SA woman in new bid to stop Tsvangirai wedding

http://www.newzimbabwe.com




13/09/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter



A SOUTH African woman on Thursday launched a court bid to stop Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wedding on Saturday.
Tsvangirai's marriage to Elizabeth Macheka was already uncertain after
Locardia Karimatsenga, another of his former conquests, filed her own
objections on Wednesday.

A magistrate is due to hear the two petitions later Thursday – just two days
before Tsvangirai's planned garden wedding ceremony at a Harare lodge.

Nosipho Regina Shilubane claims Tsvangirai proposed to marry her after they
were introduced by her pastor - Lazarus Muriritirwa - in Johannesburg in
September 2009.

In her affidavit, she claims Tsvangirai took her on holidays to Singapore,
Botswana and the Seychelles where they romped WITHOUT condoms.

In January last year, she says Tsvangirai drove to her house in Buccleuch,
Johannesburg, where he declared he “wanted to be serious with me and throw
me in the kitchen”.

“In February 2011, Morgan proposed and asked me to marry him and he
indicated that he wanted to have a wedding ceremony and wed me in Zimbabwe.
He told me that he would speak to our pastor for all the wedding
arrangements,” she says in her affidavit.

“I accepted his marriage proposal and I told him that he needed to pay
lobola as per our Tsonga custom. He promised he would do that and he tasked
me to go and speak to my family to arrange a date which I did and was set
for early 2012.”

But she says in January 2012, amid media stories about Tsvangirai’s
bed-hopping, he had started “acting funny”.
“When we got to January 2012, my family convened and waited for Morgan to
come for the lobola negotiations he failed to come for the customary
marriage ceremony because he said he had to deal with government business as
the Prime Minister so he would reconvene the date when he was free and he
indicated that it would be the end of December 2012.”

She said “for all the intents and purposes we have and are still engaged to
be married” and was “therefore shocked to discover that Morgan intends to
marry another woman Elizabeth Macheka on Saturday, September 15, 2012,
without my knowledge and without first of all finishing issues with me –
that is his proposal of marriage, engagement and his outstanding lobola
negotiations and marriage to me.


“We are still very much in love and as such I object to granting of a
marriage licence. I am legally advised, which advice I take as my own, that
I can object to the issuance of a marriage licence in terms of Section 19
(1) and 19 (3) of the Marriages Act [5:11].”

Chinese to fund high speed train service in Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Alex Bell
13 September 2012

Plans for a high-speed rail link between Harare and Bulawayo have been
unveiled, as China continues cementing its place in Zimbabwe.

The multi-billion dollar plan was announced in Harare on Wednesday and forms
part of a partnership between the Zim government and the China International
Fund Consortium.

The head of the China Railways Corporation, Zhao Guangfa, said at the
unveiling of the project that they plan to build a build a modern railway
line between Harare and Bulawayo, with a high speed train running the route.

This plan, which is likely to take about three years to come to life, could
potentially see commuters from Bulawayo take one and a half hours to travel
to Harare.

Guangfa said that the China International Fund Consortium will also upgrade
the Beitbridge-Harare and the Harare-Chirundu highways. These projects will
take about a year to complete.

A number of other agreements, yet to be revealed, have also been signed off
by the government, which will see the Chinese Consortium fund other projects
in the country.

Students turned away for non-payment of fees

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 September 2012

Thousands of students will not have the opportunity to attend classes this
term after they were turned away for non-payment of fees, by both primary
and secondary schools in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

According to a survey by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association
(BPRA), at least nineteen schools denied access to school children who
failed to produce school fees receipts.

In addition an estimated 50,000 students on the government’s cadetship
programme were barred from registering for classes with universities, that
are demanding that millions of dollars in unpaid bills be settled by
government first.

According to the state controlled Herald newspaper, the government owes a
total of $100 million to the ten universities that participate in the
programme. Government, in theory, pays the tuition fees for students, who in
turn promise to work in Zimbabwe for a specified number of years.

Education Minister David Coltart blamed government for not making education
a priority while allocating much more money to the defence budget and
travel. He said problems will persist as long as education is sidelined.

Asked about the children who were turned away Coltart said: “I don’t like it
and it needs to change, but schools are in a very difficult situation. It
costs a lot of money to run them and pay for water and electricity.”

Coltart explained that government has set minimal fees which he felt most
parents should be able to pay, if they make education for their children a
priority. He said primary schools in rural districts are free and urban
districts charge $10 per term. Secondary schools in urban districts charge
$20 per term.

But students have to also pay levies which are determined by each individual
school after consulting with parents. The Minister admitted this may be
unaffordable for some parents, especially those who cannot find jobs.

Meanwhile the Herald said Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge blamed
Finance Minister Tendai Biti for the problem. Mudenge said only $1 million
of the required $42 million this year had been released by Biti so far.
But the Finance Minister insists there is no money in the treasury and the
funds from the sale of diamonds continue to only enrich the ZANU PF and
military elite.

Students Launch 'Final Force' Campaign to Demand Education Rights

http://www.voazimbabwe.com




Irwin Chifera
12.09.2012

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) launched a civil disobedience
campaign Wednesday designed to force the government to pay fees for 50,000
students under the state cadetship scheme who have not been allowed to
register in tertiary institutions due to non-payment of tuition fees.

ZINASU president Pride Mukono told journalists the peaceful protest
code-named “Final Force” would run for 60 days and they expect several
so-called incompetent ministers to resign during the campaign.

Mukono described most unity government ministers as greedy and irresponsible
politicians saying "ministers cannot continue to live a lavish lifestyle
while students struggle in extreme poverty and fail to attend lectures".

