EU rejects Mugabe's new ambassadors

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Reporter
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 13:10

HARARE - The Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have thrown their
weight behind Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai by rejecting the ambassadors
appointed unilaterally by President Robert Mugabe including the envoy to the
European Union (EU).

Zimbabwe is represented at the EU by Margaret Muchada who was among a group
of ambassadors recently posted abroad by Mugabe without consulting his
colleagues in unity government, in violation of the Global Political
Agreement.

In a letter sent to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and
Council President Herman Van Rompuy, United Kingdom (UK) MEP Geoffrey Van
Orden urged the two to refuse the credentials of Muchada.

''Mrs Muchada is part of a group of six Ambassadors that were appointed by
Mr Mugabe on 24 July of this year without any such consultation with Mr
Tsvangirai. Her appointment, as well as that of her five colleagues, is thus
in direct contravention of the Zimbabwean Constitution and the GPA,'' reads
the letter which was carried by European news agencies.

''I would therefore urge you both to send a clear signal to Mr Mugabe and
his supporters that the EU will not tolerate such blatant disregard of due
constitutional process and refuse to accept Mrs Muchada's credentials as
Zimbabwean Ambassador to the EU,'' said Van Orden

In July, Mugabe appointed new ambassadors to the EU, Switzerland, Sweden,
South African and the United Nations without consulting Tsvangirai and his
deputy, Arthur Mutambara.

The indignant Zimbabwe leader has said the appointments are consistent with
the country's constitution which supersedes the GPA which brought the
inclusive government.

Ambassadors are appointed by their government and approved by the head of
state but the countries to which they are being posted have the right to
either accept or reject them.

Tsvangirai has written to the EU urging the powerful body to reject the
appointments.

The EU has said it  is taking his letter seriously.

"As PM Tsvangirai has stated, Mrs. Muchada's credentials must be refused, as
her appointment is clearly unconstitutional," said the British MEP, who
leads the Parliament's campaign for democratic change in Zimbabwe.

"As PM Tsvangirai's recent statements illustrate, not much seems to have
changed on the ground following the signing of the 'Global Political
Agreement' two years ago. Key elements of the Zimbabwean state - in this
instance one of Zimbabwe's most important diplomatic postings - are still
controlled by Mugabe, in outright contravention of the GPA," Van Orden said.

South African President Zuma 'Seized' With Latest Zimbabwe Political Crisis - Aide

http://www.voanews.com

Mr. Tsvangirai has challenged a number of Mr. Mugabe's ambassadorial,
gubernatorial and other appointments on the grounds that they were made
without consultations in the unity government and were therefore
unconstitutional

Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington 19 October 2010

A top aide to South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday that Mr.
Zuma, mediator in Harare on behalf of the Southern African Development
Community, has been "seized" with the latest crisis in the unity government
there and is stepping up intervention in a bid to resolve the dispute over
the scope of President Robert Mugabe's powers.

Mr. Zuma sent a team of facilitators to Harare last week and its members met
with President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara after Mr. Tsvangirai wrote to Mr. Zuma charging
that Mr. Mugabe's appointment of Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa
Phelekezela Mphoko was invalid.

Mr. Tsvangirai has challenged a number of Mr. Mugabe's ambassadorial,
gubernatorial and other appointments on the grounds that they were made
without consultations in the unity government and were therefore
unconstitutional.

Zuma foreign policy adviser Lindiwe Zulu said her boss was evaluating
submissions by the Harare government principals on the latest power-sharing
dispute. But she said Pretoria considered Zimbabwe's envoy properly
accredited.

Zulu told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that the appointments issue
remains part of the bigger crisis which Mr. Zuma is seeking to resolve.
London-based political analyst Brilliant Mhlanga said continued mediation by
Mr. Zuma and his team may produce the result that Mr. Tsvangirai desires.

Police bar MDC from holding Harare meetings

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
20 October, 2010

The MDC reports that they were barred from holding a consultative meeting on
Wednesday at Cyril Jennings Hall in Harare. Senior police officers from
Southerton Station blocked the meeting, claiming they had not been notified
on time. The police have also barred a meeting that was scheduled for Glen
View on Friday.

A statement from the MDC refuted the police claim saying the MDC Harare
provincial secretary, Tsaurai Marima, had indeed notified the police, as is
required by law. But the police turned down the applications claiming that
they had not been informed in advance.

Senator Morgan Femai, the MDC chairperson for Harare province, told SW Radio
Africa that the police suddenly required a seven-day advance notice that had
never been required before. He suspected the police action had more to do
with the message that MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai had put out to his
supporters on Tuesday night in Mabvuku.

A frustrated Femai said: "They authorized the Mabvuku one and did not talk
about the 7 days that they are talking about now. In Mabvuku the Prime
Minister was talking about the GPA, the Constitution and what Mugabe is
doing, trying to break the GPA agreement and not following the Constitution.
He was telling the people about the latest events."

This is another blow for Tsvangirai and the MDC, who were earlier this month
ignored by Robert Mugabe when he unilaterally appointed ambassadors and
governors, choosing individuals close to ZANU PF.

The meeting barred on Wednesday is part of a nationwide programme of
consultative meetings that the party launched at Mabvuku Hall on Tuesday
night, to explain the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to their supporters
and the continuous violations by Mugabe and ZANU PF.

According to the MDC statement, Tsvangirai told Mabvuku residents at the
launch that Robert Mugabe "had no authority in making unilateral senior
government appointments without consulting him, as stated in the GPA."

He also said that 'Mugabe must recognize that the inclusive government was a
shared compromise and that the GPA is now part of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe. So his actions were not only unlawful but unconstitutional.'

