The Zimbabwe Situation

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Sunday, 30 December 2012 15:42
HARARE - As Zimbabwe's shaky government continues to scavenge for funds to
run next year’s referendum and elections, the Daily News on Sunday can
reveal that the country’s electoral commission is saddled with a near
million-dollar debt.

In representations made to the power-sharing Global Political Agreement
(GPA) Principals early this month, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)
disclosed that it owed unnamed creditors over $700 000 for services
rendered.

The debt, coupled with a government freeze on recruitment, has rendered the
electoral commission almost impotent. Zec has since requested for a special
dispensation to allow it to recruit staff for its offices countrywide.

Finance minister Tendai Biti budgeted a measly $50 million of the near $300
million required for the two processes. Added to this, Zec wants to embark
on an important but expensive massive voter registration exercise following
howls of disapproval for the current voters roll.

Contacted for comment last week, Joyce Kazembe, the acting Zec chairperson
told the Daily News on Sunday.
“We do not understand the import of your questions to Zec at this point in
time and will not supply any answers,” said Kazembe in an e-mailed response.

“You seem to have a source of information on issues discussed somewhere and
we suggest whoever, gave you the lead should continue to feed your
curiosity. Zec will not do so, now or in the near future,” Kazembe said.

Constitutional Affairs minister Eric Matinenga confirmed the electoral body
owed different creditors money and government was working on helping Zec
repay.

“I can confirm that the issues you are enquiring on were raised in meetings
between the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Zec officials. He
(Tsvangirai) was very positive he would do all he can to assist and would be
taking the issue with other Principals,” said Matinenga.

“As for the staff recruitment waiver it is a preserve of the minister of
Finance and unfortunately during the meetings which I attended Biti was out
of the country but my understanding is that there are consultations going on
to help Zec,” Matinenga said.

“It is imperative that Zec is capacitated because failure to do so we should
kiss any prospects of a proper election goodbye.”

The electoral commission also reportedly requested for funds to buy 131 cars
needed by the authority to function properly.

According to Zec representations to the Principals, the commission is
operating with less than half of the required staff of around 700.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News early this month, Tsvangirai
said the country will be approaching institutions such as the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) for assistance.

Curiously, the UNDP, which has been funding the constitution-making
exercise, has been under fire from Zanu PF hawks for allegedly pushing a
regime change agenda by financing Zimbabwe’s key processes.

Seven killed in Marondera horror crash

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Sunday, 30 December 2012 15:41
HARARE - Seven people perished in a horrific accident in Marondera on Friday
when a haulage truck rammed into three oncoming vehicles.

The accident brings to 150 the total number of deaths during the festive
season from 143 according to the latest police figures.

Marondera mayor Farai Nyandoro told the Daily News that the accident took
place around 5pm about three kilometres south of Marondera, along the
Harare-Mutare Highway.

The haulage truck driver, with a passenger on board, failed to negotiate a
sharp curve and collided with the vehicles.

Nyandoro said there were no survivors in the accident.

“Three people died on the spot and four died on their way to Marondera
General Hospital. We are told the driver of the haulage truck was speeding
and failed to negotiate a sharp curve and lost control of the vehicle
resulting in the collision,” said Nyandoro.

Names of the deceased are yet to be released until their next of kin have
been informed.

Last year, 147 people died during the festive season.

So far police have recorded 874 accidents, an increase of 74 accidents from
what was recorded during the same period last year.

Police attributed the death toll mainly to human error as people would be
speeding and at times using defective vehicles. - Mugove Tafirenyika

Zimbabwe’s road accidents double

http://ewn.co.za

Eyewitness News | 6 hours ago

JOHANNESBURG - Police in Zimbabwe say this is the deadliest ever Christmas
on the country's roads, with double last year's casualties.
A significant and very controversial police presence on Zimbabwe's road
network has done nothing to stop the accidents - many locals complain
traffic police are more interested in taking bribes.

In one of the latest crashes, six people died and 19 were injured when four
vehicles collided on the Harare-Mutare Highway.

Officials say 163 people have died, so far, since the beginning of the
holidays - a horrifying toll when put against Zimbabwe's population of just
13 million and its small road network.

The deadliest provinces are eastern Manicaland and Mashonaland East, which
is next to Harare.

Road crashes have dominated the Zimbabwean headlines in the past week, with
police blaming speeding and overtaking errors.

