Judge changes mind in Bennett case

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Violet Gonda
10 November 2009

The treason trial against MDC official Roy Bennett opened on Monday, and
after a few hours High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu postponed a ruling on
the preliminary legal arguments to Wednesday. But he later told the lawyers
that his judgment was ready and would be delivered on Tuesday.

Everyone turned up in court on Tuesday, including lead prosecutor Attorney
General Johannes Tomana, defence advocate Beatrice Mtetwa, Bennett and his
wife Heather and several MDC Ministers and officials.

But the Clerk of Court came out and announced that the ruling was not ready
and that it would be delivered on Wednesday, as originally planned.

Associated Press Journalist Angus Shaw said the reasons given by the Clerk
of Court were that there were 'final touches' being put to the ruling. He
said this sparked the rumour mill outside the court house and speculation is
rife that the State is going to change the charges because it has realised
that its case is extremely weak. "But we spoke to the defence team this
morning and they have not been informed that there would be any changes to
the charges," Shaw said.

The State's case depends on the disputed 'confession' of Peter Michael
Hitschmann, who served time in jail for possession of weapons, although he
is a firearms dealer. Hitschmann was originally accused of plotting the
assassination of Robert Mugabe in 2006 but the charge didn't stick.

The State is now accusing Bennett of having plotted with Hitschmann to
purchase weapons to overthrow the government. But upon his release from jail
four months ago Hitschmann said he was tortured in custody and forced to
make false confessions. He said he was not prepared to testify for the
State.

Bennett's defence team is disputing any 'evidence' from Hitschmann while the
prosecution says the legal approach by the defence is 'irregular.'
The Prosecution is also accusing the defence lawyers of using 'derogatory
and threatening language' in its arguments in defence of Bennett. The AG
also argued that he was only provided with the defence outline of the case
two days before the trial, instead of three.

However, Mtetwa is opposing the State's preliminary application and told the
court on Monday that she experienced great difficulty in preparing her case,
due to delays by the AG in providing them with the required information and
evidence about the State's case.

A statement by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said: "Mtetwa told
Justice Bhunu that the inclusion by the AG of Hitschmann's statement in the
State summary, without advising the court that this statement was
contradicted in the man's trial and recent affidavit, was not only
malicious, but constituted unethical conduct and gross abuse of the
prosecutorial powers of the AG which should be investigated."

Reform Zimbabwe c.bank to lure donors: Finance minister

http://af.reuters.com

Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:09pm GMT

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's government has failed to attract funding from
foreign donors for next year's budget because they feared the money could be
misused if the central bank is not reformed, the finance minister said on
Tuesday.

Tendai Biti, from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) told parliament that the central bank had to be reformed to
build confidence among donors and investors who have withheld critical
funding for reconstruction.

Tsvangirai formed a unity government with long time rival President Robert
Mugabe in February and the administration says it needs up to $10 billion to
prop up an economy wrecked by hyperinflation and unemployment.

"As long as it (the central bank) is in its current form, this will
constrain the ability of this government to attract foreign direct
investment and budgetary support," said Biti, during a parliamentary debate
on a central bank amendment bill.

"As I speak to you, we have failed to attract a single cent for budget
support. The first thing that they (donors) ask is 'are you going to put our
money through the central bank' and I have no answer to that."

Some critics blame central bank governor Gideon Gono, a Mugabe ally, for
policies that helped cripple the economy -- stoking inflation by printing
money and taking over functions of the national treasury, including buying
farming inputs and extending financial support to government departments.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe are locked in a dispute on how to share power, with
the former trade union leader accusing Mugabe of refusing to appoint a new
central bank governor and attorney general as part of a political pact
signed last year.

Mugabe has vowed that Gono will not be sacked.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Bill seeks to clip the powers of the governor
by appointing an independent chairperson and board, and to restrict the bank
to dealing with interest rates, currency management and regulating banks.

The governor's core function would be to chair a planned monetary policy
committee.

"I want honourable members to understand that we have a genuine problem of
credibility and accountability at the central bank. It is bleeding and we
need to stop that bleeding," Biti said.

He added the Reserve Bank had accumulated $1.5 billion in foreign debt last
year alone.

Mbare man dies… as municipal police unleashes violence on vendors

Call for Parliament to investigate conduct of the AG and the police

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by Stanley Chikomba
      Tuesday, 10 November 2009 12:26
      Zimbabwean lawyers want parliament to investigate the police and the
Attorney General's office for their disregard of the law. Lawyers grouped
under the banner of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) want
parliament to launch a probe into the conduct both state organisations.

