday, 09 May 2011 17:23

HARARE - Air Zimbabwe, which is battling to pay its workers due to viability
problems is losing high volumes of passengers and business on the Harare to
London route due to mismanagement, it has been established.

Innocent Mavhunga, the Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive said many
passengers were now resorting to flying with Kenya Airways, Ethiopia
Airways, South Airline and British Airways because of last month’s strike by
Air Zimbabwe pilots which disrupted travelling programmes.

“We are back to operating our normal routes of Harare to London direct
flights, but the majority of the passengers have decided to use other
airlines because they are not sure whether our strike has ended for good.

“We want to let them know that our strike ended last month and we are back
in business,” said Mavhunga.

He said that the airline had introduced an additional flight to United
Kingdom.

“We used to fly twice a week on Sunday and Wednesday, but now we have a
third flight on Friday as we are trying to cover the time we lost during the
strike,” he said.

Mavhunga said the parastatal was still struggling financially and was making
efforts to recover their position as a major player in the aviation
industry.

“It is not a secret that we are struggling but however we are not going to
discuss the problems we are going through in the press as we are engaging
with our workers about their salaries. We are not supposed to discuss it in
the public.

“Every parastatal is going through this difficult time and it is not Air
Zimbabwe alone which is having financial problems,” said Mavhunga.

Workers at the airline led by the pilots downed their tools last month
resulting in it being paralysed.

The pilots were demanding an increase in their salaries and improved working
conditions.

During the strike, Air Zimbabwe was forced to cancel its lucrative Harare to
London international route and regional as well as domestic flights.
The pilots and cabin crew claimed that they were owed allowances and
salaries dating back to February 2009.

The pilots however returned to work after management promised them to pay
them their dues.

Air Zimbabwe has eight planes - two Boeing 767, three Boeing 737 and three
MA 60’s – two of which are said to be grounded.

Another state owned firm the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco)
workers are up in arms with their management and board after they were not
paid salaries for 10 months.

Minister seeks refuge behind wheelie bin as ZPF rally disrupted in SA

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
09 May 2011

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa sought refuge
behind black wheelie bins on Saturday as angry refugees and activists in
South Africa disrupted a planned ZANU PF anti-sanctions rally. In the end
the rally at the Hillbrow Theatre in Johannesburg never took off.

With word having got round that a ZANU PF delegation was coming to the area,
a sizeable crowd made up of MDC-T, MDC-N, ZAPU and Mthwakazi Liberation
Front (MLF) youths gathered at the venue. Mutasa and his entourage arrived,
introduced themselves and then started chanting ZANU PF slogans.

MDC-T Information and Publicity Secretary Sibanengi Dube told us; “They were
giving out flyers and these flyers turned out to be clear provocation as
most people here are victims of the Gukurahundi Massacres. ZANU PF showing
up in Hillbrow did not go down well with people there.” Then all hell broke
loose as activists jumped onto the stage chanting anti-Mugabe slogans.

Sabelo Ngwenya from the MLF was one of those who went on stage and spoke
about the Gukurahundi Massacres under Mugabe’s regime. In the ensuing chaos,
some of the youths “started chasing everyone, including Didymus Mutasa, who
had to take refuge behind a group of black wheelie bins,” Dube said.

It was only the swift reaction of the police who arrived in time to stop the
youths from assaulting the ZANU PF delegation. Dube told us Mutasa and his
delegation “had to leave the venue under heavy police presence with their
tails between their legs.”

ZANU PF has been on a so-called anti-sanctions campaign, trying to collect
what it says will be over 2 million signatures asking for targeted sanctions
by the West to be removed. But human rights activists say until abuses by
the regime end, the measures which impose travel and financial restrictions
must be maintained.

Zim power funding tied to polls: Report

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Tobias Manyuchi     Monday 09 May 2011

HARARE -- Zimbabwe's demand for electricity is expected to increase as the
economy grows, but availability of funding to expand generation capacity is
dependent on the outcome of the country's future elections, according to
business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

In a report titled, Overview of the Zimbabwean Electricity Industry, the
global research firm said elections and future investment policy -- 
especially as regards local and international private sector participation
in the economy – were key factors that would determine the availability of
cash to fund several electricity generation projects already in the
pipeline.

“The future of the electricity industry is heavily dependent on the outcome
of future elections, economic growth and the adoption of policy that
promotes local and international private sector investment,” it said.

“There are several electricity industry projects in the pipeline that have
not secured funding, and the development of these projects could improve the
electricity demand and supply situation within the country.”

