The ZIMBABWE Situation
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Fuel shortages hit the skies

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Zimbabwe's long-running fuel shortage has worsened with the country's main
airport low on aviation fuel.
30.06.1105:18pm
Chief Reporter

International airlines have been forced to divert their aircraft and Air
Zimbabwe is struggling to service its domestic route.

The country's major fuel supplier temporarily halted deliveries last week
after Zimbabwe failed to make payments because of a serious shortage of hard
currency. The airline owes more than $1million.

An almost complete absence of foreign currency means the country simply does
not have the money to pay for essential imports, such as fuel and
electricity, but aviation fuel had been maintained. The national carrier
requires about 450 000 litres of Jet A1 per week.

The shortage prompted the government to last week approach the Airports
Company of South Africa (ACSA) for emergency fuel supplies to keep the
national carrier in the air, Air Zimbabwe sources said.

Acting group chief executive Innocent Mavhunga, downplayed the crisis as a
“slight operational challenge."

But our sources said senior Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe officials
left for Johannesburg this week to plead with ACSA for an undisclosed amount
of Jet A1 fuel.

“They are in South Africa. The purpose of the visit was to try and convince
the South Africans to supply Zimbabwe with Jet A1 fuel,” a CAAZ official
said.

The shortage risks scaring away the few remaining international airlines
operating at Harare International Airport.

“We have been in touch with ACSA over possibilities of them helping us
procure fuel. We also want to see how they are getting it cheaply,” said the
source. Zimbabwe is in the grip of an acute fuel shortage since Libya cut
off a barter oil deal with Harare last year.

Zimbabwe consumes 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel a month. But the country
has virtually run out of all liquid fuels forcing the State-run National Oil
Company of Zimbabwe to appeal to banks to help raise foreign currency to pay
for fuel. South Africa has in the past helped Zimbabwe with fuel and
electricity but has in recent weeks appeared reluctant to bail out its
northern neighbour out of its worst energy crisis.

An Air Zimbabwe plane failed to service the London route last week as it did
not have enough fuel to fly the route.

The crisis has also started to affect domestic routes, with the flight
schedule for the Bulawayo, Vic Falls route disrupted last week over failure
to pay $4,000 to fuel the MA60 Chinese plane. The dwindling fuel supplies
have escalated calls to privatise the national airline amid concerns it was
beginning to hurt national pride. The sources said more CAAZ and Ministry of
Transport officials were expected to leave Harare for Johannesburg this week
to join the team that went earlier. It was however, not possible to
establish the progress of the talks between the Zimbabweans and the ACSA
officials.

The sources said not much was likely to be achieved unless the Zimbabweans
put money on the table. CAAZ, which is believed to be in dire need of $2
million worth of fuel imports, is seeking to source cheaper Jet A1 fuel. The
vital fuel sells at between 25 and 27 cents per litre in South Africa, but
in Zimbabwe airlines must pay in excess of $1 per litre.


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Zimbabwe Catholic group: Stop township violence

Jul 3, 7:59 AM EDT

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- A Roman Catholic human rights group in Zimbabwe
called on political leaders Sunday to intervene to end a surge in violence
that has seen rival political party supporters driven from their homes and
created no-go zones in Zimbabwe's capital.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace said that recent skirmishes
and assaults have occurred in the western Harare township of Mbare, an area
loyal to the prime minister. They said the unrest has even forced some men
to visit their families secretly at night to "avoid being caught by
politically dogmatic groups" opposed to democratic rights.

In a statement Sunday, the group said most perpetrators of the violence were
"shipped" into the township. Rights groups say militants and security forces
loyal to longtime President Robert Mugabe have previously led political
violence.

The group said that Mbare market stalls have been seized, household goods
and personal belongings confiscated and streets around a key medical clinic
became "so unapproachable and inhospitable" that victims of violence and HIV
patients were afraid seek care or collect their medication there.

It said the violence "is imported. Most people behind the violence are not
permanent residents in the area."

An all-party committee formed by regional leaders to monitor implementation
of the 28-month-old coalition agreement between Mugabe and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai has played down continuing violence across the country but
last week acknowledged there was still unrest in Mbare.

Critics of the committee accuse it of not doing enough to highlight bitter
disputes in the coalition and say it meets irregularly and lacks powers and
money to work effectively countrywide.

An alliance of independent human rights organizations to which the Catholic
commission belongs has reported a marked increase in violence and
intimidation since Mugabe this year called for early elections to bring the
coalition to a close.

It said that political tensions rose throughout Zimbabwe. The group said
Mugabe militants were mobilized and police and the military loyal to Mugabe
stepped up arrests and harassment of opponents, Tsvangirai party politicians
and independent journalists.

Mugabe's party blames Tsvangirai's party for starting violence.

The Catholic commission on Sunday quoted victims of violence saying they
were being punished for "participating in political associations of their
choice.

"In extreme cases, some Mbare families have lost their houses to people who
belong to other political parties," it said.

It urged political leaders to realize that votes are won by maintaining
justice and human rights.

"How, for example, can a person who dislocated his jaw in political violence
vote for the political party responsible for dislocating it?" Sunday's
statement said.


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Zimbabwe diamonds test Kimberley Process

http://www.news24.com

2011-07-03 20:50

Harare - The Kimberley Process could collapse, experts warn, after the group
meant to prevent diamonds from financing conflicts decided to allow Zimbabwe
to sell gems tainted by army killings.

Kimberley approval was meant to guarantee that stones often given as a
symbol of love are not "blood diamonds" used to fund some of Africa's most
brutal civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Since 2003, Kimberley has gathered governments, industry and activists into
a global regulator that makes decisions by consensus.

