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Robert Mugabe allies face rare legal challenge

http://www.telegraph.co.uk
 
Jestina Mukoko, the Zimbabwe human rights activist, and 17 others have launched an extremely rare legal challenge against President Robert Mugabe's closest colleagues for £14 million associated with claims of kidnap, torture and illegal detention.
 
Robert Mugabe's allies face rare legal challenge
Robert Mugabe's allies are facing a rare legal challenge, alleging torture and illegal detention Photo: AFP

Ms Mukoko was abducted at dawn in December 2008 by a dozen security agents, shoved into an unmarked vehicle and driven to a secret location. Among those also detained was a two-year-old boy held with his parents.

The group of 18 disappeared 10 weeks after Zimbabwe's former opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, 58, who easily beat Mr Mugabe, 86, in the first round of March 2008 presidential elections, signed a political agreement which led to a unity government in February last year. 

After an international outcry, Ms Mukoko and other detainees were released to hospital, and she was charged with recruiting insurgents to overthrow Mr Mugabe. Last year the Supreme Court ruled her arrest was illegal.

The legal challenge by Ms Mukoko and fellow detainees is the most politically significant since the country gained independence in 1980. The case will be heard by Mugabe loyalist, Judge George Chiweshe, who was chairman of the election authority in 2008 which delayed presidential poll results for five weeks.

At the time of her abduction, Ms Mukoko was documenting violence by Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF's party against Mr Tsvangirai's supporters ahead of the June 2008 presidential run off. A week before the poll Mr Tsvangirai withdrew his candidacy after about 200 of his supporters were killed and hundreds injured by Zanu PF militia.

A Zanu PF justice minister, a former security minister, a police commissioner and senior prison officers, policemen and security agents are among those facing a trial on September 13.

Mr Tsvangirai is prime minister in the inclusive government, but political analysts say Mr Mugabe still holds much of the real power.


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So called ‘implementation matrix’ exposes farce of coalition

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
31 August 2010

Twenty-nine months after Zimbabweans rejected Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF’s
leadership in the March 2008 elections the same losers are making demands
that are meant to paralyze the power sharing deal that rescued them. A
so-called ‘implementation matrix’ was agreed by the political parties and is
meant to see a total of 24 issues being implemented, at different time
frames.

While the two MDC parties hope the implementation of these issues will
provide a clear road map for credible elections, analysts have questioned
the inclusion of issues which neither of the parties can deliver. For
example the parties have agreed ‘to call upon foreign governments hosting,
funding and relaying ‘pirate’ radio stations to stop interference in the
internal affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe.’

Apart from the obvious fact that broadcasts on shortwave and via the
internet are completely legal neither of the MDC parties own or operate any
of the independent radio stations. How the three parties in the coalition
government will ‘call upon foreign governments’ to stop hosting such
stations also remains a mystery as they have not broken any laws and are
within all international legal rights to operate.

In 2000 Capital Radio, which eventually became SW Radio Africa in exile,
challenged government’s broadcasting monopoly and won its case. Within 6
days of broadcasting from a local hotel the station was shut down by Mugabe
using his excessive presidential powers. Commentators say instead of the
coalition partners wanting to shut down independent stations in foreign
countries they should focus on removing repressive broadcasting legislation
and allow independent media players to broadcast in Zimbabwe.
The same muddled logic is extended to another of the agreed issues, the
‘immediate implementation of the sanctions removal strategy.’ ZANU PF is
putting pressure on the MDC to get western targeted sanctions removed before
they agree to implement any of the other agreed issues. MDC-T Foreign
Affairs spokesman, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, told us earlier this
year ‘we don’t formulate foreign policy on any country’s behalf.’ So has
anything changed?

Governments who imposed targeted sanctions made it clear that respect for
human rights is a pre-condition for lifting the measures, but Mugabe’s
regime continues using violence and intimidation in its campaigns. Over the
weekend MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa told a party rally in Chitungwiza;
‘We were not there when they were doing things that made them get those
sanctions. We are trying to help them cleanse themselves.’

The ‘implementation matrix’ goes on to talk about the ‘regularization of the
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe board, the appointment of a new Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation board and constituting the Media Trust, within one
month. Commentators said all this is just more bureaucracy and delaying
tactics and they had expected a timetable about the time frame for issuing
licences to independent broadcasters. It is however patently clear Mugabe
has no intention of licensing independent radio stations before the next
elections.

Other issues agreed to include issues around - a land audit, cabinet rules,
electoral vacancies, national heroes, hate speech in the media, review of
ministerial allocations and mandates and amendments to the electoral act,
among other things. But none of the issues had a clear cut method of
implementation and many of them did not seem to move the country forward at
all.

