Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe in electoral climbdown as he agrees to push back date of vote from end of July

http://www.independent.co.uk/

DANIEL HOWDEN    MONDAY 17 JUNE 2013

Robert Mugabe has acceded to regional pressure and agreed to push back the
date for elections in Zimbabwe. The 89-year-old president had risked a
constitutional crisis by using special powers to announce polls on 31 July.

His political rivals accused him of pushing for early elections before key
reforms to the security sector and media can be passed, or a new voter
register could be completed. Under pressure following a regional summit last
weekend, the Zimbabwean president has asked the constitutional court to
reconsider its May request to hold the vote before the end of July.

The new date, pending the court's decision, is expected to be 14 August. In
an interview with the state-owned media, Africa's oldest president appeared
unbowed by being made to wait:
"The other parties do not want elections, they are afraid of elections. They
know they are going to lose and it's a sure case that they are going to
lose," he said.

The former opposition Movement for Democratic change which has been locked
in an unhappy power sharing government for since 2008 treated the date
change as a victory. Tendai Biti, finance minister and one of the MDC's
senior figures predicted that his party would “finish off” Mr Mugabe's
Zanu-PF party.

Zimbabwe PM says polls can be delayed to October 31

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/

By AFP | June 17, 2013

Robert Mugabe (L) signs into law Zimbabwe’s new constitution next to Morgan
Tsvangirai (R) in Harare, on May 22, 2013/AFP
HARARE, June 17 – Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday
backed calls by regional grouping SADC for his archrival President Robert
Mugabe to delay crucial polls due by the end of July.

“We have to hold elections by October 31,” Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke
Tamborinyoka told AFP.

The constitutional court last month ruled fresh polls have to be held by
July 31, a date which Mugabe has backed, but Tsvangirai wants electoral
reforms passed first and argues the law allows for three more months.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai’s MDC parties have since 2009 been in an
uneasy coalition formed in the aftermath of deadly post election violence
the previous year.

On Saturday, the 15 country Southern Africa Development Community urged
Mugabe to request a delay from the constitutional court.

The bloc also urged the 89 year old president to “undertake immediate
measures to create a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful,
credible, free and fair elections.”

“SADC did not suggest a date. To us the date is subservient to the reforms.
The reforms should come first and the latest we can have elections is by
October 31,” Tsvangirai’s spokesman said.

The prime minister argues that a July deadline will not allow for free and
fair polls. He wants reforms in the media and security services, and says
the voters’ roll needs to be rid of ghost voters before the elections.

He has said he would veto the polls if reforms are not implemented but
Mugabe has accused him of being afraid to lose.

“The other parties do not want elections, they are afraid of elections,”
Mugabe was quoted as saying in the state owned Sunday Mail newspaper.

“They know they are going to lose and it’s a sure case that they are going
to lose.”

Salomão: SADC will respect decision by Constitutional Court

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

 

 

Tomaz Salomão told SW Radio Africa: “Decisions of courts are to be respected.”

By Violet Gonda
SW Radio Africa
17 June 2013

The Southern African Development Community will respect any decision made by the Constitutional Court regarding the holding of elections in Zimbabwe, whether it’s upholding the initial 31st July deadline or agreeing to extend the period by two weeks, as endorsed at the just ended Extraordinary SADC summit in Maputo Mozambique.

SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomão told SW Radio Africa: “Decisions of courts are to be respected.” He then went on to say SADC would never create a precedent and disobey a court order.

“If the Supreme Court does not accept the appeal then our task is to deploy our observers to ensure that at least the conducive environment to hold credible elections is there. That’s what we can do and we are already preparing for that.”

SADC observers are currently being trained, pending deployment.

On Saturday regional leaders “acknowledged” the ruling by Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court on the holding of elections by July 31st, but said there was a need for the government to “engage” the court to seek more time beyond next month’s deadline.

The political parties in the coalition government then agreed to ask the court for an extension so that the necessary reforms and electoral process are put in place.

Salomão noted that two weeks is not enough to implement any proper reforms. He said reforms can only be dealt with in a long term process, but said there are “practical things” to be done “while the parliament is still there.”

He added: “The two weeks was not imposed by SADC. Out of this they know what has to be done and what is possible to be done. It is clear there are reforms but you don’t do reforms in two weeks. It’s clear for all of us. But we all agreed that the time to hold an election in Zimbabwe has come.

“So in view of that, the political parties were tasked to sit down today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) to agree on the issues they feel have to be attended to before they go back to the Constitutional Court to request for more time. Once they are done with that then they go back to the Constitutional Court.”

SADC called on ZANU PF and the MDC formations to undertake immediate measures to create a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful, credible, free and fair elections

Finance Minister Tendai Biti revealed last week that although Zimbabwe is set to hold general elections next month it has still not secured funding for the polls. But Salomão said this issue was not discussed at the summit although he said consultations are underway among member states to find out how they can assist Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, a showdown is looming between ZANU PF and the MDC parties over the implementation of the necessary reforms before an election can take place. The former ruling party accuses its partners in the coalition government of seeking to delay the polls because they fear defeat, but the MDC formations believe the extra time will allow more people to register to vote and that the decision by SADC was a diplomatic coup in their favour.

They were quite outspoken at the summit with MDC President Welshman Ncube reportedly telling the regional leaders: “President Robert Mugabe, please I want you to look me in the eye and tell me whether what you are doing is it for the love of power, or in the interests of the people of Zimbabwe…back home, I can be arrested for simply saying you are very old, that’s how cruel some of the laws are.”

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said: “The last four years have been a painful
transition characterized by the absence of a genuine partner to the cause, a period which saw unilateral decisions being made, agreements not being fulfilled, U-turns on agreed positions and at all material times constant and vicious media attacks on my person, my government Ministers and my party.

“The only reason why we continued to hang in there was our desire to serve our people and to respect your directives and resolutions as SADC.”

After receiving reports from the coalition partners and from South African President Jacob Zuma, as SADC facilitator to Global Political Agreement, the SADC leaders endorsed Zuma’s recommendations which included: media reform; upholding the rule of law; the role of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC); election date, validity of electoral regulations; and deployment of SADC observers.

There are mixed legal opinions on how the Constitutional Court will decide on the matter. Some say it is impossible to finalise the electoral processes within the remaining time limits. But National Constitutional Assembly chairperson Professor Lovemore Madhuku told the state media that: “Government will have no legal basis or jurisprudence in approaching the Constitutional Court seeking an extension.”

Even if elections are postponed by two weeks analysts say it would be impossible to change the mindset of the state media and the security sector. Just last week new police graduates openly declared allegiance to Mugabe and ZANU PF.