Asked how the MDC was going to respond to the police action, Femai said
Tsvangirai had advised them to re-submit the police notifications, giving a
clear seven-day advance for each venue around the country. This has already
been done and new schedules will be distributed.

There is no guarantee, however, that the police will allow the meetings to
go ahead, as they have banned so many MDC meetings over the years. The whole
affair has again exposed the powerless position in which the MDC finds
itself since joining the so-called coalition government.

Asked about this, Senator Morgan Femai said: "Yes it is quite disturbing. We
have two co-ministers in the GPA but the police take instructions from one
party, ZANU PF."

And as if to add more insult to injury, there are reports that military
chefs have this week reiterated their position that Tsvangirai would never
rule Zimbabwe. It appears that ZANU PF and Mugabe have no intention of being
part of any true coalition government and that Mugabe is absolutely
determined to hold on to power.

Election commission says it’s ready to conduct elections

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
20 October 2010

The acting chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Joyce
Kazembe, has said they are ready to conduct national elections if the
leadership in government asks them to do so.

This directly contradicts ZEC chairperson Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe, who
in August said the country will not be able to conduct elections next year
due to inadequate funding and the need to carry out reforms to make the vote
more credible. This he said included grappling with a voters’ roll that is a
shambles.

With the coalition government having virtually collapsed due to Mugabe’s
reluctance to genuinely share power, all talk by the political parties has
shifted to a fresh election as a solution. Mugabe, who lost the last
election in March 2008, remained President by borrowing legitimacy from the
power sharing deal.

Last week the 86 year old ZANU PF leader said the coalition government could
be dissolved within 4 months, when the life of the GPA comes to an end in
February next year. He also indicated elections could be held in the middle
of 2011, after a referendum on the draft constitution is concluded.

The state owned media has been on the offensive trying to portray the MDC as
reluctant to go into an election. The Herald newspaper went as far as
suggesting that the ‘MDC-T has been trying to scupper the holding of the
polls and has been backed by Western-funded NGOs who claim the environment
is not conducive.’

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa dismissed the statements by Kazembe saying
they sounded ‘like grandstanding, parroting and just mere politicking.’ He
said preparing for elections was ‘serious business’ that affected people’s
lives and future and was not like ‘picking pumpkins in the field or waking
up to eat porridge.’ A lot he said needed to be done to prepare for
‘credible’ elections.

Zimbabweans rejected Mugabe and his ZANU PF party after handing them a
humiliating defeat in the 2008 harmonized presidential and parliamentary
elections. With Tsvangirai winning the first round of the presidential poll
Mugabe’s henchmen held on to the results for five weeks before releasing
figures that purported to show Tsvangirai did not have enough votes to claim
outright victory.

What followed was a brutal campaign of murder and intimidation that saw over
200 people killed and thousands tortured for supporting the MDC. Tsvangirai
withdrew from the subsequent presidential run-off and left Mugabe to conduct
a sham one-man presidential election. Instead of SADC and the African Union
confronting Mugabe they arm-twisted the opposition to share power with him.

So what happens when the GPA is dissolved in February for example and there
is no election date yet, who runs the country? We asked Chamisa and he said;
‘According to the GPA the dissolution of this arrangement is done as a
collective affair and it’s not a one man band. We have to come to a
consensus.’

‘We did not insert a sunset clause in the GPA because we did not want the
kind of speculation and politicking that comes with electioneering.’ He said
the February deadline alluded to by Mugabe was not necessarily set in stone
since the GPA is silent on the exact ending date.

Anything can happen next year with Chamisa acknowledging; ‘Mugabe has
violated the GPA in the past and he can do it in the future, so we are
actually budgeting for that kind of scenario.’

Chiyangwa Seeks Mugabe's Favours To Get Zisco Steel

http://news.radiovop.com

20/10/2010 17:00:00

Harare, October 20, 2010 - Industry and Commerce Minister, Welshman Ncube
said Native Investments Group (NIG) led by controversial businessman Philip
Chiyangwa did not tender for a stake in Zimbabwe and Iron and Steel Company
(Ziscosteel) and will not be considered despite seeking the intervention of
President Robert Mugabe.

Chiyangwa who is Mugabe's nephew, wrote to the President this week seeking
support to be awarded the tender to his subsidiary company, Zeco Holdings as
part of the indigenisation and empowerment drive.

Ncube however said it was unfortunate that some people had decided to
politicise the issue of Ziscosteel.

"It is my hope that common sense will prevail. Native Investments did not
apply and therefore will not be considered," said Ncube. "What makes it sad
is that we are already in the process of making recommendations to
government,"Ncube said.

He said the tender process was open to anybody who was serious but Chiyangwa
and his partners had sought to take a different approach.

In the letter, Chiyangwa called upon the 86 year old leader not to entertain
any foreign bids as this opened up the country to sabotage.

"The risk therefore is that if a foreign corporation is awarded a
controlling stake in Zisco, that corporation will bypass the existing
support structure and directly import services, machinery and various inputs
from its traditional suppliers and various inputs from its home country,"
said Chiyangwa.

The indigenisation and empowerment programme has split the government with
Zanu (PF) backing the plan while the two Movement for Democratic Change
parties want the scheme stopped to allow for more consultation and drafting
of new regulations that would not scare away foreign investors.

Some international investors have already indicated that they will pull out
or withdraw their investments if Zimbabwe implements the controversial
indigenisation law, which among others requires foreign companies to give up
51 'per cent' shareholding to local business people.

Chiyangwa wants his locally-listed subsidiary company Zeco Holdings accorded
an automatic empowerment and Indigenisation status.

The country has received five bids for Ziscosteel including renewed interest
from ArcelorMittal South Africa and Jindal Steel and Power of India.