For example it was agreed to review the position of George Charamba, who
doubles up as Permanent Secretary in the Information Ministry and as Mugabe’s
spokesman. The parties said they would ‘ensure that the Permanent Secretary
is apolitical.’ How this will be achieved was not addressed and it has been
given to the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Chief
Secretary to the President and Cabinet to resolve. Both are appointed by
Mugabe and are unlikely to sack Charamba. How Charamba can become apolitical
overnight is hard to see.

How the MDC parties signed up to an agreement such as this ‘implementation
matrix’ remains a source of curiosity for many. Psychology Maziwisa, who
heads the Union for Sustainable Development, says that in any negotiation
you have to give and take and make compromises, but he told our Newsreel
programme he is surprised at some of the things the MDC have agreed to.

Maziwisa said the MDC is failing to use their position in government ‘to
criticize ZANU PF at close range’ and instead they have become ‘too
comfortable’ in office. Efforts to get comment from MDC-T spokesman Nelson
Chamisa proved fruitless as he was thought to be in cabinet meetings most of
the day.


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Zimbabwe's Marange gem output to rise

http://af.reuters.com/

Tue Aug 31, 2010 3:51pm GMT

* Zimbabwe set to become leading producer

* $2 bn annual revenues forecast

* Work begins at $20 million diamond processing facility

By Nelson Banya

MOUNT HAMPDEN, Zimbabwe, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's diamond output from
its Marange fields will reach 40 million carats in the next three years,
with annual revenues expected at around $2 billion, a government adviser
said on Tuesday.

The government says it has stockpiled 4.5 million carats from its two joint
venture mines in Marange since January and that it sold its first stones
last month after approval from global diamond industry regulator, the
Kimberley Process (KP).

"With the new diamond find in Chiadzwa (Marange), we're estimated at 40
million carats per year and $2 billion per year in revenue," said Belgian
diamond expert Filip van Loere in an interview. He is advising the
government on ensuring compliance with the KP.

"Zimbabwe has been propelled to the number one spot as the world's most
important player and it will be number three in value. That is estimated to
come along within the next two to three years."

Zimbabwe's unity government, formed by President Robert Mugabe and Morgan
Tsvangirai, now prime minister, says it needs $10 billion to fix an economy
ravaged by hyperinflation, which peaked at 500 billion percent in December
2008.

Van Loere said Zimbabwe could surpass top diamond producers like Russia,
Botswana and South Africa, but said a sudden increase in output on the
global market could force prices down.

"The main issue for Zimbabwe is to be careful in harvesting this resource.
Zimbabwe might add 20 percent to global trade, but then prices will go down
at least 60-70 percent, so we have to be responsible, Zimbabwe should not
become the main producer just for the sake of it," van Loere said.

Zimbabwe's government has formed two joint venture firms -- Mbada Diamonds
and Canadile Miners -- with South African partners to mine the Marange
diamonds, but van Loere said there was scope for more mines in the vast
fields.

On Tuesday, Canadile Miners launched the construction of a $20 million
diamond processing and auction centre to the west of the capital Harare.

"Currently, the two mines occupy 10 percent of the total area. We need two
or three more firms in the area," said van Loere.

Over 30,000 illegal diggers descended on the Marange fields in 2006,
prompting the government to deploy the army to stop rampant panning and
smuggling.

Rights groups, however, accuse the security forces of committing atrocities
during the crackdown on the panners. (Editing by William Hardy)
 


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Zimbabwe firm builds diamond polishing, cutting centre

http://news.yahoo.com

AFP

- 2 hrs 33 mins ago

MOUNT HAMPDEN, Zimbabwe (AFP) - A diamond firm operating from Zimbabwe's
Marange diamond fields has begun constructing a multi-million dollar cutting
and polishing centre in the country, officials said Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre, which is being constructed by
Canadile miners, one of the three firms operating in Marange, is set to
become operational within six months.

Faber Chidarikire, governor for Mashonaland West province said the diamond
industry was set to revive the country's economic woes.

"The ailing country's economy shall be revived through the proceeds,
marketing rates, making life easy for the minister of finance (Tendai
Biti)," Chidarikire said.

Early this month, Zimbabwe resumed trading of Marange diamond sales since
international regulators partially lifted a ban imposed after the military
seized control of the mines.

The sale generated about 30 million US dollars, according to government
figures.

Upon completion, the centre is expected to create 7,000 jobs.

Cougan Matanhire, chairman of Canadile miners said the centre would funnel
all the rough diamond streams of Zimbabwe into one professional and high
security area.

"This is the centre where we will transform rough diamonds into polished
diamonds," Matanhire told delegates who attended the launch.

