Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai vows to stay in government

http://uk.reuters.com

Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:40pm GMT

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai said Sunday he would stay in the government and challenge
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF to implement last year's political deal in
full.

Tsvangirai said last week his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was
suspending last month's cabinet boycott, which it imposed in response to
what it said was Mugabe's refusal to abide by the provisions of the
agreement.

Sunday, Tsvangirai told party supporters at a rally in Chitungwiza outside
Harare the boycott was a wake-up call for Mugabe not to regard his party as
a junior partner in the fragile nine-month-old coalition.

"We will not leave, our people told us that we should fight from inside. Why
should we leave when we are the majority party?," said Tsvangirai in a
mixture of English and vernacular.

A meeting of the Southern African Development Community in Mozambique last
week gave Mugabe and Tsvangirai 15 days to resolve the issues threatening to
derail the unity government, after which South Africa, which has been
facilitating a rapprochement, would step in.

Tsvangirai said South African President Jacob Zuma would visit Zimbabwe
after two weeks, a sign that Thabo Mbeki, the former South Africa president
who helped seal the unity government deal, might no longer be involved.

The MDC had accused Mbeki of siding with Mugabe and ZANU-PF during last
year's negotiations. Mbeki denied the allegation.

"ZANU-PF has this window of opportunity to demonstrate goodwill and that
they are committed to the unity government and commit themselves to the SADC
resolutions," said Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai did not say what his party would do if Mugabe failed to meet its
demands but political analysts say the two rivals have little choice but to
work together to stop the improving economy from plunging back into crisis.

The MDC has accused Mugabe of being a "dishonest and unreliable partner" for
refusing to implement power sharing fully, particularly regarding senior
appointments such as governor of the central bank and attorney general.

The former opposition party also says ZANU-PF is persecuting MDC officials
and stifling media and constitutional reforms vital for the holding of free
and fair elections in the next two years.

Mugabe says he has met his side of the deal and insists the MDC should
campaign for the lifting of Western sanctions against ZANU-PF, including
travel bans and a freeze on general financial aid to Zimbabwe.

"If ZANU-PF thought this (cabinet boycott) was a joke, you have learnt one
lesson ... that you must regard the MDC as an equal partner and not a junior
partner," Tsvangirai said.

PM urges Mugabe to treat him as equal

http://www.news.com.au/

Agence France-Presse

November 09, 2009 04:32am

   
ZIMBABWE Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has appealed to President Robert
Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party to treat him as equal partner in the power
sharing government.
"If you want this inclusive government to deliver hope to the people of
Zimbabwe, then you must regard the MDC as an equal partner not as a junior
partner," Mr Tsvangirai told his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
supporters at a rally in Chitungwiza, southeast of Harare.

"We are not a junior partner when we have the mandate of the people," he
said.

The rally was Mr Tsvangirai's first public address after calling off a
three-week boycott of the power sharing government with Mr Mugabe's camp,
which he accused of being "dishonest and unreliable".

The stand-off, which was resolved last Thursday in Mozambique by regional
leaders, threatened to paralyse the fragile unity government formed in
February this year.

"We have come a long way, both as a party and as prime minister, we will not
be shaken," Mr Tsvangirai told a crowd of about 4000 people.

Following the snub, Mr Tsvangirai and his officials stayed away from three
consecutive cabinet meetings with partners from Mugabe's Zimbabwe African
National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the smaller faction of the MDC,
lead by Arthur Mutambara.

One of the main reasons behind Mr Tsvangirai's decision was the detention of
MDC treasurer Roy Bennett who will on Monday appear in court on terrorism
charges.

Mr Bennett, a former coffee farmer was first arrested in February, shortly
after arriving from South Africa to take up the position of deputy
agriculture minister.

He is currently out on bail and faces a maximum death sentence if convicted.

Tsvangirai urges Mugabe to settle outstanding issues within 30 days

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Africa News
Nov 8, 2009, 15:16 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Sunday again urged
President Robert Mugabe to meet the deadline he has been given by regional
leaders to resolve outstanding issues that could collapse the power-sharing
government they formed in February.

'You (Mugabe) have leant one lesson - we are not a junior partner (in the
coalition government). We are not in there because of the generosity of
Robert Mugabe,' Tsvangirai told supporters of his Movement for Democratic
Change at a rally in Chitungwiza, some 30 kilometres south of Harare.

'We are the majority party in the country,' he said in what was his first
public address since last week's mini regional summit to iron out
differences between the two sides that gave Mugabe 30 days to resolve the
issues Tsvangirai had complained about.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit came after
Tsvangirai had pull out of the coalition government last month, accusing
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party of being an 'unreliable and dishonest partner.'

Tsvangirai has accused Mugabe making unilaterally appointing senior
government officials such as the attorney general and the central bank
governor.

Tsvangirai said Mugabe was authorizing constant harassment of his MDC senior
officials, including MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, and of bringing trumped up
charges against them. Bennett is accused of plotting to topple Mugabe, a
crime that carries the death penalty in Zimbabwe. It was Bennett's re-arrest
that triggered the MDC's pull- out from the coalition government.

'SADC said these people (MDC) are justified to take the action they took,'
Tsvangirai told his supporters. 'They said if you (MDC) do not go back into
the government, the country will slide back into chaos.'

Tsvangirai added that South African President Jacob Zuma had 'assured us
that the issues would be resolved in 15 days and that he would come to
assess the implementation of the power sharing agreement at the end of the
15 days. '

'We want the issues resolved once and for all.'

Tsvangirai did not indicate what action his party would take should Mugabe
fail to resolve the outstanding issues.

The fragile power -sharing deal was brokered by SADC following a hotly
disputed presidential run-off which Mugabe had won. Tsvangirai had won the
first round.

'Despite winning the election last year, I let the old man (Mugabe) be the
president and I the prime minister just for the sake of the country.'

Zimbabwe premier pleads to end to aide's trial

http://www.newsok.com

CHENGETAI ZVAUYA
Published: November 8, 2009

CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe (AP) - A malicious prosecution of a top aide must end,
Zimbabwe's prime minister said Sunday on the eve of the official's trial on
weapons-smuggling charges.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told party supporters that Roy Bennett
"must be treated fairly and the malicious prosecution must stop."

Tsvangirai had nominated Bennett to be deputy agriculture minister in his
troubled coalition government with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.
Bennett, 52, also is treasurer of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change.

"ZANU-PF must show to the world that they are serious and are committed to
democracy," Tsvangirai told a rally on the outskirts of Harare, the
Zimbabwean capital.

Bennett's case dates to 2006, when a weapons dealer was arrested and
initially accused of plotting to assassinate longtime President Robert
Mugabe.

The dealer, who was ultimately convicted of weapons possession, told
reporters that police had tortured and forced him to make a false confession
implicating several people from both Mugabe's party and Tsvangirai's party,
including Bennett, in the alleged plot.

No one else has been tried in connection with the dealer's alleged
confession. Bennett had not been linked to the case until his arrest in
February, when he was initially charged with treason.

