Morgan Tsvangirai marries Elizabeth Macheka amid
controversy, in Harare. Photograph: Aaron
Ufumeli/EPA
Zimbabwe's prime
minister,Morgan
Tsvangirai, went ahead with a marriage
ceremony on Saturday after a magistrate warned that he could be prosecuted for
bigamy if he signed a legal marriage register.
The magistrate
ruled on Friday that Tsvangirai could not to go ahead with a formal wedding
after a jilted former lover filed a suit against him claiming the two were still
married under Zimbabwe's tribal laws. The court held that Tsvangirai paid a
traditional bride price for the woman last year and therefore was married to
her.
Tsvangirai, 60,
and Elizabeth Macheka, 35, exchanged vows but did not sign the register.
Tsvangirai insisted that he had not made errors of judgment in seeing other
women since his wife of 31 years, Susan, 50, died in a car accident in
2009.
Tsvangirai said
he had finally found the right partner. He said he had to date several women to
find the one he truly loved, and dismissed as propaganda state media reports
that his private life made him unfit to lead the
country.
Several regional
leaders had been invited to the wedding but did not show up, presumably because
of the court order. Polygamy is recognised under Zimbabwe's traditional
customary law, but not in its formal legal
system.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) --
Zimbabwe's prime minister said at his marriage ceremony Saturday that he had
to date several women to find the one he truly loves.
Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed as propaganda the reports by the state media
that say his private life is irresponsible and makes him unfit to lead the
country.
A Zimbabwe magistrate ruled on Friday that Tsvangirai could not
to go ahead with a formal wedding after a jilted ex-lover filed a suit
against him claiming the two were still married under Zimbabwe's tribal
laws. The court upheld that Tsvangirai paid a traditional bride price for
the woman last year and therefore was married to her.
The magistrate
cautioned Tsvangirai that if he signed a legal marriage register with his
new wife he could be prosecuted for bigamy.
Tsvangirai, 60 and Elizabeth
Macheka, 35, exchanged vows Saturday but did not sign the legal marriage
register.
Speaking in the local Shona language at the lavish event that
continued until the early hours of Sunday, Tsvangirai reassured his
supporters and Zimbabweans in general that he had not made errors of
judgment in seeing other women since his wife of 31 years, Susan, 50, died
in a car accident in 2009. Tsvangirai said he has finally found the right
partner.
Several top regional leaders had been invited to the wedding but
did not show up, presumably because of the court order that the wedding
should not go ahead.
Polygamy is recognized under Zimbabwe's
traditional customary law but not in its formal legal
system.
Zimbabwe's state media loyal to President Robert Mugabe who is in
a shaky, three-year coalition with Tsvangirai on Sunday described the
ceremonies as a "circus" and Tsvangirai as promiscuous and
"sex-crazed."
The state-controlled Sunday Mail said Tsvangirai was a
"good-for nothing politician whose mission in politics is to seek power to
get sex."
Tsvangirai told wedding guests that the campaign against him
was a political ploy meant to incite divisions among Zimbabweans and
discredit him ahead of elections expected next year.
The state
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Friday broadcast video footage of what
it said was Tsvangirai's traditional marriage to the other woman, Locardia
Karimatsenga, 39.
"ZBC, shame on you for your unprofessionalism. You are
dividing Zimbabwe and sowing hate," Tsvangirai told
guests.
Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said in a
statement before the marriage celebrations that their leader has faced a
"well choreographed" smear campaign that is "replete with malice and
vindictiveness."
It is "a grand political scheme to besmirch, malign
and soil the image of the prime minister for political gain," said Luke
Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesman, of the state media
coverage.
Officials in Tsvangirai's party blame Mugabe loyalists in the
Central Intelligence Organization of mounting well-funded campaigns to
embarrass him, code-named `Operation Black Hawk' and `Operation Spider's
Web,' that leaked information from several women claiming to have been
ill-treated by Tsvangirai.
The Sunday Mail editorial questioned
Tsvangirai's leadership capabilities and said that he no longer has the
wishes of the people at heart but is interested in accumulating wealth and
women.
The newspaper also accused him of lying under oath over his status
with Karimatsenga.
"Can voters trust Tsvangirai? The answer is that
you can trust him to own peril," it said.
But Tsvangirai says he is
being "condemned, harassed and vilified" for falling in love with the woman
of his choosing.
"I love this woman because I chose her myself. I will
love her till the day I die," he told his supporters during the
ceremony.
Tsvangirai said "love has nothing to do with politics,"
apparently referring to the fact that his new bride's family belongs to
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
"I saw a beautiful woman," he said. "I said she
is beautiful for someone like me who has an eye for beautiful women."
Sunday, 16 September 2012 13:36 HARARE -
Invited heads of states and government snubbed Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai “wedding” to Elizabeth Macheka, but that did not stop the
ceremony from taking place with relatives demanding babies.
Only the
Prime Minister of Swaziland Barnabas Dlamini and Zambian labour minister,
Fackson Shamenda, who was also Tsvangirai’s best man, were the notable
figures from outside Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe snubbed the
ceremony which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara. Although it was not the wedding of the year, movers and shakers in
society thronged the plush Rain Tree Gardens in Umwinsidale, Harare where
the wedding took place.
Ambassadors, prominent musician Oliver
Mtukudzi, swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry, Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda
and big-brother participant Maneta Mazanhi were some of the notable figures
who graced the event.
The ceremony took place around 2pm and later on
moved to the Glamis Arena where Tsvangirai’s followers got a glimpse of his
wife.
After the Glamis Arena showcase, the couple went back to the
Raintree Gardens where senior MDC officials broke into song and took to the
dance floor as they outperformed each other in celebration of their leader’s
union.
During the after-party function, Tsvangirai’s mother said she
was happy for her son.
“I must say I am overwhelmed by this occasion
and I am happy. I do not know about those who are not happy, but for me I am
so happy for my son,” she said.
One of the bride’s aunts echoed the
sentiments, as Tsvangirai’s mother said they were looking forward to seeing
babies soon. - Lloyd Mbiba
Sunday, 16 September 2012 13:26 MASVINGO
- Masvingo wild animals straying from Save Valley Conservancy that was
recently taken over by Zanu PF big wigs and securocrats are threatening the
lives of thousands of villagers and their livestock in surrounding
areas.
