The Zimbabwe Situation

On the eve of the official opening of the 32^nd Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) warning of serious international food shortages and price surges, another Zimbabwean farmer has been found guilty of farming and ordered to vacate his home.

A South African national, Dirk Visagie, invested all of his funds in a 42-hectare peri-urban plot known as Wantage farm in October 2001, 20 months after the land invasions began.

The farm, on the outskirts of Chegutu, a town in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West province, was sold to Visagie by a government parastatal and was therefore deemed to be a safe investment. Furthermore, the Minister of Lands had issued a “certificate of no interest” for the property.

A month later, however, the Minister of Lands gave an offer letter for a nearby property to Timothy Madavanhu, the chairman of the rural district council, and shortly afterwards Madavanhu arrived to claim Visagie’s property.

Despite the fact that the offer letter was not for Wantage farm, Madavanhu insisted it was the property he wanted and he initiated a campaign of harassment and intimidation that included moving thugs onto the property, breaking into the Visagie family home and lighting raging veld fires.

After six traumatic years of harassment, Visagie was in 2007 criminally charged for illegally occupying his home but the charges were eventually withdrawn after he pleaded not guilty.

The following year, the regional court of the SADC Tribunal allowed 77 Zimbabwean farmers, including Visagie, to be joined to the landmark Campbell case and interim relief was granted to them to remain on their farms.

In theory, this gave them the protection of the SADC Tribunal, the highest court in the region, but in practice the violence and intimidation instigated by Madavanhu continued and, in some cases, was escalated.

On November 28, 2008, the Tribunal ruled that the farmers facing eviction could keep their farms because Zimbabwe’s land reform programme was discriminatory and undermined the rule of law.

At the SADC Summit in August 2010, the heads of state resolved to suspend the Tribunal over Zimbabwe’s refusal to honour its rulings on the land grab campaign. It was decided that a review of the role functions and terms of reference of the Tribunal should be undertaken and concluded within six months.”

In the interim, the court was allowed to continue dealing with the cases in hand and in December 2010, the Tribunal ruled that the Zimbabwe government pay US$17 million to nine victims of organised violence and torture perpetrated by the army and police.[i]

The following month, January 2011, Visagie was again criminally charged for illegally occupying State land “without authority” and was forced to stop all cropping on the farm.

Three months later, in April 2011, the findings of the review, undertaken by WTI Advisors Ltd, Geneva, an affiliate of the World Trade Institute, were released. WTIA found that the Tribunal was correct in its findings, that SADC law should be supreme over domestic laws and that all decisions made by it should be binding and enforceable in all member states.

At the SADC Summit in May 2011, following intensive lobbying by the Zimbabwe government, the Tribunal was dissolved and the SADC justice ministers and attorney generals were tasked with reviewing the court’s operation.

They are due to present their recommendations at this month’s summit on 17 and 18 August.

Earlier this week, judgment day for Visagie arrived and the Chegutu magistrate pronounced a verdict of guilty. Visagie was ushered out of court by prison officers and into holding cells while his lawyer paid the requisite fine.

Ironically, Timothy Mudavanhu, who was the driving force behind the case, has in the interim applied for permanent residence in Canada where his daughter and her family live.

Visagie and Andrew Ferreira, a former Zimbabwe Tobacco Association president, who was also found guilty the same day, are the last of the 15 SADC Tribunal protected farmers in the district who had access to their homes. The other 13 were all forced to abandon their homes following intensive intimidation.

An international campaign has been mounted to prevent the SADC heads of state from curtailing the powers of the SADC Tribunal and to ensure that they approve and implement the recommendations of WTIA’s report.

This would enable the SADC Tribunal to once again function according to requirements set out in the SADC Treaty and would ensure that its human rights mandate was retained.

In an agri-alert released this week (on 16 August), Zimbabwe’s Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) has warned that the country’s inability to attain self-sufficiency in maize production is set to get worse.

“Output is less than half of domestic consumption, and substantial imports will be necessary to meet the production deficit,” CFU president Charles Taffs said.

“Unless the Zimbabwe government immediately puts in place policies that boost maize production, the country may well face starvation,” he warned.

Prior to the farm invasions of 2000, Zimbabwe not only produced enough maize to feed its people but also had surpluses to export. In the USA, more than two thirds of the grain crops are produced in the areas affected by the worst drought in 50 years.

The FAO reports that this development could result in food shortages in countries that rely on imports of maize, wheat and soya beans. Maize is the staple food commodity in Zimbabwe.

Zuma briefs SADC Troika about his visit to Harare

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 August 2012

On Thursday night South African President Jacob Zuma briefed the SADC Troika
on his latest mediation efforts in the Zimbabwe crisis, following his visit
to Harare on Wednesday.

During the closed door session Zuma presented his findings which were likely
dominated by the failure of the parties in the GPA to agree on the new
constitution that was released by COPAC in July.

A source in Maputo told SW Radio Africa that no statement was released after
the Troika meeting. Instead the Troika will forward Zuma’s findings to the
Heads of State meeting that started in the Mozambican capital on Friday.

However Zuma will not be part of the discussions as he cut short his stay in
Maputo in order to return home and visit the platinum mine outside
Johannesburg, the scene of the deadly shootout between police and
mineworkers on Thursday.

Observers have expressed concern that without Zuma at the Summit, the
question of Zimbabwe will take a back seat. There had been hopes that the
dispute on the constitution would be the major talking point when Heads of
State from the region met.

‘This is a two-day event, so it’s highly likely that a communiqué will be
issued at the end of the Summit on Saturday or Sunday,’ our source said.
Parties to the GPA are represented by their principals; ZANU PF’s Robert
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, representing
the two MDC’s.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who was snubbed when the other
principals met Zuma on Wednesday in Harare, is in Maputo for the summit. As
it stands Mutambara does not represent any party in the GPA after he lost a
court battle with Ncube to be leader of the MDC. Despite waiting 5 hours he
was blocked from seeing Zuma in Harare.

Zuma’s international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu confirmed that Mutambara
had not been invited to the Harare meeting because he was not a leader of
any party.

It is hoped that even without Zuma SADC will take the latest constitutional
hurdle in Zimbabwe seriously and nudge the GPA parties to reach consensus on
the new draft. Although all negotiators agreed and signed off the document,
ZANU PF is now stalling the process and saying they want amendments of some
clauses that they consider contentious.

Stand up to Mugabe tactics, Zuma told

http://www.iol.co.za

August 17 2012 at 10:36am
By Peta Thornycroft

President Jacob Zuma had a “rough” meeting with Zimbabwe’s leaders in Harare
on Wednesday night as he tried to persuade them to agree on a draft
constitution so he could report some success to a regional summit in Maputo
today.

Though Zuma, the official regional mediator in Zimbabwe, acknowledged only
“minor hitches” in his talks, others close to the negotiations said the
meeting was much harder.

Negotiators from all three parties in Zimbabwe’s unity government finally
agreed a few weeks ago, after many months of hard bargaining, on a draft
constitution which will be the foundation of new elections. It is already
the product of difficult compromises by all three parties, none of which
likes it very much.

