Mugabe urged to rein in his terrorist group

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

26/09/2011 12:55:00    MOSES MATENGA

MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa yesterday dared President Robert
Mugabe to stop his party’s notorious shadowy group Chipangano from
terrorising Harare residents to prove he is sincere in his calls for peace.

The Mbare-based Chipangano is a violent political gang which features at
most scenes of political violence defending Zanu PF positions by beating up
perceived opposition members.

Chamisa yesterday said the 87-year-old Zanu PF leader, who has of late taken
every opportunity to lambast violence, must put his sincerity to the test by
reining in the Chipangano rabble rousers.

The youthful and popular MDC-T leader was addressing a rally in his
constituency of Kuwadzana when he challenged President Mugabe’s sincerity.

Chipangano has caused havoc in Harare where it has literally crippled the
operations of elected public officials including the mayor and his council
who have all but given up on the group’s disruptive and violent activities.

Deputy mayor Emmanuel Chiroto recently threatened to resign out of
frustration while co-Minister of Home Affairs, Theresa Makone told NewsDay
last week she has failed to rein in the Mbare hooligans.

Zanu PF leadership also appears to be at sea on how to deal with the group.
Some senior party leaders have claimed “ownership” of the group, publicly
pledging the party would stand by them to the extent of providing legal
counsel if its members were arrested.

Others, like party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, have disowned the group.

The group however, appears immune to arrest because they have not been
arrested even though their pictures were splashed in newspapers as they beat
up policemen at Parliament building.

Chamisa yesterday dared President Mugabe to “walk the talk” if he is
sincere.

“This violence must stop. (President) Mugabe said there should be peace. The
call for peace should migrate from your lips and stop contradictions.

Violence must stop and this demon of beating up people should not continue.
But for it to stop, we need to pray. Zanu PF believes in Chipangano, but we
are on total promise and believe in chirangano (promise),” Chamisa said.

President Mugabe’s “loudest” call for non-violence was made during his
speech at Parliament recently.
As he spoke, suspected members of Chipangano were beating up perceived MDC
supporters outside the building.

The following day Chipangano was at it again. They besieged Machipisa
Township, seeking to seize market stalls from suspected MDC sympathisers.

They faced resistance and the resultant clashes transformed the township
into a battlefield.
Chamisa yesterday described the inclusive government as an untenable donkey
and horse- affair.

He said his party would oppose the Human Rights Bill and Electoral Amendment
Bill arguing Zanu PF wanted
people to let criminals off the hook.

“We have two Bills that we will oppose in Parliament. We have the Human
Rights Bill where Zanu PF is saying let bygones be bygones but you can’t say
those who raped, torched people’s houses and killed should be let free. We
want a proper truth and national reconciliation process and people have to
be asked why they killed, why they stole people’s property.”

“As MDC we are also against the Electoral Amendment Bill because Zanu PF
wants registration to be polling station-based, but it’s dangerous because
people in rural areas will have a polling station at the headman’s house
with chiefs and Zanu PF people,” he said.

Chamisa, who is also the Minister of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) said Parliamentary debates should be beamed live on
television so that people know how their MPs were performing as some MPs
went to sleep in Parliament. - NewsDay

Chipangano operating with military precision

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
26 September 2011

The pattern of political violence that is being waged in Harare by the
deadly Chipangano group seems to be highly systematic, deliberate and well
planned, an MDC-T MP has claimed.

Bulawayo East MP Tabitha Khumalo also described how ZANU PF politicians are
using violence as a tool to acquire or retain political support.

Addressing a party meeting organised by the Luton branch of the MDC-T in the
UK on Sunday, the MP described how the Mbare based Chipangano group had
virtually taken over Harare.

The MP, who is also a member of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation
Committee (JOMIC) said the violent nature of attacks by the ZANU PF
sponsored group do not bode well for peace and security in Zimbabwe.

‘There are four branches within Chipangano. There is Chipangano one, two,
three and four. Chipangano one identifies MDC activists. Chipangano two
carries out surveillance and monitors individuals and structures of the
MDC-T.

‘Chipangano three approaches our members and verbally warns them of dire
consequences of supporting the MDC. Chipangano four is the deadliest of all
the groups. This group beats the hell out of you,’ said Khumalo.

‘They beat me up in parliament and I cracked my denture. This is a group
that attacks parliamentarians, journalists and ordinary people whilst their
party leader preaches peace and unity.

‘It is so shocking that a group of people can enter parliament where we felt
secure and safe and beat up members of parliament. Only a group linked to
ZANU PF can do this,’ the MP added.