The Daily News on Sunday has received reports from terrified
villagers in parts of Bikita, Gutu and Zaka which are close to the valley.
Predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas are wreaking havoc after
straying from the Conservancy that some say are poorly managed by the new
owners.
Villagers say they are living in fear as the free-roaming
predators have since started devouring their livestock.
“We are under
siege here from wild animals coming from the conservancies. Most of us have
lost our livestock to the dangerous animals. We are now afraid they could
end up attacking us,” said Taurai Mupazhiri from Bikita’s Mkanganwi
village.
Some of the Zanu PF bigwigs who grabbed part of the Conservancy
include Higher Education minister Stan Mudenge, Masvingo governor Titus
Maluleke, former Youth deputy minister Shuvai Mahofa, Health deputy minister
Douglas Mombeshora, Manicaland strongman and Zanu PF central committee
member Enock Porusingazi and Chiredzi North MP Ronald Ndava.
Some of
the securocrats who have also taken over the rich wildlife sanctuary are
lieutenant colonel David Moyo, major general Gibson Mashingaidze, retired
colonel Claudius Makova, assistant commissioner Connell Dube, major general
Engelbert Rugeje, brigadier-general Livingstone Chineka and Masvingo
provincial intelligence officer identified only as Chibaya. A villager from
Gutu, Sekayi Nhundurwa, said residents are concerned about losing their
cattle and donkeys which they use as draught power during the agricultural
season.
They have since appealed to local authorities to deal with
the menace. “We hear that the conservancies are now under new ownership and
management and they are failing to keep the animals in their sanctuaries.
They are now a danger to our lives. Right now our livestock are being
attacked and we will be left with nothing yet the agricultural season is
upon us.
The ultimate result would be continued food shortages for us and
our families,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo
provincial governor Titus Maluleke were fruitless as he was not reachable on
his phone.
Last week, mainstream MDC MPs from Masvingo took Maluleke
head-on during a cross-party peace building meeting and accused him of
leading the conservancies grab.
“We are not amused by the way you and
your counterparts in Zanu PF took the conservancies in Save. The grabs are
very dangerous to the economy of the province and the nation at large, as
you know that several communities in Zaka, Bikita, Gutu and Chiredzi were
benefiting from the operations of those areas but now we are having serious
problems of wildlife plunder by you, the new owners,” said MDC Zaka West MP,
Festus Dumbu.
The Save valley conservancy debacle has since drawn the
attention of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Vice President Joice
Mujuru, while international blocs such as the European Union have also
expressed concern over the issue. - Godfrey Mtimba
by The Standard on September 16,
2012 in Politics ZANU PF plans to hijack the second all-stakeholders’
conference in order to influence the outcome of the final draft
constitution, it has emerged.
Report by Patrice Makova But as battle
lines have been drawn ahead of the conference, the MDC-T said Sadc and the
African Union (AU) should supervise the conference to ensure that Zanu PF
does not bulldoze its position and cause chaos.
Zanu PF last week
finally agreed to go to the second all-stakeholders’ conference after
re-writing the Copac draft, maintaining President Robert Mugabe’s sweeping
powers while deleting provisions meant to democratise the
country.
The two MDCs have rejected the amendments, insisting
that the Copac draft was final and called on Sadc appointed facilitator,
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa to intervene.
Sources said
Zanu PF’s political commissars from throughout the country were on Friday
summoned for a meeting in Harare where they were instructed to start
mobilising support for the endorsement of Zanu PF amendments at the
conference.
The meeting, which was organised by national
commissar, Webster Shamu, was also addressed by national chairman, Simon
Khaya Moyo and other senior party officials.
“The strategy is to
ensure that Zanu PF provides the bulk of delegates to the conference and
influence the process,” said one provincial commissar. “If the worst comes
to the worst and our strategy fails, some of our vocal delegates will ensure
that nothing positive comes out.”
Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo
confirmed the party had started mobilising for the endorsement of the
numerous amendments it made to the Copac draft.
“We had a
mobilisation workshop on Friday where we told them (party officials) what to
do and how to present the party position at the all-stakeholders’
conference,” he said.
But MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora said
his party was aware that there was a faction in Zanu PF which wanted to
cause chaos and mayhem at the conference so as to collapse the
process.
“We also know that the police would be too glad to watch
idly while Zanu PF harasses the delegates to the conference,” he
said.
“The spectre of political violence and mayhem that was
unleashed by the Zanu PF militia in 2009, upon the first all-stakeholders’
conference is clearly still with us.”
He said the Sadc and the AU
must supervise and monitor the conference to ensure that no single party
manipulated the process.
But Gumbo laughed off suggestions to invite
Sadc.
“Are we sick that we have to be supervised to hold our own
conference?” he asked. “The MDCs must stop the tendency to invite foreigners
to resolve internal issues. There is nothing in the GPA which says Sadc
should be involved in the all-stakeholders’ conference.”
Analysts
said Zanu PF’s insistence on the use of the national report at the
all-stakeholders’ conference was meant to buy time and rewind the
constitution-making process to the stage before the drafters obtained the
data.
Political analyst, Gift Mambipiri said while only a few war
veterans disturbed the 2009 first all-stakeholders’ conference, this time
around the likes of Chipangano militia group would be there in full force to
ensure that chaos prevailed.
“The all-stakeholders’ conference
will not achieve anything because of the tension and tone already set. The
parties and the facilitator may have to negotiate their way through,” he
said.
Social commentator, Blessing Vava said Zanu PF’s insistence on
the national report was meant to expose the two MDC formations for deviating
from what the people said during the outreach exercise.
“If the
principals finally agree on a draft, there won’t be much to expect from the
conference because the majority of the delegates will be drawn from the
parties in the GNU,” he said
by The Standard on September 16,
2012 in Local ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) chief executive officer, Raphael
Khumalo, has urged teachers to desist from engaging in class boycotts in
protest at low pay to safeguard the future of students. Khumalo said
education was primary to the development of any nation and class boycotts
affected the future of Zimbabwe. His comments came amid threats of a strike
by teachers over salaries. “To the teachers, as parents, we put our trust on
you to teach our children so that they can have a better future through
education. What you should bear in mind is that when you go on strike, you
do not fix President Robert Mugabe, rather you are fixing our children,” he
said. “When you go on strike, you kill the future of this country; you kill
the future of these children.” Khumalo made the remarks on Friday after
donating textbooks to Tshale Primary School in Nkayi where he learnt between
1967 and 1973. The AMH boss also donated medical textbooks to Nkayi
Hospital. Nkayi Hospital Administrator, Mcedisi Ndlovu and Celani
Madzibandzira, a tutor at the institution, said the medical textbooks would
greatly help in nurse training.
by The Standard on September 16,
2012 in Local BULAWAYO — The high employment rate among the youths could soon
spark riots in the country, the MDC-T warned last week.
