The ZIMBABWE Situation
An extensive and up-to-date website containing news, views and links related to ZIMBABWE - a country in crisis
Return to INDEX page
Please note: You need to have 'Active content' enabled in your IE browser in order to see the index of articles on this webpage

Magistrate cancels Tsvangirai’s marriage certificate

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Morgan Tsvangirai and Elizabeth Macheka

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 September 2012

A Harare Magistrate on Friday dealt Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai a blow when he cancelled his marriage licence to Elizabeth Macheka. This put his wedding on Saturday on hold, pending a High court appeal which was immediately lodged by Tsvangirai’s legal team. At the time of writing late Friday, the appeal was still to be heard.

Magistrate Munamato Mutedzi’s judgement came as Heads of State and invited guests were making their way into Harare for the MDC-T leader’s big day. Media reports said Botswana President Ian Khama and the Swazi Prime Minister jetted into Harare on Friday afternoon.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us his sources are claiming the wedding will continue, without the signing of certificates. On Thursday the Prime Minister’ spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka accused the state media of embarking on a smear campaign against the MDC President.

This was after a South African woman emerged on Thursday objecting to his wedding. Nosipho Regina Shilubane, claimed Tsvangirai had in January promised to marry her in December this year.

She filed an objection at the Harare Magistrates’ Court against Tsvangirai’s wedding with Macheka. But before the papers had been filed, the state media had already got copies and were leaking out the information.

‘Today’s claim was lodged with the newspapers before it was served on the PM’s lawyers and with the magistrates’ court. There are those who have obviously sought to dip political fingers in a social pie,’ Tamborinyoka said in statement.

Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya told SW Radio Africa the relentless campaign against Tsvangirai is testimony of an intimidated ZANU PF, using state institutions like the CIO.

‘This is clearly coming from organizations suffering from misplaced priorities and whose past time is peddling rumours, half truths and disinformation,’ Ruhanya said.

In a Statement on Friday evening the MDC said:


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Tsvangirai ‘ceremony’ to go ahead: MDC-T

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

14/09/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

A DEFIANT MDC-T has vowed that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
‘ceremonies’ will go ahead Saturday despite a Harare magistrate ruling that
his planned wedding was illegal since he is still married to an ex-flame.

Tsvangirai, 60, had invited a number of regional leaders for his lavish
wedding to Elizabeth Macheka, 35, but the planned nuptials were thrown into
disarray after an ex-lover approached the courts the block ceremony.

Locardia Karatsenga insists she is married the MDC-T leader under customary
law and the court ruled in her favour after she produced video evidence of
the traditional marriage ceremony where Tsvangirai's emissaries are shown
paying the bride price on his behalf.

"The marriage licence that had been issued to the premier has been
cancelled. There is in existence a customary law marriage between the prime
minister and Locardia Karimatsenga," her lawyer Everson Samukange said.

"If he (Tsvangirai) goes ahead with the wedding he will be committing
bigamy.”
But the MDC-T vowed that the planned ceremonies would go ahead despite
threats by Karimatsenga’s lawyers to have Tsvangirai arrested.

“The MDC family has received the decision of the Harare Magistrate to cancel
the marriage licence of the Prime Minister. The MDC respects the ruling of
the court,” the party said in a statement Friday.

“However, (the party) respectfully disagrees with this ruling and is happy
that Tsvangirai’s lawyers have taken this matter up on appeal.

“The party is happy to announce that the ceremonies set for tomorrow at
Raintree and Glamis Stadium (in Harare will go) ahead as planned.”

The court however, dismissed a related case by a South African woman who
claimed the MDC-T leader promised to marry her.

Tsvangirai’s lawyers said they would challenge the annulment of his marriage
licence at the High Court.
"The court made its ruling and now we don't agree with it," Thabani Mpofu,
one of the lawyers, told reporters. "We are going to launch an urgent High
Court application, which will be heard either tonight or tomorrow morning
before the wedding."

But Karimatsenga’s attorneys have since warned they would seek to have the
MDC-T leader arrested if he goes ahead with the wedding.

"It has now been brought to our attention that the Honourable Prime Minister
has committed a criminal offence by contravening Section 104 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act,” Jonathan Samukange of Venturas and
Samukange law firm wrote in a letter to the Attorney General Thursday.

"In the circumstances, we request you in terms of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe to direct and order the police to arrest Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai for contravening the said section."

He added: "Could this matter be attended to urgently as we understand that
the Honourable PM intends to persist in this criminal conduct on Saturday
September 15, 2012.

"It is important in this case that the PM be made to answer to these
criminal charges. He is a leader of a political party and leader of this
country and which he took oath to obey and respect the laws of Zimbabwe.

"The oath that he took during swearing in as Prime Minister is that he must
obey all the laws of Zimbabwe and he has actually committed a criminal
offence.”

The MDC-T says the court interdict is “part of a grand political scheme to
besmirch, to malign and to soil the image of the Prime Minister for
political gain.”

“Prime Minister Tsvangirai will brave these political machinations and he
gives his assurance that they will not sway him from his goal of bringing
real change and transformation to the people of Zimbabwe,” the MDC-T leader’s
spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, said in a statement Friday.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Smear campaign against PM intensifies

http://www.mdc.co.zw

Friday, 14 September 2012

In the past week, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has faced two interdicts
to stop his wedding in what is clearly a well-choreographed move replete
with malice and vindictiveness.

It is evident these are not normal claims, but nevertheless, the Prime
Minister’s lawyers have opposed them, including another one curiously lodged
soon after Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga had had her application dismissed by the
High Court.

As you are aware, the Prime Minister lost his wife of 31 years through a
fatal accident in 2009.

The Prime Minister would like to thank Zimbabweans across the political
divide and across the social spectrum for their support since his
bereavement until the latest tribulations.

As a widower, he has sought to move on and in the process there have been
several claims, some of which are out-rightly malicious.

The latest claim, for example, has sought to wrongfully allege that the
complainant had engaged with Prime Minister Tsvangirai. This is false.

Some of the claims are part of a grand political scheme to besmirch, to
malign and to soil the image of the Prime Minister for political gain.

Today’s claim was lodged with the newspapers before it was served on the
PM’s lawyers and with the magistrates’ court. There are those who have
obviously sought to dip political fingers in a social pie.

Zimbabweans are pleased that the PM has now found a rightful companion with
whom he publicly engaged; a loved one he will publicly wed on Saturday.

