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Constitutional outreach cut short

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Tobias Manyuchi Thursday 02 September 2010

HARARE - Zimbabwe has cut short an exercise to solicit public views on a new
governance charter because of funding problems, a special committee in
charge of the constitutional reforms said on Wednesday.

The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) said foreign
donors, who have largely bankrolled the reforms, turned down a request for
more cash forcing the committee to shorten the public outreach exercise from
90 to 80 days.

But COPAC joint chairman Paul Mangwana insisted that reducing the number of
days to consult Zimbabweans - whose views must form the basis of the
proposed charter - will not affect the quality of the end product.

Mangwana from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party said that the
committee that comprises representatives from the country's three governing
parties will increase the number of public meetings per day to ensure all
those willing to contribute have a chance to air their views.

"We are now reducing the period of outreach from 90 days to possibly 80 days
and we have instructed all our teams to increase the number of meetings they
are having everyday so that we reduce the extra days from 25 to possibly 15
or 16 days," Mangwana told journalists in Harare.

The COPAC has met members of the public in 40 districts and has 18 more to
cover including Harare and Bulawayo, the country's capital and second
biggest city respectively that have the highest population densities and
would probably require more time to cover them.

The outreach exercise that began last June and has been dogged by cash
problems since day one is earmarked to end on September 20 or about 10 days
ahead of schedule.

The writing of a new constitution for Zimbabwe to replace the current one
drafted by former colonial power Britain is part of a drive by the Harare
coalition government to democratise the southern African country's politics
ahead of fresh elections.

However, resurgent political violence and intimidation largely blamed on
militants from Mugabe's ZANU PF party and security forces have cast doubt on
the credibility of the reform process.

Human rights groups say ZANU PF and soldiers have gone out in rural areas
intimidating villagers to support the views of the party on the new
constitution. The party and army commanders deny the charges.

ZANU (PF) want the new charter based on a controversial draft constitution
known as the Kariba Draft prepared by Mugabe's party and the then opposition
MDC parties of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Deputy Arthur
Mutambara.

The 2007 Kariba Draft -- that the MDC parties now oppose -- retains a strong
presidency and allows Mugabe to stand for another two terms in office.

The coalition government is expected to call fresh elections once a new
constitution is in place although there is no legal requirement for it to
immediately do so.

Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will guarantee human rights, strengthen
the role of Parliament, as well as guaranteeing civil, political and media
freedoms. - ZimOnline.


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Zimbabwe Launches US$8m Appeal for Constitution Revision

http://www.voanews.com/

The appeal came a day after primary financiers, the United Nations
Development Program refused to release additional funding to see the
consultation phase through.

Studio 7 Staff | Harare 01 September 2010

The Zimbabwean government officially appealed Wednesday for some US$8.2
million needed for finalization of consultations for its constitution
revision exercise.

The appeal came a day after main financier, the United Nations Development
Program, refused to release additional funding to see the phase through.

Launching the appeal in Harare, the co-chairmen of a panel leading the
exercise told journalists that donors were shying away due to fatigue.

Paul Mangwana of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF said government was
desperate for funds to finalize the consultation phase.

The UNDP refused this week to release more funds towards the remaining part
of public consultations, but said funds for collating data and carrying out
the national referendum are available.

Because of these persistent monetary hiccups, Mangwana said COPAC had
increased the number of consultation meetings per day, hoping to complete
the exercise in 85 days instead of the 95 days initially targetted.

COPAC co-chairman, Douglas Mwonzora announced that outreach meetings in
metropolitan Harare and Bulawayo will be conducted on the 18th and 19th of
this month, adding the whole exercise will wind down on September 20.

Constitution and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga suggested
recently that a national referendum for the new constitution was likely in
February next year.

But Mangwana told VOA that the referendum was not likely earlier than May.

Sources in Mashonaland West meanwhile, said Zanu PF supporters disrupted an
outreach meeting Wednesday at Chedonje Primary School in Kadoma after they
accused COPAC teams of not giving prior notice.

Another meeting at Ingezi Primary School was stopped after a man who
volunteered to offer the opening prayer took the opportunity to attack his
opponents, the sources said.

One of the outreach team leaders Editor Matamisa told VOA Studio 7 reporter
Jonga Kandemiiri it was unfortunate Zanu PF activists decided to disrupt the
meetings.

Constituional Affairs lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Greg Lenington
said the confusion and chaos in the outreach will adversely affect the
holding of free and fair elections.

Elsewhere, outreach teams in Matabeleland South are expected to hold
consultations in Bulilima district next week.

But Member of Parliament for the constituency, Moses Mzila Ndlovu told VOA
Studio 7 reporter Brenda Moyo that COPAC is not doing enough to notify
villagers about the venues.


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SW Radio Africa broadcasts jammed despite unity government

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/5988
 

September 2nd, 2010

Jammed SWRA broadcast – 7:45pm, 1 September 2010 Get Adobe Flash player

The audio clip above reveals what Zimbabweans heard yesterday when they tuned into SW Radio Africa (SWRA) to hear impartial objective Zimbabwean news. It is a further act of censorship, another effort to suppress free speech and the right of Zimbabweans to access information.

SWRA have done an incredible job ensuring news-deprived Zimbabweans still have access to impartial objective information despite the Zanu PF government's passing of repressive legislation like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). This oddly named piece of legislature has served to deny independent media sources permission to operate newspapers, radio or TV in Zimbabwe. SWRA, broadcasting from outside Zimbabwe on short wave, have managed to provide independent news to parts of the country that email and online news sources cannot reach. As such they have been a lifeline  of information to oppressed Zimbabweans.

It has also made SWRA a thorn in the side for members of the political elite who feel most threatened by a critical and enquiring press that seeks to expose corruption and human rights abuses.

SWRA have been jammed before, but their article on their website about this instance conveys shock at the fact that, this time, the jamming  is happening under the inclusive government which includes former opposition parties that have supposedly fought for democratic principles. In fact, just last week, the MDC-T party launched a new party card, describing it as the 'master card for real change'. What's worse, this is the second act of censorship occuring under the unity government this week.

Robert Mugabe's regime has resumed jamming news broadcasts from SW Radio Africa, despite the existence of the coalition government with the MDC, that is supposed to guarantee freedom of expression. On Wednesday evening the first half hour of our broadcast featuring Newsreel was drowned out by a heavy noise, sounding like a slow playing record.

SW Radio Africa listeners told us that soon after the news ended the jamming noise stopped and the rest of the broadcast featuring current affairs programming could be heard clearly.

Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa [MDC-T] told Newsreel he was not aware of the jamming. He said; 'We will have to start gathering our facts on the matter before coming up with our position.' Deputy Information Minister Murisi Zwizwai's phone went unanswered the whole day. But a source told us the Central Intelligence Organisation, which falls under the President's Office, is running the operation.

It is sad that despite the fact Zimbabwe does have an inclusive government, where two of the parties supposedly whole heartedly support the notion of a free press and Zimbabweans right to information, that SWRA are once again being jammed.

In 2005 Mugabe's regime began jamming SW Radio Africa frequencies just before the controversial Operation Murambatsvina. It was reported that the jamming equipment and expertise was provided by China and at the time we spoke to a soldier who says he was sent to China to be trained in jamming techniques. The jamming was then extended to include signals from Voice of America's Studio 7, in clear violation of international laws.

In an earlier email today, SWRA wrote:

For the past few weeks we have been concerned that jamming tests were being carried out on our broadcasts as various radio hams around the world have been sending us regular reports of a faintly audible music loop.

Unfortunately it was confirmed that these were tests, as jamming began in earnest last night (1st September - attached please find an MP3 of the jamming). It appears to be specifically targeting our news bulletin. This could be because there are power shortages/lack of funds to target the entire broadcast.

Last time we were so severely jammed only ZANU PF were in power and we had no one to complain to. This time we have a 'unity government' and I do hope the jamming will be a topic for discussion at the media conference in Harare and that all media organisations - such as MISA/MAZ/MMPZ - will take this issue up at every government forum available to them.