A Belgian, diamond expert, Filip Van Laere said Marange fields could produce
40 million carats annually.

Once fully completed, the 20 million US dollar centre will have among other
things banks, a diamond college and insurance firms.

In January, diamond watchdog Kimberley Process halted the sale of stones
from Zimbabwe's eastern Marange diamond fields after documenting military
abuses against civilians.

The Zimbabwean government reacted by imposing a blanket ban on the export of
diamonds until the Kimberley Process gave its Marange diamonds a clean bill
of health.


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Mpofu faces court action for allowing Chiadzwa diamond sales

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
31 August 2010

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu is set to face court action for allowing the sale
of diamonds mined at the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields, despite a
Supreme Court order barring the stones from being sold.

The title holder of the Chiadzwa claim, African Consolidated Resources
(ACR), has lodged legal papers against Mpofu for violating the Supreme Court
order. The order was handed down earlier this year as part of the ownership
wrangle between ACR and the government approved firms mining the site.

The government owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) has
joined forces with Mbada Mining and Canadile Mining, who were licensed to
mine the Chiadzwa site after it was seized in 2006 from the UK based ACR.
Since the first High Court ruling in their favour in 2009, ACR has been
embroiled in a legal battle over ownership of the site.

The ZMDC and Mines Minister Mpofu then appealed this High Court decision and
the Supreme Court subsequently ordered all mining operations be suspended
until the issue was finalised. Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled that
despite the ZMDC being in physical control of the claims, "they must cease
all mining activities and it is so ordered."

"Allowing applicants (ZMDC) to continue mining, pending appeal, has the
potential of causing irreparable damage to the respondents (ACR) should the
appeal fail," the Chief Justice ruled.

But mining has continued regardless, and last month a multi million dollar
auction of the stones was launched in Harare. ACR now wants Mpofu to face
High Court action for allowing the sales. ACR also wants the High Court to
throw out the appeal made by Mpofu, over Chiadzwa's legal ownership.

"As a government minister he has a legal and moral duty to see to it that
orders of (the High Court) and of the Supreme Court are obeyed and see to it
that the integrity of (the courts) is protected, by not openly and publicly
acting in defiance of a court order," reads part of the heads of arguments
filed by ACR's legal team.


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Mugabe Vows To Defy Regional Court In Land Dispute With Former White Farmers

http://www.voanews.com

President Mugabe vowed to defy rulings by a regional tribunal saying Harare
was pressing ahead with its land reforms to correct colonial land imbalances

Blessing Zulu & Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington 30 August 2010

President Robert Mugabe has vowed to defy the ruling of the Southern African
Development Community tribunal or any International Court concerning Harare's
dispute with former white commercial farmers.

The state controlled Herald newspaper qoutes president Mugabe as telling
mourners at the burial of his brother in law, Reward Marufu Sunday in
Chivhu, Mashonaland East province, that the aggrieved farmers will never
reverse the land reform by appealing to international courts.

The tribunal ruled in November 2008 that the Zimbabwean leader's
controversial land reform programme was discriminatory, racist and illegal
under the SADC treaty.

The regional court ordered the Zimbabwe government not to seize land from
the 79 farmers who had appealed to the Namibia-based court and said Harare
must compensate those it had already evicted from their farms.

SADC is currently reviwing the operations of the tribunal after Harare
challenged its legality. Human rights lawyer Dewa Mavhinga told VOA's  that
Mr Mugabe's remarks show that he does not respect the rule of law.

Mr Mugabe meanwhile has threatened  threatened to confiscate land from
indigenous black farmers who are leasing out to former white owners, tracts
of land allocated to them by government.

Speaking Sunday, Mr. Mugabe said black land holders unable to utilize farms
given to them under the  land reform, should hand them back to the state
instead of leasing them to former white commercial farmers.

He said government was pressing ahead with land reforms, initiated by his
former ruling ZANU-PF government in early 2000 to correct colonial land
imbalances.

"Those (black farmers) who cannot put their farms to good use should
surrender them back to government," state media quoted Mr Mugabe as saying.

Commercial Farmers Union Vice President Deon Theron confirmed to VOA that
some beneficiaries of the land reform program are leasing out their land to
white farmers because they have no capacity to engage in productive farming.


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Zimbabwe's Constitutional Revision Chiefs to Meet UNDP Seeking More Funding

http://www.voanews.com/

COPAC co-chairmen Edward Mkhosi said they will be meeting with UNDP
officials on Tuesday over the proposed supplementary budget

Irwin Chifera, Jonga Kandemiiri and Patience Rusere | Washington 30 August
2010

The parliamentary committe leading Zimbabwe's constitutional revision
exercise met Monday to finalise a proposed supplementary budget to see
through the consultation process ahead of a crucial meeting with main
funders, the United Nations Development Program.