Khumalo also spent much of her time urging MDC-T activists in the UK to
unite, following a major fall out between members soon after the External
Assembly’s congress held in April.

‘It pains us as a leadership that you spend much of your energy at each
other’s throats. The real enemy is Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF. Stop this
infighting and channel your resources in removing Mugabe from power. My
message to you all in the diaspora is please unite for the sake of
Zimbabweans,’ the MP said.

Kunonga orders eviction of another priest

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
26 September 2011

Another Anglican priest has been evicted under the instruction of
excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, as the harassment of Zimbabwean
clergy from the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) continues.

Reverend Lovemore Kasipo was evicted last Friday from the St Edmunds Parish
in Chegutu. He told SW Radio Africa on Monday that a court messenger and
four men came to the parish late Friday afternoon, with orders to remove him
and his family from the premises.

He explained that the court messenger was following the orders of a priest
allied to Kunonga.

“We called the lawyers and we tried to negotiate, but we realised it would
do no good. So instead of fighting them, we just moved. A parishioner has
opened her home to us, and we are trying to find permanent accommodation,”
Reverend Kasipo said.

The eviction came hours after High Court Judge Justice Tendai Uchena
dismissed the Anglican CPCA’s application for court protection against the
continued eviction of its clergy from their rectories.

The evictions have followed a decision by Supreme Court Chief Justice
Godfrey Chidyausiku, who last month ruled that all Anglican properties were
to be handed over to Kunonga. Since then he used the ruling to evict
priests, with help from the police.

Kunonga loyal thugs have been going door to door, brandishing copies of the
court’s judgement and threatening priests. Last month Reverend Dzikamai
Mudenda and his family were threatened and forced to flee their Mabvuku
home. Days later Chinoyi Reverend Jonah Mudowaya was assaulted by a Kunonga
loyal mob.

Headmasters, teachers, nursing staff and priests have also been evicted from
Daramombe Mission near Chivhu. At the same time, the staff from a church-run
children’s home in Chikwaka, Mashonaland East province have all been
evicted, leaving about 100 orphans vulnerable.

COPAC two weeks away from drafting new constitution

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
26 September 2011

The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) is two weeks away from drafting a
new constitution, amid reports that fresh squabbles among the political
parties have been holding back the process.

COPAC co-chairman, Douglas Mwonzora, told SW Radio Africa that they were
working on finishing data collection reports for districts and provinces.

‘Yes it’s true there were problems in the compilation of these reports but I
am happy to say we have resolved the problems. We discussed ways of how best
we should prepare the reports and we hope this exercise will be finished
next week,’ Mwonzora said.

Delays have continued to mar the constitution making process, with
accusations that ZANU PF are constantly stalling the process by changing
goalposts at the last minute.

But Mwonzora, who is also the MDC-T party spokesman, said they are now two
weeks away from the final phase of drawing up a charter for the country,
adding: ‘In two weeks’ time we will be handing over the information gathered
from the outreach program to the drafters.’

The drafting team comprises Justice Moses Chinhengo (a judge at the Botswana
High Court), former Zimbabwe High Court Judge Priscilla Madzonga and Brian
Crozier (former legal drafter in the Attorney-General’s Office and also a
legal practitioner in Harare).

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us there was a recent delay of about a
week because of differences in political ideologies among the three
political parties. He said there was also the issue of outstanding monies
owed to those taking part in the process: ‘I gather there are individuals
who have threatened to take COPAC to court because they are still owed a lot
of money by the management committee. All these problems are adding on to
the crisis that has been in COPAC since the exercise began last year.’

The country’s draft constitution is expected to be ready for a referendum by
December or January next year. The new charter is meant to clear the way for
fresh polls following the country’s bloody 2008 elections, but the drafting
process is months behind after public outreach meetings were repeatedly
postponed over outbreaks of violence.

Kasukuwere to decide fate of foreign firms

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
26 September 2011

On Monday Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was expected to decide
the fate of foreign firms who had failed to comply with controversial
indigenisation requirements that black Zimbabweans should hold a stake of at
least 51 percent.

Speaking to the AFP news agency on Sunday Kasukuwere said: "We will make a
decision tomorrow (Monday) on companies that have not complied. We are going
to invoke provisions of the law and determine what should be done with
companies that have complied, those who have shown willingness to comply and
those who are outright arrogant and have refused to comply."