Mukono said what is surprising is that a "number of ministers in the unity
government benefited from state education funds yet today there are
privatizing education and shutting out those from poor families".

ZINASU attacked Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge and Finance Minister
Tendai Biti for quarrelling in public about the cadetship program.

Government owes universities and other tertiary institutions more than $50
million in unpaid fees for students under this scheme.

Mudenge has blamed Biti for the government's failure to pay fees for the
college students while the finance minister says Zimbabwe is too broke to
shell out millions of dollars for higher education.

Government is currently negotiating with banks for the provision of student
loans.

Meanwhile, Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told a Zimbabwe
Economics Society meeting Tuesday that Zimbabwe cannot develop while having
banks that oppose the country’s black economic empowerment law.

Kasukuwere said banks will be "indigenized and those opposed to such moves
should leave the country".

Biti and Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono have said indigenizing
foreign-owned banks will not benefit Zimbabweans.

Swiss tourist fined in Zimbabwe court for insulting Mugabe

http://www.timeslive.co.za/


Sapa-AP | 13 September, 2012 13:04

Zimbabwean court officials say a Swiss tourist has been fined $200 for
insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Thomas Fischer from Altnau, Switzerland was convicted by a court in
northwestern Zimbabwe for criticizing Mugabe in an argument with border
officials at the lake resort town of Kariba.

Prosecutors alleged that during a delay in border formalities, Fischer said
Mugabe "knew how to screw people, especially foreigners."

Insulting Mugabe is an offence under sweeping security laws and prosecutions
are common.

Earlier this year, a Zimbabwean salesman spent two months in jail after
being found with satirical cartoons depicting a naked, skeletal Mugabe on
his mobile phone. A Zimbabwean carpenter was arrested in February after he
questioned whether Mugabe still had the strength to blow up balloons at his
88th birthday.

Zimbabwe launches media complaints watchdog, calls for “cease fire” on hostilities

http://www.washingtonpost.com/



By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, September 14, 3:07 AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The head of Zimbabwe’s state media council says he wants
a “cease-fire” on hostilities between the state-controlled media and
privately owned news organizations.

Newly appointed chairman of Zimbabwe Media Council Henry Muradzikwa said at
the launch of the media complaints watchdog Thursday that he doesn’t want to
“perpetuate divisions” between the two sectors but to find “common ground.”

The state media largely acts as a mouthpiece for President Robert Mugabe’s
ZANU-PF party. Its criticism of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai amounts to
hate speech, according to some media analysts.

The independent Media Monitoring Council of Zimbabwe Thursday criticized the
establishment of the watchdog saying it represents further repression of
press freedom by a state-controlled watchdog.

The complaints watchdog can either arrest or ban journalists for misconduct.

Jamaica Offended By Zimbabwe Leader's Remarks

Sep 13, 12:21 AM EDT


BY DAVID MCFADDEN
ASSOCIATED PRESS




KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Comments by an African leader portraying the men
of Jamaica as chronic drunkards and unambitious pot smokers have become the
talk of towns across this Caribbean island. People are debating the matter
on street corners, in letters to the editor and on radio talk shows.

In unscripted asides during a roughly three-hour speech last week at a
research exposition, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said Jamaican "men
are always drunk," have no interest in higher education, and people freely
smoke marijuana.

"The men want to sing and do not go to colleges, some are dreadlocked. Let
us not go there," Mugabe told the crowd at the University of Zimbabwe in
Harare. His comments in a mixture of both English and the Shona language
were corroborated by The Associated Press after speaking to several
reporters who attended the gathering.

Over the years, Mugabe has repeatedly made disparaging remarks about
dreadlocked Rastafarians, whom he once described as having "moths and mud"
in their hair. Rastafarianism, best known for its ritual use of marijuana
and the dreadlock hair style worn by followers, emerged in Jamaica in the
1930s out of anger over the oppression of blacks. A small minority of
Jamaicans are adherents.

Reggae singer Cocoa Tea, a Rastafarian who performed in Zimbabwe last
October, told The Jamaica Star tabloid that Mugabe's comments were "not a
true reflection of us as people."

"Jamaicans are way better than that and we are leaders, but everyone is
entitled to their own opinion," Cocoa Tea said.

Glen Harris, a laborer and father of two children, said he felt irritated
when he heard about the Zimbabwean president's chiding remarks on a local
radio program. Like the large majority of Jamaica's population, Harris is
black.

"This is an African leader talking like this? Black man should stick up for
each other. We're all Africans," he said on a Kingston street of low-slung
concrete buildings and sheet metal fences.

Although some foreigners have an image of Jamaica as a laid-back, sun-soaked
slice of paradise where unhurried people smoke marijuana without a care,
marijuana use is illegal and many islanders are socially conservative
churchgoers who quietly endure stereotypes of their country.

Still, a few Jamaicans aren't aggrieved with Mugabe, who received a top
government honor during a 1996 visit. They note that their island is the
largest producer of marijuana in the Caribbean and that far more women
graduate from university than men, and say Mugabe may have a point, even if
he was being overly broad by disparaging Jamaican men.

"Is President Robert Mugabe really on to something? Certainly, his
observation that our `universities are full of women' while our `men want to
sing and do not go to colleges' is a truism, which none can deny," Northern
Caribbean University administrator Vincent Peterkin wrote in a letter to the
editor of The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper.

The government's political opposition has also waded into the debate, urging
Jamaica to demand an apology from Mugabe.

"If true, it is startling that someone who has himself claimed that his
country is a victim of imperceptions fed by the international media should
be using these misconceptions of Jamaican society to describe our people,"
said Olivia Grange, spokeswoman for the Jamaica Labor Party.

