Mugabe regrets 'incompatible' unity government

(AFP) – 8 hours ago

HARARE — Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Friday called the unity
government with Prime Minster Morgan Tsvangirai "an incompatible marriage"
and apologised to his party for failing to call for elections this year to
end the compromise arrangement.

"This lack of comprehension is the heavy price we are paying for an
incompatible marriage borne out of 2008," Mugabe said in the state-owned
Herald newspaper.

"We voted for it, as we voted against ourselves. But still it is with us and
those riding on the chariot of this creature and enjoying it don't want the
pleasure to go," Mugabe told a meeting of his ZANU-PF party.

"It is an illegitimate one because it's a political creature not really born
out of the wishes of the people but the wishes of the parties to create a
transition to elections."

The power-sharing government was formed in 2009 to end the nation's descent
into violence after Tsvangirai won a first-round presidential vote, sparking
a wave of attacks that left more than 200 of his supporters dead.

Mugabe's rule had grown increasingly autocratic since he took power from
Britain at independence in 1980, and he has bristled at even the modest
trimming of his power under the unity accord.

The 87-year-old, already backed as his party's next presidential candidate,
had pressed for new elections this year but was rebuffed after Tsvangirai
won regional support for insisting on more democratic reforms first.

The unity deal calls for a new constitution, approved by referendum, before
holding new polls. Tsvangirai also wants reform in the security forces,
which remain firmly in Mugabe's grip.

"I am sorry we have not been in control of the mechanisms, mechanisms that
we thought would lay the road to an election this year in terms of our
decision taken at our last conference" in December 2010, Mugabe said.

He called for peace ahead of new elections, which he said should be held by
March.

"Let us work for a culture of peace and non-violence and let us take this
message to our provinces and districts and the people will welcome that," he
said.

Every election since 2000 has been marred by violence, directed mainly at
Tsvangirai's supporters.

Mugabe warns against Libya-style uprising

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

06/10/2011 00:00:00
    by Deutsche Press-Agentur

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe Thursday said the Arab Spring could have been
avoided if the countries' leaders had “read” the situation properly and
warned that Western powers backing the uprisings could target Zimbabwe next.

“We have had good relations with those Arab countries in trouble today. We
have sympathy with them because they did not read warnings that they should
have read. That things were changing because of the wishes of their people,
and because of machinations of the imperialists,” the president said.

“The pattern has been the same ... Protests against some political measure
or system or wanting change. It ends up being a demand for the entire
government to go,” said Mugabe addressing senior members of his Zanu-PF
party.

Mugabe said Zimbabwe must be watchful of what has happened in Tunisia,
Egypt, Syria and Libya where Western powers “pretend to be following the
grievances of the protestors” when in fact they are after resources of the
countries.

Last month Mugabe said African leaders would not recognise the interim
government in Libya until it has negotiated with the fugitive leader Moammar
Gadaffi.

On Wednesday Mugabe warned that “imperialists” could target Zimbabwe. “We
must remain prepared to defend our country and sovereignty,” the 87 year-old
leader said.

Mugabe also added that he would not give in to demands by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai to stop a law that forces foreign-owned companies to
surrender their majority stake to black Zimbabweans.

“Zimbabwe is for a Zimbabweans. There shall never be a time when we will
give away our resources. Never. Never. Let them come as partners in return
for what we do not have say technology. Yes, bring it, but not by more than
50 percent,” said Mugabe.
“We are saying resources to the people. It is not racism.”

The law was passed in 2007, before Zanu-PF formed a coalition with
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party.

Tsvangirai has since voiced concerns that the law could scare away
badly-needed foreign investors. It is seen by some as a controversial
extension of Zimbabwe's policy to seize white-owned farms.

The law's critics argue that most Zimbabweans are too poor to own stakes in
companies that might require injections of capital. They fear that the
equity will end up in the hands of wealthy officials.

MDC-T 'suspends' minister over US cables

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

07/10/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

JUSTICE and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Obert Gutu was suspended from his
position as spokesman of the MDC-T party’s Harare provincial executive after
leaked United States cables showed him telling diplomats that party leader
Morgan Tsvangirai was weak and given to nepotism.

MDC-T Harare provincial chairman Paul Madzore said Gutu was suspended last
week over statements he made to US ambassador Charles Ray in January 2010.

“It is true that we suspended him as the provincial executive and the
suspension was indefinite, but we are thinking of lifting it soon,” the
Zimbabwe Independent quoted Madzore as saying.
Don Chiringa, an official in the Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s office, was now
the acting provincial spokesman.

But Gutu and the MDC-T’s secretary general Tendai Biti poured cold water on
the reported move, insisting that the party’s provincial executive had no
such authority.
“That’s news to me,” Gutu told the Independent.