Report by
Nqobani Ndlovu
The party’s youth assembly secretary for information,
Clifford Hlatshwayo urged government to urgently overhaul the country’s
education to put emphasis on entrepreneurship skills to hedge against high
unemployment. This, he said, would prevent violent protests.
“The
greatest challenge that is facing the economy is youth unemployment coupled
with a rigid education system churning out thousands of youths into the
labour market where most of these cannot get formal employment,” said
Hlatshwayo.
“Unemployment is the basis of the violent politics in
the southern African country.”
He said as long as graduates
continued to be churned out of schools, universities and colleges without
any meaningful investment being recorded, the unemployment rate would
continue to rise.
It is estimated that unemployment tops 80% in the
country but independent analysts say that this percentage could be
conservative.
The rate of unemployment has been worsened by
retrenchments and company closures necessitated by a decade-long economic
recession.
Hlatshwayo warned Zanu PF against using the unemployed
youths to engage in political violence to sustain its political
survival.
“The same jobless youths are used to perpetrate violence
against reformers,” he said.
Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo
however dismissed accusations that the former liberation war movement was
hiring unemployed youths to cause violence and lawlessness in the
country.
High unemployment continues to push many people into the
informal sector. According to the Mid-Term Plan 2011-2015, 80% of the labour
force was in the informal sector.
A United Nations office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) 2011 report said the number of
the formally employed in the country stood at 3,6 million in
2003.
Ocha said at the close of 2008, only 6% of the population was
formally employed, down from 30% in 2003.
by The Standard on September
16, 2012 in Local MASVINGO — A community-initiated water harvesting and
gardening project has transformed the lives of over 200 villagers in Dumbu
village in Masvingo district.
Report by Our Staff Bothered by the
recurrent drought in the area, the villagers devised a way of harnessing
water from a hill and rehabilitated a dam which had been destroyed by
Cyclone Eline in 2000.
Twelve years down the line, the Ivhu Inhaka
project has become an oasis of hope for villagers in the perennially
drought-hit area.
At least 60 families have a small portion of land
each, where they grow maize and vegetables.
A member of the
project, Fadzai Mvurachena (39), said it was difficult in the beginning, as
there was a lot of work required.
“It was worth it because I now
generate adequate income to care for my family of five from the garden,” she
said.
Mvurachena said she got at least US$100 from the sale of
mealies per season and US$20 every month from vegetables from her
garden.
“Ivhu Inhaka is the sole source of income for a number of
widows, widowers and orphans we work with,” Mvurachena said.
“It
helps those like me to subsidise their husbands’ income. I do not wait for
my husband to buy children’s books or to give me money for use at the
grinding mill because I always have my own small savings.”
Ivhu
Inhaka secretary, Muchuva Muchuva, said the project had become popular
because it supplied vegetables to well-known educational institutions and
businesses in Masvingo town.
“Our project is now well-known, we
get customers from all over who buy our produce which includes green
mealies, potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables,” said
Muchuva.
Village head, Johnson Rangwani, said the project was a model
of how communities can start self-sustaining ventures without donor
assistance.
In the initial stages, some villagers provided old pipes
while others donated small amounts of money to buy more pipes to draw water
from the dam to the garden.
Impressed by the project, a local
non-governmental organisation (NGO), Aquaculture Zimbabwe Trust, in May this
year donated about 22 000 fish which are now being grown in the
dam.
The villagers expect to realise about US$7 000 from the sale of
the fish by December this year.
by The Standard on September
16, 2012 in Local THE sight of toddlers sifting through heaps of rubbish for
toys and occasional left-over food greets visitors to Hopley farm
resettlement.
Report by Our Staff But one would also not miss
cardboard box-roofed and rickety wooden cabins where children from the
community conduct their school lessons.
The camp, a creation of
government’s violent Operation Murambatsvina (Clean-up) in 2005, is home to
over 22 000 people uprooted from in and around Harare.
People at
Hopley, some 15km south of Harare, still live in very squalid conditions -—
without running water, proper shelter or electricity — nearly a decade after
they were displaced from their homes.
But it was the children in dire
need of education that caught the attention of Rotary Club Hunyani, a local
charitable organisation.
Last week, it came to the rescue of Tariro
Hopley School, which has an enrolment of 1 200 children, where it donated
some textbooks. The children had no textbooks and relied on newspapers to
improve their literacy skills.
Speaking at a handover of the
books to the School Development Committee (SDC), Rotary Club of Hunyani
president, Ray Mawerera emphasised the importance of education to children
as they are the future leaders.
“We hope that this batch of books
will assist with the development of children’s literacy,” said
Mawerera.
Rotary Club Hunyani works in co-ordination with Rotary
International in its efforts to improve the provision of clean water,
combating hunger, supporting education as well as improving health and
sanitation.
SDC vice-chairperson Mavis Bosha said the community had
resorted to pooling their meager resources to educate their
children.
“Children in this community have no access to proper
education,” said Bosha.
“Over the years we have witnessed a lot
of fatalities as children had to cross traffic laden roads to gain access to
schooling in nearby suburbs of Waterfalls and Glen
Norah.”
“Children have to sit on the ground as we have neither
furniture nor learning material,” she said, pointing at a big blackboard
affixed to a garage door. The children also do not have access to
sanitation facilities.
Bosha said of all the parents that sent their
children to the school, less than a quarter could afford the US$10 monthly
fees used to pay the teachers. Out of the 24 teachers at the school, only
four are qualified.
by The Standard
on September 16, 2012 in Local SCORES of civil servants yesterday besieged
musician, Energy Mutodi’s Eastgate offices demanding their money following a
flopped housing scheme.