Zuma was hoping to take this document to the Southern African Development
Community which is supervising the Zimbabwe negotiations. But when he got to
Harare, he and his team were told by Zanu-PF: “We didn’t actually sign it
off, we just initialled it.”

As the meeting with Zuma wrapped up, sources said Mugabe told him: “We are
now at a stage where principals have been served with the draft constitution
and each party at the level of the principals is now considering the draft.”

But Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry Minister Welshman Ncube,
the leaders of the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), factions both
told Zuma they had already endorsed the draft.

This was while the pro-Zanu-PF Herald newspapers said Zanu-PF had considered
the draft and “effected amendments”.

In fact, Zanu-PF has no power to effect amendments on its own as it can only
do so after further negotiations supervised by the multiparty parliamentary
committee which negotiated the constitution.

Zanu-PF militants have made it clear that they do not agree with several
clauses in the draft, especially the lessening of powers of the president.

Zanu-PF’s objections to the draft constitution present Zuma with a dilemma
at today’s SADC summit: should he insist that Mugabe accept the document and
risk a confrontation, or appease him and open up a whole new phase of the
already protracted negotiations?

Brian Raftopoulos, a veteran Zimbabwe analyst from the Solidarity Peace
Trust, said Zuma and the SADC should and could put their foot down. “SA has
enough diplomatic support within SADC to say to the spoilers [Zanu-PF]:
‘Enough is enough, we have come with you this far, we guaranteed this
agreement, we have seen the “vagueries” and blockages put in the way, and
the heart of it is now [settled] by the constitutional reform process.’

“It is up to SADC to take a unified position and insist this process moves
forward and is signed up to by all the parties.

“SADC’s credibility is at stake. They have set out guidelines, given it a
lot of time and from the beginning bent over backwards to accommodate
Mugabe. SADC must take a strong position as this draft is the production of
a long-term relationship.”

Raftopoulos said if Mugabe walked away from the SADC, dissolved parliament
and unilaterally ended the inclusive government, as many feared he might,
“this will be a real problem for Africa to decide what to do”.

But some observers fear that Mugabe and Zanu-PF may be feeling strong enough
to defy Zuma and the SADC as Zimbabwe is not as broke as it was in 2008 when
Mugabe agreed to enter into a unity government with the two MDCs after they
had beaten Zanu-PF in elections. Then schools were closed, shops were empty
and hyper-inflation had wiped out the Zimbabwe dollar.

Now Zimbabwe uses the US dollar and the SA rand, and there is a degree of
stability. Ironically, the MDC cabinet ministers, in particular, have
delivered a better-controlled finance ministry, and the return of children
to schools and staff to hospitals. In addition, the top clique in Zanu-PF
has benefited from illicit revenues from diamonds mined in eastern
Zimbabwe. - Independent Foreign Service

Mugabe insists on renegotiating draft constitution

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 August 2012

A row is brewing between the coalition partners over the draft charter that
was agreed on by negotiators last month, with Robert Mugabe insisting more
changes be made before the All Stakeholders Conference that is to follow.

The draft, signed by negotiators who represented all the political parties,
was understood to be the final version that would be considered by the
principals in government, before a parliamentary vote to make it law.

The MDC formations adopted the draft last week but ZANU PF’s decision making
politburo failed to agree on a position after four marathon meetings. A
fifth meeting held this week Thursday finally decided on the amendments the
party will demand from their coalition partners.

According to the ZANU PF mouthpiece Herald newspaper, ZANU PF is pleased
that the constitution “explicitly outlaws homosexuality and same-sex
marriages among other things”. But ZANU PF want several changes.

“We say no to the issues of running mates and want Vice Presidents to be
appointed,” party spokesman Rugare Gumbo is quoted as saying. This was in
response to a clause in the draft charter that required Presidential
candidates to select two vice presidents who would run for office with them.

The Herald said ZANU PF is also against the creation of a national
prosecuting authority, fearing this would dilute the powers of the Attorney
General. “The office of the AG has to be retained and we say no to the
national prosecuting authority,” the Herald quotes Gumbo as saying.

According to The Herald the revised version will now be handed over to the
principals “for guidance on the way forward”. But the other principals,
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC-N President Welshman Ncube, have made
it clear the draft is final and needs to go to a referendum so the people
can decide.

MDC-N spokesman Nhlanhla Dube told SW Radio Africa that the time for
political negotiations is over. Dube said the party position is that
Zimbabweans must go to a second All Stakeholders Conference.

“All the issues were negotiated with express instructions from the political
parties. The negotiators consulted their top leadership so there is nothing
new. Enough concessions have been made and time for negotiations is
finished,” Dube said.

Okay Machisa from the Crisis Coalition agreed and insisted the document does
not belong to ZANU PF. He said negotiations have been going on for a very
long time and the draft was agreed on through consultations with all the
political parties.

“It is shocking that one party would make a u-turn and demand further
amendments after all the negotiations are done. It is time to let the people
of Zimbabwe decide and move on,” Machisa told SW Radio Africa.

Successor clause spooks Zanu-PF

http://mg.co.za/

17 Aug 2012 14:02 - Jason Moyo

The necessity for Robert Mugabe to appoint a vice-president is
constitutional dealbreaker for party politburo.

Zanu-PF is blocking a draft constitution that would dilute President Robert
Mugabe's powers and force him to name a successor, stalling a key step
towards reform in Zimbabwe. And it is believed that Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai may also back the scrapping of the
clause, even though his party is in favour of the reform.

Ahead of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Maputo
this week, the impasse has increased pressure on President Jacob Zuma to
act. Zuma's visit to Harare this week was, according to his spokesperson Mac
Maharaj, meant to ensure Zimbabwe remained "on the route to a fair,
intimidation-free election". Zuma is SADC's mediator in the Zimbabwe
impasse.

However, positions appear to be hardening within Mugabe's inner circle,
which believes constitutional reform is being used to nudge Mugabe out of
power. Zanu-PF's representatives to an inter-party panel drawing up a new
constitution had agreed to and signed the draft, but now the party said it
must be overhauled. Mugabe's top council, the Zanu-PF politburo, has held a
series of marathon meetings on the draft, many of them lasting through the
night.

A key dispute area is a clause that would compel a presidential candidate to
name a running mate. The president would be asked to name his "first
vice-president", who would automatically succeed him should he leave office
before the end of his term.

If the draft passes and Mugabe names his first vice-president, he will in
effect be anointing a successor. Mugabe has avoided doing so for years,
instead ensuring his survival by playing rivals off against each other while
convincing supporters that only he can hold the party together. He has
previously said he had considered retirement, but naming a successor would
tear his faction-riddled party apart.

Leadership structures
Although both factions of the MDC have backed the draft, Tsvangirai, facing
his own factional battles, may secretly be in favour of scrapping the
clause. Reports have suggested Tsvangirai might name his closest advisor and
friend, Ian Makone, as one of his deputies, but such a move would anger
other senior party figures.

As a further sign of the worsening internal division in Zanu-PF, Mugabe was
last month forced to dismantle his grassroots leadership structures, called
district co-ordinating committees, after factional battles erupted
countrywide.

The new vice-president draft would also take away Mugabe's power to appoint
provincial governors and weaken the authority of traditional chiefs.
Governors would be chosen by the party with the most votes in a province.
Governors and chiefs form part of Mugabe's patronage network, useful in the
countryside as a result of their influence over the distribution of land and
food aid.