Among other strategic services Frost & Sullivan provides forecasts for
electricity demand forecasts, analysis of key industry participants and
comprehensive examination of the development of key projects in the
industry.

Frost & Sullivan has offices dotted in several key countries including
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, and
Israel.

In its report the firm said availability of electricity feedstock, mining
resources and an efficient labour force were positive factors that could
help fuel the development of the southern African country’s electricity
industry.

For instance, the country has coal reserves that will approximately last the
next 200 years at a production output of 5,000 tons per annum, it said.
These coal reserves could be used as feedstock for coal-fired thermal power
stations, said Frost & Sullivan, noting there was also huge potential for
hydropower generation.

“The Zambezi river, which runs along the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, has hydro
potential of 5400 MW, of which only 750 MW is currently being utilised,” it
said. “Furthermore, Zimbabwe has copper and ferro-chrome deposits, which can
be used in pylon and cable manufacture and maintenance.”

Zimbabwe requires about 2 000MW of electricity, way above the 1 100MW that
the state owned Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is presently
generating.

ZESA’s inability over the years to boost generation capacity at its ageing
power stations and a critical shortage of foreign currency to import
adequate electricity from neighbouring countries has left Zimbabwe grappling
with severe power shortages.

Executives at ZESA say cash-rich foreign investors remain reluctant to
provide funding badly needed to boost power generation because of
uncertainty about the country’s future political and economic direction,
echoing the observations by Frost & Sullivan.

A coalition government formed by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara more than two years
ago has brought a degree of stability to Zimbabwe’s political situation but
the future remains uncertain.

Incessant squabbling between Mugabe and Tsvangirai has left analysts
wondering about the Harare coalition government’s ability to carry through
political and constitutional reforms needed to ensure political and economic
stability and that the next polls are free and fair.

Most investors keen to put money in the country that also boasts huge
reserves of platinum, diamonds, gold and iron ore have adopted continue to
maintain a wait and see attitude before they can consider making any
significant investments in the country. – ZimOnline

Sino-Zim Temporarily Halts Marange Exploration

http://www.diamondintelligence.com/

09 May 2011

Sino-Zimbabwe, a joint venture between China and the Zimbabwe government
through the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, has laid off most of
its workers in its Marange license claim citing concerns that the property
may not have meaningful resources to operate a viable mine, reports New
Zimbabwe.

The company, one of five licensed to operate in the Chiadzwa diamond fields,
has been exploring for diamonds since March when it obtained its license,
though results have proven unsatisfactory to justify huge investment,
according to sources.

Deputy Mine and Mining Development Gift Chimanikire confirmed the
development last week saying they were now waiting for a detailed report,
reports the news source.

In addition to Sino-Zim, UAE's Pure Dian, Anjin, Mbada Diamonds and Marange
Resources are licensed to mine in Marange. The latter two are already
exporting. Anjin, the second Chinese company, has so far extracted over a
million carats of rough diamonds.

Zimbabwe " Won't Work" With Candidate for New KP Diamond Monitor

http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/

09.05.11, 09:56 / World

Some European countries are calling for former De Beers employee Simon
Gilberts to be appointed Kimberley Process Certification Scheme monitor for
Zimbabwe in place of Abbey Chikane, African news sites report.

According to bulawayo24.com, Chikane has resigned from his position as KP
monitor, but that report has not been confirmed.

Zimbabwe's Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu has confirmed
that Western nations are pushing for Gilberts' appointment but that Zimbabwe
opposed it. If he were appointed, Mpofu said, the nation would not cooperate
with him.

Mpofu said it was "surprising" that some countries were supporting Gilberts
as KP monitor, since "[Gilberts] used to work for De Beers, which spent 15
years looting our diamonds."

Mpofu stressed that Zimbabwe was in compliance with KP requirements and had
no need of a monitor.

In March, Kimberley Process Chairman Mathieu Yamba of the Democratic
Republic of Congo greenlighted export of Zimbabwe's rough diamonds, which
have been under international embargo. Yamba's decision met with strong
opposition from a number of KP members, including the US, EU, Canada, and
Australia, who argued that the chairman's move was contrary to KP policy,
which stipulates that all decisions be taken by consensus.

While the African Diamond Producers Association backed Yamba's decision, the
World Diamond Council has advised members to avoid trading in Zimbabwe
diamonds and the US has said it will publish the names of any diamond
companies dealing with stones from Zimbabwe.

MDC factions, ZAPU demand voting rights for Diaspora

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Irene Madongo
09 May 2010

The MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube has joined the MDC-T and ZAPU in
criticising statements made by ZANU PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, that
Zimbabweans living in the diaspora should not be allowed to vote.

