UK expresses reservations on Zimbabwe election timing

http://news.yahoo.com

Reuters

By Cris Chinaka Cris Chinaka – Tue Nov 23, 9:55 am ET

HARARE (Reuters) – The political climate in Zimbabwe is not yet conducive to
a free and fair general election, which President Robert Mugabe is aiming
for by-mid 2011, Britain's top envoy in Harare said on Tuesday.

A severe economic crisis forced Mugabe's ZANU-PF party after a disputed vote
in 2008 into a unity government with rival Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a smaller MDC faction
led by Arthur Mutambara.

But the crisis has since eased and an increasingly confident Mugabe says he
sees no need to extend the life of the coalition, and wants a referendum on
a new constitution early next year and general elections by mid-year.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, British ambassador Mark Canning said
although the economy was improving, Zimbabwe needed time to work on
political reforms, including repealing repressive legislation, opening up
the media, introducing new electoral laws, and updating the voter register.

"It is not for us to say when elections should be held. It is for the
parties in the (Zimbabwe) global political agreement to decide when the next
election should be held," he said.

"However...an election that is held too soon is likely to be much like the
last one in 2008," he said of a vote which many observers condemned as
rigged.

"We envisage that a poll that is held prematurely will neither be free nor
fair," he added.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE DOWN

Canning said despite accusations by Mugabe's party that Zimbabwe's former
colonial master Britain was undermining the unity government in Harare,
London was helping to revive essential services in health, education, water
and sanitation, and had spent $200 million in these sectors since last year.

"We have been generous in our support to the inclusive government and have
engaged with all the parties to it. Equally, we will not fail to speak out
where human rights abuses are taking place," he said.

The ambassador said alongside an improving economy, Britain had also noted a
drop in political violence which peaked in 2008 when Mugabe's war veteran
supporters launched a crackdown on MDC structures ahead of a presidential
run-off which Tsvangirai eventually boycotted.

But Canning said Britain remained vigilant on rights abuses.

"Our approach will be dictated by the direction of events on the ground and
it will be the extent to which violence and intimidation remains an issue or
is consigned to the past that is the most important issue," he said.

Sanctions imposed by the European Union on Mugabe and his ZANU-PF officials
and dozens of Zimbabwean companies were not directed at the whole country,
and would be up for review next February, he said.

Mugabe says the travel and financial sanctions have badly hurt Zimbabwe's
economy and are part of an "imperialistic plot" to oust his ZANU-PF party.

Political analysts say Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, looks
set on calling elections next year to take advantage of opposition squabbles
over government posts and privileges.

Critics say while Tsvangirai and his lieutenants have legitimate complaints
against Mugabe over outstanding reforms, there is growing frustration among
his supporters that he is being outwitted by Mugabe, a cunning political
veteran.

PREVIEW-Zimbabwe budget aims to cement recovery

http://www.reuters.com

Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:31am EST

* Political uncertainty undermines economic recovery

* Empowerment law scares investors

* Low govt revenues, aid limit budget options

By Nelson Banya

HARARE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti presents
his 2011 budget on Thursday but paltry government revenues and aid flows
give him little room for manoevre and a big overhaul of the economy is
beyond his remit.

The 2011 budget is expected to rise to $2.5 billion from $2.25 billion this
year, reflecting a rebound in growth since the fractious government of
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dollarised the
economy last year.

But donors and investors are still withholding funds and up to 70 percent of
government receipts go on the state payroll, giving Biti little ammunition
to fire up the economy.

Investors dislike Mugabe's policies such as land seizures and his drive to
transfer control of all foreign firms to local blacks.

More telling are the frequent wrangles in the unity government over
policies, senior appointments, the pace of reforms and sanctions imposed by
Western governments on Mugabe and his inner circle.

"There's very, very little that he can do alone and in the framework of a
budget. The fundamental issues affecting the economy are not within his
responsibilities but fall under national policy. He is handcuffed," economic
commentator Eric Bloch said.

"We have got to demonstrate we have political stability and that the unity
government is working."

Biti has projected 8.1 percent growth this year and 10 percent in 2011 due
to a revival of mining and farming, although the IMF is far less optimistic,
forecasting 2.2 expansion this year.

The economy contracted by as much as 40 percent from 2000 to 2008 due to
mismanagement under Mugabe that culminated in hyperinflation of 500 billion
percent in 2008.

Although inflation is now in single digits, analysts believe the country
needs at least $10 billion to repair its dilapidated roads, power stations
and water works.

Zimbabwe's main business organisation, the Confederation of Zimbabwe
Industries (CZI), says an empowerment law seeking to transfer control of all
foreign-owned firms to blacks was a threat to the economy and investment.

"Business needs clarity on the indigenisation process as this is negatively
impacting on both foreign and local investment," it said in a pre-budget
statement. "Politics is still the biggest threat to economic recovery."

SCA Hears Appeal on 2002 Zimbabwe Report Sought by Newspaper

http://www.sapa.co.za/

22 November 2010

Bloemfontein — The Supreme Court of Appeal heard argument on Monday on
whether the Presidency should give the Mail and Guardian newspaper a 2002
report by two judges on the Zimbabwean Presidential elections.

The North Gauteng High Court has already ordered the report to be given to
the newspaper but the President of South Africa and two others have appealed
the decision to the SCA.

The newspaper requested the report, commissioned by the then President of
South Africa Thabo Mbeki, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information
Act.

The high court ordered that the President's office should supply the
newspaper with a copy.

Mbeki at the time sent two South African judges to the neighbouring state to
obtain information on the constitutional and legal problems emerging in
Zimbabwe at the time of the 2002 elections.

Mbeki's office and the Zimbabwean government facilitated the mission.

It was submitted that Mbeki received a report and that he considered it to
be one that he would, as head of state and head of the national executive,
utilise at his discretion.

One of the purposes which the then president intended to put the report to
was that of formulating policy and taking decisions pertaining to the
situation in Zimbabwe.

The President's office argued in papers at the SCA the mission of the
justices was undertaken within the context of advancing continental,
regional and interstate relations.

It was submitted that the mechanism of dispatching envoys to assist with the
gathering of necessary information to "infuse into the strategies" to be
adopted in promoting dialogue in Zimbabwe, forms part of the conduct of
foreign relations.