Government plans to dispose up to 60 'per cent' of the ailing state-owned
company.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary general, Wellington Chibebe
on Wednesday expressed concern over Chiyangwa's open interest in Ziscosteel
and particularly his audacity to write straight to his uncle, President
Mugabe 'asking' for a controlling stake in the name of indigenisation.

"This is very disturbing and it has put to life ZCTU fears over Zimbabwe's
indigenisation policy. Chiyangwa already owns so many businesses and he is
stopping at nothing to grab more - is this empowerment of the poor,"Chibebe
said.

"The ZCTU has been concerned with the slow pace in the identification of
suitable bidders for Ziscosteel thereby jeopardising thousands of jobs. Not
only Ziscosteel workers' livelihood is threatened but the livelihoods of the
entire town of Redcliff,"Chibebe said.

Early this year Chiyangwa's company was awarded the exclusive and lucrative
rights to sell Fifa's World Cup hospitality packages.
 

Zim Halts Issuing Of Ordinary Passports

http://news.radiovop.com

20/10/2010 14:38:00

Gwanda, October 20, 2010 - Zimbabwe's Home Affairs department has reportedly
suspended the processing of ordinary passports hardly two months since
government slashed passport fees.

There had been a demand for passports following government's slash of
passport fees from US$140 to US$50, with desperate passport seekers sleeping
in queues.

Workers at the Gwanda Passport office told Radio VOP that they had been
instructed to process emergency passports only. Those who applied for
ordinary passports would have to top up their fees by US$200.

South Africa has threatened to deport undocumented Zimbabweans by year end.
 

Empowerment drive could force Massmart out

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Correspondent Wednesday 20 October 2010

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe's controversial economic indigenisation drive could
force top South African retailer Massmart to quit the country, chief
executive officer Grant Pattison told the media yesterday.

Massmart, South Africa's third-largest retailer by value is target of
acquisition by US giant Wal-Mart. The South African retailer operates two of
its Makro shops in Zimbabwe, but does not consolidate them into its
financial results.

"Should the indigenisation act be implemented in its current format,
Massmart will have to reconsider its position in Zimbabwe," Pattison was
quoted as saying.

Should the US$4 billion takeover deal go through it will see Wal-Mart
establishing a strong presence in Africa with huge benefits expected for
consumers in countries where Massmart is established or will expand into.

Under the empowerment regulations, foreign-owned firms are required to cede
significant stake to local blacks by 2015 and those failing to comply risked
losing their operating licenses.

President Robert Mugabe, whose then sole ruling ZANU PF party passed the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill in 2007, had initially wanted
all foreign-owned firms to cede 51 percent stake to locals.

He backed down after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai opposed the
requirement to force all foreigners to surrender control of their
investments and the Harare coalition government later modified the rules to
allow varying percentages of shareholding foreign-owned companies in various
sectors of the economy must transfer to local blacks.

The committees appointed to recommend to the government the various
shareholding thresholds are yet to report back to Indigenisation and
Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

Analysts say the empowerment drive is unlikely to succeed as most local
blacks are unable to raise the required funding to buy shares in
foreign-owned companies.

A similar empowerment drive by Mugabe in agriculture destroyed the mainstay
sector, leaving once self sufficient Zimbabwe dependent on food aid after
the 86-year old leader failed to provide funding, inputs and skills training
to black villagers resettled on former white-owned commercial farms to
maintain production.

Other bi name foreign-owned firms that are set to be affected by the
empowerment laws include cigarette manufacturer BAT Zimbabwe, which is 80
percent British-owned; UK-controlled financial institutions Barclays Bank
and Standard Chartered Bank, food group Nestlé Zimbabwe, mining giants Rio
Tinto and Zimplats, and AON Insurance. - ZimOnline.

Chiadzwa mining shareholder under pressure to end secrecy

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
20 October 2010

A South African company involved in mining diamonds in Chiadzwa is under
pressure to reveal details about its operations, as its activities at the
controversial site remain shrouded in secrecy.

The New Reclamation Group, through its subsidiary Grandwell Holdings,
entered into a joint venture with the Zimbabwe Mining Development
Corporation (ZMDC) to form Mbada Diamonds. The Mbada group, together with
the ZMDC's other partner firm, Canadile Mining, took over the site from
London based African Consolidated Resources (ACR), who were kicked off the
site at gunpoint in 2006. Since then, the groups have been implicated in
ongoing smuggling operations and human rights abuses, and there have been no
attempts to clarify their operations.

But two South African rights groups and three Zimbabwean citizens from the
Chiadzwa area have now petitioned the New Reclamation Group to shed "much
needed light on its controversial mining operations." The petition was made
by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), in partnership with the
Open Society Justice Initiative, on behalf of the Southern Africa Resource
Watch group (SARW) and the three affected community members.

SALC Director, Nicole Fritz, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that the New
Reclamation Group needs to provide clear details about its activities in
Chiadzwa, because of the abuses still being reported there. She expressed
concern that there is still a legal dispute with ACR over ownership of the
claim that Mbada is mining, with Mbada and Canadile both ignoring court
orders to stop their activities until the legal battle ended. Fritz also
added that there needs to be clarification on reports that Mbada has direct
links to Zimbabwe's military chiefs, which she said is of much concern as
elections in Zimbabwe are around the corner.

"There is a widespread belief that the Chiadzwa diamonds are funding a ZANU
PF election war chest, as well as providing Zimbabwe's old elite with a new
source of illicit wealth," said Fritz. "New Reclamation Group can help end
the speculation by providing us with this information, and by agreeing to be
more transparent and accountable in future."

The petition is being done in terms of South Africa's Promotion of Access to
Information Act, which allows for information to be requested from private
bodies, where the information is required for the enforcement or protection
of a right. SARW and the three petitioners are seeking the information based
on the right of freedom of expression and the right to sustainable
development and a healthy environment.

