Zimbabwe PM's party: No more cash for the army

Jun 13, 10:54 AM EDT

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- The Zimbabwe prime minister's party said Wednesday
it can't pay the military until revenues from the nation's eastern diamond
fields, largely sealed off by troops, reach state coffers.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party said the finance ministry it
controls in the coalition government isn't receiving money promised from
diamond sales.

The national treasury "is yet to receive a cent" from the biggest mining
company that is staffed by former military and security officials, the
Movement for Democratic Change said.

The defense ministry has said it needs cash for soldiers who are going
hungry and to fund a recruitment drive for an additional 5,000 men. Defense
officials loyal to President Robert Mugabe have threatened violence, the MDC
said. Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed to send army generals to the
finance ministry to force Minister Tendai Biti to meet the military's
demands, it said.

Top military commanders have repeatedly refused to salute Tsvangirai. In the
latest statement of defiance, a third general last month repeated that the
military would not allow politicians who did not fight in the bush war that
led to independence in 1980 to take over the reins of power even if they win
elections proposed early next year.

Human rights groups accuse the military and police of being at the forefront
of political violence and intimidation surrounding disputed elections in
2008 that led to the formation of the troubled power-sharing coalition.

Biti has said he had been promised $600 million this year in diamond
revenues but received only about $30 million between January and March.

Last month, he criticized what he called the militarization of diamond
mining and said the company Anjin, jointly owned by the state minerals
enterprise and China, remitted none of the $75 million in diamonds it was
estimated to have sold in the early part of this year.

Anjin is mostly staffed by `'security personnel of all ranks" transferred to
its payroll to run its operations, Biti's party said Wednesday.

Diamond mining in eastern Zimbabwe has been the subject of allegations of
human rights abuses by the military and police and illegal money laundering
by Mugabe loyalists.

Biti's party said it feared diamond receipts were being used to prop up
state institutions controlled by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. Biti had promised
to increase public service salaries with diamond revenue but `'threats will
not produce the money as there is no such money in the treasury," Biti's
party said.

Zimbabwe defence minister in threat to Finance chief

http://www.nation.co.ke/

By KITSEPILE NYATHI NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted  Wednesday, June 13  2012 at  18:42

HARARE, Wednesday

Zimbabwean army generals have threatened unspecified action against Finance
Minister Tendai Biti for refusing to release funds for the recruitment of an
additional 5,000 soldiers.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on
Wednesday said Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa told Mr Biti he would let
the generals loose on him if Treasury does not release $2.5 million for the
recruitment exercise and other operational expenses.

But the MDC said the recruitment of additional soldiers was not necessary as
the government was struggling to pay those already in service.

Mr Mnangagwa is a member of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF while Mr Biti
is the MDC secretary general.

“The statement by the Defence minister is in bad taste as it comes barely
two weeks after the murder (by Zanu PF supporters) of Cephas Magura, MDC the
MDC Mudzi North chairman,” the party said in a statement.

“The country has already started recording an increase in cases of
politically-motivated violence and we must rely on the likes of (Mr)
Mnangagwa, as a senior government official to denounce unruly behaviour.

“The Defence minister must know that there are other means of solving
challenges other than by threats and intimidation.” Four years ago, the
inclusive government froze the recruitment of civil servants citing a severe
cash squeeze.
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The government has also failed to review salaries of its workers who earn an
average of $300 a month for over a year.

“For (Mr) Mnangagwa to demand $2.5 million for the employment of 5 000 more
soldiers at a time the majority of those who are already in service are
getting less than the poverty datum line is irresponsible,” the MDC said.

“(Mr) Mnangagwa should know better where money from Anjin is going as the
mining giant is staffed by former security personnel at all ranks.

“There are even fears that proceeds from Anjin’s activities in Chiadzwa are
being used to finance a parallel government in the country.”

Last month, Mr Biti said Anjin, a Chinese diamond company, had not remitted
revenue from its Chiadzwa mine this year, derailing the country’s $4 billion
for 2012.

Mr Mnangagwa reportedly said the situation at the barracks was desperate
with soldiers running out of food.

The Zimbabwean army recently announced that it was scrapping minimum
educational qualifications for aspiring soldiers, prompting accusations that
it was recruiting a militia to campaign from President Mugabe ahead of
elections he wants held this year.

Mugabe exposed for mortgaging Zimbabwe’s diamonds for a defence college‏

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=55438

Published: June 12, 2012

Dear Editor

Revelations by the executive chairperson of the State Procurement Board,
Charles Kawaza, that the office of Zimbabwe’s President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Robert Gabriel
Matibiri Mugabe, directed the awarding of the job to construct the Zimbabwe
Defence College in Mazoe should be a huge egg on Comrade Mugabe’s face,
which is obviously the reason why Zimbabweans are suffering in a country
that is rich with diamonds. He must accept he has messed up, that he is no
longer unable to make rational decisions, and let persons who still have all
their faculties properly functioning lead the country.

Juniors emulate what their seniors do, and that explains the rampant
corruption that has rocked Zimbabwe. How can a whole President of a country
and a Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces give away all the country’s
wealth from diamonds in return of a Defence College, when the soldiers who
are supposed to attend that same college are starving? When the soldiers
start feeling the pinch, shameless Zanu PF officials start blaming Minister
of Finance Tendai Biti for not providing adequate funds to the army in the
budget. When civil servants cannot get a pay rise because the bulk of the
proceeds from diamonds have been mortgaged by the country’s President, Zanu
PF officials want to blame it all on Tendai Biti.

I am sure Zimbabweans are now aware who their enemy is, and come elections,
they will make the right decision once they get into the ballot box.

Maybe it wasn’t in Mugabe’s interest to mortgage the country to the Chinese
that way, but as we know, Mugabe is old and tired, and has allowed some of
the senior officials around him to make decisions on his behalf. These in
turn will not give the aged President full details about the implications of
those decisions for their personal interests, while disadvantaging
Zimbabweans of all walks of life in the process.

I would like to thank Comrade Paddington Zhanda for asking the tough
questions that help bring up the truth of the plunder that is going on. And
how does Comrade Kasukuwere explain his fraudulent indigenization policy,
where the Chinese are importing all material, even that which can be sourced
locally, denying the Zimbabwean indigenous businesses the opportunity to do
business.

On the contrary, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai goes to China, and tells
the Chinese, invite Chinese businesses to invest in Zimbabwe, but tells them
in their own back yard that any investment made should be based on a win-win
situation. Well done Prime Minister, that is the way to do it.

Zimbabwe certainly needs a big break from its corrupt past, and I encourage
all voting Zimbabweans, including the soldiers who have been reduced to
being beggars in a country they defend so hard, the civil servants who are
denied of a salary increase because the country’s resources have been
mortgaged to the Chinese by the country’s persons, and all those who wish
for peace, to vote wisely. We have suffered enough, and it is time to change
our fortunes.

Benjamin Chitate
New Zealand

Army recruitment irresponsible: MDC-T

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By Staff Reporter 12 hours 57 minutes ago

HARARE - The party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai the MDC-T has
described as irresponsible Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s demands for
US$2.5 million from Treasury to fund the recruitment of 5000 additional
soldiers at a time the government is struggling to pay those already in
service.

Mnangagwa told Biti he had been restraining army generals who had threatened
to confront the Finance Minister at his Harare offices over inadequate
funding. He said he would let the generals loose if Biti refused to release
money for the recruitment exercise and other operational expenses.

