Tuesday, 12 January 2010
The MDC says Roy Bennett's trial is politically
motivated |
A key prosecution witness in the trial of Zimbabwean
politician Roy Bennett has rebutted much of the state's case.
Prosecutors say Peter Hitschmann stashed weapons for Mr Bennett, an ally of
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who they accuse of a terrorist plot.
But Hitschmann disowned most of the weapons in court, denied ever meeting Mr
Bennett and accused the police of concocting a conspiracy.
The trial has threatened to rip apart Zimbabwe's unity government.
Mr Bennett, treasurer for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), denies all the charges against him, which include terrorism, insurgency,
sabotage, banditry and a plot to kill President Robert Mugabe.
'Unfavourable' witness
Attorney General Johannes Tomana now wants to impeach Hitschmann.
During Tuesday's session, Hitschmann, a convicted arms dealer, was asked to
identify an array of weapons that the prosecution argued had been stashed for Mr
Bennett.
|
ROY BENNETT
2000: Elected MP
2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament
2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe
2006: Fled to South Africa
2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister;
arrested
|
But he disowned many of them, including six submachine guns and some tear-gas
canisters.
Hischmman, who has already said he implicated Mr Bennett only after being
tortured, also denied correspondence that the state said showed he had been in
contact with Mr Bennett.
AFP news agency reported that Mr Tomana then asked for his witness to be
impeached.
"He is not to be accepted as a favourable witness," the agency quoted him as
saying.
"The docket I have clearly shows a departure of statement he made to the
police."
Mr Tomana says Mr Bennett was involved in a bid to topple President Robert
Mugabe's government between 2002 and 2006.
Mr Bennett was held in February last year on charges of possessing illegal
weapons.
Mr Bennett's lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has told the court the case was political
persecution.
Mr Bennett had been due to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister when he
was arrested.
President Robert Mugabe has refused to swear him in while the case is
ongoing.
|
Farming
family attacked in Rusape
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell 12 January 2010
A farming
family in Rusape was physically attacked by land invaders on Tuesday, as
tensions continue to mount in the beleaguered farming community.
It's
understood that farmer Koos Smit and his family have come under increasing
intimidation to vacate their property, which is one of many that have been
earmarked for forced takeover in the area. According to the Commercial
Farmers Union (CFU) the family was ambushed on Tuesday and
beaten.
CFU president Deon Theron could not confirm if the women in
the family were also beaten, but he said that the two Smit sons were
apparently tied to trees and severely beaten by the land thugs.
The
CFU is still trying to confirm the nationality of the family, but initial
reports suggest the Smits are another South African family, meant to be
protected by an investment agreement.
We will have more details on
Wednesday.
More
farmers in Rusape handed eviction notices
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell 12 January
2010
At least five more farmers in Rusape have been handed notices to
leave their properties, as the drive to remove the country's remaining white
commercial farmers continues to intensify.
South African Antoinette
Grobler from Geluk farm in the Nyazura district is just one of the farmers
who have been told by Lands Ministry officials that their properties have
been earmarked for takeover. If evicted, the Groblers will become the latest
in a string of South African farming families to be forced off their
properties in recent weeks.
Just last week, another South African family,
meant to be protected by both regional law and a bilateral investment
protection agreement, were forced to flee their farm in Rusape. Dolf du Toit
and his family left the property after more than a week of violence and
intimidation. They became the third farming family in the area to be forced
off their land in the same number of weeks. The Du Toits have since been
staying with the Groblers, and the families have expressed fears that they
will have nowhere left to go if the evictions are carried out.
South
African civil rights initiative AfriForum is now trying to force its
government to protect its citizens who are facing harassment and possible
eviction by land invaders in Zimbabwe. The group is set to launch an urgent
bid at the North Gauteng Supreme Court on Wednesday to cite the Zimbabwean
government as a respondent in the case, in an attempt to enforce a regional
ruling in 2008 that the land 'reform' exercise was unlawful. The ruling was
handed down by the human rights court of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC), which also ordered the Mugabe government to ensure the
protection of farmers and their rights to their land.
But the ruling
has been openly flouted and land invasions, taking place under the guise of
so called land 'reform', have intensified this year, including violent
invasions against South African farmers who were involved in the case.
AfriForum's CEO Kallie Kriel explained that the group is trying to get that
ruling registered and enforced in South Africa, in order to use it against
Zimbabwe, from within South Africa.
"We want South Africa as a member
state of SADC to recognise SADC's binding ruling," said Spies. "This is just
the first small step in the legal process, but basically we want to
eventually hold Zimbabwe to account to how they've treated South African
citizens."