The draft also proposes that Parliament, not the president, approves the
deployment of troops. The president would also no longer be able to make
appointments to the judiciary. Judges would be picked only after public
hearings conducted by the Judicial Services Commission.

Zanu-PF is also opposed to dual citizenship, proposed reforms to the
attorney general's office and the setting up of a Constitutional Court. The
party has added that Zimbabwe's struggle history is not visible enough in
the preamble.

New draft
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who negotiated the draft on behalf of
Zanu-PF, said the party was auditing the draft "clause by clause, sentence
by sentence and word by word".

Jonathan Moyo, a member of the Zanu-PF politburo and a key party strategist,
has said of the draft: "If you ask what is it that is in the draft that
raises problems, I am tempted to say everything. But if I say that it has 18
chapters, I can tell you that each of the 18 chapters has a problem."

On Monday, Mugabe said the refer-endum would be held only once all parties
had agreed to a new draft.

"Once there is consensus, we will go for a referendum. It is our expectation
elections will fall soon after," Mugabe said.

Both MDC factions said they would oppose any amendments proposed by Zanu-PF,
setting the stage for yet another deadlock.

"If any political party doesn't approve the document we have produced there
is nothing to take to the next stage," Chinamasa said this week.

Douglas Mwonzora, the spokesperson for Tsvangirai's party, said Zanu-PF
should let the draft go to a referendum.

"We also have areas that we need to be tightened, but we have negotiated for
[a] long [time] and should leave it to the people to decide," he said.

The draft is supposed to be put to a referendum before new elections. The
government planned to hold the referendum by October, but this now seems
unlikely as Zanu-PF digs in its heels.

MDCs vow running mates fight

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

17/08/2012 00:00:00
by Moses Chibaya

THE two MDC factions in the coalition government have defended a requirement
in the draft constitution that presidential candidates must name two running
mates, insisting that it provides a succession mechanism that guarantees
stability.

The Zanu PF politburo met in Harare on Thursday and demanded that the
provision be expunged from the draft, while recommending a raft of other
amendments.

Zanu PF wants to maintain the status quo where the winning candidate
appoints the deputy presidents, seen by political analysts as President
Robert Mugabe refusing to take a bait which would have forced him to name
his preferred successor.
The clause was introduced by negotiators from the Welshman Ncube-led MDC to
break an impasse between Zanu PF and the MDC-T.

During a nation-wide outreach to gather people’s views about the new
constitution, all three parties agree that there was widespread public
concern over what would happen in the event of the sitting President’s
death, incapacitation or impeachment.

According to MDC spokesman Nhlanhla Dube, on the table were three proposals:
to go for destabilising by-elections; have parliament sitting as an
electoral college to elect the next President or simply have the former
President’s running mate step in to finish his term.

The controversy over running mates dominated a public debate organised by
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) on Thursday night. The discussion,
held under the theme ‘The Presidential Running Mate Principle: Solution or
Complication to Zimbabwe’s Protracted Succession Nightmare?’ featured
officials from the MDC-T, MDC and Mavambo-Kusile.

Qhubani Moyo, the MDC’s director for policy and research, said the clause
made it into the draft after being approved by Zanu PF negotiators Nicholas
Goche and Patrick Chianamasa, as well as the MDC-T pair of Elton Mangoma and
Tendai Biti.

“During negotiations, there was continuous engagement between negotiators or
management committee with the principals or the leaders of their political
parties,” Moyo said.

“On the issue of the running mates, the Zanu PF negotiators asked for a time
out. They went out and consulted. When they came back they said “mudhara
abvuma” (the old man has accepted). Our assumption was that “mudhara” was
Mugabe.

“We believed that it was an issue that was concluded through the necessary
organs of the party, but today we are really surprised.”

Moyo said his party would block attempts to amend the draft, insisting that
if Zanu PF has a problem, they should campaign for its rejection at a
referendum.

“If Zanu PF has a problem with the draft they have an option of campaigning
for a NO vote. They can even be given a leeway of having another draft that
contains what they have and then we have two drafts going to a referendum
and people will decide,” he said.

Moyo said the issue of running mates emerged from the outreach programme
spearhead by the Parliamentary Constitution Select Committee (COPAC).

“One of the crucial things that emerged from the outreach programme was the
issue of how the people of Zimbabwe wanted the issue of transition to be
managed,” he said.

“They wanted clarity in terms of what happens should the president die,
should the president be impeached or should the president be defeated in an
election.”

Moyo defended the idea of running mates saying “it creates stability, it
creates an environment where people can predict where the country is going,
and it also creates an environment where investors can have confidence in
terms of the future.”

COPAC Co-Chairperson and the MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, concurred
with Moyo, and also repeated his party’s stance that they would block Zanu
PF attempts to amend the document.
“It [running mates clause] ensures smooth transition. We have made it
possible for everyone to become a President.”

Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn national mobilisation secretary Phillip Chapfunga also
hailed the idea, but said it was unlikely to work in countries where leaders
do not respect the constitution.

“The arrangement of a running mate is a very noble idea but it works in
countries where leaders have the will power to understand and respect the
constitution.”

Section 5.5 (2) of the draft Constitution stipulates that “every candidate
for election as President must nominate two persons to stand for election
jointly with him or her as his or her Vice Presidents, and must designate
one of those persons as his or her candidate for first Vice President and
the other as his or her candidate for second Vice President.”

It envisages that the names of running mates would also be on the ballot
paper – meaning Vice Presidents would be elected as part of the ticket,
rather than appointed as is the case under the current constitution.

Howard Hospital facing closure after eviction of only doctor

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
17 August 2012

The Salvation Army run Howard Hospital in Chiweshe is now facing closure,
after the top doctor there was forced out of his position this week.

Tensions in Chiweshe were running high on Friday after protests by Chiweshe
residents turned violent on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of 12 people.
Residents have been up in arms over the eviction of Dr. Paul Thistle, who
has now taken annual leave before his ‘transfer’ away from the Howard
mission next month.

This ‘transfer’ is the official position being taken by the Salvation Army
and hospital administrators, despite the forced nature of Dr. Thistle’s
dismissal. Earlier this month, Chiweshe residents told SW Radio Africa that
armed police had been called in to evict the doctor, apparently on orders
from Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Mujuru is a senior Salvation Army official and it is understood that her
clampdown on Howard Hospital is part of the worsening infighting in ZANU PF
over the future leadership of the party. Chiweshe is said to be a stronghold
of Mujuru’s rival Emmerson Mnangagwa and her attempts to control the
respected hospital are allegedly linked to her attempts to control the area.

This fight may now result in the closure of a hospital that is highly
regarded and trusted, because Dr. Thistle was the only doctor at the
facility. His ‘transfer’ means the facility is only relying on its nursing
staff, who have not even been paid since July.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported on Friday that the
hospital was not functioning, although there has been no official
announcement. He said that serious cases are being transferred to hospitals
in Harare and Concession, while other patients are being discharged without
receiving proper care.

