Cabinet ‘agrees’ on general amendments to Electoral Act

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Violet Gonda
SW Radio Africa
11 June 2013

There was broad consensus during a Cabinet debate on amendments to the
Electoral Act, a move that has surprised observers who thought there would
be a complete deadlock since the political actors in the coalition
government are currently embroiled in a dispute over electoral processes and
fighting over the actual date of the polls.

Some observers had expected the MDC formations, who are against the holding
of elections next month without key reforms, to use the electoral amendment
debate as a delaying tactic to push for more time, but several ministers who
spoke to SW Radio Africa on condition of anonymity said Tuesday’s meeting
was surprisingly productive.

Cabinet proceedings are not made public but the sources said there was
general agreement on the core issues, although some minor technical changes
will still have to be made before the amendments are sent to parliament for
passing.

One of the hot issues was over the proportional representation threshold.
“There had been disagreement about the percentage a party would receive
regarding proportional representation as the bigger parties wanted a higher
threshold and the smaller parties have less. But there was a broad consensus
on this issue and many good points were raised to improve the electoral law
in the country,” revealed a minister.

Another one said: “Pretty much everything was accepted but the Bill is not
ready to go to parliament which is sitting tomorrow.”

The MDC-T’s Jameson Timba wrote on his Facebook page: “The debate on
electoral amendments was not a formality neither was it a walk in the park.
MDC insisted that voters should no longer be required to show their folded
ballot paper to the presiding officer after voting. This type of subtle
intimidation is now a thing of the past.” We were not able to reach Timba to
find out if he was talking specifically about Tuesday’s deliberations or if
this was as a result of the ongoing negotiations in general.

However legal expert Derek Matyszak, who is also a senior researcher at the
Research and Advocacy Unit, said: “I am very surprised that there was some
consensus because the amendments to the Electoral Act require a 63 day
period between the proclamation of the election dates and the actual
election. So there would have to have been changes to the Electoral Act to
accommodate the president and to accommodate the court order.”

While there seems to be some developments in terms of finalizing the process
of the electoral amendments, it would appear that there are still major
challenges ahead if elections are to be held by end of next month, as
stipulated by the Constitutional Court.

Cabinet has to finalise amendments to the Electoral Act before the end of
this week for the bill to be passed by parliament, in order to meet the July
31st deadline. But government sources say it is unlikely that the Cabinet
will have the changes ready for parliament in time.

Furthermore legal experts say there must be 30 days of voter registration,
and 30 days between nomination and election. They say these processes cannot
run concurrently as is being widely reported, which poses legal challenges
for Mugabe.

Matyszak said: “The Electoral Act currently provides that there can be no
registration after the nomination court sits. So Cabinet would have had to
agree to change this. If so we have the outrageous position of the electoral
law being crafted, not because its provisions are good, but to comply with a
specific court order directed against a specific individual.”

He said the president has the option of approaching this Constitutional
Court and asking the court for more time, as he stands to also violate other
electoral provisions.

Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community is facing a logistical
nightmare as it remains unclear when they will hold the extraordinary summit
on Zimbabwe, which has so far been postponed twice to accommodate a request
by Mugabe for more time.

A SADC summit on Zimbabwe was supposed to have been held last Sunday in
Maputo but had to be postponed after Mugabe said he needed more time to
analyse the implications of the constitutional court judgement.

The special meeting was then supposed to be convened early this week in
Pretoria, but presidential spokesperson George Charamba revealed that Mugabe
had “pressing constitutional duties to fulfil this week” and will attend to
the regional body after the legal requirements for polls have been attended
to.

Charamba told the Sunday Mail that the President had a busy week which
included chairing the crucial Cabinet meeting Tuesday; chairing the
Politburo on Wednesday – where ZANU PF heavyweights are expected to finalise
rules and regulations governing internal polls – and fulfilling the issue of
proclamation of the election date.

ZEC challenged to invite foreign observers despite ZANU PF refusal

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
SW Radio Africa
11 June 2013

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is being challenged to have the best
interests of Zimbabweans at heart by allowing foreign observer missions in
the country ahead of elections.

This is in spite of refusals voiced by ZANU PF ministers over allowing
foreign observation teams. Robert Mugabe’s party has insisted that this will
not happen, because of targeted, restrictive sanctions still in place
against some members of the ZANU PF regime.

Diplomats from Germany and Spain have both approached the national ZANU PF
chairman Simon Khaya Moyo this week, requesting that observer missions from
western nations be allowed into the country over the elections. These
requests followed a similar plea from US State Department spokesperson Jen
Psaki, who last week urged the Zimbabwe government to allow international
observers, saying this would enhance their credibility.

The comments from the US official prompted an angry response from ZANU PF,
with party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa saying the western
superpower “can go to hell.”

“They should allow us to travel all over the world. If they are imposing
sanctions on us economically why should we allow them to come here? What do
they want when they are punishing us? They can go to hell,” he said.

Khaya Moyo then reiterated this position after meeting the German and
Spanish diplomats, saying: “Countries that imposed sanctions on us will not
observe our elections because they cannot be seen to be fair. We are very
principled on this one. We want to work with everyone but certainly not with
countries that have declared illegal sanctions on us.”

The MDC-T has since responded, stating that: “The coming elections are being
held under the new constitution which says, only the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) has authority to invite observers, not political parties.”

Political analyst and former Zimbabwean diplomat, Clifford Mashiri, said ZEC
faces a “real test now,” in deciding to either allow or bar western observer
teams. He told SW Radio Africa that ZEC should be acting in the best
interest of the country as a whole, especially the fact that “foreign
observers will help ensure there is a credible electoral process.”

Civil society groups meanwhile have petitioned the SADC leadership bloc,
calling on the grouping to, among other issues, deploy an observer mission
ahead of the elections. The petition was handed to Mozambican authorities
last week, ahead of a summit on Zimbabwe that was set for Maputo. That
summit was postponed, and it is not yet clear when it will take place.

Thabani Nyoni, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson, told SW Radio
Africa that election observers need to be deployed urgently.

“It is important that the observation process is given more time, because
having observation teams arriving only two weeks before the polls is not
enough time to properly investigate and monitor the situation,” Nyoni said.

He added that, as civil society, the Crisis Coalition also supports calls
for international observation teams to be allowed in the country.

“The elections are not a birthday party where you only invite your friends.
This is about credibility and ensuring a democratic process, and
international observers are fundamental to ensure this,” Nyoni said.

Mudede quizzed over mobile voter registration

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

By Chengetayi Zvauya, Parliamentary Editor
Tuesday, 11 June 2013 13:06

HARARE - Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede was yesterday grilled by
Parliament over the issue of mobile voter registration and the registration
of aliens.

Mudede appeared before the parliamentary portfolio Committee on Defence and
Home Affairs briefing the legislators on the mobile registration which
started yesterday and ends next month on July 9.