      "ZLHR calls for the urgent establishment of an independent
Parliamentary committee inquiry into the continuing unlawful actions of the
ZRP," said Irene Pretras, the ZLHR Executive Director.
      As part of the probe they specifically want parliament to look into
the conduct of  senior police officers in Victoria Falls and Hwange, the
Commissioner-General of Police,  Co-Ministers of Home Affairs.
      These are accused of being "unable or unwilling to bring this
lawlessness to an immediate end."

      Several civic society leaders, including Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo, who was arrested in Victoria Falls
on Sunday, have been arrested in the region over the past two weeks.
      Petras added that parliamentary investigation should also be extended
to the AG's office which ahs of late been at the forefront of harassing
lawyers representing human rights and political activists.
      The most recent case is that of Harare human rights and media lawyer
Mordekai Mahlangu who was arrested last week. His arrest came after he had
written a letter to the AG Johannes Tomana. In the letter he sought to
advise that his client, Peter Hitschmann, identified by the state as the key
witness in Roy Bennett's trial, will not be able to take the stand because
evidence that he gave was provided under duress.
      "This inquiry should also include an investigation into the actions of
the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General who, as the
legal representatives of the ZRP, have failed or refused to execute their
constitutional and professional duty," said Petras.
      "They have failed to advise the police of their continued
misinterpretation and misapplication of the law, and must therefore be
perceived ...to be complicit in this continued harassment."
      The lawyers further condemned the unlawful arrest and detention in
Victoria Falls of the ZCTU president and four other union officials.

      In the past few weeks, the ZRP in Victoria Falls have unlawfully
arrested, detained and charged various NGO leaders and representatives
charging them under the Public Order and Secret Act (POSA). The Chairperson
and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Organisation of
Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and two employees of the Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN) have been the most recent victims of the
unlawful actions of the police and a justice delivery system which is
failing to protect their fundamental rights and freedoms.

More students arrested in Bindura

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
10 November 2009

Four more students were arrested on Monday at the Bindura University, in
what appears to be an intensifying clampdown on student activists in the
country.

The four student leaders were arrested during a campaign meeting at the
Bindura University of Science Education, where SRC elections have been
underway. The group, including outgoing SRC President Respect Ndanga, had
just finished addressing students at a campaign rally for one of the new
presidential candidates, Paul Dakarai. The students were arrested on as yet
unclear grounds, and were being detained at Mashonaland Central police
station.

At the same time, President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
Clever Bere, who was also in Bindura for the SRC polls, had to flee the area
because of a police-led hunt to have him detained. According to a ZINASU
statement, police and state intelligence details were 'frantically'
searching for Bere, even going as far as to set up road blocks out of the
area to try and find him.

The arrests meanwhile come mere days after nine other students were taken
into custody last Friday, reportedly by five members of Robert Mugabe's
presidential guard. The nine, who had been holding a discussion outside the
Bindura University's premises, were detained on allegations that they wanted
to disrupt a graduation ceremony being held that day. Eight of the students
were eventually released, although one of them, who had been actively
campaigning for Dakarai, has reportedly been handed over to the Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

ZINASU spokesperson Blessing Vava explained that all the arrests are linked
to preventing Dakarai from winning the influential position as SRC president
at the University. He explained that "the regime is concerned that their
preferred candidate for SRC president is facing defeat, and they are
arresting all those that are a threat." Vava said there are "grave concerns
about the continued persecution of student activists by the government,"
calling the arrests "a sheer act of despotism and desperation." He continued
by saying that since the beginning of the year there has been an escalation
of abuses against student activists across the country.

"2009 has been a year that has surpassed other years in terms of abuses,
because this year we have seen more suspensions, expulsions and arrests of
students than ever before," Vava said.

Massive RBZ-sponsored looting exposed

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=24792

November 10, 2009

By Takarinda Gomo

HARARE - Mildred Chiri, the Comptroller and Auditor General of Zimbabwe, is
a very brave woman. Mai Chiri, as she is popularly known, tabled her first
quarter report for 2009 in Parliament recently.

To say it was a damning report that exposed rampant corruption and
unprecedented wholesale looting of State assets by some Cabinet ministers
and permanent secretaries, is putting it mildly. Anyone who has had sight of
the report is shaking his or her head in utter disbelief.

For instance, the report reveals that 10 277 youths were employed in the
Ministry of Youth Development as so-called ward officers in the run-up to
the March 29, 2008, harmonized elections. The posts did not exist in the
government establishment. The youths were then deployed country-wide along
with Zanu-PF youth militia and state security agents. There they unleashed a
reign of terror, murder and mayhem that left over 200 innocent supporters of
the mainstream MDC of Morgan Tsvangirai dead and thousands others either
maimed or homeless.

There are certain strict procedures that must be followed without fail for
anybody's name to be added to the government payroll. First, the Public
Service Commission (PSC) would have created those posts. Justification for
establishment of the posts is informed by availability of financial
resources and also whether the posts are essential for the national
interest.

