The New African Times

Diplomats at the SADC's HQ in Gaborone, Botswana, said the meeting would be presided over by the troika chairman, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, and would set the tone for the summit.

"President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as the SADC facilitator on Zimbabwe, will give a report on the inter-party talks in Zimbabwe," a diplomat said.

"After that Guebuza will present the report to the summit of the heads of state and government, which starts on Monday and ends on Tuesday. The summit will then discuss the Zimbabwe situation under the topic of the political situation in the region. Madagascar and Lesotho will also be discussed."

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara will attend the Windhoek summit.

Zuma is likely to go to Windhoek in triumphant mood after securing a significant breakthrough. Due to pressure from Zuma, Zimbabwe's leaders agreed to drop all but three of the outstanding issues: the swearing-in of Deputy Agriculture minister Roy Bennett and the controversial appointments of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and attorney-general Johannes Tomana.

Zimbabwe's political principals wrote a letter to Zuma on June 10, notifying him that they had agreed on most issues except the three after their meeting of June 8 on disputes.

Mutambara penned the letter on behalf of the three as a covering note on a status report on talks with minutes of the June 8 meeting. The letter said the principals "found common ground and accommodation". This will be Mugabe's position in Windhoek.

Tsvangirai is bound by this position, but faces difficulties reining in his negotiators, who rejected the resolution of the principals. The negotiators say all of the issues that remained unresolved when talks between negotiating teams ended in April were still on the table. This will make Tsvangirai's position at the summit difficult.

Zimbabwe will also be under the spotlight when SADC leaders discuss the legality of the SADC Tribunal. This issue was raised at the SADC summit in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year, and ministers were tasked to deal with it and report back to the heads of state and government.

Discussions on the tribunal were triggered by displaced white Zimbabwean commercial farmers.

The farmers approached the tribunal, and got a ruling stopping Mugabe's government from seizing the farms.

Harare rejected the tribunal ruling, claiming it was "null and void" as two-thirds of SADC members required to ratify the protocol creating the tribunal had not done so yet.

The Zimbabwean government is battling with farmers at courts in South Africa over the SADC tribunal ruling. Recently, it lost a case to farmers in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

Under pressure, Harare did a U-turn on its stance of not recognising the tribunal.

Initially, the Zimbabwe government refused to recognise the SADC tribunal's jurisdiction, and it even instructed its legal team to walk out and boycott the court's hearings.

However, the Pretoria case forced it to change strategy and defend its position, after it realised it could be costly in the end.

The issue is likely to cause explosive debate at the Windhoek summit after threatening to wreak havoc in Kinshasa in September last year.

HARARE — Zimbabwe's foreign minister Wednesday summoned three Western envoys to scold them for leaving early from the burial of President Robert Mugabe's sister, after being told in a speech to go "to hell".

The envoys from Germany, the European Union and the United States left early from the funeral Sunday for Sabina Mugabe, which foreign minister Samuel Mumbengegwi said was "unacceptable and will not be tolerated".

"Your conduct was therefore very disrespectful to our national heroes shrine, the heroine who was being honoured and his excellency the president," he said in a statement.

"We are disappointed that you chose such a bad occasion to show your disrespect for Zimbabwe, its leaders, its fallen heroes and its people."

On Sunday, Zimbabwe's veteran leader lashed out at the West for maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe and meddling its politics.

"They say 'remove so and so,' Of course they mean 'Mugabe must go before we can assist you," Mugabe said at burial of his sister.

"To hell with them. Hell, hell, hell with them whoever told them they are above the people of Zimbabwe that they decide what Zimbabwe should be and by who it should be ruled."

Mumbengegwi said the diplomats had left shortly after Mugabe's speech, despite that a programme had been provided to them which "clearly indicated" when proceedings would come to an end.

"If you decide to attend such functions in future, you are expected to show respect and observe the protocol befitting these important occasions."

However, US ambassador Charles Ray said he left because he could not stand the attacks from Mugabe.

"When America is treated in the manner it was treated on Sunday, I will react," Ray told reporters.

Relations between Harare and Western capitals have been tense for 10 years since elections marred by violence and widespread allegations of human rights abuses by Mugabe's government.

In February, the EU renewed sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle for another year, citing a lack of progress in implementing political and human rights reforms.

Staff Writer
16 July 2010

The Financial Gazette has reported that there has been a shake up at Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s office. The paper says the re-organisation was meant to improve efficiencies at Munhumutapa Building and do away with some individuals perceived to be ‘undermining the MDC-T leader’s authority’.

James Maridadi, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, is replaced by the MDC-T director of information, Luke Tamborinyoka.

Jacob Mafume, a former legal advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as the executive assistant to Ian Makone, Tsvangirai’s chief secretary.

Abisha Nyaguwo, formerly the director of the social cluster in the Prime Minister’s Office, will be Chief of Staff at Harvest House, taking over from Chris Mbanga.

Emmanuel Chiwanda, director of security in the Prime Minister’s Office, will now be in charge of security at the party’s headquarters.
A month ago Tsvangirai appointed Jameson Timba, as the new Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, replacing Gorden Moyo who was re-assigned to the Ministry of State Enterprises.

The Financial Gazette says Timba is now firmly in charge of the day-to-day operations in Tsvangirai’s office and had a say in the new changes

Zimbabwean authorities have stopped South African musician and television actor Sipho “Psyfo” Ngwenya from performing there.
The rapper, who plays Ajax Khoza in the TV soap Generations, was sent back to South Africa on his arrival at Harare international airport on Friday.

Immigration officers at the airport are said to have been spooked by the video-recording equipment he had with him.

Though the country recently relaxed its media laws, officials remain touchy about visitors’ video cameras and laptops.

When Ngwenya explained that he had several shows lined up, and a music video shoot, immigration officials demanded a work permit.

The musician did not have one and was denied entry.

Ngwenya’s weekend shows, which had been lined up for Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, had to be cancelled when the star was sent packing.

A local newspaper quoted the promoters as saying efforts to save the shows at the weekend failed because the authorities refused to change their position.

Ngwenya was to have performed with South African kwaito artist Sis Khethiwe.

A South African court handed rapid punishment to two men who robbed World Cup journalists from Portugal and Spain, sentencing them to 15 years in jail, police said Saturday. Skip related content

The robbery last Wednesday raised concerns about sullying South Africa's reputation before the World Cup even started on Saturday. The country's extremely high rates of violent crime were one of the biggest concerns before the tournament.

The armed robbers raided a lodge north of Johannesburg and stole laptops, mobile phones and cash.

National police chief Bheki Cele had congratulated investigators on making swift arrests, which were processed by one of the special courts set up to accelerate justice during the tournament.

"Two of the accused, Bright Madzidzi, 20, and George Magubane, 28, were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each for armed robbery," said a statement from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.

"Ndubuisi Odungwa, 20, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for the possession of stolen property."

TWO CONVICTED

Officials said the two convicted robbers were Zimbabweans and Odungwa was a Nigerian.

Police Saturday also said team officials from Uruguay declined to press charges over a theft after a person from the team's retinue was caught on closed-circuit television.

Brigadier Sally de Beer said police responded to a report that cash was stolen from the hotel the team, who drew 0-0 with France in their opening game Friday evening, was staying in Cape Town.

"Police went to the hotel and using CCTV identified a person (travelling with the team). They did not want to press charges," she said.

South Africa hopes a successful World Cup will bring millions more tourists to this country and boost investment. Serious crime during the globe's most watched sporting event could have the opposite effect.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said police would act swiftly to deal with criminals.

"The manner in which the investigation was conducted and finalised sends a stern message that our warnings to criminals were not empty threats," Mthethwa he said.

George Gwaze will again stand trial for the murder of his 10 year-old niece after the Crown successfully won an appeal in the Supreme Court today.

The decision was released by the court this afternoon.

George Gwaze was found not guilty of the murder and sexual violation of Charlene Makaza following a High Court trial at Christchurch in May 2009.

The Crown unsuccessfully appealed the verdicts in the Court of Appeal in July, but the Supreme Court has overturned that decision.

Charlene, who lived with her extended family in Christchurch after being orphaned in Zimbabwe, was found unresponsive in her bed on January 6, 2007, and later died.

The Crown claimed Gwaze suffocated his niece after sexually assaulting her in her bed.

Medical evidence was given that damage to Charlene's genital and rectal areas indicated sexual assault, but defence lawyers said the death was from an HIV-related infection.

The Supreme Court today ruled that a re-trial was necessary, despite the length of time since the first trial.

"Delay in such circumstances is not a matter which can outweigh the interests of justice in obtaining a verdict only after proper trial," the finding said.

The court found that the defence had used hearsay evidence from a medical expert and the evidence had then been used in the Judge's summing up to the jury.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the comments should not have been included in evidence.

"We conclude therefore that the acquittals must be set aside and a new trial directed," the ruling said.

Zimbabwe's financially strapped unity government is drafting legislation that will let it collect taxes from companies with operations in other countries, implementing a proposal from Finance Minister Tendai Biti to adopt a so-called residence-based tax regime to broaden the country's tax base.

Zimbabwean firms are currently taxed only on income generated within the country.

Economist Tony Hawkins of the University of Zimbabwe said the new tax regime appears to be in line with international tax standards, though some observers say it will be difficult to enforce.

Hawkins told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that if Zimbabwean-based companies are operating elsewhere, they can be compelled to pay taxes in the country if they are based there.

But economist Rejoice Ngwenya said such a law could open the door for the government to levy taxes unfairly.

01 Jun 10

The NHS Counter Fraud Services' diligent investigation work has realised another string of convictions for fraud, as Brian Sims reports.
 
A nursing student at the University of Bedfordshire has been sentenced to a total of 15 months’ imprisonment at Peterborough Crown Court for defrauding the NHS of nearly £28,000. The sentencing follows a detailed investigation conducted by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS).

Isabel Moyo, 40, of Lindores Croft, Monkston in Milton Keynes earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation contrary to Sections One and Two of the Fraud Act 2006, and two counts of possession of false identity document with intent, contrary to Section 25 (1), (2) and (6) of the Identity Cards Act 2006.

Moyo was arrested and interviewed with assistance from police officers attached to the UK Border Agency. The investigation revealed that she had used various false documents to gain her place on an NHS-commissioned and funded three-year nursing diploma course.

These documents included a false National Insurance number card, a Zimbabwean passport containing forged Home Office landing stamps and false bio data page and a residence permit indicating that she had indefinite leave to remain in the UK when, in truth, she did not.
False residential category 'A'
On her UCAS application form Moyo gave the same National Insurance number which belonged to a relative. She also dishonestly claimed a residential category of ‘A’ (indicating that she was either a UK citizen or EU national).

In total, Moyo defrauded the NHS of £27,927.41. That sum included the £14,411 cost of her study at the East of England Strategic Health Authority, and an NHS Student Bursary of £13,516.41 over a two-year period. Moyo supported her bursary application with the same false passport, stating that she had indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Commenting on the case, Allan Yates – eastern region counter fraud specialist at NHS CFS – explained: “Moyo’s actions allowed her to obtain NHS funds she was not entitled to, and she took up a valuable nurse training place. The NHS Counter Fraud Service will always seek to pursue all available sanctions against those who think they can defraud the NHS.”

Moyo received four prison sentences, all to be served concurrently: 15 months and four months respectively for the two fraud by false representation offences, and eight months for each offence of possession of false identity document with intent.
Further information on NHS CFS at  www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx  

1. Moyo received four prison sentences, all to be served concurrently: 15 months and 4 months respectively for the two Fraud by False Representation offences, and 8 months for each offence of Possession of False Identity Document with Intent.

2. The NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) - a service of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS and Department of Health whether it involves professionals, staff, patients or contractors. It aims to create a lasting anti-fraud culture.

3. Around 300 professionally-trained and accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists are in place covering every health body in England and Wales.

4.The NHS CFS has a network of teams who deal with complex, high value and cross boundary NHS frauds. The potential NHS savings from completed NHS CFS investigations for 2008-09 is £9,946,030.
 
5. In 2008-09 the NHS CFS successfully prosecuted 69 criminal cases with a 96% success rate.

6. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60              0800 028 40 60      .

Leo Mugabe, a member of the Wealth Creation and Empowerment Council which unites war veterans, black miners and women’s business groups, says his group has preemptive rights to purchase Telecel Zimbabwe shares

A nephew of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has teamed up with liberation war veterans, women and small-scale miners to buy a 20 percent stake in mobile operator Telecel Zimbabwe, which could scuttle South African cellular giant MTN’s bid to control the Zimbabwean firm, industry sources said Friday.

Leo Mugabe is a member of the Wealth Creation and Empowerment Council which unites war veterans, black miners and women’s business groups. He says his consortium should be given first preference to buy a stake in Telecel.

MTN is currently negotiating with Orascom to buy the controlling stake in Telecel held by the Egyptian company - but the ongoing implementation of Zimbabwean indigenization has cast a shadow over the proposed deal.

Mugabe told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that his group has pre-emptive rights to buy Telecel shares.

Elsewhere, Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe Chief Executive John Mufukare said the reportedly impending appointment of Kumbirai Katsande to head Nestlé Zimbabwe should help normalize relations between Harare, Nestlé and Gushungo Dairy Estate, the controversial milk producer owned by Grace Mugabe, the president's wife.

Katsande played a key role in resolving a 2009 row between Nestlé and Gushungo after Nestlé terminated a supply relationship amid protests by human rights activists. He is president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries

Members of Zimbabwe's Cabinet have spent some US$30 million over the past six months on what Finance Minister Tendai Biti says have been unnecessary and at times unapproved foreign trips.

News reports quoted Biti as saying that although foreign travel is restricted due to the shortage of funds, some ministers continue to go on such trips without approval of the Cabinet.

Biti has threatened to expose such ministers. He said the government has failed to control such trips leading him to seek the intervention of the three unity government principals in the matter.

Economic commentator Masimba Kuchera told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara should lead by example as one or another of them is always on such a trip accompanied by a large entourage.

“The unity government principals should desist from going on such trips and also ensure that cabinet ministers who travel outside the country can do so when they have tangible business they can bring to Zimbabweans,” he said.

Zimbabwe is not a known in basketball circles as a power house but interest is being generated in the Southern African country since President Robert Mugabe’s son was drafted into the national basketball team.
Robert Mugabe Jr. is part of the Under 18 national team which is currently hard in training preparing for All African Youth Championships set for Rwanda in September.

The president himself is known to be a cricket lover. But his son Robert Junior has his own preferred sport – basketball.

But, Mugabe Jr’s involvement with the team could be the biggest undoing.
 His mother, Grace, is anxious that her son keeps out of the public spotlight. Because security around members of the first family is incredibly tight, Robert Junior cannot attend all training sessions.

Special training arrangements have been made by the technical team.

“It is true Robert has made it into the last final 15 member team. He is there not because of his father but (because) he’s a good player, by Zimbabwean standards... and he’s tall,” said a technical team member.

Reports indicating that Mugabe Jr’s acceptance into the team could have been strategic for financial reasons was confirmed by the technical team member who says that Mugabe Jr’s presence marks the end of the basketball team’s financial woes.

“This is a blessing to us, just when Robert made it into the team, financial sponsorship started rolling in, it could be a coincidence but we are not worried” said the technical team member.

Last week, Robert Mugabe Jr. traveled with his team mates 300 kilometers out of the capital, Harare, for training camps in Gweru, where the Under 18 basketball team is preparing for Zone Six qualifiers for the All African Youth Championships set for Rwanda in September.

HARARE – Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)formations have temporarily shrugged off their political differences to mourn the death of three top officials of the party’s smaller faction led by Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara in a horrific car accident at the weekend.

MDC-M supremo Renson Gasela died on Saturday night together with the party's national chairperson for disciplinary committee Lyson Mlambo and the women’s assembly provincial chairperson for Midlands South, Ntombizodwa Gumbo. Mlambo and Gumbo were buried yesterday in Gweru and Mberengwa respectively.

The accident occurred about 25km outside Zvishavane along the Zvishavane-Gweru road when the officials’ vehicle crashed into a stationary front-end loader.

The officials were coming from a party meeting in Zvishavane on their way to Shurugwi to attend another party meeting.

Six other party members who included provincial organising secretary Benias Chikweya, deputy provincial organising secretary Felix Pireyi, provincial youth assembly secretary George Mukaro, and Mkoba District executive member Ms Mhishi and the driver, Lavender Mugavhu, who were travelling in the same vehicle were injured and were ferried to United Bulawayo Hospital where they remain admitted.

MDC-M provincial security officer Antonia Sibanda who was admitted at a hospital in Zvishavane has since been treated and discharged.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and top officials from his MDC-T faction shrugged of their political differences with the smaller faction of the MDC to travel to the homes of the deceased to pay their condolences.

In a brief press statement on Wednesday the MDC-M said Gasela would be buried at the Gasela family farm, 15km outside Gweru along Matobo Road.

Tsvangirai’s party said it was saddened by the officials’ death in the car accident.

Controversial Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is heading for Zimbabwe next week and human rights activities are already planning protests.
Ahmadinejad would open a trade exhibition set for the second largest city of Bulawayo on April 23.

Human rights activists and journalist have condemned the invitation extended to the Iranian leader by President Mugabe. They say the only "sensible thing” the two leaders would do is "exchange notes on dictatorship”.

In inviting Ahmadinejad, Mugabe’s spokesperson said, "President Ahmadinejad will open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair this year on April 23, said George Charamba.

It would be the first time that a leader from both the Persian Gulf and outside Africa has been to Zimbabwe to officially open the annual premier trade exhibition.

Over the last decade, Zimbabwe ’s premier business exhibition has lost its glamour as international exhibitors mainly from Europe have been shunning the exhibition due to the political situation.

