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MDC to press ahead with intervention despite ZANU PF objections

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
19 May 2009

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC will press ahead with referring all
outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement to SADC and the African
Union for arbitration, despite ZANU PF's objections.

Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party rejected the move by the MDC to refer their
dispute to African leaders describing it as 'premature'. Nicholas Goche, the
ZANU PF negotiator in the dialogue that led to the GPA, told the Herald
newspaper the discussions between the principals have not yet reached a
stage where there was need for arbitration.

But the MDC has already sent out letters to SADC and the AU, officially
requesting them to intervene. It is not known when these organisations will
respond.
Goche, a ZANU PF MP and Minister of Transport in the inclusive government,
said the fact that Tsvangirai indicated that 95 percent of issues had been
resolved, meant the discussions were close to conclusion.
He is also quoted telling the Herald that the principals have not yet
declared a deadlock and this meant some progress had been made during their
meetings.

On Tuesday a highly placed MDC source said the three principals to the GPA
in met again in Harare and agreed on all issues except two - believed to be
that of Gideon Gono and Johannes Tomana, the central bank governor and
attorney general.

The source told us the principals have also tasked Arthur Mutambara to make
an announcement on the progress. 'Mutambara has been tasked to make that
announcement. He will also give details of areas where there is a deadlock.
Where there is deadlock, the principals are believed to have agreed to seek
SADC's help for arbitration'.  The source also said this announcement would
be made Thursday. But no one is holding their breath as many deadlines and
promises of announcements have come and gone in the past, with nothing
happening.

Simon Muchemwa, our Harare correspondent, said the decision by the MDC to
seek SADC's help might have triggered concern in ZANU PF circles as
evidenced by this recent flurry of activity in the party.

'ZANU PF is now on overdrive berating the MDC for turning to SADC and the
AU. Don't forget the announcement on Sunday by Tsvangirai to seek regional
help came a few days after he said they had made progress in the talks,'
Muchemwa said.

 'The fact that Jacob Zuma, who is seen more aligned to Tsvangirai than
Mugabe, has been asked to lead SADC efforts to find a solution, looks to
have jolted ZANU PF into action. Its machinery, the state media, has come
out guns blazing, castigating the MDC for referring an issue still under
discussion,' Muchemwa added.


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Lawyers march in protest over harassment

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=16656

May 19, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Zimbabwean lawyers on Tuesday defied a police ban and marched
through the streets of Harare to protest against government's alleged
harassment of lawyers and journalists.

The march was staged around lunch time in central Harare. The lawyers had
earlier met in a hotel where a decision was taken to defy a police directive
to ban the march.

Prominent human and media rights lawyers such as Beatrice Mtetwa and Alec
Muchadehama took part in the lunchtime protest.

MDC legislator and parliamentary chief whip Innocent Gonese joined in the
march which started at the High Court, proceeded along Samora Machel Avenue
into Fourth Street and then turned into Central Avenue where the protestors
gathered outside a new government complex which houses the offices of the
Ministry of Justice.

The lawyers staged their peaceful protest under the watchful eye of
anti-riot police outside the government offices. For about 15 minutes they
hoisted placards with messages denouncing violations of lawyers and media
rights.

Some of the placards read, "Stop Abductions Now" and "Rule of Law not Rule
by Law."

The police officers cooperated with the lawyers and granted access to three
representatives into the government offices to present a petition.

The Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa and his deputy Jessie Majome were
not in their offices when the lawyers presented the petition.

"The ministers were not in the office but out gallant sister Irene Petras
slipped the petition under door for the minister to have sight of the
petition upon arrival," said a representative of the lawyers Chris Mhike.

Petras is the Director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

Mhike said the march sought to highlight the continued harassment of lawyers
in their line of duty.

"The march is a protest against the violations of the lawyer's rights," said
Mhike.

The march by the lawyers comes barely a week after the arrest of prominent
human rights lawyer Muchadehama and two Zimbabwe Independent newspaper
journalists.

Muchadehama was charged with seeking to improperly release a group of human
rights and political prisoners that he has been representing. A clerk of the
High Court was also arrested on the same charges.

The journalists were arrested for allegedly publishing falsehoods after the
Zimbabwe Independent ran a story naming members of the state security
agencies who were involved in the abduction of political and human rights
activists last October.

Several other lawyers have been threatened with arrest for carrying out
their official duties. A High Court judge has in the past indicated that a
prominent Harare rights lawyer might be charged for utterances that were
made against the High Court.

The lawyer had said that the independence of the judiciary was highly
compromised after the court had denied bail to a group of human and
political activists facing charges of banditry and insurgency.

Two lawyers from the ZLHR were arrested in February after they presented
themselves at the Harare Central police station. They intended to act on
behalf of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members who had been arrested for
staging a demonstration in Harare.

The lawyers, Rose Hanzi and Tawanda Zhuwarara, were charged with inciting
violence. They were granted bail and had been appearing in court on remand
but were on Friday summoned to the Harare Central police station in
controversial circumstances.

"We hope that the message we have been trying to get across has got through
that the legal profession should be treated with the respect it deserves,"
said Mhike after the march. "We should not be punished for simply exercising
our duties."

In the petition left at the Ministry of Justice, the lawyers said they
wanted the government to act on the harassment.

"Your urgent attention to these issues will be sincerely appreciated," reads
the statement by the Law Society of Zimbabwe in part.

"Lawyers will be particularly grateful for an assurance from your office and
the ZRP that the independence of the legal profession shall be upheld in
Zimbabwe and that harassment of the legal profession shall stop
 immediately."


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WOZA and MOZA take to the streets of Bulawayo to deliver demands to government

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
 

woza_marches_through_byo_01.10.07

Press statement from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) 18th May 2009
WOZA and MOZA take to the streets of Bulawayo to deliver demands to government

Over 1,000 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to articulate their demands to the power-sharing government. They chose to protest today as the first 100 days in office draws to a close. The protest started at four different locations, converging on Mhlahlandlela Government Complex. There have been no arrests reported at the time of this release.
The song sung by the peaceful protesters rang out through the streets of Bulawayo - 'We are not scared to reveal failures of this inclusive government, boboza (expose it').
Two protests began earlier than scheduled as members were eager to start. On arriving at the government complex, they handed over their list of demands and placards to the guards at the gate before sitting down to await the arrival of the rest of the participants. Bystanders were amazed to note the peaceful women and men arriving in waves and join each other seated in at the complex. Many followed the protestors to receive the newsletter outlining WOZA's demands and to observe the spectacle. Five thousand copies of the newsletter were distributed during the four processions; all were grabbed by eager bystanders, not a single one remaining to litter the streets. People reading the list of demands were heard to be debating the content as the demonstration went by.
10 police officers came out of the Police Drill Hall as members sang their songs at the complex but they just watched and then moved off, going about their business. There were many police officers around the four starting points but they did not take action other than to call or radio in that a protest was underway. At one location, police officers were heard commenting that WOZA should not have allowed the 100 days to elapse before demonstrating. A man in plain clothes was overheard telling the civil servants at the gate, "these women are helping you."
After the peaceful group had disbursed, a police vehicle with two officers arrived and were seen leaving with placards and copies of the newsletter left with the guards at the gate. Some placards read, 'restore the rule of law', 'provide social welfare' and 'fix the education system'.
The protest and the list of demands handed over to the government complex today follows wide consultations with members in Bulawayo and across the country. WOZA has been conducting meetings and workshops preparing members to hold the power-sharing government accountable for the promises they make.
This has been part of the Take the Step campaign, designed to encourage Zimbabweans to continue with the civic participation that they demonstrated in March 2008.
As part of our campaigning we have been reminding people to look beyond the words and promises - ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. As we march today, government should get the message loud and clear - enough talking, more doing. We have been patient for long enough.

Background
As part of discussions on the first 100 days, WOZA members were asked what they thought the power-sharing government should have prioritized in their first 100 days in office.
To do this we asked their responses to this question:
If you were President or Prime Minister or even Minister of Finance or Education and you had 20 days left what 20 things would you concentrate on first?
We then selected the top five answers out of 20 and compiled the list of priorities. 6,520 members completed the petition and below is a summary of contributions.
100 Days of the Government of National Unity - an analysis of priorities
10 months have passed since the Global Political Agreement was signed.
They promised to "build a democratic and just, inclusive society free of fear, violence, patronage, corruption and to ensure a better life for all Zimbabweans". They promised to "arrest the fall in living standards and reverse the decline of our economy", and "an end to violence, respect for human rights and freedoms of expression and assembly, economic and social justice, security sector reform, constitutional reforms and national healing."
On 11 February this year, Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister and a few days' later ministers and deputy ministers were sworn in. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said in his speech, "For too long our people's hopes for a bright and prosperous future have been betrayed. Instead of hope their days have been filled with starvation, disease and fear. A culture of entitlement and impunity has brought our nation to the brink of a dark abyss. This must end today." He promised "jobs for those who wish to work, food is available for those who are hungry, and where we are united by our respect for the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens. This is the debt we owe to our liberation heroes and our democratic movement heroes who paid the ultimate price so we could all live together free from fear, hunger, and poverty." He said he would restore a free media, the rule of law and Zimbabwe's devastated agricultural sector.
He promised to open a "new chapter for our country" and told us he had three
priorities: 1.Democratisation 2. Ending the humanitarian crisis 3.
Stabilising the economy
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? WOZA heard them talk and reminded each other that
- actions speak louder than words. We continued to encourage each other to Qhubeka/ Take the Step /Yendera Mberi. We continued to demand respect for human rights and social justice through non-violent protest. We waited to see what they would do during the first 100 days. We know that our country has been destroyed and cannot be fixed overnight BUT we also cannot just sit and watch and do nothing. The 100 days has come and gone. Now we have to remind politicians we are impatient for a better life - we deserved it yesterday and want it TODAY. We march today to demand concrete progress on the promises made.
WOZA consulted members in Bulawayo on what they thought the power-sharing government should have prioritised in their first 100 days in office. They responded to this question:
If you were President or Prime Minister or even Minister of Finance or Education and you had 20 days left what 20 things would you concentrate on first?
We then selected the top five answers out of 20 and compiled this list of priorities. 6,520 members completed the petition and below is a summary of contributions.