But at the Kimberley meeting in Kinshasa on June 23, rights groups simply
walked out after the chairperson, Mathieu Yamba of the Democratic Republic
of Congo, gave the green light to two companies to sell gems from Zimbabwe's
Marange fields.

"It weakens the process," said Tony Hawkins, an economist at the University
of Zimbabwe. "Less and less regard will be paid to KP. In the long term, it
could wither away and die."

Diamonds were discovered in Marange in 2006, drawing in thousands of
small-time miners hoping to get rich quick.

Once the extent of the find became clear, the army cleared the area in late
2008, when Human Rights Watch says more than 200 people were killed, some by
helicopter gunships.

"Blood diamonds" and "missing" millions

Kimberley's own investigators documented "unacceptable and horrific violence
against civilians by authorities", prompting a ban on exports of the gems in
June 2009.

Since then, two firms operating in a series of incarnations as South African
firms and Zimbabwe parastatal entities have kept on mining, with Harare
stockpiling gems now estimated to be worth up to $5bn.

Zimbabwe's gross domestic product last year was $7.5bn, according to the
International Monetary Fund.

The mines ministry, which like the security forces are controlled by
long-ruling President Robert Mugabe under Zimbabwe's shaky unity government,
is desperate to sell the gems.

But finance minister Tendai Biti - a backer of Mugabe's rival, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai - says he cannot account for any of the $30m in
Marange diamonds sold in the months before the ban.

Nonetheless, African countries, China and India supported the Kimberley
decision, which was opposed by Western nations, rights groups and the
industry - which is keen to avoid the bad publicity which "blood diamonds"
bring.

Industry groups have urged members not to trade in Marange diamonds and
called on Kimberley members to find a compromise.

"By walking out of the house, and by upending the discussions, some members
clearly do not realise the enormous negative and, I fear, disastrous impact
their conduct has and will have on the entire diamond supply pipeline," said
Avi Paz, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

Ignore Marange diamonds

"The clock is ticking and it shows it's five minutes to midnight. Disaster
is awaiting around the corner for the international diamond trade."

The United States said it believes Kimberley can still find a way to monitor
Marange diamonds.

"We believe that work toward a solution must continue, and that until
consensus is reached, exports from Marange should not proceed," the State
Department said in a statement.

"The US would like to ensure the Kimberley Process's future and enable
diamond exports to contribute positively to the region's people and
economy."

In the meantime, rights groups are calling for a boycott of Marange diamonds
until Kimberley reaches a consensus.

"Governments and companies should ignore [Yamba's] decision unless they want
to make blood diamonds available to consumers and ruin the credibility of
the Kimberly Process as well," Human Rights Watch said.

- AFP


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Election talks to resume

http://www.timeslive.co.za

ZOLI MANGENA | 03 July, 2011 13:51

ZIMBABWE'S political party negotiators are expected to resume talks  to
finalise timelines and other specific details on elecetions.

A rucial elections roadmap to guide the country towards free and fair polls
in line will be drawn with the resolution of the recent Southern African
Development Community (SADC) summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.

A briefing of the Sunday Times by several negotiators showed that talks were
set to resume tomorrow or during the course of the week to complete the
roadmap ahead of SADC's coming summit next month in Luanda, Angola.

Negotiators, who include Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche for Zanu-PF,
Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma for MDC-T and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga
and Moses Mzila Ndlovu for MDC-N, are expected to meet on their own without
South African facilitators.

South African President Jacob Zuma is SADC's facilitator on Zimbabwe. Zuma's
emissaries on Zimbabwe include Charles Nqakula, his political adviser, Mac
Maharaj, his special envoy, and Lindiwe Zulu, his international relations
adviser.

The three have been involved in negotiations and conflict-resolution in
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Africa itself.

Biti confirmed negotiators could meet tomorrow to finalise the elections
roadmap.

The recent Sandton summit, which adopted Zuma's controversial Livingstone
report, updates on it and other tough measures on the Zimbabwe situation,
resolved that negotiators must meet as soon as possible to put timelines and
other necessary details on the election roadmap.

The outcome of the Sandton meeting was a major diplomatic defeat for
President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF who went there trying to secure the
revision or reversal of the watershed SADC Livingstone summit, which angered
the ailing 87-year-old Zimbabwean ruler and his supporters.

The negotiators and facilitators last met in Harare on June 2 to confirm and
consolidate into a report minutes of their workshop held in Cape Town from
May 5-6. The workshop was meant to discuss the roadmap document, the review
report of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the basis of the current
Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Joint Monitoring and
Impleme-ntation Committee report.

These reports were later consolidated into one report which was presented at
the SADC summit in Sandton on June 12 by Zuma. Mugabe, who got a rude
awakening at the summit which showed his power and influence in the region
has dramatically declined, angrily protested against parts of Zuma's
original Livingstone report but SADC leaders adopted the whole report, much
to his fury.

The review mechanism report details with GPA issues that include restoration
of economic stability and growth, sanctions, land, constitution-making,
promotion of equality, national healing and cohesion and unity, respect for
national institutions and events, external interference, free political
activity, rule of law, respect for the Constitution and other laws, freedom
of assembly and association, and traditional leaders, state organs and
institutions and security of persons and prevention of violence,
humanitarian and food assistance, legislative priorities, freedom of
expression and communication, ele-ctoral vacancies and implementation
mechanisms.

The report on the roadmap deals with sanctions, Constitution, media reforms,
electoral reforms, rule of law, freedom of association and assembly,
legislative agenda and commitments and actual election issues.


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Civil service pay hike ‘rigged’ to benefit Mugabe

http://nehandaradio.com/

July 3, 2011 8:45 pm

By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer

HARARE – The salary increase for civil servants promised by President Robert
Mugabe turned out to be a paltry $31 each, a development which triggered a
nasty fallout between unions with some taking it while others emphatically
said no.

