European Commission and Swedish EU Presidency to visit Zimbabwe in bid to restore eventual aid co-operation

EU not prepared to lift Zimbabwe sanctions ahead of key visit

http://www.eubusiness.com

(JOHANNESBURG) - The European Union is not ready to end its sanctions
against Zimbabwe, Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said on Thursday
after calls by southern African leaders for penalties to be lifted.

"I want to be clear: the EU is not prepared (for) lifting the restrictions
we have on Zimbabwe," said Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the
rotating EU presidency.

"It is not the restrictions that are creating problems in Zimbabwe, it is
the mismanagement ... not respecting of human rights," he said in response
to a question at a public address in Johannesburg.

Reinfeldt was speaking before a meeting with South African leader Jacob
Zuma, whose government has come out strongly in support of the dropping of
sanctions, ahead of a landmark EU visit to Zimbabwe at the weekend.

A high-level delegation will leave for Zimbabwe after a EU-South Africa
summit Friday to work on normalising ties, the first such visit since
sanctions were imposed in 2002.

Both the EU and the United States maintain a travel ban and asset freeze on
President Robert Mugabe, his wife and inner circle in protest at
controversial elections and alleged human rights abuses.

The 85-year-old leader appeared to score a diplomatic triumph on Tuesday
when regional leaders made a call for the international community to remove
all sanctions at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit.

Reinfeldt said Zimbabwe would be an "important part" of his meeting with
Zuma in Cape Town later Thursday, following the resolution.

"I am interested to hear what President Zuma's views are on the outcomes of
the SADC summit. We depend on African leaders to be there and present, and
to also influence," he said.

The EU visit follows the first official talks in seven years, held three
months ago, with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who joined Mugabe in a
unity pact nearly a year after chaotic polls pushed Zimbabwe deeper into
crisis.

A unity government was formed in Zimbabwe in February and has acted to steer
the country back to stability and restore the hyperinflation-ravaged economy
and basic services that collapsed under Mugabe's three decades of rule.

But the government has been plagued by power struggles over key posts and
claims of continued persecution of Tsvangirai's supporters, with Western
states so far proving reluctant to give direct aid without proof of more
reforms.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson and
EU Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht will meet Mugabe and Tsvangirai, as well
as other ministers, officials and representatives of non-governmental
organisations.

"This is a critical time for Zimbabwe and the weight of responsibility falls
squarely on the country's leaders to deliver urgent political, economic and
social progress for the benefit of all the people of Zimbabwe," said de
Gucht.

"There is an urgent need for all parties to fulfil their obligations," he
said in a statement.

South Africa, which negotiated the unity pact, on Wednesday defended the
regional call on sanctions, saying it was "a very responsible approach" to
Zimbabwe's troubles as it attempts to claw its way back from economic ruin.

"This call for the lifting of sanctions is not aimed at protecting and
defending President Robert Mugabe as an individual. It is meant to attract
necessary investments into Zimbabwe so that their economic recovery plan can
take effect," said Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Explosions on Mike Campbell's SADC protected Zim farm

10 September 2009

Two large explosions were heard on Mount Carmel farm in the Chegutu district
of Zimbabwe on Tuesday, less than a week after Mike Campbell's homestead was
burnt to the ground.

Farm workers who heard the explosions saw dust billowing into the air above
the trees shrouding the ruined house and observed army personnel in the
vicinity.

Earlier in the week, a reporter was told by a group of the thugs who had
previously forced Mike Campbell (74) and his wife Angela (67) from their
home that an arms cache had been discovered and that Campbell would be
arrested.

"The situation is absurd," said Ben Freeth, Campbell's son-in-law, who also
farms on Mount Carmel.

"The injuries Mike sustained following our abduction in June last year were
so severe that he has become quite frail.  His only objective is to return
to the farm and help restore the country to food security."

Claims by Zanu PF that arms caches have been discovered are not new.  In
2006 for example, three Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials were
arrested after police said they had found an arms cache in the eastern city
of Mutare.

Zanu PF's modus operandi has been to arrange for caches to be planted on
targeted properties and then to arrest those they wish to silence, claiming
they are planning to overthrow the government.

Two police guards are currently stationed at the remains of Mike Campbell's
house, precluding access to the area.

Freeth's own home, a few hundred metres away, was destroyed in a raging
inferno on Sunday September 6.

Since the tractors and fire-fighting equipment had been commandeered by the
invaders, there was no way of stopping the blaze.

Three workers' cottages and Laura Freeth's linen factory, which employed 60
women from the farm, were also destroyed.

"It's impossible for us to get anywhere close to Mike's house to establish
the current situation," said Freeth.  "When there were similar circumstances
on the Etheredges' farm and they tried to investigate, they were shot at by
the police."

Freeth said the Chegutu police continued to thwart investigations of arson
and the theft of property from Campbell's home.

"Lorry loads of fertilizer were also stolen from our sheds but there has
been no move by the police to follow up with these reports," he said.

Suggestions by the invaders that the Campbell homestead fire was caused by
an electrical fault as opposed to arson are premature.

"We went to ZESA (the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) to report the
fire but to date there has been no investigation into its cause," said
Freeth.

"However, Chief Inspector Manika from Chegutu Police Station has also
claimed prematurely that it was an electrical fault."

Police at Chegutu have also failed to follow up a litany of previous reports
submitted by Freeth and other beleaguered farmers in the district.

These include reports of farm workers being beaten up, resulting in such
serious injuries as fractured skulls, house breaking, looting and the theft
of tractors and equipment as well as all of Mount Carmel's crops for the
2009 season.

Current rumours in the district suggest that Nathan Shamuyarira, Zanu PF'
elderly secretary for information, who claims to have been allocated the
previously prosperous farm, has offered one of the stolen tractors to his
lawyer for outstanding legal fees.

Shamuyarira, who is well into his eighties, has no previous farming
experience.  Most of the commercial farms taken over by senior Zanu PF
officials and cronies have been asset stripped and their crops stolen.

In Campbell's case, the Chegutu police have consistently failed to assist
the deputy sheriff to evict the invaders who have reaped or destroyed his
mango, orange, sunflower and maize crops.

In October 2007, following attempts by the Mugabe regime to acquire Mount
Carmel farm, Campbell took the unprecedented step of challenging the
government in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s human
rights court.

Seventy-seven other commercial farmers joined the case.

On June 29, 2008, the day Robert Mugabe was sworn in as president following
the fraudulent, violence-ridden elections, Mike and Angela Campbell and Ben
Freeth were abducted.