The past week alone has seen an outpouring of messages of support and
prayers to the PM and his wife from Zimbabweans of many political shades.
The PM and his family are humbled by the support, which has also come from
the region and the international community.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai will brave these political machinations and he
gives his assurance that they will not sway him from his goal of bringing
real change and transformation to the people of Zimbabwe.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Principal Director of Communications and Spokesperson
Office of the Prime Minister


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Zimbabwe’s president says he has turned to China for military defense

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, September 15, 4:40 AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s president says his country turned to China to
beef up its military training capabilities after what he called threats of
an invasion from Western countries intending to lead to “regime change.”

President Robert Mugabe said Friday at the opening of a Chinese-built
military training academy north of Harare that “hate-filled tactics” by the
West have acted as a “wake-up call” for the country to strengthen its
defense. Zimbabwe received a $98 million loan from China to build the
sprawling complex.

China wants the loan repaid over 13 years from diamonds being mined by
Chinese companies in eastern Zimbabwe.

Mugabe said the new National Defence College will act as a “think tank” on
security matters under threat from Western enemies whose “adventurism went
to the extent of seeking a military invasion of Zimbabwe.”


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Mugabe ‘disrespectful, misguided’: Jamaica PM

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

14/09/2012 00:00:00
by Jamaica-gleaner.com

JAMAICAN Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has dismissed as
"disrespectful and misguided" controversial comments made by President
Robert Mugabe about Jamaican men while the country’s opposition is demanding
a full apology from the Zimbabwean leader.

A week after Mugabe's comments triggered intense public debate, Simpson
Miller hit back saying the Zimbabwean leader's remarks were untrue.

Mugabe had last week Wednesday labelled Jamaican men as underachievers who
get high on ganja, drunk on alcohol, refuse to go to college and spend time
twisting their hair.

Simpson Miller said Thursday Mugabe's statement was disrespectful to the
hundreds of thousands of Jamaican men who are excellent fathers,
professionals and outstanding citizens.

In a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, Simpson Miller said
Mugabe's remarks, "regardless of whether they were spoken 'in jest' as was
stated" in Wednesday's edition of NewZimbabwe.com, "were grossly
unfortunate, misguided and untrue".

It took eight days, since the president's controversial remarks, for Jamaica
House to confirm through "exhaustive checks" by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Foreign Trade that Mugabe made the uncomplimentary comments
about Jamaican men at the launch of a 2012 Research and Intellectual
Institute Expo in, Harare.

Said Simpson Miller: "We are confident that the remarks of President Mugabe
do not represent the sentiments of the people of Zimbabwe, other African
countries and the rest of the world."

She added: "Our confidence is predicated on the fact that there are many
outstanding and globally accepted examples of the character and contribution
of Jamaican men who have set the benchmark as exceptional achievers."

However, opposition leader Andrew Holness suggested that the prime
minister's statement on was inadequate.
"We should send an official letter of protest and ask for an apology in
expressing our disgust and dissatisfaction at the statement," the opposition
leader insisted.

He argued that Mugabe's utterances could have international implications,
noting that people who read his comments in the Zimbabwean press could form
a particular view about Jamaicans.

"We have Brand Jamaica to protect and that statement is certainly not
helping Brand Jamaica," Holness stressed.

He said at the time Mugabe's comments were made, there was no clarification
to suggest they were made in jest.
"If it were said in jest and there is an acknowledgement that the comments
created, 'to use a euphemism, discomfort' for Jamaicans or were untrue, then
it should not be a difficulty for Mugabe to apologise. Indeed, the apology
should be automatic."

Holness said the prime minister should also consider reviewing the
membership in the Order of Jamaica given to Mugabe.
"I think the PM should take a look at it ... the terms on which the order
was given and to see whether or not his record actually deserves having the
order."


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Amnesty says Zimbabwe police detained 300


(AFP) – 1 hour ago
HARARE — Amnesty International said on Friday Zimbabwe police had
indiscriminately detained over 300 people this week and randomly beaten
people in an crackdown on gangs in the capital.
The arrests in Harare came amid high tensions between security forces and
violent gangs of mini-bus touts who enjoyed relative impunity because of
their ties with President Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, Amnesty said.
Police were "roaming the streets, carrying out random beatings and
whippings, which is absolutely unacceptable," said Noel Kututwa, southern
Africa director for the London-based human rights group.
He urged the government to "act immediately to bring the police under
control".
Amnesty said witnesses had reported that riot and military police had beaten
"innocent" people this week as they sought to arrest touts at mini-bus
stations after clashes with the police and the army.
"The 308 people already detained must be brought before a court
immediately," Kututwa said of those locked up Wednesday.
"Innocent members of the public also arrested during the police action must
be released immediately and unconditionally."
He said the police attempt to restore law and order "has resulted in further
chaos".
Amnesty said mini-bus touts had beaten two soldiers, and this had prompted
revenge attacks by a group of about 20 soldiers early this week.
Kututwa called the recent events the "tip of the iceberg".
"Gangs linked to President Mugabe's ZANU-PF party have been enjoying total
impunity for human rights abuses against their political opponents and
members of the public," said Kututwa.
"The culture of impunity that permeates Zimbabwe's security forces needs to
be urgently addressed.
"In the run-up to the constitutional referendum and elections, when tensions
are high, it is imperative that Zimbabwe is policed by a body that upholds
the highest standards of impartiality."
Zimbabwe is this year expected to hold a referendum on a proposed
constitution to pave the way for elections next year.
The police were not immediately available to comment.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Media groups slam establishment of ‘disciplinary’ council

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
14 September 2012

Media groups in Zimbabwe have slammed the establishment of a Media Council
that they have warned will further restrict the work of independent
journalists and press houses across the country.

The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), whose board includes notorious media
‘hangman’ Tafataona Mahoso, launched the new media council on Thursday. The
commission appointed 13 councillors, including the Zimpapers CEO Justin
Mutasa and Happison Muchechetere, the CEO of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings.

Journalist Henry Muradzikwa chairs the council and he has pledged to close
the gap between the state and private media.

“There is a dichotomy between the state and private media. We must play our
part not to perpetuate that division,” he said at the launch of the council
on Thursday.

Also speaking at the launch, ZMC chairman Godfrey Majonga said media
stakeholders had called for the inclusion of specific clauses that
guaranteed freedom of expression and access to information in the new
Constitution.

But independent media groups, like the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe,
have raised concern. The MMPZ said in a statement that it is “opposed to the
establishment of this council on the grounds that it is an instrument of the
notorious Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which
continues to be used to stifle all media activity in Zimbabwe.”

“This Act purports to regulate media activity, but in fact controls who can
and cannot practice journalism and criminalizes offenders. The establishment
of the media council will give the Commission additional powers to punish
registered journalists and media houses who violate an as-yet-to-be-declared
Code of Conduct. Such a repressive law severely diminishes Zimbabweans’
rights to freedom of expression and is unnecessary in a democratic society,”
the MMPZ said.