Jamaican Information Minister Sandrea Falconer said Wednesday that the
foreign affairs ministry, led by A.J. Nicholson, was still trying to confirm
if Mugabe made the remarks.

"I know his ministry is still trying to authenticate the source, and after
we will respond," Falconer said in a brief phone interview.

In a written statement, Nicholson stressed that "Jamaican men and women from
all walks of life have made valuable contributions to national development
and have made their mark on the world stage."

---

Associated Press writer Gillian Gotora in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed to
this report.

Police launch crackdown on Chipangano linked gang

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Alex Bell
13 September 2012

Police in Harare have launched a city-wide crackdown on a gang linked to the
notorious Chipangano group, arresting more than 300 people since Wednesday.

The operation has targeted suspected members of the ‘mandimbandimba’, who
pose as touts and rank marshals at bus ranks across the city and use
intimidation and harassment to force minibus drivers to hand over
‘protection fees’.

This intimidation has also boiled over into violence, and last week scores
of minibus drivers and some passers-by were assaulted at the Charge Office
bus rank over the fees. It’s understood that a soldier was one of the
victims of the attack, and earlier this week a group of 20 soldiers exacted
their revenge, indiscriminately beating up touts, rank marshals and
passersby at the same bus rank.

The police have now stepped in and on Wednesday morning launched a major
blitz against all suspected touts, rank marshals and anyone linked to the
‘mandimbandimba’ across the city. SW Radio Africa’s correspondent in Harare,
Simon Muchemwa, reported that the regular police were supported by anti riot
police and military groups.

“The operation also went wider, with the police raiding some premises where
the people believed to be part of this gang usually operate. The police
raided two gyms and other areas and arrested many people. Some were
identified for wearing ZANU PF regalia,” Muchemwa said.

He explained that it is very likely that some innocent people have been
caught up in the blitz, echoing concerns raised by the Zimbabwe Peace
Project (ZPP). The group witnessed some bystanders being attacked by the
police on Wednesday. They also reported seeing police beating a young man,
accusing him of being one of the ‘mandimbandimba’.

The group has been repeatedly linked to the ZANU PF youth militia-fronted
Chipangano gang, who have taken over control of market stalls and bus ranks
across the capital. ZANU PF has previously turned a blind eye to the terror
tactics employed by the youth gang, who have led a campaign of violence
against Harare residents and perceived opposition supporters for years.

But the gang is understood to be out of control and Muchemwa reported
Thursday that Harare residents are questioning why the usually partisan
police are clamping down on the gang.

“People are wondering why this is happening, because they have been doing
this for years. Many believe this is a sign of ZANU PF infighting, with one
faction vying for Chipangano’s heads,” Muchemwa reported.

Confusion over what Politburo said about draft constitution

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Tichaona Sibanda
13 September 2012

According to the Herald, the ZANU PF party on Wednesday performed a dramatic
climb down when its Politburo resolved to take the COPAC draft to the Second
All Stakeholders conference. The paper said they also want the national
report, based on the outreach program, to be published and accompany the
COPAC draft. They said this was the only way people could see if their views
had been included in the draft.

But – ZBC is reporting that the Politburo ‘resolved’ that ZANU PF stands by
it’s amended draft and this will be the one taken to the second all
stakeholders meeting, even though there is no consensus among the
Principles.

ZBC quotes ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo,
saying: “Failure by the principals to come up with a consensus will result
in a stakeholders meeting deciding on the COPAC or the audited draft.”

So it would appear no one knows what is going on.

Last month, following a series of four marathon meetings, the Politburo
insisted that their amended draft constitution be taken to the All
Stakeholders Conference and that their amendments were ‘final and
non-negotiable.’

Work on the country’s long-delayed constitution stalled again last month
when Robert Mugabe’s party made major amendments to a draft that had been
compiled, signed to and released by all parties.

Dewa Mavhinga, a London based political analyst, told SW Radio Africa that
ZANU PF could be retreating on its previous unreasonable demands on its last
minute amendments to the COPAC draft.

‘Its quite telling that in politics it is no longer business as usual and
ZANU PF can no longer have its way all the time. It’s a major shift yes, but
sneaky and insincere.

‘Remember the outreach program was far from being a free space where
Zimbabweans could freely express themselves, it was a politically charged
space characterized with coaching, intimidation, bussing of party ZANU PF
supporters and violence which resulted in at least one person being killed
at Mai Musodzi Hall in Mbare,’ Mavhinga said.

He continued: ‘I would caution optimism when ZANU PF now says it wants the
national report which was authored under such highly polarized and
politicized conditions.’

The regional SADC bloc insists that having a new constitution is a crucial
step in preparing for elections that would replace the rocky unity
government, formed between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai after the violent
2008 presidential poll.

Both Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube (leader of the the smaller MDC formation)
have insisted they will not renegotiate over the draft constitution.

Tsvangirai had said he was ready to reconsider ‘one or two issues’ but
Mugabe’s party has completely rewritten the draft, making 261 changes.

Critics have said that the two MDCs have already made far too many
concessions to ZANU PF, in the COPAC draft.

The SADC Troika has scheduled a summit on Zimbabwe next month, that is
expected to deal with the deadlock.

Mugabe yet to gazette electoral, human rights bills

http://www.dailynews.co.zw


Thursday, 13 September 2012 12:51
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe is yet to gazette a controversial bill
giving legal effect to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).

ZHRC is the first body tasked with investigating rights abuses and the
Electoral Amendment Bill.

Both bills were steered through Parliament by Justice and Legal Affairs
minister Patrick Chinamasa and passed on August 19.

It was transmitted to President Robert Mugabe for gazetting and his
signature.