According to one newspaper report the “cycle patrol unit also performed a drama in which two fighters, donning United States and British flags were up against another one purporting to be Mugabe. In the drama, Mugabe puts up a spirited fight before a sympathiser, Russia, comes in to assist and they defeat the Westerners.”

Listen to interview with Tomaz Salomão

 

See related stories

• Communique on Extraordinary SADC Summit
• Tsvangirai address to SADC

 

 

Zanu PF Party Will Contest Any Postponement Of Zimbabwe Polls

http://www.bernama.com.my/

MAPUTO, June 17 (BERNAMA-NNN- NEW ZIANA) -- Zimbabwean Justice Minister
Patrick Chinamasa says the Zanu PF party led by President Robert Mugabe will
resist any attempt, in court if necessary, to delay the country's next
general election beyond the July 31 date proclaimed by the president.

The Constitutional Court had ordered Mugabe two weeks ago to call for
elections no later than July 31, 2013 but the two factions of the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC), the partners of Zanu-PF in the current
coalition government, want the elections delayed on grounds that the country
is yet to implement media and security sector reforms.

The twp MDC factions parties had been pressing the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) -- one of the guarantors of Zimbabwe's current
power-sharing government -- to force Mugabe to delay elections beyond July
31.

At an extraordinary SADC summit in this capital of Mozambique on Saturday,
the regional grouping said Zimbabwe should comply with the court order but
can seek an extension of the election deadline if there were compelling
reasons.

Chinamasa, who is a top Zanu-PF official, said no valid reason existed and
the MDC factions' calls for a postponement of the election was merely a
delaying tactic to re-organise their sharply divided parties.

Zanu PF will petition the Constitutional Court to uphold its ruling on the
election date if the MDC formations pushed ahead to seek an extension, he
added.

"From here, we as Zanu PF are contesting that there is no need for
amendments to whether it's media reforms or security sector. We can only
implement that which we have agreed, we cannot implement disagreements, they
are unimplementable. So until we have agreed, we have nothing to implement,"
he said.

Chinamasa tacitly accused the SADC facilitator to Zimbabwe, South African
President Jacob Zuma, of bias in favour of the MDC in his report on the
situation in the country to Saturday's summit.

President Zuma extensively quoted the MDC position on the elections and
omitted that of Zanu PF, he said.

Chinamasa said this was credible ground for Zanu PF to resist any attempt to
extend the election period.

"I was also surprised that in the facilitator's report they attached the
press statement of the Prime Minister which he gave on Thursday," he added.

"(Zimbabwe's) Minister of Foreign Affairs and I addressed the ambassadors,
who included the ambassador of South Africa, which is the facilitating
country. We also distributed documents to them explaining the action that we
had taken but our document was not made part of the facilitator's report and
we took note. We are going to base our contest against postponement of the
election date on that," said Chinamasa.

Mugabe has been tipped to win the general election.

The SADC Summit had been convened principally to help Zimbabwe raise funding
for the elections.

An estimated US$130 million is required for the elections and the SADC
pledged last month to help the country raise the money.

-- BERNAMA-NNN-NEW ZIANA

ZEC warns biased media

http://www.thezimbabwean.co/

17.06.13

by Farai Mabeza

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has warned that it has put the media under
surveillance in the run up to this year’s election.

ZEC Chairperson, Rita Makarau, told journalist in Harare today that with the
proclamation of the election date sections of the Electoral Act dealing with
the conduct of the media have become operational.

“The law has placed your conduct under the surveillance of the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission,” she said.

“Section 160k of the Act provides that the Commission, with the assistance
of the Zimbabwe Media Commission and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe,
shall monitor the news media during any election period to ensure that
political parties, candidates, broadcasters, print publishers and
journalists observe the law relating to media coverage of elections,” added
Makarau.

She said the Act compelled the media to treat all political parties and
candidates equitably giving each political party and candidate the right to
fair and equal access to the media, both public and private.

According to the law, a broadcaster or a print publisher shall not be
obliged to publish any advertisement by or on behalf of any party but if it
does so then it must extend the same opportunity, on the same terms and
conditions, to all parties and candidates.

“Public broadcaster must afford all political parties and independent
candidates free access to broadcasting services as prescribed in the
regulations,” Makarau said, adding that all media houses must ensure that
their news, current affairs programmes or features relating to the election
are presented in a balanced, fair and accurate manner.

“Where it has been highlighted that your stories may be inaccurate, I hope
that in conformity with the law, you shall give the offended party or
candidate the right of reply and that right is given equal if not greater
coverage than the inaccurate story,” she said.

She said those caught on the wrong side of the law would be made to appear
before the commission. The ZEC boss condemned persecution of journalists
during the election period.

The commission’s Deputy Chairperson, Joyce Kazemb told journalists during
the same media briefing that the conduct of the security forces was under
discussion at the commission.

“One of the parties has written to ZEC highlighting concerns about the
actions of the country’s security forces. I can’t come out at the moment and
say how ZEC is going to address this issue because it is a matter under
discussion,” Kazembe said.

Security forces have been condemned for harassing journalists.

Coltart Responds to ‘Herald Nonsense’ on SADC Summit

http://www.zimeye.org/

By Staff Reporter

Published: June 17, 2013

The MDC’s Legal Secretary, David Coltart at the weekend swung heavy blows on
the State media after the latter published various falsehoods pertaining the
much talked about SADC summit.

The misleading stories initially alleged that Coltart himself had broken
ranks with his boss Welshman Ncube on the SADC Maputo initiative which later
at the weekend resulted in the MDC formations trampling ZANU PF by obtaining
a favourable ruling from the regional body.

Coltart on Sunday openly scoffed at the ZANU PF controlled Sunday paper
which falsely claims that SADC has upheld Robert Mugabe’s 31st July election
date. Said Coltart: “the Sunday Mail today is simply hilarious “SADC upholds
July 31st poll date”; what are these fellows smoking?” The previous day,
Coltart thumbed as nonsense a report by the sister paper the Herald which
alleged he had criticised his own bosses. The Herald article had been
printed without lifting a single quotation of the alleged uttered words it
claimed Coltart spoke during a Bulawayo Initiative meeting on Thursday
saying that Coltart said that although SADC was the facilitator to the
Global Political Agreement, the onus was on Zimbabweans to determine their
destiny. It even stated that he verbalised saying that Robert Mugabe was
acting according to law by sideswiping parliament and imposing an election
date.

Below was Coltart’s his response following the Herald Saturday article:

“I see that the Herald is up to its usual nonsense of distorting what people
say to suit their own ends.

“The following report seriously distorts what I said on Thursday evening at
the Bulawayo Press Club. What I actually said is that it is embarrassing
that we cannot resolve problems ourselves and that results in SADC having to
intervene. I have never questioned SADC’s role in Zimbabwe and in fact
welcome it. It goes without saying that I fully support the actions of
Minister Welshman Ncube and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in attending
the SADC summit and the lobbying of SADC leaders to help us get out of the
hole created by the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of ZANU PF,
perpetrated this week.