Last November, AfriForum went to court to try prevent the
signing of an investment pact between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as it was
feared that the agreement would fail the South African farmers who are
victims of Zimbabwe's unlawful land 'reform' programme. In it's defence the
South African government stated it would uphold the SADC Tribunal's 2008
ruling on the land grab campaign, and therefore protect its citizens in
Zimbabwe. As a result the investment pact was eventually signed, but South
African farmers have continued to come under attack regardless.
The
civil rights initiative late last year tried to force its government to
intervene to protect the lives and property of South African farmer, Ray
Finaugty and his family in Zimbabwe. Finaugty and family were forced to flee
their home in Rusape, on Christmas Eve, after days of violence and
harassment by land invaders.
"AfriForum has already requested the
South African government formally to use its newly obtained bargaining power
with the investment agreement to protect South Africans in Zimbabwe," Kriel
explained. "But the South African government has indicated that (the
agreement) first has to be ratified by the Zimbabwean Parliament before this
can happen."
Zanu-PF
politburo member faces arrest
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=26435
January 12, 2010
BULAWAYO - A
warrant of arrest has been issued against Zanu-PF politburo member, Joshua
Malinga, after he failed to appear in court last week. Malinga was scheduled
to go on trial on Friday at the Bulawayo magistrates' courts in a case in
which he faces charges of undermining police authority.
He was found to
have defaulted after magistrate Sithembiso Nyoni called his name three times
in court to no avail. She immediately issued a warrant for his
arrest.
When The Zimbabwe Times contacted Malinga's lawyer Job Sibanda of
Sibanda and Associates Tuesday on his client's failure to attend court, he
said Malinga who is a former Mayor of Bulawayo Mayor was in Harare where he
was attending a constitutional select committee training
workshop.
"My client failed to attend court since he is in Harare where
is attending a training workshop on the constitution-making process. I have
already advised the state prosecutors about that, although they refused to
cancel the warrant of arrest," said Sibanda.
Allegations against
Malinga are that on February 11 last year, at around 10 am, Constable
Raphael Somerayi was on duty manning the reception at the High Court in
Bulawayo. He was dressed in police uniform.
Malinga parked his vehicle at
the corner of 8th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street with its tail allegedly
encroaching onto the road thereby blocking other traffic. Malinga is
wheel-chair bound.
Somerayi approached Malinga and addressed him in Shona
requesting him to park properly. The State alleges that Malinga responded by
insulting the complainant in English saying, "You are stupid, idiot officer
speaking Shona in Matabeleland".
The police officer requested to see
his drivers' licence but Malinga allegedly refused to comply saying there
was no law that forces him to carry the document on his
person.
Malinga allegedly threatened to put the police officer in "hot
soup" for interrupting him.
The officer requested Malinga to
accompany him to Tredgold Building to see his superiors if he was offended
by his use of the Shona language.
At the Tredgold Building's Court
section, Assistant Inspector Tendekayi Murehwa, who is also a public
prosecutor, attended to Somerayi and Malinga.
The State alleges that
Malinga continued to use foul language and again said, "He is a stupid,
idiot police officer who speaks Shona in Matabeleland."
Malinga's
application for referral of his case to the Supreme Court was dismissed in
September last year and the trial has been postponed on numerous
occasions.
Another
MDC pull-out looms
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by CAJ News Tuesday, 12 January 2010
16:14 JOHANNESBURG- ZIMBABWE'S unity government faces serious hurdles
following fresh farm invasions, minister of Information and Communication
Technology, Nelson Chamisa told CAJ News Agency on Tuesday. Chamisa, who
is also the spokesman for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), warned that
any further farm invasions by Zanu (PF) would result in the opposition party
considering withdrawing from the inclusive government. But President Robert
Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, vehemently dismissed claims that there
were farm invasions in Zimbabwe arguing that the process is called "farm
repossession." "Who is invading what in Zimbabwe? We are repossessing our
land. We are acquiring the land in terms of the Zimbabwean law. "We have a
few white racists who are resisting this new land reform program. As
government, we will go ahead taking what is rightfully ours," said
Charamba. However, Chamisa insisted that MDC would not be part of any unity
government that is undermining the rule of law and democracy. "The latest
farm invasions have taken us by surprise, and we condemn them in strongest
terms. "If Zanu PF does not halt these fresh farm invasions targeting white
farmers, then we will be forced to 'think otherwise'," said Chamisa. He
said the fresh farm invasions were undermining frantic efforts by the
inclusive goverment to try and lure foreign investment, restore the rule of
law and revive the agricultural sector. "How can you attract foreign
investors when you are on the other hand attacking foreign owned properties?