Mnangagwa as ZANU PF’s secretary for legal affairs recently said Zimbabwean
Diasporans should only be allowed to vote in national elections after the
travel bans imposed on his party officials were removed (the US and European
Union slapped targeted sanctions on key ZANU PF figures because of their
continued human rights abuses).

However critics have pointed out that the issue of Diaspora participation
has nothing to do with sanctions at all. It is about citizenship and
nationality and falls within the frame of the constitutional making process.

In addition, the majority of exiled Zimbabweans are living in Southern
African states like South Africa and Botswana, and these countries do not
have any targeted sanctions on members of the Mugabe regime.

On Monday Nhlanhla Dube, the national spokesperson of the MDC-N, reportedly
said: “Efforts to lift sanctions should be chased within the Global
Political Agreement where it will involve the combined participation of all
political parties.”

“ZANU’s fear is that large numbers of the Diaspora will not be in their
favour.” Dube added; “It is important to deal with the Diaspora because they
are a part of the nation and should be included in the reconstruction of the
country’s government.”

Abel Mdlongwa, the MDC-N UK provincial chairman said: “The majority of the
Diaspora community are people who fled persecution for their political
beliefs in Zimbabwe, and you cannot therefore expect the victims of the
dictatorship in Zimbabwe to then vote in favour of the dictatorship.”

“ZANU PF knows pretty well that the Diaspora vote will put paid to any of
their plans to be re-elected,” Mdlongwa said.

But Mnangagwa argues that because of the targeted sanctions, ZANU PF’s
leadership is unable to travel to Europe and the US to canvas for support
from the Diaspora, while the MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai and his leadership are
able to travel to campaign.

Last Friday the MDC-T also blasted Mnangagwa and highlighted the importance
of the Diaspora to Zimbabwe. “ZANU PF and Mnangagwa must know that the issue
of restrictive measures and the Diaspora vote are not linked in anyway and
therefore cannot be compared,” it said in a statement.

“For the record, these Zimbabweans living and working abroad gave the
country a lifeline against a debilitating hyper-inflationary period through
a steady flow of remittances in cash, food and fuel. They continue to do so
today as the country teeters back to its feet. They should never be denied a
voice to determine the future of their country.”

On Monday ZAPU spokesperson Methuseli Moyo also lashed out at Mnangagwa.
“The Diaspora did not place sanctions on ZANU PF so it must stop punishing
people,” he said.

“The theory that they cannot campaign is false because it’s not everyone in
ZANU PF who is on the sanctions list, so those who are not on the sanctions
list can easily campaign,” Moyo added.

Botswana relaxes stance on Zimbabwe

http://www.mmegi.bw/

Monday, 09 May 2011

Ryder Gabathuse
Staff Writer

NATA: Has Botswana relaxed its hard stance on the political crisis in
Zimbabwe?

This is the question after a representative of Zimbabwe's  ZANU-PF, Judith
Mkwanda addressed the 13th Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women Wing's
Congress in Nata. Mkwanda even presented a token of appreciation to Botswana
President Ian Khama in the form of artifacts, which were approved by the
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe.

It was all pomp and glory at the top table at the Nata Senior Secondary
School as BDP women shouted Pamberi na ZANU-PF as Mkwanda took to the podium
before presenting a token of appreciation to Khama. The two parties
representatives then addressed each other as old political friends only
divided by international boundaries. It was like the two political
organisations had just discovered each other's worth. This is a far cry from
the hardline stance taken by the BDP and the Botswana government against
ZANU-PF and Mugabe after disputed elections in 2008.
After the silent diplomacy under former president Festus Mogae, Botswana's
foreign policy on Zimbabwe changed after Khama came to power in April 2008.
Khama's government wasted no time in telling off Mugabe and ZANU-PF for
their dictatorial ways and siding with the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change under current Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

So serious was the bad blood between Botswana and ZANU-PF that Khama chose
to boycott regional gatherings to avoid coming face to face with Mugabe.
When dealing with Zimbabwe, Botswana chose to abandon diplomatic caution and
hit Mugabe and his government directly. But things seems to have changed
given the presence of Mkwanda and the BDP Women's Wing congress.

BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema explains the turn of events by
saying that what was obtained immediately after the Zimbabwean general
elections in 2008 is not necessarily applicable now. "We have a long
established relationship with the ZANU-PF, and our policy is that as a
ruling party, we want to go to other countries and work with the ruling
parties there," said Serema.