But with police manning so many roadblocks on the country's roads,
Zimbabweans will want to know why this year's holiday toll is so much worse
than last year's.

Cabinet blocks Mujuru

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 30 December 2012 14:01

HARARE - Cabinet has blocked a move by Vice President Joice Mujuru to force
local authorities — widely led by the MDC — to procure goods through the
State Procurement Board.

Finance minister Tendai Biti told journalists last week that a Cabinet
meeting chaired by President Robert Mugabe had resolved to give procurement
powers back to local authorities.

A statutory instrument promulgated by Mujuru after consulting Biti stated
that all local authorities had been included on the list of entities on
whose behalf the State Procurement Board conducted buying procedures.

The move was widely condemned by local authorities, who described it as a
form of dictatorship and abuse of power by central government.

Mujuru had argued the move would curb corruption, which is rampant in
councils.

But the local authorities argued that the curtailing of their powers by
government severely exposed residents to disease outbreaks as it would take
longer under the arrangement to secure essentials such as water treatment
chemicals.

Government and local authorities have been involved in a tug of war since
2000 when Mujuru, as the minister responsible for water then, took over
water management from municipalities.

In 2000, government went on to form the Zimbabwe National Water Authority
(Zinwa) which was a monumental flop as it failed to deliver water to cities
and towns.

Zinwa is accused of having run down water management, leading eventually to
a deadly cholera outbreak between 2008 and 2009 that killed at least 4 000
people and affected more than 100 000 others.

Biti said government was confident that despite corruption, local
authorities had the capacity to procure goods without going through the
tender board.

“We discussed the matter of procurement in Cabinet and there was agreement
that the statutory instrument is wrong, it is null and void. It is going to
be withdrawn…local authorities must continue what they have been doing. They
should follow their own laws,” said Biti.

We won’t fail, says Matinenga

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 30 December 2012 14:00
HARARE - Zimbabwe's political players are determined to find common ground
and resolve contentious issues, Constitutional Affairs minister Eric
Matinenga said this week.

Following a meeting of a special committee set up by the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) Principals President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and Industry minister Welshman Ncube, Matinenga declared the
constitution-making process will not collapse.

“All parties are in agreement that this process must not be allowed to
collapse. Tinonyarirepi (how will we handle the shame) after all we have
gone through. I can assure you we will find a way out of this situation,”
Matinenga said.

He said the committee had agreed on some issues but there were still
disagreements on others.

“We are just coming out of a meeting and I can tell you that we have agreed
on some of the contentious issues but still there are disagreements on the
others.

“The negotiators are going back to their respective Principals for further
consultations,” said Matinenga without elaborating.

“A final paper of what has been agreed and what is still to be negotiated
will be available soon and at the moment, I am not in a position to tell you
the specifics,” he said.

“I am looking at maybe two weeks to reconvene the committee because it is
most likely going to take a bit more time than necessary because of the
holidays. Most of the institutions in the political parties that have to be
consulted are on holiday,” he said.

The special committee was set up by the GPA Principals from the constitution
select committee (Copac) management committee, to unlock the deadlock over
the new draft constitution.

Disagreements arose in the aftermath of the second All-Stakeholders
conference at which divergent views emerged with contentions on how to
proceed.

Now referred to as the July 18 draft constitution, Zimbabwe’s
constitution-making process has been beset by constant bickering and
heckling with Zanu PF accused by its coalition partners of stalling
progress.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai have meanwhile placed a gag order on their negotiating
officials with all of them refusing to comment on the negotiations so far.

Matinenga said the gag order was meant to depoliticise the
constitution-making process.

“There are fears that if we allow these political players to speak on this
process, it will be politicised and they will parrot their political
ideologies ahead of national interests,” said Matinenga.

The latest developments mean Zimbabwe’s much-anticipated elections in 2013
may after all not be held in March as demanded by Zanu PF.

As part of its wish list, Mugabe’s party resolved at its 13th annual
pilgrimage in Gweru early this month that the octogenarian strongman should
dissolve Parliament if there was no agreed draft by Christmas.

Tsvangirai gears for elections

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

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 30 December 2012 14:01

HARARE - Unlike President Robert Mugabe who has taken his traditional annual
leave in the face of pressing government and party programmes, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he is not holidaying as he gears for a
decisive election in the year ahead.

His top aide, Alex Magaisa yesterday said the MDC leader is cutting short
his holiday to prepare for a watershed election likely to be held mid next
year, adding that the premier also wants to use January to push for progress
in the stalled constitution-making process.