The paltry increase comes at a time when Mugabe, government ministers and
officials blow tens of millions of dollars on useless foreign trips.
Hundreds of millions of dollars of money realised from diamond sales have
not found their way to treasury amid reports that influential individuals in
the country are busy lining their pockets.

Some hard pressed civil servants, most of whom are living from hand to mouth
Civil servants get pay rise immediately dismissed the increment as a mockery
and vowed to press ahead with strike action. The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union
(Zimta), Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (TUZ) and Public Service Association
representatives accepted the increment. The three unions are generally
regarded as pro-Zanu PF.

But the militant group, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said
their counterparts were “sell outs” for accepting such a “ridiculous figure”.
PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe stormed out of the press conference
in protest and exchanged harsh words with TUZ chief executive Manuel Nyawo
outside the press conference room at Zimta house in Harare.

The press conference to announce the paltry increment was being conducted by
Apex Council. Majongwe called the increment a “pretence and a cruel insult”
to the conscience of civil servants who had been negotiating for a pay rise
for over six months and vowed to continue with the strike to pressure
government for better salaries.

In the new salary structure, the lowest paid civil servant will earn a basic
salary of $159 up from $128 per month, realising a $31 increment with effect
from yesterday. Housing allowance has been upped to $50 from $30 with
transport allowance rising marginally from $28 to $44. Cumulatively, the
lowest civil servant will earn $243 from about $180 a month.

The salary hike agreement was reached in a meeting between the Apex council,
the mother body for government worker unions and the government negotiating
team, the National Joint Negotiating Council in Harare yesterday. Apex
council chairperson Tendai Chikowore said she welcomed the provisional
salary increment that came after protracted negotiations with the
government. The negotiations included a meeting between Mugabe and civil
servants’ representatives in April this year.

Mugabe promised to double the salaries by June. After failing to honour his
promise, teachers led by PTUZ embarked on a strike that Majongwe yesterday
said would continue. Zimta denounced the strike saying the action was too
premature. Chikowore yesterday said the salary increment had moved the least
paid civil servant to 50 percent of poverty datum line of $502, hence was
acceptable.

“The issues relating to the reintroduction of the rural allowances and the
education allowances have been agreed to. However, there payment has been
deferred to a time when the government has generated sufficient revenue,”
said Chikowore. Majongwe, on the other hand, described the whole salary
structure as a “rigged process”.

He said transport and housing allowances were “committed money”, not
disposable income. Because of that his organisation would only recognise the
$31 increase effected on the basic salary.

“Is that negotiation when you go in to simply receive set figures that had
already been leaked in the Herald about three weeks ago? Then you call a
press conference to announce an increase of $31 to the nation. It’s
atrocious,” he said, adding that the whole negotiating was politicised.

“Even the outcome of the negotiations has been politicised. That is why
there was a stampede to thank President Mugabe as an individual as if the
money is coming from an individual’s pocket,” said Majongwe, fuming with
anger. Majongwe said the increment was unacceptable to rural teachers who
did not get incentives from parents and were the ones hard hit by “this
pretentious agreement”.

College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe president David Dzatsunga said
while he appreciated the government’s effort, he would need to consult his
members first before they could call off the strike. He said the increment
fell far too short of his expectations. College lecturers have been on
strike since Tuesday pressing for higher salaries.

“We will decide as a separate entity on the course of action to take in
light of this development,” said Dzatsunga. Zimta chief executive officer
Sifiso Ndlovu described Majongwe as a “novice in union politics” who was not
“purely” a teacher and had limited experience in trade union procedures when
engaging the government.

Since April when President Mugabe promised a pay rise for civil servants, a
political battlefield had been triggered with Zanu PF accusing Finance
Minister Tendai Biti of sabotaging government effort. Biti said government
coffers were dry and could not sustain any increase unless funds were
availed to him. Daily News


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Sex traps for MDC chiefs

http://www.timeslive.co.za

JAMA MAJOLA | 03 July, 2011 13:47

Zimbabwe's dreaded state security agency, the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO), has come up with a plan to expose real and imagined
sexual escapades of top leaders of the two MDC formations as part of a
systematic campaign to rescue President Robert Mugabe from defeat at the
polls.

An extensive briefing of the Sunday Times by intelligence sources shows that
the CIO has hatched a plot to expose and possibly destroy the MDC
politicians through sex scandals.

Sex scandals have brought down many politicians, movie stars, football stars
and musicians all over the world. Former US president Bill Clinton, US golf
superstar Tiger Woods and SA President Jacob Zuma are some prominent
personalities whose reputations have been ruined by such revelations.

CIO insiders said a plan was already being implemented to expose MDC
leaders' sexual escapades, mainly through the state media. The sources said
the main targets were MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, his secretary-general
Tendai Biti and MDC-N boss Professor Welshman Ncube.

The three have already been "exposed" in the state-controlled media over
alleged sexual goings-on which they are still battling to clear. Last
Sunday, Biti's story was splashed on the front page of the mass-circulating
government-controlled Sunday Mail. The newspaper has in the past also
carried reports of alleged sexual activities of Tsvangirai and Ncube.

The Sunday Mail editor, Brezhnev Malaba, now based in Harare, was also in
charge when another state daily, The Chronicle, exposed the alleged sexual
misdemeanours of former Bulawayo Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube in 2007. The
cleric, a fierce critic of Mugabe, had his career ruined after that.

"There is a well-organised CIO plan to expose MDC leaders and prominent
critics of Mugabe and Zanu-PF over their private sexual activities," a CIO
officer said. "The plan is already being rolled out. There are many people
targeted, depending on their positions, circumstances and CIO objectives."