Under the controversial empowerment law, pushed through last year amidst
much bickering between the coalition partners, foreign-owned firms must sell
at least 51 percent of shares to locals or face fines or withdrawal of
operating licences. Kasukuwere set a deadline of Sunday for the firms to
submit their plans for complying with the law. The firms have until 2015 to
actually transfer the shares.

On Monday the state media reported that Kasukuwere had rejected Standard
Chartered Bank's offer to cede 10 percent of its shares to locals. "The law
is clear. It's 51 percent to indigenous people, not the 10 percent they are
talking about," Kasukuwere told the state owned Herald newspaper.

A spokeswoman for the bank said their negotiations with Kasukuwere’s
ministry were ongoing, but would not give details. "Our plans are
commercially confidential and we are not in a position to comment on the
details," Lillian Hapanyengwi was quoted as saying.

Already mining giant Zimplants and insurer Old Mutual (which has a
shareholding in the state owned Zimpapers newspaper group) have been given
more time to meet the requirements.

Last year internet blogger Freeman Chari weighed in to the debate arguing:
‘If ZANU PF is serious about black empowerment I challenge it to walk the
talk and begin by accepting that most of the damage to black
entrepreneurship in the past 30 years was due to its bad governance and
impunity. After that we share its proceeds of corruption and plunder before
we demand the 51% from foreigners!’

Critics say that like the chaotic farm seizures, this law is just another
vehicle for ZANU PF officials, and businessmen aligned to the party, to take
over white owned companies. Additionally the law has discouraged many
potential foreign investors, uneasy about the regulations, especially in a
country with no rule of law.

 

Zimbabwe rejects StanChart's ownership plan -media

http://uk.reuters.com

HARARE, Sept 26 | Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:25pm BST

(Reuters) - Zimbabwe has rejected Standard Chartered's ownership plan for
its Zimbabwean unit because it falls below the required 51 percent local
stake, state media reported on Monday.

Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told the state-controlled Herald
newspaper that Standard Chartered had offered to hand over 10 percent of its
Zimbabwean operation to local blacks.

"The law is clear. It's 51 percent share holding to indigenous people, not
the 10 percent they are talking about," Kasukuwere told the Herald.

"Their plan is unacceptable."

Kasukuwere and Standard Chartered officials were not immediately available
to comment.

Air Zimbabwe re-opens London route

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

25/09/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

AIR Zimbabwe resumed London flights on Sunday, just over a week after pilots
returned to work following a 50-day job boycott.

One of the airline’s two Boeing 767-200 planes flew out of Harare on Sunday
morning with 107 passengers and touched down at Gatwick Airport in London
just before 9PM.

The plane, with a capacity of 198 passengers, will make its return flight on
Monday night – and the cycle will continue until at least early November
when airline bosses hope to return to the two flights a week schedule.
David Mwenga, the airline’s general manager for Europe, confirmed the
re-opening of the cash-cow route.

He said: “It’s a phased return. We have to work hard to re-earn the trust of
our customers who have been severely inconvenienced by the industrial action
by pilots.
"We will normalise the service as soon as passenger numbers pick up.”

Air Zimbabwe also resumed its China service last Friday. Domestic flights
were the first to return, but low passenger numbers have concerned bosses
who warn it may take up to six months before planes fill-up again.

Mwenga said: “The strikes were quite unfortunate and it will take a while
for us to operate at our optimum. We have to be positive."

'Match-fixers' face life bans: FIFA

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

25/09/2011 00:00:00
    by AFP

FIFA security chief Chris Eaton warned Sunday that there will be no amnesty
if Zimbabwe fooballers and officials are found guilty in an ongoing probe
into alleged match-fixing on a tour of Asia.

"There is no amnesty, not today," Eaton told the Sunday Mail.

He is in Harare to meet football officials.

"We have got zero-tolerance on match-fixing and we have to understand that
this is now a big problem facing the sport."

Eaton dismissed local newspaper reports that anyone found guilty would be
pardoned and sent for rehabilitation instead of being banned.

"We want our football to be clean because criminals take advantage of the
sport. We didn't invite gambling and now, because of gambling, we have got
criminals."

Zimbabwe is under investigation by FIFA over an alleged match-fixing scam in
Asia involving the national team.

Former Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) chief executive Henrietta
Rushwaya sent the national team to play unsanctioned friendlies in Thailand,
Syria and Malaysia two years ago and a betting syndicate allegedly fixed the
results.

Rushwaya was fired last October.

She is also said to have cleared former league champions Monomotapa to
travel to Malaysia masquerading as the national team.