Mudede who was accompanied by permanent secretary of Home Affairs, Melusi
Matshiya was given a torrid time by MPs who wanted him to explain the new
mobile voter exercise which kicked off yesterday.

The Registrar General’s office started a fresh 30-day mobile voter
registration as provided for by the new Constitution as the country prepares
to hold harmonised elections later this year.

He was at pains to explain why his staffers were failing to register many
people who were coming to registration centres seeking to be registered.

“We worked out the registration programme together with the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (Zec). After realising that we will be getting enough
funds, we decided to opt for district registration as opposed to the ward or
constituency-based registration as it is costly,” said Mudede.

“We asked for money from Treasury and we received only $4 million, so we are
still waiting for another $5 million to be released so that we can
adequately carry out the exercise, but we shall try our best under the
circumstances to complete it,” said Mudede.

Paul Madzore, chairperson of the committee asked him whether aliens who were
denied the chance to register in the first exercise in May would be allowed
this time around.

“We have no problems with aliens as some of the people whom we refer to as
aliens were born here and attended schools here in areas like Mbare and
Highfield. If they can come to the registration centres they can be
registered so long they bring in required documents,” said Mudede.

“People should not expect this registration exercise to entitle them to get
citizenship status when they are aliens. They have to follow all legal
requirements for them to be registered. One cannot just wake up and come to
the registration centre wanting to be registered without the proper
documents,” said Mudede.

He also denied that his office removed many people from the voter’s roll
including a Cabinet minister who had found out that his name was missing
from the voter’s roll having voted in 2008 using the same roll.

“It is false that we were removing people from the voters’ roll during the
exercise we carried out last month. My office has been blamed for slashing
out a lot of people in the voter’s roll. The truth of the matter is that we
were removing dead people from the voter’s roll and I am not aware of any
Cabinet minister who had his name left out” said Mudede.

The committee will also next week jointly summon Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (Zec) boss Justice Rita Makarau together parliamentary committee
on Peace and Security to give an update regarding preparing of the much
anticipated election and for the electoral body’s readiness to conduct
impending polls.

Madzore said he intends to embark on a countrywide tour next week, visiting
the registration centres and monitoring the voter’s registration exercise
which started yesterday.

Dates for elections are yet to be announced as President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are yet to agree on poll dates.

Fresh Zimbabwe Voter Registration Exercise in Disarray

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Thomas Chiripasi
11.06.2013

HARARE — The fresh mobile voter registration exercise entered its second day
Tuesday amid confusion over information regarding registration centres.

Several people visiting some registration centres say some of the centers
were empty as officers from the Registrar General’s Office failed to
turn-up.

Mr. Jimmy Jalifu of Marondera, Mashonaland East Province, says all the
registration centres have remained closed since the start of the programme
on Monday.

Many potential voters are complaining of inadequate information regarding
this exercise.

Although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is placing advertisements
in newspapers highlighting voter registration centres, some people are
suggesting that ZEC should deploy more voter educators in each ward instead
of two.

Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede is urging those willing to register and
inspect the voters’ roll to check for details in the press.

Mudede says the registration exercise would be district-based because of
inadequate resources.

Marondera Central legislator, Ian Kay, says the teams allocated to Marondera
District are too few to cover the entire population in the three
constituencies.

In Mashonaland West there was also confusion as officers from the Registrar
General’s Office failed to turn up at some of the registration centers as
advertised.

Centres that had no officers include Ndudza and Strathdon primary schools in
Zvimba district.

At Trelawney Training Centre, people formed queues to register just as they
did at Trelawney and Greycourt primary schools. There was a heavy police
presence at the centres.

The new constitution provides for at least 30 days of mobile voter
registration following which elections should be held.

Ward voter registration impossible: Mudede

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

10/06/2013 00:00:00
     by Staff Reporter

THE 30-day voter registration exercise which began on Monday, ahead of
elections next month, will be conducted at district level and not ward level
due to lack of funding, the Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede said on Monday.

Mudede told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home
Affairs that “ward-based voter registration is impossible, not because of
anything, but shortage of money.”

He added: “We have been fighting to get the money (from treasury).
“We have had to categorise. We calculated what we would need for the
ward-based exercise and we had US$104 million. We calculated with the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on what would be needed if it was done on a
constituency basis and it was US$94,5 million, while the district-based
exercise came to US$33,3 million.”

Mudede has dispatched four teams per district to carry out the registration
and inspection of the voters’ roll.
During an earlier mobile voter registration exercise conducted between April
29 and May 19, a total of 204,041 new voters were registered.

The RG’s office received US$4 million during that exercise, instead of US$8
million and for the current voter mobilisation it received US$4,4 million.

During the April-May exercise, 35,266 of those new voters were registered in
Mashonaland East; 31,570 in Mashonaland West, 29,635 in Mashonaland Central,
5,068 in Bulawayo, 9,403 in Matabeleland South, 13,536 in Matabeleland
North, 23,404 in the Midlands, 24,024 in Manicaland, 20,610 in Masvingo and
11,525 in Harare.

MDC-N calls on MDC-T to investigate violence reports

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Violet Gonda
SW Radio Africa
10 June 2013

The MDC-T hit the headlines this weekend after a journalist from the
privately owned Zimbabwe Independent newspaper was assaulted, allegedly by
party youths inside the party headquarters in Harare on Friday.

In Mutare a party councillor received medical treatment after violence broke
out among MDC-T members in Chikanga-Dangamvura on Thursday ahead of primary
elections in Manicaland province this past weekend.

Journalist Herbert Moyo was covering internal disputes by MDC-T members who
were protesting against the imposition of candidates in Sunningdale, when he
was blocked by a group of youths from covering the demonstration.

Moyo told reporters he was forcefully pulled inside Harvest House where he
was beaten thoroughly.

The journalist was only freed when a colleague alerted the MDC-T spokesman
Douglas Mwonzora by phone to tell him what was happening.

It is reported a journalist with the state controlled Chronicle newspaper,
Mashudu Netsianda, had also been attacked the previous day in Bulawayo while
he was covering a meeting between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the
business community. The youths are said to have confiscated his notebook and
deleted recordings he had made of the event.

The incidents, coming from a party that has over the years called for media
freedom and non violence is particularly damaging, especially as the MDC-T
is currently calling for media reforms ahead of forthcoming polls.

The MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube issued a statement on Monday
condemning the attack on media practitioners and called on the MDC-T to
deliver these “bloodletting thugs to the police without delay.”

MDC National Spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube said: “We view this attack as a
blatant violation of freedom of the press. That this is carried out by the
MDC-T at their citadel and head quarters is blood chilling and shocking.

“It is a clear intimidation tactic from the MDC-T to try and muzzle the
media from covering their intra party shenanigans. Evidently the MDC-T took
this cue from their cousins ZANU – PF and they learned it well in typical
monkey see – monkey do fashion.”

But MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa told SW Radio Africa that his
party has been a victim of violence and described what happened as
“abominable” and unacceptable.