Tsvangirai withdrew from the coalition last month, citing Bennett's case as
well as accusations of human rights abuses by ZANU-PF militants and security
forces loyal to Mugabe. Tsvangirai also accused Mugabe of treating him like
a subordinate and not a coalition partner.

After a three-week boycott, Tsvangirai announced Thursday he was returning
to the coalition, saying he was persuaded to relent following South Africa's
pledge to monitor the power-sharing deal.

"So tomorrow we are starting to work with Mugabe again in government,"
Tsvangirai said Sunday.

South Africa and other neighboring countries pushed Mugabe and Tsvangirai to
form their unity government in February following a series of inconclusive
elections marred by violence blamed on Mugabe's supporters.

Tsvangirai said that, a regional summit last week, South African President
Jacob Zuma had promised to intervene diplomatically "to clear all the
outstanding issues" if Zimbabwe's government could not resolve its feuding
within the next 15 days.

Bennett's Lawyers Ready For Monday's Trial

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Harare, November 8, 2009 - Lawyers representing Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer and nominee for the post of deputy
Agriculture minister, Roy Bennett will challenge some of the charges he is
facing on Monday when his terrorism trial kicks off in the High Court.

      "There are issues we want to be struck off the charge sheet because we
feel they are heresy and out of order," Beatrice Mtetwa, Bennet's lawyer
said. "The state wants to bring Michael Hitchmann to testify, but we have
since established that what he wants to say is different from what is
recorded in his witness account."

      Senator Bennett was arrested in February days after the formation of
the inclusive government at Charles Prince Airport and was held for charges
of planning to topple President Robert Mugabe.

      Tensions rose in the unity government when Bennett was arrested with
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai accusing Mugabe and his Zanu PF party of
persecuting his senior party official.

      When the MDC partially disengaged from Zanu PF on October 16,
Tsvangirai said his party was disengaging from the unity government as
outstanding issues of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) were yet to be
resolved and raised the issue of the government's failure to appoint Bennett
to his post.

      Bennett was once convicted by the parliament for punching  Zanu PF's
Patrick Chinamasa in parliament after the latter said Bennett's forefathers
were 'thieves and murderers.' He spent more than a year in jail before
leaving the country and lived in South Africa in exile.

      Bennett later returned in January this year when the unity government
was on the verge of being formed.  Mugabe has refused to swear him, citing
the serious charges he is facing,

      However, despite swearing in Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, who was
facing treason charges in February, before being cleared by the courts,
independent analysts, have said Mugabe is playing a racial card on the
former white commercial farmer.

Zimbabwe ruling party responsible for 88% of power-sharing violations-CSOs

Why does the media persist in talking about the "ruling party" and the
"opposition" ?  Ed]

http://www.apanews.net

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU PF, is responsible for
almost 90 percent of breaches of an agreement that paved the way to the
formation of the country's unity government, a Coalition of civil society
groups Sokwanele said Sunday in Harare the capital.

The Coalition of civil society groups falling under the banner of Sokwanele
said it had so far recorded 3,850 breaches of the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) which was signed by President Robert Mugabe of ZANU PF, Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai of the main Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wing and
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara of a breakaway MDC faction.

It said ZANU PF was responsible for 88.8 percent of all the violations
recorded up to the end of October.

"October has been a month characterized by violence, lawlessness, corruption
and the complete abuse of power for partisan and personal objectives,"
Sokwanele said in a report released Sunday.

Some of the violations included continued arrests of MDC activists on what
observers say are trumped-up charges and the re-emergence of torture camps
in the country side which are run by ZANU PF militias.

The civil society groups said cases of political violence have increased
since the announcement by Tsvangirai on 16 October that his MDC was
suspending cooperation with ZANU PF.

The month of October also witnessed the deportation of the UN special
Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak.

Nowak, who had been officially invited to come to the country, had his
invitation cancelled at the last minute while he was mid-journey in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

He was subsequently refused entry into Zimbabwe and deported.

  JN/ad/APA 2009-11-08

Fresh hope for Zimbabwe as Zuma takes over as mediator

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Sunday, November 8 2009 at
19:27

HARARE, Sunday

There is renewed optimism that Zimbabwe's on and off coalition government
will be rescued after a regional body asked South African President Jacob
Zuma to step in as the new facilitator.

Mr Zuma effectively replaces his predecessor Mr Thabo Mbeki who helped
broker the historic power sharing agreement on September 15 last year,
leading to the formation of an inclusive government in February.

But Mr Mbeki was criticised for being soft on President Robert Mugabe with
some of the Zimbabwean parties publicly declaring that they no longer had
confidence in his mediation.

Strict time line

Last week, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai suspended his three-week
"disengagement" from the power sharing agreement with Mr Mugabe following a
mini regional summit in neighbouring Mozambique.

The decision was largely influenced by Mr Zuma's entry, which was
immediately hailed by Mr Tsvangirai's camp.

Negotiators from the three parties in the coalition - Zanu PF and the two
formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - will begin talks
anytime this week so as to meet the strict time line set by the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) mini summit.

The time line in the communiqué issued after the SADC summit says the
parties should engage in dialogue with immediate effect within 15 days and
not beyond 30 days and that the dialogue should include all outstanding
issues.

"After 15 days President Zuma will come here to access progress and if there
is no agreement within a month then there will be another summit," MDC-T
spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa said. "We suspended our disengagement after a
persuasive effort by our guarantor, which is SADC.

"We felt obliged, out of respect, to comply with the position of SADC."

Mr Tsvangirai gave Mr Mugabe 30 days to resolve the outstanding issues of
their power sharing agreement.

The former opposition leader wants Mr Mugabe to reverse the unilateral
appointments of his cronies to head the central bank, the attorney general's
office and provincial governors.

The party is also demanding an end to politically motivated arrests of its
MPs and the ongoing prosecution of its treasurer general Mr Roy Bennett who
returns to court on Monday facing banditry charges.

Before the SADC mini summit, Mr Mugabe, who faces severe pressure from Zanu
PF hardliners determined to maintain their hold on power argued that he had
met his part of the bargain.

He maintained that the only outstanding issues were the targeted sanctions
imposed on his family and his inner circle for their involvement in human
rights violations before the formation of the unity government in February.

But the SADC communiqué issued after Thursday's summit attended by leaders
from Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland, DRC and South Africa said "the parties
should fully comply with the spirit and latter of the GPA and Sadc summit
decisions of 27 January 2009."

Mr Chamisa said their decision to suspend the three week boycott of cabinet
and council of ministers meetings showed that they now had faith in the SADC
mediation led by Mr Zuma.

Mr Brian Badza, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe
(UZ) said the 30-day time frame was "unrealistically ambitious" considering
that the parties were currently "poles apart".

"I don't see much being achieved during the given time frame because the two
parties are poles apart," he said.

Would be resolved

"No key issues would be resolved. Only issues of little significance .
issues that do not tamper with Zanu PF's strategic interests would be
solved," Mr Badza said.

"Zanu PF hardliners would not agree to anything that would compromise their
socio-economic and political interests."

