Tsvangirai speaks on violence, threatens to pull out of GNU

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
08 October 2012

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has threatened to pull out of the inclusive
government if his party supporters continue to be victims of political
violence.

Speaking in Zaka, Masvingo province this weekend, the Premier said he would
soon convene an emergency council meeting to decide whether or not to stay
in the inclusive government.

The district of Zaka witnessed some of the worst cases of political violence
during the 2008 elections. A number of MDC-T supporters were petrol bombed
and killed during the orgy of violence, largely perpetrated by soldiers and
ZANU PF militia.

Last week the party’s ward chairman in Zaka, Nelson Bvudzijena, was injured
when his house was petrol bombed. He was taken to the St Anthony’s Musiso
hospital were the MDC leader paid him visit.

Tsvangirai also accused ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe of being a hypocrite,
who denounced violence by day and promoted it by night.

He told his supporters that his message to Mugabe is that they cannot
pretend to be working together when violence is taking place, adding that he
would confront Mugabe and tell him to ‘shape up or the MDC-T will ship out.’

He continued: ‘I am going to call an emergency council meeting to see if it
is worth it to continue in the government of national unity. Shall we
continue to turn a blind eye when my supporters are being tortured, when
diamonds are being looted?’

Political analyst Mutsa Murenje told SW Radio Africa on Monday that while
everyone agrees that an end to the unity government is long overdue, there
is a danger a pull out could prompt Mugabe to delay the elections.

‘The unity government is long overdue, nobody still wants it but only free,
fair and credible elections can end that. The end of the government must be
promptly followed by elections but do conditions permit? So the threats won’t
really work if they don’t have an alternative and palliative measure to deal
with what is likely to happen after the pull out,’ Murenje said.

A Masvingo based journalist said the main message from Tsvangirai’s address
to his supporters was for ZANU PF to stop the serial political violence
against the MDC.

‘I don’t think a pull out is possible at this hour, it will be suicidal but
what I can read from what he said is that this time around they won’t
tolerate violence against their supporters.

‘It’s also clear that he warns such impunity on political violence, if it
continues, leaves no room for clean elections in Zimbabwe,’ the journalist
said.

Zimbabwe president wants political tolerance

By GILLIAN GOTORA, Associated Press – 3 hours ago
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's president said on Monday he wants his
people to be tolerant of each other's views to allow for a free vote in
proposed elections.
President Robert Mugabe, officiating at the state burial of a former foreign
minister, said political differences must be private and "not expressed in
actions" that lead to violence. He called on Zimbabweans to follow the
"virtues and discipline" of academic and veteran diplomat Stan Mudenge, who
died Oct. 4 of heart failure at age 71.
"Let people vote the way they want to. Those who don't want to vote can
throw their vote into the river. It's their business," Mugabe said.
Mugabe's remarks followed harsh criticism by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai over the weekend about the presidential party's record of
violence. Tsvangirai, in a shaky coalition government, described Mugabe as a
hypocrite for "preaching peace by day" while his ZANU-PF party loyalists
attacked opponents at night.
"We have politicians who shed crocodile tears like Mugabe," Tsvangirai said
at a rally in the Zaka district, where his former opposition Movement for
Democratic Change party has reported the country's worst upswing in
political violence in recent months.
Tsvangirai said on Saturday he was giving Mugabe an ultimatum to end the
violence or he would pull out of the coalition and elections planned for
next year. He said he won't "step on dead bodies" to get elected as the
country's president. Tsvangirai said elections can only be held when
long-disputed constitutional and democratic reforms are in place and the
rule of law is enforced.

Mugabe’s peace rhetoric hollow - MDC

http://www.thezimbabwemail.net

By Tinashe Murambanaye 2 hours 21 minutes ago

HARARE - As the country moves towards the completion of crafting the new
constitution, Zimbabwe’s President has called for political tolerance among
party supporters calling for the respect of personal preferences of
individuals.
Addressing mourners who gathered at the National Heroes Acre at the burial
of the Minister of High and Tertiary Education, Stanislaus Mudenge who
passed away last Thursday after almost a decade long illness, President
Mugabe said those from Zanu (PF) should accept fellow countrymen from the
MDC and vice-versa.
“Although we may differ, we are the same, we are of the same belonging.
Allow others to have their preferences, mugere mumba chaimo nevana mumwe
anoti handidye derere baba vachiridya sezvandinoita ini ndakarerwa nambuya
(in a family one child may be against what the whole family are eating).
So as we go out these preferences assume proportions sometimes which are
ideological, religious, cultural, and political. I’m Zanu (PF) and he is MDC
and those are preferences.
I want the MDC to recognize that I’m a full Zanu(PF) and also they want me
to recognize them that they are fully MDC,” he said.
Mugabe also publicly admitted that his party had serious factions and adding
that the issue was not peculiar to Masvingo alone but was countrywide which
he said is normal among political leaders.
However the MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said President
Mugabe’s peace message was hollow unless he moved from mere rhetoric to
ordering the arrest of all the perpetrators of politically motivated
violence.
“President Mugabe has said this over and over but what is of concern is the
fact that he has never openly issued an order to the police to arrest the
perpetrators. We have heard this on several occasions but it is not
complemented by action, so what it simply means is that he is not sincere,”said
Mwonzora.
Mudenge becomes the second Zanu (PF) Minister to die whilst in a hotel after
the then Information Minister Ambassador Calisto Jokonya met his fate at
Rainbow Towers.
Among the mourners were also members of the MDC-T faction including Douglas
Mwonzora, Morgan Komichi and deputy Prime Ministers, Thokozani Khupe and
Arthur Mutambara.
Bull Attack
Meanwhile President Robert Mugabe on Monday said Higher and Tertiary
Education minister Stan Mudenge could have succumbed to injuries he suffered
when he was gored by a bull in Masvingo early this year.
Addressing mourners at Mudenge’s burial at the Heroes Acre in Harare, Mugabe
said if he had known that Mudenge was not well the minister would not have
been allowed to go on assignments in Bulawayo and Harare.

