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Zimbabwe Police Deny Investigating Finance Minister Tendai Biti

http://www.bloomberg.com/

By Godfrey Marawanyika and Brian Latham - Jun 25, 2012 6:36 PM GMT+1000

Zimbabwe’s police denied investigating the country’s finance minister after
a state- controlled newspaper yesterday reported a probe.

Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Sunday Mail cited police saying they were
investigating Tendai Biti, who is also secretary general of the Movement for
Democratic Change party, over a $20 million International Monetary Fund loan
deposited in Zimbabwe’s Interfin Bank, a unit of Interfin Financial Services
Ltd.

Wayne Bvudzijena, the main spokesman for the police, said in an interview
that he hadn’t spoken to the Harare-based newspaper and was unaware of any
probe. Biti didn’t answer calls to his mobile phone when Bloomberg sought
comment today.

Biti’s MDC party shares power with President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe
African National Union-Patriotic Front under a 2009 agreement brokered by
the Southern African Development Community because elections the previous
year were deemed flawed.


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New radio broadcast ends ZBC monopoly

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

25/06/2012 00:00:00
by AP

ZIMBABWE’S first licensed commercial radio station has gone live, ending a
32-year monopoly by the state-controlled broadcaster and meeting some
demands to free up the nation’s airwaves ahead of proposed elections.
Star FM radio said Monday it will broadcast hourly news bulletins and
50-second headline summaries.

The station is owned by Zimbabwe Newspapers, publishers of newspaper titles
loyal to President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

The 24-hour station announced a schedule strongly weighted with music
programmes. When licensed last year by the Broadcasting Authority appointed
by Mugabe, it was billed as Zimbabwe Talk Radio. No reasons were given for
the name change.
The authority was criticised for licensing a station closely linked to the
main Herald daily newspaper.

A second radio station – ZiFM Stereo – which is fronted by the former ZBC,
Al Jazeera and SABC TV news reporter Supa Mandiwanzira is still to announce
a launch date.
Mandiwanzira said on Monday: “The launch is imminent. The latest would be
August, but I expect us to begin broadcasts in July.”

Mandiwanzira said ZiFM would also stream online – and they were seeking
authorisation from the broadcasting authority.

Two short-lived independent stations were shut down in 2000 over allegations
they were operating illegally.


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Chinese tycoon bankrolls CIO, rewarded with diamonds

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
25 June 2012

A mysterious Chinese business tycoon, benefiting from his access to diamonds in Zimbabwe, is reported to have ploughed US$100 million into the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to fund covert operations against the opposition.

According to pressure group Global Witness Sam Pa, who is based in Hong Kong, is also funding ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe’s re-election bid in return for favourable access to the controversial diamond mining operations in Marange, plus opportunities in the cotton industry and property development inside Zimbabwe.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Monday Nick Donovan from Global Witness said part of the money Sam Pa gave to the CIO was used to buy over 200 Nissan pick up trucks. SW Radio Africa has over the years documented how most of these vehicles have been used in the abduction of hundreds of opposition activists.

Money from Mr Pa was also used to finance ‘Operation Spiderweb’ which included the jamming of broadcast signals from foreign based independent stations like SW Radio Africa. It also sought to undermine the profiles of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance Minister Tendai Biti, among many others.

With Biti complaining that Treasury was getting little or no money from the diamond mining operations controlled by ZANU PF, army and CIO chefs, it appears people like Mr Pa are effectively being used to finance a parallel government and oil ZANU PF’s ‘war chest’ ahead of possible elections next year.

Global Witness say because the MDC-T controls the Finance Ministry the security forces have sought “off budget funding” for their operations. Mr Pa arrives “at monthly intervals at Harare airport in a white Airbus A319CJ private jet and departs with (high quality) diamonds.”

Donovan told SW Radio Africa that former arms dealer Mr Pa runs a network of companies in Zimbabwe in which many CIO bosses are directors. Some of them include Gift Kalisto Machengete, Pritchard Zhou and Masimba Ignatius Kamba who are directors in Sino Zimbabwe Development.

Global Witness believe that the activities of Sam Pa, Sino Zimbabwe Development and diamond mine company Anjin Investments should be investigated, “to see if their actions undermine Zimbabwean democratic institutions or risk funding future human rights abuses and therefore meet the threshold for being placed on targeted sanctions lists.”

Mr Pa (aka Antonio Famtosonghiu Sampo Menezes) and his colleagues Xu Jinghua and Sam King, hold leadership positions in a network of companies known as the Queensway syndicate. This opaque network of more than 60 companies is notorious for dealing with corrupt regimes in Angola, Guinea and other places.

The Global Witness study concluded that the “syndicate has a track record of opaque ‘resources for infrastructure’ deals across sub-Saharan Africa.

One report by the Economist magazine highlighted how two companies in the syndicate entered into an “ethically dubious deal with the Guinean military junta in 2009, signed just weeks after security forces killed over 150 protestors and raped over 100 women in a stadium.”

New Report on Marange Diamonds – Global Witness


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Malema wades into Zuma over Zimbabwe

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
26 June 2012

Former ANC Youth League President Julius Malema believes President Jacob
Zuma is not the right person to be the SADC mediator in Zimbabwe because ‘he
hates Robert Mugabe.’

Malema told the state controlled weekly Sunday Mail that Zuma hated Mugabe
and his ZANU PF party because of their support for former South African
president Thabo Mbeki.

‘He has very strong views about President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF. All you
see is very pretentious and it’s not helpful at all,’ Malema said in the
interview, which saw the Sunday Mail travel to Johannesburg to cover the
story.

His comments have been described by analysts as an attempt to put a wedge
between Zuma and Mugabe but they have been dismissed as a non- event by the
South African President’s foreign policy advisor.

Lindiwe Zulu told SW Radio Africa that any attempt to force Zuma to step
down as mediator, by vilifying or concocting stories to try to force issues,
will not work.

‘To be honest we don’t comment on such issues (Malema’ statement) but what I
want to tell you is that our road is straightforward as far as the mediation
process in Zimbabwe is concerned.

‘Right now, our facilitation team is waiting for a go-ahead to fly to Harare
and meet the negotiators who are busy working now to try and resolve issues
in Zimbabwe,’ Zulu said.

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga confirmed
that the negotiators from all parties in the GPA were meeting in Harare to
finish revising the final draft of the constitution.

‘We’re starting from where we left off last week and hope to finish this
document soon,’ Matinenga said. The group met incommunicado in Nyanga last
week and dealt with first six of the 18 chapters in the draft charter. It is
expected they might work on all the remaining chapters this week.

When this happens, they will give Zuma the green light to assess the country’s
readiness for an election, which could take place next year. The GPA
negotiators, together with Zuma’s facilitation team, will meanwhile have to
prepare an exhaustive agenda as the anticipated trip could turn-out to be a
make-or-break indaba.

Two years ago ZANU PF invited Malema to Harare where he was treated to a
lavish lifestyle. He held a series of meetings with ZANU PF and capped off
his trip by meeting Mugabe.

South African based political analyst Luke Zunga said utterances by Malema
through the state media could have been a plot by ZANU PF to use it against
Zuma in order to collapse the constitution making process.