1. Fix the education system:
.    We want free or affordable better quality education, with resources
for our children and teachers who are motivated by descent salaries.
.    Teachers still look at parents as their employer while the real
employer, government, looks on helplessly.
2. Urgent reforms to stabilize the economy:
.    Reintroduce local currency as soon as possible because not everyone
can access foreign currency and afford to use it. Find a way to bring back a stable Zimbabwe dollar currency.
.    Audit finances at RBZ and Gono should be investigated for corruption
and either be fired or resign.
3. Restore the healthcare system:
.    We need affordable fees for clinics and hospitals and enough
affordable medicines.
.    Pregnancy no longer means celebrating a birth but pain and suffering
due to high costs; demands for bribes and bad service. Nurses and doctors must be told to treat patients with respect. They must also earn a living wage that dignifies them.
.    Please allow people a dignified death - buy more storage fridges and
clean up mortuaries.
4. Better quality, affordable and efficient service delivery from ZESA, City Councils and Tel One:
.    They keep increasing their tariffs but at the same time they
decrease their service. Make sure people are getting a clean supply of water. Reduce telephone tariffs and improve service.
5. Create employment and opportunities:
.    We want jobs for all and those with jobs require a living wage that
enables them to afford to get to work and eat three meals a day.
.    Offer civil servants a decent salary.
.    Allow people to get trading licenses and tell police to stop
treating vendors like criminals.
.    Encourage informal and cross-border trading by capacitating ordinary
people with self-help projects and training so that they will be able to create more business on a small scale, which will automatically boost industry.
6. Restore the rule of law:
.    Enforce the rule of law and respect for property rights.
.    Police corruption is steadily increasing; weed out corrupt police
officers. We demand an end to the public looting of vendors' goods by police. Citizens need to be protected against indiscriminate harassment.
Implement the deal points about training of police.
.    End the violence by police on citizens. There is too much police
brutality.
.    Withdraw trumped up charges against prisoners.
.    Repeal the sections in law (POSA sections) that violates civil
rights immediately.
7. Basic commodities - food for all:
.    Food needs to be affordable and available. Reduce prices on a par
with regional prices to stop profiteering
.    Free and unhindered access to food aid for those who cannot feed
themselves.
.    Adequate food for prisoners.
8. Fix transport infrastructure:
.    Repair roads. Improve transport for the easier movement of goods and
passengers.
.    Make fuel more affordable and accessible.
9. Housing:
.    There needs to be affordable housing for all - make rents reasonable
and build more houses.
.    A special compensation programme of housing for Murambatsvina
victims.
10. Resuscitation of industry:
.    Inject funds into industry.
.    Encourage investment to get our economy back on its feet.
11. Provide social welfare:
.    A decent pension for elderly, care and support for orphans and the
disabled must be catered for.
12. Start a national healing process:
.    Make the President apologise to the nation.
.    There should be an investigation into human rights abuses and crimes
against humanity and those guilty should be removed.
.    We need peace and an immediate end to violence. We need to feel safe
in our own country and own homes.
13. Have media freedom:
.    Fair and equal coverage of all government officials. We want to hear
them speak on ZBC and not have voice-overs telling us what they are saying.
We want the truth from our media.
.    We want more independent media - newspapers, radio and television.
14. Write a new constitution followed by elections:
.    Speed up the process for a new people-driven constitution. No
president can hold more than 2 terms of office.
15. Equality for all:
.    Stop discrimination. Equal allocation of resources to all provinces
and people.
.    Support gender equality programmes to gain women's participation in
all aspects of life - business, leadership.
16. Improve international relations:
.    Restore international relations - not only East or West, but all.
Make sure that we have good (and equitable) trade relationships with regional and international countries.
.    We would like to thank our neighbours and the international
community for helping us in our time of need. Please keep it up.
17. Re-establish agriculture and initiate a genuine land-reform programme:
.    Stop selective distribution of land. Stop illegal invasions. Be
serious about agriculture because our country depends on farming. Give land to productive people.
.    Fair distribution of inputs. Biased distribution means starvation.
.    Compensation for those who had their farms taken.
If I was the Minister of Home Affairs:
.    Remove Police Commissioner Chihuri who allows officers to abuse
peoples' rights and loot their goods.
.    Reduce the cost of passports.
.    Allow people to get birth certificates and identity documents at
regional offices and make it easy for them.


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Rights lawyers and WOZA activists appear in court

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
19 May 2009
Two human rights lawyers, Tawanda Zhuwarara and Rose Hanzi, appeared in
court Tuesday to stand trial for allegedly participating in a demonstration
organized by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA).  Hanzi told SW Radio Africa
that she was arraigned before the courts, together with her colleague and
eight WOZA activists. They were arrested on 10th February and charged under
the Criminal Law Act for participating in an illegal gathering that was bent
on breaching the peace.
The lawyers deny breaking the law and say they were just returning to their
offices after a lunch break when they were caught up in the arrests of the
WOZA activists. Last month their case failed to start after some police
officers considered as the State's witnesses failed to turn up in court. The
trial continues on May 28th.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) say: "Regrettably, they were
caught in the crossfire of further indiscriminate arrests carried out by the
ZRP arising from a demonstration outside Parliament building in Harare by
WOZA. With the complicity of Parliamentary staff, they were unlawfully
detained in the Parliament Guard Room, until police details removed them to
Harare Central police station."
The rights group said summoning the two ZLHR lawyers to court is likely to
toughen tensions between partners in the inclusive government. Last week the
MDC-T condemned the arrest of prominent human rights lawyer Alec
Muchadehama.
Meanwhile, the ZLHR reports that last Friday a Chipinge Magistrate, Samuel
Zuze, reserved judgment to 22nd May in the case of jailed MDC MP for
Chipinge East, Mathias Mlambo, after defence lawyers applied for bail
pending appeal. The MP was sentenced to 10 months in jail for allegedly
'defeating and obstructing a police officer during the discharge of his
duties'.


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Zimbabwe central bank chief appeals for protection


2 hours ago

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe's embattled central bank chief Gideon Gono, who
reigned over world-record hyperinflation, has urged Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai to defend him against political attacks.

Gono, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe, was re-appointed as Reserve
Bank governor in December even though his policies left the local currency
so worthless that it was abandoned earlier this year.

In a 15-page letter to Tsvangirai, which was obtained by AFP, Gono accused
Finance Minister Tendai Biti of defaming him by blaming him for the collapse
of the once-vibrant economy.

"On several occasions, the distinguished minister has accused me of killing
this economy through printing money," Gono said in the letter.

"I have suffered and continue to suffer abuse and ridicule at a time when
you as prime minister have been telling the nation that by-gones are
by-gones and that we need to move forward," he added.

Gono also asked that Tsvangirai grant him "immunity/protection at law
against victimisation by ministers, some of who may have been involved in
nefarious/regrettable activities before."

Gono's post is one of the most contentious issues hampering Zimbabwe's
three-month-old unity government. Mugabe unilaterally re-appointed Gono to
his post after signing the unity pact but before the joint government took
office.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe are also disputing the appointment of the attorney
general, provincial governors and permanent secretaries in ministries.

There was no immediate reaction from the prime minister's office.

When Gono was first appointed in November 2003, inflation was at 619.50
percent. At the time of his re-appointment, the rate was estimated in
multiples of billions.

Prices are now dropping slightly, after the government abandoned the local
currency in favour of the US dollar and the South African rand.


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Gibson Sibanda ministerial post becomes illegal

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
19 May 2009

The Zimbabwean constitution provides that a cabinet post should be held by a
member of parliament and if the appointed minister is not an MP, a
parliamentary seat must be found within three months.

According to the law Gibson Sibanda the Minister for State in the Deputy
Prime Ministers Office and MDC-M Deputy President, needed a seat in
parliament by 19th May or risk forfeiting his ministerial post.

But the MDC-M have no more appointed seats, after using up both their
allocated non-constituency seats. Two senatorial seats were given to
Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga - the party's Secretary
General and Deputy. This was in order for them to be eligible for
ministerial positions.

A parliamentary seat was given to President Arthur Mutambara, who is now
Deputy Prime Minister. They had all lost in the general elections of last
year.

MDC-M Deputy President Sibanda had also failed to retain his parliamentary
seat in Bulawayo's Nkulumane suburb, after losing to MDC-T Thamsanqa
Mahlangu in the general elections.

It is understood the Principals agreed to create an extra Senate seat just
to accommodate the MDC-M Deputy President. But according to the rules of the
land, this requires amending the Constitutional before the 19th May
deadline - when the three month window period expires.

