MDC to have national conference over the weekend

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
28 May 2009

The MDC, which entered into a coalition government with ZANU PF 3 months
ago, will be holding its 9th annual conference in Harare over the weekend.
Under the theme 'Celebrating a decade of Courage, Conviction and Leadership'
the party says it will 'review and update its policies, as well as taking
stock of the hopes and impediments of the inclusive government.'

Over a 1000 delegates from across the party's provinces and districts are
expected to attend. With several grassroots structures complaining about
ongoing victimization from ZANU PF in their constituencies, the conference
will be a litmus test of how MDC members view the coalition government.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to deliver the keynote address
and review what the party has done in its 10 year history, as well as
explain the outstanding issues in the unity government. The MDC says it has
invited several guests from different countries, political parties and
organizations. The conference will close with what the MDC call a
'celebratory rally' on Sunday afternoon at the Glamis Stadium.

Speaking to Newsreel on Thursday, party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told us the
national conference was the second most powerful body in terms of decision
making, after the National Council. Several leadership positions are also
set to be filled, particularly positions that have arisen in the National
Council.

Meanwhile the delegates from all of the party's 12 provinces will submit
reports on what is happening in their areas. Chamisa told us the National
Conference can make recommendations for the party to pull out from the
coalition government, if it feels this is in the best interest of the party.

Zuma said to be hiding Zimbabwe report

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=17066

May 28, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (SAPA) - NGOs on Thursday accused President Jacob Zuma's office
of covering up the existence of a damning report by retired generals about
the role of the military in post-election violence in Zimbabwe last year.

Zuma's office has rejected requests to release the document, saying it did
not exist as the generals commissioned by former president Thabo Mbeki to
investigate abuses never reported to him in writing.

Piers Pigou, the director of the SA History Archives (SAHA), said he
believed the presidency was lying.

"It makes no sense that these people would provide Mbeki with only oral
testimony. We think the presidency is setting itself up to be questioned. It
is very sad."

Pigou said though violence and fear levels in Zimbabwe had since decreased,
light should be shed on last year's rein of terror to prompt a
transformation of the military and prevent future abuses.

Human rights groups accused President Robert Mugabe of unleashing a
systematic campaign of violence on opposition supporters after his Zanu-PF
lost control of Parliament to the Movement for Democratic Change in
elections in March 2008.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai claimed at least 100 of his supporters were
killed.

Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community's mediator in Zimbabwe, in
May last year tasked six retired generals to assess the extent of the army's
involvement in the political crisis.

The generals conducted fact-finding missions in May and June but Mbeki never
released their findings. Neither did his successor, Kgalema Motlanthe.

The SAHA, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the SA Centre for
Survivors of Torture as well as the Democratic Alliance have invoked the
Promotion of Access to Information Act to force Zuma to release the
document.

But Pigou said Frank Chikane, the director general in the presidency under
Mbeki, and Trevor Fowler, who currently holds the post, produced affidavits
saying no report or supporting documentation exits and the generals reported
only orally to Mbeki.

The NGOs insist however that the generals produced a report that painted a
"devastating" picture of state-sponsored violence that shifted Mbeki's
perceptions on the situation in Zimbabwe.

"The report is believed to have been hard-hitting and instrumental in the
evolution of subsequent negotiations leading to the September Global
Political Agreement" on power-sharing between Zanu-PF and the MDC, they said
in a statement.

The DA's parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said on Thursday he has had no
formal reply to his application but would find it "very difficult to believe
and even unacceptable" that the generals had not produced a written report.

Trollip said he had been told by a human rights activist interviewed by the
generals that they handed Mbeki a thorough and "hard-hitting" report on
state-sponsored violence.

The NGOs said Zuma should send the generals back to probe reports of
continued intimidation and harassment by Zimbabwean security and
intelligence forces intended to undermine the country's fragile unity
government formed in February.

Army threatens war over Gono removal

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
28 May 2009

The country's security chiefs have taken the current political fight over
the reappointment of Gideon Gono a step further, threatening to take up arms
to prevent the removal of the Reserve Bank Governor from his post.

Robert Mugabe on Monday declared that Gono, his money-man for many years,
will retain his job despite the political deadlock that has been created
with the MDC over Gono's position. The MDC has been campaigning to have Gono
removed as head of the central bank because his reappointment by Mugabe was
a violation of the terms of the Global Political Agreement. Furthermore,
Gono's reputation for fuelling hyperinflation, stealing from private bank
accounts and funding the goings-on of Mugabe's murderous regime, has seen an
understandable reluctance from foreign donors to trust financial aid being
poured into a corrupt banking system.