The completion of a draft constitution is one of the key reforms which are
part of conditions for a credible fresh poll.

Tsvangirai lost to Mugabe in 2002 before the 2008 disputed presidential
election in which he won the first round and boycotted a subsequent violent
run-off thereby forcing the formation of a coalition.

Next year’s poll could be Tsvangirai’s last bite as his MDC party could be
forced to look for a fresh candidate in subsequent polls.

“The Prime Minister is going to cut short his holiday and immediately start
working on outstanding issues.

We do not have time to waste going on long holidays. The PM is going to have
a short holiday just like everyone else and return to work on 7 January,”
said Tsvangirai’s political secretary Alex Magaisa.

After a gruelling year marked by a constitution-making stalemate and several
deadlocks on several issues among the three coalition partners, Mugabe left
the country on Wednesday for the Far East, his traditional annual hideout.

Cabinet usually does not sit in Mugabe’s absence and the 88-year-old
strongman has in the past overturned key decisions made by his lieutenants
while he was away.

George Charamba, Mugabe’s spokesperson, said his boss’ absence will not
affect the government work programme, but Mugabe’s annual sabbaticals have
in the past grounded major government business meaning Tsvangirai could be
forced to concentrate more on MDC business.

Magaisa said a prolonged holiday for Tsvangirai was out of the question
because the MDC had intensified election strategies to complete its struggle
to completely remove Mugabe and Zanu PF from power.

“There is a policy conference that will start in mid-January where we are
going to launch all our policies as we go towards elections. The PM chairs
all those meetings and he is supposed to be around as we are getting ready
for a crucial election,” said Magaisa.

Already, the MDC has launched its economic blueprint code-named Juice (Jobs,
Upliftment, Investment, Capital and the Environment) which it says is
designed to correct Zimbabwe’s weak economic structure characterised by high
levels of poverty, social underdevelopment, decayed infrastructure and a
crippling debt overhang.

Apart from campaign policy strategies, Tsvangirai has been on a whirlwind
tour of the country meeting grassroots MDC structures affected by
factionalism as well as reading the riot act on officials suspected of
masterminding a plot that would see the former trade unionist ousted at the
party’s 2016 elective congress if he fails to beat Mugabe next year. He is
likely to continue on this crusade in January.

In government, progress is likely to be grounded, particularly the
constitution-making process which is now being negotiated by teams reporting
directly to Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

A draft constitution completed in June is hanging in the air after Zanu PF
suggested further amendments which are being rejected by the MDC.

In the wake of the stalemate, Mugabe and Tsvangirai set up a special
ministerial committee headed by Constitutional Affairs minister Eric
Matinenga seeking to break the deadlock.

But this week, the committee failed to make progress and referred 28 of the
30 sticking points to Mugabe and Tsvangirai as the coalition government
Principals.

Yet, with Mugabe vacationing in the Far East, progress is likely to start
only when he returns.

Mugabe exposes self

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Sunday, 30 December 2012 15:42

President Robert Mugabe.
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has ended 2012 by virtually confirming that
his call for an early election was a farce all along.

Political rivals and analysts say a month-long annual leave he has taken at
a time when his struggling Zanu PF party needs him most ahead of polls has
all but confirmed that Mugabe is actually planning for an election much
later in 2013, possibly well after June.

Earlier in December, Mugabe shocked all and sundry when his party’s annual
conference resolved that he unilaterally calls for elections to get rid of
the “dysfunctional unity” government by Christmas.

Instead, what they got was a man on the run as Mugabe on Wednesday left for
the Far East and will not be back at work until after a month, which means a
March election is out of the question.

Political analysts say Mugabe’s announcement was somehow shocking
considering that his party is deeply divided with factions warring to
succeed him tearing each other apart.

All along Mugabe, who turns 89 in February next year, had made the nation
and the world believe that he wanted an early election but his farce had
been unravelled by his month-long sabbatical to the Far East.

With Mugabe away, government business grounds to a halt and analysts and
opposition leaders say the Zanu PF leader is not committed to tackling the
country’s mounting challenges ahead of a watershed election due next year.

At Zanu PF’s conference, Mugabe admitted that corruption was gnawing at his
party core but with him away, it is unlikely that rampant corruption will be
tackled anytime soon.

George Charamba, Mugabe’s spokesperson says his boss’ absence will not
affect government business.