Report by Jennifer Dube Security at the mall
said the civil servants started arriving at Mutodi’s ZimTrust Housing Scheme
offices as early as 5am, demanding their monies back.
“We were
paying for the stands for the past three years only to be told that the
money we had paid was no longer being considered,” said a man who claimed to
have come from Marondera, about 80km away from Harare.
The civil
servants said between US$20 and US$50 was being deducted from their salaries
every month going towards the scheme.
The deductions were stopped
sometime last year without notice. “We made a follow-up and we were told some
people had already been allocated stands in some areas, including Mabvuku
and Dzivarasekwa,” Florence Njini said.
“We were told those who
were getting the stands were paying US$300, with an agreement that they will
further pay US$150 per month for the next five years.”
The
workers said they told Mutodi that they could not afford the new terms and
tried to negotiate for friendlier ones, but without success.
“We then
agreed that he should give us our money and he gave us dates on which to
come and collect it from here,” another disgruntled worker said. “We were
told that those who came last Saturday and on Monday, did not find him in
his office just like us. A few of those who came on Wednesday were given an
average of US$200 each.”
Some office owners and security guards at
the complex tried to disperse the civil servants, advising them they were
wasting their time camping at the mall. They told them that Mutodi and his
workers had not been coming to their offices throughout the
week.
“Some of us used to pay our premiums in cash and we would come
here on Saturdays and be attended to,” said another civil
servant.
“We will wait here until they come.”
Efforts to
get a comment from Mutodi were fruitless as different people kept answering
his phone, giving various excuses.
One claimed the musician had left
his phone on the charger while another said he could only understand Ndebele
but suprisingly failed to converse in the language.
The third one
said he recently bought Mutodi’s mobile line from an airtime
vendor.
In July, angry members of the Caledonia Housing Scheme
stormed Mutodi’s offices alleging that they had been swindled of their
money, which they had invested in housing stands.
The members
said they were contributing money under the scheme since 2006, but were yet
to be allocated stands.
by The Standard on September
16, 2012 in Business ZIMBABWE’s economy is in a state of limbo as growth
projections made by Treasury are not likely to be achieved, economic
analysts have said.
Report by Our Staff In his state of the economy
report for July to August 2012, Finance minister Tendai Biti said the
economy remained depressed, with funding challenges for both the private and
public sectors, despite the prevailing stable macro-economic
environment.
Exports and imports maintained an upward trend,
cumulatively reaching US$2,16 billion and US$5,1 billion respectively by end
of August 2012.
However, this gave a US$3 billion trade gap,
worsening the trade deficit.
He said major challenges bedevilling the
economy included revenue underperformance, an acute liquidity crunch,
underfunding of government programmes, low foreign investment and a
continued high debt overhang blocking any new financing.
In his
Mid-Term Fiscal Policy review statement, Biti cut growth projections to 5,6%
from 9,4% and attributed this to the underperformance of the diamond
revenue.
Economist, John Robertson, said the 5% economic growth
expected this year was highly unlikely to be attained. “We would really be
lucky to grow by 2,5% this year, as it is difficult to tell where that
growth will come from,” said Robertson.
“Although gold
production was up 13%, low prices countered this development. Tobacco
production improved greatly, but this sector alone is insufficient to cater
for the economy’s needs.”
He said subdued prices almost cancelled out
improvements witnessed.
Mineral exports shipments accounted for the
bulk of exports at 70,7%, due to high global demand and improved capacity
utilisation, followed by tobacco at 12,3%, manufacturing at 7,9%, and
agriculture at 8,5%. In July, revenues stood at US$257,5 million while the
preliminary figure for August stood at US$263 million against targets of
US$271,2 million and US$280,7 million respectively. Biti has for long
argued that Treasury was receiving insufficient remittances from diamond
sales, a major factor that has affected government’s expenditure
plans.
Consequently, Treasury earlier this year revised the national
budget downwards from US$4 billion to US$3,4 billion.
Economist,
David Mupamhadzi, said government’s failure to undertake critical
development projects would negatively affect the economy as the nation’s
needs remained high. “Government cannot meet expenditure prioritised for the
year. this will adversely affect service delivery as well as expenditure
aimed at infrastructure development critical for economic recovery,” he
said.
He said government should seek alternative sources of
finance and come up with a legal institutional framework for Private-Public
Partnerships. Despite the relative economic stability achieved with the
inception of multiple currency use, foreign investment has not been as
forthcoming due to government policy inconsistency that forces investors to
adopt a “wait and see” approach.
The investor apathy due to
perceived country risk, has also partly led to liquidity challenges on the
domestic market.
During the period under review, bank loans and
advances to the private sector increased by 5,02% to US$3,23
billion.
Economic commentator, Eric Bloch, said the banking sector’s
loan contribution in this regard to the private sector was too minimal to
have a meaningful impact on the economy. “All businesses were left severely
under-capitalised in the aftermath of the hyperinflation experienced in
2008. There is need for substantial recapitalisation to get industry ticking
again,” he said.
Biti recently travelled to South Africa to meet
his counterpart Pravin Gordhan requesting a US$100 million budgetary
support.
The South African government indicated last week that it
would open its purse if Zimbabwe negotiated for the financial aid in the
letter and spirit of the Global Political Agreement, which gave birth to the
coalition government in 2009.
by The Standard on September 16, 2012 in
Business THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board meets next
month to decide whether or not it should have an accelerated engagement on
Zimbabwe.
Report by Ndamu Sandu If the board rules in Zimbabwe’s
favour, it would open the taps for lines of credit badly needed to revive
the economy after a decade of recession. The meeting comes after Zimbabwe has
made strides in embracing reforms, with the assistance of the global
lender.
Finance minister, Tendai Biti, said Zimbabwe was confident of
a positive result from the meeting.
“We believe that our
macro-economic fundamentals are sound,” said Biti.
“Sterp (Short Term
Emergency Recovery Programme) is on course. MTP (Medium Term Plan) is on
course and there should be no reason at all why a positive decision should
not be made in our favour.”
He said the positive outcome would enable
Zimbabwe to deal with its arrears clearance plan.
Zimbabwe’s
debt, Biti said, prevented the country from accessing the necessary levels
of capital finance at the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank
(AfDB).