The political deadlock has forced the MDC to call on the guarantors of the
agreement that formed the unity government, to intervene. But while the
process of getting SADC involved continues, the country's security and
military heads have added to the tensions by threatening to go to war if
Gono is removed. According to the state run Herald newspaper, Air Vice
Marshal Henry Muchena said that Zimbabwe's defence forces were supporting
Gono, and were willing to go to war to defend him. Muchena was quoted as
saying that the army would not allow anyone to remove Gono from his post, as
it would be the same as "negating the struggle for independence."

The Air Vice Marshal was speaking at the burial of Gono's brother on Monday
in Buhera. Also at the ceremony was Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who
reportedly told mourners that by demanding the removal of Gono the MDC is in
effect demanding the ouster of Mugabe. Chinamasa also reportedly said ZANU
PF would pull out of the coalition with the MDC, if Gono is removed.

Political commentator Professor John Makumbe told SW Radio Africa that
neither threat by the army nor by ZANU PF should stop the MDC from
campaigning to have Gono removed. He argued that while a military coup would
be disastrous for Zimbabwe, ZANU PF will not allow such action to take
place, regardless of their own threats to pull out of the government.
Makumbe explained that a coup would see the country being cut off from SADC,
the AU and the international community, and added that ZANU PF will not run
the risk of losing the potential to attract much needed foreign investment.

EU not yet ready to renew ties with Zimbabwe: letter

2 hours ago

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union is not yet ready to establish normal
ties with Zimbabwe or resume aid despite a "positive evolution" in politics
there, according to a letter made public Thursday.

"The EU shares your opinion that there are indications of a positive
evolution of the political situation in Zimbabwe," the bloc said in a letter
to John Kaputin, secretary general of African, Caribbean and Pacific
nations.

"We are following the situation with great attention, in the hope that it
will as soon as possible lead to a new phase of stability, respect for human
rights and rule of law and economic development," said the letter.

But the EU underlined: "However, the pace at which the new government can
deliver on its own programme to the people of Zimbabwe still remains a major
concern for all, both in the country and within the international
community."

The letter said that a "dialogue" proposed in March by President Robert
Mugabe "should allow us to define a roadmap of reciprocal undertakings,"
which would "hopefully bring us to a progressive resumption of our full
cooperation."

Such a move could lead to a resumption of development aid which has been
frozen for several years. At the moment the European Commission can only
send humanitarian aid -- 90 million euros were given in 2007 -- to the
people.

The European Union and the United States maintain a travel ban and asset
freeze on Mugabe and his inner circle in protest at controversial elections
and alleged human rights abuses by his government.

An EU delegation which visited Zimbabwe Thursday commended "significant
progress" made by the new unity government but called on the authorities to
crack down on farm invasions.

Xavier Marchal, the head of the European Union delegation to Zimbabwe said
both the European Commission and European Union felt that "the government
should announce a moratorium on farm invasions...

"If there are no property rights, then the investment climate is not right.
Investors would not want to come and invest in this country," Marchal told
reporters after meeting with deputy minister Arthur Mutambara.

A number of Western countries had vowed to maintain sanctions against
Zimbabwe until Mugabe proves he is ready to reform.

Zimbabwe's once-dynamic economy has been crushed by world-record
hyperinflation and the collapse of farming, mining and manufacturing.

Diamond watchdog due in Zimbabwe

http://www.africanmanager.com

PANA

A team from the Kimberley Process, an international di amond trade watchdog,
is due in Zimbabwe shortly to audit operations of the loca l industry,
officials said Thursday.

Zimbabwe's diamond industry has come under international spotlight in recent
yea rs, in particular over suspected illegal mining and smuggling of the
precious ge m s at newly-discovered deposits in the east of the country.

There were also suspicions and allegations that security forces deployed to
secu re the newly-found diamond deposits had killed scores of illegal
panners, height e ning calls for an international probe into the local
industry.

Government critics joined the fray, and tried to prod the Kimberley Process
to o rder a ban on Zimbabwe diamond trade.

Officials said it was against this background that the team from the
Kimberley P rocess, drawn from countries such as Canada, Namibia, South
Africa and the US, h a d to visit Zimbabwe.

The team, which is expected in Zimbabwe either later this week or next week,
is expected to visit all the country's three diamond mines to inspect their
operati o ns.

