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Zimbabwe's Mugabe says 'tired of ruling'



(AFP) – 11 hours ago

HARARE — Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reportedly told a former
minister in his government that he wants to retire but fears his party would
disintegrate, an independent weekly said on Sunday.

"From what we discussed, Mugabe said he is tired and wants to retire but he
cannot do so now because ZANU-PF would die," Enos Nkala, a former minister
of defence in Mugabe's late-1980s government, told The Standard newspaper
after meeting with the 88-year-old president on Friday.

"He cannot leave when the party is in such a state. What is holding him now
is managing and containing ZANU-PF to prevent it from disintegrating," Nkala
added.

Mugabe's spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on Nkala's
statements.

Nkala, who has been a staunch critic of Mugabe in recent years, met with him
privately for an hour in Bulawayo, 430 kilometres (270 miles) southwest of
the capital Harare, The Standard said.

Nkala warned that Mugabe's succession remains a delicate issue that if not
handled carefully might result in "chaos or civil war".

"It's easy for people to say Mugabe must go, Mugabe must go, but most don't
know that he is the glue that has been holding this country together," he
said.

Mugabe, who has ruled the southern African country since independence in
1980, has already been endorsed by his party to stand as a candidate in
elections expected after the end of a power-sharing government formed in
2009 in the wake of disputed elections.

He and his top rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, have been haggling
over when new elections can be held. Mugabe wants to exit the power-sharing
deal as soon as possible, while Tsvangirai insists key reforms be
implemented first.

Mugabe has been at the centre of a swirl of reports that he is in failing
health.

Mugabe and his top officials have repeatedly denied that he has prostate
cancer following a leaked 2008 US diplomatic cable in which Reserve Bank
Governor Gideon Gono said he had the disease and that it had spread through
his body.


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Mugabe 'the glue holding Zim together', says former minister

http://mg.co.za/

20 May 2012 12:20 - AFP and M&G Online reporter

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reportedly told a former government
minister that he wants to retire, but fears his party would disintegrate.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reportedly told a former minister in his
government that he wants to retire but fears his party would disintegrate,
an independent weekly said on Sunday.

“From what we discussed, Mugabe said he is tired and wants to retire but he
cannot do so now because Zanu-PF would die,” Enos Nkala, a former minister
of defence in Mugabe’s late-1980s government, told the Standard newspaper
after meeting with the 88-year-old president on Friday.

“He cannot leave when the party is in such a state. What is holding him now
is managing and containing Zanu-PF to prevent it from disintegrating,” Nkala
added.

Mugabe’s spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on Nkala’s
statements.

Nkala, who has been a staunch critic of Mugabe in recent years, met with him
privately for an hour in Bulawayo, 430km south-west of the capital Harare,
the Standard said.

‘Chaos or civil war’
Nkala warned that Mugabe’s succession remains a delicate issue that if not
handled carefully might result in “chaos or civil war”.

“It’s easy for people to say Mugabe must go, Mugabe must go, but most don’t
know that he is the glue that has been holding this country together,” he
said.

Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, has already been
endorsed by his party to stand as a candidate in elections expected after
the end of a power-sharing government formed in 2009 in the wake of disputed
elections.

Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic
Change, have been haggling over when new elections can be held.
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Mugabe wants to exit the power-sharing deal as soon as possible, while
Tsvangirai insists key reforms be implemented first.

Mugabe has been at the centre of a swirl of reports that he is in failing
health.

Mugabe and his top officials have repeatedly denied that he has prostate
cancer following a leaked 2008 US diplomatic cable in which Reserve Bank
Governor Gideon Gono said he had the disease and that it had spread through
his body.

‘Gift to the nation’

In late April, the Mail & Guardian reported that two pretenders to his
throne were pressured into taking the unusual step of denying their
ambitions.

Vice-President Joice Mujuru declared that Mugabe was “a gift to the nation”
and her rumoured rival, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, said those who
claimed he had made a secret deal to replace Mugabe were “mentally deranged”.

It is classic Mugabe: force ambitious lieutenants to declare their
allegiance publicly and whip all other ambitions back into line behind him.

The rival faction leaders appear to have come under pressure from hardliner
Mugabe loyalists who are angered by reports that the two factions are making
new moves to nudge Mugabe off the stage.

Mnangagwa, who seldom speaks about his rumoured ambitions, used a public
lecture at a university to deny he had reached a “pact” with Mugabe to take
over power.

“There is no such thing and these are the efforts of detractors bent on
causing alarm and chaos among the authorities, both in Zanu-PF and the
government,” he said.


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UN human rights chief visits Zimbabwe; President’s party says ‘we have nothing to hide’

http://www.washingtonpost.com

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, May 21, 2:55 AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
arrived Sunday in Zimbabwe on the first mission to the troubled southern
African nation by the world rights chief.

Officials said Pillay’s weeklong trip is at the invitation of three-year
coalition government formed in 2009 after disputed, violent elections
plagued by rights abuses blamed mainly on militants of President Robert
Mugabe’s party and loyalist police and troops.

“I am here to assess the human rights situation,” Pillay told reporters at
the Harare airport late Sunday.

She will meet with Mugabe, political leaders and rights groups, said Mugabe’s
justice minister Patrick Chinamasa.

In 2009, chief U.N. torture investigator Manfred Nowak was barred entry at
the Harare airport after claims he was not officially cleared for the visit.