They were viciously beaten for hours and then forced at gunpoint to sign a
piece of paper stating they would withdraw their case from the SADC
Tribunal.

In a landmark judgement on November 28, the Tribunal ruled that the farmers
had a legal right to remain on their land.

The Government of Zimbabwe was ordered to protect the farmers against future
invasions and to allow them to continue farming operations.

However, despite the SADC ruling, Campbell, Freeth and their 500 workers
have suffered continuous victimisation and violence.

Campbell also has two Zimbabwean High Court orders against the invaders.  On
April 20, 2009 the High Court gave a provisional order evicting the
invaders.  This was served on them the next day but the situation became
very hostile as most were armed with guns.

A week later, a second provisional order was gained in the High Court,
reinforcing the first, but still nothing was done by the police.

During May, "Landmine", the leader of the invaders, arrived at the Freeths'
house and threatened "blood shed" while waving a gun at the back door.

On June 5, the SADC Tribunal ruled that the Government of Zimbabwe was in
contempt of court and referred the government to the SADC Summit (September
2-8) for appropriate action.

This latest outrage on Mount Carmel farm comes just two days after the SADC
Summit in Kinshasa, which failed to address the ongoing Zimbabwean crisis.

"In this situation, where the rule of law has totally broken down, we cannot
understand the wall of silence from SADC, who set up the region's
internationally respected Tribunal," concluded Freeth.

ENDS

For further information:

Ben Freeth

SA Cell:  +27 72 613 5686 (temporary)

Zim Cell: +263 913 929 138

E-mail:  Temporarily suspended - laptops stolen during fire on farm

Co-chair says Constitutional committee was never on strike

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Violet Gonda
10 September 2009

The drama surrounding the process of creating a new constitution in Zimbabwe
continued on Thursday, with Douglas Mwonzora, an MDC-T MP and co-chair of
the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, denying the
committee had been on strike over allowances.
There were concerns that ZANU PF was involved in delaying tactics with this
'strike', in more efforts to delay the holding of democratic elections. The
Sunday Mail quoted ZANU PF's Paul Mangwana, the other co-chairman of the
Select Committee, saying its staff had gone on strike over payment of
allowances and inadequate funding.
Mangwana reportedly said the formulation of the new constitution will cost
at least US$12 million, with each committee member entitled to receive US$75
for every meeting attended. He said if the government doesn't have the money
then they should postpone the process.
But Mwonzora told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that: "It is true that the
press here, especially the public press, published a story that we had gone
on strike over the unpaid allowances. That statement was attributed to my
co-chair Honourable Mangwana. However Honourable Mangwana has since refuted
that statement. There was never a strike on the part of the Select
Committee." The ZANU PF MP reportedly told the parliamentary committee and
ZBC that he was misquoted by the media.
Mwonzora said the committee held an emergency meeting at parliament on
Wednesday, as a result of problems created by the news of the strike, 'and
we reiterated that at no time did we ever go on strike and we are not going
to go on strike at all.'
He said the committee was due to start eliciting public views on the
crafting of the new constitution, but ZANU PF had been delaying in supplying
the names of their chairpersons for the 'thematic-committees' that will do
the outreach programme. The names were finally submitted on Thursday and the
Select Committee is expected to announce the chairpersons at a press
conference in Harare on Friday.
Mwonzora said the programme is now moving forward and they have cleared the
issue of financing with the government.
He said the dates of the commencement of the outreach programme, including
publishing the full list of names of those in the thematic sub-committees,
will be announced next week.
He added that there will be a total of 860 people in the outreach programme,
who will be divided into 70 teams. These 70 teams will have 12 people each
and will be in charge of three constituencies. There will also be 20 chiefs.
"These people will be enlisting the views of Zimbabweans in what they want
in the new constitution."
The constitution making process has been marred by serious divisions between
the political parties themselves and also between members of civil society.
Political parties are divided over the issue of using the controversial
Kariba Draft constitution as a starting point, while sections of civil
society, led by the National Constitutional Assembly, want a people driven
Constitution, not one led by the government.  The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions recently pulled-out of the National Association of Non Governmental
Organisations and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, who support the
constitutional reform process being spearheaded by Parliament.
But Mwonzora insists the process is designed to enlist the opinions of the
general public. He pointed out: "Of these 860, 30% are members of parliament
representing ZANU PF, MDC-T and MDC-M.  70% are members of civil society,
drawn from civic groups. These people are nominated by their organisations
and then seconded to the select committee. So from the names submitted by
various organisations, the select committee then chooses the appropriate
people to then put in the sub-committees."

Zimbabwe sanctions must stay - Human Rights Watch

http://www.businessday.co.za


Sapa-AFP  Published: 2009/09/10 10:32:32 AM

SANCTIONS against Zimbabwe should not be lifted until rights violations end
in that country, Human Rights Watch said today, ahead of a meeting between
South Africa and the European Union.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders called this week for
targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his close allies to
be lifted, which the veteran leader has blamed for Zimbabwe's problems. "The
sanctions debate is a red herring since none of them prevent the country
from moving forward," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at HRW.

"Power sharing will only work when repressive laws are repealed and human
rights irreversibly improved. Sanctions must not be lifted until then."
Zimbabwe's fragile unity government is deadlocked over key political
appointments after bringing rivals together in a SADC-mediated deal in
February, a year after failed elections which led to political and economic
crises.

Opposition leader and prime minister in the unity government Morgan
Tsvangirai also accuses Mugabe's party of ongoing intimidation and human
rights violations.

Zimbabwe has long been a point of difference between the EU and South
Africa, Human Rights Watch said, adding the summit at Kleinmond outside Cape
Town on Friday offered an opportunity to build a common approach.

The activist body urged South Africa and the EU to work together in
enhancing human rights, saying their joint efforts could make a difference
in the United Nation's Human Rights Council on justice in global hotspot
issues.

"Sometimes the EU and South Africa have worked at cross purposes, but when
they work together, they have a good track record," said Lotte Leicht, EU
advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

"Their combined efforts can make a real difference." Sweden is the current
Eu president and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will meet President Jacob
Zuma ahead of the summit.

Zimbabwe short lists two investors for Marange diamond fields

http://www.busrep.co.za/

September 10, 2009

Zimbabwe has shortlisted two foreign mining companies to extract diamonds
from the controversial Marange fields, where the military is accused of
rights abuses, a cabinet minister said Thursday.