We will, of course, be relentless in trying to get hold of the various ministers from both the MDC and ZPF to hold them to account for the fact that we are supposed to be moving forward to greater media and information freedom - we hope all other media will do the same and not let the matter drop.

Please watch this space for further updates and possible calls to action.



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South Africa to resume Zim deportations

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
02 September 2010

South Africa's cabinet has announced that a moratorium on deportations of
Zimbabwean nationals in the country will be reversed, prompting an angry
response from rights groups.

In a post-cabinet announcement on Thursday, South African government
spokesperson Themba Maseko said that deportations to Zimbabwe will commence
after the 31st December this year, also adding that a special dispensation
put in place for Zimbabweans will cease to operate. Under this dispensation
Zimbabweans could enter South Africa and work for a total of three months
before renewing the temporary permits.

The moratorium on deportations was introduced in April last year, a few
months after the formation of the unity government in Zimbabwe. The special
dispensation was also announced in an effort to control the number of
Zimbabweans crossing illegally into South Africa, fleeing the humanitarian
crisis and economic meltdown back home. It was hoped that a backlog of
migrants seeking asylum status in South Africa would ease if Zimbabweans in
the country were given special documents. It is estimated that there are up
to four million Zimbabweans living in South Africa, but because of fears of
deportations most did not apply for official documentation from Home
Affairs.

It was widely believed that the moratorium on deportations was a temporary
measure while the government worked at providing the special dispensation
permits. But according to refugee rights group PASSOP, those permits were
never issued, and most Zimbabweans in South Africa remain undocumented.
PASSOP's Braam Hanekom told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that Zimbabweans are
still unsuccessfully trying to apply for refugee status. He explained that
while there are certain permits that migrants can apply for from the
government, most Zimbabweans don't have the money for these applications.

"The government claims that everyone can get a permit and that is
 unfounded," Hanekom said. "This decision will just leave the impoverished
and most vulnerable at most risk of being sent back unwillingly."

Hanekom also added that PASSOP expected the lifting of the moratorium on
deportations only when conditions in Zimbabwe had improved, which he said
there was still no evidence of. Gabriel Shumba from the Zimbabwe Exiles
Forum agreed, telling SW Radio Africa that the South African officials
"appear clueless to the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe."

"This callous and arbitrary decision by the South African government speaks
volumes about their role in mediation efforts of Zimbabwe's political
crisis," Shumba said, saying it was a serious indictment of South African
President Jacob Zuma's intentions as the regional mediator in Zimbabwe.

Shumba also warned that this "ill-timed announcement has the potential of
encouraging xenophobia." Fears of renewed xenophobic violence have been rife
since the end of the football world cup in South Africa in July, because the
job market has been steadily drying up. Skeptical observers have said the
moratorium and special privileges afforded Zimbabwean migrants in 2009 was
well timed, because of the need for cheap labour ahead of the football
tournament. Shumba said that Zimbabweans were "hoodwinked" into believing
that the South African government was making strides to protect their
rights.

He said the announcement on Thursday is "devastating" and a shock to all
those who believed there was goodwill from South African officials.


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Attorney-General’s office drafting new Electoral Act Bill

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Tichaona Sibanda
2 September 2010

A draft of the proposed amendments to the country’s Electoral Law is being
worked upon by legal experts in the Attorney-General’s office, SW Radio
Africa can reveal.

The Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana is at the centre of the dispute that
is threatening to tear apart the inclusive government after he was
unilaterally appointed to this post by Robert Mugabe, without consulting the
other two partners in the unity government. The work of the power-sharing
government has since been hampered by haggling over his appointment, and
that of central bank governor Gideon Gono, but these amendments will still
go through his office.

One of these amendments state that it is mandatory for the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce all election results within five
days. After the first round of the March 2008 presidential elections, the
discredited old ZEC, led by Justice George Chiweshe, took more than five
weeks to announce the results.

The source added that the new amendments will also restrict postal voters to
government officials serving abroad and polling officers who will be on duty
on election day. People in this category will cast their votes a week before
polling day and will be supervised by presiding officers from ZEC.

In the past almost all Zimbabwe Defence Forces members cast their votes a
full month before election day. They were able to vote in their respective
military camps, without the supervision of ZEC officials. In most cases
their superior officers were their presiding officers, which forced the ZDF
members to almost exclusively vote ZANU PF out of fear.

In the 2008 run-off, observers found evidence of en masse balloting in which
troops were ordered to tick Mugabe’s name on their ballot papers.

‘The new law will put in place proper political violence reporting
structures during campaigning. ZEC will have the power to disqualify a
candidate or political party if there is compelling evidence of violence
against political opponents,’ our source said.

The proposed amendments would also bar police officers from taking part or
interfering with the electoral process, beyond maintaining law and order.
The partisan police force has always faced accusations of abusing their
power when they ‘helped’ disabled or illiterate voters to cast their ballots
in all elections held since 2000.

‘There are also proposals in the new law that will compel voters to register
and vote closest to where they live. At the moment there is a generic
ward-based voters’ roll system for the entire ward or district which was
abused in the past.

‘This generic voters roll allowed people to vote more than once. What we
will have in the next election is that if you register to vote at Borrowdale
primary school, your name will only appear there and not anywhere else. This
will greatly minimize the chances of people voting twice,’ the source added.

When the AG’s office complete drafting the new Bill it is to be sent back to
the Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who will in turn take it to
parliament where MPs will debate on the new draft before it is enacted into
the country’s law statutes.

Several other Laws that need to be amended, as agreed to by the three
parties under the Global Political Agreement, are also being handled by the
legal drafting department of the AG’s office.

‘All amendments to our laws in the country are dealt with by this department
in the AG’s offices. What I can tell you now is all outstanding GPA issues
under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice are being dealt with by
the AG’s office,’ the source added.

Contacted for comment, the MDC-T parliamentary chief-whip Innocent Gonese
told us the process of ‘fine-tuning’ a proposed Bill at the AG’s office
should not take more than a week.

‘The wording and what needs to be changed was done by the negotiators with
express permission from the principals. What the AG’s department is doing is
writing those new changes in a legal language, otherwise it’s a process that
doesn’t take much time,’ Gonese said.


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Gukurahundi artist faces 20 years in jail

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
02 September, 2010

Owen Maseko, the artist from Bulawayo whose exhibition was banned by the
Board of Censors last Friday and who is now facing criminal charges, has
said his work actually promotes national healing, but the government is
afraid of the subject matter. He also revealed that the charges against him
had changed and he now faces a longer maximum sentence.

Maseko's exhibition showed scenes from the turbulent period known as the
Gukurahundi, when troops loyal to Robert Mugabe massacred innocent
Zimbabweans. The artist was arrested when it opened in March and the
government immediately covered the windows of the gallery.

On Monday the Home Affairs Ministry charged the artist for "obscenity and
ethnic bias", an offense that carries a 12 year maximum sentence. But
speaking to SW Radio Africa on Thursday, Maseko said the charges had been
amended. He is now being charged for 'communicating falsehoods in order to
incite violence'. The new charges carry a 20-year maximum sentence.

Maseko marvelled at the charges, saying: "Partly the government is not
willing to be open about these atrocities and secondly they have actually
blown everything out of proportion. Why would anyone incite violence today
in Zimbabwe, especially in relation to the organ of national healing which
has been introduced."

Maseko explained that the idea of healing involves being able to talk freely
about what happened. He compared this to "letting out steam" and said it
helps prevent the violence that he is being accused of attempting to incite.

Home Affairs co-minister Theresa Makone, whose ministry issued the banning
order, surprisingly told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that she knew nothing
about the ban on Maseko's work or the fact that he would face charges. But
the artist said he was not surprised because the Gukurahundi was one of the
most sensitive subjects in Zimbabwe's history. But he added that all the
directives regarding his case had come from the Home Affairs office in
Harare, and so she must have known about it.

Minister Makone promised us that she would talk to the Home Affairs
Secretary, Melusi Matshiya, who announced the ban. But on Thursday she
emailed us and said Maseko's case had been initiated before she joined the
ministry. Makone went on to say; "I cannot make any meaningful contribution
to an issue that was handled before my time."