If the PSC is satisfied by the justification, it will approach the Ministry
of Finance (Treasury) to request, in writing, that resources be availed for
the posts. Treasury, will also weigh the macro-economic environment
especially areas that should be prioritized for funding, then respond to the
PSC request, also in writing, to confirm that indeed the resources are
available to support the posts.

From the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), these
procedures were completely dispensed with, thereby making this issue
extremely scandalous.

Somebody, somewhere, caused the State to be prejudiced of colossal sums of
money, paying ghost workers. The very fact that the youths were used for
political purposes to further the interests of the then ruling Zanu-PF,
calls for thorough scrutiny of the Public Service Commission. The PSC is the
employer and paymaster of all public servants. The PSC has to explain how
these posts were created. The PSC must then show that the Commission sat
down and approved the creation of the posts?

If not, who then authorized the hiring of the ward officers? Who instructed
Salary Services Bureau to add 10 277 names to the payroll? Whose signature
is there on the instruction?

If the PSC cannot answer these and other questions, then heads must roll.
The Chairman of PSC, Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwa, is known to ride roughshod over
other commissioners. If he, single-handedly decided to employ those youths,
and, as the CAG report confirms, the posts were not on the establishment and
Treasury authority was never sought, then Nzuwa should be arrested
forthwith, for prejudicing the State of large sums of money paid to the
youths.

The other commissioners should simply resign in shame for dereliction of
duty.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, under whose supervision
these youths fell, must be fired without delay. So should the minister,
Saviour Kasukuwere. How else can these officials face the public after being
named and shamed so publicly?

The CAG Report also focused its attention on the Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare, where Nicholas Goche presided as minister. He was one of
Zanu-PF negotiators during the talks that created the government of national
unity.

The report found out that 14 motor vehicles were donated as part of the
largesse from the central bank. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor
Gideon Gono operated an illicit quasi-fiscal project where motor vehicles
were purchased left, right and centre. Some even ended up in the hands of
girl-friends. Others cannot be traced to anyone. Some were donated to
Government ministries, parastatal bodies and even to trade unions that owed
allegiance to Zanu-PF. One such union is the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade
Unions, where the ominously ubiquitous Joseph Chinotimba is president.

No documentation accompanying the vehicles could be produced for the
auditors. Neither could the vehicles themselves. In essence, these vehicles
simply vanished into thin air?

Over now to the Ministry of Information. Here as well vehicles were donated
by the RBZ. Out of the 71 new vehicles donated to the ministry it is
believed that at least 20 were not accounted for. There was no audit report
on the ministry, but the press reports implicated a certain Mr. November,
who was then director of finance. George Charamba, the belligerent permanent
secretary was also mentioned, but the case collapsed like a pack of cards.
Mr November is still at large, a fugitive from justice. Reliable sources say
he is basking in stupendous wealth in Mbabane, Swaziland.

Back to the Ministry of Labour, the CAG Report says when Goche moved to the
Ministry of Transport after formation of the inclusive government in
February 2009, he took with him a luxury Toyota Prado. He apparently did not
find it necessary to seek Cabinet Authority, as is the normal practice.

The CAG Report then zeroes on Obert Mpofu, then Minister of Industry and
International Trade. This is the same gentleman who has thrown his hat into
the ring, to vie for the post of Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Not to be outdone, as the looting frenzy gained traction, he took two
vehicles while his former deputy, Phineas Chihota took only one.

But the then permanent secretary in that ministry, Colonel Christian
Katsande (Rtd), is mentioned in CAG Report as having taken possession of
four vehicles when he left the Ministry on promotion. He is now Deputy Chief
Secretary to the President and Cabinet, attached to which office he found
two brand new cars waiting for him as perks that go along with such high
posts.

This brings the total number of State vehicles possessed by Rtd Col Katsande
to six. It would be very interesting to find out if all these vehicles are
still physically in his possession.

It will be recalled that in the mid-1990s Col Katsande was Defence Attaché
in Paris, France, where he was implicated in the disappearance of large sums
of money. He was recalled home then promoted to permanent secretary. While
the CAG has now got it on record that Katsande took four vehicles from the
Ministry of Industry and Commerce he is promoted again to the exceedingly
powerful post of Deputy Chief Secretary.

Even Prime Minister Tsvangirai's own permanent secretary, Ian Makone is a
junior to Katsande.

Former Transport Minister and now Provincial Governor for Manicaland, Chris
Mushohwe and his ex-deputy Hubert Nyanhongo, and former permanent secretary
George Mlilo, are mentioned in the CAG Report as having taken three vehicles
each when they left the ministry. They told auditors that they had purchased
the vehicles but, apart from their verbal assertions, there is no proof of
purchase.