Professor Eldred Masunungure, another UZ lecturer concurred, saying even if
Mr Mugabe failed to meet the deadline, the inclusive government will not
collapse because the parties have realised that they cannot do without each
other.

The Prime Minister's spokesperson Mr James Maridadi said he was hopeful that
Mr Mugabe would have addressed the outstanding issues within the 30 days.

"We are very hopeful," Mr Maridadi said.

"In the event that Mugabe does not comply with the agreement and Zuma's
mediation fails, it would mean the collapse of the government."

An exiled Zimbabwean journalist Ms Gerry Jackson felt that SADC leaders were
still not tough enough on the veteran ruler. "It is unclear how it's
possible to read this document (SADC communiqué) as a deadline on Mugabe to
implement the GPA within 30 days," she said.

"It would appear to be a document that says nothing more than remove
sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his ruling elite and start talking again within
30 days."

China to boost aid to Africa as ties blossom

http://www.reuters.com

Sun Nov 8, 2009 6:37am EST

By Ben Blanchard and Cynthia Johnston

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered Africa
$10 billion in concessional loans over the next three years on Sunday,
saying China was a "true and trusted friend" of the continent and its
people.

The aid offer is double that unveiled by President Hu Jintao at the last
summit in Beijing in 2006, as China aims to boost a relationship which
politically goes back decades and is now economically booming, to the
discomfort of some in the West.

Wen brushed aside concerns that China was only interested in Africa's
natural resources to help feed its booming economy.

"China's support for Africa's development is real and solid and, in the
future, no matter what turbulence the world undergoes, our friendship with
the people of Africa will not change," he told a summit in the Egyptian
resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Besides the loans, Wen said China would help Africa develop clean energy and
cope with climate change, encourage Chinese financial institutions to lend
to smaller African firms and expand market access for African products.

He also called for greater international help for the continent.

"Africa's development is an essential part of achieving global development,
and as the sincere and dependable friend of Africa, China deeply feels the
difficulties and challenges faced by Africa," We said.

"China calls on the international community to enhance its sense of urgency,
and support Africa's development in an even truer and more effective way."

COLONIAL PERIOD

Blossoming trade and business ties have attracted Western accusations that
Beijing is only interested in African resources, while Chinese commentators
respond that envious Europeans still treat the continent like a colony.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi welcomed China's offer of aid. "We the
African leaders are able to take the necessary measures to be able to
benefit from the opportunities created by our partnership with China in a
manner that is consistent with our principles of solidarity."

China's friendship with Africa dates from the 1950s, when Beijing backed
liberation movements fighting colonial rule.

Trade has risen sharply in the past decade, driven by China's hunger for
resources to power its economic boom and African demand for cheap Chinese
products.

Still, this has not been without its critics, who say China is only
interested in African resources and supports governments with dubious human
rights records as a means to get them.

The summit was attended by the presidents of Zimbabwe and Sudan, two
countries often under fire for their rights records.

Wen repeated that China would not interfere in the internal politics of any
African country.

"The Chinese government and people have always respected the autonomous
right of the African people to choose their own social systems. China's
support and aid for Africa has never and will never attach any political
conditions."

Some Chinese commentators have not been so diplomatic in the days running up
to the summit, saying the West still views Africa as though it were a
colony.

"The West is envious of China and Africa drawing closer," popular Chinese
tabloid the Global Times, published by Communist Party mouthpiece the
People's Daily, wrote on Tuesday.

"Europeans view Africa as their own backyard," the newspaper quoted Chinese
Africa expert Xu Weizhong as saying. "Of course they feel uncomfortable
about the arrival of the Chinese."

Some Africans say China's approach differs from that of Europe or the United
States.

"China's policy is based on mutual development. Few Western countries have a
foreign policy like this -- most are about telling Africans what to do,"
said Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, executive director of the Africa program at the
China Europe International Business School in Shanghai.

Harare Central prison sold to Chinese

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by STAFF REPORTER
      Saturday, 07 November 2009 13:06
      HARARE- - Harare Central prison complex which houses more one 2000
families and over 4 000 inmates has been sold to a Chinese company which
plans to convert the jail into a manufacturing plant.
      The prison complex is made up of Harare Remand and Central prisons, a
workshop, the commissioner's mess and officers' accommodation. According to
highly placed sources within the Prison Service National Headquarters who
attended a meeting in Harare last Tuesday to finalise the deal, the Chinese
firm has offered to build a new prison at Chikurubi farm with the process to
relocate the Harare Central prison to happen over a five-year period.
      The name of the Chinese firm was not yet available and it was not
immediately what business the company is involved in.  According to our
sources, a delegation comprising heads of ZPS departments has visited the
proposed new prison site to ascertain the suitability of the area. It could
not be established how much the Chinese firm paid or is going to pay for the
relocation of Harare Central prison to Chikurubi.
      "Work has started and all senior heads of departments were on Tuesday
(last week) ordered to go and scout the suggested ground on which their
Stations, Sections and Departments are to be erected at Chikurubi farm which
is also Prisons' property. "We have also been ordered to put down our
requirements for each department and forward them with immediate effect,"
said the source who also attended the meeting.
      ZPS acting public relations officer superintendent Elizabeth Banda
confirmed the development, which she described as a "win-win deal". "I can
confirm that there are plans to relocate Harare Central Prison Complex and
appropriate measures and procedures are being taken to make sure that both
parties benefit from it," said Banda in a telephone interview.
      However other senior ZPS officials argued that the decision to
relocate Harare Central prison to Chikurubi could endanger the health of
both prison staff and inmates because of dust and other emissions from the
giant Lafarge Cement (formerly Circle Cement) plant near Chikurubi.
      An officer, who did not want to be named, said: "It is Chikurubi
Prison that should be moved elsewhere considering the environmental and
health issues."

Lawyers to protest against Tomana

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by The Zimbabwean
      Friday, 06 November 2009 13:28
      HARARE - Zimbabwe's lawyers will next week boycott work to protest
alleged harassment and persecution by state security agents and the Attorney
General's (AG)'s office.

      The lawyers decided to boycott work on November 16 at a meeting held
in Harare last week under the auspices of the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ),
the representative body for the legal profession in the country.
      The lawyers decided to act following the arrest earlier last week of
Harare-based media and human rights lawyer Mordecai Mahlangu for writing a
letter to the AG, Johannes Tomana, advising him that his client, Peter
Hitschman -- a key state witness in the trial of Roy Bennett -- would not be
able to testify because the evidence that he gave was obtained through
torture.
      "We have resolved to boycott our court duties on November 16 and
attend Mahlangu's court case as a show of protest. We will also write a
letter of complaint to the Minister of Justice (Patrick Chinamasa), AG,
Police Commissioner (Augustine Chihuri) and High Court Judge President (Rita
Makarau) outlining our complaints against the manner and conduct of the AG,"
said Chris Mhike, an LSZ representative.
      "There is also the possibility of boycotting the 2010 opening of the
judicial year at the High Court if our concerns are not addressed by that
time," he added.
      A number of lawyers have been arrested during the year, particularly
those handling cases related to politics and human rights issues. Among
those arrested and charged by the state is Alec Muchadehama who is on trial
for attempting to defeat the course of justice when he went to the High
Court to demand the release of a client who had been granted bail.
      The planned protest will be the second such action by lawyers this
year after they staged another protest last May following the arrest of
Muchadehama. However Chinamasa did not give the lawyers an audience.
      Of particular concern to the lawyers is the continued arrests and what
they allege is unprofessional behaviour by the AG.
      Tomana, a self proclaimed Zanu (PF) sympathizer, is regarded as among
hardliner supporters of President Robert Mugabe working to derail the
power-sharing government between the veteran President and his former
opposition foes Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur
Mutambara.
      Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party have questioned Tomana's tenure at the
AG's department, insisting that he must be dismissed because Mugabe did not
consult his coalition partners before appointment him to the post.
      Under the global political agreement that gave birth to Zimbabwe's
power-sharing government Mugabe must consult his coalition partners before
making senior appointments.