These concerns have been echoed by the Voluntary Media Council, an
independent group set up by media players in Zimbabwe. The Voluntary group’s
Executive Director, Takura Zhangazha, told SW Radio Africa that the new
council was “established in terms of AIPPA and therefore its role is to
criminalise media.” He said they “do not, in any way, recognise the
legitimacy of this council.”

He said the ZMC, together with repressive laws like AIPPA, “only limit and
do not expand freedom of expression.”

“The concerns are that the media reform programme of the unity government
has been primarily cosmetic and it has not dealt with fundamental issues of
true democratic reform. That means that ahead of elections, the fundamental
attitude of the security services will be the same, seeking to arrest
journalists, seeking to criminalise the media profession, because the laws
are still the same,” Zhangazha said.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

ZANU PF cannot set agenda for COPAC—Mwonzora

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 September 2012

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora has said ZANU PF cannot set the agenda for
COPAC by telling them what documents to bring to the Second All Stakeholders
Conference.

Following the party’s politburo meeting on Wednesday ZANU PF resolved that
the national report, based on the outreach program, be published and
accompany the COPAC draft to the Second All Stakeholders’ Conference.

This, the party said, was the only way Zimbabweans could compare what they
said during the outreach with what is in the draft.

But speaking to SW Radio Africa’s Election Watch program on Friday, the
Nyanga North MP and COPAC co-chairman said Article VI of the GPA makes it
clear that the constitution making process is a parliamentary one.

‘For that reason the Speaker of Parliament appointed COPAC, so the only
person who can direct us in this case is the speaker and not MDC-T, MDC-N or
ZANU PF. Therefore demanding a national report at this stage is clearly to
undermine parliament which is legally mandated with receiving the report
from COPAC,’ Mwonzora said.

Mwonzora also dismissed as ridiculous attempts by the Federation of
Non-Governmental Organisations (FONGO) to use the Supreme Court to force
them to release the outreach National Statistical Report to the public.

FONGO president Goodson Nguni, a well known ZANU PF fanatic, said the draft
constitution that was released by COPAC is a violation of the people’s
freedom of expression. He added that political parties should not speak on
behalf of the people but that the national statistics report should be
released so that the views of the people can be made known.

Mwonzora said: ‘That is a skimpy application. After dismally failing to
convince all right thinking Zimbabweans to back it’s amended draft, ZANU PF
has turned its machinery into demanding a national report.

By definition a national report is a record of everything that happens in a
process. That means in the case of COPAC the national report must record
among other things, what happened at the First Stakeholders Conference, the
public outreach, the drafting stage and what will happen or be resolved at
the Second All Stakeholders Conference,’ explained Mwonzora.

He added: ‘The demands for the national report at this stage are premature,
misplaced and meant to mislead the people. Further, the reliance on figures
in the national statistical outreach report, without any accompanying
information on the atmosphere of the meetings, is basically meaningless. It
is being resorted to by people fetching for reasons to discredit the
process.’

Mwonzora was referring the many reports of blatant intimidation at the
outreach meetings and the fact that ZANU PF supporters were often bussed in
and told what to say.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

ZPF linked parastatal to prospect for more diamonds

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
14 September 2012

A government investment parastatal with strong ZANU PF links has been
granted special permission to prospect for more diamonds, amid ongoing
concern about illicit activity in current diamond mining operations.

The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) has been handed a special
grant from the government, with the intention to prospect in an area
covering 1.8 million hectares. The area is believed to be rich in diamond
and gold deposits. ZMDC chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa, a legal expert
linked to ZANU PF, confirmed the development.

“The 1.8 million hectares cover Marange, Chimanimani and Checheche, right up
to the point where Save River goes into Mozambique. They are all highly
prospective for diamonds,” Masimirembwa was quoted by the state media as
saying.

Political analyst Clifford Mashiri said that the ZMDC is “an arm of ZANU PF
which is being used as if it is a government venture to acquire shares in
international ventures.”

“The ZMDC is a fishing line used to hook big fish and those who consume the
fish are ZANU PF themselves,” Mashiri said.

He said this was clearly revealed in the Chiadzwa diamond mines, where the
ZMDC was originally touted as the state arm of joint venture operations
there. This was mean to ensure that the national Treasury received
remittances from the joint ventures. But it has since emerged that the ZMDC
is no longer involved in at least two of the three ventures the government
was meant to be a part of.

“This is why we are arguing that ZMDC is arm of ZANU PF and used to reach
out for something it values in the areas of mines and minerals. That is a
worrying factor because these are not resources going to rest of the
country,” Mashiri said.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Magura son sentenced to community service in Mudzi North

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 September 2012

Mike Magura, the son of murdered MDC-T ward chairman Cephas Magura, has been
sentenced to perform community service at Nyamapanda Clinic, as punishment
for defending himself against two ZANU PF thugs who attacked him on
Wednesday.

Magura was attacked by two thugs known as Kambambaira and Bhobho, who were
part of a group of nine arrested after Mike’s father Cephas was murdered at
Chimukoko Business Centre in May.

The attack was instigated by a ZANU PF mob that disrupted a rally being held
by the MDC-T at Chimukoko Business Centre in Mudzi North. The others remain
in detention, but Kambambaira and Bhobho were later released.

It was later revealed the two thugs are lackeys of Mudzi North MP Newton
Kachepa, who allegedly used his truck to transport ZANU PF supporters to
Chimukoko on the day Magura died. Reports say they were rewarded by the
party with jobs at a parking bay.

It was while they were working at the parking bay Wednesday that Kambambaira
and Bhobho spotted Mike Magura and began poking fun at him, taunting him
about his father’s death and support of the MDC-T. A physical fight broke
out and all three were rounded up by the police. But the ZANU PF members
were released without charge.

The partisan behavior by police, where they arrest the victim of a crime
because they support the MDC-T, has been documented on many occasions and
continues to be one of the contentious issues in negotiations for a roadmap
to free and fair elections.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Committee Tasked with Writing New Constitution Dragged To Supreme Court

http://www.voazimbabwe.com

Blessing Zulu & Mark Peter Nthambe
14.09.2012

The Zimbabwe Supreme court is expected Monday to hear a case compelling the
country’s Parliamentary Select committee tasked with writing a new
constitution to avail within 10 days a detailed report with views of the
people gathered in the outreach phase of the constitution-making process.

A Zanu-PF linked group - the Federation of Non-Governmental organizations
filed papers in the court Thursday.