Local firms including a dairy company owned by First Lady Grace Mugabe is this year shunning the exhibition as little business is generated.

Campaigners against Ahmadinejad’s visit say it is worrying for Zimbabwe to be still interested in nurturing friendships with repressive regimes at a time it should be closing ranks with progressive governments.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) condemned the decision by Mugabe’s government to invite Ahmadinejad, who is viewed worldwide as an incorrigible dictator.

Said Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) spokesperson said, "We see the visit by the Iranian leader as part of the exchange of notes between the Zimbabwean government and the Iranian dictator.

"We are really worried that our government is still interested in making friendships with repressive regime at a time it should be closing ranks with progressive governments."

ZimRights director Okay Machisa says they would not recognize Ahmadinejad saying his track record of rights abuses was well documented and unacceptable. "The big question is who invited him… was there any consensus within the inclusive government?” he asked.

Movement for Democratic Change had by Monday morning not issued a statement.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), the largest journalist representative body says Ahmadinejad’s visit is “from a journalism perspective is no cause for journalists especially in Zimbabwe to celebrate especially as his country and Zimbabwe are viewed as serious violators of press freedom".

Mugabe has over the last few years sought to strengthen ties with Asian and Middle Eastern countries under what he calls a "Look East policy”.

In February we reported that a state of the art helicopter training repair center is being set up in Zimbabwe by Iran. Iran and Zimbabwe have also signed several joint venture deals ranging from agriculture to telecommunication and broadcasting that led to the digitalization of the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation’s television studios in Harare.

HARARE – Zimbabwe's political parties failed to meet a Monday deadline set by South African President Jacob Zuma to resolve a power-sharing dispute that threatens to tear apart the country's coalition, a cabinet minister said.

President Robert Mugabe formed a unity government last year with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister, but the union is fraught with disagreements over how to share power.

Zuma, who is mediating in Zimbabwe, held talks with the two rival leaders early this month and said Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai's MDC had agreed a package of measures to rescue the unity government.

Zuma then set a March 29 deadline for ZANU-PF and MDC negotiators to conclude the talks, after which they were to present a report to him by Wednesday.

"We met the whole of today and we will meet again tomorrow after cabinet meeting. The negotiations were not concluded," Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, a ZANU-PF negotiator said.

A source privy to the talks said it was "very unlikely" agreement on the sticking points would be reached and that the regional Southern African Development troika chairman, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, would be forced to call a meeting to try end the dispute.

The MDC wants its treasurer-general Roy Bennett sworn in as deputy agriculture minister, appointment of five of its senior officials to positions of provincial governors and for Mugabe to sack the attorney general and central bank governor.

Mugabe last week vowed not to cede any ground to the MDC until sanctions imposed on ZANU-PF members and a general freeze on financial aid for Zimbabwe by the West are removed.

The 86-year-old says the MDC should lobby the West to remove the sanctions and stop what ZANU-PF calls "pirate radio stations" from broadcasting into Zimbabwe.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has ‘spiced up’ a one day retreat for ministers and parliamentarians, saying talk about holding elections next year were misplaced. Mutambara said that if elections are held next year they would likely produce more people like him, who got into government through the backdoor, as a result of fraudulent elections.

The Deputy Prime Minister was giving his closing remarks at a retreat convened by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare on Monday. Tsvangirai had organised the retreat to try and defuse mounting tensions between the ministers and the backbenchers, represented by parliamentary portfolio committee chairpersons and the three parties’ chief whips.

Both ZANU PF and MDC-T have indicated that they want elections to be held next year. Robert Mugabe went further to say elections will be held next year with or without a new constitution.

But the MDC-M leader indicated that while there is talk about elections he doesn’t believe they will be held next year.

Tongai Matutu, the chairperson of the Justice and Legal Affairs Parliamentary Committee and MDC-T Masvingo Urban MP, said Mutambara may have said that to protect his position, but that he raised some important issues.

Mutambara said there cannot be talk about elections when the constitution making process has not kicked off and he said problems of legitimacy would continue to arise as a result of a defective constitution.

The Deputy Minister also said the issue of violence has not been dealt with and there has been no real attempt at any type of national healing. People are still deeply traumatised by the 2008 violent elections.

Matutu said Mutambara’s closing remarks were frank and honest as he pointed out that he is a beneficiary of election fraud.

Meanwhile, the meeting was held against a background of increasing friction between the frontbench and parliamentarians. In his opening remarks Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo said ministers were not respecting the role of parliament and have not been bothering to respond to questions. He said the ministers come to parliament but as soon as they are supposed to respond to written questions they immediately leave the chamber, a clear indication that they are not prepared or interested in responding.

Matutu said: “And clearly for last week that was very embarrassing, whereby 48 written questions that were on the Order Paper, none of those questions were answered. All of them were deferred on the basis that ministers had not turned up.”

He said some answers from the ministers are arrogant and don’t add value to the debates, thereby undermining the role of parliament. Some legislators had posed questions over a month ago, but have still not received a response from ministers.

Matutu said some of the ministers who have failed to respond to questions include the Minister of Transport and Communications, Local Government Minister and the Minister of Health. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy had also clashed with the Mines Ministry over allegations of corruption.
Ministers on the other hand said they felt the MPs in portfolio committees were harassing and embarrassing them.

It is understood the meeting managed to ‘iron out’ some misunderstandings and tried to create a platform to explain the different roles of the stakeholders. Surprisingly some ministers said they were not aware they had to attend parliamentary committee meetings.

MILLIONAIRE landlord Jahan Abedi used to have little time for healthy men who were out of work.

But the Cardiff businessman’s opinions have changed after he met a group of Zimbabwean asylum seekers in Leicester.

Jahan’s emotional change of heart broadcast on Channel 4 as he becomes the latest Secret Millionaire to take part in the series.

Jahan, who owns property and nightclubs across Cardiff, also met terminally ill patients during the programme.

He said: “I had very little sympathy for healthy men who don’t work.”

But meeting a number of dispossessed Zimbabwean asylum-seekers during the making of the programme changed his mind.

“These people were all professionals. One was a former air traffic controller who had 150 people working under him at one time,” he said.

“But because of the way immigration is managed in our country they were reduced to nothing. They weren’t allowed to work, they weren’t allowed to leave the country but at the same time they weren’t allowed in as citizens.

“Everybody should deserve a chance, I realised. I couldn’t believe the way people live in this situation. They couldn’t live like a man or contribute to the country in any way.

“How can that person live a life? Let the guy work. Let the guy be a man.”

Jahan came to Cardiff 23 years ago to study business at university and never left. His family left Iran when he was nine and the businessman now counts himself as Welsh.

During his time in Leicester, Jahan also visited the city’s Fareshare project – a food supply organisation for the vulnerable and needy.

“It’s sad in a modern country like ours that people can go hungry,” he said.

“Something like four million people in Britain have problems meeting the weekly food bill and it’s exactly this problem that Fareshare addresses. I was amazed by the dedication of the volunteers.”

He now wants to set up a similar scheme in Cardiff.

“I’m trying to bring the lessons I have learned back to Cardiff. I’m working to get a FareShare scheme set up here and looking into the possibility of getting some of my properties used by homeless people.

“And that’s what I want to encourage other people to do, to give their time and effort not just their money to help others. It’s not enough to simply throw money at something, you have to have passion and dedication to the cause as well.” Search Channel 4 to catch up.

Zimbabwe President Mugabe Rearranges Ministerial Portfolios to MDC Disadvantage
Statutory instruments published in the state Gazette on Friday indicate the president trimmed down powers of the Ministry of information and Technology and the Ministry of Labor, both in MDC hands

President Robert Mugabe has again moved unilaterally to strip ministers of the Movement For Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of their powers, escalating tensions in the country's troubled unity government.

Statutory instruments published in the state Gazette on Friday indicate the president trimmed down powers of the Ministry of information and Technology and the Ministry of Labor, both controlled by the Tsvangirai MDC formation, and reassigned those powers to ministers of his own ZANU-PF party.

Information Communications Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa lost key portfolios to Transport Minister Nicholas Goche.

Goche thereby became the Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, overseeing operations at state-run fixed-line telephone company TelOne, state cellular provider NetOne, Zimpost and their governing body, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

Mr. Mugabe attempted a similar move in April 2009 but Mr. Tsvangirai declared the maneuver “null and void” and Mr. Mugabe retreated.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti, also secretary general of the Tsvangirai MDC formation, said Mr. Mugabe’s actions will seriously affect government operations.

“I am afraid to say that clearly there has not been consultation between the prime minister and the president which is clearly in breach of the Schedule 8 of the Global Political Agreement.”

Biti added: “I am afraid to say it is going to be a serious area of contestation between the two political formations.”

Elsewhere, President Mugabe said Zimbabwe may hold new elections next year whether or not it completes the process of amending the constitution, and that he will seek re-election if his party wants him to.

Mr. Mugabe told reporters Thursday that “if the constitution-making process succeeds, there will be an election, and if it fails, that too will lead to an election.”

But he said the principals in the unity government must agree on the way forward as to new polls.

London-based political analyst Brilliant Mhlanga told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that Mr. Mugabe's statements were disappointing, adding that Zimbabweans should not allow the government to hold new elections without a new constitution in place.

Zimbabwe Rights Activist Jestina Mukoko has become the US Women of Courage Award Winner
.The State Department's International Women of Courage Awards are given for exceptional courage and leadership in advocating the rights of women and their advancement around the world

Zimbabwe Peace Project Director Jestina Mukoko, who was abducted by state security agents in late 2008 and later charged with plotting a coup, has been named a winner of one of 10 U.S State Department International Women of Courage awards for 2010.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will present the awards on March 10 in Washington.

The awards are given for exceptional courage and leadership in advocating the rights of women and their advancement around the world.

We were unable to reach Mukoko immediately for her reaction to news of the award.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been told to call for the removal of the illegal economic sanctions by March 24 or "risk action from the youths of Zimbabwe".

In a petition to the PM yesterday, Zanu-PF Harare Provincial Youth League members said the sanctions were illegal according to the United Nations Charter and ultra vires the principles of customary international law.

"We thereby call upon the Prime Minister RM Tsvangi-rai following the inevitable evidence given to us by British Foreign Secretary D. Miliband to call for the immediate removal of sanctions.

"We ask for your immediate response within a period of a month," the petition stated.

Addressing hundreds of youths who gathered outside Zanu-PF Headquarters in Harare yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for information Cde Rugare Gumbo said the MDC-T leader called for the sanctions and must call for their removal.

"The sanctions were called on to facilitate regime change in Zimbabwe, but we will fight them until they are removed," Cde Gumbo said.

Youth Affairs secretary Cde Absolom Sikhosana said they had been quiet for 10 years while the sanctions destroyed the nation.

"It is the youths’ duty to show their outrage at the extension of the illegal sanctions so that the one who called for them will call for their withdrawal," he said.

Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Cde Amos Midzi said sanctions were destroying the health and education sectors, among others.

Last week, the European Union renewed its illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, claiming that Zanu-PF had not fully implemented the Global Political Agreement, which led to the formation of a coalition government between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations.

The civil rights initiative AfriForum welcomed the decision of the EU to uphold specifically targeted “smart sanctions” against Zimbabwe for at least another year. According to AfriForum it is essential that pressure against the Mugabe regime should be maintained for as long as the current human rights violations continue in Zimbabwe.

In March 2009, AfriForum appealed in letters, sent to all embassies and diplomatic missions of the international community in South Africa, to ignore the request of the former South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, that the existing sanctions against Zimbabwe should be lifted.

“Although AfriForum agrees that the international community should help the people of Zimbabwe with the economic and humanitarian emergencies they face, it would, in AfriForum’s opinion, achieve exactly the opposite if the sanctions were to be lifted now,” said Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum. As smart sanctions target Mugabe and his cronies, upholding it will not have a negative influence on the ordinary people of Zimbabwe. The sanctions also include arms sales to Zimbabwe, which prevents the exposure of the country’s population to further violence from the side of Mugabe’s security forces.

According to Bailey, it is a positive development that Mugabe’s regime is increasingly subject to international censure. In January 2010 the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation for example sent a note of protest to the Zimbabwean government in which it objected to violations of the recently signed agreement on investment promotion and protection (BIPPA) between the two countries. This was a significant departure from the South African policy of silent diplomacy. “In addition the EU’s decision sends the strong message that the Mugabe regime’s abuse of power is not acceptable and that it is high time for a change of government in the country,” she added.

Next week AfriForum will approach the High Court in Pretoria to have a ruling by the tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) against Zimbabwe, registered in a South African Court.

MDC founder Tsvangirai ordered Chitungwiza councilors to name party lands secretary Vincent Gwaradzimba mayor to clean up city hall after a party investigation turned up serious evidence of corruption

The Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has removed all 24 of its councilors from the 25-member town council of Chitungwiza following a probe into alleged corruption in the Harare satellite town, an MDC spokesman said.

A party spokesman said Tsvangirai told about 3,000 Chitungwiza residents Thursday that the former opposition party's national council and national executive had recommended that the councilors be fired.

Tsvangirai ordered the councilors Monday to name MDC Secretary of Lands Vincent Gwaradzimba mayor of Chitungwiza to clean up the administration Instead they made Alderman Philimon Chipiyo mayor and Rangarirai Mutingwende, previously suspended by the party, deputy mayor.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said that the party has adopted a zero tolerance policy on corruption, adding that no member of the party at any level will escape accountability.

HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party has lodged an official complaint with the committee that oversees implementation of Harare’s power-sharing agreement – Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) – about “unjustified arrests and harassment” of its officials and supporters by state security agents.

MDC’s secretary for legal and parliamentary affairs Innocent Gonese earlier this week wrote to the current chairperson of JOMIC registering the party’s concerns over the violations of the “letter and spirit” of the global political agreement (GPA), that gave birth to the Harare coalition, and the wanton arrests of its members blamed on harline elements in President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party.

“In the spirit of inclusiveness we would expect the police to acquaint themselves with provisions of the law and to make value judgments before making wanton arrests,” wrote Gonese, who is also the party’s Member of Parliament for Mutare Central.

Gonese said the MDC was particularly concerned with the fact that there were no similar arrests of members of ZANU PF despite the fact they are holding meetings in their constituencies.

“This clearly shows that there is still selective application of the law. Article VI of the GPA provides that political parties which are signatory thereto are determined to create conditions for the people of Zimbabwe to write a constitution of themselves and it is in this vein the we find the overzealousness of the police to be disturbing,” complained Gonese.

Gonese said on January 30 2010, 52 MDC members were arrested were while holding a district meeting in Mt Darwin to discuss among other things issues relating to the new constitution.

He said 11 of these are still detained facing charges under the Public Order and security Act (POSA).

“On January 23 2010, the MP for Mabvuku-Tafara and the district chairperson Shepherd Madamombe was arrested and questioned at Harare Central Police Station facing similar allegations,” wrote Gonese.

Gonese said the MDC meetings were of the district assemblies of those constituencies where it is not necessary to notify the police of such meetings.

Bonafide meetings of political parties are exempted from seeking police clearance following amendments made to POSA in 2008.

Tsvangirai’s party has previously said it would remain in the unity government despite attempts by ZANU PF hardliners to frustrate it into quitting.ITS TIME FOR MDC TO QUIT GNU? JOIN THE FORUM

Police Arrest 10 Students for Holding Meeting at the University of Zimbabwe
Plainclothes police and university security guards detained Zinasu President Joshua Chinyere, Secretary General Grant Tabvurei, Treasurer Zivanai Muzorodzi and Education Secretary Artwell Chidy

Police in Harare, Zimbabwe, arrested 10 university students on Wednesday including four officers of the Zimbabwe National Students Union or Zinasu as they conducted a meeting with students on the campus of the University of Zimbabwe regarding tuition fees and accommodation problems.

Plainclothes police and university security guards detained Zinasu President Joshua Chinyere, Secretary General Grant Tabvurei, Treasurer Zivanai Muzorodzi and Education Secretary Artwell Chidya, sources said.

Zinasu spokesman Wisdom Mugagara said six other students were arrested and beaten up by the security guards and police before being locked up at the police station in the Avondale section of the Zimbabwean capital.

Mugagara said the union had sought assistance from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in obtaining the release of the students.

Meanwhile, a rival Zinasu faction has elected a new leadership led by President Tafadzwa Mugwadi of the University of Zimbabwe and Secretary General Kurai Hove. The Mugwadi-led Zinasu faction opposes the parliamentary-led constitutional revision process, the Chinyere faction supports it.

HARARE: A secret airstrip that would enable clandestine weapons shipments is being built in a diamond field illegally seized by the Zimbabwean army.

Diplomats and analysts believe the runway is intended for arms shipments, probably from China, for which troops loyal to President Robert Mugabe would pay on the spot with gemstones from the Chiadzwa diamond mines.

Aerial pictures show a newly built control tower apparently complete and the runway nearly ready for surfacing.

A Western diplomat said the existence of the runway, which is out of sight except from the air, was ''extremely'' worrying.

The images also show what appears to be an army camp in the diamond fields. This would violate Zimbabwean court orders and an undertaking to the Kimberley Process, which was set up to prevent ''blood diamonds'' from conflict zones entering the global gem trade.

According to human rights groups, hundreds of miners were killed when soldiers seized control of the Chiadzwa area in November 2008.

The runway suggests the army wants to use its access to raw diamonds to obtain goods from abroad, in particular weapons.

The disclosure comes at a sensitive time for Zimbabwe, where the future of joint government by Mr Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the Movement for Democratic Change, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, is in the balance.

Mr Tsvangirai was in Europe last week to press for sanctions against Zimbabwe to be eased, despite continued repression.