It was also argued that this made the matter "the type of exceptional case",
where the court should exercise judicial restraint in refraining from
intruding into the domain of the government.

It was submitted that the observations of the two judges were to be
communicated directly and exclusively to the President and that their
mission should be distinguished from other missions such as the 50-person
election observer mission that was also sent.

The Mail and Guardian submitted that the importance of the report to the
Southern African region appears from the case of the appellants itself.

It repeatedly refers to a concern by the past three presidents of South
Africa to resolve conflict and to promote democracy in Zimbabwe.

More particularly, what the impact of the Zimbabwe situation would be on
South Africa itself.

The newspaper argued that although some years have passed since the judges'
report was compiled and submitted it remains a matter of great public
interest and importance for several reasons.

It was submitted that the report may provide important information relevant
to the question whether the 2002 Zimbabwean Presidential elections "was
stolen".

Whether or not that was so, was a matter of importance to an accurate
contemporary historical record of the region.

It was also submitted that it was central to the legitimacy of the
continuation in presidential office in Zimbabwe of the present incumbent,
Robert Mugabe.

In papers the newspaper argues that with new elections coming up in Zimbabwe
it was important to see whether Mugabe continues to hold office by virtue of
alleged illegalities and irregularities stretching back to at least 2002.

"It is clearly a matter of public interest."

The SCA reserved judgment.

Zimbabwe Presidency Seen Moving to Block Damning Parastatal Probe Reports

http://www.voanews.com

Sources said the presidency wants to block the release of damning reports on
state enterprises that have been run for years by executives - often former
military officers - named by Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF

Gibbs Dube | Washington 22 November 2010

As private auditors unearth corruption in Zimbabwean state enterprises, the
office of President Robert Mugabe is said to be taking steps to wrest
control of the parastatal sector from the Ministry of State Enterprises –
now in the hands of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Sources said the presidency wants to block the release of damning reports on
state enterprises that have been run for years by executives - often former
military officers - named by Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Auditors have uncovered rampant looting in most parastatals, amassing
evidence against executives, managers and workers with close ties to
ZANU-PF, sources informed on the audits said.

State Enterprises Minister Gorden Moyo has been tight-lipped over the issue,
but sources said his probe has shaken the ZANU-PF establishment. They said
ZANU-PF had expected senior executives to refuse to hand over key financial
documents, but such documents have been provided by disgruntled employees.

Political and economic commentator Themba Dlodlo told VOA Studio 7 reporter
Gibbs Dube that a power grab in the state sector by ZANU-PF would be
designed to protect its managers of military background.

"In this country, the executive is literally the president and nobody
questions any activities taking place in the president's office," Dlodlo
said, charging that the executive office wants to cover up corruption.

SADC says independent Zim violence report needed

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
23 November 2010

The regional SADC bloc says an independent investigation in Zimbabwe, to
verify reports of violence and intimidation before a general election can be
held, is needed.

Civic society leaders from Zimbabwe on Monday met with the SADC executive
secretary, Tomaz Salamao, in Gaborone to appraise him and his secretariat on
what needs to be done before parties in the Global Political Agreement call
for a poll.

A source privy to the meeting said SADC was fully aware of the deployment of
troops in rural Zimbabwe and the almost daily reports of soldiers who are
attacking and coercing people to vote ZANU PF.

Although there is abundant evidence of human rights atrocities and killings
our source told us SADC want an independent team from outside Zimbabwe. A
team of South African army generals provided a similar report in 2008, but
that has never been released and is now the subject of a court case between
President Zuma and a South African newspaper.

‘As one of the guarantors to the GPA, SADC feels it would be important to
send a team to investigate reports of violence because the regional body
does not want a repeat of the bloody 2008 election that was marred by
violence,’ our source added. But critics have questioned SADC’s commitment
to this, in light of the ignored generals report.

The civic leaders insisted elections can only be held if soldiers return to
their barracks to allow for the smooth running of an election that is free
from militarization, manipulation and violence.

Salamao also told the grouping it was too early for the political leaders in
Zimbabwe to talk of elections, when the GPA has not yet been fully
implemented. But the Indaba between the two parties comes at a time when the
SADC Troika failed to convene a meeting to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe.

This left Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara
fuming at the lack of urgency by the bloc to deal with Mugabe’s
intransigence.

Both the MDC formations were united in condemning SADC. The parties want
SADC to address Robert Mugabe’s breaches of the GPA, such as his unilateral
appointments and failure to implement agreed issues, like the media reforms
and the land audit.

SADC mediator to the Zimbabwe crisis, South African President Jacob Zuma, is
expected to meet the three principals in Harare later this week. It is
expected that Zuma would then make a recommendation to the chairperson of
the Troika, Rupiah Banda, on the next date for another Troika summit.

Zimbabweans are extremely tired of the endless SADC summits and meetings on
the crisis, which have been going on for two year, and now feel that Zuma
has failed to be an effective mediator. A poll survey in the online site of
the Daily News shows that 65,5 percent of people believe the South African
President is not an effective mediator compared to 7,7 percent who think he
is.

Meanwhile, Professor John Makumbe has urged Tsvangirai not to put faith in
SADC but instead advised him to revive demonstrations led by his supporters,
to force the ZANU PF leader to respect the GPA.

Makumbe said the SADC mediation has not produced the desired results, as
evidenced by the continued violation of the GPA by Mugabe, against the
letter and spirit of the pact, brokered by former South African President
Thabo Mbeki.

State broadcaster ‘strips’ Tsvangirai of PM title

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

by Irene Madongo
23 November 2010

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been stripped of his title in news
bulletins aired by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), as the
broadcaster worsens its attacks on him, an observer as noted.

According to the observer based in Zimbabwe, ZBC news readers now regularly
refer to Tsvangirai as the “leader of the MDC (T) party” instead of “the
Prime Minister” as part of its hostile campaign against his party. In
another example of the biased wording the ZBC news bulletins are using to
ridicule Tsvangirai, last Wednesday night the newsreader said: “Mr Morgan
Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC (T) party, has chickened out of elections.”

