Libya's ambassador expelled from Zimbabwe to return home Wednesday

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Aug 31, 2011, 8:58 GMT

Harare - Libya's ambassador to Zimbabwe is to leave the country Wednesday,
following his expulsion for denouncing Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi and
siding with the rebels, state radio reported.

A week ago, ambassador Taher Elmegrahi hoisted the rebel flag at the embassy
building in Harare, after a jubilant crowd of demonstrators tore down the
Libyan flag as rebels stormed Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli

On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's Foreign Ministry handed Elmegrahi a note verbale,
saying his actions were 'not acceptable' and gave him 72 hours to leave the
country.

Zimbabwe does not recognize the Libya's rebel Transitional National Council.
The rebel flag on the embassy has since been replaced by that of the African
Union, which does not recognize the rebel authority.

Megrahi was quoted on state radio Wednesday as saying he was arranging to
leave the same day with all his staff. 'I respect the decisions of this
government and the people,' he said.

'It's our interior business. It's in Libya, not here,' he aded however.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, a long-time ally of Mugabe, has
condemned the NATO intervention in Libya, saying the West wants to seize
Libyan oil.

MDC-T condemns ‘despicable’ decision to expel Libyan ambassador

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
31 August 2011

The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has condemned the decision
to expel Libya’s ambassador, calling it a “despicable” act by the ZANU PF
side of the coalition government.

ZANU PF’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, on Tuesday said
that Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi had been
asked to leave the country within three days, after declaring his allegiance
to Libya’s rebel fronted National Transitional Council (NTC).

Elmagrahi last week joined protesters in taking down the Gaddafi era flag
flying at the embassy and raising the rebel flag in its place. He also told
journalists that: “I am not Gaddafi’s ambassador. I represent the Libyan
people.”

But the move has angered ZANU PF, whose leader Robert Mugabe is a known
close friend and ally of Muammar Gaddafi. Foreign Minister Mumbengegwi said
the government did not recognise the NTC, saying Elmagrahi’s decision, as an
ambassador, to switch allegiances is an act that “deprives you of your
diplomatic standing.”

The Daily News newspaper reported on Tuesday that ZANU PF’s deportation bid
had failed, quoting a Foreign Affairs Ministry official as saying that “we
did not give them the deportation order because they have re-negotiated with
us.”

But the MDC-T’s spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told SW Radio Africa that the
deportation order has been given, calling it a “high handed and vindictive
decision that we are totally against.”

“What we see is the ZANU PF side of the government making enemies with the
people now running the government in Libya, which is unnecessary,” Mwonzora
said, adding: “This behaviour is despicable.”

When asked why the decision had been allowed, despite being so-called ‘equal’
partners in the unity government, Mwonzora explained that “first of all you
must understand that this decision was made while the Prime Minster is out
of the country.”

“The Ministry that made this decision is controlled by ZANU PF. This is not
a decision by the MDC. Unfortunately the Prime Minister is not running the
government alone,” Mwonzora said.

The Prime Minister is yet to make an official statement on the matter.

The MDC-T’s other partner in the unity government, the MDC now led by
Welshman Ncube, has also called ZANU PF’s decision “unacceptable.” The party’s
spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that they were
still mulling over their official position. His phone then went unanswered
on Wednesday evening.

But Dube was quoted by the Zimbabwe Standard newspaper on Tuesday as saying:
“As much as we don’t want interference in our own country, we can’t also
interfere in the decisions and politics of other countries.”

The position taken by both MDC formations has not reflected attitudes in
Africa, where most countries have been slow to support the NTC. South Africa’s
President Jacob Zuma, who is the regional mediator in Zimbabwe’s political
crisis, is also the facilitator appointed by the African Union (AU) to
mediate in Libya. He has faced severe criticism for showing little support
for the NTC, and the AU itself last week fell short of officially
recognising the rebel movement. Despite ousting the Gaddafi regime from its
Tripoli stronghold last week, Zuma is still calling on the NTC to implement
a ‘roadmap’ towards an inclusive government in Libya.

Storm over envoy

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

By Thelma Chikwanha and Chengetai Zvauya
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 09:20

HARARE - Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi’s decision to expel
Libyan Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi and his staff has opened fresh fissures
within the coalition government.

While President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF ordered the expulsion due to the
87-year-old’s friendship with the toppled Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi,
the MDC says the move is undiplomatic.

“It’s undiplomatic because the African Union (AU) has not yet decided on the
matter. In any case, we are not agreed as government. Even the United
Nations recognises the people who forced the tyrant out and who are we to
defend him."

“It is a Zanu PF decision, maybe Mugabe is taking advantage of the fact that
the ambassadors present credentials to him,” said a senior official from
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

He did not specify what action his party would take, if any.

Mumbengegwi told journalists yesterday that the Libyans must leave because
they had breached Zimbabwean laws by abandoning Gaddafi in favour of the
Transitional National Council (TNC) now in charge in
Tripoli.

As Mugabe’s officials evicted the Libyan envoy, Gaddafi was still holed
underground fearing capture from rebels who are now in charge of most parts
of the country.

Mumbengegwi refused to rule out that Zimbabwe could offer sanctuary to
Gaddafi. He dismissed the question as “hypothetical.”

The Libyan envoy and his officers were given 72 hours to leave the country
following the withdrawal of their diplomatic status.

The Libyan/Zimbabwe diplomatic affair represents the latest highlight of how
Mugabe and Tsvangirai’s coalition has been working at cross purposes.

Government’s decision to expel the diplomats was first influenced by the
diplomat’s decision to remove the Libyan flag replacing it with one
belonging to the TNC.

Mumbengegwi said the actions of the envoy was inconsistent with their status
as diplomatic agents of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya which exchanged
diplomatic papers with Zimbabwe.

“The government of Zimbabwe has today withdrawn the diplomatic status and
privileges of the Libyan Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi and his staff,”
Mumbengegwi told journalists at a press briefing.

“The ambassador has expressed both in writi-ng and verbally that he no
longer represents the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya but the Transitional National
Council (TNC) and hoisted the flag of the TNC. Both these statements and
activities are unacceptable to the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe
which has diplomatic relations with the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,” Mumbengegwi
said.

The Libyan Ambassador, who was informed of the decision in a meeting with
Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha, accepted the
verdict of the Zimbabwean government.