An MDC party insider said: ''We know about it and it is extremely sensitive. We are very worried about what we have found out this week.''

ZANU-PF ministers declined to comment.

Zimbabwe State Case Against MDC Treasurer Bennett Undermined Further
Peter Michael Hitschmann said under cross-examination by Attorney General Johannes Tomasina that Bennett did not provide him with funds to buy weapons that were seized in a 2006 raid on his home in Mu tare
In the continuing terrorism trial of Zimbabwean Senator Roy Bennett, treasurer of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a key state witness further undermined the state case Tuesday by denying Bennett gave him funds to purchase arms.

Peter Michael Hitschmann, impeached this week by a Harare High Court Judge who excluded statements submitted by the state because they were obtained under duress, said under cross-examination by Attorney General Johannes Tomana that Bennett did not provide him with funds to buy weapons confiscated at Hitschmannn's house in Mutare in 2006.

While Hitschmann confirmed that he maintained a bank account at the Banco International in Maputo, Mozambique, he said Bennett never deposited any funds into that account. He said all of the funds deposited into that account came from his own legitimate business activities in Mozambique.

Hitschmann also denied implicating Bennett in e-mails that the state says were found on a laptop computer seized at his house in the 2006 raid.

Hitschmann said neither he nor his lawyer were present when the e-mails were printed from the laptop. He said he was not familiar with the e-mail accounts cited by security officials, and that he did not have passwords to them.

Hitschmann produced laughter in the courtroom when he remarked that there was nothing wrong with legislators fighting in Parliament, this a clear reference to Bennett’s scuffle in the House with Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in 2003, which led to his sentencing to a prison term by Parliament.

Hitschmann made the comment after Tomasa suggested that he regarded Bennett as a hero and was therefore refusing to implicate him.

Hitschmann said fights in Parliament were often seen in countries including Turkey, Taiwan and South Korea, and Zimbabwe was no exception.

After Tomasa completed his cross-examination Judge Chinemberi Bhunu adjourned the trial to Wednesday. Bennett defense lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa is expected to cross-examine Hitschmann again at that time.

Bennett is charged with terrorism and incitement to commit acts of insurgency but has denied the charges, calling them politically motivated.

Bulawayo attorney Matshobana Ncube said that Peter Hitschmann's impeachment has increased the chances of Bennett’s acquittal – if politics is not brought to bear in the case.

A Zimbabwean judge has dismissed key prosecution evidence in the trial of politician Roy Bennett - a case that threatens the unity government.

The judge said the testimony of arms dealer Peter Hitschmann was invalid, after the witness said he had been tortured into implicating Mr Bennett.

The state said Hitschmann had stashed guns for Mr Bennett - accused of a plot to kill President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Bennett, an ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, denies the charges.

Mr Bennett, treasurer for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was due to be installed as a deputy minister when he was arrested last February.

His lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, has described the case as political persecution.

Mr Bennett denies all the charges against him, which include terrorism, insurgency, sabotage, banditry and a plot to kill President Robert Mugabe and overthrow his government.

Hitschmann was initially implicated in the same alleged plot that Mr Bennett is being tried for, but was eventually convicted on lesser charges of possessing illegal weapons.

Judge Chinembiri Bhunu said Hitschmann's confessions had been ruled inadmissible in his own trial in 2006 - and were therefore still inadmissible.

"The witness gave evidence... with the greatest reluctance," Reuters news agency quoted the judge as saying.

"His demeanour is that of a deeply aggrieved citizen with a gripe against the state."

The meeting of the Tsvangirai MDC formation's standing committee was called after the party's lead negotiator, Tendai Biti, secretary general of the grouping as well as Finance Minister, declared a deadlock after another round of talks.

Senior figures in the Movement for Democratic Change of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai  gathered in Harare on Friday  to discuss the way forward as tension rose within the unity government over the lack of progress in talks to resolve issues that have long troubled power sharing.

The meeting of the Tsvangirai MDC formation's standing committee was called after the party's lead negotiator, Tendai Biti, secretary general of the grouping as well as Finance Minister, declared a deadlock after another round of talks on Thursday with the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe.

But Patrick Chinamasa, lead negotiator for the former ruling ZANU-PF and the minister of justice, told VOA that the talks will resume February 8.

Many MDC insiders say, however, that they want to refer the unsettled agenda to the Southern African Development Community for arbitration - SADC is a guarantor of the power-sharing arrangement along with the African Union. Another option is to call for free and fair elections, though Mr. Tsvangirai himself has indicated he thinks it is early days for a new ballot.

Some political analysts have suggested that the MDC position in the talks was undermined by comments from British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in the House of Commons this week. Miliband said Britain wants to see real progress in Harare, adding: “We have to calibrate our response to the progress on the ground, and, above all, to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country."

ZANU-PF hardliners seized on those comments as evidence that the MDC could exert more influence in bringing about the lifting of European sanctions, and urging their negotiators concede nothing until that is obtained.

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray told reporters in Harare that the power-sharing principals should be more flexible to make progress.

South African President Jacob Zuma, mediator for SADC in Zimbabwe, urged Mr. Tsvangirai to compromise rather than waiting for Mr. Mugabe to give way. But Ray said Mr. Mugabe, Mr. Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, the third principal, must all make concessions.

Harare political analyst Philip Pasirayi said that it is ZANU-PF which is blocking progress in the talks, as Western sanctions can readily be lifted once fundamental reforms are embraced.
 

HARARE: Mordecai Mahlangu, the lawyer representing Michael Hitschmann, a key state witness in the high profile treason trial of MDC senior official Roy Bennett is suing the Attorney General Johannes Tomana for allegedly acting ‘irresponsibly’ when he issued a warrant for the lawyer’s arrest last year.

Mahlangu was arrested in November and spent a night in police cells after he served Tomana with an affidavit in which Hitschmann said he did not want to testify against Bennett, who is facing charges of illegally possessing weapons with the intention to commit insurgency, banditry, terrorism and sabotage.

Mahlangu was later charged with obstruction of justice, and a Harare magistrate acquitted him.

In a letter served to the AG’s office yesterday, Mahlangu’s lawyer Raymond Moyo said: “It is the intention of our client to institute civil proceedings for the damages sustained by him arising from his wrongful arrest and unlawful detention both under the common law and under the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

In terms of the State Liabilities Act, an aggrieved party must give 60 days notice before instituting civil proceedings. In an interview Mahlangu said he would sue Tomana in his personal capacity.

“It would send wrong signals if tax payers foot his legal bill. He acted irresponsibly and in bad faith. He is a senior lawyer and he knows the law,” said Mahlangu.

Moyo notified co-ministers Giles Mutseyekwa and Kembo Mohadi, the arresting police officers Clever Ntini, Henry Dowa and the police chief Augustine Chihuri that he would sue them as well.

An official at the AG’s office confirmed receiving the letter from Mahlangu.
Last year a prominent Zimbabwean human rights activist Jestina Mukoko sued the government for more than $200-million after terror charges against her were dropped because she had been beaten and tortured.

Tomana was one of the government officials sued for $20 000 in his personal capacity.

Two months since xenophobic attacks left De Doorns divided, the locals are adamant that they will chase the Zimbabweans out should they try to return.

Breede Valley mayor Charles Ntsomi said continuing tensions in the area meant re-integrating the Zimbabweans was not possible at this stage..

The residents of Stofland and Ekuphumleni say they don't want their Zimbabwean neighbours to return.Thousands of them have been living in tents on the town's only sports field since November.
'We will braai them and turn them into KFC'

Those who live in Stofland, an informal settlement outside De Doorns, told the Cape Argus during a visit to the area yesterday that they did not, under any circumstances, want the immigrants back.

"We will braai them and turn them into KFC if they come back. There's no place for them here," said Pastor Frans Henke on his return from a church service yesterday afternoon.

Other residents called the Zimbabweans dirty, accused them of practising witchcraft and said they offered themselves as cheap labour, leaving locals unemployed.

"They are a different nation with different cultures. I'm not angry with them, but they must go back to their own country," said Henke.

Moses Masimini, a labour broker who lives in the area, denied that xenophobia had anything to do with the fact that more than 2 000 people had been driven from their homes.
'It's got nothing to do with xenophobia'

"It's got nothing to do with xenophobia. It's all about work and resources. There's no space here for them. They were never part of this community, and would never stand with us," he charged.

Those living in the tented camp on the De Doorns rugby field have accused
the government of not informing them of what will happen to them. .

Mike Moyo, chairman of the committee for the displaced, said that since they were moved to the field on November 14, government and other officials had left them in the dark.

He said it was rumoured that the government had been in meetings with Stofland residents, and that reintegration had been discussed.

Besides interacting with the site manager, Moyo said, there had been no feedback from the authorities on the outcome of any meetings.

But Ntsomi said he does not know what to tell the Zimbabweans.

"What can I tell the people? It seems that reintegration is simply not possible. There is still a lot we have to do to educate locals on why the refugees are here. So we can't force them back to communities. What if
people are killed?"

Ntsomi is also under pressure to find alternative accommodation for the Zimbabweans. The camp is costing the municipality R71 000 a month. And because the refugees' temporary home is the only sporting facility in the area, the sports forum is angry because the field cannot be used.

Moyo claimed conditions in the camp are fast deteriorating.

"The only thing that has changed here is that things have worsened," said Moyo. He said the ill spent their days lying in unbearably hot tents, getting sicker.

When they are weak enough, an ambulance is called and they are taken to hospital for treatment.

He said several people have contracted tuberculosis.

The Zimbabweans, said Moyo, were also too scared to venture out to the clinic for fear of further victimisation by Stofland residents. So they left their illnesses - many of which were contagious - untreated.

Many were also too weak to walk to the clinic.

Moyo said most of the workers have families in Zimbabwe whom they support financially. But because of the untreated illnesses spreading through the camp, work days are lost.

The camp is divided into sections for single women, single men and families.

Despite the attacks two months ago, people still go to work each day.

"Zimbabweans work. They don't depend on anybody. Even old ladies go to work, unlike the locals," said Moyo.

He denied they offered themselves as cheap labour to undermine local workers.

"The fees are not up to us. Labour brokers meet with farmers and agree on the amount to be paid, which we adhere to. It was like this before we arrived; we just fell in with the way things were being done," Moyo
explained.

During the visit yesterday, two groups were having church services. Moyo said despite everything that had happened to them, people still held on to their faith.

"We are starting to recover from the trauma. We just want to get on with our lives," he said.

Jan. 15  -- Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai must be flexible in demanding the removal of some officials to help talks aimed at saving a power-sharing accord with President Robert Mugabe, South African President Jacob Zuma said.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change party wants Mugabe to fire central bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana, saying their appointments were unconstitutional.

Are these issues “so fundamental that we cannot move without” resolving them? Zuma said today in an interview broadcast on state-owned SAFM in Johannesburg. “Can we park them and proceed?”

The parties will seek to resolve their differences at talks due to begin tomorrow in the capital, Harare. Previous rounds of discussions mediated by the South African government have ended inconclusively.

The impasse between Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party and Tsvangirai’s MDC has frustrated regional mediators, such as Zuma, and dissuaded Western donors from helping to rebuild the nation’s shattered economy.

Zuma said today he was “positive and hopeful” of progress in the negotiation.

“I’m sure the Zimbabweans have to open up and look at the issues from all angles,” he said.

Decade of Recession

The establishment of the unity government in February followed a decade of recession and political turmoil, which slashed exports, pushed inflation to a record and drove millions of Zimbabweans into exile in neighboring countries.

Zimbabwe’s economic decline has been stemmed since the MDC assumed control over most key economic posts. The finance ministry expects growth to accelerate to 7 percent this year, from about 4.7 percent last year.

The MDC is also demanding the power to appoint some regional governors and wants Mugabe to swear in Roy Bennett, currently on trial for terrorism-related charges, as deputy agriculture minister. It has described the case against Bennett, who has denied any wrongdoing, as “trumped up.”

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party has accused the MDC of reneging on its commitment to persuade the U.S. and European Union to lift travel bans and asset freezes against its leaders.

‘Superficial Agreement’

“What we have is a very superficial agreement,” George Katito, a researcher at the South African Institute for International Affairs in Pretoria, said yesterday in an phone interview. “Many of the contentious issues are still very much in place and there doesn’t seem to be sufficient goodwill, particularly on the side of ZANU-PF, to make the government work.”

The Southern African Development Community, which brokered the power-sharing deal, says the standoff has dragged on long enough.

“With regards to the pace of negotiations and the pace of events, nobody is happy,” Oldemiro Baloi, chairman of the 15- nation regional grouping’s politics, defense and security committee, said in Maputo, the Mozambican capital, on Jan. 8. “We want the talks to conclude as soon as possible.”

SADC succeeded in persuading Tsvangirai to reverse his Oct. 16 decision to withdraw from the ruling coalition.

“The MDC isn’t going to pull out of this government or the talks,” Elton Mangoma, Tsvangirai’s deputy chief negotiator, said by telephone on Jan. 13 from Harare. “It’d be naive to say we don’t expect disagreements, but I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be negotiated or reconciled.”

Several calls to ZANU-PF negotiator Nicholas Goche today and to the party’s head office went unanswered.

“There is a lot of international interest in Zimbabwe at the moment and regional pressure” on the parties to work together, Katito said. “There is incentive to show they are making progress.”

A fugitive wanted over the murder of a six-year-old girl was being hunted in South Africa today after British detectives flew to the country in a bid to bring him to justice.

Senior investigators from Sussex police made appeals in the South African media for help tracing prime suspect George Champion Sithole.

Sithole is wanted for an arson attack at the family home of Dumo Sibanda in Crawley, West Sussex.

The schoolgirl, originally from Zimbabwe, was rescued from the burning house by firefighters but died in hospital following the October 2004 attack.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Johns and Detective Inspector Trevor Bates travelled to Johannesburg to work with local police in the hunt for Sithole, who is thought to have fled Britain shortly after the killing.

It followed a review of the unsolved murder case by the Sussex Major Crime Team.

DCI Johns said: "Despite the case now being over five years old, it has never closed and we are determined to bring the offender to justice for both Dumo and her family.

"We are very keen to speak to Mr Sithole when we are in South Africa as we believe he could have vital information about this incident which will significantly assist us with our inquiries.

"Despite repeated appeals at the time, he has not come forward and we have been unable to locate him.

"Working with our counterparts in Johannesburg, we hope publicity about the case will encourage someone to tell us the whereabouts of Mr Sithole or for him to speak to us directly.

"A little girl died in this fire - she was just six years of age at the time and her family, understandably, are still devastated by her untimely death.

"They need to have some closure to enable them to move on with their lives and I encourage anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Scimitar."

At the time of the murder, police issued an appeal for Sithole to hand himself in.
Detectives said they believed he had been in a relationship with the victim's aunt, which had broken down.

He was allegedly seen buying petrol near the semi-detached house on the evening it was torched.

Zimbabwe’s liberation fighters have declared that they are entitled to a 20 per cent share of any resource in the country saying they are the poorest lot in the southern African nation.
Their demand cover land, residential and business stands in all cities and mineral resources.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLVA) spokesperson, Retired Colonel Sebastian Beta, at the weekend said the former guerrillas are ready to wage an economic empowerment war.

“We are entitled to a 20 percent share of the national cake. By this I mean we should get a 20 percent share of land allocations under the land reform programme, residential stands allocations in all towns and cities in the country, natural resources and anything to do with mines,” Beta.

He said they fought the protracted armed struggle with the British to gain both political and economic power which has long been allusive.

Beta says it is their right to claim 20 percent of all national resources claiming that the “war veterans are some of the poorest people around despite the work that they have done for this country.”

So serious is the issue that the comrades would ratify the move by January 29 to 31 during their congress.

In the last decade, the veterans were in the forefront of farm invasions that left scores of people, mostly white’s, dead.

Mugabe’s land seizures for friends

Long time ruler President Mugabe started the often-violent seizure of white-owned farms in 2000, after he suffered his first defeat at the polls over a referendum to entrench his presidential powers.

He said the farms would go to poor blacks but many of the 5,000 seized farms went to his friends and cronies, however.

The seizures touched off an economic collapse in the southern African country that used to thrive on exports of food, minerals and tobacco.

Mugabe, who has ruled since his guerrilla army helped overthrow white minority rule in 1980, has seen his popularity battered by the economic crisis.

Land reform has been an emotional issue in Zimbabwe since the black majority overthrew white minority rule in 1980, after more than a decade of fighting.

During colonial times, white settlers who came to what was then called Rhodesia to seek their fortunes in agriculture and mining forced blacks off ancestral lands.

Mugabe insists he is trying to correct the wrongs of Zimbabwe’s colonial past.

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has appointed a Zanu (PF) functionary accused of murder to the Zimbabwe Media Commission.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, a former ambassador to China, is facing charges arising from the shooting deaths of Costa Matete and two other people accused by Mutsvangwa of stealing from his Highlands home in August 2009.
Mutsvangwa was recalled from China in 2009 following his involvement in a murky deal with private companies which wrung deals worth $8 billion from the Zimbabwean government after claiming to represent the Chinese government. Mutsvangwa announced the deal, which was later vehemently denied by Beijing and finance minister Tendai Biti.
In the murder case, Mutsvangwa claims that the three dead were suspects in a robbery at his house, who were later gunned down by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department's Homicide Section.
Matete's widow, Saliwe Nduna has since filed a civil case against Mutsvangwa, Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Nduna, who is represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, denies her husband was involved in any robbery at Mutsvangwa's residence.
Sources claimed the murders were political and the dead may have been shot by war veterans and thugs hired by Mutsvangwa. The murder case came to light when a state lawyer Rangarirai Zvauya (38) was arrested for allegedly demanding a US$400 bribe from Mutsvangwa to prevent his brother Chengetai Zvauya, a journalist with Associated Press, from publishing the matter. Through his lawyer, Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, Rangarirai Zvauya successfully applied for bail before Harare magistrate Archie Wochiunga. He was granted US$100 bail.
Zvauya denies the bribery charges. Mutsvangwa is not new to controversy. He has used various platforms to campaign vociferously for Mugabe and the controversial appointment to the media commission is seen as reward for his loyalty.
The move to appoint Mutsvangwa has raised eyebrows after Mugabe refused to appoint MDC-T treasurer-general Roy Bennett saying he is facing 'serious' treason charges that he denies.