Campaigners vow to continue fight over Zimbabwe's diamond fields

http://www.guardian.co.uk

Anger after regulatory body refuses to suspend African country following
claims of killings and rapes in mining district

Ian Evans
The Observer, Sunday 8 November 2009

Groups campaigning to suspend Zimbabwe from a diamond regulatory body say
they will begin lobbying its new chair after last week's failure to oust the
beleaguered African country from the organisation.

Global Witness said it was dismayed the Kimberley Process Certification
Scheme (KPCS) did not suspend Zimbabwe despite widespread claims of
killings, rapes and smuggling in the eastern diamond fields of Chiadzwa.

A KPCS working party, which visited the country in June, reported on
army-led violence against illegal miners with civilians virtually forced
into panning for diamonds in return for low payments, organised by military
syndicates.

However, at a four-day meeting in Namibia, which ended last Thursday, the
diamond body gave Zimbabwe until June to improve. The KPCS agreed to send a
monitor to the site but it is unclear who that will be or the level of
co-operation demanded of the government.Campaigner Susanne Emond from
Partnership Africa Canada, which fights against diamond-related violence,
said: "We are disappointed but not surprised by the decision. Zimbabwe saw
suspension as punishment but it isn't. Being part of the scheme means you
should maintain certain standards and we know from various reports that
there is non-compliance in Zimbabwe."

Campaigners believe the current chair, Namibia, is opposed to suspension but
hope Israel, which is due to take over in 2010, will be "stronger and more
decisive" on Zimbabwe.

Annie Dunnebacke from Global Witness said: "Not for the first time the KPCS
has failed to enforce its own minimum requirements. We know there is
non-compliance inside Zimbabwe, our own report said so."

Human Rights Watch says 200 people have died at Chiadzwa since Robert
Mugabe's government ordered a bloody crackdown on illegal panners in October
last year. But one group inside Zimbabwe says the figure is closer to 400.

Soldiers accused of harassment in Muromo

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by TONY SAXON
      Saturday, 07 November 2009 13:54
      MUTARE - Villagers in Muromo in Mutare West constituency have accused
soldiers and members of the support unit in the area of harassing them for
supporting and attending MDC (Tsvangirai) functions.
      One of Robert Mugabe's closest allies, Christopher Mushowe, lost the
parliamentary seat to the MDC's Shuar Mudiwa last year. Mugabe appointed
Mushowe a non-constituency senator, and then appointed him governor of
Manicaland.
      However, the appointment was not in the spirit of the global political
agreement and Mushowe is set to lose his post to an MDC governor.
      Villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said the soldiers and police,
working under instruction from Mushowe, had been causing havoc in the area.
      "During the run-up to last year's elections, the soldiers and the
support unit set up a mini base at Muromo, which was used to beat and
torture suspected MDC supporters. The base has not yet been dismantled and
the soldiers are still using this base to harass the villagers as punishment
for voting the MDC," said John Mushure, a local councillor.
      The soldiers have also been accused of harassing workers of an
non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is helping households in the area.
      The NGO confirmed their work was being disrupted.
      "I have since lodged a formal complaint with the police in Mutare, but
we have realised that no action is being taken. We have also noted that it
is useless to lodge the complaints to the governor's office because they are
an interested party," said an official from the organisation.
      He said last week they were meeting community leaders at a school when
the soldiers, who were apparently drunk, stormed and demanded to be
included.

Mutsekwa urges Mnangagwa to end violence

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by FUNGI KWARAMBA
      Friday, 06 November 2009 00:00
      HARARE - Co-Minister of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa says he has spoken
to Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa over escalating attacks by soldiers
against members of the MDC-T party.

      Mutsekwa, who heads the home affairs department alongside Kembo Mohadi
from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party, last week said Mnangagwa
promised to take action over the attacks.
      "The violence against our party is a deliberate move by Zanu (PF) to
cow us into submission and also to derail the constitutional making
 process," said Mutsekwa, who is a senior member of the MDC-T.
      He added, "since soldiers are involved I have talked to my counterpart
the Minister of Defence Emerson Mnangangwa and he has assured me that he
will take action on the matter."
      Mutsekwa said violence could undo progress made by the unity
government and called on all state security departments to shun violence.
      He said: "I was in Matabeleland North province and I was shocked at
the violence and intimidation that is targeted on MDC supporters by soldiers
and Zanu (PF) youths."
      "There are soldiers and youth officers (Border Gezi) from the Ministry
of Youth and Employment Creation who were deployed to rural areas last year
and we know that there are still stationed in those particular areas and
there are now causing this latest wave of violence."
      Mnangagwa was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
      But observers doubt the Defence Minister, considered one of the
hardliners in Zanu (PF), will act to end violence against MDC-T supporters
and other perceived opponents of President Robert Mugabe's party.

Ex-soldier seeks redress over Chinamasa

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=24664

November 8, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - An ex-soldier has approached the Deputy Justice and Legal Affairs
Minister, Jessie Majome, to seek redress in a long-running case in which his
factory was illegally sold by the Master of High Court, Charles Nyatanga.

Ex-serviceman Bobby Maparanyanga, who saw service in the Zimbabwe National
Army in the 80s and 90s, says Nyatanga illegally sold his factory in
Willowvale more than 10 years ago. Maparanyanga and the British national who
bought the factory have over the past decade filed with the High Court and
Supreme Court numerous applications and counter applications, and no less
than six different judges have adjudicated upon these applications.

Maparanyanga has written a record 10 letters to President Mugabe seeking
redress, but Nyatanga has been protected by the minister of Justice and
Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, according to correspondence in our
possession.

Maparanyanga says Chinamasa has over the past 10 years blocked the
prosecution of Nyatanga for illegally selling the factory.

Documents in our possession reveal the long-running attempts by Chinamasa
and his permanent secretary David Mangota to shield Nyatanga from
prosecution from as way back as 1999.

Nyatanga illegally sold Maparanyanga's property when he was still a
Messenger of Court.

Nyatanga was said to have sold Maparanyanga's Lot 1 of Willowvale industrial
factory measuring 8094 square metres to British national Michael Scot Asher,
claiming that he was conducting a judicial sale and that Maparanyanga's
property had been sold to recover money owed to ZimBank.