But seven weeks on, both bills have still not been gazetted by the President
as Acts of Parliament.

While Chinamasa was not immediately available for comment yesterday on why
the bills are yet to be gazetted, his deputy Obert Gutu said he was not too
sure whether or not the President has withheld his assent.

“However, I know of no legitimate and or lawful reason why he would refuse
to give his assent,” Gutu said. “Suffice to state that the wheels of
government move very, very slowly and thus, may be the President is yet to
receive the two bills for his assent. I can only hope and trust that in the
fullness of time, the President will duly assent to the two bills.”

There are mounting fears that without institutional reforms, Zimbabwe’s
forthcoming election, due by June next year, might be no different from the
violent 2008 polls that claimed over 200 lives.

The ZHRC, chaired by Reg Austin, a law professor and former Commonwealth
secretariat’s head of Legal and Constitutional Affairs division is still not
operational because the requisite legislation is yet to be gazetted.

There has been controversy relating to the emotive issue of the temporal
jurisdiction of the ZHRC, which says the commission cannot investigate human
rights abuses that took place before February 13 2009.

Government has said it will establish a separate national mechanism such as
a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will deal with issues relating to
post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation separately from the ZHRC.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Amendment Bill that also sailed through Parliament
last month with nine pages of amendments including proposals for early
release of election results, barring police from interfering in voting in
future, and setting up special courts to try election candidates, election
agents or parties implicated in acts of political violence has also not been
gazetted by Mugabe.

The bill retains a ward-based voter’s roll system.

The Bill, which has created an independent electoral commission headed by
respected Zimbabwean jurist Simpson Mutambanengwe, is expected to contribute
to the creation of a platform that will hopefully foster free and fair
elections. - Gift Phiri, Chief Writer

Justice Minister: Converting Prisons Into Businesses Brainless

http://www.voazimbabwe.com




Violet Gonda
12.09.2012

Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu has criticized a plan by his ministry to
award a Chinese developer rights to buy several prison complexes in Harare
and convert them into oriental shopping malls.

Gutu told VOA that Chinese business people have approached the justice
ministry intending to buy Harare Remand Prison and Harare Central complex in
order to set up a shopping mall and a factory to manufacture arms, in a deal
said to be worth millions of dollars.

The weekly Standard newspaper broke the story quoting a prison service
officer as saying they had been instructed by top authorities to relocate
the remand prison to Chikurubi Maximum Prison Farm where the Chinese are
expected to build a new prison within six months of signing an agreement
with government to take over the targeted entities.

But Gutu believes this proposal, which has a potential of affecting 4,000
inmates, would continue to strengthen Chinese dominance in Zimbabwe.

The deputy minister said he was deliberately left out of these important
decisions but intends to fight “this ridiculous proposal”.

He said the Chinese are specifically targeting Harare remand and central
prisons because they are off busy roads and just outside the central
business district.

Gutu said even though he is the deputy minister he is “not normally informed
of important decisions particularly especially those decisions that are
thought to be politically sensitive ... but I have now devised my own way of
getting this kind of information.

“While I have no problems with any investor coming into Zimbabwe to invest,
I would like to believe that the investment has to be on a win-win set up
and it has to be sustainable both environmentally, socially and
economically. I don’t think this investment would fit into this paradigm.”

He said it does not make sense for the government to dispose of that prison
complex without having an alternative place to house the 4,000 inmates.

Mining in Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore: Report on stakeholders meeting – 31 August 2012

http://www.zamsoc.org

ZAMSOC says “No mining in Mana Pools World Heritage Site.”

August 12, 2012 By ZAMSOC Reporter

Location Map of the Mana/Sapi/Chewore World Heritage Site with the Ruckomechi and Chewore Rivers.

The Zambezi Society wishes to publicly express its deep concern regarding the threat of mining exploration for Heavy Mineral Sands Deposits (and possibly other minerals) in major tributaries of the Zambezi River in the Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore area of Northern Zimbabwe.

The Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore region not only encompasses one of Zimbabwe’s largest National Parks and two Safari Areas, but is also internationally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with “Outstanding Universal Value”, a Biosphere Reserve, an international Important Bird Area (IBA), and a vital component of a proposed Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA).

We believe that there should be NO MINING (prospecting or exploration included) in this area because of potential impacts on its biodiversity, wildlife and sensitive eco-systems, which are globally important, and on its wilderness areas which are valuable to international tourism.

Furthermore, World Heritage status is not awarded lightly. There are less than 200 sites worldwide on UNESCO’s ‘natural sites’ listing; and in the Society’s view, Zimbabwe’s national interests will be best served by maintaining the integrity of the area, and prohibiting activities such as mining that will result in its degradation and possible loss of its World Heritage status.

A media statement in early July 2012 issued by a Zimbabwe-based mining company, Habbard Investments (affiliated to Geo Associates) announced its intention to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for prospecting for Heavy Mineral Sand Deposits (HMSD) in the Ruckomechi and Chewore  Rivers in northern Zimbabwe.  It called for comments to be sent to an EIA consultancy company IMPACO by a deadline of 17^th July 2012.

The Ruckomechi River - one of the major waterways of Mana Pools National Park and World Heritage Site, is now under threat from mining.

The Ruckomechi River lies within the Mana Pools National Park and the Chewore River forms the boundary between the Sapi & Chewore Safari Areas.   Both rivers are within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Biosphere Reserve and the Important Bird Area (IBA)boundaries (see BACKGROUND NOTES 2-4 downloadable at the end of this statement).