"We are ready for them. This will put all the speculation to rest," an
official, who declined to be named on account of the sensitivity of the
issue, said.

The diamond industry has in recent years become a major component of the
local m ining sector, with experts predicting that the precious mineral and
platinum wil l become the top foreign currency earners for the country in
the near future.

The deposits in the east of the country, for example, are the largest
concentrat ed reserves in the world.

The reserves remain largely unexploited, and the area around deposits is
still t o be fully explored to ascertain the extent of the reserves.

Industry sources say more diamond deposits have been found elsewhere in the
coun try, sparking intense jostling for mining rights among local and
international p l ayers.

Biti law firm hits back over Gono 'outburst'

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

By Lebo Nkatazo
Posted to the web: 28/05/2009 11:52:38
A LEADING Harare law firm has condemned Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
governor Gideon Gono for an "unfortunate outburst against us" after he
accused its directors of money-laundering.

In a letter to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on May 11, Gono said Honey
and Blankenberg - where Finance Minister Tendai Biti was once a partner -- 
had stashed over US$1million outside the country in violation of exchange
control regulations.

Gono said the law firm's externalisation of foreign currency predated his
appointment as Reserve Bank governor in 2003.
He used the allegations to buttress his claim that Biti's campaign to get
him out of the RBZ was driven by personal issues.

But in a statement, the law firm said: "Over the past few weeks (three years
after the alleged offence), the partners of Honey and Blankenberg have
received a number of crude threats arising from these old accusations,
stating that unless Tendai Biti, a former partner of the firm and currently
Minister of Finance, desisted from his attempts to demand accountability
from the governor of the Reserve Bank, the partners would face unspecified
consequences. Naturally we have ignored such threats.

"Since Dr Gono states that this matter is before the courts, then it is
clearly subjudice and it is regrettable and highly inappropriate that a
person of his position has resorted to the media in an effort to bring this
matter into the political arena without allowing the due process of the law
to take its course.

"We are confident, however, in the sound judgment of the public its
awareness of the integrity of Honey and Blakenburg and its understanding of
the reality of what lies behind Dr Gono's unfortunate outburst against us."

Comesa meet opens in Zimbabwe

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Thursday, May 28 2009 at
13:24

HARARE

The 13th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Summit, postponed
twice since last year because of Zimbabwe's political uncertainty, opened
Thursday with preliminary meetings for officials.

The inter-ministerial meetings will run until June 4 in the resort town of
Victoria Falls followed by the Heads of State and government summit set for
June 6 and June 8.

COMESA secretary general Dr Sindiso Ngwenya said the major highlight of this
year's summit would be the signing of the Customs Union by the Heads of
State.

He said 19 heads of state and government would be joined by countries such
as China, the United States, Britain and the European Union who are COMESA's
largest trading partners.

"This is the largest number we have had so far," Dr Ngwenya said. "It will
be a full house."

The summit that takes place during the worst global recession whose effects
are now being felt in the region would attract 1,500 delegates from 19
member states.

Delegates would also discuss a regional payment and settlement system as the
region prepares itself to compete effectively with other developed nations
in terms of settling payments at regional level.

The new system would be open to all African countries.

"It is not good to import services from abroad to trade with fellow African
countries," Dr Ngwenya told a press conference ahead of the first meeting.

"The mechanism of payment for our own trade should be done at regional
level."

The summit was initially scheduled for May last year but was postponed after
Zimbabwe was engulfed by political violence ahead of a June 27 presidential
run-off election that was set to pit President Robert Mugabe against his
then rival Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, now the Prime Minister in a coalition
government.

Mr Tsvangirai was forced to pull out of the polls after more than 100 of his
supporters were killed and thousands left homeless in the violence led by Mr
Mugabe's loyalists.

Following the election chaos, Zimbabwe ran without a substantive government
until February 13 when Mr Mugabe and his former rivals joined forces in an
effort to rescue the once prosperous country from economic ruin.

Zimbabwe will take over the chairmanship of the regional block after the
summit.

70 percent of revenue goes to salaries

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=17082

May 28, 2009

By Raymond Maingire

HARARE - Zimbabwe's 150 000-strong civil service is gobbling nearly 70
percent of the total monthly revenue currently being realised by government.
Meanwhile, government is also operating at a precarious 21 percent of its
projected monthly revenue base.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti revealed Thursday that the wage bill for civil
servants, pensioners and war veterans stood at US$121 million against
monthly revenue of US$174 million sourced by government mostly through
taxes.

Of the US$121 million, Biti said US$6 million was being paid to war veterans
who are entitled to monthly allowances.