He stressed that as the ruling party, they cooperate with other ruling
parties in the region regardless of the political theories and beliefs that
they pursue. "Our interest is to establish bi-lateral relationships and
friendships which could help us benefit from them and vice versa," he
pointed out. "It's not new that we find ourselves working with the ZANUPF
closely as we have always worked with them over other important areas," he
stated.

Over US$1m RBZ assets to go under the hammer

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

By Pindai Dube
Monday, 09 May 2011 17:17

HARARE - Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s property worth over US$1 million
will be auctioned in Bulawayo by Ruby Auctions on Wednesday in a bid to
recover an outstanding debt owed to Seedco International Company.

The debt with Seedco, a company which specialises in farming implements,
stems from  the supply of farming equipment that was delivered  to the
central bank in 2007 when it was running the farming mechanisation
programme.

Efforts to get a comment from RBZ officials and the Minister of Finance
Tendai Biti were not successful yesterday.

Biti and officials from the Attorney General’s office have in the past said
it is illegal to auction RBZ assets as they were considered to be state
property.

According to a public notice published on Sunday, Ruby Auctions is under the
instruction of Deputy Sheriff of Harare to sell the farming equipment that
is lying idle at the National Railways of Zimbabwe yard in Bulawayo.

“Duly instructed by the Deputy Sheriff of Harare, we shall sell by public
auction the assets to the highest bidder at Astra Yard, National Railways of
Zimbabwe Bulawayo-Grain siding on Wednesday,” said Ruby auction in the
notice.

The assets to be auctioned include 20 945 harrows, 54 planters 1639
cultivators, 1516 scotch carts, 537 scotch carts boxes, 2 ploughs and 1277
knap sprayers.

The auction of the RBZ equipment was once stopped in June following a
directive from cabinet.

In 2009 the High Court also ordered the RBZ property to be attached after it
failed to settle a US$2,1million debt with Farm Tech spares and implements
company.

The RBZ fortunes nose-dived soon after the dollarisation of the economy when
the country stopped using the Zimbabwe dollar.

Zimbabwe Earns $173 Million Selling Tobacco in Season So Far, Newsday Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/

By Brian Latham - May 9, 2011 7:19 PM GMT+1000

Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe have earned $173 million from the sale of 61.6
million kilograms (136 million pounds) of the leaf so far this marketing
season, Newsday reported, citing the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board,
which regulates the industry.

Farmers sold the leaf for an average of $2.81 a kilogram, down from $3.10 a
year earlier, the Harare-based newspaper said on its website. It didn’t say
how much tobacco was sold during the same 50-day period last year.

Zimbabwe’s tobacco marketing season traditionally runs from March to
October. The country may produce between 170 million kilograms and 200
million kilograms this year, Newsday said.

'African Booker' shortlist announced

http://mg.co.za/

LISA VAN WYK - May 09 2011 15:51

Two South African writers have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2011
Caine Prize for African Writing, announced on Monday.

The list was dominated by Southern African writers, with the three other
authors hailing from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Botswana.

The Caine Prize, widely known as the 'African Booker' and regarded as
Africa's leading literary award, is now in its twelfth year, and recognises
the work of African authors in the short story genre.

The shortlist's five authors were narrowed down from 126 entries recieved
from 17 countries across the continent.

Award-winning Libyan novelist Hisham Matar and chair of judges said the task
of choosing was especially difficult given the varied tastes of the judges.

"But we have arrived at a list of five stories that excel in quality and
ambition," said Matar. "Together they represent a portrait of today's
African short story: its wit and intelligence, its concerns and
preoccupations."

All shortlisted works are available to read on the official website.

    NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) Hitting Budapest from The Boston Review Vol
35, no. 6 - Nov/Dec 2010

    Beatrice Lamwaka (Uganda) Butterfly dreams from Butterfly Dreams and
Other New Short Stories from Uganda

    Tim Keegan (South Africa) What Molly Knew from Bad Company

    Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana) In the spirit of McPhineas Lata from The Bed
Book of Short Stories

    David Medalie (South Africa) The Mistress's Dog from The Mistress's Dog:
Short stories 1996-2010

The winner recieves €10 000 and the opportunity to take up a month's
residence at the University of Georgetown in Washignton.

Last year the Caine Prize was won by Sierra Leonean writer Olufemi Terry.
Last year's chair of judges, Fiammetta Rocco, said at the time, the story
was "ambitious, brave and hugely imaginative.

"Olufemi Terry's Stickfighting Days presents a heroic culture that is
Homeric in its scale and conception. The execution of this story is so tight
and the presentation so cinematic, it confirms Olufemi Terry as a talent
with an enormous future."

The winner will be announced at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University on
July 11 2011.