The minister died in his hotel room in Masvingo last Thursday where he was
scheduled to address a conference of academics.

Mudenge had officially opened the St Patrick’s Hotel at the Bulawayo
Poltechnic the previous day.

Mugabe said the minister had appeared physically fit but “could have been
hurting inside.”

“We thought Mudenge was on his way to recovery and we are happy for him,” he
said. “It would appear now that from inside his body was hurting.

“If we had realised Mudenge was not well, we would not have sent him on
missions.”

The minister was hospitalised for a number of days following the attack by
the bull in his Zimuto homestead.

Over the years he had also been in and out of hospital. He was widowed twice
before he married a woman in her mid-20s early this year.

The veteran ruler took a swipe on factionalism in his Zanu PF and also
called for an end to political violence.

“Some people are divisive but Mudenge was working to get people united,”
Mugabe said. “We will be going to elections soon, let people vote the way
they want to vote.

“And please let us maintain a high level of discipline by recognising that
people are entitled to their own decisions.”

He criticised Zanu PF ministers who did not vociferously campaign for his
party.

“We have silent ministers now, who don’t want to talk about politics,” he
said. “They don’t want to defend their own country.”

Mudenge was appointed Zimbabwe’s permanent representative to the United
Nations in New York soon after independence in 1980.

He also served as Foreign Affairs minister before Mugabe re-assigned him to
the Higher and Tertiary Education portfolio.

Mugabe praised him as an astute academic and historian who was humble
despite his high level of education.

Tsvangirai sets conditions for polls

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Monday, 08 October 2012 10:39

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has set conditions for watershed
elections likely to be held next year.

Tsvangirai told hundreds of his supporters in Zaka, Masvingo province that
he will only take part in elections if Sadc, the African Union and United
Nations observers are deployed in the country to monitor the crucial polls.

He said he will boycott the elections if the military was allowed to
continue running President Robert Mugabe’s campaign.

“We will not go into elections if the conditions for free and fair elections
are not there and also if we do not have UN, AU and Sadc monitors because we
are aware that Zanu PF is recruiting soldiers for military training ahead of
the polls,” said Tsvangirai.

The MDC leader who has been in a coalition government with bitter rival
Mugabe of Zanu PF since 2008, at the weekend threatened to pull out of the
coalition government citing sustained violence meted on his supporters and
renewed cases of intimidation as reasons that could trigger such a radical
move.

In 2010, Tsvangirai who labelled Mugabe a “hypocrite” partially pulled from
the tenuous “unity” government.

“Mugabe is a hypocrite, he pretends to preach peace to the nation but his
party is still beating up and burning people’s homes. I am not happy with
what I saw at the hospital, it is four years after this government was
formed and we agreed to make peace but that is not the case,” he said.

Repeating the statement he made in 2008 following an orgy of violence
targeting his supporters Tsvangirai said in Masvingo: “I am not prepared to
step over dead bodies to the state house.”

Despite having tea every Monday with the 88-year-old Zanu PF leader,
Tsvangirai said he is increasingly becoming disillusioned by Mugabe’s
double-speak on violence and peace.

“We are seriously considering pulling out of this unity government because
of continued acts of political violence to our members.

“I will be calling an emergency general council meeting to decide on this,”
he said.

The setting of conditions for polls by the former trade unionist comes at a
time when the High Court recently granted Mugabe’s request to have elections
in March 2013.

Both Tsvangirai and Industry minister Welshman Ncube, the leader of the
smaller MDC formation, are agreed that elections can only be held in a free
and fair environment.

Among the other pre-conditions for polls are security sector and media
reforms.

Tsvangirai said he is aware that Zanu PF has already roped in soldiers to
engage in a terror
campaign against MDC supporters ahead of forthcoming elections.

In Zaka, Tsvangirai visited Nelson Bvudzijena, a 72-year-old MDC activist in
hospital nursing petrol bomb-caused injuries.

On Saturday, Tsvangirai whose party was remembering its “fallen heroes”,
also toured five homesteads of his party supporters which were destroyed in
2008.

The MDC leader also visited the MDC office at Jerera growth point where two
party members were killed after soldiers doused 20 litres of petrol and
locked officials inside before setting the building on fire.

In the company of his wife Elizabeth Macheka, Tsvangirai donated food
hampers, groceries and blankets to over 30 victims of political violence who
survived the 2008 attacks.

Zuma’s faciliation team back in Harare

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
08 October 2012

President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team landed in Harare on Monday for
briefings on the progress of the finalization of a new constitution, a
condition for the holding of elections.

Progress on the new charter was stalled for over a month as parties in the
GPA were wrangling over its contents. This was despite the fact that party
negotiators and COPAC representatives had signed and agreed to a draft
released on 18th July.

Mac Maharaj, who is part of the team that flew into Harare, told SW Radio
Africa that they were in the country as part of their ongoing facilitation
efforts.

‘We will be here (Harare) for a day or two working with all parties and
getting to know what they have agreed, in as far as the constitution making
process is concerned,’ Maharaj said.

President Zuma and his facilitation team’s focus has been on the crafting of
the new constitution which is expected to bring about some electoral
reforms. So far both MDC parties have endorsed the draft constitution, while
ZANU PF has indicated it wants extensive amendments during the second all
stakeholders conference, slated for 21st-23rd October at the Rainbow Towers
conference centre.

Last week the three political parties agreed on the number of participants
at the conference. Their combined number of delegates, including their
parliamentarians, will be slightly less than the civil society delegates.
530 will come from the political parties and 571 from civil society.