“The President goes on annual leave regularly. It is timed to coincide with
that time when there is general slowdown in business and that does not take
away the resolution of Zanu PF,” Charamba said in a statement.

“When he comes back, there should be progress, but if the document is not
ready, that means there will be something that still needs discussion with
the (inclusive government) Principals.

“Let us not be . . . gleaning some quarters who think the fortunes or
misfortunes should be put on the doorstep of the President.

“There is no necessary link with him going on leave and the progress of the
constitution-making process.”
He added: “With or without the new constitution, we will go ahead with the
presidential schedule which is not affected by him going on leave.”

But Mugabe’s opponents say the former school teacher-turned-guerrilla war
leader and Zimbabwe’s first post-independence ruler whose political life is
now on the ropes is insincere and ill-disposed for another gruelling
election.

Douglas Mwonzora, MDC spokesperson said Mugabe has been posturing throughout
2012.

“The public stance taken by President Mugabe is political posturing. He knew
that given the obstacles put by his party to the constitution, it was going
to be impossible to complete the new constitution before Christmas.

“He also knew that he would not be available to receive any representatives
from the special committee. Therefore what he was saying seriously lacked
sincerity,” said Mwonzora.

Mwonzora, who is also the co-chairperson of Copac, a parliamentary body
charged with writing a new constitution, admitted that with Mugabe away,
progress in the stymied process would be naught.

“We have to wait until he is back in order to start moving again,” said
Mwonzora.

Qubani Moyo, policy director in Industry minister Welshman Ncube’s MDC
formation suggested that Mugabe should have holidayed in the country to
avoid delaying government programmes.

“Mugabe has never been serious about the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and
therefore we are not surprised that he is taking his gallivanting at a time
he must make critical decisions.

“Clearly, while Professor Ncube has been around to ensure that there is
finality in the constitution-making process, Mugabe shows that he is afraid
of an early election. That is why he is taking a sabbatical,” said Moyo.

Moyo added that Mugabe is not worth the vote of the people as he has failed
them throughout 2012.
“He is not sincere and he is not worth the vote of the people. Mugabe is the
one who sets deadlines and must be seen to take action according to his
word.

“True leaders do not go on leave when the country is on fire they solve the
problem first and then take a break when everything is in order,” said Moyo.

Pedzisai Ruhanya, the Director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, a local
research think tank, accused Mugabe of standing “against the return to
political sanity in this country”.

“They (Zanu PF) have been the biggest beneficiaries to the chaotic and
undemocratic political administration of Zimbabwe since 1980. Their
interests are parochial and personal.

“If Mugabe was a true nationalist, he should have suspended his holiday and
address the Copac constitutional draft impasse that his party has largely
caused through unreasonable and undemocratic demands,” said Ruhanya.

Zanu PF has made wholesome changes to the Copac-authored draft that was
completed in June.

Chapters in the constitution that Mugabe’s Zanu PF revised include the
whittled presidential imperial powers, devolution and the setting up of a
Prosecuting Authority.

Ruhanya said without grassroots support, Mugabe is pinning his hopes on the
state security apparatus that include the army as he is not confident of
winning a free and fair poll.

“Zanu PF without the use of state organised violence is the least party
prepared for elections. Where does it get the confidence to win a free and
fair election? After all, at 89 years old, Mugabe is no longer electable,”
said Ruhanya.

“Zanu PF knows that to parade an 89-year-old as a candidate is not only an
insult to the voters but a recipe for a monumental electoral defeat.

“In this regard, there could be behind-the-scenes succession debates and
political shenanigans in Zanu PF to do with Mugabe’s old age as candidate.
This is why for the past three years, Zanu PF’s call for elections did not
materialise.”

‘First African-designed’ smartphone launched

http://nehandaradio.com/

on December 29, 2012 at 7:32 pm

A smartphone and tablet said to be the first designed by an African company
have been launched. The products, designed by Congolese entrepreneur Verone
Mankou, are manufactured in China.

His company VMK’s devices run Google’s Android software. They will retail at
$170 (£105) for the smartphone and $300 (£185) for the tablet. “Only
Africans can know what Africa needs,” said Mr Mankou at the Tech4Africa
conference in Johannesburg.

“Apple is huge in the US, Samsung is huge in Asia, and we want VMK to be
huge in Africa.”