But in a statement Tuesday, Biti’s MDC-T party said: “The statement by the
Defence minister is in bad taste as it comes barely two weeks after the
murder of Cephas Magura, the MDC-T Mudzi North chairman.

“The country has already started recording an increase in cases of
politically-motivated violence and we must rely on the likes of Mnangagwa,
as senior a government official to denounce unruly behaviour.

“The Defence minister must know that there are other means of solving
challenges other than by threats and intimidation.”

The party said there was no justification for the mooted army recruitment
exercise at a time the government was struggling to pay soldiers already in
services and other civil servants.

“For Mnangagwa to demand $2,5 million for the employment of 5000 more
soldiers at a time the majority of those who are already in service are
getting less than the poverty datum line is irresponsible,” the MDC-T said.

“Mnangagwa should know better where money from Anjin is going as the mining
giant is staffed by former security personnel of all ranks. There are even
fears that proceeds from Anjin’s activities in Chiadzwa are being used to
finance a parallel government in the country.

The Defence Minister is reported to have demanded additional resources from
Treasury, telling Biti that the situation in the barracks was increasingly
desperate with soldiers running out of food.

He warned that there was a risk of mutiny by soldiers and accused Biti of
"compromising State security".

But Biti insisted that Treasury had no money because revenues promised from
diamond sales had not been forthcoming.

Mugabe calls special cabinet session

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

13/06/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has called a special cabinet meeting for Thursday to
deal with the economy.

Cabinet sits every Tuesday, but ministers have requested a special session
to discuss a document which Finance Minister Tendai Biti tried to table on
Tuesday.

Thursday’s session will begin with Biti presenting the report on the state
of the economy, according to Misheck Sibanda, the chief secretary to the
President and Cabinet.

Biti warned last month that Zimbabwe was likely to miss this year’s economic
growth targets owing to revenue shortfalls and rising domestic debt.
The minister said: "We are facing a number of downward risks, which are
threatening our macro-economic projections.

"The key reason is simply that we have not been able to meet our revenue
targets and the key cause is non-performance of our diamond revenue.”
Biti had projected that the economy would this year expand 9,4 percent,
driven largely by mining, agriculture and tourism.

In the first quarter to March, the government collected US$771,1 million
against a target of US$869,7 million.

Revenue collected from diamonds was US$30,4 million against a target of
US$122,5 million.

Biti said the government had become "a major destabiliser" of the economy,
as domestic debt had ballooned to US$300 million.

Cabinet is also expected to tackle the shortage of change – a major problem
since Zimbabwe decided in 2009 to use foreign currencies in place of the
valueless local currency.

Ministers will also discuss instability in the banking sector and the
indigenisation programme as it relates to efforts to sustain the nascent
economic recovery.

Police use MDC activists as bait to hunt down Mutare senator

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
13 June 2012

Police in Mutare are using innocent MDC activists as bait, in a sting
operation targeting the party’s senator for the city, Keresensia Chabuka.

The 61 year-old senator is wanted by the police, who accuse her and other
MDC officials of assaulting the acting Mayor of Mutare, George Jeryson.
Jeryson was elected a councillor on an MDC-T ticket, but is now suspected of
working closely with ZANU PF Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo.

Senator Chabuka told SW Radio Africa’s Hidden Story program that she is
ashamed and left with no words to describe the police action in arresting 10
party activists, just as bait to get to her.

‘They told the activists they will only be released if I present myself to
the police. In a nutshell, those people are innocent and have only been
arrested so that I can avail myself to the police as quickly as possible.

‘That is exactly what I’m going to do this evening (Wednesday). As soon as I’m
done with Parliamentary business in Harare, I will drive straight to prison
in Mutare where I will join vana vangu (my children).

The senator told us it is preposterous to even suggest that at 61 years-old
she could be involved in some form of violence, let alone against officials
from the same party.

‘I just don’t know what Jeryson is getting at. The story is he came drunk
with other two councillors at the party headquarters in Mutare and tried to
disrupt a meeting that was discussing problems triggered by their actions to
work closely with ZANU PF.

‘They were visibly drunk and our provincial chairman (Julius Magarangoma)
advised people to disperse to avoid unnecessary chaos. This was just after
5pm last week Friday. People dispersed and around 9pm I got a call from
Magarangoma to say there had been a complaint lodged by Jeryson alleging
that he and two other councillors were assaulted at a party meeting,’
Chabuka said.

The senator continued: ‘The acting Mayor was never part of that meeting. He
actually bulldozed his way into the meeting, and I do not recall anyone
touching or going near him. These are people meant to be MDC but working as
ZANU PF agents. The truth shall come out.’

MDC-T provincial spokesman Pishai Muchauraya confirmed the senator’s story
and said the party leadership was briefed on the developments in Mutare.
Muchauraya said part of the group that is causing upheaval in the party is
the same that clandestinely met Chombo at his Mutare hotel in February this
year. That meeting irked the provincial leadership who still want the
councilors ‘dealt with sternly.’

NCA Congress Deferred As Funds Run Dry

http://www.radiovop.com/

Harare, June 13, 2012 – The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has
indefinitely deferred the holding of its congress until after the
constitutional referendum amid reports that the organisation is facing a
crisis of funding.

Although the NCA spokesman, Maddock Chivasa, said the delaying of the
congress was to allow ample time for Professor Lovemore Madhuku to lead the
No Vote Campaign, sources said on Tuesday the organisation was asking for
members to bail it out after a donors' snub.

NCA spokesperson Maddock Chivasa said:“It was unanimously resolved that the
NCA congress be held after the referendum and national elections so as to
allow the current leadership to continue leading the NO Vote campaign.
Therefore any talk of leadership renewal has been shelved for the time being
to allow the smooth running of the Take Charge campaign.”

The NCA congress, which was due this year, would have paved way for new
leaders to take over the running of the constitutional reform pressure
group.

The NCA is also demanding that the draft be out for a referendum to take
place “so that the people of Zimbabwe be given a democratic right to decide
what they want”.

“As the NCA we are now calling upon our structures to intensify the NO Vote
campaign in rejecting the politicians driven constitution. We would then
demand that an independent commission be established to start a fresh
process to lead the constitution making process,” said Chivasa.

The NCA also demanded that elections be conducted only after the writing of
a new democratic people driven constitution that will lead to a free and
fair elections.

"The NCA calls upon its membership to voluntarily assist in funding the
programmes and activities of the organisation to move away from too much
reliance  on donor funds, to ensure that the NCA continues to be afloat and
remains truly independent in its operations bearing in mind the ‘strings
attachments’ mainly associated with donor money," the NCA said.

The NCA said it is disturbed by the manner in which parliament handled the
constitution writing process blowing close to $45million and yet they were
failing to produce a consolidated draft. The lobby group demanded that a
referendum must be held for people to choose whether to accept or reject the
draft constitution.

The NCA called upon its membership and structures to "intensify the NO Vote
campaign in rejecting the politician driven constitution."

The group also rejected calls to have an election without any meaningful
reforms in our media, electoral and security sector and without a new
democratic people driven constitution and that  elections be conducted only
after a the writing of a new democratic people driven  constitution that
will lead to a free and fair elections.

Ncube legitimate MDC leader: court

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

13/06/2012 00:00:00
    by Herald

PROFESSOR Welshman Ncube is the legitimate leader of the MDC party, the High
Court ruled on Tuesday.

Justice Bharat Patel also ruled that the congress held by the party in
January 2011 was above board.