Former Minister of Information, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and his former deputy,
the once vociferous Bright Matonga are cited in the CAG report as having
helped themselves to computers, laptops, fax machines, again courtesy of the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. These assets were never on the Ministry's master
inventory. That is how the assets are easily stolen and that could explain
why Charamba and the Ministry of Information are not too keen on newspapers
that poke their noses where they are not wanted. Meanwhile they convince the
President that "unpatriotic newspapers" must not be registered.

The sad story is the same in the provinces and districts where shocking
revelations were unearthed by auditors at hospitals, passport offices,
schools and local government offices. It is very likely that the law will
take its usual course at these lower levels. As is the norm, the
untouchables at the top will again not be touched.

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the Parliament of Zimbabwe,
Tapiwa Mashakada, who is a mainstream MDC legislator, has been breathing
fire and brimstone. He has vowed that this was just "the tip of the
 iceberg." No stone would be left unturned until the looters are brought to
book, he said.

But Zimbabwe has traveled this particular road before. Parliament is not the
Executive. The damning report will gather dust somewhere in the files of
some portfolio committee and everything will soon be conveniently forgotten.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office, buoyed by recent victory at the Sadc
Troika in Maputo, is trying to flex its muscles by generating at police
headquarters an interest in these cases and press charges.

But in President Mugabe's Office, ever since the CAG Report was publicly
tabled in Parliament, the silence over scandal of such stupendous
proportions has been deafening. Those familiar with the behavioral antics of
the President are reading the tell-tale signs of anger in him these days as
being the result of these embarrassing revelations by Mai Chiri and her
staff.

Trade unionist comes out of hiding to launch damning report

Written by TAPIWA ZIVIRA

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 10:25

HARARE - The General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe  General Secretary Gertrude Hambira on Monday came out of her hideout to launch a damning report  and documentary exposing the devastating effects of the land reform programme on the livelihoods of farm workers. The launch was held at a local hotel in Harare and attracted over 100 guests from the civic society, labour organisations and the diplomats. Hambira has been in hiding during the past week after a failed attempt by suspected state agents to abduct her. It is widely believed that the documentary is the reason for the attempted abduction as it exposes top government officials’ involvement in the torture, harassment and eviction of farm workers in the chaotic land seizures. The documentary entitled House of Justice contains 26 minute footage laying bare the evidence of human rights violations targeting farm workers. Narrating in the documentary, Hambira appeals to the leaders in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to press the Zimbabwean government to end violence in the farms. SADC has been mainly blamed for not acting on Zimbabwe’s pull out from the SADC tribunal, which is a body set up by the nine member body to look into judicial disputes. Early this year the SADC tribunal ruled  that the Zimbabwean government should stop harassment s in the farms. But Zimbabwe has not abided to the ruling and has instead, pulled out of the tribunal and displacements continue in the farms. The report, entitled, “If Something is wrong” highlights the impact of the land reform exercise on the farm workers during the past ten years. Hambira said she hoped the documentary and report were going to go a long way in raising regional and international pressure on Zimbabwe to start respecting the basic human rights. “We want them to start seeing farm workers as people and to recognise their genuine need for the basic things like shelter and source of livelihood,” she said.   The full text of the report is available here:

Tsvangirai To Attend Cabinet Meeting Wednesday

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Harare, November 10, 2009 - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on
Tuesday said he will attend his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday,
officially ending a three week boycott that had shaken the fragile
transitional coalition government.

      "The cabinet meeting is there tomorrow. We will be attending in line
with allowing this process (the coalition government) to move forward," said
Tsvangirai in response to a question from a Radio VOP correspondent.

      Tsvangirai, who last week called off his party's boycott of cabinet
meetings with President Mugabe at the conclusion of a gathering of southern
African leaders, was addressing journalists in Harare on Tuesday.

      The cabinet which is usually held on Tuesdays was this week shifted to
Wednesday to allow President Robert Mugabe who is currently out of the
country attending the Sino-Africa summit in Egypt, to attend the cabinet
meeting.

      Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party started
boycotting cabinet and the Council of Ministers meeting early last month
until outstanding issues contained in their power sharing agreement have
been resolved.

      The MDC leader accused President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party of
deliberately provoking a crisis for the nine month-old inclusive government.

      The MDC boycott marked a potential turning point in the unlikely
coalition between two bitter enemies, Tsvangirai and Mugabe, who formed a
unity government in February after an 11-month standoff that followed the
March 2008 elections in which he defeated President Mugabe. But the MDC
leader later boycotted a second run of the presidential elections in protest
against politically motivated violence targeting his supporters.