Chamisa said his party is investigating the reports, saying this could have
been the work of infiltrators who are bent on portraying the MDC-T as a
violent party.

“It’s a possibility that these are people who are bent on discrediting the
party and who are probably infiltrators. We have no evidence to suggest
these are MDC people and we have no reason to believe that these could be
our people.”

Chamisa went on to say the Ncube led MDC accusations are misplaced and out
of order, but warned: “If it is found that these are our people, then
definitely there is going to be gnashing of teeth and there is going to be
the force of a hippopotamus in the pursuit of these individuals.”

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Housing Minister Giles Mutsekwa, who is also
the MP for Chikanga-Dangamvura, and prominent human rights lawyer Arnold
Tsunga, who is an aspiring candidate, took an ugly turn when intra-party
violence broke out in this constituency resulting in one of Tsunga’s
supporters –Mutare councillor Chrispen Dube – sustaining serious injuries.

Dube told the Standard newspaper that he was beaten up in full view of the
Housing Minister. “Mutsekwa came in the company of his youths at Mega Watt
where I was with Tsunga. I had the impression that they were going to
assault Tsunga and that is when I tried to restrain them and I was badly
assaulted,” said Dube.

Violence broke out after Tsunga’s camp accused the other side of trying to
manipulate the voter verification process. Mutsekwa’s camp denies rigging
the voting process but accuse their rivals of trying to discredit the
minister in order to push for primaries.

The dispute led to the suspension of the confirmation exercise in this
Mutare constituency on Sunday. If Mutsekwa fails the this process he will
automatically run against Tsunga.

Commenting on the violence that broke out in Mutare, Chamisa, who had once
said the MDC-T is allergic to violence, said it is possible to have an
allergic attack once in a while.

He said his party had successfully finished all the provincial elections in
12 administrative provinces without any ‘blemishes’. He added: “The fact
that you have a black spot on a white cloth does not make the cloth black.”

Opposition Also Threatens Media

http://en.rsf.org/

PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY 11 JUNE 2013.

Reporters Without Borders expresses its grave concern for freedom of
information in Zimbabwe and the safety of local journalists after threats
and attacks by members of the Movement for Democratic Change.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai leads the MDC, which is the opposition
party.

“The ruling Zanu-PF party is not alone in showing hostility to the media and
in opposing press freedom,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Members of the
opposition are also responsible for a climate of intimidation. We call on
the two leading government officials, President Robert Mugabe and the prime
minister, as well as all political figures, to demonstrate respect for
diversity of opinion.”

On 7 June, journalist Herbert Moyo of the weekly Zimbabwe Independent, was
attacked by young MDC members while covering a demonstration in the
Sunningdale neighbourhood of Harare, the capital. Moyo was taking photos of
demonstrators when a group of young men surrounded him and beat him. MDC
spokesman Douglas Mwonzora, stepped in to end the attack.

The day before, Tsvangirai bodyguards roughed up Mashudu Netsianda, a
reporter for the daily Chronicle Newspaper in Bulawayo, before seizing his
notebook and deleting recordings he had made on his mobile phone.

In May, the prime minister himself threatened the media. "You cannot have a
newspaper with six articles saying Tsvangirai this and Tsvangirai that,” he
said. “Every day! Ragai vakadaro. But musi umwe gava richadambura musungo
(Leave them like that, but one day the tables will be turned). That kind of
media has no future in a democratic Zimbabwe. "I want to tell you this,
muchadya izvozvo (you will face the music)."

Reporters Without Borders expressed its concern in May about a harassment
campaign against the media in the run-up to elections.

Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, has been placed on Reporters Without
Borders’ list of 39 "Predators of Press Freedom" published on 3 May.

Stop Attacks on Journalists!

http://www.thezimbabwean.co/

11.06.13

by Youth Forum Information and Publicity Department

As we get closer to the much awaited 2013 elections, Zimbabwe is getting a
lot of reports on politically motivated violence and it has begun to
encroach into the media, attacking journalists, which is very disturbing.
Given that journalism is very necessary in Zimbabwe because direct democracy
is obsolete and people do not really have the freedom to express their
political opinions and the only way they can do this is through their vote.

Journalists consequently play a very important role as they stand as the
drivers of democracy in a not so democratic environment and they are meant
to be the voice of the voiceless in a country with limited freedom of
speech. The recent assault of The Zimbabwe Independent journalist, Herbert
Moyo and Chronicle reporter, Mashudu Netsianda by the MDC-T youth calls for
attention especially during this time when there is a lot being done in
preparation of the forth coming elections. There is a very high probability
that there can be free, fair and transparent elections if these journalists
are allowed to do their jobs without fear. The recently promulgated
constitution guarantees democracy and freedom of expression which the
country should not fall foul of in any way.

This violent behavior by the MDC-T, a party which purports to front the
democratization agenda leaves many in awe. The MDC-T converses about the
possibilities of creating an alternative, democratic non-violent, free and
democratic Zimbabwe but this recent assault on the media fraternity reflects
the contrary. We realize that such barbaric acts have always been associated
with ZANU-PF in the past but at the moment we struggle to see the difference
between ZANU-PF and the MDC-T. It even boggles the mind to note that
journalists are being abused at the party’s headquarters or at times by the
Prime Minister’s entourage. The Youth Forum urges all political parties to
contribute towards a peaceful electoral environment where young people are
not being abused as cannon fodder for the political elites.

The media plays a very crucial role in stemming injustices and violence.
Journalists give the nation light during such hypertensive periods like
elections in a country that has been burdened by successive electoral
malpractices.

The Youth Forum continues to urge the media fraternity to strive towards
balanced reportage.

Political Violence Haunts Zimbabwe Voters

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Taurai Shava
11.06.2013

GWERU — With national elections expected to be held sometime this year, many
Zimbabweans fear the resurgence of political violence that saw over 200
people losing their lives in the disputed 2008 poll.

To help deal with the culture of violence that has affected the country’s
elections over the years, local leaders of political parties in the
coalition government meeting in Gweru on Monday underscored the need for the
adoption of a code of conduct for political parties to stem
politically-motivated violence.

Speaking during an inter-party meeting to raise awareness about the code of
conduct for political parties, provincial leaders from the three parties in
the unity government hailed the code of conduct but said political will is
needed to ensure people at the grassroots level co-exist and tolerate their
different political beliefs.

Provincial chairperson Ndumo Moyo of the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) formation led by Industry Minister Welshman Ncube said as the code of
conduct had been agreed to by the unity government principals, his party
endorses the document.

Mr. Moyo said it is important for ordinary Zimbabweans to abide by the
principles of the document as this would help to stop politically motivated
violence.

The three political parties in the coalition government and the Joint
Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) produced the code of
conduct. Although the document was launched in November 2011, the principals
are still to append their signatures to it.

Lillian Timveos, provincial chairperson of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC
said before the formation of multi-party provincial committees under JOMIC,
even senior members of the three political parties used to view each other
as enemies.