In 2005, another special envoy of the U.N. secretary-general angered Mugabe
by criticizing a slum clearance program that left 700,000 people homeless in
urban strongholds of the former opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai, now the
prime minister in the power-sharing coalition.

Chinamasa, quoted in the state Sunday Mail newspaper controlled by Mugabe
loyalists, said Pillay was first invited to Zimbabwe last year but couldn’t
make that trip.

“We showed our commitment by extending another invitation in February and we
are happy she has accepted,” he said.

He said he was not concerned by submissions Pillay is expected to receive
from rights activists and non-governmental organizations.

“We are happy we will be able to host her because we have nothing to hide in
terms of human rights issues. We are not worried about what our detractors
will say,” he said.

Pillay is scheduled to hold talks with Mugabe, Tsvangirai, defense and
service chiefs, judges, lawmakers and leaders of rights groups. She will
hear reports of alleged human rights abuses at diamond fields in eastern
Zimbabwe where the military has been accused of shootings and torture of
villagers driven from mining areas.

In a decade of political and economic turmoil, Mugabe’s party has been
accused of trampling on human and democratic rights, vote rigging and
targeting opponents and independent journalists in assaults and
intimidation.

Independent rights groups say at least 200 people, mostly opposition
supporters, died in violence surrounding the last national polls in 2008
that Tsvangirai’s party said it won. Tsvangirai boycotted a presidential
run-off vote against Mugabe, citing spiraling violence against tens of
thousands of voters.

Pillay, who served as a judge in South Africa, has been at the forefront of
the documentation of reported killings in Syria during uprisings against the
government. She was also a former judge at the International Criminal Court
and head of the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

Pillay ends her Zimbabwe visit on Friday.


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Minister blocks Zim’s biggest investment

http://www.iol.co.za

May 20 2012 at 09:48am
By Peta Thornycroft

Zanu-PF’s prosperous mines minister Obert Mpofu has effectively blocked a R6
billion investment for Zimbabwe – the largest since independence 32 years
ago.

Mpofu, a Zanu-PF hardliner in the power-sharing government, has put a rescue
package for Zimbabwe’s bankrupt iron and steel industry on the brink of
collapse by refusing to hand over iron ore claims to Indian steel giant
Essar.

Essar won majority shareholding in Zimbabwe’s state-owned Iron and Steel
Company Zisco, which stopped operating three years ago. More than half the
price for 54 percent of Zisco is settling foreign and local debts run up
when the company was managed by the Zanu-PF administration.

Now Mpofu has chosen to ignore the agreement signed with Essar more than a
year ago and is insisting that the iron ore claims, which were part of Zisco’s
assets, are audited prior to handing them to the Indians.

Details of Zisco’s iron ore claims are public record: one claim was
exhausted over 60 years of Zisco’s life until it closed in 2009, the second
has about five years left, and the third, known as Mwenezi, has never been
prospected or investigated.

In terms of the deal signed with Essar, it would have exclusive rights to
prospect the Mwenezi claim.

Industry minister Welshman Ncube, who managed the deal which brought the
first significant Indian investment into Zimbabwe, told Weekend Argus this
week that when its size and value are established, a mining agreement would
be concluded with Essar over how much ore it could extract, export or
process locally.

The Zisco deal with Essar was concluded despite Zanu-PF’s preference for two
Chinese bidders promoted by senior party loyalists.

Ncube is president of the small Movement for Democratic Change party and
went to India to see some of Essar’s massive iron and steel operations
before the deal was signed.

He said: “We are taking 14 months to sign a document which in a normal
country should take a week.” He said the mines ministry’s insistence that an
“audit” of the iron ore claims was essential before they were handed to
Essar for exploration was “nonsensical”. “The deal with Essar has been made
available to the media and the public since President Mugabe signed it.

“The issue here is only about Mwenezi. We don’t know the quantity of ore
there. This is just an excuse.

“All that has been agreed (over the iron ore claims) is a special grant so
that exploration can be done at Mwenezi with the Department of Geological
Services, so that we work together.” After the deal was signed Essar paid
out R7 million a month to many former destitute Zisco workers.

Essar officials in Harare said this week they had stopped shelling out money
given that they had not received the necessary documents.

At present Zisco is silent, the town deserted, the people thin and hungry.

Zisco earned a little revenue from selling its scrap metal, mostly to SA
merchants. Mpofu facilitated some of those deals. One of the SA buyers, New
Reclamation, was a regular buyer of Zisco’s scrap. CEO David Kassel told
Weekend Argus last year the scrap was paid for with hard currency, not
worthless Zimbabwe dollars.

Part of the intelligence gossip in Harare is that the Mwenezi claim is
fantastically rich and that Ncube has “sold it off” too cheaply. A veteran
metallurgist in Zimbabwe, who asked not to be named and who knew Zisco over
several decades, scoffed at Harare speculation about the value of its ore
claims.

“The Essar deal seems fair value to me and is very good for Zimbabwe. Zisco
used to produce the cheapest pig iron in the world.”

– Independent Foreign Service


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Former Zipra Supremo in Vitriol Attack over Military Chefs

http://www.radiovop.com/

Harare, May 20, 2012 - ZAPU President, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has lambasted top
military chefs for continued meddling in the country’s political affairs
adding that they have converted themselves into Zanu PF commissars.

“As a military person myself, it is unfortunate that my colleagues decide to
miscarry their duties as army personnel,” said the former ZIPRA intelligence
supremo at a party press briefing in Harare Friday.

