Tsvangirai tipped for Nobel Peace Prize

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

by Own Correspondent Thursday 30 September 2010

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is for the second
year running tipped to win the Nobel Peace Prize after bookmakers listed him
among hopefuls to land the 2010 award.

Tsvangirai was in 2009 among the favourites to win the peace Nobel for that
year that was eventually won by US President Barack Obama.

Bookmaker PaddyPower.com are giving Tsvangirai 8-to-1 odds of wining the
peace Nobel alongside former UN rights commissioner Mary Robinson, in a
field led by Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo who the bookmakers have given
6-to-1 odds of landing what many consider the world's best award.

The son of a poor peasant farmer, Tsvangirai first rose to prominence in the
90s as the leader of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the country's
main union, fighting for better pay and living conditions for impoverished
workers.

He later founded the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party
to try to end President Robert Mugabe's iron fisted rule, but met with
increased repression from the veteran leader.

Tsvangirai has survived several assassination attempts, been brutally
assaulted and tortured, while several hundreds of his supporters have been
killed during a 10-year struggle to topple Mugabe and his ZANU PF party from
power.

Tsvangirai almost succeeded in dethroning Mugabe when the MDC defeated ZANU
PF in a parliamentary poll in 2008, while he beat the veteran president in a
parallel presidential election but with fewer votes to avoid a decisive
second round run-off ballot.

Analysts had strongly tipped Tsvangirai to win the run-off election but he
withdrew from the race citing state-sponsored attacks against his
supporters. His withdrawal allowed Mugabe to win uncontested.

But Mugabe's blood-soaked victory was rejected by the international
community including some of his African allies forcing him to agree to form
a power-sharing government with Tsvangirai and Deputy Primer Minister Arthur
Mutambara.

Liu, the bookmaker's favourite to win the Nobel, is a poet and literature
professor, who is serving an 11-year jail term for "inciting subversion of
state power" -- after signing a 2008 manifesto calling for democratic reform
in China.

Others whose names have been mentioned as possible contenders for this year's
peace Nobel are Afghan women's rights campaigner Sima Samar and the
Democratic Voice of Burma, a media group that broadcasts pro-democracy
messages into the army-controlled country.

The Memorial, a human rights group working in the former Soviet Union
countries is also among those seen as likely to win the top accolade.

The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Oslo on Oct. 8. - ZimOnline.

Mugabe Blasts Foreign Investors

http://news.radiovop.com

30/09/2010 15:32:00

Harare, September 30, 2010 - President Robert Mugabe on Thursday blasted
foreign investors who are complaining about the country's indigenisation
laws which are aimed at awarding locals a majority shareholding, saying the
can go.

"They (West) want to find ways of controlling us and that should never be
allowed in an independent Zimbabwe. It's never allowed in many independent
countries and in their own countries anyway," Mugabe said.

"So let them stay away. Our true friends are eager to come," he said.

Zimbabwe enacted indigenisation laws which forces foreign owned firms with
capital of more than US 500 000 dollars to cede at least 51 percent
ownership to locals.

Mugabe was speaking at the burial of his party's deputy secretary, Ephraim
Masawi. Both Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai and and his deputy Arthur
Mutambara snubbed the burial. The two had been complaining that Mugabe and
his Zanu (PF)'s politburo were still presiding the choosing of national
heroes.

The MDC said the debate around the conferment of national hero status should
be by all parties in government.

"Why should they be consulted? Who are they to be consulted?" Zanu (PF)
party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said when he was asked by journalists on his
party's reaction to the MDC's conspicuous absence.

"We are not concerned at all because they don't seem to understand what
interring a hero is all about."

"They don't have the history, the consciousness to appreciate and to
understand. There are certain things that you do in life as a politician not
because you like it but because it is necessary and a national duty to do
it," he said.

Mugabe said the national heroes' acre was for the people who fought in the
liberation war before independence.