“It is a sovereign decision and I’ll accept it,” said Elmagrahi, who was
moving around in a vehicle that did not bear the TNC flag. The only flag on
the Ambassador’s vehicle was that belonging to the African Union.

Mumbengegwi said the African Union, in their meeting held Friday, did not
support the TNC but were willing to support an inclusive government in the
oil rich country.

“The AU said the only way to resolve the issue is through dialogue and to
come up with a political solution as provided for in the AU roadmap. TNC was
rejected by 40 AU countries and if an all-inclusive government was set up,
then AU would consider a representative of their government,” Mumbengegwi
added.

CZI set for showdown with Zesa

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Diana Chisvo, Business Writer
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 11:20

HARARE - The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) is preparing a
lawsuit against Zesa Holdings in a bid to force the power company to reverse
its tariff increase which it says has far reaching consequences on business
and the economy.

Zesa, through its distribution company — the Zimbabwe Electricity
Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has announced a 31 percent
tariff increase at a time business and consumers are reeling from serious
power cuts.

The blundering power giant said the increase will not reduce load-shedding
but go towards rehabilitation of critical equipment which, in future, will
improve power generation.

But the CZI yesterday came out with guns blazing, warning that their lawyers
were preparing to fight the tariffs which it said are illegal.

“We wish to advise stakeholders that electricity tariff hikes distributed by
the ZETDC are unsustainable, unjustified and illegal. The proposed tariff to
be effected on 01 September 2011 results in a 53 percent aggregated
increase. This shows lack of understanding or empathy with the nascent and
fragile economic/industrial recovery
underway since 2009."

“We are instructing our lawyers to take legal action to force ZETDC to
rescind their illegal tariff hikes,” said CZI chief Joseph Kanyekanye.
Kanyekanye said the increases have inflationary effects and might lead to
loss of competitiveness for local businesses and will lead to price
increases throughout the economy.

He dismissed reports that the increase was supported by industry and
consumers saying that the electricity distributor has a technical committee
with industry where the results have shown that the price hikes cannot be
supported by ZETDC’s reflective tariff principle.

“We believe the ZETDC is not properly constituted and the apparent use of
government officials as proxy for ZETDC is illegal and introduces the
inefficiency in the regulation of tariffs. “There has not been any change in
costs that warrant this increase in tariffs and CZI is asking the Ministry
to appoint an independent regulator that will set aside the proposed illegal
increases."

“We remain committed to working with the power utility at all times. We ask
that the utility does some introspection with a view to reducing overheads
arising from a top heavy structure an unsustainable wages and salaries,”
Kanyekanye said.

Zimbabwe requires 2 000MW of power a day but the country currently produces
only 1 300MW and gets 300MW from imports, leaving a deficit of 400MW.

Hre Residents Trust: ZESA Rates Hike Unacceptable

Harare- The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) has been battling to convince
residents to be patient with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
(ZESA) over the intended increase in tariffs by 31 percent with effect from
01 September 2011, as approved by the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory
Commission (ZERC).

The ZERC authorized the ZESA to increase its rates on Thursday 25 August
2011 from 7, 53 cents to 9, 83 cents per unit per hour, arguing that
Zimbabwe’s electricity charges are the lowest in the region where rates are
reportedly between 13-14 cents kilowatt hour (VOA News 26 August 2011).

According to Fullard Gwasira, the ZESA Holdings spokesman, the increases are
meant to bolster power generation, reduce electricity blackouts, and use
additional revenue to purchase modern billing equipment to address residents’
concerns on inconsistent billing.

This proposed increase is the second in 2011 by ZESA, again, after seeking
and getting ZERC approval for an increase effective 1 February 2011, a
situation that has left thousands of consumers in debt, something they have
failed to critically examine before this latest increase has been approved.
This was eventually shelved after government intervention. The same
justification that ZESA is offering today is the same that they gave in
February as they justified the proposed increases.

The Herald (21 February 2011) quoted Fullard Gwasira, the ZESA Spokesman as
saying: “The increase in tariff allows ZESA to import more power and ensure
consistency in power supplies. It will reduce load-shedding. Consumers
should actually expect an improvement in the services offered since we are
now operating all power stations efficiently,"

The experience of residents on load-shedding, non-regular maintenance of
electricity infrastructure leading to high incidences of electrocution of
people, inconsistent billing and numerous apologies from ZESA, are crucial
issues that have to be immediately addressed if ZESA is to convince all
stakeholders, mainly ordinary consumers about the new rates.

At its special meeting on 8 July 2010, the Competitions and Tariffs
Commission (CTC) found that ZESA’s actions constituted "restrictive
practices that are a manifestation of the abuse of monopoly". In a
statement, quoted in various media in August 2010, the CTC said: "ZESA
should use actual meter readings when billing its customers subject to the
provisions of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Miscellaneous
Charges) By-Laws" of 1998.

While the HRT recognizes the significant strides ZESA has made in trying to
address power generation challenges, the current wave of increases are
‘ill-timed, inconsiderate and will plunge most consumers into deeper debt’
because their incomes have not changed in the last 12 months.

In separate responses to a question on what they thought on the ZESA
increases, the majority of residents denounced ZESA for even seeking
authority from ZERC to increase rates, which was subsequently given, saying
that the national power utility was using inappropriate tools to determine
the new electricity rates. The performance of the economy and the ability of
the consumers to pay the new tariffs determined the success or failure in
the achievement of the intended objectives.

As long as the majority of citizens earn below the poverty datum line as
released by the Poverty Reduction Forum Trust of Zimbabwe and the Consumer
Council of Zimbabwe, there is potential for increased conflict between ZESA
and its customers who will fail to pay the rates in full, accumulating huge
debt in the process.

Considering that schools reopen in a fortnight, most parents are already
battling to raise school fees and levies for their children and meet other
financial obligations like rentals, medical needs, food and water bills. The
new increases will impact negatively on these residents whose incomes have
remained stagnant.

The ideal approach from ZESA that the HRT expected to be followed was a
major stakeholders’ meeting involving consumer organizations, ZESA Holdings,
business and industry to deliberate on power generation challenges, load
shedding and billing of electricity, among key points of discussion.

As the pressure from the residents of Harare for a quick solution mounts on
the HRT to intervene, ZESA is urged to expedite the process for the
installation of pre-Paid meters which would ensure that residents pay for
electricity actually consumed rather than the current situation where most
bills are based on estimates.