The judge also validated the party’s election, which gave Prof Ncube the
mandate to lead the party as its president.

The ruling follows an application by Jobert Mudzumwe, Morgan Changamire and
other MDC members aligned to the Prof Arthur Mutambara faction seeking to
nullify the congress and the election of the party’s national executive.

The group, which was represented by Obey Shava of Mbidzo Muchadehama and
Makoni, had argued that the congress was conducted in violation of the party
constitution.

It was argued that the organisers of the congress failed to send notices to
all provinces and districts as required by the party constitution.

The group also argued that the election process was flawed in the sense that
the party national organising secretary chaired the election instead of the
party national chairman.
They also contested the election nomination process. However, Justice Patel
threw out the application for lack of merit.

The judge ruled that the fact that the national organising secretary chaired
the meeting was justified considering that the party chairman had
deliberately absented himself.
Abandoning the congress because of the chairman’s deliberate absence would
amount to promoting monopoly in party leadership.

“It follows that the resolution authorising the national organising
secretary to perform the functions of the national chairperson at the
congress, including the conduct of elections under Article 6.13.3, was
perfectly competent under the aegis of Article 15.1.

“In the instant case, having deliberately absented himself from the
congress, the first applicant (Mudzumwe) cannot rely on his absence to argue
that all the proceedings at the congress were a nullity because he was not
present.

“To allow him to do so would enable him to benefit from his own deliberate
abstention to the extreme prejudice of the entire MDC party membership. It
would allow party leaders to circumvent and frustrate the electoral process
and remain in office indefinitely through the simple stratagem of
non-attendance,” he ruled.

Justice Patel shot down the challenge on proper notification of provinces
and districts.

He ruled that the party members complied with the constitutional
requirement.

“Over 4,000 delegates representing all the provinces and districts actually
attended the congress.

“Those who did not attend, including the applicants, deliberately chose to
boycott. In any event, virtually all the applicants were members of the
national council and were present at the meeting where the dates of the
congress were fixed.
“It follows in my view that the provision was not violated in any way and
was duly complied with,” Justice Patel ruled.

The election process, the judge ruled, was above board and in line with the
party constitution.

“In short, what transpired at the congress in casu was an electoral process.
I am therefore inclined to conclude that the proceedings under
consideration, notwithstanding the absence of any opposition to the
candidates nominated, constituted elections in the formal sense, requiring
the active involvement of a designated official to preside over the conduct
of those elections,” the court ruled.
Changamire said the group intended to appeal against the judgment.

“We are not happy with the judgment. The judgment left out a lot of issues.
We are taking it up to the Supreme Court. We will soon file an appeal,” he
said.

In December last year, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha
granted an application by Ncube to interdict Mutambara from acting as both
party president and principal to the Global Political Agreement.
Justice Kamocha ruled that on the basis of the final order sought, Mutambara
was no longer MDC president.

He said the party was justified in launching the application restraining
Mutambara from persisting with his behaviour.

The judge added that the outcome of the party congress remained valid until
and unless it was set aside by a court of law.

However, the matter is still pending in the Supreme Court after Mutambara
appealed against the ruling.

Mutambara still deputy premier, fights ruling

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

13/06/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

THE Attorney General has insisted that Professor Arthur Mutambara remains
Deputy Prime Minister despite a High Court ruling that he was not the
legitimate leader of the MDC party.

High Court judge Justice Bharat Patel on Tuesday dismissed an application by
a group of Mutambara loyalists who had challenged his replacement as MDC
leader by Industry and Commerce Minister, Welshman Ncube, at the party’s
2011 congress.

The group, led by Jobert Mudzumwe, Morgan Changamire and other MDC members
wanted the court to nullify the leadership changes claiming the congress was
conducted in violation of the party’s constitution.
But Justice Patel ruled that the elections were legitimate and that the
congress was also above board.

Attorney General, Johannes Tomana, also told state radio that the High Court
decision did not affect Mutambara’s position as Deputy Prime Minister.

Tomana said Mutambara was appointed by President Robert Mugabe in terms of
Amendment no.19 of the country’s constitution and not the constitution of
his party. He said Mutambara could not be recalled from government without
the consent Mugabe.
Mudzumwe’s group on Wednesday challenged Justice Patel’s ruling in the
Supreme Court.

Summing up his judgement, Patel ruled: “what transpired at the congress in
casu was an electoral process.

“I am therefore inclined to conclude that the proceedings under
consideration, notwithstanding the absence of any opposition to the
candidates nominated, constituted elections in the formal sense, requiring
the active involvement of a designated official to preside over the conduct
of those elections.”
But the group claimed the judge had misdirected himself.

“The learned judge misdirected himself, such misdirection amounting to a
misdirection of law in his interpretation of the (MDC) constitution. The
judge in holding that (Ncube) had complied with mandatory provision of the
constitution,” they argued in their appeal.

“It is also submitted that the court erred in holding that the provisions of
the constitution had not been violated. The court a quo erred and
misdirected itself in holding that proper elections were held.

“(And) in any event the elections were presided over by a person who was not
constitutionally authorised to do so thus making the outcome null and void.
The Appellants pray that the order of the court dismissing application be
set aside.”

Tsvangirai 1, Mugabe 0

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gift Phiri, Chief Writer
Wednesday, 13 June 2012 11:50

HARARE - A High Court judge has handed down a landmark ruling allowing Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to sue President Robert Mugabe for contemptuously
re-appointing provincial governors without consulting him.

Tsvangirai through top Harare lawyer Selby Hwacha approached the High Court
on November 24, 2010 seeking to reverse the unilateral re-appointment of 10
Zanu PF provincial governors by the veteran leader.

The MDC leader argued that the re-appointment of governors announced to him
in November 2010 by Mugabe was unconstitutional.

“The first respondent is aware of his constitutional obligations,”
Tsvangirai said in his court application.

“He is aware and that he cannot appoint provincial governors without my
agreement. With respect, it is my expectation that the first respondent will
readily admit and concede that the important issue and key appointment of
provincial governors has been discussed between us and through our
respective negotiating teams precisely for the reason that he cannot
lawfully make the appointments alone."

“The matter has been on the agenda in various Sadc facilitated meetings held
in January 2009, November 2009 and as recently as August 2010,” reads
Tsvangirai’s application. Tsvangirai asked the High Court to ensure that
“the rule of law in Zimbabwe is upheld at all levels”.

But Mugabe’s lawyer Terence Hussein had said in court papers Tsvangirai had
been “rash and ill advised” and could not sue the president citing Rule 18
of the High Court which says: “No summons or other civil process of the
court may be issued out against the president or against any of the judges
of the High Court without the leave of the court granted on court
application being made for that purpose.”

In an answering affidavit lodged by Hwacha, instructed by Advocate Thabani
Mpofu, the premier asserted Rule 18 does not apply in Constitutional matters
and therefore the president can be sued in this instance.

“I am advised and respectfully believe that the context of Rule 18 of the
administrative rules of this Honourable Court is inapplicable in the
circumstances of this case generally and in constitutional cases in
particular," Tsvangirai's lawyer says in court papers.

“It appears to me, that Rule 18 came about during the pre and post-colonial
era of a ceremonial, non-executive head of State such as the Queen of
England, governors of southern Rhodesia, Presidents of Rhodesia and the
first President of independent Zimbabwe,” Tsvangirai's papers said.