"This place we want to explain in detail. It is a place for those who fought
in the struggle to fight for this country in the liberation struggle,"
Mugabe said in his local Shona language.
"When we fought for this country, these guys were students. When we came in
1980 they were students, high school students for that matter. How do you
consult someone who
was at that level?"

Last month Mugabe's Zanu (PF) politburo denied the late MDC co-founder
Gibson Sibanda a national heroes status but said the state will assist the
Sibanda family in burial expenses.

Mugabe said the West disliked his unity government with Tsvangirai which was
formed almost two years ago after years of political tension and economic
difficulties.

"Our enemies and detractors are fighting day and night to destroy our
national unity. They just dislike our inclusive government. They do not want
to see us exercise our autonomy and sovereignty but want to dictate to us
how we should govern ourselves," Mugabe said.

Mugabe repeated his famous cliche that 'Zimbabwe will never be a colony
again.' The 86 year old ruler said young Zimbabweans are more interested in
working for the white man, other than for the white man to work for them.

"Working as CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) in white man's enterprises
whether it is Anglo-America or Rio Tinto or any other enterprise...is old
fashioned, it's antiquated. You have been born again in 1980, you are now
the masters and those who made you CEOs must now become your CEOs," Mugabe
said.

"Some would say we will lose investment. Which investment? If people don't
want to come on those terms then let them stay out, they are not good for
us. They are just not good for us, those who want to come on terms to
dominate us, to have major shareholding in our resources."
 

Police Vow To Track Bennett

http://news.radiovop.com/

30/09/2010 10:32:00

Harare, Sepetember 30, 2010 - Police have vowed to track and arrest Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer Roy Bennett whom they have been
stalking for the past month if they establish that he committed an offence.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena told Radio VOP that although the police
are yet to confirm whether the stalking of Bennett was linked to the
commission of an offence he said if they ascertained that he committed a
crime they would arrest him.

"No one has confirmed that they are after Bennett but if a person has
committed an offence we will hunt him down until we arrest him. If he
(Bennett) committed a crime it would be certain that we will hunt him down,"
said Bvudzijena when challenged on why police detectives were stalking the
former Chimanimani legislator.

Police detectives led by Detective Inspector Muchada had over the past month
been trailing the popular politician who is known as Pachedu by thousands of
his MDC party supporters at several of the premises that he owns in Harare
without disclosing the reasons for such an action.

The police have refused to disclose to Bennett's lawyer, the reasons for
stalking him.

But the police detectives' unexplained actions appeared to have been exposed
this week after revelations that lawyers from Chikumbirike and Associates
Legal Practitioners filed summons against Bennett on behalf of High Court
Judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu claiming US$1 million in damages for
defamation.

Bhunu's lawyers are suing Bennett for alleged defamation arising from an
interview he allegedly granted to a British online newspaper before his
acquittal in which he allegedly insinuated that the judge was compromised.

Bennett, who is Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's pick for the portfolio of
deputy agriculture minister, which has not been filled since February 2009
when Tsvangirai and President Mugabe formed a coalition government was
acquitted by the High Court in May after undergoing trial on terror related
charges.

However, the Attorney General (AG) Johannes Tomana has since appealed
against High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu's decision to acquit him.

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku recently reserved judgment after hearing
submissions from both the State and Bennett's lawyers.
 

Starving villagers appeal for MDC assistance

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

By Godfrey Mtimba
Thursday, 30 September 2010 16:49

MASVINGO - Desperate and starving Gutu villagers have appealed to the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to give them food as they are now
surviving on  wild fruits and tree roots.

The villagers appealed to  the MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa at
Mushayavanhu Village in Gutu on Tuesday, where  he  addressed  mourners
during the burial of a party official who  succumbed to injuries sustained
in the post March 2008 elections.

Ruka Chiseva, who was the Gutu Central Organising Secretary, died on Monday
morning  after nursing injuries sustained when Zanu PF supporters engaged in
violence to punish people for voting  against their party.