Before ZESA can institute the new increases, the power utility should comply
with the directive given by the Competitions and Tariffs Commission (CTC), a
statutory body mandated to regulate competition and abuse of monopolies by
state and private enterprises in terms of the Competition Act (Chapter
14:28). This was subsequently endorsed confirmed in a High Court ruling
which ordered ZESA to credit accounts of consumers overcharged against set
rates between February 2009 and November 2009.

Harare Residents Trust

Zimbabwe needs $13 bln for energy sector: World Bank

http://af.reuters.com/

Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:11pm GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe needs $13 billion -- about double its estimated
GDP -- to revive its dilapidated energy sector, but is still a "long way"
from having a normal relationship with the World Bank, a senior bank
official said on Wednesday.

Country director Kundhavi Kadiresan told reporters a lack of clarity over a
black empowerment push was also preventing investment in an economy that was
nevertheless showing "impressive" growth.

"Institutions like the World Bank and others are really keen to work with
the government in terms of getting this country back on track," she said.

"However, there is still a long way from normal relationship due to arrears
and lack of policy clarity."

A coalition government set up By President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai in 2009 adopted foreign currencies to replace a local unit
wrecked by hyperinflation.

Since their introduction, the economy has recovered from a decade of
decline, and the government projects it will expand 9.3 percent this year,
while inflation is down to single-digits from a peak of 500 billion percent
in December 2008.

However, the coalition is sharply divided over economic policy, including
how to address Zimbabwe's defaulted debt and implement a 2008 empowerment
law that seeks to compel foreign-owned forms to sell majority stakes to
locals.

Zimbabwe's external debt has risen to $8.8 billion, with the World Bank and
the African Development Bank being owed $2 billion of that, Kadiresan said.

Kadiresan said Zimbabwe also needed to establish a good record of sound
macroeconomic policies before multilateral finance institutions like the
World Bank could resume lending to the southern African country.

While lauding the economic progress, Kadiresan said structural problems such
as poor infrastructure and power shortages posed a long-term threat to full
recovery.

"Zimbabwe needs $13 billion investment in the energy sector," she said. "The
road network is very good. However the maintenance has been very poor over
the past fifteen years and huge investment is also required for the roads."

Zimbabwe currently generates less than 1,000 megawatts of electricity, about
half of its requirements, due to frequent breakdowns at its ageing plants.

'Fresh assault on Operation Murambatsvina victims'

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

By Staff Writer
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:35

HARARE - Police have arrested three residents of Hopley Farm on the
outskirts of Harare in what lawyers described as a fresh assault on
Operation Murambatsvina victims.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who are battling to secure the
release of the three, said police were yet to disclose the nature of the
charges faced by the trio.

Vengesayi Chingorima, Laston Chongo and Rodrick Mhurushoma were still
detained at Harare Central Police Station by last night, according to ZLHR.

“Their arrest followed resistance by some Hopley residents who questioned
and opposed the partisan parcelling of residential stands of Zone 5 at
Hopley Farm, where some Zanu PF supporters distributed and sold residential
stands along political lines on Saturday 27 August 2011,” said ZLHR in an
alert.

Tawanda Zhuwarara, a lawyer with ZLHR, said one was supposed to produce a
copy of the Zanu PF party card to benefit from the partisan allocation.

Those who could not produce a copy of the Zanu PF party card were turned
away, said Zhuwarara.

“On Sunday some of the residents who had voiced their concern at the
partisan process were on the receiving end as some Zanu PF supporters
singled them out and assaulted them. The residents reportedly alerted the
police at Waterfalls Police Station. But on Tuesday 30 August 2011, some of
the residents were arrested by the police under yet unclear circumstances,”
said Zhuwarara.

Chingorima, Chongo and Mhurushoma are part of residents who have been living
on the fringes of the farm waiting to be allocated residential stands after
being left homeless when government destroyed thousands of homes in 2005
under Operation Murambatsvina.

Some of the victims were dumped at Hopley Farm.

A special United Nations investigation condemned Operation Murambatsvina,
which left more than 700 000 people without shelter and livelihoods, as
inhumane.

MDC-T officials in Manicaland under siege

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
31 August, 2011

A group of about 50 ZANU PF thugs were reported to have set up a temporary
base just meters from the house of an MDC-T official in Mudzi West
constituency last Friday. They then stoned and destroyed the house in the
early hours of the morning. Fortunately the officials wife and children had
already left, after sensing danger.

A statement by the MDC-T said Goodwell Mazarura, the MDC-T Information and
Publicity Secretary for Mudzi West, was “visibly shaken” as he described how
the thugs sang revolutionary songs and chanted party slogans while stoning
the house.
Officials from the MDC-T in Manicaland have continued to face a violent
campaign by ZANU PF sponsored thugs, who are burning and destroying houses,
assaulting or illegally evicting families, with the support of soldiers and
the police.

Mazarura has remained active in the MDC despite being a target for years
now. His house was burnt down back in 2006 by three ZANU PF thugs who were
later prosecuted. The latest attack is believed to be retribution for this.

Julius Magaramombe, the MDC-T provincial Chairman, explained that Manicaland
is a target because many senior officials within ZANU PF lost their
parliamentary seats to MDC candidates in the province, during the 2008
elections.
Magaramombe told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that the list includes ZANU PF
chefs Patrick Chinamasa, Joseph Made and Oppah Muchinguri, all of whom are
desperately hoping to get their positions back, using fear tactics.

“Asi vanhu vave kuziya hapana zviripo”, Magaramombe said, meaning “people
now know there is nothing left” that ZANU PF can offer. The party has
resorted to using violence and intimidation to get support and they are not
getting results.

According to the MDC-T official, the voters know if they do not go to ZANU
PF rallies and pretend to be members they will be victimized, but there is
no real support for ZANU PF.
As for the role of the police and soldiers, Magaramombe said they protect
the thugs from prosecution and at times take part in violent acts because
they too are being threatened by top officials and would be victimized if
they refuse to obey orders.

This partisan role played by the military, police and intelligence divisions
has emerged as the most critical issue blocking the full implementation of
the Global Political Agreement and any hope of credible elections in
Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, there are reports that a torture base has been re-established at
Chimango business centre, run by soldiers from the 22 Infantry Battalion.
According to the MDC-T the soldiers have teamed up with ZANU PF thugs and
are “unleashing violence against all perceived MDC supporters in the area”.