He said government was operating at a precarious 21 percent of the desired
monthly revenue collection of US$200 million which was projected in the
March amendments to the 2009 budget.

"So far we have collected about US$179 million," Biti told journalists
Thursday during the official launch of the Ministry of Finance's official
website.

"What we have actually received is US$174 million. This is a shortfall from
the US$200 million we ought to have received. So we are underperforming by a
factor of minus 21 percent."

According to Biti, the difference of US$53 million was being used to finance
the rest of government expenditure.

He said, "If a private limited company were to operate with a cost structure
of 70 percent going to one recurrent expenditure, namely salaries and wages,
that company would need major restructuring as it would not be profitable.

"So we have major, major challenges in that we do not have fiscal space.

"The structure of our receipts is much skewed and is still reflective of an
economy that is not healthy at all.

"Direct taxes through our PAYE and corporate taxes, are still less that 12
percent of our income when in any normal tax structure they should be 55
percent to 60 percent.

"So we are still continuing to rely on customs duty and on excise duty,
which is not good enough because no country in the world has survived on
cigarettes and on alcohol."

Biti said his ministry welcomed current moves by some African banks and like
institutions aimed at incapacitating local companies through lines of
credit.

This he said will increase the capacity of local companies something that
would result in more people being employed, thus allowing government to
increase its tax base.

Over 2000 companies were forced to shut down over the past 10 years due to
viability and security concerns. Those still doing business in Zimbabwe are
said to be operating at a capacity of as little as four percent.

This threw over 90 percent of the employable adult population out of formal
employment while those still employed in the civil service are exempted from
paying tax as their US$100 allowances are below the tax free threshold of
US$150.

Zimbabwe owes US$1, 4 billion to the World Bank and the IMF as well as US$3
billion to the Paris Club.

By this, it has surrendered its privileges in terms of accessing any
international assistance from the World Bank and any other bilateral
assistance.

This has put paid to current efforts to secure US$8, 5 billion to
resuscitate the country's distressed economy.

To remedy the situation, Biti said his ministry will strive to ensure its
Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) will increase the country's
productive capacity from the current low levels of 4 percent to an ambitious
60 percent by the year end.

"That means that there would be more people that are employed and paying
taxes," he said.

"Hopefully by September, we can make our direct taxes contribute 30 percent
to 40 percent of our tax revenue."

Biti said the country's economic recovery efforts were also dependent on the
envisaged reforms of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

According to Biti, cabinet has agreed to effect key amendments to the RBZ
Act that are aimed at keeping the country's meddlesome bank within the
confines of its mandate.

Mnangagwa and CIO plot Chebundo's downfall

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
28 May 2009

Family and friends of MDC MP for KweKwe Blessing Chebundo, have claimed that
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is putting ernomous pressure on state
prosecutors, to find the legislator guilty for allegedly raping a minor.

Chebundo denies the charge and has told his defence team he's prepared to
undertake a DNA test to prove his innocence. But family and party colleagues
are worried at the influence Mnangawa is having on court officials in the
town.

Mnangagwa, who lost twice to Chebundo in the KweKwe parliamentary elections
in 2000 and 2005, is now said to be virtually based in the town, directing
operations with CIO officers in a bid to ensure Chebundo is found guilty.

'The first day Chebundo appeared in court, Mnangagwa was seated in his car
outside the court room. The girl's family are now virtually living under
siege from state security agents who have barred anyone from visitng or
making contact with them,' an MDC MP in the Midlands told us on Thursday.

The MP told us Chebundo has known the alleged rape victim from the age of
eight and has been helping the family with school fees since 2004.

'Chebundo denies ever raping the girl. He admits knowing the girl since she
was eight years old. The state are saying the pregnancy is as a result of
Chebundo raping the girl. But the MP is saying lets have a DNA test when the
child is born. So what happens if the DNA tests proves the child is not
Chebundo when the state case is based on the pregnancy? Asked the MDC MP.

'This was suppossed to have been a straightforward case but political
meddling has made it impossible for the MP to get a fair trial. Mnangagwa
and his cronies are adamant to see Chebundo go down,' the MP said.
Chebundo, a founding legislator with the MDC, is alleged to have committed
the rape after he offered a lift in his vehicle to the girl who is now his
accuser.
Initial police reports said the legislator, who was driving to his Kwekwe
base on January 5th, had pulled off the road along the way and committed the
alleged offence, which reportedly came to light when the sister of the girl
advised her to report the matter to the police.
According to police, a medical examination had revealed the minor was now 5
months pregnant.