While Chamisa was explaining to mourners that his party brought relief to
the people of Zimbabwe by joining the inclusive government as shown by the
stabilising of the economy and availability of food in the shops, hungry
villagers shouted that they were starving and needed urgent help from the
MDC.

"Tirikufa nenzara hatina mari yekutenga chikafu. Totoda rubatsiro rwechikafu
kubva kwamuri nekukurumidza (We are starving because we can't afford to buy
food in the shops so we need your help urgently, " shouted an elderly woman.

Chamisa had to temporarily stop addressing as other villagers joined in
shouting on top of their voices saying they would die of hunger if the MDC
did  not intervene.

Some of them bemoaned the ban of humanitarian aid groups by the former
ruling party, Zanu PF which accused the Non Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) of furthering the interests of MDC and the West to push for regime
change.

"We will lose life if we do not get help soon so we appeal to you to do
something for us as a party when you go back to the leadership," said
another elderly man.

Chamisa, however promised villagers that government was working flat out to
make sure that no one starves to death.

"Government is aware of that and efforts to source food to distribute to
villagers who are starving are underway,"  said Chamisa.

Another villager who spoke to the Daily News on the sidelines of the burial
said the era of surviving on wild fruits and roots has resurfaced in some
parts of Gutu.

"We have gone back to the days of surviving on fruits, especially chakata
because our grain reserves ran out soon after we finished harvesting. As you
know we received little rains  here so we didn't get much from the fields, "
said Esther Mushayavanhu.

Stop Sibanda's reign of terror - MDC

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Godfrey Mtimba
Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:56

MASVINGO - The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai has appealed to the principals to the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) to immediately stop war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda
from terrorising villagers in Masvingo province.

Sibanda, who has since camped at the homestead of Chief Nhema in Zaka, a
traditional leader sympathetic to Zanu PF, is conducting rallies around the
province where he is threatening villagers with a devastating war if they do
not vote for President Robert Mugabe in next year's election.

Addressing journalists, MDC provincial chairman, Wilstaff Stemere said the
three leaders of the parties in the inclusive government should clip the war
vets leader's wings forthwith.

"We have raised concern to the three principals to stop Sibanda from
carrying out a reign of terror in the rural areas. He should not be allowed
to camp in Zaka and move around the province forcing people to attend his
rallies where he openly tells them that they would be killed if they do not
vote for Zanu PF and its leader in next year's purported elections," said
Stemere.

He said villagers were now living in fear and said Sibanda's actions were
not conducive to the holding of free and fair elections as agreed to in the
GPA.

On Wednesday,  Sibanda addressed a  rally at Nhema Primary School after he
forced schools and business to close in Zaka while villagers were
force-marched to the venue where he told people that war veterans and Zanu
Pf were preparing for a massive war should President Mugabe lose to
Tsvangirai.

"People were told that if Mugabe loses next year's elections, Zanu PF will
unleash a terror war. He even said the violence will be worse than that of
the 2008 presidential run off election as they will use all sorts of
fighting machines including helicopters.

"We could see the fear that struck villagers when they heard this and that's
why we have approached the principals to stop this man," said Stemere who
attended the rally.

Last month, the war veterans leader sparked controversy after he told
villagers that Tsvangirai was not a threat to Zanu PF as he could easily
kill him just like squashing a fly whenever he wanted and vowed that even if
the MDC leader wins elections in future, he will never rule Zimbabwe.

Efforts to get a comment from Sibanda were fruitless as his mobile was not
reachable.

Farmers Sue Zimbabwe Government for Racism

Peta Thornycroft | Johannesburg 30 September 2010

Photo: AP

Farm workers clean up at Les de Jager's "Two Trees" farm in the Lions Den area, 150 kilometers north of Harare, Zimbabwe after looters ransacked the house, stripping the home and causing damage to farm equipment. The looters abandoned the washing machine on the lawn, (File)

A group of farmers are in Zimbabwe's highest court for the first case in which the 19-month-old unity government is accused of violating the constitution for racism against white farmers.  Finance Minister Tendai Biti is among the seven charged.