Prior to submitting an objection by the required date, The Zambezi Society met with Mr Paul Chimbodza, CEO of Geo Associates, the proponent of the project, who explained that in September 2011 his company had been issued two licences to undertake exploration activities for HMSDs in these rivers, covering an area from the escarpment to the Zambezi River (45km for Ruckomechi and 65km for Chewore).  The licences are due to expire in September 2012, but are renewable (see BACKGROUND NOTE 5 downloadable at the end of this statement).

The HMSDs covered in the prospecting licence include copper, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, magnetite, tantalum, and titanium group minerals.  If exploration was successful, the subsequent mining methods to extract these minerals from the riverbeds would include dredging and earth moving on a large scale, with sands being transported away in heavy machinery for processing at a nearby urban centre. The Zambezi Society questions why such heavy impact operations need to target ecologically-sensitive protected areas like the Zambezi Valley when there are alternative sources elsewhere, in less vulnerable areas.

The Zambezi Society’s investigations in July 2012 showed that the company, IMPACO , was not listed by Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency as an “approved” consultancy to conduct EIAs.

The Zambezi Society has drawn the attention of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to this issue.  This Committee has the power to list a World Heritage property as being “In Danger” if it is considered to be threatened by any of the following criteria:  depletion of wildlife resources through poaching, deterioration of natural beauty through mining impacts,  threats to its integrity through increased human encroachment,  lack of an adequate or implemented management plan. In the opinion of The Zambezi Society, all of these apply.  (For a more detailed list of the “World Heritage In Danger” criteria, see BACKGROUND NOTE 6 downloadable at the end of this statement).

The Society has also expressed its concern about this situation to its international contacts.  Media reports and petitions against the threat are appearing in the local and international media.  The international tourism industry is issuing statements of alarm.  These could well impact upon next year’s meeting of the UNWTO being hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia in Victoria Falls in August 2013.  A social media Facebook community page called SAVE MANA POOLS has been launched to campaign against the mining threat at http://www.facebook.com/SaveMana. It is fast gaining momentum.

The message is clear for Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore:

NO COMPROMISE.  NO MINING IN A WORLD HERITAGE SITE!

 

MINING IN MANA – BACKGROUND NOTES:  (Download a PDF file HERE)

1. THE ZAMBEZI SOCIETY
2. WORLD HERITAGE SITE
3. BIOSPHERE RESERVE
4. IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS
5. PROSPECTING LICENCE FOR RUKOMECHI RIVER – Sept 2011
6. WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGE

WOZA leaders released without charge

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Tererai Karimakwenda
13 September 2012

Coordinators Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, from the pressure group
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were released without charge by police in
Bulawayo late on Wednesday.

The two had been arrested outside the offices of the Chronicle newspaper,
where the group was holding a demonstration to demand the resumption of the
Constitutional reform exercise.

Williams told SW Radio Africa that she was arrested by police who recognized
her from protests last year and said they were taking her to meet the police
chief at Bulawayo Central Station, Inspector Rangwani.

Magodonga and eight other WOZA members saw her being escorted on foot and
joined her in solidarity. “We then spent the most frustrating two and a half
hours indoors waiting to meet with him and were told he is on leave and
there is no meeting,” Williams explained.

She added that the arrest was an attempt to take her off the streets for two
and a half hours to prevent the demonstration from taking place.

“This is why we have launched a complaint letter against the Bulawayo police
accusing them of tribalism and selective application of the law. Why is it I
can be in parliament in Harare and engage 25 police officers and leave
without being arrested,” Williams said.

Police released without charge another eight activists they had arrested
earlier in the day Wednesday. Williams said she had been concerned that
something worse would happen and thanked Zimbabweans who showed concern for
their welfare.

Williams said the demonstrations are due to continue until government moves
forward to the All Stakeholders Conference and a referendum. WOZA is
demanding that negotiations by the political parties come to an end and
Zimbabweans be allowed to decide on the Constitution.

Meanwhile a heavy police presence was reported in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Witnesses said that the riot police were sporting new uniforms which are
“quite intimidating”.

MDC-T Glen View 29 bail hearing adjourned to Monday

http://www.swradioafrica.com




By Tichaona Sibanda
13 September 2012

A fresh bail hearing, seeking to have 29 detained MDC-T activists released,
has been adjourned to Monday. The activists have now lost count as to how
many times their bail hearing has been delayed.

The delay came after a request from the prosecution team to go through some
new evidence presented to the High Court on Wednesday – evidence which might
exonerate the activists from the murder of police Inspector Petros Mutedza.

Mutedza died last year following disturbances in Glen View and the state
blames the 29 MDC-T activists for the crime, saying the victim sustained a
deep cut to the head. But the late police officer’s brother, Tichaona
Mutedza, made some startling disclosures about the nature of his brother’s
injuries, before High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

Tichaona said when he went to see his brother’s body at Harare Central
Hospital mortuary, a day after his death, he discovered that it had multiple
head holes stuffed with cotton. He also said his brother’s private parts
were missing .

He dismissed the State’s claim that the MDC-T was behind his brother’s
murder and urged the court to release the activists and find out who had
really killed his brother.

He also told the court that because he was the MDC-T Ward 2 chairperson he
had suffered numerous threats, and was told that there were plans to kill
his brother as a way to ‘fix him.’

Australia Warns Its Nationals To Shun Air Zimbabwe

http://www.radiovop.com




Harare, September 13, 2012 — Australia has advised its nationals who intend
to visit Zimbabwe to avoid flying with Air Zimbabwe as one of its travel
warnings piling pressure on the troubled airline that has virtually
collapsed.
“For reasons of safety and reliability, Australian government officials in
Zimbabwe have been advised to avoid using Air Zimbabwe where alternative
airlines are available. Air Zimbabwe was the only airline regularly
operating on some internal routes, although its operations are currently
suspended,” it said.