"Two potential investors have been shortlisted and we will be making an
announcement soon on who they are and who has won," mines minister Obert
Mpofu told AFP.

"We are still in the stages of negotiations with the two firms."

Zimbabwe's army last year took over the Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe,
where Human Rights Watch has accused the military of violently evicting
wildcat miners while forcing villagers into labour.

A mission from the Kimberley Process, the global scheme for curbing trade in
blood diamonds, recommended in July the suspension of diamond sales from
Marange.

The government hopes that putting a private company in charge of the fields
will address Kimberley's concerns by eliminating military involvement in the
mining.

Mpofu declined to reveal the names of the companies, citing confidentiality
agreements with the firms.

Mpofu has been quoted in local media as saying that any firm investing in
diamond operations would be forced to accept a 50-50 partnership with
government. But he told AFP that nothing concrete had been finalised.

"We would prefer a 50-50 partnership arrangement with anyone investing in
the diamond operations, but that's a product of negotiations and it also
depends on what any (prospective) investors are offering," he said.

"This is a huge capital project which has got huge returns for the country
and the investor," he added.

Zimbabwe so far this year has sold 962 850 carats, up 152 percent from last
year's volume. But the value of the diamonds sold during that period is down
about eight percent to 18 million dollars, according to government data.

The decline in value can be attributed to the poorer quality of diamonds on
offer. This year more diamonds came from the Marange fields, which produces
lower-quality gems compared to the country's Murowa and River Ranch mines,
the state-run Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe. - AFP

MDC will not backtrack on calls to remove Gono and Tomana

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
10 September 2009

The MDC will not drop its demands to have the central bank governor and
attorney general removed from office, as their appointments were done
outside the Global Political Agreement, a senior party aide said on
Thursday.

'This is an issue that was referred to SADC for arbitration and. As far as
we are concerned this issue is still outstanding, it's not a closed chapter
as the state media would want us to believe,' the aide said.

On Wednesday the state owned Herald newspaper said that the SADC ruling had
put to rest the issue of Gono and Tomana.

'Yes SADC has said they call on the international community to remove
targeted sanctions against those in ZANU PF. But they never said the issue
of Gono and Tomana has been resolved. This is why we will have the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security to monitor the implementation of the GPA,'
the aide added.

Article 14 of the SADC communiqué issued on Tuesday said; 'On Zimbabwe,
Summit noted the progress made in the implementation of the Global Political
Agreement and called on the international community to remove all forms of
sanctions against Zimbabwe.'

Botswana Foreign Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani, spoke to journalists on
Thursday and said that SADC leaders agreed to call on the international
community to remove the targeted sanctions, reportedly after Mugabe assured
them that nominees proposed by the two MDC formations will be appointed as
provincial governors.

Skelemani also said Botswana spoke to representatives of some western
countries about the lack of foreign aid to Zimbabwe.

'However, these people told us they are concerned by invasions in farms,
where white owners are attacked. They also expressed concern over the fact
that despite the Global Partnership Agreement (GPA), which stipulated well
that the leaders would share power, the same governors, Attorney-General and
ambassadors appointed by Mugabe are still holding the positions. They
complained that people, especially those associated with the MDC continue to
be incarcerated by the government,' he said.

Skelemani said that Mugabe told the summit the dispute over high profile
appointments is being addressed. He said they have agreed that his political
partners, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara should propose names of people to
be appointed to top posts. Both Tsvangirai and Mutambara have sent Mugabe
their lists for governors, ambassadors and one deputy ministerial post.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said on Thursday in Johannesburg
that the European Union is not ready to end its sanctions against Zimbabwe.

'I want to be clear: the EU is not prepared to lift the restrictions we have
on Zimbabwe,' said Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU
presidency.

'It is not the restrictions that are creating problems in Zimbabwe, it is
the mismanagement ... not respecting of human rights,' he added.
The state media has been misleading the public that the SADC communiqué puts
to rest calls by the MDC to have Tomana and Gono removed from office.

'The state media is lying. To the best of our knowledge the SADC leaders
were told there were outstanding issues to be resolved and this is why they
ruled that the Troika will be best suited to look into this,' the aide said.

The unilateral appointment of Gono and Tomana in August last year, still
undermines the SADC communiqué issued in Pretoria on 27th January this year
and the GPA signed by the three political parties ZANU PF and the two MDC
formations in September last year.

The SADC communiqué unequivocally states that 'the appointments of the
Reserve bank governor and the Attorney general will be dealt with by the
inclusive government after its formation.'

The national executive of the MDC is meeting in Bulawayo on Saturday
followed by a national council meeting on Sunday.  Both meetings are
expected to call upon party president Morgan Tsvangirai to demand the
resignation of the central bank governor and attorney general, saying their
continued tenure was sowing conflict and division in the new unity
government.

Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF and Prime Minister Tsvangirai's MDC formed a
transitional government in February, but the parties are at odds over the
fate of Gono and Tomana, both Mugabe allies.

The MDC has been highly critical of the two men, blaming Gono for fuelling
hyperinflation through printing money to shore up Mugabe's past governments,
while accusing Tomana of presiding over the prosecution of rights and its
party activists.

Tsvangirai is expected to brief party supporters during the party's 10th
anniversary celebrations in Bulawayo, Sunday that the failure to resolve
outstanding issues still affects the credibility of the new government as
Western countries continue to withhold critical funds, demanding more
reforms.

Alternative voices longing to be heard

http://www.economist.com

Sep 10th 2009 | JOHANNESBURG
From The Economist print edition

Independent newspapers are poised to come back

FOR years, newspaper readers in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, have had their
daily fare limited to the Herald, a state-controlled propaganda sheet that
can be relied on to praise President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party,
often in the most turgid prose. This week a new organ was added to their
choice with the launch of H-Metro, a tabloid focusing on entertainment and
sports. But it is part of the same Zimpapers stable. Despite promises to
free the press as part of a power-sharing agreement struck by Mr Mugabe and
the rival Movement for Democratic Change, the country still lacks an
independent daily.

Several publishers are waiting impatiently in the wings. Among them are
Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe, which used to publish the Daily News
until it was banned by Mr Mugabe in 2003 after its presses were blown up in
2001, and Trevor Ncube, a Zimbabwe-born former chief executive of South
Africa's M&G Media group, who is setting up a competitor, called Newsday.
Even the weekly Financial Gazette, widely believed to be owned by Mr Mugabe's
ridiculed central-bank governor, Gideon Gono, may be planning a daily
version. But none has yet been launched, because the Zimbabwe Media
Commission has yet to be set up as agreed under the power-sharing deal.