Political analyst Bekithemba Mhlanga says this is part of a bigger plot to
make Tsvangirai appear insignificant, and that there is worse to come for
him as the country nears an election, marked for 2011.

“ZANU PF is already in election mode and therefore they will do their best
to denigrate Tsvangirai and render him as a non-person as it were. They
realise if they continue calling him Prime Minister it gives him some sort
of stature that ZANU PF does not believe he has earned,” Mhlanga said.

Despite the country being under a government of national unity (GNU), the
state broadcaster remains tightly controlled by Robert Mugabe’s party and is
used as a machine to churn out ZANU PF propaganda.

Recently George Charamba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Information, announced that the government has no plans to issue licenses to
independent broadcasters, which is contrary to what is required by the
global political agreement (GPA).

Charamba’s statement means that millions of Zimbabweans will be force-fed
propaganda as the country goes into elections and beyond, if ZANU PF is
allowed to continue ignoring the GPA.

Mhlanga says the best tactic the MDC has against ZANU PF propaganda is to
rely on the support of ordinary people in Zimbabwe. “The MDC will have to
rely on the moral integrity it has earned with Zimbabweans since the GPA was
signed. The number of seats the MDC won last time and the number of votes
that Tsvangirai got at the last presidential election were accumulated
against a very violent and vitriolic ZBC,” he said.
Mhlanga’s comments are in line with those of another political analyst,
Professor John Makumbe.

Makumbe says that the MDC will need to rely on its supporter base, rather on
the Southern African Development Corporation (SADC), to force Mugabe to
respect the GPA. This weekend both the MDC-T and MDC-M were outraged that
the SADC troika did not meet to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe, as planned.
“The MDC and Tsvangirai must focus on what the people of Zimbabwe can do and
this demands mass mobilisation of people in preparation for elections and
demonstrations that can force the intervention of the international
community,” Makumbe told the Daily News.

Whites should ’go back to where they come from’

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za

Eyewitness News | 2 Hours Ago

As the political climate in Zimbabwe worsens, state media has published a
call for whites to leave the country.

The Herald and the national broadcaster are becoming increasingly critical
of perceived opponents of President Robert Mugabe in the run-up to next year’s
polls.

The Herald decided to publish a four-line SMS, which says whites should “go
back to where they come from and stay there for good.” The anonymous sender
said whites shouldn’t challenge us here in Zimbabwe.

State editors are likely to defend letter-writers’ rights to freedom of
speech – just as a minister allowed calls for reporters who criticised
Mugabe to be hanged to go unchided last month.

As elections loom next year, the pro-Mugabe media is getting increasingly
critical of supporters of Morgan Tsvangirai and – now it seems – of whites.

The sanctioning of this sort of message is likely to put off Western
investors.

Strip tease ambassador recalled for ‘debriefing’ in Harare

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
23 November 2010

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Australia, Jacqueline Zwambila, has been recalled
back to Harare for a ‘debriefing,’ two weeks after she allegedly stripped in
front of three male staff members. The MDC-T ambassador is said to have
taken off her clothes in a heated protest at the harsh treatment she was
being subjected to by staff members at the embassy, most of whom are
fiercely loyal to ZANU PF.

Ambassador Zwambila is said to have been driven to the edge by a well
calculated provocation campaign, led by ZANU PF apologist Reason Wafawarova,
who is based in Australia. Wafawarova is said to have made unfounded
allegations that Zwambila secretly set up a website for the embassy in which
she encouraged the lifting of western targeted sanctions against state
companies administered by MDC-T ministers, but maintaining them on companies
run by ZANU PF officials.

Investigations by SW Radio Africa established that there is no record of the
said website. The state owned Herald newspaper insists it was removed, 2
days after their story on it.

An official from the Foreign Affairs Ministry is quoted by the state media
as saying the ambassador was now “in the country for debriefing. She was
called by Foreign Affairs to explain the allegations being levelled against
her. Our embassy bought her a flight ticket on Friday and she left for
Harare on Saturday but she only arrived yesterday (Monday).”

The power sharing deal between the three political parties has virtually
collapsed with Mugabe refusing to genuinely share power. He has unilaterally
appointed governors, judges and ambassadors without consulting his coalition
partners. The latest targeting of Zwambila can be seen in the context of
attempts to humiliate the MDC-T and its leader. Analysts believe ZANU PF is
trying to push the MDC-T out of the coalition and trigger snap elections
under unfavourable conditions.

Stripping naked is a traditional form of protest amongst poor and powerless
women in many parts of Africa. They use the gesture to try and humiliate or
shame the person they are protesting against.

Efforts to recall Ambassador to Australia linked to diamonds smuggling syndicate

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

23 November, 2010 12:34:00    Staff Reporter

HARARE – The former ruling party ZANU PF has hatched a plan to tarnish the
image of Zimbabwean ambassador to Australia Ms Jacqueline Zwambila in order
to build up a case for her withdrawal from the post amid reports she has
become a barrier to a large scale diamond smuggling operation through
Australia en-route to India and China, we can reveal.

Ambassador Jacqueline Zwambila is one of five ambassadors from the MDC
parties in the coalition government, posted to serve in different countries.

The other four are Hebson Makuvise in Germany, Hilda Suka-Mafudze in Sudan,
Trudy Stevenson in Senegal, and Mabed Ngulani in Nigeria

The Zimbabwe Mail can reveal that the plan to remove Ambassador Zwambila
from Australia was hatched by Zimbabwe State intelligence agency, the CIO,
working together with Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Joey Bimha and
Australian based senior Zanu PF official Reason Wafawarova, who doubles up
as academic political analyst.

According to information from highly placed sources, the Zimbabwe government
officials, military generals and senior Zanu PF officials are smuggling
Zimbabwe blood diamonds through the Zimbabwe-Australian embassy en-route to
India, China and other Asian countries using the Diplomatic bag. The
Australian link is due to a specific international regional airline which
being used for the transportation.
A diplomatic bag, also known as a diplomatic pouch, is an envelope, parcel,
shipping container or any other kind of receptacle used by diplomatic
missions. As long as it is externally marked to show its status, the bag has
diplomatic immunity from search or seizure, as codified in article 27 of the
1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

It may only contain articles intended for official use. It need not be a
bag. In fact, no size limit is specified by the convention. It is often
escorted by a diplomatic courier, who is similarly immune from arrest and
detention.