“The army’s job is to protect the citizens of the country, to protect
asserts of the country. They are not supposed to meddle in politics. If they
really felt they should do that, the best they can
do is to take off their uniforms and join the party which they seem to have
done as far as Zanu PF is concerned.

“They have even become the commissariat of Zanu PF. That is an abuse of the
military institution.”

Dabengwa’s comments follow current steps by dozens of top chefs in both the
police and military who have declared their interest to contest the next
general elections as Zanu PF candidates.

They insist Zanu PF civilian politicians have exposed the party to possible
defeat from the MDC.

Turning to elections, the former Home Affairs Minister did not rule out the
prospect of joining forces with “positive minded” parties to form a strong
coalition against Zanu PF.

He however admitted this would be a tall order as individual parties would
always want to retain their distinct identities all the time.

Dabengwa, a former Zanu PF politburo member, also blasted President Mugabe
and his party for continued attempts to block the concept of devolution of
power from the new constitution insisting the veteran leader did not own
Zimbabwe.

“The Zimbabwean citizens are owners and the supreme authority of the state
of Zimbabwe.  They decide what type of state and system of government they
want. No individual or political organisation has the licence or the
monopoly to decree that for them,” he said.

“The outburst recently with all due respect of our President and the
decision of his politburo that they do not want a constitution with
devolution of power is a subversion of the citizens' supreme authority over
their state. The President and his politburo have no authority to impose on
their issue of devolution because they are not the owners of this country.”

Dabengwa said he continues to receive secret calls from his former Zanu PF
colleagues urging him to push harder in his current demands for devolution
since they themselves were too scared to publicly go against President
Mugabe’s position on devolution.


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Mpofu against nationalisation of mines

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

MINES minister Obert Mpofu says he would not allow the destruction of
Zimbabwe’s mining sector by heeding calls to nationalise diamond fields.
20.05.1201:46pm
by Rebecca Moyo

There have been calls for the nationalisation of the Marange diamond fields
to fund the national fiscus.

"I will not support such ideas I will not allow call from missinformed
parties or individuals to destroy the mining sector with such strange ideas.
We know what we are doing,” said Mpofu.

"It is important to note that mining has continued to be the major mainstay
for economic gtowth and development in Zimbabwe, contributing an estimated
13% to GDP in 2011 and is projected to growth by 15,8% this year. We should
not slow down this momentum," said Mpofu Mpofu said Zimbabwe's mineral
exports have seen a fairytale rise rebounding by 138% in 2010 growing by
38,75 in 2011 and 2012 projections stand at 13,3% "In terms of earning,
mineral exports surged in 2011 to US$2,45 billion from US$1,6 billion in
2011 driven mainly by increased platinum, gold and diamond production and
buoyed by looming international prices.

"Revenue from Platimum gained 35% on the 2011 figure while production fo the
same grew by 41% surpassing MTP projections and with continued expansion
projects at some of the producers we expect the rend to continue," said
Mpofu Zimbabwe’s current diamond production is estimated by volume to be in
excess of 25% of world production.

Mpofu said going by the value realised to date per carat, Zimbabwe is set to
earn in excess of US$2 billion annually in gross revenue.

Mpofu conceded that there would always be leakages when it comes to minerals
no matter how powerful a government could be or how much arsenal it had.

“You can mention any country in the world they are facing leakage
challenges, even the US has failed to control leakage of drugs,” he said


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Mpofu’s Zisco claims ‘nonsensical’: Ncube

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

20/05/2012 00:00:00
    by Peta Thornycroft

INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube has dismissed as “nonsensical”
a demand by his Mines counterpart for an audit of iron ore claims before
Ziscosteel’s takeover by Essar Africa can be concluded.

Mines minister Obert Mpofu has effectively blocked Ziscosteel’s US$750
million takeover by Essar Africa – the largest investment in the country
since independence - by refusing to hand over iron ore claims to Essar.

Essar won majority shareholding in the Redcliff-based company which stopped
operating three years ago, weighed down back massive debts, lack of working
capital and ageing equipment.

More than half the price for 54 percent of Zisco is settling foreign and
local debts run up when the company was managed by State appointed
administration.

Now Mpofu has chosen to ignore the agreement signed with Essar more than a
year ago and is insisting that the iron ore claims, which were part of Zisco’s
assets, are audited prior to handing them to the Indians.

Details of Zisco’s iron ore claims are public record: one claim was
exhausted over 60 years of Zisco’s life until it closed in 2009, the second
has about five years left, and the third, at Mwenezi, has never been
prospected or investigated.
In terms of the deal signed with Essar, it would have exclusive rights to
prospect the Mwenezi claim.

Ncube, who managed the deal which brought the first significant Indian
investment into Zimbabwe, said when its size and value are established, a
mining agreement would be concluded with Essar over how much ore it could
extract, export or process locally.
He said: “We are taking 14 months to sign a document which in a normal
country should take a week.”

Ncube added that Mpofu’s insistence that an “audit” of the iron ore claims
was essential before they were handed to Essar for exploration was
“nonsensical”.

“The deal with Essar has been made available to the media and the public
since President Mugabe signed it.
“The issue here is only about Mwenezi. We don’t know the quantity of ore
there. This is just an excuse.

“All that has been agreed (over the iron ore claims) is a special grant so
that exploration can be done at Mwenezi with the Department of Geological
Services, so that we work together.”