There are reports suggesting COPAC will submit to the conference the current
draft and an interim national statistical report, as well as five other
documents with views from the national outreach, the Diaspora, institutions,
and children and people living with disabilities.

COPAC has stressed this will not be a drafting conference, but will focus on
comments and recommendations on the draft from the stakeholders, which will
then be incorporated into a report for consideration. Civil society,
diplomats, the judiciary, local and international media, and all other
interested stakeholders, will be allowed to observe the process.

Civil servants delay strike by 48 hours

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 October 2012

Civil servants, under the umbrella Apex Council, on Monday threatened to
strike in 48 hours if government does not resume negotiations for the wage
increases that they are demanding.
Government suspended talks with the workers’ representatives last month,
with the Public Service Minister alleging there was a leadership row within
the Apex Council.

But David Dzatsunga, the new president of the Apex Council, dismissed the
allegations as a delaying tactic by the Minister, saying government is
focusing on the interests of one individual and sacrificing thousands of
workers.

Dzatsunga told SW Radio Africa that Cecelia Alexander, a secretary to former
Apex President Tendai Chikowore, wrote to government claiming there was a
leadership row. The Public Service Minister, Lucia Matibenga, then suspended
talks and refused to recognize the Apex Council’s negotiators.

“We decided today that unless they resume talks with either the new
negotiators or the old ones under Mai Chikowore, we will then strike or take
some other form of action to be decided on Thursday,” Dzatsunga said.

He added that it was strange government had entertained complaints by one
individual union, which they never do. All complaints and requests normally
go through the Apex Council.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has insisted that there are no funds for wage
increases in the treasury and government is faced with a $400 million
deficit in the 2012 budget. Biti blames the shortfall on ZANU PF and
military chefs, who he accuses of failing to remit funds from the sale of
diamonds from the Chiadzwa fields.

Dzatsunga also accused government of spending large sums on travel and other
luxuries for senior officials, while ignoring the plight of public servants
who earn less than the poverty datum line, currently pegged at $600 per
month.

Mudenge funeral delays Glen View murder trial

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
08 October 2012

The ongoing trial of 29 MDC-T members accused of murder has been postponed
to Wednesday, after the Judge and state prosecutor both excused themselves
to attend the funeral of the late Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge.

Mudenge was buried at Heroes Acre on Monday, in a ceremony officiated by
Robert Mugabe. Mudenge died last week Friday after collapsing in a Masvingo
hotel. It is understood the 71 year old ZANU PF official died of heart
failure.

Meanwhile the 29 activists, including MDC-T Youth leader Solomon Madzore,
remain detained over the murder of Glen View policeman Petros Mutedza last
May. The trial has dragged on with little evidence to implicate the 29 in
Mutedza’s death at a local bar.

MDC-T Youth Assembly spokesperson Clifford Hlatshwayo told SW Radio Africa
that there is still no word about the group’s pending bail ruling, after
Judge Chinembiri Bhunu indefinitely reserved judgment on their release. The
fresh bail application was launched last month with new evidence to show the
29 had nothing to do with Mutedza’s murder.

Their trial will now continue on Wednesday.

Bull attack killed minister - Mugabe

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, October 08, 2012 - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Monday said
Higher and Tertiary Education minister Stan Mudenge could have succumbed to
injuries he suffered when he was gored by a bull in Masvingo early this
year.
Addressing mourners at Mudenge’s burial at the Heroes Acre in Harare, Mugabe
said if he had known that Mudenge was not well the minister would not have
been allowed to go on assignments in Bulawayo and Harare.

The minister died in his hotel room in Masvingo last Thursday where he was
scheduled to address a conference of academics.

Mudenge had officially opened the St Patrick’s Hotel at the Bulawayo
Poltechnic the previous day.

Mugabe said the minister had appeared physically fit but “could have been
hurting inside.”

“We thought Mudenge was on his way to recovery and we are happy for him,” he
said. “It would appear now that from inside his body was hurting.

“If we had realised Mudenge was not well, we would not have sent him on
missions.”

The minister was hospitalised for a number of days following the attack by
the bull in his Zimuto homestead.

Over the years he had also been in and out of hospital. He was widowed twice
before he married a woman in her mid-20s early this year.

The veteran ruler took a swipe on factionalism in his Zanu PF and also
called for an end to political violence.

“Some people are divisive but Mudenge was working to get people united,”
Mugabe said. “We will be going to elections soon, let people vote the way
they want to vote.

“And please let us maintain a high level of discipline by recognising that
people are entitled to their own decisions.”

He criticised Zanu PF ministers who did not vociferously campaign for his
party.

“We have silent ministers now, who don’t want to talk about politics,” he
said. “They don’t want to defend their own country.”

Mudenge was appointed Zimbabwe’s permanent representative to the United
Nations in New York soon after independence in 1980.

He also served as Foreign Affairs minister before Mugabe re-assigned him to
the Higher and Tertiary Education portfolio.

Mugabe praised him as an astute academic and historian who was humble
despite his high level of education.

MDC Businessman Sues Minister Over Cyanide Mix-Up

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, October 08, 2012 - A Zimbabwean businessman accused by the
government of delivering the deadly sodium cyanide to Harare’s water
treatment works is suing the Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo for
financial prejudice.

Alex Elias Mashamanda who owns MT&N Distributors, had a contract to supply
water treatment chemicals to the local authority cancelled last month on the
advice of Chombo.

He was arrested in April after a truck driver arrived at Harare’s main water
works with a consignment of the dangerous chemical and was turned away after
officials noticed the mix-up.

But Mashamanda, a target of Zanu (PF) militia groups in Mbare suburb, trying
to stop him from developing a service station, has maintained that his
company cannot be held responsible for the confusion.

Mashamanda said he was being victimised for his alleged political links to
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

“My company was said to be an MDC company with initials MT&N standing for
names of senior MDC officials,” he said in a statement on Monday. “This is
all a smokescreen to cover dishonourable motives.