The group’s president, Goodson Nguni in his founding affidavit, argued that
he and other citizens were bein, “hindered in the enjoyment of their
constitutional rights to freedom of expression by COPAC’s failure or refusal
to publish the national statistical report on the outcome of the outreach
programme.”

The court action follows a similar resolution by the zanu-pf politburo that
the national report be published and tied to the copac draft constitution to
the second all-stakeholders’ conference.

Analysts have accused Zanu-PF of trying to frustrate the constitution-making
process. But Nguni told VOA that COPAC is deliberately ignoring people’s
views.
COPAC spokeswoman Jessie Majome dismissed the court case as a waste of time.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

WOZA leaders walk out on cops

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

AT noon on 12th September 300 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were
prevented from conducting a peaceful protest to The Chronicle in Bulawayo.
Three small groups that managed to arrive at the Chronicle but were quickly
dispersed by Riot Police with raised baton sticks. In 5 parts of the Central
business district Riot Police were standing in groups of 4 carrying baton
sticks and obviously ready to stop the protests as they began.
14.09.12
01:02pm

by Staff Reporter

A block away, WOZA national coordinator, Jenni Williams was standing alone
when 4 police officers surrounded her. One of these police officers had
arrested Williams on 21 September 2011 while shopping in an Electrical shop.

On that day, 30 minutes previously he had also arrested Magodonga Mahlangu.

Both activists were then charged with Kidnap and Theft, charges that are
still being prosecuted in 2012.

On the 12 September, he once again refused to give his name but asked,
"Jennifer what are you planning here?" To which Williams replied, "What are
you doing here beating people?" The other police officers then started to
lecture Williams on the need for WOZA to notify police before any protest. A
legal argument ensured. One the officers then announced that the Officer
Commanding of Bulawayo, Central Assistant chief Inspector Rangwani wanted to
see Williams. The police officers then escort her to the station on foot.

As they began to walk, Magodonga Mahlangu arrived and asked Williams what
was happening. It was at this point that a further legal argument ensued.

Williams advised Mahlangu that it seemed she was under arrest.

The officers said she was not but then refused to allow her to go and
reschedule the meeting with the chief Inspector.

As the two arrived at the police station, eight members entered the station
in solidarity bringing the number 'arrested' to 10. They were taken to the
chief inspector Rangwani's office and they were told he would be arriving
shortly. Lawyers were deployed to represent the activists but were denied
access. A two and a half hour circus then ensued with the activists being
told they were being charged but some officers refusing to charge them,
mentioning the letter of complaint filed the week before. The arresting
officers then stage-managed the separation of Williams and Mahlangu from the
other 8. The 8 and other activists outside were rounded up by a Riot squad
and force marched to the bus terminus.

The WOZA leaders who were now back in the OC Rangwani office were still
unable to access their lawyers. Finally two senior officers seated
themselves in the OC chair and surprisingly asked the two if they had wanted
a meeting with the OC. Williams then asked the whereabouts of OC Rangwani,
the officers admitted he was on leave. The WOZA leaders then stood up and
said, 'as we are told we are not formally under arrest we are now leaving
and will be submitting a further letter of complaint." Williams then left
her phone number for a meeting to be scheduled and the two activists walked
out of the police station.

WOZA wish to draw attention to the disparate police response between the
police at Parliament in Harare and the Bulawayo police. On 12 September it
was obvious that the WOZA leaders were arrested to prevent their exercising
their right to protest. This right is provided by constitutional law
buttressed by Supreme Court ruling of

2010 after legal action taken by Williams and Mahlangu. 'Once again police
in Bulawayo have acted overzealously and acted to discriminate against WOZA
members from Bulawayo which is regional and tribal discrimination.

See the complaint against the police at

http://wozazimbabwe.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WOZA-complain-of-police-h

arrasment-ZRP-Jomic.pdf

Ends

14 September 2012 For more information, please call Jenni Williams on

+263 772 898 110 or +263 712 213885 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 like us on
Facebook.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

MDC-T want SADC and A.U. to supervise Constitutional Conference

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 September 2012

The MDC-T has called for regional and international supervision of the
Constitutional reform process, following a deadlock between the MDC
formations and ZANU PF, over which draft of the new charter to proceed with.

A statement from the MDC-T said they feared a faction of ZANU PF is planning
to “cause chaos and mayhem at the Second All Stakeholders Conference so as
to collapse the process”.

They also claimed that the police, led by Commissioner Chihuri, “would be
too glad to watch idly while the ZANU PF thugs harass the delegates to the
conference”.

As a result the party said they insist that the executive, meaning Robert
Mugabe, “ensure that satisfactory mechanisms are put in place to stop the
criminal elements from disturbing the conference”.

In addition, the MDC-T insists that SADC, the African Union and the
international community supervise and monitor the Second All Stakeholders
Conference, with assurances that all the necessary security arrangements
have been made.

The party’s secretary for elections, Seiso Moyo, told SW Radio Africa that
it is public knowledge that elements within ZANU PF tried to disrupt the
first All Stakeholders Conference in 2009 and the party is seeing the same
signs of resistance and refusal to follow the GPA.

“Our concern now is really from the point of view of elections. We want a
free and fair process. And this conference being part of that electoral
process, if it is disturbed, then we don’t see a Zimbabwe in which people
can make those kinds of decisions freely and fairly,” Moyo explained.

Meanwhile there continues to be confusion over what the ZANU PF politburo
has decided to do about the deadlocked Constitutional process.

According to the Herald, the Politburo resolved to take the COPAC draft to
the Second All Stakeholders Conference and also want the national report,
based on the outreach program, to be published. They insist this is the only
way people could see if their views are represented in the draft.

But ZBC reported that the Politburo ‘resolved’ to stand by its amended
draft, even though there was no consensus among the Principles. ZBC quoted
ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo, saying:
“Failure by the principals to come up with a consensus will result in a
stakeholders meeting deciding on the COPAC or the audited draft.”


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Zanu PF, MDC-T clash over economy

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

14/09/2012 00:00:00
by Moses Chibaya

EMPOWERMENT Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has dismissed the MDC-T’s new
economic blue-print as a half-baked political gimmick aimed at hoodwinking
Zimbabweans ahead of next year’s elections.

The MDC-T is planning the launch of its JUICE (Jobs, Upliftment, Investment,
Capital and Ecology) blueprint which the party insists will help take the
country’s economy out of the woods.

But Kasukuwere said: “The MDC-T is fooling the people of Zimbabwe; you
cannot come up with a policy which is half baked and planned for you by
foreigners to compromise the aspirations of our people.