It is of great concern that the Home Affairs Secretary would announce in a
government gazette the decision to ban an exhibition without informing the
co-minister of the case. It is even more shocking that the Minister feels
that even though she has now been informed, she has to take no action.

Ironically Minister Makone on Tuesday accepted a human rights award on
behalf of party President Morgan Tsvangirai and an MDC official at the same
ceremony emphasized that it is the government's duty to protect the rights
of all citizens.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa Maseko insisted that he had done nothing wrong,
and had simply presented an artistic expression of a part of Zimbabwe's
history which is not very popular.
"I think the Gukurahundi atrocities are Zimbabwean history as much as
Chimoyo, as much as Mbuya Nehanda and Kaguvi. The issue is having a common
platform for all of us to participate in discussing these issues," said
Maseko.

 


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MPs snub US$4m development fund

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

By Staff Reporter
Thursday, 02 September 2010 17:34

HARARE - About US$4 million in Constituency Development Fund availed by
government is lying idle after only two out of 210 Members of Parliament
submitted proposals to access the money.

The money was availed by Finance Minister Tendai Biti in his 2010 Budget
statement in December last year for MPs to spearhead development projects in
their constituencies.

But Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs minister Eric Matinenga said
Thursday that only Bikita West and Mutare West representatives have applied
to access the fund.

"It will be a scandal if a cent of this money is returned to Treasury at the
end of the financial year for lack of utilisation," Matinenga told a media
briefing Thursday.

He however did not state when the fund was made available but reports in
July this year said the money had not yet been made accessible by
government.

Under this fund, legislators are expected to lead in the planning and
execution of local and community projects with immediate impact to the
livelihood of the communities.

The local constituency legislator would chair the fund while councillors
would form the committee and the local Senator coming in as an ex-officio
member.

The fund would concentrate on the construction of boreholes, the repair of
schools and clinics, the purchase of electrical generators and building of
market stalls.

Minister Biti said the money would be administered by the Ministry of
Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs on the basis of an annual
development plan submitted by the constituency.

Meanwhile, Matinenga has attributed the need for a supplementary budget to
the constitution making process to poor budgeting, inexperience by Copac
members and the delays in implementing the process due to recurrent
squabbling by parties on how to run the process.

The UNDP and the European Union, the major sponsors of the national
programme have spurned a request by Copac to avail a further $8 million to
cater for the additional period needed to complete the process.

The money was to be added to $7 million already availed to Copac for the
initial 65 days of the outreach process.

The period has been extended by a further 25 days and is now expected to end
on 20 September 2010.

Matinenga said the process was still on course after treasury on Wednesday
availed $2 million to supplement the process.

"The manner in which we are writing our constitution is unique," he said,
"It has never happened anywhere. So it's all part of a learning curve. I
accept that in the process of budgeting for this unusual process,
unfortunately we under-budgeted in respect of certain lines.
"We also under-budgeted the time we thought we were going to finish the
outreach."

 


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Civil Society Honors Zimbabwe Prime Minister Tsvangirai for Championing Human Rights

http://www.voanews.com/

Also honored was National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku
as well as prominent human rights advocates, Beatrice Mtetwa and Alec
Muchadehama for standing up against rights abuses.

Irwin Chifera | Harare 01 September 2010

A coalition of civil society groups in Zimbabwe has honored Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai for championing human rights and democracy.

Mr. Tsvangirai was presented with an award in Harare Tuesday at the launch
of the Peace Building and Transitional Justice initiative by groups
including the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

They also honored National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku
as well as prominent human rights advocates, Beatrice Mtetwa and Alec
Muchadehama for defending human rights and fighting for a just society.

Tsvangirai did not attend the ceremony but his award was received on his
behalf by his Movement for Democratic Change party's Women Assembly
chairperson, Theresa Makoni. There was no monetary value attached to the
awards.

Speaking at the ceremony, guest of honor and Deputy Prime Minister,
Thokozani Khupe, praised the winners for their sterling and consistent
devotion to the upholding of human rights, democracy, justice and peace in
Zimbabwe.

Khupe said government had the responsibility of ensuring that people's
rights are respected and preserved, adding; "It is the government's duty to
protect rights of all citizens."

Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe director Philip Pasirayi,
however, said civil society was dissapointed with the unity government for
failing to address past and ongoing injustices in the country.

The Peace Building and Transition Justice seeks to rehabilitate victims of
political violence and perpetrators alike as well fostering peace, officials
said.


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Old Beneficiaries of Zimbabwe's Black Empowerment Set to Venture Into Diamond Cutting

http://www.voanews.com/

Affirmative Action Group President Supa Mandiwanzira said his organization
will soon set up 10 consortiums to venture into diamond cutting and
polishing at the US$30 million diamond processing center currently under
construction in Harare.

Gibbs Dube | Washington 01 September 2010

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) says the recent deal it struck with the
Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Center for indigenous businesses to cut and
polish Marange diamonds will benefit members of the black empowerment
organization.

AAG President Supa Mandiwanzira said his movement will soon form 10
consortiums to venture into diamond cutting and polishing at the US$30
million center currently under construction in Harare.

Mandiwanzira said the AAG will set up an internal body to process
applications from various companies and individuals affiliated to the
organization.

Critics said it was likely the same businesspeople who have benefited from
the indigenization process over the years will be at the forefront of this
new venture.

Mandiwanzira told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that if most AAG members
do not apply for the few consortium slots, old beneficiaries of the black
empowerment process will take charge.

Buletsi Nyathi of the Youth in Mining Council of Zimbabwe said it is clear
that the indigenization process is designed to benefit people aligned to
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF.


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Paranoid Robert Mugabe rejects US$50bn loan

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

02 September, 2010 01:05:00    By

HARARE - Cash-strapped Zimbabwe coalition government has turned down a loan
offer of up to US$50 billion from Norange Capital Mar-kets of South Africa
after security checks indicated the money could be "dirty".

Government insiders said yesterday the offer was rejected because the
country's security agencies had "reasonable suspicion" that the company
might be seeking to "launder their money through Zimbabwe".

The Zimbabwe Mail has has been informed by high level sources in the Central
Intelligence Organisation, CIO that Mugabe suspects that the money is
destined to either the MDC or one of the Zanu PF factions and might be used
to topple him.

The proposed funding was divided into two categories - a non-repayable
US$100 million grant and a loan of up to US$50 billion payable over 30
years.
It attracted a negotiable annual interest rate of up to 3 percent.

Secretary for Finance Mr Willard Manungo wrote to Norange president and
chief executive General Hendrie Hattingh on August 12 this year advising him
that the proposal was "unsustainable".

The letter was copied to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr
Misheck Sibanda.

"Please be advised that Government has done a thorough appraisal of your
proposal and has come to the conclusion that the proposal is unsustainable.
"We are thus unable to take up your offer," read part of the letter.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti confirmed receipt of the proposal, but refused
to shed more light.

Mr Manungo could not be reached to provide further details yesterday.

State media said security verifications raised suspicion that the company
might have wanted to "launder dirty money" through Zimbabwe.

"The issue was dealt with by the Presidency and it is suspected that these
guys might be involved in money laundering and might have wanted to clean
their money here," said an official who requested anonymity.

Norange wrote to Minister Biti on May 31 this year saying it had
contractually entered into an agreement with Mei Hua Family United Nations,
the principal backer of its Global Funder, to advance a loan to Zimbabwe
through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

The funds were to be allocated under what is called Programmes of Global
Fund-505 Project of World Peace, whose main objectives are "working for a
world free of war, poverty eradication and global green movement".

Without revealing names of other potential beneficiaries, the company
indicated that Zimba-bwe was one of the first proposed recipients of the
facility in the Asia-Pacific-Africa bloc.

According to the proposal, Zimbabwe would open a custodian account with the
RBZ in the name of Norange Capital Markets for the investor to deposit a
Safe Keeping Receipt to start funding procedures and link this to the main
account of the Global Funder.

Minister Biti would assist in translating the SKR into liquid funds.

All the transactions were to be done between the Negara Bank of Malaysia and
RBZ.