Zimbabwe’s technological sector is set to improve in the next five years, significantly altering all spheres of life in the country, a foreign venture capital company has said.

The Minister of Technology, Nelson Chamisa, believes that the country is already on a technological revolution path. He said that since he assumed the ministry, a lot had been achieved, though he was not sure if he was the right person to make that analysis.

“A lot of things have been achieved. They are all over for everyone to see. An example are the phones, the network system were unbelievable troublesome. Things are now starting to work,” he said.

Broadhorn Capital venture capitalist has invested in two technology companies in the country. A venture capitalists raises capital, commonly known as risk capital, for a business and provides advisory services during the term of their investment.

The capital raised may be in the form of debt or equity and may be from private or public sources.

Venture capital is a type of private equity capital typically provided for early-stage, high-potential, growth companies in the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event such as an Initial Public Offer (IPO) or trade sale of the company.

Broadhorn Capital is a venture development firm specializing in early-and seed- stage technology companies The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Broadhorn Capital, Brian Patrick Donaghy, has told the media that Zimbabwe has an educated, English-speaking work force and this is at a time when Africa is expanding its fiber-optic networks and other technology infrastructure.

“In five to ten years, Harare will be the next Bangalore,” he said.

Bangalore is India’s third most populous city that experienced growth and a rise in living standards because of technological advancement.

Minister Chamisa said one other achievement by his ministry include improving the penetration rate to 22 percent from 11 percent at the beginning of the year.

“Things are improving and will continue to improve especially in the Internet area,” he said.

He added there have been companies that introduced 3G network and that was an innovation on the country’s technological field. Mobile network giants, Econet Wireless, introduced 3G network in August last year.

3G network is a family of standards for mobile telecommunications including wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data, all in a mobile environment.

3G allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates enabling network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency.

HARARE – President Robert Mugabe looks headed for a clash with South African President Jacob Zuma after his Zanu (PF) party told the new SADC-appointed mediator to be “patient” with Zimbabwe’s political crisis and insisted it would resist attempts to reform the country’s partisan security forces.

Fresh clashes also loom between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai after last week’s Zanu (PF) national congress resolved that any issues agreed so far in power-sharing negotiations that have been taking place in Harare would only be implemented when the MDC-T has successfully called for the lifting of a travel ban and asset freeze imposed by the West on Mugabe and 200 of his loyalists.
“There should be no movement on the concerns of the MDC formations without corresponding and simultaneous redress of Zanu (PF)’s concerns such as the illegal Western sanctions, Western-funded pirate radio broadcasts and Western interference in Zimbabwean internal politics through the funding of parallel government structures,” read part of the resolutions adopted by Mugabe’s party last Saturday.
Such ranting against “foreign interference” is to be expected from a Zanu (PF) meeting but in the backdrop of Zuma’s entry as new mediator and his reported intent to push for quicker resolution of outstanding issues, the congress resolutions look like they were specifically meant for the South African President’s ear.
Of particular interest is one resolution that talks of “no foreigners, individuals, corporates or national (sic) in whatever capacity or any from time to time find themselves involved in aspects of Zimbabwe’s bilateral disputes have the right to impose a constitutional order on Zimbabwe.”
The resolution gives the impression that Mugabe and Zanu (PF) would not accept a new constitution unless the document reflects the wishes and views of their own party – regardless of what Zuma and the rest of the international community think.
Constitutional reform is in fact the most important task for the power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai in February and which was guaranteed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Patience
Zanu (PF) asked Zuma to be patient with Zimbabwe’s political crisis and to understand that the parties have “delicate, sensitive fundamental concerns that cannot be resolved overnight”.
The call for patience appears to suggest Mugabe’s party is not too happy with the way Zuma has gone about trying to have the outstanding issues resolved quickly.
Zuma, who replaced former South African president Thabo Mbeki last month as SADC-appointed mediator in the Zimbabwean crisis, is said to be anxious to see a quick resolution of the problems in Harare.
The South African leader is said to be keen to have the Zimbabwean political dispute resolved quickly to avoid bad publicity that could cloud the World Cup tournament that is happening on African soil for the first time.
To show that he was serious about a fast-tracked resolution of Zimbabwe’s crisis, one of his first tasks as mediator was to sack the old facilitation team appointed by former South African President Thabo Mbeki and putting together his own group of people.
The new three-member team is headed by Zuma’s political adviser Charles Nqakula and includes special envoy Mac Maharaj and the president’s international relations adviser Lindiwe Zulu.
The appointment of a new facilitation team completed the removal of Mbeki and his envoys since Zuma assumed the facilitator’s role at last month’s SADC defence and security organ summit in Maputo.
Since the start of the inter-party negotiations between Zanu (PF) party and the MDC-T, Mbeki has been accused of adopting a softly-softly approach towards Mugabe.
The MDC has on several occasions requested that Mbeki be relieved of his mediation role in the Zimbabwean crisis.

Security sector
Another potential clash-point between Mugabe and Zuma on the one hand, and Mugabe and Tsvangirai on the other, is the Zimbabwean leader’s insistence that he would never allow any move to change or reform the security forces as demanded by the MDC-T and the international community.
The MDC-T is pressing for reform of the security forces that the Prime Minister’s party says have been heavily politicised and have virtually become a security arm of Zanu (PF).
"May I state this clearly and categorically, (that) as Zanu (PF) the defence of our sovereignty rests with us and with no other. Any manoeuvres to tamper with the forces will never be entertained by us," said Mugabe, who has had to rely on the security forces since 2000 to prop up his waning political career.
Many senior security officers have vowed never to recognise Tsvangirai as leader.
The remarks by Mugabe came just days after Tsvangirai announced last Thursday that his office had embarked on reforms of the security forces despite resistance encountered from some quarters of Zimbabwe’s fragile coalition government.
The premier said his office was working with relevant ministries on a programme to train members of the security forces on key governance issues such as human rights as part of efforts to turn the army, intelligence service and police force into non-partisan outfits that respect the laws of the land and enforce them impartially.
“Within the GPA (Global Political Agreement), there is a commitment to train all security personnel in human rights and my office has already begun to work with the relevant ministries on these programmes regardless of any resistance we may encounter,” Tsvangirai said during a presentation at an event organised by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in Harare.

Security Council
The move by Tsvangirai appears calculated to beat hawkish elements in Zimbabwe’s armed forces and Zanu (PF) who have deliberately frustrated efforts to regularly convene meetings of the National Security Council (NSC).
The council, which replaced the Joint Military Command (JOC) which was allegedly behind last year’s bloody run-off election campaign to retain Mugabe, is supposed to meet monthly but has only met once since the formation of a coalition government by the 85-year leader, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in February.
The NSC is the new security think tank of the country and comprises Mugabe as chairperson, the two Vice-Presidents John Nkomo and Joice Mujuru, Tsvangirai, Mutambara, co-Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe as well as ministers responsible for finance, defence and the police Force.

11/12/09 Harare (Zimbabwe) Hundreds of people marched through Harare’s business district Thursday to commemorate the International Human Rights Day as Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai announced the imminent formation of the long-awaited Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

The march was organised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights) and marchers were accompanied by a police escort through the streets of the capital.

International Human Rights Day is celebrated every 10 December and marks the anniversary of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Genocide Conventions of the United Nations.

The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly on 4 December 1950 when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organisations to celebrate the day as they saw fit.

Tsvangirai said Harare’s coalition government would “soon” announce members of the proposed human rights commission and three other statutory bodies created by last year’s power-sharing agreement.

Delays in forming the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Zimbabwe Media Commission have raised fears that President Robert Mugabe wanted to tamper with nominations submitted to him by parliament so that he could include some of his loyalists.

Interviews of prospective candidates for the three commissions took place more than two months ago, while the parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee is yet to select members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

“The President and myself will soon be announcing the composition of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the other commissions designed to provide support to the issue of peoples’ rights,” the premier said in a statement to mark International Human Rights Day on Thursday.

The commissions are some of the political reforms that the Harare coalition government must undertake as part of a drive to reshape and democratise the country’s politics.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe's prime minister said Sunday he is thankful for South African efforts to help rescue his coalition government, and he said South Africa's president is expected to visit the troubled neighboring country next week.

A spokesman for South African President Jacob Zuma did not comment on a possible visit, but said in a statement that a delegation of mediators sent by Zuma was leaving for Zimbabwe and expected to arrive late Sunday.

"We want to thank the government of South Africa, in particular President Zuma, for helping us," Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told about 30,000 people at a party rally in Harare. "They still continue monitoring what we are doing here in Zimbabwe."

Tsvangirai, the country's longtime opposition leader, entered into a power-sharing agreement in February with President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country since its 1980 independence from Britain.

South African and other regional leaders had pushed for the coalition following a series of inconclusive elections marred by violence blamed on Mugabe's loyalists, urging the longtime rivals to work together to end their nation's political and economic crises.

But Tsvangirai temporarily withdrew from the unity government in October, cited the prosecution of one of his top aides among other issues. He returned three weeks later after receiving assurances that South Africa's president would intervene.

"People should not live in fear of violence or being beaten by police" because they support Tsvangirai's party, he said at Sunday's rally. "This must end."

Mugabe, in turn, accuses Tsvangirai of doing too little to persuade Western governments to lift foreign bank account freezes and other sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his top aides.

Tsvangirai said Sunday that instability in Zimbabwe also had affected South Africa, sending millions of economic refugees and political asylum seekers across the border.

South Africans "want to see us fulfill all that we have agreed," Tsvangirai said.

Tsvangirai has said that Zuma's predecessor took too soft a line on Mugabe. Thabo Mbeki, the regional point man on Zimbabwe, had argued that pushing Mugabe too hard could backfire.

It is not yet clear whether Zuma's approach will be tougher than Mbeki's. But in what was seen as a sign that Zuma was stepping up his intervention, he appointed two advisers and a special Zimbabwe envoy last week to work with politicians in Zimbabwe.

Zuma's spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said Sunday that leaders at a regional summit in early November had called on Zimbabwe's politicians to start talks within 30 days to resolve their differences. Zimbabwean negotiators have been meeting behind closed doors in recent days, and Zuma's team was to report back to him on their progress, Magwenya said.

"What is important is that parties are in dialogue and have to remain in dialogue in order to iron out all outstanding issues," Magwenya said.

Zimbabwe will be offered a seat back in the Commonwealth within two years as long as it agrees to political and economic reform.

President Robert Mugabe pulled the nation out of the Commonwealth, which he denounced as an "evil organisation", in 2003.

But Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai supports a return, and Britain believes the troubled nation can be brought back into the mainstream world community.

The meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, which opens in Trinidad on Friday, will send a message to Zimbabwe's leaders that a place at the table could be possible at the next gathering in late 2011. However, Zimbabwe, which is politically deadlocked, needs to clear a succession of hurdles before it can return.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has set a 6 December deadline for Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF and Mr Tsvangirai's MDC to break their impasse on sharing power, and the Commonwealth heads will insist that Zimbabwe's leaders stick to that date.

They are also likely to call for reforms to the political, economic and legal systems to enable the nation's return to the Commonwealth.

The subject of Robert Mugabe has overshadowed successive Commonwealth meetings. Following violence and government-sponsored land-grabs from white farmers, Zimbabwe was suspended from membership in 2002 amid charges of abusing human rights.

In a report today for the Royal Commonwealth Society, the former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Fraser, says Zimbabwe is one of the organisation's "greatest failures".

"A number of Commonwealth leaders have been quietly involved in Zimbabwe over the years, but the Commonwealth itself could have been more influential and arguably did not marshal its resources early enough or adequately enough," Mr Fraser said.

"The slow road to recovery that we are now witnessing in Zimbabwe shows that it is high time for the Commonwealth to engage proactively with the Government of National Unity."

16/11/09 A senior aide to Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism.

Roy Bennett, treasurer for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was held in February for allegedly possessing illegal weapons.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana told the court Mr Bennett was involved in a bid to topple President Robert Mugabe's government between 2002 and 2006.

The trial has raised tensions in Zimbabwe's unity government.

In court, Mr Bennett's lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa described the case as political persecution.

Mr Bennett had been due to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister when he was arrested.

President Robert Mugabe has refused to swear him in while the case is ongoing.

Grenades, guns and ammunition were shown in a Harare courtroom as prosecutors began their case against a top prime minister's aide accused of plotting to overthrow the president.

Roy Bennett pleaded not guilty during Monday's hearing on weapons and insurgency charges that could carry the death penalty. In a statement from his lawyers, Bennett calls the allegations baseless and an attempt to keep him out of the troubled coalition Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and longtime President Robert Mugabe formed in February.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana summoned the weapons for his prosecution argument that Bennett was linked to the arms police seized from a weapons dealer. Tomana says Bennett and the dealer plotted rebellion and banditry.

4/11/09 Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Returness to Zimbabwe

To help meet the challenges resulting from the socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe IOM has been providing additional humanitarian assistance to people who wish to return to home under IOM's Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP) - since February 2009. This additional assistance will be available for anyone who applies for a voluntary return under the VARRP by 31st December 2009.

The Reintegration Assistance package is enhanced to include an increase in both the pre-departure relocation grant and the in-kind business assistance:

Relocation grant – increased from £500 to £1000. This is given in sterling, in cash at the UK airport before departure. If returnees choose to convert the money into US Dollars there will be time before the flight to do so.

In-kind business set-up grant –increased from a total of £2000 to a total of £3000. Following detailed discussions about a chosen reintegration activity with IOM Zimbabwe, £2500-worth of assistance will be available initially to obtain supplies and equipment for setting up a small business. After 6 months a review will be carried out by IOM and an additional £500-worth of in-kind assistance will be available for further investment.

If the request is made in advance in the UK, IOM Officers can meet returnees at the airport in Harare to assist them to travel within Zimbabwe. The IOM office in Zimbabwe will make every effort to offer up-to-date information and practical advice on cholera prevention and reintegration activities. By providing two basic commodities baskets they will also do their best to help everyone to settle in at home.

UPDATE:

29 October 2009: Please note that the Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Returnees to Zimbabwe will now offer greater flexibility to returnees who can receive £1000 of their £3000 business set up grant in either cash or in-kind payments.

HARARE, Zimbabwe  — Britain said Thursday that it would provide $100 million in aid to Zimbabwe this year, its largest annual donation to the country, to help the new unity government and to ease a humanitarian crisis.

“We thought the formation of the inclusive government was a significant step,” the British ambassador, Mark Canning, told reporters. “The U.K. wants it to succeed. We are not holding back and will be supporting it to the tune of $100 million this year.”

“We don’t want it to fail as a result of lack of financial support,” he said.

Relations between Britain and Zimbabwe have been strained for a decade, with London accusing President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe of disastrous policies, including the often violent seizure of farms owned by whites, electoral fraud and human rights abuses.

But the formation of a power-sharing government by Mr. Mugabe and the leader of the opposition, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has raised hopes for improved ties.

Mr. Canning said the aid would be used to restore vital services like water, sanitation, health care and education — which have virtually collapsed after years of neglect — as well as to provide food aid, seeds and fertilizer to poor households.

Western donors have been reluctant to give substantial development aid to Zimbabwe until they see more evidence that reforms are being enacted.

Dave Fish of Britain’s Department for International Development said Britain was not yet giving money directly to the unity government.

“We would expect significant developments on the political front before we deepen support or even provide funding directly through the government,” Mr. Fish said.

“We expect respect for human rights and international obligations, policies that help the people and the ability to manage donor funds transparently. In those three cases, Zimbabwe failed the test.”

The unity government has faced problems from the start, with Mr. Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change, accusing Mr. Mugabe of undermining his pact with it by refusing to reverse senior appointments that he made without consulting the opposition.

On Wednesday, Roy Bennett, a senior member of the Movement for Democratic Change, was detained after being indicted on terrorism charges, prompting an angry response from his party, which says its members are being persecuted through the courts.

One of Robert Mugabe’s loyal lieutenants and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa was on Tuesday issued with a warrant of arrest for not turning up in court.
Mutasa failed to testify in Chinhoyi in a land case involving a white commercial farmer charged with refusing to vacate State land. Magistrate Ngoni Nduna had no choice but issue the warrant of arrest.

Mutasa was to testify as a defence witness in the trial of Robert Mckersie, who is accused of refusing to vacate land duly acquired by the State for resettlement purposes. It is a criminal offence to remain in occupation of land without lawful authority under the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act.

Mutasa sent his lawyer, Itai Ndudzo of Mutamangira and Associates, to inform the court that he would not be present as he was in Harare attending the opening of parliament by Mugabe. But defence lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu would have non of it as he successfully applied for the minister to be issued with a warrant of arrest, arguing that he had been properly served with the subpoena and that he was disobeying it.

Mckersie, who occupied Chipungu A Farm in Mhangura, is accused of refusing to vacate the property to pave way for a newly-resettled farmer under the land reform programme.

It is the State’s case that Government on September 14, 2005 acquired the farm and Mckersie was served with a notice to vacate by February 4, 2007.