‘The plan, which by all standards looks amateurish, was to present SADC with
the information suggesting Zuma hates Mugabe and therefore cannot be
impartial in his mediation process.

‘We all know ZANU PF has been against Zuma and will do everything to pull
him down, including using the discredited Malema to further their agenda,’
Zunga said.

He continued: ‘The problem with that is Malema is of less relevance in South
Africa now. He is out of the ANC and so if he is speaking he’s probably
doing so on behalf of ZANU PF. That rant was a stunt to get people talking
about his continued existence on this planet. It won’t cause any diplomatic
rift between South Africa and Zimbabwe but it will obviously raise a few
eyebrows between the ANC and ZANU PF.’

Others believe Malema’ statement reflected the ‘mistake of one man, and not
of the South African state.’ Obert Gutu, the MDC-T deputy Minister of
Justice, took to the social networking site, Facebook to take a dig at
Malema.

‘I have stated it before and I will repeat it here and now…one Julius Malema
should go back to school. This boy is content free, an empty vessel making a
lot of noise. President Jacob Zuma will be re-elected as ANC leader in
Mangaung in Dec 2012 whether or not Malema likes it,’ Gutu said.


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$20million IMF funds missing from failed Interfin bank

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
25 June, 2012

An investigation was launched by the Zimbabwe Republic Police this week into
the disappearance of $20 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
which were given to Interfin Bank by the Finance Ministry.

The IMF gave the money to Zimbabwe in 2009 as part of an emergency facility
meant to help distressed manufacturing companies. The police claimed their
investigation centred on Finance Minister Tendai Biti, but he told The
Sunday Mail he had transferred the money to Interfin.

Interfin is involved in another case with businessman Gilbert Muponda, who
is suing the bank for $15.4 million, saying they took over his assets at
Century Bank and rebranded it Interfin. Muponda told SW Radio Africa that
Interfin is now “under curatorship” because of its cash problems.

“It was found the bank had a negative capital balance of $107 million, which
the bank claims to have loaned to their clients. But some of these clients
were found to be related to officials at the bank,” Muponda said. He added
that a thorough’ due diligence’ of every dollar that went into the bank over
the last year will be conducted by an independent curator.

Interfin CEO, Farai Rwodzi, is himself a controversial figure who was
allegedly the proxy for the late Retired Army General Solomon Mujuru’s
financial affairs. It is widely believed the bank was used to launder money
from corrupt ventures, including government contracts received without
tender.

Last year Rwodzi was arrested and charged with espionage, along with his
partner at Africom Holdings, Simba Mangwende and Oliver Chiku from Global
Satellite Systems. The state accused them of conniving to send official
government secrets to the United States, Canada and Afghanistan.

The charges were later changed to setting up satellite equipment without
permission, but from the beginning there were suspicions something else was
at play. SW Radio Africa later received information that the case centered
around Rwodzi. The state later dropped the charges.

Interfin highlights the economic chaos that has developed in Zimbabwe due to
a lack of the rule of law and the culture of greed that has taken over the
country.

The ZANU PF so-called “empowerment” policy has allowed thugs to seize
properties and companies owned by foreigners with impunity. Officials with
connections to top chefs have also looted everything from farms to
businesses.


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Biti to present economic review

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

25/06/2012 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo

FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti faces tough choices when he presents his half
year economic review this week with the 2012 national budget already thrown
off the rails by underperforming revenues with initial growth projections
now clearly unachievable.

The US$4 billion 2012 National Budget had projected 9,4% economic expansion,
underpinned by growth in the mining and agriculture sectors. But both
sectors have failed to perform to expectations while liquidity challenges
that have plagued the economy over the last few years remain.

The coalition cabinet recently held an emergency meeting over the economy
after it emerged that revenues would this year fall far below expectations
with Biti principally blaming the alleged non-remittance of money from
diamond sales.

Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai recently claimed only US$25 million had
been received from diamond sales against projections of about US$600 million
for the whole year.

Biti has already hinted he may have to revise downwards his growth
projections and he will also be under pressure to find money for food
imports after this year’s maize crop was hit by drought in some parts of the
country.

Compounding his problems is the possibility of new elections this year which
would have to be preceded by a constitutional referendum, all of them
expensive exercises for which the government just does not have the money.

Analysts have also warned Biti will need to make available increased funding
for economic performance enablers such as the energy ministry, in particular
the power utility Zesa, as well as rehabilitate the country’s dilapidated
telecommunications and roads infrastructure.

Economist Brains Muchemwa said corporate bankruptcy was on the rise and
urged Biti to press for changes in the country’s labour and bankruptcy laws
to safeguard corporate solvency and help create a soft landing for companies
on the brink of collapse.

“Without these changes, the economy will remain fragile, and indeed
government revenues will continue to exhibit sustained weakness,” he said.

“Government will need more creativity to broaden the tax revenue base in
ensuring that the financing of the budget was sustainable in a manner that
would be able to influence the macroeconomic activities more positively.”

Muchemwa also said the government must consider new taxation regimes for
valuable mineral classes such as diamonds and platinum warning that without
such changes incremental revenues from the normal taxation activities will
continue to be fragile.

Economic consultant John Robertson has also urged Biti should allocate more
money to sectors that have strong primary multiplier effects on employment
creation so that the secondary effect on
government revenue creation would assist in repaying the country’s loans and
put the economy on a sustainable growth path.

“We need to start creating the platform for reviving the defunct middle
class. And the government, being the single largest player in the market
now, should have the right priorities in place to create a
sustainable middle class to cultivate strong and rising domestic demand that
will provide the vital anchor for growth,” Robertson said.

“An economy, just like a private company, needs to run on goodwill and
competitive economic pricing. And with the dollarised economy, good times
lie in waiting.”

Muchemwa added that Zimbabwe needed a strong private-public sector
partnership framework that would revive its infrastructure much faster and
put an end to fiscal antics of attempting subsidies on empty coffers.


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WOZA protesters demand people’s constitution at parliament

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
25 June, 2011

The parliament building was the site of a demonstration by members of the
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) pressure group, who were demanding the
immediate release of a new Constitution.

WOZA coordinator Magodonga Mahlangu told SW Radio Africa they decided to
protest because parliamentarians have been “bickering” over the draft
constitution and ignoring what the people said during the outreach exercise.
She said they want the draft completed and a referendum held so that the
country can move forward.

The group organized two separate protests that converged on parliament, with
the members distributing flyers explaining their demands. The police, who
have disrupted WOZA demonstrations violently in the past, allowed the
members to sit near parliament, peacefully chanting and shouting their
demands.

“They had no choice but to behave. We came determined not to leave if they
beat us. And especially after the second group arrived and sat down, we told
police if you beat one of us we will not disperse,” Mahlangu explained.

She said although it was difficult to count the number of WOZA activists who
participated in the protest, she estimated that between 600 and 700 of their
members took part. They threatened to organize a national boycott of any
election without the new charter.

WOZA has been at the forefront of street demonstrations that focus on what
the group describes as “bread and butter issues”. On many occasions their
peaceful events have been violently disrupted by the police, seeing many
members being hospitalised and others arrested and tortured while in
detention.

The group also has several court cases pending, as they have been the target
of trumped up charges by the police, using repressive legislation such as
the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Criminal Codification Act.