"Upon signing all protocols, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will directly
engage Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the Bank of Negara, Malaysia, to carry out due
diligence and verification of the funds exercise within the agreed time
window," proposed Norange.

"We will notify the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the FED (US
Federal Reserve), (and) Interpol prior to and upon the verification
procedure of the funds."

Apart from a loan package, Norange also offered technical assistance to
Government in capitalising and hedging of loans into international financial
programmes to securitise the capital and interest.

This was an extra option independent to the funding proposal under a
separate contract.

"We therefore approach you within the context of your drive to turn around
the economy and for investment in Zimbabwe's infrastructure and other
opportunities for immediate facilitation of this process," said Norange.

"Norange does support your objective of a 7,7 percent (economic) growth
which was recently downgraded to 4,7 percent and is confident that this
Global Fund has the potential to eradicate the debt of US$7,1 billion and
ensure economic growth.

"Norange does not trade debt for assets. We require no security, assets or
treasury collateral against funding."

The company wanted tax concessions through enactment of a Statutory
Instrument.

It requested authority to repatriate, for other investments outside
Zimbabwe, its funds allocated without "undue restrictions and exchange
control".
In addition, it wanted permission to repatriate and remit 100 percent of
dividends and interests from its investments in Zimbabwe free of any
withholding tax and any other restrictions.

It wanted Government to exempt customs union and excise duty, value added
tax and any other taxes on imported goods, vehicles of all types, factor
inputs, plant and machinery.

It said it was aware of the Western sanctions on Zimbabwe but said these
would not affect the deal because Norange had global immunity


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Zimbabwe enjoys bumper tobacco season

http://www.ft.com/

By Tony Hawkins in Harare

Published: September 1 2010 22:31 | Last updated: September 1 2010 22:31

Zimbabwe's national tobacco crop has doubled this year, with smallholder
growers celebrating a bumper season.

The harvest exceeded market expectations by reaching 119m kilogrammes,
compared with 59m kg last year. This year's crop, the largest recorded since
2003, will be worth about $350m to Zimbabwe.

Yet it remains barely half the size of the record crop of more than 230m kg
achieved in 2000, the year before President Robert Mugabe began the
wholesale seizure of white-owned farms.

The vast majority of the country's commercial farmers were evicted from
their properties and agricultural production virtually halved over the
subsequent eight years, although there has been a modest recovery recently.

This year about 50,000 smallholder farmers grew 65-70 per cent of the
tobacco crop, compared with less than 10 per cent a decade ago. Most
large-scale growers have been driven off their land, while the handful that
survive are suffering from the high cost of bank loans, with interest rates
often exceeding 12 per cent.

Traditionally, the main buyers of Zimbabwe leaf were from western countries
whose manufacturers were willing to pay a premium for the country's high
quality tobacco. This too has changed: China is estimated to have bought 33
per cent of the 2010 crop and is expected to be an even larger buyer next
year.


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ILO Gives Zim An Ultimatum

http://news.radiovop.com/

02/09/2010 17:47:00

Harare, September 2, 2010 - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has
given the Zimbabwean government a one year period to reform all laws that
infringe the rights of workers and comply with international labour
standards.

Speaking to Journalists in Harare recently, the organisation's Executive
Director Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Kari
Tapiola said discussions to find best ways in which the implementations of
the recommendation of the results of a commission of enquiry conducted last
year in the country, were still continuing with the government.

Among the recommendations, are labour law reforms, non application of the
Public Order and Security Act on trade unions, an immediate stop of torture
and intimidation of trade unionists.

Mr Lancester Museka, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour, said
government was committed to implementing the recommendations made by ILO.

"We have agreed that there is need for an awareness campaign to the police
to make them aware of the fact that POSA does not apply to trade unions and
I am glad to say that the Inclusive government is going to review POSA," he
said.

The police have been using POSA to disrupt any gathering including peaceful
industrial action.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions  (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo said he
wanted the reforms to be made and implemented before the end of this year.

"Our expectations are very high, in fact we want Zimbabwe to implement these
recommendations as soon as yesterday. As ZCTU we take the intervention of
the ILO as the opening of a new page in our engagement with the government.
We have been calling for this engagement with the government since the year
2000," said Matombo.

The government, in April this year, indicated that it accepted in the spirit
of engagement among people of Zimbabwe the recommendations of the ILO
commission of enquiry.

It said it would implement the commission's recommendations in the context
of its current legislative and institutional reform program and welcomed the
guidance and support of the ILO.
 


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ZANU-PF's proxy businessmen close-in on BP & Shell assets

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

02 September, 2010 08:00:00    By Chris Goko, Business Editor

HARARE - Oil major BP and Shell has narrowed down its Zimbabwean-asset
buyers' shortlist to six, amid reports that an Oliver Chidawu-led investment
group is a frontrunner for the portfolio.
Although the identities of the other players in the consortium known as
Ramshackle and made up of South African-based locals were still foggy, BP
Africa's Johannesburg-based executives, including communications manager
Glenda Zvenyika, declined comment, saying the matter was sub judice.

"With regard to your enquiry, unfortunately BP cannot comment on the sale of
assets that is currently underway as the process is still. subject to
confidentiality agreements," Zvenyika told Daily News Wednesday in an e-mail
response.

Earlier, BP Africa chief executive Sipho Maseko's local colleague Cremio
Mapfumba had declined comment on the anticipated sale, while Empowerment
minister Saviour Kasukuwere also said he was yet to be briefed on the latest
developments since he was away in Mexico.

The company's special projects advisor Richard King, also based in South
Africa, had also not responded to our inquiry by the time of running this
story.

As well as falling profits or trading margins, BP and Shell is selling its
Zimbabwean assets after the country's promulgation of empowerment laws
entitling locals to a 51 percent shareholding of foreign-owned businesses.

While Chidawu was also not reachable for comment, oil sector sources said
whoever wins the mandate to buy the assets will have to part with US$40
million. In addition, the chosen buyer will also have to put in US$20
million in working capital, they added.

Although little is known about the Harare businessman's fuel interests,
Chidawu is better known for his construction, financial and retail sector
interests through Kuchi Builders and Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-quoted Pelhams
Limited.

As a founding shareholder of the Bard and Heritage Insurance groups, which
later merged with BancABC, the ex-Harare mayor only relinquished his
chairmanship of the pan-African group recently after a 14 year reign.

Independent observers, however, say BP is selling not necessarily because of
pressure and Zimbabwe's controversial indigenisation laws, but the market is
"no more than a trickle" and insignificant a growth point or place in terms
of BP's new global focus, and operation anchored in drilling.

While BP and Shell are totally separate entities internationally, their
local subsidiaries are run under a joint venture managed by the former, and
called BP and Shell Marketing Services.

With a head count of 400, BP's operation, for instance, has domestic and
industrial lubricant manufacturing facilities such as its Willowvale
blending plant, nine convenient stores and nearly 87 retail outlets
countrywide.

The outfit, which also markets aviation fuels, natural gas and dispenses up
to 30 million litres of blended fuels for regional neighbours Malawi, and
frequently-distressed Lusaka, forms part of what the European partnership is
selling.

Apart from the world-class Harare blending facility, BP also has bulk
storage tanks and maintenance equipment around the country, including a
major holding depot in Gweru.

In March, the company announced that it was disposing of its marketing
business in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia, as it zeroes in
on refining and greater markets such as Mozambique and SA.

"This follows a strategic review by BP into its refining and marketing
businesses in southern Africa, which showed the company should focus on
those countries. (offering) the greatest synergies with its supply
portfolio," it said.

Maseko, however, assured regional governments and employees that the
troubled company is staying, and will enlarge its investments.

Apart from Mozambique and Pretoria, BP is deeply involved in Angola,
Algeria, Egypt and Libyan projects, where it is expanding its value chain
infrastructure or position.

While the BP top man stressed that they were selling businesses which they
considered of "good value and great potential" to the purchaser, controversy
has dogged the exercise amid revelations that the oil multinational was
trying to "sanitise" its act and sale of Zimbabwean assets by involving
ill-funded local groups.