Constitutional lawyer Derek Matyszak said failure to meet this deadline
means legally Sibanda is not lawfully occupying a position as a minister. He
said there is a growing and worrying trend by the political leadership to
amend the provisions of the Global Political Agreements (GPA) in order to
accommodate individuals, without following the law. He said this is what
happened when the Principals unconstitutionally appointed extra cabinet
ministers, without parliament amending the constitution.

Matyszak said the Principals are fully entitled to amend the GPA but that
cannot automatically change the constitution, otherwise there will be a
situation where ZANU PF and the MDC formations are simply making up the
constitution as they go along. "The Principals seem to be under the mistaken
apprehension that because the GPA is part of the constitution that they can
just agree to alter the GPA and that automatically alters the constitution -
and that is not legally sustainable," said the lawyer.

Legal experts are increasingly worried that the inclusive government is
falling into the ZANU PF trend of amending the constitution willy-nilly and
now through the GPA backdoor. Matyszak said the Sibanda saga is one of many
constitutional violations that have taken place around the ministers. "In my
opinion all the extra ministers that were appointed - you will be aware that
the GPA only provided for 31 ministers and they appointed 41 - all those
extra ministers are not constitutional appointments. So the fact that they
have not brought a constitutional amendment to provide for Gibson Sibanda's
appointment is just an additional illegality."

We were not able to reach the MDC-M leadership for comment.

Meanwhile questions are being raised about what progress parliament has made
since the formation of the unity government, despite wrangling over
parliamentary vehicles. Both Houses are now adjourned until 16th June and
there have been no signs of attempts to remove repressive legislation.
Traditionally Parliament has adjourned towards the end of June.

The pressure group Veritas said that before its break last week, the Senate
sat for less than half an hour on Tuesday and then adjourned.  The House of
Assembly sat on Tuesday for an hour and on Wednesday for two hours and then
adjourned.

"In this session of Parliament the House of Assembly has sat for 30
afternoons and the Senate 18 afternoons [these included the day when
Parliamentarians were sworn in and the day that the President formally
opened Parliament].  Some "working" sittings have been for only half an hour
or less," said the group in a statement.

MPs speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were told that Parliament
was adjourning early to cut down on expenses. They were told there is no
money and that the government is failing to pay for hotel accommodation and
transport expenses.


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Elderly woman beaten and detained by police as farm attacks continue

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
19 May 2009

The elderly mother of a commercial farmer has become the latest victim of
violent attack, as the countrywide offensive to remove the remaining farmers
off their land continues unabated.

Chinhoyi farmer, Murray Pott's 80-year-old mother, was severely assaulted by
police officials on Monday when they arrested her son for being on his land
'illegally'. Justice for Agriculture's (JAG) John Worsley-Worswick explained
on Tuesday that police are repeatedly breaking protocol for bringing farmers
before the courts, saying the exercise "simply requires a phone call and a
request to present yourself to court." Worsley-Worswick said this latest
attack is "clear police brutality and harassment," and part of ongoing
efforts to scupper the unity government. There was still no word on Tuesday
what condition Pott's mother was in, or whether police had released her to
seek medical attention.

The attack comes just days after a Banket farmer was beaten on his farm last
Friday, by the son of a top political official set on taking over the farm.
Patrick Stooks received serious facial injuries after being repeatedly
punched and then hit in the face with the butt of a shotgun. The official,
Philip Chamboko, who holds a political role at the Zimbabwean embassy in
Tokyo, has been trying since last year to remove the Stooks from their land.

Patrick and his wife Sue, were both locked up for three days in deplorable
conditions last year, on trumped-up charges relating to the invasion of
their land. The case was eventually thrown out of court as the prosecution
witnesses admitted that the police had forced their statements out of them.
Chamboko's son, Gideon and his hired thugs, continued to live on the farm
but last Monday a High Court ordered the illegal occupation of the land to
cease. On Friday Patrick came under violent attack after he confronted
Chamboko, whose thugs vandalised Patrick's farm equipment. The attack was in
full view of the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court who was there to serve the
order papers on Chamboko and his men, but unsurprisingly, the police have
taken no further action.

The ongoing invasions of Zimbabwe's remaining commercial farms have been
fully supported by police officials, acting on the direct orders of the
Attorney General, Johannes Tomana. Police have repeatedly been involved in
attacks against both farmers and their staff, while at the same time, police
officials have refused to carry out the many court rulings ordering land
invaders off stolen land. Instead, police have actively ignored the flimsy
legal protection held by the country's remaining commercial farmers, hauling
them before court for 'fast-track' prosecution.

JAG's Worsley-Worswick explained on Tuesday that the recent actions by a
Supreme Court Judge have "paved the way for fast track litigation to go
ahead." Earlier this month, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku heard the case
of a commercial farmer, protected by last year's SADC Tribunal ruling, which
was meant to guard against future land invasions. Worsley-Worswick explained
that the Chief Justice "systematically destroyed any argument raised by the
farmer in the case," and he expressed fears that it is the start of a major
legal offensive against the farmers.

Meanwhile as the farming community remains under siege, thousands of farm
workers have been left jobless and penniless in a country already plagued by
94% unemployment. Their plight is being completely overlooked by the unity
government, which has done nothing to stop the land invasions continuing.


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More on the above story


Dear all
We are sending this e mail with the attached photograph of Patrick Stooks (our son-in-law) not because we are looking for sympathy, but because we feel strongly that people should know that all is far from well in Zimbabwe in spite of the so called Unity Government.
The background is that Patrick is still allowed by law to occupy and farm one piece of land near Banket which is North of Harare
There is a man called Philip Chamboko who has decided to take over this farm illegally. Chamboko represents Zimbabwe in some political roll at their embassy in Tokyo and is presently on leave in Zimbabwe ..
In his efforts to secure this productive farm he is in league with the local police A\Inspector Mperekedzwa. Some of you will remember that at the end of last November Patrick and Sue were locked up, in appalling conditions, on a trumped up charge, for three days, at the Banket Police Station. After nine court appearances the case was thrown out by the court when witnesses for the prosecution said they had made their statements only because the police were holding guns to their heads.
 Chamboko’s men, one being his son, continued to occupy part of the farm where they planted crops.
Last Monday, 11th May, again after numerous court appearances the High Court of Zimbabwe ruled that Chamboko was occupying the farm illegally and was to be given two days notice to quit.
Yesterday,15th May, Patrick had a tractor and trailer parked on part of the farm not occupied by Chamboko. Sue was in Harare . The Chamboko gang proceeded to cut the valves off all four tyres on both the tractor and trailer and ripped off the battery leads. Patrick’s manager, Sunday Yola went to get Patrick from the farmhouse. On going to inspect the damage to his farm equipment Chamboko approached Patrick in an aggressive manner, accused him of lying to the court, and it was then that Patrick was grabbed from behind by Gibson Chamboko, the son, and punched repeatedly and finally hit in the face with the butt of a gun by Gibson Chamboko. They then ploughed up the garden of Patrick ’s manager, Sunday Yola
This was witnessed by the Deputy Sheriff, who had come to serve the writ of ejectment and of course Sunday.
There has also been a Japanese man seen on the farm in the company of Chamboko, however the Japanese Embassy in Harare say that they don’t know this man.
A neighbour took Patrick to the Police Station to report the incident but when later queried by a higher authority, the police denied any reports of an assault.
By this time Sue had got back to the farm, and took Patrick to hospital where he had X-rays and treatment to his injuries etc
The photograph was taken as evidence – see attachment
Needless to say, knowing The Stooks, they are not taking this lying down and are determined to see justice but are very aware that this will not be easy.
The good news is that Patrick is getting better and was even able to drink a vodka & coke this evening – always a good sign !
Peta Thorneycroft who writes for the Telegraph from Zimbabwe is sending a report to them so it might be in their “World News” in the next day or two.
Maybe some of you can pass this on to any media contacts you know
Pat and June.






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JAG - farm situations communique - dated 18th  May 2009



Email: jag@mango.zw : justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw

JAG Hotlines: +263 (011) 610 073, +263 (04) 799410.  If you are in
trouble or need advice, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here
to help!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  Karori Farm, Headlands  - Charles Lock

2.  Update Karori Farm, Headlands - Charles Lock

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The situation on Karori farm in Headlands remains tense as Brigadier
Mujaji continues to defy the Police.  The soldiers remain on the farm in
an attempt to take over.  On Monday Mujaji dropped off wheat seed and
demanded that we sow the seed in our freshly prepared tobacco lands using
our equipment and irrigation.  There are three High Court Orders
preventing Mujaji being on the farm including a writ of arrest for
contempt of those orders, but the law seems not to apply to the military
in Zimbabwe.

We refused to comply with his demands and we were threatened with
violence and force if we did not comply. He then shut down the whole farm
again trying to force the issue. We still refused and eventually Mujaji
got a tractor from somewhere else and sowed wheat illegally in our
tobacco land.  We still refuse to comply with this illegal behaviour and
have reported the matter many times to the Police.  They did arrive on
Sunday but did not stop his operations save to tell the soldiers that
what they were doing was wrong.  The matter is to be dealt with at
Headlands Police station on Monday.  We have all been threatened by the
soldiers and Mujaji and it is not the first time he has tried to use
violence and force, but we hope the government will uphold the law and
put an end to this.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE ON KARORI FARM AND CHARLES LOCK IN HEADLANDS

18TH MAY 2009

The situation on the farm continues to worsen as the rule of law fails to
be applied in any manner.