“We have a government policy (Indigenisation and economic empowerment); it
came as a result of years of discussions. But nNow they tell us that they
have their JUICE policy.

“What they are simply saying is that they continue to oppose the empowerment
of our people. They continue to send a message that they do not believe in
this policy.”

However, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora retorted: “Firstly, Kasukuwere
is intellectually unsuited to evaluate an economic document.

“The MDC thrust on its economic blue print is to put an emphasis on the
creation of jobs because the unemployment rate is more than 80 per cent.

“We need policies that lead to the opening of mines, revival of industry as
well as bring in international businesses; that way we will create
employment.

Still, Kasukuwere countered: “The MDC will never come up with policies that
make sense because we know they are not genuine. How will they convince
their whites that we want to empower our people?

“We will not change (our policies) we already have instruments that carter
for foreigners who want to come and invest in Zimbabwe - we are talking
about entrepreneurs who create the jobs.”

Zimbabwe’s economy has enjoyed steady, if marginal, growth since the
formation of the coalition government in 2009 and the adoption of foreign
currencies in place of a virtually worthless local unit.

But the recovery has not come with jobs and unemployment remains high with
most companies still operating at levels well below capacity due to the lack
of capital.

Again, the growth registered over the last few years has begun to falter
with Finance Minister Tendai Biti recently admitting that projections for
the year would not be met on the back of poor revenue inflows and the lack
of international budgetary support.

Top economic analyst John Robertson said Zimbabwe needs to concentrate on
ensuring the operating environment was encouraging of new investment.

“To fix the deeply entrenched problems, we have to deal with the basic
issues, so the required recovery plans should, first, concentrate on the
policy changes needed to place the Rule of Law onto a sound footing and to
repeal all laws and regulations that discourage investors,” he said.

“The important point here is that job creation depends upon investment.
Investors can go anywhere in the world, so we have to make them want to stay
here, or come here.

“We therefore need to get rid of any laws or attitudes that interfere with
the acquisition, ownership and marketability of property. In this regard,
all forms of property count, whether these are areas of land, mining claims,
financial instruments or company shares,” he said.

Robertson added: “If Zimbabwe had forward-looking policies that showed a
commitment to restore an attractive investment climate, its officials would
have no difficulty inviting experts to make estimates of the time and
funding that would be needed to restore each utility and service.”


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

R1-billion Zimbabwe loan controversial but strategic

http://mg.co.za/

14 SEP 2012 07:31 - LYNLEY DONNELLY

Zimbabwe's appeal for financial assistance puts South Africa in a position
to make requests for political change in the cash-strapped country.

It follows a request from Swaziland for a loan of R2.4-billion that was
first mooted in 2011. This was after its main source of revenue, payments
from the Southern African Customs Union, fell sharply during the economic
recession. The tiny kingdom has also faced financial administration
problems, which contributed to pro-democracy challenges to billionaire King
Mswati III's rule.

Whether Zimbabwe succeeds in its plea will only be revealed following a
meeting later this month between Gordhan and his Zimbabwean counterpart,
Tendai Biti. The situation in the country is fraught under the coalition
government of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Robert Mugabe's
Zanu-PF.

Media reports suggest that Biti is looking for nearly R1-billion from South
Africa, but neither the treasury nor the department of international
relations and co-operation would confirm this.

Civil society organisations and trade union federation Cosatu have
criticised assistance for Swaziland.

Potential aid to a second neighbour with a questionable human rights and
governance record is bound to raise eyebrows. But given that Zimbabwe is in
a critical transitional phase, "hopefully" towards a post-Mugabe governance
arrangement, support at this time could constitute a strategic investment in
a more democratic future, said Peter Draper, senior research fellow at the
South African Institute for International Affairs.

Losing substantial credibility
Failure to secure funding could mean the MDC, which is responsible for the
country's finances, could lose substantial credibility domestically if the
government went technically insolvent, said Draper. "Zanu-PF would be
encouraged to ramp up off-budget revenue sources, with all that implies for
democratic governance."

Any proposed loan could come with political conditions, although it was not
clear what these would be, he said. At a minimum, he posited that South
Africa might want to ­corral Zanu-PF back into constitutional negotiations.

"Their reaction to potential conditions would be another interesting
dimension that could undermine South Africa's mediation effort," said
Draper. "These are hard choices for the South African government, which
should not be trivialised into black-and-white categories."

The loan to Swaziland is yet to be finalised, despite a memorandum of
understanding signed in June.

In response to a parliamentary question in early August, Gordhan said
assistance to Swaziland would take "the form of a conditional loan from the
South African Reserve Bank to the Central Bank of Swaziland".

The memorandum, which outlined "a set of political, fiscal, collaborative
and capacity-building measures that the respective parties must pursue",
governed the Swaziland loan, he said.

Still negotiating
Two agreements needed to be signed. The first is the loan agreement between
the respective central bank governors and the second is the financial
conditions agreement between the respective ministers of finance. Neither
has been finalised and the financial authorities of the two countries were
still negotiating, the treasury said.

Loan repayments are intended to begin in 2015 with a debit order that is
placed on Swaziland's Southern African Customs Union revenue shares,
according to the treasury.

It is not clear what the obstacles in negotiations are.

The state has not outlined the detailed terms of the recently signed
memorandum of understanding, but in its responses to requests for comment
the international relations and co-operation department indicated that
Swaziland had to fulfil conditions articulated in a statement the treasury
made in 2011.

These included confidence-building measures such as promoting economic and
social development, multilateral co-operation, democracy, human rights and
good governance, as well as instituting fiscal and related technical reforms
that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requires. Swaziland is also
expected to receive capacity-building support from South Africa and
cooperate in multilateral engagement with institutions such as the World
Bank and the African Development Bank.

Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the international relations and
cooperation department, confirmed that no payments had been made to
Swaziland.

Monyela said there was no decision on whether South Africa would grant the
loan to Zimbabwe or apply any conditions to it.

In 2008, South Africa loaned Zimbabwe R300-million through the African
Renaissance Fund to support agricultural development. The department manages
the fund and, according to Monyela, it is part of a series of packages
granted to boost sustainable development on the continent.

"The funded projects are being monitored and evaluated on a continuous basis
to ensure that the objectives of the renaissance fund are achieved and that
the finances are applied in the manner for which they were intended," he
said.