Some say the commission may start licensing new (or old) publications next
month. But Mr Mugabe is plainly loth to give rein to a free press. Radio and
television are entirely in state hands, yet Zanu-PF must pay lip service to
the unity agreement. Mr Ncube says H-Metro has been rushed into print to try
to seize the market ahead of its inevitable liberalisation. "They are
panicking," he says.

Chamisa, Goche rivalry resurfaces

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=22466

September 10, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - The protracted wrangle over the communications portfolio between
Information Communication Technology (ICT) minister Nelson Chamisa and
Transport Minister Nicholas Goche resurfaced Tuesday.

Both ministers emerged from a cabinet meeting to claim credit for forcing a
delayed 50 percent reduction in exorbitant TelOne tariffs between February
and July this year.

The reduction entails that TelOne customers can now settle only 50 percent
of the bills which they received during the period.

Chamisa, a senior member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), called
a press conference in his ministry's offices in central Harare to announce
the development while Goche chose to do the same through the State
controlled Herald newspaper.

This is despite both ZBC-TV and the Herald having been present at the press
conference called by Chamisa.

Both ministers are adamant they are in charge of the communications
portfolio, which administers the controversial Interception of Communication
Act, which allows the State to pry into emails, telephone conversations and
other forms of communication by citizens suspected to be carrying out what
the state describes as terrorist or treasonous operations.

The dispute over ministerial responsibilities surfaced soon after the
formation of the inclusive government in February this year when it raged
between Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu and Chamisa.

Shamu was accused of encroaching onto Chamisa's ministry leading to Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC, asking President Robert
Mugabe to resolve the matter.

But Mugabe set the cat among the pigeons by transferring the department of
communications from Chamisa to Goche, a Zanu-PF loyalist.

Mugabe had effectively transferred control over telecommunications companies
and their regulatory bodies from Chamisa to Goche.

Before the controversial stripping of Chamisa's powers by Mugabe, Goche's
portfolio was the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
After the transfer it became the Ministry of Transport, Communication and
Infrastructure Development.

It now oversees the operations at NetOne, TelOne, Zimpost and their
governing body, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of
Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). POTRAZ is also in charge of Zimbabwe's postal service.

Chamisa responded by declaring he was not going to be demoted by one
principal within the inclusive government, a position which was buttressed
by Tsvangirai who later told the media Chamisa's powers were to remain
intact until there was a clear decision to sort the matter out.

Power squabbles within the inclusive government continue to date.

The latest failure to diffuse tensions between the former rivals became
manifest during a recent SADC summit in Kinshasa in which the leaders
refused to commit themselves to resolving the dispute in spite of passionate
pleas by Tsvangirai to help resolve the divisive matter.

The MDC is not pleased with Mugabe's domineering attitude which has seen the
85-year old leader making unilateral decisions some of them in violation of
the GPA which calls for parties to consult before making the decisions.

Zimbabwe tries key opposition figure

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Thursday, September 10 2009
at 11:58

HARARE, Thursday

A losing presidential candidate in Zimbabwe's 2008 presidential elections
and now a leading opposition figure Dr Simba Makoni will on Tuesday stand
trial on allegations of addressing an illegal meeting during his campaigns.

Dr Makoni, a close associate of President Robert Mugabe until he broke away
from Zanu PF to challenge the veteran leader on the eve of the historic
polls, is being charged under the controversial Public Order and Security
Act (POSA).

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and
human rights activists say Mr Mugabe is using the piece of legislation to
persecute his perceived opponents.

The charges against Dr Makoni who came a distant third in the first round of
the presidential vote won by Mr Tsvangirai stemmed from an alleged meeting
attended by about 400 people.

The meeting was addressed by the former Finance Minister.

According to the State, Dr Makoni organised a public gathering without
approval from the police as required under POSA.

Two Zanu PF officials and four police officers have been lined up to testify
against the former long serving member of the communist style politburo of
Mr Mugabe's party.

Police re-opened the case in June this year, according to court documents.

Dr Makoni who formed a loose coalition of independent candidates who all
lost to Zanu PF and MDC in parliamentary elections garnered eight percent of
the presidential vote.

President Mugabe picked 43 percent of the vote while Mr Tsvangirai received
48 percent of the total votes cast.

The former Southern African Development Community executive secretary has
since formed his own Mavambo-Kusile - Dawn party which he says will give
Zimbabweans an alternative to the MDC and Zanu PF.

The two main parties formed a coalition government in February.

Mr Tsvangirai has said the coalition is in danger of collapsing if draconian
legislation such as POSA that has also resulted in the prosecution of a
number of MPs from his party are not repealed immediately.

Coup Plotters Trial Postponed

http://www.radiovop.com/


Harare, September 10, 2009- Zimbabwe Supreme court has postponed
indefinitely a treason case which was was set to be heard Thursday in which
seven men were arrested in 2007 and charged with plotting to overthrow
President Robert Mugabe's government, the lawyer representing the accused
said.

The seven who are allegedly led by a retired army Captain, Albert
Matapo were arrested in May 2007 for plotting to overthrow Mugabe's
government to replace him with the now Minister of Defence Emmerson
Mnangagwa.Mnangagwa has since distanced himself from the seven and denied
the allegations describing them as 'stupid'.
The lawyer representing the seven, Charles Warara said Zimbabwe
highest court has been failing to bring his clients for trial describing the
reasons being given by the Supreme court as 'strange'.
"For some strange reason we seem to be put off by the Supreme court's
failure to resume the trial.We were given three judges at first instead of
five to hear the case and later they said that they are supposed to be
 five," Charles Warara of Warara and associates said.
"The hearing was set to begin today (Thursday) but we received a
letter two days ago from the Supreme court saying they can't find the judges
to take on the case.I don't know what this means."
It is the state's case that sometime in 2007 Matapo recruited six men
to topple Mugabe's government while at the same time approached a number of
serving military officers to undertake the task of removing the octogenarian
leader from power.
Matapo and his six co-accused are still languishing in remand
prison.The other six Nyasha Zivuku, Oncemore Mazivahona, Emmanuel Marara,
Patson Mupfure, Shingirai Mutemachani, and Rangarirai Maziofa.
Matapo and his co-accused also face a charge of inciting members of
the defence forces to unlawfully overthrow Mugabe's government in 2007.The
accused are charged of approaching military soldiers to assist in
overthrowing Mugabe.
The soldiers who were allegedly approached are Captain Sherpherd
Maromo, Captain Olivia Maroala, Corporal Elias Gape, Charles Mufudze,
Sergeant Owen Bafara and Ronald Matanga.
Its now over two years since Matapo and his co-accused were arrested
and are yet to go on trial.
Political analysts have said trumped up treason charges have been used
by Mugabe's government since 1980 to silence his perceived opponents.
Former PF-ZAPU leader and late Vice President Joshua Nkomo faced
treason charges in the 80's, the late former ZANU leader Ndabaningi Sithole
had the same charge hanging over him until his death while Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai escaped the death penalty in 2002 after  he was hauled
before the courts facing treason but walked out a free man.