Constitution select committe co-chairmen Edward Mkhosi said they will be
meeting with officials from the UNDP on Tuesday to discuss a funding
proposal of US$8 million. Government wants the money to cover the remaining
phase of the consultations.

"We had a brainstorming session with Constitution Affairs Minister Eric
Matinenga today and we will be presenting our supplementary budget to UNDP
tomorrow," Mkhosi told VOA.

Consultations in metropolitan Harare and Bulawayo have been pushed back to
mid September after outreach teams from Mashonaland Central and East
provinces protested a move by the select committee to re-assign them to the
two cities before completing work in their provinces.

Funding agreements between the UNDP and COPAC expired last Friday but
government is seeking extended funding for 15 more days. But the UNDP is
demanding an audit before it can release any additional funding, according
to VOA correspondent Irwin Chifera who reported from Harare.

Some COPAC provincial team members say the 15 additional days are not enough
as they now have to hold two outreach meetings instead of one per day, thus
cutting down the time people are expected to make their contributions.

But, Midlands province COPAC team leader, Amos Chibaya told VOA Studio 7
reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that his province wass comfortable with the two
week extension.

Elsewhere, director for the Youth Intiative for Democracy in  Zimbabwe,
Sidney Chisi said there were low levels of participation by youth in
outreach meetings allegedly because of fear and intimidation.

COPAC  figures show youths accounting for just 19.4% of participants, though
they form 41% of the national population.

Chisi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere that the trend was common
in rural areas, where insitutions of violence are deeply entrenched.


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Zimbabwe Government Bans Works of Prominent Visual Artist

http://www.voanews.com/

Owen Maseko's lawyer, Lizwe Jamela, said it is surprising that the
government has banned his client's pieces of art displayed at the National
Art Gallery in Bulawayo using an achaic law not related in any way to the
non-pornographic displays.

Gibbs Dube | Washington 30 August 2010

Harare has banned the works of prominent visual artist Owen Maseko depicting
the Fifth Brigade atrocities of the 1980s in which an estimated 20 000
civillians, mostly supporters of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU),
were killed by the army unit.

The civilians were massacred in the Matableland and Midlands Provinces and
Mr Mugabe's only apology was that it was a "moment of madness."

Maseko's works were banned under the Censorship and Entertainment Act once
used by the Ian Smith regime to suppress the rise of nationalist movements
in the then Rhodesia.

Maseko's lawyer, Lizwe Jamela, said it is surprising that the government has
banned his client's pieces of art displayed at the National Art Gallery in
Bulawayo using an achaic law not related in any way to the non-pornographic
displays.

In a government gazette published last Friday, the government banned "the
showing of video clips with effigies, words and paintings on the walls of
the National Art Gallery set up by Maseko".

Jamela told VOA's Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that the ban is meant to
ensure that members of the public do not have access to the exhibition even
if Maseko is acquitted in the courts of law of various charges associated
with the Fifth Brigade exhibition.

Meanwhile, Vote Thebe, the Director of the National Art Gallery and the
sculptor of a controversial nude statue, 'Looking into the Future', is
expected to appear in court on Tuesday on charges of allowing Maseko to hold
the art exhibition without a licence.

Thebe will also be charged under the Censorship and Entertainment Act for
allegedly keeping a nude statue at the gallery showing male genital organs.
'Looking into the Future' was pulled down from Bulawayo's Tower Block
gardens in the 1980s after the local authority was accused of aiding Thebe
to mount an offensive piece of art in public.

The then Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, the late
Enos Chikowore, said the statue was an insult to the public and mockery to
the then ruling party, Zanu PF.

Police closed Maseko's exhibition on March 26, showing President Mugabe and
his crack army unit dripping with blood of cowed innocent civilians, 24
hours after it was mounted at the gallery.

He was then arrested and granted bail a few days after police closed a
photography exhibition in Harare showing human rights violations by Mr
Mugabe's supporters.

Mr Mugabe is accused of unleashing the Fifth Brigade on unarmed supporters
of ZAPU then led by his bitter rival, Joshua Nkomo.


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The art they don’t want you to see, because of the truth they fear you will learn

 
http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/5964
 
Signing the unity accord

Signing the Unity Accord

Owen Maseko art works depicted in this post have been banned in Zimbabwe. Please see this post here for further information. More images available via our gallery on Flickr. Please also visit this gallery on the Solidarity Peace Trust website which also hosts photos of Owen’s art.