The petition asks New Reclamation group to reveal detailed information,
including documents relating to the assurances by New Reclamation to its
investors that its activities in Zimbabwe are to the benefit of all
Zimbabweans. Fritz explained that there also need to be details provided
that prove the group's other claims, including claims that it paid
communities who were forced to relocate, and that social projects such as
schools and hospitals would be constructed in the area.

SW Radio Africa understands that none of these claims are true, with sources
saying that Chiadzwa villagers remain all but forgotten after being forced
to relocate. It is further understood that no new facilities have been
constructed to help villagers in the area, despite promises that the
diamonds would be a benefit to all Zimbabweans.

Zuma’s facilitation team meets with Zimbabwe Civil Society leadership

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
20 October 2010

Zimbabwe’s civil society organizations (CSO’s) on Wednesday held
‘ice-breaking’ consultative talks with South African President Jacob Zuma’s
facilitation team in Pretoria.

This is the first time under South Africa’s mediation role that CSO’s have
been given an opportunity to contribute to what a roadmap to solve the
Zimbabwe crisis should look like.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition national coordinator, Macdonald Lewanika, told
SW Radio from South Africa that they had a ‘positive and fruitful’ meeting
with Zuma’s three member facilitation team.

‘The meeting was an ice-breaker in the fact that it was the first time we
have been officially asked to contribute what we think might help our
country move forward. Most of their engagements have been with the political
players and remember as well that under Thabo Mbeki’s mediation role we were
never given that opportunity,’ Lewanika said.

The six individuals from Zimbabwe CSO’s presented the facilitation team with
a 5 page briefing paper that urges the SADC mediator to ensure that a
credible election, based on key benchmarks, takes place in Zimbabwe next
year.

Lewanika said the benchmarks include an electoral process that ensures
greater transparency in all aspects.

‘We called on the facilitation team to immediately ensure that a
non-partisan public media exists which ensures that different political
actors have got access to public media. There is also greater need for team
to work on putting in place mechanisms to ensure the existence of a clean
voters’ roll,’ he said.

The CSO’s are advocating for a SADC-led elections supervisory mechanism for
the country’s next vote, to prevent state-sponsored violence. They want it
in place at least 6 months before the elections and 3 months after.
In addition, Lewanika said SADC should urge the political principals in
Zimbabwe to have broad domestic, regional and international observation of
the elections, in the interest of openness.

‘The regional bloc should facilitate technical support to the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission, by credible institutions that provide technical
assistance to other SADC countries.

‘SADC, as guarantor of the GPA, must insist that Zimbabwe’s elections comply
with its principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, including
impartiality of electoral institutions and non-interference in electoral
processes by the state security agents,’ Lewanika said.

He added; ‘We want the inclusive government to put in place necessary
administrative mechanisms that ensure the Diaspora, prisoners and other
marginalized groups, are not disenfranchised in all electoral processes

MDC Treasurer's Anti-Mugabe Slur Trial Set For November

http://news.radiovop.com/

20/10/2010 14:50:00

Bindura, October 20, 2010 - Magistrate Charles Murove on Wednesday postponed
the trial of Gilbert Kagodora, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
treasurer for Mashonaland Central Province on charges of undermining the
authority of or insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Magistrate Murove postponed the trial after Kagodora's lawyers David Hofisi
and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) informed him
that the prosecutor had not served them with witness statements so as to
fully prepare for trial.

Kagodora will now stand trial on 10 November after the prosecutor pledged to
furnish his lawyers with all the witness statements.

The State accused Kagodora of contravening the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act by undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

Prosecutors allege that Kagodora denounced President Mugabe during an
address to party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting held at
Nzvimbo Council Hall in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central on 11 March 2010, when
he said; "Mugabe mudenga, Grace mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai pasi," which
the police deduced to mean "Mugabe up, Grace up, bring them together and
drop them on the ground."

Apparently Kagodora was removed from remand on 25 June 2010 by Magistrate
Ruramai Chitumbura on the same charge that he has been summonsed to stand
trial after his lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
(ZLHR) applied for refusal of further remand.

Besides Kagodora, Epworth Member of Parliament Hon. Eliah Jembere, who was
also charged with undermining the authority of or insulting the President
Mugabe at the same time with Kagodora, was also removed from remand on 25
June 2010. Hon. Jembere has not yet been served with any summons on the
matter.

Hon. Jembere was accused of insulting President Mugabe when he addressed
party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting by saying "Mugabe
mudenga, ZANU PF mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai roverai pasi," which the
police interpreted as meaning to say "Mugabe up, ZANU PF up, bring them
together and drop them down."
 

Welshman Ncube Blasts Zanu(PF) And MDC

http://news.radiovop.com

20/10/2010 10:53:00

Harare, October 20, 2010 - The Arthur Mutambara Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC-M) Secretary General, Welshman Ncube has accused Zanu (PF) and
the main MDC faction of using the Global Political Agreement (GPA) as a
bargaining tool at the expense of progress.

He expressed frustration at the latest turn of events, primarily the dispute
over governors and ambassadors, charging that the two parties were pursuing
narrow, partisan interests.

President Robert Mugabe recently unilaterally appointed governors and
ambassadors from his Zanu (PF) party against the principles of the GPA. The
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said the appointments were null and void and
called on the international community not to recognise the new diplomats.
Last week he and his deputy Thokozani Khupe boycotted cabinet as a protest
to Mugabe's moves.

"In fact as the MDC (MDC-M) we are the most frustrated, we have seen the
other two parties pursue partisan interests," Ncube told Radio VOP.

He claimed that when history was written, the role of his party will be
known as MDC-M had played a leading role, when both Zanu (PF) and MDC-T had
walked away from the GPA.