Briefly, Charles Lock is the only commercial farmer to have been
acquitted of illegal occupation on his remaining portion of 376 ha of
land which was allocated to him through the land reform programme in
2003.  He also has three High Court orders allowing him to be there and a
Supreme court order and writ of arrest against Brigadier Mujaji who
continues to defy the Police and the law.  Lock has been left with only
10% of his original land after he voluntarily gave up the rest.

Over the past week Brigadier Mujaji brought wheat seed to the farm and
told his soldiers who he has stationed on the farm to force Lock to plant
the seed in his freshly prepared tobacco lands using Lock's
equipment and tractors.  Lock and his workers refused to comply with this
banditry and extortion at gun point.  Mujaji then shut down the entire
farm yet again preventing any grading of tobacco, seedbed preparation,
harvesting of maize and other important tasks.  This is the third such
shut down this year.  His forced shut down in March caused over
US$100,000 of tobacco to be thrown away.  Lock and his workers still
refused to comply.  The workers and drivers were then threatened by the
soldiers and Mujaji with violence should they fail to comply.  It is not
the first time Mujaji has used violence on the farm.  He uses his right
hand man, Sgt Mukoni, to carry out these tasks together with other
members of the ZNA.  Twice Lock and his workers have been violently
evicted at gun point, totally illegally, by these same people.

The workers and Lock still refused to comply with Mujaji and so he
borrowed a tractor and sowed his seed in a freshly ploughed tobacco land
due to be planted with tobacco on September 1st.  The soldiers have now
made it clear that if Lock and his workers do not use their pipes to
irrigate the wheat Mujaji will forcefully take them and Lock will live,
or not live to regret his decision.  After a poor rainy season there even
is no water for winter wheat and Mujaji has been given land in other
areas in the past.

After much effort to get the police to act the member in charge of
Headlands visited on Sunday afternoon, but no one has been arrested and
Mujaji's soldiers are still there causing mayhem on the farm.

According to Lock it is quite unbelievably that the state of lawlessness
can descend to such levels where no one has any protection other than
through the barrel of a gun.


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Half of prisoners die of starvation in Zimbabwe jails

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

More than half of the prisoners in Zimbabwe's maximum security jail have
died of starvation or disease in the last year, it emerged yesterday.

By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
Published: 6:00AM BST 19 May 2009

The death rate inside Chikurubi prison, about 12 miles east of Harare,
compares with the worst jails in history, according to the Standard, an
independent weekly newspaper.

Of the 1,300 inmates, at least 700 have died in revolting conditions. Six
were found dead in their filthy cells yesterday alone. About the same number
died last weekend.

Some 100 bodies, many of them mutilated by rats, are stacked up in the
prison mortuary. If they are unclaimed, they will be buried as paupers in
prison grounds.

The collapse of Zimbabwe's economy and of the state itself has crippled the
prison system, leaving thousands of inmates with scarcely any food. Any
provision of medical care has also collapsed, leaving prisoners to die of
starvation and disease.

Chikurubi packs about 30 inmates into cells designed for only 10. An
off-duty warder confirmed the figure of 700 dead and said the mortality rate
in other prisons was probably similar.

"It's the same at all the rest of the prisons around the country," he said.
"We often find six died at a time. A lot have Aids, but die quickly because
they don't have enough food."

Since Zimbabwe's new coalition government took office in February, the
International Committee of the Red Cross has begun improving prison
conditions, installing a borehole in Chikurubi two months ago.

The death rate has recently fallen, but prisoners still succumb almost every
day. Between November and January, 327 deaths were recorded at Chikurubi -
almost a quarter of all the inmates.

Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, the commissioner of prisons, is in President
Robert Mugabe's inner circle. "He has never been to see what is going on in
Chikurubi" said the warder. "He doesn't care."


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Top lawyer's arrest shows how far Zimbabwe must still travel

http://www.businessday.co.za

19 May 2009

NICOLE FRITZ

WHEN I travel in southern Africa meeting human rights lawyers and civil
society activists, whose work often earns them the enmity of their
governments, I play a rather perverse, fatalistic game with myself -
weighing up which country, if it had to happen, I would prefer to be
arrested and detained in.

It would have to be Zimbabwe because, despite the almost total collapse of
the rule of law in that country, there are few lawyers anywhere in the world
more implacable in their quest to see justice done.

One of the finest, Alec Muchadehama, was recently arrested and detained. His
wrongdoing, apparently, was only that he had secured the release earlier of
three high-profile political prisoners - two senior Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) officials, Gandhi Mudzingwa and Chris Dlamini, and journalist
Andrison Manyere.

Muchadehama is a lawyer accustomed to having to locate his clients by going
from one set of police holding cells to another, circling the perimeter
calling their names, hoping he might hear them answer, because the police
routinely deny that they have his clients in custody.

In every recent major incident of violence directed at Zanu (PF)'s political
opponents, Muchadehama has struggled to the front lines, putting his own
safety at risk so that he might give legal defence - whether it was to the
MDC and civil society leadership brutalised by police in March 2007 or to
the scores rounded up at MDC headquarters several weeks later, many detained
and tortured for several weeks.

Last year, when a number of Zimbabwean lawyers, magistrates and prosecutors
fled to SA, persecuted in the post-election period for being perceived to be
defending the MDC or censuring the Zanu (PF)-aligned militias, Muchadehama -
one of the primary targets - stayed put in Zimbabwe, traversing the country,
often with a security tail, as he went to the aid of those assaulted and
tortured and the families of individuals who had simply disappeared.

This isn't the first time that Muchadehama has been arrested.

In May 2007, in remarkably similar circumstances, Muchadehama and his law
partner, Andrew Makoni, were arrested and their offices raided - a tactic
intended to intimidate and stop them defending MDC members detained on
trumped-up charges of terrorism.

The Law Society of Zimbabwe bravely protested about their arrests, earning
several prominent lawyers, including society president Beatrice Mtetwa,
savage beatings at the hands of the police. Still, it showed that if
Muchadehama and Makoni are exceptionally brave lawyers, they find a number
of like-minded peers in the Zimbabwean legal profession.

Two years later, and despite a new transitional government, Muchadehama
finds himself in the same situation - arrested in retaliation for defending
people facing spurious charges of terrorism.

For those watching developments in Zimbabwe, praying that the country is now
finally on its way, Muchadehama's arrest will be hoped to be an aberration;
the desperate shuddering of an old structure making way for a new.

It is far more encouraging to focus on what has been gained: that food and
basic commodities are now more easily available to Zimbabweans; that cholera
is being curbed. But these humanitarian accomplishments are not the making
of any semblance of a democratic state.

It is said that democracies are nations of laws, not men. In Zimbabwe, the
outlines of democracy will not even begin to show until men such as
Muchadehama can practise law, can defend those who are accused of political
crimes, without the fear that they themselves will be arrested and harassed.

n Fritz is the director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.


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GPA demands a genuine commitment towards achieving freedom of expression in Zimbabwe

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4146
 

Focusing on Clauses 19.1(d) and (e)

Sokwanele’s ZIG Watch project has been documenting violations of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed between Zimbabwe’s three main political parties. Through this article, Sokwanele aims to familiarise our readership with sub-clauses 19.1(d) and (e). These are two of five sub-clauses falling under Article XIX of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed on 15 September 2008. Article XIX sets out to recognise the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the role of the media in a multi-party democracy.

Article XIX, Clause 19.1 (d) that steps be taken to ensure that the public media provides balanced and fair coverage to all political parties for their legitimate political activities [and] Clause (e) that the public and private media shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or that unfairly undermines political parties and other organisations. To this end, the inclusive government shall ensure that appropriate measures are taken to achieve this objective.

Accountability and Responsibility

Under the GPA, the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity has been allocated to Zanu PF. The new Minister of Information is Webster Shamu who has been described as “instrumental in helping to turn the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation into a centre of hate speech and blatant propaganda.”

Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the GPA also rests with the Deputy Minister of Information, Jameson Timba from the MDC-Tsvangirai party. It’s a massive task: according to Freedom House’s latest report on global press freedom, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea are the three worst countries for Press Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Zimbabwe disgracefully ranks among the ten worst countries in the world.

The GPA commitment to free expression in the context of Zimbabwe’s law

Article XIX begins commendably in that it recognises: “the importance of the right of freedom of expression and the role of the media in a multi-party democracy”. However, it is important to note that sub-clause (a) of Article XIX states that applications for re-registration and registration will be processed “by the appropriate authorities” in terms of both the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) as well as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

In 2000, Capital Radio won the right in the Supreme Court to open the country’s first independent radio station. However, this was shut down at gunpoint after just six days. In response to the legal challenge to its broadcasting monopoly, the (Mugabe) regime enacted the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), which brought about the establishment of the regulatory board, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), which has not licensed a single private station.

The Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act (AIPPA) was signed by President Mugabe in February 2002. The main provisions of the law give the government extensive powers to control the media and suppress free speech by requiring the registration of journalists and prohibiting the “abuse of free expression.” AIPPA, along with the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA), have both been used to harass and intimidate journalists. Section 15 of POSA and Section 80 of AIPPA criminalise the publication of “inaccurate” information, and both laws have been used to intimidate, arrest, and prosecute journalists. The interpretation of what is or is not “accurate” is invariably politically motivated and designed to favour Zanu-PF advantage.