However, at the time of the sale of the property, ZimBank had advised
Nyatanga through its lawyers that there was no need to proceed with the
judicial sale because all monies owed had been paid back in full, but
Nyatanga went ahead and made an illegal sale, from which he is alleged to
have personally benefited.

Nyatanga was said to have proceeded to make the sale cognisant of
instructions from lawyers Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans, the legal
practitioners of the then ZimBank, to which Maparanyanga was indebted, to
cancel the auction sale.

Because of difficulties encountered in reclaiming his property, sold for
Z$30 million back then, the ex-soldier approached President Mugabe seeking
his help.

The Zimbabwe Times is in possession of letters sent to President Mugabe
between 2002 and 2008, appealing for his executive intervention in getting
Nyatanga to face justice, but to date Maparanyanga's has failed to recover
his property amid blatant meddling in the justice process by Chinamasa, he
alleges.

Mugabe also refused to act on Maparanyanga's appeal for justice, only
ordering an investigation but refusing to act on the "blatant miscarriage of
justice".

Now the ex-soldier has stacked his hope of recovering his property on Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who together with Mugabe and deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara formed a unity government in February.

Tsvangirai has assigned Deputy Justice Minister Jessie Majome to deal with
the matter.

"The case is on her front burner," Majome told The Zimbabwe Times. "I am
aware of the matter and I am looking into it."

In his letter to Mugabe dated August 15, 2007, Maparanyanga complains that
his just cause to have Nyatanga arraigned before the courts for his criminal
conduct of illegally selling his industrial property had been blocked by the
same authorities who otherwise are supposed to be the custodians of the
justice delivery system.

"There is no doubt that Mr D Mangota and the honourable minister Cde
Chinamasa are firmly behind the protection of Nyatanga," says the letter to
Mugabe. "I must say here that I talk of protection which is being given to
Nyatanga not because he needed such protection, but that, those who are
protecting him know very well that Nyatanga committed the offence and if
they do not block the course of justice, he will be punished by the law."

Maparanyanga further says there has been perverse conduct by judges
appointed to hear the case and their judgements showed the meddling by the
minister.

Chinamasa was not available for comment at the time of going to print.

Documents to hand reveal that after failing to obtain justice in the High
Court, Maparanyanga took his case to the Supreme Court on October 1, 2007,
but he says he just went to the hearing as a formality as the matter was
"finalised before it was heard", and laments that there has been no justice
for him and he feels let down by the system.

After losing his case in the Supreme Court, Maparanyanga again attempted, in
futility, to highlight to Mugabe that the sale of his factory was clearly a
criminal conduct to deprive him of his property permanently and that
Nyatanga's insistence to go ahead with the sale in spite of the cancellation
by Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans lawyers indicated that there was something
Nyatanga was personally benefitting and went beyond his normal work.

Mugabe tasked Tsodzo to propose convening independent assessors to resolve
the matter, but it is believed the independent assessment was blocked by Ray
Ndlukula.

Mugabe was said to have advised Maparanyanga that notwithstanding losing the
case in the Supreme Court, he will still be helped to recover the property.
But Mugabe has not acted to this day to recover Maparanyanga's property.
Meanwhile all efforts to arraign Nyatanga before the courts have been
foiled.

"I cannot rest until I get my property back or a full compensation of its
value, therefore, I do not think it is right that we are independent to
protect wrong-doers at the expense of innocent citizens," Maparanyanga said
in another letter to Mugabe, dated September 8, 2008.

Maparanyanga says he is now pinning his hopes on Majome. He says he is
appalled that the judiciary could be suborned to the whims of Minister
Chinamasa.

Crocodile Menace In Kariba

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Kariba, November 08, 2009 - Fishing in Kariba has become risky with
reports that crocodiles have killed at least three people weekly in the last
three months.

      Ranganai Maparamhaka of Nyamhunga suburb said: '' We have had an
increased number of people being killed by crocodiles of late and this year
seems to be the worst so far.''
      Maparamhaka has been living in the resort town for the past 15years.
      Another resident, Chipo Mukai, also of Nyamhunga, added that the
crocodiles were in ''revenge mood'' as last year people were forced to eat
crocodile meat due to hunger that gripped Zimbabwe during its economic decay
over the political impasse between Zimbabwe's major parties.
      ''Crocodiles are in revenge mood as last year their meat was the only
cheap relish we could afford here," she said. The meat popularly known as
stali here was the cheapest for the majority.
      Although, a delicacy among the tourists, its almost taboo to eat
crocodile meat in most parts of Zimbabwe.
      A police officer based in Mahombekombe confirmed they had received
reports of at least three deaths weekly from mainly fishmongers killed by
crocodiles in Lake Kariba.
      Fishing, is the major source of income, among the un-employed.
Zimbabwe's un-employment rate is estimated to be more than 80 percent.
      However, an official with National Parks, said the organisation no
longer destroyed unhatched crocodile eggs as they used to do. This was done
to control crocodile population in the biggest man-made lake that generate
power to the country.
      ''We used to destroy unhatched crocodile eggs and it was a move aimed
at curbing crocodile over-population in the lake but its no longer the case
due to resources constraints in the department. Another factor that has seen
the crocodiles targettng fishmongers is due to lack of food in the lake,''
said a junior officer.

Landlord evicts MDC man

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by STAFF REPORTER
      Friday, 06 November 2009 13:04
      MUTOKO - An MDC-T activist from Mutoko in Mashonaland East province
has been evicted by his landlord who fears Zanu (PF) militants who have
unleashed a new wave of violence in the area could destroy his property.

      Silas Gweshe, who stood for MDC-T in Mutoko South constituency but
lost to Zanu (PF)'s Olivia Muchena, said he was evicted from a house he
rented at Mutoko business centre.
      "I was a tenet at Mutoko but my landlord said that I can no longer
stay there because his house could be destroyed by Zanu (PF) supporters,"
said Gweshe.
      "I no longer have anywhere to go as people are now afraid to
accommodate me at their homes while my house was burnt to the ground leaving
me homeless," he said.
      Human rights groups say hardliner elements in Zanu (PF) and in the
military have stepped up violence MDC supporters in recent weeks, while the
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) last week called on the
Southern African Development Community to deploy a mission in Zimbabwe to
monitor and report on incidents of political violence in the country.