Mugabe has said he does not want the life of the GPA that gave birth to the
shaky coalition government extended when it expires next year. He said he
wants elections held next year, a move that has also been supported by
Tsvangirai. Critics have warned against the holding of elections next year,
citing violence and lack of electoral reforms that will see a fair and free
election.

"We were the unifying factor," said Ncube. We brought them (Tsvangirai and
Mugabe) together to the negotiating table under harsh conditions. We were
clear on our options."

The MDC-M secretary general said he was bemused at the MDC-T and Zanu PF's
call for elections next year, arguing that reforms making it possible for a
new poll were not yet in place.

"As it is MDC-T and Zanu (PF) PF are trying to push for elections, even
though we all know most of the things that resulted in the failure of the
past elections have not been fixed," he said.

Ncube called for the full implementation of the GPA, arguing that it
represented the views of the three coalition partners and was the best basis
for reform.

The GPA has not been fully implemented due to among others disagreements
about the appointments of MDC-T treasurer general, Roy Bennett as Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and a new Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney
General.

"So an election now will not result in proper change but divide the nation
and undo the gains so far," he pointed out.

The broker of negotiations between Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party and MDC
formations to end the political crisis in Zimbabwe, former South Africa
President Thabo Mbeki, this week said the GPA was the only solution to the
problems in the country.

However, Tsvangirai and Mugabe claim elections are the best way to end a
stalemate caused by the power sharing agreement. They have been supported by
the South African President Jacob Zuma who has said fresh polls would end
disputes that have failed the GPA.

MDC-M leader, Mutambara has always been opposed to polls next year, but his
critics claimed it was because he was afraid of defeat.
 

SA vows to again block UN sanctions against Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
20 October 2010

South Africa will once again block United Nations sanctions against Robert
Mugabe and his regime, if the issue is brought before the Security Council
during South Africa's new term as non-permanent Council member.

The Foreign Ministry's Director General, Ayanda Ntsaluba, told the National
Press Club in Pretoria on Tuesday that South Africa would again vote against
UN sanctions if the issue arises during its term, which starts in 2011.

"We must be able to distinguish between issues of human rights violations,
bad governance and issues that pose threats to international peace and
security. All three are different and then should not be conflated," he
said.

"The UN Security Council wanted to vote to introduce Zimbabwe as an issue on
its agenda" in 2008, he said. "South Africa would still vote 'no' on this."

South Africa's last term on the Security Council drew criticism from rights
groups that the country was betraying the legacy of the anti-apartheid
struggle, which was bolstered by international sanctions against that
regime. When South Africa last held one of the Council's 15 seats in
2007/08, it blocked proposed targeted sanctions against the ruling elite in
Zimbabwe, over the deadly electoral violence that left hundreds dead, tens
of thousands tortured and injured and hundred of thousands displaced.

South Africa has repeatedly showed its allegiance to Mugabe, and recently
President Jacob Zuma appealed on his behalf to the European Union (EU) for
targeted measures against the regime to be lifted.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, who spearheads the European Parliament's campaign
for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, told SW Radio Africa on
Wednesday that South Africa's stance is of grave concern "because the
pressure that needs to be applied on Mugabe, to release his hold on power,
must come from Africa."

Van Orden has previously accused President Zuma of "acquiescing" whilst
people in Zimbabwe starved, because of his refusal to take a stance against
Mugabe. Van Orden said that the EU should continue to use targeted sanctions
as a form of pressure, until the situation in Zimbabwe changes.

"Not much seems to have changed on the ground. Mugabe still grasps the
levers of power and manages to trample on the basic rights of the Zimbabwean
people," Van Orden said. "Until Mugabe and his cronies step aside and there
is real evidence of change, the EU and its member states must keep up the
pressure."

 

We deserve hefty salaries - officials

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Sandile Maera
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 13:49

HARARE - Parastatals operating under the ministry of media, information and
publicity have vowed to resist a cabinet directive to reduce hefty salaries
paid to their top executives under proposals meant to bring accountability
and corporate governance at state-owned enterprises.

Sources at the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC),
Transmedia and the illegally-appointed Tafataona Mahoso (media
hangman)-chaired Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) said they would
ignore last week's cabinet approved Corporate Governance Framework (CGF)
because it was not being spearheaded by their parent ministry.

"Our Senior Managers are boasting that they have no obligation to follow
directives by ministers other than minister of media, Webster Shamu. They
are saying that under no circumstances will they reduce their hefty salaries
because they deserve it as the have shown their patriotism by helping Zanu
(PF) in its propaganda and disinformation campaign," said one disgruntled
manager at the state broadcaster.

Another official said proposals to put CEO's and top executives on
performance management would also be resisted by state enterprises under the
ministry of media and information as most of them were appointed solely
because of their loyalty to Zanu (PF) and not on merit.

He said the Minister of Media, Webster Shamu and his powerful permanent
secretary, George Charamba have pledged to stand by the ZBC, BAZ and
Transmedia executives, assuring them that nothing would be done to them
without their blessing.

The new measures if implemented would bring more scrutiny to the CEO's and
other executives of Parastatals who have been criticized for milking
perennial loss-making entities through hefty and unsustainable remuneration
packages.

At ZBC top managers, among them CEO Happison Muchechetere and his three
General Managers, Tazzen Mandizvidza, Brigadier Elliot Kasu and Allan
Chiweshe, are believed to be earning salaries close to US$20 000 among other
benefits such as US$3 000 monthly housing allowances, luxurious vehicles,
US$1 000 weekly entertainment allowances, US$500 weekly hardship allowances,
1 000 litres of fuel per month and school fees for children and spouses.
This is compared to the paltry US$300 earned by ordinary ZBC employees.