AIPPA also created a Media and Information Commission (MIC) which mainly functioned to restrict freedom of expression by overseeing, among other things, journalist accreditation. In January this year, for example, the MIC imposed prohibitive fees on local journalists who worked for the foreign media. Under the new terms they would be required to pay US$1,000 in application fees, and a further US$3,000 upon accreditation. The move was widely condemned and interpreted as an unsubtle attempt to limit the number of journalists in Zimbabwe reporting through media outlets that truly endorsed the principles of ‘freedom of expression’. Journalists working without accreditation face up to two years imprisonment in Zimbabwe’s hell-hole prisons.

Ongoing restrictions, censorship and refusal to accept MDC advertisements

On 2 March, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) stated they were “extremely disturbed” by the actions of the state-owned Herald newspaper after its editor refused to publish in its entirety a communiqué drafted by civil society organisations. The communiqué, scheduled for the 27 February edition of the Herald, announced the establishment of a Civil Society Monitoring Mechanism on the implementation of the GPA. The two paragraphs censored by the editor read: “Deeply concerned at the continued assault on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Zimbabwe, in particular human rights defenders and legitimate political activists” and “In solidarity with our colleagues and others who remain unjustly incarcerated at various prisons, remand facilities and hospitals around Zimbabwe.” This refusal also violates Article 19.1 (d).

Later in the month, despite the fact that state-run Zimpapers, which publishes both the Herald (Harare) and the Chronicle (Bulawayo) remained cash strapped and had failed to pay employees their salaries for two months, management refused to publish a 12-page MDC supplement. This was a congratulatory advertisement on the appointment of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister. The refusal breached Article 19.1 (d). State-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings has also continued to shun MDC activities. Conversely, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) noted mid March that Zanu PF functionaries continued to enjoy unfettered publicity from the public media.

Breaching 19.1 (d) of the GPA by inciting hostility and political intolerance

On 12 February, the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper reported that MDC-T Secretary-General Tendai Biti, who is Minister of Finance in the transitional government, was suing President Mugbe’s spokesman, George Charamba, Zimpapers and two journalists working for the Herald for defamation. Biti claimed in court papers that the Herald had published articles implying he was “a power-hungry politician”, that he was placing “self-interest above that of the Zimbabwean nation” and that he was scuttling the formation of the transitional government for selfish and personal interests.

During the inauguration of President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai, state radio persistently referred to Mugabe as “comrade” and to Tsvangirai as “mister”, deliberately implying he was not a supporter of the struggle for independence - a contentious allegation in Zimbabwe, one regularly touted by Zanu PF.

In March, ten days after the controversial car crash which killed Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, and injured him, the Herald attempted to implicate the Commercial Farmers’ Union in the crash. For example, the article noted that on the day of the accident, white commercial farmers were at the scene before the Prime Minister’s own close people knew what had happened, and that they had filmed and photographed the wreckage. Irresponsible reporting of this nature breaches Article 19.1 (e).

Despite the fact that the GPA states under Article XIX: “Concerned that the failure to issue licences under the Broadcasting Services Act to alternative broadcasters might have given rise to external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe”, the country’s prohibitive licencing regulations have not been repealed. As a consequence, Zimbabwe Community Radio announced in February that they would start broadcasting from the United Arab Emirates because they did not have a licence and the Broadcasting Act of Zimbabwe (BAZ) had never given them a platform to apply.

In a very telling move which thoroughly undermines the spirit of Article XIX of the GPA, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings reshuffled its news production team towards the end of March. Zanu PF loyalists were given managerial positions while suspected MDC sympathisers and experienced journalists were sidelined. For example, a senior army official was appointed as General Manager for Finance and Administration and the ZBC’s Editor-in-Chief and chief propagandist was promoted to General Manager of News and Current Affairs. A little known policeman was appointed Assistant News Editor.

How sincere is the desire for media reform in Zimbabwe?

In February this year, Robert Mugabe described Western donor demands to reform the media as “nonsense”. Webster Shamu has very recently dismissed criticisms against the press in Zimbabwe - in a statement on 18 May, Shamu said:

The Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity notes with satisfaction the great editorial balance and sensitivity with which the public media has tackled issues since the launch of the inclusive Government in February early this year.

In spite of real resource constraints and the often overbearing and conflicting expectations on them from certain quarters, these editors and management in the public media have held their own, exhibiting exceptional professionalism which has shown by way of well-ranked, fair, balanced and deeply sensitive coverage and presentation of news… (our emphasis)

The Minister’s comments came as a response to an MDC-T’s position that objected to “the continued partial and unequal reporting by the State media”. Shamu declared: “The Ministry decries and dismisses as invalid and cynical weekend criticism levelled against the public media by one of the parties to the inclusive Government”. Minister Shamu went further and made unnecessarily inflammatory remarks about the MDC-T party, describing their criticism as “selfish and narcissistic, and calculated to intimidate and chill editors into doing editorial bidding of the concerned party (MDC-T) or its publicity-craving officials“.

It is with concern that we note that the Minister in charge of upholding the freedom of expression principles agreed to within the GPA, appears to be unable to uphold them himself in his personal rhetoric. We have to ask: if Shamu cannot stop himself from “using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or that unfairly undermines political parties and other organisations (Article XIX, Clause e)”, how likely is it that he will do all he can to ensure that the public media refrains from these sorts of tactics?

Is he sincerely committed to reforms?

A media conference held in Kariba earlier this month suggests that Minister Shamu is a reluctant participant in a reform. Organised by the government, the conference was widely criticised because major stakeholders were ignored, exiled media organisations were not invited, and because some of those responsible for crafting and using oppressive legislation were selected as keynote speakers. Media stakeholders, seeing the list of speakers and topics, were suspicious that the conference was a superficial gesture ultimately designed to sustain the status quo:

The first presentation will be by Patrick Chinamasa (if he comes) on the “Global Political Agreement and the Freedom of Expression” followed by Tsholotsho MP, Jonathan Moyo, who will speak on “Media Policy-making in Zimbabwe - a historical perspective” and then Attorney-General Johannes Tomana who will speak on “Freedom of Expression and the Rights of the State”.

Despite the fact the conference agenda was revised after strong objections, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) boycotted the conference following the re-arrest and detention of journalist Shadreck Manyere, along with Chris Dhlamini and Gandhi Mudzingwa. According to MAZ, government should walk the talk when it comes to media reform as the continued arrest and harassment of journalists “speaks volumes about the absence of press freedom in Zimbabwe.”

A glimmer of hope or a false dawn?

Deputy Minister Jameson Timba, in an interview with Lance Guma of SW Radio Africa, spoke positively about the Kariba conference after it had closed:

I believe that there is so much commitment within the inclusive government for repealing and or amending any legislation that has affected peoples’ basic freedoms. With respect to AIPPA there was a specific unanimous recommendation at Kariba that AIPPA be repealed and be replaced by Freedom of Information Act and the Media Practitioners Act.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa was less positive saying:

The conference completely missed the point by attempting to be a public bus open to all views, including the absurd, to be discussed, except genuine reform [...] Media reforms cannot start on or be built on lies that we have regulatory bodies when in fact we have bodies that play a secretarial role to the decisions of politicians.

Timba acknowledges that there are problems, referring to individuals who had “their own agendas” with regards the process, who were creating “teething problems” in the formative stages of the coalition government. However, what Timba lightly refers to as ‘teething problems’ are in fact extremely serious miscarriages of justice that violate human rights across the board including, for example, the continuing arrest of journalists.

Shortly before the Kariba conference began the editor of The Chronicle, Brezhnev Malaba and a reporter, Nduduzo Tshuma, were arrested in connection with a story about a grain scam. Shortly after the conference, the Zimbabwe Independent news editor Vincent Kahiya and news editor Constantine Chimakure were both arrested in connection with a story that identified CIO agents and police who were allegedly involved in abducting activists - information already in the public domain. Alec Muchadehama, the human rights lawyer representing detained journalist Anderson Shadreck Manyere was also very recently arrested.

The public media’s own coverage of the Kariba conference raises serious questions about whether expression is truly heading towards freedom, or whether political agendas are being cranked out via the printing presses and airwaves. The State controlled broadcasting service, ZBC, claimed that media analysts had “hailed” the Kariba recommendations, and then proceeded to extensively cite comment from Ceaser Zvayi who argued that it was sanctions crippling the media and not repressive legislation. Zvayi is thoroughly discredited as a proponent of free expression. He was recently forced to leave a lecturing post in Botswana after students campaigned to have his contract terminated when they learned of his close ties to the Zanu PF regime; he is known for calling for the alienation of opposition parties and for celebrating violent crackdowns against the opposition.) The State controlled Herald newspaper consolidated the sanctions view - a position touted by Zanu PF party - by also choosing to focus on sanctions as the main problem confronting the industry when discussing the conference.

It’s hardly surprising, with journalists still being arrested, statements issued by the Minister in charge that deny the reality on the ground, overtly partisan reporting from the State controlled media, that many media stakeholders, Zimbabweans and the International community are so skeptical about the government’s commitment to media reform in accordance with the Global Political Agreement. We need substantive measurable evidence of this before we can believe it is true. In the meanwhile, Sokwanele continues to log breaches of the agreement including ongoing breaches of the commitment to Freedom of Expression in Zimbabwe.

Full references to all sources cited available on our website here.


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Zimbabwe can become a Peaceful and Prosperous Country – New Report

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                             19 May 2009

Cape Town – The Zimbabwe Papers, a major report released today by eight of Africa’s most respected think-tanks, examines the causes of Zimbabwe’s social and economic problems and offers a blueprint for urgent and practical reform that will enable the country to become a thriving, peaceful and prosperous country.