As at June 30, Zimbabwe’s arrears to the IMF stood at US$135
million under the Poverty Reduction Growth Trust, while US$932 million was
owing to the World Bank and US$570 million to AfDB.
Zimbabwe’s
total external debt stands at over US$9 billion and has been termed as
unsustainable up to 2029.
The re-engagement meeting also comes after
a joint IMF/World Bank visit to Zimbabwe in June as a follow up to meetings
in Tunisia and Washington DC where consensus was built among all creditors
and other stakeholders over the process of resolving the country’s external
debt.
Early this year, principals in the inclusive government
approved the Zimbabwe Accelerated Arrears Clearance, Debt and Development
Strategy that uses a combination of debt relief and resources pledging to
clear the country’s debt.
Next month’s meeting would come up with
recommendations on how Zimbabwe’s indebtedness should be
tackled.
According to a joint IMF/World Bank approach to debt
reduction, no poor country faces a debt burden it cannot
manage.
Under its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative,
36 countries — 30 of them from Africa — have benefited from the US$76
billion in debt-service relief over time.
HIPC is complemented by
the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that allows 100% relief on eligible
debts by three multilateral institutions — IMF, World Bank and the AfDB —
for countries completing the HIPC Initiative process.
To qualify
for HIPC, a country should be able to borrow from the World Bank’s
International Development Agency, which provides interest-free loans and
grants to the world’s poorest countries.
A country should also
have faced an unsustainable debt burden and established a track record of
reform and sound policies through IMF and World Bank supported programmes.
It should also have developed a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
through a broad-based participatory process.
Once a country has made
sufficient progress in meeting these four criteria, the Executive Boards of
the IMF and World Bank formally decide on its eligibility for debt relief,
and the international community commits to reducing debt to a level that is
considered sustainable.
by The Standard on September 16, 2012 in
Business GOVERNMENT is mulling to set up a stock exchange for state-owned
enterprises and parastatals to raise fresh capital for their
operations.
Report by Our Staff State Enterprises and Parastatals
minister, Gorden Moyo, told participants at the mining indaba last week the
plan came after the realisation that state-owned enterprises and parastatals
were not meeting the stringent requirements to join the Zimbabwe Stock
Exchange (ZSE).
“The standards and guidelines are high (on ZSE). Our
state-owned enterprises have been going through challenges in terms of
capitalisation, there have been human capital flight and we have been
exploring the idea of setting up equity exchange for state enterprises,”
Moyo said.
One of the requirements for a company to list on ZSE is to
provide a satisfactory profit history for the preceding three financial
years.
This requirement is not feasible as most parastatals and
state-owned entities have been recording losses and are behind in terms of
producing audited financial results.
Moyo said a delegation from
the ministry, led by his deputy, Walter Chidhakwa was currently in China to
explore the Chinese model where they are listed on the stock exchange.
State-owned enterprises and parastatals have been an albatross around the
neck of the government.
They have also become the breeding ground for
inefficiency where the “jobs for the boys” syndrome is prevalent. Corporate
governance has also been alien with a number of state-owned entities
operating without substantive boards, and failing to hold Annual General
Meetings.
Grain procurer, Grain Marketing Board recently held its
first AGM in 81 years. A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor
General noted that some parastatals were operating with poorly constituted
or without boards.
by The Standard on September 16,
2012 in Opinion Zanu PF’s proposed amendments to the Copac draft have become
the talk of town, but that is just much ado about nothing. The Copac process
which took three years to complete (with Zanu PF participating) came to an
end with all political parties appending their signatures as a compliance
act of agreement.
Report by Tendai Muchada Predictably, after the
submission of the Copac draft, Zanu PF spin-doctors convened their own
constitution-making process, which in the eyes of many, was bent on creating
confusion and stalling the people’s process. However, as an individual, I
beg to differ on Zanu PF’s rationale behind bringing their own constitution
on the table.
Zanu PF is well-known for using uncouth political means
to hang on to power and nobody believes that they want to be part of a
formal process in which people will freely decide.
The reason
behind a parallel document is for Zanu PF to do a national test with regards
to its current popularity ahead of the presidential election. It is no news
that this political party is very much abreast with its growing
unpopularity.
When Freedom House and the Mass public Opinion
Institute (MPOI) publicised their findings on current popularity statistics
between Zanu PF and MDC-T, the chief political architects in Zanu PF were
quick to dismiss those findings regardless of the same position being taken
by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party, which argued against the issue
of the research environment.
However, it is needless to say
that Zanu PF has never planned using data gathered by liberals. The
forthcoming referendum provides a very good platform for the party to
measure itself against other political parties in terms of
popularity.
History has it on good record that the rejection of the
2000 constitution provided fertile ground for Zanu PF to consolidate its
power by convening a reign of terror on white farmers.
I
remember watching President Robert Mugabe on state television on February 12
in 2000, presenting his widely applauded speech which was reconciliatory and
gave hope for political unity and the existence of political
tolerance.
Little did we know that his words were not to live
beyond 12 midnight that same evening, for on February 14, the very first
farm invasion was reported in Chief Svosve’s area followed by a string of
invasions on white-owned farms. My own analysis of that situation was, Zanu
PF saw an onslaught on its ideology and existence. It is against this
political background that one does not need to consult a rocket scientist if
briefed about the current Zanu PF stance with regards to the current
constitution- making process.
The Joint Operations Command (JOC) has
not downed its tools. Let us not be fooled by any report or research that
violence will be arrested. Zimbabwe needs to brace for another bloody
show-down if ever there are going to be two documents up for selection at
the next referendum and more-so if the Zanu PF draft is going to be
dismissed. The results of the referendum shall be a litmus test whose
results will form the basis for Zanu PF’s election strategy.
With
that in mind, it is very much important for all political parties to allow
the people of Zimbabwe to vote YES or NO to the draft which was produced by
Copac. It is a process error for anyone to say that let us have the national
report before the referendum because this report should also inform the
nation and the international community on how this constitution -making
process went about from onset up until Zimbabwe went for its
referendum.
All signatories to the GPA must ensure that this process
is safeguarded from fly by night politicians who are always prepared to
speak on behalf of the people.
by The Standard on September 16, 2012
in Opinion The fight over the Save Valley Conservancy pitting Zanu PF
heavyweights in Masvingo against a “small boy” minister seems to be
escalating by the day.