ZBC spokesperson, Sivukile Simango refused to comment saying he was not yet
privy to the proposals. State enterprises minister, Gorden Moyo was not
available for comment as he was said to be attending meetings.

MP: Karangas 'not Zimbabwean'

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

20/10/2010 00:00:00
by Lebo Nkatazo

AN MP has claimed that war veterans have unleashed a wave of violence in
Masvingo because the dominant Karanga tribe in the province is considered
"not Zimbabwean" enough.

In extraordinary exchanges on Tuesday, Zimbabwe's parliament heard how war
veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda was "harassing and threatening" residents
in Zaka district under an operation code-named "Budiranai Pachena" [Let's
Tell Each Other The Truth].

Budiranai Pachena, said Zaka West MP Festus Dumbu [MDC-T], had seen
villagers being forced to attend meetings where Sibanda "teaches them why
war veterans fought in the country's liberation war."

And in an emotion-tinged outburst, Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure [MDC-T]
claimed that the targeting of Masvingo residents was part of a long-term
Zanu PF strategy to sideline and terrorise the Karanga tribe.

"Makaranga have been abused more than enough and I'm actually aggrieved
because my own parents and relatives are being harassed and threatened, some
are beaten up and others are even killed," Madzimure charged.

He sarcastically suggested that some provinces had been spared the violence
because they were "smart people" and "true Zimbabweans".

"The rest of us, we are not Zimbabweans," the MP said. "That is exactly what
we see in the dynamics of the ruling of this country. There are people who
are special and we are talking about it openly because it has continued to
happen and it cannot be allowed to continuously happen."

Madimure lashed out at fellow Karangas in the Zanu PF politburo for failing
to stand up for their tribesman, declaring: "We have figure-heads here who
think that they were put in the [Zanu PF] politburo and now they are super
Karangas. They are not. So, if it is affecting us (violence), it must affect
us all."

Dumbu told MPs that on Monday this week, the Zaka Education Officer
identified only as a Mr Chikwange force-marched school headmasters to
Sibanda's meetings where they were threatened with death should Zanu PF lose
in elections with President Robert Mugabe says will be held next year.

Only two weeks ago, said Dumbu, Chief Bota from that area held a memorial
service for his first-born daughter who was murdered by alleged Zanu PF
militants during the 2008 elections.

"While people are trying to heal their wounds, Zanu PF sends
mubvandiripo(literally means 'wake up there', figuratively means
'illegitimate child') Jabulani Sibanda to terrorise the Zaka people," said
Dumbu.

"The most painful part is that Jabulani Sibanda is very discourteous . he
has no code and no law of survival as a human being. He is an insult to the
Ndebele people."
The MP alleged that Sibanda was force-marching kraal-heads, civil servants
and chiefs to his meetings.

"People no longer have any space for their freedom because they are being
force-marched to Sibanda's meetings. At the meetings, there comes this
mubvandiripo who delivers his speech under the guise of the Operation
Budiranai Pachena."

President Robert Mugabe says the country could go to the polls as early as
next year, amid fears by opposition parties that his Zanu PF party wants
elections before constitutional measures are put in place which would
guarantee the security of voters to avoid a repeat of the 2008 general
election violence.

Zanu’s still born bio-diesel project

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

Written by Sandile Maera
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 09:26

CHIPINGE - The US$600 million ethanol project in Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi
has still not taken off due to faction infighting, as Zanu (PF) fat cats
squabble around the feeding trough.  (Pictured: Sugarcane is being grown to
fuel the bio-diesel project, but as the project is stalled, it is being sold
to Triangle Sugar Company instead.)

It has been more than a year since a Zanu (PF)-linked company was
controversially awarded over 50 000 hectares of Agricultural Rural
Development Authority (ARDA) land for the project.

ARDA officials in Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi confirmed that the project, a
joint venture between ARDA and Rating Investment Ltd and Macdom Investments
Ltd was being hampered by renewed fighting within Zanu (PF).

A senior ARDA official said the 50 000 hectares of sugarcane grown at the
estates in Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi were now being resold to Triangle
Sugar Company, as construction of the ethanol plant has so far remained a
pipedream.

"We are afraid that the nation will again be duped as it was during the
Chinhoyi diesel saga. The project was given this land on the understanding
that it would produce 80 per cent of the country's ethanol needs, but on the
ground it appears that the project is just there to grow sugarcane for
resale to companies which produce raw sugar," said the official.

The official was referring to a situation in 2007 when the Zanu (PF)
government turned to a witchdoctor to solve the country's fuel woes and was
duped by Rotina Mavhunga, ‘the diesel n'anga’ who fooled the cabinet
ministers into believing
that diesel was oozing from a hill in Chinhoyi.

Project opposition
He went on to say that most politicians in Manicaland were still opposed to
the bio-diesel project as they were not consulted. The only ones aware of
the joint venture were Minister of state in President Mugabe's office,
Didymus Mutasa, Agriculture minister, Joseph Made and acting ARDA Chairman,
Bazil Nyabanza.

According to the official, most leaders in the area were of the opinion that
instead of constructing a new bio-diesel plant, the government should have
revived the ethanol plant in nearby Chiredzi which used to produce 15 per
cent of the country's fuel needs in the 1980's, but was abandoned due to
lack of government support and uncertainty brought about by the chaotic land
reform.

"Leaders in the area are also afraid that Zanu (PF) will lose more support
as over 500 families in Chief Garawa and Chief Mupungu areas will be evicted
to pave the way for the project. They are asking why the project has to
re-invent the wheel, when the ethanol plant in Chiredzi has been lying idle
for years," said another ARDA official.

The ethanol plant was supposed to produce over 40 000 litres of fuel every
day when operational.

