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Integrity of Human Rights Commissioners queried

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
9 January 2010

The appointment of the former chief immigration officer, Elasto Mugwadi, to
the new Human Rights Commission has come under fire, following revelations
of a spate of injustices he perpetrated during his time in government.

In 2001, under his watch, Mugwadi's department supervised the stripping of
citizenship status and rights of close to 1.5 million Zimbabwean mine and
commercial farm workers born of parents from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
This exercise resulted in statelessness for all these victims, who were also
denied the right to vote in the 2002 presidential elections.
The late Sir Garfield Todd, the former prime minister of Southern Rhodesia,
once hailed by Robert Mugabe as a 'friend of Zimbabwe', was one of those
stripped of his citizenship in 2002 and was also deprived of the vote.
In 2003 Mugwadi refused to comply with a High court order to block the
deportation of well known American journalist Andrew Meldrum.
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa fought tenaciously for Meldrum to stay
in Zimbabwe, but he was illegally 'kidnapped' by the police who bundled him
into a vehicle and drove him straight to the airport. At the time of his
deportation Meldrum held a valid residence permit.

The weekly Zimbabwe Independent reported on Friday that human rights
activists this week went on a campaign to protest Mugwadi's appointment and
those of several others.

The activists raised concerns over Mugwadi's integrity due to the nature of
his arbitrary and discriminatory interference with citizenship. The
Independent said besides the former immigration chief, some of the other
commissioners appointed were unfit for the job given their history, saying
they had no 'demonstrable' record in the human rights field.

SW Radio Africa spoke to a former customs officer who is now a successful
businessman man in Harare. He told us that as a customs officer he worked
closely with the immigration department.

'He (Mugwadi) was feared and had a reputation as a yes man for the
politicians. There is a lot that happened in the immigration department
under his watch. A number of foreigners with vast business interests were
deported from the country in the last decade. Who has taken over their
businesses? Do your research and you'll be horrified who owns these
businesses now,' the businessman said.

Last month Robert Mugabe appointed the Human Rights Commissionioners:
Mugwadi, Kwanele Jirira, Carol Khombe, Joseph Kurebwa, Jacob Mudenda, Japhet
Ndabeni-Ncube, Neseni Nomathemba, and Ellen Sithole.

Human rights lawyer Gabriel Shumba said the mandate of the HRC was to
promote and protect human rights in the country.

'If anybody is tainted by misdemeanours related to human rights protection
and promotion, that person is not a fit and proper person to hold an office
as a commissioner on the HRC,' Shumba said.

He added; 'We know of what he's done to Zimbabweans whose parents came from
the neighbouring countries.  He was involved in the stripping of citizenship
status and rights, resulting in the statelessness followed  and, in many
cases, by persecution of farm workers who voted MDC in the 2000
parliamentary elections.'
 


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SA family forced to flee Rusape farm

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
08 January 2010

A South African farming family, that has been threatened and harassed by
land invaders since last weekend, has been forced off their land in Rusape,
becoming the third family in the area to be evicted in the last three weeks.

Dolf du Toit, his wife Alida and their son, Rudolph, left the farm on
Thursday afternoon, after coming under siege by a mob of invaders over the
weekend. Events came to a head on Thursday after Rudolph was trapped for
more than a day in the homestead on their farm in the Nyazura district. The
farm invaders finally allowed him to leave the house Thursday afternoon,
when they handed over the family's clothes and ordered them to leave the
farm.

The invaders first showed up at the farm last Saturday morning and demanded
that the farm be handed over to the 'true owner', brigadier Innocent
Chiganze of the Zimbabwean air force. The elder Du Toits were assaulted by
some of the farm invaders on Sunday, but were not seriously injured. They
were able to stay on the property after the intervention of South African
Ambassador Mlungisi Makalima. Makalima apparently managed to stabilise the
situation after pleas from Alida for his assistance.