We have already revealed in the past that the Zimbabwe diamonds trading
company Mbada Diamonds which is heavily linked to the First Lady Grace
Mugabe and her husband have established a large diamond smuggling network at
embassies dotted around the world.

The syndicate is run by the Foreign Affairs Permanent secretary Joey Bimha
who is a close relative of the First Lady.

Last month we also reported that top Zanu (PF) officials have secretly
recalled Zimbabwean diplomats in order to replace them with their relatives
and friends to enable them to smuggle diamonds and burst travel ban
sanctions imposed by some Western governments.

These embassy staff are also engaged in illegal arms trade and money
laundering schemes and negotiating deals with diamond buyers.

Nengomasha Mnangagwa, the daughter of the powerful defence minister and Zanu
(PF) secretary for Legal affairs, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is one of the people
who have just received diplomatic training in Harare.

The sources said one of the well connected people who have been given a
diplomatic position was Pedro Del Campo, who is now called the Honorary
Zimbabwe Tourism Ambassador to Spain. The Spanish-based Del Campo is married
to Nyasha Mujuru, a daughter of Vice-president Joyce Mujuru.

Joey Bima who doubles up as Foreign Affairs permanent secretary and family
spokesman for the First Lady Grace Mugabe at the First family occasions is
at the centre of the diamond smuggling operation and key figure　in the
syndicate operating from embassies.

The Zimbabwe government diamond smuggling syndicate has identified the
Australian Embassy as key transportation channel to India, China and other
Asian countries.

In Zimbabwe, the diamonds are packed in diplomatic bags and flown into South
African where they are cleared by "complying" South African security agents
before a long journey to Sydney, Australia and from there; they are
dispatched to various Asian countries, mainly India and China.

At the Zimbabwean embassy in Australia the presents of the Movement for
Democratic Change official Ms Jacqueline Zwambila as the designated
ambassador, has been seen as a problem by Zanu PF officials and hence has
targeted for recall on trumped up charges that she stripped in front of
three male embassy staff, a charge she has vehemently denied.

Robert Mugabe’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi has recalled
the ambassador Ms Zwambila for "debriefing", as part of choreographed plan
to withdraw her from the embassy.
Running in concurrent with the Zanu PF Aussie skullduggery is a hatchet job
being carried out in the State media discredited a former Ministry of
Foreign Affairs official who been training MDC diplomatic officials and
their staff members.

The former Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy director of training Mr
Abednico Chikanda trained 64 MDC staff a four-week "course".

Sources at the Australian embassy said all hell broke loose when Ms Zwambila
insisted that, only she should opened the diplomatic bag which did not go
down well with the authorities in Harare.

In recent weeks, Zanu PF officials have publicly lined up to encourage their
dear leader President Robert Mugabe to withdraw the over the alleged
protest.

We can also reveal that the Stage intelligence agents planted information on
the embassy website in which she was quoted as backing the Western
sanctions, a case which they now use as the basis of her being at odds with
"Zimbabwe government policy on western sanctions" imposed on the country.

In comments posted on the website, Zwambila appeared to encourage western
countries to lift sanctions against state companies administered by
ministers from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party, but not those
presided over by Zanu PF officials.

Her position drew dramatised fire from Zanu PF officials who said she was
trying to "create a government within a government".

And the ground was laid for action against the envoy when Chris Mutsvangwa,
a former ambassador to China and Zanu PF official, declared: "President
Mugabe may be forced to recall Ambassador Zwambila.

"He should not let his name and that of the country be tarnished by people
who do not understand the meaning of representing a country."

It has emerged that Zwambila originally declined to return to the country
until she was given an "ultimatum", the state-run Herald newspaper reported.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry official said: "She is in the country for
debriefing. She was called by Foreign Affairs to explain the allegations
being levelled against her.

"Our embassy bought her a flight ticket on Friday and she left for Harare on
Saturday but she only arrived yesterday.

"She initially ignored a letter written by Foreign Affairs for four days and
only resolved to come home after getting an ultimatum."

Zwambila has reportedly held talks with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as
she waits to learn her fate.

The increasingly paranoid Zanu PF is also now bent on believing its
propaganda that Australia is funding the MDC and hence the latest trumped up
charges to remove Ms Jacqueline Zwambila from her diplomatic posting as
ambassador to Australia.

Zim Constitution Process Illegitimate - Tsvangirai

http://www.radiovop.com/

23/11/2010 12:33:00

Harare, November 23, 2010 - Zimbabwe's constitution process while a step in
the right direction is far from being legitimate because it was
characterised by intimidation and violence, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
has said.

"It (constitution making process) does not pass the test of legitimacy
because of what happened in the rural areas. There was operation chimumumu
(shut up), people were ordered not to speak, there was violence," Tsvangirai
said.

"I believe that people were not given the freedom to express themselves and
therefore short changed. Yes (the constitution), is a step forward but not
adequate."

Tsvangirai said about 85 percent of the issues raised in the current
constitution making process were agreed across the political divide with the
remaining 15 percent still being contested and open for negotiations.

Zimbabwe has since June been involved in a process to gathered views from
ordinary people for a new constitution. However, the process was marred by
delays, violent disturbances, shortage of resources and politicking.

The country is due to go for a referendum next year. There has been talk of
holding elections next year as a way of solving the political stalemate that
have been reached by the political parties that signed the GPA to form a new
government.

South Africa's President and Zimbabwe's mediator, Jacob Zuma, is expected in
Harare next week to try and solve the problems delaying full implementation
of the GPA.

Students forced to register for Zanu PF militia training

War veterans disrupt youth meeting

http://www.radiovop.com/

23/11/2010 12:58:00

Gwanda, November 23, 2010 - In what has been described by young people as an
infringement on their basic right to free assembly and association, war
veterans from the Bruce Clarck ranch in Ntanye stormed into a youth meeting
which they alleged was politically motivated to further the interests of the
‘opposition’.

This happened at a recent meeting of the youth in Gwanda South. The meeting
was organised by the National Youth Development Trust to find out young
people’s views on the effects of holding elections in 2011.