The MDC-T also reported that members of the violent ZANU PF sponsored
Chipangano gang addressed a meeting in Mutoko East where the ZANU PF
district chairperson, Ingidzai Kapondoro, encouraged party youths to beat up
MDC supporters in the area.

The same group of violent youths, led by Ruddy Ndoro, disrupted a peaceful
MDC-T meeting in ward 26 Murehwa West later that same day. A statement by
the MDC-T said the district chairman suffered serious head injuries after
the gang assaulted participants, but he was too scared to seek medical
treatment at St Paul’s Mission Hospital nearby because ZANU PF youth
informers are employed there.

Mob of 15 soldiers runs riot in Mbare

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
31 August 2011

A group of 15 soldiers from the Zimbabwe National Army besieged a family
home in Mbare and assaulted residents in retaliation for the alleged attack
on a fellow solider on Sunday. Two people are reported to have been
hospitalised while the whereabouts of a third victim, also seriously
injured, are still not known.

A report in the state owned Herald newspaper quotes residents in Mbare who
said a soldier who stays at one of the flats in Mbare flat had an argument
with a 17-year-old schoolboy, leading to a fight. "They fought on Sunday and
he mobilised some people and the soldier and his colleagues ganged up and
started looking for the teenager," a woman from the area told the paper.

The soldier is said to have gone to the house with five of his colleagues on
Sunday but the boy they were looking for had disappeared. On Monday the
soldier came back again with another five men who were not in uniform. The
soldier then went back to the Inkomo Barracks outside Harare, mobilised his
colleagues and went back as part of a 15 men gang, dressed in full military
regalia.

Witnesses said the soldiers assaulted all the men at the house accusing them
of hiding the boy they were looking for. Police confirmed arresting two
soldiers and said they were being held at Stodart Police Station. The ring
leader is still on the run. Lieutenant Colonel Overson Mugwisi, Director of
Public Relations for the army, said he would only comment after getting the
full details of the incident.

The soldiers were expected to appear in court Wednesday.
The incident joins a growing list of examples where members of the army have
shown a high level of indiscipline.

In March this year a group of 22 soldiers ransacked a lodge in Harare,
robbing, assaulting and raping women who were guests there. Two of the
soldiers were caught and charged. Fungai Kashitigu and Kennedy Chitsaka
based at Mounted Unit Regiment at Inkomo Barracks, had teamed up with the
other soldiers and targeted the lodge on the 6th March.

Its now a common occurrence in Zimbabwe that when a soldier is involved in
an altercation while alone they go back to the barracks and mobilise fellow
soldiers to go and retaliate. In most cases the intended targets will have
long left the scene and innocent bystanders are assaulted. These incidents
also highlight the general lawlessness in the country.

Zanu women abuse shoppers

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

A group of Zanu (PF) women insulted late night shoppers at a local
supermarket on Friday evening calling them Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
puppets.
30.08.1105:03pm
by Radio VOP

The visibly drunk women, numbering about 20, were clad in Zanu (PF) regalia
and flanked by men who urged them on. The apparent leader of the gang
demanded to see the Spar Manager before verbally abusing him in front of her
friends.

The rest of the women were drinking beer and demanding free food from the
counter assistants. They sang offensive songs about Tsvangirai and the
Minister of Finance Tendai Biti.

“Tsvangirai imboko isingafi yakatonga Zimbabwe,” (Tsvangirai will never rule
this country) they sang with raised fists. Some shoppers reported the matter
to the police who refused to act.

Zanu (PF) thugs defy Mugabe’s ‘peace’ calls

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Exactly a week after President Robert Mugabe denounced violence at the
burial of National Hero Solomon Mujuru, Zanu (PF) supporters in Murewa have
attacked MDC supporters here, injuring eight.
31.08.1110:30am
by Fungi Kwaramba

In an interview after the violence took place on Saturday MDC-T Chairman for
Murewa west, Farai Chibiku, said about 30 Zanu (PF) supporters were
travelling in trucks owned by the party’s aspiring MP, Rudd Ndoro.

“They just approached us while we were having a meeting and started beating
us,” said Chibiku, visibly in pain.

“We ran away and then they started to throw stones. Some fell on our
members, but we managed to escape. They then took Tonderai’s bicycle and
also our book which contained $27. We did not fight back since our
leadership has warned us against being involved in violence,” he added.

Mugabe’s anti-violence message, delivered at the burial of retired General
Solomon Mujuru, was dismissed by many as insincere. It certainly has
permeated to the party faithful, who continue to beat up perceived
opponents, or to the police.

“We have reported the case to the police and we have also written to our
party leadership, who have told us that it is important to put these cases
in writing so that they will be presented to the political party leadership
and also to SADC,” said Chibiku.

Police at Musami Police Post confirmed that they had been reports of
violence in the area but did not comment further, saying they were not
allowed to speak to the media.

“Mugabe is not serious. All these people are scared of him and would follow
his orders if he directed them not to be violent. Our leadership has
directed us not to be violent and that is exactly what we do. Zanu (PF)
supporters should also do the same,” said Tonderai Jinga whose T-shirt was
torn in the attack.

Name & Shame

Zanu (PF) supporters identified throwing stones: John Makiwa, John Chirowe,
Jaji Chigaswa, Nomatter Makoni, Dick Chimwe, Martin Chigusiwa, Tawanda Saya,
Charles Mandingo.

Political Violence in Zimbabwe Down in July, Says Watchdog Group

http://www.voanews.com

30 August 2011

The Zimbabwe Peace Project reported 910 incidents of politically-inspired
human rights violations in July compared with 1,014 in June, but said that
political tensions and intolerance continue to run high nationwide

Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington

Politically-motivated violence and human rights violations declined in July
from June levels, but political tensions remain high in many of the
country's provinces, the Zimbabwe Peace Project has said in its latest
monthly report.

The group reported 910 incidents of seemingly politically-inspired human
rights violations in July compared with 1,014 in June.

But the organization noted that “political tensions and intolerance have
remained high across the country.” Midlands province saw the most violations
followed by Manicaland, Mashonaland East and then Masvingo province.

President Robert Mugabe recently issued a call for peace and tolerance in
the country, joining Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the leader of the
smaller Movement for Democratic Change formation, Industry Minister Welshman
Ncube.