“This is no longer the position in Zimbabwe’s constitutional democracy. Rule
18 was not designed to and cannot be used to defeat or delay superior rights
and obligations enshrined in the constitution especially where the issues
are of importance as the case here.”

High Court judge George Chiweshe in a ruling on Monday, concurred with
Hwacha’s arguments, saying the president can be sued in this instance.

"Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it
is ordered that the point in limine raised by the respondents (Mugabe and 10
governors) be and is hereby dismissed," Chiweshe's states in his ruling.

"The respondents be and are hereby granted leave to file and serve their
opposing papers within 10 days from the date of this order. Thereafter the
parties shall proceed in terms of the Rules of Court."

Chiweshe said the matter will be heard on the merits on July 10.

The judge said his reasons shall be contained in his main judgment.

Zimbabwe bank closures shake fragile sector

http://www.businessday.co.za

The closure of Zimbabwe’s Interfin Banking Corporation and Genesis
Investment Bank due to chronic liquidity problems has shaken the country’s
fragile banking sector
DUMISANI MULEYA
Published: 2012/06/13 06:35:42 AM

THE closure of Zimbabwe’s Interfin Banking Corporation and Genesis
Investment Bank due to chronic liquidity problems has shaken the country’s
fragile banking sector, fuelling fears of contagion and systemic risks.

After failing to save the banks from collapse, the Reserve Bank closed
Interfin — which had a negative core capital of $93m — and Genesis bank on
Monday. The latest crisis could further shake the $3bn sector and undermine
economic recovery efforts. The situation is made worse by the controversial
indigenisation policy which demands that foreign-owned companies, including
banks, surrender 51% of their shareholding to locals.

After initially targeting the mining sector, the campaign, spearheaded by
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party and his Indigenisation and
Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, has shifted to foreign-owned banks.

Mr Kasukuwere has clashed with Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono, who has
warned against destabilising the banking sector and threatening the economic
recovery. Zimbabwe has 26 banking houses, and Mr Kasukuwere has demanded
they each reapply for new licences.

Mr Gono will brief the central bank board and Finance Minister Tendai Biti
today on the closures.

The closure of Interfin and Genesis followed the shutting down of
ReNaissance Merchant Bank last year, whose collapse was blamed on a lack of
liquidity, poor corporate governance, looting and brazen theft by its
executives, reports said.

Genesis was closed following its failure to meet the $12,5m minimum capital
requirement, despite talks with more than 20 potential inventors over the
past three years. The bank, which had a negative core capital of $3,2m, is
now in liquidation.

Interfin, meanwhile, was closed and placed under the management of prominent
curator Peter Bailey for six months. The bank’s closure was a result of low
capitalisation, concentrated shareholding and abuse of corporate structures,
high levels of non-performing insider-and related-party exposure, a chronic
liquidity position and income generation challenges. It was also beset by
incompetence and violation of banking laws.

The collapse of the two banks has raised the spectre of bankruptcies, which
last hit Zimbabwe’s banking system in 2004 and destabilised an economy
already in a meltdown and engulfed by hyperinflation amid a political
crisis.

Local banking experts and the International Monetary Fund have warned since
2009 that unless urgent measures were taken to recapitalise, merge or close
struggling banks there would be bankruptcies across the sector.

Zimbabwe’s 26 banking institutions include 17 commercial banks, four
merchant banks, four building societies and one savings bank. Of these, only
foreign-owned banks, British-owned Barclays and Standard Chartered Bank,
Standard Bank ’s subsidiary Stanbic, Nedbank ’s MBCA, Togo-based Ecobank,
and CABS, a subsidiary of Old Mutual , are strong, with a combined deposit
base of more than $1bn.

Local banks are struggling due to poor economic performance, tight liquidity
conditions, limited lines of credit and low savings.

Though locals hold a majority stake in CBZ Bank, Zimbabwe’s biggest bank by
balance sheet size, it is partly owned by Absa .

Trial of 29 MDC-T activists continues with 5th witness

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
13 June 2012

The trial of 29 MDC-T activists facing charges of killing a policeman
continued on Wednesday, with a 5th state witness giving testimony and
“saying nothing meaningful” about the case, defence lawyers have told SW
Radio Africa.

On Tuesday the trial was postponed after Justice Chinembiri Bhunu claimed he
had to attend a relative’s funeral. This extended the misery of the
activists who have been locked up in remand prison for over a year without
trial.

On Wednesday the judge showed up and the trial which began this month
eventually continued. One of the defence lawyers Alec Muchadehama said:

“Today we managed to finish the cross examination of the witness who was
there on the witness stand a day before yesterday. And the state called
another witness who is a police officer. But basically the witness said he
does not know who killed the deceased person and did not see anyone among
those that are in the dock.”

Muchedahama said they were wondering why, “the prosecutors decided to call
these witnesses. They are calling witnesses who are saying nothing while
opposing bail. The idea is to punish them before they eventually get
justice. The Attorney General and police are out to settle political
 scores.”

The lawyer said each of the 29 accused had perfect alibis corroborating
where they were on the day of the alleged crime, but the police have not
bothered to go through most of the alibis. Where they have done so it has
turned out that “the accused were far away from the scene,” Muchadehama told
SW Radio Africa.

MDC-T Youth Assembly Chairman Solomon Madzore and 28 fellow activists are
facing what his party believe are ‘trumped up’ charges of killing Inspector
Petros Mutedza. The group has had countless applications for bail turned
down and this month marked the first time the case went to trial since the
arrests in May last year.

The case has drawn comparisons to a recent one in Shamva, where seven
policemen accused of murdering a mine worker were granted $50 bail after one
month in detention. The MDC-T has also accused the police of arresting
victims of ZANU PF violence who report the incidents to the police.

Senior officials in the army and the police have publicly declared their
loyalty to ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe and to many the Glen View case
highlights what commentators have referred to as ‘persecution by prosecution’.
In addition to demobilising MDC-T structures the party also has to find
large amounts of money to fight the case.

Charamba puts pressure on Talk Radio

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gift Phiri, Chief Writer
Wednesday, 13 June 2012 13:46

HARARE - A new radio station, Talk Radio has been pressured by the President’s
spokesperson to defend national “interest issues” at all costs.

The directive is aimed at putting pressure on the radio station to take a
more positive approach to President Robert Mugabe.

Sources at the Zimpapers-run Talk Radio — one of the two radio stations
controversially licensed recently by the Broadcasting Authority of
Zimbabwe — accused officials in government of subjecting them to political
pressure by outlining what their editorial policy should be.

The directives at Talk Radio, run by radio legends Admire Taderera and
Tichafa Matambanadzo, have raised fears the station could be a replica of
ZBC which is in the habit of airing old speeches by war heroes about
colonialism, white racism, Zimbabwean nationalism and the land.

The station has currently been doing a trial run by beaming pre-recorded
music and promos on its 89.7 FM band.

Last week, presidential spokesperson George Charamba toured the radio
station together with Zimpapers chairman Paul Chimedza.

The tour by Mugabe’s spokesperson raised fears of a state campaign to make
the radio station pliable as Mugabe, facing the biggest opposition since he
came to power in 1980, prepares for a crucial vote to return him to
Munhumutapa offices for another five-year term as president.

Charamba ordered the radio station to emphasise that Zimbabwe would never be
a colony again.

“You align your editorial policy to what is termed national interest and of
course that begs the question, what is it that is termed national interest?”
Charamba asked.