Biti, himself described as “ambitious” and sharply opposed to Tsvangirai on
tactics in the cables released by WikiLeaks, added: “The provincial
executive has no power to suspend Gutu.

“It is only the national executive that can do that. The provincial
executive has not communicated with us on that issue so it is not true that
Gutu has been suspended.”

Tsvangirai, fearing dividing his party, came out publicly last week to
insist that no action will be taken against officials who were critical of
him in the cables including treasurer Roy Bennett, Biti, Gutu and organising
secretary Nelson Chamisa.

“Our party regards WikiLeaks with suspicion,” said Tsvangirai. “We can’t
follow rumours and we cannot run a country on gossip. We are not doing
anything about that and that’s where it ends.”

Gutu told Ambassador Ray during a meeting held on January 30, 2010, that
although he was “tolerant and humble”, Tsvangirai was however undone by
being “indecisive and inconsistent”.
Ambassador Ray wrote: “(Senator) Gutu also stated that Tsvangirai had a
tendency to listen to the wrong people.

“He pointed to Ian Makone, Tsvangirai's chief of staff, and Makone's wife,
Theresa, who is the Minister of Public Works.

“He opined that neither was a good strategist, and that the Office of the
Prime Minister was weak due to Ian Makone's lack of leadership.”

Gutu also laid into Tsvangirai for employing relatives.

“Gutu noted that (Murisi) Zwizwai and Tsvangirai are cousins and this is
another example of friendship getting in the way of governance,” Ray added
in the cable.
Bennett was most scathing, describing Tsvangirai as a weak political
operator who "does what the last person tells him to do."

Zimbabwe's Biti Sees Problems Paying for Elections

http://www.voanews.com

October 06, 2011

Peta Thornycroft | Johannesburg

Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti has told parliament that he has to
find money to finance a referendum for a new constitution next year as we
will find money for the next election.  Biti’s statement comes amid concerns
about how the country will fund full implementation of the 2008 political
agreement which brought the inclusive government to power.

Even though President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party have said that
elections will be held next year, parliament was given a different time
frame this week from the man who controls the money, Finance Minister Tendai
Biti, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change party.

Biti says his next budget of $3.5 billion, based on predicted economic
growth of 9.7 percent, has to accommodate a referendum on a new constitution
in 2012 as well as costs of preparations for elections.

Biti said those events and their costs are coming, whether lawmakers like it
or not.

Preparations for the presidential, legislative and local government
elections will include either a new voters’ roll or one considerably
revamped, according to multi-party negotiators.  The negotiators expect
substantial changes to electoral law as well.

Biti said he will also have to find money to support institutions which the
political agreement insists be created ahead of fresh elections, such as the
Human Rights Commission.  That commission has been set up but legislation to
allow it to operate is stalled in the legislature.  It has no budget either.

In addition, Biti said his ministry will struggle to pay public service
wages which are 67 percent of the 2012 budget, and said he can not fund
repayment of Zimbabwe’s $7 billion foreign debt.

Biti's ministry depends on tax revenues alone to fund the government, as
Zimbabwe cannot raise any foreign loans to rebuild infrastructure, which
fell apart under the former ZANU-PF administration.

The finance minister once again slammed spending on foreign travel by senior
government personnel. Detailed reports on money withdrawn from the treasury
show that most of it was spent by Mr. Mugabe on travel to Asia for medical
treatment.

He also said imports far exceeded exports, with unprecedented amounts spent
by the private sector importing vehicles.

Biti warned that growth would drop to 7.8 percent in 2012 because, in his
words, “we expect election talk and violence.”

Zimbabwe's last elections in 2008 were seriously marred by widespread
beatings and killings, most of them perpetrated by ZANU-PF supporters
against the MDC.  The MDC ended up winning control of parliament but the
presidential vote, officially won by Mr. Mugabe, was rejected
internationally as a sham.

A post-election agreement left Mr. Mugabe as president but gave the MDC an
unprecedented power-sharing role.

Analysts have warned that Zimbabwe must have conditions for free and fair
elections in place before attempting another vote.

Civil servants to get hefty bonuses

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Taurai Mangudhla, Business Writer
Friday, 07 October 2011 16:17

HARARE - Civil servants are set to smile all the way to the bank this coming
November as government is planning to award them hefty annual bonuses.

Information gathered by the Daily News revealed that government has already
set aside $32 million to reward its loyal employees for their hard work
throughout 2011.

The funds are expected to be drawn from diamond funds which amount to $43,3
million as at September 30 this year.
Government has in recent years staggered bonus payments between November and
December for its huge workforce, owing to liquidity challenges.