“What is correct in the article is the portion which states that the only
way we as a Government can restore legality to the electoral process is by
going back to our own Constitutional Court to seek a review of the original
order.

“Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love Zimbabwe and it deeply
concerns me when our Nation cannot sort out its own problems and has to
resort to the international community for help. It is indeed a national
disgrace that we place ourselves in this situation and as a result leave
ourselves open to international ridicule and interference. Herald story

Zuma slams brakes on Mugabe poll bid

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

16/06/2013 00:00:00
     by Peta Thornycroft I IOL

LED by President Jacob Zuma, regional leaders forced Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe to postpone presidential and parliamentary elections by 14 to
30 days, at a dramatic summit in Maputo on Saturday.

Mugabe had unilaterally proclaimed the election date as July 31 last week
but on Saturday he was obliged to back down by his fellow SADC leaders who
accepted the argument of the two MDC leaders that the date was too soon to
hold a proper poll.

Finance Minister and MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti, was ecstatic about
the decision yesterday, calling it “historic, amazing and dramatic. Now
Zimbabweans have got an opportunity for free and fair elections.

“SADC has saved the nation by adopting fully the recommendations made by
facilitator President (Jacob) Zuma and therefore nullifying (Mugabe’s)
proclamation.”

He explained that the SADC had decided to accept Zuma’s proposal that Mugabe
go back to the Constitutional Court - which decided the election must be
held by July 31 - to seek a postponement.

“This is unbelievable,” Biti enthused, adding that “the nature of the
application to the court for a delay will decide whether it will take 14 or
30 days to complete what needs to be done.”

He said that Mugabe’s advisory team should be fired by allowing him to make
an illegal proclamation. This had created “a disaster for President Mugabe
who was embarrassed before an entire SADC summit.”

Earlier there were fiery debates inside the closed summit as Mugabe,
Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, leader of the smaller MDC, accused Mugabe of
cooking the political books about the date of elections.

The dice was loaded against Mugabe as both his partners in the inclusive
government accused him of falsely and illegally proclaiming elections this
week for July 31.

Mugabe, 89, gave a spirited defence of his proclamation and his use of a
presidential decree to pass new election laws so they would be in harmony
with the constitution adopted last month.

The new Zimbabwe constitutional court ruled on May 31 that elections should
be held on July 31.
Mugabe told the SADC summit that he had to obey the court which is why, he
said, he used presidential powers to pass new electoral laws which had been
agreed by the cabinet last week.

He claimed Parliament would not be able to pass them into law on time for
the July 31 deadline.
No press were present inside the Maputo summit, but sources said that
Tsvangirai told SADC leaders that Zimbabwe’s problems were all political and
that was why the SADC was mediating the long crisis and had to resolve it
politically.

He claimed that Mugabe had avoided “due process” with his proclamation and
that parliament and not the president had to pass the new election laws.

Tsvangirai also reportedly told the summit that the new constitution
recently adopted stipulated that Mugabe could not make decisions about
elections unilaterally, and had to consult him, as the prime minister.

Ncube, a constitutional lawyer, and leader of the MDC party, appealed to
Mugabe to be “president of Zimbabwe, not just president of Zanu PF,” and
spelled out several illegalities which he said marred Mugabe’s proclamation
and use of presidential powers to amend electoral laws.

The speeches were over before afternoon tea break but the regions leaders
debated long and hard before agreeing on a statement.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, secretary-general of Ncube’s MDC commented
from Maputo yesterday, saying it was sad that Mugabe had been wrongly
advised by a faction within Zanu PF.

“I am sitting in this summit and so conflicted, I have listened to president
Mugabe, heard prime minister Tsvangirai, listened to professor Ncube give a
plain and simple explanation on the unconstitutionality of the proclamation.

“I am glad we can put our case, but do we have to get to where a group of
people drag their leader (Mugabe) here, advise him wrongly therefore
embarrassing him in front of his colleagues?

“How do people set their leader up like this? I can’t even look at him, but
more so I am angry with this group who want president Mugabe to end his
career this way.”

Zimbabwe has also asked SADC states to donate about US$130 million for the
next elections as there is no money to pay for the polls, according to Biti.

ZANU PF primary elections set for Monday next week

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
SW Radio Africa
17 June 2013

On Monday next week the former ruling ZANU PF party will stage its primary
elections in just one day. This comes amid reports that many of its senior
members will face challengers, some for the first in more than 20 years.

The exercise comes soon after rival opponents, the MDC led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, finished their internal elections on Sunday, which took
them a month to complete. The other MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube
started their primary elections over the weekend, in most of the
constituencies in Bulawayo.

ZANU PF stalwarts, among them Didymus Mutasa and Emmerson Mnangagwa, have
never faced any internal opposition but SW Radio Africa is reliably informed
that Mutasa will be challenged by civil servant Chris Chingosho, for the
right to represent ZANU PF in the Headlands constituency.

ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo told SW Radio Africa on Monday that the party
is ready for its internal election process, rejecting insinuations that they
won’t be able to complete the exercise in just one day.

‘We are more or less through, we started the exercise this past Saturday
with provincial nominations. Tomorrow the election directorate will get the
names and on Wednesday the politburo will sit to consider the names and we
will release the names of successful candidates on Thursday.

‘We are not going to impose candidates on the people and that is the mantra
of our party. Everyone is going through a nomination and verification
process and even I as spokesman am being challenged for the Senatorial seat
in Mberengwa,’ Gumbo said.

According to Simon Khaya Moyo, the party’s national chairman, all aspiring
candidates for the elections must have served the party for at least 5
years, but the requirements can be waived by provincial committees for
certain candidates.

One of those who have benefitted from this waiver is political turncoat
Jonathan Moyo, who is standing unopposed in the Tsholotsho North
constituency.

Political analyst Dr Maxwell Shumba said there is going to be a mixed bag in
the ZANU PF primary elections, with those that have abused state resources
bouncing back.

‘It’s going to be who has money to buy the electorate. ZANU PF MPs rely on
buying votes and nothing is going to change this time. Phillip Chiyangwa
because of his vast resources will win in Chinhoyi.

‘Ignatius Chombo will bulldoze his way through in Zvimba and so too will
Obert Mpofu because of the vast resources they have managed to amass in the
period they’ve been cabinet ministers,’ Shumba said.

Mtetwa’s trial moved to June 29th, ruling on MDC-T 29 reserved

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Nomalanga Moyo
SW Radio Africa
17 June 2013

The trial of top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, who is facing charges
of obstructing the course of justice, was on Saturday postponed to June
29th.

Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa postponed the matter citing a ‘lack of time,’
the Standard newspaper said on Sunday.

Prosecutor Tawanda Zvekare was quoted by the paper as saying the cross
examination of witnesses would continue at the end of June.

“We are still continuing with the cross examination of Chief Superintendent
Luckson Mukazhi, it’s not yet complete. We are continuing on June 29.

“The defence are still cross examining the witnesses and they have already
indicated that they might not even finish with him on that day, so we may
need to postpone it to another date,” Zvakare is quoted as saying.

Mtetwa was arrested on March 17th and charged with obstructing the course of
justice by insulting police officers. The incident allegedly happened when
she tried to assist her clients — Thabani Mpofu, Warship Dumba, Felix
Matsinde and Mehluli Tshuma– from the Prime Minister’s office.

The four had been arrested on allegations of impersonating law enforcement
agents and compiling dockets about corrupt state officials.

Mtetwa was released on $500 bail after spending eight days in detention.
Observers believe that Mtetwa’s arrest was meant to intimidate her and
instill fear among rights lawyers in the country.

Meanwhile, a High Court Judge on June 12th reserved judgement and postponed
indefinitely the case of 29 MDC-T activists accused of murdering a police
inspector in Glen View two years ago.

Defence lawyer Charles Kwaramba told SW Radio Africa Monday that the matter
was adjourned indefinitely following oral submissions by both the defence
team and the prosecution.

“When the judge is ready with the decision, he will advise both parties and
we will return to court for the ruling. But we are satisfied that we have
made a good case for discharge and are satisfied that the State has not made
a case for the 29 activists to be placed on their defence, so we anticipate
a good result,” Kwaramba said.

Asked about the state of the five MDC-T activists who remained in custody
while their colleagues were bailed, Kwaramba said they were barely coping.

“It’s almost two years now since they were incarcerated and it can never get
better. One of them, Tungamirai Madzokere, was in hospital a month ago
suffering from anxiety, high blood pressure caused by the uncertainly of
their situation.

“Three of them had plans to contest in the forthcoming election and they
have had to watch their political ambitions go up in smoke as they continue
being locked up. So it is a traumatic time for them,” Kwaramba added.

All the 29 MDC-T activists have pleaded not guilty to murdering police
inspector Petros Mutedza two years ago in Harare’s Glen View suburb.

The 29 activists were arrested in May 2011 when a police detail, responding
to reports of political disturbances in Harare’s Glen View area, was
attacked, resulting in the death of Inspector Mutedza.

Five of the activists Tungamirai Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa, Rebecca
Mafukeni, Last Maengahama and Simon Mapanzure were deemed a flight risk and
held in custody when their colleagues were bailed last year.

In another matter, a Bulawayo magistrate also postponed to June 29th a court
hearing in which 20-year-old Shantel Rusike is accused of insulting
President Robert Mugabe.

Rusike is facing criminal charges arising from a lighthearted picture of a
‘naked’ Mugabe which she sent to a colleague through her mobile phone.

The picture was reported to the police, leading to Rusike’s arrest on a
charge of ‘undermining the authority of or insulting the President’.

The picture, which shows Mugabe’s face on a naked body, has been in
circulation on networking sites since his 87th birthday in 2011.

Madiro & Mabika Acquitted; Mabika Faces More Charges

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Loirdham Moyo
17.06.2013

Zanu-PF party chairperson Mike Madiro and the party’s former women’s acting
chairperson Dorothy Mabika were today acquitted of stealing cattle bought
for President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in Mutare last year.

In her ruling today Magistrate Lucy Anne Mungwari cited insufficient
evidence to convict the two politicians accused by colleagues in their party
of stealing cattle they had bought from a local farmer to slaughter at the
president’s birthday celebrations last year.

The magistrate said evidence produced in court failed to support charges of
stock theft of ten beasts leveled against the two. She said the matter
should have been treated as a disciplinary issue within the party and not as
a criminal matter before the courts.

Ms. Mungwari said the accused failed to report the existence of the cattle
to the party’s structures to ensure accounting channels were followed, a
matter she said could have been dealt with internally. Mr. Madiro and Ms.
Mabika were accused of stock theft emanating from their purchase of ten
heads of cattle from Zanu-PF member John Chirimambowa.

According to the charges, however, the cattle were never moved from Mr.
Chirimambowa’s middle Sabi farm for the February 21st Movement celebrations
last year.  When only three beasts were slaughtered later at a Zanu-PF
celebration, Chirimambowa took the issue to the media, which prompted a
police investigation.

The acquittal brought jubilation from Madiro’s and Mabika’s relatives.
Madiro himself expressed satisfaction over the ruling and said he would now
focus on helping his party win the upcoming elections.

Mabika thanked God and her church congregation for the ruling.

“What I have to do is to thank my Lord as in the book of Daniel our God is
able so I have to continue to thank God, who does let down his children. I
have to say thank you to the people of my church in Cranborne Methodist
church and those in Chipinge who stood by me in prayer.”

Madiro’s and Mabika’s attorney, Tinofara Hove, was also naturally pleased
with the outcome and said the ruling vindicates his clients and confirms
their claims that “there was no charge to answer for.”

However, Ms. Mabika’s days in court are not over.  She faces another two
counts of stock theft and obstruction of justice over her donation of six
dairy bull calves she received from farmer Dawid Jourbert.

The calves allegedly died of starvation due to lack of supplementary feeding
and a shortage of milk. Mabika is alleged to have altered minutes of a
Zanu-PF meeting to state that she had raised the issue in a provincial party
meeting, when she allegedly had not done so.

Her application to dismiss that charge was today thrown out by another
magistrate, Sekesai Chiwundura, who insisted she must stand trial.

Journalist left for dead is 4th reporter to be attacked in one week

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Nomalanga Moyo
SW Radio Africa
17 June 2013

The growing number of attacks against journalists in Zimbabwe has drawn
sharp condemnation from a media watchdog which described the trend as
‘disturbing’.

The remarks were made by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) spokesman
Nyasha Nyakunu, following reports that another journalist was kidnapped,
assaulted and left for dead by unknown assailants in Chinhoyi.

The attack on Chinhoyi-based freelancer Paul Pindani brings the number of
journalists attacked in June to four.

According to a report in the NewsDay newspaper, Pindani was abducted from
his home by three masked men who took him to a shopping centre where they
severely assaulted him before disappearing into the night.

Police sources told the paper that Pindani was gagged and abducted after he
responded to a knock on his door at 4am Friday.

“The three assailants, who were wearing masks and work-suits, shoved a piece
of cloth into his mouth and dragged him to Mt Tikwiri shopping centre about
80 metres from his house and beat him up with unknown objects before
disappearing,” Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said.