The incident comes in the wake of other similar attacks in the area since
late last year. Last week, farmer Gavin Woest was evicted from his property
by a gang working for former lands Minister Didymus Mutasa. Mutasa tried to
force Woest to sign an illegal contract to hand over 20% of his tobacco crop
from last year, and a further 20% of the coming year's crop. But Woest
refused to sign and found himself driven off his land. It is known that
Mutasa already owns more than ten farms in the area, proving once again that
the land attacks have little to do with empowerment or reform, and all to do
with greed.
The Woest's eviction came mere days after a South African farming family was
forced to flee their property on Christmas Eve. Ray Finaughty and his family
from Manda Farm, were given three hours to pack up their belongings and flee
the property, following days of intimidation and harassment by a gang of
suspected youth militia. His farming partner, Richard Harland, who remained
on the property with his wife, has faced days of intimidation and threats
since then, with thugs barricading the couple in their home.

 


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UK mining firm warns of buying ‘stolen’ Chiadzwa diamonds

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
08 January 2010

A London based mining firm, which holds the legal rights to mine the
Chiadzwa diamond fields, has warned international diamond traders that any
stones bought from the controversial mining site are ‘stolen goods’.

African Consolidated Resources (ACR), which is in the middle of an ownership
wrangle with the government over the Chiadzwa claim, was reacting to a
planned auction of an estimated 60kgs of diamonds from Chiadzwa. The sale
was abandoned on Thursday amid revelations that the international diamond
trade monitor, the Kimberley Process, plus government officials, had not
been properly informed.

ACR’s Chief Executive, Andrew Cranswick, said any buyers who purchased the
precious stones would be liable to arrest because they would have bought
‘stolen goods’. ACR holds the legal right of title to the claim that was
seized by the government in October 2006 and allocated to the Zimbabwe
Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC). The government also seized
considerable quantities of diamonds from ACR but was last year ordered by
the High Court to return the diamonds to the UK firm. The court also upheld
ACR’s right of title to Chiadzwa in a court judgment that the government is
now contesting.

“These are stolen goods because they belong to ACR. Anyone, a seller or
buyer, in this country or internationally who deals in these diamonds is
liable to arrest by Interpol,” Cranswick said.

Cranswick told SW Radio Africa that the whole incident “proves there are
officials who are complicit in the criminal theft and sale of diamonds.” He
explained that diamonds mined from ACR’s legal claim since 2006 are all
‘stolen’, arguing that even the Kimberley Process is complicit in such theft
by not suspending Zimbabwe from international trade.
Thursday’s diamond auction was announced by the chairman of Mbada Diamonds,
a joint venture firm which was authorised by the government to mine in
Chiadzwa. The company is composed of the government-owned ZMDC in
partnership with two South African companies, Core Mining and Grandwell
Holdings. Mbada chairman Robert Mhlanga meanwhile is a known acolyte of
Robert Mugabe and was a key witness in Morgan Tsvangirai’s treason trial. He
was also a key figure in the conversion of the old Harare domestic air
terminal into the new diamond processing plant there, which has been
reported as a way of “getting round any future diamond export ban.”
Mhlanga had stated that Thursday’s three day auction would be the first of
many, set to take place at Harare International Airport. But senior Mines
Ministry official Thankful Musukutwa on Thursday told a news conference in
Harare that the auction had been stopped because it had not been approved by
the Kimberley Process, set up to regulate the trade in ‘blood diamonds’ -
stones mined in conflict zones.

“No export will take place prior to certification by the Kimberley Process
monitor,” he told reporters.

Under a set of measures meant to bring Zimbabwe’s bloodied diamond industry
in line with international diamond trade standards, the Kimberley Process is
meant to monitor all sales of diamonds from the Chiadzwa claim. These
measures were introduced last year at a plenary session of the industry
watchdog in Namibia, where Zimbabwe escaped a potential ban. The Kimberley
Process resolved to allow Zimbabwe more time to fall in line with trade
standards, using the weak excuse that there is no conflict in Zimbabwe to
label the gems there ‘blood diamonds’.