Technology blog Smartplanet reports that the tablet offers wi-fi
connectivity and four gigabytes of internal storage. Its name, Way-C, means
“the light of the stars” in the local Lingala language. The smartphone has
rear and forward facing cameras and a 3.5in (8.9cm) screen.

There are plans to sell the devices across 10 other West African countries
as well as Belgium, France and India. Mr Mankou said he hoped to launch a
cheaper tablet for students next year. The devices will come up against
several already well-established and popular brands.

Most notably, Blackberry-maker Research in Motion (RIM) has a significant
presence on the continent, despite flagging sales in the western market. VMK
tablet The tablet is similar in size to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab.

Popular too are handsets from Nokia which is working closely with Facebook
to grow African’s interest in both mobile communication and social
networking.

However, there is an increasing desire among African communities to support
homegrown products, spurred on by fledgling technology scenes in various
cities across the region.

Attempts to be seen as African have caused some firms to be accused of
dishonesty. Companies were highly criticised after they were deemed to be
marketing products that were made offshore but simply branded locally.

VMK insisted that while the product was manufactured in China for cost
reasons, the design and engineering was entirely African.

A page on the company’s website stressed that statement, saying: “We are
somewhat offended by the disregard of those who persist in denying the
authentication of our products, despite evidence.

“Most of those critics are either Afro-pessimistic (who argue that ‘nothing
good can come from Africa’), or just (future) competitors.”

The company added that unlike previous “African” smartphones and tablets,
there were no products matching the VMK devices in other countries under
different branding. BBC

In Zimbabwe, the disability that prevents Munashe from using his hands proves no barrier to his education

http://www.unicef.org

Seventeen-year-old Munashe was trained at a young age to use his feet to write.

By Bertha Shoko

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, 28 December 2012 – At King George IV School of the Disabled, 17-year-old Munashe Chikuvanyanga, a Form 1 student, is taking a final examination in mathematics.

Munashe writes in his exercise book with his feet. A physical disability prevents him from writing with his hands.

The teacher expects him to complete the exercise in the same amount of time allotted for all students for the test because Munashe insists on not being given special treatment.

“I don’t like being treated differently because I am disabled,” says Munashe.

A marginalized group

Because of more than a decade of socioeconomic challenges, many children living with disabilities in Zimbabwe are among the most marginalized and excluded groups of children. Compared to their peers, they are less likely to access health, education and other social services. They are often excluded from opportunities to participate fully in their communities, and are more vulnerable to violence and abuse.

On 3 December, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Observed since 1992, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the rights, dignity and well-being of persons with disabilities. This year, the theme was ‘Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all’.

Removing barriers

UNICEF, working with NGOs and different ministries of the Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe, has been engaged in efforts to improve the lives of children living with disabilities.

Munashe attends King George IV School of the Disabled in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Under the first phase of the Education Transition Fund, which saw the distribution of more than 22 million primary and secondary school textbooks throughout the country, 3,200 braille textbooks in the core subjects of English, mathematics, environmental science and Shona were produced. Before this intervention, many visually impaired children had been at a severe disadvantage.

In addition, through the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Phase II (2011–2015), with support from the Child Protection Fund (CPF) managed by UNICEF, 20,000 households, including children and young people living with disabilities, are receiving a cash transfer of up to US$25 per month. Preliminary results from an independent quality analysis of the programme show that the transfers are helping families take care of orphans and children living with disabilities by paying for school fees, blankets, food and clothing.

Targeted interventions

The CPF also includes a component of interventions targeted specifically towards children with disabilities.

For one such effort, UNICEF, with a local partner and in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, is working to restore the ability of rehabilitation and school psychology departments to deliver holistic and effective services to these children at home, at school and in their communities.

In addition, through CPF complementary funding, UNICEF and a partner are working with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to implement a national small-grants programme for children with disabilities that funds assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and hospital care.

With an education, Munashe and his classmates have more of a chance to reach their full potential. Efforts to support families of children with disabilities aim to help parents care for their children and to challenge stigma and discrimination.

These initiatives aim to support parents to care for children living with disabilities and to challenge stigma and discrimination such that institutional care is a last resort.

A chance to learn

Writing on a piece of paper, Munashe explains that, born with this disability, he was trained at a young age by teachers at King George IV School to write with his feet after physiotherapy had failed. His parents had brought him all the way from Zvimba to Bulawayo so he could have a chance at an education. Munashe boards at the school and spends holidays at his home area in Zvimba.