According to the information gathered by the Daily News, government’s Salary
Services Bureau (SSB)’s United States Dollar account balance was at $75
million as at 30 September this year, comprising a $43 million balance for
monthly salaries and the $32 million bonus balance.

The SSB is a government arm that deals with processing salaries and
pensions.

This comes after calls by government workers who, despite accounting for
more than 60 percent of national expenditure, earn below the poverty datum
line.

The government of Zimbabwe succumbed to mounting pressure in July and
awarded its workers a paltry $31 increase despite the fact that the country
is reeling from a $9 billion debt and has a $700 million budgetary deficit.

The increment brought the minimum inclusive pay to $253.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) said the salary increment has threatened
the country’s current 9,3 percent annual economic growth forecast, by
increasing total employment costs from $83,2 million over the first six
months of the year to $144,6 million in July.

As such, government is required to raise an additional $188,3 million from
its coffers to cover the increase in employment costs to December 2011.

AfDB’s monthly report as at September 2011 indicated that the country’s
actual current expenditure of $1,2 billion is above the targeted $1,1
billion, mainly on account of the increase in employment costs.

In terms of revenue mobilisation, actual total revenues collected amounted
to $1,59 billion which was marginally above the target of $1,510 billion,
but non-tax actual revenues were still below target.

Government’s quagmire appears to confirm Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s
argument against an “unsustainable” civil service wage rise, saying that
government has no capacity to pay for salary increases because revenue
collection capacity was on a decline.

Biti told Parliament in July that civil servants’ salary increments would
cost the government an extra $29 million per month, pushing the wage bill to
70 percent of government expenditure up from 45 percent.

Government duty-free car scheme dismissed as electioneering

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
07 October, 2011

Government is proposing a duty free motor vehicle scheme for civil servants,
that has been criticized by the president of Zimbabwe’s main teachers’
union, who said the real beneficiaries will be senior government officials
who can afford to buy cars in the first place.

The proposed duty-free scheme, due to go into effect from January 2012,
would exempt senior civil servants from paying import taxes on vehicles.
They would also receive loans of up to $7 000, payable within 10 years, to
purchase cars. The state run media said this is an effort by government “to
boost its workers' morale through non-monetary benefits.”

Takavafira Zhou, President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe
(PTUZ), told SW Radio Africa that teachers were not consulted and they do
not even know the details of the so-called incentives. “Anything for
teachers without teachers is against teachers. Increase salaries first,”
Zhou said.

He explained that teachers form a large percentage of the government work
force and have been demanding wage increases and better work conditions for
years now. Most civil servants earn an average salary of about $250 per
month, which is below the poverty datum line of $500.

“Teachers are not credit worthy and only senior government officials can
afford to buy cars which cost over $4,000. Where would a teacher earning
$200 get that kind of money?” Zhou asked.
The timing of the announcement has also been criticized by some observers,
who pointed to the fact that elections are expected in the country next year
and ZANU PF is attempting to gain support.

Zhou agreed with that assessment and explained that the same thing happened
when teachers were promised a housing scheme. “Government was flooded with
applications but teachers did not receive those houses. Only senior
management in government, like permanent secretaries and provincial
directors benefitted,” Zhou said.

 

Archbishop of Canterbury in Zimbabwe this weekend

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
06 October, 2011

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is due to arrive in Zimbabwe
this weekend, amidst the continuing evictions of clergy and teachers by the
ex-communicated Anglican Bishop Nolbert Kunonga.
Archbishop Williams has been on a tour of the Church Province of Central
Africa (CPCA), which includes Zambia and Malawi. But Zimbabwe presents his
greatest challenge, due to the ongoing victimization of clergy and
parishioners by Kunonga. The renegade bishop has support from the police and
from Robert Mugabe.
The archbishop has requested a meeting with Robert Mugabe although it is not
known whether the meeting will take place. Precious Shumba, press officer
for the CPCA in Harare, told SW Radio Africa on Friday that Mugabe’s office
has not yet responded to their request.

Asked whether Kunonga will be discussed, Shumba said: “This is a courtesy
call on Robert Mugabe and they will dwell on the impact of church
development within the national discourse.”
He added that Kunonga is not recognized by the Anglican church and
discussing him would legitimize his position.

Shumba confirmed that the Archbishop will hold a service at the City Sports
Center on Sunday, because Kunonga’s followers have taken over church
properties that belonged to the CPCA.
Meanwhile Reverend Sydney Chirombe and 3 other teachers at St Mark’s in
Mhondoro were served eviction notices on Wednesday by a Kadoma deputy
sherrif, representing Kunonga. St Marks has about 900 students who will be
affected by the evictions. Hundreds are due to take exams next week.