ZANU-PF Parliamentary Whip Joram Gumbo told VOA reporter Ntungamili Nkomo
that the nation’s leaders should continue to denounce violence.

"The discussions that we hold even in parliament tend to make us realize
that as a people, as a nation, we need each other and we need to leave
peacefully," Gumbo said.

Deputy Spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo of the Tsvangirai MDC concurred, saying
all of the country's political parties must cooperate to end violence and
intimidation.

3 police officers face armed robbery rap

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

31/08/2011 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

THREE police officers have been charged with armed robbery after raiding a
gold mine in Hope Fountain and taking three workers hostage in an attempt to
extort the mine’s owner, a court heard.

The three constables from different Bulawayo police stations were arrested
after trying to lure the mine’s owner to a meeting, but he in turn called
the police fearing something was amiss.

Bigboy Muvhimi, 32, who is attached to the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) at
Nguboyenja Police Station, Kudakwashe Kahwenga, 26, who is stationed at
Magwegwe Police Station and Chief Muteve, 26, from CPU Nkulumane were all
remanded in custody by a Bulawayo magistrate on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have charged the trio with robbing, at gunpoint, the three
workers of US$304 worth of personal items including BREAD, mobile phones and
a digital scale used for weighing gold.

Prosecuting, Admire Chikwayi told the court that the trio was off-duty on
August 23 when they hatched a plan to rob Bonso Mine in Hope Fountain.

The court heard the three officers proceeded to Ngoboyenja where Muvhimi
booked out a CZ pistol with 15 live rounds of ammunition.

The trio proceeded to Hope Fountain, which is on the outskirts of the city,
where they allegedly dressed up in the same type of overalls worn by the
mine workers.

“They went into a shared residence where Dicie Sinamane and Constance Ncube
who work at the mine were staying. They forced their way into the room with
the intention of inducing fear and submission. They accused the pair of
illegally dealing in gold,” Chikwayi told magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa.

After allegedly handcuffing the pair, the three officers then robbed the
workers of two mobile phones and a digital scale. The officers then helped
themselves to drinks and a loaf of bread.

The two workers’ neighbour, Bongani Tshuma, responded to the noise but
Muvhimi welcomed him with the pistol pointed, Chikwayi told the court.
Tshuma was accused of selling cannabis and handcuffed, before also being
robbed of his mobile phone.

The police officers are then alleged to have phoned the mine’s owner and
told him they had arrested his three employees. They asked him to come to
the mine.
But smelling a rat, the unnamed miner called the police who responded and
arrested their colleagues.

The pistol and the stolen property were recovered.

The three officers were remanded in custody to September 13 and advised to
apply to the High Court for bail.

Chihuri must be fired: Makone

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has no place in a new Zimbabwe, the
minister of Home Affairs in charge of the police said at a rally in Norton
on Sunday.
31.08.1110:41am
by Staff Reporter

Theresa Makone told thousands of people, including many police officers,
that Chihuri had been tainted by accusations that his men have waged a
campaign of illegal assault and killing against MDC supporters and should be
fired She said the head of the police force must be held accountable for his
actions during the 2008 post-election violence, when officers mainly in the
Law and Order Unit and PISI allegedly assaulted thousands, raped some and
killed a third of the 500 who are believed to have died.

Chihuri, a self-professed member Zanu (PF) has personally indoctrinated
police recruits with party propaganda, and declared that Mugabe was
God-ordained to rule Zimbabwe.

"He thinks he can be a Zanu (PF) commissar in police uniform," Makone said.
"People know who burnt their houses and want them arrested. But the police
won't because they are Zanu (PF).

They will be arrested (in a new Zimbabwe) and we want them to tell us who
sent them." She said the integrity of the force was at risk as a result of
Chihuri’s partisan actions.

"ZRP is among the best, but only one person is destroying them and he has no
place in a new Zimbabwe," she said. Chihuri is on record vehemently denying
all accusations, saying there was no organized campaign of killings and that
his force acted in strict accordance with the law.

A human rights researcher in Harare, who declined to be named fearing
Arrest, said: "One thing that is clear from all of those with whom I spoke
was that Chihuri was totally on top of everything. Nothing happened that he
wasn't aware of. In fact, he was criticized for micromanaging by officers we
spoke to."

Among the biggest concerns shared by human rights activists is that security
force leaders are answerable only to Mugabe and face little public
accountability. Chihuri has actually refused to cooperate with Makone on
anything, and reports directly to Mugabe and to the Joint Operations
Command.

Human rights researchers have found a "systematic, widespread and carefully
planned strategy" of human rights violations by police, but no member of the
force has been tried.

Zuma backs sale of Chiadzwa diamonds

http://www.swradioafrica.com

 

 

By Alex Bell
31 August 2011

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has shown his support for the sale of Zimbabwe’s controversial Chiadzwa diamonds, despite ongoing reports on human rights abuses there.

Zuma said in a written parliamentary reply to questions from the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that “the requisite level of compliance had been attained for specific mines in the Marange and Chiadzwa area.”

DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip had asked Zuma whether he was aware that the diamonds mined at the Chiadzwa fields were being sold outside of the trade watchdog, the Kimberley Process (KP), to fund ZANU PF.

Zuma’s answer was that two mines had been given the right to sell their diamonds, if the sales took place under the supervision of an independent monitor appointed within the KP.

“Our position therefore is that Zimbabwe has fulfilled the known and stated Kimberly Process requirements and that sales of diamonds can take place within that context,” said Zuma.

He also disputed reports by groups like Human Rights Watch who said that people had been killed and tortured by Mugabe’s security forces, saying that “the Zimbabwean government, in response to these allegations, allowed unfettered access to the Kimberly Process monitoring team in Zimbabwe and specifically in the Marange and Chiadzwa mines.”

“In our capacity as the Chairperson of the Association of African Diamond Producing Countries (ADPA), South Africa also led a delegation of members of the association and visited these mines and the surrounding communities to verify for itself the level of compliance. During these visits, we were impressed as ADPA at the level of compliance with the Kimberly Process Certification System process and soon after these monitoring visits, Kimberly Process approved exports of diamonds in Zimbabwe, took place under the supervision of a Kimberly Process monitor. Such sales took place via auction in August and November 2010, respectively,” Zuma said.