The Commercial Farmers' Union and 10 of its members are accusing Zimbabwe's inclusive government of violating the constitution in Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court.

In papers before the court, farmers' advocate Adrian de Bourbon told Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku the government justifies actions against white farmers because it says it is undoing the wrongs of colonialism.  He said this is not a valid basis in law to commit the international crime of racism.

When Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister in the inclusive government, President Robert Mugabe and deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara signed a political agreement two years ago, they agreed the rule of law would be supreme.

The farmers claim they sought protection by the rule of law through the unity government, but were harassed, evicted, had their farm equipment stolen and were denied protection they sought from public servants.

These farmers say public servants such as policemen and members of the army were seizing white farms, equipment, fertilizer, and livestock since the unity government came to power.

The farmers received no compensation for the loss of improvements to the land, such as homes, farm buildings and equipment, although it is part of the law that has allowed the state to nationalize white-owned land since 2000.

This application does not seek, unlike previous court cases brought by white farmers, to challenge compulsory acquisition of land seized from them.  White farmers were told by Mr. Mugabe's former administration, they must seek compensation for land from former colonial power, Britain.

Among the seven government political leaders cited as respondents in this case, is Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a leader of the Movement for Democratic Change.  His budgets since the unity government came to power have not allocated money for compensation for farm improvements to farmers evicted from the land.

De Bourbon argues, if there is no national budget for the payment of compensation, the government cannot comply with its legal obligations.

The seven respondents also include Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Lands Minister Herbert Murewha, all from President Mugabe's ZANU-PF Party.

Attacks and harassment against the few-hundred white farmers remaining on small parts of their original landholdings continues on an almost daily basis, according to the Union.

Up to 20,000 at risk of forced eviction

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Amnesty International
Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:32

The Zimbabwean authorities must halt the pending evictions of up to 20,000
people from an informal settlement on the outskirts of Harare for failure to
pay prohibitively high lease renewal fees charged by the authorities,
Amnesty International said today.
Most of the residents of Hatcliffe Extension were allocated plots of land
for new homes after they were forcibly evicted by the authorities under the
country's 2005 mass forced evictions programme. Operation Murambatsvina saw
around 700,000 people lose their homes and/or their livelihoods.
"Residents of Hatcliffe Extension are among the poorest and most
marginalized in Zimbabwean society and many households have no means of
paying the lease renewal fee, especially as a lump sum," said Michelle
Kagari, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Africa.
"Instead of threatening vulnerable people with eviction, the government must
provide protection from the cycle of insecurity and further violations by
providing security of tenure and affordable payment plans for leases."
Hatcliffe Extension is one of a number of settlements set up under Operation
Garikai - the government programme that was initiated to resettle those left
homeless after Operation Murambatsvina.
In reality, only a small number were resettled. The majority were forced
into overcrowded existing housing stock while others were forcibly relocated
to rural areas by the government.
"Operation Garikai was wholly inadequate as a remedy for the serious
violations of the right to adequate housing perpetrated under Operation
Murambatsvina," said Michelle Kagari.
Five years after the mass forced evictions, residents at Operation Garikayi
settlements are surviving in deplorable conditions in plastic shacks without
access to basic essential services.
'Residents at Hatcliffe have been utterly let down by the government. It is
therefore all the more shocking that instead of taking steps to improve
their current situation, the government is threatening action that will
certainly increase suffering and deprivation." said Michelle Kagari.
In June, the authorities posted notices at Hatcliffe Extension saying that
all leaseholders should pay for the renewal of their agreements by 30
September. Failure to pay would result in residents losing their land which
would then be allocated to others on the housing list. There has been no
consultation with the residents on the renewal process and the fee set by
the authorities.
Many of the settlement's 3,000 households have no means of meeting the fee
of up to US$140 set by the government. Operation Murambatsvina, as well as
destroying homes, also destroyed the informal employment sector, depriving
thousands of reliable income. The unemployment rate in Zimbabwe stands at
around 90 per cent.
Since June, the residents have made several unsuccessful attempts to engage
with the relevant authorities.
The problem of excessive lease fees is not restricted to Hatcliffe
Extension. Residents of other informal settlements set up under Operation
Garikai are also under threat of eviction.
Earlier this month, police burnt down shacks at an informal settlement in
Harare's Borrowdale suburb, making over 200 survivors of Operation
Murambatsvina homeless.
"The government of Zimbabwe must review and revise Operation Garikayi, in
genuine consultation with survivors, to address the housing needs of all
survivors of Operation Murambatsvina," said Michelle Kagari.