The State alleges that Mckersie was given an additional four months to harvest his crops and was, thus, expected to leave the farm by June 30 in the same year. A crop and animal assessment was done at the farm and the new beneficiary was introduced to the farm manager who was only identified as Landsberg.

According to the State papers, Mckersie did not leave the farm despite the expiry of the deadline and grace period. It is the State’s contention that Mckersie acted unlawfully by continuing to occupy the gazette land.

Foreigner

Meanwhile, a Zimbabwean farmers’ lobby group has condemned a proposal by Mugabe to evict remaining white farmers from their land before elections are held within two years. "It makes a mockery of the power-sharing agreement and the return to law," Justice for Agriculture spokesman John Worsley Worswick said.

The document, submitted to Zimbabwe’s cabinet by Land Minister Herbert Murerwa, says land seizures should continue and that no "foreigner" should be allowed to own land, ignoring the state’s responsibility to protect Zimbabwe nationals, including whites. But the plan is meeting resistance from members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change party.

It is unclear how many white farmers remain on their land in Zimbabwe out of the estimated 4,000 in place before the often-violent farm invasions began in 2000. Estimates by farmer groups range between 100 and 400 remaining farmers.

Billy Rautenbach, who fled South Africa after his motor company collapsed, will pay a 40 million- rand ($5.3 million) fine to settle a decade-long legal battle, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority said.

Rautenbach is traveling and wasn’t immediately available to comment when we today called his office in Harare, Zimbabwe. Rautenbach pleaded guilty to 326 charges of fraud as a representative of his company, SA Botswana Hauliers Ltd., in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria, Mthunzi Mhaga, a spokesman for the NPA, said in an e-mailed response to questions today.

“Mr. Rautenbach handed himself to the NPA on Sept. 18 and was arrested through a warrant of arrest on arrival in South Africa,” Mhaga said. “He was sentenced in terms of a plea and sentence agreement.”

Rautenbach left South Africa in 1999 as raids on his property were conducted to recover debts related to the collapse of Botswana-based Hyundai Motor Distributors, which he controlled. The South African government has since made attempts to extradite him from Zimbabwe, of which he is a national.

Rautenbach served for a time as chief executive officer of Gecamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned mining company, after Zimbabwe provided military assistance to the government as it fought a war against rebels.

Detained and Ejected

In 2007 Congo detained and ejected Rautenbach while he was traveling on business at a copper venture in the country with Central African Mining Ltd., because of the unresolved fraud charges he faced in South Africa. Camec, as the company is known, has previously said Rautenbach holds shares in the company.

Rautenbach partners Central African, which last week agreed to be acquired by Eurasian Natural Resources Corp., in mining projects in Congo, Camec has said. Company spokesman Jeremy Gray declined to comment on the matter when contacted by phone today in London.

Rautenbach agreed to immediately pay a 10 million-rand fine, Mhaga said. He has also agreed to pay a fine of 15 million rand to the South African Revenue Service and a further 15 million rand to the Criminal Asset Recovery Account in installments, the NPA’s Mhaga said. As surety, the NPA is holding a farm owned by Rautenbach in Paarl, a wine-producing region near Cape Town, Mhaga added in a later interview. He said he couldn’t provide contact details for Rautenbach.

LIVINGSTONE (Zambia), Tuesday 8.9.09

President Robert Mugabe has given seven elephants to a Zambian traditional chief for tourism purposes.

President Mugabe  last month promised to give elephants to chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of southern Zambia when the 85-year-old Zimbabwean leader visited the chiefdom during a traditional ceremony.

Mr Mukuni, whose chiefdom borders Zimbabwe, runs several tourism ventures and tames wild animals in Livingstone – the tourist capital of Zambia – situated about 472km south of Lusaka.

Transform tourism

During the August 7 traditional ceremony, President Mugabe, who was the guest of honour, described chief Mukuni as “a chief of chiefs” because of his initiatives to transform tourism into a business that helped develop his chiefdom.

President Mugabe explained that he did not personally know chief Mukuni until when the chief travelled the Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, earlier this year and asked for elephants from him.

“You are not just a chief, and I think I would want to regard you as a chief of chiefs. The initiative that has seen this place transformed is the wonder. How many of us are capable of doing it? If all chiefs were able to do this in their various areas, development would be much easier for governments,” remarked President Mugabe, in power since the 1980.

HARARE – More Zimbabwean teachers on Wednesday appeared to heed union calls to boycott classes to press the government to increase salaries and improve working conditions.
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), the largest of two unions representing the country’s 90 000 teachers called for an indefinite nationwide strike beginning Tuesday when the final school term of the year began.
But the smaller Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) did not support the strike call, urging teachers to report for duty to give the cash-strapped coalition government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai time to raise resources to improve salaries and working conditions.
Many schools appeared to begin the new team successfully on Tuesday with the majority of teachers reporting for duty.
But the situation had completely changed yesterday with most teachers absent from schools while hundreds of learners were seen returning home after finding no teachers at school.
In Harare’s high-income northern suburbs students could be seen trooping back home as early as 9 am after they found no teachers at school. Scores of schoolchildren from the working class suburb of Highfield said they had not bothered to go to school because their teachers had told them on Wednesday to stay home.
Some schools remained open in other parts of the capital but teachers did not conduct lessons, while in some schools teachers turned up but the rate of attendance by students was low because they had anticipated that teachers would not be at work.
ZimOnline correspondents in the second largest city of Bulawayo and in the farming towns of Karoi and Chinhoyi, north of Harare, reported similarly chaotic situations at schools.
ZIMTA chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu told ZimOnline on Thursday that the strike had been successful, as most teachers nationwide had downed tools.
“It (the strike) has gone deeper,” Ndlovu said. “It is showing exactly what it should be like if there is a strike, it is now a full blown strike but there are no signals yet from the government. I think they are still digesting things from their side,” the ZIMTA CEO said.
He said figures of the strike would only be available late yesterday evening as they were still trickling in.
PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe described the strike situation as a “mixed bag” with some schools closed but others open as well. “I have been going around schools, it is a mixed bag. There are no schools that are closed but the degree of the turnout (by students) is what is worrying, but the teachers are there,” he said.
Majongwe said teachers’ representatives were scheduled to meet Education Minister David Coltart and Finance Minister Tendai Biti in Harare today to try to resolve the salaries dispute.
Coltart, who has been doing a brilliant job trying to revive Zimbabwe’s education sector, said he was not yet ready to comment as he was still assessing the situation.
Teachers, who are earning on average US$155 per month, are demanding that salaries and allowances be adjusted progressively towards the poverty datum line or breadline – last month quoted at US$502 – by December 2009.
Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government has promised to revive the economy and restore basic services such as health and education that had virtually collapsed after years of recession.
While schools and hospitals have reopened failure by the unity government – which says it requires a total US$10 billion to get Zimbabwe on its feet again – to convince rich Western nations to release grants and soft loans has hampered its ability to sustain the recovery effort.
Public doctors only called off a strike for more pay three weeks ago, responding to a call by Tsvangirai to return to work while the government scrounges around for funds to meet their demands.
Western governments insist they will not provide support until they see evidence Mugabe is committed to genuinely sharing power with Tsvangirai.

The following is a statement issued by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in his capacity as MDC president ahead of the first anniversary of the signing of a power sharing pact with Zanu PF and a rival MDC facction:

ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, the Principals of the three main political parties in Zimbabwe signed the Global Political Agreement, (GPA).

On January 27, 2009, following a SADC Summit in Pretoria, South Africa, that body issued a Communiqué that among other things directed the three political parties to the Zimbabwe dialogue to form an inclusive Government and to resolve the appointments of the Attorney General, the RBZ Governor, Provincial Governors and to appoint Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

With this undertaking, the inclusive Government was formed and commenced work on February 25, 2009. We in the MDC took a firm decision on January 30, 2009, to participate in this government, to give the people of Zimbabwe hope and an opportunity to retain their dignity and to restart their lives.
Despite the enormous problems faced in healing our shattered nation, we have been able to allow the people to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. In addition, a degree of peace and stability has begun to take root and basic foods and services have returned to the country.

However, as a Party we remain concerned and disappointed with the deliberate frustration associated with the implementation of key outstanding issues of the GPA, including the failure to implement the SADC resolutions of the 27th of January 2009.

Firstly, it is regrettable that the government has not been fully consummated to the extent that not all ministerial office holders have been sworn-in. The case of Roy Bennett remains a blatant indicator of poor faith in implementing the GPA.

Secondly, the outstanding issue of the RBZ Governor and the Attorney General, which ought to have been resolved a long time ago, are impacting negatively on the credibility and legitimacy of the inclusive Government. SADC accepted that these were genuine issues and that the appointments should not have been made as they were in breach of both the MOU, signed in July 2008, and the GPA. It is imperative that these issues be resolved as a matter of urgency.

Thirdly, it is also regrettable that we have not resolved or implemented agreed positions on Provincial Governors despite the negotiators agreeing on a formula for their fair allocation.

Over and above this, the political climate in Zimbabwe continues to be marred by unfortunate and vicious propaganda that emanates from the State media. It appears that the State media continues to see the three political parties in the inclusive Government through its historic perspective of hatred and acrimony, blatantly advancing the interests of a single political party.

This distortion of the political reality by the State media presents a real and credible threat to this inclusive Government and its ability to impact positively on the lives of all Zimbabweans

To make matters worse, the selective application of the rule of law, including the persecution and prosecution of MDC MPs, continues to inflame political tensions. Equally problematic, is the deliberately slow pace of progress on the implementation of key issues connected to Human Rights and the rule of law. This includes the self evident deliberate stalemate on the Constitutional-reform process, as well as the slow pace of media reform.

As a Government, we cannot expect to be taken seriously by the people, the region or the international community, if we do not abide by the commitments we signed up to in the GPA.

This agreement was not the invention or desire of a single political party. Instead it represented a pledge by the three main political parties to put aside our differences and to work together to rebuild our nation and to provide an environment for all Zimbabweans to rebuild their lives.

This pledge was made with the support and backing of SADC and the African Union (AU) who stand as guarantors of the agreement.
This was evidenced by the recent visit of South African President and Chairman of SADC, Jacob Zuma. I would like to thank President Zuma for taking the time to familiarise himself with the issues facing our country and for echoing the call for the full implementation of the GPA.

In addition to being the guarantors of the agreement, SADC and the AU also undertook to conduct a six-month review of the inclusive Government and the allocation of ministerial mandates to the respective parties.

While the exact timing, form and content of such a review has not yet been finalised, we urge SADC to place the issue of Zimbabwe for specific consideration during the forthcoming summit in Kinshasa.
As President of the MDC, I remain committed to ensuring that the GPA provides the foundation upon which we can build a healthy, prosperous and open society and I shall do everything in my authority that this is the Zimbabwe that we deliver to the people.

To all our citizens, I express my profound respect and admiration for your courage, resilience and unwavering belief in the Zimbabwe that we all demand and deserve. Together we will restore our nation to its proud place in the region as a beacon of hope, prosperity and freedom.

I thank you,
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
MDC PRESIDENT

Harare — SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma told President Robert Mugabe to show more flexibility in resolving outstanding issues in the inclusive government during private meetings last week but failed to break the deadlock over the parties.

Sources said Zuma who is also the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) surprised Mugabe with his frank assessment of the problems threatening the seven-month-old coalition during meetings on Thursday and Friday.

Zuma held separate meetings with Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara during his two-day state visit.

"Mugabe was told in no uncertain terms that the region cannot continue shielding him," one of the sources said. "Even Zuma's speech was a departure from the pampering that Mugabe has enjoyed from his peers."

The South African leader whose ruling African National Congress (ANC) had said it expected him to curb "deviant behaviour" in the Mugabe camp ahead of his visit, said Western aid won't be forthcoming until the outstanding issues were resolved.

"The inclusive government has the responsibility to fully implement the global political agreement and thus create confidence in the process," Zuma said when he officially opened the Harare Agricultural Show on Friday.

A number of countries have been offering Zimbabwe humanitarian assistance but they have set conditions for the provision of large-scale economic aid.

The government says it needs over US$8 billion to revive the comatose economy.

"Since these relate to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to which the signatories remain fully committed, meeting these benchmarks should be a priority in the inclusive government," Zuma said.

In thinly veiled remarks on disruptions to farming activities Zuma said: "...it will be critical that the country guarantees food security and self-reliance. The GPA seeks to ensure the restoration of full productivity on all agricultural land in the interest of all people of Zimbabwe.

"We must underline that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the Sadc region as a whole, which is why it is important to us all... The performance of agriculture has a strong influence on food security, economic growth and stability of the Sadc region."

The MDC described Zuma's statement as "refreshing" and "unequivocal."

Tsvangirai called for Zuma's intervention to help resolve feuding over the reappointment of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono, the appointment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the speed of political reforms.

Zanu PF says the only outstanding issue is sanctions against Mugabe's inner circle, which it says the MDC must campaign for removal.

"The outstanding issues were given the due attention they deserve," MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said.
"We are now waiting for the Sadc meeting early next month (September) to help bring finality to these disputes.

"We are heartened that Zuma publicly implored the political leaders in this country to work towards concluding the outstanding issues so that the political agreement can be fully consummated.

Chamisa said although the meetings between Zuma, Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara were brief, "they were thorough".

The Sadc summit will be held early in September in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, analysts fear that once Zuma passes on the Sadc chairmanship to the inexperienced President Joseph Kabila, Mugabe will return to his arrogant ways.

"Zuma should have taken Zimbabwe much earlier in his tenure as chairman of Sadc," political scientist Eldred Masunungure said. Kabila is one of Mugabe's few remaining allies in the region.

HARARE – Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) parties have finally found common ground on how to tackle the contentious issue of Western imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, Acting President, Joice Mujuru, said Tuesday.

“Today,” Mujuru said, “Zimbabwe groans under sanctions, unlawful sanctions which must go for her to regain her lustre. This is a challenge comparable to that of the dismantling of settler colonialism. It needs heroes and heroines.

“I am happy that there is now greater convergence in the country on this one matter which has hurt us so badly, a convergence which must see us build impetus to get these illegal and pernicious sanctions removed.”

Mujuru was addressing mourners at the Heroes’ Acre burial of Zanu-PF Mberengwa senator and former cabinet minister Richard Chemist Hove.

Hove was an active member of Zanu-PF going back to 1966 when he was appointed the accounting secretary of the party. He was with Zanu in exile in both Lusaka and Maputo where he was attached to the party’s department of external affairs. He then became a member of the Central Committee and deputy secretary for External Affairs.

A Zanu-PF politburo member and Mberengwa Senator Hove died at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare on Friday after a long battle with diabetes. He was 77. Hove, who represented Mberengwa, Mberengwa East and Gweru Urban in Parliament, was the secretary for economic affairs in Zanu-PF.

He served in President Robert Mugabe’s first cabinet in 1980.

Hove was Minister of the Public Service in 1980, of Home Affairs in 1981 and served as Minister of Trade and Commerce up to 1985. Between 1985 and 1990 he was Minister of Mines, of Defence in the period 1990-1992 and then became Planning Commissioner until 2000.

He is survived by his wife Glenda and several children. His first wife, Sheila died in a shooting incident involving her farm manager. The manager then committed suicide.

In the absence of President Robert Mugabe, who is outside the country, Mujuru stepped in to preside over the burial of the national hero.

Hove, who died after a long battle with diabetes, was immediately declared a national hero by Zanu-PF after President Mugabe had reportedly blessed the idea over the phone.

The burial was attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputies Thokozani Khuphe and Arthur Mutambara, leader of the smaller MDC.

Several MDC cabinet ministers also attended the burial, the second burial of a national hero in the space of two weeks, following that of Vice President Joseph Msika.

The burial was attended by a sizeable number of people the majority of them being soldiers in army combat and Air Force of Zimbabwe personnel in uniform.

Zimbabwe’s service chiefs attended the ceremony.

Said Mujuru, “When those sanctions go as we hope they will soon, the challenge would be to rally effort in the direction of turning around our economy for better and bigger prospects for our people who have suffered enough and unjustly. It is this new war, this struggle which provides you and me with an opportunity to carry forward the ideals of Cde Richard Hove.”

The names of about 150 politicians, business people, military personnel and journalists appear on the United States and European Union travel sanctions.

Zanu-PF has refused to cede more political space to the MDC as prescribed by the GPA, arguing that the MDC has failed to take action to have the sanctions removed by the west.

The Zanu-PF politburo two weeks ago tasked Mugabe, its leader to confront Tsvangirai and Mutambara on why they have failed to follow through on their apparent undertaking to effectively campaign for the removal of western imposed sanctions.

It is Zanu-PF’s position that the MDC invited the sanctions in the first place when it was in the opposition.

The MDC on its part denies it had anything to do with the imposition of sanctions by Western nations. A three week visit of Washington and European Union by Tsvangirai to canvass for monetary support of the government of national unity did not yield much success.

The MDC says the sanctions were a result of the Zanu-PF led government’s failure to observe the rule of law and its refusal to hold free and fair elections.

Tsvangirai, who accuses Zanu-PF of blocking the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, last week finally agreed to the crafting of a definite course of action that they will sell to Cabinet as a national strategy to fight the sanctions.

Dereck Gurupira, 50, was bathing in the river near his home in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province late one afternoon when he saw a woman on the opposite bank begin to undress, apparently oblivious of his presence.
Usually the women in Manicaland’s Odzi district, about 55km northwest of the border town of Mutare, wash downstream in a more secluded part of the river, but after undressing completely the woman greeted him by name and then suggested to Gurupira that he should join her.