      In June this year all MDC cabinet ministers boycotted a cabinet
meeting in protest after the chief secretary of the president and cabinet
advised them that the cabinet meeting had been brought forward to Monday
because President Mugabe was leaving for Libya to attend and African Union
Summit.

      The MDC said the move sought to deny Tsvangirai the opportunity to
chair cabinet when the Mugabe is away.

      Tsvangirai he was happy that the party now has the backing of SADC and
the parties were now talking. "We are very happy because we now have the
backing of SADC in the whole process and all the communiques have been
supportive of us and all our demands," said Tsvangirai just after having a
meeting with a representative of the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe defence
attache senior colonel Zhou Wei.

      Tsvangirai said he had a fruitful meeting with the Chinese diplomats
and was hoping for further corporations with the Asian economic giant.

Zanu PF in bid to divert funds meant for constitution making

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by Taurai Bande
      Tuesday, 10 November 2009 13:05
      MARONDERA-More than 100 war veterans, collaborators, Zanu thugs and
traditional leaders, have today demonstrated here, demanding that finance
minister Tendai Biti, (Pictured) must divert funds spared for new national
constitution making to agriculture.

      Placards wielded by the rogue and crowd shy demonstrators read,"
Finance Minister Tendai Biti, divert EU funds donated for the constitution,
to agriculture."
      The demonstrators bused from surrounding farms, denounced the MDC for
not being 'helpful' to farmers.
      "The previous Zanu PF government prioritized farmer's requirements
such as farm in puts. Elements in the inclusive government, who are anti-
Zanu, despise farmers and have a hidden agenda. The Finance Minister has
abandoned farmers," said a war veteran who refused to be identified.
      The demonstration which disrupted traffic flow in the town, was well
coordinated as the demonstrators met with traditional chiefs at Governor
Aenius Chigwedere's office. They presented a petition to the governor.
      The petition handing over was delayed for some hours as the governor
wanted the Television crew to cover the event. "The message must get to the
MDC's door steps. We will wait for television coverage, whatever time it
comes," said a demonstration leader identified as Mushayavanhu.
      The demonstrators vowed to disrupt drafting of the new constitution if
their demands are not met. They also threatened to grab in puts from
Zimbabwe Farmers Union warehouses without paying.
      Residents in town scoffed at the demonstrators, saying they did not
deserve what they were demanding.
      "Some farming fields are full of wild grass all year round. These so
called farmers have let the country down. No one should give in to their
demands. They have been sponsored by government since time immemorial," said
one of the residents.

Zimbabwe Workers Earn A Loaf A Day As Salary

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Chinhoyi, November 10, 2009 - One hundred desperate workers at
Superbake bakery, part of Harambe Holdings in Chinhoyi and Karoi towns in
Mashonaland West province, are earning a loaf of bread a day as their
salaries as the company alleges it is unable to pay them due to viability
problems.

      A loaf of bread in Zimbabwe costs 50 US cents.
      The workers said the lowest grade worker is supposed to earn USd 100
monthly.
      The workers now say they face evictions from their houses as they are
failing to pay rent.
      Chinhoyi town is situated about 120 kilometers north-west of Harare.
      Nearly 60 workers in Karoi town, a further 88 kilometers are also
facing the same fate as their Chinhoyi counterparts.
      In Karoi town, workers said their workshop had been closed and another
production shift of 20 people forced to go on unpaid leave last month. There
were two shifts at the bakery.
      Every worker who is owed outstanding salaries is getting a loaf of
bread daily.
      ''We believe management will sort this mess and we get our salaries
soon,'' said a female worker in Karoi. ''We no longer have delivery trucks
as all are grounded with drivers and mechanics forced to go on unpaid leave.
Currently we are using a taxi for local deliveries and no rural deliveries.
It's unfortunate that the festive season is coming without signs of
improving working conditions for us.''
      Federation of Food Workers Union national organiser Joseph Kunashe
said they had taken the workers' concerns to the Ministry of Labour.
      ''We took the matter to Ministry of Labour and it was referred for
arbitration on 1 December. When we earlier talked to Harambe chief executive
officer, David Govera, he had promised to pay all the workers what was due
to them but nothing has been done yet'' said Kunashe.
      Kunashe added workers will continue going to work until they are paid
or the case is heard by the arbitrator.
      Govera said,'' There are challenges of low production but we will pay
all what is due soon,'' before hanging up his mobile phone and switching it
off.

      Zimbabwe, which is importing wheat, is also currently facing acute
shortage of electricity. Major towns are getting electricity for less than 8
hours.''

      The situation is now getting out of hand and we expect to get our
salaries in full, but nothing has happened yet,'' said another worker.
      ''We are facing evictions by our landlords due to non-payment of rents
and its disappointing ...all we are getting from our employer is a loaf of
bread daily and it's not enough for food, rentals and other financial
obligations we have to meet,'' added another worker.