Knowledgeable sources said two of the investment groups or consortia, which
the company has been negotiating with and known as Positive Energy, and
Sabrex, are unhappy with BP's presentation of a "window-dressed" empowerment
deal or transaction for approval by Kasukuwere's department, when it had
reached a tentative agreement with Kenya's Kenolkobil.

An oil trader himself, Kasukuwere's company Comoil belongs to the splinter
Positive grouping alongside Downtown Petroleum, John Makova's Exor, and
Wedzera Petroleum owned by reclusive tycoon Eric Nhodza.

On the other hand, Sabrex - pitched as the bona fide and all-embracing
negotiating platform for the BP assets - now comprises Kudakwashe Tagwirei's
Sakunda Energy, Redan and other smaller players.

BP, which in July fobbed off a US$20 million Strauss Logistics lawsuit, has
been negotiating with the parties since early this year, although personal
ambitions of the characters involved and Zimbabwe's complex political
economy are getting the better of progress.

On the other hand, intra and inter group dynamics, particularly at Positive,
are also affecting discussions.


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Zimbabwe media precarious - US Ambassador

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

By Pindai Dube
Thursday, 02 September 2010 11:09

BULAWAYO - The United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray says despite
the formation of an inclusive government, the country's journalists are
still operating in a dangerous environment.

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary of Radio Voice of the People Trust (Radio
VOP)  on Tuesday evening in the capital, Ambassador Ray said while there are
current efforts  to contribute to the  reconstruction of the country's
economy through the media, the environment  is  still not conducive  for
journalists.

"Zimbabwe is going through a protracted transition, but while there are
tangible efforts from civil society, business persons, groups and companies
to contribute to the development of society through the media, the country's
media environment still has numerous hurdles, including legal and
administrative impediments.

"Journalists and publishers continue to be under threat for doing their
work, with a dangerous increase in self-censorship due to the fear of
criminal defamatory suits," said Ray.

Ray also said  that a country that wants to progress must protect the
liberties of the individual, allowing freedom of thought, expression and
association, while at the same time, maintaining an emphasis on working for
the good of the community.

In recent years, international organisations representing journalists have
described Zimbabwe as one of the worst places in the world to operate from.

They have been demanding President Robert Mugabe's government to uphold its
commitment to respect human rights and ensure that police officers who take
the law into their own hands and willfully assault journalists are brought
to justice.

Since the  introduction of the Access to Information and Privacy Act (
AIPPA) in 2002, scores of  local journalists have been arrested, tortured,
detained and even deported  for writing stories deemed to be critical of the
government.


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ZEF Statement on SA Cabinet Decision to Resume Deportations to Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com

2 September 2010

Press Statement

ZEF Condemns as Insensitive the South African Gvt Decision to Begin
Deportations to Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) today reacted angrily to an announcement
that the South African government will soon begin deportations to Zimbabwe.
In a post-cabinet announcement today, government spokesperson Themba Maseko
said that deportations to Zimbabwe will commence after the 31st of December,
saying that a special dispensation put in place for Zimbabweans will cease
to operate. Under the special dispensation, Zimbabweans could enter South
Africa and work for a total of 3 months before renewing the temporary
permits.

ZEF Executive Director and Human Rights Lawyer Gabriel Shumba responded
today that the decision by the South African Cabinet was "callous, arbitrary
and in violation of the Bilateral Agreement between South Africa and
Zimbabwe that was announced with so much pomp and fan-fare." Mr Shumba went
on to say that "we could be excused to think that the so-called deal was a
scheme designed to hoodwink us as to the real purpose of it: to obtain cheap
labour from Zimbabwe before the World Cup. More poignant is the fact that
the resumption of deportations is announced before any adequate measures are
put in place to ensure that the asylum seeking process has been made more
accessible, and before the Special Permit has been put in place. This can
only mean that corrupt police and immigration officials as well as those who
arrest to meet the supply needs of Lindela are back in business, especially
as Zimbabwe faces another election." Mr Shumba also condemned the
announcement as "ill-timed because of its implications for xenophobia".

ZEF believes that the withdrawal of the special dispensation for Zimbabweans
should have been taken after consultation with the Zimbabwean Government as
well as civil society in and outside Zimbabwe. The unilateral announcement
undermines the goodwill that had developed between civil society and other
arms of government, especially the Home Affairs Dpt. ZEF therefore urges
government to reconsider the decision and to make efforts to consult more.
Asked whether there would be a basis for legal action, Mr Shumba said that
all avenues are being explored.

END


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Taking the constitutional debate to Uzumba and Mrehwa

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
2 September, 2010

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition held two community meetings at Manyika Primary
School (Uzumba) and Zhombwe Primary School (Mrehwa North)on the 27th and
30th of August 2010 respectively . The meetings were held under the VOICE UP
constitutional campaign which is aimed at providing civic education and a
platform for debate to Zimbabweans on the constitution making process.
Speaking at the community meeting in Mrehwa, Mr Pedziai Ruhanya encouraged
participants to articulate their views clearly during the constitution
making process. The Coalition team was informed that villagers are under
strict instructions not to talk during the Constitutional Parliamentary
Committee (COPAC) outreach meetings and are being threatened with violence.
Participants from both meetings highlighted that information on the COPAC
outreach meetings was difficult to access and that publicity of the outreach
process is poor.
The Coalition has been holding community meetings from the beginning of the
constitution making process to stir debate around the process and to
encourage participation of Zimbabweans. Intimidation, violence and
politicisation continue to mar the ongoing consultative meetings with the
inclusive government and COPAC remaining mum on reported cases.
Participants raised the following issues during the community meeting:
1. The government should afford beneficiaries of land, title deeds
2. Election results should be released two hours after casting votes
3. During national processes, soldiers should stay in their barracks and
police should protect the people regardless of their political affiliation
4. The constitution should include the right to education and clean water
regardless of financial background
5. Dual citizenship should be allowed
6. There should be 50- 50 gender composition in decision making positions
7. Provinces should be five instead of the current 10
8. Provincial governors should be appointed by the people
9. Exploitation of natural resources should contribute towards the
development of the area
10. The government should give the differently abled and the elderly monthly
social welfare assistance funds
11. The President should retire at the age of 70
12. Religions that violate the rights of the girl child should be abolished


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HOT SEAT: Mutambara says there’s a dearth of leadership in Zimbabwe

 http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/hotseat270810.htm



SW Radio Africa Transcript



BROADCAST: 27 August 2010

Violet Gonda’s guest on the Hot Seat program is Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. He talks about the controversial GPA letter he recently wrote ‘on behalf of the Principals’ to President Zuma of South Africa. He also accuses ZANU PF and the MDC-T of being ‘economical with the truth’, regarding the agreement of governors and sanctions. In this first of a two-part interview, Mutambara also talks about the heroes’ status debate, which came to the fore again after the recent death of opposition leader Gibson Sibanda.

farai maguwu


VIOLET GONDA: My guest on the programme Hot Seat this week is Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. Welcome on the programme Professor Mutambara.


ARTHUR MUTAMBARA: Thank you very much for this opportunity to share with your listeners.

GONDA: Thank you Professor. Now let me start with getting your comment on the death of Gibson Sibanda, who was your party’s vice president and a former workers’ union leader.

MUTAMBARA: This has been a major loss to us as a party. It has been a major loss to us as a country. Gibson Sibanda was such a stabilising force; he was such a unifier, a great Zimbabwean who put Zimbabweans before himself. A Zimbabwean who believed in self-sacrifice and in the collective good. When you look at the history of Gibson Sibanda during the liberation struggle, he was involved as the Secretary for Welfare in ZAPU, he was involved in smuggling weapons between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and consequently he was detained from 1976 to 1979 at Hwahwa in Marondera. This was a Zimbabwean who was involved in the creation of a new Zimbabwe by sacrificing his own personal safety in pursuit of national independence. After independence he was involved as a leader in the trade union movement, becoming the first vice president of the ZTCU in 1988, and then the president of the ZTCU from 1989 to 1999 as the president.
Now when the MDC was formed in 1999, he was the interim leader before Congress and then became vice president after the Congress and after the split in 2005, he continued again as vice president in our party. It was a major loss to all of us, but more importantly he was now involved in national healing and reconciliation, being part of that trio – John Nkomo, Sekai Holland and himself, trying to bring Zimbabweans together to establish a never again framework where Zimbabweans were saying let us create a new Zimbabwe where we don’t question each other’s patriotism because of political affiliation. He was a major stabilising figure in the inclusive government, a major unifier in our party. We shall miss him. He was a Zimbabwean hero, a hero of heroes, a soldier of soldiers, and a great Zimbabwean patriot.