South Africa has repeatedly shown its support for Zimbabwe’s diamonds to be allowed back onto international trade markets. But the diamonds remain suspended, with KP members deadlock on Zimbabwe’s trade future because of the ongoing concerns of human rights abuses at Chiadzwa.

Zuma’s written reply meanwhile came the day before Human Rights Watch warned that his government had a serious role to play in ending ongoing abuses at Chiadzwa. The group’s Tiseke Kasambala told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that South Africa “needs to be pressured to stop accepting these diamonds,” calling it “unfortunate” that the country was supporting the trade in “dirty diamonds.”

This is the parliamentary response from Zuma

 

Zimbabwe linked to $200-million sale of ‘blood diamonds’

http://www.theglobeandmail.com

GEOFFREY YORK
JOHANNESBURG— From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011 12:21PM EDT

In defiance of international rules, Zimbabwe secretly sold more than
$200-million in illicit diamonds to foreign buyers this year, funnelling the
money through three banks that are partly owned by Western shareholders, a
leaked document suggests.

The document, obtained by an Ottawa-based organization, states that the
large cache of Zimbabwean diamonds did not have an internationally
recognized certificate from the Kimberley Process, the global watchdog on
the sale of “blood diamonds.”

The gems were mined from the notorious Marange diamond field, where
human-rights groups have documented the killing or torture of many
Zimbabweans by the soldiers and security guards who control the fields.

“It shows that Zimbabwe, and those that bought these stones, were willfully
in breach of a universally respected ban on Marange stones,” said
Partnership Africa Canada, an independent Ottawa-based organization that
helped establish the Kimberley Process.

In a separate report on Tuesday, another group said it had documented a
continued wave of violent attacks by those who control the Marange diamonds.
Over the past six months, dozens of small-scale miners at the diamond fields
have been shot or beaten by guards or attacked by guard dogs, according to
the report by Human Rights Watch.

“These acts were particularly brutal and barbaric,” said Tiseke Kasambala, a
researcher at Human Rights Watch. “I spoke to the miners and saw the scars
and wounds on them.”

The Marange diamond fields are among the richest in the world today, but
most of the revenue never reaches the Zimbabwean treasury. The Zimbabwean
Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, complained this year that $300-million in
diamond revenue had not arrived in the government coffers.

Instead, analysts say, most of the money goes into the hands of the
Zimbabwean military and the political party of the long-ruling president,
Robert Mugabe. There are widespread concerns that the diamond revenue could
make it easier for the military and Mr. Mugabe to gain control of the next
Zimbabwean election, as they did in the last election in 2008.

“The money is going into private pockets,” said Farai Maguwu, director of
the Centre for Research and Development in eastern Zimbabwe, who has
investigated the Marange diamonds for the past three years.

“The diamonds have brought more sorrow than joy to the people of Marange,”
he said. “They’re a curse to Zimbabwe, not a blessing.”

Mr. Maguwu was arrested by Zimbabwean authorities last year, just two days
after he met an investigator from the Kimberley Process to discuss the
diamond situation. He was held in detention for 40 days on charges of
“communicating falsehoods.”

Though he was eventually released, the police harassment has continued. Last
week, he said, three of his staff members were detained when they tried to
provide medical assistance to the victims of assaults and dog bites at the
diamond fields.

The Kimberley Process, which represents 75 nations, aims to prevent the
trade of “blood diamonds” that fuel wars around the world. It has imposed
restrictions on Zimbabwe’s diamond exports since 2009, following reports
that the Zimbabwean military had killed more than 200 small-scale diamond
miners at the Marange fields.

Last year, several temporary sales of Zimbabwean diamonds were permitted by
the Kimberley Process. Its current chairman, Mathieu Yamba of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, announced in March that Zimbabwe could export its Marange
diamonds, but most of the world’s biggest diamond-trading and consuming
nations did not accept the decision.

The leaked document, obtained by Partnership Africa Canada, shows that
Zimbabwe offered $201-million in diamonds to foreign buyers on March 17 –
two days before Mr. Yamba announced that Zimbabwean exports would be
permitted.

The document specifies that the buyers should transfer their payments to any
of three Zimbabwean commercial banks. Shareholders of the three banks
include some of the world’s best-known financial institutions, including
Barclay’s Bank and the investment arm of the World Bank.

Although the document does not indicate who purchased the diamonds, there is
no question that the diamonds would have been snapped up by foreign buyers,
as happened with all previous Zimbabwean sales, according to Alan Martin,
research director at Partnership Africa Canada.

Examine Your Head: AAG Tells KP

http://www.radiovop.com/

By Trust Matsilele, Johannesburg, September, 01 2011- Prominent broadcaster
turned ‘politician’ and Affirmative Action Group (AAG) President, Supa
Mandiwanzira took a swipe at the Kimberly Process, an organisation
responsible for diamond certification and called on it to have its head
examined as it had divided the organisation along racial lines.

Mandiwanzira launched vitriol on the organisation for its delay in
certifying the sale of Harare’s alluvial stones arguing that this had led to
suffering of ordinary citizens.

“Kimberly Process (KP) should get its head examined as now it has been
divided into white Kimberly Process and black Kimberly Process”, said
Mandiwanzira, an alleged Mugabe loyalist who was a key figure in 2002
controversial Zimbabwe Presidential  elections who owns a small company with
interests in communications industry.

Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa, Godfrey Magwenzi urged
organisations accusing Zimbabwe of human rights abuses at the Marange and
Chiadzwa diamond fields to substantiate their claims with concrete evidence.

“Organisations need to support their allegations and claims with concrete
evidence. The Marange diamonds are a threat to diamond industry long
dominated by the Canadians among other Western countries, the reason why
Canadian funded organisations would stop at nothing in discrediting Marange
diamonds and Zimbabwe’s sell of its precious stones”, said Magwenzi.

Tafadzwa Msarara, the AAG- Secretary General , who donned a Zanu (PF) in
scripted tie, also attacked organisations he alleged were responsible for
perpetrating fictitious and malicious information on Zimbabwe and singled
out Partnership Africa Canada for producing reports he branded as cheap form
of propaganda.

The AAG delegation that was also reinforced by the Zimbabwe embassy staff
called on the civil society organisation attending the meeting to enlist
their signatures in the anti-sanctions campaign being led by former ruling
party Zanu (PF).