Last month, ZIFA suspended three board members, including a former national
team player and a former referee, for alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Mugabe breaks ranks on Libyan NTC

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

25/09/2011 00:00:00
    by AFP

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Sunday called for Libya's transitional government
and its leader to negotiate with deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as a
precondition for recognising it.

Mugabe threatened that until the talks with Gaddafi happen, his country and
African leaders would not recognise the Transitional National Council (TNC),
headed by Mustafa Abdul Jalil.

Mugabe's threat on behalf of fellow African leaders appeared to be out of
step with a move last week by the Africa Union, to which Zimbabwe as well as
Libya belong.

The African Union (AU) recognised Libya's Transitional National Council as
the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive
transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the African
Union.
South Africa, the continent's power house, also individually recognised the
TNC.

Last week, the United Nations recognised the TNC as representing Libya, and
Abdul Jalil met with United States President Barack Obama and other world
leaders.

During months of ongoing protests and harsh reprisals against demonstrators
in Libya, South Africa and other African countries had tried in vain to
negotiate a peace between Gaddafi and the rebels.
Gaddafi's whereabouts have been unknown since his ousting from power earlier
this month.

Mugabe, 87, made his remarks upon his arrival at Harare International
Airport from his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. In his
speech in New York, he charged that Nato had “invaded” Libya to benefit from
the country's oil.

“As far as we are concerned, the African position is that the (TNC) can only
have a seat in the AU if the summit of the AU recognises that in fact they
are in control,” Mugabe told reporters.

“We will not go as far as European and Nato countries to recognise them as
the absolute authority as we still want negotiations between the (TNC) and
the Gaddafi loyalists and maybe that way there will be a lasting solution to
the Libya crisis."

Mugabe charged that African countries who had recognised the NTC were
"selling out against the principles of AU founding fathers".

"If western nations have been assisting us," he said, "it does not mean
selling out in that manner and Zimbabwe cannot stand for that."

Last month, Harare expelled Libyan ambassador to Zimbabwe Taher Elmagrahi
and his entire staff after he openly supported the transitional council.

Governor's son jailed for MDC man's murder

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

26/09/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

THE son of Midlands governor Jason Machaya and three other Zanu PF activists
were beginning 18-year jail terms on Monday after they were convicted of
beating an MDC-T supporter to death.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, on circuit in Gweru,
said the sentence should send a “clear message on the sanctity of life” as
he put away Farai Machaya, 32, Abel Maphosa, and brothers Edmore, 29, and
Bothwell Gana, 27, for the killing of Moses Chokuda in March 2009.

Two soldiers, Obert Gavi, 25, and Tirivashoma Mawadza, 25, involved in the
brutal assault on Chokuda, who had been accused of a break-in at the
governor’s shop in Gokwe, were given suspended 12 month sentences.

In dramatic scenes outside the Gweru Magistrates’ Court building where the
sentencing hearing took place, Chokuda’s father declared he would not be
burying his son until the parents of the quartet “come to my own court”.

“I will not be consoled by 18 years. What is 18 years when people committed
such kind of crime? I will not bury my son. This is only the beginning,”
vowed Tavengwa Chokuda, whose son’s body remains unclaimed at the Gokwe
District Hospital mortuary.

He added: “Parents of these boys should come forward so that we talk. They
should come to my own court where my own people can amicably settle this
matter.”
Despite the political undertones which have dominated the case, prosecutors
insisted that the case was purely criminal.

The trial, which opened on September 14, heard how Machaya, Maphosa and tyhe
Gana brothers drove to Chokuda’s home in rural Gokwe on March 22, 2009, and
accused him of robbing Machaya’s shop at Gokwe Centre.

The four had enlisted the services of the two soldiers to intimidate
Chokuda, but it was they who led the assault with logs and booted feet,
leaving him for dead. An autopsy report prepared for the court revealed that
Chokuda died from fractures on his cervical spine. He had sustained several
injuries all over his body.

Justice Mathonsi said the four had taken the law into their own hands, when
they could have reported the break-in at a police station 3km away.

The judge told the four: “This is unacceptable. Instead of reporting the
burglary matter to the police 3km away, you hired soldiers of fortune, who
in turn assaulted the deceased.

“The four of you proceeded to assault the deceased and in the process you
abducted people and masqueraded as police officers and members of the army.
A sentence that sends a clear message on the sanctity of life and the need
to uphold the law is necessary.”

No broadcast licences despite call for applications

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
26 September 2011

Four months after calling for commercial radio licence applications the
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has still not issued a single
statement informing the general public or the applicants what they have done
so far. This is despite receiving an estimated 15 applications from aspiring
broadcasters.