      Harambe Holdings group is a beneficiary of the government's black
empowerment drive and owns other companies such as Intertech Foods, Glendale
Springs, Vanel Tiles, Eco Plastic, Global Marketing, Superbake, Downings
Bakery and Freshbakery.

International trade union demands release of ZCTU leader

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
10 November 2009

The African regional organisation of the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has called on Robert Mugabe and the police to
immediately release five members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU), who were arrested over the weekend.

On Sunday night, the ZCTU members, including ZCTU President Lovemore
Matombo, were arrested in Victoria Falls and are still being detained in
Hwange. Matombo was meeting with the ZCTU executive for the Victoria Falls
area, on the first leg of a countrywide tour of the union federation's
structures, when they were arrested.

In a letter to Mugabe, which was also copied to Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and to all African labour bodies, ITUC-Africa Secretary General,
Kwasi Adu Amankwah said African labour demands the release of the ZCTU
leadership with immediate effect and also strongly condemned the arrests and
detentions of the ZCTU leadership, with Amankwah arguing that such arrests
violated their freedom of expression and association.

"The colleagues were carrying out a legitimate trade union activity, which
is protected under ILO (International Labour Organisation) Convention 87 on
freedom of association and protection of the right to organise," Amankwah
wrote. "Given that the Government of Zimbabwe has ratified this Convention,
it is under the obligation to uphold it and refrain from any acts of
interference in trade union affairs."

The ZCTU group were expected in court Tuesday to face charges relating to
the contravention of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), but we were
unable to establish if this court appearance happened as scheduled. POSA
meanwhile has been repeatedly used to ensure the arrests of human rights
defenders, with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Tuesday
accusing the police of using POSA as a tool of 'selective repression'. In
the past few weeks, the police have unlawfully arrested, detained and
charged various human rights defenders under the repressive law. The
Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Organisation of
NGOs (NANGO) and two employees of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network
(ZESN) have been the most recent victims of the unlawful actions of the
police.

ZLHR director, Irene Petras, explained on Tuesday that with these recent
arrests in mind, the motion in the House of Assembly to introduce a Private
Members' Bill to amend POSA is being welcomed.

"We urge all peace-loving and progressive legislators in the House to move
swiftly to ensure that the provisions of POSA, which continue to be
selectively applied to muzzle free speech and democratic action by human
rights defenders, becomes a phenomenon of the past," Petras said.

The ZLHR director also strongly condemned the arrests of the ZCTU leadership
and the illegal actions of the police, calling for an independent
parliamentary committee inquiry into the police's action.

"This inquiry should also include an investigation into the actions of the
Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General who, as the legal
representatives of the police, have failed or refused to execute their
constitutional and professional duty to advise the police," Petras said.
"They must therefore be perceived by all reasonable people to be complicit
in this continued harassment of human rights defenders."

Violent Zanu PF Youth Demand Land

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by Radio VOP
      Tuesday, 10 November 2009 11:02
      Kadoma - Zimbabwe Republic Police's support unit was called in on
Monday to disperse rowdy disgruntled Zanu PF youths who held Kadoma district
administrator hostage for an hour at his offices demanding land.
      The youth sang revolutionary songs threatening to beat the District
Administrator up. He was later rescued by the arrival of the Support Unit
police who forcibly dispersed the youth. No arrests were made. Kadoma mining
town is situated about 90 kilometres north-east of Harare in Mashonaland
West province.
      Youth leader Ronald Bhau, administrator David Shumba told Radio VOP:
''We have assisted political heavy-weights in the district in invading some
farms but we are still yet to get land of our own.We believe Shumba is not
assisting us. We have been used and abused by politicians and it's now our
turn to get our share as youth."
      An official within the administrator's office said the situation was
getting out of hand and the youths were not willing to discuss the issue
with anyone but wanted to assault the administrator.
      The official who spoke on condition that his name will not be
published said, ''The youths have been told by Zanu PF politicians in the
district that they can only access loans for inputs if they have offer
letters and they are in a hurry to get pieces of land, not to utilise but to
access loans and abuse them as this is what they have been doing since
2000.''
      However administrator Shumba refused to comment on the issue when
contacted.
      Land reform, initiated by President Robert Mugabe's government in 2000
to empower the landless blacks, has only benefited few of his ruling party
cronies that has seen the country failing to feed itself for the past eight
seasons.
      Zimbabwe, the once bread-basket of Southern Africa, has been reduced
to donor support internationally to feed nearly 5 million of its population,
according to latest Food and Agriculture Organisation- World Food Programme
statistics.
      The inclusive government is divided with prime minister Morgan
Tsvangirai calling for a halt to farm invasions that scare away investors
while Zanu PF continues to take away white owned farms forcibly.