Bhekumusa Moyo, a Programmes Officer with the (NYDT), was confronted on
stage by a group of men who claimed to be war veterans and ordered him to
address them first before he went any further with his presentation.

“They wanted to know which organisation we were from and who had sent us.
They said our meeting was not authorised and that we had no right to gather
their sons and daughters for a meeting to which they were not invited,” said
Moyo.

The war vets, who also threatened to stone the NYDT team’s vehicle, have
become a source of discontentment amongst villagers in the Gwanda area as
they have allegedly stopped a number of civic society institutions and
non-governmental organisations from conducting activities in the area in the
recent past.

Gilbert Ndlovu, councillor of Ward 14, was one of the participants and
assisted in mobilising youths for the meeting. He was verbally abused and
told to shut up because he got the councillor’s position by luck. He was
also accused of bringing sell-outs in the form of civic organisations into
the area.

One of the organisations that has faced hostility from the group is Habakkuk
Trust and villagers fear for their livelihoods as humanitarian organisations
have also been threatened out of the Ntanye Village, which is facing food
shortages.

Many youths in the village have been forced to join the One-Three/Tuli
Training Centre where they were allegedly trained on how to deal with
“stubborn opposition supporters” under the National Youth Service policy.

Recently Nhlamba was installed as the area chief and awarded a car. His
subordinates, which include kraal heads, have supposedly been financially
appeased to crash any opposition potential in the area. Some youths and
villagers expressed fears that the 1983 Gukurahundi terror might revisit
their area.

NYDT is conducting a series of Policy Dialogue meetings to gather youth
views on the holding of elections in 2011 under the theme: “Elections
speculated for 2011, what does it mean to the youth?”. The meetings are
designed to get young people debating on their role in the next election
while they get geared up to vote.

Africa plans to subvert Zim diamond ban

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
23 November 2010

Key African countries are allegedly planning to subvert a ban on sales of
Zimbabwe’s controversial Chiadzwa diamonds, as a decision on the country’s
trade future remains unclear.

South Africa, Angola and Namibia are said to be preparing to pass off
Zimbabwe’s diamonds as their own, in an effort to subvert the ban still in
place by the trade watchdog, the Kimberly Process (KP). Sources quoted by
the Standard newspaper revealed that the African countries, with the support
of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India and China are frustrated by the
stalemate reached by the KP over whether to allow full exports of Chiadzwa
diamonds.

“The eastern market, in particular India, UAE and China, are ready to buy
Zimbabwe diamonds without KP certification,” a highly placed source quoted
by the newspaper revealed last week.

But the source said that it was unlikely Zimbabwe would be so bold as to
sell on this basis, explaining that a more elaborate plan was in place. This
plan would see the gems mixed in with stones that have been certified
legally by the KP and sold on to international buyers.

Recent international investigations have shown how easy it is for this kind
of subversion, because once the stones are smuggled out of the country and
mixed with legal gems, there is no way to tell them apart. A report by the
UK’s Sunday Times detailed how rampant smuggling was ongoing out of Chiadzwa
to the Mozambique border town, Vila de Manica, which is booming as the go-to
black market town for smuggled diamonds. Mozambique is not a member state of
the KP and doesn’t need to legally abide by the laws. As a result, black
market dealers have set up shop in the town, using their own established
trade routes to mix the illegal stones with normal, certified diamonds.

African member states of the KP have meanwhile been supportive of a return
to full Zimbabwean exports, which has led to a deadlock by KP members over
what to do about the country’s future. Mainly western members have opposed a
green light on the exports, raising concerns about ongoing reports of human
rights abuses and smuggling at Chiadzwa. Without a unanimous decision on
what action to take, the KP cannot legally certify the stones as ‘conflict
free’ and technically there can be no legal sales.

But the South African monitor appointed by the KP, Abbey Chikane, has
already undermined this authority given to the KP when it was formed in
2003. Chikane earlier this month unilaterally certified a batch of Chiadzwa
stones, regardless of the KP stalemate on Zimbabwe. Mines Minister Obert
Mpofu ignored the prolonged KP embargo and, with Chikane’s sanction, went
ahead with a sale of over $160 million in Chiadzwa stones to Indian buyers
based in Mumbai.

The KP’s Chairman, Boaz Hirsch, has since condemned the move, warning that
the stones were certified without full approval of the organisation. KP
members are now meeting in Brussels trying to find a solution to the
impasse, a meeting which has been snubbed by the Zimbabwean Mines Ministry.

Meanwhile Nambia has already openly shown its support for Zimbabwe, saying
it will support the country if it decides to sue the KP. The African Diamond
Producers Association has advised legal action against the KP for refusing
to certify the recent diamond sale. Namibia’s diamonds commissioner has now
also slammed the KP for this decision.

“Zimbabwe’s diamonds cannot be held at ransom by one or two countries,”
Namibia’s diamonds commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya reportedly told delegates
attending a meeting of the ADPA in Namibia last week.

Hamutenya said Zimbabwe had complied with the standards set out by the KP,
despite ongoing reports of smuggling and brutal military control of the
Chiadzwa alluvial fields. He said there was no civil war in Zimbabwe to
prevent the KP from certifying the Chiadzwa diamonds, blatantly ignoring the
concerns raised that diamond profits are propping up the ZANU PF regime
ahead of elections next year.

Zimbabwe blocks bail for journalist

http://www.washingtonpost.com

The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 23, 2010; 9:57 AM

HARARE -- Zimbabwe's government is attempting to overrule a decision to
grant bail to a journalist accused of writing a defamatory report on the
upcoming elections.

Newspaper reporter Nqobani Ndlovu was arrested Thursday over a report that
the police force was hiring war veterans to boost its ranks ahead of 2011
elections. The government suspended his bail order late Monday, which can
keep him in custody for seven more days. The high court will rule on the
appeal.

President Robert Mugabe's party was accused of torturing opposition
supporters during the 2008 elections.

For the past decade, Zimbabwean journalists, particularly those working for
independent publications, have faced arrest and harassment. A criminal
defamation conviction can carry a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment.