Njabulo Ncube, chairman of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe
Chapter), told SW Radio Africa that many critics felt BAZ made the call for
the applications with the intention of ‘hoodwinking’ the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) into believing that key media reforms were
taking place ahead of a crucial summit that was meant to tackle Zimbabwe.

MISA feel the broadcasting authority should have sifted though the
applications by now and awarded the two radio licences out of the
applications submitted. Applicants were required to put their application in
the print media but MISA feel that BAZ should publish a comprehensive list
of the applicants and when they expect to complete their adjudication
process. The names behind the applications are not known, as the applicants
were only required to publish their company name in the print media.

The Broadcasting Services Act does not stipulate timelines under which BAZ
should shortlist successful applicants and the fear is that they will use
that loophole to delay issuing licences until after the elections next year.
In July BAZ officials were quoted saying they will not be able to do
anything for 18 months, claiming that they did not have the resources to
‘monitor’ new broadcasters.

Under the same broadcasting law the public is allowed to lodge objections
but MISA say they also cannot do this because BAZ has not “furnished the
public with useful details of directorship and ownership of respective
companies that applied.” The group also slammed provisions in the
broadcasting law, that interfere with the content of broadcasts made by the
new players, should they get a licence.

MISA meanwhile say they will step up efforts to push for the opening of the
airwaves by upping their advocacy campaigns, seeking an audience with
officials from BAZ, lobbying parliamentary portfolio committees,
legislators, the relevant Minister and other stakeholders.

WOZA concerned over leaders’ detention

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
26 September 2011

Pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has raised concern about the
ongoing detention of its leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, who
were arrested on International Peace Day last week.

The pair is being held at the notorious Mlondolozi Prison on charges of
‘kidnapping’ and ‘theft’, which WOZA have said are “malicious” and
 “spurious” allegations.

Last week 12 WOZA members were arrested during a march in Bulawayo, which
had been organised to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Riot
police were dispatched to break up the march, beating several people in the
process. 10 of the WOZA women appeared in court last Thursday on ‘criminal
nuisance’ charges, but the prosecutor refused to bring a case against them
and they were released.

Williams and Mahlangu however were charged separately and have been remanded
in custody until 6th October. Lawyer Kossam Ncube told SW Radio Africa that
a bail application has been filed in the High Court, and they are expecting
to hear from the Attorney General’s office on Tuesday about a bail decision.

“Chances are that bail will be denied,” Ncube said, explaining that the
Attorney General’s office last week had instructed the Magistrates Court to
deny the WOZA leaders bail.

Ncube also explained that the ‘kidnapping’ and ‘theft’ charges are related
to an incident in July, when WOZA had experienced a number of thefts at
their offices. WOZA meanwhile said in a statement that the incident is being
“used by the police to lay charges without any investigation of the true
facts of the matter or genuine suspicion of guilt, merely to punish the WOZA
leaders.”

“Officer George Levison Ngwenya of the Bulawayo Central Law and Order
department, who has been previously named and shamed by WOZA for his brutal
handling of arrested WOZA members, may be using these spurious allegations
as his way of getting even. Having failed in the past to secure convictions
of WOZA members on charges related to activities in defense of human rights,
he may now have devised a new strategy of seeking to pin common criminal
charges on the women,” WOZA said.

The WOZA statement also raised concerns about how the two women will be
treated in Mlondolozi, warning that “the last time that they were detained
in the prison in 2008 they were subjected to abuse at the hands of the
prison authorities.”

ZIPRA Labels Veterans Leader Sibanda 'Sellout'

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, September 26, 2011- Liberation war heroes from the Zimbabwe
African People’s Union’s military wing (ZIPRA) have lashed out at the war
veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda calling him a sellout ‘who can do anything
for money’.

ZIPRA alleged that Sibanda has been a money monger since the time of
liberation struggle in the 1970s.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday evening in Bulawayo during ZIPRA annual
general meeting, the organisation’s chairman Buster Magwizi blasted Sibanda
for terrorizing  Matabeleland South villagers saying he was a sellout in
even during the time of the liberation struggle.

“We have known Sibanda as a sellout, even during the time of the liberation
struggle he used to do anything for money. There is a time we suspected him
of having been sent by Rhodesian government when were in Angola. Now being
paid by Zanu-PF to terrorise innocent villagers, “said Magwizi.

Magwzi added; “We have already disowned him from being a ZIPRA cadre because
of his behaviour of terrorising innocent villagers."