Intelligence officers said the CIO believes in destroying politicians'
reputations through scandals including honeytraps, one of the most
frequently used methods to nail opponents.

A senior CIO officer experienced in honeytraps said MDC leaders were
"vulnerable because they are all over the place due to their new positions
in government, status and wealth, coupled with their naïvety about how the
state works".

Biti was left reeling this week after the Sunday Mail reported that he was
"embroiled in a messy office romance with a desk economist in his ministry".
The paper named Biti's lover as Petronella Chishawa. Her husband,
businessman Caesar Matandirotya, took legal action and they are now
separated.

Biti made muted public denials of the story, preferring to let his lawyers
deal with it.

A few months ago Tsvangirai was at the centre of a storm over an alleged
affair with Bulawayo woman Aquilina Kayidza Pamberi. It was reported that
her husband, Jacob Mandeya, divorced her because of the adulterous affair,
although Pamberi insisted that domestic violence caused the marriage
breakdown. Tsvangirai has also been accused of impregnating another Bulawayo
woman, Loretta Nyathi, daughter of top football commentator Inglam Nyathi.

The premier, whose wife Susan died in a horrific accident in 2009, has been
linked to other women, including his wife's sister Leah Mhundwa, Dr Arikana
Chihombori and Harare businesswoman Locadia Tembo.

Ncube was earlier this year entangled in an affair with former Zimbabwe
Football Association chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya.

"These things are not happening by coincidence, they are planned," a CIO
officer said. "Towards the elections there will be a string of sex scandals
mainly involving MDC leaders. Just watch this space."


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Zimbabwe spy agency thrown into turmoil

http://nehandaradio.com/

July 3, 2011 3:00 pm

By Never Kadungure in Harare

Zimbabwe’s dreaded and notorious spy agency the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO) was thrown into turmoil Thursday evening after a London
based independent radio station published details of some 480 plus state
security agents, many behind acts of torture, murder and abductions.

Described as the “Internal Directory of the President’s Office” SW Radio
Africa published a 2001 list with the names, home addresses, national ID and
employer numbers of some 480 ‘operatives’ and ‘deputy intelligence officers’.
It showed which agents were deployed in the various provinces and districts
and the office buildings they used for their ‘work’, including room and
telephone numbers.
The head of the CIO Happyton Bonyongwe (left), army chief Constantine
Chiwenga (centre) in discussion with Robert Mugabe.

The head of the CIO Happyton Bonyongwe (left), army chief Constantine
Chiwenga (centre) in discussion with Robert Mugabe.

Marathon meetings were being held throughout the weekend as senior CIO
officials plotted a response to the most serious breach of the organisation’s
secrecy in its entire history. Several posh cars including 4×4 all-terrain
vehicles were seen parked outside the CIO Chaminuka Buildings HQ in Harare.

Despite the list being leaked on Thursday, Mugabe’s regime and even the
state security agency itself was struggling to come up with a response. By
Sunday afternoon, no statement denying the authenticity of the list had been
issued. Making their response even hard is the fact that SW Radio Africa is
serializing publication of the list over 6 weeks.

So confident is the station of its list they are even detailing what agents
on the list have done. One of the agents on the first list Hamad Adam is
deployed at the Zimbabwean embassy in Germany as a ‘political councillor.’
Adam has been in Germany for over 5 years now and is due to finish his
‘stint’ next month. The Director General, Happton Bonyongwe, is number 8 on
the list.

At number 69 is Simon Chisorochengwe, listed as a Deputy Intelligence
Officer. SW Radio Africa says he shot to prominence via his well-publicized
attempts to destroy the Zimbabwe Liberators’ Platform (ZLP); a rival war
vets association which is independent of ZANU PF interference and
manipulation.

At number 56 was Edward Chinoza, another ‘Deputy Intelligence Officer’.
Investigations revealed that Chinoza is working in the newly autonomous
country of South Sudan as the Consul General.

At number 34 was a notorious state security agent known as Maxwell Chidzamba
(spelt Chidzambwa in some reports). In January 2008 he allegedly took part
in the attempted murder of prominent MDC-T activist Shepherd Maisiri, a poor
farmer in the Inyati Resettlement area.

“Chidzamba and his gang of seven, on the orders of then State Security
Minister Didymus Mutasa, bundled Maisiri into a jute bag, then into a truck
and dumped him in the Rusape Dam. He was only saved by fishermen laying
their nets that night. People in the area usually refer to Chidzamba as a
war vet, but on the list he is a CIO operative,” SW Radio Africa reported.

The journalist who broke the story, Lance Guma has been subjected to a
torrent of abuse and threats to his life by unknown people commenting on the
New Zimbabwe.com forums. Ironically the editor of that website Mduduzi
Mathuthu claimed political asylum in the UK several years ago having fled
persecution by Mugabe’s regime. He was criticised for not filtering the
threatening messages.

Contacted for comment, Guma refused to comment saying the statement issued
by the SW Radio Africa Station Manager Gerry Jackson was an adequate
explanation. In the statement Jackson said;

“The Central Intelligence Organisation is not used to protect national
security and to safeguard Zimbabweans. Along with the military and the
police it is used by Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF to hold on to power, using
brute force and intimidation. Experts say the CIO is the most powerful arm
of ZANU PF’s security apparatus, the ‘brains behind the regime.”

“The CIO is also administered directly through the Office of the President,
and is not covered by any legislative framework. It is not an innocent
organisation and many deaths can be laid at its door.