UK based pressure group Global Witness said the auction would have been a
breach of the action plan decided in Namibia by Kimberley Process member
states and Zimbabwe. The group’s Ellie Harrowell told SW Radio Africa on
Friday that Zimbabwe’s commitment to reforming its diamond industry was in
doubt, saying a suspension from trade was still possible.

“We are deeply concerned at Zimbabwe’s complete lack of engagement with the
Kimberley Process since last year’s plenary session. Their silence
jeopardises the success of the action plan and the viability of a clean
future for the Zimbabwean diamond industry,” Harrowell said.

Harrowell expressed concern about ongoing abuses in Chiadzwa, explaining
that the military is still firmly in control. The demilitarisation of the
diamond fields has been a key recommendation by human rights investigators,
who found evidence of rampant abuse at the site. But Harrowell explained the
military is “still taking part in exploitation, the trading and the
smuggling of diamonds and of course the associated human rights abuses.”


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Zimbabwe diamond mine abuses 'continue'

http://news.bbc.co.uk
 
Friday, 8 January 2010
Diamond miners in Zimbabwe
It is alleged widespread human rights abuses took place in Marange

A human rights group says it is concerned about "continuing abuses" at diamond mines in Zimbabwe.

This follows a last-minute decision by Zimbabwean authorities to halt a three-day sale of about 300,000 carats of rough diamonds.

Global Witness says some mines remain in the hands of the military despite an agreement with international monitors.

Insiders have told the BBC that the sale was only halted after "blood diamond" trade monitors intervened.

"We're obviously pleased that this auction has been cancelled but overall we're still concerned about the situation in the diamond fields in Marange," Global Witness' Anne Dunnebacke told the BBC Network Africa programme.

Senior Zimbabwe's mines ministry official Thankful Musukutwa on Thursday told a news conference in Harare that the auction had been stopped because it had not been approved by the Kimberley Process (KP), set up to regulate the trade in "blood diamonds" - those mined in conflict zones.

"No export will take place prior to certification by the KP monitor," he told reporters.

Some 80% of sales from the planned three-day auction would have gone to the Zimbabwe government, according to reports.

'Violations continue'

Ms Dunnebacke said that while other diamond fields had been taken over by companies, she believed a "large proportion" of the Marange diamond fields remained under military control.

"The remainder of the diamond fields appear to still be under military control with the military still taking part in exploitation, the trading, the smuggling and of course the associated human rights abuses."

Zimbabwe went into partnership with two South African-owned firms to extract diamonds in October.

Last November Zimbabwe narrowly missed being suspended from the Kimberly Process and so banned from selling diamonds.

It promised to allow monitors to examine all shipments that come from the Marange mines and was given until June to clean up its diamond trade.

But Global Witness says those monitors are still not in place.

Investigators have found evidence of killings and forced evictions at the Marange field after soldiers moved in, saying they were acting against illegal miners.

Activists have accused the military of carrying out widespread atrocities in the mines and say the profits from the stones go to President Robert Mugabe and his allies.

The government has always denied these allegations.


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Treason trial of Zimbabwe Premier’s ally resumes next week

http://www.apanews.net

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The trial of Zimbabwe’s deputy agriculture
minister-designate Roy Bennett on banditry and terrorism charges will resume
at the High Court on Tuesday, APA learnt here Friday.

Bennett was charged under the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA)
for buying arms of war in 2006 to carry out acts of insurgency, sabotage,
banditry and terrorism.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted from the charges.

The state alleges that it has e-mail correspondence and confessions it
obtained through torture from gun dealer Peter Michael Hitschmann that it
wants to use as part of evidence against Bennett.

The trial has been postponed several times since last year when some
witnesses failed to turn-up and the paperwork by the State was said to be in
shambles.