“The answer is simple. For one, we are Zimbabweans. That’s a key element or
ingredient that defines national interest that we became free from a
national war of liberation which concluded in 1979 leading to the granting
of our independence in 1980 which means the founding processes of this
country, namely the war of liberation is sacrosanct, it is sacred and
whoever participated in it must be given that regard.

“But what is more, the objective of that struggle must remain regnant in our
country for all time, for all our people, for all generations that is the
second item.

“ The third item is that we have no intention of ever being subjugated
again, we have no intention, vessels of any power, however big, whatever
complexion, we intend to remain sovereign for all times.”

Charamba’s speech betrays the state’s goal to increase control over the
latest broadcast outlet.

“I believe the leadership wants to establish control here,”said our source.

Zimbabwe’s radio and TV stations are all under direct state ownership and
have shown overt bias and play megaphone to Zanu PF.

There is increasing fear Talk Radio station will replicate the state media
which broadcasts a constant stream of news bulletins, commentaries, talk
shows and jingles that shower praise on the 88-year-old president and pour
scorn and insults on the British government, the MDC and all other critical
groups in the country.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has claimed the licensing of “Zanu
PF-aligned radio stations” such as Zimpapers Talk Radio and AB
Communications run by TV journalist-cum-businessman Supa Mandiwanzira, does
not in any way reflect pluralisation as envisaged in Article 19 of the GPA.

“It is a case of old wine in new bottles; those old voices in Zanu PF
finding more media with which to complement the ZBC and Zimpapers. There is
no plurality,” Tsvangirai said.

Zimbabwe's Implementation Panel 'Snubs' SADC-Appointed Officials

http://www.voanews.com/

12 June 2012

Jonga Kandemiiri & Blessing Zulu | Harare, Washington

Zimbabwe's Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee on Monday snubbed
two members seconded by the Southern African Development Community to help
monitor the political situation in Harare ahead of general elections at a
date yet to be announced.

The two, Ambassador David Katye from Tanzania and Zambian national Colly
Muunyu, were advanced to Harare following a SADC directive that troika
members - South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania - help Harare speed-up the
implementation of the Global Political Agreement that gave birth to the
unity government following the bloody and disputed 2008 elections.

South Africa decided not to appoint an addition member to the team saying
its role as facilitators was adequate.

Jomic co-chairperson Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga of the MDC formation
of Industry Minister Welshman Ncube blamed what she called an
“administrative hiccup” in her committee's failure to meet the two Monday.

She added the officials came into the country at a "very short notice". The
officials will be formally introduced to Jomic on June 25 when the
facilitators are expected back in Harare.

SADC resolved at a summit in Lusaka in May last year to appoint a
three-member team to work with unity government officials in speeding up the
implementation of outstanding GPA, including monitoring political violence.

Regional leaders at the time criticized the unity government for its slow
progress in implementing the GPA. SADC has since held summits in Sandton,
South Africa, and Luanda in Angola, re-affirming the Lusaka resolutions.

Zanu PF hardliners have vowed to resist the move to deploy the officials
calling it an infringement on the country’s sovereignty.

Political analyst Earnest Mudzengi, director of the Media Centre in Harare,
told VOA's  Blessing Zulu the move by SADC is significant.

Meanwhile, Jomic said it is holding a crucial meeting in Harare Wednesday
where provincial chairpersons will report back their findings and challenges
in dealing with political violence and other issues.

Provincial inter party liaison committees, that include civic society
representatives, traditional leaders and churches, were formed last year in
attempt to address politically-motivated violence in the communities.

Thabitha Khumalo of the MDC formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai,
told VOA's Jonga Kandemiiri political violence will be high on the agenda at
the meeting.

Chinese Merchants Fear Zimbabwe Political Instability

http://www.voanews.com

12 June 2012

Tatenda Gumbo | Washington

Chinese business operators in Zimbabwe are worried about the country's
political uncertainty and fear early elections may stir instability that
will affect their enterprises, says outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Harare,
Xin Shunkang.

The ambassador says he assured the merchants from his country in a recent
meeting that political upheavals would be avoided if Beijing and Harare
worked together in ensuring peace and stability.

China, the leading investor in Africa, has long been criticized for its lax
response to democratic stability and reforms in certain countries.

Chinese investors in Zimbabwe, operating businesses mainly in retail and
construction, have been criticized for underpaying and ill-treating workers.
A local minister recently urged locals to boycott their goods and service in
protest.

Legal expert Alex Magaisa said the statement is a political move by the
Chinese who have been a key ally to the Zanu PF arm of the unity government
for a long time, and the ambassador couldn't have been more directly.

"The reality of international politics is that there are no permanent
friends, there are permanent interests and this is what nations pursue, and
China is no different it is playing its cards very carefully," said Magaisa

Labor and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe economist,
Prosper Chitambara, said the business community maybe worried about the
economic consequences of an early election.

"What has happened in the past is likely to result in volatility and
uncertainty and its also accompanied by violence which is not good for
business, the Chinese are just taking a rational view like any other
business," said Chitambara.

Chitambara said there might be some political backlash from workers who have
charged the Chinese firms of improper labor practices.

"I think there can also be some fear of backlash assuming that it would
create a change in government, as the current government hasn't been very
firm on the Chinese."

During his stay in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Xin Shunkang received two prizes for
being the best diplomat from an Asian country accredited to Zimbabwe and the
best diplomat for all countries represented in the country.

His tenure ends June 17th.

Judge reserves ruling on lawyers’ ZINARA challenge

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

HIGH Court Judge Justice Andrew Mutemaon Tuesday 12 June 2012 reserved
ruling on an application hear a case in which a human rights lawyer wants to
stop the police and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) from
targeting motorists.
12.06.1207:06pm
by ZLHR

Roselyn Hanzi, a lawyer with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), took
the matter to the High Court after police fined her for allegedly failing to
produce a “valid” licence disc.

This was after ZINARA unilaterally and without warning revoked the licensing
extension it had granted to motorists.

ZINARA, which had extended the deadline to renew the licences to 30 June,
startled motorists when it announced through the press that it had reversed
the decision. The roads regulatory authority also instructed police to
arrest motorists without “valid” licence discs.

Hanzi argues that police were not supposed to penalise her until the last
day of this month. She argues that the decision to “unilaterally and without
warning” revoke the deadline extension was “irrational”.

“In any event, the actions of the 1st Respondent (ZINARA) are afoul of the
provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Administrative Justice Act,
as well as the common law which requires administrative decisions to be
reasonable,” reads part of Hanzi’s founding affidavit.

The human rights lawyer argues that the conduct and actions of ZINARA and
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri are against Section 3 of the
Administrative Justice Act. The law provides, among other things, “that an
administrative authority which has the responsibility or power to take any
administrative action which may affect the rights, interests or legitimate
expectations of any person shall act lawfully, reasonably and in a fair
manner”.

Hanzi wants the High Court to stop the police from arresting and or fining
any person whose vehicle licence expired on the 31 May. She also wants
ZINARA and the police barred from impounding vehicles whose licences expired
on the 31st of May. Hanzi also asked the court to force the two
organisations to publicise the court order to members of the public, who of
late have been living in fear of police roadblocks mounted on almost all
roads.

Stalled by-elections: 30 seats vacant

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

The failure by President Robert Mugabe to order by by-elections in
constituencies where legislators have died or been expelled by their parties
is causing suffering in unrepresented communities.
13.06.1211:38am
by Zwanai Sithole Harare

More than 30 senatorial and lower house seats now stand vacant. Villagers in
Nkayi South have bemoaned going for a long time without a representative in
Parliament following the expulsion of Abednico Bhebhe in 2009.