The warning not to fly on Air Zimbabwe came as Australia advised it
nationals to exercise a high degree of caution in Zimbabwe due to the risk
of crime and potential for civil unrest and political violence.

The black listing of the troubled airline is the final nail in the coffin of
Air Zimbabwe, which is being shunned by government officials, due to its
unreliability despite cabinet directive that officials from government
should fly using the airline.

The airline is on and off on the domestic route. It suspended international
and regional routes fearing that its plane might be impounded to offset long
standing debts.

The airline owes suppliers over US$100 million. Last year, an Air Zimbabwe
plane was impounded at Gatwick Airport over US$2 million debt. The plane was
released after government chipped in with the money.

While the airline has been struggling to stay afloat, other international
airlines have seen the opportunity by flying into the country. Emirates
started flights into the country in February while KLM has announced that it
would resume its flights into the country after pulling out 13 years ago.

Air Namibia resumed flights into Zimbabwe in May having quit the route 13
years ago.
SA Express is launching the Durban Harare—route next month.

The latest three flights between Durban and Harare will operate on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays using a wide-body, CRJ 200 aircraft seating up to 50
passengers, the airline said Wednesday.

Zim Churches Warn Of Blood shed

http://www.radiovop.com





Bulawayo, September 13, 2012 — A Churches’ group has warned that Zanu (PF's)
draft constitution will cause bloodshed if taken to a referendum together
with the one that was drafted by a Constitutional Select Committee (Copac).
A representative of Christian Alliance, a coalition of many church
organisations in the country, Reverend Useni Sibanda, said it feared a
repeat of the violence witnessed during the June 2008 elections.

“Only the Copac draft constitution should be taken to referendum because if
the Zanu PF draft also goes for referendum this will trigger serious
violence around the country," Sibanda told journalists in Bulawayo on
Wednesday.

"We don’t want blood to be spilled like what happened in June 2008. We can
foresee brutality against those who don’t support Zanu (PF), the party will
use all means to force Zimbabweans to accept its draft.”

Sibanda added that Christian Alliance had started campaigning for a “Yes”
vote for the Copac draft constitution.

Despite putting their signature to a draft constitution agreed to by
negotiators from all three parties in Copac, the Zanu (PF) politburo has
come out with its own draft to clarify what Justice Minister and Zanu (PF)
negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa, described as 'grey areas’.

Last week Zipra war veterans’ association also blasted Zanu (PF) saying the
party was committing a serious constitutional fraud by rejecting the Copac
draft constitution, which the party negotiators signed.

The Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed on September 15, 2008, commits
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) and the two MDC factions led by Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry Minister Welshman Ncube to a new
constitution that will pave way for a free and fair election.

The two MDC factions endorsed the draft, but Zanu (PF)’s politburo sat on
four occasions during which it amended the draft before handing out copies
to its rivals last week.

Zim To Deport Satanist Refugees From Rwanda, DRC

http://www.radiovop.com





Harare, September 13, 2012 - Zimbabwe is deporting Rwandese and Congolese
refugees after they attempted to open a church which promotes Satanism in
the country.
The refugees, George Rene Lungange and Ngendo Brangsto from the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) and Busy Mana Thenetse from Rwanda are being held at
the Mutare Remand Prison while their deportation papers are being processed.

Police said the refugees will not be charged for breaking any laws in the
country but will simply be deported.

“The best we can do is to separate them from others and we have achieved
that,” said Superintendent Reuben Zimondi. “We are facilitating their
deportation by following proper procedures.”

The trio was staying as refugees at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge but
they offended authorities after they applied for permission to open a church
that promotes Satanism as a religion.

Zimbabwe is predominantly a Christian oriented country. Islam and other
religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism are tolerated.

But Satanism is largely unacceptable in communities in Zimbabwe.

The refugees argued that Satanism was a popular religion back in their
countries of origin hence they saw nothing wrong in promoting it as a
religion in Zimbabwe. But authorities could not take any of that and
arrested them.

Lungange, who appeared outspoken, said they applied for the licence to open
the church at the refugee camp but they were surprised when law enforcement
agents and social welfare officials came to the camp to question them about
their intentions.

“You people in Zimbabwe believe that Satan is evil, yet he is just an
ordinary person like you and me,” Lungange said from the remand prison in
Mutare. “Why do you persecute people who follow him?”

He added: “Satan is a spirit and so is God but the fact is Satanism is more
powerful than Jesus since it is a mere spirit like God.”

The Congolese, who claim to be a leader of a political party in the eastern
DRC’s North Kivu, claimed the Satan offered more riches than God.

Cases of cannibalism are common in eastern DRC stoking speculation that the
Satanist religion is rife in that troubled country.

MDC mass defections stage managed: Moyo

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


Thursday, 13 September 2012 12:41
BULAWAYO - State Enterprises minister and mainstream MDC Bulawayo provincial
chairman Gorden Moyo said the smaller faction of the MDC led by Welshman
Ncube is being used by Zanu PF to stage-manage mass defections from his
party.

“We checked our records with our entire branch and district structures and
we were satisfied that this was an act of desperation by Zanu PF which has
apparently finally admitted that Bulawayo is out of reach for them and
therefore have decided to front other entities as their surrogates and
counterfeit defections allegedly from our party.

“They know that if they had claimed the so-called defectors for themselves
nobody would have believed them so they created this decoy,” Moyo told Daily
News in Bulawayo yesterday.

Last month the Ncube-led MDC said more than 100 mainstream MDC supporters
had so far defected to their party and more were expected to join.