A patient who was discharged from Howard Mission Hospital whilst sick

The father of one of the prematurely discharged patients told Muchemwa that
he had brought his son to the Howard Hospital because of its excellent
reputation, saying he had “bragged” about the facility. But his son is now
sleeping outside after being discharged.

Muchemwa reported that this was the case for several other patients who
could be seen milling outside the hospital, many still with IV plugs in
their arms.

“Patients are really in a bad shape. There are some recovering from surgery,
some are cancer patients. Many travelled from far across the country because
Howard Hospital has such a good reputation,” Muchemwa said.

He added: “The situation is a time bomb because residents are very angry.”

Already 12 residents have been arrested and are being held at the Concession
Police Station after their protest against Dr. Thistle’s dismissal turned
violent on Thursday. The protesting group overturned a car belonging to a
Salvation Army delegation, which in turn had to seek refuge in the hospital
buildings. Police were eventually called in and had to use tear gas to break
up the protest.

The concern now is for the future of Howard Hospital and for the hundreds of
thousands of people who rely on it for care. Many Zimbabweans remember the
hospital as the only facility that remained functional when the political
and economic crisis saw the collapse of the country’ medical sector. This
had been almost entirely because of Dr. Thistle, whose reputation and that
of the hospital’s still sees patients travelling from across the country to
be treated there.

Zimbabwe protesters demand doctor's reinstatement

Aug 17, 7:05 AM EDT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Police in Zimbabwe say they have arrested at least
12 people in unrest over the firing of a popular Canadian doctor from a
rural hospital in the impoverished northeast.

Witnesses said Friday hundreds of villagers demonstrated outside the
hospital run by the Salvation Army to demand the reinstatement of Dr. Paul
Thistle who has worked in the Chiweshe community medical facility, about 80
kilometers (50 miles) from Harare, for 16 years. A church vehicle was
overturned and riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters on
Thursday.

Thistle, from Scarborough in Canada, has been given until Sept. 1 to leave
his post.

Witnesses said Thistle had disagreements with superiors over hospital
development projects, but community leaders want him to stay.

Zimbabwe Census on Track Despite Earlier Glitches

http://www.voazimbabwe.com

Tatenda Gumbo

16.08.2012
After a shambolic run-up, Zimbabwe's population census gets underway Friday
with the statistics agency encouraging the public to fully cooperate with
enumerators.

The preparations were marred by the involvement of security forces who
wanted a stake as census takers.

Although the government quickly resolved the situation, allegations of
military interference resurfaced Thursday in some parts of the country.

Soldiers were reported to be threatening enumerators who they suspect may
engage in secret political activity during the exercise.

Security operatives and Zanu PF supporters last week hijacked training
workshops across the country, accusing some civil servants of promoting the
interests of unnamed political parties.

Zimbabwe held its first census in 1982, a year after independence, and found
the population to be 7,6 million. Ten years later, it had jumped to 10,4
million, and in 2002, it rose marginally to 11,6 million.

Launching the exercise Wednesday, President Robert Mugabe expressed concern
at the stagnation of the numbers, blaming women who he said were no longer
willing to bear more children.

For perspective, VOA reporter Tatenda Gumbo reached Population Census and
Surveys director, Washington Tapuwa Mapeta and Takavafira Zhou of the
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).

While Mapeta said all systems were in place, Zhou alleged that security
agents were still in tow of enumerators and harassing them.

"Whilst we are in a critical moment," Zhou said, "we are sad that we
continue to receive information that soldiers or mal-contents continue to
threaten teachers serving as enumerators."

Responding, Mapeta assured that the exercise was above board, vowing all
security agents will remain out of the process.

“Everyone would want the census to be conducted in an atmosphere that
ensures the confidence in the quality of data,” said Mapeta.

"If there are any mal-contents who are taking issues into their own hands,
we really have not been advised, or reports have not reached us.”

Observers say given the HIV/Aids toll and the mass exodus of Zimbabweans
fleeing political and economic crises in the past decade, the population
will be found to have significantly scaled down.

The count runs through August 27.

Census: Teachers’ names replaced

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Friday, 17 August 2012 13:29

HARARE - Zimbabwe’s fourth census, which is scheduled to begin today, has
lurched into another crisis with reports of uniformed forces tampering with
lists of approved enumerators.

Teachers removed from the process to make way for uniformed forces say they
are taking up the fight to the courts.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) is set to approach the High
Court with an urgent chamber application challenging the removal of its
members from enumerators’ lists “for security reasons”.

Labour lawyer Rogers Matsikidze of Matsikidze and Mucheche Legal
Practitioners, representing PTUZ, yesterday confirmed he would be lodging an
urgent chamber application with the High Court today.

“I can confirm I have been approached by PTUZ to challenge the removal of
some of its members from enumerators’ lists,” he said.

“We have a list of teachers’ names that were deleted and those of security
personnel who replaced them.
There are no satisfactory reasons given for this action,” Matsikidze told
the Daily News yesterday."

Hordes of rank and file uniformed forces went on the rampage last week
disrupting planned training of enumerators and reportedly demanding 10 000
slots against 1 500 provided for them by government.

Just over 30 000 personnel will undertake the census programme.

It had to take a Cabinet sitting and another special meeting of security
sector ministers and the Finance ministry to call the uniformed forces to
order.

The Finance ministry is running the programme.

But teachers, who form the bulk of enumerators, say the problem is far from
over.

PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said his group had received
“numerous” reports from across the country of teachers’ names disappearing
and being replaced by unknown people.

“We have received many reports and the saddening part is teachers’ names are
being deleted without explanation and are being replaced by soldiers and
members of the intelligence.

“These are now being presented as teachers but after checks with particular
schools they are not known,” Majongwe alleged. He said one PTUZ member was
removed for “security reasons.”

He said PTUZ would also fight the case in court.

“We want to know what security reasons these are. We have names of teachers
like Gwenzi in Masvingo, Muyeye in Kadoma, Musiri in Karoi and Mawarire in
Rushinga whose names were originally on the list but have been replaced by
people who are not known at the schools given as their posts,” said
Majongwe.

Majongwe could not provide names of the security personnel posing as
teachers, saying this would happen in court.

Zimbabwe Teachers Union (Zimta) president Tendai Chikowore said although she
had not received the latest claims, she could not rule out such things
happening.

“The last reports we had were last week, before the start-stop that
happened. We have not received any at the moment but that is not to say this
is not happening. I will need to find out,” Chikowore said.

Finance minister Tendai Biti was not available for comment yesterday.

Soldiers Seal Off Gutu

http://www.radiovop.com

Gutu, August 17, 2012 - Soldiers from Zimbabwe National Army’s 4:2 Infantry
battalion and Zanu (PF) youths here have allegedly sealed off Gutu district
to force villagers to attend the Heroes gala on Friday at Mpandawana
growth-point.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youth leader from Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai faction in Gutu east, Tapera Gumindoga, told Radio VOP:

“Villagers here are living in fear after all of a sudden soldiers appeared
in our villages accompanied by Zanu (PF) youths who are moving door to door
threatening villagers to attend the heroes gala at Mpandawana. This is
disturbing because we expect that people should go there out of their will
instead of being forced.”

“We were threatened by Zanu (PF) youths who came to our homestead and told
us to attend the gala without fail or we will be punished severely. They
said we should come clad in their party regalia to show our support of the
party,” said Tsitsi Nhamwi from Nerupiri.