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Zuma Not in Zim this Week:Zulu

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, June 25, 2012 - South African President Jacob Zuma will not visit
Zimbabwe this week to help resolve sticking Global Political Agreement (GPA)
as reported as he is busy with his African National Congress (ANC) policy
conference, Lindiwe Zulu Zuma's international relations advisor said.

Zuma, the facilitator to the GPA negotiations by the country's three main
parties MDC-T, MDC and Zanu PF was expected this week to help parties iron
out the election roadmap to allow fresh elections to replace the coalition
government formed in February 2009 after disputed violent elections in June
2008.

"President Zuma will not be in Zimbabwe this week. I don't know where the
other press is getting that from. President Zuma will be busy with the ANC
policy conference this whole week. There is no way he can be out of the
country," Zulu said over the telephone from her base in South Africa.

But she said:"The negotiators have been meeting and the negotiations are
currently on-going."

The Sunday Times of South Africa had reported Sunday that Zuma will be in
Zimbabwe on Monday or Tuesday, quoting an official of one the party
negotiators to the GPA.

Zuma was tasked by the last SADC summit to ensure that the three parties
complete the constitutional making process with a referendum held
thereafter.

According to the GPA Zimbabwe must write a new constitution which will be
followed by a referendum to allow fresh elections which will bring an
elected government by the people through the ballot unlike the negotiated
unity government.

But the constitution making process has been delayed for the past year after
parties were failing to agree on issues such as devolution of power and lack
of funding for the process which is mainly funded by donor countries from
Western nations.


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Chipangano strikes again

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gift Phiri, Chief Writer
Monday, 25 June 2012 16:33

HARARE - The installation of a Zesa power substation at a site where a $1,2
million service station and food court is being built in Mbare reignited
fresh grim threats from Chipangano thugs on Saturday.

Just as construction of the substation was nearing completion, menacing Zanu
PF-affiliated Chipangano militia swooped on the site being built by Mashwede
Diesel on Saturday morning, and ominously warned workers to stop putting up
the substation or face harsh consequences.

Developer Alex Mashamhanda, 62, said he was taking the threats from the
Chipango seriously, and had lodged a police report with Matapi Police
Station.

He said the determination by Chipango to stall the project was surprising
given that there has been no objection to the construction and occupation of
the site from the local authority.

“We are putting up a substation. We paid Zesa $50 000 for the construction
of the substation. We have to foot part of the construction. Our failure to
complete it inconveniences Zesa, it inconveniences us,” a distraught
Mashamhanda said.

He said Chipangano have used the same modus operandi, where they dispatch
emissaries to warn workers to stop construction, failure to heed the warning
results in physical violence.

The Chipangano militia has since December been hell-bent on stalling
construction of the $1,2m service station and food court in the populous
ghetto ostensibly
because the developer is a mainstream MDC supporter, an allegation
Mashamhanda strenuously denies.

Mashamhanda has approached the High Court seeking a protection order, which
was duly granted in February by Justice Samuel Kudya against Zanu PF
Politburo member Tendai Savanhu, Zanu PF Harare province youth chairperson
Jim Kunaka and Alfonse Gobvu, who Mashamhanda alleges are determined to
derail his project.

Despite the unequivocal protection order, the Chipangano militia threatened
Mashwede Diesel workers once again on Saturday in blatant contempt of court.

Kunaka yesterday rejected allegations that he had anything to do with the
latest threat.

“Mashwede or Mashamhanda should go to a psychiatric hospital because he is
always alleging that I have done this and that,” a fuming Kunaka told the
Daily News.

“I am in Murehwa right now, ndiri padare rasabhuku vangu, ndakauya marimwe
zuro (on Friday). Hameno kuti ndomuka chipoko here kana kuti chii?”

Mashamhanda, who sustained soft-tissue injuries in a January attack by the
militia, said it was not a secret that Kunaka was behind the threats.

“They threatened the construction workers, they made enquiries why we are
putting up that thing (Zesa substation).

“They said we must stop constructing or we will come and beat you up,”
Mashamhanda told the Daily News.

“We reported to the police. I spoke to the member-in-charge. No one has been
injured, we don’t want anyone to be killed.”

Harare police spokesperson James Sabau said he needed to check finer details
about progress in the case.

The menacing emissaries reportedly descended on the construction site, which
is next to Matapi Police Station, around 9:30am on Saturday, and dished out
the grim threats within ear shot of the police.

“It’s a repetition of what has been happening,” Mashamhanda said.

The brutal and politically-connected Mbare-based militia has resorted to
violence after failing to sway the MDC-run council from stopping
construction of the service station.


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‘Service Chiefs will eat humble pie’

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Lloyd Mbiba, Staff Writer
Monday, 25 June 2012 16:36

HARARE - Welshman Ncube, the president of the smaller MDC has equated the
army service chiefs to former Rhodesian statesman Ian Smith who once swore
during his reign that blacks would never rule Zimbabwe.

Ncube said the service chiefs will like Smith eat “humble pies”. Commenting
on social networking website Twitter on Saturday, he said the securocrats
should be cognisant of history as it will repeat itself.

“Remember that even Ian Douglas Smith vowed that Zimbabwe would never in 1
000 years see majority rule.
“But we all know, in a few years Smith ate humble pie. The
violence-threatening army generals will certainly eat humble pie. No army,
no General Chiwenga or Chedondo will break the resolve of a united people,
we should be united and principled in our collective agenda,” Ncube added.

He urged the people to be united against the generals and not to be
intimidated by their threats. “There is no force that can defeat the
collective force of united people.”

McDonald Lewanika, national co-ordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition, a constellation of at least 350 civic organisations said the army
needs to be de-politicised and re-oriented into society as it serves and
protects the people.

Lewanika was speaking at a lecture series entitled: The role of the army and
police in a country, facilitated by the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai on Friday.

“The problem is that we have emanates from the armed struggle for
independence where soldiers were told that their strategy will not be
military alone but political also.

“No attempts were made to de-politicise the army when we attained
independence. There is need therefore to educate our armed forces that they
have no place in politics,” Lewanika said.

Senior army officials have publicly declared their allegiance to Zanu PF,
vowing not to respect any democratically- elected president who is not
Robert Mugabe.

Police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri, defence forces commander
Constantine Chiwenga and army generals Douglas Nyikayaramba and Martin
Chedondo have recently grabbed headlines for publicly supporting Zanu PF.

In recent weeks, Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief of staff, major general
Martin

Chedondo, stirred a storm when he said soldiers must be involved in national
politics so they remained “loyal and defend the nation’s territorial
integrity and interests”.

Last year, brigadier-general Douglas Nyikayaramba declared that no one would
rule Zimbabwe without any revolutionary credentials, insinuating that Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC would not be allowed to become President
even if he wins elections.

Nyikayaramba, who has since been promoted to the post of major-general, was
repeating a similar statement by service chiefs, who a few years ago vowed
that they would not salute anyone without liberation war credentials, even
if that person won elections.

Lewanika said the role of the army in elections was to respect the will of
the people and protect it.

“Military should be subordinate of civilian rule and not the other way
round,” he added.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition national co-ordinator, further said people
should not be afraid of the army and should also openly air their views.