Tears of old ladies

Tears of old ladies

Graffiti

An extract of graffiti featured in Owen Maseko's exhibition, Bulawayo

Vote grabbing

Maseko's painting depicts Robert Mugabe grabbing votes from the people of Zimbabwe


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Artist Owen Maseko to fight Home Affairs ban

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Irene Madongo
31 August 2010

Bulawayo artist Owen Maseko says he will fight a ban on his art work, which
depicts the 1980s Matabeleland massacres carried out by troops loyal to
Robert Mugabe.

On Saturday it was reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned his
work, under the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act, with a notice in
the Government Gazette reading: "The exhibition at the Bulawayo Art Gallery
of effigies, paintings and words written on the walls portraying the
Gukurahundi era is a tribal-biased event and as such is prohibited."
On Tuesday Maseko confirmed that his exhibition is banned. His work is made
of paintings and effigies that show the harsh reality of the Gukurahundi, as
well as the decades of oppression and violence that have characterised
Zimbabwe.
In March the work was shown at the Bulawayo Art Gallery, but Maseko was
arrested and charged with violating Section 33 of the Criminal Law and
Codification Act, which punishes anyone who insults or undermines the
authority of the President.
Speaking about the ban Maseko told SW Radio Africa; "As an artist for the
sake of the whole artist community, I have to challenge the ban. There is no
way we can function as artists if we can't be free to express ourselves. The
most important thing as an artist is that we need to be relevant to the
society we are living in."
The Ministry of Home Affairs is co-run by the MDC-T's Theresa Makone and
ZANU PF's Kembo Mohadi. That the Home Affairs endorsed athis draconian clamp
down, with an MDC-T minister at its helm, casts doubts on the party's claims
of promoting democracy and freedom of expression in Zimbabwe. The MDC's
constitution says it is a party dedicated to the promotion and advancement
of human rights and to setting up a government based on the principles of
freedom and good governance.

"The unfortunate part is that we have got the healing process which has to
go on, the organ of national healing which is supposed to function under the
government of national unity. But I don't know how they are going to make
that work because if you can't discuss these issues then it means they are
not functional in present day Zimbabwe," Maseko said.
Tabani Moyo, from the Media Institute of Southern Africa's Zimbabwe chapter,
said this ban was not taken by ZANU PF alone but by the MDC factions too.
"They chose to call it an inclusive government, in that same definition they
are inclusive in violating media freedom of expression as we have seen with
the banning of paintings and film," he said.
Moyo added: "What the government of Zimbabwe is trying to do is to make sure
that there is no debate pertaining to the atrocities of the early eighties.
How can the nation heal when artists of the day who are supposed to mirror
what society is doing are firstly arrested, and secondly the government goes
to make a bold move of issuing a gazette, targeting a person and his work?"
The Ministry of Home Affairs could not be reached for comment.


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Mugabe, Kasukuwere implicated in Temba Mliswa trial

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:13

Temba MliswaHARARE - President Robert Mugabe and Minister of Youth
Development Saviour Kasukuwere have been implicated in the case of
businessman and sports personality Temba Mliswa accused of fraud involving
over US$1 million.

This was revealed yesterday when Mliswa's trial opened before regional
magistrate Never Katiyo.

Mliswa is accused of illegally acquiring shares from Noshio Motors owned by
Paul Westwood.

Led by prosecutor Goodwill Nyasha, Paul Westwood, thefirst State witness and
co-owner of Noshio Motors said Mliswa told him that he was the Vice
President of the
Affirmative Action Group and had been sent by Kasukuwere to take-over his
company in line with the country's indigenisation policy.

"The first accused (Mliswa) came to my offices and toldme that he had been
sent by Kasukuwere and that even his Excellency President Mugabe was well
aware of this," Westwood said.

He said Mliswa, who is jointly accused with five others - Alfred Mwatiwamba,
George Marere, Pastor Hammarskjold and his wife Brendaly Banda, the son of
Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa, Martin Mutasa, threatened to
make him disappear if he declined to comply.

"The accused (Mliswa) told me if I do not co-operate he will make me
disappear and I will never see my wife and children again," Westwood said.

Westwood told the court that Mliswa had prejudiced him of more than US$60
000 in unpaid salary and allowance since he illegally acquired the company
on December 19, 2009.

"He had appointed himself executive chairman and I was barred from work as
operational director until the 12th of January 2010. This deteriorated my
life," he said.

Westwood said Mliswa had run down the company and mismanaged the company
resulting in the firm accumulating  large debt. He also said on January 11,
2010, Mliswa's co-accused  Marere, who had been appointed finance director
of Noshio Motors and Murambiwa - the managing director, threatened to kill
him after he went to the firm to demand his salary and  benefits.