Witchdoctor sent to prison for duping Mugabe

 

FILE | NATION Witchdoctor Mavhunga splashes ministers with diesel. She was jailed for misleading the Cabinet. 

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION Correspondent
Posted Thursday, September 30 2010 at 21:31

HARARE

A witchdoctor who misled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's entire Cabinet into believing that petroleum was oozing from a rock has been jailed for 27 months.

President Mugabe went to the extent of setting up a Cabinet committee to investigate how the country could benefit from the "discovery" after Rottina Mavhunga claimed to have discovered refined diesel at a mountainous area.

Mavhunga hosted several ministerial delegations at her shrine and was paid thousands of dollars as she sent the government on a wild goose chase. She cleverly exploited a fuel shortage that had gripped Zimbabwe for more than five years.

A magistrate in Chinhoyi, about 100km from Harare, said the witchdoctor deserved a custodial sentence as the government had channelled money to her fake project and which was now lost.

"The court cannot be faulted for saying that the offences were premeditated and diligently executed.  

"Many people became gullible owing to the crisis the country was under and accepted an unknown phenomenon.

"The accused lied to the nation for self-actualisation and personal benefit. Your trickery brought despondency in the nation during a dry period," the magistrate said while passing sentence.

Mavhunga blamed the diesel claim on spirit possession. She said she does not know if the diesel exists.

The government later discovered that Mavhunga and her accomplices were drawing diesel from tanks left by a white commercial farmer who lost his farm during President Mugabe's controversial land reforms.

Mugabe's close ally and Zimbabwe's registrar-general, Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, who allegedly sheltered Mavhunga when she was being sought by police, was also criticised.

Mavhunga faces another charge after she allegedly exchanged a stone weighing 18kg, claiming it was gold, for a cow.

Police will not release MDC vehicles - Bvudzijena

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

By Guthrie Munyuki
Thursday, 30 September 2010 16:48

HARARE - Police have said they will not release the MDC vehicles they
impounded in the run up to the 2008 Presidential run off until "outstanding"
cases against the party officials have been finalised.

Wayne Bvudzijena, the police spokesman, said the calls for the release of
the two trucks belonging to MDC youth league and Matabeleland North
province, respectively, were premature.

"There is no way we can release those vehicles because the matter has not
been concluded yet. I want to make it clear that a police officer will
investigate or arrest where there is reasonable suspicion of an offence,"
said Bvudzijena.

But the MDC Matabeleland North leadership insists that police are out of
step because the courts ruled that their party officials, who had been
arrested on the day the vehicles were seized, had been released.

Police were told to proceed by way of summons.The MDC argues therefore that
the cars should be released since two years have elapsed without any
investigations by the security agents.

However, Bvudzijena dismissed as nonsense claims by the MDC that police were
acting on the orders of senior politicians to hang onto the cars.

"No one arrests on the orders of someone. It is not true that police
officers take orders from their seniors or politicians, they dutifully do
their job," he said.

The two trucks were impounded by police and intelligence operatives in
Lupane in 2008 in the run-up to the bloody Presidential run-off.

An armoured top of the range BMW X5 which the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai
was using for campaigning was also impounded.

A South African businessman based in Johannesburg, has since been issued
with a subpoena as part of the verification exercise.

The car is still stationed at Lupane Police station.