After the deal was signed Essar paid nearly a million dollars every month to
many former destitute Zisco workers.

Essar officials in Harare said this week they had stopped shelling out money
given that they had not received the necessary documents.
At present Zisco is silent, the town deserted, the people thin and hungry.

Part of the intelligence gossip in Harare is that the Mwenezi claim is
fantastically rich and that Ncube has “sold it off” too cheaply.

A veteran metallurgist in Zimbabwe, who asked not to be named and who knew
Zisco over several decades, scoffed at the speculation about the value of
the ore claims.

“The Essar deal seems fair value to me and is very good for Zimbabwe. Zisco
used to produce the cheapest pig iron in the world,” he said.


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Prof Moyo is a Sellout-Samahuru Villagers

http://www.radiovop.com/

Tsholotsho, May 20, 2012-Villagers in Ward One at Samahuru in Tsholotsho
North have described Professor Jonathan Moyo as a chameleon that traded
their votes to Zanu-PF and left them in the open to be attacked by War
Veterans in the area.

In an interview with Radio VOP after an MDC rally at Samahuru today,
Nicholas Khumalo, said Prof. Moyo is no longer welcome in the constituency
because he has done nothing for his constituency apart from trading their
votes at a cheap price to Zanu-PF that has failed to rule Zimbabwe for the
past 32 years.

“We are not happy in Tsholotsho North because Prof Moyo worked against our
mandate to represent our interests in Parliament and when he decided to
cross-over to Zanu-PF, he failed to consult us.

“Prof. Moyo is a sellout, Tsholotsho North is faced with serious drought but
up to date we are starving, our fields were destroyed by Elephants and the
food that the government promised to deliver is distributed by the Chief to
Zanu-PF card carrying members,” said Khumalo.
He said that challenges faced by the community in Tsholotsho North date back
to Ian Smith regime.

“We have no dams, more than 35 families in this ward share one borehole that
was constructed in 1980, our children walk more than 10 kilometers to school
and the only clinic that we have has nursing staff but there is no
medication. We have been living under such conditions since 1980 when we
gained independence and the Government has turned a blind eye on us,” added
Khumalo.
In February 2005 Moyo registered to run as an independent for the seat.
Doing so earned the wrath of Mugabe, who expelled him from the party and the
cabinet. He won the seat in the elections held on 31 March.

Moyo was re-elected to the House of Assembly from Tsholotsho North
constituency in the March 2008 Parliamentary election. He received 3,532
votes, defeating MDC candidate Mgezelwa Ncube, who received 3,305 votes, as
well as Zanu-PF candidate Alice Dube, who received 2,085 votes. The
mainstream MDC did not field a candidate in this constituency on the
understanding that Moyo's victory would be good in the fight to remove
Mugabe from power.
Prof Moyo defected to Zanu-PF in 2009, today Tsholotsho North voters passed
a vote of no confidence and banned him from addressing them.


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It never rains but it pours for Zimbabwe

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

The country's maize harvest is estimated to drop by 26% to 1 million tonnes
after an estimated 45% of the crop that was planted this season was written
off due to drought, the African Development Bank (ADB) has said.
20.05.1201:39pm
by Rebecca Moyo

As if that is not all, the Minister of Africulture, Mechanisation and
Irrigation Development Joseph Made yesterday also said Zimbabwe has missed
the winter wheat plantindeadline primarily because fertiliser companies
refused to release the product after government failed to settle a US$50
million debt streacthing back to several season.

The country's annual maize consumption is 1,8 milllion tonnes, with the
Ministry of Agriculture saying it has build up about 400 000 tonnes in maize
reserve about 400 000 would have to be imported to make up for the deficit.

"The hectarage of maize written off rose by 117% from the 333 637 hectares
recorded in the 2010/2011 to the 2011/2012 levels of 722 557 hectares," said
ADB.

Maize production in 2011 was 1,35 million tonnes.

"Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector is currently facing some challenges. The
country has experienced severe droughts in some parts of the country and has
estimated a deficit of one million tonnes of maize from the 2011/12 summer
cropping season, a development which is likely to see the average price of
maize increasing as the year progresses," ADB said.

Presending the 2012 national budget, Finance minister Tendai Biti did not
allocate money for grain imports, probably leaving private companies to do
so.

ADB said an estimated 83 882 hectares of sorghum planted this season had
been written off with pearl and finger millet having 32 878 hectares and 5
621 ha being written off, respectively.

"The country currently has 5,2 million cattle 500 000 sheep and 3 million
goats The beef sector made marginal gains of 2% from 5,1 million, while milk
production increased 16%," sad ADB.

Prices for both wheat and maize changed direction several times during the
month of March 2012 but closed the month 5% and 6,6% weaker,respectively.

ADB said US wheat and maize export prices lost all or most of the gains
registered in early March. Wheat prices were influenced by the winter crop
concerns in Europe and the Black Sea region although improved weather
boosted prospects for US winter wheat.

Maize prices were initially lifted by tightening US availabilities, rumours
of increased buying by China and rising soya-bean values.

"Maize prices could have been subdued by competition from lower grade wheat
and barley for feed use, likely slowed down growth in industrial use and
forecasted dip in US ethanol production because of stalling domestic and
export demand," said ADB.

Prices may also have been affected by global stocks that are projected to
increase modestly as a rise in the US more than offsets declines in China
and Brazil.