Zimbabwean journalists & lawyers brought before the courts

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
28 May 2009

There was much activity in the magistrates' courts in Harare on Thursday
when human rights lawyers, two senior journalists and WOZA activists
appeared in court for separate, routine, remand hearings.

Two editors from the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, Vincent Kahiya and
Constantine Chimakure, appeared before Magistrate Catherine Chimanda, who
ruled that they will stand trial on June 16th. This was after the State
Prosecutor, Moses Musendo, argued that they face serious charges that
justifies them standing trial.

The two, who were arrested on May 11th, are accused of writing a story that
would undermine public confidence in law enforcement agents. They had
published a story entitled, CIO, police role in activists' abduction
revealed, containing the names of police officers and state agents
implicated in the abductions of MDC and civic activists.

The newspaper editors were ordered to report once a week as part of their
bail conditions, but their lawyer Innocent Chagonda successfully had their
bail conditions removed.

In another case, Alec Muchadehama, a leading rights lawyer appeared in court
for a remand hearing following his arrest on 15 May. He is facing charges of
obstructing the course of justice, for allegedly conniving with a judge's
clerk to have bail orders filed, which eventually led to the release of
three of his clients on 17th  April.  He is accused of doing this after the
State had obtained leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the granting
of bail.

Muchadehama lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, argued against her client's placement
on remand saying that the offence leveled against him 'did not constitute a
reasonable suspicion which warranted or justified either his arrest or
placement on remand.'  Magistrate Chimanda postponed the matter to June 1st
for a ruling.

Muchadehama told SW Radio Africa said even if the court removes him from
remand, the Attorney General can still proceed by way of summons  and put
him on trial. The prosecutor indicated that the trial date should start on
17th June. Muchadehama said: "For malicious reason they can actually do
that, so that a person can go through these motions of a trial, whilst my
time is being wasted and then I am then deprived of doing other things. My
rights to practice law are temporarily affected because instead of attending
to my clients I then have to attend to my own cases. They can do that for
malicious reasons. They are very good at that."

Meanwhile rights lawyers, Roselyn Hanzi and Tawanda Zhuwarara, plus eight
WOZA members, where acquitted when their trial resumed on Thursday in
Harare. The 10 were brought before the courts following their arrest on 10th
February for allegedly 'participating in an illegal gathering that was bent
on breaching the peace.'

Muchadehama said the magistrate threw out this case when the State
witnesses, two police officers, said 'nothing in terms of substance' during
their testimony.  The magistrate acquitted the 10 saying they committed no
offence.

The WOZA members had been part of a group that held a peaceful march in
Harare and the lawyers had been walking by, when riot police violently broke
up the demonstration and arrested them all.

Muchadehama said this is another example of how the authorities abuse their
power by arresting innocent people, making them pay bail and forcing them to
go through the motions of a trial, only to be acquitted in the end.

An angry Muchadehama added: "I think there is a clique in the military, CIO,
the police or the Attorney General and so on, who are behind these things
(arrests). These are well calculated and planned quite deliberately - where
it's decided that certain people must be abducted, certain people must be
killed, and deliberately violate people's rights."

He said this plot is systematic and widespread throughout the country and
that he was exasperated to see this happening, during a time when there is a
new inclusive government in the country. "People also appear not to be
perplexed and shocked and unmoved about such things. How can these things be
happening? I am quite upset about this because it doesn't have to happen
this way."

Coltart calls on private sector to help with education

http://www.insiderzim.com/may09education.html

Education Minister David Coltart has called on the private sector to partner
the government in rebuilding confidence in the country's education system.
Zimbabwe had one of the best education systems on the continent but
standards have plummeted following the exodus of teachers and lecturers for
greener pastures.

Coltart said 20 000 teachers had left the country during the past two years.

Students who wrote national examinations last year are still waiting for the
results. The first batch, A-Level results, was released on Friday.

Coltart was speaking at a function in Bulawayo to launch the Lobels Bread:
"Buy, collect and win" scholastic competition.

The competition, which has R3 million worth of prizes offers fees to
children and cash to schools to enable them to complete infrastructural
projects.

It began on May 1 and ends on July 31 but is now going to be an annual
event.

One of the company's director Herbert Nkala said apart from the competition
Lobels Bread was sponsoring a girls soccer team, children and old people's
homes in Bulawayo as well as Khami Prison where it was sending 50 dozen
loaves of bread for the prisoners.