"These fresh farm invasions are taking us back. They (farm invasions) are
threatening the existence of the Global Political Agreement (GPA)," said
Chamisa. Already commercial farmers such as Michael Campbell and Louis Fick
have been victims of the fresh farms' invasions in Zimbabwe. The new wave of
farm invasions targeting whites comes at a time another white, Roy Bennett
of MDC, who is deputy agriculture minister designate is facing serious
charges of terrorism and possessing weapons to cause banditry in the
country. Zimbabwe High Court Judge, Justice Rita Makarau, on Monday said she
expected the power sharing government to uphold the rule of law and respect
human rights.
AN
shortage hits farmers hard .. yields will be affected say experts
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by
Paul Ndlovu Tuesday, 12 January 2010 06:48 HARARE - Farmers countrywide
have been hit by a shortage of Ammonium Nitrate Fertiliser, a development
that is likely to affect their yield. The fertiliser is used by farmers as
first and second top dressing to the maize crop that has reached knee level.
A Zimbabwe Farmers Union senior official, Berean Mukwende, said the
fertilizer needed by farmers for top dressing was in short supply
country-wide. "January is normally characterized by dry spells which is
normal in the farming calendar. The crops that were at temporary wilting
stage managed to recover but the challenge that farmers are faced with is
the shortage of Ammonium Nitrate," he said. The Provincial AREX Officer for
Bulawayo, Abraham Nyoni, confirmed the shortage. He said farmers who would
be most affected by the shortage of Ammonium Nitrate were those who did not
apply Compound d or manure while planting. "The crops will eventually
turn yellow because of the absence of nitrogen in the soil," he added. "Most
parts of the region managed to get rains last week, with isolated places
where crops wilted and in some cases farmers were forced to replant crops
like groundnuts, maize, rapoko and millet," added Nyoni. Meanwhile, the
District Development Fund (DDF) has embarked on a massive land tillage
exercise in Matabeleland North meant to help disadvantaged communities with
farming preparations. The Provincial planning officer, Moment Malandu, said
the exercise-targeted communities in Umguza, Bubi and Tsholotsho. "We would
have been happy to have started earlier but we faced a number of problems by
then, but nonetheless we are satisfied that it is in progress," he said.
Power
struggle threatens split in war veterans’ body
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tichaona Sibanda 12
January 2010
The fight to control the Zimbabwe National Liberation War
Veterans Association intensified this week, with a rival faction calling for
fresh elections for leadership positions.
The current power struggle
pits the old executive, led by Jabulani Sibanda and Joseph Chinotimba, which
is aligned to ZANU PF strongman Emmerson Mnangagwa, to a faction with strong
links to retired army general, Solomon Mujuru.
Retired Colonel Basten
Beta, a Mujuru ally is leading a group that is threatening to hold a
congress in Chinhoyi this weekend. Other members of his group include former
war veterans’ secretary-general Endy Mhlanga, Douglas Mahiya and Moffat
Marashwa, who are all vying for top posts in the war veterans’
body.
The current fight to control the war vets body first erupted in
early December last year when the Beta faction called for a congress in
Chinhoyi to elect a new leadership. But the commander of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, stepped in and ordered the
faction to cancel the meeting saying it fell too close to the ZANU PF
congress, which was held in the second week of December.
Concerned of
the ‘domino effect’ the war vets congress would have on the main party
congress, Chiwenga summoned both factions to Defence House, the headquarters
of the defence forces in central Harare. He reportedly ordered them to put
their fight on hold and allow the ZANU PF congress to go ahead without ‘any
problems.’ The last congress for the war veterans’ body was held in 2002.
According to its constitution, a new executive was supposed to be elected in
2005.
Sox Chikohwero, a war veteran who joined the MDC at its inception
in 1999, told us there is no doubt that during the ‘cooling off’ period the
Beta faction were sharpening their knives ready to pounce against the
Sibanda led executive. The ZANLA and ZIPRA guerrillas are considered an
integral cog of ZANU PF’s survival machine which is used at times to
intimidate, beat, murder and rape opponents of the party.