However, she said they are now able to work together in various activities
to promote peace. But this is not the case at the grassroots level.

Timveos expressed the hope that the same spirit spills over to the
grassroots level.

Zanu PF’s provincial secretary for administration, Francis Chikwira says his
party is also committed to the promotion of peace but adds there are some
aspects in the code of conduct that his party wants revised.

Some people who attended the meeting said given the impending elections, it
is important for political parties to spread the message of peace to their
supporters, particularly those in rural areas as this is where political
violence often occurs.

Programs officer Cynthia Mawema of JOMIC said Monday’s meeting was one of
many being held across the country to help local political structures raise
awareness about the code of conduct and the need for peace before, during
and after elections.

Jomic also used the same meeting to introduce to members of the public a
song by various Zimbabwean artists urging the nation to desist from
political violence.

Jomic publishes political parties’ code of conduct

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

Tuesday, 11 June 2013 12:54
HARARE - The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee, Jomic, Harare
Province, yesterday officially launched the Code of Conduct for Political
Parties that spells out proper conduct of leaders and their political
parties.

The Code of Conduct was already agreed by Cabinet and is an organ for
National Healing.

It addresses the proper conduct of leaders who are compelled not to use hate
language and addresses issues of voter buying and the use of State resources
during campaigning.

According to the Code of Conduct a party will organise and conduct its
political activities in a manner that contributes towards a congenial and
peaceful political atmosphere at all times; and act with a sense of
responsibility and dignity befitting its status.

Speakers at political rallies and political commentary in State and private
print and electronic media will avoid using language that threatens or
incites violence in any form against any other person or group of persons.

A party that has subscribed to this Code of Conduct will not issue, either
officially or anonymously, pamphlets, newsletters or posters containing
language of material that threatens or incites violence.

According to the code, a party that has subscribed to it accepts that
intimidation, in any form, at any time is unacceptable, and will issue
directives expressly forbidding its officials, candidates, members, proxies
and supporters to intimidate any person at any time; educate their
membership against violence or threats of violence, and against any acts of
vandalism or public disorder committed or threatened by their officials,
candidates, members or supporters and respect other persons and political
parties and their property.

The leader of a party that has subscribed to this code will instruct the
party’s officials, candidates, members, proxies and supporters that no
weapon of any kind, including any traditional weapon, may be brought to any
political rally, meeting, march or other demonstration.

The private and public media should be neutral and should not engage in hate
speech.

A party that subscribes to the Code of Conduct should be part of a Code of
Conduct Monitoring and Communications Committee at national provincial and
district levels.

The committee shall serve as a forum for discussion of issues of common
concern.

Patience Chiradza, Jomic National Coordinator said the membership of the
Committees at all levels shall be: representatives of all registered
political parties, a representative of the Electoral Commission, two
representative of the Human Rights Commission, two representatives from
Civil Society, two representatives Chiefs Council and two representatives
from faith based organisations.

The three presidents of Zimbabwe’s main political parties were represented
at the launch. - Margaret Chinowaita, Community Affairs Editor

Beatrice Mtetwa trial kicks off

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

Tuesday, 11 June 2013 13:06

HARARE - Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has denied allegations of
obstructing the course of justice as her trial opened yesterday at the
Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

Mtetwa, through her lawyer Harrison Nkomo told magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa
that the prosecution’s charge sheet and State outline do not disclose an
offence.

She also denied having uttered any statements being attributed to her since
she is a non-shona speaker.

“She will point out that the utterances were maliciously dreamt up by the
officers buoyed by vitriolic statements in the State-controlled media and in
order to bolster a non-existent State case against her, which explains why
the alleged utterances did not form part of the State case at the remand
stage,” reads part of her defence outline.

The pint-sized lawyer told the court that the allegations are part of the
prosecution’s many attempts to pin something on her.

Nkomo said the malicious nature of the prosecution was shown by the police’s
actions when they visited the High Court to look for her professional
documents.

He further contends that the malice went as far as a visit by CIO operatives
at her former husband’s house, masquerading as journalists, while trying to
convince him to dish out any ‘‘dirt’’ on her.

Tawanda Zvekare from the Attorney General’s office, called in their first
witness chief inspector Luxon Mukazhi who corroborated what the State
outline had pointed out.

Mukazhi said Mtetwa’s commotion caused an unnecessary scene that pulled
crowds and a commuter omnibus that was passing-by.

Mtetwa was arrested in March after she allegedly told police officers to
stop rummaging through Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s official, Thabani
Mpofu’s house.

The State alleges that she was acting in a violent and disorderly manner
saying “stop whatever you are doing, it is unconstitutional, illegal and
undemocratic”.

Mtetwa is alleged to have threatened to send pictures and video footage she
had taken with her mobile phone to the international community. - Helen
Kadirire

Mugabe attacked as Zanu-PF insider takes to FB

http://www.news24.com/

2013-06-11 13:30

Cape Town – President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is being shaken by a
Facebook character "Baba Jukwa", who produces revelations of wrong-doing by
leaders of the party, according to a report.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Baba Jukwa made startling revelations
about the party’s internal affairs, ranging from plans by Zanu-PF to rig
elections that are expected to take place this year to naming  officials who
led the government crackdown against the opposition in the western region of
Matabeleland that killed as many as 20 000 people in the 1980s.

Baba Jukwa, who hasn't revealed his identity, has published phone numbers of
politicians, police members, intelligence agents and army officers he says
are "murdering" civilians and encourages Zimbabweans to phone them.

Analysts have said the development is a new form of protest particularly in
a country where people are starved of independent reporting from the media,
with Reporters Without Borders ranking the southern African nation 133 out
of 170 nations in its World Press Freedom Index.

"We are not worried"

"This is a new form of protest in the information age," said Pedzisai
Ruhanya, director of the Zimbabwe Democratic Institute research group.
"Citizens will find ways of circumventing undemocratic space."

Often writing in colloquial Zimbabwean English, Baba Jukwa says he's a
senior member of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front
party.

Since starting on March 22, his page has gained about 137 000 followers,
more than those of both Mugabe and his long-time election rival, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

About 15.7% of Zimbabwe’s 14 million people have access to the internet, the
International Telecommunications Union said in January.

But Zanu-PF says it is not worried about Baba Jukwa.

"We are not worried at all about Baba Jukwa because he wants to cause
confusion and conflict within the party, but he won't get it," Zanu-PF
spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said.

Gumbo said Zanu-PF was focused on defeating Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change in the elections so the party could "spearhead our land
reform programme and intensify our indigenisation and empowerment".

- News24

Army punishes five year old boy for father’s links with MDC-T

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Nomalanga Moyo
SW Radio Africa
11 June 2013

In a case of punishing children for the sins of their parents, a
five-year-old boy has been expelled from pre-school because of his father’s
support for the MDC-T.

The little boy, Enos Choga, was until last Wednesday a pre-schooler at army
base school 1 Commando Barracks which, by law, should accept all children
including those from civilian families.