Velvet bonnets, silk tassels...and honorary degrees

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by SHOWBIZ REPORTER
      Saturday, 07 November 2009 14:18
      HARARE - A degree these days costs three years of a student's life and
up to US$20,000 by the time tuition fees and living costs are taken into
account. For a fortunate few, however, there is a way round investing large
amounts of time and money - produce fantastic music, organise national
beauty pageants or support community projects.
      The three categories above were in particular favour at this year's
Women's University's fifth graduation ceremony held at Zimbabwe Gardens in
Chisipite.
      The university's headline act was awarding superstar Oliver Mtukudzi
an honorary doctorate of music for his "tireless dedication to the music
industry and the impact of his work on the community".
      The music icon, who accepted a degree from the University of Zimbabwe
in 2003, was seen to stifle yawns during the ceremony.
      The organiser of the Miss Zimbabwe beauty pageant, Kiki Divaris, also
received an honorary degree. Betty Flora Mtero also got an honorary degree
for service to the community, with her award received by her children.
      For an academic institution, such populism would once have been
unthinkable, critics said. Traditionally an honorary degree was a university's
way of marking excellence and major achievement by Zimbabwean subjects who
were of conspicuous merit or had done good service to the state or to the
university.
      While Vice-Chancellor Hope Sadza was not immediately available for
comment, a senior university official said the reason the university had
conferred honours on celebrities was  that it was beneficial for both sides.
The university got publicity by reaching out an academic hand of welcome to
someone famous, while the personality got to wear the university's scarlet
gowns with silk facings and soft black velvet bonnets with a golden tassel
and the university logo, he said.
      The Women's University may be interested in the power of publicity but
also sought to acknowledge their communities at the same time, the official
said.
      "You don't honour someone just because they are famous. There are many
things we do in the local community to demonstrate we are not an ivory
tower, and this would be one way of showing that," he said. "There is no
doubt Mudhara Tuku, Ms Divaris and Ms Mtero deserve these honorary degrees."

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 7th November 2009

One of our supporters summed it up. He said ‘There is a name for someone who repeatedly falls into the same trap – Tsvangirai’.

A year ago Zanu-PF was on the ropes.  Mugabe’s credibility was gone and Gono’s reserves were down to US$5 million. Tsvangirai came to the rescue on the basis of promises which have still not been fulfilled.

Last month (see diary of 17^th October) the Vigil welcomed Tsvangirai’s disengagement from Zanu-PF. We launched a new petition: “Petition to the Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai. We urge you to refuse to co-operate with President Mugabe until he respects the rule of law and complies fully with the agreement under which the Zimbabwean coalition government was formed in February.”

People were puzzled why we phrased the petition this way when the MDC had already pulled back.  We explained in the same diary entry why we had done this: ‘We know Tsvangirai has already adopted this attitude but unfortunately he has a record of flip-flopping and we have worded the petition this way in case he changes his mind next week’.

So the latest flip following the SADC Troika summit in Maputo came as no surprise.  Yes, talks are to take place and no doubt a few crumbs will be thrown to the MDC. But Vigil supporters see little prospect of real change – an end to hate speech and violence and a return to the rule of law…. . . .

Does Tsvangirai really believe there has been a change of heart by His Excellency, President, Head of State and Government, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Forces, Terror of Mankind (as Orwell put it in Animal Farm) Robert Mugabe? We await the next flop – unless President Zuma really has decided to do something.

Vigil supporters were saddened to hear of the death of MDC-T MP for Makoni Central John Nyamande in a car crash in Zimbabwe.  John was known to many of us because he attended the Vigil over many years when he lived in the UK.  Fungayi Mabhunu of the Vigil management team who knew John from home described him as a ‘true revolutionary who was committed to the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe’. Justified or not, many at the Vigil felt this was another suspicious accident. Our condolences go out to his family.

On a happier note, we were pleased that Vimbai Mushongera, Parliamentary and Advocacy Officer of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, visited the Vigil today. She is in the UK as the guest of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), the successor organization to the Anti-Apartheid Movement. Vimbai was delighted to be at the Vigil and said by our protest we were as good activists as those in Zimbabwe. She said we were doing a good job and asked us to keep up our protest. She strongly advised us not to go back to Zimbabwe – it was not safe.  Earlier in the week Fungayi met another guest of ACTSA – Vincent Dlamini of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions.  He was interested in our Vigil and is consulting with Fungayi about how to set up a similar protest on behalf of the oppressed in Swaziland.

We have been encouraging people to vote for Betty Makoni of Girl Child Network (GCN), one of CNN’s top ten heroes of 2009 (see ‘events and notices’ below).  A media event has been organised for her on Thursday 12^th November from 12 – 12.30 pm at the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Development House, 56-64 Leonard St, London EC2A 4LT. The organizers would like a good turnout of Zimbabweans.  You may remember that Betty came to the Vigil on 26^th September to welcome Luka Phiri and Dumi Tutani of the Vigil management team when they arrived at the Vigil at the end of their sponsored walk from Brighton (55 miles = 2 marathons). The walk was in aid of GCN’s fundraising efforts on behalf of Tari, the Zimbabwean girl, who has now had successful surgery in London to remove a severe facial tumour. 

Many supporters commented on the big gap because of the absence of our Press Officer Dennis Benton, who hasn’t missed a Vigil in more than two years.  Dennis is the proud owner of a new hip – operated on Tuesday and home by Friday.  Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.  Dennis was very impressed with the excellent care he has received as an NHS patient. Many other of our supporters wish to record their grateful thanks for their own treatment by the NHS.

We were glad to welcome back to the Vigil Maxwell Muganiri who was a regular supporter before he was imprisoned for illegal working. He came back to the Vigil as soon as he was free.  Thanks to Thabani Nare who was a great help in packing up the Vigil.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Apologies for the poor quality this week. Somehow the camera settings were changed which meant many of the photos were blurred.

FOR THE RECORD: 152 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·       ROHR Liverpool Branch Vigil. Saturday 14th November from 2 – 4 pm.  Venue: Liverpool City Centre outside Primark. 

·       Zimbabwe Association’s Women’s Weekly Drop-in Centre. Fridays 10.30 am – 4 pm. Venue: The Fire Station Community and ICT Centre, 84 Mayton Street, London N7 6QT, Tel: 020 7607 9764. Nearest underground: Finsbury Park. For more information contact the Zimbabwe Association 020 7549 0355 (open Tuesdays and Thursdays).

·       Strategic Internship for Zimbabweans organised by Citizens for Sanctuary which is trying to secure work placements for qualified Zimbabweans with refugee status or asylum seekers. For information: http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/Strategic.html or contact: zimbabweinternship@cof.org.uk.

·       Vote for Betty Makoni of Girl Child Network as one of CNN’s top ten heroes of 2009 via this link: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/. 

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.

Zimbabweans betrayed

http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=11915

Swaziland

By Musa Hlophe on November 08,2009

There is a myth in SADC about peace in Zimbabwe. Leaders of SADC boast that
in September of 2008 they gave Zimbabweans peace after a decade of national
ruination perpetrated by Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and its associates.

This peace is said to be by means of a Government of National Unity, which
was brokered by the leaders of SADC as a means to ensure Mugabe's continued
strangle on power after losing the March 29 elections in 2008.
Therefore there is gloating by some leaders of the Troika, of which
Swaziland is a member, that they brought peace to Zimbabwe.
Let us examine the story behind the claims.  Does the reality match the
hype?

FACTS
I was in Zimbabwe recently and enquired as to what was happening on the
ground.
What I found was that the Movement for Democratic Change, (the MDC) led by
prime Morgan Tsvangirai, and people who were known or even suspected of
being its supporters were under systematic, strategic, brutal and very
violent attacks at the hands of youth militias sponsored by ZANU-PF.