Drama at ZBC Editor-In-Chief is arrested‏

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=24478

By Jack Jiri

Published: November 23, 2010

Harare  -  Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s Editor-in-Chief, Chris
Chivhinge who is returning to head the state broadcaster’s news department
was at the weekend arrested by the police and briefly detained at Highlands’s
police station after he had splashed car oil on the ZBC’s security-men, as
he fought his way to enter the ZBC premises, in what is believed to be power
struggles at Pockets hill.

Highly placed sources at the Ministry of Information and ZBC’s
Administration department said Chivhinge was starting his duties as Head of
News on 1 December 2010. He is replacing Tarzan Mandizvidza who is crossing
to head the company’s Administration department. Chivhinge and Mandizvidza
do not see eye to eye because over the powerful news position which
reportedly they both wanted to control over the years.

Chivhinge has been visiting ZBC for the past two weeks where he is
inspecting the company’s editing booths and the newsroom. Sources at the ZBC
Pockets headquarters’ security department  told ZimEye that Tarzan
Mandizvidza was blocking Chivhinge from entering the premises before the 1st
December which  is his official day of  taking  over the top news post.

The company security which comprise armed soldiers, members of the Zimbabwe
Republic Police and a chartered private security company which is heavily
guarding  ZBC premises at the weekend restricted Chivhinge from entering.

Sources who witnessed the event said it was after the security working on
orders from ‘the top’ barred Chivhinge that he became violent and insulted
the entire security manning the entrance gate.

“Chivhinge told the security that he was the new head of news that was
coming to view his offices and the security denied him access saying they do
not know him. He then told them that he was not going to listen to them. The
security threatened to shoot  him before he splashed car oil on them.
Realising that he was becoming  violent, police officers whisked him to
Highlands  police station where he was briefly  detained, “ said ZBC workers
who witnessed  the ‘drama’.zbc-SCREEN

Chivhinge, a protégé of the powerful Media, Information and Publicity
permanent secretary, George Charamba was currently on secondment to the
Namibia Broadcasting Corporation.

The former ZBC editor-in-chief was instrumental during the Presidential
run-off campaign when he assisted ZANU-PF by structuring advertisements and
the printing of election regalia such as T-shirts.

Chivhinge was fired in 2007 over another mishap to do with a trip to China.

Zimbabwe MDC Formations Deplore SADC's Failure to Take Up Unity Crisis

http://www.voanews.com

Foreign Minister Phandu Skelemani of Botswana said outstanding issues in the
power-sharing government were supposed to have been resolved over a year
ago, reflecting impatience in the regional bloc

Jonga Kandemiiri | Washington 22 November 2010

Both formations of Zimbabe's Movement for Democratic Change said the failure
by the Southern African Development Community to take up the worsening
crisis in Zimbabwe in Botswana at a weekend summit disappointed and greatly
concerns them.

Two members of SADC's so-called troika on defense, politics and security
failed to show in Gaborone for a session that was to set up wider summit
discussion. now South African President Jacob Zuma, SADC's mediator in
Zimbabwe, is expected back in Harare next week to resume efforts to shore up
the fragile government of national unity.

Commenting after the extraordinary SADC summit, Foreign Minister Phandu
Skelemani of Botswana said outstanding issues in the power-sharing
government were supposed to have been resolved over a year ago, reflecting
impatience in the regional bloc.

But SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao said SADC cannot set a timeframe
for a solution to the deep political problems in Harare. He added that it is
proper to thrash out a lasting solution and up to the Zimbabweans whether
elections are to be held in 2011.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has declared that the power sharing
government has run its course so elections must be held by the middle of
next year. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has also spoken in favor of
elections, but with the caveate that reforms must be in place so they are
free, fair and nonviolent.

Spokesman Nelson Chamisa of Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC formation told VOA reporter
Jonga Kandemiiri that his party is now pinning its hopes for a resolution on
Mr. Zuma’s visit.

Speaking for the MDC formation led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara, Edwin Mushoriwa said it is now for Zimbabweans to decide their
destiny.

ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo could not be reached for comment.

Elections premature - SADC

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Guthrie Munyuki
Tuesday, 23 November 2010 13:34

HARARE - SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao has said it is premature for
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to talk of
holding elections next year when they have not fully implemented the issues
agreed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

Sources within the civic movement who held the meeting with Salamao on
Monday in Gaborone, Botswana, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the
meeting.

Civic society leaders met Salamao under the auspices of the Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition and tabled contentious issues they feel should be
addressed before Zimbabwe holds elections which the leadership has  slated
for next year.

“He (Salamao) told us that the reason why the GPA was signed was to bring
political stability in Zimbabwe and create a conducive environment for free
and fair elections. He says that in the absence of this conducive political
environment, there is no need to talk of elections,” said a source who
attended the meeting.

“Dr Salamao says that the SADC position is that the political parties in
Zimbabwe should implement the 24 out of  the 27 issues that they have
already agreed to.”

In the same meeting, Salamao told  them  that South African President Jacob
Zuma and his team will be in Zimbabwe this week to try and get an
understanding from the principals on what issues the parties are raising and
how they can be resolved.

“He said that President Zuma will also assess the situation and make
recommendations to be tabled at a Troika meeting to be held most probably in
Zimbabwe in the coming weeks,” said our source.

Salamao’s remarks come at a time both Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur
Mutambara are livid at the snub they received in Botswana at the weekend.

Both formations of the MDC were left fuming after the organ’s chairman,
Zambian President Rupiah Banda and Mozambican leader Armando Gebuza failed
to attend the meeting in Gaborone, Botswana.

According to reports, Banda had an engagement in Brazil and could not make
it to the meeting on time, leaving both Tsvangirai and Mutambara seething at
the regional body which had invited them.

The two opposition parties accused SADC of shortchanging them and not
treating the Zimbabwe situation with the urgency that it deserves.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition meeting with Salamao comes hard on the
heels of a breakthrough meeting with  the Zuma mediation team in
Johannesburg which paved way for them to meet the SADC executive secretary.

In their meeting with Salamao, the civic society leaders re-iterated their
call for the holding of free and fair elections.

“We raised our concerns on the political situation in Zimbabwe and we said
is not conducive for credible elections. We also spoke about the deployment
of soldiers and war veterans to the villagers by Zanu PF to intimidate and
strike fear on people.