Gumindoga lambasted Zanu (PF) for abusing the security sector.

“The real problems are with Zanu (PF). They continue to abuse the security
forces for their selfish political gains. The army should not be used to
intimidate and harass innocent and defenceless civilians. The other worrying
issue is that this is a national event not a party event and people should
chose for themselves to participate on such gatherings not use the military
muscle to force march them,” he said.

He added that his party’s youth assembly would take the matter up with its
leadership.

Efforts to get a comment from ZNA provincial spokesperson Warrant officer
Kingston Chivave were fruitless while Zanu PF youth chairman Talent Majoni
declined to comment.

Chipangano leader on the run?

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gift Phiri, Chief Writer
Friday, 17 August 2012 13:47

HARARE - Police have reportedly launched a massive manhunt for Jim Kunaka,
who is believed to be leader of Zanu PF shadowy militant group, Chipangano.

Chipangano members are believed to have been behind the gunfire directed at
Harare municipal police officers demolishing illegal car sale yards in
Harare on Sunday.

While Harare police spokesperson James Sabau could not immediately comment
on the operation yesterday as he was tied up at the Exhibition Park,
detectives at the Harare Central Police Station told the Daily News an
operation has been launched to get Kunaka.

Sources said he was wanted because police believe he is the one who
discharged the firearm at an illegal car sale yard along Robert Mugabe Road
on Sunday.

Kunaka denied he was on the run when the Daily News contacted him for
comment.

The case, which was reported at Rhodesville Police Station, has been
transferred to the Harare Central Police Station, where detectives are
moving in on the Chipangano militia.

Detectives believe Kunaka was the gunman who fired two shots at municipal
police officers demolishing the car sale garages, sources said.

The illegal car sale firm is believed to be owned by the second wife of one
of Harare’s most senior Zanu PF provincial officials.

The official’s wife, employed in the ministry of Lands, Land Reform and
Resettlement, reportedly used a government vehicle Reg Number ACC 9709 to
launch a retaliatory operation against council’s attempts to stamp out the
illegal car sales.

When municipal police began demolishing the car sales, the official’s wife
allegedly summoned the Chipangano crew.

Dozens of men with deadly weapons besieged the contingent of municipal
police, beating the cowering officers.

Witnesses said when the crack of gunfire rang out, scores of municipal
police officers cried and ran to escape the whips of the Chipangano militia.

The aftermath of Sunday’s attack left eight officers, apparently suffering
from head wounds and soft tissue injuries.

The police hunt for Chipangano members comes hardly a month after Zanu PF
administration secretary Didymus Mutasa decreed Zanu PF Harare province
chairperson Amos Midzi to swiftly rein-in the militia which has also stalled
construction of a $1,2 million food court and service station by businessman
Alex Mashamhanda in Mbare.

Mutasa told Midzi the provincial leadership must stamp out the militia’s
activities.

Kunaka yesterday dismissed the police manhunt as “rumours”.

“I am not even linked to all those skirmishes. I do not know who is trying
to put me or connect me to those skirmishes. I do not sell cars. I am not in
that business,” he said.

Asked if he was on the run, Kunaka retorted: “I am walking scot free. I am
in Harare. Why should I go on the run?

I did not commit any crime. Tell the people who are telling you that to go
to hell.

They must mind their own business.”

Young Zimbabwean woman honoured with Goldman Sachs/Fortune Global Women Leaders Award

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Fortune Magazine announced the winners of the Goldman Sachs & Fortune
Global Women Leaders award which will be presented on October 2nd in Laguna
Niguel, California, U.S.A. One of the three honourees is Precious Simba, a
Zimbabwean woman from Bulawayo.
17.08.1207:04am
by Precious Shumba

The Fortune Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership, which was
established in 2006 in cooperation with the U.S. State Department, pairs up
women in leadership positions around the U.S. with women who have
demonstrated leadership potential in emerging nations. The program awards
the most stand-out alumni of the mentorship program funds to take their
experience in the U.S. and leverage it to benefit their home countries.

Precious Simba’s project was chosen from amongst applications from women all
over the world. She captured the attention of the award adjudicators for her
establishment of a variety of community programs in her native Zimbabwe, all
aimed at producing young people who lead and inspiring young people – young
women especially – to rise above their circumstances and positively
influence the communities they live in.

A former Spar senior manager, Precious left her retail career in 2011 to
pursue her passion of inspiring young girls from under-privileged
backgrounds. This is when she started the Girls Development Initiative, an
organisation that empowers girls with education opportunities and life
skills. In addition to her girls’ education and mentoring program and a
youth empowerment outreach called YouTalk, Precious has launched a new
empowerment series called ‘Future Self’. This initiative, created
collaboratively with Shelley Diamond (Worldwide Managing partner – Young
& Rubicam U.S.A) and Christa Carone (Chief Marketing Officer – Xerox
Corporation U.S.A), features stories of influential female leaders such as
Deputy Director at N.A.S.A Goddard Space Flight Center Christyl Johnson
alongside other Fortune Women Leaders Mentors, which share reflections on
rising up against challenges, choosing different career paths, and how women
can and are rising in the workplace.

Along with the prestigious award Ms Simba has received an invite to this
year’s Fortune Most Powerful Women summit October 2-4 in Laguna Niguel,
California, U.S.A where she will bring her organisation and her country on
the world stage when she steps up to receive her award in front of more than
400 of the world’s most powerful women in business and philanthropy. Lloyd
Blankfein, C.E.O of Goldman Sachs will present the award to her.

Music icon “Tuku” to be honoured in London

Transcript of Diaspora Diaries with Roy Bennett

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Posted by Alex Bell on Friday, August 17, 2012

Transcript of Diaspora Diaries with SW Radio Africa Presenter Alex Bell and MDC-T Treasurer General Roy Bennett

MDC-T Treasurer General Roy Bennett

Alex Bell: Hello and welcome to Diaspora Diaries on SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwe’s independent voice. I’m Alex Bell and coming up on tonight’s show I start a series of programmes where I’ll be looking at the details of the controversial $100 million loan that secured Robert Mugabe’s and ZANU PF’s grip on power back in 2008.

Now if you remember, the loan made headlines in 2008 with the companies behind it being accused of financing ZANU PF’s brutal election campaign that resulted in hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displacements. The story has now resurfaced after an investigation by the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa which has discovered that a US investor was behind the controversial 2008 loan. Back then, the alarm was raised when Anglo American Platinum ceded about a quarter of its Zimbabwean concession to the ZANU PF government, and a deal shortly followed with the Mugabe leadership cashing in on these claims. Basically the government awarded the concession to a group called Todal Mining, which was a joint venture between the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and a private company called Lefever Finance. Now Lefever Finance in turn was owned by a shadowy company linked to controversial businessman and ZANU PF functionary Billy Rautenbach.