‘While I
support the call to have elections in the war vets body, I disagree with
Beta’s views that Sibanda has failed to represent the war veterans welfare
and allowed the ex-freedom fighters to be abused by politicians during the
chaotic 2000 land reform programme which the majority of them did not
benefit. This has been a decade. Where was Beta and his colleagues in the
last 10 years to bring up such issues now,’ Chikohwero said. Beta on Monday
controversially said the war veterans were entitled to a 20 percent share of
any resource in the country, because of their liberation credentials. He
told Radio VOP that they should get a 20 percent share of land allocations
under the land ‘reform’ programme, 20% of residential stands allocations in
all towns and cities, plus 20% of all natural resources and anything to do
with mines. He said it was time for real war veterans to stand up and reclaim
their legacy and he warned that the body had been infiltrated by people who
did not go to war. In an apparent reference to Chinotimba and his legion of
youthful ‘war veteran’ supporters Beta said; ‘We have been infiltrated by
bogus people, some as young as 22 years. A war veteran is a disciplined, old
person not these 16 years old boys and girls who went around the country in
2008 killing and raping people. If you see a person beating up people then
that person is not a war veteran.’ Chikohwero countered; ‘I hope Beta can
stand up and say the exact words in front of Mugabe and the military junta.
If they had known of the infiltrations why didn’t they say so then? I think
this is just grandstanding, if it comes to crunch time Mugabe can use the
former guerillas as and when he likes without anyone
objecting.’
Fort
Hare University slammed for giving in to ZANU PF
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Lance Guma 13 January
2009
Over 12 students who had their government scholarships withdrawn by
ZANU PF officials have slammed Fort Hare University in South Africa for
allowing them to be victimized. ZANU PF's Manicaland Governor, Christopher
Mushowe, the director of the Presidential Scholarship Fund (which is meant
to help disadvantaged student's) wrote to the university last year informing
them that government had withdrawn the scholarships. He accused the students
of engaging in political activity on campus and denigrating their 'sponsor'
Mugabe. The scheme is of course funded by taxpayer's money and not
Mugabe's.
On Tuesday Newsreel spoke to one of the affected student's,
Tapiwa Shumba, who confirmed that they were being denied their exam results
over the 'outstanding' fees. Even those who have finished and are meant to
graduate this year will not be able to do so until the money is paid. The
registration process for this year begins on Monday and those affected will
not be able to continue with their studies. The students have since rallied
around and formed the Zimbabwe International Students Union (ZISU) in which
Shumba is now the Secretary General.
Shumba explained that the
Scholarship Fund and university entered into a binding contract which
allowed the students to learn. The fees are paid at the end of the year,
after invoices are produced and sent to the Fund. So effectively the
scholarship fund is refusing to pay for a years worth of learning, even
though they had a contract with the university to do so. The university also
advanced allowances to the students in the course of the year on the back of
the agreement, and this means the Fund stills owes them.
Fort Hare
University Vice Chancellor, Tom Mvuyo, has remained unmoved by his
institutions role in the matter, or the student's plight. He claimed the
students should be grateful because he allowed them to continue with their
education and write examinations last year even after the withdrawal of
their sponsorship. He further stated that money given to the students to
cover their transport costs came from the university coffers.
It has
not been all doom and gloom for the expelled students however with one of
them, Juma Ulete, getting help from the MDC Victims Association to continue
his studies overseas. Ulete was the MDC branch chairman at Fort
Hare.
Meanwhile the remaining affected students have said they will
not go back to Zimbabwe as they fear for their lives. Even those who have
completed the programme have said they will not go back.
Every year
close to 750 students are sponsored by the scholarship fund, but it also
looks like many of the graduates are unwilling to make the journey back home
because of limited job opportunities.
Mugabe
buys the world's most powerful helicopter
http://www.zimdiaspora.com
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
13:04
Special correspondent in Harare Harare - President Mugabe
has mortgaged diamonds from Marange to buy his personal new multi-million
dollar Presidential helicopter after his current luxurious French-made
helicopter was grounded due to lack of spare parts following European Union
and United States military sanctions imposed in 2000.
The Airforce of
Zimbabwe (AFZ), the custodians of the Presidential helicopters, took delivery
of the Russian-made Mi6 transport helicopter in November last year and
completed successful secret test flights throughout the country.
A
Senior military officer at Harare's Defence House said local pilots and
engineers have already been trained to use the Russian helicopter which is
now parked at Manyame Airbase ready for use by Mr Mugabe.
He said Mr
Mugabe was forced to buy the Russian chopper after failing to procure spare
parts and get maintenance and service support from the French manufacturers
of his grounded helicopter.
'The government used to get spare parts
through a third country such as Kenya to bust the EU sanctions, but the
French discovered this.The current presidential helicopter was now a threat
to the safety and security of the president due to unavailability of spare
parts and the government had no option but to buy another one,' said the
officer.
Diamonds from Marange had to be mortgaged to buy the Mi6
helicopter as government had no money, said a Mines and mining development
official close to the deal.
The current French-made Presidential
helicopter was bought in the late1990's under controversial circumstances as
it was considered too expensive and luxurious for a small economy like
Zimbabwe's.
The helicopter was considered one of the most luxurious in
the world, with state of the art facilities including beds, toilets, kitchen
and entertainment.