Zanu (PF) with its aligned bodies has of late been occupying every available
platform in the region to defend its position on the Zimbabwe’s economic and
political meltdown squarely blamed at President Robert Mugabe’s failed
policies and quasi fiscal policies that were enacted to help his power
retention project.

Mandiwanzira, Msarara and Joshua Marufu blamed the European Union and US
governments for Zimbabwe’s woes, the usual rhetoric that is churned by
President Mugabe, alleging that the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were
affecting even social delivery such as health delivery system.

In response to the allegations on sanctions the EU’s head of delegation to
Zimbabwe, Ambassador Aldo Dell’ Ariccia said sanctions were in no way
affecting innocent Zimbabweans but a few clique of elites who are regarded
as Mugabe loyalists.

“On sanctions affecting the people of Zimbabweans, stop it, the issue is
that the country’s resources are not being directed towards social delivery”,
Ariccia strongly protested allegations leveled against his body.

Electoral Amendment Bill — ZESN Public Meeting

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network yesterday, 30 August held a public meeting at the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare from 5pm to 7pm. The meeting critically analyzed the contents of the Bill.

Mr. Charles Mangongera moderated the meeting with Hon. Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) and Mr. Gideon Mandaza (MDC), a ZESN representative being the panelists. Other invited speakers such as the Zanu Pf representative could not make it due to other commitments. The meeting was well attended by over 100 members of the public, CSO representatives and political party activists. A number of pertinent issues were raised during the lively discussions. Below are some of the issues an d concerns raised during the meeting:

Highlights of Issues raised;

The meeting oversaw a healthy exchange of ideas and thoughts on the Electoral Amendment Bill. ZESN was also encouraged by the overwhelming attendance and looks forward to continuing the Electoral Amendment Bill debate to all provinces in Zimbabwe.

E-mail zesn@africaonline.co.zw or   info@zesn.org.zw

World Bank official: loans for Zimbabwe a long way off

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Aug 31, 2011, 16:20 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwe, still struggling to recover from a catastrophic economic
collapse three years ago, is still 'far off' from qualifying for World Bank
financing, a senior bank official said Wednesday.

The country endured eight years of negative growth, inflation of 500 billion
percent, a currency that was rendered worthless and a severe breakdown of
infrastructure that many economists blame on President Robert Mugaabe's
policies.

But after entering into a coalition government with the opposition in 2008,
Zimbabwe has cut inflation to less than 5 percent, introduced the US dollar
as its currency and forecasts growth this year of 9.3 percent.

But World Bank country director in Zimbabwe Kundhavi Kadiresan told a press
conference here that the country still faced 'enormous problems.'

Although growth was 'impressive,' the country was still bedevilled by an
external debt burden of 8.8 billion dollars, of which 6 billion was in
arrears. The bank was in talks with the government over the debt, she said.

The country's power utility is able to produce less than half of the 2.2
million megawatts needed to meet demand, and would need to raise 13 billion
dollars to revamp the power sector, she said.

Huge investment was also needed to achieve functioning road maintenance, and
manufacturing industries were crippled by 'very old' machinery.

'It's very hard for Zimbabwe to be competitive,' she said. The World Bank
was 'really keen to work with the government in terms of getting this
country back on track,' she said.

'However, there is still a long way from a normal relationship (with the
Bank), due to arrears and lack of policy clarity.'

She cited policies pushed through by Mugabe's wing of the power-sharing
government to force foreign and white-owned businesses to surrender 51 per
cent of their ownership to black Zimbabweans.

This month Mugabe's black empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere threatened
British-based banks Standard Chartered and Barclays with losing their
banking licences if they did not produce an 'acceptable' plan for divesting
their ownership to blacks.

Critics say that the 'indigenization' drive is a political strategy to boost
votes for the 87-year-old Mugabe in elections expected in the next two
years, and that the main beneficiaries can be expected to be cronies in
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

Mugabe 'hijacks history syllabus'

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za

Eyewitness News | 7 Hour(s) Ago

The Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) on Wednesday said the
history syllabus is being abused.

They said some teachers are too frightened to teach components that are not
favourable to the ruling ZANU-PF party.

In a media statement, PTUZ said history teachers in Mashonaland Central were
recently summoned for a reorientation programme.

The teachers were encouraged to take children to visit burial shrines for
people killed during the independence war.

Meanwhile, the union is pleading with parents to 'unteach’ what teachers are
being forced to say.

Archbishop of Canterbury Looks to Ease Zimbabwe Church Violence

http://www.christianpost.com

Wed, Aug. 31 2011 01:08 PM EDT

By Christine Thomasos | Christian Post Contributor

Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is hoping to help
alleviate conflict over church properties during a visit to Zimbabwe in
October.

Since 2007, the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe has been in a state of upheaval,
stemming from some being opposed to a seemingly liberal stance on
homosexuality.

At that time Bishop Nolbert Kunonga attempted to remove the head of the
Diocese of Harare in the country.

The following year, Kunonga was excommunicated from communion. However, a
close relationship with controversial Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
allowed him to take control of various church properties.

The Anglican Journal reports that the matters have recently taken a violent
turn.

Kunonga was recently granted authority over various Anglican church
properties in a court ruling. However, he has reportedly chosen unethical
and violent ways to remove priests and worshippers from the properties,
according to The Anglican Journal.

In a press release released from the Diocese, the violent turn of events in
the Zimbabwe church community was detailed.

"Clergy and members of the laity belonging to the Anglican Diocese of Harare
(CPCA) across Harare, Mashonaland West, East and Central have been receiving
threats, constant harassment and lately severe beatings from Kunonga's
hooligans, masquerading as clergy, accompanied by 'certainly hired thugs,’”
the press release stated.

"The latest casualty is Reverend Jonah Mudowaya who was severely assaulted
in Chinhoyi on Wednesday 24 August."

Chad Gandiya, the current bishop officially recognized by the Anglican
Communion, said police in the country have been aiding Kunonga and leaving
some with no place to worship.

"There are parishioners being banned from church buildings by Kunonga with
help of the police,” Gandiya told the Harare Daily News. “They are
worshipping in open spaces, under trees or booking other church buildings."

During Williams’ visit, the archbishop will attempt to develop better
relations in the country by speaking with President Mugabe.

According to Marie Papworth, media director at Williams’ office, the
archbishop will make the trip “a pastoral visit to show support for the
Anglican Church there.”