Williams, Mahlangu appear in court

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/7062

October 7th, 2011

Press statement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)

WOZA leaders Jennifer Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu appeared in Court 2
Tredgold Magistrates Court at 9am on 6th October 2011 before Magistrate
Tawanda Muchemwa. They were remanded to 12 December 2011. Although
Prosecutor Melvin Nzombe was in attendance most prosecutors are on strike
therefore the long remand date.

Ten members arrested alongside Williams and Mahlangu during the 21 September
2011 Peace Day protest have filed a complaint against police officers who
made up the Riot Reaction squad on the day in question. The ten, represented
by 2 have complained to the Zimbabwe Republic Police that officers were beat
them and arrested them used foul language on them and others who were not
arrested. The Officer commanding Crime Prevention Unit, Sergeant J. Dzikiti
in the company of other police officers called the women ‘Beche’ the Shona
language word for Vagina and also ‘Beche ramai vako’ (your mothers vagina)
as they beat the human rights defenders with baton sticks. Sergeant Dzikiti
is also the one who gave orders for the beating shouting ‘uraya’, meaning
‘kill’ in Shona.

An investigating officer has been assigned to the case Wednesday but in
current police trend they asked the victims to go get the perpetrator and
present him. Today, in the company of Williams and Mahlangu the women attend
Bulawayo Central Police Station to locate the officer. Sgt Dzikiti was
identified and directly confronted ad asked to go with the women to the
investigating officer but refused. The activists obtained his name and force
number which was submitted to the investigating officer. The case number is
IR 7900/11.

After the 10 June raid by police offices of the WOZA office, a formal
complaint was made to the legal department of the police on 1st July 2011.
But apart from police attending the house to remove their planted documents
and bullets no further update has been received. A Nokia X3 mobile phone
with MTN Sim card and USD$400 stolen from the house by police officers
guarding it remains ignored.

Another report made on Tuesday 27th October 2011, of burglary and theft from
another WOZA property remains ignored and un- investigated. Bulawayo Central
Police station officers receiving the report have even refused to provide an
initial report number or assign a crime reference book number.

WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were met with Global
Political Agreement Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JoMic)
staff on 12th September 2011 in their offices.

The meeting was attended by the 3 political part representatives, Frank
Chamunorwa (MDC), Oppah Muchinguri (Zanu PF) and Thabita Kumalo (MDC T) and
their staff liaison officers. During this meeting, WOZA was asked to report
all human rights abuses to the police and relay these complaints to JoMIC
with police reference numbers. But it is proving difficult for WOZA members
to get cooperation from Bulawayo Central Police station.

It is unfortunate that in Zimbabwe there is no independent complaint process
so the junior investigating officer will be expected to discipline his
superior officer so it is unclear how effective this process can be but it
is a record for future Transitional Justice processes.

Ends

For more information, please call Jenni Williams +263 772 898 110 or +263
712 213 885 or Magodonga Mahlangu +263 772 362 668
or email info@wozazimbabwe.org or wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com or
wozazimbabwe@googlemail.com.
Visit our website at www.wozazimbabwe.org. You can also follow us on Twitter
at twitter.com/wozazimbabwe or find us on Facebook.

This entry was posted by Sokwanele on Friday, October 7th, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Zimbabwe turns to mining to boost coffers

http://www.businesslive.co.za

07 October, 2011 09:58
Tawanda Karombo
BusinessLIVE

The Zimbabwe government, cash-strapped and faced with a bloated civil
service wage bill and a possible budget shortfall for the coming year, is
planning to turn to mining companies to boost its coffers through raising
taxes for companies in the sector.

Zimbabwe is expected to hold a referendum on a new constitution and hold
elections next year, both of which have to be funded from government
coffers. Moreover, this year alone, the government is faced with a $700
million budget deficit, further compounding matters for the troubled
coalition administration, set-up following disputed polls more than two
years ago.

And with mining companies sticking to their operations in the country
despite an empowerment law that is being enforced in a confrontational
manner by indigenisation minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, the government is
mulling increasing the tax thresholds for mining companies.

An economist with the industry representative grouping, the chamber of mines
of Zimbabwe, said Zimbabwe's regulatory environment was increasingly
becoming uncertain.

"The contribution of the mining sector to the fiscus remains subdued in
spite of the firming mineral prices," said Finance Minister Tendai Biti this
week. Global prices for minerals have surged in recent months as investors
move into less volatile investment options on the back of the credit and
debt woes that have hit Europe and other global markets.

Mining sector players said raising taxes would further impact on their
profitability as they were already paying corporate tax and other general
taxes.

Biti's argument, presented in a pre-budget statement in parliament on
Wednesday, was that the mining sector had to contribute funding for critical
"development and service delivery". He said Zimbabwe had vast "mineral
resources" and that expectations were high for players in the sector to
spearhead community developments to give back to the communities in which
they were operating.