Tsvangirai had been offered the BMW by a philanthropic businessman in South
Africa at the height of the violence which rocked the Presidential runoff.

Shocked by the grotesque images of his supporters who were either killed or
injured in the orgy, Tsvangirai withdrew from the race leaving President
Robert Mugabe as the sole candidate.

The one - man election was widely condemned by the international support
groups who dismissed it as a sham.

Tsvangirai had earlier on March 29 defeated Mugabe but came short of
claiming outright victory to guarantee a passage to the state house.

Meanwhile, MDC deputy organising secretary, Morgen Komichi, has been
remanded out of custody to December 9 by a Hwange magistrate.

Komichi, who was among the people arrested and released in 2008 when police
seized the MDC vehicles, is facing charges of allegedly threatening Police
Officer Commanding Matabeleland North Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore
Veterai.

SA urged to extend Zim documentation deadline

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
30 September 2010

The South African government is this week being urged to extend its deadline
for Zimbabwean nationals to regularise their stay in the country, amid fears
that the December deadline is unreasonable.

Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans in South Africa have started applying
for permits to remain there, after the government announced it was ending
its moratorium on Zimbabwean deportations at the end of the year. But the
Zimbabwe Documentation Project, which started last week, has already been
marred by reports of corruption and confusion and it is clear that the
December 31st deadline will be hard to meet.
Refugee rights group PASSOP has now urged the government to extend the
deadline, calling it unrealistic and unreasonable. PASSOP's Braam Hanekom
told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that the Department of Home Affairs does
not have the capacity to deal with the number of people applying for
permits, which Hanekom said is increasing daily.

"The departments' offices are clearly unable to keep up with all the
enquiries and applications and they are openly creating a backlog," Hanekom
said. Many Zimbabweans have been left queuing for days at a time, trying to
get their applications processed, and its understood that the turnaround is
less than 100 people a day.

South Africa's Home Affairs department has agreed to issue work and study
permits to the millions of Zimbabweans believed to be living without proper
papers in South Africa and Zimbabweans already working, engaged in business
or studying in South Africa will be issued with relevant permits, on
condition they produce valid documents to show they are citizens of
Zimbabwe. But there are increasing media reports that people are being
denied permits, despite promises that everyone with proper documentation is
eligible.

Hanekom explained that the biggest issue is the failure of the Zimbabwean
government to prioritise getting its citizens in South Africa proper
passports. The process is almost entirely hinged on getting passports, and
there are concerns that this process alone will take until December.
Zimbabwe's co-ministers of Home Affairs earlier this month announced that
passport fees had been slashed to US$50, down from US$140. The price cut is
meant to encourage Zimbabweans to get their papers in order and avoid
deportation from South Africa. But that is still a large amount of money for
Zimbabweans in South Africa to find.

SW Radio Africa has been told that corruption at embassies is already
slowing down the process, with some embassy officials apparently insisting
on bribes before taking applications. It is also understood that illegal
Nigerians in South Africa have been issued Zimbabwean passports, for a fee
paid to corrupt embassy officials. Further slowing down the process are
reports that some embassies have not even started issuing passports. Other
embassies have also told many Zimbabweans, desperate to avoid deportation,
that the passports will only be available after several weeks and not the
promised ten days.

"We are very disappointed that the Zimbabwean government has not taken this
more seriously, because their citizens in South Africa make huge financial
contributions to the Zimbabwe economy," Hanekom said.

The growing frustration at Zimbabwean embassies has already led to some
instances of violence, and this week security guards at the Zimbabwe
Consulate in Johannesburg were assaulted by impatient applicants. The entire
office was evicted from the building because of the violence, and officials
are now operating from a temporary location in Braamfontein. At the same
time, there have been reports that Zimbabweans have also faced abuse from
police, and a woman was pepper-sprayed by a policeman this week, while she
was queuing for documents.