Parly to amend POSA?

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

      Written by ZLHR Human Rights Defenders
      Tuesday, 10 November 2009 10:14
      HARARE -  Parliament will today debate a motion for leave to introduce
a Private Members Bill that will amend a draconian security law used by the
previous government to restrict political activity by pro-democracy groups
and individuals.

      The historic motion, which was introduced by Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) House of Assembly Chief Whip Hon Innocent Gonese, MP and
seconded by Hon Tabitha Khumalo, the MP for Bulawayo East on Thursday, faces
stiff resistance from ZANU PF MPs who for the last decade have been
religiously spared the use of the draconian Public Order and Security Act
(POSA) by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, at the expense of other democratic
forces.
      POSA, a revised and strengthened version of the colonial Law and Order
Maintenance Act (LOMA), regulates political gatherings, forces individuals
and groups to notify police before
      any gathering, and penalises one's failure to carry identity documents
among other things.
      "We want to de-criminalise the requirement of moving around with
identity documents," said Hon Gonese.
      Many members of the House spoke passionately about the negative and
unjustifiable effects POSA has had on their own and on the public's freedom
of expression, assembly, association and movement.
      "It's a motion for leave of the house to bring in a Bill to amend
POSA. We want the House to amend specific clauses such as Clasue 2 which
Parly to amend POSA? deals with the definition of public gatherings and
Clause 14 which deals with breach of peace to include the word 'serious' so
that it deals with serious breaches only," said Hon Gonese.
      "Failure to give notice to the police before a gathering should not
constitute a criminal offence," added Hon Gonese.
      He added that the courts and not the police should be responsible for
prohibiting gatherings or imposing bans, and only on just cause.
      In the past police have erroneously interpreted the notification
requirement to mean an application for pernission to hold a meeting.
      Debate on the motion was adjourned to tomorrow.
      Hon Gonese said a simple majority is required for the motion to sail
through.
      Democratic space in Zimbabwe remains severely restricted due to a
plethora of laws that inhibit freedom of assembly, movement and speech.
      A transitional government formed by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and President Robert Mugabe has been slow in implementing reforms which
include repealing draconian legislation
      nine months into the new administration.

      STATISTICS ON THE USE OF POSA AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS 2003
      o There were 55 cases involving the arrest and detention of Human
Rights Defenders (HRDs), involving a total of 822 HRDs
      o Of the 822 HRDs arrested, 274 individuals were charged under POSA
      o None of them were successfully prosecuted by the State 2004
      o A total of 155 HRDs were charged under POSA
      o None of them were successfully prosecuted by the State 2005
      o A total of 547 HRDs were arrested during this year
      o 52 of the HRDs were charged under POSA
      o None of them were successfully prosecuted by the State 2006
      o A total of 577 HRDs were arrested during the year
      o Of these, 65 HRDs were charged under POSA
      o None of them were successfully prosecuted by the State 2007
      o There were 96 cases of arrest and detention of HRDs, involving a
total of 1,127 individuals.
      o POSA was used in just 5 instances, owing to the advent of the
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which duplicated POSA in entire
sections
      o As such, the Code was used in 24 instances of arrest and detention
      o None of the HRDs were successfully prosecuted by the state - either
under POSA or the Criminal Code 2008
      o There were 1,446 instances of arrest and detention of HRDs
      o Of these, 271 were charged with participating in unlawful gatherings
and were charged under either POSA or the Criminal Code
      o None of the cases finalised have been successfully prosecuted by the
State 2009
      o At least 125 people have so far been arrested and accused of
participating in gatherings and charged under either POSA or various
provisions of the Criminal Code
      o None of the cases thus far have been successfully prosecuted by the
State, save for one instance in which the HRDs paid admission of guilt
fines.
      This was to secure their release and avoid being detained in inhumane
and degrading conditions in police cells. The admission of guilt fines are
now being challenged by the affected HRDs in the Magistrates' Court.
      Source- ZLHR Human Rights Defenders

MDC MP Cleared of Rape Charges

http://www.radiovop.com

      Gweru, November 10, 2009 - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and
Kwekwe central Member of Parliament, Blessing Chebundo, who has been facing
charges of raping a 14 year old girl has been acquitted.

      Regional magistrate William Bhila in his ruling said the prosecution
team failed to prove their case as the state witnesses contradicted
themselves during trial.

      After the ruling Chebundo told Radio VOP that he had been persecuted
by his political opponents to settle political scores and was now happy the
'truth' had come out.

      "I am very happy by the judgement.The truth has come out.I have been
harrased , beaten and detained several times .this has been the most trying
time," Chebundo told Radio VOP.

      "This case was painful in that my political opponents used the social
aspect in approaching a family to settle scores."