Ministry Investigating Prison Torture Allegations

http://www.radiovop.com/


Harare, September 10, 2009 - Justice  deputy Minister Jessie Majome
said her Ministry is investigating cases of torture of prison officers by
the military police at Masvingo's Mutimurefu prison last week.

Majome told Radio VOP in an exclusive interview that any form of
corporal punishment on either prisoners or officers in prisons is a criminal
offence.
"...I have started  to gather  information concerning the torture of
those officers. I am going  to engage  the Prison Authorities and get  full
details of  what happened, and get to the bottom of  the case," she said.
Corporal punishment in prisons only applies to juveniles and only
after it  has been sanctioned by the courts.
"I am  strongly against the idea of physically assaulting either
officers or inmates, because its  inhumane. What  picture does it portray to
the people whose relatives are incarcerated in our prisons if  they hear
that even prison officers are subjected to torture while on duty? I believe
prison officers are responsible office bearers who should  not be treated
like school kids when they are on duty so that they perfectly prevent
escapes in our prisons," said Majome.
Last  week seven prison officers of  Mutimurefu prison in Masvingo
were reportedly tortured  by prison military  police  for reporting late for
duty, and are nursing injuries at Masvingo General Hospital.
The Prison's Officer-In-Charge Superintendent Piason Mushangwe
confirmed that he sanctioned the torturing of the seven.
"Those officers were no longer following instructions at work so they
were only punished for their ill behaviour. Punishments are always there.
They
were coming to work at their own time and would go home anytime again.
"As the management at regional office, we thought the military police
would help to instill discipline to these junior officers. However, there is
no need for you to rush to publish this information," Mushangwe said.
A similar case was reported on Monday at Harare Remand Prison where
one officer had his arm broken by the military police.

Tsvangirai Tells Teachers To Call Off Strike

http://www.radiovop.com/


Gwanda, September 10, 2009 - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said
Wednesday there was no need for teachers to continue with their industrial
action as there was no way government would cede to their demands as it is
broke.

Addressing a stakeholder briefing at Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic
Tsvangirai said the teachers "cannot squeeze blood out of a stone".

He said the country had a debt of US $5 billion and needed at least US
$200 million monthly to respond to government's needs. "We are all earning
the same amount and I believe the decision by teachers to go on strike was a
bad proposition", he said.

Tsvangirai said civil servants salaries could only be increased when
the economy stabilized. "When things improve the salaries will also improve",
added the Prime Minister.

A meeting between the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture,
David Coltart and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) ended in
deadlock Tuesday.

Teachers went on strike when schools opened for the third term on
September 02 demanding a review of their salaries.

Most rural schools in Matabeleland South have since closed with pupils
being told they will be recalled when the things normalize.

ZIMTA, which commands a large following, has proposed government
re-introduces the US$100 allowance and gradually increase the basic salary
to US$500 by year end.

The strike could disrupt public examinations set for next month.

Zimbabwe uncertainty hurts electricity drive: experts

http://af.reuters.com

Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:56am GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's political uncertainty and the government's
hold over electricity policies will discourage private investment in the
sector, experts said on Thursday, dimming prospects of economic recovery.

The southern African country suffers chronic electricity shortages, which
have hurt industry and households, and state-owned power utility Zesa says
it requires up to $5 billion to expand generation and rehabilitate ageing
plants.

Zimbabwe generates about half of its electricity and also buys a third of
its needs mostly from Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, but has
struggled to pay for imports.

Zimbabwe may find it difficult to attract private investment in the power
sector due to negative sentiment about the country after years of economic
decline, analysts say.

Miners and manufacturers at an industrial conference said frequent power
cuts were stalling economic recovery and tensions in the new administration
could undermine policy-making.

"There is need for policy consistency, because the energy projects are
long-term. It's actually a surprise that we have never initiated any power
project since independence in 1980," independent energy consultant
Simbarashe Mangwengwende, a former Zesa chief executive officer, told the
conference.

"It is very important, if you are to come up with bankable power projects,
to have positive investor perception. This is a factor of the political
environment."

STALLED

Rivals President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai set up a
fragile unity government in February in a bid to end a protracted economic
crisis, but disputes have stalled economic reforms.

Zimbabwe has potential to generate an additional 7,500 MW from the current
1,000 MW through expanding output at its Hwange thermal plant and Kariba
hydropower station and by construction of a 1,600 MW hydropower station
jointly with Zambia, a 1,400 MW thermal power plant and another 300 MW plant
from gas.

World Bank country economist Rogers Dhliwayo told the conference that
Zimbabwe needs to guarantee a return on independent power producers'
investment.

"It is imperative that power is properly priced to ensure sustainable
private sector participation, and a situation where politicians intervene in
revenue collection is not conducive," said Dhliwayo.

A government official told an energy forum on Wednesday that the government
had completed a draft policy giving guidelines on investment in the sector.

But Mangwengwende said government's dominance of Zimbabwe's energy sector
also hindered investment.

"A situation where government is the policy-maker, regulator and energy
deliverer is clearly untenable. Government should realise that their role is
policy setting and regulatory oversight," he said.

While Zimbabwe had set up a regulatory authority, it needed to be
independent from state control, especially in determining tariffs,
Mangwengwende said.

Zesa, which currently owes its external power suppliers at least $57 million
but is itself owed $200 million through unpaid domestic bills, could raise
revenues by increasing billing and revenue collection, said Mangwengwende.

All roads lead to Bulawayo for 10th anniversary celebrations - MDC

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4687

Via MDC T Press Release - Thousands of MDC supporters will on Sunday
converge at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo to celebrate the party's 10th
Anniversary.