“So we are serialising the release of this document in the interests of
transparency and accountability and in the hope that by exposing these
names, some of the daily fear Zimbabweans live under will be taken away. We
also hope that it might make some of the perpetrators of violence think
twice before they commit further human rights abuses.

“In today’s media world it is much more difficult to stay hidden in the
shadows. We welcome feedback, corrections, responses from our listeners and
take to heart concerns that have been expressed about publishing the home
addresses of these CIO. These addresses have now been removed,” Jackson
said.


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Zimbabwean teen murdered in London

http://nehandaradio.com

July 3, 2011 8:32 pm

A senior detective has said the murder of a 16-year-old Zimbabwean boy who
was stabbed in south-east London is among the worst he has investigated in
25 years. Yemurai Kanyangarara, from Belvedere, was stabbed in the neck in
Welling on Friday evening.

Det Ch Insp Mark Dunne said the attack of “sheer brutality against a
defenceless schoolboy” was “about as bad as it gets”. Yemurai was described
by his head teacher as a “kind, gentle lad”. A post-mortem examination held
at Farnborough Hospital, Orpington, gave the cause of death as a single stab
wound to the neck.
Yemurai Kanyangarara, 16, who was stabbed to death in Welling, south-east
London. Photograph: Met police/PA

Yemurai Kanyangarara, 16, who was stabbed to death in Welling, south-east
London. Photograph: Met police/PA

Nigel Fisher, principal at St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School in
Bexleyheath, said: “He was a very popular and very well-known student, hard
working, and just finished his GCSEs. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his
family at this time.”

Mr Dunne said the teenager, who was brought to Britain from Zimbabwe when he
was a toddler, stepped off a 96 bus with a friend and was attacked on Upper
Wickham Lane, probably within a matter of seconds.

‘Catastrophic injuries’

Three boys who had got off another 96 at an earlier stop a few minutes
before had walked on to the stop where Yemurai and his friend got off their
bus.

“The three boys off the first bus approached them, and one has taken a
weapon out of his clothing and stabbed the victim just once in the neck.
This has caused catastrophic injuries, it seems he has died very quickly
after that.”

Mr Dunne said police have no clear motive for the killing but suspect that
the people who attacked Yemurai knew him. A man arrested arrested in
connection with the murder has been released without further action. Police
are appealing for more witnesses.

Yemurai was the eighth teenager murdered in London this year. BBC


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Ncube Elected MISA Chairperson

http://www.radiovop.com

02/07/2011 19:02:00

Harare, July 03, 2011– Financial Gazette Deputy Editor Njabulo Ncube was
Saturday elected unopposed to the position of Media Institute of Southern
Africa (Zimbabwe Chapter) Chairperson, taking over from Lofty Dube who is
now in the MISA regional office trust funds body.

Ncube, who was serving as deputy chair of the media lobby group, said in his
acceptance speech that he will intensify the fight for media
freedom in Zimbabwe.

“We are facing an onslaught on the independent media so we need to up the
stakes by lobbying against repressive media laws that are used to
criminalise the journalism profession,” he said.

“One of our top priorities is to try and have a repeal of these repressive
media laws. We have an uphill task to try and conscientise
our leaders that journalism is a profession and not a criminal act.”

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights information officer Kumbirai Mafunda was
elected Vice chairperson while NewsDay journalist Kelvin Jakachira
while Bulawayo based freelance journalist Lifaqale Nare were elected
committee members.

Four candidates contested for the posts with Jakachira garnering 57 votes
against his only challenger Harare based freelance journalist’s
Wallace Mawire’s 13 in gender based voting process decided on the spur of
the moment.

Nare was got 41 votes against another Bulawayo based freelance journalist
Anastacia Ndlovu’s 21.

The elections were conducted by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
while the Law Society of Zimbabwe participated in assessing the
nominations.

Two bouncers were hired by MISA to bar “spoilers” to the congress, which was
held at a Harare hotel.

MISA is a media watchdog advocating for media pluralism, diversity and
independence all aimed at increasing access to information and media
freedom.

Meanwhile, in his speech during congress, MISA national Director Nhlanhla
Ngwenya said journalists must not be blinded by the piecemeal
efforts made by the country’s inclusive government but must continue
fighting for the complete liberalisation of the media.

“…as we move forward we should not allow ourselves to be compromised by the
so called ‘transitional strategic compromises’ that have proven
ineffective in dismantling the infrastructure of media repression,” said
Ngwenya.

“We need to remain alive to the fact that there is nothing transitional
about our repressive media laws such as AIPPA and the BSA
hence we need not compromise on the core values of our work.”


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A busy week for the Vigil – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 2nd July 2011

A busy week for the Vigil culminated in a visit by the Information and Publicity Officer of the new Zimbabwe ‘Yes We Can’ movement, Arnold Magwanyata. He told Vigil supporters that the movement wanted to encourage Zimbabweans in the diaspora to join the struggle to overcome the misrule of Zimbabwe. He added that the people who become involved in this movement would shape what it became. 

 

Vigil co-ordinator Dumi Tutani, the Vigil’s representative to the new movement, reported on a meeting it held in Manchester on 25th June. He said it had been attended by about 70 people from all over the UK. Dumi said that one strong message coming from the meeting was a determination to empower women. He said the meeting was addressed by Betty Makoni of the Girl Child Network, who gained a lot of support for the abolition of some Zimbabwean customs disempowering women such as inheritance / lobola etc. The movement is having a meeting in Leicester next Saturday.

 

Back to our busy week. On Monday 27th June Vigil supporters provided the backbone for a protest by Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) against violence in Zimbabwe. The Embassy refused to accept 1,300 cards ACTSA had collected calling for an end to the violence.  The Embassy (as usual!) was closed so we stuck one of the cards under the door signed ‘Zimbabwe Vigil’ and listing our address as ‘outside the Zimbabwe Embassy’. For further details see ACTSA’s press release: http://www.actsa.org/newsroom/2011/06/actsa-calls-for-an-end-to-violence-in-zimbabwe-on-third-anniversary-of-presidential-run-off/.