Under cross examination by Mliswa's lawyer Charles Chinyama, Westwood stated
that he still owned 50 percent of the company's shares although he did not
receive any dividends ever since the company was taken over by Mliswa  who
he also accused of illegally running the firm.

Mr Chinyama averred that Mliswa and his co-accused were being wrongfully
charged as there was no fraud disclosed by the witness.

The court also ordered Westwood to produce his passport today to establish
if he was a Zimbabwean citizen after the defence lawyer raised concerns over
his ownership of the company while it is believed that he is a British
citizen.

Mliswa and his accomplices have vehemently denied the charges which stem in
October last year following a dispute over misappropriation of company funds
by Pastor Banda's wife, Brendaly who was finance and human resources
manager.

Brendaly had allegedly misappropriated US$25 000 withoutWestwood's
knowledge. She was subsequently suspended inOctober.  In August the State
further claims, Banda borrowed US$100000 from Mliswa at 5 percent interest
per month.He allegedly failed to repay the loan resulting in Mliswa
demanding that he surrender his Noshio shares to offset thedebt.The trial
continues Wednesday.


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DPM Mutambara challenges Tsvangirai, Nkomo

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:38

FILABUSI - There was drama at the burial of the late MDC deputy president
Gibson Sibanda in Filabusi Sunday, when Deputy Prime minister Arthur
Mutambara publicly challenged Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy
President John Nkomo to explain why the government they lead was burying an
exemplary hero of Sibanda's stature at his rural home and not at the
national heroes acre.

In a heated speech which sent the crowd into a frenzy, Mutambara switched to
first name terms and asked them several times why the government failed to
declare Sibanda a national hero even after voluntarily admitting that they
are both "political creatures of his (Sibanda's) creation".

"You John Nkomo, deputy president of this country, you say you are a
creature of Sibanda's creation from the time you met him in the early days
of the trade unions. Why then are we in Insiza? Why?" Mutambara challenged
Nkomo.

"You Morgan Tsvangirai, you have made a decision that this man is a national
hero and you have openly said so. You have just admitted that he is your
mentor, your creator in politics. Why are we in Filabusi? Why?."

Mutambara said every Zimbabwean was convinced beyond doubt that Sibanda was
a national hero and should have been buried at the national heroes' acre,
but it was disheartening to note that the inclusive government, which he
said he was ashamed to be part of, had ignored that public wish and
expectation.

"Gibson Sibanda was dignity personified, dignity walking, a creator of the
liberators of Zimbabwe. John Nkomo is a creature of Sibanda's creation.
Morgan Tsvangirai is a creature of Sibanda's creation. But this government
and its presidents have a problem. We cannot allow a government that has no
respect for the people of Zimbabwe, the people of Matabeleland," Mutambara
said.

In his address Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai described Sibanda as his
creator and mentor from the trade union days, adding that there was no doubt
that he was a national hero.

"Heroes are not bestowed. Heroism is earned and those who sacrifice
selflessly for their people deserve hero status. I know the majority of
Zimbabweans have one determination and it is that Gibson Sibanda was a
national hero," the prime minister said.

Vice President John Nkomo did not address the hero status issue but
described Sibanda as an exemplary leader, political colleague, a friend and
a great gift to the country. He appealed to Zimbabweans to be calm and stop
insulting each other and be willing to forgive. Sibanda was laid to rest at
his rural home in Silalatshani area of Filabusi but the debate over the
government's failure to declare him a national hero rages on.


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Copac's US$8mln donor bid fails

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Guthrie Munyuki
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:37

HARARE - The government has failed to charm donors to commit more than US$8
million towards the completion of the constitutional outreach programme,
although the critical phase will not be affected by the shortage of
resources, a cabinet minister has said.

Eric Matinenga, the Constitutional Affairs Minister, told Daily News that
the constitutional management team on Monday failed to convince donors to
support its supplementary budget, which had been approved to cover the
completion of the outreach programme including Harare and Bulawayo.

"There were no takers. Nobody decided to put money on the table in support
of the supplementary budget.  This means money has to be found elsewhere to
complete this critical phase," Matinenga  said in an exclusive interview.

He said the government would use the "left overs" from the previous budget
and proceeds from the treasury to complete the outreach programme including
the capital city and Bulawayo.

"We are on target. The outreach programme will be completed on time.
Tentative dates for Harare and Bulawayo are September 18 and 19. Unless
there are unforeseen changes, otherwise these are the final dates leading to
the completion of the outreach exercise," Matinenga said.

Matinenga expressed  the hope that both the drafting of the constitution and
the second All Stakeholders conference would be done before the end of the
year.