The report Monday said the journalist managed to get back to his house and
narrated the ordeal to his wife before losing consciousness. He was taken to
Chinhoyi hospital where his condition was said to be serious.

Other recent attacks on journalists include the one on Masvingo Mirror
reporter Bernard Mapwanyire, who was reported to have been manhandled by
MDC-T security staff while covering the party’s primary elections on June
8th.

On June 7th, MDC-T security staff assaulted Zimbabwe Independent journalist
Herbert Moyo as he tried to cover a protest by party activists at Harvest
House, the party’s headquarters.

On June 6th, Chronicle reporter Mashudu Netsianga was detained and
questioned by MDC-T security personnel for allegedly gate crashing a meeting
between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the business community in
Bulawayo.

Speaking to this station Monday MISA spokesman Nyakunu said the group will
comment in detail about the attack on Pindani once it has been established
who the kidnappers were as well as their motives.

“But pertaining to the other cases, we are saddened and very disturbed by
such attacks on journalists. These attacks do not just put the lives of
these journalists at risks but they endanger media freedom.

“We would like to reiterate our call to political parties to rein in their
supporters and educate them on the critical role that journalists play in a
democracy. Journalists should be allowed to operate and access news freely,”
Nyakunu said.

Nyakunu said it was important that political parties were heard to condemn
such attacks, especially in the run-up to elections. He said MISA will be
re-engaging politicians with a view to creating an environment where
journalists can do their jobs without suffering physical attacks.

In an opinion piece Friday, The Independent newspaper said attacks on
reporters by supporters of all political parties were hardly surprising,
given that politicians across the party divide, including Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, had openly verbally attacked media personnel for doing
their work.

“Tsvangirai is a courageous leader who has suffered all manner of assaults
over the years. But he has not listened to the press and therefore not
learnt from it. Beating up journalists is not the best way to win friends
and influence people,” The Independent wrote.

MDC-T Activists: Victims of Injustice or Sour Grapes?

http://www.voazimbabwe.com/

Thomas Chiripasi
17.06.2013

HARARE — Chegutu East-based activists of the MDC formation of Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai today besieged the party’s headquarters complaining that
elections to choose their parliamentary candidates over the weekend were
marred by irregularities.  Violence was also reported in the party’s
primaries in Harare’s Epworth constituency.

More than 30 MDC-T activists from Chegutu East today stormed the party’s
Harvest House headquarters to petition organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa
over primary elections held Saturday. The activists charge the elections
were marred by irregularities.

One complaint is that elections were held during the night when other
aspiring candidates were not there, according to Chegutu East organising
secretary Costa Harrison.

Mr. Harrison went so far as to accuse Tawanda Bvumo, the party’ s provincial
treasurer for Mashonaland West, of collaborating with police to rig the
election in favor of Mr. Bvumo.

“Our elections were not held following party procedure,” Harrison said.
“Tawanda Bvumo is working in cahoots with the police dispol (district
police). And they caused elections to be held at midnight at Dombwe Growth
Point when other candidates were not present.”

Harrison urged his party’s organizing department to suspend Mr. Bvumo from
the party and hold fresh primaries.

He also claimed that some ballot papers that were used in the primaries were
confiscated by some of the party’s activists opposing Bvumo’s election.

“We now have a long time facing a problem with Bvumo and his allegiance with
Zanu-PF,” Harrison alleged.  “All we want now is for him to be removed from
the race. He appears to be backed by people with Zanu-PF links and this may
result in the party failing to wrestle the seat from Webster Shamu.”

Studio 7’s efforts to obtain a reaction from Tawanda Bvumo were not
successful.  However Mr. Bvumo posted on his Facebook profile that he was
unanimously elected.

Two other MDC-T activists, Reign Mtatabikwa and Washington Chindiya, are
also campaigning to represent their party in Chegutu East.

The confirmed candidate will battle it out with the winner of the Zanu-PF
primaries to be held next Sunday. Sitting legislator, media and information
minister Webster Shamu is being challenged in the Zanu-PF primaries by his
party’s provincial chairperson, John Mafa.

Reports also say the MDC-T’s primaries in Harare’s Epworth constituency were
marred by violence that left one person severely injured. Sources said the
polls were abandoned after ballot papers were confiscated during counting by
some unidentified people. Epworth’s current legislator, Eliah Jembere, is
being challenged by five other MDC-T candidates.

Party national organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa, however, told Sudio 7
that primary elections were going on smoothly.

When asked about claims of violence and irregularities, Mr. Chamisa said his
party will consider all complaints before taking decisions.

“Well, where there are concerns we always want to give you consideration and
notice to concerns that are being raised,” Chamisa stated. “Every matter is
going to be taken on its merits, on a case-by-case basis.  We are going to
give you regard, your recognition to our tenets of democracy, tenets of
justice, and tenets of the right to be heard.  The other side has to be
heard.  So wherever there is alleged issues of dissatisfaction, we always
want to go to the root cause, the root of the matter, so that we do justice
to our members.  We can’t preach justice when we don’t practice it.  We can’t
talk about justice when we don’t want to dispense it to our own leadership,
supporters, and membership.”

Although Chamisa insists there is no “crisis” in his party, several party
members who lost in the primaries have petitioned the leadership seeking to
overturn primary results.

Chamisa said his party is now preparing to hold primary elections to choose
candidates at the local government level.

Ministers challenged in Zanu PF primaries

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

16/06/2013 00:00:00
     by Staff Reporter

SEVERAL ministers and other party heavyweights are set to face primary
election battles as Zanu PF chooses its candidates for the forthcoming
elections.

The party conducted its nomination process around the country at the weekend
ahead of primary elections which have been scheduled for June 24, days
before the Nomination Court sits on June 28.

Some of the key battles include Makoni Central in Manicaland province where
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa is being challenged by former provincial
chairman, Basil Nyabadza.

Newly appointed provincial chairman, John Mvundura, conceded that the party
faced deep divisions in Manicaland.
“We were united during the liberation struggle, but we are now at each other’s
throat,” Mvudura said during a meeting of the provincial co-ordinating
meeting at Marymount Teachers’ College.

“We want to adopt a resolution as a province which we will forward to our
national leaders. From today onwards, we have to say: ‘United we stand and
win the harmonised elections 2013’.

“It is very shameful for us people in Manicaland to be known for the wrong
reasons as the most divided province.”
Elsewhere, Information Minister Webster Shamu has also been challenged by
provincial chairman, John Mafa, in Mashonaland West while Bulawayo governor
Cain Mathema’s bid for the Tsholotsho South seat faces opposition from
Jabulani Nkomo, son of late vice president John Nkomo, among others.

Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi is also been challenged in Beitbridge
East, while Sithembiso Nyoni will need to see off Maplot Donga to represent
the party in Nkayi South while.