 

Thanks to the Vigil supporters who attended the protest: Rashiwe Bayisayi, Hildah Chavi, Angeline Chipoyera, Bernard Hukwa, Kelvin Kamupira, Dhumisani Karakadzai, Tinah Mahubaba, Modesta Majani, Abigail Makunde, Susan Manyanya, Farai Marema, Petronilla Masango, Mauleen Mashiri, Cephas Maswoswa, Wilbert Matambanadzo, Eunice Mhlanga, Khuluza Mlotshwa, Nqobizitha Moyo, Liona Moyo, Regina Mugariri, Mercy Muranganwa, Louisa Musaerenge, Mary Muteyerwa, Patson Muzuwa, Francesca Toft, Sue Toft, Dumi Tutani, Lorraine Zakeyo, Ernest Zvoma.

 

Many of those people came fresh from a church service in London for Zimbabwean torture victims on Sunday, the UN international day in support of victims of torture. See the report on our website (http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/316-service-in-support-of-zimbabwean-victims-of-torture-26th-june-2011).

 

Some of them told us of the harrowing scenes in the film ‘Hear Us’ which they had seen the previous night at the Frontline Club in West London. The film showed the injustices and brutality meted out to Zimbabwean women and was presented by Kudakwashe Chitsike of the Research and Advocacy Unit (Zimbabwe) who also fielded a question and answer session.

 

Other points

·         Following on from our diary last week in which we wrote about criticism of the Vigil from the Home Office we have sent the following letter to Theresa May, the Home Secretary. ‘A solicitor acting for one of our supporters asked for our comment on a letter from the Home Office which maligned the Zimbabwe Vigil. You will see further information in our diary of 25th June 2011.  The Zimbabwe Vigil has been demonstrating every week outside the Zimbabwe Embassy since October 2002. We are frequently criticized by Mugabe supporters but were surprised to be attacked by the Home Office. We totally reject the implications and challenge the Home Office to substantiate this malicious slur.’

·         The Vigil was pleased to hear that our Swazi supporter Thobile Gwebu has been granted leave to remain in the UK. Thobile organized a Vigil outside the Swazi Embassy in London. A Home Office official said it had taken into account her activities.

·         For a transcript of Vigil Co-ordinator Rose Benton’s interview on SW Radio Africa, check: http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/qt-rosebenton290611.htm

 

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. For the latest ZimVigil TV programme check http://www.zimvigiltv.com/.  

 

FOR THE RECORD: 63 signed the register.

 

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

·         The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation 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.

·         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 Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QukqctWc3XE.

·         ROHR Liverpool general meeting. Saturday 9th July from 1.30 – 4.30 pm. Venue: Kensington Methodist Church, 294 Kensington, Liverpool L7 2RN. ROHR national executive members present. A well-known immigration lawyer available to talk about the new country guidance ruling. Contact Anywhere Mungoyo 07939913688, Netsai Karota 07767483180, Panyika Anselm Karimanzira 07538534375, Sheilla Mironga 07578541227 or P Mapfumo 07915926323/07932216070.

·         ROHR Yorkshire general meeting. Saturday 16th July from 2 – 6 pm. Venue: Dock Green Inn, Ashley Rd, Leeds LS9 7AB. In attendance ROHR National Chairperson Mr A Mungoyo and National Secretary Mr C Chimbumu. Contact: Chinofunga Ndoga 07877993826, Prosper Mudamvanji (Branch Chair) 07897594874, Wonder Mubaiwa 07958758568, Knowledge Kutekwa 07400540732 or R Chifungo (Co-ordinator) 07795070609.

·         ROHR North East (Newcastle) general meeting. Saturday 23th July from 12 – 3.30 pm. Venue: Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 9SJ. 3 mins walk from the Gateshead Interchange. Contact: Susan Ndlovu 07767024586, Sharon Masocha 07751610298, Collin Matongo 07775987006, Rugare Chifungo (Coordinator) 07795070609.

·         Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.

·         Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.

·         ‘Through the Darkness’, Judith Todd’s acclaimed account of the rise of Mugabe.  To receive a copy by post in the UK please email confirmation of your order and postal address to ngwenyasr@yahoo.co.uk and send a cheque for £10 payable to “Budiriro Trust” to Emily Chadburn, 15 Burners Close, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0QA. All proceeds go to the Budiriro Trust which provides bursaries to needy A Level students in Zimbabwe.

·         Workshops aiming to engage African men on HIV testing and other sexual health issues. Organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust (www.tht.org.uk). Please contact the co-ordinator Takudzwa Mukiwa (takudzwa.mukiwa@tht.org.uk) if you are interested in taking part.

 

Vigil co-ordinators

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

 

 


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This is home

http://www.cathybuckle.com

July 3, 2011, 11:01 am

Dear Family and Friends,

Coming back to Zimbabwe after a month away is a huge shock to the system.
Conditions in our third world country can probably best be described as
surreal, and that’s being polite! The strangeness of the experience starts
before you even set foot in the country. Sitting in an international airport
looking down the list of departures for destinations all over Africa, your
eyes are drawn to the word ‘cancelled’ and your heart goes into your mouth.
You look back across the line and are not surprised to see that it’s Air
Zimbabwe flights that are cancelled. Our national airline is still on its
knees, a litany of excuses continuing to humiliate us with the word
‘cancelled’ on airport departure boards around the world. It could be any
number of reasons today: unpaid fuel bills, unpaid staff, striking air crew.