However, despite the acquisition of the new Russian
helicopter and subsequent successful test flights, the office of the
President has not yet approved the use of the helicopter by
Mugabe.
'The poor safety record of Russian planes is making Mugabe and
his CIO's hesitant to use the helicopter. We do not know when or if
he will use the helicopter,' said the military officer.
For the past
few months, Mugabe who is not fond of travelling long distances by road, was
driven by road to Mutare in December to officiate at an agricultural function
in Mutasa district. He also commandeered a Victoria Falls bound Air Zimbabwe
to Gweru where he was officiating at a Zimbabwe Military Academy
graduation.
The Mi6, which is manufactured by Mil Moscow helicopter
plant, is considered the heaviest and most powerful transport helicopter in
the world. Some Mi6 helicopters have a capacity to carry up to
90 passengers and five crew members with a maximum speed of
3000 kilometres per hour and can fly non stop for 800 kilometres.
The
European Union and USA imposed military sanctions and other restrictive
measures on Zimbabwe's military and some senior Zanu pf government officials
due to state sanctioned gross violations human rights by the country's
security forces and some government officials.
In 2008 alone, the
security forces tortured and killed hundreds of opposition supporters in a
violent campaign aimed at ensuring Mugabe's victory in a discredited June 27
presidential run-off, where he was the sole candidate after the withdrawal
of Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change the winner of
the March 29 presidential election.
Political
types in suits with stripes
A Kubatana subscriber recently emailed us his Letter to Zimbabwe. Our mailing
list is pretty big, but not That Big. But Mathias Makozhombwe makes an
awful lot of sense. It makes me think of that quote that suggests that the
people who should be running the country are driving taxis and cutting hair.
Here's Mathias on what he wants for Zimbabwe.
I feel the need to talk about Zimbabwe, and share my thoughts. We need to
elevate our game and stop the rot that has plagued this beautiful nation. It's a
well-known fact that Zanu more than sold us short, so I won't dwell much on that
because you know the lot. The question my brothers and sisters is how do we move
forward, break free from the shackles of poverty, violence, misrepresentation
and institutional tribalism?
How do we break free, stay free and never return to this unbearable situation
of perpetual abuse of power? How do we differentiate the real from the fake,
cheap talk from real talk? I don't have all the questions or answers but these
are issues that we need to consider when signing up for any future situations.
The word I hear a lot is change; sure enough that's a start, but not good
enough. We need SMART change, a set of objectives that are Specific, Measurable,
Agreed, Realistic and Time Bound.
For clarity Zanu not only failed, they were a major catastrophe. Now as we
stand up, speak up and unite for the sake of peace, it is important to note that
there can be no peace without equality, and there can be no sustainable progress
and stability without well-considered policies that have been debated at every
level, with the Policy Makers and Implementers held accountable through
effective regulation.
So when these political types in suits with stripes knock on our doors and
ask for our votes, it's our responsibility to demand accountability. For over 25
years the War Vets have
held the nation to ransom. The nation owes the debt for their sacrifice, but
when you cheat, steal and kill the very people you sought to liberate the debt
owed to you becomes null and void.
My message to Mugabe, Chihuri and the gang, your days are numbered, you are
way past your sell by date and judgment day is on the way. To Tsvangirai, Biti
and the team, you have huge task ahead of you, and failure is not an option. You
need to deliver, if or when you assume full power of Government. For now less
whining and more action.
To my fellow Zimbabweans we are at a cross roads; the battle for freedom,
equality and long term prosperity is only in it's infancy. It is up to us
whether we sink or swim, lose or win, die on our feet or live on our knees. I am
not Dr King but I do have dreams. I am just an ordinary man who believes that
one day peace and prosperity will return to Zimbabwe, and that all Zimbabweans
will have equal opportunity and be judged not by the colour of their skin,
tribal descent or sexual orientation, but by the nature and quality of their
moral fibre.
This entry was posted on January 12th,
2010 at 9:57 am by Bev Clark
Moyo offers 'alibi' amid political bluster
Jonathan Moyo is a known
agitator within ZANU PF ranks - and he has already been thrown out of the
party once for activities that Mugabe found unpalatable.
He hardly
secured his independent seat before we saw him returned to the loving arms
of ZANU PF - and then, over Christmas, we read of another secret meeting -
this time in Gweru - with Mnangagwa and numerous others in which a new
political party was the primary discussion.
Mugabe must be
fuming!