"But this is a totally different situation, the minister is trying to
justify tax increases on the need for community development," said the
chamber of mines economist.

Industry players and government officials said the government, in its
upcoming budget for 2012, was likely to tax royalties on gold and platinum
production at more than 4.5% and 5% respectively, while royalties on
alluvial diamonds would be increased "from the current 15%".

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu also said there was no going back on the ban on
raw chrome exports despite widespread concerns over stockpiled raw chrome as
local refiners are failing to clear the refining backlog, pointing to
constrained refinery capacity. He said that although the door had been shut
on chrome exports the mines ministry was still prepared to consider
individual requests, highlighting the elasticity of Zimbabwe's regulatory
framework.

"Come and tell us how much chrome you have and how much you have exported
and the returns that you have submitted," he said.

Analysts said it would take some time before the mining sector re-adjusts to
the new legislative environment and tax regime. Some of the analysts added
that this situation could result in scaled back production, especially for
chrome mining.

The majority of Zimbabwe's mining houses are involved in big community
development projects and examples include projects being undertaken by
Impala Platinum's Zimbabwe unit, Zimplats and the Murowa diamond mine,
jointly owned by Rio Tinto and RioZim.

Biti, whose proposals for a tax increase for the mining sector was likely to
be rubber-stamped by the evenly balanced parliament, has proposed that an
evaluation of the inventory of the country's minerals resources be
undertaken to assess mining sector players' contribution to the fiscus.

"This will assist in the evaluation of revenue contribution to the fiscus,
thereby improving issues of transparency and accountability in the mining
sector," the Finance Minister said.

The mining sector, alongside the agricultural sector, was expected to
continue underpinning economic growth in Zimbabwe, with Biti optimistic that
Zimbabwe would manage to reach GDP growth of 9.3% this year. The local
economy was however, according to Biti, likely to slow down next year.

"Gross Domestic Product is expected to be $10 billion at the expected growth
rate of 7,8%. (The) Basis for the downward revision is politics because we
expect election talk and violence," he said.

Mugabe admits he has no power to order elections

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
07 October 2011

For a man who thrives on giving the impression he is in total control,
Robert Mugabe surprised many people on Thursday when he admitted he could
not call for elections when he wants them. Addressing the ZANU PF Central
Committee in Harare Mugabe said: “We were looking forward to holding
elections soon but I’m not in control of the mechanism that would lay the
road to elections this year.”

For months ZANU PF was adamant that elections would be held this year but
pressure from regional mediators has seen a major climb down, if not
complete u-turn. A roadmap to elections endorsed by the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) makes it clear elections can’t be held until
constitutional and electoral reforms are put in place.

Mugabe also expressed his frustration with the coalition government, even
though it was the same deal that saved him when he lost elections in March
2008. He called it "an incompatible marriage" while apologising to his party
for failing to call for elections this year.

Ironically Mugabe said the coalition is an “illegitimate one because it's a
political creature not really born out of the wishes of the people but the
wishes of the parties to create a transition to elections." Perhaps
commentators should remind him, he is the one who lost elections and having
him in the coalition certainly does not constitute the wishes of the people.

Meanwhile Mugabe continued to play to the gallery by preaching peace during
his address. But behind the scenes his party is unrolling a coordinated
campaign of intimidation and violence ahead of elections.
"We win elections by the nature of our policies. We do not win them by way
of fisting; we do not convert people by way of coercing. We did agree to the
principle of having a meeting of leading bodies, that is the Central
Committee, with equivalent bodies of the two MDC’s to discuss the issue of
peace as we move towards elections so that people can canvas for support
peacefully," Mugabe said.

Perhaps someone in ZANU PF forgot to tell this to vigilante groups like
Chipangano and notorious war vet leader Jabulani Sibanda, who continue to go
around terrorizing anyone perceived as an opposition supporter.
The recent disruption of public hearings at Parliament by ZANU PF hooligans,
who beat up MP’s and poured hot oil over an MDC activist in a separate
incident, were some of the warning shots fired by ZANU PF.

Madzore remanded in custody on murder charges

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Tichaona Sibanda
7 October 2011

Firebrand MDC-T Youth Assembly secretary general, Promise Mkwananzi, on
Friday warned that ZANU PF is committing ‘political suicide’ by arresting
their youth leader on murder charges.

‘This is a political game that will backfire spectacularly for ZANU PF. This
tendency to arrest senior MDC-T officials ahead of elections is a political
game that is now working against them. Just wait and see how they are going
to lose dismally in the next poll,’ Mkwananzi said.