According to Fewsnet latest report, in Southern Africa, adequate supplies of
maize and other staple foods from the good 2011 harvests have held maize
prices and the prices of other staples relatively stable or seasonally
trending upward despite the lean season peaks.


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Tomana Recruits Moyo for Battle on Three Fronts

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

CZ 1 hour ago

The Attorney General's legal challenge of Western sanctions in European
Union Courts and a parallel propaganda campaign against South African Courts
which may soon start investigating those who tortured political and human
rights activists make up this weekend’s dossage of Zanu (PF) propaganda.

The liberation party’s propaganda sheet, the Sunday Mail, claimed that the
EU Court case in Luxemburg where AG Tomana is instructing a team of two QCs
(British Advocates), two barristers and two Zimbabwean lawyers, would cost
millions and is being funded by unnamed "friends of Zimbabwe" – most likely
illicit diamonds since Zimbabwe has no international friends who would fund
such a fanciful venture.

The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), the Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) and even the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) were involved in the illegal
torture of MDC and human rights activists throughout the 90's, some of them
high profile people like Morgan Tsvangirai, and Sekai Holland, others of not
so high profile like Tsvangirai’s assistant, Gandi Mudzingwa, who were
detained for almost year and later acquitted and awarded damages.

Others who were tortured by the CIO and ZRP simply because they wanted to
expose human rights violations by Zanu (PF) thugs and militia against MDC
activists, are the likes Jestina Mukoko who was also awarded damages in a
high profile court case.

They there are also multitudes of little-know people who were targeted in
their towns and villages and simply for supporting the MDC, such as those
documented by Solidarity Peace Trust, and others who saved themselves by
crossing the border to South Africa where they sought asylum and formed an
organisation called the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum.

Some were followed up in South Africa by CIO agents and hauled back to
Zimbabwe for more torture, apparently with the complicity of South African
security forces - who are also now targets for prosecution under South
Africa’s 2002 law which has now been interpreted to mean that SA is obliged
to investigate any allegation of crimes against humanity in any country as
long as the allegation has been made in a South African court.

Realizing the implications of this for Zanu (PF) perpetrators’ shopping
trips to SA, and even trips for medical treatment and business, AG Tomana
has recruited Jonathan Moyo and mobilized the resources of the Sunday Mail
to mount a propaganda campaign.

The campaign is complete with fictitious diplomats from the region whom the
Sunday Mail claims are now geared up to “square up with former Rhodies and
their influential friends in South Africa who are abusing democratic
institutions in that country to continue their war against Zimbabwe in
provocative ways that are now threatening to destabilise the region” –
clearly not the words of a diplomat, but Jonathan Moyo’s well-rehearsed
verbiage.

Fictitious war veterans have also been recruited into the propaganda
campaign with claims that they are outraged by Judge Hans Fabricius’s
judgment ordering the South African Police Service and the National
Prosecuting Agency to pursue the cases of torture brought by Zimbabwean
exiles – a tip of the ice-burg.

In their outrage the war veterans are alleged to have said: “the former
Rhodies and their friends in South Africa should know that we are fully
aware that they committed lots of unspeakable atrocities before our country’s
independence and they continue to do so up to this day and so the time is
fast approaching to return fire with fire (sic).”

SA is a signatory to the statutes of the International Criminal Court (ICC),
and has made it part of its domestic law, but Zimbabwe, obviously hoping to
forestall any cases that could be brought against its repressive leaders,
has refused to be a signatory to the ICC.

A regional leader in most UN initiatives, Zimbabwe has consistently refused
to subscribe to the Rome Statutes and conveniently so does not recognise the
court. But now, following the petition by the Southern Africa Litigation
Centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles’ Forum, Zanu (PF) is finding that although
they may not recognize the ICC, if their leaders who are accused of crimes
against humanity ever set foot in South Africa, they may find themselves
hauled before the ICC – whether they recognize it or not.

So, multiple Human Rights award-winning lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, who is a
trustee of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre has been made are target,
simply by being mentioned in the Sunday Mail article as being among those
Rhodies and whites who are intent on provoking the ruling party in South
Africa, the ANC, and Zanu (PF) as former liberation movements.

According to the unnamed diplomats from the region, “this is fast escalating
to levels threatening stability in the region.” Talk about Jonathan Moyo’s
fertile imagination! He bares his futile strategy to recruit the region into
Zanu (PF)’s fight for survival further down the article: saying South Africa
is home to many former Rhodesians who are now influential in the judiciary,
legal fraternity, media, business and NGOs and are using their positions and
influence to settle their Rhodesian scores with Zanu-PF.

And they are doing so “in reckless and dangerous ways that may end up being
very harmful to South Africa's national interest to the detriment of
cohesion and stability within Sadc.” Now if that is ot Jonathan Moyo who
else could it be.

On one hand he wants to persuade the ANC to join the Zanu (PF) cause, but
with his typical lack of diplomacy and disrespect, especially for South
Africa, he also threatens that if the South African government does not
appeal against the Fabricus decision, “its own interests in Zimbabwe and the
region will be in serious jeopardy because Zimbabwe and other countries in
the region can retaliate through their own legal systems, not only against
former Rhodesians who are now South Africans who committed genocidal crimes
during the apartheid days up to as recent as 1994 but also against the South
African government itself which is liable to legal claims for compensation.”
And all this is attributed to a Harare-based SADC diplomat, who is not
named.