Lewanika urged the MDC to desist from violence and push their agendas
through dialogue.

“You are a democratic party and you should lead by example. It is known that
violence is in the DNA of Zanu PF but we don’t expect the MDC to be
violent,” he said.


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Judge reserves bail judgment in Glen View murder case



Monday, 25 June 2012

High Court judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu has reserved judgment in the bail
application filed today by 29 MDC members seeking leave to appeal for bail
at the Supreme Court.

The 29 MDC members facing false charges of murdering a policeman and public
violence in Glen View, Harare last year were denied bail by Justice Bhunu
when the trial kicked off early this month.

The Judge cited that there were no exceptional circumstances in the bail
application to show why the accused be granted bail.

They have been in remand prison since their indictment.

Today in court, the defence lawyers cited several instances why the 29
members should be granted bail including that some of the accused had been
granted bail before their indictment for trial but none had breached their
bail conditions.

The State is opposing the application.

Meanwhile, the trial of the 29 accused resumes tomorrow with an in loco
inspection in the morning at the scene of the crime at Glen View 3 Shopping
Centre.

The people’s struggle for real change: Let’s finish it!!


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Unicef launches rural water programme

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Gugulethu Nyazema, Senior Writer
Monday, 25 June 2012 16:28

HARARE - United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) will tomorrow launch the
rural Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene (Wash) programme in Tsholotsho, designed to contribute to the
Millennium Development Goal for water and sanitation.

The Millennium Development Goals’ aim is to halve, by 2015, the proportion
of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation.

Under the Wash programme, Unicef has intensified measures to mitigate and
avert the rapid spread of cholera and other water-borne diseases. This has
been achieved by making safe water available to communities and through
promotion of good hygiene practices.

Unicef has assisted with the provision of safe water through water trucking
to different communities since 2007 to supplement erratic water supplies.

According to Unicef , the Wash programme was extended to cover other suburbs
which urgently required water during the cholera outbreak.

More than 500 000 litres of water were made available to communities
throughout Zimbabwe daily through water trucking.

Unicef also guaranteed the availability of clean and safe water to residents
by making water treatment tablets available to the people.

Further to assisting during emergency situations, Unicef has begun
supporting water supply and sanitation system rehabilitation in urban
cities, small towns and growth points.

Unicef will further develop capacity in urban and rural councils in the
operation and maintenance of the water works.

As a long-term measure, Unicef continues to ensure safe water to communities
through supporting borehole drilling across the country.

In addition, it has provided assistance through drilling of 200 boreholes in
urban communities mostly affected by cholera in 16 districts.

Unicef also supports safe water and sanitation facilities in all rural
schools and 5 300 hygiene kits were distributed across all Zimbabwe's
primary schools.

In addition, close monitoring of the cholera outbreak in districts is
on-going as a measure of targeting Wash interventions in various districts.


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Sata’s US $50 Million Campaign Maize for Mugabe Rejected

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

Zambia Report 11 hours 7 minutes ago

Zambian President Michael Sata’s more US $50 million maize ‘donation’ to
Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe for election campaigns has been rejected
as gross interference in that country’s internal affairs.

Writing for Bulawayo24, Wright Musoma has asked Sata to stay away with his
donations and allow Zimbabweans to make independent decisions free of
inducements.

“The revelations that president Michael Sata is donating millions of tonnes
of maize worth more than $50 million to Zimbabwe to aid President Robert
Mugabe win the coming presidential elections is quiet sad, and we would like
to ask him to stay away from Zimbabwe immediately,” he said.

Sata has been acting like a Father Christmas recently giving Malawi 5
million litres of fuel when his country had none for consumption and
Zimbabwe maize while his country is wallowing in abject poverty.

“When it comes to choosing a leader, it’s imperative that the Zimbabwean
people are given the choice and room to choose the leader of their choice
and not Sata imposing a leader on them,” Musoma states.

There has been growing resentment with protests at Zambian missions in the
UK and Washington by Zimbabweans against Sata’s interference in the affairs
of their country after the Zambian head of state turned himself into a
Mugabe vuvuzela at a recent SADC meeting.

Musoma’s statement is one of the many voices that is opposing Sata’s ugly
face from showing up in Zimbabwean politics.

“We know that Sata and Mugabe are the same and that’s the reason why he is
working hard to ensure that his friend wins and it’s also the reason why out
of all the presidents in the world, Michael Sata has chosen to be very close
to Robert Mugabe. They are both dictators,” he states.

Musoma is wondering why Sata is doing all he can to help Robert Mugabe win
the election even when he has ruled for more than 30 years and is now quite
old and visibly weak with wrong and selfish motives.

“What is that which Sata expects Mugabe to achieve for the people of
Zimbabwe which he has not done in more than 30 years he has been in power?

“Any way, the Zimbabwean people are the ones who have the power through the
ballot box to choose who they want to lead them. If they still feel that
there’s no one else in all the land of Zimbabwe among the 13 million people
who can lead them, it’s really entirely up to them.”

Musoma cautioned Sata against exploiting his country’s taxpayers to support
a tyrant like Mugabe.

“I strongly feel that Mugabe and Sata should not continue to insult the
intelligence of the Zimbabwean people. Mugabe should step aside and let
fresh blood take over,” he said. “As for president Sata, once again please
stay away from Mugabe and stop meddling in the affairs of Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabweans are displeased that Sata is showing support for Mugabe when
world leaders had settled the Zimbabwean was a tyrant who had driven his
people away through dictatorial rule.


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Zimbabwe Rolls Out Anti-Smoking Campaign

http://www.voanews.com

25 June 2012

Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington DC

The Zimbabwean government embarks on an anti-smoking campaign this week
hoping to convince hundreds of thousands of tobacco smokers to quit the
practice that kills about 6 million people around the world every year.

The health ministry will officially launch the campaign in Binga, northern
Zimbabwe on Friday where officials will highlight the dangers of smoking.

Tobacco smoking is associated with fatal lung and heart diseases such as
heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and the chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, among others.

Health Minister Henry Madzorera says the nation-wide campaign targets both
active and passive smokers as they face the same risks. He took a swipe at
tobacco companies for running deceiving ads to entice smokers, especially
the young.

"We are dealing with an industry that opposes our campaign," Madzorera said.
"They go all out to advertise smoking as if it is good. They show you nice
beautiful girls, half-dressed as if to say if you smoked you would get one
of them."

Besides facing stiff resistance from tobacco companies, the government
awareness drive is sure to run into trouble with farmers whose livelihoods
are anchored on the golden leaf.

As is in many countries, lighting up in public places such as buses, clinics
and restaurants is outlawed in Zimbabwe, and officials say they will remind
non-smokers they have a right to report those who smoke in a prohibited
place.

Social commentator Mandlenkosi Gatsheni told VOA for the anti-smoking
campaign to bear fruits, the government should disseminate its message in
the media in addition to other methods.


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Pay dispute threatens June exams

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Monday, 25 June 2012 12:00

Herald Reporter

THE June 2012 public examinations are in danger as workers are threatening
to strike over late payment of US$420 000 housing allowances by the Zimbabwe
Schools Examination Council.
Zimsec has yet to implement a court order to pay its 290 workers over US$420
000 in outstanding housing allowances dating back 12 months, although the
council is owed US$1,9 million by the Treasury in what amounts to subsidies
to keep examination fees affordable. Zimsec still has an appeal pending on
the

Labour Court ruling to pay allowances.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart is now involved in
trying to resolve the dispute.