Coltart said he felt like "stealing" the company's theme for the
competition: "Rebuilding Confidence in our education" because that was his
aim as the minister.

He said the government was doing everything to revive the education system
because education was a necessary precondition for the development of the
nation. But the government could not do this alone.

The minister appealed to the private sector to form partnerships with the
government and encouraged those interested to liaise with Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara who was spearheading the public-private
partnership programme.

Mutambara was in Bulawayo for two days last week touring industry and
meeting business leaders.

Apart from trying to get back teachers who had left the country, Coltart
said he was also trying to make sure children had textbooks because the
textbook-to-pupil ratio was appalling. In some schools, only the teacher had
the textbooks while the national average was one book to 15 children.

He said his ministry was working on a five-year strategic plan which would
also see the improvement of sports and sports facilities in the country.

28 May 2009

Paupers' burial for victims of violence

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=17073

May 28, 2009

By Owen Chikari

MASVINGO - The unclaimed bodies of at least 40 people, most of them victims
of last year's bloody violence during the campaign for the presidential
election re-run in June were this week accorded a pauper's burial in
Chiredzi.

Relatives of some of the deceased are reported to have been demanding
compensation from the perpetrators of the violence before they could collect
the bodies for burial.

The bodies have been lying unclaimed in the mortuary in Chiredzi. Health
officials say the morgue could no longer cope with the growing number of
bodies.

Officials in Chiredzi said Wednesday that some of bodies were of people
whose relatives could not afford a decent burial for the deceased.

"We buried the bodies with money obtained from the ministry and with the
assistance of the local business community," said a health official in
Chiredzi.

"Of the 40 bodies 25 are suspected to be victims of political violence
during last year's presidential election run off."

Masvingo provincial medical director Robert Madyirandima yesterday only
confirmed that 40 bodies were given a pauper's burial but declined to
comment on the identity of the victims.

"We had to bury these bodies because we felt they had not been claimed on
time", said Madyirandima.

"The funds for the burial were provided by the ministry and the business
community because the department of social welfare has no funds for such an
exercise".

Sources said that relatives of victims of political violence wanted
compensation in the form of cattle and huge sums of money before they could
bury their deceased relatives.

During the run-up to the June 27 presidential election run-off the then
opposition MDC of Morgan Tsvangirai said over 200 of its supporters were
killed while thousands went missing. Many are still missing.

More than 50 deaths were officially recording in Masvingo Province alone
during the violence which engulfed the whole country as Zanu-PF unleashed a
reign of terror in a bid to secure victory for President Robert Mugabe.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai who is now Prime Minister, has called on his party to
compensate victims of political violence.

He said some people were left with no possessions after their property and
assets were destroyed by suspected Zanu-PF supporters during the election
campaign and there was need for compensation.

"We have to make sure that we compensate our people who lost their lives and
property during the run up to the last year's polls "said Tsvangirai.

"Even if it means begging for money from donors we have to do so."

Some official within the mainstream MDC have called on the inclusive
government to bring to book all perpetrators of political violence during
last year's presidential election run-off, arguing that if justice is not
done there will never be reconciliation among the people of ZImbabwe.

Election Terror Masters Plead For Protection

http://www.radiovop.com


BUHERA, May 28 2009 - The people who were leading in the victimization
of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) supporters towards the last June
Presidential run off-elections in Buhera under Chief Nyashanu are pleading
with their respective traditional leaders to be given protection as MDC-T
supporters are insisting that they want to revenge.

Headmen Josiah Mabvuregudo in Ward 17 of Buhera Central Constituency
under Chief Nyashanu confirmed: "These people come to my home wanting to
know what I will do in case they are assaulted by the MDC-T supporters who
are swearing that they will not rest unless they revenge. I used to tell
these people to go back and wait so that they see if the MDC-T supporters
meant what they said,".

"One of the people who came ...was beaten seriously last week. Now I
am referring all the issues to my boss who is Chief Nyashanu," said
Mabvuregudo.

Mabvuregudo said he informed the police at Sanga Police Camp to assist
in limiting cases of violence in his area.

"Since this issue involves violence, we have since informed the police
to be alert. As a leader, I am worried because the tension between ZANU PF
and MDC-T supporters in my area is increasing instead of going down," he
said.

RadioVOP was informed that some people have already fled to towns to
skip potential punishment by MDC-T supporters.

The situation is not unique to Buhera as Member of Parliament for Gutu
North Edmore Maramwidze Hamandishe said he was also facing similar
circumstances in his area.