Over the past decade, average incomes in Zimbabwe have declined by more than two-thirds and life expectancy has fallen by 20 years. The cause is clear: policies implemented by Zimbabwe’s government. As Temba Nolutshungu of The Free Market Foundation, Commissioner of The Zimbabwe Papers, points out:

“Zimbabwe has turned from Africa’s breadbasket into a basket case in less than a generation and we, as Africans, must recognise that the reason for this is the Government’s failed policies.  Once we understand the reason, we can implement solutions – which are clearly laid out in this policy-makers’ manual.”

The Zimbabwe Papers addresses the main problems facing the people of Zimbabwe, from the constant threat of violence, to the crumbling health care system, to one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in world history.  It describes the main policy errors that have led to these problems and emphasises the need to take urgent action to reverse them.

The top priority is simultaneously to provide reliable money and reduce government expenditure. Transactions are now being conducted in US dollars and South African rands, which has greatly increased business activity and stabilised prices. Re-establishing a local currency would require adopting a currency board or pegging the currency to a major stable currency. 

Other urgent actions advocated by The Zimbabwe Papers include:

·         Ending the arbitrary violence inflicted by the military and police on Zimbabwean citizens.

·         Reducing and simplifying taxes and tariffs in order to reduce corruption, improve the climate for entrepreneurs and increase government revenue

·         Reducing the burden of regulations, which currently prohibit entrepreneurs from creating formal businesses, drive economic activity underground and reduce government revenue

·         Supporting the rule of law – essential for a peaceful, well functioning liberal democracy

Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI: The Centre for Policy & Education, Ghana, another Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Papers says, “Zimbabweans have been persecuted by continuous state violence and destabilising, destructive economic policies that made the country one of the least hospitable business environments on earth.  Zimbabweans must be able to live and work in an environment conducive to entrepreneurship; that means, sound money, simplified regulations, and low taxes. Only then will Zimbabwe get back to work.”

The Commissioners of the Zimbabwe Papers conclude, “We believe that Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF leadership must look in the mirror and accept that most of their problems are the result of their own misguided policies. If Zimbabwe is to reverse course and become a thriving economy once again, it must stop blaming outside forces and focus on reforming its domestic situation.”

“At some point, the dominance of Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF will evaporate and make way for sustainable reform.  When this opportunity comes, Zimbabweans will have to move quickly to rediscover the rule of law, constrain government, and grant their citizens important economic and political rights.  The Zimbabwe Papers provides Zimbabwean reformers with a plan for their renewal and the brave Zimbabwean citizens, who dared to stand up against illegitimate, immoral leadership, the information they need to put their country back on a path to peace and prosperity.”

ENDS

 

The Zimbabwe Papers: A Positive Agenda for Zimbabwean Renewal:

Click here to download:

http://www.freemarketfoundation.com/DynamicData/Event_4.pdf 

 

For more information or to arrange interviews with the South African Commissioner of The Zimbabwe Papers, Free Market Foundation director Temba Nolutshungu:

Contact Gail Day at (011) 884 0270.  E-mail:   fmf@mweb.co.za   


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Zimbabwe Banks Find Transition to Foreign Currency Difficult

http://www.voanews.com

     

      By Ish Mafundikwa
      Harare
      19 May 2009

Since January, Zimbabwe has exclusively used foreign currency after
abandoning the worthless Zimbabwe dollar. However this has created big
problems for the banking sector.

In January the Zimbabwe government conceded that the Zimbabwe dollar was
worthless and approved the use of hard currency such as the U.S. dollar and
the South African rand.

A bank manager who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity says the
transition from the Zimbabwe dollar to hard currency has not been easy.  One
of the problems caused by the change is that banks are now very quiet.

"What's happening now is unlike the previous situation where a person would
come to the bank every day. Now we are having people coming to the bank once
a month because, one, the salary is not that much and secondly, the charges
that are in the banking sector now, the guy would rather take his money out
once," the manager said.

A few months ago, bank employees could not cope with demand as endless lines
developed outside the banks each day. While not having to line up daily for
their money is great news for ordinary Zimbabweans, times are not so good
for bank employees as there isn't enough work to keep them busy in the
banks.

"What most of the banks have done is they have put staff on various forms of
leave some unpaid, some half paid, some three quarter paid. My bank we have
probably been operating on half the staff now, that's basically how we have
managed to work around it," the bank manager said.

The banker said banks are relying more on company rather than private
accounts but that is also a problem as the governor of the central bank has
used peoples' money without consulting them. Some of that money has yet to
be returned to its rightful owners.

"One of the biggest issues we are having to deal with as banks is the
confidence in the system. Last year the central bank said to the banks, all
forex balances are going to be operating under the reserve bank. So they
opened what they call mirror accounts in the reserve bank and what we did as
banks is transfer all funds to the reserve bank. Those accounts are still
there, those balances are still growing," the banker said.

The banker added that some companies, rather than deposit their money in the
banks, will as far as possible, deal in cash or keep their money in offshore
accounts where they know it is safe.

For private account holders though, the banker said, the banks are working
on making it possible to withdraw money from automatic teller machines and
making cards available to their clients. He also said at the moment only big
international banks can offer loans while smaller banks have to wait until
more money is deposited in the banks.

As for the Zimbabwe dollar, the government has announced that it won't be
back for at least another year. The banker told VOA that his bank has not
had any transactions in local currency since the end of January this year.


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Banned BBC and CNN welcome back to Zimbabwe, says Mugabe's Spokesperson


http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

By MISA

Zimbabwe has told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)  and Cable News
Network (CNN) that their journalists are welcome in the country, George
Charamba, President Mugabe's spokesperson and Ministry of Information
Permanent Secretary has said.

The BBC was banned from Zimbabwe in July 2001, five months after the
organisation's Harare correspondent Joseph Winter had been expelled.
In comments carried by the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper on 17 May 2009,
Charamba said CNN was never banned from the southern African country which
is coming out of a decade-long economic and political crisis.
Charamba said: "We would want to remind CNN that they are not banned from
this country. Nothing was given either orally or in writing, stating that
they had been banned. It is just that they took a solidarity boycott with
the BBC after we had said the latter was representing political interests.
"We have taken the decision that they must be engaged: Overtures have been
made to both media organisations, and the BBC have said they'll be coming
over while CNN's coverage would be from South Africa."
Zimbabwe's three-month old unity government has raised hopes for media
freedom after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
committed themselves to allow foreign journalists in the country as well as
grant newspapers publishing licences.
A new media law is set to be passed before the end of the year, lifting
restrictions on the operations of newspapers and journalists.
Charamba also announced a new initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry
of Information, Media and Publicity to position information attaches in
South Africa, Malaysia, China, Britain and the United States. The attaches
would be responsible for devising programmes to market Zimbabwe as a tourist
destination.
"The country needs to shed the negative image of the past," Charamba said.
"The negative (image of the country) has been because of the political
situation and this has been dealt with through the inclusive government. If
we sort out our image mess back home, that will reflect outwardly."
He said Zimbabwe had "rediscovered itself". "We are working in unison. We
are also piggybacking our image via our natural attractions, as this has
been identified as critical for the quick turnaround of our economy."
Charamba took criticism from MPs last week who said state media coverage
remained slanted in favour of President Mugabe's Zanu PF party.
In response, Charamba said: "We are aware that the times have changed. This
(inclusive government) is a collaborative effort, comprising three political
parties. Hence, the demand on the State media is that they reflect the ethos
that is dominant.
"Interestingly, I am always accosted by the parties over how they are
covered. For ZBC, the problem is we have limited cameras and the (main) news
bulletin is an hour long. But certainly, we would need to consider whether
there is scope for more bulletins.
"At the same time we have a broadcaster who wants to find their feet in the
new environment; the poor editors are being buffeted by politicians who want
their stories aired. And rightly so; if an event were held, one would
certainly want it covered. We will keep on improving in order to balance the
coverage."
Meanwhile Charamba claimed criminals were "finding convenient refuge in
journalism" after he was tackled by MPs on the arrest of freelance
photographer Andrew [Adrisson] Manyere and former TV news anchor Jestina
Mukoko on banditry and terrorism charges.
"I asked for the name of the media house that employs Manyere: I got no
answer! I asked for the name of the institution where he trained: Again, I
got no answer!" he said. "There is a general misconception that whosoever
wields a notebook, pen and camera is a journalist. This makes it seem as
though there are no entry requirements (for the profession) when they
exist."
Charamba said Mukoko left journalism for civic society endeavours, yet she
was still being identified as a journalist. "Is it based on historical
affiliation or current pursuits?" he queried - MISA


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Zimbabwe's Unity Government Struggles to Move Ahead

http://www.voanews.com
 


19 May 2009

Zimbabwe's unity government is struggling to win financial support from western countries because very little progress is being made to resolve key outstanding issues, including those involving the Movement for Democratic Change, that prevent the government from meeting benchmarks set by countries. 

Morgan Tsvangirai is sworn in as Zimbabwe's prime minister at the State House in Harare, 11 Feb 2009
Morgan Tsvangirai is sworn in as Zimbabwe's prime minister at the State House in Harare, 11 Feb 2009
Despite the inclusion of the Movement for Democratic Change in the unity government in January, the prosecution of MDC legislators on what human rights lawyers say are trumped up charges continues. Others are awaiting trial.