At the weekend he said he held a meeting with some of the board members last
week as part of the measures to resolve the impasse.
“I met Zimsec board deputy chairperson (Mrs Hilda Shindi) who also chairs
the committee and I

ordered the board to go back to the workers to resolve the issue,” said
Minister Coltart.
The Minister said the problem was that Zimsec operates on a tight budget and
is still owed US$1,9 million by Treasury.

This, he said, has affected the entire system as well as creating cashflow
problems. “It is my hope that the workers will get something soon because
they are an important instrument in the processing of public examinations
and day-to-day running of the examination body,” said Minister Coltart.

What sparked off the latest unrest at Zimsec were reports, believed by the
workers, that senior managers were granted loans amounting to US$50 000.
Workers feel that the agreement over their allowances has to be implemented
first, using available funds.
There are now growing fears that the disgruntled workers are likely to throw
into disarray the finalisation and processing of the examinations currently
underway as the workers are mooting an industrial action to force management
to pay them.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement entered between Zimsec management and
workers on June 6 last year by the Works Council was signed as a total
package.
All the relevant authorities endorsed the agreement.
Workers had demanded a 56 percent increment and US$210 in housing
allowances, while the examination body was offering 10 percent. To end the
stalemate,

workers and management later agreed that sums set aside for housing,
vehicles and personal use, as well as the budget for leave encashment could
be used to fund workers’ allowances and that the money saved on not filling
vacant posts could be used to increase salaries and allowances. Having found
the money then it was possible to distribute it.

Calculations were done with cash from loans coming to US$420 000, which
could then be converted to increase workers’ allowances and salaries.
After management moved away from the agreement, the workers approached the
Labour Court, which ordered the examination body to pay the US$420 000.

A spokesman for the National Education Union of Zimbabwe—a body that
represents the workers — Mr Matthius Guchutu yesterday accused the
examination body of violating labour laws.

Zimsec, he said, had invited “solidarity” action as it was failing to honour
a binding CBA signed between the workers and Zimsec management in June last
year.
“We are left with no option but to take the route of an industrial action.
They agreed to pay the workers but nothing has come to date. Morale within
the workers is low.

“Despite taking the legal route we have also engaged Minister David Coltart,
who also ordered them to honour that agreement but there are no efforts to
pay the workers,” he said.

“The employer (Zimsec) including the Board has taken a stance to defend the
non-justifiable expenditure of the amount agreed for housing allowance in
the 2011 works council meeting. A series of meetings have been held to try
and twist the agreed position.

“What the management should know is that the workers they are denying
allowances are the same workers who are involved in the processing of
examinations and as such they should be treated with respect,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Zimsec Board chairperson Professor Norman
Maphosa were fruitless as he is out of the country. His deputy Mrs Hilda
Shindi declined to comment.

“Professor Maphosa speaks on behalf of the board,” she said.
Zimsec public relations manager Mr Ezekiel Pasipamire yesterday insisted the
matter was still pending at the courts.

“To us we are still waiting for the court’s decision since the board made an
appeal,” he said.


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Bloated parliament to accommodate women

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

25/06/2012 00:00:00
by NewsDay

ZANU PF and the two main MDC parties have agreed controversial new plans to
establish a bloated Parliament with close to 400 legislators.

The measures are contained in a new draft constitution. The parties resolved
to retain the 210 parliamentary seats, 88 Senate seats and add a further 60
seats for female lawmakers.
Under the new arrangement, Parliament will now have 368 lawmakers in both
the Lower and Upper Houses.

The 60 female MPs will be seconded by political parties on a proportional
representation basis in line with the number of seats the parties would have
garnered in elections.

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga confirmed
the development, saying: “That issue was agreed on — three to four weeks
ago — and it will be in the draft.”

President Robert Mugabe last month told a continental women’s lobby group in
Harare he was mulling affirmative action to increase women representation in
Parliament.

But Joy Mabenge, chairperson of an economic lobby group, the Zimbabwe
Coalition on Debt and Development, accused the parties said the additional
constituencies would be a drain on the national purse.

“We used to do well with 120 MPs,” Mabenge said. “The country’s geographical
boundaries have not expanded, neither has its population risen significantly
and it boggles the mind why the number of parliamentarians keeps on
increasing.

“The money given to the legislators can be channelled to education, food
provision and health care needs of the people such as antiretroviral drugs.”

Political analyst and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Charity Manyeruke said
seconding 60 female legislators was an unnecessary cost as the women quota
could still have been achieved within the 210 seats.

“Men are not prepared to share power with women and that is why they come up
with special circumstances to increase women representation in Parliament,”
she said.

“It’s the same as saying women are giving us a burden; let us just give them
the seats yet they are capable of winning an election if given space to
campaign freely.”

She said women were victims of patriarchy but evidence had shown they were
capable leaders.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said such a bloated Parliament for only
13 million people was unsustainable.


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Favourable ranking for Zim in ACBF report

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Written by Ivan Zhakata, Staff Writer
Saturday, 23 June 2012 19:07

HARARE - Zimbabwe has been ranked ninth in the African Capacity Indicators
(ACI), capacity development for agricultural transformation and food
security report published by the African Capacity Building Foundation
(ACBF).

The country scored 48,6 points, with Ghana recording the highest score of
60,2 among the 42 countries surveyed by the ACBF.

Zimbabwe had an ACI index value of approximately 50 points and an ACBF
disbursement of over $1 million.

According to ACBF, a specific composite index is built for agriculture and
it is the harmonic average of four cluster agriculture indices namely,
agricultural strategy formulation and implementation, training, research and
development/innovations in agriculture, role of private sector on the value
chain and information systems.

Zimbabwe has an Agricultural strategy of 50 percent and a training
innovation of 52,4 percent which is slightly above average.

The role of private sector and information systems stood at 23,8 and 9,5
percent respectively while the ACI in agriculture was 54,8 percent, which is
also above average.

The ACBF report noted the country’s overall performance in agriculture and
food security was good.

The majority of countries were between with 33 and 55 percent.

Only five countries, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Cote d’ Ivoire and Mauritania were lowly ranked.

According to the ACI, ACBF is contributing to scaling up capacity
development achievement in the country. ACBF early this month approved five
grants totalling over $13 million for projects in Zimbabwe and South Sudan.

Two regional and two national projects in Zimbabwe received a total of $10,8
million placing a total investment in Zimbabwe since 1992 of $26,4 million.

South Sudan received a grant of $2 250 for the South Sudan Capacity Building
Project (SSCBP).

The two regional programmes in Zimbabwe are the Women’s University in Africa
(WUA) and the Project of Lecturers and Workshop in Peace, Leadership and
Governance in Africa by Eminent Persons (Pearl).

The two national projects are the Capacity Development Program for the
ministry of Regional Integration and International Cooperation in Zimbabwe
(Moriic) and the Zimbabwe Capacity Development Programme (ZCDP).

Finance minister Tendai Biti has forecasted the country’s agricultural
sector to grow by 11,6 percent in 2012 taking into account increased
funding facilities established by government, the banking sector,
co-operating partners, seed and fertiliser suppliers.