"Former Information and Publicity Minister Tsholotsho North MP
Professor Jonathan Moyo is struggling to refute claims that he organised a
secret meeting in Gweru now dubbed Tsholotsho Part II to map out strategies
for a ZANU PF break away political party to be led by the Defence Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa was outflanked by a rival faction led
by General Solomon Mujuru in the battle to succeed veteran Robert Mugabe in
ZANU PF at the last Fifth National People's Congress."
Moyo is a 'has
been' and an 'also ran'. He relies on building up people's trust in him for
him to achieve his objectives - and then he discards them as yesterday's
news.
Labelling him a 'come-back kid' would only be correct, assuming
that the latest foray is successful. Having been found out as quickly as he
has, that is now in doubt.
"In a statement loaded with sharp, abusive
language and the usual bile, the ZANU PF come-back-kid failed dismally to
dispel the big story currently doing the rounds across the country in pubs,
churches and commuter busses that he is leading an Emmerson Mnangagwa plot
to form a new breakaway party from the ashes of the beleaguered former
ruling party, ZANU PF.
The unemployed, former University of Zimbabwe
political science lecturer denied the publication of a story by the
'Zimbabwean on Sunday' newspaper on January 10 entitled: Mnangagwa plots
fight-back: talk of a new splinter group.
Moyo described the story as
"fiction", merely by virtue of his creative defensive work of sexed up
alibi. But, last night a new source said Moyo had actually revealed another
venue of the plots where another secret meetings was carried out in a boat
in Kariba. The source said Moyo had this low level meeting with staff who
will man the Cape Town office. It is believed he took them in a step by step
induction training course before they left for South Africa."
I say
again - Moyo does not represent the people or ZANU PF. He is only interested
in himself and whatever riches he can accrue.
Aligning himself with
Emmerson Mnangagwa, one of the richest people in Africa, he places himself
within arm's length of his objective.
"In his aggressive statement send
to his mouth-piece, Moyo said, "the desperately false claim that I attended
a political meeting of any kind in Gweru on December 25, 2009 or that I was
anywhere in or near Gweru on Christmas day to mastermind a so-called
Tsholotsho Part II strategy with some unnamed people who allegedly included
Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa, July Moyo, Flora Buka, Fred Kanzama and Mike Madiro
is a terribly fictitious and astonishingly idiotic tale told by wretched MDC
T idiots who are now running scared of the oblivion facing their treacherous
party on the back of ZANU PF's apparent resurgence."
"If these idiots
and their equally idiotic British handlers cared to check facts and build
their propaganda on some truth, something they are apparently incapable of
doing because of their breathtaking incompetence, they would have known that
from December 24 to December 27 last year I was actually in beautiful Kariba
enjoying true Zimbabwean hospitality at Christmas with my family at Caribbea
Bay."
"This is a fact known to staff at that hotel and by many other
families, some of them well known personalities, who also were guests at the
hotel," said Mr Moyo in a desperate attempt to make up an alibi after
learning that he will soon be called to explain himself in front of the
Presidium.
"Only idiots can believe and claim that I was in Gweru and in
Kariba at exactly one and the same time because that proposition is plainly
idiotic!"
And the MDC did not escape comment either: "Just because some
MDC-T idiots could not have Christmas with their families because of their
sell-out commitments does not mean we are all that depraved," said "Cde"
Moyo raising the bar on hot air.
"Surely, they should have chosen a
better day for their fictitious rubbish than Christmas day!"
Amazing
that Moyo can call everyone else idiots - but try call him one...
Robb WJ
Ellis The Bearded Man
http://mandebvhu.instablogs.com/entry/moyo-offers-alibi-amid-political-bluster/
Dirty Dozen: The 2010 Land Audit Must Start with Mugabe’s Gushungo
Farms
Under Mugabe’s rule, all Zimbabweans are the ultimate losers. The
current fast track land acquisition exercise simply supplants a once
stubborn minority racial elite with a deceitful clique of the political
elite. This “land reform” is an opportunistic political manoeuvre, which
merely transfers “ownership” from one affluent clique to another.
The
once productive farms that belonged to “Mr Colonial Settler”, taken under
the pretext of correcting a colonial wrong, are now the private properties
of revolutionaries and pseudo revolutionaries. The hordes of youths, who
performed the farm evictions-(jambanja), with orders from their revered
“chefs”, are now watching from the fringes. Their comrades in arms, the
chefs, now overindulge on the spoils of the “revolution”. Soon the youth
will become restless; they are unemployed and disproportionably swell the
hungry ranks of the landless poor.
A comprehensive land audit for
Zimbabwe will bring to finality the land inequity question and lawfully
align the nation on a conclusive agrarian reform program.