Bhebhe and two other legislators, Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East), and Norman
Mpofu (Bulilima East) lost their parliamentary seats when they were fired by
the Welshman Ncube led MDC on allegations of siding with the MDC-T.

The three have approached the High Court to compel Mugabe and the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission to announce new dates for by-elections.

Bulawayo High Court Judge, Nicholas Ndou, in October ordered Mugabe and ZEC
to announce new by election dates but Mugabe appealed the decision in the
Supreme Court. The hearing has been set for 5 July 2012.

“The absence of an elected MP is really hindering development in the area.
We hope that the Supreme Court will speedily resolve this issue because
people in the area are suffering as a result of lack of representation .We
want the by elections so that we give Bhebhe the mandate to continue with
his projects in the area,” said Sambulo Maphosa, an Nkayi Rural District
councillor.

“Zanu (PF) officials and traditional leaders are denying MDC supporters food
assistance. The situation is particularly bad in Ward 19 where Acting Chief
Tshugulu, Walter Sibanda, are openly side lining MDC supporters,” he added.
“A lasting solution should be found as soon as possible because it is not
Welshman Ncube who is suffering. We want a by election now so that we choose
our MP.”

Bhebhe, now the MDC-T Deputy Organising Secretary, said he would stand in a
by election any time.

Zim to miss out on $10b AfDB facility for Africa

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

THE financially beleagured Zimbabwe Government of National Unity (GNU) will
miss out on a $10 billion African Development Bank (AfDB) cash facility for
African countries, Damoni Kitabire, the AfDB boss, has confirmed.
13.06.1210:45am
by Ngoni Chanakira Harare

"This facility if for African countries but unfortunately Zimbabwe is not
included on the list of recipients," he told more than 200 investors
gathered in Harare.

"Zimbabwe owes us quite a lot of money and so they are not included in this
project by the African Development Bank."

Kitabire was addressing local and international investors who asked about
the proposed African facility.

"I am very glad, however, that a repayment plan is now being discussed and
has been designed by your government," he said.

The moves comes at a time when the delegation from the Washington-based
International Monetary Fund (IMF) is making its visit to cash-strapped
Zimbabwe for the Article VI Consultations when they scrutinise the economy.

The IMF investigate and try to find out the nation's economic recovery
progress since the last time they were here.

In an exclusive interview in Harare, Anthony Hawkins Head of the University
of Zimbabwe (UZ's) Business School, said : "The IMF are coming next in June
to see how we are faring. There is nothing really new about this but I think
this time around they will ask where our diamond cash is going to and how it
is being used.

"As you probably know the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, has said we
could earn about $600 million from diamonds but the Minister of Mines and
Mining Development, Obert Mpofu, on the other hand, says this might not be
the case and so this will have to be clarified to the delegation."

Hawkins said he did not know whether Zimbabwe has paid anything yet to the
IMF.

"I cannot comment on our repayment schedule because I have not heard about
any repayments yet," he said.

"However, they will be worried about our diamond cash just like they were
worried about the oil cash in Angola and how that was used before they could
come in and help that country."

Zimbabwe's outstanding arrears to the IMF have now reached $140 million at a
time when the country owes the Washington-based group $550 million, Biti,
the Minister of Finance, has already confirmed.

He said Zimbabwe's outstanding arrears under the Fund's Extended Credit
Facility (ECF) now amount to $140 million.

The ECF replaced the Fund's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility.

"Zimbabwe does not have the capacity to pay off the IMF's arrears from its
own resources," Biti said in Harare.

"In this regard, the country will need to request cooperating partners for a
concessional bridging loan or grant to settle arrears to the IMF."

He said clearance pf ECF arrears would unlock new financing arrangements
from the IMF, within the context of a Fund supported financial arrangement,
which would then be used to repay the bridging loan obtained from the
cooperating partners.

Biti has already also confirmed that Zimbabwe owes multilateral institutions
a grand total of $2,504 billion, of which the World Bank is owed $1,126
billion, the IMF, $550 million, the African Development Bank (AfDB) $529
million, and the European Investment Bank (EIB), $221 million.

Biti says government is "implementing a series of reforms focusing on many
areas".

He said these included strengthening public finance management, budget
implementation and execution, review of national tax laws, effective aid
coordination, debt management, as well as privatising, restructuring and
commercialising state enterprises.

Biti said the GNU would also boost its financial sector stability sector.

All Ministries now online - Chamisa

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By Staff Reporter 2 hours 36 minutes ago

HARARE - The Minister of Information and Communication Technology Nelson
Chamisa says all government Ministries are now online and his mimistry is
now working on cascading the programmes to the provinces.

Responding to questions from Parliamentarians in the House of Assembly last
week, Hon. Chamisa said e-government was in full operation in all
ministries. "E-Government has already been rolled out by government and I am
sure that you are aware of the fact that we launched the e-learning
programme at Chogugudza School which was part of the e-government programme
that the government has embarked on," said Hon. Chamisa.

He added in response to a question by Mkoba MP, Hon. Amos Chibaya that; "It
is part of our ZIM CONNECT document and I am glad to say our Members of
Parliament are also beneficiaries of the e-government programme and very
soon the things will be brought to them."

Hon. Chamisa said he was aware of some ministries that were encountering
challenges. "It may be an issue of the last mile connection which becomes a
subjective problem to do with a particular ministry but in terms of content
uploading, all our ministries are now online and I must say that we also
would want those programmes to now cascade to the districts, to our various
provincial offices and also ward offices," he said.

In his Zimbabwe Medium Term Plan 2011 - 2015, the Minister of Economic
Planning and Investment Promotion, Hon. Tapiwa Mashakada says his ministry's
policy objectives are to transform government operation, service delivery
through effective use of ICTs; and to transform the country into a knowledge
based society.

Hon. Mashakada's policy target was for e-government connectivity and
services to all government ministries and public institutions such as
education and health establishments by 2012.

Meanwhile President Robert Mugabe has officially launched the Second Science
and Technology Innovation Policy of Zimbabwe, the brainchild of the Minister
of Information and Communication Technology Nelson Chamisa.

In his speech, Mugabe said science is the backbone of development and the
travel restrictions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West have had a negative
impact on the country.

He said since the Department of Science and Technology became a fully
fledged Ministry, government has prioritised rapid and sustainable
industrialisation, production of adequate food, provision of shelter, a good
health delivery system and the availability of sufficient energy resources.

“The new Ministry quickly set its chief mission as that of promoting
national scientific and technological self-reliance. To achieve this long
term objective, the new Ministry crafted a number of policies; among them,
the Biotechnology Policy of 2005, the Information Communication Technology
Policy Framework of 2006, and the Second Science and Technology Policy we
are launching today,” said the President.

Mugabe said overally, such activities will lead to employment creation,
adding that the Second Science and Technology Policy comes at the most
appropriate time, when government is in the process of implementing the
Medium Term Plan.

“Science and Technology, being cross-cutting and pervasive, must of
necessity, harmonise with and complement other policies in areas of energy,
industry, health, agriculture, environment and education,” he said.

Noting the translation into reality of the production of ethanol for petrol
blend in Chisumbanje, in line with the Biotechnology Policy, Cde Mugabe said
the Second Science and Technology Policy will achieve its objectives if it
focuses on the creation, improvement, and mobilisation of human skills in
science and technology.