President Morgan Tsvangirai, who will be accompanied by the entire MDC's
national leadership will give a key note address at the rally.

International delegates from other political parties, civic society
organisations, diplomats, provincial leaders from across the country, MPs,
senators and party members will converge to celebrate an illustrious 10
years in which the party rose from humble beginnings to become the largest
political party on the land.

The 10th year anniversary celebrations are being held under the theme:
"Celebrating a Decade of Courage, Conviction and Leadership". The Bulawayo
national event is the culmination of similar celebrations held in every
province since February 2009 to celebrate the party's 10th birthday.

In his address, President Tsvangirai is expected to touch on various issues,
which include the health and life of the party since its formation in 1999,
the prospects and challenges of the inclusive government and the way
forward.

He is also expected to talk about the performance of the inclusive
government, which was formed in February.

The 10th Anniversary celebrations are being held at a time when the MDC has
scored a number of historic moments since the formation of the party 10
years ago.

These include the MDC being the majority party in Parliament after defeating
Zanu PF in the March 2008 harmonised elections.

The MDC also controls all the urban councils and a majority of the rural
councils.

In February President Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of
Zimbabwe paving the way for the creation of an inclusive government in which
Hon. Tsvangirai is the Head of Government.

The MDC is a party of excellence. It will take the occasion of its 10th
anniversary celebrations to salute thousands of its supporters, who have
been attacked, murdered, displaced or had their homes destroyed and property
looted in their fight to bring democracy to Zimbabwe in past 10 years.

Rallying cry from beyond the classroom

From The Ottowa Citizen (Canada), 9 September

Tenacious human-rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has an inspired message for
Carleton students, Louisa Taylor writes

There are many reasons why Beatrice Mtetwa is an inspired choice to address
Carleton University's newest crop of students in their first week of school.
Who better than a courageous human-rights lawyer to show first-years what
they can do with their education, to demonstrate there's a world beyond
campus that needs their skills and dedication? Mtetwa has become widely
known for her work defending Zimbabwean citizens from the excesses of the
Robert Mugabe regime. She has been followed, harassed and beaten by police,
and still she keeps showing up in court, filing motions to release peace
activists from detention and appeals to re-open banned newspapers. But more
than that, Mtetwa is a living example to students who think they have to be
all or nothing. On the outside, Mtetwa is a tenacious legal crusader, a
dynamo in a tailored pantsuit, funky glasses and a calm demeanour. Inside,
she is a 51-year-old divorced mother of two grown children, a shoe fanatic
and "a party animal" with a weakness for Motown.

"When I'm stressed, I like to go dancing," says Mtetwa, who adores
old-school American R&B, particularly Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, "the
kind that makes you sweat on the dance floor." Mtetwa was born a fighter.
Her father, a prosperous farmer in Swaziland, had six wives when he died in
2007 - "six current wives," Mtetwa says dryly - and "at least" 100 children.
As the eldest, Mtetwa took it upon herself to make sure she and her
siblings - whether full or half - were properly looked after. If their
father was dragging his heels when a sister needed money for school fees, or
a half-brother needed clothes, Beatrice stood up and told him to live up to
his responsibilities. It didn't go over well. "He saw it as insolence and he
used to thrash me," says Mtetwa, who once diverted money earned from the
farms to pay for the family's needs - without her father's permission. "I
think that's where my activism comes from. I'm used to taking on authority."

Mtetwa became the first family member to graduate from university, and while
her father expected her to fail as a lawyer, in latter years he was proud of
her work. Family-law cases - specifically, divorces - are Mtetwa's bread and
butter, but she has taken on more and more human-rights cases as the
Zimbabwean government has become increasingly repressive over the past 10
years. Mtetwa has represented black farmers evicted from their land,
opposition politicians, peace activists abducted by state security, and
Zimbabwean and foreign journalists arbitrarily detained. In 2005, Mtetwa was
given the International Press Freedom Award, and this year she was awarded
the European legal community's prestigious Ludovic-Trarieux International
Human Rights Prize. "Beatrice Mtetwa is an incredibly brave, dynamic woman
who has fought for the rule of law during the dark days in Zimbabwe," says
Blair Rutherford, director of Carleton University's new Institute of African
Studies. "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to meet this
person who can provide insights into the struggles and into what led her to
take that stance when it's much easier to walk away."

Mtetwa says the answer is simple. "I believe in what I'm doing. It brings to
the forefront things that otherwise would never have been known - we made
the government admit its role in the abduction of a peace activist! It's a
fantastic way of getting things on the public record, so people 10 years
from now cannot turn around and say, 'I had no idea what was going on, it
was just some rogue elements in the government.' " When she speaks to the
students today, Mtetwa wants them to ask themselves why they're at
university. "Are they there so they can make a lot of money? Are they there
because they have to be, because it's just what happens after high school?
Are they there because they want to do some good? Once they know why, I want
them to think about what options lie ahead for them and how to make those
decisions," Mtetwa says. "I want to make sure they know there's a wider
world out there, and that you can make money and still make a difference in
the world - not just in the Third World, but right here, in your own
community. History shows that good always prevails over evil - maybe not
tomorrow and maybe not next year, but someday."

Robert Mugabe off the hook as usual

http://www.economist.com

Sep 10th 2009 | CAPE TOWN
From The Economist print edition

African leaders fail yet again to squeeze Zimbabwe's recalcitrant president

MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, Zimbabwe's prime minister, is putting a brave face on his
latest setback. But he must feel badly let down, once more, by the Southern
African Development Community (SADC). At a summit meeting of its 15 leaders,
the regional club failed to criticise President Robert Mugabe for his
refusal to honour the power-sharing deal it helped broker a year ago.
Instead, Mr Tsvangirai was fobbed off with the promise that a committee of
three SADC members would eventually "review" the unity government that took
office in February. Mr Mugabe is smirking.

Jacob Zuma's election as South Africa's president in May had brought hope of
a tougher stance towards Zimbabwe by SADC's most powerful country after
years of ineffectual "quiet diplomacy" by its former president, Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Tsvangirai's expectations rose after he met Mr Zuma in Johannesburg last
month. South Africa's ruling African National Congress announced that Mr
Zuma would be "more vocal" than his predecessors in criticising the
"adolescent" and "deviant" behaviour of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

During a visit to Zimbabwe at the end of August, ostensibly to open an
agricultural show but in truth to knock a few heads together ahead of the
SADC summit, Mr Zuma pointedly stressed the importance of good governance
and respect for human rights everywhere in Africa, before calling on the
parties to Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal to honour their commitments and
ensure its full implementation. In particular, he said Zimbabwe must, as a
priority, meet the West's conditions for resuming development aid. No
African leader had dared say that before.