Report by Nevanji Madanhire
Observers
including me have been left wondering whether this is a fight over principle
on both sides, or just another factional fight over resources and political
space in the province.
On the one hand are senior politicians whose
voice is now represented by that of the controversial dame of Masvingo
politics, Shuvai Mahofa, while on the other is, almost single-handedly,
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter
Mzembi.
Mahofa and others argue, as Zanu PF has argued over the past
decade or so for the indigenisation of the country’s resources by grabbing
important assets such as land from those formerly favoured by the colonial
system. They see the Save Conservancy as the latest frontier in this war.
Mzembi argues that this indigenisation process can go ahead but it must
benefit not only the heavyweights from the province but also the common
people. He argues that the heavyweights have already got their fair share
from the land reform programme launched in 2000.
Analysts say
both camps are being insincere. Mahofa and her camp just want to grab what
they can to enrich themselves, while Mzembi is trying to build his political
career by touting rationality and good sense as the cornerstone of good
governance. They say he has in sight the success of the United Nations World
Tourism Conference set for August next year as his greatest coup de main, a
victory which would undoubtedly make him the politician of the
future.
But in this fight, whatever reasons drive the camps, it would
seem Mzembi emerges the better devil. Recently Mahofa’s mercenary side was
revealed in interviews she gave to the press. Below is an interview she gave
to one publication:
“Asked to answer allegations that she lacks
requisite wildlife management and hunting skills, Mahofa laughed loudly
saying, ‘We cannot let the whites enjoy riches in our country. We also want
blacks in this sector. It is unacceptable that these few whites are allowed
to harvest the money there.
“In fact, I am realising that farming is
a waste of time, there is a lot of money to be made in hunting. I am in
there and I now know that. I am very happy with my hunting business and I
have made hundreds of thousands of dollars.’”
She is also quoted
saying: “Business is very good and there is free money to be made out there
and Mzembi must leave me to make money and get old and die
well.”
She alleges Mzembi is standing in their way because she
and her colleagues voted against him in an election for the post of
provincial Zanu PF chairman. But what are the real issues surrounding the
invasion of the Save Conservancy?
Why is Mahofa wrong for the
right reasons and Mzembi right for the wrong reasons? Mahofa is right that
there should be some rectification of historical imbalances but is wrong
that invading conservancies and engaging in wanton hunting for personal
enrichment is the way to do it.
Mzembi is right that any
indigenisation process should benefit the majority of the people but is
wrong that parcelling out the conservancies to the majority of the people is
the way to go.
What many people have failed to appreciate is the
important role wildlife plays in the economic wellbeing of any country. In
an African traditional setting, animals were either a nuisance to be got rid
of or a source of food to be hunted for meat. There was really nothing wrong
with this thinking because such hunting and elimination was done at such a
small scale that wildlife populations were never really
threatened.
But with the increase in population and the integration
of the country into the world economy, wildlife took a very powerful
economic dimension as it became a source of tourism revenue. To ensure that
the business of tourism contributed to the national kitty the government
came up with policies that protected wildlife and ensured that it was
exploited in a manner that ensured that not only the present generation but
also future generations benefited from it.
To ensure this
happened, government set aside about 28% of the country’s landmass as
wildlife areas of which about 14% was for National Parks, about 12% for
Campfire and Forestry and 1,9% for Conservancies.
National parks were
meant for recreation for both local and foreign visitors, Campfire projects
were meant to be managed by local people so they could benefit from the
wildlife in their areas in a sustainable manner that ensured the wildlife
was harvested properly without completely decimating
it.
Conservancies were meant for the regeneration of animal
herds.
Hunting is not supposed to take place in national parks, the
nation only deriving income from gate-takings from visitors. But hunting is
taking place without much control in the parks leading to the depletion of
animals. As a result of this, fewer tourists are visiting because there is
little to see. Sadly, poaching has also had an immense toll on the country’s
wildlife. It has emerged that the poaching menace is no longer just about a
few ragtag gangs of individual who just happened to lay their hands on an
AK47 rifle; but that it is big business managed by big fish, some of whom
are in government or well-connected to those in government.
In
the past 15 years during the political turmoil, and because of it, the
country has lost 80% of its wildlife. Conservancies had remained the only
wildlife areas where animals were safe because of proactive
game.
Like all business, conservancies need huge investment and an
environment conducive to doing the business. When such an environment is
created government should then earn money from them through legitimate
taxes, which money can then be used to empower the majority. The more money
the conservancies make, the more will find its way to the national purse.
Mahofa’s model works against this; so does Mzembi’s, for he forgets that
these wildlife areas are largely situated in arid parts of the country,
marked by unreliable rainfalls and poor soils. The areas are mostly
unsuitable for sustainable agriculture or cattle ranching.
Like
all other sectors of the economy, the government’s role ought to be to
create and sustain an enabling environment that ensures more money flows
into the fiscus for the benefit of the majority. Politics should only play a
background role.
by The Standard on September 16, 2012 in
Opinion An interrogation of the ongoing marriage imbroglio between Morgan
Tsvangirai and his wife Locardia Karimatsenga reveals a bid on the part of
the latter to project himself as an innocent victim of an alleged sting
operation by state security agents.
Report by Tendai Moyo Speaking
to a daily paper on the matter recently, Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke
Tamborinyoka made some infantile claims that Karimatsenga’s legal actions
against the premier were part of a US$100 000 plot by state security agents
“to cause damage to the person of Tsvangirai”.
These claims are
palpably diversionary and wishful. Why is it that whenever there is a
boomerang on Tsvangirai’s philandering expeditions, the MDC-T will always
point their irreverent fingers at the state security
agents?
Previously when Karimatsenga went for a traditional visit to
Tsvangirai’s homestead after the lobola payments, Tsvangirai sought to
deflect any culpability by trying to pin the whole drama on imaginary state
agents.
Similarly, when the MDC-T leader’s lover Loretha Nyathi
lodged papers with the courts to secure maintenance for the welfare of
Tsvangirai’s love child, the matter was once again blamed on the state
security agents.
Even when the premier’s name was mentioned in
divorce proceedings between a named Bulawayo woman and her husband, the
blame was left on the doorstep of the country’s security
machinery.