In Matabeleland North, provincial governor, Thokozile Mathuthu’s bid for the
Hwange Senatorial seat also faces opposition.

However, top officials who were nominated unchallenged include former
information minister and politburo member Jonathan Moyo (Tsholotsho North),
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu (Umguza) as well as party chairman, Simon Khaya
Moyo, who is eyeing the Bulilima-mangwe Senate seat.

Local government minister, Ignatius Chombo, also survived a challenge by
ex-wife Miriam who was disqualified while Dynamos football chairman, while
broadcaster Supa Mandiwanzira will represent the party in Nyanga South.

Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa’s application to represent the party in Seke
constituency was also approved.
Vice President Joice Mujuru, who was not opposed in Mt Darwin West, ruled
out the imposition of candidates saying all seats were up for grabs apart
from those reserved for women.

“Our party is a straight forward party and the rules and regulations that
were set up speak strongly against imposition of candidates,” she told a
meeting of the Mashonaland Central provincial co-ordinating committee on
Sunday.

“The party will not tolerate imposition of candidates, the rules and
regulations have made it clear. If anyone notices any official who brings a
person telling you that this is your candidate that official risks expulsion
from the party.

“Apart from the seats reserved for women all other seats are up for grabs
and we want to ensure that we select the best possible candidates to
represent the party.”

Elections to choose a successor to the fractious coalition government were
due to be held on July 31 but a meeting of the regional SADC grouping in
Mozambique at the weekend urged President Robert Mugabe to approach the
Constitutional Court for a two-week delay.

Mugabe however, said if the appeal failed the elections would go ahead on
July 31.
“Our Ministry of Justice is going to do that to appeal to the court and the
decision of the court then will be binding on us,” the Zanu PF leader said
after the summit in Maputo.

"But if the Court says okay go beyond July 31st by a week or two, I hope it
will satisfy the others who want a little more time.”

How Sadc felled Mugabe

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

Monday, 17 June 2013 16:06
HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and leader of the smaller MDC
Welshman Ncube told President Robert Mugabe in an explosive meeting of
southern African leaders in Maputo on Saturday to stop blackmailing the
people of Zimbabwe by forcing through a sham election.

The 89-year-old leader was embarrassed in Maputo, ironically the capital
city of the country which provided shelter for Mugabe during the
independence struggle.

Mugabe was also told a July 31 poll was a high-risk option that might
paralyse Zimbabwe and end in economic disaster. High-level briefings to the
Daily News yesterday revealed that Tsvangirai and Ncube, who reportedly
conversed before the meeting, virtually roasted Mugabe and left him How Sadc
felled Mugabe confused, apparently having been misled by his advisors.

Tsvangirai and Ncube were leading a high-powered pro-democracy delegation
from Zimbabwe on a one-day visit to Maputo for a summit of the 15-nation
Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

Mugabe walked into the summit with a spring in his step around 12 mid-day
but left crest-fallen, after a damning summit resolution that observers said
constituted a major political faux pas by Zanu PF hardliners that was
damaging and embarrassing to the former guerrilla leader.

After South Africa President Jacob Zuma presented a report to the one-day
summit on Zimbabwe’s readiness for elections, Mugabe was up next and he
immediately launched into his now too familiar history lesson, beginning
with the revolutionary struggle for one man, one vote, continuing to the
Lancaster House agreement, proceeding to the betrayal of the British in
failing to fund land reform compensation, and ending with sanctions.

In a trance-like monologue and speaking in a soft voice, the octogenarian
gave reasons for unilaterally declaring the poll date.

Top government officials who attended the meeting said, slouching and
frequently turning his body as if to find a better position, he would
intermittently straighten up and speak in a louder voice for a few seconds
before lapsing back into the barely audible soft voice, averring that
Zimbabwe was democratic.

He is said to have won backing from Namibia President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

After making his presentation, the MDC leader was next.

Tsvangirai made a compelling case that there was certainly a risk that could
paralyse efforts for a better Zimbabwe and deeper integration.

An official who attended the closed-door session said Tsvangirai made an
“electric delivery” which was simple, straight forward, passionate,
effective saying “he was clearly speaking from his heart”.

He reminded Mugabe that only on Tuesday in Cabinet, all political parties
had agreed that that voter registration commenced on June 10 would be
completed on July 10, 2013 and that the net effect of his proclamation was
to infringe on the Constitutional provisions obliging the 30-day intense
voter registration exercise.

He said by setting the Nomination Court on June 28, he was denying
Zimbabweans two weeks of voter registration.

Tsvangirai told regional leaders that elections in Zimbabwe have never been
about the date but the process and conditions under which it is held.

He said the poll date will be determined by the processes that have to be
carried out to ensure a legitimate, credible and sustainable election.

He reminded regional leaders that this had also been reiterated in numerous
resolutions of Sadc since the Dar es Salaam summit held on March 29, 2007
and as recent as June 1, 2012, at a Sadc summit in Luanda, which resolved
that Zimbabwe was obliged to attend to reforms for a year to June 30, 2013
and that once those reforms were complete, the president and the prime
minister would agree on a date for elections.

The MDC leader said Sadc has chaperoned the process over the last
four-and-half years and had walked Zimbabwean principals through several
summits.

Tsvangirai told the regional leaders that the problem was that he did not
have a “bonafide partner.”

He said the problem in Zimbabwe was Mugabe’s unilateralism, and that he did
not want to consult his partners in the coalition. Mugabe informed
Tsvangirai of the proclamation through a letter.

“We were in Cabinet. He couldn’t write a letter over such an important
matter,” Tsvangirai complained.

He told the regional leaders that the proclamation, coming hardly two days
after sitting with Mugabe in Cabinet, vindicates his claim that he did not
have an honest partner in Mugabe.

“All executive decisions must act in accordance with partners. We were
together in Cabinet, and the next thing he ambushes us with an election
date. What kind of sincerity is that, what kind of people are we dealing
with?” Tsvangirai asked  a quiet summit.

He said right through all summits on Zimbabwe, “you have emphasised four
things your excellencies.”

He listed the four things as a free and credible election, an agreed
election roadmap, economic recovery and lifting of all sanctions; and
finding a permanent and lasting solution to the Zimbabwe crisis.

Tsvangirai spoke of legislative, media and security sector reforms “Wherever
we have worked together, there has been economic recovery, where we lose it
is when we do unilateral actions,” Tsvangirai said to a receptive contingent
of regional leaders.

At the end of his presentation, Tsvangirai asked Mugabe why it should be
about power and not the people.

“I respect the president, he is my president and my elder,” Tsvangirai said.
“I want him to look me into my eye and tell me, is it about power or the
people?

Next up was Ncube, who reportedly floored Mugabe with erudite legal
submissions.