Madzore appeared in court Friday and was remanded to 19th October. He was
picked up by six plain clothes police officers from his Waterfalls home on
Tuesday. Police have charged him with the murder of Inspector Petros
Mutedza, who died five months ago in Glen View.

The MDC-T has maintained the policeman was killed after a fight broke out
with drinkers at a shopping centre. Seven other MDC-T activists are still in
remand prison, 5 months after also being arrested for the death of the
police officer.

The seven, arrested as part of an initial group of 26, were on Wednesday
this week further remanded in custody, also to 19th October.

On Friday dozens of MDC-T youth members thronged the Harare magistrates
court to show solidarity with Madzore. Mkwananzi told SW Radio Africa the
charges against their leader are unfounded and unsubstantiated.

‘He was in good spirits in court today, looked well and fine except that he
is in illegal detention. He is a prisoner of conscience, a political
prisoner who is being persecuted for his political views.

‘They think they are going to weaken the youth assembly ahead of the next
poll because they know we have the capacity to defend our vote. As youth
members of the MDC-T we have the potential to ensure that the winner of the
next elections is respected, this is the reason why they charging our leader
with murder,’ Mkwananzi said.

Last month Costa Machingauta, the MDC-T national vice chairperson was
arrested in Glen View but was released without any charges being laid
against him.

The MDC-T has long been on the receiving end of ZANU PF’s oppression.
Hundreds of its supporters have been killed, tens of thousands tortured and
hundreds of thousands have lost their homes and their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu also appeared
in court on Friday for a remand hearing. The two, who were released from
police custody on Wednesday after spending 13 days in prison on trumped up
charges of kidnap and theft, were remanded to 12th December.

Home affairs resumes Zim deportations

http://mg.co.za/

KATHARINE CHILD - Oct 07 2011 00:00

The moratorium on deporting illegal Zimbabweans has quietly been lifted by
the department of home affairs, leading to an outcry from refugee rights
groups.

No deportations of Zimbabweans have taken place for almost two years while
home affairs have been running the Zimbabwe documentation project (ZDP) to
offer legal status to Zimbabweans living illegally in South Africa.

Organisations working with migrants are angry that the department has not
been open about a memo that was circulated among the police, army and
refugee offices on September 27 explaining that deportations would resume.

The Mail & Guardian has a copy of the directive issued by director general
of home affairs Mkuseli Apleni to the defence force, police offices and
department of home affairs branches. The directive says "it aims to give
clarity on Zimbabwean nationals who are not presently detected", and
outlines the procedure that officers must follow when deporting immigrants.

Home affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa would not answer questions about
the directive but did issue a press release this week saying that illegal
immigrants could not claim protection under South Africa's laws. "No country
in the world will allow illegal immigration within its borders. This is
international practice," he said.

Mamoepa told the M&G that the government had shown goodwill in attempting to
regularise the status of Zimbabweans in the country and had given them a
window of opportunity to hand in their fraudulent documents in return for
amnesty.

People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty's Braam
Hanekom said the "deportations are in direct contradiction to the recent
undertakings made by home affairs director general, Mr Apleni, to Parliament
not to embark on deportations of Zimbabweans until the Zimbabwean
documentation project has been completed, appeals reviewed and the minister
has approved deportations."

But the ZDP project is not complete. According to a research report compiled
by the African Centre for Migration Studies (ACMS), "as of October 4, 145
000 permits were dispatched of 275 762 that were received, though processing
was still taking place".

Creating problems
Human Rights Watch estimates that there are 1.5-million Zimbabweans in the
country, although fewer than 300 000 applied for legal paperwork during the
amnesty period.

CONTINUES BELOW

ACMS senior researcher Roni Amit said the resumption of deportations was
"going to create problems". She said refugee rights groups were angry
because home affairs had not been transparent about resuming deportations
and that media reports this week had included denials of such a directive.

Amit said police who arrested Zimbabweans and sent them to deportation
centres generally did not verify whether the individuals were still waiting
for permits.

The directive instructs officers to check if "the suspect has a pending
application" for legal status and to conduct an interview with the suspect.
But Amit was not convinced by this, saying: "The verification system does
not work."

Amit said public health groups had not been given advance warning that
deportations were about to start.

ACMS researcher Jo Vearey said Zimbabweans on chronic medicine for
tuberculosis or HIV/Aids needed to continue taking their medication after
deportation or run the risk of developing resistance to the diseases or
catching multidrug resistant TB.

"Detention facilities are the perfect space for onward transmission of TB,
and this poses a health risk to police officers and public immigration
officials."