Acting ARDA Chairman, Bazil Nyabadza, and the project's General Manager,
Graeme Smith, could not be reached for comment.

Last year, ARDA and controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach's Rating and
Madcom investments entered into a 20-year Build, Operate and Transfer
arrangement to transform estates at Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi into
sugarcane fields which were intended to feed the proposed bio-diesel plant.

The deal resulted in the sacking of ARDA CEO, Erickson Mvududu, who opposed
the project, arguing that the government would not benefit. He said that
only private players would see a return on the venture.

Rautenbach was also reportedly facing similar resistance in Masvingo where
his Zimbabwe Bio-Energy company entered a joint venture with the Development
Trust of Zimbabwe to utilize over 100 000 hectares of land at Nuanetsi ranch
for another bio-diesel project.

An additional multi-million dollar bio-diesel project constructed by the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe at the height of its quasi-fiscal activities, has
become a white elephant. The project, which was launched by President Mugabe
three years ago amid pomp and fanfare, is no longer operational.

Zimbabwe’s land reform: challenging the myths

Written by IAN SCOONES

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 16:29

During the past decade, Zimbabwe has undergone a tumultuous land redistribution. The way forward on the land issue is a challenge facing us all. In an attempt to stimulate constructive national debate on this vital topic, we are pleased to publish this new series on livelihoods after land reform, based on a comprehensive 10-year study of the situation on the ground in Masvingo province.  (Pictured: A woman sits outside her house beside her small maize plot.) Zimbabwe’s land reform has had a bad press. Images of chaos, destruction and violence have dominated the coverage. Indeed, these have been part of the reality - but there have also been successes, which have thus far gone largely unrecorded. The story is not simply one of collapse and catastrophe. It is much more nuanced and complex. As Zimbabwe moves forward with a new agrarian structure, a more balanced appraisal is needed. This requires solid, on-the-ground research aimed at finding out what happened to whom and where with what consequences. This was the aim of work carried out in Masvingo province over the past decade. The question posed was simple: what happened to people’s livelihoods once they got land through the ‘fast-track’ programme from 2000? Unexpected findings The answers are extremely complex, and are discussed in detail in the forthcoming book Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities. The research involved in-depth field research in 16 land reform sites across the province, involving a sample population of 400 households. The study area stretched from the higher potential areas near Gutu to the dry south in the lowveld. What we found was not what we expected. It contradicted the overwhelmingly negative images of land reform presented in the media, and indeed in much academic and policy commentary. Problems, failures and abuses were identified for sure, but the overarching story was much more positive: the realities on the ground did not match the myths so often perpetuated in wider debate. Across the country, the land formal re-allocation since 2000 has resulted in the transfer of nearly 8 million hectares of land to over 160,000 households. If the ‘informal’ settlements, outside the official ‘fast-track’ programme are added, the totals are even larger. Two main ‘models’ have been at the centre of the process - one focused on smallholder production (so-called A1 schemes, either as villagised arrangements or small, self-contained farms) and one focused on commercial production at a slightly larger scale (so-called A2 farms). In practice, the distinction between these models varies considerably, and there is much overlap. Events since 2000 have resulted in a radical change in the nation’s agrarian structure as the table below shows. At Independence in 1980, over 15m hectares was devoted to large-scale commercial farming, comprising around 6,000 farmers, nearly all of them white. This fell to around 12m hectares by 1999, in part through a modest, but in many ways successful, land reform and resettlement programme, largely funded by the British government under the terms of the Lancaster House agreement. The Fast Track Land Reform Programme, which began in 2000, allocated to new farmers over 4,500 farms making up7.6m hectares,  20% of the total land area of the country, according to (admittedly rough) official figures. This represents over 145,000 farm households in A1 schemes and around 16.500 further households occupying A2 plots. Changes in the national distribution of land, 1980-2010 Land category    1980    2000    2010 Area (million ha)    Area (million ha)    Area (million ha) Communal areas    16.4    16.4    16.4 Old resettlement    0.0    3.5    3.5 New resettlement: A1    0.0    0.0    4.1 New resettlement: A2    0.0    0.0    3.5 Small-scale commercial  farms    1.4    1.4    1.4 Large-scale commercial farms    15.5    11.7    3.4* State farms    0.5    0.7    0.7 Urban land    0.2    0.3    0.3 National parks and forest land    5.1    5.1    5.1 Unallocated land    0.0    0.0    0.7 Source: derived from various government sources and compiled by the African Institute of Agrarian Studies * includes all large commercial farms, agro-industrial estate farms, church/trust farms, BIPPA farms and conservancies. Overall there has been a significant shift to many more, smaller-scale farms focusing on mixed farming, often with low levels of capitalisation. In Masvingo province, the new resettlements cover 28% of the land area, with 1.2 million hectares being small-scale A1 settlements, while a further 371,500 hectares are devoted to A2 farms. Although there is much variation, the average size of new A2 farms is 318 hectares, while that of A1 family farms is 37 hectares, including crop and grazing land. A different farming sector This has resulted in a very different farming sector, but one that is not without considerable entrepreneurial dynamism and productive potential.  This is not to say that large-scale commercial units no longer exist. Today, there are still over 4m hectares under large-scale farming, some of it in very large holdings, such as the 350,000 hectare Nuanetsi ranch in Masvingo province. There are, however, perhaps only 200-300 white-owned commercial farmers still operating, with most having been displaced, along with a substantial number of farm workers. Especially important in Masvingo province is the estate sector, including for example the major sugar estates in the Lowveld, which largely remained intact following land reform, with out-grower areas being transferred to sub-divided A2 plots. This major restructuring of course has had knock-on consequences for the agricultural sector as a whole. Any radical reform will have a transitional phase as production systems, markets and trading priorities readjust. Thus the transfer of land from the narrowly-controlled, large-scale farm sector has resulted in heavy hits on certain commodities and markets. Wheat, tobacco, coffee and tea have all suffered, as has the export of beef.  For example, on average, across the harvests from 2001 to 2009, wheat production decreased by 27% and tobacco production by 43%, with more dramatic declines from 2006. Equally, national maize production has become more variable, because of the reduction of irrigation facilities and significant droughts have resulted in shortages, with average production over this period down by 31% from 1990s levels. However other crops and markets have weathered the storm and some have boomed. Aggregate production of small grains has exploded, increasing by 163% compared to 1990s averages. Edible dry bean production has expanded even more, up 282%, Cotton production has increased slightly, up 13%  on average.The agricultural sector has certainly been transformed, and there are major problems in certain areas, but it certainly has not collapsed. Yet aggregate figures – with all the caveats about accuracy - only tell one part of the story. To get a sense of what is happening in the fields and on the farms, we need a more local focus. Only with such insights can we really begin to understand the impacts of Zimbabwe’s land reform. – Next week’s article will therefore address the reality on the ground in Masvingo province, asking : who received what land and what have they done with it? Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities published in November 2010 by Weaver Press in Zimbabwe (http://www.weaverpresszimbabwe.com/), Jacana Media in South Africa (http://www.jacana.co.za/) and James Currey in the rest fo the world (http://www.jamescurrey.co.uk/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=13498) (by Ian Scoones, Nelson Marongwe, Blasio Mavedzenge, Felix Murimbarimba and Jacob Mahenehene)