A key ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Bennett was arrested in
February 2008 at the Charles Prince Airport in Harare on the day he was due
to be sworn in to a coalition government formed by the former opposition
Movement for Democratic Change and President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party.

Mugabe insists that he will not swear Bennett into office because he was
facing serious charges, although observers here accuse the veteran leader of
bias after he had sworn in several other ZANU PF officials also facing
criminal charges.

One of these is newly appointed Vice President John Nkomo who is facing
sodomy charges.

JN/nm/APA
2010-01-08


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Teachers threaten strike over pay

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
08 January 2010

Teachers have threatened to go on strike if their salaries are not raised to
US$600 per month from the current US$150. The President of the Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Takavafira Zhou said their members would
not turn up for work next week if they received no clarification on how much
they will be earning. Ever since Finance Minister Tendai Biti presented his
budget in December last year, there has been no word on how much teachers
would earn.

Zhou said they had given the inclusive government enough time to work on
their remuneration and expected their salaries to at least match the poverty
datum line which he said was US$600. The school term begins next week on
Tuesday but again like most school openings over the past years it is not
clear whether the teachers will report for duty because of the pay dispute.
Zhou said they had to issue the strike threat to ensure government dealt
with their plight.

PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe slammed the government's attitude
'of behaving like Father Christmas and just give us the salaries they want
to,' without consulting them. 'If we are the recipients of the salaries why
should they be hidden from us,' he added. He said they expected government
to prove they were serious about the plight of teachers in the country.
Majongwe said as government revenues rise, they expected an improvement in
their working conditions.

The larger Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has meanwhile said it is
seeking a meeting with government officials next week. They want the issue
of salaries, and the grading system that will also determine salary
structures, to be clarified. Education Minister David Coltart is quoted as
saying he did not know how much the teachers would be earning and referred
questions on the matter to Finance Minister Biti.

Coltart meanwhile announced that he wants to set up 20 academic centres of
excellence this year to cater for bright but disadvantaged children who will
receive full scholarships. In an interview with the weekly Zimbabwe
Independent newspaper, Coltart said that two centres would be established in
each province and these will have the best education facilities. The idea he
said was to bridge the gap between government and private education. Coltart
also said he planned on setting up 20 primary academic centres in 2011
followed later by vocational centres for the non-academic students.

Responding to the scheme Majongwe said it was a noble idea but would not
work if the Minister did not engage all the stakeholders. Several things had
to be clarified, such as how the beneficiaries would be identified. He said
so far none of the teaching unions had been consulted on the idea and how it
would be implemented. Majongwe also said in the past such scholarship funds
had been abused to benefit people aligned to certain politicians or
political parties.

 


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Three Treated for Cholera in Kadoma

http://www.herald.co.zw

8 January 2010

Harare - AT least three cholera cases have been confirmed in Kadoma while 10
other suspected cases are still being investigated.

However, no deaths have been recorded so far as the affected people were
treated and discharged.

In an interview this week, Mashonaland West provincial medical director, Dr
Wenceslas Nyamayaro, confirmed the outbreak, but said it was under control.

"There has been an outbreak in Kadoma, but it is not in the scale of last
year's outbreak. Our officials are on top of the situation," he said.

Dr Nyamayaro said the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and other
stakeholders were mounting awareness campaigns and activating their
structures to contain any surge in the cases.

"It is common to have cases of cholera during the rainy season so we are not
worried and we are currently in the process of putting our officers on the
alert," he said.

At least two people died in Chinhoyi last year from suspected cholera.

In 2008, Zimbabwe experienced the worst cholera outbreak which killed over 4
000 people and affected close to 100 000.

Lack of clean water and adequate sanitation precipitated the 2008 outbreak.
According to Government, health workers were better prepared this year
resulting in timely response to all outbreaks.

Dr Nyamayaro, however, warned people against the possibility of a malaria
outbreak due to high temperatures experienced during the protracted dry
spell.