He also emphasised the need for the policy to also focus on emerging
technologies, research, indigenous knowledge systems as well as space
sciences, which deal with meteorological applications, land use,
aeromagnetic and surveillance for mineral exploration.

Police statements in Glen View murder could have been doctored

http://www.mdc.co.zw

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

A police statement presented in court today over the death of a police
officer in Glen View last year could have been heavily doctored in order to
nail the 29 MDC members who are being falsely accused of the murder.

A police statement produced at the High Court today prepared for the State’s
fifth witness, Victor Kudakwashe Magutarima stated that he knew “Tungamirai
Madzokere and the 28 other accused” in connection with the murder of
Inspector Petros Matedza.

However, Magutarima’s statement was prepared on 30 May 2011, a day after the
death of Mutedza by a police officer at the Harare Central Law and Order
Section.  Magutarima is a constable with the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID) based at Braeside Police Station in Harare.

It was, however, pointed out to Magutarima by the defence lawyers that when
his statement was completed on 30 May 2011, only five suspects had been
arrested and those arrested did not include Accused No. 1, Madzokere and the
other 24.

Madzokere is the councillor for Ward 32 in Glen View and was only arrested
days after Magutarima’s police statement had been finished.

Other members were arrested days, weeks or months later.  The 28th accused,
Solomon Madzore, the MDC Youth Assembly chairperson was arrested last
October while Paul Rukanda was arrested in January this year.

“Only five suspects as opposed to 29 people had been arrested.  Clearly this
shows that the statement could have been backdated.  The last accused
(Rukanda) was arrested this year,” pointed out Beatrice Mtetwa, one of the
defence lawyers.

Magutarima said he did not know how the statement could have been altered
although it bears his signature.

“I did not read the whole statement as I trusted the person who recorded my
statement,” said Magutarima although he could not recall the name of the
police officer who wrote what he was saying.

He could also not identify the people who were involved in the murder of
Mutedza because he did not see the people as he was not at the exact scene
of crime although he was part of the Harare Provincial Reaction Group that
had been dispatched to Glen View 3 Shopping Centre.

“I cannot say any of the accused was responsible for the murder,” said
Magutarima.

Earlier in the day, Solomon Mushaninga, the fourth State’s witness continued
to give contradicting statements claiming in his police statement prepared
last year that before he died, Mutedza had been manhandled by some people.

However, during cross examination, Mushaninga claimed that Mutedza had been
hit on the chest by a “young man with uncombed long hair”.

He also claimed that he had been misquoted in his police statement prepared
by Detective Inspector Henry Dhowa when he was reported saying that some
people were involved in attacking Mutedza when he meant one person.

After further cross examination Mushaninga said he did not recall some of
these events.

It was then pointed out to Mushaninga that his evidence was fraud,
deliberate, coached and tailored to implicate the fourth accused, Last
Maengahama.  Maengahama is a member of the MDC National Executive.

“It was deliberate to say there were only MDC members at the scene of
incident and that he (Mushaninga) saw a tall person who is the fourth
accused.  If he had seen the fourth accused, he should have seen a short
person and in the absence of an identity parade, his evidence is fraud,”
said the defence lawyers.

The trial resumes tomorrow at 10am with the State expected to call its sixth
witness.

The people’s struggle for real change – Let’s finish!!!

A police force gone to the dogs

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

“When I joined the ZRP in 1994, wearing that uniform alone was a great
honour,” said Ian Ndlovu during a recent interview with The Zimbabwean.
13.06.1210:57am
by Mxolisi Ncube

“Among the strong gate-keeping measures put in place back then was a
thorough investigation into a candidate’s background, with strong emphasis
on their criminal record, their health and behaviour among fellow community
members.

“The recruitment criteria were also very strict on entry qualifications, not
compromising on five Ordinary Level subjects, including Maths, Science and
an English pass, no past convictions or pending court cases and 1.68m in
height,” he remembers.

Eighteen years later, Ndlovu feels embarrassed when people refer to him as a
former cop, five years after he quit the job.

“The ZRP’s image is now tattered and whenever people hear that you are a
former member, they begin to suspect that you could be one of those who
spent their period of service chasing after political activists, or those
brainlessly beating up striking workers. That pains me,” he said.

He and several former police officers told The Zimbabwean that after
elevating war veterans to influential ranks following the 1999 formation of
the MDC, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Zanu (PF) always
complained that members of the junior ranks were working against their
efforts.

“Junior officers were always accused of working against the country’s
‘sovereignty’ and could easily be turned against the government,” said a
former Superintendent.

The first step, he said, was to turn the Police Internal Security
Intelligence against members viewed to be sympathetic to the MDC and any
other opposition party.

“PISI moved from crime-fighting to spying for Chihuri and each time a public
outreach meeting was held, PISI details were deployed to take notes on what
was said. This was to prevent even senior officers from spreading anti-Zanu
(PF) messages - no-one was to be trusted.”

The result was the victimization of several officers – who were transferred
to the most remote stations, or unfair dismissal on allegations that they
were actively involved in politics.

“This created a lot of problems for the force because in some cases, where
no evidence could be obtained, it was invented. There were many incidents in
which hard-working members had MDC regalia and party cards planted in their
offices and houses just to get them out of the way because they would have
refused to toe the Zanu (PF) line or been unenthusiastic in the face of
calls to attack the MDC.

“Chihuri also created what he called the Commissioner’s Pool, in which
senior officers, especially Superintendents and above, were victimized,” he
said.

The former officers likened the pool to a Guantanamo of psychological
torment for non-conformists. An officer banished to the pool was allegedly
stripped of all benefits, such as his official vehicle, and subjected to the
embarrassment of being forced to report to a Constable in an empty office,
where they would spend the whole day doing nothing under the watchful eye of
the Constable.

“Such an officer would need to report to the Constable that they are going
out for lunch, the shops or toilet. This was meant to frustrate the senior
members into quitting and most did so.”

Quick examples are former Harare Province police chief, Senior Assistant
Commissioner Emmanuel Chimwanda, who quit in 2001 and Assistant Commissioner
Martin Simbi, who followed him two years later and Assistant Commissioner
Solomon Ncube. The trio refused to “swim” in that pool, after they had
continued to arrest Zanu (PF) supporters for political violence.

With most officers frustrated out and others re-indoctrinated for a month at
the Buchwa Mine compound, Chihuri had to deal with the junior ranks.

The mindset of Inspectors and above having been quickly turned around, the
first way implemented to deal with the non-commissioned officers was the
introduction of the rank to of the rank of Sergeant Major to ostensibly deal
with issues of discipline in 2005.

“This rank had no particular other purpose than to threaten and torture
junior officers into line for acting in a professional manner. With that
also not enough, the junior ranks were further diluted with the induction of
graduates from the National Youth Service Training camps, who were already
attached to the ZRP as part of Operation Dzikisai Mitengo,” added the former
Superintendent.

This brought the ZRP to its knees and completed the Zanu (PF) stranglehold.
Most of the “Green Bombers” were under-qualified and that eroded the
policing standards.

“An uneducated person is dangerous and his or her understanding is next to
none,” said a former Sergeant who was frustrated into quitting in 2006.

“During our time, one could not join without the five O’ Levels, but an
under-qualified person plucked off the streets will always be grateful for
the rest of their life, taking every instruction that comes their way
without question. Green Bombers have been indoctrinated to the gospel that
Zanu (PF) is the only party fit to rule the country till Jesus’ second
coming. They have been poisoned to push the Zanu (PF) agenda. Policemen must
be apolitical, unlike most Green Bombers, who already have their political
side to follow.”