Now that’s not the story because this switchover happened a week before the first round of presidential elections in 2008 and it now appears it was all part of a game plan to secure ZANU PF’s hold on power. The elections as you know went ahead but the results were withheld amid widespread reports that Mugabe had lost. ZANU PF however seemed to have a plan and less than two weeks after the vote, Lefever Finance was bought out by a shady outfit called the Central African Mining and Exploration Company (Camec), for about five million dollars. Camec, whose chief shareholder at the time is a close ally of Rautenbach, also threw in about a US$100 million dollar loan which became Mugabe’s lifeline. The Mail & Guardian newspaper has since revealed that Camec which unsuccessfully tried to play a similar takeover game in the DRC in 2007, did not actually have the money to buy Lefever, and instead issued and sold new shares. This side of the deal which essentially financed the Mugabe regime was kept completely hidden until recently and according to the Mail & Guardian, these shares were bought by the New York-based Och-Ziff Capital Management Group, founded by billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist Daniel Och.

This loan payment meanwhile coincided with the controversial docking of a Chinese ship filled with arms, which docked in South Africa headed for Zimbabwe. An international campaign then followed to bar the ship’s progress and Camec found itself embroiled in allegations that it was involved in arms deals. Unfortunately what followed in Zimbabwe was an exercise of systematic murder, torture, brutality, intimidation and harassment by ZANU PF, ahead of an election run off, which eventually went ahead with Mugabe as the single participant after Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the vote due to the violence.

Well over the next couple of weeks I’ll be unpacking this story more and looking at more details of Camec’s involvement as well as who was in these companies and how it all links together. Tonight though I’ll be looking back to that period in 2008 and I’ll be asking if this loan really did secure Robert Mugabe’s grip on power and I’ll ask what lessons we can learn as we head to another election in Zimbabwe in the coming months.

My guest tonight is MDC-T Treasurer General Roy Bennett who was one of the first people to raise the alarm about the deal which Camec eventually came into. He raised the alarm when Anglo American Platinum appeared to be coerced into giving up their concession which was then handed over and started the process of this loan being put in place. Roy thank you so much for joining me, it’s always a pleasure speaking to you. Let’s look back to 2008 before the elections; there was a lot of talk of course about a change that was imminent in Zimbabwe. Realistically though, what state was ZANU PF in at that time?

Roy Bennett: Well I think it’s absolutely common knowledge and very evident for everybody to see that Zimbabwe’s an absolute failed state and the economy had totally imploded; there was hyper-inflation – off the record for hyper-inflation; civil servants had not been paid for months, the hospitals had collapsed; education had collapsed and basically Zimbabwe was a total failed state.

AB: So we have to look then with some critical eyes at the platinum deal with this company Camec. At the time I know there was a lot of controversy about it – what did you make of it?

RB: Well again you know we were very upfront at the time in that I actually contacted Anglo American; I had a meeting with them in London. They circumvented me and spoke to Morgan Tsvangirai trying to cover up the whole issue. You know Alex, it’s just very sad that in Africa, in southern Africa and especially Zimbabwe you have very respected and reputable companies who are dealing in a way that completely circumvents the fiscus and circumvents the benefit to the people of those countries to enrich themselves through the natural resources of those countries, through middle men, through third parties, through front men, through front companies, through a complete web of intricacies of front companies and behind companies etcetera, etcetera in order to be able to gain access to the resources which at the end of the day doesn’t benefit the people and sadly that was one of these deals and it’s always the same players. It’s the same people who are involved in Africa who know how the African system works, how bribery works, who they pay, how much they pay that person and they continue and they will continue for as long as there are people that are willing to do unethical things in order to enrich themselves and so it goes on.

AB: Now it was of course widely believed that Anglo American was coerced into this platinum deal. Do you think they do have questions to answer though?

RB: Well absolutely. They were threatened; they were threatened by the government of Zimbabwe through the Central Intelligence Organisation, through their chairman who was a ZANU PF functionary. Look at Anglo Platinum, look at all the people involved there, the chairman, the people they put as the front people are there in those countries are political party men who give them a front and give them the protection they need from the government; greasing the right palms etcetera, etcetera. So they could have refused, they could have stood up, they could have stood fast and exposed the extortion that they were under. Instead they chose to buckle, quietly do the deal, release the concessions that they did in order for themselves to continue unaffected. And so yes, definitely they have to answer. You know it’s the same – have a look at all the multi-nationals and dig deeper. You know, it gets back to Standard Bank in Iran at the moment; you have a look at Standard Bank’s dealing in Zimbabwe – dig deeper and you’ll see all these huge companies – the bottom line is profit, it’s money. It’s got nothing to do about people, about the country, about the well-being and development of those countries, about making it a better place for the people that live there in order for them to be able to prosper. It’s their bottom line and no matter whose filthy big fat pocket they fill to do that, they don’t care.

AB: The concern of course was that in this particular deal it came the same month that there was that Chinese shipment of arms that docked in South Africa destined for Zimbabwe – coincidence?

RB: Absolutely not. The whole thing was all linked up Alex, it’s all linked up. You know, you have all of them are involved in keeping the status quo. I shudder for Zimbabwe; I shudder for democracy in Zimbabwe; I shudder for the people in Zimbabwe because they’re strong, they made their statement at that election, they won an election and we look today where are we after the hundred thousand dollars that was put into ZANU PF to be able to unleash the violence that they did unleash and to support and fund that election. You have the same thing going on now. I guarantee as we sit here now, there are deals going on to fund the next election in the same manner with exactly the same sort of people who are being extorted, put under pressure, through indigenisation. ZANU PF are masters at extorting people in a legitimate manner and putting pressure on them for them to buckle in order that they can save their riches. So it’s just very, very sad and it’s a very difficult process to get through in order to change a military junta and a dictatorship.

AB: So I guess it’s not a stretch to say then that it seems that this deal definitely helped to entrench the regime in their place of power back then?

RB: Absolutely, it totally helped them entrench them. You would never have been able to get the military out into the areas to unleash the violence that they did. You would never have been able to get the militias into the areas to unleash the violence that they did. You would never have been able to have the election machinery of ZANU PF to be able to do what they did if they hadn’t accessed that money. That money totally brought about all the heartache, pain, gerrymandering, violence, intimidation, repression that took place at the 2008 election is directly linked to that 100 million.

AB: Now it’s a very scary reality as you have already mentioned that this sort of thing is carrying on and we have to worry about the kind of lack of international business morality, if we can put it that way, that still exists today.

RB: Is there international business morality? Does that word exist anymore Alex? Or do naïve, ideal people like me have no place in the current world today. The world today is about what you can get, how you can get it no matter who you tread on getting it and if you are holding the golden shilling you call the rule, it’s the golden rule – he who has the gold makes the rules.

AB: Is there any way to shame these sorts of multi-national companies into not dealing with regimes like the Robert Mugabe regime? Do you think they care?

RB: Profits come before shame. Profits come before shame Alex. So unless you can guarantee them profits for them to shame them I’m sure they’d shame them tomorrow. But whilst they are making profits and they can use them as fronts and they can front for them and they can gerrymander together in order to be able to enrich themselves, they will definitely never try and expose anybody. It’s against their bottom line and their profits.

AB: Now we’re talking about a country as resource rich as Zimbabwe is and the ZANU PF regime clearly has a lot of cards in their pockets; we just have to look at the situation at the alluvial diamond mines, the Chiadzwa diamond mines – so can we realistically be worried about a repeat of what we saw in 2008 then as we head towards another election?