“We complained about how pre-mature it is for the GNU to talk about
elections before putting in place mechanisms to safeguard the ballot from
manipulation. We also brought to Dr Salamao's attention the need for SADC to
have a monitoring mechanism that will force compliance in the implementation
of the GPA. The SADC monitoring team should be on the ground well ahead of
the said elections to assess the political situation and determine when
elections can be held,” said our source.

Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch: Issue 21

2002 Election Report Publication Blocked By 'Secrets'

Robb , Derby: 1 min ago

I have noticed that when cases come to court in Southern Africa, if the subject matter of the case is delicate and in danger of exposing the governments for their activities, then the case’s judgement is reserved.

A case in point is the appeal by the Mugabe administration against the acquittal of Roy Bennett, the MDC’s preference for the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

Mugabe stated that until Bennett was cleared by a criminal court, his swearing into cabinet would not happen. He was acquitted, but a judgement in the appeal was reserved indefinitely which means that, on paper at least, he has not been cleared... and therefore not to be sworn into cabinet...

“Judgement was reserved at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein on Monday in the Presidency’s attempt to stop the Mail & Guardian from obtaining a confidential report on the 2002 Zimbabwe presidential election.

President Jacob Zuma’s office appealed against the June 2010 judgement in the North Gauteng High Court which ordered the government to release the report to the M&G.

In what was widely hailed as a victory in the struggle for state transparency in South Africa, Acting Judge S Sapire then ordered the government to hand over the report within 10 days. As the deadline was due to expire, the Presidency announced that it would seek leave to appeal.

The 2002 report was compiled by judges Dikgang Moseneke and Sizi Khampepe, acting as special envoys to Zimbabwe for the then-president Thabo Mbeki.”

I think that the fact that Zuma is ducking and diving, and working hard to conceal the findings of the report is indicative of the lack of transparency in the ANC government in South Africa, but also shows the influence that Mugabe has in Southern Africa.

The report is about 8 years old, but is still held back by the RSA government because they are aware that the contents therein will not only blow a hole in Mugabe’s government, but also in the ANC government of Zuma.

And for Zuma’s government, it is more important to protect Mugabe than it is to protect their own administration.

“The Judges of the SCA gave the counsel for president Zuma a very difficult time” said Dawes after the case. “They had numerous questions about his argument that the judges’ report ought to remain confidential because it contains secret diplomatic information that would jeopardise relations between the two countries if it were revealed.”

I hate to say it, but what a load of rubbish! Secrecy be damned - we are talking about peoples’ lives here!

How can the events of eight years ago be so politically and diplomatically important? I struggle with the idea that whatever was happening between Zimbabwe and South Africa almost a decade ago should be an obstacle in the publishing of a report concerning an election in Zimbabwe?

Do the ANC really think that we are that stupid?

The ANC government is so far up Mugabe’s behind that I sincerely hope that they have their names painted on the soles of their shoes so that those who follow know who is ahead of them!

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man

Read more: http://mandebvhu.instablogs.com/entry/2002-election-report-publication-blocked-by-secrets/#ixzz166qsFezE

Should gays and lesbians be given rights under our new constitution?

In attempting to answer this question in this article I have risked the work
of human rights activists being rejected as simply that of homosexual
lovers. I have risked what my conservative family could say in response to
my stance in favour of gay and lesbian rights. I risk all the bad jokes my
friends will make towards me and above all I risk my professional career as
colleagues are mostly conservative and traditionalist.

Nonetheless, the reason I do this is not only because I find it important
for people to openly debate constitutional matters and would thus take any
side for purposes of debate, but because I believe that what I have written
is what is right.

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the constitutional debate
particularly on the issue of homosexuality. In so doing I advance the case
of people now known as sexual minorities. ‘Sexual minorities’ is the
‘politically correct’ term that includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals,
transvestites, hermaphrodites (people born with both sexual organs) and
those people who for one reason or another have had their sexual organs
altered. In essence the term covers those people most of us would rather not
want to be associated with because they are ‘sexual deviants’.

There has been plenty of research in the developed world on why people
become homosexuals. A lot of questions have been asked. Is it that they were
abused? Were they born like that? Is it their upbringing? Is it hereditary?
It is contagious or communicable? Are they just trying to be different and
difficult? These questions have resulted in numerous strategies against
homosexuals. Some have suggested psychotherapy, others find counselling as
the solution.

In Africa our ‘solution’ is to arrest, prosecute and imprison these ‘social
and sexual deviants’. Our ‘solution’ has been to ostracise these people in
an effort to compel them to comply with our social norms. The question
therefore is whether our actions should be carried forward to the new
constitutional dispensation without a murmur and without any changes.

My arguments in this matter shall be premised on two concepts that are of
paramount importance in any modern national constitution that promotes human
freedom. These are human dignity and equality. These concepts are not only
human rights but are the pillars that sustain the human rights movement. We
need to begin by asking ourselves what the purpose is of having a supreme
constitution that has an entrenched bill of rights.

In the landmark South African decision that annulled the death penalty the
South African Constitutional Court was not convinced by the argument that if
the matter were to go for a referendum the majority of South Africans would
vote in favour of the death penalty. In responding to this argument the
court made it clear that the purpose of a constitution, amongst others, was
to protect society’s ‘worst and weakest’.

The point to be made is that where anything is put to a vote it is the
majority that will always win at the expense of the minority. A constitution
like ours is not there for the majority only but should serve the minority
as well. In short, utilitarian approaches as advanced by Jeremy Bentham have
a limited role to play in adjudicating concepts of human dignity and
equality. By using the utility approach Zimbabwe could have one dominant
ethnic group imposing its will upon another. We would have one dominant
religious group imposing its doctrine upon other religious groups. To
benefit under utilitarian models one has to ensure that they are always part
of the majority. This clearly cannot be what we intend to achieve with our
new constitution.

The stance of black Africa towards homosexuality is not only hypocritical
but has smacks of bigotry, double standards and selective amnesia. Arguments
made against homosexuality are threefold. Homosexuality is said to be
unnatural, against our African culture and against the laws of God. As a
Christian who has been raised in the African culture I am not convinced by
these arguments.