Zimbabwean Business Delegation Urges US Invesment Despite Uncertainties

http://www.voanews.com

06 October 2011

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said Zimbabwean trade is on the rise
and investors from around the world are showing increased interest in the
country, which he said is undergoing rapid change

Gibbs Dube | Washington

A high-powered Zimbabwean business delegation told skeptical investors in
Washington this week to consider investing in the country despite an ongoing
indigenization program, divisions within the government and local financial
market liquidity constraints.

The delegation said foreign investors are not well enough informed about
opportunities in Zimbabwe ranging from minerals to the fast-recovering
agricultural sector.

Key speaker Tawanda Gumbo, chief executive in Zimbabwe of international
accounting firm Deloitte Touche, said foreigners are worried about black
empowerment given what happened to thousands of white commercial farmers
under land reform after 2000.

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said Zimbabwean trade is on the rise
and investors from around the world are showing increased interest in the
country.

"This is not to say that Zimbabwe is without its risks or challenges,” Ray
said, noting the continued divisions within a government combining President
Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change. "But there is also willingness on all sides to move the
political process forward and a broad recognition of the value of political
stability to economic recovery.”

Declared Ray: "Zimbabwe is changing and changing quickly."

Some US investors expressed concern they may lose their property if they
invest in the country given the unfolding indigenization process and weak
property rights.

US Ambassador backs empowerment in Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
07 October 2011

US Ambassador Charles Ray has this week voiced his support for empowerment
plans in Zimbabwe, while encouraging foreign investment in the country.

Ray made these remarks at a business summit in Washington this week, where
he appeared to steer America’s stance on Zimbabwe in a new direction. Ray,
who has previously been very critical of the situation in Zimbabwe and ZANU
PF’s continued grip on power, said ‘misconceptions’ about the country’s
economic policies were affecting investor interest.

“How Zimbabwe risk profile matches today with your firms orientation is a
matter for each of you to decide, but let me assure you that Zimbabwe is
changing and it’s changing relatively quickly with investors from as far as
Russia, Brazil and China having visited Zimbabwe in recent months to explore
business opportunities and America’s presence remains fairly limited,” said
Ray. He was addressing groups like the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe,
Cargill Zimbabwe, Deloitte Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce,
Mimosa Mine, Paramount and Old Mutual, among others.

Ray then also voiced his support for empowerment, while responding to
concerns about land ‘reform’ and the controversial indigenisation plans
spearheaded by ZANU PF.

“I like that they talk about local empowerment. It’s a far better word than
indigenisation. Empowering local people to benefit from their resources and
to have some say in their lives is a perfectly laudable goal and I am a 100%
behind it. If it’s done according to the law and when it’s done in a way
that truly empowers the people who have been disadvantaged, I am 100% for
it,” Ray said.

The indigenisation campaign has exacerbated already serious concerns over
investment in Zimbabwe, with the ZANU PF led Empowerment Ministry making
threats to foreign owned firms in recent month. Companies like Old Mutual,
Zimplats and banking groups have all been threatened with takeover by
Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere. Foreign owned firms are all
expected to cede 51% of their shareholding to ‘indigenous’ Zimbabweans, in a
campaign that has parallels with the destructive land grab.

Meanwhile potential mining investors are likely to be left even more
confused about the state of affairs after Finance Minister Tendai Biti this
week indicated that taxes imposed on mines would be raised.

"The contribution of the mining sector to the fiscus remains subdued in
spite of the firming mineral prices," said Biti said this week in
Parliament.

Biti's argument is that the mining sector had to contribute funding for
critical "development and service delivery". He said expectations were high
for players in the mining sector to spearhead community developments to give
back to the communities in which they were operating.

 

Residents drag Chombo to court

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

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff WriterXolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Friday, 07 October 2011 09:58

HARARE - Kwekwe residents have taken Local Government, Rural and Urban
development Minister Ignatius Chombo to court in a bid to overturn a
unilateral decision he took reinstating a dismissed city official.

The residents led by mainstream MDC legislator Blessing Chebundo wants the
High Court to order Chombo to rescind his decision to reinstate the city’s
finance director, Albert Zingwe.

Zingwe was found guilty by a probe team set up by Chombo to investigate
allegations of misappropriating council funds.

The probe team recommended his dismissal and its decision was also upheld by
the local government board.

However, Chombo decided to unilaterally reinstate him without proper
explanation.

The MDC dominated local authority, sought advice from the local government
board which is chaired by Pisirai Kwenda and endorsed his dismissal.

The local government board is an arm of government which has powers to
determine the operations of local authorities in the country.

It makes recommendations to Chombo and decisions that ought to be made.

The board has in the past made decisions recommending the dismissal of MDC
councillors and Chombo has acted with haste in implementing them.