According to the father — Kubvoruno Choga — Enos had settled well, made
friends, and always looked forward to playing with his friends at the
pre-school.

But that all changed following a chance encounter between Choga and a
soldier who recognised him as an MDC-T activist. Choga is also the party’s
secretary for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe district, in the Midlands.

“Recently I was taking Enos to school and I met this guy who is also a
member of the Zimbabwe National Army. I know him from Mudzi where I used to
live and was heavily involved in MDC-T activities,” Choga said.

Choga says he suspects that this soldier must have reported to his
superiors, leading to the summons and the interrogation last week by army
official Murakasha.

“For more than an hour I was quizzed about my place of birth, my parents,
what I do in life. I sensed that something was not right because these are
not questions that a member of a school development committee would ask a
parent.

“I told them the truth. But no sooner had I left the school that I got
another call from the same army official telling me to return the next day,
with passport-sized photos,” Choga said.

Suspecting that the interrogations would not stop until he revealed his
political affiliation, Choga then admitted to the officer that he was a
member of the MDC-T.

Shortly after that conversation, Choga says a pre-school matron telephoned
to say Enos had been expelled and that fees would be refunded.

“It is clear that my son was expelled as punishment for being the child of
an MDC-T office-bearer. The army just demonstrated that it is aligned to
ZANU PF and that is why it is important that the security sector is
reformed. The current set up within the army or police favours ZANU PF. This
has to change,” Choga said.

Choga told SW Radio Africa that since the incident and his refusal to return
to the barracks with his pictures, he has had to flee from his lodgings.

“I felt my family was no longer safe. Having experienced first-hand the
violent and murderous acts the army carried out in 2008, I decided to move
to another place as my home address was already known to the pre-school
authorities,” Choga added.

Army officials however denied that young Enos had been expelled, when
confronted by the NewsDay newspaper, which broke the story.

Murakasha told the paper that he just spoke to Enos’s father, while army
spokesman Alphios Makotore claimed the expulsion story is a lie being
peddled by mischief makers.

Until young Enos is offered a place at another pre-school in his new home
area, the boy will remain at home.

“Although I have started hunting for a new place, it is going to be
difficult to find a facility that will offer Enos a place in the middle of
the term,” Choga said.

Sitting MPs face uphill battle to win primary elections

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
SW Radio Africa
11 June 2013

27 sitting MDC-T legislators face titanic battles this weekend to retain the
right to represent their party in the forthcoming elections.

The legislators failed the litmus test during the confirmation exercise when
voters in their constituencies rejected them. As a result, according to
MDC-T rules, anyone who fails to get confirmed proceeds to primary
elections.

Abenico Bhebhe, the deputy national organizing secretary of the party, told
SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that they’re all set for the primary elections
this Saturday and Sunday. This follows the successful completion of the
confirmation and primary election exercise embarked on by the party in all
its 12 political provinces.

Bhebhe also called on all legislators to accept the results of the primary
elections in a spirit of peace and concede defeat if they fail to win. He
said the best way the sitting MPs can set an example was by showing
‘commitment to upholding the best standards of the election by accepting the
results and also by urging their supporters to have a violence-free election
and to accept the outcome of the results.’

Bhebhe urged all activists taking part in the internal selection process to
maintain peace, no matter the outcome of the poll, adding that stability was
more important to the party than anything else.

‘A primary election is not a matter of life and death, an election will come
and go but most importantly we need to have the party intact after this
weekend.

‘Any sensible party cadre should feel no hate when people decide not to
retain them as candidates. They will still remain party cadres, they will
remain party representatives as history will always tell us they once
represented the MDC-T as MPs,’ said Bhebhe.

A political analyst said winners in the primary elections should be humble
in victory and moderate in their celebrations since any attempt to mock the
losers can spark unnecessary tension.

This happened after the 2008 primary elections where the losing candidates
ended up contesting as independents, a situation that cost the MDC-T dearly.
The move split the vote and enabled ZANU PF to win as many as 20 seats that
the MDC-T could have won easily without fielding parallel candidates.

Bhebhe ruled out the possibility of losing candidates running as
independents again, saying as far as he is aware people in the MDC-T family
will not abandon the party just because they’ve lost a primary election.

‘Losing an election does not mean the end of the world. Losing an election
does not mean you’ve been expelled from the party,’ explained Bhebhe.

Alexio Musundire, the party’s provincial chairman for Chitungwiza, said it
is too early to write off the MPs who lost in the confirmation exercise.
With a few days to the primaries, Musundire said the legislators are putting
in last minute efforts in their quest to win the hearts of the people to
vote them in as their parliamentary representatives.

He said there are those who will be resurrected this weekend and some who
will be doomed.

‘Election is not a do or die affair,’ he said adding: ‘We must note that in
every contest, no matter how keenly contested it is, there will definitely
be losers and winners and no matter how unfortunate the situation might be,
the outcome must be accepted by all,’ he said.

Musundire said losing should be a lesson ‘because it provides the losers the
opportunity to go back to the drawing board to re-strategise and at the
appropriate time, they can make a comeback and excel.’

Zim children facing increasing levels of malnutrition and stunting

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
SW Radio Africa
11 June 2013

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Zimbabwe’s children, a
third of whom have already been left stunted as a result of malnutrition,
are still at serious and increasing levels of risk.

In a report issued earlier this year on the state of food security in
Zimbabwe, the WFP highlights how malnutrition is an ongoing problem. The
report quotes figures released late last year by the Zimbabwe National
Security Agency and Inner City Fund International. According to the latest
Demographic and Health Survey of 2012, one in every three Zimbabwean
children is stunted as a result of malnutrition.

The WFP says the prevalence of stunting among Zimbabwe’s children, caused by
lack of proper nutrition, has continued to rise since 2009 and is ranked as
‘high’ to ‘very high’ (according to global standings). The WFP says Mutare
has the highest prevalence of stunting among children.

The WFP report ‘Responding to Humanitarian Needs and Strengthening
Resilience to Food Insecurity – Zimbabwe’ was presented in February and
looks ahead to the country’s food security situation in the coming year. The
global food agency said “the situation remains fragile,” and “Zimbabwe is
vulnerable to social, economic, political and climatic shocks.” The group
warns that this year, rural food insecurity will be even higher than it was
last year, blaming issues like drought for the crisis.

The report details how Zimbabwe has experienced hyperinflation, political
turbulence, extensive de-industrialization, large-scale emigration, a
significant decline in domestic food production and cuts in human and
financial resources for health, education, social services and agriculture.

The WFP makes no mention of the destructive land ‘reform’ policies
implemented by ZANU PF over the last decade, which collapsed the
agricultural sector and left Zimbabwe, once the bread basket of Africa,
reliant on food aid.

Charles Taffs, the President of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), agreed
with the WFP’s forecast that food insecurity levels are going to be even
higher this year than before. But he criticised the UN grouping for “missing
the point” by only blaming weather patterns for the food crisis.