Ncube explained that the new Constitution requires that the new provisions
for the Electoral Law be passed by Parliament and not made by regulation in
terms of another Act such as the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures)
Act.

He said Zimbabwe does not write laws through presidential proclamations.

He said the judgment of the Constitutional Court was against ruling by
decree, yet Mugabe’s proclamation was a classical example of rule by decree.

He said in issuing the election proclamation, the president did not act on
the advice of Cabinet as laid down in the Constitution.

Complementing each other and starting almost every line with the phrase,
“Just to add to what the PM has said...”

Ncube is said to have told the regional leaders that the parties still
needed to negotiate and make the necessary amendments to the Public Order
and Security Act (Posa), Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
(Aippa), the Broadcasting Services Act , Section 121 of the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act and other repressive laws.

After the constitutional law expert’s landmark speech, Botswana President
Ian Khama is said to have said: “Ah, ah, ah,Mr chairman, I think we should
go to lunch and digest what we have heard.”

The regional leaders broke for lunch and returned in the afternoon to debate
the presentations from the Zimbabwe principals.

Mugabe quickly conceded on the need for a fresh court application, saving
the summit of further debate.

But just before conceding, Patrick Chinamasa, Justice and Legal Affairs
minister was seen frantically trying to drill Mugabe with advice but the
Zanu PF leader was said to be shaking his head vigorously.

Immediately after, Zuma’s recommendations were adopted with the net effect
that Mugabe’s proclamation of elections made on Thursday was rendered null
and void.

Government was ordered, through the Justice and Legal Affairs ministry, to
make an application to the Constitutional Court following consultations by
all political parties, seeking to move the date of the election from July
31.

Legal experts say Mugabe has to approach the Constitutional Court, cap in
hand, and seek a variation of the poll date, which he was likely to be
granted.

Alternatively, the Con-Court could rule in favour of Nixon Nyikadzino, who
has approached the same court protesting against a ruling in favour of
Jealousy Mawarire directing that elections be held by July 31, to save him
from further humiliation arising from the dramatic climb-down.

Mugabe, who was the first out of the summit, told reporters he was “happy”
with the outcome of the meeting.

He confirmed Chinamasa was going to appeal against the ruling in line with
Sadc’s instructions. - Gift Phiri, Political Editor

Zuma has belled the cat

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

Monday, 17 June 2013 10:56
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe and his former ruling party, Zanu PF,
received a much deserved royal shellacking from regional leaders at the
weekend.

This followed Mugabe’s amateurish and ill-advised use of the country’s legal
processes last week in his ongoing, but futile attempt to subvert Zimbabwe’s
tentative march towards a more democratic dispensation.

The sum total of the momentous special Sadc summit on Zimbabwe, held in
Maputo on Saturday, was not just the total and public humiliation of the
octogenarian by his regional peers, it also presented streetwise South
African President Jacob Zuma with an opportunity to finally bell the cat
that Mugabe is, ahead of the country’s much-anticipated harmonised
elections.

There is absolutely no-where to run for our wily leader, if he is not to
risk losing Sadc’s support completely, which Mugabe craves badly.

To put it impolitely, the president and his henchmen are in deep doo-doo
right now — and it promises to get worse from here.

As Education minister David Coltart so mischievously observed at the
weekend, the outcome of the Sadc
meeting constitutes a major political faux pas for him and his party — and
is indeed hugely damaging and embarrassing for people with such big egos.

But crucially, it means there is now an opportunity for voter registration
and the inspection of the voters’ roll to be completed before nomination day
if Mugabe sees sense for once and obeys the Sadc directive to complete the
full and agreed rigmarole of steps necessary for the holding of successful,
free and fair elections.

The sad thing for Mugabe is this whole painful experience is entirely
self-inflicted and unnecessary.  It could have been wholly-avoided had he
put the interests of the country ahead of his and Zanu PF’s last week.

Alas, there are people around this tired old man who are clearly determined
to destroy both him and the country.

The extent of the folly of Mugabe’s advisers and spin doctors around him was
reflected in their desperate attempts to portray the Maputo meeting, which
had been needlessly postponed by a week at Mugabe’s request, as to solely to
discuss the sourcing of finance for the forthcoming elections — expected to
cost our cash-strapped country $132 million.

Zuma and team flatly refused to entertain these ruses, and the funding issue
was not discussed at all during the summit.

The result: the summit rudely reminded Mugabe once again that he is the
president of this country only by virtue of the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) which Sadc mid-wifed — not because he won an election!

To this extent, Zuma and colleagues also duly impressed it on him that the
forthcoming elections are necessarily neither court nor time-driven — but
process-driven, hence the recommendation  that he approaches the bench to
move the Constitutional Court’s contested finding that polls must take place
by July 31.

Other major outcomes of the Maputo summit were the pointed directives that
service chiefs desist from their dangerous disposition to dabble in
politics — and that Sadc observers be deployed in the country with immediate
effect to watch over the elections and its preparations.

Our hope is that Zuma and Sadc will keep this firm hand on the steering
wheel until after the polls.

They are Zimbabwe’s last hope. - Staff Writer

Important notices from the Zimbabwe Vigil

Beatrice Mtetwa
Culture without borders
ROHR
Zimbabwe never again

NCA response to the Daily News article

NCA response to the Daily News on Sunday article and Editorial
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), has noted with disgust reports
in the edition of the Daily News on Sunday and on social media alleging that
the NCA Chairperson was part of the ZANU PF list of advisors at the just
ended extra-ordinary session of the SADC summit in Maputo, Mozambique.

The paper alleges on page 2 and the editorial comment on page 8, “At least
67 names for the ‘ZANU PF delegation’ were listed at the Accreditation
Centre, and included Lovemore Madhuku, National Constitutional Assembly
Chairperson, who was listed as a ‘legal expert,’ the article reads.”

The NCA wishes to make it categorical that Professor Lovemore Madhuku was
not in Maputo and never planned to go there. We also wish to tell all
Zimbabweans and solidarity comrades across the globe who seeks the truth
that the NCA has no inclination whatsoever with ZANU-PF. Any suggestions to
the contrary are fictitious and imaginations which unfortunately seem to
have become a day to day experience in our media

The articles are part of a series of lies being peddled by some faceless
online editions who cannot stomach the NCA positions being articulated by
its Chairperson Professor Lovemore Madhuku and the entire leadership.
The article and the comment are themselves proof that the standards of
journalism have gone to the dogs in our beloved country where people are
allowed to publish hallucinations and dreams as facts. It is not only
morally wrong to misinform the readership, but smacks of total disregard of
the people’s right to correct and unbiased information.

The NCA calls on all Zimbabweans to remain vigilant to the idea of a truly
democratic country where debates are civil, we call on the media to be
vigilant in defending the ‘fourth estate’ by being professional and checking
facts and not to reduce themselves to party activists. Theirs is a noble
profession that society must trust.