“We have suffered massive financial prejudice in excess of $500 000 as a
result of unjustified and unlawful conduct.

“We borrowed from our bankers and pay heavy interest charges. It appears
those fighting me are unaware of government’s indigenous empowerment policy
and the need to create employment.”

He said he was taking legal action against Chombo in his personal capacity.
The minister has in the past been accused of victimising MDC controlled
councils as a way of re-gaining Zanu (PF)’s control of urban councils.

He has set up a commission to investigate Harare council’s tenders and the
move is seen as a way of targeting Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda.

Zim Salvation Army chief ‘reassigned’ in ongoing Howard Hospital saga

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
08 October 2012

The head of the Salvation Army in Zimbabwe has been ‘reassigned’ to a
mission out of the country, amid the ongoing saga around the Howard Hospital
in Chiweshe.

Sources told SW Radio Africa that Vinece Chigariro will start her new
position in Kenya in January 2013. The Salvation Army International
Headquarters in London did not confirm or deny this development in email
correspondence on Monday, and instead directed all queries to the Zimbabwe
offices. The Zim offices are yet to respond to requests for more
information.

It is understood that Chigariro’s reassignment is linked to an investigation
into alleged financial mismanagement by the Salvation Army leadership in
Zimbabwe, which has seen the launch of an international probe into
operations at the Howard Hospital in Chiweshe.

Delegations from the London headquarters and from the Canadian mission
visited the hospital recently, after concerns of possible corruption were
raised by the former chief doctor, Paul Thistle.

Thistle was dismissed from his position shortly after raising these
concerns. The Salvation Army has insisted that his reassignment to his
native Canada was above board and part of their internal processes.

Dr. Thistle was given a 48 hour ultimatum to leave Zimbabwe after his forced
removal in August. He still remains in Zimbabwe, but is not allowed to
return to the Howard mission. He has insisted he will not leave while eight
of his colleagues face criminal charges.

Eight nurses and 12 other Chiweshe residents were arrested during protests
against Dr. Thistle’s dismissal in August, and have been accused of inciting
violence. The group was back in court Monday, where four Salvation Army
officials testified against them.

A source who was in court Monday told SW Radio Africa that the testimonies
from the four officials provided conflicting information about events at the
protest. He said testimonies were given by Majors Makiwa, Nyahuma and Ncube,
and Colonel Moyo.

The case meanwhile has been remanded once again, until October 19th.

CHRA to take city of Harare to court in 30 days

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Concerned by the opaque administration within the City of Harare, CHRA has
resolved to take City of Harare to court within the next 30 days. Through
its legal representatives Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (Z.L.H.R), CHRA
has written to the Town Clerk, Dr. Tendai Mahachi demanding the release of
information which City’s bureaucrats are refusing to release in terms of
Section 6 of the Access to information and protection of Privacy Act
(10:27).
08.10.12

by CHRA

CHRA seeks to use this information to perform an independent evaluation of
the City of Harare finance management and budget performance. CHRA has
written six letters with no response to the Local authority requesting to be
furnished with the following data:

I. Initial appropriations (2010-2012)

II. Final appropriations (2010-2012)

III. Actual expenditures (2010-2012)

IV. City of Harare Strategic Plan 2012-2017

To date communication has been one sided with the other party (C.o.H)
hesitating to release the much needed information. The request has been
inspired by the need to do an overall assessment on the effectiveness and
efficiency of the City in the discharge of its duties (Service delivery). In
recent times, Harare has been facing severe water shortages which have been
attributed to the archaic piping system which is now failing to cope up with
the growing population pressure. Coupled to that, CHRA is aware of the fact
that Harare City Council is getting at least 40% of its total revenue from
water and what we seek to unravel is how the money which is supposed to be
used for water, has been spent.

It’s quite appalling to realize that up to date, C.o.H has not released any
audited statements since 2009 to 2011. Ratepayers continue to contribute
without knowing how their monies are being used. Continuous speculation and
ambiguity surrounding salaries and perks being offered to the senior
management officials has also triggered us to act on behalf of residents in
wanting to know exactly where the City is failing in terms of financial
management. The Assessment is meant to come up with a compendium of
recommendations that can be forwarded to the City.

CHRA is going to take legal action if Harare City Council does not produce
the documents requested therein, in 30 days starting from the notification
date which is 2 October in terms of section 6 of the Access to information
and protection of privacy act (10:27).

Zimbabwe’s Ivory Stockpile Increases to More Than 50 Tons

http://www.bloomberg.com

By Godfrey Marawanyika - Oct 8, 2012 4:10 PM GMT+1000

Zimbabwe’s ivory stockpile increased to more than 50 tons in September from
42 tons a year earlier, wildlife authorities said.
The country has 100,000 elephants against a capacity of 45,000, mostly at
Hwange National Park in the southwest, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife
Authority spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo said. Water shortages led to the
deaths of 17 elephants last month, she said.
Zimbabwe can’t cull the elephants or sell the ivory without permission from
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Washaya-Moyo
said. It doesn’t have such a permit for selling the current ivory stocks,
valued at about $13 million, she said.

Elephants die of thirst

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Hwange National Park has been hit by a critical water shortage which has
resulted in the death of 17 elephants.
08.10.12

by Zwanai Sithole
Harare

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson, Caroline
Washaya-Moyo, said in a statement that the current hot season has resulted
in an increase in high temperatures which has accelerated the rate of
evaporation of water from the holding pans.

Pressure on the few remaining water holes is also increasing owing to an
increase in wildlife frequenting the watering points.

“This situation has obviously created a situation whereby pumped water is
not adequate for game during the dry season. Water demand in the national
park appears to be outstripping supply during the hot season,” said Washaya
Moyo.