“I thank my parents for bringing me here. I have a chance to learn,” he says. “I want to be an accountant when I grow up.” But, despite Munashe’s opportunities, there are still limited prospects in the country for people living with disabilities.

“There is need for greater efforts to ensure children with disabilities have access to basic social services and protection to enable them to realize their full potential,” says UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Gianni Murzi. “It is the sheer determination and drive to succeed by children like Munashe that should inspire us all to strive for a better life for those living with disability. We must therefore do more.”

‘A willy old fox’ – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 29th December 2012

As the world cheers in a new year, the Vigil would like to explain to our English friends how Mugabe’s looming 89^th birthday celebrations could be described in the Zimbabwean media as ‘to soup with the devil’.

In our exuberant tossing around of the idiom of a second language, our Zimbabwean ‘scribes’ have come up with our own version of English which has ‘stood the taste of time’.

The Vigil has closely followed the colourful Zimbabwean media – both print and electronic – over the past decade to help inform our comments on political developments at home.

We are particularly grateful to Barbara in Australia for her daily compendium of articles on the internet site www.zimbabwesituation.com, which has made it relatively easy to access much of this material.

It shows that fresh interpretations of common English words, phrases and sayings are building a new language, much as the Jamaicans and others have created their own patois. It often reflects a simple misunderstanding but usually adds a new dimension.

It was only recently that a founder member of the Vigil realised that the entirely sensible ‘chatting the way forward’ was a Zimbabweanism for ‘charting the way forward’!

Here are a few other examples of Zimbabweanisms which have come to our attention and enlivened Zimbabwean English:

The last Vigil of the year was cold, wet and windy but we wish all our supporters a happy new year. Thinking of the sunshine at home we were reminded of a Zimbabwe newspaper speaking of someone as being ‘grin with envy’.

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 12^th January from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.

· The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.

Zimbabwe: What will happen in 2013?

http://www.politicsweb.co.za

Eddie Cross
30 December 2012

Eddie Cross says MDC wants referendum to be held in March, the election in
June

It is never easy to predict what is going to happen in Zimbabwe. Perhaps it
is foolish to try but I think that this Christmas we should give it a go,
because in my view, the outlook for 2013 has changed and we should all
re-gear ourselves for what is going to be a dramatic year for all of us in
Zimbabwe. In my last letter I talked about the final stage in this hunt and
how to deal with this wounded buffalo who is trying to lure us into the
Jesse where the odds will favor him.

Watching events unfold here since then suggests that the beaters have
started to move into the Jesse on the other side of the wounded buffalo and
are going to force him out into the open on our side of the bush. A strange
mix of influences is at work - the buffalo they call HE in the herd, is
strangely committed to the constitutional provisions that say the present
Parliament and his own tenure end in June 2013. Zanu PF has decided that
they want an election as soon as possible and that on the basis that they
can lure us onto their own ground and hold an election as soon as possible,
that they can win that election.

It seems to me that they have heard the beaters start their slow drive
towards their position and are now determined to go for a confrontation with
the MDC. On our part, we have also decided to "go for it" and have agreed to
go for a referendum in March and the election in June. I think our
leadership has decided that it is bad for the country to drag this fight out
for much longer and that we should get the best conditions we can and take
on the old bull as best as we can.

So it looks to me that the idea of a negotiated compromise is suddenly off
the table and that everyone has accepted that we go for an election in June.
Voter registration on a national basis will start in January; detailed
preparations for the campaign and the balloting are underway. In the
referendum we will vote on our ID's and in the election in our wards, using
the voters roll that we have and to which any new voters will be added in
the next three months.

Mr. Tsvangirai has been given the responsibility for preparations for the
ballot and he is working hard at this - meetings are being held with the
agencies responsible and every effort is being made to ensure that
conditions for the June vote will be as free and fair as possible. That is
not going to be easy and I doubt that conditions can be made really free and
fair by June, but we will just have to do what we can and get the best shot
that we can in the circumstances.

We have to identify 2 400 candidates for this election by the end of
January, approve our policy platform for the campaign by then and then go to
our National Conference in February. After that we are in the referendum
campaign and once that is over, we are going to have to hit the ground
running for the June elections. I personally am delighted that at last we
have a clear task ahead of us. We also know that after the June election,
things will never be the same again. I am tired of the waiting game that has
gone on since 2008 when we wounded the old buffalo. Let's get this over
with - he feels the same way and for that reason alone, this time it is
really going to happen.