“Of course we’re susceptible to drought, but we have to mitigate this. What
you see now is Zimbabwe no longer has the fundamentals in place to mitigate
this,” Taffs said.

He explained that Zimbabwe has suffered many severe drought conditions prior
to the implementation of the land grab campaign, and the country was still
able to feed itself.

“If you look at the last 20 years, the last 10 years have been even wetter
than the 10 before that, and yet food security statistics are far worse
 now,” Taffs said.

He added that critically, the situation cannot improve until property rights
are guaranteed in Zimbabwe, explaining how “there is no new investment
because there is no guarantee that your investment will be protected.” He
said until property rights security was guaranteed, food security will
continue to deteriorate.

In the meantime one third of the most vulnerable, the children, will be
stunted.

Stunted growth is a reduced growth rate in human development. It is a
primary manifestation of malnutrition in early childhood, including
malnutrition during fetal development brought on by the malnourished mother.
Once established, stunting and its effects typically become permanent.
Stunted children may never regain the height lost as a result of stunting,
and most children will never gain the corresponding body weight. It also
leads to premature death later in life because vital organs never fully
develop during childhood. Intellectual development is also impaired.

Zimbabwe Workers Struggle for Survival

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Gibbs Dube
11.06.2013

WASHINGTON DC — The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstats) says the
country has an unemployment rate of 10.7 percent, a figure which has been
dismissed as grossly misleading by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and
some economists.

Indications are that over 6,000 workers lost their jobs last year alone due
to company closures and retrenchments. This has now become the order of the
day in a nation where 8.2 million people are classified by Zimstats as poor.

A Zimstats survey conducted between 2011 and 2012 involving over 6 million
respondents showed that Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate was lower than the 90
percent which was usually touted by local labor unions.

According to the government agency, tasked with conducting important
national surveys, Zimbabwe has an unemployment rate of 10.7 percent. A
recent survey has come up with similar findings in a nation where 8.2
million Zimbabweans, mostly in rural areas, are believed to be poor.

Community leaders say the high poverty levels in cities and rural areas have
seriously affected many families who are struggling to make a decent living.

Bulawayo Mayor Patrick Thaba Moyo says more than 500,000 city dwellers are
now classified as poor.

He said: “The economy has not been doing well in the country and as Bulawayo
you know that 8% of our people are in the formal sector. We are proud that
as Bulawayo we have come in to try and provide space so that they can
informally trade.

“But companies are closing and as they close people are out of employment
and if they are out of employment they can’t have food, they can’t have
clothes, they can’t send children to school, they can’t have medical
attention … People have become poor.”

The city says it has 1,000 000 residents though Zimstats insists that there
are only 656,000 Bulawayo inhabitants.

Mr. Moyo says among the poor are some people who used to be bread winners
who lost their jobs after they were either retrenched or sent home when
companies shut down due to lack of money to revamp operations.

The Matabeleland Chamber of Industries and other stakeholders, believe that
over 90 firms shut down in the city between 2009 and 2012, leaving more than
23,000 people jobless. The mayor says this is a recipe for disaster.

His views are echoed by Councillor Peter Moyo of Harare City Council’s Ward
13, who adds that more than 1.8 million people who live in the city are
poor.

The councillor says the poor have resorted to many ways of eking out a
living including corrupt activities. He says almost 8 out of 10 working-age
residents are now in the informal sector.

The councillor further argues that those that have remained in the formal
sector are living far below the breadline. He says some are being paid as
low as $50 a month.

The situation is pathetic in most sectors of the economy, including the
clothing industry that has almost collapsed.

Kezlina Ndlovu, deputy secretary of the National Union of the Clothing
Industry, says their membership has been seriously affected by company
closures.

She says job losses have forced most people to live on less than a dollar
per day.

Her union used to have about 10,000 workers but now has less than 3,000
subscribers, a situation which has also forced union workers to struggle for
survival.

She says the situation has been worsened by the availability of cheap
Chinese goods being sold in most urban areas.

In some provinces like Matabeleland North with poverty gripping over 639,000
out of 780,000 inhabitants, the future looks bleak for local workers.

Critics say only elections can lead to the creation of a better
socio-economic and political environment for revamping industries and the
generation of jobs in the country.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists in Renewed Turmoil

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Ntungamili Nkomo
10.06.2013

WASHINGTON — The perennially-volatile Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ)
has been thrown into renewed turmoil with some members threatening
litigation if the union does not call its Congress by June 30.

Lawyers representing journalists Blessed Mhlanga, Moses Matenga, Frank
Chikowore, Pindai Dube and Nqobani Ndlovu have written to ZUJ accusing its
leadership of violating the union’s Constitution by failing to convene
Congress last month.

The journalists, through their lawyers from the Gonese Attorneys law firm,
described the move as “shameful and regrettable.”

"Such conduct demonstrates the highest level of hypocrisy in an esteemed
organization such as yourself, which laments constantly about the need to
adhere strictly to the rule of law," the journalists said.

"Your failure to adhere to your own Constitution is indeed unacceptable,
shameful and regrettable... [You] should ensure that Congress is held on or
before the 30th of June, 2013, failure to which we shall not hesitate to
take legal action."

The journalists argue that the union’s office bearers are acting illegally
since their mandate has not been renewed by Congress.

One of the reporters Blessed Mhlanga, a member of the union’s national
executive, told VOA that journalists should practice the accountability that
they demand of politicians.

"It is unfortunate that as journalists we have been calling on our
government, on our civil society to adhere to their constitution when we
fail deliberately or mischievously to adhere to our own constitution which
is clear, which is black and white," Mhlanga said.

But ZUJ secretary-general Foster Dongozi dismissed the litigation threats,
calling the journalists "renegades" who are being used by employers to
destabilize the union.

"They are renegades who are fronting for employers and other interest groups
that we cannot reveal now," Dongozi said. "It is not the first time, for
example, that efforts have been made to weaken the union."

Bickering in ZUJ is nothing new. Its successive administrations have been
dogged by nasty squabbles, including the most recent executive led by Mathew
Takaona.

Tourist arrivals increase 17 percent

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

10/06/2013 00:00:00
     by Roman Moyo

ZIMBABWE recorded 404,282 tourist arrivals during the first quarter of the
year, representing a 17 percent rise from the 346,299 recorded in 2012 a
report released by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) revealed.

While all source markets registered growth, arrivals from Europe and Asia
experienced significant increases due in part to the increased outbound
trend especially in China and the softening of the Eurozone crisis.
Africa contributed 86 percent of the arrivals followed by Europe (8
percent), Asia (3 percent) and Americas (3 percent).  The Oceania and Middle
East markets remain depressed with less than 2 percent of the arrivals into
the country.

Mainland Africa continues to dominate the visitor numbers with 346,428
arrivals in 2013 up from 308,646 in 2012.
Whilst Zimbabwe receives a lot of arrivals in the region after South Africa,
the report shows that they are mainly low spenders as the bulk of them are
from mainland Africa compared to a basket of high spenders from overseas who
are attracted by Islands such as Mauritius.