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Police probe fresh allegations of brutality at Beitbridge

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=29914
 
Imraan Karolia | 11 Hours Ago


Police on Friday confirmed they were investigating allegations of at least
two more incidents of police brutality at the Beitbridge Border Post.
Several people have told Eyewitness News they witnessed travellers being
harassed and abused at the weekend.
A video showing queuing people being beaten with a hydraulic pipe was made
public by Eyewitness News a few days ago.
Earlier this week a man who appeared to be a police officer was recorded
lashing out at waiting travellers with a pipe.
Similar complaints have since surfaced, including allegations that
Zimbabweans were beaten by cops wielding sjamboks on New Year's Day.

Police also said crowd control was necessary on Saturday night as about 50
busses arrived at the port of entry at one point.
 


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Taken Question on alleged tribal and regional bias in U.S. scholarships awards

U.S. Embassy, Harare

Public Affairs Officer

Taken Question

Question: What is the Embassy’s response to allegations of tribal bias in the selection of, and eventual awarding of, scholarships to Zimbabwean students by American colleges and Universities?

Answer:  The United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) program is an educational initiative of the U.S. Embassy in Harare. While the US Embassy itself does not offer scholarships, USAP assists highly-talented, economically-disadvantaged high school students to access higher education opportunities in the United States offered by top colleges and universities.  Since it began ten years ago, USAP has been replicated in 14 countries on four continents and has assisted over 200 students.

A committee comprising USAP students from previous cohorts as well as Embassy staff selects students who meet all of the following four criteria: academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential, ethos of giving back to their community and economic disadvantage.

Each year, the Embassy receives more than 450 applications from Upper Sixth A level students for the 30 places available on the program from throughout Zimbabwe. We do not set quotas for geographic or ethnic distribution but seek the students who meet all four of our criteria. Neither do we discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, religion, age or disability nor use these criteria in our selection. 

Application information to the USAP program is sent to all A Level high schools in Zimbabwe as well as NGOs who offer A level scholarships or who work with youth. EducationUSA staff in Harare and Bulawayo also conduct extensive outreach programs to high schools throughout the country.

The US Embassy is proud of the success of the USAP program and the impressive achievements of its participants.  We believe strongly in the role USAP can play in educating highly talented youth from throughout the country to the meet the challenges of development facing Zimbabwe.  For more information on USAP, we encourage you to visit www.usapglobal.org

Issued by Tim Gerhardson, Public Affairs Officer, on January 8, 2010


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A letter from the diaspora

http://www.cathybuckle.com

8th January 2010

Dear Friends.
I never cease to wonder at the naivety of my fellow countrymen and women. In
their first issue for 2010 The Zimbabwean publishes an article entitled
'2010: Zimbabweans' hopes revived' which ends with the words, "The annual
switching on of the Christmas lights in Harare's city centre signified the
return of the festive season in a once troubled nation." The implication, of
course, is that Zimbabwe's troubles are now all over. The basis for this
claim appears to be the laden grocery shelves pictured on the front page of
this week's paper. The fact that all of the items shown in the picture are
in fact South African products appears to have escaped the writer's notice.
Her article is based on the evidence of one man who is an 'entrepreneur' in
Glen View, Harare and who was able to purchase two trolley loads of
groceries for his family, "something I don't remember doing since I got
married in 1998" he comments. Certainly that is wonderful news for the
'entrepreneur' and his family but it hardly constitutes the basis for 'hopes
revived' for the whole country where thousands of people are still dependent
on food-aid. Without jobs to earn the precious US dollars to buy the
imported food now freely available in the shops there is no evidence that
this one man's good fortune is replicated country-wide. Until local industry
is revived and there is job creation for the thousands of unemployed
Zimbabweans- amongst whom I number my friends in the rural areas - I for one
cannot share the naïve optimism of 'hopes revived.' Despite the GNU there
are no signs of any serious investment in the country; hardly surprising
when property rights have been ignored on every side and the police are
unwilling to enforce court orders. Even the so-called bi-lateral agreements
between governments have been ignored and Zanu PF chefs continue to take
over profitable enterprises, from banana plantations in the Burma Valley to
citrus estates in the Mazowe Valley, encouraged no doubt by the reminder
from none other than the partisan Attorney General that "all land is now
owned by the State." The report that over a million farm workers have lost
their homes and livelihoods in the ongoing farm invasions does not suggest
much hope revived to me.