Political commentator Blessing Vava said the dilution was a direct ploy to
turn the whole force into a Zanu (PF) wing, especially ahead of elections.

“The police will be used to terrorize Zimbabweans and those opposing Zanu
(PF) will face the consequences and we will see many arrests being meted,
especially to MDC activists,” said Vava.

“After this disorder, there is great need to take a thorough human resource
audit in not only the police force, but many other sectors of the state,
mainly the army and the Central Intelligence Organization to make sure they
operate in a professional manner to serve the people of Zimbabwe and not the
interests of a certain political party.”

PM Tsvangirai's remarks at the launch of the Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy

REMARKS BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, THE RIGHT
HONOURABLE MORGAN R. TSVANGIRAI, AT THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE SECOND
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY, HARARE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
CENTRE,

13 JUNE 2012

His Excellency, President R G Mugabe

Hon. Vice Presidents, J T Mujuru and J L Nkomo

Deputy Prime Ministers, Ms T Khupe  and Professor A Mutambara

Hon. Government Ministers here present

Hon. Ministers from Botswana,  South Africa, Mozambique, Malaysia

Hon. Deputy Ministers Here Present

His Worship, the Mayor of Harare, Mr M Masunda

Permanent Secretaries here present

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Senior Government Officials

Captains of Industry and Commerce

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honour and pleasure to be here to witness this very important
occasion for Zimbabwe, the Launch of the Second Science, Technology and
Innovation Policy.

Science and technology are the catalyst for economic development and a sound
policy will certainly be a reference document for virtually all Government
institutions and for business.

Science, Technology and Innovation are at the core of all forms of national
development to solve societal problems such as water, health, energy and
agriculture. The integration of Science, Technology and Innovation is key to
economic growth and transformation and is central to global economic
competitiveness and sustainable development.

I have just returned from a successful visit to China at the invitation of
thew Chinese government. In my discussions with Premier Wen Jiabao and
business executives from various corporations, it became clear that the
success of China has been premised on sound policies that are science and
technology oriented.

The success of the companies such as Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions
provider, and Lenovo, show the emerging trend of Chinese focus on technology
and innovation.

Indeed, science and technology progressively became a catalyst for China’s
economic growth.

Science, technology and innovation have the capacity to help the African
Union’s vision of having at least 20 of her 54 members states attain middle
income status by 2030 besides boosting the continent’s presence in published
journals.

Zimbabwe must learn from such countries as China and India, which have
invested several billions of dollars in science, technology and innovation
development.

Today, those countries are the envy of many. These countries have developed
to where they are today, not because they had plenty of resources, but
simply because they maximised the benefits that they could acquire from the
little resources they had through efficiency as a result of investment in
technology.

The Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy comes at a time when
Government is in the process of implementing the Medium Term Plan.
Government policies being developed by various arms should in essence
converse with each other.

Zimbabwe recognises the critical role played by Science, Technology and
Innovation in national development.

However, Zimbabwe has not benefited sufficiently from the vast, diverse and
rich knowledge on science and technology due to uncoordinated research and
innovation efforts.

The Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy should rightfully
emphasise on promoting our innovative capacity so that the huge amounts of
natural resources at our country’s disposal translate to improved quality of
lives among our people.

I am delighted to note that the policy we are launching today is all
encompassing. It seeks to address the pertinent Science, Technology and
Innovation issues across all levels and to develop capacity to generate new
knowledge.

The policy seeks to enable the nation to be ready to embrace new
technologies and is also sensitive to the social dynamics of our country
with particular emphasis on gender mainstreaming.

The policy we are launching today must not only become a good  document in
some Government ministry but must asssume a new meaning by transforming the
lives of ordinary people in Kariba, Beitbridge, Mudzi and Chipinge. It
should guide our day to day actions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, science, technology and innovation thrive where there
is substantial investment in research and development. Research and
development contribute to the management of product development and hence
Government has made a commitment to avail resources equivalent to one per
cent of the National Gross Domestic Product towards Research and
Development.

Government will continue to support researchers through such initiatives as
the Innovation and Commercialisation Fund.

Zimbabwe is recognised on the continent as a highly literate country. Our
education system, besides, having suffered over the past few years, has
remained one of the best on the continent.  At the core of development is
the element of human capital. I am pleased to note that the Second Science,
Technology and Innovation Policy seeks to address this important aspect by
promoting skills development in science and technology.

A challenge that has continued to affect our economy is the capacity to add
value to our natural resources. This has made us net consumers of products
developed from the very raw materials that we export to developed countries.
I am glad to note that the second Science, Technology and Innovation policy
is not silent at addressing this shortcoming.

The successful implementation of this policy is expected to result in a
significant improvement in our national capacity to export finished products
rather than primary goods that fetch very little on the international
market.

The Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy is being launched at a
time when the world has witnessed wide ranging effects of climate change
among other environmental degradations.

Countries throughout the world have devoted time and resources to developing
an understanding of climate change.  Zimbabwe, as a member of the global
family, should develop local capacity in this area so as to make a
meaningful contribution to the global pool of workers on climate change.

The Zimbabwean education system has produced a large number of high profile
scientists who have and continue to make great contributions in various
areas of scientific research.

Government, through this policy, will put in place mechanisms for
recognising and rewarding the exploits of our sons and daughters who excel
in their fields of specialisation. Science, technology and innovation are
the future.

It is my hope that every one of us who have a role to play in developing the
country into a strong scientific country will play their part.

The implementation plan of the Science, Technology and Innovation policy
shall provide effective strategies for tapping into the diaspora.

It is imperative that we institute ways  to lure Zimbabwean scientists who
are working in foreign lands back to the country to contribute to national
development.

The major challenge at our academic institutions and our corporate sector,
both private and public, is to make positive steps that bridge the gap
between our quest for academic knowledge and the production of goods and
services useful for everyday life.

Over the last ten years, this country has suffered a deficit of skilled and
qualified personnel into the Diaspora and these people will not be in a
hurry to come back home at the rate needed to sustain our development.

Therefore, corporates and academic institutions must rebuild the reservoir
of skilled artisans, engineers and other disciplines to fill the void.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we can only realise the fruits of the implimentation
of this policy if we all embrace the principles of peace and development.

Peace is increasingly perceived as a precondition for human development.
Broad economic development and prosperity are possible only in the presence
of positive peace, as opposed to the absence of war.

Acute conflicts compromise economic stability, halt progress, and retard
infrastructural improvements and affect the successful implementation of
good policies.

Dislocations caused by crime, unemployment, and fatal communicable diseases
go unaddressed, crippling the human creative spirit.

Dreams are shattered and insurgencies destroy cultures, the organisation of
societies, and the course of technological development.

Achieving peace should therefore be one of the key focuses of the
Government.

For this reason, as Principals to the Global Political Agreement, we have
agreed to fully implement the GPA, complete the constitution making process,
and to implement the road map towards a free election to ensure lasting
peace, which is the foundation for science, technology and innovation
development.

I commit to the successful implementation of Zimbabwe’s Second Science,
Technology and Innovation Policy which is now before you.

I THANK YOU

--
MDC Information & Publicity Department

Bill Watch 25/2012 of 11th June [HR Commission Bill & Electoral Amendment Bill on Agenda]