Arriving at Harare International Airport, the contrast with the service you’ve
just left behind in the first world is dramatic. Bored  surly and
unwelcoming Immigration Officials do not greet you or smile at you; they
scowl as they thumb through your passport leaving you feeling as if you
should turn round and go away again. In the ladies toilets only one of the
door latches on the row of stalls closes; there is no soap in the dispenser
and a huge plastic barrel of water stands in the corner, uncovered and
exposed to a myriad of germs.

Encountering two police roadblocks in the first ten kilometres from the
airport is the surest sign that you are back in Zimbabwe. What do they want?
What are they looking for at their incessant roadblocks? It takes just a few
minutes to be reminded that these officials have perfected the art of making
everyone feel as if they are a criminal. With pity you look at the crowd of
commuter omnibuses that are inevitably pulled over at every roadblock. Their
passengers tired, thirsty and frustrated as time and again the vehicles are
stopped by the police and the drivers have to hand over money.

Out of the long grass on the roadside four school children wearing bright
purple uniforms and white shirts emerge. They look to be eight or nine year
olds and on their backs they wear little school satchels but this is not
their only load to bear. Each child carries a large bundle of sticks and
branches balanced on their heads: firewood for their Mum’s to cook supper
with. Wood for the fire which will be their buffer against the freezing
winter nights and provide the flickering light by which they will do their
homework.

After iPods and iPads, trains, buses and aeroplanes, computers, laptops and
broadband – this contrast is so dramatic that it leaves you wide- eyed and
deeply shocked at just how far behind the world Zimbabwe has fallen.

Arriving home the potholes and gullies on the suburban roads are deeper than
ever and there is no water and no electricity in the house. An African
Hoopoe stabs the browning grass for the last insects of the day, calling its
mate again and again: “Whoop–whoop, whoop-whoop.” The sun turns blood red as
it sinks into the dust smothered horizon and for a moment the absurdity and
abnormality is banished, because this is home.  Until next time, thanks for
reading, love cathy.


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What will happen next?

If you want a unique experience you need to try the white water rafting at the Victoria Falls. The river below the Falls runs through a deep gorge that is carved from black basalt and carries this huge river in a deep, fast running white water wonderland. Waves up to three meters high, whirlpools and the changing shape of the gorge means you are on a constant high, we were thrown out of our raft three times and I seemed to spend more time in the water than on board. Great fun, best white water in the world but not for the fainthearted.

 

Zimbabwe is like that and the past decade has been constant white water. But now, Zanu simply does not know what to do. The diminishing coterie of hardliners in the Party are desperate to dredge up a strategy to secure their tenuous hold on power in the face of regional hegemony in support of the GPA reform process finishing with a free and fair election. All their hard work over the past two years is in tatters and their carefully crafted ideas disabled. What do they do now?

 

The plans for a thinly disguised coup are now deemed unworkable. The Mugabe faction in Zanu PF plotted to hold a snap election under circumstances where they would have had the following elements in place: -

 

·         A distorted and carefully structured voters roll that would allow massive rigging of any vote and the reduction of urban constituencies from 84 in a lower House of 210 to 52 or only a quarter of the seats after a new delimitation exercise conducted on the basis of the roll.

·         A submissive Electoral Commission with a staff of former and serving security officials who have been responsible for rigging elections since 2000.

·         A Zanu PF loyalist Registrar General who will administer the poll, count the vote and announce the results.

·         Total control of the former large scale farming areas where they can control the vote and ensure that the MDC is totally excluded from the Districts concerned.

·         Total control of the traditional leadership in the Tribal areas where their influence over the voters and the population is almost as intense as it is in the farming Districts.

·         Total control of the State controlled media.

·         Generous funding from the illegal sale of diamonds and other plunder.

 

It now looks increasingly that such a scenario is unlikely to come to fruition. SADC and South Africa are insisting that Zanu PF live up to its signature on the GPA. Although they have successfully warded off the planned reform of internal governance, the revised road map adopted by the SADC leadership is simpler, less cumbersome, but still means that in the end the Party must face the MDC on a level playing field for the first time. They know that this would be a disaster for Zanu PF and the other minority Parties. It would be like being dumped by a wave on the Zambezi and then swept away.

 

Their options are few, they could decide to simply abandon the GPA raft and attempt to swim to the bank, because that is what a military coup would be – suicidal and quick. Or they could tighten the buckles on their belts and ride the roller coaster to the end of the ride in 2013, hoping that something, anything might come up in the process. Failing which they would simply get off the ride at the end and leave the George, half drowned. We all know what a wet chicken looks like.

 

Their only other option is to try to negotiate a compromise which would leave them with some dignity and the opportunity to recover and perhaps rebuild before the next elections in 2016 or 17.

 

While this game is being played out on the river, on the ground the situation is not standing still. The strategy to stop the economic recovery using indigenisation has been very effective. Not only has investment slowed or even stopped in many sectors, capital flight has resumed and when I spoke to a number of investment funds in South Africa a few weeks ago, I found that they were all of the same mind – they were holding their positions in Zimbabwe, but would not increase their exposure.

 

A magazine in the USA listed Zimbabwe this week as the second poorest State in the world after Congo Brazzaville which is on the bottom rung. Our workers are badly paid in most sectors and living standards are very low. We are unable to compete regionally for skills and our Civil Service is very restive. The data for the first quarter of this year confirms the recovery has stalled.

 

If this carries on for much longer it is going to create difficulties for us. There is a limit to what our staff and civil service will accept and still stay at work. We are close to those limits and if we cannot hold out any hope that things will improve, the country will start to see human flight again with people following our capital assets.