She said the parks, particularly Robins and Sinamatela camps, have already
seen an influx of other wildlife species from neighboring Botswana.

Washaya-Moyo said her organization was appealing for financial assistance to
avert a disaster in the park, similar to the devastating draught of 1992
where thousands of wildlife species died of thirst in the vast national
park.

On Thursday last week, parks officials held a meeting with stakeholders at
the Main Camp to try and solicit help for the dying elephants.

The stakeholders that have been engaged include Wildlife Environment
Zimbabwe, which has already offered a dam scooper and a tractor. They have
so far done three pans and these are Libingi, Makwa and Kennedy 1 and work
is still in progress at other sites.

About 80 elephants succumbed to thirst last year in the park, which recorded
a total of 35 deaths. She said the authority needs urgent assistance towards
the resuscitation of borehole engines while the engines require constant
repairs.

Main camp has a total of 39 boreholes, 32 diesel, two solar, four wind and
one submersible while Sinamatela has eight boreholes, five diesel, two
solar, four wind.

Robins Camp has two boreholes and both use diesel. Wildlife conservationists
have also warned that Presidential elephants in Hwange Safari Lodge face a
similar predicament .

Most of the animal drinking pans in the area have run out of water. The
conservationists in the area have accused Hwange Safari lodge management of
neglecting the watering pans and the area where the special presidential
herd roam freely. The lodge which is owned by Dawn properties is being
leased by African Sun.

Hwange National Park has an estimated population of 45 000 elephants against
a carrying capacity of 30 000.

Anti-corruption commission starts countrywide awareness campaign

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

Monday, 08 October 2012 11:05
HARARE - The Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission is embarking on a
countrywide awareness campaign to help reduce rampant corruption that is
threatening to derail economic growth.

Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the worst corrupt nations in the world.
According to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index, the country is ranked
154 out of 183 countries and territories assessed.

The country has a score below five on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 10
(very clean). Zimbabwe currently has a score of 2,2 which means it is ranked
among the most corrupt countries in terms of perceived levels of public
sector corruption.

Phyllis Chikundura, the commission’s spokesperson, said the week-long
awareness campaign is aimed at bringing corruption issues to the fore.

“We are currently in Matabeleland South and we have covered areas such as
Gwanda, Plumtree, and Bulawayo and we will be in Beitbridge distributing
fliers and speaking to the public about reporting corruption,” she said.

Over the last few years, the commission has been under fire from ordinary
citizens who have slammed the board for being an expensive smokescreen set
up solely to divert attention from the greed and avarice of the powerful and
influential within the Zanu PF party.

Despite overwhelming evidence being available about shameless plunder and
pillaging of national assets by public figures, none of the big shots have
been touched.

“The response we are receiving from the public is very overwhelming and I
would like to encourage people in the areas that we are coming to prepare to
speak to us so that we can weed out corrupt practices in our societies,” she
said.

The commission, a statutory body whose mandate is to investigate corruption
and prosecute without fear or favour, has in the past been accused of
failing to tackle several cases involving high profile figures. - John
Kachembere and Ndakaziva Majaka

Zimbabwe eyes Russia trade deal

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

07/10/2012 00:00:00
by Business Reporter

ZIMBABWE is set to conclude a trade deal with Russia which will also see the
establishment of a business council between the two countries, officials
have confirmed.

Economic Planning Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said the deal was part of
government efforts to promote trade and investment with the BRICs group of
emerging economies which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
Africa.

Russia’s Industry Minister Denis Manturov added: “The setting up by our
countries of a business council for cooperation of our business communities
will become a major stimulus for the development of trade and economic
relations.

“We have formed an intergovernmental commission, or to be more exact we
confirmed that it resumes its activity, in order to build more comfortable
relations between our countries and ensure a more comfortable climate for
our companies in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean companies in Russia.

Manturov said Russian companies were looking for opportunities in the mining
industry, metallurgy, aircraft building, construction of infrastructure and
power engineering facilities, as well as transportation, storage and
procession of energy resources.

“I believe the nature of relations developing between our countries towards
strategic partnership, as well as the readiness of Zimbabwean leadership to
create maximally favourable environment for Russian business testify to
long-term prospects in the whole set of relations,” he said.

Polls: Lawyers push Mugabe

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Fungai Kwaramba, Staff Writer
Monday, 08 October 2012 10:11

HARARE - Lawyers representing three ex-legislators are returning to court to
force President Robert Mugabe to call elections this year, in a move that
could further expose how the 88-year-old is chickening out of his own
demands for early polls.

Recently the High Court granted Mugabe’s request to synchronise by-elections
with polls that would end the “dysfunctional” coalition government that is
running the country next year.

Mugabe, who started the year vociferously demanding elections by mid-2012,
had begged the court to grant
him permission to delay elections until at least March next year.

Lawyers for the former MPs say they are now approaching the Supreme Court to
force Mugabe to immediately announce dates for elections.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who are representing former
legislators Abednico Bhebhe, Njabuliso Mguni and Norman Mpofu, say they will
not let the case sleep and will this week request the reasons for the
judgement that was made by judge President George Chiweshe two weeks ago.

When Chiweshe passed his judgement on Tuesday last week he said reasons for
granting Mugabe’s March 2013 poll wish would follow.

Tawanda Zhuwarara, one of the ZLHR lawyers representing the former
legislators, said an appeal to the Supreme Court has been delayed by the
fact that there are no reasons yet as to why Chiweshe granted Mugabe’s poll
plan.

“We will be going to the registrar of the High Court in order to get reasons
for the judgement because we cannot approach the Supreme Court without
reasons from the High Court. Once these reasons are given then we will be at
the Supreme Court seeking a reversal of the judgement,” said Zhuwarara.

Mugabe was initially hauled to the High Court by three former MDC
legislators in 2010 after their parliamentary membership was terminated
following their suspension and subsequent expulsion from Industry minister
Welshman Ncube’s MDC party.