RB: Most definitely Alex, most definitely. Any level headed or sane person who believes in any manner whatsoever that ZANU PF functionaries, the ZANU PF junta, the people who have made billions out of Zimbabwe by dealing illegally with multi-nationals with our natural resources is going to allow a little ‘X’ to change their fame and fortune and expose them for what they’ve stolen or for whatever they’ve done, is absolutely dreaming. I don’t see them giving up easily whatsoever and again it’s, I do believe there will be violence unleashed, it’s already happening. It’s already happening, you see exactly, look what’s happening in Masvingo around the census; look what’s happening in Mashonaland West around rallies that are taking place there where ZANU PF has come in and beaten people, instill fear again. The deployment is there, it’s happening right now – the military is being deployed and again the same dubious funding is coming in through the back door to sustain it because certainly the fiscus can’t sustain it. Have a look at the recruitment that’s taking place with the militia and within the military and certainly it’s not coming through the fiscus, it’s not coming through the Minister of Finance. The money’s not there – Zimbabwe’s heading back to a similar 2008 situation. There’s no money around, whatever is in there is circulating. There’s an informal market there, most of your trading is done under the table and in cash. Everybody’s too scared to use the banks or do anything so I do believe that we will see an upsurge in the violence and we will certainly see the dictatorship hold onto power in any way and that those people who have the reins of power, who have the means of funding themselves to stay in power will do so. Certainly the environment has improved for them to do that with the situation in Zimbabwe today.

AB: A side note Roy, I think it is quite ironic how the MDC has always been accused by ZANU PF for foreign funding. What they’ve always said is because of the imperialists and being puppets by the western powers etcetera, etcetera. So what do make then of these accusations, these kinds of comments amid the revelations that there’s been a major US investor who was behind that multi-million dollar loan in 2008?

RB: I’m on record, going way back to 2000 and I’ll say it again Alex, that ZANU PF business, ZANU PF functionaries, your Shingi Mutasa’s, your Roger Boka’s, your ZANU PF functionaries that are your conglomerates, your Gideon Gonos, your Patrick Chinamasa’s who now are the recipients and owners of farms and business and people that have become extremely wealthy, they are fronted by whites. They are fronted by white western interests. White Rhodesians in many places. You talk about Rhodesians – I’m accused of being a Rhodesian; the whites left in MDC – Ian Kaye regularly the ZANU PF rag paints us as Selous Scouts, paints us as Rhodesians. Why? Because we stand with the people, because we stand firm and solid. What about your John Bredencamp’s, your Billy Rautenbach’s, your Patrick Mavrose’s – what about them who front for ZANU PF and blow their trumpet around the world about how normal things are in Zimbabwe and how good things are and how they are working – they are a front for ZANU PF. So it’s total hypocrisy. On one word when it suits them they say this but behind closed doors they’re doing the opposite.

AB: The kind of hypocrisy we’ve seen from the party is well known, it’s well entrenched but it does seem to be something that isn’t going to change anytime soon. So a final question for you Roy tonight – what can we do, how can we prepare going forward with all of these, what looks like a mountain of issues to combat if we were to have a really genuinely fair election?

RB: There’s only one way Alex, it is the only way and it is up to the Zimbabwean people to unite across the board, every single civil organization, civic organization, civil society, every political party, every person who believes in Zimbabwe, believes in a better Zimbabwe, believes in change, believes in a new Zimbabwe and a new beginning, need to unite. They really need to unite wherever they are in the world and focus at mobilising the people at grassroots level to get organised and structured; to stand up against the regime in large numbers and say “enough”. That is the only way we are ever going to move things forward in Zimbabwe is when the people take responsibility for the process and individual leaders and entities can’t lead from the top down, forcing systems on the people.

AB: Well that was the MDC-T’s Treasurer General Roy Bennett. Now as I say, this is the start of a series and over the next few weeks we will be looking at more details of this loan, but for more details, if you want to read more about it why don’t you go to our web site – that’s www.swradioafrica.com You can also email me at alex@swradioafrica.com at any time or just contact me on Twitter @ albell88. For now though, we’ve run out of time and it’s time for me to say goodnight but join me at the same time next week.

21st August Zimbabwe protest - Mozambique High Commission

China in Africa - How do the locals really feel?

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au

Updated 17 August 2012, 22:18 AEST

A study in Africa of attitudes towards Chinese migrants has shown varying
degrees of acceptance, with South Africa the most welcoming.

Chinese investments in Africa have grabbed media attention in recent years,
often in a negative light.

Trade in 2011 between China and African nations rose by one-third, from the
previous year, to US166-billion dollars.

It's estimated there're 750-thousand Chinese nationals working in different
African countries.

China's motives are often portrayed as cynically trained on Africa's natural
resources, but is this how Africans feel about the Chinese?

Presenter: Sen Lam

Speaker: Dr Yoon Jung Park, Rhodes University, South Africa and convenor of
the 'Chinese in Africa and Africans in China' research network. Yong Jung
Park is a visiting Professor at Howard University in Washington DC

PARK: One of the reasons for my research project is that most of the media
coverage on Chinese in Africa, tends to cover incidents, oftentimes
incidents and violence. So there's a perception that most Africans do not
like the Chinese coming in, that the Chinese are competition, and there's
increasing levels of violence and anti-Chinese sentiment. So I've been doing
research mostly in southern Africa, in South Africa and Namibia, Lesotho,
Zimbabwe and then with a couple of colleagues, I've been following their
research in Zambia and Botswana.

It's very clear that reactions to Chinese are quite mixed. And it depends on
a number of circumstances. In smaller countries, where there're increasing
numbers of Chinese retailers, in particular, or poor Chinese labour
practices, as is the case in Zambia, there does tend to be quite a lot of
anti-Chinese sentiment building up. But in places like South Africa, which
has probably the largest economy on the continent, as well as a history of
Chinese in the country, there is alot less anti-Chinese sentiment, and in
fact, many people are quite appreciative of the fact that Chinese goods are
widely available and more affordable, that there are Chinese shops and other
premises that are opening up and providing jobs.

What's interesting in Zimbabwe is that in the last few years, they've
actually helped alot of local Zimbabweans survive the worst of the political
crisis. What we found was in the late 2000s, quite a lot of appreciation for
the fact that the Chinese were hardworking and determined, and somehow
managed to get local products - just basic consumer goods - into the
country, when the major retailers weren't able to that. And so, being able
to stock the shelves of their stores, and provide access to basic goods, was
something that was appreciated by the local population, and so, the strong
anti-Chinese sentiment that we saw in the mid-2000s for example, that was
evident in local media, in Zimbabwe, in local blogs, there was no evidence
of any hard feelings against the Chinese, but rather, a great deal of
appreciation for the fact that the Chinese allowed many Zimbabweans who were
suffering huge levels of inflation, to actually have a little bit of
purchasing power and some options.

LAM: Africa of course, has seen a fast pace of China-supported growth over
the past couple of decades. In terms of incoming Chinese investment, and
also the Chinese presence, are there pockets of mistrust here?

PARK: Again, I think it depends on what country you're talking about and
when. I haven't focussed in my own research, on the big Chinese investments
into these countries, or on foreign direct investments or trade, as much as
on the impact of local Chinese migrant investment.