The constitutional making process has been riddled with violence and
intimidation in provinces that have been traditionally hotbeds for political
violence.

A faction of the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has expressed
its disappointment over the current constitution-making process which it
says is marred by coercion and violence.

"The constitution-making process has problems at the moment. There is
violence, people are expressing views under duress and in some cases are
coerced to take certain positions.

"There is also an issue of areas where non civilians are driven in buses (by
party officials) to give their views. I do agree that this constitution has
problems. Daily we receive reports of abductions, violence and assault,"
Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary general told this newspaper recently.

Arch critics of the constitutional making process such as the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) have condemned the process describing it  as
flawed and not people-driven.

Lovemore Madhuku, whose NCA was instrumental in the rejection of the 2000
Zanu PF -sponsored constitutional draft, has repeatedly spat venom at the
three formations in the inclusive government for assaulting the liberties of
the ordinary citizens by foisting their parties views in the current
process.

However, the MDC, which is  part of the alliance that includes the NCA, has
defended its involvement in the constitution-making process arguing that it
is better to participate than boycott.

Instead, the MDC has urged Zimbabweans to brave the intimidation and express
their views to "finish a process that will bring decisive totality in the
next elections".

"While we share the concerns, our view is that a new constitution is the
first sign post to the roadmap of elections. This will lead to a referendum
and then the elections.

"We urge the people to express their views. Sixty per cent of the
constitution will write itself. There are agreed positions that are of
fundamental material and importance on the issue of the executive and other
areas," Biti said.

The current constitution which has been amended 19 times in just 31 years is
blamed for entrenching President Robert Mugabe's powers as it gives him the
powers to unilaterally mutilate certain provisions for his benefit.


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Government makes available $70 million to boost economy

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Staff Writer
31 August 2010

The inclusive government and the Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) on
Monday unveiled a US$100 million joint loan facility to try to revive the
country's economy.

The US$100 million line of credit that will benefit the private sector saw
Afrexim bank contributing US$50 million, while the government chipped in
with US$20 million to the fund, which will be channeled through banks. It is
expected that another financial institution will chip in with some cash to
push the funds to US$100 million.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told guests at the official launch in
Harare that Afreximbank remains fully committed to supporting the country's
economic recovery 'so that it retains its position as an economic power
house of southern Africa.'

The prime Minister added that the purpose of the revival fund was to
resuscitate a broad range of firms in the productive sector, especially
those in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. The facility was
reportedly the brainchild of the Ministry of Finance, headed by Tendai Biti
from the MDC-T.

Biti said the government has been struggling to secure credit lines, with
the country receiving just over US$500 million in aid loans last year and a
further US$200 million by June.

He said the formation of the inclusive government in 2009 saw an improvement
in inflows, with disbursed lines of credit amounting to US $656 million
being recorded in 2009. Zimbabwe stills needs over US$10 billion to revive
its economy.

But the core problem still remains. The Global Political Agreement has not
yet been implanted and there is still no real sharing of power in the unity
government. The full implementation of the GPA and genuine power sharing
would instantly see mass investment and a real hope for an improvement in
the economy.

 


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Council to close businesses without water supply

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Sidney Saize
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:35

MUTARE - Hundreds of businesses in the Eastern borders city are faced with
imminent eviction from their premises following notice letters from the
Mutare City Council threatening  to close their premises for operating
without water supply.

The local council this week dispatched the letters to businesses in the
central business district and industrial sites advising them they would be
ejected from their premises if they fail to restore water, which the council
cut owing to failure to pay service charges.

Most businesses had water services disconnected last week for non payment of
bills. The water bills range between US$1 000 to as much as $5 000. The
bills have accumulated since Zimbabwe reverted to using the United States
dollar.

The letter dated 27 August 2010, states that,"You are required to restore
water supply within 24 hours of this date of this notice or vacate the
premises immediately. Re-occupation of the premises is subject to the
restoration of a proper and sufficient water supply."

The council has also notified the police to enforce the order.

The local authority says occupying of premises without piped water
constitutes a nuisance in terms of Section 7 (e) of the Umtali Public Health
By-Laws of 1957.

Simon Mashababe, the city's Acting Director of Health services who authored
the letter was not immediately available for a comment.

However, in the last council budget it was revealed the business community
and residents of the city owe the Mutare city council millions of dollars in
unpaid rates, water services and other supplementary charges. In its 2010
budget, the council indicated that the residents' non payment of services
rendered was negatively affecting its service delivery plans in refuse
collection, water reticulation and supply throughout the city.

Manicaland Business Association chairman Patrick Matsanga said the council
was being insensitive to the plight of businesses. He said most businesses
were struggling and had not been doing well and were failing to pay the high
bills.