Since 2010 Mugabe has been in a bruising court battle with the three MPs who
are now indirectly pushing the cause of other vacant constituencies.

There are about 200 municipal and parliamentary seats that have fallen
vacant since the 2008 elections and holding by elections as demanded by the
former MPs will result in a mini-general election.

Section 39 of the Electoral Act directs the president to proclaim elections
within 14 days of having been informed of a vacant seat by the Speaker of
Parliament.

However, Mugabe pleaded with the High Court to waive a ruling made by the
Supreme Court directing him to hold elections in accordance with the law
arguing that the cash strapped hybrid government is too broke to bankroll a
mini-general election.

Pro-democracy groups and the MDC formations who are party to power sharing
Global Political Agreement say Zimbabwe should first implement an election
roadmap that would ensure a free and fair poll whose outcome will not be
disputed before rushing to polls.

But Zhuwarara said the basis for their appeal to the country’s highest court
of appeal is that the High Court does not have jurisdiction on a case that
has already been determined by the Supreme Court.

“The basis of appeal is that the High Court does not have jurisdiction over
a matter that has already been determined by the Supreme Court so we plan to
take the matter back to the courts,” said Zhuwarara.

‘Mugabe cannot announce election date in affidavit’

http://nehandaradio.com

on October 8, 2012 at 9:53 am

By Staff Reporters

Both Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube who leads the
smaller MDC faction have rejected state media reports that they entered into
a deal with President Robert Mugabe for elections to be held next year in
March.

Morgan Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube and Robert Mugabe at a function to
celebrate the takeover of Ziscosteel by Essar Holdings
Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said:

“Mugabe cannot announce an election date in an affidavit, in as much as he
was the respondent to the court case, the date for the next election will be
determined after consulting other principals in government.

“The people of Zimbabwe cannot be told the date of an election in a court
process, this is serious mischief that would have happened.

“As far as the Prime Minister is concerned, President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will sit down and agree on an election date
not this thing being claimed in some media,” Tamborinyoka added.

Ncube is also quoted dismissing claims of a poll deal which were made by
Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba.

“We were not involved on the March dates but we were only consulted when we
were asked whether it makes sense to hold by-elections. It is impossible to
have elections by March because there is a lot of work that needs to be
done.

“All parties must work in good faith to ensure that we come up with an
election roadmap and implement it,” Ncube said.

Mugabe was ordered by the Supreme Court to call for by-elections in three
Matabeleland constituencies vacated by MP’s sacked by the Ncube MDC. In
appealing the judgment Mugabe argued general elections were due in March.

Mugabe admits factionalism in Zanu-PF

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

President Robert Mugabe has publicly admitted that his party is wracked with
factionalism.
08.10.12

by Moses Chibaya

Mugabe was speaking at the National Heroes Acre today at the burial of Stan
Mudenge, who was Minister Higher and Tertiary Education.

Mudenge died on Thursday last week at a Masvingo hotel after collapsing in
his room while he waited to officiate at an event at Great Zimbabwe
University.

“In the party in Masvingo.You go to Masvingo, what is the leadership there?
The top leadership? VaMudenge, vaHungwe - sometimes of course vaiitawo
zvemafactions. Zvakangozara munyika handiko kwega (Mr Mudenge Mr Hungwe
sometimes used to be involved in factionalism. It’s all over the country and
not Masvingo alone)

Mugabe has repeatedly said he cannot appoint a successor as that would cause
divisions in ZANU (pf).

Notwithstanding that defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and vece-president
Joyce Mujuru are still frontrunners in the succession battle; securocrats
led by military chief Constantine Chiwenga have also entered the fray ahead
of elections slated for next year.

Mnangagwa and Mujuru have been gingerly shadow boxing to position themselves
as possible successors to President Mugabe.

Youth Development, Indiginisation and Empowerment minister Saviour
Kasukuwere leads another faction of young Turks loyal to Mugabe but ready to
take over after him.

State security minister Sydney Sekeremayi and Mines minister Obert Mpofu are
also among the top contenders to the presidency.

Zanu PF pulls out of peace process

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

Monday, 08 October 2012 11:10

HARARE - Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) business in
Mashonaland West Province has been thrown into turmoil after Zanu PF
withdrew its structures in protest over alleged bias towards MDC and Western
influence.

In a letter to Phylis Musasanure, the Jomic provincial administrator for
Mashonaland West on September 18, Zanu PF chairperson for Mashonaland West
Province John Mafa said his party had resolved to suspend its structures
from participating in Mashonaland West Jomic activities.

Mafa accused Jomic of bias towards Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC
members when it reimbursed their travel allowances following a Jomic visit
to Murombedzi.

He claims members of other parties did not get the refunds.

Mafa also claimed that Jomic, which was set as cross-party peace building
organ, was seeking to effect regime change in the country by engaging
western-sponsored non-governmental organisations such as Zimcet to conduct
peace building workshops in the province.

The letter, seen by the Daily News, reads in part: “We as the provincial
executive of Zanu PF Mashonaland West on the 17th of September 2012 resolved
that we suspend our structures from participating in Mashonaland West Jomic
activities.

“On the 1st of September 2012, we participated in a Zimcet programme at
Orange Groove Hotel under Jomic which was sponsored by the European Union
which in turn has sanctions on our country.

‘‘By so doing we feel we were justifying the continued imposition of
sanctions on Zimbabwe. We were then asked to endorse a regime change agenda
by Zimcet whose origins are dubious to say the least.”

Smaller MDCN Jomic provincial co-chairperson for Mashonaland West Tagwirei
Ngwenya confirmed Zanu PF’s complaint but could not confirm the allegations.