In his founding affidavit, Chebundo says Chombo made the decision to
reinstate Zingwe without fully understanding the facts on the ground and his
decision “constitutes a gross irregularity and flies in the face of the
principles of natural justice”.

Chombo is cited as the first respondent, Kwekwe city council as the second
while Zingwe is cited as the third respondent.

“As a resident of Kwekwe and a rate-payer I was astonished at the first
respondent’s directive which was effectively turning a blind eye to the fact
that the third respondent had been found guilty of acts of fina- ncial
indiscipline,” reads Chebundo’s affidavit.

Chebundo further said: “I am naturally concerned that this impunity will
result in greater acts of financial indiscretions which will culminate in
even greater losses to the second respondent thus compromising an already
failing service delivery system.”

Chombo known for his legendary dismissal of MDC councillors countrywide has
in the past requested Kwekwe City Council to furnish him with a
comprehensive report explaining how they arrived at the decision to fire
Zingwe.

The residents have given Chombo 10 days to respond.

“I submit that the conduct of the First Respondent is highly irregular, and
warrants a review by this honourable court,” Chebundo wrote.

Bonded nursing graduates to be released: minister

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

06/10/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE is releasing 2,000 nurses from a bonding scheme after they failed
to secure jobs in the health service, Health Minister Henry Madzorera has
told Parliament.

New nursing graduates and doctors educated through government grants must
work for the Ministry of Health for a period matching the number of years
spent in training.

Only after they have completed their contracted years will they be issued
with their degrees and diplomas, releasing them to seek employment in
private practice or emigrate.

But after the Ministry of Finance froze all new recruitment across the civil
service, Madzorera told MPs it would be cruel to continue to prevent
newly-qualified nurses from seeking jobs in the region and beyond.

“As a temporary measure, we have decided to release certificates of the
bonded nurses so that they can seek employment elsewhere,” Madzorera said on
Thursday in response to a question by Mazowe Central MP Shepherd Mushonga
[MDC-T].

He added: “This is temporary, we are not changing our policy but we are
saying since the Ministry of Finance cannot give us money to pay these
nurses, then we have to release their certificates.”

In January this year, Madzorera floated an idea to approach regional
countries in need of nurses for temporary placement while efforts are being
made to rescucitate the economy and take them back.

“We might find ourselves with more nurses than we need, making some of those
who we train redundant (which) makes it imperative to enter into a sort of
agreement with some of our neighbours who need their services,” Madzorera
said at the time. “We are thinking about it.”

Bonding was introduced in 2007 to retain medical professionals who were
leaving the country due to the harsh economic climate at the time.

New graduates trained at the expense of taxpayers would simply pick up their
certificates and move abroad, mainly to the United Kingdom, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and neighbouring South Africa.

Zimbabwe to host white collar crime summit

http://www.businesslive.co.za/

06 October, 2011 14:32

Wallace Mawire
BusinessLIVE

In a bid to put the spotlight on the threat posed by cyber-crime, Zimbabwe
is set to host a summit on fighting white collar crime in Africa.

Gladys Mtetwa of Proctor and Associates who are some of the organisers of
the summit said it will be held on November 3 and 4 under the theme "Zero
Tolerance for White Collar Crime in Africa".

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) reports that
organisations across the globe lose 5% of gross revenue to fraud every year.

In Africa it is reported that one half of all fraud falls into the category
of corruption, on a par with Europe and Asia, as the leading spots among all
regions of the world.

This summit is said to be the first of its kind to give expert advice and
techniques for protecting organisations against bribery, kickbacks,
conflicts of interest and other forms of corruption as well as other crimes
like cyber-fraud, cash theft, dodgy financial reporting, fraud and billing
schemes.

The summit expects to focus on economic and hi-tech crime in Eastern and
Southern Africa, challenges of managing the fraud and corruption problem in
Africa, ACFE's fraud investigation methodology and the forensic
investigation process.

Lawyer strike continues in Zim

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za

Eyewitness News | 6 Hour(s) Ago

Striking prosecutors in Zimbabwe have moved to lock the army out of the
courts as they continue pressing for a wage hike.

Yesterday, authorities roped in prosecutors from the army and police to
replace their civilian colleagues but the move was being resisted.

Prosecutors in the eastern city of Mutare used key blockers to make sure
nobody could gain access to their offices.

The move meant that vital papers like dockets became unavailable for
stand-in prosecutors to continue with cases and ease the backlog.

The prosecutors want the army and police officials who have been seconded to
replace them to be withdrawn immediately.

State media said the Zimbabwe Law Officers Association had already written
to service chiefs to complain.

They want a US$300 monthly wage hike added to their current salary of
US$360.

Civilian prosecutors said it was unfair as magistrates had just received a
wage hike.

Wikileaks cables galore this weekend