      Chebundo said he had been arrested more than 10 times during his
political career facing several charges that range from holding weapons of
war, holding unauthorized political meetings and for violence when he was
actually the victim.

      The lawmaker has been winning elections against Zanu PF senior
politburo member and also the Minister of Defence, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

      Chebundo was arrested in May this year for raping a 14 year girl from
his constituency on their way to Kwekwe from Harare near Sebakwe river, and
the girl has since given birth.

      The MDC had been complaining that their MPs were being arrested on
trumped up charges.

      The party's deputy Youth Minister ,Thamsanqa Mahlangu was also
recently acquitted  after facing charges of stealing Zanu PF's Joseph
Chinotimba mobile phone.
     

Leaders concerned about Zim

http://www.iol.co.za

          November 10 2009 at 05:29PM

      A political impasse in Zimbabwe has raised concerns from regional
leadership that the situation "could get out of hand", Department of
International Relations director general Ayanda Ntsaluba said on Tuesday.

      "The worst fear of all of us is the petty squabbling and politicking
among the leaders will lead to the squandering of resources," Ntsaluba told
reporters in Pretoria.

      He said the tight time frame of 30 days to settle the disagreement
over key posts in implementing the unity government in Zimbabwe was
indicative of the impatience felt by regional leaders.

      "The fact that there are clear time frames, as tight as they are, it's
a significance of some degree of impatience that the political leaders must
not squander what appears to be the

      opportunity, the only opportunity, to pull it [Zimbabwe] out of the
abyss."

      Last week at a Southern African Development Community summit it was
agreed that Zimbabwe's leaders would commit to the implementation of the
unity government within 30 days.

      "The inclusive government essentially is the only game in town," said
Ntsaluba.

      Some of the "impediments" that had been noted by the SADC ministerial
after meeting with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) included the
appointment of the reserve bank governor, the
      attorney-general and provincial governor.

      It has also raised concerns that there may be a re-emergence of
political instability and the possibility of new land invasions.

      Zanu-PF has raised the MDC's failure to aid in the lifting of
sanctions and contestations around the common understanding of the joint
power sharing agreement.

      Ntsaluba argued however that it was understood that the implementation
would not be an easy process.

      "The political temperature was a bit higher than normal," he said of
the visit to Zimbabwe.

      "We are dealing effectively with a fragile process. The levels of
trust are not exactly where they should be, dealing with people
      who were virtually at war," said Ntsaluba. - Sapa

Jindal Steel & Pwr Consortium Bids For Zimbabwe Plant-Source

http://www.gfmag.com

By Alex MacDonald

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- A consortium led by Jindal Steel and Power Limited has
been shortlisted as one of two bidders to buy a majority stake in
state-owned Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Co, or Ziscosteel, a person familiar
with the matter said Tuesday.

Jindal has teamed up with the Investment Development Corporation of South
Africa, or IDC, and the Development Bank of South Africa, or DBSA, to bid
for a majority stake in the plant.

Dow Jones Newswires previously reported that the second shortlisted bidder
is ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd. (ACL.JO), a unit of the world's largest
steelmaker, ArcelorMittal (MT).

The Zimbabwe government, which owns an 89% stake in Ziscosteel, is
interested in selling a 60% stake in the steelmaker as part of a broader
strategy to instigate economic reform.

The final bidder is expected to be announced in the next one to two weeks,
the person said.

Company Web Sites: www.jindalsteelpower.com ; www.arcelormittal.co.za

-By Alex MacDonald, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9328;
alex.macdonald@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 10, 2009 07:56 ET (12:56 GMT)

Senior Police Officers Victimised Over Cosafa Allowances

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Harare, November 10, 2009  -The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has
transferred two senior officers for demanding higher allowances for junior
officers who provided security during the just ended Cosafa  tournament.

      Officer Commanding Harare Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner
Charles Makono and Harare Province Operations Assistant Commissioner
Muchenje, who were in-charge of providing security, have been transferred to
Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces for demanding that the junior
officers be paid USD 900 per person for their services. This amount had been
agreed to by Cosafa and ZRP.

      Over 1000 police officers were deployed for the Cosafa tournament.

      According to minutes of a meeting conducted by ZRP and ZIFA officials
on October 12 to discuss security measures, officers were supposed to be
paid at least Usd 800 for ten days of duty, while the two senior officers
were to be given Usd 4 000 and 3 500 respectively.

      However the junior officers only received Usd 70 and given a top up of
USd 30 on Monday upon raising concerns. The officers told Radio VOP that the
two senior officers had since been replaced.

      Efforts to get an official comment from Deputy Commissioner General
in-charge of Human Resources Barbara Mandizha were fruitless as her mobile
phone was not reachable.

Media event for Betty Makoni, one of CNN's heroes