The Americans and the European Union insist that Mr Mugabe's lot must stop
abducting, arresting and killing supporters of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC); cease the invasions of white-owned farms; replace
the central-bank governor, Gideon Gono, and the attorney-general, Johannes
Tomana; appoint new provincial governors; and free the media (see article).
And they must help draft a new constitution leading to fair elections
within, it is hoped, 18 months.

To stave off the humiliation of being censured by his SADC peers, Mr Mugabe
has begun to make a few concessions. In the past few weeks he announced
steps to end the state's monopoly over the media, and lifted a ban on
correspondents from international broadcasters such as CNN and the BBC. And
he has convened the National Security Council, on which Mr Tsvangirai has a
seat and which is meant to replace Mr Mugabe's feared Joint Operations
Command. The top military brass have even begun to salute Mr Tsvangirai,
which they had sworn never to do.

Yet, with Mr Mugabe still holding the main levers of power, violence and
intimidation have not abated. No fewer than 15 MDC MPs have been arrested on
dubious charges since the unity government took office. More white farmers
have been murdered and 170 face prosecution for refusing to leave their
land. A SADC tribunal ruled last year that the seizures were illegal, but
Zimbabwe's government now refuses to recognise the tribunal's legitimacy.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF is doing its utmost to delay drafting a new constitution
and to prevent fresh elections, which it knows it is virtually certain to
lose. Now, with SADC apparently unwilling to squeeze Mr Mugabe, the old man
and his friends can breathe more easily for a while yet.

Zimbabwe comes in from cold after call to lift sanctions

From The Independent (UK), 10 September

Support for Mugabe from neighbouring states is setback for Tsvangirai

By Daniel Howden, Africa Correspondent

Robert Mugabe was hailing a political victory yesterday after African
leaders from the regional bloc SADC backed his calls to end international
sanctions targeted at members of his regime. The statement of support, which
came at the end of a regional summit, was a setback for Zimbabwe's Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who had pleaded with regional governments to keep
them in place until Mr Mugabe's faction met the terms of a power-sharing
agreement. The public backing for the veteran autocrat has yet again called
into question the SADC's neutrality in dealing with the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Since the sudden death of Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa last year, the
bloc has lost its leading critic of Mr Mugabe. The replacement of South
Africa's Thabo Mbeki with Jacob Zuma has disappointed those hoping for a
stronger line from Zimbabwe's neighbours. A statement at the end of a
two-day SADC summit "noted the progress made in the implementation of the
Global Political Agreement" in Zimbabwe and went on to call on the
international community "to remove all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe".
The move was quickly welcomed by George Charamba, Mr Mugabe's spokesman, who
dismissed the sanctions as "unjustifiable and illegal". Mr Tsvangirai, who
has been struggling to hold together the unity government with his bitter
political foe, has argued forcefully that the sanctions offer the only
leverage over Mr Mugabe's old guard who have been resisting reforms. The
former trade union leader was promised an extraordinary summit to conduct a
detailed assessment of progress under the power-sharing accord before any
call would be made on sanctions. But the Kinshasa meeting ended with no
mention of this. With the International Monetary Fund signalling earlier
this week that it would resume lending to the former pariah state, the
SADC's support could also spark a free-for-all among Mugabe cronies who
after nearly four decades in power control most of the country's remaining
businesses and commercial assets.

In an attempt to appease Mr Tsvangirai, South Africa appeared yesterday to
row back on the call to end sanctions. South Africa's Deputy President,
Kgalema Motlanthe, told parliament that a special summit to help ensure
accountability among Zimbabwe's political protagonists was still possible.
He said the SADC leadership would "monitor resolution to all these
outstanding issues and if that does not produce the desired results an
extraordinary summit will be convened" to add "more fillip... to the process
of moving Zimbabwe forward". However, Mr Motlanthe's vague comments are
unlikely to reassure critics of the Mugabe regime. Foreign diplomats in
Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, were insisting last night that no steps to drop
sanctions were being considered. The 85-year-old President has long blamed
the country's economic woes on what he calls "sanctions against Zimbabwe".
In reality the complex embargo is made up of mechanisms such as travel bans
and asset freezes aimed at preventing Mr Mugabe's advisers, allies and
cronies from further looting the economy. Analysts point out that the
collapse of Zimbabwe's economy dates back to 2001 and the decision to launch
land invasions which destroyed the country's agricultural sector.
Hyperinflation then followed as the central bank reserves were looted for
hard currency by those closely connected to the ruling Zanu PF party. There
have been fragile signs of recovery in the shattered southern African nation
with schools and some hospitals reopening and a switch to the US dollar
ending hyperinflation. But human rights abuses continue.

SADC communique

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Kinshasa - The 29th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government was held in
Kinshasa on the 8th of September, 2009. Below is a list of attendees and the
accomplishments of the summit.

1. The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of
Congo, from September 07 to 08, 2009.

2. The Summit was officially opened by the SADC Chairperson, His Excellency
President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma of the Republic of South Africa

3. Summit elected His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange of the
Democratic Republic of Congo and His Excellency President Hifikepunye
Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of
SADC respectively.

4. Summit also elected His Excellency President Armando Emilio Guebuza of
the Republic of Mozambique and His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda
of the Republic of Zambia as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the SADC
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation respectively.

5. The Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government:

Botswana H.E. President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama

DRC H.E. President Joseph Kabila Kabange

Lesotho The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili

Mozambique H.E. President Armando Emílio Guebuza

Namibia H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba

South Africa H.E. President Jacob G. Zuma

Swaziland His Majesty King Mswati III

Zambia H.E. President Rupiah B. Banda

Zimbabwe H.E. President Robert G. Mugabe

Angola Hon. Prime Minister Antonio Paulo Kassoma

Malawi Hon. Professor Eta Banda

Minister of Foreign Affairs

United Republic Hon. Bernard Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania

Mauritius Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional
Integration & International Trade

Seychelles Hon. Patrick Pillay, Minister of Foreign Affairs

6. The Summit was also attended by H.E. Sir Ketumile Masire, former
President of the Republic of Botswana and H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano,
former President of the Republic of Mozambique. Both former Heads of State
appraised Summit on the progress made in their respective missions as SADC
Eminent Persons and Mediators for the dialogue on the political situation in
Lesotho and Madagascar respectively.