“Yes Zanu PF raised that complaint but if the allegations are true then it
is unfortunate because Jomic must be non-partisan. If MDC-T was indeed
reimbursed, the same must apply to all parties. These are issues that can
easily be ironed out,” said Ngwenya.

Zanu PF Jomic national co-chairperson Nicholas Goche was not available for
comment as he did not pick up his phone.

Mainstream MDC however, said its members had not been reimbursed and they
actually wrote to the provincial administrator to facilitate the payment.

In the letter dated September 20, also seen by the Daily News, MDC
Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Japhet Karemba expressed
disappointment over Zanu PF’s withdrawal saying it jeopardises Jomic
operations and efforts at peace building.

“We learnt with great disappointment Zanu PF’s withdrawal from Jomic
activities."

"It is true MDC asked for reimbursement for the said Murombedzi meeting but
nothing has been reimbursed. However, we humbly ask your office to
facilitate the reimbursement. This move by Zanu PF has handicapped Jomic
operations in the province. We kindly ask your office to put the house in
order to ensure peace prevails in the province,” reads the letter.

Jomic was formed to among other things ensure the implementation in the
letter and spirit of the power sharing Global Political Agreement, receive
reports and complaints in respect of any issue related to the
implementation, enforcement and execution of the agreement and to serve as a
catalyst in creating and promoting an atmosphere of mutual trust and
understanding between parties.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo refused to comment referring questions to
Jomic national co-chairperson Nicholas Goche who did not pick up his
phone. - Mugove Tafirenyika

Gangs charging residents for Council water

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda

08 October 2012

Residents in Harare’s high density suburbs have reported that violent gangs
are demanding money from people who want to collect water at boreholes owned
by the City Council.

Many of the boreholes were donated by the United Nations through UNICEF,
after cholera outbreaks gripped the capital last year. But residents say
they are not being maintained by the City and nothing has been done to deal
with thugs who are profiting from the water.

Water shortages intensified in the capital over the last few weeks,
following a burst pipe at the Morton Jaffreys Water Treatment Plant.
Residents say some of the same gangs that collect fees from vendors at flea
markets and bus ranks have also taken over their local boreholes.

Reports were received from areas that include Mbare, Highfield, Budiriro,
Glen Norah and Dzivarasekwa. According to Community Radio Harare (CORAH)
some of the gangs are the mandimbandimbas, who recently caused havoc at bus
ranks in the central business district.

The thugs, who are believed to be a faction of the notorious Chipangano gang
from Mbare, were removed from the bus ranks by soldiers and police last
month after they terrorized drivers and touts who refused to pay the fee.

SW Radio Africa spoke to a resident of Glen Norah, who said the situation is
getting worse as residents of Highfields are now travelling to other suburbs
to get water, because there are no boreholes in their own constituency.

Our source said long queues are leading to frustration and fights often
break out. Older women who are not strong are paying additional fees for
young men to help them with the difficult pumps. And working the water pumps
has become a job for many unemployed youths who hang around the boreholes.

According to our source, many areas go without running water for days at a
time. When it is turned on they only use it for washing dishes and clothes
because it is usually green or brownish from rusted pipes.

Water Barometer

21 September -05 October 2012:

Comment: Final Demand issuance to Residents not the Solution to the Water
Crisis!

The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has been receiving shocking reports of at
least 50 residents’ cases a day that have been issued with letters of final
demands and summons from the City of Harare. This development has come amid
revelations that the city fathers are in a drive to recover the outstanding
debt from the residents since 2009, in order to pay huge bonuses and
allowances to their employees, and not to improve service provision. However
during the period 2009 to 2010 the Harare City Council was using estimates
to bill the residents, resulting in the accumulation of the huge debts based
upon speculation and not factual information. The HRT therefore calls for
the cancellation of debts from the residents from the period 2009 to 2010
since this was characterised but an unfair billing system which did not
reflect how much the household had consumed for the period under review.

The residents who have been seriously affected by this challenge are mostly
living in the high density suburbs like Rugare, Mufakose, Kambuzuma,
Crowborough, Highfield, Glen Norah, Glen View, and Kuwadzana among other
suburbs. The debt that is being demanded by the Harare City Council from the
residents ranges from just above US$250 to several thousands of dollars.
Inasmuch as the HRT appreciates that residents have an obligation to pay for
the public services that are provided by the council, it should be
reiterated here that ‘as long the city management refuse to incentivise
rates payment, and reject pleas or demands for debt cancellation, poor
revenue collection will persist without a solution in sight. Debt
cancellation encourages more people to settle their accurate bills while
confrontation creates disharmony, and therefore reluctance to settle
unjustified and illegal bills. Debt cancellation is the best alternative
available because it creates a win –win situation between the city fathers
and the residents. This is a practical approach to debt recovery which will
certainly yield meaningful progress in as far as water provision is
concerned. As the HRT we demand a genuine, accountable and responsive
leadership on service delivery issues who have a passion for improving the
livelihoods of the residents of Harare and not seeking profiteering and
personal enrichment. It should be recalled that before the introduction of
the multi –currency regime the residents of Harare were paying their bills,
actually in advance given the economic challenges. It is only when the
multi-currency regime was introduced that most residents started failing to
settle their bills. And these residents, like the City of Harare are still
in shock, following this economic nightmare. Funds were just wiped off bank
accounts, leaving everyone is a state of destitution. This implies that the
residents are failing to pay for the debt not because they do not want to
pay BUT they do not have the economic capacity to pay for the debt.

Against a backdrop of poor resource base, high unemployment rate and souring
poverty levels, residents have been subjected to extremely difficult
circumstances and their ability to pay for public services is greatly
distressed. The HRT therefore calls for the city fathers to come up with
comprehensive and practical strategies to engage residents choked by high
outstanding debts against a collapsed water service delivery system in order
to come up with a workable solution where debt cancellation is a viable
pre-condition. Issuing of summons and letters of final demand will not
meaningfully address the recovery of money by the Harare City Council from
residents. Instead, these will worsen the situation and further expose
residents to liars and criminal groupings that claim they are working in
collusion with some council employees to write-off debt, and force them to
part with their US$20. It will worsen the ordinary residents’ powerlessness
and diminish economic and social capacities.