 

In a world where basic food prices have risen a third in the past year and where grain prices are up over 70 per cent, our own production remains dismal. We are importing all our foods – even vegetables. I estimate that perhaps 70 per cent of our total food needs will be imported this year. Imported food is always more expensive than local food.

 

This coupled to our existing poverty means that the ordinary person in Zimbabwe is really in a tough place. This will only change when we can get the economy back on its feet and growing strongly. The potential is there; both the World Bank and the IMF have stated we are capable of double digit growth over an extended period. But that will only happen when we finally achieve a legitimate government.

 

That requires we get off the white water we are riding and go back to work in the real world. What will happen next? Everything depends on what happens now. If we cannot get off the river then we have to try and limit the length of the remaining ride and ensure that we climb out of the Gorge into a situation that is acceptable to all of us. We are all Zimbabweans and we all have to live with the final outcome. It’s our common future that we are dealing with.

 

Eddie Cross

Bulawayo, 30th June 2011

 

 


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Bill Watch - Parliamentary Committee and Status of Bills Series - 2nd July 2011

BILL WATCH

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE AND STATUS OF BILLS SERIES

[2nd July 2011]

Committee Meetings Open to the Public 4th to 7th July

The meetings of Senate Thematic Committees and House of Assembly Portfolio Committees listed below will be open to members of the public, but as observers only, not as participants, i.e. members of the public can listen but not speak.

Monday 4th July at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Transport and Infrastructure Development

Oral evidence from the Minister of Transport on [1] Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulations, S.I 154/2010 [see note below] and [2] operational challenges faced by Air Zimbabwe  

Committee Room No. 1

Chairperson: Hon Chebundo             Clerk: Ms Macheza

Portfolio Committee: Higher Education, Science and Technology

Oral evidence on Science Education from the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon S. Ncube               Clerk: Ms Mudavanhu

Monday 4th July at 2 pm

Portfolio Committee: Budget, Finance, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion

Evidence from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Board of Directors on matters related to the bank’s functions and operations

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Zhanda                  Clerk: Mr Ratsakatika

Tuesday 5th July at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade

Oral evidence from the Ministry of Regional Integration and International Cooperation on the Quarter Budget Performance Report

Committee Room No. 3

Chairperson: Hon Mukanduri             Clerk: Mr Chiremba

Portfolio Committee: Industry and Commerce

Presentation on the business environment in Bulawayo

Committee Room No. 311

Chairperson: Hon Mutomba               Clerk: Ms Masara

Thursday 7th July at 10 am

Portfolio Committee: Media, Information and Communication Technology

Oral evidence on the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe’s operations

Committee Room No. 413

Chairperson: Hon S. Moyo                 Clerk: Mr Mutyambizi

Portfolio Committee: Women, Youth, Gender and Community Development

Meeting with the Varume Svinurai Men’s Forum on Domestic Violence

Committee Room No. 4

Chairperson: Hon Matienga               Clerk: Mr Kunzwa

Note: As there are sometimes last-minute changes to the meetings schedule, it is recommended that those wishing to attend a meeting avoid disappointment by checking with the relevant committee clerk that the meeting is still on and still open to the public. Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 or 252936.  If attending, please use the Kwame Nkrumah Ave entrance to Parliament.  Ids must be produced.

Note on SI 154/2010: These regulations came into force on 1st July.  This meeting will give the Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development an opportunity to respond to the views gathered by the portfolio committee in earlier public hearings in Mutare, Masvingo, Bulawayo and Harare.  During those hearings members of public:

·      complained that the Minister had not conducted adequate public consultations before promulgating the regulations last year

·      voiced their objections to the looming 31st October bans on importation of left-hand drive vehicles and used vehicles more than 5 years old

·      pointed out that compliance with new safety measures, such as all vehicles having to carry red warning triangles and fire extinguishers, was impossible because items complying with the detailed specifications laid down by the regulations were not readily available in Zimbabwe.

Status of Bills as at 1st July 2011

Bills Awaiting Introduction

Electoral Amendment Bill, [H.B. 3, 2011]. [Electronic version available.]

Gazetted:  27th June 2011   

Ministry:  Justice and Legal Affairs

Portfolio Committee: Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs 

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill [H.B. 2, 2011].  [Electronic version available.]

Gazetted:  10th June 2011

Ministry:  Justice and Legal Affairs

Portfolio Committee:  Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs

Bills in the Senate

Public Order and Security Amendment Bill [H.B. 11A, 2009].  Private Member’s Bill introduced by Hon I. Gonese, MDC-T.

Passed by House of Assembly:  8th December 2010 [with amendments] [Electronic version of Bill as amended by House of Assembly available.]

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading

[Note: Senate Standing Orders do not yet allow Mr Gonese, who is a member of the House of Assembly, to speak to the Bill in the Senate.  A proposed amendment to Standing Orders, which would allow him to do, has been approved by the Standing Rules and Orders Committee and circulated to Senators; it will come into operation on 15th July unless Senators have lodged objections before that date.  So progress on the Bill will be delayed until at least 15th July.]

Deposit Protection Corporation Bill [H.B. 7A, 2010]. 

Passed by House:  1st June 2011 [with amendments]  [Electronic version available]

Ministry:  Finance

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading. 

Small Enterprises Development Corporation Amendment Bill [H.B. 9, 2010].

Passed by House:  5th April 2011.  [Electronic version available.]

Ministry:  Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading

Bill in the House of Assembly

National Incomes and Pricing Commission Amendment Bill [H.B. 10, 2010]

Gazetted:  5th November 2010 [Electronic version available.]

Ministry:  Industry and Commerce

Portfolio Committee:  Industry and Commerce

Stage:  Awaiting Second Reading

 

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

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