Could the premier be so infallible that someone should
always take the blame whenever he errs? Like all other human beings,
Tsvangirai should learn to be accountable to his errant
behaviour.
No amount of mudslinging would take away the fact that he
has arrogantly and uncaringly broken the hearts of several women. His
advisors should have known that no one plays with a woman’s heart and expect
to get away with it. His English masters will tell him that, “Hell hath no
fury like a woman scorned”.
Karimatsenga does not need any
security agent to redeem her dignity. On her own, she will get her recourse.
However, Tsvangirai’s evasive and confrontational antics are unhelpful but
will only serve to stoke the fire.
Instead of employing
confrontational measures, Tsvangirai should advisedly adopt conciliatory
tactics to cajole the Tempo camp into dropping their legal proceedings. Only
then would they be able to pacify her fury. Otherwise they should brace
themselves for the gnashing of teeth.
Having been publicly spurned
and humiliated, and in the process suffer a miscarriage, Karimatsenga is
justifiably determined to fight for her glory. She is understandably a
scorned woman and she will stop at nothing to redeem her bruised
image.
It is payback time for the Tsvangirai camp.
In
fact, the Tsvangirai camp should forthwith be mindful of what they say or do
as they could trigger similar lawsuits from the other scorned women possibly
watching from the sidelines. Tsvangirai should not forget that his
trailblazing philandering antics have left a sizeable number of women
dejected and nursing broken hearts.
Clearly, this is the war in
Tsvangirai’s hands. Any acrimonious attempts to therefore drag the name of
state security agents into the marriage conundrum will be
diversionary.
As the name “state security agents” entails, these men
and women are constantly seized with “state” security matters. They cannot
therefore stoop to involve themselves in love circuses.
Besides,
the underfunded state security ministries could not possibly afford to carry
out a US$100 0000 operation since the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti, who
is also the secretary general of MDC-T, is not releasing adequate funds to
meet their national obligations.
It has notably become a trend that
at any given opportunity the pro-western party alongside its regime change
civic group sycophants would denigrate the security forces so as to push for
the so-called security sector reforms in Zimbabwe.
Relatedly,
they have foisted some security sector reform clauses into the draft
constitution with the brazen intention of legalising these parochial and
self-serving changes.
Instead of unnecessarily dragging the good name
of our security forces in the mud, Tsvangirai and his team should regroup
and search for ways to skillfully coax the Karimatsenga camp into dropping
their lawsuit. Otherwise they are fighting a brawl they will never win and
that will definitely leave their principal with egg on the
face.
Tendai Moyo is a researcher and social commentator.
by The Standard on September 16, 2012 in
Opinion Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has over the past few days been
seized with a personal matter that has overshadowed all important national
issues. The premier, who had intended to wed his new lover Elizabeth Macheka
yesterday, fought running court battles with his ex, Locardia Karimatsenga,
who successfully blocked his white wedding on the grounds they were still
customarily married.
Inevitably, these protracted battles and the
emergence of a South Africa woman, Nosipho Regina Shilubane, who claimed to
be engaged to Tsvangirai, completely distracted the nation from pressing
matters such as the drafting of the new constitution.
While
officials in the MDC-T party were quick to blame the Central Intelligence
Organisation for the fiasco, what emerged out of the drama in court was that
Tsvangirai’s love life is a mess that needs urgent clean-up.
After
the death of his wife Susan in 2009, Tsvangirai undeniably lowered the guard
as he searched for a woman who could take her place. This search for the
right partner, which took him up to SA, left him dangerously exposed to all
sorts of women, some with questionable backgrounds, morals and
motives. Though it was politically damaging, the cancellation of his wedding
to Macheka at Karimatsenga’s instigation, should present Tsvangirai with an
opportunity for self-introspection.
The premier should reflect on
the mistakes he has made over the past three years and seek to correct them.
He must realise that cherry-picking women and casually engaging in
unprotected sex is not only retrogressive to the fight against HIV and Aids,
but damages his standing as a leader of a political party. Such behaviour is
also unbecoming of a Prime Minister.
Ever since he emerged on the
political scene as leader of the MDC in 1999, Tsvangirai has been a symbol
of hope for millions of Zimbabweans, eager to dislodge President Robert
Mugabe from power. His courage in confronting the Zanu PF system has been
admired by many, but it is these distractions that may cause his
downfall.
It is imperative that Tsvangirai urgently sorts out his
personal life and start focusing on important matters such as overseeing the
implementation of government policies that improve the lives of ordinary
Zimbabweans.
Stop da Circus – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 15th September 2012
Rasta
Mugabe
Arrival of the bridal
party Mugabe gives the Zanu
PF brides to Tsvangirai
Keeping the brides
apart The wedding
cake
The Vigil didn’t know whether
Tsvangirai’s latest wedding was on or off when we gathered outside the Embassy.
We were confused by the court proceedings. But we were determined to celebrate
either way – not because of the nuptials but because Mugabe has at last solved a
perennial problem for us.
Mugabe’s intolerant comments about
Jamaican Rastafarians (as our poster put it ‘Mugabe’s message to Jamaica: stop
da ganja man and da strong drink and cut the hair’) opened the eyes of
Caribbeans to his true character. We have had endless discussions with our
brothers in the British Caribbean community over the past 10 years but they have
been firmly fixed on an unreal picture of Mugabe as a warrior for African
liberation. Now they have been kicked in the groin by their hero’s feet of
clay.
A dreadlocked Mugabe puffing a giant
spliff featured prominently at the Vigil, where he welcomed the arrival of
Tsvangirai’s rival brides by rickshaw. Mugabe then handed them to a kneeling
Tsvangirai with a placard reading ‘Morgan’s Zanu PF brides’. Fortunately we had
plenty of people to keep the two brides apart. They then tucked into the
marriage feast including a cake emblazoned with ‘Congratulations on your wedding
MDC-T & Zanu PF’.
Thanks to ROHR for inspiring the
event, including providing the wedding feast. Thanks particularly to Lindiwe
Bare (bride Elizabeth), Philip Maponga (Morgan), Mary Ndoro (aspiring bride
Locardia), Fungayi Mabhunu (Mugabe) and Georgina Makaza
(bridesmaid).
As the Vigil’s contribution to the
Zimbabwe Diaspora 21st Movement’s Global Protests, we will be taking
letters to the Tanzanian and Botswanan High Commissions in London next Saturday.