A budget support grant of R300-million was granted to Zimbabwe in 2009 to
pay for the rehabilitation of municipal infrastructure, including water
reticulation, health services and education.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Zimbabwe: $1bn bailout bet baffles Harare bankers

http://blogs.ft.com/

September 14, 2012 10:58 am by Tony Hawkins

Since dollarisation in 2009, policymakers in Zimbabwe have failed to solve
the problems created by weak banks in a bankrupt econokmy with an
overcrowded financial sector. Policy – driven by politicians not
technocrats – has been decidedly populist.
It is familiar bank-bashing (over excessive charges, punitive interest rates
and a reluctance to lend to SMEs) and politicians demanding rescue packages
for banks that get into trouble. Four banks including the country’s biggest
have turned to the government for help in the last two years. Now there’s a
new plan to set up a fund for bad loans with a Dubai investment company’s
help.
Government’s finances are under intense strain – so much so that last week
finance minister Tendai Biti appealed to South Africa for a $100m loan. As a
result it has had to fall back on unconventional means to keep troubled
banks afloat. One soft touch has been to resort to the state-owned National
Social Security Association (NSSA) which has helped rescue two banks; a
third was bailed out temporarily by some of the healthy banks.
Now Biti is trying to put a long-term bailout fund together in partnership
with a Dubai-based private equity fund, Global Emerging Markets. The plan is
to set up a $1bn fund, the Zimbabwe Resolution Corporation, financed by a
ten-year bond issue backed by a government guarantee. Banks would be
required to support the fund with a 2 per cent levy on their risk-weighted
assets.
The ZRC would then purchase the bad loans of the banking system – that are
heavily concentrated in the hands of locally-owned or indigenous banks. In
mid- year, non-performing loans were $350m or 12.3 per cent of total bank
lending. Eight of the country’s 24 banks had NPLs in excess of this average
including six where bad loans exceeded a quarter of total lending.
The plan is getting a mixed press. Critics say the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s
call for a radical increase in bank capital from $12.5m now (for commercial
banks) to $100m by mid-2014 is the way to go. They point out that the weak
banks have been under strain for years and should either be merged with, or
taken over by, the stronger units. “This rescue fund is just postponing the
inevitable,” said one leading banker this week.
Others ask how an insolvent state – Zimbabwe’s external debt exceeds 110 per
cent of GDP, with arrears of 70 per cent of GDP – can guarantee the ZRC
bonds, especially at a time when the government is asking South Africa for a
loan. Does that mean – they ask – that the South African Reserve Bank has
now taken on the role of Zimbabwe’s lender of last resort?
The financial rational behind GEM’s plan is unclear to many banking
observers. The fund is based on the optimistic assumption that today’s bad
bank loans will become tomorrow’s good ones – that somehow bank creditors
will be able to repay the ZRC so that the Zimbabwe government – and other
investors, including the unfortunate NSSA, will not have to pick up the tab
at some time in the future.
Hard-headed bankers are deeply cynical, especially so since a disturbingly
high proportion of the bad loans is made up of insider lending to friends,
family, employees and bank-owned businesses. The suggestion mooted by
officials that local investors, including pension funds, will buy the bonds
looks fanciful, and is unlikely to be realised unless the bonds pay a
minimum of ten per cent.
The disappointment is that Zimbabwe needs bank restructuring, not a bailout
fund to keep alive those whose life-support systems should have been
switched off months, if not years, ago.


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

The Chinese, prisons and unrest

http://www.cathybuckle.com/

September 14, 2012, 1:58 pm

The news that the Chinese are set to take over several prisons in Harare,
including Chikurubi, the maximum security prison, came as quite a shock. The
impression given by the headline was misleading, it’s not the prison
buildings the Chinese want but the sites with their proximity to population
centres and trading opportunities where the Chinese will build shopping
malls and hotels and, much more sinister, an arms factory. In return, the
Chinese have pledged to build new prisons and in view of the appalling state
of Zimbabwe’s prisons, that might not be a bad thing. AIDS campaigner
Douglas Muzenenanamo who is himself HIV positive is taking the police chief
and the prison commander to court to force prisons to give AIDS patients
their medication. Muzenanamo describes how when he was in prison he only
received medication after his lawyer intervened and even then he was not
given the tablets at the correct time. Failure to take the medication on
time and in the correct order may lead to severe complications in the
patient’s condition, leading even to death. The truth is that conditions are
so bad in Zimbabwe’s prisons with severe over-crowding that it is possible
that a whole range of diseases are contracted inside prisons. We know from
the general population in Zimbabwe that understanding how the AIDS virus
works requires a robust information campaign. Perhaps prison guards are
unaware of the importance of regular medication for those unfortunate
prisoners who are suffering from AIDS?

The state of the prisons and the danger of contracting diseases can only
worsen the plight of the 29 MDC activists who have been in prison for over a
year on charges of having killed a policeman. The lawyer of the Glen View 29
as they are called presented a fresh application for bail to the High Court
this week. The recent unrest on Harare’s streets will no doubt mean an
increase in prison numbers. It is reported that the police have taken it
upon themselves to attack suspects in an attempt to extract the names of the
people who beat up two police officers last week. In all probability it was
the notorious Chipangano gang who assaulted the police officers but
Chipangano are, as we know, unlikely to be prosecuted for their crimes; they
are supporters of Zanu PF. In fact, four soldiers are currently under arrest
for assaulting members of the gang while other soldiers mount revenge
attacks on commuter bus touts.

It is not only the capital that is experiencing unrest in Zimbabwe. Remote
places such as Mudzi North in Mash East are also involved in disturbances.
In Bulawayo, once the industrial heartland of the country, firms are closing
all the time and the city centre is crowded with vendors selling anything
they can lay their hands on to earn some cash. With the economy teetering on
the edge of bankruptcy, the Finance Minister, Tendayi Biti is desperately
trying to borrow money to pay civil servants. Now comes the news that
unemployment is calculated to be an unbelievable 95% of the population.
True or not, the situation is dire and it is hardly surprising that no one
wants to lend money to a collapsing state. South Africa has apparently
refused and are themselves under attack for selling arms to Zimbabwe.
Tendayi Biti was apparently on his way to Australia to see if Julia Gillard
would be more receptive to his pleas for help. The fact that Zimbabwe has
the second biggest diamond field in the world means that no one quite
believes the government claims that they are broke.

Some comfort might be gained from the fact that at least we now have a free
press – or do we? Webster Shamu is on record saying that newspapers will be
closed if they continue to denigrate Mugabe. “There is no need of attacking
the president or the leadership for no reason,” he said, “This is an abuse
of freedom.” Shamu’s definition of freedom applies only to those who approve
of Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe while prison is reserved for opponents, such as
the Woza women arrested this week or MDC supporters arrested on trumped-up
charges.