GONDA: Now you say he was a Zimbabwean hero and I understand that your party and also the Tsvangirai-led MDC had requested that Sibanda be granted a hero status but that ZANU PF’s politburo has actually snubbed this. Can you comment on this?

MUTAMBARA: You know, when you look at that history that I’ve just described of major sacrifice in the liberation struggle, of major contributions after independence and then major contributions in the MDC and in the current inclusive government in the work of national healing and reconciliation, there’s no better definition of a hero. He is an icon in our country, he is the epitome of heroism, so we as a party wrote to President Mugabe indicating our decision that Gibson Sibanda must be declared a national hero, and the Prime Minister’s party, the MDC-T also wrote in support of that position. Unfortunately, ZANU PF, through its politburo made a decision that no, Gibson Sibanda is not worthy of a national hero, he deserved what they call State-assisted funeral status and so that’s what was granted to him.
So first and foremost, we as a political party, we as this government because I’m the deputy prime minister and the Prime Minister, he is the Prime Minister so we as the government of Zimbabwe rejected ZANU PF decision. First and foremost, the ZANU PF politburo has no locus standi, has no legal jurisdiction that empowers it to determine who is a hero in our country. So we reject the premise under which they made that determination. Secondly we disagree with their decision that Gibson Sibanda is not a national hero and by the way, the issue of heroes is one of the 24 agreed outstanding issues where we have said we are going to set up a platform, a board, a non-partisan arrangement where all the political parties in government and outside government, where civic society, the business community, academics have a say on who is declared a hero in our country. So we are going to now expedite the process of finalising this arrangement so that going forward we won’t have one political party deciding who is a hero and who is not. So we need to quickly implement this item where there’s agreement actually in the GPA, agreement in the inclusive government. We do not accept a National Heroes Acre which is ostensibly a ZANU PF shrine. We have no interest in participating, in getting involved in a ZANU PF shrine so we want a proper National Heroes Acre where all Zimbabweans have a say as to who becomes a hero. So it’s very unfortunate that the ZANU PF politburo has illegally exercised their authority and said Gibson Sibanda is not a national hero. We don’t want to create political capital out of a funeral, out of a death, we don’t want polemics around a sad occasion in our nation so we are going to go ahead and work with the family of Gibson Sibanda and give him a befitting send off, a decent funeral, but we must register our disagreement with the ZANU PF position. Mugabe has no locus standi in this country to determine who is and who is not a hero.

GONDA: When will this inclusive committee be implemented?

MUTAMBARA: Well it’s within a month, within a month in our implementation matrix. We have said we are going to do this within a month and be able to put in place an arrangement which is inclusive, an arrangement which is non-partisan, an arrangement where civic society has a say, an arrangement where academics, churches and other parties who are not in the inclusive government – Zapu, Mavambo, Ndonga and others, including the three parties in the inclusive government have a say so that we can have a legitimate determination of heroism in our country.

GONDA : And ZANU PF has agreed to this?

MUTAMBARA: Yes. As you know in the GPA arrangement, there were 27 outstanding issues after Maputo and of the 27, 24 have been agreed. This issue of the Heroes Acre is one of the 24 that have been agreed upon.

GONDA : Can you briefly tell us what the other 23 are? Or the main ones?

MUTAMBARA: Well I’ll just refer you to the entire discourse but to simplify your life I can talk about what has not been agreed upon and then everything else has been agreed upon. What has not been agreed upon is Gideon Gono, what has not been agreed upon is Johannes Tomana, what has not been agreed upon is Roy Bennett as his position as deputy minister for agriculture. So anything you can think of has been agreed upon so all you can do is to ask me and then we can discuss it but I’ll just remove those three and the rest is agreed, we can discuss detail.

GONDA : OK I’ll actually come back to this particular issue but I wanted to just go back to the issue of the hero’s status and the Sibanda issue. How do you respond to critics who say that the ZANU PF response goes to show the MDC formations are being treated as if you are visitors to this inclusive government and that you are being invited to a ZANU PF party?

MUTAMBARA: You know this inclusive government has always been a very difficult proposition. It was a major compromise, it is a flawed arrangement. We have said this before – it was never meant to be a walk in the park but we’ve also said that this arrangement as flawed as it is, it is the best short-term answer we have available to extricate our country from its worst situation. So when we get into challenges, when we get into problems, when we get into disagreements, we must always remember the big picture. There is an opportunity here, in spite of the challenges we are experiencing particularly this heroes issue we are discussing, there’s an opportunity here for Zimbabweans to work together to do six things – craft a new constitution, carry out national healing, do media reforms, do electoral reforms, do political reforms, carry out economic reforms. So when you look at that arrangement in the six areas and the issues that have been agreed upon, forget the disagreements, the things that have been agreed upon, there’s potential for us, although it’s going to be slow and sluggish, there’s potential for us to do some good in our country and be able to create a new dispensation so that next time around, when we go into an election, we can have a fairly credible election where the losers congratulate the winners and the winners are able to form a legitimate, democratically elected government. So we should not throw away the baby with the bath water and let’s not get over-excited when we get into difficulties. Unfortunately for ourselves in this country there’s no other arrangement in the penultimate, there’s no other arrangement in the meantime we can have in the country to craft a new dispensation for our politics, for our society and for our economy. We must suffer this arrangement. We must, you know, stick it out as difficult as it is and make sure we carry out the mandate. If we do 80 per cent of the things we’ve agreed upon, we’ll be able to create a new Zimbabwe.
GONDA : So Professor, how do you respond to people who say why is it so important to get buried at the Heroes Acre when it is a ZANU PF graveyard after all?

MUTAMBARA: No, but we are saying it should not be a ZANU PF graveyard; it should be a national Heroes Acre, a national institution. By ZANU PF insisting on making the decision on their own, by ZANU PF insisting in having their politburo deciding on who is a hero they are ostensibly converting it into a ZANU PF shrine so that it what we are trying to avoid. We’re trying to say let’s not allow this institution to be converted into a shrine. We want to respect the liberation war, we want to respect Zimbabweans who made contributions during the liberation struggle, Zimbabweans who are making contributions today after independence, Zimbabweans who will make contributions in the future, so there is a need for a framework in which Zimbabweans honour each other but that framework must be a shared framework. That framework must be non-partisan, that framework must be inclusive so we are trying to make sure that we have an environment which is national, which is inclusive. We do not want to have a ZANU PF shrine in our country.

GONDA : Let us move on to the outstanding issues you mentioned earlier on, but let’s start with getting your comment on the issue of the letter you are said to have written to SADC or to the South African President to send to SADC, outlining areas of agreement and disagreement. Did you write this letter on behalf of the principals and what was the letter exactly?

MUTAMBARA: OK, let’s get the terms of reference very clear. The communication between the principals and the facilitator are confidential documents to protect the integrity of the dialogue, to protect the integrity of the GPA process, but we’ll try as much as possible to shed light to the discussions at hand. Now, between the principals and the facilitator there have been two communication pieces that have taken place on the 10 th of June and also on the 5 th of August. On both occasions, I wrote on behalf of the principals, the three of us. I wrote a letter delivered on the 10 th of June and I wrote another letter with attachments delivered on the 5 th of August. Those documents were done in full consultation with the three of us, there were documents endorsed by the three of us. There were no other documents from the principals to the facilitator except the ones I authored on behalf of the principals. That must be understood very clearly, that the communication on the 8 th of June, the communication on the 5 th of August was done by the deputy prime minister on behalf of the three principals.
Now in communicating with the facilitator on behalf of the three principals we were giving information to President Zuma so that he can prepare his report which was presented at the Troika. Now the entirety of the report to the Troika by President Zuma was based on my communication with him so what people must understand is you can’t celebrate the Zuma document, the Zuma communication at the Troika and say we like what was in that letter and then at the same time, starting to question the communication I sent on behalf of the principals to the facilitator - because the entire Zuma document was based on my communication that I did on behalf of the principals, that must be understood. And for the record, none of the two principals has questioned or disassociated themselves from the documents I sent on their behalf. And when I say disassociate, don’t tell me Chamisa or this MDC-T official... I would want you to tell me Robert Mugabe has said you did not write on my behalf. I would want you to tell me Tsvangirai has said you did not write on my behalf and then if you have that information then I will have more to say but so far President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai have not questioned the efficacy and the legitimacy of my communication from the principals to the facilitator.