Here are the letters:
‘To President Kikwete of
Tanzania
On behalf of the millions of
Zimbabweans driven into the diaspora by the collapse of our country’s economy
and the breakdown of the rule of law, we appeal to you as the new head of the
SADC security troika to act speedily so that the ground can be prepared for free
and fair elections.
We recall that it was your
predecessor, Julius Nyerere, who told Mugabe that he was inheriting the jewel of
Africa. At that time Zimbabwe had the second most advanced economy in
sub-Saharan Africa. Now after 32 years of Mugabe’s misrule it is one of the
poorest and most corrupt countries.
Mugabe is seeking to delay progress
to elections so that there are no essential reforms, such as a new voters’ roll.
It was confirmed this month that the current roll contains the names of 16.800
people born on 1st January 1901 – no doubt all Zanu PF members.
We draw your attention to remarks by
President Khama of Botswana at a recent banquet in Gaberone for President
Zuma: ‘nothing less than free and
fair elections in Zimbabwe should be acceptable to the international community.
SADC, as the guarantor of the GPA, must ensure transparency not only of the
elections but also of the process leading to the polls’. President Khama also
stressed the need for SADC monitors as well as the wider international community
to participate in observing the process before, during and even after the
elections. Reports that torture bases are again surfacing in some constituencies
lend added urgency to this.’
‘To President Khama of
Botswana
Exiled Zimbabweans wish to express our gratitude for
your support for the people of Zimbabwe. In particular we applaud your comments
at a recent banquet in Gaberone for President Zuma that ‘nothing less than free
and fair elections in Zimbabwe should be acceptable to the international
community. SADC, as the guarantor of the GPA, must ensure transparency not only
of the elections but also of the process leading to the
polls’.
We are particularly appreciative of your understanding
of the need for international monitoring of the
elections.
We enclose a copy of a letter to President Kikwete of
Tanzania which we have delivered today as part of the Zimbabwe Diaspora
21st Movement’s Global Protests.’
For details of the event check our
‘Events and Notices’ section.
Other
points
·The body
of our good friend Bernard Hukwa has been repatriated to Zimbabwe. Vigil
supporters contributed £500 to this. We are continuing to make collections to
support his family.
·For those
who are thinking of going home on a visit, be warned. A Zimbabwean who has lived
in London for a long time and wanted to go home on holiday had a salutary
experience. After travelling around South Africa and Swaziland, he went to book
his coach to Zimbabwe. He was strongly warned not to cross into Zimbabwe through
a land border using a British passport because he would have to pay exorbitant
bribes and if he could not afford these his passport might be cut up by the
authorities. He decided not to go home.
·We noted
with interest the economic philosophy of former Gutu South MP Shuvai Mahofa, one
of the Zanu PF officials gifted with the Save Conservancy. She said
“In fact I am realising that farming is a
waste of time, there is a lot of money to be made in hunting . . . You just sit
and wait for whites to come and pay for hunting and make money.” (See:
https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/sep10_2012.html#Z9
– Mzembi playing politics while I am making
dollars – Mahofa).
·Thanks to Anne Chikumba for
bringing cupcakes which she sold on behalf of the Vigil.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.
Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they
cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil
website.
FOR THE
RECORD: 68 signed the
register.
EVENTS AND NOTICES:
·The Rain that Washes
showing
at the Lounge, Leicester Square Theatre, from Monday 17th September –
Saturday 6th October at 7 pm. Check: http://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/126523428/events
or phone the booking line: 08448733433 for
specific dates and to book tickets, ‘Instantly plunged into a young man’s
compelling story of growing up in turbulent Zimbabwe, we live and breathe his
extraordinary journey from innocence to escape, finally returning to his
homeland to witness the greatest betrayal of all . . . Inspired by a series of
interviews between Zimbabwean Christopher Maphosa and writer Dave Carey, The
Rain That Washes is a true story that is poignant, political and most of all,
personal’.
·Ninth 21st
Movement Free Zimbabwe Global Protest. Saturday
22nd September. Meet at the Vigil at 2 pm. Once the Vigil is set up a
group will go by public transport to the Tanzanian and Botswanan High
Commissions in Stratford Place, London W1C 1AS (1AY). Nearest station: Bond
Street. Reasons for the demonstration are detailed in the letters
above.
·21st movement protest
·Next Swaziland
Vigil. Saturday
22nd September from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20
Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest
stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.
·ROHR Bournemouth
elections and fundraising. Saturday
22nd September from 2 pm. Venue: Bourne
Spring Centre, St Mary's Road, Bournemouth BH1 4QP. Good food and
entertainment. Founder and President Ephraim Tapa and the UK Executive will be
in attendance. Contact: Memory Dzapasi 07585907566, Urther Chagadama
07951269667, Dennis Muringai 07917426201, Nancy M 07404159038.
·ROHR
Leicester general meeting.
Saturday 22nd September from 11 am – 1:30 pm. Venue: Bishop Street
Methodist Church, 10a Bishop Street, Town Hall Square, Leicester LE1 6AF.
Contacts: Rachael Munda 07989 093661, Enniah Dube
07403439707.
·ROHR Cambridge Branch
Relaunch: Saturday
29th September from 1 – 4 pm. Contact: Memory Simbi 07584759284, Deon
Matora 077866674066, Richard Zvinoira 07810592390. Venue: To be
advised.
·10th
Anniversary of the Zimbabwe Vigil / Zimbabwe Action Forum
(ZAF). Saturday
13th October from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel
(first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the
same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the
direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the
south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo
Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its
famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest
underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn. Future special
ZAF meeting: Saturday 10th November when our special guest will
be Ben Freeth. This meeting will take the place of the regular ZAF meeting in
November at 6.30 pm at Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143
Strand, London WC2R 1JA. For directions see above.
·The Restoration of
Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s
partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil
to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s
mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through
membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in
Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other
website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the
views and opinions of ROHR.
·ZBN
News. The Vigil
management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not
responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that
they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no
control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
·To sponsor the Mike
Campbell Foundation expedition ‘Sailing across the Makgadikgadi Pans’ which will
raise money for the work of the Foundation, go to www.justgiving.com/Mike-Campbell-Foundation.
The Vigil, outside
the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00
to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The
Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until
internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.