Yours in the (continuing) struggle Pauline Henson


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

Bill Watch 43/2012 of 14th September [Current Representation in Parliament - Impact if Vacancies are Filled]

BILL WATCH 43/2012

[14th September 2012]

Current Party Representation in Parliament

Impact if Vacancies are Filled

Could one party alone get the draft constitution they want through Parliament? A constitutional change must be approved by “the affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of each House” [Constitution, section 52(3)]. Total membership” means the numbers in each House specified in the Constitution, i.e., 215 in the House of Assembly and 99 in the Senate. This has raised questions about voting strengths in Parliament and if by-elections would make a significant difference.

Current Party Representation in Parliament

[For details of vacancies see further below]

House of Assembly

16 vacant seats, leaving 199 MPs out of a possible 215.

The breakdown by party is:

ZANU-PF 94

MDC-T 97

MDC 8

A two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly would be 144 votes. This means that the MDCs voting together [105] would have to get 39 ZANU-PF MPs to vote with them for a two-thirds majority. Conversely, for ZANU-PF to get a two-thirds majority for the constitution they want, they would have to get 50 MDC votes.

Senate

14 vacant seats, leaving 85 Senators out of a possible 99.

The breakdown by party, with Senator Chiefs listed separately, is:

ZANU-PF 38 [including 9 governors and 5 appointed Senators]

Chiefs 16

MDC-T 23 [including 3 appointed Senators]

MDC 8 [including 2 appointed Senators]

A two-thirds majority in the Senate would be 66 votes. The chiefs have always voted for ZANU-PF, which would give that bloc 54, meaning they would have to get 12 MDC votes for a two-thirds majority. If the MDCs vote together they have 31 votes and would have to win over 35 chiefs and ZANU-PF Senators for a two-thirds majority. [As parties have a strong Party Caucus and Whip system, winning over votes from an opposing party is highly unlikely on so important a matter as a constitution, especially if it is one on which ZANU-PF and the MDCs have taken strongly opposing views. Consensus on which draft goes to Parliament is essential.

Would holding all 26 by-elections currently in the news enable either ZANU-PF or the combined MDCs to muster a two-thirds majority in both House?

Voting Strengths if 26 By-Elections Held and Other Vacancies Filled

How would party strengths change if the potential 26 by-elections all go ahead and the 4 non-constituency Senate vacancies are filled? That is a question that can only be answered precisely after the by-elections, if they are ever called, and much would depend on whether the GPA agreement not to contest seats won by a party in the 2008 elections is observed. What can be said at this stage is this that it is extremely unlikely that either ZANU-PF and Chiefs together, or the MDCs voting together, would end up with a two-thirds majority in either House. In fact the only two-thirds majority that could possibly be achieved is for ZANU-PF/Chiefs in the Senate if ZANU-PF won every single by-election for that House.

House of Assembly – a two-thirds majority would be 144 votes out of 215

If the GPA parties hold to the no-contest pact, or, if contested, the by-elections result in each party winning the same constituencies as they did in the 2008 elections, the end result would be ZANU-PF 102; MDC-T 102; MDC 11. Neither ZANU-PF nor the combined MDCs would have a two-thirds majority. Nor would either bloc, even in the unlikely scenario of one camp winning all the by-elections. [If ZANU-PF won all 16 by-elections they would then have110 seats to the combined MDCs 105. If the combined MDCs were to win all by-elections they would have 121 to ZANU-PF’s 94.]

Senate – a two-thirds majority would be 66 votes out of 99

Under a no-contest pact, or, if contested, the by-election results follow the 2008 pattern, and assuming the 2 seats due for appointment and the 2 chiefs’ seats were filled, the ZANU-PF/Chiefs bloc would have 63 to the MDC bloc’s 36, not a two-thirds majority. If the MDC bloc were successful in all the by-elections they would still only have 42 votes to the ZANU-PF bloc’s 57; not a two-thirds majority. In the event of ZANU-PF winning all the by-elections in the Senate , ZANU-PF and Chiefs together would have a very narrow two-thirds majority in the Senate [67 votes to the MDC bloc 32]. But for one party to win all the by-elections is a very unlikely outcome, and it still would not get the constitution through as it has to have a two-thirds majority in both Houses.

The 26 Vacant Constituency Seats Due for By-Elections

As the media are continuing to give a variety of different numbers of vacant seats requiring by-elections, Veritas is again outlining the correct situation. Out of a total of 30 vacant Parliamentary seats, there are 26 vacant constituency seats for which by-elections are overdue, 16 in the House of Assembly and 10 in the Senate. The constituencies concerned, and which party and individual previously held each seat, are listed below. These details have been verified with Parliament and they are the figures agreed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which is responsible for conducting by-elections. Whether by-elections will ever be held is a separate question.

Vacant House of Assembly Constituency Seats for By-Elections [Total 16]

[in alphabetical order by constituency]

ZANU-PF [8] Reason for vacancy

Bindura North [Mash C] Elliot Manyika deceased

Gokwe-Gumunyu [Midlands] Ephrem Mushoriwa deceased

Guruve North [Mash C] Cletus Mabharanga deceased

Marondera East [Mash E] Tracy Mutinhiri expelled from party

Mount Darwin East [Mash C] Betty Chikava deceased

Mutare North [Manicaland] Charles Pemenhayi deceased

Mwenezi West [Masvingo] Neddie Masukume deceased

Shamva South [Mash C] Samuel Ziteya deceased

MDC-T [5]

Emakhandeni Entumbane [Byo] Cornelius Dube deceased

Gutu South [Masvingo] Eliphas Mukonoweshuro deceased

Mabvuku-Tafara [Harare] Shepherd Madamombe deceased

Makoni Central [Manicaland] John Nyamande deceased

Matobo North [Mat S] Lovemore Moyo elected Speaker

MDC [3]

Bulilima East [Mat S] Norman Mpofu expulsion from party

Lupane East [Mat N] Njabuliso Mguni expulsion from party

Nkayi South [Mat N] Abednico Bhebhe expulsion from party

Vacant Senate Constituency Seats for By-Elections [Total 10]

[in alphabetical order by constituency]

ZANU-PF [6] Reason for vacancy

Bindura-Shamva [Mash C] Misheck Chando deceased

Chegutu [Mash W] Ednah Madzongwe elected Senate President

Chiredzi [Masvingo] Titus Maluleke appointed Governor

Gokwe South [Midlands] Jason Machaya appointed Governor

Kadoma [Mash W] Chiratidzo Gava deceased

Mberengwa [Midlands] Richard Hove deceased

MDC-T [4]

Gweru-Chirumanzu [Midlands] Patrick Kombayi deceased

Hwange [Mat N] Jabulani Ndlovu deceased

Mabutweni [Byo] Gladys Dube deceased

Masotsha-Ndlovu [Byo] Enna Chitsa deceased

MDC [0]

There are Also Vacant Non-Constituency Seats Not Requiring By-Elections

The other 4 vacant seats, all in the Senate, are listed below for the sake of completeness. They do not have to be filled by calling by-elections. These non-constituency vacancies were caused by the deaths of the incumbents.