"Since the change of the currency regime from the Zimbabwe dollar to the US
dollar we have been finding it hard to honour our dues to service providers
such as to Tel-One, ZESA and now the council. We would prefer a situation
where the service providers allow us to pay the outstanding amount in
 terms," said Matsanga.

Some businesses have had their fixed telephone lines cut.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, ZESA have disconnected services
from numerous businesses and homes in and around the city for non payment of
services.

 


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India's Jindal Steel to re-bid for 70% in Zimbabwe’s Zisco

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

31 August, 2010 12:11:00    By

NEW DELHI - Jindal Steel and Power plans to re-bid for a controlling stake
in Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, or Zisco, more than two months after the
African company rejected the Delhi-based firm’s earlier bid.
Jindal Steel renewed its offer after the Zimbabwe government recently
invited fresh bids for selling 70% equity stake in the state-run Zisco which
also owns iron ore reserves of 100 million tonnes. Worries over Zisco’s high
debt of $300 million may be behind the second offer for a controlling stake
sale, said people connected with the development.

“The Zimbabwe government is aiming for better valuations and so has invited
fresh bids. They are trying to make the Zisco deal more attractive to gain
higher investor interest,” said the persons cited earlier. As per the new
tender, bids from interested parties need to be submitted by September 24. A
Jindal Steel spokesperson declined to comment whether his company had
submitted the bid.

In May this year, Zimbabwe rejected bids from ArcelorMittal’s South African
unit and Jindal Steel and Power on grounds that the two companies were too
big to invest in Zisco. “We are a small country and we will have problems
with a big multilateral company. The thinking is that we need a medium-sized
investor for Zisco,” Zimbabwe Industry and Commerce minister Welshman
NcubeNcube was reported as having said.

The Zimbabwe government has been looking for a suitor for the cash-starved
Zisco, which had piled up debts amounting to about $300 million. The
government invited bids last October that saw large companies like Jindal
Steel, ArcelorMittal South Africa and Gateway Zimbabwe putting in their
bids. Although the bids were later cancelled, concerns over Zisco’s mounting
debts forced the government to re-invite the bids.

The Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel has shown interest in the deal because
apart from owning huge iron ore reserves, Zisco also owns a 0.8 million
tonne steel plant that will build its presence in the African market. Zisco
also owns limestone mines with reserves of 60 million tonne. The company’s
operations, however, have been stopped since the economic meltdown in 2008.

Jindal Steel & Power has already tied up a couple of foreign acquisitions in
recent years. It acquired Oman-based Shadeed Iron & Steel for $464 million
this May.

Last October, it bagged a thermal coal mine in South Africa. In 2006, it
secured the rights to mine the El Mutun iron ore reserves in Bolivia.


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Scotland cricket team turn down Zimbabwe ICC match

http://news.bbc.co.uk

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:54 UK

By Geoff Webster

The Scottish cricket team will not travel to Zimbabwe for their ICC
Intercontinental Cup match.

The decision has been made following advice from the UK Government and is
backed by the Scottish Government.

The game had been scheduled for a neutral African venue but three months ago
Zimbabwe was permitted to host it.

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said: "As a responsible
governing body we could not contravene the unequivocal advice from
Government."

The International Cricket Council overturned its decision to force Zimbabwe
to play its matches in a neutral country. It had originally been banned from
hosting matches because of the economic and political situation in the
country.

"It is hugely unfortunate that Cricket Scotland has been put in an
impossible no-win situation in regard to the potential tour to Zimbabwe,"
said Smith.

"Both the UK and Scottish Governments were clear in their advice to us.

"Our Board has taken cognisance of all the advice and recommendations from
Government and the ICC, and can only take what we believe is the correct
course of action.

"We hope that the Scotland team can look forward to playing in Zimbabwe
again in the future if and when Government policy allows."

The UK coalition government told Cricket Scotland: "The Government is firmly
of the view that there has not yet been sufficient progress in Zimbabwe on
the fundamental issues of political reform and of re-establishing the rule
of law to justify sports tours by British teams and the positive signal that
would send.

"We therefore strongly advise against such visits.

"We recognise that the final decision is for the relevant Cricket Boards,
but hope they will consider their decisions carefully in the light of our
unequivocal advice."

The Scottish Government supports the stance of the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, stating: "We strongly advise Scottish sports teams against visiting
Zimbabwe."

It is not known yet what punishment, if any, Scotland will face from the
game's governing body, the ICC, for refusing to travel.

An ICC spokesman said: "We will look at the decision by Cricket Scotland. We
will then come up with a plan of action and see what way we can try to find
a solution to this."

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