Moyo must think the international community is very gullible, that they
would read the Sunday Mail and believe that that it is written by
journalists who are reflecting a true position in the region, when in fact
it is one man’s desperate attempt to remain relevant in Zanu (PF) by giving
its intellectually challenged leaders false hopes.

As much as we can easily see through his attempts, so can the international
community, and so can Zimbabweans see that the liberation party itself has
totally crumbled, leaving behind individuals who are desperately trying to
find ways of hanging on to power in the face of a tsunami because they have
known nothing else but being in power for the last 32 years.

As for the QC’s and barristers, this will be their chance to get their hands
on some easy diamond dollars, thanks to an incompetent lawyer who has sold
his professional soul for a job protecting hooligans and murderers who have
hijacked the ship of state without caring about the welfare of its
citizens. - Changezimbabwe


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Politicians look East for family studies

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

JOHN NQINDI 21 hours 2 minutes ago

The love affair that politicians have with international universities is
stronger than ever - depending on which side of the political divide one is
on - with both Western and Eastern countries enrolling children and wives of
Zimbabwe's political elite.

The first family has Bona Mugabe, who is now studying for a master's degree
in Singapore. Before that she was studying in Hong Kong for a degree in
Business Administration.

Bona follows in her mother's footsteps. The First Lady, Grace Mugabe passed
a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese with a university in China last year.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Dr Gideon Gono, had three children,
namely Pride, Praise and Passion, studying in Australia until there were
calls to deport them because of their father's role in Zanu-PF. Their visas
were cancelled and they finished their studies at Asian universities.

After Gono's children, the West became a no-go area for children of Zanu-PF
politicians, including Sylvester Chihuri, the son of Police Commissioner
Augustine Chihuri, Tendai Nguni, son of Dr Sylvester Nguni, the Minister of
State in Vice-President Joyce Mujuru's office, Kudzai Muchena, son of Olivia
Muchena, the Minister of Women's Affairs, and Thelma Chombo, the daughter of
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo. The others were Taona
Karimanzira, the son of the late former Harare Provincial Governor David
Karimanzira and Emmerson Mnangagwa jnr, the son of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the
Minister of Defence.

But family of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and members of his MDC-T
continued to study freely in Australia. Tsvangirai's daughter Rumbidzai
continued studying at Perth's Murdoch University where she attained a degree
in Economics. His son Garikai is studying in Canada.

With Western countries out of the question for Zanu-PF politicians, the
likes of Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu, have taken to the "look East"
policy like Mugabe.

Mpofu's children are studying in Hong Kong and China. One of his daughters
was attached to an Indian college at one point.

The Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Kuphe sent her two sons to colleges in
the United Kingdom. Her only daughter is studying at a prestigious South
African university.

MDC-N leader Welshman Ncube's son, Wesley, went to the University of Cape
Town, where he met his wife, Gugulethu, the daughter of South African
President Jacob Zuma. He is currently working in South Africa.

Professor John Makumbe, from the University of Zimbabwe, said the reason
politicians sent their children abroad - those from Zanu-PF in particular -
was for their security.

"There are some in public office who have done bad and people might end up
taking it up with their children. So the main reason is for their protection
from some students and other violent elements in society," he said.

Education abroad is relatively expensive and the university chosen speaks
volumes about the financial status of parents.

"It is a status symbol within corridors of power to send children to
universities overseas. A person who has managed to abuse state resources to
enrich his or herself would obviously fork out top dollar for their
children's education," he added.

Political analyst Trevor Maisiri once said politicians go abroad for health
care and education because they have lost trust in institutions they
themselves have managed to run down because of bad policies.

The not-so-prominent but relatively influential chiefs in Zanu-PF have
resorted to using presidential scholarships to send their children to South
African universities. - timeslive


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Bigwigs’ debts cancelled

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 21:42

Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor

HIGH-RANKING government officials and politicians are among people whose
debts amounting to over US$5 million were written off due to poor record
keeping by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
An audit done by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Mildred Chiri,
reveals that when ZINWA handed over the management of water back to Harare
City Council in January 2009, it did not provide names of some individuals
who had defaulted.
Cabinet had four years earlier decreed that the management of water
countrywide be handed to ZINWA only to reverse the directive after the 2008
cholera outbreak which killed more than 4 000 people from more than 100 000
reported cases.
Although ZINWA could not provide the names of the defaulters, some of them
were high-ranking officials who had not paid for the scarce resource either
at their homes or business premises.
“Harare water debtors — finding — I observed that during the handover of the
management of water in Harare to City of Harare, the authority did not get
enough documents to support the debtor amount of US$5 068 614. No names and
amounts owed by each consumer were availed for this amount. As a result,
recovery of this amount is difficult. No action has been taken since the
2009 audit to date on writing off this amount,” reads part of Chiri’s
report.
“Management response. Noted. Approval for the write-off will be obtained
from the board.  The whole amount was provided for as a doubtful debt in the
books of accounts.”
The latest revelations come at a time when ZINWA is battling to recover over
US$70 million owed by some top government officials and ZANU-PF heavyweights
for water mostly used for irrigation purposes at their farms.
The chefs also owe ZESA Holdings millions of dollars in unpaid electricity
bills, another product of their farming ventures.
The failure to pay the power utility has affected ZESA’s ability to import
power, resulting in a crippling load shedding schedule now threatening the
winter wheat farming season.
In a judgment with far reaching consequences on the generality of the
country’s workforce last week, Labour Court president, Loice Matanda-Moyo,
exem-pted companies from paying their employees for time spent at the
workplace when there was no electricity due to load shedding.
In a separate report, Chiri said the power utility was losing revenue
because ZESA officials sent to disconnect power were being bribed.
“I noted the following from my review of internal audit reports: Prepaid
met-ers were no longer working and were being phased     out, due to this
fact about 5 000 units were not being billed.
“Most farmers were also not being billed because of their hostility to the
meter readers and their reluctance to pay,” said the C&AG’s report.
“Customers were not being disconnected as ZESA officials sent to disconnect
were being bribed . . . The company’s cash flows from debtors are
compromised by defaulting customers in collaboration with dishonest
employees. Investigations should be made into the allegations of employee
fraud and appropriate disciplinary measures should be taken against
culprits.”