He went and sat near her as she bathed in the river and was taken by surprise when a man wielding an axe emerged from the bush and accused Gurupira of having a sexual relationship with his wife. The matter was taken to the traditional court, where Gurupira was fined two cows and a goat for the "illicit relationship", to which the woman even confessed.

"I was a fool to fall into the trap. The shameless husband used his wife as bait to extort the livestock from me, and even though I hardly knew the woman, many people now think I had a love affair with her," Gurupira said.

Having to forfeit the cattle means that he will not have enough draught power to prepare his land for the agricultural season beginning in September, although he may find solace in the fact that he is not the only person to have fallen for the scam.

Imbayago Chikuni, a messenger for one of the local headmen, said that the number of cases brought before the traditional courts by husbands alleging infidelity by their wives was increasing.

More cases

"In the past, I used to bring at most one case of infidelity a year to my headman’s court, but I am now dealing with several such trials a month. It is difficult to tell between a genuine case and a staged one because, in all cases, the women are found in compromising positions by their husbands or the husbands’ relatives," Chikuni said. Those being targeted are villagers considered to have means, and while the river was one location often used for the ruse, women were also frequenting shebeens [informal taverns] to lure unsuspecting men into their schemes, he said.

Hunger was forcing people "to use bizarre ways to get any form of foodstuffs or money" from "offending" men. "In this part of the province we hardly harvested anything, since the rains were erratic, there was no fertiliser and humanitarian aid is not forthcoming. Those who can manage a full meal of sadza [thick maize-meal porridge] and boiled vegetables a day are considered lucky," Chikuni said.

In June, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said about 2 million Zimbabweans would be facing hunger before September, increasing to 3.8 million by the end of the year, and to 5.1 million by March 2009.

Zimbabwe’s precarious food security was exacerbated by a government order banning humanitarian organisations from operating, including those supplementing food stocks in rural areas, on allegations of engaging in political activity.

Most of the villagers in the district depend on gathering wild fruits and roots for food, while others illegally pan for gold and diamonds in the hope of supplementing their income.

Zimbabwe’s hard times, in which annual inflation is officially estimated at 2.2 million percent, is also seeing daughters being married for dowries at very young ages.

In a bid to avert hunger, the parents of Yevai Dongo, 15, in the Muzarabani district of Mashonaland Province, consented to their daughter becoming the third wife of a 50-year-old local shop owner. Yevai’s 17-year-old sister ran away to Mozambique to avoid a similar fate.

In search of dowries

The Dongo family now boasts six head of cattle, whereas they had none before, and are given a constant supply of maize-meal by their new son-in-law, who also gave them a cash "windfall" of one trillion dollars (about US$8) when he married their daughter two months ago. "True, my family is poor and there are times when we went without food," Yevai said. "But I was still going to school, and for my parents to sell me off like a commodity is unfair to me because they used an old fashioned practice to solve the problem that we were facing, while I will be confined to a home that I don’t enjoy."

She is concerned that joining a polygamous family might expose her to HIV/AIDS, and "most of the time when I am alone in bed, I seriously consider following my sister, who refused to be imprisoned."

Yevai says that girls of her age in the community are being forced by their parents to enter into love relationships with older men, and then faking pregnancy so the men would be compelled to marry them.

"Even when the men insist that they used a condom, no-one listens to them and, again, that is not fair, because young girls unwillingly lose their virginity and expose themselves to sexually transmitted diseases," Yevai said.

Erich Bloch, a Bulawayo-based economic consultant, said unusual methods were being employed to beat hunger because of the "sheer desperation and the widening poverty cycle set off by the current economic meltdown."

"When people are starving, when children cry all night long because of hunger and parents have nothing to give them, you see an acute decrease in moral standards," .

There are stunning revelations that MDC-M Secretary General Welshman Ncube is behind a palace coup moved into motion by suspended official and former St Mary’s MP Job Sikhala.

Sikhala last week declared himself president of the smaller MDC faction led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. But despite this dramatic development Sikhala has still not been expelled by the party, raising question marks over his backers.

This is made the more conspicuous by the expulsion of Nkayi South MP Abednico Bhebhe, Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East) for allegedly campaigning for the MDC-T.

Ncube is accused of plotting against Mutambara and is thought to have realized Sikhala is a convenient Trojan horse to use in his designs. Friction between Mutambara and Ncube is said to be rising and several clashes have manifested this.

While Mutambara opposes the adoption of the Kariba Draft constitution preferring instead a people driven approach, Ncube has contradicted him and towed the Zanu PF line in defending the Kariba document.

Meanwhile Sikhala in all his interviews has avoided criticizing Ncube and his deputy Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga choosing instead to focus on Mutambara and Mugabe.

17/08/09
Another American university has stripped President Robert Mugabe of his honorary law degree it had conferred on him 22 years ago, accusing him of ‘human rights violations.’ The University of Massachusetts on Wednesday said the move was the first of its kind in its 145-year history.

“Rescinding an honorary degree is a step to be taken in only the rarest and most grievous of circumstances,” chairman of the schoolís board of trustees, Robert Manning, said in a statement. “(President) Robert Mugabeís performance and policies in Zimbabwe are so egregious as to warrant this ultimate expression of disapproval.”

The university had awarded President Mugabe with the honorary doctorate of laws degree in October 1986 for his ìexemplary devotion to social justice.î

At the time, the university’s president, David Knapp, had said President Mugabeís ìgentle firmness in the face of anger and intellectual approach to matters which inflame the emotions of othersî were his hallmarks of quiet integrity.

But the school's current president, Jack Wilson, said the university was compelled to take action because President Mugabe’s ‘transgressions’ had led the world community to condemn his governmentís assault on human rights and on the rule of law.

Last year, Michigan State University also rescinded an honorary law degree awarded to President Mugabe in 1990 for the same reasons.

United Kingdomís Edinburgh University also withdrew a degree awarded in 1984 for President Mugabeís services to education, also citing human rights violations.

Despite these revocations, President Mugabe still has 10 honorary degrees from various†universities in and out of Zimbabwe.

South African President Jacob Zuma, who remains chairman of the Southern African Development Community until a SADC summit in September, is expected in Harare late this month to try to resolve the simmering disputes within the unity government.

Sources in the government and in the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe say Mr. Mugabe on Wednesday called for an urgent meeting with his fellow principals, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, to discuss the agenda of the meeting with Mr. Zuma which has tentatively been set for August 27.

But Zuma spokesman Vincent Mangwenya professed ignorance about the meeting saying the details will be released in due course.

Not only is Mr. Zuma the SADC chairman, but his predecessors in Pretoria – Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, now his deputy president- were instrumental in bringing about the formation six months ago of the so-called inclusive government in Harare.

Mr Tsvangirai sought Mr. Zuma's help early this month in unblocking the political logjam in Harare over issues such as the leadership of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Office of the Attorney General. Following that meeting with Mr. Tsvangirai, Mr. Zuma reached out to President Mugabe and Mutambara to bring them into the process.

Mr. Tsvangirai’s formation of the Movement for Democratic Change - Mutambara is the head of a smaller MDC grouping - is also up in arms about the number of its lawmakers who face criminal charges or or in some cases have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms longer than six months, potentially costing them their seats in parliament.

The MDC accuses ZANU-PF of manipulating the judicial system to dilute the majority that the former opposition party secured in the general election held in March 2008.

The meeting between Mr. Zuma and the three Harare principals could provide an indication as to how firmly the South African leader will tread on Zimbabwe.

But London based international affairs expert Innocent Sithole told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that it is early days to reach any conclusions.

Lutah Shaba, executive director of the Women’s Trust, told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that Mr. Zuma must take a firm line with Mr. Mugabe if he is to make progress in the talks.

AFTER President Jacob Zuma ’s critical meeting with Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday, Harare authorities have released another former opposition MP from police detention.

The release of Deputy Youth Minister Thamsanqa Mahlangu, who is also a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator, on Monday shortly after Zuma met Tsvangirai, signalled a reprieve in the crackdown on former opposition MPs ahead of the Southern Africa Development Community summit later this month.

2 MDC MPs facing different charges were released on Friday.

Zuma said after meeting Tsvangirai in Johannesburg to tackle problems dogging Harare’s unity government he would contact Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe over issues threatening the shaky deal. He also said he would talk to other regional leaders about the situation.

Mahlangu, arrested last week for allegedly stealing a cellphone from Mugabe ally Joseph Chinotimba, was released without charge.

Mahlangu and his aide Malven Chadamoyo, and two women, had been detained since last week for allegedly stealing an old Nokia cellphone, a charge they denied.

Mahlangu was given 50 bail on Friday last week but had to remain in custody under the draconian Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

“The arrest, detention and subsequent withdrawal of Hon Mahlangu’s charges is a clear signal that Zanu (PF), through the attorney-general’s office, is engaged in a political game which has nothing to do with the rule of law,” the MDC said. “The withdrawal of the case means that these were trumped-up charges.”

The main MDC wing, which is led by Tsvangirai, said Mahlangu’s release was further proof that Mugabe and Zanu (PF) were plotting to reduce the former opposition party’s parliamentary majority.

“The MDC stands vindicated that there is a sinister plot to decimate the MDC and to whittle down its parliamentary majority by engaging in a crackdown on innocent MDC MPs, officials and members,” the MDC said.

MDC MP Stewart Garadhi, who was arrested for playing a song said to be threatening Mugabe, was released last Friday from police custody.

The song contains lyrics that warn Mugabe he will suffer the fate of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

“The police released him on Friday after failing to lay charges against him. They only confiscated the music disc,” the MDC said.

A third MDC MP, Ransome Makamure, who was accused of corruption in February, was also acquitted on Friday.A further eight MDC MPs, seven members of the house of assembly and a senator, are facing charges carrying potential prison sentences of more than six months which would mean suspension from parliament.

Roy Bennett, deputy agriculture minister and senator, is facing treason charges involving the illegal possession of arms. He is on bail and awaiting trial.

Blessing Chebundo is facing a charge of rape, and is on bail awaiting trial. Trevor Saruwaka is charged with inciting violence and is also on bail awaiting a ruling on his case.

Five other MDC MPs — Hamandishe Maramwidze, Heya Shoko, Edmore Marima, Tachiona Mharadza and Evelyn Masaiti, Dzivaresekwa — are facing charges of corruption. They are out on bail.

One MDC MP, Ernest Mudavanhu, has already been convicted and sentenced to 12 months in prison over similar charges.

Four other MDC MPs have been convicted on different charges.

The MDC stands vindicated that there is a plot to decimate it and to whittle down its parliamentary majority

Harare — The Deputy Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Thamsanqa Mahlangu and his personal assistant yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts facing theft charges.

They are accused of stealing a cellphone belonging to war veterans' leader Cde Joseph Chinotimba.

Mahlangu (33) and Malvern Chadamoyo (age not given) were arraigned before magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini, who remanded them in custody to today for bail ruling.

The State, led by Mr Chris Mutangadura and Mr Public Mpofu, both from the Attorney-General's Office, strongly opposed bail, arguing that the two were likely to abscond given the embarrassment they were going to suffer during trial.

"The court should strike a balance between the individual liberty of the accused and the administration of justice.

"If granted bail, the accused persons are likely to use their political and ministerial influence to interfere with State witnesses and persuade them not to testify against them.

"It is our view that there is a real inducement for the accused to abscond in the view of the relative strength of the State's case," submitted Mr Mutangadura.

Representing the pair, Mr Charles Kwaramba argued that the Deputy Minister had suffered enough embarrassment as local and foreign newspapers had published the story about the allegations.

"As we speak, the accused has already suffered embarrassment, people have already concluded that he has a small house and that he stole a cellphone. What more embarrassment can he suffer?

"What is special about a trial when the issue is already being debated in the streets and on kombis? He (Mahlangu) is now determined to stand trial to clear his name," Mr Kwaramba said.

He further submitted that his client was not likely to interfere or use his political muscle, as he would have done that when he learnt that his alleged girlfriend had been arrested. He said Mahlangu would not skip bail as he was still enjoying the luxury of his official car -- a Toyota Prado -- recently issued to him, adding that his client also stood to lose his ministerial post and House of Assembly seat.

Allegations against the pair are that Mahlangu and Chadamoyo were part of the people who attended the launch of National Vision 2040 at Rainbow Towers Hotel on July 17 together with Geraldine Alvina Phiri and Patience Nyoni. It is alleged that the complainant, Cde Chinotimba, was present at the launch.

Later, Cde Chinotimba went to the VIP lounge for lunch.

While in the VIP lounge, Cde Chinotimba allegedly left his Nokia phone -- a 2310 with a NetOne line -- on the table as he went to collect food. Mahlangu and Chadamoyo, together with the two women, were also in the same lounge with Cde Chinotimba, it is alleged

It is alleged that the four, upon realising that Cde Chinotimba had left his mobile phone, connived to steal the phone and disappeared.

After a short while, it is alleged, Cde Chinotimba returned and discovered that the phone he had left on the table had gone.

He made a report to the police, leading to the arrest of the two women in Hwange who were in possession of the line. The Nokia 2310 handset was allegedly recovered from Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere after Mahlangu had surrendered it to him on July 23.

Zuma needs to take lead on Zimbabwe - Athol Trollip
Athol Trollip
27 July 2009

DA parliamentary leader says SA president must hold line against Mugabe

Time for Jacob Zuma to lead on Zimbabwe, not follow

President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to meet with MDC leader and Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai this week and it is essential that he holds the line he publicly advocated in the run-up to his election as ANC president. Not doing so would be to implicitly endorse the actions of Robert Mugabe and, in turn, create the appearance that he was aligning himself with the approach of former President Thabo Mbeki, who routinely defended and certainly never criticised President Mugabe or his actions, to the detriment of Zimbabwe and its fragile democracy.

In short, the meeting provides President Zuma with his first opportunity to display strong moral leadership on Zimbabwe, as opposed to following the morally-warped approach of President Thabo Mbeki.

The situation in Zimbabwe is once again deteriorating, with reports that President Robert Mugabe has instigated the arrest of a series of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MPs, in an attempt to wrest back control of the Zimbabwean parliament. By arresting MDC MPs and, thus, removing their right to vote, Mugabe reportedly aims to create an artificial majority, thereby regaining control and making a mockery of the intentions that underlie the power-sharing agreement between the MDC and Zanu-PF.

It is significant that, despite the arrests of several leading MDC MPs, not a single Zanu-PF MP has been arrested, this in spite of the widespread violence and intimidation that defined the run-up to the Zimbabwean presidential election.

President Zuma's public position on Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF is well documented. In April last year, after Mugabe had failed to timeously release the results of the Zimbabwean elections, Zuma stated that Zanu-PF's behaviour was "not acceptable". In June last year he stated that the ANC's values were no longer in line with those of Zanu-PF, stating, "We cannot agree with Zanu-PF. We cannot agree with them on values." Both those pronouncements were rightly interpreted as an indictment of President Thabo Mbeki and his mediation on Zimbabwe, of which Zuma was also critical.

If those statements were a sign of how a Jacob Zuma lead administration is going to approach the situation in Zimbabwe (and Africa more broadly), and not simply party-political posturing ahead of his election, then Zuma now needs to be consistent and apply those principles which underpinned his earlier statements, to Robert Mugabe's current actions and policies.

Certainly there can be little doubt that Mugabe's actions are questionable and that there is a great deal of evidence that many Zanu-PF members were involved in political violence prior to the Zimbabwean elections, evidence which should now be acted upon. Zuma needs to say as much. He needs to demonstrate that, under his leadership, South Africa's foreign policy will be determined by an express commitment to upholding human rights and championing democracy, as opposed to the policy of silent diplomacy, which effectively endorsed undemocratic practice in the name of political solidarity.

Jacob Zuma has his first real chance to make a definitive mark as South African president. His response to this latest challenge will tell us much about his real attitude to Zimbabwe and its deeply compromised President, Robert Mugabe.

Statement issued by Athol Trollip, MP, Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader, July 27 2009

The MDC-UK is on the brink of dumping its chairman Mr Jonathan Chawora (incidentally,Chawora literally translated to English means "the rotten one" ) in the wake of various allegations of incompetence including financial mismanagement and failure to positively advise Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai about the public mood in the United Kingdom, according to a report in The Zim Diaspora .

Mr Tsvangirai was left stunned when he was jeered off stage in London after he semi-consciously told thousands of rapturous MDC supporters in London to return home.

The Zim Diaspora claims that it is now in possession of an MDC-UK petition containing serious and politically damaging allegations against the Chawora executive which concludes by saying ... quite simply, your executive has lost the faith of the people who put you in office and the only sensible thing to do is to reconsider your position.

Mr Chawora has confirmed knowledge of the petition, though he dismissed it as unproceedural.

A meeting has been called for Saturday July 25 this week in Britain's Birmingham City, where knives will be out on the Chawora executive. We can reveal that there are now serious divisions within the MDC UK reminiscent of the manner the Ephraim Tapa executive was desposed. We are reliably informed that there are two unco-ordinated provincial meetings called for Saturday, July 25, one by Mr Chawora and his executive and another by Branch chairpersons - whose sole intention is to pass a vote of no confidence on the Chawora executive.

According to a petition, the Chawora executive stand accused of "poor leadership characterised" by financial management, dictatorial practices, poor sense of judgement, bad decisions, arrogant behaviour and utterances, derelection of duty and lack of initiative and foresight.

The petition argues that if Prime Minister Tsvangirai had been properly advised by the Chawora executive, he would not have been embarrassed off-stage.

Furthermore, its is stated in the petition that it was unfair for the Chawora executive to push the "booing" blame to a pressure group (ROHR), as video footage showed that those who booed the PM were current strong and hardworking MDC members but only riled by Mr Tsvangirai's uncalculated statements.