But lawyers say that no perpetrators of violence against the MDC have been charged and that there is no investigation into last October's kidnapping of eighteen MDC and humanitarian workers. Seven MDC supporters remain missing.

Western governments say it is this type of activity that is against the rule of law and needs to end.

Last November, the Southern African Development Community, SADC, instructed the Zimbabwean leaders to settle disputes over the allocation of governor positions after the unity government was sworn in.

Nothing has been achieved on that level yet after many meetings of principals. Nor, despite the global political agreement signed by the parties last September, have top civil servant jobs been re-allocated based on the outcome of elections in March 2008.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, 10 May 2009
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, 10 May 2009
All the top civil servants are known supporters of Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Farmers say commitment to the rule of law as demanded by the political agreement is ignored by ZANU-PF in its continued attempts to fast track prosecutions aimed at forcing white farmers from their land, even though most have existing court orders allowing them to remain.

Most say they failed to meet the mid May deadline for planting wheat because of ongoing disruptions and prosecutions.

The independent Zimbabwe Media Monitoring Project says in its latest report that the public media continues to be partisan towards ZANU-PF.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai urged SADC and the African Union to bring an end to what he typified a deadlock over these issues. The two organizations are guarantors of the global political agreement between the parties.

But experts say it requires the agreement of at least two of three parties to the agreement to declare a deadlock before the African organizations would arbitrate.

Eldred Masunungure a political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe tells VOA that without progress on the outstanding issues the unity is "dysfunctional" and will be unable to move the country forward. He said that Mr. Tsvangirai appeared to believe, after many meetings with Mr Mugabe, that "quiet diplomacy was more useful than megaphone diplomacy."

Masunungure added that the MDC's national council has been insisting that Mr. Tsvangirai become more militant and aggressive in his dealings with Mr Mugabe.

Western governments have been providing direct humanitarian assistance to Zimbabweans, but have not given any assistance to the government for its programs. They are looking for progress on resolving the outstanding issues and meeting other benchmarks, mostly involving governance. Western diplomats say they are not encouraged by progress so far.

Although the World Bank has given a grant of $22 million and the International Monetary Fund is now in Zimbabwe for consultations, arrears have to be paid before any substantial loans will emerge.

So far neither SADC chairman, South African president Jacob Zuma, nor the AU have responded to Mr. Tsvangirai's call on Sunday for the two organisations to exercise their commitments as guarantors of the agreement.


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Platinum miners maintain output

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Own Correspondent Tuesday 19 May 2009

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe's platinum producers maintained output and even
extended operations last year, defying political uncertainty in the country
following an inconclusive presidential election, metals refiner Johnson
Matthey (JM) said on Monday.

JM said supplies from Zimbabwe and other producers increased by 5 000 ounces
to reached 295 000 ounces last year, a boon for Zimbabwe which has
increasingly depended on mining for hard cash earnings but saw gold
production tumble over the same period.

"Zimbabwean platinum production increased despite a very difficult political
and operating environment," JM said in its Platinum 2009 report.

Zimbabwe witnessed some of its worst ever political violence during the run
up to a second round presidential ballot called up last June after President
Robert Mugabe lost a presidential election the previous March to then
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who however failed to achieve the margin
required to take power and avoid a second round run-off vote.

Tsvangirai pulled out of the June ballot citing state-sponsored attacks
against his supporters and in the process, leaving Mugabe to win as sole
candidate.

But the election was universally condemned, with African countries that had
refrained from criticising Mugabe in the past also denouncing the
violence-marred election - a situation that forced the Zimbabwean leader to
open negotiations to share power with Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, who
heads a smaller opposition party.

The unity government has promised to revive the economy but its success
hinges on its ability to raise financial support from rich Western countries
that have however said they will not immediately help until they are
convinced Mugabe is committed to genuinely share power with his former
opposition foes.

There is huge potential for mining to grow further and provide desperately
needed revenue for the unity government.

But a controversial law limiting foreign ownership of mines to 49 percent
enacted by Mugabe several months before agreeing to share power is acting as
a huge disincentive to foreign firms with financial resource to develop
Zimbabwe's platinum resources - the second largest in the world after South
Africa.

In addition to platinum, Zimbabwe also has huge deposits of gold, diamonds,
nickel and coal. - ZimOnline


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Sweden pledges to normalize EU, Zimbabwe relations

http://news.xinhuanet.com

     

      www.chinaview.cn  2009-05-19 06:15:27

HARARE, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Sweden has pledged to work for the
restoration of normal relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU)
during its tenure of the EU presidency, Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sten
Rylander said on Monday.

The diplomat said Sweden, which will assume the EU presidency in
July, would prioritize re-engagement with Zimbabwe, among other issues,
local media New Ziana reported.

The relations between Zimbabwe and the EU soured in 2000 following
policy differences, resulting in the bloc's imposing sanctions, which have
seriously hurt the economy.

"We (EU) have already started formal dialogue with Zimbabwe on how
to normalize relations," Rylander said. He, however, said the "success in
restoration of normal relations will depend on the willingness of all
players in the Global Political Agreement (GPA)to address outstanding
substantive issues."

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF and the two opposition MDC formations
signed the GPA in September last year, which paved way for the establishment
of a coalition government in February.

But since formation, some issues remain unresolved, including the
appointment of provincial governors, ambassadors, the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe Governor and the Attorney General.

Rylander said once normal relations were restored, Sweden would
increase its assistance to Zimbabwe. "Once outstanding issues in the GPA
have been resolved there will be direct engagement with the government for
funding of economic programs. At the moment we are only assisting aid
organizations," he said.

The Scandinavian country was supporting local organizations to the
tune of 20 million U.S. dollars per year. Bilateral and multilateral donor
organizations have pledged to assist Zimbabwe's economic recovery program
but on indications of what they called genuine power sharing by the
inclusive government as well as strict adherence to the provisions of the
GPA.

The coalition government has drawn up a Short Term Economic
Recovery Program that required at least 8.3 billion dollars to implement.


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Victims of diamond massacres buried in Chitungwiza mass graves

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
19 May 2009

The bodies of 85 people killed by the army during the Marange diamond
massacres were allegedly buried in 37 shallow graves in Chitungwiza around
Easter this year. Journalist and blogger Denford Magora says he has reliable
information that some of the dead include victims of the violent June 27th
one-man presidential run-off. A source within the local town council
confirmed that some time in April a tipper truck arrived in Chitungwiza's
Unit L cemetery. This was accompanied by a truckload of prisoners who were
all handed gloves and surgical masks, as well as picks and shovels. The
prisoners were then ordered to offload the bodies in piles of two or
sometimes three, in each shallow grave.
In December last year we reported how government completely denied any
massacres or deaths in Marange. But their own District Administrator for
Mutare had appealed to the City Council for land to bury over 83 people.
Deputy Mayor Admire Mukovera exposed the issue after he confirmed receiving
the phone call making the request. At the time he was told 78 people had
been killed in the diamond fields, while five had died from cholera. The
Deputy Mayor also told us the bodies were piling up in mortuaries at Mutare
General and Sakubva District hospitals. In the end the Mutare City Council,
which is run by the MDC, turned down the request insisting government had to
issue a public statement first and also notify the relatives of the
deceased.
After failing to bury the bodies in Mutare it's alleged the authorities
tried to bury them in Marondera, where again the local council officials
refused. Furious MDC activists are still trying to find out how the council
in Chitungwiza eventually agreed to the burials. Newsreel challenged (MDC)
Mayor Israel Marange on the issue, but he claimed he was not aware of any
bodies that had come from Chiadzwa. Pressed further on the matter he
referred us to town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa (from ZANU PF) whom he said
handles the administration side of council and might 'know things which have
not reached us yet.' Earlier we spoke to a local councillor who confirmed
the burials. He said given more time he could supply us with the specific
details of the burial lots and where the people came from.
Magora meanwhile visited the cemetery and told us the gloves and masks used
by the prisoners to offload the bodies were dumped in another shallow hole,
'which nobody has bothered to cover' and these were still there on Monday.
Residents in the area complained that within two days of the burial the
whole neighbourhood was filled with the stench of rotting human flesh. They
are also said to be angry with the mayor for allowing the bodies to be
buried there.
More outrageously it is believed the ZANU PF regime is moving swiftly to
build a tarred road over the shallow graves. With the new graves sandwiched
by real graves on each side, a tarred road will look like an access road in
the middle of the cemetery. On Monday evening Magora said he saw mounds of
gravel and sand piled up on the road side, confirming suspicions the road
might be built as early as next week.
Several MDC activists remain unaccounted for up to today, following
abductions late last year. There is a real concern that if they were killed,
they might have been buried in these graves.
The issue of mass graves will once again invoke tragic memories of the
Gukurahundi Massacres in the Matabeleland and Midlands regions. It was there
that Mugabe dispatched the North Korean trained 5th Brigade to butcher
perceived dissidents and their supporters. Most of the estimated 20 000
victims were shot or bayoneted in public executions and sometimes made to
dig their own graves in front of family members. For example in March 1983
near Lupane close to 117 young men and women were machine-gunned to their
deaths. Such cruel ferocity was repeated in the Marange diamond fields last
year as government security forces claimed they were cracking down on
illegal diamond miners. They used helicopter gun ships, horses and dogs in
their operations and shot fleeing women and children in the back.


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Ndlovu decries ZAPU pull-out from unity

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=16627

May 19, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Former information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu has dismissed
Saturday's decision by some senior politicians from the Zimbabwe African
People's Union Patriotic Front (PF-Zapu) to pull out of the 1987 unity
accord with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF.