The ZANU
(PF) chain of command, has now taken all the best irrigable farms in areas
such as Mvurwi, Mtepatepa, Mazowe, Enterprise, Concession, Darwendale,
Banket, Middle Sabi, etc., which have the finest agricultural land,
accompanying agricultural equipment, and infrastructure. The poor landless
farmers, already eking a living from marginal lands, are allocated bigger
plots in moisture deficient areas like Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Ngezi, Gutu,
Gokwe, Rutenga, etc., regions that cannot sustain rainfed
agriculture.
When did the dignified fair play policy of a “one-man
one-farm” turn into “one-man multiple-farms”? Why is it that only senior
ZANU (PF) officials from the same ethnic group, are allocated all the prime
farms, which are not subdivided into minimum sizes?
Mugabe via
Gushungo Holdings now owns 10 601 hectares (25 760 acres) of the most
fertile farms and rich land in the highest rainfall areas in Zimbabwe thus
becoming Zimbabwe’s biggest landlord:
1. Foyle Farm, Mazowe—former owner
Ian Webster—area 1 000 hectares, now Gushungo Dairy Farm – “The Agricultural
Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has now proposed to ‘buyback’ Gushungo
Farm to save the Mugabe family from appearing at variance with government's
policies”; 2. Iron Mask Estate, Mazowe—taken by Grace under the pretext of
creating an orphanage, former owner John Matthews—area 1 046 hectares—now
defunct; 3. Sigaro Farm, Mazowe—Deed of Transfer 8170/2000, 873 hectares,
former owner Joe Kennedy, home of National Tested Seeds, Zimbabwe’s largest
producer of agricultural seeds and Africa’s first ISO certified seed
producer—now derelict; 4. Gwebi Wood Farm, Mazowe—former owner an
indigenous Zimbabwean, Washington Matsaire, CEO Standard Bank, exporter of
passion fruit, area 1 200 hectares—unutilised, burnt to the ground; 5.
Gwina Farm, Banket—Deed of Grant 11120/00, former owner Vernon Nicolle, 1
287 hectares. Ben Hlatshwayo, a high court judge who chaired the commission,
which drew up the constitution that was rejected in a referendum in 2000. He
had evicted Vernon Nicolle, and was himself unceremoniously evicted by Grace
Mugabe to make way for her son from her first marriage, Russell Goreraza.
The Nicolle’s were the largest single wheat producers with the biggest
private irrigation and grain silo infrastructure in Zimbabwe,
unutilised; 6. Leverdale Farm, Banket—former owner Piers Nicolle, 1
488hectares, now derelict; 7. Highfield Farm, Norton—area 445 hectares,
where he keeps five camels—gifts from Gadaffi all nearby farms were acquired
by Mugabe to create a “security buffer zone”. Mugabe now occupies 4 050
hectares on all the farms below the banks of Lake Darwandale. 8.
Cressydale Estate, Norton—Deed of Grant 676/79 former owner Skea; 9. John
O’Groat Farm, Norton—former owner Skea; 10. Tankatara Farm, Norton—former
owner Skea; 11. Clifford Farm, Norton—former owner Skea; 12. Zvimba—Mugabe
owns 60 hectares, his traditional home, where villages nearby were
demolished and villagers evicted to make way for Mugabe’s expanded
homestead.
Gushungo Holdings corruptly utilises the services of ARDA,
itself a technically insolvent state agricultural parastatal, to manage
Mugabe’s vast farms at taxpayers’ expense but for the financial benefit of
the Mugabe family. Mugabe by virtue of his status does not pay taxes. Twelve
tax-paying farmers have been dispossessed of their productive agricultural
businesses to make way for a single non-farmer, non-taxpayer, Robert
Mugabe.
Zimbabwe must separate the business of an individual, Mugabe,
from that of the nation. The land ownership map of Zimbabwe now resembles
the old colonial Land Apportionment Act of 1930 and the Land Tenure Act of
1969 map, with the previous white farming areas replaced with ZANU (PF)’s
political nouveau riche—who are not even farmers.
Nepotism allowed
the Robert Mugabe family to misappropriate a further 10 260 hectares (24 932
acres) of land earmarked for resettlement from farmers he terms, “the
offspring of colonial settlers”. Mugabe’s brother-in-law, Reward Marufu, got
Leopards Vlei Farm, Glendale, 1 294 hectares and Kachere Farm, Mazowe, 880
hectares; Mugabe’s sister-in-law, Rose Marufu, got Wooller Farm, Glendale,
436 hectares; Mugabe’s sister, Sabina, got Mlembwe Farm, Makonde, 1 037
hectares, Longwood Farm, Makonde, 924 hectares, and Gowrie Farm, Norton, 430
hectares; and Mugabe’s nephew Leo Mugabe got Diandra, Darwandale, 815
hectares, Nangadza, Mhangura, 1 200 hectares, and Journey’s End, Makonde, 3
000 hectares; and nephew Patrick Zhuwao got Marivale Farm, Mazowe, 244
hectares; all are amongst the country’s largest multiple landowners. On
some of these farms, the farmer was killed and the workers’ houses were
burnt to compel the landless workers to vacate the properties.