We are unapologetic in the position we made before the summit that elections
must happen now, a position which has not yet changed. The position which
seems to have peeved those who wish to have their egos massaged and invited
attacks and vitriol for the NCA.

As the NCA we uphold and respect the courts and that their decisions are
binding until the decisions have been reversed. The supremacy of our courts
over anything outside the boundaries of this country is a pillar that should
not be traded for anything.

It is in this spirit that we continue to respect the 31 July date set by the
courts and complied with by the President. Moving forward the country must
work now for the spirit of that judgement which is that the election must be
free and fair.

As the NCA we reiterated that we an independent entity, we are neither ZANU
PF nor either of the MDC formations as suggested by some elements in the
media and sections in the civil society.
We will be however lodging a complaint with the Voluntary Media Council of
Zimbabwe with regards to this issue.
No Retreat No Surrender!! Asijiki!

Blessing Vava
Director of Information

SAPES Trust Policy Dialogue

Its time Cde Leader, its time your Excellence...

After witnessing the drama and halabalulu that transpired over the weekend in Maputo, I am convinced that it’s time for dear Cde Leader and His Excellence to rest and take it easy. As Pricilla Misihairambe said she was “conflicted ... on why the President’s advisors dragged [the old man] to embarrass him in front of SADC” Zimbabwe and the world. Poorly advising him and deceiving him on issues of principle, on issues that bedevil our nation, on the course that a new Zimbabwe should take. My generation, the one whose future was abrogated and violently taken from our feet, the children from 1980 onwards, the ones who got some education but where never able to use it productively for our country. We do envy your courage Mr President but we pity your lack of understanding on who we are, what we want and what future we aspire for. We are forever grateful for being born after the liberation struggle, we are forever grateful for the freedom fighters that delivered a free Zimbabwe that brought us the education we got but we are also saddened by where Zimbabwe is today. We are sure that the ones that perished in pursuit of a free Zimbabwe, the ones that were driven by the need for democracy did not have this current Zimbabwe in mind, one that is ruled by decree, one where state systems are abused at the hand of the liberator so as to selfishly protect personal interests and power.

It is a sad development that it took the whole of SADC and one Morgan Tsvangirai to remind the President and his party that Zimbabwe is not just about “ power, it is about its People” about  the future of our Nation.  One in which we the generation of the 80s and everybody else have opportunities to use our natural resources, education and skills to rebuild our country, our economy, our agriculture, our schools, our roads, our hospitals and all that is Zimbabwe’s. We are tired of being scattered all over the world just to make a decent living. We are not pleased Mr President, we are not happy comrade leader and we are saying our vote is our gun (for a lack of a better metaphor); our vote is our hope that we can democratically rebuild the Zimbabwe that you once aspired to. A democratic Zimbabwe where the constitution is respected, a Zimbabwe where there is clear separation of power. A Zimbabwe where power and politics is left to the people of Zimbabwe young and old, one in which the soldiers and the police protect our vote and our wishes. A Zimbabwe where cabinet and the executive lead our government and implement our policies, where parliament pass laws and develop pro-growth and just policies that benefit us, where the judiciary helps the executive and parliament to protect our rights as citizens and as a people.

We want you Mr President to witness that New Zimbabwe we aspire for, we want you and my grandfather and the rest of our elders in Zimbabwe to witness the downing of a new era, a democratic, developmental and sustainable Zimbabwe. It is a waste of your valuable time and spirit to still bog you with the strenuous affairs of the state and less alone running it. We feel it is not fair to you and to your family to see your wisdom and character being publicly exploited and humiliated at the same time by a selfish few. It’s unfortunate that they continue to hoodwink you and this time they went too far I must say, misleading you in front of the whole world. We don’t want anyone to take advantage of your age and the inevitable decline of your faculties especially in public, Dear Cde Leader, your Excellence we the generation that you call the ‘born frees’, we are grateful but we feel “it is time” for you and other octogenarians to gracefully bow out without this unnecessary humiliation it will taint your sanitised legacy and image forever. We want to assure you that it is not betrayal to us your children to say I have done my part, we are forever grateful to your statesmanship and leadership but it is time for you to pass the buck so that our Nation moves forward...

Bonzo Mukwasha ... Educated, exiled, unemployed youth...

Postponement of Zimbabwe election welcome - Ian Davidson

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/

17 June 2013

DA MP says Mugabe must not be allowed to bulldoze the GPA to his and
Zanu-PF's benefit

DA welcomes Zim election postponement

The DA welcomes the decision by the South African Development Community
(SADC) to postpone elections in Zimbabwe. This is a positive move on the
part of SADC and we call on all parties involved to remain firm on the need
for reforms to take place before elections take place in Zimbabwe.

Yesterday, members of SADC over-turned Robert Mugabe's unilateral decision
to proclaim July 31 2013 as the date for Zimbabwe's election. SADC has
requested that the Zimbabwean Constitutional Court be petitioned to request
a two week extension.

SADC did not discuss funding for the elections and this remains its greatest
leverage in ensuring that elections do not take place unless there are vital
political, media and security reforms.

President Mugabe must not be allowed to bulldoze the Global Political
Agreement to his and Zanu-PF's benefit. South Africa must continue to play a
part in ensuring that the elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair.

Statement issued by Ian Davidson MP, DA Shadow Minister of International
Relations and Cooperation, June 16 2013

SADC summit resolutions on Zimbabwe:

1) Government through the ministry of Justice is ordered and directed
to make an application to the constitutional court following
consultations by all political parties ,seeking to move the date of
the election from the 30 July 2013

2) that the agreed amendments to the electoral act which had been
purportedly been made into law by the President using the Presidential
Powers(Temporal Measures ) Act be brought to parliament this Tuesday
for debate and adoption.

3) that the SADC facilitation team and the troika team appointed in
Livingstone sit in Jomic and not merely receive reports as demanded by
Zanu PF

4) that an Inter Ministerial Committee be appointed to deal with
implementation of agreed issues on media reform and the monitoring of
hate speech in all media

5) that the security forces publicly state or restate their commitment
to the rule of law in particular their complete adherence to section
208 of the constitution.

6) that within the time parliament has remaining the parties negotiate
and make the necessary amendments to POSA, AIPPA, the Broadcasting Act
,section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act etc

7) that SADC observers be deployed immediately consistent with the
SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections

8) that any other issue and the implementation of the above be
overseen by the facilitation team.

--
MDC Information & Publicity Department
Harvest House
44 Nelson Mandela Ave
Harare
Zimbabwe
Tel: 00263 4 770 708

--

PM Tsvangirai's address to the SADC Extra-ordinary summit