Just think for a short while of what is at stake. If the old bull survives
it will mean that he has been able to beat off his hunter. He will not last
long after this but his place will be taken by one of the old "dugga boys"
who are a part of his gang. They have been together for many years and are
unlikely to change their policies. The Zimbabwe dollar will be lifted out of
the grave, dusted off and reissued. The Reserve Bank will resume its role as
the chief looter and funder of last resort. What is left of the productive
economy will be taken over and dished out to the cronies and a small
minority will enjoy the spoils of the hunt, live lives of luxury and be able
to rest secure that their tormentors have been dealt with and will not be
able to come back any time soon.

We are in the middle of a severe and prolonged dry spell and this will
reduce what crops have been planted and Zimbabwe will remain dependent on
food aid. Zimbabwe will become one of the most unequal societies in the
world and the regime will tighten its grip on power and deal with its
enemies both in the political and the civil society. Another 3 million
people will flee to safer climes and countries.

But what happens if the hunter gets in a clean shot and takes the trophy
home to hang on the wall? Well the first thing that would happen would be
the biggest street party the world has seen. Zimbabwe will be one enormous
braai and the meat of choice will be buffalo steaks.

The MDC would announce a small government - a Cabinet of 20 Ministers with
18 Ministries. The President and the Cabinet would be sworn in and would
immediately begin a complete overhaul of the State administration. Marange
diamond fields would be nationalized and all existing operators expelled.
The National Prosecuting Authority would ask all who have amassed wealth in
recent years to explain where it all came from. Anyone who could not explain
this to their satisfaction and the satisfaction of ZIMRA would have their
estate sequestrated and their assets forfeited to the State.

A process of national healing with justice would be launched and would seek
to expose the truth about all violations of human, political and economic
rights that have occurred in the past. Victims would receive compensation
for the losses and injury that they had experienced.

The President would announce that "Zimbabwe was now open for business" and
assure all investors, local and foreign, that their interests were secure
and would not be tampered with by the State. The stock market, which is now
functioning at about a quarter of its real asset value, would begin a steep
climb and within two years, local equities would be trading at real values,
similar to those in South Africa. This will push the value of the stock
market to over $20 billion - injecting $15 billion into the local economy
(three time the present value of all deposits in the banks).

Investment in the mining sector will start first and will accelerate rapidly
as confidence in the new government grows. Mineral output will rise by over
30 per cent per annum for the next decade, pushing the mining industries
contribution to GDP and exports to new heights. This will be accompanied by
massive private sector investment in infrastructure - roads, air travel,
railways and pipelines for energy.

Tourism will surge with Zimbabwe receiving 20 per cent of regional tourist
arrivals by 2018. This will push national GDP even higher and create tens of
thousands of new jobs. By 2018, over one million people will be working in
the formal job market.

Agriculture is in such a mess that it will take many years to get back on
its feet, but the restoration of secure land rights and the resumption of
low cost financing will start to push output in 2014/15. Food security will
be restored by 2018 and after that agriculture will assume its rightful
place as one of the key drivers and as a major sources of poverty
alleviation. Social democratic policies will narrow the differential between
the rich and the poor, greater integrity in all spheres will reduce
opportunities for corrupt gains.

Do you think this is fanciful? I do not think so, I think this is the
reality and to be frank, I am glad the long night is almost over. All we
have to do is get that clean shot in and then we are there. Help us - get
registered to vote, it is the only weapon we have in this crucial fight.

Eddie Cross is MDC MP for Bulawayo South. This article first appeared on his
website www.eddicross.africanherd.com

Zimbabwe: The Problem with Drones

Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 30th December 2012.

The reported grant of permission by the U.S. State Department for the
deployment of drones in Zimbabwe to combat rhino poachers raises eyebrows
given the controversy surrounding the use of these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs) in conflict zones.

Clive Vivier, cofounder of the Zululand rhino reserve in Kwazulu-Natal
province was quoted by the Guardian at Christmas as saying he has been
granted permission to buy the state-of-the-art American manufactured
Arcturus T-20 drones and plans to put 30 of them in South African skies.

Understandably, concerns about the threat against the white rhino, an
endangered species, have been heightened by the loss of more than 650 rhinos
in 2012 slaughtered for their horns to meet demand in the Far East.

In view of the fact that rhino poaching appears to be a well-financed
clandestine criminal activity possibly run by trophy hunting scams or
criminal syndicates who also arguably engage in money laundering activities,
I don’t think that 30 drones or more would colve the problem of rhino
poaching.