Ndlovu, who was a central committee member in the Joshua Nkomo-led PF Zapu,
says the Dumiso Dabengwa-led ZAPU had no authority to unilaterally declare
the withdrawal of the country's oldest party from a 21-year-old unity pact.

Ndlovu further accused the new ZAPU leadership of "pursuing politics of
tribalism" saying history would judge them harshly for their actions.

"Under what authority do they purport to pull out of the unity accord?"
Ndlovu said.

He was speaking to The Zimbabwe Times on Monday following a decision
Saturday by a ZAPU congress to formalise its pull-out from the unity accord.

During the congress, Dabengwa, former Home Affairs minister in President
Mugabe's government, was retained as the interim leader of ZAPU.

Said Ndlovu, "Anyone is free to pull out. No one is tied to one position. We
have a free country where people can do whatever they want without any
interference.

"What we do not want is for somebody to interfere with other leaders."

Ndlovu, now 72, also accused the press of allegedly fanning hostilities
among ZAPU leaders to seek editorial mileage.

"Our differences with our colleagues are not hostile," he said. "Most of the
alleged hostilities are a creation of the press which wants to sell its
papers.

"We are not fighting. We agree on certain issues and disagree on some."

Turning to the ZAPU issue, Ndlovu accused his erstwhile comrades of pursuing
politics of division at the expense of developmental issues.

The pull-out was occasioned by, among other reasons, continued
disillusionment on the current leadership of PF ZAPU, now occupying key
government positions, to influence development in Matebeleland region, a
stronghold of PF ZAPU.

But Ndlovu dismissed the assertions saying PF-Zapu leaders had not been
sitting idle.

He said the PF-Zapu leaders in government, led by Vice President and former
deputy to Nkomo, Joseph Msika, had not abandoned the interests of the party.

"Our participation in the unity government has seen that the revolutionary
policies of PF ZAPU are not lost," said Ndlovu, who was PF-Zapu's secretary
for elections in independent Zimbabwe's first elections in 1980.

Ndlovu, who was also one of the negotiators for the unity accord, said
PF-Zapu leaders were still not satisfied and would continue to fight to make
sure some of the resolutions of the accord were met.

"We are also not satisfied with the adoption of some of the issues that we
set ourselves to achieve as a unity government," said Ndlovu.

"We are still pursuing them. These issues will not be achieved by us making
noise.

"Being in senior government positions does not make the PF-Zapu leaders
hamstrung in terms of pursuing the issues. We are still fighting to have the
issues implemented."

He accused the critics of deliberately turning a blind eye on several
developmental initiatives by the PF-Zapu leaders in Matebeleland such as the
building of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda, the University
of Lupane and agricultural initiatives that have supplied cattle to
inhabitants of the perennially dry western regions of Zimbabwe.

He said PF-Zapu was not a regional party as is generally portrayed by some
sections of society.

Ndlovu said he agreed with the Dabengwa led group that the unity accord was
occasioned by a desire by the party to end bloodshed in Matebeleland and
Midlands regions.

An estimated 20 000 mostly PF-Zapu supporters perished at the hands of
President Mugabe's notorious Five Brigade army during the period now known
as the Gukurahundi era.

The former minister dismissed claims that PF-Zapu was swallowed by Zanu-PF.

"Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu swallowed each other," he declared.

"We married our constitutions to come out with one constitution."


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Zim govt invites Africa Commission to visit


MISA-Zimbabwe Communiqué

19 May 2009

Government extends invitation for African Commission to visit Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean government has extended an invitation to the African
Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) to visit Zimbabwe on a
promotional visit to assess and assist with progress towards the
implementation of fundamental legislative and policy reforms in compliance
with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The Permanent Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs, and head of the
government delegation to the 45th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, underway in
Banjul, The Gambia, David Mangota, said the visit should be a promotional
one as opposed to calls by civil society for the Commission to conduct a
fact finding mission to assess the situation in Zimbabwe.

The Commission's Chairperson Justice Sanji Mmasenono Monageng thanked the
Zimbabwean delegation for the invitation saying it had been noted.

A promotional visit is designed to assess progress on the ground as well as
assist on how best to proceed with reforms to comply with provisions of the
African Charter and other regional and international human rights
instruments as opposed to a fact finding mission which is undertaken to
investigate specific human rights violations.

In his pitch for a promotional visit, Mangota alluded to the all
stakeholders' media conference facilitated and convened by the Ministry of
Information and Publicity in Zimbabwe 's resort town of Kariba , the
Short-Term Economic Recovery Programme (STERP) and plans to establish an
independent Human Rights Commission as evidence of government's commitment
to undertake fundamental reforms.

On the alleged abduction and detention of the director of the Zimbabwe Peace
Project (ZPP) Jestina Mukoko, who is also a former television news anchor
with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, he described Mukoko as a "common
criminal" who was being charged with a criminal offence and not in her
capacity as a human rights defender.

In a statement on 13 May 2009, the NGO Forum which met in the Gambian
capital ahead of the ACHPR session, called for a fact finding mission
comprising the Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of
Expression, Rights of Women, and Refugees as well as the Chairman of the
Working Group on Torture.

The statement was delivered by the Executive Director of the African Centre
for Democracy and Human Rights Studies Hannah Forster on behalf of the NGO
Forum (ACDHRS).

The Ngo Forum, however, welcomed the formation of the unity government and
the ensuing efforts to return to normalcy in both Zimbabwe and Kenya, but
noted that respect for freedom of the press continued to be a challenge in
Africa with the constant formulation of draconian laws, harassment,
intimidation, killings and arbitrary detention particularly in countries
such as Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

"We urge the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression in Africa to
investigate the discrimination of the media, the existence of redundant
laws, especially electoral laws in the aforementioned countries," said
Forster.

The concerns of the NGO Forum were reiterated by MISA-Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Zimbabwe NGO-Forum in their respective
statements to the Commission. (visit MISA Statement to the 45th Ordinary
Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights-
www.misazim.co.zw, www.misa.org)

For more information please contact:

The Assistant Programmes Officer

Koliwe Nyoni


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The State of Media Freedom in Zimbabwe

Wilf Mbanga, Editor and Publisher of The Zimbabwean, will be speaking on the UCT campus in Cape Town this Thursday May 21st on The State of Media Freedom in Zimbabwe.

A panel of speakers, including Ray Mungoshi (former Editor of The Herald
(Zimbabwe)) will debate and discuss issues surrounding media freedom in Zimbabwe.

Please join us between 6 and 8 pm in Beattie Lecture Theatre 114 on UCT Upper Campus for what promises to be a lively and thought-provoking engagement.

As seating is limited please confirm attendance to Tinashe Makwande of UCT Radio on 0822105964, or email tinashe.makwande@gmail.com

A larger venue on the campus will be used if necessary. Venue
Date: 21 May 2009
Location: UCT Upper Campus, Cape Town
More info: Beattie Lecture Theatre 114 on UCT Upper Campus

Contact: Tinashe Makwande
Company name: UCT Radio
Telephone number: 0822105964
Email address tinashe.makwande@gmail.com


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Comment from a correspondent

Outrageous bill

Dear Sir

What started off as a joke of a bill is now turning out to be a nightmare
for me.

Last month I received an internet bill from Telone, out of the blues they
told me that I owed them US$4633.74c....All along we had been paying a
modest fixed monthly charge. When I complained about the bill I was told to
write a letter to a certain Mr. Mutakura. I hand posted the bill to the man
himself on April 24 and he assured me that my bill and the tariffs were
being reviewed downwards.  He promised to write to me informing me what I
owed Telone.

Today I got the current internet bill, there has been no downward review on
the bill, instead I now owe Telone US$4818.25c. Will somebody kindly tell me
what is going on....most people in Zimbabwe are earning US$100 per
month....if I pay US$50 per month it would take me 4 years to pay a bill
accumulated over 4 months!! What started off as a"sick  joke" is now turning
out to be a source of stress for me. Has anyone out there received such an
outrageous and unrealistic bill like mine? Who is in charge at Telone?? Why
are they so scared of the internet? This is an infringement on my
rights.....if I lived in the free world I would have sued Telone... are
these some of the fruits of the so called unity government?

Alois Kachere (you can publish my name if this letter is worth any space on
your wonderful site.)


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Money talks

http://www.adamsmith.org/
 
Written by Dr Madsen Pirie   
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 06:02
alt

In this case money tells us a little about Robert Mugabe and a lot about centrally planned economies. The hundred trillion dollar note is literally not worth the paper it's printed on, and the city authorities in Harare had to put up notices in the loos forbidding people to use banknotes in the toilets (since they are cheaper than tissue, albeit still, by comparison, 'hard' currency).

The quantitative easing practised by the Mugabe regime made money worthless, except to collectors such as myself. They have now abandoned the currency entirely, with the result that a market in foodstuffs and other goods has begin to re-emerge, provided you pay in anything other than barrowloads of the local money.

Gresham's Law famously says that bad money drives out good, meaning that people pay in the devalued coin and hoard the good stuff. But this only applies where 'legal tender' applies. If you cannot be forced to take the bad stuff, Gresham's Law is reversed, and good money drives out bad (because no-one will take it unless they are forced to). In Zimbabwe, the moment they allowed people to trade in other currencies, the local money was abandoned. Perversely, it gained in value as a collector's item and a reminder of the follies into which socialism can lead…

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