The petition reads: "You let the Prime Minister plunge on and made the statement that led to the reaction witnessed on that day. Had you played your part as expected and warned him beforehand we do not think he would have said what he said or if he had to say it he would have found a better way of saying it".

"To worsen the situation, rather than keep quiet or find a correct response to your failings you chose to blame pressure groups for heckling the Prime Minister. Video footage and newspaper photos clearly show that these are known longstanding, hardworking and loyal members of the party raising banners showing their dismay and disappointment at the Prime Minister’s statement. This kind if oversight or inability to judge situations is inexcusable and you and your executive need to look at yourselves closely and face the hard facts".

Of more serious concern were allegations that funds collectively raised by the MDC-UK were being deposited to a bank account belonging to a senior member of the MDC in Zimbabwe who now is influential in the Government of National Unity. The name of the controversial beneficial has been supplied to The Zim Diaspora but we are not preveleged to publish it at this stage.

It is alleged that the Chawora executive has constantly channelled public funds to the senior official as a bribe to get political favours - for possible ministerial roles in the powersharing government.

The petition continues: "...people want know what happened to tens of thousands of pounds of their hard earned money and what are you doing about it? It is also a known fact that money raised from the activities of the Women’s wing is being deposited into a personal account (belonging to a senior official in Zimbabwe). Why are you allowing this to happen? What is wrong with the province’s main account?"

"We are also aware of money donated by well-wishers to the tune of £7 500 donated prior to the Citizens demonstration. This money led to the resignation of one senior party member and later reinstated without any explanation provided. We are also aware of £2 000 donated towards the hosting of the Prime Minister. How this money was used is a mystery. We were made to understand that HE (Prime Minister) was coming on national ... (duty) and not party business but it would appear this was not the case as the major players at the venue including dinner time were two senior party members," read the pettotion.

"Party cards brought from Harare were distributed in a most unusual and shady manner. We have one branch receiving a huge batch while others have to borrow from sister branches. The lack of proper audit at the top for these is fuelling corruption and this is happening under your very noses without even a sniff. The foregoing is a damning indictment on the province inability to handle the party’s cash and security instruments,"

"The decision to travel to Harare was well intentioned and not wrong at all. Although this was done without any consultation with the people to hear their views, the question is?Was it the right decision to include in your entourage people who had recently attained their refugee status? A status that comes with restrictions that were put there for a reason. That these people had the audacity to approach the UKBA seeking permission to travel to Zimbabwe raised a lot of questions than answers. These questions are not only coming from your electorate but the authorities over the integrity of the party and its claim that their people are at risk,".

"In the absence of a plausible explanation justifying the need to jeopardise the safety and welfare of Zimbabweans not only in the Diaspora, but those back home as well we can only conclude that the decision was driven purely by selfish needs.

There is no room in public office for people driven by selfish agendas at the expense of the majority," the petion read.

Mr Chawora denied all the allegations cited in the petition.

"We have appointed independent auditors to deal with financial question and we hope this would answer all questions once and for all," he said.

"Of course there are challenges we are facing, and these challenges are not unique and do not warrant petitions," he said.

Midlands district chairman, Mr Tonderai Samanyanga said most problems within the party's province were being addressed at provincial level.

"We have already raised all the problems that are pin-pointed in the petition and from my view those problems were already in the process of being addressed," he said.

However, several MDC representaives in the UK who called The Zimdiaspora this week said Saturday's meeting would be "the end of the Chawora executive".

"We are fed up, Mr Chawora must go now, and I am told Mr Tsvangirai has already endorsed the removal of Mr Chawora. Its a case of history repeting itself, Chawora's downfall would be execatly like the downfall of Mr Ephraim Tapa," a district chairman who requested anonymity said.

Zimbabwean Co-Minister of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa said Tuesday that he will conduct a nationwide fact-finding mission to look into reports from the country's largest teachers union and civic groups that violence has resurfaced in many rural communities.

Mutsekwa, a legislator of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, shares control of the ministry with Kembo Mohadi of the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe in the country's power-sharing government.

Teachers and political activists say that militias connected to the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe have established bases in schools as they did during the post-election wave of violence that swept the country in April-June 2008. Other reports said militia members have harassed perceived enemies in the context of ongoing constitutional revision.

Mutsekwa told reporter Sandra Nyaira of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that though he won't be accompanied by Mohadi, militia camps will be dismantled if he finds them.

But political analyst Farai Maguwu, director of the Center for Research and Development in Mutare said Mutsekwa and the MDC don’t have the power to abolish militia bases.

Zimbabwe is expected to take another step towards the drafting of a new constitution.

Several thousand politicians and civic leaders are to attend a Stakeholders' Conference in Harare.

After a public consultation, the new constitution will be put to a referendum, according to the country's power-sharing agreement.

Once a charter is in place Zimbabwe is expected to have another attempt at holding a free and fair election.

Monday's meeting is supposed to begin the process of consulting the Zimbabwean people about their new constitution.

Battle lines drawn

Thousands of representatives from civil society are expected to meet with politicians in Harare to plot the way forward.

The battle lines have already been drawn between the two main partners in Zimbabwe's coalition government, which was inaugurated in February.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change is calling for this to be a genuine public process - with ordinary people given a real say in drafting the document.

President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF wants the constitution based on what is called the Kariba Draft, which was drawn up by the parties last year.

But that draft's critics it say gives the president too much executive power.

If all goes according to schedule a period of public consultation will be followed by a referendum on the new constitution this time next year.

An Invitation to Zimbabweans: Send a message to President Obama

Receive highlights of his speech in Ghana, too

You are invited to send a text message to President Barack Obama with your questions and comments in advance of his visit to Africa.

Those who respond early will receive SMS highlights from his speech in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, July 11. This service is available in both English and French.

President Obama will directly answer selected questions through local radio broadcasts in Africa.

Text messages may be subject to local and international charges as stipulated by your carrier.

To send a text message to President Obama, from anywhere in Africa, simply text 'English' or 'French' to +61418601934. If you do not receive a confirmation of your enrollment within 10 minutes, please send again to +45609910343.

Capacity is limited so please text right away.

Zimbabweans also have a chance to query President Obama about Africa as he prepares to visit sub-Saharan Africa for the first time as leader of the United States via the AllAfrica.com website See: http://allafrica.com/feedback/obama-ghana-2009.html

Please note: Registration for highlights of President Obama’s speech is limited. All local mobile phone, mobile coverage, local and international operator mobile quality of service and charges apply, as well as other operational constraints and conditions. The SMS service is not a 100 percent guarantee of message delivery.

For more information, please visit http://harare.usembassy.gov

Press Release: Ambassador McGee ends term

Harare, July 6^th 2009: Ambassador James D. McGee left Harare yesterday, concluding two years of service as Ambassador to Zimbabwe.  A career diplomat, McGee will continue working for the State Department at the National Defense University in Washington, DC.

McGee bade farewell to hundreds of Zimbabweans at the July 4^th Independence Day commemoration last Friday, noting the changes that have taken place in Zimbabwe since he arrived in November 2007.

“Today … we have an inclusive government comprised of Zimbabwe’s three main parties. … Zimbabwe is at least working on recovery. But at the same time so much remains to be done. The rule of law and human rights are still under attack in Zimbabwe. Innocent Zimbabweans continue to be arrested and prosecuted. ”

McGee pledged his government’s support to efforts by Zimbabweans to restore democracy and economic prosperity.

“For real change to take hold in Zimbabwe, average Zimbabweans must do what the founders of the U.S. did 233 years ago. They must stand up for their rights and demand a government of their choosing that serves their interests. If they do so, I promise that the United States will support them in their quest,” said McGee. (See full remarks at http://harare.usembassy.gov)

Katherine S. Dhanani is Charge’d Affaires.

President Barack Obama has announced his intention to nominate Charles A. Ray, a career member of the Foreign Service since 1982. Ray has been the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Prisoners of War/Missing Personnel Affairs since 2006.  He served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from 2002 to 2005.

# # #

Issued by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section. Contact: Tim Gerhardson, Public Affairs Officer, E-mail: hararepas@state.gov, Tel. +263 4 758800-1, Fax: +263 4 758802 Url: http://harare.usembassy.gov

Zimbabwe's former finance minister Simba Makoni on Wednesday launched a new opposition party that promises to "clean up" the country's political landscape.

Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD), meaning 'The Beginning of a New Dawn' in the Shona language, was launched at a low-key event in Mbare township, southwest of Harare.

"We are launching this party on a mission to clean up the politics of Zimbabwe," Makoni, who is the party's interim leader, told a group of supporters.

"We offer ourselves to support and assist the inclusive government, we have resources at our disposal so that Zimbabwe can get working again," said Makoni.

In 2001, Makoni publicly admitted that Zimbabwe's economy was in a state of crisis as poverty was spreading at an alarming rate.

"I would have to be foolish to deny what is evident to everybody in broad daylight, even in the darkness of night," he said at the time.

The following year he quit his position as finance minister, citing policy differences with President Robert Mugabe.

The 59-year-old Makoni has been denounced by Mugabe as a "prostitute" of the West and a "bloated frog" following his resignation from the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in 2008.

He then wanted to contest the controversial March 2008 presidential election as an independent candidate.

He landed third behind Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe.

Zimbabwe was then forced into a June runoff plagued by political violence and Tsvangirai pulled out of the race.

"I offer a team of fresh leaders, largely young leaders, a team of leaders who come without baggage who are motivated by serving the people not power, not greed," Makoni said.

The party's policies aim to guarantee the rights of citizens in the country, decentralise government operations and improve the quality of lives for all citizens.

The Leeds University-educated Mukoni holds a degree in chemistry and zoology.

Makoni has escaped accusations of corruption which have bedevilled most of Mugabe's inner circle over the last decade.

June 23  -- Zimbabwe’s government has raised more than $180 million from donors in Europe to help pull the southern African nation out of a decade-long recession, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said.

The money was raised during a trip by government officials to countries including Sweden and Belgium, Biti told reporters in Helsinki, Finland today.

Biti is a member of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change, which earlier this year formed a coalition with President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front to end a political crisis after a series of disputed elections. The European Union and the U.S. have imposed travel bans on Mugabe and his allies and frozen their assets abroad, slowing aid flows.

“There is hesitation. Can you trust this government, can you trust Mugabe?” Biti said. “We are at pains to point out the people of Zimbabwe must be given a chance.”

Mugabe’s reappointment of Gideon Gono as central bank governor and Johannes Tomana as attorney general, against the objections of the MDC, has damaged the credibility of the new government, Biti said.

“These appointments have to be revisited,” Biti said. “I hope the issue will be dealt with as soon as possible. It’s affecting the credibility of this experiment.”

Consumer prices in Zimbabwe, which last year rose at the fastest pace in the world, have fallen by an average of 2 percent so far this year, Biti said.

A ZANU PF faction headed by retired army general Solomon Mujuru is reportedly seeking a meeting with President Robert Mugabe to broker a deal that will avert a major shake-up of the party’s presidium and politburo during its December congress.

Sources in Zanu PF told the Zimbabwe Independent that the Mujuru faction wants a meeting with the 85-year-old veteran leader to structure a deal for the retention of Joice Mujuru (pictured) as vice-president and stop the axing of some members of the camp from the politburo, the party’s powerful decision-making body.

The Mujuru faction is in a dog-fight with another camp aligned to party legal secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa over Mugabe’s succession. The retired army chief wants his wife Joice to replace Mugabe if he retires, while Mnangagwa is eyeing the post.

“Strategists in Mujuru’s camp are of the view that the status quo in the presidium should be left intact,” a senior politburo member said. “The faction has agreed to seek a meeting with the president to sell the idea. The intention is to guarantee Joice’s post and that of others from their camp in the politburo.”

Mujuru faction strategists were identified as politburo member Tendai Savanhu, MP Phineas Chiota, former cabinet minister Rugare Gumbo, and Mashonaland East chairperson Ray Kaukonde.

The faction, the sources said, wants Mugabe to remain president deputised by Joice and Vice-President Joseph Msika, with John Nkomo remaining national chairman.

“Their argument is that the presidium should remain intact until a clear succession plan is drawn up by the committee led by Nkomo,” another senior Zanu PF official said. “They are also of the opinion that any changes in the presidium will escalate the current divisions and could split the party at a time when they should be united to fight the MDC-T at the next polls.”

The politburo last month set up the succession committee headed by Nkomo. Some of its members are political rivals – most notably Solomon Mujuru and Mnangagwa.

The sources said the move to approach Mugabe was born out of the realisation that the Mnangagwa faction had come up with an elaborate plan to remove Joice and replace her with current Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri.

Politburo members aligned to Mujuru, among them Gumbo, Savanhu, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Ephraim Masawi, the sources said, were at the congress likely to be dropped from the party’s powerful organ that would reflect the dominance of Mnangagwa. 

Mnangagwa reportedly has the support of provincial structures to determine the make-up of the party’s presidium. He reportedly enjoys the support of Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces.

Mujuru has the backing of Mashonaland East, while Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West are reportedly divided over whom to back. Elections are yet to be held in Harare to elect provincial leaders, but the province was likely to be headed by Mnangagwa’s faction that is reportedly backing Deputy Energy minister Hubert Nyanhongo to become chairperson ahead of ex-Mines minister Amos Midzi.

However, the sources said they were not sure how the deal would be structured and its feasibility given that presidium candidates have to be nominated by the provinces ahead of the congress.

Politburo members are appointed by Mugabe.

Last week, the Independent reported that sweeping changes were expected to take place in Zanu PF’s youth and women’s leagues at their congresses in July and August that should result in Muchinguri being elected vice-president of the party at the main December congress ahead of Mujuru who is accused of working with the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T.

Muchinguri would fight it out with cabinet minister Olivia Muchena to head the Women’s League and automatically secure members for the politburo as secretary for women affairs.

The leadership of the Youth League would also be overhauled to reflect the dominance of the Mnangagwa faction in Zanu PF.
Current youth secretary in the politburo Absolom Sikhosana and his deputy Saviour Kasukuwere are expected to step down in line with the party’s constitution that members of the league should be below 30 years of age.

Obama to welcome Zimbabwe’s prime minister

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will welcome the prime minister of Zimbabwe to the White House on Friday.

The White House said Monday that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will meet with Obama in the Oval Office to discuss how they can create a stable democratic future for Zimbabwe. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the United States wants to return the African nation to the rule of law, restore human rights and support free and fair elections.

Tsvangirai is on a three-week trip saying he is seeking re-engagement. Western leaders have long isolated Zimbabwe, accusing President Robert Mugabe of trampling on democracy and ruining a once-vibrant economy.

Tsvangirai, who heads a unity government with longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, along with millions of Zimbabweans, has been working against the odds to secure a stable democratic future for the people of Zimbabwe," according to a White House announcement.

With an economy shattered by hyperinflation and years of internal turmoil caused by Mugabe's policies, most of Zimbabwe's population is unemployed and dependent on foreign food aid.

"The two leaders will discuss the difficult road ahead in Zimbabwe, including how the United States can support the forces of reform as they work to bring the rule of law, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections back to Zimbabwe," said the statement by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

An International Labour Organization(ILO) that visited Zimbabwe between May 19 and 23 this year has come under fire from War veteran, Joseph Chinotimba's Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union (ZFTU)'s members for allegedly ignoring the body. The delegation instead consulted extensively with rival labour body Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union(ZCTU) secretary general Wellington Chibebe and is set to compile a report concerning human rights issues in Zimbabwe.

The ZFTU, which is allegedly aligned to ZANU(PF), issued a pre-emptive statement questioning the objectivity of the I.L.O delegation's visit to the country.  "It is only logical to conclude that the delegation's investigations and findings will not be complete...their final report can only be biased, partisan and premeditated..." said ZFTU Acting Secretary General Ephraim Tsvaringwe.

The ILO delegation's visit precedes the forthcoming ILO Geneva Conference to be held later in June, which discusses global labour issues. The ZFTU alleges that the ZCTU is on record for criticizing the government over human rights abuses on such forums, charges that have seen Zimbabwe being placed on a special paragraph that blacklists errant countries. The pioneering leader of the ZFTU, Joseph Chinotimba was also a mob leader during the controversial farm invasions which began in 2000, and which saw Zimbabwe's economy plunge to its lowest edge ever in history.

Zimbabwe leader Morgan Tsvangirai's party will assess progress and discuss outstanding issues hampering the unity government with President Robert Mugabe at its annual national conference this weekend.

"We are expecting around 1,000 delegates from all the country's provinces," said Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa, who is also Minister of Information and Communication Technology.

"The conference is tasked with reviewing party policy, particularly considering that we are now in government, and (to) assess and evaluate ... objectives of creating a new Zimbabwe and fighting for freedom and democratic space."

The unity government this month struck agreement on the bulk of outstanding issues that have hampered its work but has asked regional leaders to break a deadlock over the appointment by Mugabe of the central bank chief and attorney general.

"Outstanding issues that have been referred to SADC (the 15-nation Southern African Development Community) are also going to be raised at the conference," Chamisa said.

The conference comes as the MDC prepares to mark its 10th anniversary later this year.

The MDC, Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU-PF) party and a smaller MDC splinter faction formed a power-sharing government in February, with Tsvangirai as prime minister and Mugabe as president, nearly a year after disputed polls.

The new government is tasked with easing political tensions and tackling a chronic economic crisis that has condemned the majority of the population to poverty.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says Zimbabwe's power-sharing government has reached agreement on key appointments, ending a dispute that paralyzed the new administration.

The former opposition leader said Thursday that a clash over the appointments of provincial governors and ambassadors have been resolved with President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe will also allow opposition lawmaker Roy Bennet to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister after months of objection.