Overseas arrivals increased by 5 percent from 37,653 in 2012 to 57,854 in
2013. Overall, the trend is showing an upward increase in arrivals from this
zone since 2010.

“Despite the ongoing economic challenges especially in the western world
(Europe and North America), performance of the overseas market is quite
positive,” said the report.

South Africa continues to be the key source-market on mainland Africa with a
market share of 49 percent which is a 6 percentage point increase from 43
percent in 2012.

“Although South Africa registered a relative growth of 28 percent, it should
be noted that in absolute terms this is 37,294 which can be comparable to
total arrivals from Mozambique during the same period,” said ZTA.
The report said there was a general increase from markets within the SADC
region especially Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, and this was mostly
attributable to regional trade and commerce as South Africa contributes 58
percent of Zimbabwean imports while 13 percent of Zimbabwe's exports go to
the continent’s biggest economy alone.

“It is however, sad to note that the continued unrest in the Democratic
Republic of Congo has seen arrivals from the central African state falling
by 20 percent shedding over a thousand arrivals in the period under review,”
the report said.

In spite of the sluggish growth in the United States, arrivals from this
market increased by 4 percent during the period under review.  The US
continues to be the leading market followed by Canada. These two alone
command 93 percent of all North and South American arrivals into Zimbabwe.

China exhibited an impressive performance in the review period having
registered a 165 percent increase.
“This mirrors the general increase in Chinese outbound in the first quarter
(16%) although it should be noted that arrivals to Zimbabwe are a mere 0,02
percent of the 22,6 million Chinese outbound tourists in the first quarter
of 2013. The Chinese trend is expected to continue on the rise well beyond
2020,” said ZTA.

“It is worth noting that China overtook Japan in terms of market share
during the period under review.  This makes China the current largest Asian
market for Zimbabwe. The rise of China is especially commendable considering
that it is currently the world’s top tourism outbound and spending market,”
said ZTA.

The UK continues to dominate other European markets with arrivals almost
doubling from 24 percent in 2012 to 41 percent in 2013. The dominance of
this market continues to show strong ties between the British and Zimbabwe.

“This is a possible return of UK as the largest overseas market for Zimbabwe
as was traditionally known until 2005 when the United States took over.
France, China and South Korea are some of the rising markets in the review
period with France and China having gained rankings by 6 places apiece,”
said ZTA.

Although there have been changes in the top ten overseas markets, there has
not been any new entry or drop out among the markets.

Freed from horror house

http://www.timeslive.co.za

 

GRAEME HOSKEN | 11 June, 2013 00:36

A passage leads to a garage at a house south of Johannesburg in which 29 people from Zimbabwe and Mozambique were found. Ten suspects were arrested on kidnapping charges 
Image by: MOELETSI MABE

Police believe they have cracked a human trafficking syndicate responsible for the kidnapping of dozens of foreigners, including mothers and their toddlers.

This follows the dramatic rescue of 29 terrified foreigners in a late-night police raid on Saturday.

Ten alleged members of the syndicate - which operated out of a barricaded house in Orange Farm, 30 minutes south of Johannesburg - appeared in court yesterday.

The suspects, among them a Zimbabwean traditional healer, were arrested after a man alerted the police to the disappearance of his wife and 16-month-old child.

The kidnappers demanded that the father pay a large sum of money for their release.

In a late-night raid on Saturday, Organised Crime Unit detectives stormed the seven-bedroomed house, barricaded with wrought iron gates and burglar bars.

Inside, officers found 29 Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, all allegedly kidnapped at the Beit Bridge border crossing.

Among those rescued from one of three tiny padlocked rooms were the mother and her baby.

As police took the suspects to the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court yesterday, a picture of how the alleged traffickers operated emerged. Police suspect the house has been used for years to hold foreigners for ransom.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said: "They appear to have operated for some time ... they allegedly kidnapped foreigners from Beit Bridge border post."

Mavis Ndlovu, the daughter-in-law of prime suspect Metelias Sibanda, told The Times that people were regularly brought to the Sibanda home but were not held against their will.

Ndlovu, who is not a suspect, showed The Times seven young children watching TV.

"They are orphans. They are from Zimbabwe's Gweru ... my 'mother' saved them.

''I don't know what the police are talking about. Would I bring you into our home if we broke the law?"

Sibanda's granddaughter, Sandra Sibanda, who is not a suspect, said the people "rescued" by the police had been happy.

"They did not need to be rescued. When the police came, they were angry. They were happy here. They even had rooms to sleep in."

A dingy passage led to several tiny rooms. Sibanda pointed to padlocked bedrooms piled high with mattresses, littered with clothing and food.

Traditional medicines hung from a washing line in the lounge.

"These allegations are rubbish," Ndlovu said. "We are so worried about our 'mother'. All we want is for her [to come] home."

The police, however, believe that Metelias Sibanda is central to their investigation and a key part of the alleged syndicate's operations.

Mogale said the 10 suspects, who appeared in court on kidnapping charges, were remanded to June 27.

"At this stage we cannot rule out the possibility that they were involved in human trafficking."

She said the foreigners were discovered after the police traced the missing woman and her infant to the house.

"The suspects were allegedly demanding a ransom for the mother and child's release.

"Police rescued 16 women and 13 men, and confiscated two minibus taxis," she said.

The taxis, according to a detective, are thought to have been used to ferry the victims to the house.

"The drivers would allegedly offer the victims a lift to Johannesburg but instead take them to the house.

"The victims' families would be forced to pay a ransom for their loved ones' release.

"We know many more have been brought here over the past two years and fear for their safety."

A neighbour said every weekend the taxis would bring dozens of people to the house.

"They come late at night. You could hear people crying," she said.

Statement by David Coltart

ZIM PQ in UK House of Commons

Jonathan Moyo is singing for his supper

Dr Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 11th June 2013.

It boggles the mind to figure out Jonathan Moyo’s twisted logic in his daily
rantings in the state owned media which the other parties don’t have access
to.

In his latest mouthing, Moyo claims that MDC-T is in his words “desperately
trying to prolong voter registration beyond the 30 –day minimum
constitutional requirement after realising that it was failing to get its
supporters to register”  (The Herald, ‘Moyo alleges MDC-T in panic mode,
11/06/13).

While I don’t hold any brief for MDC-T, it is worthwhile to expose his
flawed reasoning. Contrary to Jonathan Moyo’s assertions, it is arguable
that it is him and his boss Robert Mugabe who should be panicking about the
Concourt imposed deadline, than the opposition to Zanu-pf.

Firstly, going by the rationale of a recent Supreme court application by
Maria Phiri of Bulawayo,  former aliens have to acquire identity cards first
and cannot immediately benefit from the 30-day voter registration exercise
which began on Monday 10th June ending on 10th July. As a result, she
argues, polls could only be held after 12th August 2013.