Biti has however, announced that he would review the country’s growth
projections in his mid-term fiscal policy review next month amid indications
the 9,3 percent growth for this year would not be achievable under the
prevailing conditions.


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Rehabilitation Works And Is A Torture Survivor's Right

Human rights Forum

26 June 2012

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) joins the rest of the
world in commemorating the United Nations (UN) International Day in Support
of Victims of Torture on 26 June. In commemorating this day the Forum
remembers those who have died and those who are destined to spend the
rest of their lives in a state of trauma as a consequence of torture.
Internationally, torture is regarded as a crime against humanity and the
perpetrators are viewed as “the enemies of all humankind”. It is an
indictment
against the state that torture continues to exist in Zimbabwe despite it
being
prohibited in the Constitution.
The theme for this year’s commemoration, “Rehabilitation works and is a
torture survivor’s right” exhorts all states, as the custodians of the
peoples’
rights, to provide mechanisms to rehabilitate torture victims as a right. It
is
therefore sad that the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and
Integration, set up under the Global Political Agreement, is still to
execute its
mandate of interrogating measures to rehabilitate both individual survivors
of
torture and their communities. Instead of harassing and undermining human
rights defenders, the Forum urges the state to partner the human rights
watchdogs in the fight for torture survivors’ rights, including
rehabilitation.
Zimbabwe is a nation with a long history of gross human rights violations
abetted by a culture of impunity. The now pervasive culture of impunity has
led to lawlessness and abuse of power by some law enforcement agents. This
abuse of power and lack of respect for the law was recently demonstrated by
Shamva police when they severely assaulted residents at Canterbury Mine
resulting in the death of one person.
Over the years, torture, cruel, inhuman and/or degrading treatment has
become a central element of state agents’ treatment of persons perceived as
state opponents. Torture has been used to intimidate, punish and extract
confessions from criminal suspects, political activists and human rights
defenders as well as members of the public. Victims and their families have
had to bear the brunt of dealing with the aftermath of torture on their own.
Working on the consensus that torture is inhuman and degrading for both the
victims and perpetrators, it is incumbent upon our society to take
responsibility
for past acts of torture and provide appropriate remedies for victims thus
enabling them to carry on with their lives. Rehabilitation is the remedy
which
empowers the victims of torture to resume as full a life as possible while
encouraging perpetrators to repent.
This year’s commemorations are significant as they come at a time when the
Government of Zimbabwe has announced its commitment to ratify the UN
Convention Against Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and/or Degrading Treatment and
its Optional Protocol and subsequently criminalise torture. The Forum urges
the government to translate its commitment into action as a matter of
urgency
and implores it to establish structures and institutions for the
rehabilitation of
victims of torture.
Forum members
• Amnesty International-Zimbabwe
• Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe
• Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe
• Justice for Children Trust
• Legal Resources Foundation
• Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe
• Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe
• Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change
• Research and Advocacy Unit
• Students Solidarity Trust
• Transparency International-Zimbabwe
• Women of Zimbabwe Arise
• Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the
Offender
• Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
• Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust
• Zimbabwe Human Rights Association
• Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
• Zimbabwe Peace Project
• Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association


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What is torture?

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

TORTURE is the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical pain or
suffering by or with the consent of state authorities for a specific
purpose. Torture is routinely used to punish, to obtain information or a
confession, to take revenge on a person/s or create terror and fear within a
population.

Some of the most common methods of physical torture include beating,
electric shocks, stretching, submersion, suffocation, burns, rape, sexual
assault and beatings underneath the feet also known as falanga.

Psychological forms of torture and ill-treatment, which very often have the
most long-lasting consequences for victims, commonly include: isolation,
threats, humiliation, mock executions, mock amputations, and witnessing the
torture of others.

Article 1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) defines torture as;
“... any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental,
is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from
him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act
he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or
intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on
discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or
at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public
official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include
pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful
sanctions.”
This convention requires member states to take effective measures to prevent
torture within their borders.

Optional Protocol to the UN Convention
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (OPCAT).

In many countries, torture occurs in places of detention, such as prisons,
police stations and detention centres.

In some cases, prison, police or detention personnel are not aware that
their actions may constitute torture, and detainees are not always aware of
their right to freedom from torture.

The Optional Protocol, or Opcat, which came into force in June 2006, is the
first international instrument that aims at preventing torture in places of
detention and at protecting persons deprived of their liberty.

The Opcat oversees the set-up of not only an international supervision
mechanism but also of independent national bodies to implement human rights
standards locally.

At the international level it creates the subcommittee on Prevention of
Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. At
the national level, state parties to the Opcat are required to establish
National Preventive Mechanisms, a requirement which enhances ownership of
the process of supervision, benefits prevention through adding local
knowledge and improves effective follow-up.

Impunity and torture
In all regions of the world, the crime of torture is committed daily against
men, women and children with impunity. In most cases, no one is prosecuted
and punished for the crime. Impunity is the failure of the state to fully
investigate violations, bring to justice and punish perpetrators, provide
victims with effective remedies, and take all necessary steps to prevent a
recurrence of the violation. Impunity means that nothing prevents torturers
from repeating their crimes.

It sends a clear message to torturers that their crimes are tolerable. Where
impunity is prevalent there is no deterrent, torture can be committed
without perpetrators having to risk arrest, prosecution or punishment. When
torturers are not punished, there is a risk that torture will generate into
a widespread or systematic practice.

Torture in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has not ratified the UNCAT and its optional protocol. Further,
torture is not criminalised.

The current constitution of Zimbabwe provides only for the protection from
inhuman treatment in section 15.

At the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Zimbabwe government
committed itself to ratifying the Convention and its optional protocol and
to criminalise torture.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum urges the government to fully implement
this commitment.


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A new ‘indigenous’ stock market for Zimbabwe?

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

I WONDER if designers of the indigenisation laws considered the practical
ramifications of the 51% indigenous ownership rule particularly in the case
of publicly-listed companies. It is effectively means that 51% of all
publicly-traded companies required to comply with the laws will be
restricted to a market of indigenous investors. Not only does it require
vigilant and systematic monitoring, but it is apparent that there will
inevitably be a distortion of the stock market.
25.06.1207:53pm
by Alex Magaisa

Just in case not everyone is familiar with the operation of stock markets
where listed companies’ shares are traded, perhaps a little very basic
description is in order.

There are two types of companies – private and public. The latter is allowed
to market its shares to the public whereas the private company is not.
Usually, most companies start off private, with less onerous obligations.
But the company’s ability to raise funds from the public is limited since it
is restricted from selling shares publicly.

So as the business grows, it makes sense to convert from private to public
company status. For practical purposes, it also makes sense to
simultaneously have the company’s shares listed on a stock exchange, such as
in our case, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

The stock exchange is the equivalent of Musika, the farmers’ market. The
shares are there for all to see and for anyone to buy just as the farmers’
tomatoes from whatever part of the country are there for all to view and buy
at Musika. The main purpose of listing is to bring your company’s shares to
a platform where they will be visible to and tradable by more people. And
because you are seeking to raise capital, it makes sense to list on the
shares musika.