2 chiefs seats: These seats are for particular provinces, but are not constituency seats in the ordinary sense. Vacancies must be filled by the provincial assemblies of chiefs in the provinces concerned, sitting as electoral colleges. There is 1 vacant seat for Manicaland, formerly held by the late Chief Chimombe, and 1 for Matabeleland South, formerly held by the late Chief Bidi.

2 appointed seats: One of these seats is the MDC-T appointed seat formerly occupied by the late Dr Tichaona Mudzingwa, waiting to be filled by an MDC-T nominee. The other is an ex officio provincial governor’s seat formerly occupied by the late Harare Provincial Governor Dr David Karimanzira, waiting to be filled by the President’s appointment of a new Harare Provincial Governor.

Clarification of Common Misconceptions About Vacancies

Figure of 38 vacancies wrong the figure 38 seems to have stuck since Minister Chinamasa, speaking off the cuff in the Senate, said he thought there were about 38 Parliamentary vacancies, but warned that he needed to confirm the figure. He later gave the correct number as 26.

Vice-President Mujuru’s Mount Darwin West seat not vacant V-P Mujuru kept her House of Assembly seat when she was elevated to Vice-President. Misconceptions may have been prompted by a misreading of Article 20.1.8 of Schedule 8 to the Constitution: “20.1.8 Parliament Persons appointed to the posts of Vice-President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and who are not already Members of Parliament, become ex officio members of the House of Assembly. Should persons so appointed be already members of Parliament, then the Party of which that person is a member or nominee shall have the right to nominate a non-constituency member of the relevant House.” ZANU-PF did this, belatedly, in March 2011, when Ms Oppah Muchinguri was appointed a non-constituency MP by President Mugabe.

Senator Bennett’s appointed Senate seat not vacant Although Senator Bennett has not been seen in the Senate since he left the country in September 2010, the Senate has never invoked its power to unseat him for absenteeism in terms of section 41(1)(d) of the Constitution. While he stays away, MDC-T’s Senate strength on paper is effectively reduced by one.

Temporary suspensions no longer in force 4 MDC-T MPs were under suspension after being sentenced to imprisonment for committing criminal offences, but they retained their seats and were all fully reinstated after having their convictions overturned on appeal.

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


Click here or ALT-T to return to TOP

The love scandals that rocked Zanu PF: Part 4

http://nehandaradio.com
HEADLINES, LEST WE FORGET, NEWS, RELATIONSHIPS, SCANDAL — BY ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 9:24 AM
2126 31 20 2253

By Lance Guma

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, but obviously someone forgot to tell the folks inside Zanu PF. In this expose, we look at the love scandals that have dominated Mugabe’s party since independence in 1980.

James Makamba (Former Zanu PF MP)

Businessman, Radio Presenter and former Zanu PF MP for Mt Darwin James Makamba fled to the United Kingdom in 2005 after rumours of his alleged affair with First Lady Grace Mugabe threatened to complicate his defence of ‘dodgy’ charges that he had externalised millions of dollars in foreign currency.

James Makamba and Grace Mugabe

James Makamba and Grace Mugabe

A US diplomatic cable titled “First Boyfriend Released” and ‘Wiki-Leaked’ in 2009 suggests the late army General Solomon Mujuru ‘weighed in’ to support Makamba during his incarceration. The cable quotes Makamba family sources who also say Grace Mugabe repeatedly called Makamba’s wife to apologise.

The reason for the apology was never fully explained.

Makamba denied both allegations but after more than 6 months in custody, decided to flee the country when he was out on bail. Last year Makamba and businessmen like him who were facing charges of externalising foreign currency were ‘de-specified’ and told they were free to come back.

But rumours of Makamba’s affair with First Lady, Grace Mugabe appeared to complicate his position. In 2005 Mugabe had ordered that the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) do a ‘sweep’ of Makamba’s Johannesburg home in South Africa after hearing claims that he was secretly seeing his wife.

One report said “Makamba did himself great harm by sending flowers and presents to Grace Mugabe through intermediaries. Some of the flowers were received on behalf of the First Lady by the CIO security men. Grace justified the meetings as being related to ‘business and agricultural’ matters.”

According to the report, in one incident “Makamba visited Mrs Mugabe in a Johannesburg hotel for a long period one night. Her security detail recorded the incident and later advised her husband.” Makamba has remained media shy and refuses to discuss the matter with journalists up to this day.

When Makamba’s daughter Chiedza died in a tragic car crash last year in December, Makamba was not able to attend the funeral in Zimbabwe and told his colleagues in Zanu PF to help with the funeral. He explained that he could not attend “due to his invidious position”.

Roger Boka (Late businessman aligned to Zanu PF)

Business tycoon Roger Boka, one of the pioneers of black empowerment in Zimbabwe, had a soft spot for the ladies. He successfully wooed and had a long running affair with then ZBC TV presenter Nanette Silikhuni. Boka died in February 1999 after a “long illness”.

Dr. Andrew Matibiri, the late Roger Boka (in portrait) and his daughter, Rudo Boka

Dr. Andrew Matibiri, the late Roger Boka (in portrait) and his daughter, Rudo Boka

Boka bought Silikhuni a Mazda 626 Executive vehicle when she was still a student at the Harare Polytechnic and her children were also well looked after by the businessman. One of Silikhuni’s friends recounted how she had a “beautiful Samsung mobile phone — a rare luxury for college students.”

Another report on the New Zimbabwe.com website recounted testimony from a witness who said “I used to be Silukhuni’s neighbour in the late 90′s at Zambezi Flats on Quendon Road in Malbereign. I would see Boka in a white vest relaxing at Silukhuni’s balcony.”

Another friend of the presenter told the website that “At around the same time she was running off with Boka, we had Lydia Mavengere (former ZBC TV presenter) confronting her over Myethi Mpofu (Natbrew MD). She (Nanette) just has an uncanny predilection to sleep walk into love triangles.”

As reported before Silukhuni was to later have another affair with Local Government Minister Igantius Chombo which resulted in a nasty divorce between the Minister and his wife Marian Mhloyi. Marian sued Silikhuni for Z$2 billion dollars blaming her for the breakdown of her marriage to Chombo.

Join me tomorrow (Friday) for Part 5, the last in this series. You can also follow me on twitter @LanceGuma

Back to the Top
Back to Index