"I think something should be done to cool down the emotions of people
who were victimized in last year's elections. Currently, no justice has been
done and if the government fails to do justice on behalf of the people, then
the people will take the law in to their hands," said Hamandishe.

Thomas Matema an MDC-T supporter said the inclusive government was
taking too long to help the victims of political violence. He also said
people should be arrested for failing to pay back whatever they looted
during or towards last year's election.

However, MDC-T president and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai recently
told thousands of party supporters that victims of political violence were
going to be compensated.

President Robert Mugabe early this year swore in three ministers of
National Healing.

Zimbabwe, which was urged to undergo a national healing process, drew
three new ministers from both Zanu-PF and the MDC.

The Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration has
reportedly begun work on the establishment of a mechanism for national
healing and reconciliation to create a new environment and to remove
tensions in society

The organ, chaired by the John Nkomo, includes Ministers of State Mrs
Sekai Holland and Mr Gibson Sibanda, and was established in the Office of
The President under the Global Political Agreement.

Calls have been raised for the removal of John Nkomo as chairman of
the Organ following the shooting of a man by his bodyguard in a farm
invasion power struggle.

In an interview with the Zbc in Harare recently, the underfire ZANU PF
Chairman said the group is on a mission to meet and consult various sections
of Zimbabwean society and come up with the best way of conducting the
healing and reconciliation process.

He said the organ has already held consultations with some groups such
as traditional leaders, donors, women's groups, students, civil society,
trade unions, churches, and is going ahead with the meetings that should see
traditional healers, spirit mediums and other groups making their
contributions to enrich the process and give the mechanism a true Zimbabwean
character.

The three ministers of state in the reconciliation organ said the
healing and reconciliation process will go beyond the lifespan of the
inclusive government and will come up with institutions and regulations
governing the healing process.

Johannesburg Archdiocese increases aid to Zimbabweans in city

http://www.catholicnews.com

By Bronwen Dachs
Catholic News Service

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of Johannesburg is
increasing its help to Zimbabweans in the city as more cross into South
Africa in the hope of finding work.

Since South Africa dropped its visa requirements for Zimbabweans in early
May, "the wait at the border on the South African side is said to be about
nine hours," said Mariannhill Father Danisa Khumalo, who coordinates the
archdiocese's ministry to Zimbabwean refugees.

The archdiocese has an office in Braamfontein, a central suburb of
Johannesburg, set up to help meet the needs of Zimbabweans who have fled
economic collapse at home, Father Khumalo said. He said that among the
services it offers is a daily soup kitchen that serves many of the 3,000
migrants who stay in Johannesburg's Central Methodist Church.

Zimbabweans who come to the Braamfontein office seeking medical help are
seen by a doctor, who treats minor ailments and writes referral letters to
local hospitals when necessary, Father Khumalo said in a May 26 telephone
interview with Catholic News Service.

"We interview people before we hand out food because we've been cheated many
times" by unscrupulous visitors, the priest said, noting that the office
also distributes clothes to refugees who have been robbed of their
belongings.

"People who come to Johannesburg with money find it soon dries up as they
have to pay to eat and sleep. Then they find themselves in the cold," he
said.

In the last decade, some 3 million Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa
because of economic and political turmoil, according to Reuters, the British
news agency.

"The lucky ones have relatives here, while others stay at the church
(Central Methodist), in overcrowded inner-city apartments or at railway
stations and city parks where they have to pay security guards to be allowed
to take shelter," Father Khumalo said.

Once a week, Father Khumalo visits the Methodist church. There, the
Solidarity Peace Trust, a nongovernmental organization made up of South
African and Zimbabwean church organizations, has set up a school for about
350 primary- and secondary-level Zimbabwean students.

The trust's deputy director, Selvan Chetty, told The Zimbabwe Times that
most of the church's residents did not have the temporary residence permits
required for enrollment in local schools.

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs said May 4 that it had suspended
visa requirements for all Zimbabweans who intend to travel to South Africa.
Zimbabweans are granted a 90-day visitor's permit with permission to apply
for a permit to engage in casual labor.

A department spokesman said that the decision was made to allow temporary
economic relief to Zimbabweans.

Other countries in the region, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia and
Mozambique, have arrangements with South Africa that allow their citizens to
visit without visas.

Statistics from South Africa's Home Affairs Department show that every day
8,000 Zimbabweans apply for asylum status.

Before this change in the law, it was "almost impossible for ordinary"
Zimbabweans to get permission to work in South Africa, Father Khumalo said.