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‘Shame on You’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 19th May 2012

 

Swazi protest outside the Savoy Hotel

 

Vigil supporters had a busy week helping our Swazi friends protest against King Mswati’s visit to the UK for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. We were disappointed that the Queen should invite Africa’s last absolute monarch to what we would regard otherwise as a joyful celebration.

 

Why should the Zimbabwe Vigil be worried about Swaziland? Our answer is that both countries are in the same boat: we both suffer under brutal regimes which deny democracy and abuse human rights.

 

We regard any friend of Mugabe as our enemy, so if – for instance – President Sata of Zambia comes to London we will also be there to protest. We were interested to read this week of the difficulty Zambia is experiencing getting Zimbabwe to repay its debts. We also note that the new Malawian President has said that a delegation is trying to get Mugabe to repay money lent to him by the late President Mutharika (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/may19_2012.html#Z7 – Malawi turns screws on Zimbabwe over debt). It always amazes the Vigil that anyone could be stupid enough to lend money to Zanu PF, which never honours its promises.

 

The protests against Mswati culminated after the regular Zimbabwe Vigil today when we processed from the Zimbabwe Embassy to the Savoy Hotel about 200 yards down the Strand to greet Mswati’s guests as they arrived for a dinner he was hosting. About 30 of us gathered with our drums and posters (King Mswati buys £30m plane while his people eat cow dung’, ‘Mswati and his 30 strong entourage stay in £400 a night Savoy Hotel while his people starve’, ‘End human rights abuses in Swaziland’, ‘Mswati must go NOW!’ and ‘Democracy now for Swaziland’). As Mswati’s guests went in we heckled them with cries of ‘Shame on you, Shame on you’. Protesters also shouted ‘women abuser’ and ‘save the young girls of Swaziland’. We were not surprised by the news from South Africa that one of the king’s 13 wives has spent the past month in the Presidential Suite of the Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg costing $2,000 a night (see: http://africajournalismtheworld.com/tag/swazi-queen-runs-up-huge-hotel-bill/).

It was a long day for the Swaziland Vigil which had gathered for their regular demonstration outside the Swaziland High Commission at 10 am today before presenting a petition to 10 Downing Street at 1 pm protesting about the human rights abuses in Swaziland. For the letter to the British Prime Minister that accompanied the petition (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/401-swazi-letter-to-the-british-prime-minister).

 

On Friday night activists from both the Swaziland and the Zimbabwe vigils joined the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell in a protest outside Buckingham Palace (see; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18099937 - Diamond Jubilee: World royals gather in UK for Queen).

 

King Mswati must have been left with little doubt about what we and the Swazis in the UK thought of him after we greeted him when he arrived at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/press-releases/400-protest-in-london-over-visit-by-swazi-king). The efforts that we and others have made resulted in totally negative media coverage for him in newspapers, television and radio. As the Times reported ‘Swaziland’s King Mswati III is said to enjoy a lavish lifestyle while his subjects starve’.

 

The success of the demonstrations was largely down to the hard work of Vigil management team member Fungayi Mabhunu and three members of the Swaziland Vigil: Flora Dlamini, Margaret Dlamini (who came to the protest on Wednesday straight after dialysis) and Jabulile Simelane.

Other points

·        We were sorry to hear that Vigil management team member Patson Mazuwa was in hospital. Fellow team member Addley Nyamutaka visited him on behalf of the Vigil and reports that he is getting effective treatment.

·        For the past few weeks we have been joined by Ellen Gonyora, Secretary General of the MDC Women’s Assembly. She and others were invited to the UK by the Labour Party for training in election campaigning. While waiting at Harare airport, she was targeted by CIO operatives who told her they would get her when she returned to Zimbabwe.  Too fearful to return, she is now seeking asylum in the UK. She has shown herself to be a committed activist, attending and contributing to all our activities.

·        Several Zapu members were with us today. They plan to join us on a regular basis. As we explained, anyone who supports our aims (ending human rights abuses and campaigning for democracy in Zimbabwe) is welcome to join us.

·        On Monday, the fifth of the monthly protests organised by the MDC diaspora will take place outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London from 1 – 4 pm. Representatives will be dispatched to the Mozambique and Zambian High Commissions – both members of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The protesters are targeting the Troika to demand it enforce media reforms and also appoint the long awaited three member team to the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC). These were both resolutions of SADC and the Troika is supposed to see to the implementation.

 

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

 

FOR THE RECORD: 57 signed the register.