How can
one man, in a land hungry nation, take for himself twelve farms, evict
twelve farmers, and displace over 14 000-farm workers and their families in
the name of land reform? A single family, Mugabe, collectively
misappropriated twenty-four farms totalling 20 861 hectares (50 692 acres)
of prime land. Farms meant for resettling landless Zimbabweans, now belong
to Gushungo and most lie unutilised. All this plunder to nourish the
insatiable greed of a few spoiled relatives, who were already privileged by
their relation to Mugabe.
Today, January 2010, the eviction of 10 000
villagers from the one million acre Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi is underway,
to make way for Mugabe’s business partner and preferred white
associate—Billy Rautenbach.
Why do persons who claim to be the liberators
feel they are entitled to all the land and yet have compensated themselves
for their war contributions ten times over?
The culture of the
haphazard farm invasions, evictions, seizures of private businesses and
property, will not end when the last white farmers are off the land. A new
wave of acrimonious dispossessions will commence, whereby indigenous will be
evicting indigenous on a flimsy political raison d'être. Mugabe’s
lieutenants have now plagiarised and perfected their commander in chief’s
template for multiple farm ownership.
What does correcting a colonial
imbalance mean? Did colonial settlers take all the land, now owned by
Gushungo, from Mugabe’s family in the 1890’s? Land must be returned to its
rightful indigenous peoples, not to an ethnically skewed political party
elite. A once proud food self-sufficient agrarian society has been reduced
into a beggar nation.
A recent survey by the General Agricultural
Plantations Workers Union (GAPWUZ) revealed that the conditions of service
for the farm workers on Gushungo Holdings and other acquired farms now owned
by ZANU (PF) officials are no better and in most cases worse than the
conditions of the previous farm owners.
How does Grace Mugabe, a mere
pool typist in the President’s office, without formal agricultural training
whatsoever, become Zimbabwe’s largest agricultural landowner?
"Let me
keep my Zimbabwe", said Mugabe addressing the 2002 Earth Summit, September 2
in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“True, some land was bought by a few
Cabinet Ministers. They bought the land. No minister, to my knowledge
acquired land which was meant for resettlement”, said Mugabe in an ABC
interview with Jonathan Holmes in March 1998.
“I will never, never,
never, never surrender, Zimbabwe is mine”, Mugabe said addressing the
ZANU-PF National Annual People’s Conference in Bindura on 19 December
2008. Mugabe and his associates seem to believe in the politics of
entitlement and ZANU (PF) treats Zimbabwe as a private fiefdom. Mugabe also
sanctioned the evictions of fellow indigenous farm owners to appease a
restive wife and punish his political enemies. He claims to be an
altruistic revolutionary; the ultimate selfless freedom fighter who
supposedly sacrificed all to participate in the liberation of Zimbabwe,
therefore his disgraceful excessiveness is morally repugnant and criminal.
To deviously acquire farms and cunningly become the new absentee landlord,
the enthusiastic occupier of the very farms that create a new land
imbalance, is predatory and disingenuous.
As Mugabe preaches the
virtues of land reform, the one-man one-farm policy, he blatantly hoards the
same vestiges of colonial rule meant for redistribution to the landless. The
very corrupt practises he conveniently and loudly despises within earshot of
credulous followers, he himself illegally practises behind closed
doors.
The current fast track land programme is a ruse to steal
agricultural businesses from one sector of the economy and only unfairly
enrich a particular clique—ZANU (PF). Does land in Zimbabwe only belong
to ZANU (PF) and its “war veterans”? Is Mugabe above the law? Is Mugabe a
landless peasant who deserves to be allocated twelve farms? Has Mugabe’s
seizure of twelve farms helped in decongested communal areas? Land is the
nucleus for sustainable development and the year 2010 gives Zimbabwe an
opportunity to embark on an all-inclusive, sustainable agrarian reform
exercise that is transparent and irreversible. My desire is to return home
to a country and tolerant society that no longer focuses on its colonial
past but embraces progress with values that submits all its peoples,
regardless of political affiliation, to the rule of law. The land audit, will
determine, as with Bob Marley’s lyrical words on Zimbabwe’s Independence in
1980, “Soon we will find out who is the real revolutionary”. Phil Matibe
– www.madhingabucketboy.com
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