To extend the analogy further, the Mrehwa farmer figures it probably makes
better business sense to bring his tomato harvest to MbareMusika than to
stand by the roadside along the Harare – Nyamapanda road. He knows the
market at MbareMusika is bigger than at the roadside market. In the same way
owners of public companies who wish to raise more funds know that they must
go to the stock market and use the facility to sell the company’s shares to
the wider public.

Usually, the biggest companies are listed on the stock market. But because
the shares can be bought and sold by and to any person, there is always the
risk that the founder can lose control of his company – hence the phenomenon
of friendly and hostile takeovers of companies. There is a whole body of
literature analysing the pros and cons of takeovers but suffice to say it is
a natural phenomenon arising from the public character of the stock market.

As we have seen, the beauty of the stock market is that Investor A can sell
his shares to Investor X without ever having met each other; without ever
having spoken a word between them – these transactions usually take place
through professionals called share brokers. Investor A can be a red
Zimbabwean selling his shares to Investor X who is a blue Zimbabwean or a
green European. All Investor A needs is money for the value of his shares.
What prompts him to sell is probably that the company’s share price on the
stock market would have risen because the market perceives that the company
is doing well.

But there has to be someone available and willing to buy and he does not
want the cost of searching and verifying the identity of the buyer. In fact,
such searches could reduce the market’s efficiency – it negates the whole
aim of listing company shares and facilitating ease of trades.

With the indigenisation laws, however, it means 51% of the company must at
all times remain in the hands of the indigenous as defined in the law. As an
indigenous investor, you must sell your shares to another indigenous
investor. You no longer have the liberty to sell to anyone else.
Essentially, it means that the market for indigenous share owners in listed
companies will have to be restricted to indigenous buyers only for to sell
to a foreigner would upset the balance.

The implication of this is the creation of a severely restricted ‘secondary’
market for indigenous investors. It also means a severe distortion of the
stock market and limitations in terms of access to capital for Zimbabwean
listed companies – since at least 51% of what they seek can only be raised
among locals.

But then, what if the indigenous buyers are limited or unwilling to pay the
price? This punishes even the honest and hard-working indigenous investor
who owned shares before the inception of this rule because suddenly he finds
himself with a restricted market of indigenous buyers.

I could go on and consider how this will affect the take-overs market
especially where companies are really struggling and need another company to
bail them out via take-over.

I could go on and discuss the difference in the types of securities issued
to investors – preference shares, ordinary shares, debentures, etc – issued
by companies seeking to raise capital and how this will also be affected by
the regulations.

The larger question, of course, is how all this will be enforced going
forward. Unless there is a formal indigenous securities’ market, it’s
difficult to see how the restrictions on sales will be enforced on a regular
basis. And it will prove cumbersome for indigenous investors to trade their
shares without flouting the regulations.

In addition, it’s hard to see how publicly listed companies can be made
accountable for change of ownership of shares between investors. Once given
to the indigenous investors, the company can have no control over what the
indigenous investor does with the shares. The share represents the investor’s
interest in the company and the investor has a legitimate right to deal in
the share as he deems fit. The indigenous investor is free to keep or sell
the shares in accordance with stock market norms. To restrict him would be
to deny him his freedom, too and therefore negate the whole essence of
empowerment.

Perhaps the state would have put in place a rule that gives them the right
of first refusal in the public share market. This would have the effect that
whenever an indigenous investor wants to sell his shares, he would be
obliged to make a first offer to the state which would decide whether or not
to buy. But surely, if the state had the resources to buy the shares in
public companies, they would simply have bought 51% of every foreign-owned
company and then sell on the shares to indigenous Zimbabweans. The state has
no money.

In fact, inserting the right of first refusal would not work just as it didn’t
work in relation to the land issue when the state failed to maximise on its
right of first refusal for many years after independence in 1980. In any
event, the state has a poor record in business management as evidenced by
the demise of almost every company in which it has a majority interest, the
ailing Air Zimbabwe being a prime example. Furthermore, it would have the
potential to create a bureaucratic and cumbersome process that would cause
stock market inefficiencies.

As I have always maintained, I have no problem whatsoever with the theory
behind policies to take ordinary people out of poverty and to benefit local
communities from natural resources. Some people think when we are critical
and point to loopholes that we are stridently opposed to ideas of
empowerment. No, we are not. We simply plead that there be some modest
investment in careful thought before taking steps that ultimately kill the
proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs.

I am not sure if the practical ramifications discussed above were considered
and if so, whether there are mechanisms in place to deal with the
challenges.

When all is said and done, the great tragedy is that there is no ideological
shift at all behind the indigenisation agenda – it is not challenging the
neo-liberal capitalist system – rather it is an attempt to remove the shoes
from the feet of one set of owners of capital and into them place the feet
of a new set of owners, albeit bearing a different complexion. There is
nothing original or revolutionary about it and that is what is really and
truly sad. - wamagaisa@yahoo.co.uk


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Zimbabwe: key factors to prosperity part 2

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

The curse of Africa
Vince Musewe
25 June 2012

The curse of Africa is its inability to efficiently allocate and spend its
resources mainly due to corruption and the lack of managerial capacity

In my last article I identified some key factors for Zimbabwe's prosperity
these being; leadership accountability, the efficient collection and
allocation of financial resources, the use of technology to accelerate
economic development and the respect and preservation of human capital so
that all Zimbabweans have the opportunity to live up to their full
potential.

Here I want to deal with the issue of the efficient collection and
allocation of financial resources.

It is evident that Zimbabwe has suffered some institutional paralysis with
regard to the effectiveness and efficiency in the collection and allocation
of government revenues. In addition the banking sector has not particularly
been the best allocator of resources. The recent closure and or curatorship
of some banks due to bad loans reflect the challenges with regard to optimal
resource allocation currently faced by some of our banks.

The curse of Africa is its inability to efficiently allocate and spend its
resources mainly due to corruption and lack of capacity. Africa is not poor
but Africans remain poor because corruption remains one of the most
injurious practices that continue to contribute to the underdevelopment of
Africa by Africans. Added to this is the lack of managerial capacity
especially at public sector level where there is significant waste and
mismanagement of resources.

The continuous over statement by Zimbabwe's minister of finance of expected
revenues in every budget speech indicates a disconnect between what the
state estimates should happen and what is actually happening. It is quite
correct to assume that large amounts of funds are being externalized out of
Zimbabwe at the expense of the fiscus. In addition to this, is the sheer
waste of resources due to inappropriate priorities and a not so efficient
tax collection regime. A good example is the recent comments by the minister
of education that Zimbabwe is spending more on travel than education.The
result is that the government both under spends and misspends on critical
services leading to further deterioration of the standard of service it can
render.

Zimbabwe will not only need to create new institutional capacity but a new
value system within the public sector so that its resource allocation is
optimal. Whether this is possible or not remains to be seen.

Zimbabwe needs an estimated US$10 billion for the rehabilitation of its
infrastructure. That is a considerable amount that is likely to cause much
grief if the corruption and inefficiency we are now witnessing continues.
The rehabilitation of Zimbabwe's economy will be a challenge and will
require a new and transparent approach in the management of public
resources.