The archdiocesan office disseminates information about the asylum
application process and once a month hosts a meeting at which "we invite a
speaker to address issues pertinent to the Zimbabwean community in
Johannesburg, such as the rights of refugees in South Africa and what to do
in cases of harassment by police," he said.

Noting that most Zimbabweans in South Africa "are looking for ways to earn a
living," he said the church does what it can to help, including providing
Internet access to job-seekers.

"When teachers come to us seeking help we contact schools and facilitate
placements where we can," Father Khumalo said.

"We also help with the repatriation of those who are very sick and
distressed and want to go home," the priest said, noting that the church has
"an arrangement with a bus company where we pay for the terminally ill to be
taken home" to Zimbabwe.

Until they are well enough to make the journey, they are cared for by the
Missionaries of Charity in Johannesburg, he said.

"The fact that so many people are still coming to South Africa shows that
Zimbabweans do not yet trust" the unity government formed in February by
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe, Father Khumalo
said.

"It will take time for the government to gain the confidence of the people,"
he said.

END

Woman 'flew' in basket on witchcraft mission

FLYING SAUCER: A winnowing basket

Posted to the web: 28/05/2009 09:52:26
A HARARE magistrate has called in witchcraft experts after a Murehwa woman found NAKED outside her brother-in-law’s house in Highfield claimed she FLEW there in a winnowing basket with two others on a mission to kill him.

Regina Sveto was seen by passers-by outside the house wearing “red headgear” and “some black strings around the waist” just after 6AM on Sunday, the Herald newspaper reported.

Dozens of people soon gathered, some throwing stones at her until the brother-in-law she was on a mission to kill RESCUED her from the mob.

After admitting to a charge of public indecency for public nudity, prosecutors recommended that the woman be given a non-custodial sentence.

Prosecutors say the woman will now be a state witness in a future prosecution of her father-in-law Elias Zemba and aunt, Filda Zemba, whom she claims “flew her” to Harare on the mission to kill her brother-in-law.

Sveto claims the trio “took off” from a cemetery in Zihute Village under Chief Mangwende in the dead of the night, but once they got to Highfield, she balked when asked to carry out the killing. Her father-in-law and aunt then FLEW OFF, leaving her stranded at the property.

Refusing to take chances, Harare magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe said the woman should be remanded in custody just in case she “flies back to Murehwa”.

Guvamombe then told prison officers: “If she escapes, the Prison Service should explain.”

Experts from the Zimbabwe Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) were expected in court on Thursday to provide guidance on the bizarre case which is set to reignite a national debate on witchcraft.

Guvamombe said: "This narration is a bit of a novel situation and we need guidance from the experts to clarify certain issues. We cannot solve it on our own. She insists that she magically flew from Murehwa to Harare and if we release her on bail, she might fly back to Murehwa.”

The practice of witchcraft is illegal in Zimbabwe after witchcraft laws were changed in 2006. Under the colonial-era laws that existed before then, it was a crime to accuse anyone of practising witchcraft.

New laws say anyone accusing another individual of witchcraft must show proof of their allegations. The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act 2004 says judicial officers can rely on expert evidence “as to whether the practice that forms the subject of a charge… is a practice that is commonly associated with witchcraft.”

Prosecutor Austin Muzivi said they were determined to charge Elias Zemba and Filda Zemba with practising witchcraft in what would be a test case for the country’s witchcraft legislation.

Comments from Correspondents

    Thoughts from a from a well-wisher

It is quite obvious that the leaders of Zanu  including Police CIO and the Military have through Gono, and the printing of lorry loads of paper currency despatched to them to exchange for real goods and hard currency, kept these people at an acceptable and in some cases exorbitant living wage for the last few years. The country’s real value currency assets are on the surface now exhausted – so how is Zanu still paying the rank and file?

Does anyone know just how much of Zimbabwe’s pillaged foreign currency assets  has been squirreled away where Zanu can continue to draw on them?

Are hard currency earnings from the sale of minerals still reaching Zanu? Surely someone at the national bank has leaked the necessary information to Biti?

It is highly improbable that SADC, UNO, or any other international organisation  would ever supply a military solution. The only hope for the restoration of democracy and human rights lies in an uprising amongst the rank and file police and army supported by civil servants soon after  their monthly salaries have ceased. The beneficiaries of the looting of the state are now down to probably just a few thousand.

This subject has not been publicly touched upon and merits open discussion

Edward Caffyn

London