100 per cent - of nothing

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

Written by CHARLES FRIZELL
Tuesday, 19 October 2010 16:18

Politicians and others in power use the lack of knowledge about money and
finance in the general public to twist the truth or to tell outright but
plausible sounding lies, for their own benefit.

These "sweet words" sound so good but are nothing but a pack of lies. This
happens in all countries, but Zimbabwe is particularly vulnerable because it
has a predatory and greedy elite who will do anything to enrich themselves
at the expense of the people and the country.

One of the most deceiving lies that has been going around for some time
involves the ownership of businesses, both local and foreign. There are
people who want to confuse you in order to enrich themselves immensely and
at your cost, and the country's cost without doing a stroke of work.

A case study
To explain what I mean I will give a worked-out example. Although it is an
imaginary company the figures are representative of almost any business. Let
us consider an agricultural business growing a product like cotton.

Let us say that the turnover of the company is US$100 million a year. Here
are some figures to look at:

Turnover is US$100 million a year.
Profit is US$10 million a year.
Tax on profit at 40 per cent gives us US$4 million which goes directly into
the national coffers.

Now let us say the profit is US$10 million or 10per cent. This is a
reasonable average figure. Let us also say that the tax on the profit is 40
per cent, which is also reasonable to assume. So, the nation gets US$4
million directly out of a turnover of US$100 million

Now the shouting starts, "Where has all the money gone?" And how come "we"
only get four per cent? "We" need to take over this company so that "we" get
all the money! That is lie number one, and possibly the greatest falsehood
of all.

Here are the figures for the above hypothetical company:

US$100 million total turnover of which US$10 million is profit
US$4 million in tax to government
US$6 million in profit to owners.
US$90 million left over. What happens to this?
Well, here is a typical split:
US$10 million in imports for parts, fertiliser, machinery and so on. Of this
amount of course the government gets the Import Duty of say US$2.5 million,
which adds to the US$4 million above making it US$6.5 million to the
government (the nation). We now have US$80 million left. Here's how it could
be split:

US$30 million for water, electricity, communications, rates etc.
US$30 million for salaries and wages
US$20 million for local purchases

What is always unsaid is that the US$80 million spent locally goes directly
into the economy, paying wages, salaries, local purchases and so on. None of
this US$80 million leaves the country. When you add in the taxes, the nation
collects US$86.5 million and whoever the owners are get US$6 million. The
"missing" US$10 million goes on imports, which cannot be changed.

Now we see that the owners make US$6 million or six per cent on their
investment, which is in reality quite low and the nation benefits to the
tune of US$86.5 million or 86.5 per cent of the turnover. Now you can see
why all prosperous countries are so keen to encourage business and
investment, whether local or foreign does not matter because the benefits to
the economy are huge.

Local ownership
Now let's talk about "local ownership" which gets some of those people who
have lied to you very excited indeed. Firstly, does it matter to the mangers
and workers who actually owns the majority of the shares of any company?
Does it make any difference to their income or their daily lives? The answer
is, no of course not. The reason for all the shouting is that a number of
already very rich individuals want to get control of the business at next to
no cost to themselves, or preferably for free. What we have seen so
tragically is that the business then usually winds down, assets are sold off
and in the end all the Mangers and workers lose their jobs. And of course
when the business closes the nation is now missing the US$86.5 million that
was previously coming into the economy. Missing as well are all the taxes
paid by those who used to work for the business.

Businesses of any sort are fragile and are easily destroyed by incompetent
management. Whether agricultural, industrial, mining or commercial, in order
to grow and prosper a business requires skilled and honest management with
the long-term good of the business their number one concern.

Every developing country, and even developed countries, cry out for
investment in order to make their economies grow and in order to provide
jobs for the people. No business means no jobs, as we have so cruelly seen
over the past years.

All business and investment should be encouraged. This is best done by
openness and honesty and strictly sticking to the rule of law. The purpose
of government is to facilitate business, not frustrate it. Existing
businesses must be given the opportunity to grow, and new business ventures
should be encouraged. It is totally destructive to try and change the
ownership of existing businesses by force or by legislation; it will just
cost jobs and further impoverish the nation.