When contacted yesterday Edwin Ndlovu the Bulawayo spokesperson for the
Ncube-led MDC said: “Anybody who thinks that our party is used by Zanu PF is
not in his right mind because Tsvangirai’s MDC is the one used by Zanu PF to
block Professor Ncube from ascending to the deputy premier’s position.”

Moyo said there is no bad blood between him and his party’s Mzilikazi
Senator Matson Hlalo.

“What happened last year was just a normal internal democratic process of
electing the leadership of the party in Bulawayo and I emerged as the
preferred choice to spearhead the growth and expansion of the party, not a
winner.

“As a party we resolved that we would move from pre-congress and congress
issues. Right now we are working as a team with mutual respect among
ourselves as leaders. Any member or leader working outside established MDC
structures would be violating the constitution of the movement and Hlalo as
a loyal cadre and veteran member of this party wouldn’t do such a thing,”
said Moyo.

Moyo and Hlalo supporters clashed several times during the MDC-T Bulawayo
provincial party elections which saw party leader Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai rushing from Harare to come and resolve the impasse. - Pindai
Dube, Own Correspondent

Divisions Over Zimbabwe's Indigenization Law Deepen

http://www.voazimbabwe.com




Blessng Zulu
12.09.2012

Serious policy divisions on Zimbabwe’s black economic empowerment policy are
threatening to rock the rickety government of national unity as a crucial
three-day mining indaba kicked off Wednesday in the capital, Harare.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF are headed for yet another
showdown over the empowerment policy as it emerges that the country is
failing to attract major investors especially in the mining sector.

Indications are that the mining sector needs up to US$7 billion to be fully
operational.

The MDC has proposed in cabinet that the stringent empowerment policy
requiring foreign firms to transfer 51 percent stakes to blacks be relaxed
for first time investors in critical sectors such as mining.

Investors have been reluctant to do business with Harare citing policy
uncertainties and skepticism over implementation of the indigenization and
empowerment law.

But hardliners in Zanu PF are resisting the move though some moderates are
backing it.

The fourth edition of the Zimbabwe mining indaba is aimed at boosting
foreign direct investment in the mining sector.

Zimbabwe is showcasing minerals such as platinum, gold, diamonds, coal,
nickel, chrome, emeralds and granite among others.

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu said there are many incentives being used to
attract investors.

Deputy Mines Minister Gift Chimanikire of the MDC formation led by Mr.
Tsvangirai said relaxing the 51 percent stakes for blacks in the empowerment
law is the only option for attracting foreign direct investment.

Zambia rejects copper project in Zambezi Valley

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/12/zambia-mining-idUSL5E8KCG3K20120912




LUSAKA, Sept 12 | Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:11am EDT

(Reuters) - Zambia has rejected a proposal by Australia's Zambezi Resources
Ltd to develop a $494 million open cast copper mine in a game reserve,
citing environmental concerns, a government agency said on Wednesday.

Zambezi Resources' Zambian subsidiary Mwembeshi Resources said in March it
planned to start copper production at the Kangaluwe project in the Lower
Zambezi National Park by 2015.

But a spokeswoman for Zambia's environmental management agency, which has to
approve all huge infrastructure projects, told Reuters the project had been
rejected.

"The proposed site is not suitable for the nature of the project since it is
located in the middle of a national park," said spokeswoman Ireen Chipili.

Following the announcement of the planned project, environmentalists had
been lobbying the government against allowing the mine. (Reporting by Chris
Mfula; Editing by Ed Stoddard)

Biti: Diamond Smuggling To Continue Unabated

http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/




13.09.12, 12:35


Tendai Biti, the Finance Minister of Zimbabwe said that despite recent
measures taken by the government to prevent the country's harvest of rough
diamonds being smuggled out of the country, he anticipates that it will
continue to occur, Rough and Polished reports.

Zimbabwe's tax collection agency recently commenced supervision of diamond
mining operations throughout the country in an attempt to ensure that all
mined gems are accounted for. Monitoring groups have claimed that diamond
companies are working in conjunction with elements in the Zimbabwe army to
keep some precious stones off the books and truck them in secrecy to
countries with which the country shares a border in order to profit from
their sale without having to remit taxes for them.

Biti clarified that the work of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority would help
increase transparency in the country's diamond industry, but that smugglers
are so sophisticated that they will likely still manage to elude the
watchful eyes of the authorities, according to Rough and Polished.

Tsvangirai wedding: Nosipho Shilubane's affidavit

http://www.newzimbabwe.com






13/09/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter



South African national Nosipho Regina Shilubane on Thursday lanched a bid to
block Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's marriage to Elizabeth Macheka set
for next Saturday. She claimed in an affidavit - supported with pictures of
the couple on a beach in Singapore - that she is engaged to marry the
60-year-old.

Here is her affidavit submitted at the Harare Magistrates' Court:

In the magistrates court held at Rotten Row Magistrates Court before Mr
Munamato Mutevedzi ESQ
In the matter between Nosipho Regina Shilubane, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai
and Elizabeth Macheka (1st and 2nd applicants respectively)

Objection in terms of section 19 (1) (3) of the Marriages Act Chapter 5:11
Be pleased to take notice that the objector Nosipho Regina Shilubane hereby
intends to object the granting of a marriage licence in favour of the
Applicants in terms of the affidavit and annexures herein attached.

# I Nosipho Regina Shilubane do hereby make oath to swear and state that: I
am the objector and the facts i depose to herein are personally known to me.

# I was introduced to 1st applicant by my Pastor Mr Lazarus Muriritirwa from
the Gospel Assembly Church sometime on the 5th September 2009. This was in
Johannesburg at Monte Casino Shopping Complex.