Below is a snapshot of the state of water provision in various suburbs in
Harare:

Glen View 1, 2, 3 and 8: Water has been consistently supplied with normal
pressure. The quality has improved. No visible particles seen in the water
for about 4 days now. In Glen View 4 pressure is low during the day but at
10pm the pressure increases.

Glen Norah B: Last week water was available from 8am – 10am from 5pm to 10pm
but as from 02/10/12, water was available from 10am. Residents are fetching
water from boreholes, which are more trusted.

Specimen: Water was available the whole of last week up to date, only bills
are very high. Residents prefer borehole water.

Chitubu: Water is available from 8pm to 6am and trickles during the day,
sometimes it is dirty. Bills are high in this area.

Highfield Western Triangle: Water supply was inconsistent from 12 midday to
5am in the morning. Residents fetch water from shallow wells for toilets
flushing, washing and bathing. Final demands have been served to residents.

Geneva: In Geneva most houses do not have water from taps and at times the
pipes are blocked and City Council is not fixing them. Most people queue up
every day at another resident’s house to fetch water because her tap is not
broken and everyday there is tap water. These affected residents still have
to pay their water bills and they owe the city council huge amounts in
unpaid bills. There are no boreholes in the area.

Lusaka, Egypt and Jerusalem Water is available but low pressure up to 10am.
Bills are high and Final Demands from Harare City Council have been served
to residents. In the Short Line areas the pipes do not have water from 2006
up to date. The area has no boreholes. Residents have illegally connected
water to the underground pipes so that they get water from 132nd Crescent.
Water is available everyday but pressure is low. In Jerusalem, Water is
available everyday but bills are high and most residents owe the City
Council a lot of money.

New Canaan and Engineering: There is no water from taps because most pipes
are blocked. Residents fetch water from pipes that they have connected
illegally to the main pipes. City Council has not taken any action for
almost 5 years. In the Engineering area, water is available from 6am – 8pm,
but when it’s available during the day the pressure is low while on high
ground it trickles. Final demands were served to most residents in the area.

Budiriro 3: Water has not been available in the evenings from 8pm – 5am but
is dirty and pressure is low on high ground. Final Demands have been served
to most residents.

Budiriro 1, 2, 4, 5: There is no water during the day from 10pm – 5am.
People are fetching water from boreholes. Bills remain high. In Budiriro 4,
there is no water during the day but from 10pm – 5am. Water is available
with normal pressure. Bills are extremely high. In Budiriro 5 no water
supplies during the day but available from 10pm- 5am, water is available
with poor quality and bills are high. Right now in Budiriro there is no
water since Monday. The Harare Water Distribution Engineer concurred with
the residents and promised that the problem will be rectified by end of day
4 October 2012. The situation remains risky.

Mufakose ward 34, 35 and 36: Water has been available consistently in the
area. Some old aged people in the area of ward 36 pay a fixed amount of $23
every month which they afford. The majority of residents are struggling to
pay and have been served final demands.

Sunningdale: Some parts of Sunningdale do not have tap water for close to
two years. Water pipes are always bursting. There are five boreholes in the
area, and only three are functional. The water is always dirty.

Waterfalls, Uplands, Mainway Meadows, Shortson, and Derbyshire: Water
supplies are erratic. Most residents went for the past fortnight without
running water. Most residents rely on wells at their households. The
boreholes at Uplands Shopping Centre are not working. Areas like Prospect,
Parktown, and Cheviot receive water during the night between 9am and 4am.

Ardbennie and Mbare: Water has been erratic for the past two weeks,
especially from 21 to 23rd of September 2012. Most parts of Mbare water
supplies are consistent. Mbare National along Runyararo, Ruredzo and Mbare
Beatrice Cottages they fetch water from the opening space along St George’s
Street.

Borrowdale and Mt Pleasant: Water supplies are erratic in the community as
residents receive water during the night. Residents are desperately in need
of this precious liquid as some have gone for years without it. Some
residents buy 5000 litres for us$50.00-$60.00 and this makes residents
reluctant to pay rates to Harare City Council.

Glen Lorne, Umwinsdale and Manyonga Rivers: Clinics have no water and there
is uneven distribution of water in these areas. Burst pipes that Council is
failing to repair are a cause for concern. Residents have complained of
unfair water billing as they claim that they are paying for air pressure
that comes out of taps and not water. Residents interviewed in this area
demanded that Harare City Council should ensure that all the money which is
collected from water services should be directly ploughed back to improve
the water services and distribution network.

Kuwadzana, Dzivaresekwa and Warren Park- Last week areas like Kuwadzana and
Dzivarasekwa experienced water shortages for four days. Kuwadzana Extension
had no water from Friday 21 September to 23 September 2012. In Warren Park,
some houses in 31st Crescent had no water from 19 September to 28 September
2012.

Kambuzuma and Rugare: These areas had no water for the whole week. The
residents have resorted to the use of shallow wells and boreholes. But at
times the boreholes are overwhelmed by the residents.

Ends //:

Contacts

Email: info@hrt.org.zw/ advocacy@hrt.org.zw/ communications@hrt.org.zw/

Mobile: 0772 547 394/ 0772 771 860/ 0772 869 294

Landlines: 04-797357

Facebook: Harare Residents’ Trust Hrt

Twitter: @Harare Residents

Website: www.hrt.org.zw

Physical Address: 5 Tudor Gardens, Corner Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Mazowe
Street

Constitution Watch [Process] of 5th October [Stakeholders Conference set for 21st to 23rd October]