7. The following organisations were represented at the Summit: The African
Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission (AUC), the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community
(EAC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

8. His Excellency President Kabila Kabange, host of the 29th Summit welcomed
the SADC Heads of State and Government and all the other delegates to the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

9. His Excellency President Zuma delivered a speech to Summit both as a new
SADC leader following his inauguration as President of his country and as
the SADC Chairperson. He highlighted positive developments in the
socioeconomic and political areas of SADC during his country's tenure of
office and pointed out the challenges facing the region, including the
impact of the climate change, global financial and economic crisis, and
urged Member States to continue the joint efforts in addressing them. On the
political front, he urged the Member States to collectively tackle the
challenges in Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. He thanked Member States for
the support rendered to his country during its tenure of office.

10. Accepting the SADC Chairpersonship, His Excellency President Joseph
Kabila Kabange thanked the Outgoing Chairperson for the progress achieved
during his leadership of SADC and indicated that he would direct his efforts
towards consolidating the gains achieved so far and ensure continuation in
the implementation of SADC priorities for the benefit and improvement of the
welfare of the people of the SADC Region.

11. The Summit also received the maiden speech by President Rupiah B. Banda
of the Republic of Zambia, thanking the Member States for the support he
received since he became President of his country last year. President Banda
highlighted that, given peace and political stability underpinned by good
governance and the right economic policy environment, SADC can perform to
its full potential.

12. The Summit also noted a statement of the Executive Secretary of SADC,
Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão which highlighted, among other things that the
region had been negatively affected by the Global Economic Crisis. The
Executive Secretary also reported that the new SADC Headquarters had been
completed and that the SADC Secretariat staff has since mid August moved
into the new building.

13. The Summit also received a Report from the outgoing Chairperson of the
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Majesty King Mswati
III of the Kingdom of Swaziland. The Summit noted that the Region remains
peaceful and stable. The political and security challenges in a few parts of
the region, especially the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of
Zimbabwe are being effectively addressed.

14. On Zimbabwe, Summit noted the progress made in the implementation of the
Global Political Agreement and called on the international community to
remove all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

15. On Madagascar, Summit noted the progress made in an effort to restore
constitutional order in Madagascar. Summit commended H.E. Joachim Alberto
Chissano, former President of Mozambique and SADC Mediator for the progress
made thus far.

16. Summit noted with concern the attempts to undermine the agreements
signed in Maputo by all Malagasy political movements on the 9th of August
2009.

17. The Summit firmly rejected and strongly condemned any unilateral
decision which violates the spirit of the Maputo agreements. Summit further
reiterated its decision on the suspension of Madagascar from SADC until the
restoration of constitutional order in that country.

18. The Summit reiterates its support to the current political dialogue in
Madagascar and urges all political stakeholders to fully implement the
Maputo agreements.

19. On Lesotho, Summit noted the report of the Eminent Person, former
President Sir Ketumile Masire and commended him for his efforts in the post
electoral political dialogue in Lesotho. Summit further urged all the
Basotho stakeholders to the dialogue to continue to be engaged in the
process.

20. The Summit expressed gratitude to the Eminent Persons and Facilitators
for their mediation and facilitation efforts and noted progress made in the
implementation of agreements to address the political challenges in these
countries.

21. The Summit noted the consolidation of democracy and political stability
in the region. In particular, the Summit noted the free and fair manner in
which the peoples of the Republic of Angola, Republic of Malawi, Kingdom of
Swaziland the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia have
exercised their franchise at the polls last year and this year in the
presidential, parliamentary, provincial and local elections. The Summit also
noted that Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia are set to hold their elections
during the last quarter of this year. The Summit congratulated the
Government and people of the Republic of Angola, Republic of Malawi, Kingdom
of Swaziland the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia for the
elections held and wished the other SADC Member States well who are going to
the polls later this year. The Summit also congratulated Excellency
President Rupiah B. Banda, His Excellency President Jacob G. Zuma and His
Excellency President Bingu wa Mutharika for winning elections in their
respective countries.

22. The Summit considered progress made towards the achievement of the 50%
representation of women in political and decision making positions at all
levels in line with their 2005 decision. Summit urged Member States
especially those still to hold elections this year to ensure the gender
parity goal. Furthermore, Summit congratulated Malawi for appointing a
female vice president after the May 2009 elections.

23. The Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the SADC Free
Trade Area (FTA) and in the preparations for the negotiations of the SADC
Customs Union and urged the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic
Integration to ensure that outstanding issues are effectively addressed.
Summit also noted that the Task Force will meet in a Strategic Forum before
the end of 2009 to further examine the regional economic integration agenda.

24. The Summit also reviewed the prevailing food security situation in the
Region and noted the improved production. Overall, the Region estimates
cereal surpluses in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Summit
noted that while food production and availability has improved in the
Region, access to food and malnutrition at household level remains a
challenge due to low income and high food prices among others. Summit urged
Member States to scale up the implementation of the Dar-es-salaam
Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security.

25. The Summit reiterated SADC's support of the African position on a
comprehensive internal climate change regime beyond 2012 to be set within
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in
Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

26. The Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the Maseru
Declaration on Combating HIV and AIDS, particularly on Prevention of Mother
To Child Transmission and the uptake of ARV. In order to achieve universal
access targets and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on socio-economic
development and regional integration, Summit urged Member States to
intensify their efforts in implementing the Maseru Declaration on Combating
HIV and AIDS.

27. Summit approved and/or signed the following six legal instruments:

(i) Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation and Integration
among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East
African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community
(SADC);

(ii) Agreement Amending the Treaty of the Southern African Development
Community (Deputy Executive Secretaries);

(iii) Agreement Amending the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security
Co-operation, and Consequential Amendments to the Treaty;

(iv) Declaration on Regional Cooperation in Competition and Consumer Laws
and Policies

(v) Agreement Amending the Protocol on the Development of Tourism in the
Southern African Development Community.

28. The Summit appointed Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão as SADC Executive
Secretary and Eng. João Samuel Caholo as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for
Regional Integration.

29. The Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and People of
the Democratic Republic of Congo for the warm hospitality extended to all
delegates and facilities placed at their disposal that made this Summit a
success.

30. The Summit supported Malawi's candidature to be the next chairperson of
the African Union.

31. The 2010 Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held
in the Republic of Namibia.

32. His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange officially closed the
Summit.