We see continued farm seizures by ZANU-PF sponsored war lords or bandits
called 'war veterans' with many of them as young as 18 years.
I found that Human Rights Defenders, some of whom happen to be seen to be
supporters of the MDC, continue to be harassed by state agents.
I discovered that there are about seven human rights activists, who were
monitoring the March 29, 2008 elections, who have not been seen since.  No
one knows whether they are alive, dead or locked up, but many fear the
worst.
There is evidence that they were seen being taken away by the police just as
it appeared certain Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF had, for the first time in
twenty years lost the elections, (despite extensive vote rigging, voter
intimidation and a compliant Elections Commission there has been a total
breakdown of the rule of law in Zimbabwe.

AGREEMENT?
While I was in Harare, I also made it my business to secure a copy of Global
Agreement, and to read it carefully and thoroughly.  The brutal treatment of
the people of Zimbabwe mentioned above arises because SADC leaders are
failing, or are simply unwilling, to have Mugabe abide with the provisions
of the GPA, which brought about the Government of National Unity.

This agreement provides for shared political power at every level of
governance yet ZANU-PF has continued to violate the agreement with impunity.
Mugabe has continued to refuse to swear in MDC Ministers and regional
governors; he has continued to unilaterally appoint ZANU-PF loyalists to key
positions without consultation with the leaders of the two MDC factions who
are supposed to be his partners in the government. Furthermore, the GPA
provides for the normalisation of political activity in Zimbabwe, the
freeing of the media and the bringing of justice of those who perpetrated
violence and rampant abuse of human rights, especially following last year's
elections.  The GPA provides for the writing of a new constitution, soon to
be followed by fair and free elections within two years, yet none of this is
happening in Zimbabwe.

SADC

leaders seem to be powerless to call Mugabe to account, in terms of the very
Global Political Agreement that they helped to broker and he agreed to.
They continue to betray the aspirations of the majority of the people of
Zimbabwe, in support of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF associates.  How can
it be called an Agreement when one side continues to ignore it at will?

POLITICS
At the time of writing this article, leaders of the Troika were meeting in
Maputo, purportedly to help resolve the political impasse in Zimbabwe. But,
what can the people of Zimbabwe and the people of this Region, expect from
this forum? Is there any reason why we should be optimistic this time
around?  If so, why? From my recall of SADC's performance on the Zimbabwe
issue, I find no reason for either the people of Zimbabwe or the people of
this region to be optimistic over the Troika meeting in Maputo. The biggest
betrayal of the people of Zimbabwe by SADC leaders comes, first and
foremost, in the manner they treat the leaders of the unity government. For
instance, if there is a SADC summit, Robert Mugabe becomes part of the
decision making process, on a matter in which he is a disputing party, and
yet, no one has challenged this abnormality except the president of
Botswana; otherwise everybody else is happy with this blatant betrayal of
the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe and of the region. The MDC leader
is treated with utter contempt by the people who claim to be mediating the
political conflict in that country.

The questions could be asked:
Why are SADC leaders protecting Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF?
Why do they let him bully them around?
Why do they turn a blind eye to these outrageous abuses of human, political
and civil rights?
What does Robert Mugabe have on each one of these leaders that makes them
hide behind the crass political fig-leaves of 'African Solutions to African
Problems'?

The answer could be found in the attitude of each of the leaders in their
respective countries.  Each of our leaders do not tolerate opposition in
their respective countries and, because the MDC represents the opposition,
it is therefore seen as creating a precedent which must be crushed by all
means possible.  The fact is that the MDC victory in the March 29 elections
reflected the desire by the people of Zimbabwe to change their government,
through peaceful means and it is being ignored by the leaders of SADC.

SADC now seems to not represent the goal of the Development of Southern
African Peoples but merely the entrenchment of their governments and rulers
in their seats of power.  As ZANU-PF shows better than most, the interests
of the government are not necessarily the interests of the people.  This is
why democracies are about so much more than elections.  A true democracy is
characterised by citizen involvement, oversight and activism in the days
between elections.  How then do the people of the region counter this
betrayal of the people of Zimbabwe by SADC?  Can we have a role to play in
this situation? If yes, what role?

PEOPLE
Firstly, I believe that ordinary citizens of this region do have a role to
play to influence events in Zimbabwe.  Firstly, we can take active steps to
influence our respective governments about the need for our leaders to act
firmly on Zimbabwe. We need to point out to our governments that they are,
collectively, responsible in ensuring that all the parties to the Global
Political Agreement abide by the letter and the spirit of that document.
After all, it was SADC, through President Thabo Mbeki, who authored that
agreement. It is therefore SADC's duty to see to it that the agreement is
observed by all parties and that it is fully implemented without any further
delays.

Secondly, peace loving people of this region should deliberately join, or
form, solidarity networks on Zimbabwe. We should be able to coordinate our
activities such that, in every capital city within SADC, citizens can take
to the streets and present petitions to Zimbabwe embassies and to their
government. We should do everything possible to keep the Zimbabwe agenda on
the radar screens. We must not abandon the people of Zimbabwe in their hour
of need.

Just as others are showing solidarity with the people of Swaziland, in their
own struggle for freedom, similarly, Swazis must find the motivation to be
involved in activities of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
Organised formations of any kind must be encouraged to make contracts with
ordinary people on the ground in Zimbabwe itself.  Women's organisations can
play a pivotal role in contributing to this solidarity if they were to forge
links with the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) organisation.  Exchange
programmes can be arranged, including inviting ordinary Zimbabwean activists
to come and tell their story in Swaziland.

If you wonder why I am so attached to the issue of Zimbabwe you need to be
reminded that I am a citizen of this region, who happens to hate injustice
wherever it exists.
There is rampant injustice in Zimbabwe and I hate it. It must end and it
shall take our collective action to stop it.
I have talked before about the GPA being a triumph of politics rather than
political triumph and that politics is far too important to be left to
politicians.
Can the people of Zimbabwe count on our collective will to help them?  The
choice is yours.

For brave investors, Zimbabwe could be the ultimate turnaround story

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

When the Movement for Democratic Change took over Zimbabwe's economy earlier
this year, there was not much left to run. Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF regime
had carried out the most comprehensive destruction of a productive system
seen in modern times short of war.

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Published: 7:01PM GMT 08 Nov 2009

Prices were doubling every 24 hours, a feat matched only by Hungary in 1946.
Zimbabwe was surviving on dollar and rand remittances from a diaspora of
three million refugees.

Schools and hospitals were shut. Confiscatory exchange policies had caused
almost every mine, mill, and factory to close. Capacity use was under 10pc.

Violent land invasions had crippled farm exports. Proud Zimbabwe had become
the world's top recipient of food aid per capita. White farms were seized,
of course, but so were black farms - if owners were thought to harbour MDC
sympathies.

It is hard to imagine a more poisoned chalice for the long-suffering MDC as
it entered into a power-sharing deal with President Mugabe. Yet somehow the
economy is coming back from the dead.