"The South African authorities need to take the pressure off everyone by
extending this deadline, or there will be more abuse and violence," Hanekom
warned.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how thousands of undocumented Zimbabweans in
the centre of Cape Town will be able to get Zimbabwean passports. The
Zimbabwean Consulate in the city has been taken over by homeless people, the
majority of whom are, ironically, Zimbabwean nationals. There are concerns
that Zimbabweans in the city will have to travel to Pretoria to get their
passports. If they have no choice but to live in an abandoned building, it
is obvious they can't afford the journey.
 

Zuma faces criticism on Zimbabwe at European Parliament

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
30 September 2010

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma found himself facing strong criticism at
the European Parliament on Wednesday, for the way he has handled the
Zimbabwe crisis in his role as the regional facilitator.

In his first visit since he became president, the South African leader also
appeared in front of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee,
where he presented a positive view of the progress that he claims the three
political parties in Zimbabwe have made in fulfilling the GPA.

Zuma strongly urged the international community to lift the targeted
sanctions on Zimbabwe in order to remove ZANU PF's excuse that the coalition
government was not being supported and sanctions were restricting officials
from travelling to do their work. Zuma claimed this would enable the South
African Development Community (SADC) to do more to help Zimbabwe.

He credited his predecessor Thabo Mbeki with tightening rules on how votes
are counted in Zimbabwe, but offered not much else in terms of evidence of
South Africa's success.
A number of MEPs who keep track of developments in Zimbabwe were not
convinced by Zuma's statements and the harshest criticism came from British
Conservative MEP, Geoffrey Van Orden, who accused Zuma of "acquiescing"
while people in Zimbabwe starved. This forced President Zuma to defend the
role his country has played, saying that South Africa "gave leadership
before anyone else did".

Criticizing Zuma's performance in South Africa, British Liberal Democrat MEP
Graham Watson talked about concerns over new media laws there and called on
President Zuma to maintain press freedom. Zuma said the press was free of
political control but conceded it was "politicised". He defended the
proposed media laws by saying the press shouldn't 'abuse' freedom.

Masawi burial boycotted by MDC formations

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
30 September 2010

The two MDC formations on Thursday boycotted the burial of Ephraim Masawi at
Heroes Acre, in a protest over the national hero status given to him by ZANU
PF.

The late ZANU PF politburo member died in Harare last weekend. Soon after it
was announced he had been declared a national hero the MDC-T said they said
they would boycott the burial, although they sympathized with the Masawi
family.

True to their word no one from the MDC formations, including Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara, attended the burial
ceremony.

There is currently a raging debate in the country on the granting of hero or
heroine status to Zimbabweans. The ZANU PF politburo currently has the sole
responsibility of deciding who should be buried at the National Heroes Acre.

With the creation of the inclusive government last year, expectations have
been that the awarding of such a status in the current political
dispensation would reflect the letter and spirit of inclusivity.

But the death last month of the MDC-M vice-president, Gibson Sibanda,
sparked a heated debate after the ZANU PF politburo refused to grant him
national hero status, providing him with just a state-assisted funeral. The
former trade unionist served as secretary for ZAPU during the liberation
struggle.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said this week the declaration of Masawi as a
national hero was testimony that ZANU PF wanted to be 'exclusive' despite
being part of the inclusive government

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us that the ZANU PF leader Robert
Mugabe took a swipe at both the MDC formations for boycotting the burial.
Mugabe described the national shrine as a place to lay heroes and not just
people perceived to be good or holy.

'This place is not meant for those perceived to be good or holy but heroes
of the liberation struggle. If we had intended to bury good people at Heroes
Acre then we will have to prepare another hill elsewhere, but heroes lying
here are heroes of the liberation struggle,' Mugabe said.

 

ITUC warns against Zim worker attacks

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

by Sebastian Nyamhangambiri Thursday 30 September 2010

HARARE -- The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on Wednesday
warned against rising human and union rights violations in Zimbabwe that it
said could peak in the run-up to general elections expected next year.