It is worth noting that in November, a South African court sentenced
Chumlong Lemtongthai a Thai national to 40 years in prison for his part in a
syndicate that smuggled dozens of rhino horns out of the country, “the
stiffest sentence ever handed down for a such a crime in South Africa”
according to the Iol.co.za online news organisation.

Thai women were reportedly trafficked into South Africa to pose as “rhino
hunters” and to work in brothels and strip clubs. Mr Marnus Steyl a game
farmer was accused of helping organise the alleged “hunting” trips.

But charges against five co-accused including Marnus Steyl were withdrawn
after Chumlong Lemtongthai’s plea agreement exonerated them. He claimed that
they were unaware they were taking part in a crime. Critics questioned why
charges were withdrawn against Mr Steyl while hi co-accused Thai national
Chumlong Lemtongthai was jailed.

Similarly, in Kenya, Ol Pejeta a wildlife conservancy recently announced it
was raising funds for a drone. “In a country with an average wage of just a
dollar a day, a rhino horn can bring in US$12,000,” Ol Pejeta said according
to AFP on 07/12/12.

Similarly, in Zimbabwe four senior Zanu-pf officials repeatedly surfaced in
rumours about rhino poaching, according to United States diplomatic cables
released by Wikileaks (The Zimbabwean, 18/04/12).

In an cable dispatched on December 14, 2009, US Ambassador Charles Ray named
Environment Minister Francis Nhema, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, Defence
Forces Chief Constantine Chiwenga and chief of conservation in the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Vitalis Chadenga.

The Ambassador said it was widely suspected that rhino poaching had been
rampant for decades because of lax law enforcement and collaboration between
armed poachers and senior government officials.

My other objection to the use of drones in Zimbabwe relates to the well
documented civilian deaths in various countries where they have been
deployed in the war on terror such as Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Furthermore, I am convinced that with the forthcoming withdrawal of western
forces in Afghanistan, the drones market will suffer tremendously as a
result new markets have to be found.

The risk to Zimbabweans lies in the drones being operated remotely at times
by someone in a Western country and signalling the elimination of suspected
armed “poacher” only to find that the victims were innocent civilians going
about their private lives.

No amount of financial compensation will be enough to lose a relative who
may have been just trying to jump the South Africa border from Zimbabwe
through the thick jungles and ends up being mistaken for a rhino poacher.

Furthermore, innocent Zimbabweans travelling in forests e.g. at night will
risk being killed by these drones without even getting a chance to explain
why they will be where they will be at the moment of surveillance.

It is also worth arguing that rhino poachers could impersonate national
parks and wildlife wardens/rangers e.g. by wearing their uniforms and being
armed with devastating consequences.

As far as I am concerned, there is need for curbing corruption, and
disruption of money laundering and the operations of criminal syndicates
through infiltration and heavy prison sentences, as well as rewarding and
protecting those who shop rhino horn syndicates.

For instance banks have a role play in alerting the authorities about
unusual amounts of money mysteriously changing hands. To get that done,
Zimbabwe and indeed most of the countries affected do not need drones given
the risks involved apart from the cost of purchase and running them.

Thorough investigations of rhino poaching should be backed by the
authorities through material and human resources as well as efficient
prosecution of culprits. Equally, game rangers should be well paid for the
risk they take in protecting wildlife including the white rhino. It is
better to pay the rangers a living wage than risk them being bribed or
killed unprotected.

A study by the Columbia Law School describes the “far-reaching impact of
these operations on civilians and their communities” (See The Civilian
Impact of Drones: Unexamined Costs, Unanswered Questions, Centre for
Civilians in Conflict, Columbia Law School, Human Rights Clinic, available
online.

Additional references are:

Evan Knappenberger (2012) The ethical problem that drone warfare poses, The
Daily Progress, 05/08/12.
Stanford Law School (2012)Living Under Drones – Death, Injury, and Trauma to
Civilians From US Drone Practices in Pakistan, September (available
online)..
Michael W. Lewis, Drones and the Boundaries of the Battlefield, Texas
International Law Journal, Vol.47, Issue 2.

Clifford Chitupa Mashiri is a PhD candidate at the London South Bank
University and the Commonwealth Open University in social sciences and
international relations, respectively.
Zimanalysis2009@gmail.com

Zec 1 million in the red