# He said there was a friend of his who wanted to meet me. I only got to
know it was Tsvangirai when I went to his hotel room in Pallazio Hotel in
Fourways, in Monte Casino Mall.

# When we were introduced at his hotel room, he asked his Pastor and his son
Edwin Tsvangirai who were present on the day to give us some privacy and we
remained the two of us in the Hotel room.

# When we were left alone in the hotel room, he told me that he was a
widower and that he was looking for a new bride to marry as he had lost his
wife and he had approached the pastor to find a suitable woman for him.

# He told me that he wanted to start a relationship with me and that I could
go home and think about it and if I was willing and interested I could
return the next day and we talk as on this day he said he had other things
to do since it was his son's birthday and he was having a party for him.

# So he left for the birthday and then I went home but before I left he gave
me his business card with his name and details and the number at that time
was 0027718972979 although he subsequently changed his cell numbers numerous
times thereafter inclusive of the following numbers 00263772383532 and
00263772383593.

# He called on me on the same date at midnight just to tell me that the
party was good and that he had enjoyed meeting me.
# The following day he phoned me again and asked if I had ever been to
Zimbabwe and I said I had only came once for a church conference. He said he
wanted me to come and see Zimbabwe. I agreed that I wanted to date him and I
would like to see him and visit Zimbabwe. So he bought me an aeroplane
ticket and that was on the 18th September 2009 via the British Airways. I
stayed at my pastor's house in Borrowdale and he would come after work to
see me. I stayed in Zimbabwe from 18th September to 20th September 2009. We
made love for the first time on Saturday 19th September 2009 at the pastor's
house; in Borrowdale. I returned to South Africa on the 20th September 2009.

# After my first visit, I returned to South Africa and he phoned me and
asked me where I was staying and I advised him that I was staying in
Yeoville and he expressed disgust and shock and he said "how can you stay in
that hell hole; you need to get a nicer place in a nice location where I can
come and see you in an uptown area". I looked for a place and I found a Town
House in a place called Buccleuch in Johannesburg North near Sandston at No
3 Northfields, Fife Street Buccleuch.

# R13,000 were deposited into my Standard Bank Acc No 026640473 by Morgan. I
paid for the place and moved into the new place at the end of November 2009.

# We communicated daily on my mobile 0027726854436 and in November he said
that he wanted to go with me for a holiday and on the 28th December 2009, he
flew to south Africa with his children Millicent and Vincent who are twins.
We met at OR Tambo airport to fly together to the Seychelles.

Our tickets were already paid for and they were booked from Zimbabwe through
Traverze Travel Agency, the contact there was Zodwa Mtunzi. We went on
holiday from the 28th December to 10th January 2010. We were intimate
throughout the holiday period and we always had unprotected sex all the
times as he had asked me to go on family planning medication as he said he
did not want to have anymore children.

# On our return from the Seychelles, we dropped off in Kenya and I connected
to South Africa and Morgan proceeded to Dubai with his children and aides.

# We continued communicating on the phone everyday and whenever he went to a
foreign country, he would pass by South Africa and I would go to whichever
hotel he would be in and we would be intimate and make love two or three
times on each occasion. The relationship continued.

# On the 19th November 2010, he asked me to follow him to Gaborone in
Botswana where he had gone for vacations, he said he was distressing, and he
missed me and wanted to make love to me, I eagerly followed him, and we
stayed together at his hotel making love.

# On the 27th December 2010, we went for another love cruise holiday in
Singapore for two weeks until early 2011. Our holiday love cruise was a boat
called Legend of the Seas.

# In January 2011, Morgan came to our house in Buccleuch as he said he now
wanted to be serious with me and throw me in the kitchen. I introduced him
to my two children as my boyfriend and during this year he visited me on
numerous occasions with his motorcade and sometimes he would even come with
South African Police Services motorcade vehicles.

# In February 2011, Morgan proposed and asked me to marry him and he
indicated that he wanted to have a wedding ceremony and wed me in Zimbabwe.
He told me that he would speak to our pastor for all the wedding
arrangements. I accepted his marriage proposal and I told him that he needed
to pay lobola as per our Tsonga custom. He promised he would do that and he
tasked me to go and speak to my family to arrange a date which I did and was
set for early 2012.

# Morgan started acting funny when stories and issues of his numerous women
started, first there was a woman called Loretha Nyathi, then Aquiline
Pamberi and then Locardia Tembo. Every time I asked about these stories, he
would deny them and I always believed his explanations as we were in love
and I never thought that Morgan could have such a character as every time he
professed undying love for me and he never seemed to be such a chauvinistic
man that he now poses himself to be.

# When we got to January 2012 my family convened and waited for Morgan to
come for the lobola negotiations he failed to come for the customary wedding
ceremony because he said he had to deal with government business as the
Prime Minister so he would reconvene the date when he was free and he
indicated that it would be the end of December 2012. For all the intents and
purposes we have and are still engaged to be married.

# I am therefore shocked to discover that Morgan intends to marry another
woman Elizabeth Macheka on Saturday 15th September 2012 without my knowledge
and without first of all finishing issues with me, that is his proposal of
marriage, engagement and his outstanding lobola negotiations and marriage to
me. We are still very much in love and as such I object to granting of a
marriage licence. I am legally advised, which advice I take as my own, that
I can object to the issuance of a marriage licence in terms of Section 19
(1) and 19 (3) of the Marriages Act [5:11].

THUS DONE, SWORN TO AND SIGNED AT HARARE ON THIS 13th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2012

Rowan Martin's detailed response to Isadore Guvamombe

Click here to read Rowan Martin's detailed response to the
article by Isadore Guvamombe in 'The Herald'.