ITUC secretary general Kwasi Adu-Amankwah called on African governments and
the wider international community to intervene to stop attacks against union
activists and other perceived opposition forces in Zimbabwe.

"The road ahead is difficult .. human and trade union rights violations
persist and concern is mounting with the prospect of fresh elections,"
Adu-Amankwah told Africa Union leaders who met in Harare from Tuesday to
Wednesday to assess worker rights in Zimbabwe.

"Attacks on trade unionists and other perceived opposition forces have been
a constant feature of recent elections and violence is already affecting the
constitutional outreach process," Adu-Amankwah said, referring to Zimbabwe's
violence marred constitutional reforms.

One person died and scores of others were injured two weeks ago during
violent clashes during public hearings on the new constitution in the
capital and its dormitory Chitungwiza town, forcing the government to
suspended the outreach programme in the two cities.

Adu-Amankwah appealed to the international community to assist the push for
justice and democracy in Zimbabwe.

He said: "The conference appeals to national governments, regional and
international bodies to play their part in helping Zimbabwe achieve a
peaceful, prosperous and democratic future. Success in bringing justice to
Zimbabwe would be a milestone (in the struggle to bring) workers rights and
democracy to Africa and beyond."

The ITUC conference was held to follow up on recommendations by an
International Labour Organisation (ILO) commission of inquiry last year that
called on Harare to repeal a battery of security laws that victimise workers
and inhibit union activity.

In a statement the union leaders said they hoped the Zimbabwean government
will act to stop harassment of trade unionists and that it would uphold
human and worker rights.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo told
ZimOnline that he hoped the government will bow to pressure to reform its
repressive laws.

The ILO commission of inquiry was prompted by the alleged assault and
torture of top ZCTU officials in September 2006 after state security agents
foiled a workers' protest.

Matombo and ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe were among some of the
executives from the labour body who were severely assaulted and tortured by
the security agents.

Matombo, Chibebe and 14 others later sued Home Affairs Minister Kembo
Mohadi, Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri and several other
police officers implicated in their alleged torture after reports by
independent medical doctors indicated that their injuries were consistent
with torture.

The ZCTU has previously criticised the unity government of President Robert
Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for its failure to reform the
police to instill professionalism. - ZimOnline

Story on President Tsvangirai stepping down false and misleading

US State Officials Brief American Diamond Dealers on Zimbabwe Export Issue

http://www.voanews.com

Critics say the Kimberly Process has always been focused on so-called "blood
diamond" sales by rebel groups seeking to topple legitimate governments, and
is therefore less comfortable tackling alleged state human rights abuses

Sandra Nyaira | Washington 29 September 2010

The U.S. State Department, which last week rebuffed a request by Zimbabwean
officials to review American sanctions, held a consultative meeting Tuesday
with American diamond dealers to explain its stance on blocking exports of
rough diamonds from the country's Marange zone ahead of a key Kimberly
Process meeting.

Washington has opposed diamond exports from Marange although the Kimberly
Process Certification Scheme has certified Marange diamonds that were
auctioned in August and September under its supervision.

The State Department meeting examined ways in which Kimberly Process
criteria for certification might be updated.

Critics say the Kimberly organization pays too little attention to human
rights in certifying diamonds, as in Marange. It has since its inception
focused on so-called "blood diamond" sales by insurgent groups seeking to
topple legitimate governments. It has been less comfortable tackling alleged
alleged state human rights abuses in Marange.

World Diamond Council President Eli Izhakoff, who participated in the State
Department meeting, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that U.S.
officials and diamond dealers are waiting to read the Kimberly Process
review mission report on Zimbabwe and the Marange diamond field before
making up their minds.

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu told VOA that countries and organizations still
seeking to block Marange diamond exports have other reasons for doing so as
Harare has done all that it was asked to do by the Kimberly Process.

Political analyst Joy Mabenge commented that the meeting in Washington
showed that there is still discord around the world on whether diamonds from
the Marange alluvial field in eastern Zimbabwe are truly untainted.