Secondly, Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) perceptively notes that to comply
with the Concourt ruling the President will have to alter provisions of the
Electoral Act specifically agreed between the main political parties and
which formed part of the 2007 amendments to the Act – that is, that voter
registration must end 24 hours before the nomination court sits (see The
Election Date Circus, ACT II, 10/06/13).

It is this provision, says Rau, which prevents the President from complying
with the 30 day registration period in the Constitution and the Concourt
order.

Furthermore, Rau points out that if there is to be compliance with the law,
it seems that the President will have to ask the Concourt for a
postponement, which he proved very good at during the by-election saga.

However, in RAU’s view, “the problem for the President is that if he is able
to ask for a postponement to another date, this will then make it clear that
the 31st July, 2013 is not carved in stone by the law, as Zanu-pf would like
the populace to believe.”

Thirdly, going by news reports from Harare, the former information minister
and serial flip-flopper Jonathan Moyo and other Zanu-pf “prodigal sons”risk
being barred from standing as candidates unless they had served in the party
as office bearers for a cumulative period of at least five years to the
primary elections.

It is common knowledge that if Zanu-pf adopts its guidelines on
Qualifications for candidates, Jonathan Moyo could kiss goodbye to his ‘Plan
B’ of standing as a candidate in Zanu-pf’s primary elections because he was
only re-admitted into the party at the end of 2009 after being expelled in
2005.

Tsvangirai should keep tightening pressure to thwart Mugabe’s bid to
stampede the country into a farcical election. He should not relent. If he
does, Mugabe will laugh the whole way to another sham swearing-in ceremony
as president.

Finally, it is safe to argue that the recent regrouping of the opposition
coalition against Mugabe’s dictatorship is causing Jonathan Moyo sleepless
nights on realising how he has failed to raise Zanu-pf from its ‘Lazarus
Moment’ as he races against time before being disqualified in primary
elections.

A grand opposition alliance does not necessarily mean all the parties are
swallowed by MDC-T. Not necessarily, although a greater convergence would
make things easier. The coalition needs not be in writing either, however it’s
regular visibility like we saw last week is enough to cause nightmares in
those who have thrived on political violence and vote rigging for decades.

Regardless of how the opposition parties would like to field candidates for
elections, at least their priority should be in calling for credible
electoral reforms, media reforms; security sector reforms; human rights
reforms; sufficient time for voter registration; sufficient time for voter
education especially on the electoral systems; finalisation on dual
citizenship; international observers and of course UN funding and
supervision of the elections.

It should be noted that Zanu-pf’s opposition to the United Nations has
nothing to do with sovereignty but because of a hard hitting UN Panel of
Experts report produced in 2002 accusing the party, military people and some
businessmen aligned with Robert Mugabe of looting DRC’s natural resources
including but not only diamonds. Even Mugabe confessed to having been given
a mining concession by Laurent Kabila. As a result, they were slapped with
sanctions.

Crucially, any opposition alliance cannot be divorced from the electoral
system, which promises to be a mixture of proportional representation and
first-past-the- post systems i.e. voting for a party list like we did in
1980 and voting for a particular candidate in constituencies. The electoral
process is inevitably fraught with serious challenges ahead and sharp
disagreements cannot be ruled out.

However, leaders of smaller parties should know that they stand a good
chance of getting government posts at home and abroad if a grand opposition
alliance wins elections than if they stand as smaller mushrooming units.

Ideally, Zimbabwean think tanks should be educating people about the
envisaged electoral systems and the pros and cons as well as the modalities
of a grand opposition alliance. It is a civic duty.

Otherwise, Jonathan Moyo is just singing for his supper.

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

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Institute of International Education - Scholar rescue fund

Fellowship Announcement: Applications due July 5, 2013 Apply Now

The Institute of International Education's (IIE) Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) is pleased to announce a call for applications from scholars facing threats to their lives or academic work. Fellowships support temporary academic positions at colleges, universities and other research institutions outside their home countries anywhere in the world.     Since IIE-SRF's founding in 2002, the program has provided academic fellowships to over 500 scholars from 50 countries, placing them at nearly 300 host partner institutions in 40 countries.         Who can apply: Professors, researchers and public intellectuals from any country, field or discipline may apply. Please refer eligible candidates and forward this announcement to any academic colleagues who may be interested.  Qualifying applicants are currently facing or have recently fled from direct and immediate threats. Preference is given to scholars with a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in their field and who have extensive teaching or research experience at a university, college or other institution of higher learning. We strongly encourage applications from female scholars and under-represented groups. Students or professionals seeking funding to pursue academic studies or training are not eligible.    Information on eligibility and criteria can be found here.    To apply:    Please download the application materials from: www.scholarrescuefund.org/pages/for-scholars.php (outreach messages are available in Arabic, French, Persian and Spanish)        To nominate a threatened scholar:    IIE-SRF accepts referrals and applications from third-party nominators who know of a threatened scholar's need for assistance. Please contact SRF@iie.org for details. To host a IIE-SRF scholar: Please visit: www.scholarrescuefund.org/pages/for-hosts.php       A list of scholars who are seeking hosts for their IIE-SRF fellowships can be found here. Please contact SRF@iie.org for more details.   How IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund works:   IIE-SRF fellowships support visiting academic positions for up to one calendar year. Awards are issued for up to US $25,000, plus individual health insurance coverage and professional development assistance.   Fellowships are disbursed through dedicated host academic institutions, which provide direct support and a safe haven for IIE-SRF fellows. In most cases, hosts are asked to match the IIE-SRF fellowship award by providing salary/stipend support and other in-kind assistance that would make the scholar's appointment similar to any visiting position.  For a September decision, please submit application materials by July 5, 2013. Please note that applications are accepted at any time and can be considered on an emergency basis.

About the Institute of International Education   The Institute of International Education, a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements over 250 programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources. These programs include the Fulbright Student and Scholar programs, the Gilman International Scholarship Program, and the Humphrey Fellowships, administered for the U.S. Department of State, as well as corporate and foundation training and scholarship programs. IIE also conducts policy research, provides advice and counseling on international educational opportunities abroad, and provides emergency support to students and scholars in danger. The Institute of International Education has a network of 17 international offices around the world and more than 1,000 college and university members. More than 60 Fulbright alumni, IIE alumni, IIE trustees and advisers have received Nobel Prizes.

About IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund   IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund provides fellowships for established scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. These fellowships permit professors, researchers and public intellectuals to find temporary refuge at universities, colleges and research centers anywhere in the world, enabling them to pursue their academic work in safety and to continue to share their knowledge with students, colleagues and the community. In just over 10 years, IIE-SRF has provided fellowships to over 500 remarkable scholars from 50 countries, including leading an effort of historic proportion to save the intellectual capital of Iraq. The Iraq Scholar Rescue Project has saved the lives and work of more than 250 of Iraq's most senior and threatened academics in a wide range of academic disciplines through temporary academic positions at universities, colleges and other institutions of higher learning in the Middle East and North African regions.

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