GONDA : But Professor, before you carry on, you said earlier on that there are three outstanding issues and those are the Gono, Tomana and Roy Bennett issues but otherwise everything else has been agreed upon and that you’ve been given this 30 days to implement the 24 issues - but Mugabe for example, has reportedly said that there will be no more concessions until the sanctions are removed, so what can you say about that?

MUTAMBARA: Yah I was going to speak to that subject but I wanted to give you the framework first. Now on the issue of governors, both ZANU PF and MDC-T are spinning, to put it politely. If I wanted to be brutal, they are being economical with the truth – both these parties and I will explain why: The understanding that we have, the three of us, the principals was that we must stick to the principle which was established in Maputo. One of the key, you know, principle established in Maputo was that all agreed positions must be implemented simultaneously and concurrently. This was meant to make sure that we don’t put conditions on each other. Do this, then I’ll do the other, if you don’t do this, I won’t do the following. We wanted to remove that from our discourse and say whatever is agreed must be done simultaneously, concurrently, do not put conditions on each other. So in particular in our decision as the three principals we said look, there has been a problem on the issue of sanctions, there has been a problem on the implementation on the formula agreed upon on governors. On sanctions, the problem – and I’ll explain it very clearly – has been that there’s an allegation that some ministers in the inclusive government have not been forthright in calling for the removal of sanctions. Others have a crime of omission where they don’t even mention the word sanctions in their official documents when they speak about the economy. Allegations to the extent that some ministers in their private conversation with western leaders are actually saying – keep sanctions in place. Allegations that some ambassadors have been saying – keep sanctions on these ministries and remove them on these other ministries. So in other words there’s been a challenge and a problem of sincerity and bona fide status, where among ourselves, we have been accusing each other of not being sincere on the calling off of sanctions. By the way, we do not have the capacity to remove sanctions; the three parties have no capacity to do that. What the GPA does commit us is in terms of working towards their removal, asking for their removal. All we can do as three parties, all we can do as leaders of three political parties is to call for the total, unconditional removal of the sanctions.

GONDA : Which sanctions are you talking about?

MUTAMBARA: Can you give me a moment, I’ll come to that. All we control as leaders is our message; all we control as leaders is asking for all of them including the targeted ones, the personal ones affect the brand of the country. When you have the Head of State on a travel ban, the Minister of Defence on a travel ban, it affects the brand of the country, and it affects our capacity to attract investors, to attract lines of credit. So our position is that all types of sanctions, including the travel bans, must be removed because they are not serving our economy. Now the allegation I’ve described to you was that one, the other allegation on the governors was that ‘Mugabe wasn’t moving, Mugabe wasn’t implementing’. So to encourage Mugabe to implement what was agreed upon and to encourage these ministers and in particular ministers from the former opposition, MDC-T and my party, to encourage them to speak without equivocation nor ambiguity on sanctions, as political leaders, as ministers, as ambassadors, we agreed as three principals to say the implementation of the formula on government would be carried out simultaneously, concurrently with the efforts, the collective efforts towards removal of sanctions. Now here’s the spin from ZANU where they lie. ZANU then says there will be no governors until sanctions are removed – that was never the agreement because no Zimbabwean can remove sanctions. All a Zimbabwean can do is to ask without equivocation, to speak forthrightly on the removal, so all we are encouraging the leaders in Zimbabwe, is to speak with one voice towards removal. When they’ve done that, when they’ve done, when they’ve shown their sincerity, when they’ve shown that they’re bona fide in terms of calling for the removal of sanctions, we expect those governors to be appointed. Not when the sanctions are removed. We don’t control, we can’t remove so this is where the ZANU lie comes in. So Chinamasa is lying when he says sanctions must be removed before governors are appointed – that is not the understanding. We must work; we must speak on the removal without equivocation, with sincerity.
The MDC-T – where is their spin, where is their lie? It is when they say there was never a link, there is no link when their principal is part of the document that went to Zuma that says we as the principals are going to work collectively on the removal of sanctions and link it to the governors. So this is why we feel that we need to explain this that both parties, MDC-T and ZANU, are being economical with the truth in terms of the actual mathematical formula between sanctions and governors.
However having said that, the issue of governors has taken another dimension now because the current governors are now illegal, their terms of office have already expired. So one, we must implement our agreed position in the GPA but more importantly, if they are going to be reappointed, they must be reappointed according to the law of Zimbabwe. The law of Zimbabwe as it stands; Mugabe can’t appoint those governors without consulting the Prime Minister, so that should actually help us to make sure that this matter is resolved.
Number One – we have an agreed formula between us as parties. Secondly the governors are now illegal – if they are going to be appointed they must be appointed according to the law of Zimbabwe. The law of Zimbabwe requires the President to consult the Prime Minister and as he consults the Prime Minister we hope he is going to use the formula that we agreed upon. But let me emphasise that we also as ministers, as political players, must work towards removal, must call for the removal of sanctions. If we don’t we are actually violating the GPA. The GPA instructs us to work together towards removal. Whether they are removed or not it’s a different discussion but the question we give ourselves as political leaders, as ministers, are we doing all we can to remove sanctions, including the travel bans, that is what is required of us from the GPA.

GONDA : OK Professor I’m running out of time and I still have a few other questions to ask so if you can just shorten your answers that will be great.

MUTAMBARA: No problem.

GONDA : There’s all this talk about governors, sanctions but there’s not much talk, especially from government about other outstanding issues such as media reforms. When are we going to see the issuing of broadcast licences for example?

MUTAMBARA: You know you make my point and you make my day. We in Zimbabwe must concentrate on issues that matter, issues that are of substance in so far as creating conditions for freeness and fairness of our elections. We must concentrate on the non-outstanding issues, the issues that have been agreed upon. Do you know if we were to implement the 23, 24 issues that were agreed upon, we would have made so much progress. You mentioned media reforms – we are all agreed on a variety of matters on the media reforms if you look at the 24 matters, but none of these things have been done. You see we have set up a Media Commission, we have not capacitated it; we have not given it money. We have one new newspaper – News Day – where are the other newspapers? Where are the new TV stations? Where are the new radio stations? ZEC, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, where is money for Zimbabwe Electoral Commission? Where are the reforms on our electoral laws? Where is the clean voters’ roll, the electronic voters’ roll? So I’m agreeing with you that if we could concentrate on matters of substance, if we could concentrate on areas of agreement and make sure we put our money where our mouth is, we concentrate on implementation, we can go a long way in terms of creating conditions for freeness and fairness of our elections, we can go a long way to improve the material conditions of our people and go a long way in terms of creating a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Zimbabwe. So I will do my part as a leader, I will talk to my colleagues to make sure we do those things we have agreed upon…

GONDA : But Professor, if I can interrupt you, we’ve talked about this before. The last time we spoke you said exactly the same things and you are not answering my question. Where are all these things? Why are you not concentrating on these matters of substance? Why is it every single time when I ask you this question you say you will go back and talk to your colleagues? What are you doing in government right now? Why is this not happening?