With regard to ‘naturality’ it is not clear to me who determines what is
natural and what is not. I am told that when our ancestors first saw white
people they thought they had no knees as it seemed unnatural that one could
cover their knees by wearing what their later learnt was a pair of trousers.
I recall being told of a war the Basotho people lost to the Scots when the
chief instructed his men not to attack the women. To him it could not be
natural for men to wear skirts and come to war.

We must not forget that there was a time not so long ago where it was
considered unnatural for black people to be involved in a sexual
relationship, worse still a marriage with white people. Such an involvement
was punishable by a prison sentence.

In my opinion therefore, there can be nothing natural or unnatural in human
social behaviour. Nature can be used to refer to the birds and the bees and
maybe human biology but not human social behaviour. What we call ‘natural’
is simply what we have been socialised and are now accustomed as that being
the way things are done. But there is nothing natural about it.

I am also not convinced by the African culture argument because I am unaware
of any culture in the world that embraces homosexuality. Even in the United
States and Western Europe where there are more liberal people you will find
strong opposition against sexual minorities. Both the United States and the
United Kingdom still report cases where homosexuals are subject to violence
because of their homosexuality.

Some people would want to suggest that homosexuality is a Western phenomena
but nothing could be further from the truth. Many historians acknowledge the
presence of homosexuals in Africa long before the advent of colonialism.
There are also African homosexuals who have never been exposed to Western
cultures.

As a black African the Christianity argument is regrettably the least
convincing towards me. Even though I am a Christian whenever Christianity is
going to be used to discriminate people I choose to dissent from my fellow
Christians. Having travelled to Zanzibar and to Ghana’s Cape Coast where you
get a feel of how the slave trade took place you get a bit sceptical not
only of Christianity but those who claim to be the guardians of
Christianity. In the Cape Coast slave castles there is a church right above
the male slave dungeons. In one of the castles where a captain was buried
there is a plaque that praises him as a God-fearing man. One wonders how one
can be called God-fearing yet he treated fellow humans in the most inhuman
manner.

Likewise, it is inconceivable that people could call themselves Christians
yet they perpetuate and cast a blind eye to the discrimination that sexual
minorities suffer.

I am also not oblivious to how white (Christian) supremacists used to
oppress black people. In the United Kingdom, the United States and in South
Africa white people convinced themselves that God had given them black
people so that they could use them as labourers. White South African
Christians saw nothing wrong with having separate churches for black and
white people as if they were praying to separate Gods. Hitler’s holocaust as
well, where millions of Jews were murdered was also based on Christian
arguments. I therefore find it surprising that black Christians who have
historically being oppressed on Christianity grounds are at the forefront of
persecuting sexual minorities using Christianity as a justification.

From the foregoing what is clear is that historically people have been
oppressed for being different. This difference has either been biological as
is the case with race; it has been ideological as is the case with religion
and it also has been the refusal of people to conform as in the case of
homosexuality. In Zimbabwe it is time to end such oppression by make bold
decisions and not hiding behind the convenient cloak of hate speech.

In any case, what I really do not understand is why the law should punish
consenting adults for what they do in their bedrooms. Other than the fact
that it is now generally accepted that this is a flagrant violation of the
right to privacy, it is just plain absurd. This is no different from the
ancient times when people were punished for adultery. The law should not
seek to punish all conduct that the majority considers to be socially
unacceptable.

I am forced to go back to the debate of law and morality. To what extent
should the law enforce morality? This debate is complex and is beyond the
scope of this article. What is important is that we must all become
suspicious when the law seeks to criminalise acts based solely on moral
grounds. This is because history has taught us that the person who claims to
hold the moral yardstick will eventually use it for tyrannical purposes.

We must also be conscious of the fact that the public morality argument
brings us back to utilitarianism where the minority must subject to the
majority.

Fundamentally, it is not wrong for law to have a moral basis. What is wrong
is when everything that is considered to be immoral is to be also considered
to be illegal. Drunkenness, adultery, smoking and fornication are all
immoral but they are not illegal and people who do these acts are not
discriminated against. So what’s the big deal with homosexuality?

Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court dealt with the issue of homosexuality in the
landmark decision of S v Banana where the Supreme Court was split three-two
on the issue of consensual male sodomy. Gubbay CJ who delivered the minority
decision (on this issue) argued that it was unconstitutional to criminalise
consensual sodomy in adult males but the majority as led by McNally JA did
not agree. According to the majority, Zimbabwe’s equality clause was not
wide enough to provide protection to consenting male adults unlike that in
South Africa and other jurisdictions. The majority also found Zimbabweans as
a whole to be too conservative to accept homosexuality. This was a sad
decision that, however, showed the dichotomy in the matter.

In South Africa the matter was dealt with in the Constitutional Court case
of National Coalition of Gays and Lesbians & Others v Minister of Home
Affairs & Others. In this case the Court questioned amongst others whether
there was any government legitimate purpose served by the criminalisation of
consensual sodomy. It was the Court’s view that ‘[t]he enforcement of the
private moral views of a section of the community, which are based to a
large extent on nothing more than prejudice, cannot qualify as such a
legitimate purpose.’

The Court also questioned why similar acts were not criminalised when
committed by consenting female adults. In short, the Court came to the view
that criminalisation of homosexuality was a violation of the right to
equality, human dignity and privacy.

Ultimately it is our humanity that should lead our consciences; and our
consciences that should lead our constitution making process. What is
important is not whether we believe someone’s acts are right or wrong. What
is important is our reaction to that perceived wrongfulness. As it stands
Zimbabweans may not know that they have gay brothers, sisters, sons,
daughters, friends or colleagues. This is because of our current stance that
leaves people ‘in the closet’. This is our time to shift ideas, mould new
attitudes, sideline prejudices, reform opinions and improve our views. We
need to embrace the attitude of learning, ‘delearning’ and relearning. Only
by doing so do we truly create a new Zimbabwe founded on freedom, human
dignity and equality.

Tazorora TG Musarurwa LL B (UFH) LL M Human Rights (Pret.)
The author is a former Zimbabwean magistrate and a registered legal
practitioner he can be contacted on tazmusarurwa@hotmail.com .

©TazororaTG Musarurwa 2010