"The fundamental change is that we have stopped printing money to cover our
deficit," said Tendai Biti, the MDC's finance minister, who shrugs off death
threats.

The hyperinflation crisis has in a sense solved itself. The Zimbabwe dollar
faded away as the army and then everybody else refused to accept it. The US
dollar is now the coin of daily life. Prices have been stable for months.
"Forget about a local currency," said Mr Biti.

Zimbabwe's central bank - an arm of state terror under Zanu PF enforcer
Gideon Gono - has lost its cash cow. It is no longer able to skim profits
from exchange rate arbitrage. The bank has allegedly been involved in the
illicit buying of smuggled diamonds from the Marange field (seized
illegally).

Harare's stock exchange is humming again. Volume has increased 20-fold, all
now in US dollars. The mobile phone firm Econet - again able to import kit
from China - has paid its first dollar dividend. Delta Beverages has
installed a new bottling line after a surge in beer demand, a telltale sign
of returning prosperity. The MDC has begun to lift exchange controls. It
plans to privatise chunks of the economy, embarking on the most radical free
market policies seen in Zimbabwe for half a century.

"It is extremely investor-friendly," said Elton Mangoma, the economic
planning minister.

London-listed metals group Mwana Africa is reopening mines. "We were being
paid worthless Zimbabwe dollars for our gold, so there was no point
continuing," said Kalaa Mpinga, the company's chief executive. Under new
rules, Mwana keeps 100pc of foreign exchange earnings. It began pouring gold
at its Freda Rebecca mine last month, just in time take to advantage of
record prices at $1,100 an ounce.

The MDC pleads with outsiders to keep matters in perspective. "Our problems
have never degenerated into armed conflict over the years, as it has in
other countries," said Mr Mangoma.

Power-sharing spats are just "a quarrel in a marriage," he said.
"Commentators want to paint a picture of total chaos, but we are now in our
10th month. Give us another two years and you will be very surprised at what
we can do."

Hope or self-deception? While the MDC tries to lure investment by promising
to allow 100pc foreign ownership, the Zanu-PF "indigenisation" law on the
books still says foreigners must provide all the capital but hand over a
majority stake to locals. "These promises mean nothing until the law is
actually changed," said a Zimbabwe mining veteran. "I know from hard
experience."

Mugabe retains the army, police, and the apparatus of repression, which his
cadres are still using to terrorise pockets of the country. The repression
is surgical, but the message is clear.

One can doubt whether such a lopsided arrangement has any chance of
succeeding. Yet power is more evenly balanced than it looks. The West is
aligned behind the MDC. The young leaders of South Africa and the Congo are
tiring of Mugabe's pretensions. Beijing is less friendly these days. "The
Chinese don't want to back the wrong horse," said one diplomat.

Mr Mugabe dares not shut parliament altogether, so he is chipping away at
the MDC's majority by arresting its MPs on trumped up charges. MDC Treasurer
Roy Bennett starts his trial today for alleged terrorism. It is sickening,
of course, but what shines through is the deeper resilience of Zimbabwe's
civil society.

At 85, Mugabe must at least be tempted to end his rule on a better note, as
Fidel Castro is doing in Cuba. He will soon be gone in any case, leaving
behind a nation with literacy rates in the mid-90s, the world's biggest
platinum belt, and Africa's richest prairie - all at a time when Asia's
growth has put a premium on resources.

They say that Africa is the leveraged way to play China. If so, Zimbabwe is
the leveraged way to play Africa. For brave investors, it is the ultimate
rebound story.

Zimbabwe Business Watch : Week 45

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/5169

Only an extended political impasse is likely to prevent growth in the
economy as more forecasters predict. The recovery continues as there is so
much lost ground to make up.

Recent data shows that factory capacity utilisation continues to climb and
is now up around the 30% mark, a huge improvement.

Gold production already exceeds the total for the whole of last year as more
and more mines re-open.

GDP estimates have been revised upward again to over 6%.

Local pension funds are the largest owners of equity (15%) and they are now
beginning to enjoy net inflows which is yet another good sign.

This good news does not adequately illustrate the steep climb ahead nor the
extent to which the economy declined and it is this "catching up" that will
often show impressive figures.

On-the -round companies battle daily with cash flow as, without huge foreign
capital inflows, there is not enough money to go around to dig business out
of the mire. With PAYE then VAT and wages and salaries due in succession, it
is almost impossible for companies to maintain adequate cash flow. Often
there are still no cheque books and credit cards and virtually all financial
transactions have to be effectively backed by cash.

This entry was posted by Sokwanele on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Good governance key to recovery, UN official

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by John Chimunhu
      Saturday, 07 November 2009 13:11
      HARARE - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s chief
technical adviser in Zimbabwe, Mark Simpson, says any new economic plans
adopted by the country must be based on good governance and policies that
benefit the poor.
      Commenting on the country's mid-term economic plan (MTP) unveiled
recently, Simpson said Zimbabwe should move away from a culture of "crisis
management and adopt a long-term horizon".
      He also called for fiscal responsibility and efficient resource
utilisation, two elements that are critical to any effort to achieve
sustainable economic growth.  The UNDP official urged Zimbabwe to move away
from economic development models that focus on achieving impressive growth
figures with little or no positive impact or improvement in the lives of
citizens.
      Simpson said development could no longer be measured by growth figures
alone, adding that "growth rates can have different outcomes" for different
communities or countries.  For example, Simpson cited the east African
country, Uganda, where he said poverty had accelerated for most people
despite impressive growth in gross domestic product (GDP).
      Ghana, on the other hand recorded growth in the economy and a 4.6
percent reduction in poverty between 2000 and 2006 due to focused policies,
said Simpson. He said issues like the massive collapse of infrastructure in
the country had a direct impact on poverty levels, giving an example of how
a collapsed road network could prevent poor farmers from getting access to
markets or how electricity shortages could damage profitability of small
businesses that could not afford power generators.
      The UNDP official also said economy development plans should be
designed to also address the social problems like unemployment and lack of
access to credit markets by the poor.
      Zimbabwe says the economy is on a recovery path due to various
measures implemented under the short-term economic recovery programme
introduced by the coalition government last March. However, critics say the
growth figures may be misleading as a large proportion of the population
remains trapped in poverty and destitution triggered by the collapse of the
country's currency due to hyperinflation.
      Simpson said good governance, an ability to get buy-in from the
public, efficient state institutions and a commitment to a culture of
savings could see the country realizing its goal of doubling GDP from the
present $4.5 billion to $9 billion by 2015 when the MTP expires. Once a
model African economy Zimbabwe suffered a severe economic and humanitarian
crisis since 2000 that critics blamed on long time ruler President Robert
Mugabe's skewed policies.
      Analysts say a unity government formed last February by Mugabe,
Tsvangirai and another former opposition leader Arthur Mutambara will
struggle to revive Zimbabwe's economy without substantial financial support
from rich Western nations.  Western nations are withholding demanding more
political reforms and end to farm invasion before they can provide direct
financial support to Harare.

Bill Watch Special of 7th November 2009 [ParliamentaryCommittee Meetings 9th to 12th November]