Returning from the Christmas break in the snow-bound UK I find myself deeply
pessimistic about Zimbabwe's future. The political violence may have
declined but on every side there are disturbing stories of greed, corruption
and deep moral decay. While the MDC now have a share in government, the
truth is that some of their members too are besmirched by their own greed
and contact with Zanu PF. Behind every story of greed and corruption is
money, of course, and 2010 has begun with malicious and defamatory stories
about misappropriation of funds. Even the heroes of the struggle have not
been exempt from allegations of misuse of funds. In a poisonous and utterly
unsubstantiated article from a certain Zimbabwean residing in Scotland, Roy
Bennett himself is accused of being the real villain of the piece behind the
UK branch of the MDC's mishandling of membership fees. Whether it's the
colour of Bennett's skin or the fact that he was once a member of the
Rhodesian army that has so infuriated the Scottish gent, is unclear but it
seems more than a little unjust that a man who has proved his loyalty to his
country in so many ways should be accused of trumped up financial crimes by
a fellow Zimbabwean who lives in freedom in the UK. While the UK branch of
the MDC is accused of misappropriating funds, the Girl Child Network also
faces allegations that monies collected at home and in the UK and intended
to fund surgery for a brave young Zimbabwean girl have been misappropriated.
The truth behind all these highly personal attacks is hard to unravel but it
is all symptomatic of the deep disunity that is rocking the democratic
movement. Whether it is here in the diaspora or at home in Zimbabwe, we seem
to have lost sight of the fundamental principles that led to the founding of
the Movement for Democratic Change; the desire for justice and a better way
for all Zimbabweans. Instead we have become disunited and fragmented with
individuals and groups sniping at each other amid claims that only they
represent the true voice of the people. We have been lulled into a sense of
false security by those full shopping trolleys - and full stomachs - into
thinking that the struggle is over; in reality it has barely begun. More
than ever, freedom loving Zimbabweans at home and abroad need to be united
as we move into 2010 and the long delayed talks that might, just might,
settle the outstanding issues of the GPA. A friend of mine who lived through
South Africa's post-apartheid period tells me that squabbles and disunity
are a feature of the post-settlement stage. But there is one big difference
between South Africa and Zimbabwe, he adds sadly, Zimbabwe has no Nelson
Mandela to unite our 'rainbow nation'.
Yours in the (continuing) struggle PH.


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Murder accused on media council



More ZANU PF double standards. Mugabe refuses to swear in Roy Bennett
because, he says, he is facing serious criminal charges in court, but then
he appoints an accused murderer to the Media Commission!

"President Robert Mugabe has appointed a ZANU PF functionary accused of
murder to the Zimbabwe Media Commission.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, a former ambassador to China, is facing charges
arising from the shooting deaths of Costa Matete and two other people
accused by Mutsvangwa of stealing from his Highlands home in August 2009.

Mutsvangwa was recalled from China in 2009 following his involvement in a
murky deal with private companies which wrung deals worth $8 billion from
the Zimbabwean government after claiming to represent the Chinese
government."

Sounds a very dubious character... and he will blend in with ZANU PF quite
well.

The sad thing is Mugabe's tendency to ignore the criminal aspect of ZANU PF
and proceeds as if this is acceptable - whilst pointing fingers at the
MDC...

"In the murder case, Mutsvangwa claims that the three dead were suspects in
a robbery at his house, who were later gunned down by officers from the
Criminal Investigations Department's Homicide Section.