MUTAMBARA: We are doing just that. The reason why I am agreeing with you is, I’ve not been going on top of the mountain discussing Roy Bennett, Gono and Tomana. I’ve not done that although it is important that we resolve that issue. I’m only discussing these governors and sanctions because your radio station published a falsehood and a defamatory article maligning me - otherwise my concentration is on core business of the economy, is on these matters you are asking me now about. But you people in the media, you fuel this nonsense of conflict, this nonsense of non-issues whereas there are more important things that some of us are concentrating on the ground and these are issues to do with the constitution, with national healing, with the media, with electoral reforms, with the economy, that’s what we are doing on a daily basis but once in a while we are forced to discuss non-matters because people are grandstanding. They are trying to appeal to their different constituencies and the short answer to your question is ‘we have a shortage of leaders in the country’. OK? There’s a dearth of leadership, there’s mediocrity masquerading as leadership in our country. We want people who can concentrate on cooperation. Look at England – Nick Clegg and David Cameron – after crafting their inclusive government, I’ve never seen Nick Clegg attacking David Cameron and vice versa. They are concentrating on the four issues – the economy, electoral reforms, nuclear weapons and Europe. The issues they agreed upon and they said five years, in five years there will be no vote of no confidence in parliament. Why? Because they are emphasising cooperation and stability in their country. I want to see the same over here, where people say no to competition, and no to insults, let us concentrate on working together, cooperation and national interest.

GONDA : Professor if I may go back to what you’ve just said just now where you said you were maligned by our radio station and you also accuse the media of getting it wrong and dealing with the issues that are not really important, but coming from the media point of view, this is supposed to be a new government and should be behaving differently but Zimbabweans are being denied access to information. For example, we have been trying to get an interview with the Prime Minister since he became Prime Minister and we have not been able to get him. Just to find out what he is thinking about the progress of the GNU, and information is generally not readily available from the partners in this inclusive government. Why don’t you even tell Zimbabweans just the basics or issue statements as government? Why are we not seeing this so that you won’t be quoted wrongly?

MUTAMBARA: You are saying a good point. That is why I am here talking to you and trying to answer all the issues. I’ll speak to the Prime Minister’s office and see whether we can organise an interview between yourselves and the Prime Minister. We believe in accountability, we believe in transparency, we believe in the new dispensation where government is there to serve, what we call serve and leadership where we are supposed to be answerable to the people and also open ourselves to the media. That is why I decided to share with you and be able to answer the issues you are raising, try to make sure…

GONDA : But Professor, why is there still so much secrecy on issues that affect and involve Zimbabweans?

MUTAMBARA: No we don’t want secrecy, that’s why I tried to answer everything today. The only thing I didn’t do was to actually give you the letter we wrote to President Zuma and the documents but I’ve answered in detail the connection between sanctions and governors; I’ve answered to you that yes, the documents were written by me on behalf of Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe and none of them have denied that. So I’ve opened up to you but sometimes we can’t share documents directly because when we do that we undermine the negotiating process, we undermine the legitimacy and integrity of the processes but we will try to be as informative as possible and as I’ve just done, I think I’ve answered every matter on the letters and also on the link between sanctions and governors and indicated to you where ZANU is spinning and indicated to you where MDC-T is spinning. My party and myself are the only ones who are not spinning on this matter.

GONDA : Join us next week when we will bring you the concluding discussion with the deputy prime minister. Professor Arthur Mutambara will explain why the 30 day deadline announced by the SADC Troika to implement the outstanding issues in the GPA is ‘meaningless’. He also comments on reports of internal divisions in his party. Is Secretary General Welshman Ncube challenging Mutambara’s leadership and to what extent has the party been affected by the reported mass defections to the larger MDC-T?

 

Feedback can be sent to violet@swradioafrica.com


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Why Blair did not want to topple Robert Mugabe

http://blogs.ft.com
 
September 2, 2010 7:11pm

Some sceptics have often asked why Tony Blair was happy to help rid the world of some dictators and not others. The example most often cited is that of Robert Mugabe, who could have been deposed with even less effort than Saddam Hussein.

Blair tries to justify the contradiction in his book, far from convincingly.

"You need to ask if such action is feasible and practical. People often used to say to me: If you got rid of the gangsters in Sierra Leone, Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam, why can't you get rid of Mugabe? The answer is: I would have loved to; but it wasn't practical (since in his case, and for reasons I never quite understood, the surrounding African nations maintained a lingering support for him and would have opposed any action strenuously)."

What does he mean by this? That a joint US-UK (or Nato, or UN-backed) invasion would have been rebuffed as neighbouring states rose up to defend the aged dictator from the former colonialists? Does he really expect us to believe that he was intimidated by Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa?

The statement implies that - au contraire - the invasion of Iraq was welcomed elsewhere in the Middle East. But I don't remember celebrations in Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and thereabouts when Baghdad fell. Do you?


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Zimbabwe International Film Festival - 2010 Programme Catalogue

http://www.kubatana.net
 

Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust
August - September 2010

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Word from the Trust

That time of the year has come once again sooner rather than later, and it is with great pleasure that we welcome you all to the 13th edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, unquestionably the biggest film event in the country.

This year we have just over 20 participating countries, with most films coming through the embassies but a considerable number coming from independent from makers from across the world. For the very first time we have participation from the embassies of Palestine and Greece. Additionally after several years of not participating the Italian and Russian embassy will be part of ZIFF 2010. We have the continued support from the embassies of Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain, Indian, Iran, Portugal and the Indonesia who are providing the opening film. With the support of our many participating embassies and partner organisations who have given so generously of themselves, this year's ten day cinema exposé will screen 26 feature films, 18 shorts and 27 documentaries in various venues.

One of the biggest changes for ZIFF 2010 is the change of venue to the Sterkinekor theatre in the city centre. This was necessitated by the closing down of the Vistarama and Elite 100 cinemas in Avondale.

While our initial was one of panic, we have since realised this to be a blessing in disguise as the festival will be able to attract a much larger and more diverse audience than it has in the past as there were obviously many people who just would not have gone all the way to Avondale to watch films. This move gives us an opportunity to expand our audience base. To this end we will also be screening films in Highfield community centres for the first time.

The Zimbabwe Retrospective of some of our countries feature films from yesteryear is making sure that there continues to be a Zimbabwean presence. While there were a considerable number of Zimbabwean productions in all the categories', this will also bring us back to the glory days of Zim film.

ZIFF 2010 is proud to be part of a special film festival tour taking part in 10 African film festivals. In 2010 and 2011, the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) and the Jan Vrijman Fund (JVF) have joined forces in organizing a special film festival through Africa, taking over 10 HBF and JVF supported films across Africa. The HBF and the JVF support remarkable fiction and documentary films by talented filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle east and Eastern Europe. The HBF is part of the Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and the JVF is an initiative of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). The Cinema

Mondial Tour will bring both fiction and documentaries supported by the two funds to film festivals throughout Africa. With this special tour, the funds hope to contribute to the visibility of these films in Africa. The films have already been to festivals in Cameroon, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa. Zimbabwe will be the fifth country on the tour, which will then proceed to festivals in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso and finally end up in Ghana in early 2011.

The USA embassy through their Public Affairs office will be showcasing a series of documentaries depicting the real America that we do not ordinarily see on the Hollywood screens. Included in this series is the film A Bronx Princess about a young girl called Rocky Otoo, the Bronx born college daughter of Ghanaian parents as she tries to reconcile her dual legacies. Rocky Otoo the star of this documentary will be in Zimbabwe with the film for question and answer sessions about her experiences.

Also represented the series and conducting various film workshops is MK Assante, an award winning author, filmmaker and professor of film and creative writing at Morgan State University. This extraordinary, Zimbabwean born 28 year old, has previously been to Kenya and Uganda on the same programme. He will be screening some of his films as well as conducting workshops on documentary filmmaking and creative writing.

The festival could not take place year after year without the continued support of the Zimbabwe diplomatic corps represented by their embassies and their staff who have consistently supplied us with films and guests throughout the years. We thank you for this continued support as we also thank all of our other sponsors including corporate Zimbabwe who despite enduring so much economic upheaval continue to give to the Trust and its programmes in various proportions.

And once again we thank you the audience for being our true supporters and dedicating ten days of your year to us.

Thank you and enjoy the Spotlight on Film!

Nakai Matema
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Staff

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