 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·        Fifth 21st Movement Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC diaspora. Monday 21st May from 1 – 4 pm outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. Representatives will be dispatched to the Mozambique and Zambian High Commissions – members of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

·        Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 2nd June from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB.  Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.

·        Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 2nd June from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent.  Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

·       ROHR North East Meeting. Saturday 16th June from 12 - 3pm. Venue: Gateshead Council Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE8 1HH. 3mins walk from Gateshead Intercharge and Metro station before Gateshead Central Police station. Free parking available. Come let’s talk about issues that concern our beloved Zimbabwe. For directions please contact Tapiwa Semwayo 07722060246/ 07412236229, Susan Ndlovu 07767024586 and Catherine Tshezi 07428189705.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Vigil co-ordinators

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

 


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Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committees Series - 19th May 2012 [Meetings Open to Public 21-24 May: Public Hearings: Committee Reports ]

BILL WATCH

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES SERIES

[19th May 2012]

Committee Meetings Open to the Public 21st to 24th May

NB: Members of the public who cannot attend meetings, including Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, can at any time send written submissions to committees by email addressed to to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw

Thematic Committee and Portfolio Committee meetings will continue this coming week, in both open and closed session.  The meetings listed below will be open to the public as observers only, not as participants, i.e. members of the public can listen but not speak.  The meetings will be held at Parliament in Harare.  If attending, please use the entrance on Kwame Nkrumah Ave between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

This bulletin is based on the latest information from Parliament.  But, as there are sometimes last-minute changes to the schedule, persons wishing to attend a meeting should avoid disappointment by checking with the committee clerk [see below] that the meeting is still on and open to the public.  Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 and 252936.  If attending, note that IDs must be produced.

Monday 21st May at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Mines and Energy

Oral evidence from Mbada Diamonds and ZMDC on social responsibility activities to relocated families in Arda Transau among other related issues.

Senate Chamber

Chairperson: Hon Chindori-Chininga       Clerk: Mr Manhivi

Portfolio Committee: Higher Education, Science and Technology

Oral evidence from ZINASU on the state of tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon S. Ncube                      Clerk: Mrs Mataruka

Monday 21st May at 2 pm

Portfolio Committee: Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare

Oral evidence from the National Employment Council for the Communication and Allied Industries on the operation of the National Employment Council and challenges that are faced by the employees in the sector

Committee Room No. 1

Chairperson: Hon Zinyemba                     Clerk: Ms Mushunje

Thematic Committee: Gender and Development

Oral evidence from the Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development on the National Gender Policy and the progress made towards its implementation

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson:   ---                                         Clerk: Ms Masara

Thematic Committee: HIV/AIDS

Oral evidence from the Secretary for Health and Child Welfare on the procurement of Anti Retroviral Drugs

Government Caucus

Chairperson: Hon D. Khumalo                  Clerk: Mrs Khumalo

Tuesday 22nd May at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Health and Child Welfare

Oral evidence from City of Harare on waste management

Committee Room No. 1

Chairperson: Hon Parirenyatwa                Clerk: Mrs Khumalo

Portfolio Committee: Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade

Oral evidence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the First Quarter Budget Performance Report

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon Mukanduri                    Clerk: Mr Chiremba

Portfolio Committee: State Enterprises and Parastatals

Oral evidence from Allied Timbers Zimbabwe on their operations and challenges

Committee Room No. 2

Chairperson: Hon Mavima                         Clerk: Ms Chikuvire

Portfolio Committee: Industry and Commerce

Oral evidence from New Zimbabwe Steel Limited workers' representatives on the operations of the plant

Committee Room No. 311

Chairperson: Hon Mutomba                      Clerk: Ms Masara

Portfolio Committee: Agriculture, Water, Lands and Resettlement 

Oral evidence from ARDA on its operations

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Jiri                                 Clerk: Mrs Mataruka

Wednesday 23rd May at 9 am

No open meetings

Thursday 24th May at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Media, Information and Communication Technology

Oral evidence from the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe on progress made in the opening up of airwaves

Committee Room No. 413

Chairperson: Hon S. Chikwinya                Clerk: Mr Mutyambizi

Portfolio Committee: Small and Medium Enterprises

Oral evidence from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the regulatory framework that governs the financial services sector and its impact on small and medium enterprises

Committee Room No. 1

Chairperson: Hon R. Moyo                        Clerk: Ms Mushunje

Portfolio Committee: Women, Youth, Gender and Community Development

Oral evidence from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Youth Gender and Community Development on the First Quarter Budget Performance Report

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon Matienga                      Clerk: Mr Kunzwa

Public Hearings in Mash Central and Mash West

Effects of load-shedding on wheat farmers

Thematic Committee: Peace and Security

The thematic committee will be holding public hearings in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West on the effects of load shedding on wheat farmers

Tuesday 22nd May, Wednesday 23rd May and Thursday 24th May

Venues and times to be listed in a separate bulletin as soon as details are available

Chairperson: Hon Mumvuri                       Clerk: Miss Zenda

Committee Reports

[available from veritas@mango.zw]

Vocational Training Centres operated by Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment

Portfolio Committee on Women’s Affairs, Youth, Gender and Community Development

Presented to the House of Assembly:   15th May 

Service Delivery by the Local Authorities of Gutu and Chiredzi

Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development

Presented to the House of Assembly:   16th May

Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s Operations at Border Posts

Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance And Investment

Presented to the House of Assembly:   17th May

 

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied

 

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