Matete's widow, Saliwe Nduna has since filed a civil case against
Mutsvangwa, Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri and the
Ministry of Home Affairs. Nduna, who is represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights, denies her husband was involved in any robbery at
Mutsvangwa's residence."

If Mutsvangwa's defence holds any water, then surely that is for a court to
decide?

"Sources claimed the murders were political and the dead may have been shot
by war veterans and thugs hired by Mutsvangwa. The murder case came to light
when a state lawyer Rangarirai Zvauya (38) was arrested for allegedly
demanding a US$400 bribe from Mutsvangwa to prevent his brother Chengetai
Zvauya, a journalist with Associated Press, from publishing the matter.
Through his lawyer, Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, Rangarirai Zvauya
successfully applied for bail before Harare magistrate Archie Wochiunga. He
was granted US$100 bail."

Mutsvangwa is no stranger to controversy and his alliance to ZANU PF is not
any surprise.

Perhaps the most important point is that Mugabe and his various ZANU PF
wings have no intention of letting Mutsvangwa any near a criminal court as
the accused person - even if the charge is murder.

Having worked in courts in Zimbabwe, I was always of the opinion that an
accused person is given the right to defend themselves when it comes to
accusations, and in a case where some poor person has lost his life, then
the police and the courts have an obligation to the population to have that
case heard and resolved - one way or the other.

"He has used various platforms to campaign vociferously for Mugabe and the
controversial appointment to the media commission is seen as reward for his
loyalty.

The move to appoint Mutsvangwa has raised eyebrows after Mugabe refused to
appoint MDC-T treasurer-general Roy Bennett saying he is facing 'serious'
treason charges that he denies."

But I register no surprise at the decision by ZANU PF to appoint a murderer
to the Media Council - I mean, how many lives lost is Mugabe responsible
for? And he is the President of Zimbabwe!

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man

http://mandebvhu.instablogs.com/entry/murder-accused-on-media-council/


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Bill Watch 1/2010 of 8th January 2010 [Acts of 2009]

BILL WATCH 1/2010

[8th January 2010]

The House of Assembly has adjourned until 2nd February 2010

The Senate has adjourned until 9th February

Acts of 2009 – All in Force

Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 19) Act, 2009 (No. 1 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 13th February 2009

Zimbabwe National Security Council Act, 2009 (No. 2 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 4th March 2009

Appropriation Act, 2009 (No. 3 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 23rd April 2009

Finance Act, 2009 (No. 4 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 23rd April 2009

Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 (No. 5 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 30th September 2009

Appropriation (Supplementary) Act, 2009 (No. 6 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 30th September 2009

Appropriation (2008) (Additional) Act, 2009 (No. 7 of 2009)

Gazetted and into force 6th November 2009

This list will be supplemented by the following:

Bills of 2009 Passed and Awaiting President’s Assent and/or Gazetting as Acts

Although these have not yet been gazetted and will therefore be gazetted this year they will still be listed as Acts of 2009:

Financial Adjustments Bill

Public Finance Management Bill

Audit Office Bill

Appropriation (2010) Bill

Finance (No. 3) Bill

Pre-2009 Acts Brought into Force during 2009

Engineering Council Act (No. 3 of 2008)

Into force 15th June 2009 [date fixed by SI 84/2009]

Census and Statistics Act (No. 1 of 2007)

Into force 1st July 2009 [date fixed by SI 101A/2009]

Pre-2009 Acts Not Yet in Force

Intellectual Property Tribunal Amendment Act (No. 5 of 2001)

Judicial Service Act (No. 10 of 2006)

National Biotechnology Authority Act (No. 3 of 2006)

Petroleum Act (No. 11 of 2006)

Suppression of Foreign and International Terrorism Act (No. 5 of 2007)

Trade Marks Amendment Act (No. 10 of 2001)

 

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.

 


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