In Johannesburg, for example, you now have Chinese migrants who've been here
for ten, twelve, even fifteen years. Alot of them have been successful in
their business ventures and are re-investing their profits into second and
third businesses and they're now diversifying their own interests beyond the
small retail shops that we see in alot of smaller African countries
throughout the continent. And in South Africa, what you're seeing is alot
more investment now in property development, in small manufacturing and
going into partnership with locals and even in mining development.

Again, in South Africa, you've had Chinese migrants for alot longer than in
most other African countries, and so in some ways, it would be worthwhile to
look into some of these trends more deeply, because this is possibly the
direction that many other African countries will be seeing, in terms of
Chinese engagement locally. When Chinese people, migrants, diplomats are
able to communicate locally, I think it makes a huge difference. Where you
see some of the more negative aspects, they come to the fore when there's
competition over local resources, competition over business, where the
Chinese are seen to be pushing locals out of jobs, or where Chinese goods
are having a negative impact on local manufacturing.

LAM: Are these long term migrants we're talking about here - do they intend
to make Africa their new home?

PARK: Almost every single Chinese migrant that I've interviewed, intends to
eventually return to China. But it's interesting that these people we've
interviewed over the years, they're still here. And they don't have any
immediate plans to return. So, it is quite interesting - the mentality is to
eventually to move back, to return to China, but the reality seems to be
that as long as there are opportunities, particularly in South Africa, the
quality of life is seen to be much better here, and so they're staying on,
longer than they might have originally intended.

My research with the Chinese South Africans, with Taiwanese South Africans
and with the Chinese migrants - and they've now been here for again, eight,
ten, twelve years - indicates that the reality is quite different. They are
committed. They might still consider themselves Chinese but many of them
have taken permanent residence here. They all have made certainly economic,
financial investments in the country - that first wave of mainland Chinese
migrants has raised their children here. The newest migrants tend to still
send their children back home to China, whereas some of those who've been
here for longer, are educating their children here.

You see also actually in places like Zambia and Tanzania, some of the former
railway workers, who had decided to stay on have now been in those countries
for twenty years. They've integrated into local society, many of them
married locally, have mixed-race children. Again, it might not be the future
for all Chinese migrants who're in the country, but it's certainly one of
the paths that has been chosen by those who decided that this IS going to be
home.

Could Zim be just one step to a referendum with alternative draft constitutions?

By Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 17th August 2012.

Without being too simplistic, there appears to be yet another opportunity
for a breakthrough on the Zimbabwe constitution drafting crisis since
Zanu-pf has finished its “new” draft (see Daily News, “Zanu-pf produces its
‘new’draft,”17/08/12).

As I once said in 2010 that there is now a compelling case for alternative
constitutions, recent developments seem to suggest this may be a worthwhile
option (See “Zimbabwe: A Compelling Case for Alternative Constitutions,”
Sokwanele, 13 August 2010).

Originally, the idea of alternative constitutions was made by the Zimbabwean
newspaper in its online edition saying:

“Instead of yes or no, let the choice be for version A, B, or C. This way,
whatever comes out of the whole exercise will be a better gauge of public
opinion and will lead to a positive step forward – rather than yet another
step backwards for Zimbabwe,” (The Zimbabwean 8 April 2010).

What makes us think it’s possible?

According to Veritas Constitution Watch 15/08/12, Rugare Gumbo said “The
constitutional draft is not final and we will not go to a referendum without
amendments. If they (the MDC formations) want, they can go it alone. We want
to hammer a draft that is acceptable to all and not just two parties”.

MDC-T’s spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said: “We cannot possibly re-subject
the draft to further negotiation. As far as we are concerned, it is decision
time for Zimbabweans including those that support Zanu-pf on whether what we
have is a good or bad draft.”

Welshman Ncube who leads his MDC formation said: “If they (Zanu-pf) are not
happy, they can produce their own draft that will be taken to the people
together with the COPAC draft. The people will choose, as they know what
they said. They will vote for a draft that is reflective of their views.”

What would make a draft charter more appealing than the other?

As I said in the article referred to above in 2010, key issues widely
expected in any proposed constitution for Zimbabwe include: a commitment to
democratic and Christian values, accountability at all levels, a unitary
government, the separation of powers, an independent judiciary and freedom
of the press.

Also important would be doing away with racial discrimination in its
totality, providing for devolution, for dual citizenship for all including
those in exile and the right of the Diaspora to vote, safeguarding human and
property rights, upholding the rule of law, respecting international
treaties, a transparent land reform programme, a state apology and
compensation for victims of Gukurahundi and Murambatsvina. To unlock
Zimbabwe’s rise to becoming an African tiger economically, any draft
constitution need to provide for fair compensation to victims of 2008
violence and for those whose farms were seized especially for their movable
property and improvements.

What is blocking progress on compensation is sheer greed and selfishness by
some short-sighted and vindictive hardliners masquerading as
revolutionaries, otherwise the resources could be successfully sourced by
any government from the international community after free and fair
elections.

How would it work?

Voters would be asked to make a choice from say two or three draft
constitutions listed in the ballot paper, for instance Draft A proposed by
MDC-T, Draft B proposed by MDC (Ncube), Draft C proposed by ZANU-PF. So
voters would then rank their preferences from 1 to 3. The draft with the
majority votes wins the referendum.

How to ensure nobody vetoes the draft constitution

Zimbabweans could do what the Kenyans did by passing an Act which ensured
that if there was a YES vote at the referendum, the constitution would
automatically come into force 14 days later. Probably ruling out any veto
through the Act could be better.

The wording of the Act could be amended to say for example, this Act
provides that the draft constitution with the majority of votes will come
into force 14 days later.

Why would this be better than a decision by the principals?

As in the past, anything left to the principals tends to result in a Zanu-pf
victory. While evidence abounds, for reasons of space, we will look at only
a few examples.

In September 2011, Justice Minister reportedly said that Parliament should
stop pushing for amendments to the draconian Public Order and Security Act
(POSA) as the proposed changes were being handled by the principals of the
Global Political Agreement (GPA) (The Zimbabwean, 09/09/11).

That sealed the death of all efforts including parliamentary, to amend POSA
let alone have it repealed as previously provided for as a target in the
Government Work Plan.

In December last year, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the inclusive
principals had agreed that millions of Zimbabweans living in exile will cast
the ballot (The Financial Gazette, ‘Politics hinder Diaspora’ right to vote”,
30/05/12).

Then Zanu-pf Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa later said he had 101
reasons for denying the diaspora voting rights (New Zimbabwe, “101 reasons
exiles can’t vote,” 11/07/12). As a result, the draft constitution does not
provide for the diaspora vote.

Contrary to media reports in March that the principals had ordered the
reconstitution of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), they have
still not yet issued a joint statement to that effect. Meanwhile, the
winners are already broadcasting.

What is the advantage of alternative constitutions?

Firstly, they are already there. Secondly, the two sides appear unwilling to
re-negotiate. Thirdly, to avert a deadlock that could potentially end in
violence. Fourthly, the coalition parties would be able to incorporate their
original ideas and see which draft will be chosen. Finally, principals
should not write the constitution.

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

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