Two weeks ago Sibanda moved is terror campaign from Masvingo to Matabeleland
South province where he has warned villagers to prepare for the worst in the
next elections.

At one of his meetings in Chief Nhlamba’s area in Gwanda the former freedom
fighter lashed out at villagers for abandoning Zanu-PF in the past election
in favour of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations.

Zanu -PF won two out of seven parliamentary seats in the province and
Sibanda has vowed to win all seats back.

In Masvingo the self proclaimed war vet leader forced villagers to attend
rallies where he threatened to murder those who do not support Robert Mugabe
in elections.

Sibanda has lined up various meetings across the province and will be
meeting traditional leaders, fellow war veterans and villagers.

Tsvangirai to publish memoirs

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

26/09/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will publish his memoirs on October 1 after
signing a multi-million rand deal with Penguin Books.
Tsvangirai will also make extra cash after flogging serialisation rights to
eleven South African newspapers.

‘Morgan Tsvangirai: In at the Deep End’, “traces Tsvangirai’s political
development and activism, laying bare the challenges and frustrations of his
political life, up to and including the power-sharing agreements with
President Robert Mugabe,” Penguin Books said in a statement.

The autobiography, Tsvangirai’s first book, was ghost-written by the
journalist William Tagwirei Bango. Bango, who worked for Tsvangirai for a
time as his spokesman, previously worked for The Daily News as a news
editor.

Penguin Books said Tsvangirai was “globally regarded as a courageous and
indefatigable symbol of resistance in the face of brutal repression” adding
that the book would chronicle his travails “from teenage mine worker to
trade union leader to Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in a coalition government”.

Tsvangirai has sold exclusive serialisation writes to South Africa’s
Independent Newspaper Group and extracts will be published in its 11 titles:
The Star, Pretoria News, Daily Voice, Cape Times, Cape Argus, Weekend Argus,
The Mercury, The Post, Daily News, Independent on Saturday and Sunday
Independent.

Wikileaks: Prosecutor told US official that Tomana was scared of Jestina Mukoko’s case

http://www.insiderzim.com

Monday, 26 September 2011 13:59

A State prosecutor in the case of human rights activist Jestina Mukoko is
said to have told a United States embassy official that attorney-general
Johannes Tomana and the government’s chief prosecutor Florence Ziyambi were
scared of Mukoko’s case.

According to a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks, the prosecutor Fatima
Maxwell, told Mukoko’s lawyers that she too did not even want to be there to
present the State’s case.

Mukoko was appearing in the Supreme Court where she was arguing that her
abduction, torture, and illegal detention in December 2008 constituted such
a grave violation of her constitutional rights that the court should
permanently stay the prosecution's case against her.

Mukoko and other activists had been arrested for allegedly conspiring to
mount an armed insurgency against the government after the 2008 elections.

She was held in custody from 3 to 22 December 2008 and was allegedly
tortured into confessing that she and other activists had recruited
insurgents to launch an armed rebellion from Botswana.

Wikileaks: Amnesty International and its love-hate relationship with Mugabe and Mutasa

http://www.insiderzim.com

Monday, 26 September 2011 13:50

Amnesty International seems to be in a quandary over its relationship with
Zimbabwe. In the 1970s the human rights organisation adopted Robert Mugabe
and Didymus Mutasa, among other combatants, as "prisoners of conscience".

An Amnesty International group in Sweden adopted Mugabe and demonstrated on
his behalf for much of his 11-year detention. But relations soured soon
after independence when the organisation spoke out against Mugabe-led human
rights abuses in Matabeleland.

Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said after a six-day
visit to Zimbabwe in June 2009 that human rights violations continued
unabated in Zimbabwe but the main problem was that there was a denial that a
problem even existed. She said Zimbabwe was "nowhere near ready to identify
or admit what has happened."

Senior government officials that she met confirmed that "addressing impunity
is not a priority for the government right now."

During her visit Khan met with Vice President Joice Mujuru, Defence Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa, Minister of State in the President's Office Didymus
Mutasa, and Home Affairs co-Minister Kembo Mohadi.

She also met MDC officials including Education Minister David Coltart,
Deputy Minister of Justice Jessie Majome, Home Affairs co-Minister Giles
Mutsekwa, Minister of State Sekai Holland, and Speaker of the House of
Assembly Lovemore Moyo.

Wikileaks: Jabulani Sibanda dossier

Bill Watch 40/2011 of 26th September [Parlliament Ajourns Once Again]