With regard to the financial services sector, I think our banks will need to
have a bias towards developmental expenditure and creating access to capital
for entrepreneurs without the onerous requirements of traditional banking
practice. Financial institutions tend to create artificial barriers to entry
for new players through their conservative lending approach.

We will need to explore other funding mechanisms that appreciate that
Zimbabwe needs to accelerate its development while, of course, managing the
risk. We must therefore see a restructuring of the financial services sector
both on the regulatory front and on investment philosophies. Pension funds,
micro lenders, asset managers and private equity funds will have to play a
leading role in reviving the Zimbabwean economy.

Having been in Zimbabwe for the last month, I have observed that red tape,
slow decision making and a general lax in customer service have permeated
both government and the private sector. This is disappointing and can be
frustrating to entrepreneurs. Zimbabwe must up its game if we are to attract
new investments and achieve social delivery objectives.

I do agree that the fundamental drawback is the current political
uncertainties but I have also noticed high levels of negativity about the
future especially in our local newspapers. Zimbabweans are inadvertently
shaping a terrible future for themselves in their heads by anticipating the
worst case scenario. Unfortunately what this does is that it creates a false
momentum towards failure.

We need think positively because nobody is going to take this country to the
next level except Zimbabweans themselves.

Vince Musewe is an independent economist currently in Harare and you may
contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com


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5 Other People Ruining Zimbabwe

http://www.foreignpolicy.com
It's not just Robert Mugabe's fault the country is such a mess. (Just mostly.)
BY ERIN CONWAY-SMITH | JUNE 25, 2012

When Robert Mugabe turned 88 in February, he celebrated with five massive cakes, a soccer tournament dubbed the "Bob 88 Super Cup," and a beauty pageant. "The day will come when I will become sick," Mugabe told Radio Zimbabwe, according to AFP. "As of now I am fit as a fiddle."

Fortified with Botox, vitamin shots and black hair dye, Mugabe still seems pretty feisty, last week running down civilians with his motorcade and taking a bloated entourage to the United Nations sustainable development conference in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is limping along, its economy broken and its government barely functioning. But while Mugabe continues to get all the international attention, he can't be held solely responsible for Zimbabwe's ongoing turmoil. Here's a list of five people who also deserve a bit of the blame.

1) Emmerson Mnangagwa

Known as "Ngwena," or "The Crocodile," for his reputed brutality, Mnangagwa is Zimbabwe's defense minister and the current favorite to succeed Mugabe. A veteran of the guerrilla war against the British, Mnangagwa went on to head the secret police in the 1980s, and he is thought to have orchestrated the slaughter of about 20,000 ethnically Ndebele civilians by a North Korean-trained army unit in the 1980s. Sokwanele, an activist group, called him "perhaps the one figure in Zimbabwe to inspire greater terror than President Mugabe."

More recently, Mnangagwa was Mugabe's chief election officer during the violent 2008 runoff vote, when thugs from the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), waged a bloody intimidation campaign against opposition supporters. The Sunday Telegraph reported in April on a secret pact: Mugabe allegedly told Mnangagwa he would anoint him his successor -- as long as he ensured Mugabe's victory in the second round of voting. Mnangagwa dismissed this as mere noise intended to stir up interparty conflict. But according to Zimbabwe political analysts, "The Crocodile" is fighting hard in Zanu-PF's continuing power struggles.

Mnangagwa is also heavily involved in the construction of a military college near the capital, Harare, dubbed the Robert Mugabe National School of Intelligence, the Zimbabwean newspaper reported last year. Built by a Chinese construction company, the college has been financed with a $98 million Chinese loan, funded by a diamond deal with Chinese firm Anjin Investments. Mnangagwa recently admitted to Zimbabwean military involvement in the diamond trade, telling a university audience in Gweru that the Army struck deals with Chinese and Russian diamond firms to counter Western sanctions.

2. Saviour Kasukuwere

As indigenization and empowerment minister, Kasukuwere presides over the notorious 2010 law that forces foreign-owned companies to cede 51 percent of their shares to black Zimbabweans. This indigenization program has made Kasukuwere, 41, the youngest Zanu-PF minister, "a rising political star," according to South Africa's Times newspaper. He has vowed to intensify the program, claiming it will give Mugabe a boost in the upcoming election.

Kasukuwere, who in April confusingly claimed to Zimbabwe's Newsday that he is the "Hitler of our time," has been doing his best to terrify already nervous foreign investors. He announced that the government had unilaterally seized a controlling stake in an unspecified number of mines and threatened to take over another, owned by South Africa's Impala Platinum, without offering any compensation. Kasukuwere said he is seeking justice for his people and a restoration of rights to national resources. "If that is Hitler, let me be a Hitler tenfold," he told Newsday.

3. Morgan Tsvangirai

Many Zimbabweans credit Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader turned coalition partner to Mugabe, for helping bring relative peace and stability to the country. But his critics say the country's stability has nothing to do with Tsvangirai, pointing instead to Zimbabwe's adoption of the American dollar and an increase in foreign aid. Ministries in their joint government barely function, and few of the reforms agreed to under the power-sharing deal have been implemented. In a leaked diplomatic cable, U.S. Amb. Charles Ray said in late 2009 that the party Tsvangirai leads, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), lacked strategic vision.

Tsvangirai recently got engaged to the daughter of a high-ranking Zanu-PF official, and while there's no accounting for love, it is an odd choice given the continuing turmoil between Mugabe's party and Tsvangirai's MDC. His late wife, Susan, who died in a car crash less than a month after Tsvangirai became prime minister, in 2009, was hailed as "a mother of the nation." Zimbabweans are left wondering why Tsvangirai is marrying into the Zanu-PF, the party that has brutalized thousands of MDC supporters.

4. Obert Mpofu

The mining minister Mpofu has a tight grip on the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), the company that controls the Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe -- home to an estimated 25 percent of the world's diamonds. But little of the country's diamond revenue has found its way into state coffers, amid allegations of widespread smuggling and plunder of Marange's riches.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said he only received $122 million in diamond revenues last year, money desperately needed to fund government projects, despite the country producing $334 million worth of gems. Mpofu, who calls himself Mugabe's "ever obedient son" and also has close ties to Beijing, has been struggling to explain why he is suddenly a very wealthy man.

5. Jacob Zuma

South African President Zuma is supposed to be facilitating talks on Zimbabwe's political crisis. After the disastrous 2008 elections, regional bloc known as the Southern African Development Community appointed Zuma as facilitator of dialogue between Zanu-PF and the MDC. Zimbabweans hoped Zuma would succeed in pushing for Mugabe to be held accountable.

But Zuma has been widely criticized for his utter lack of progress. "Revolutions have been conceived and executed and elections held, or due to be held in Tunisia and Egypt while Mr. Zuma is still trying to organize one election," the Zimbabwean said in April. "Mr. Zuma should also understand that there is a cost in human lives being lost in Zimbabwe while this procrastination over agreed reforms is going on."

Zuma, overdue to return to Harare to meet with leaders in the unity government, seems preoccupied with political maneuvering at home ahead of a crucial African National Congress conference later this year. A spokeswoman for the South African mediation team said Zuma isn't there to "babysit" the process. Zuma has called for patience, but with elections nearing, political violence mounting, and the country going broke, time is running out.

Robert Mugabe, however, seems to be going strong.

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