'I wanted to give Mugabe pangolin'

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

By Tendai Kamhungira, Court Writer
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 11:08

HARARE - One of the two men accused of contravening the Parks and Wildlife
Act after being found in possession of a pangolin yesterday made a startling
claim that he wanted to hand it over to President Robert Mugabe.

The accused Stephen Chizema said this in his defence.

He said he wanted to deliver the animal to Mugabe at the State House, in
keeping with the country’s traditional laws which orders that such animals
be handed over to traditional leaders whenever they are found.

However, Mugabe is not a traditional leader but receives the pangolins as
President.

Chizema, 37, is jointly charged with Prince Muusha, 30.

They both appeared before Harare magistrate Archie Wochiunga on two counts
of unlawful possession of a specially protected animal and unnecessarily
tying up or confining an animal.

Chizema pleaded guilty to possessing the animal but denied that he wanted to
sell it, while the State insisted that the two wanted to sell the animal for
$7 000.

The two denied the allegations arguing that they did not know each other but
only met when Muusha offered a lift to Chizema but was not aware that the
latter was carrying a pangolin.

The two who are out of custody on a $100 bail each will be back in court for
judgment on September 14.

Prosecutor Innocent Chingarande alleges that on July 1 this year, the two
were driving along Robert Mugabe Road in the city heading towards Eastlea
suburb.

The state argues that the two were allegedly looking for a buyer who could
purchase one of the protected species in Zimbabwe.

Police officers from minerals unit, the court heard received a tip-off that
the two were in possession of a pangolin that they intended to sell.

Chingarande told the court that the police officers then tracked the two and
caught up with them recovering the pangolin after carrying out a search in
the vehicle.

The two allegedly told the police officers that they had picked the 15.4kg
animal in the bush.

The police however, arrested the two after they failed to produce a licence
and a permit which authorised them to be in possession of the animal.

The state alleges the animal is valued at $500.

The two are represented by Agnes Chatsama from Masawi and Associates.

Pictures: 2011 Zimfest a 'fantastic success'

Air Zimbabwe strike enters second month

http://www.africareview.com

By KITSEPILE NYATHI in Harare
Posted Wednesday, August 31  2011 at  11:55

Air Zimbabwe is yet to resume international and local flights, a month after
a strike by pilots grounded its planes.

The pilots are demanding unpaid salaries and allowances spanning a period of
over two months. They went on strike on July 29.

Mr Innocent Mavhunga, the Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer, said no
solution had been found for the impasse.

“We are still where we were last Friday,” he said. “We have not secured
funds and we are still looking for money to enable us to resume flights.”

A rescue plan has divided President Robert Mugabe’s government with Finance
minister Tendai Biti insisting that government cannot afford to fund another
bailout.

Collapsed

Mr Biti is among those who want the airline to be disbanded because it has
always relied on Treasury for survival.

“We are not going to bail out Air Zimbabwe,” he said. “We have no money.

“We have a deficit of US$86 million on critical issues and giving Air
Zimbabwe money is not a priority.”

Zimbabwe’s attitude towards Libya’s NTC really irritates me!

Wilfred Mhanda on Question Time part 1

Mugabe must account for the goings on at Marange

By Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 31/08/11

The reported ongoing shooting, beating and unleashing of attack dogs on poor
local unlicensed miners in Marange exposes Zimbabwe’s unashamed
determination to disregard human rights and the rule of law.

No sane person would wish that the law of the jungle takes over in any part
of the country, certainly not in diamond-rich Marange.

Experts say the rule of law is “a legal maxim that provides that no person
is above the law” (Wikipedia).

In this case, the police, the private security guards and of course the
unlicensed miners are all not above the law. What is important is the
professional enforcement of the law using minimum force and recognizing the
possible consequences of acting outside the law.

The alleged offender, regardless of gender, race, nationality, political
affiliation, and so on, has his or her human rights especially if their
treatment is going to jeopardize the sale of Marange rough diamonds.

Universally, offenders have a right to be treated humanly during arrest and
while awaiting trial by a lawfully constituted court to decide the merits of
the case and mete out the appropriate penalty if found guilty.

Other authorities maintain that the rule of law requires the government to
exercise its power in accordance with well-established and clearly written
rules, regulations, and legal principles (See the freedictionary.com). In
other words, no-one is above the law.

Even if the miners may are accused of mining illegally, they should be
apprehended in a lawful manner. The rule of law also requires that those who
allegedly shot, beat and unleashed dogs at the unlicensed miners be arrested
and put on trial.

Victims should be made aware of their right to sue for compensation for any
injuries sustained during arrest including gunshot wounds and dog bites. It
is important that human rights lawyers afford assistance to victims of
state-sponsored and privately-perpetrated violence to ensure justice is
done.

Instead of rectifying the ongoing rights violations at Marange in particular
and in the country in general, Zanu-pf is desperately trying to ring-fence
rights abuses from public and international scrutiny.

For instance, it has tried to restrict the definition of human rights to
domestic law in the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill thereby avoiding
reference to all international human rights instruments the country has
ratified or to which it has acceded.

Even more curious was the regime’s attempt to exempt rights abuses committed
before 13 February 2009 from the Commission’s scope of investigations.

Sometimes the regime tries to defend the indefensible. For instance, during
a General Assembly debate in December last year, Mugabe’s representative to
the UN Chitsaka Chipaziwa, avoided discussion of alleged rights abuses in
Marange, choosing instead to play to the gallery by attacking the
allegations as “the howling of the jealous”.

“Latter day colonialists must wake up: the beautiful train laden with
glorious stones is leaving without you. Choo, choo, choo,” Chipaziwa said
(New Zimbabwe, 17/12/10).

It is unfortunate that the regime’s sympathisers are in denial. For
instance, President of a Zanu-pf aligned organisation which advocates
seizure of non-black owned businesses the Affirmative Action Group (AAG),
Supa Mandiwanzira reportedly claimed “right thinking citizens of the world
are no longer taking these western-backed groups seriously…”(New Zimbabwe,
30/08/11).

Neither are, right-thinking people taking AAG seriously.

Until rights abuses are eliminated in Marange, the rough diamonds will
remain tainted and not fit for sale as conflict free. At the end of the day,
Robert Mugabe must account for the goings on at Marange diamond fields.

Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London
zimanalysis2009@gmail.com