Mugabe's unilateral appointment of the Reserve Bank governor and attorney general will be referred to regional leaders for mediation.

Both are seen as Mugabe loyalists who are hindering economic recovery and the return of the rule of law.

Zimbabwe's unity government will ask regional leaders to break a deadlock over the appointment of the central bank chief and the attorney general, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Thursday.

Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe, long-time rivals who formed a unity government in February, have feuded from the outset over Mugabe's unilateral appointment of two of his loyalists to the powerful posts.

"On two key issues they failed to reach an agreement, and these are the issues of the reserve bank governor and attorney general," Tsvangirai told reporters.

He said the unity government would ask the 15-member Southern African Development Community (SADC), which backed the power-sharing deal, to resolve the dispute.

"We trust that SADC will deal with this issue with the urgency it requires," he said.

Central bank boss Gideon Gono's first five-year term saw Zimbabwe suffer world-record hyperinflation that left the local currency so worthless that the government has abandoned it entirely.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana has overseen the prosecution of scores of rights activists and supporters of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, including top party officials.

The two leaders have settled their differences over a slate of less powerful posts, including the naming of provincial governors and permanent secretaries in cabinet ministries, Tsvangirai added.

The dispute over the naming of permanent secretaries was settled after the MDC decided to accept the officials Mugabe had already nominated to the posts, he said.

"We went through each one of the persons proposed and satisfied ourselves that they were suitable in terms of experience and qualifications," he said.

"Any civil servant who participates in partisan politics will have no place in our public service, and I urge the minister of public service to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to that effect," he added.

They also agreed that MDC would submit nominations for ambassadorial posts overseas.

Zimbabwe is trying to convince international donors to contribute 8.5 billion dollars over three years to revive the shattered economy in a country where unemployment is at 94 percent and more than half the population depends on foreign food aid for survival.

But major donors like the United States and former colonial power Britain said they want to see Mugabe make more political reforms first.

BEITBRIDGE - Hardly two weeks after the waiver of visas for travellers to South Africa, amid tightening of border controls by Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped tax collector, traffic at the Beitbridge Border Post was backing up for kilometres on end on Friday.

The Beitbridge Border Post traffic jam between South Africa and Zimbabwe started a week ago, and by Friday, the traffic flow at the border had almost slowed down to a halt.

Custom and immigration officials at the post complained about being short-staffed to handle searches of all vehicles in line with strict check-up procedures ordered by the new government.

Emotions were fraying as uncooperative, angry and delayed motorists clashed with customs officials, compounding the border crisis.

The latest strict check-up procedures were reportedly sanctioned by Finance minister Tendai Biti in a fresh bid to boost revenue collection by tax collector Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) to bankroll the bankrupt administration.

On Friday buses, trucks and vehicles queued for almost four kilometres from the entrance of the Beitbridge Border Post.

The shortage of staff to search the mammoth number of vehicles at the border had seen the border clogging with motorists as customs struggled to keep up with the volume of traffic of Zimbabweans crossing the border, many of them taking advantage of the waiver on visas.

Immigration officials said they were also overwhelmed by Zimbabweans who were attempting to cross into South Africa using identity cards.

Despite the waiver on visas, the charge for obtaining a passport is still too steep, with a regular passport costing about US$300, a figure beyond the reach of many in a country where civil servants subsist on a US$100 allowance monthly.

Authorities were apparently locked in denial about the crisis at the border.

An immigration official told The Zimbabwe Times during the two day-long investigations at the border that the long queues were not quite as bad as they were in the past week, soon after the waiver on visas.

The visa waiver was announced by co-Home Affairs minister Giles Mutsekwa and his South African counterpart, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula last week.

“The lines are long, but manageable,” claimed an immigration official.

On the South African side of the border post, trucks were standing still for about four kilometres at noon on Friday. On the other side, the queue was much longer.

Visitor traffic was also busy but not congested, added the customs official. “We are able to cope,” he claimed.

The border post was open from 7 am to 4 pm for trucks, and 24 hours for visitors both ways.

Despite claims by authorities that they had capacity to handle the situation, during the past two days, officials were apparently unable to cope and many truck and bus drivers had to spend the night at the border post.

Livid travellers in one bus said they had spent eight hours at the border. They complained of intrusive body searches by customs officials and elaborate searches of all bags.

A senior immigration official who declined to be named told The Zimbabwe Times that about five additional staff was brought in to help to try and relieve the congestion at each unit. But, clearly, they were overwhelmed.

The senior immigration official, who referred further questions to Gershom Pasi, the ZIMRA boss, admitted the current congestion was “absolutely not normal.”

The delays were worsened by the fact that access control on the Zimbabwean side of the border post was still being processed by hand, while South Africa used computers, said another immigration official.

ZIMRA legal and corporate services commissioner, Faith Jambwa said ZIMRA had intensified revenue protection measures in line with its mandate.

“Such searches are meant to protect fiscal revenue, public health and safety among others,” said Jambwa.

However, public health is actually being gravely threatened at the border post where travellers have to wait for days with no access to ablution facilities or clean running water.

In fact Beitbridge was in recent months devastated by a cholera outbreak that was eventually slowed down by interventions by humanitarian agencies.

Jambwa said: “ZIMRA is carrying out among other measures, post importation audits, border patrols, physical inspections and joint operations with law enforcement agencies.”

Physical inspection of goods, said Jambwa, was a routine part in the clearing of goods that are being imported or exported. However, it was apparent that ZIMRA had woefully inadequate material and human resources to timeously carry out the elaborate inspections.

One tourist travelling from South Africa in a Greyhound Bus said: “You guys are not serious about reviving tourism. You want tourists to return to your country when you subject them to five-hour-border checks?”

Along the Beitbridge and Harare Road, at least two spot checks by ZIMRA were conducted where passengers were ordered to offload their luggage. The buses were only allowed to pass after customs officials were paid bribes by bus staff.

Jambwa said: “Our officers are authorised to conduct searches anywhere in Zimbabwe including at business premises or on persons.”

WITH nine days left before its first 100 days in office, the inclusive government is locked in infighting over a whole range of issues and is limping on as it faces a growing threat of paralysis.

The latest in a series of battles within government is a fight over donor funds. It has emerged that President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF ministers are not happy about Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his ministers’, particularly Finance minister Tendai Biti’s, campaign to mobilise donor funds via parallel structures which are not part of the government system.

There were clashes in government this week after Tsvangirai was barred by state security guards from entering State House on Monday to attend a banquet held by Mugabe for a visiting North Korean government delegationTsvangirai could not enter after the guards refused one of his convoy vehicles entry, leading him to depart in anger.

Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi confirmed the incident.

“The Prime Minister was invited for the state banquet but could not get in as a matter of principle after one of his vehicles was denied entry,” he said.

“Instead of wasting time on such trivial issues, he went back home to concentrate on the 100-Day Plan which his office formulated and is now executing.”

Beside this incident, sources said Mugabe was livid after meeting Tsvangirai at South African President Jacob Zuma’s swearing-in ceremony in Pretoria last Saturday. Sources said Mugabe thought Tsvangirai was not invited and was certain Zimbabwe would be represented by Foreign minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, First Lady Grace and himself, only to see Tsvangirai pitching up.

The sources said this heightened tensions between them, especially after the premier had left the country without the required cabinet clearance. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara was also there. Neither Tsvangirai nor Mutambara were  part of Mugabe’s delegation.

Sources said Mugabe and his ministers feel that Tsvangirai and his officials are systematically sidelining them in their initiatives to secure funds for economic recovery.

The issue has been raised in government structures amid growing fears that it could hamper the resource mobilisation campaign. Sources said Zanu PF ministers are worried about Biti’s Multi-Donor Trust Fund and his proposal to form a “focal unit” within his ministry to receive donor funds. The focal unit would coordinate donor funding while the Multi-Donor Trust Fund is being established.

The structures which are not part of the treasury are seen as a threat by Zanu PF officials who are scared the funds would be used to hijack the inclusive government.

Zanu PF’s suspicions are that if the MDC takes control of the funds it would be a stronger partner in government and would use its leverage to seize power from within.

“There is a new fight within the government over these donor funds, especially Biti’s focal unit and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund,” a source said this week.

“Zanu PF officials think Tsvangirai would grab  power  using this money which is under his minister’s control.”
Sources said Zanu PF ministers warned Biti to exercise caution in his engagement with international donors, claiming the donors were trying to bypass and sideline established government structures as implied in the proposal to form the Focal Unit and Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
The sources said Zanu PF ministers are demanding that they should be allowed to take charge of the country’s strategic interests, instead of leaving them to the MDC and donors.

After his recent visit to Washington and London, Biti met donors last week to set up the Multi-Donor Trust Fund to mobilise resources via the Humanitarian-Plus initiative. The Multi-Donor Trust Fund would be driven by the World Bank, African Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Finance. No Zanu PF ministers would be involved directly and the funds would be administered by Biti.

This is said to be causing suspicions and frustration among Zanu PF ministers who were used to managing the treasury.

Zimbabwe has so far got more than US$1 billion from donors which is helpful but a mere pittance in view of its search for US$10 billion for economic recovery.

The internal battles for influence and control within the inclusive government – reflected in the tug-of-war between Mugabe and Tsvangirai – are being fought on many fronts.
The points of conflict within the divided government, trying hard to present a united front even though the political gulf is increasingly widening, include:

•    Receipt, management and distribution of donor money through the focal point and Multi-Donor Trust Fund;
•    Conditions of political and economic reforms attached to some donations;
•    Engagement with the United States and European Union over sanctions via the ministerial task force;
•    The formulation and implementation of the economic recovery plan and
•    The unresolved issues contained in the Global Political Agreement, especially the role of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana.
Sources said Zanu PF officials are uncomfortable with the international community’s insistence on political and economic reforms before providing aid. Zanu PF ministers also want their MDC counterparts to denounce sanctions like Mutambara and push for immediate talks with US and EU officials to get them lifted, an approach not welcome by Tsvangirai and his group.    

Besides, there is also friction about the economic recovery plan. Although the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme was initiated by the MDC, Zanu PF officials are claiming that most of its content was “plagiarised” from their policy documents. A document to substantiate this has been prepared and would be presented at an opportune time.

Bulawayo, 29th April 2009

Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Professor Welshman Ncube, All Ministers here present, the Chairman of National Economic Consultative Forum, Dr Robbie Mupawose, Captains of Industry both local and international, Union Leaders, Ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to be with you this morning to give you my vision regarding the direction our economy is taking. What is clear is that Zimbabwe belongs to all of us, its fate is in our own hands and we all have a role to play in ensuring the success of our beautiful nation.

The key issue to consider is how we can best reshape our economic destiny, and create a national economy which responds to the expectations of our citizens for jobs, decent earnings, stable prices, a bankable currency and that provides for sustained economic growth and development.

All citizens of this country deserve, as a right, a stable economy which can provide adequate goods and services at prices which are affordable to consumers and viable to business.

Zimbabweans have clear expectations on how their national economy should function and be managed. As Prime Minister, I am committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe once again assumes its position as a beacon of economic growth, stability and production both on the continent and in the region.

Ladies and Gentlemen, rebuilding our shattered economy is a priority for every Zimbabwean and it must be driven by you the business community. However, what you are able to achieve will be dependent on the leadership role played by your government.

In this urgent and important process, we must be open and honest with each other. The role of Government is to provide a stable environment that facilitates the growth and development of business in line with international standards and accepted norms that also serve to ensure the rights and welfare of employees.

In creating such an environment, restoring the rule of law is both a moral imperative and a business necessity. If business is the engine of growth, then the rule of law is the fuel that drives that engine.

The rule of law is the catalyst that provides the foundation of confidence for contractual dealings and investor activity without which no economy can run effectively.

The Global Political Agreement, upon which this inclusive Government is founded, calls for the promotion and adherence to the law, amongst other essential requirements for an operational democracy. My office is committed to ensuring that these conditions are met despite the fact that there continues to be blatant violations of the laws of this country by some hardline elements.

We as Zimbabweans all have a role to play in ensuring that the rule of law is applied and adhered to impartially for, as we have experienced, if one sector suffers then we all suffer.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the uncertain political climate over the past decade has created a negative image of the country internationally and this has caused key international partnerships created over long periods to be set aside or terminated to the detriment of the growth of industry.

Only through restoring the rule of law can we remove the uncertainty of doing business in Zimbabwe and restore investor confidence. The restoration of the rule of law is also an essential factor in attracting back to our country the millions of Zimbabwean economic exiles who have the education, skills and determination that are essential to reviving our ailing industrial sector.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the role of my Government in the national economy remains that of creating an enabling environment for business and labour to engage in the actual production and output of goods and services. We are in the process of formulating and implementing policies and regulations to enhance business confidence and wealth creation.

Last month we launched the Short Term Economic Recovery Plan which, coupled with the full implementation of the GPA, will provide the framework for our economic recovery.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today we face the challenge of demonstrating to the rest of the world a politically mature Zimbabwe that can offer greater opportunities for economic prosperity, political stability and poverty alleviation. An economy that does not benefit its citizens can neither guarantee political stability nor real harmony.

Zimbabwe is part of the global economy and as such we are seeking to harness financial, technological and market opportunities, which grow our economy. We have already started to build collaborative arrangements with private investors, international co-operating partners and financial institutions.

Coupled with this is our absolute need to commit ourselves to sound management of the national economy. It is imperative that all partners and stakeholders in the national economy act with a single resolution and communicate their single determination to grow Zimbabwe’s economy and wealth.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are all aware of the challenges facing us, from acute balance of payments problems, brain drain, deteriorating infrastructure, energy shortages, low capacity utilization in manufacturing, low mineral production and continued deliberate disruptions to the agricultural sector.

To overcome these challenges we must have a collective national resolve to cooperate and create opportunities and partnerships which will enable our people to benefit from the vast wealth potential which this country possesses. Government alone cannot do it. Labour alone cannot succeed. Business alone cannot succeed. Zimbabwe’s economic stability requires access to foreign markets, finance, technologies, skills and ideas, which are only made possible by all the key stakeholders working together as partners committed to our nation’s development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Zimbabwe is richly endowed with human and natural resources to create sufficient wealth for all its citizens irrespective of race, colour, tribe or creed.

Greed, economic opportunism and corruption have been our weakest link. Rather than aspiring merely to be wealthy individuals, we should aspire to be citizens of a wealthy country.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the National Economic Consultative Forum, must advise Government as a stakeholder institution professionally and without fear or favour. The NECF must come up with concrete advice on policy interventions aimed at stabilizing and growing the economy and Zimbabwe’s goodwill in the international community.

As Government, our task is to ensure that the public sector delivers quality services such as health, education, clean water, efficient transport, communications and energy services.

The responsibility to save and protect the quality of life for all must preoccupy us, the political leadership, irrespective of race, colour, tribe, religion or political affiliation. It is a historic burden borne by all those who offer to serve people. My Government has made a serious commitment to make policy and institutional adjustments which will drive a new development agenda that will sustain wealth generation for our citizens.

However, any real, long lasting rebound of a successful economy has to be accompanied by an equal if not more powerful value system. This value system can only rest on the pillars of civil liberties, the right of association and the right of civil society to challenge those entrusted with governance.

In this, business must also share in the responsibility of creating the future you want and put the long-term prosperity of the society ahead of instant gratification of dividends and capital appreciation. Corruption will not be tolerated and those that practise or promote corruption will be actively sought out and prosecuted by this government.

As the business community, you must commit to joining with us to rebuild our society and our economy. You cannot choose the aspects of the old way which you feel may be beneficial to you personally and still hope to benefit from the new measures we are implementing.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let us use our combined national intellectual capacity to create policies and practices that lead Zimbabwe to the highest level of growth and development. All foreign direct investment will be given the necessary courtesies and treated with professionalism at all times but based on the rules and regulations governing such investment. New partners will be sought and old partnerships intensified.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we all know what is best for our families, our businesses, our nation and our future. There is no logic in destroying the future of our country and that of our children. Let us desist from working towards the destruction of our country and our heritage.

Let us all speak with one voice and stand united regarding the Zimbabwe that we want and deserve. A nation where business is encouraged to flourish, the laws of the land are applied and adhered to and where a person can find a job, feed his or her children and watch them grow and prosper.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that Zimbabwe is possible, but it is not guaranteed. Only by working together can that dream become a reality.

I look forward to working with you to make it so.

It now gives me great pleasure to declare the International Business Conference officially open.

I thank you.

29 April 2009

The three principals in the unity government, Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, have met five times recently to discuss the controversies surrounding the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, but they have still failed to come up with a solution. Observers say this ‘dilly-dallying’ has been part of ZANU PF's strategy to wear the MDC down while not addressing the fundamental issues.

However, it has emerged that Robert Mugabe has agreed to swear into office MDC Deputy Minister of Agriculture appointee Roy Bennett, but only after the former commercial farmer has been acquitted of the charges hanging over his head. Bennett was arrested in February and spent a month in prison, charged with 'conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services'. Although he is out on bail his trial has yet to start and could drag on for a long time.

MDC insists he is innocent until proven guilty.

Mugabe argues that Bennett is facing serious ‘terrorism’ charges, and that he is only prepared to swear-in the MDC official after his case has been finalised by the courts. Most analysts agree that these are merely trumped up charges and attempts to hamper the MDC. Bennett is also not the only MDC ministerial candidate facing charges in court.

Eric Matinenga, the MDC Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs was sworn into the new government although he has a case pending in the courts for election related public violence. The Minister spent three weeks in remand prison last year after he was arrested when representing his clients – MDC supporters who were facing political persecution. Judgement in his case was set for May 4th and Minister Matinenga is currently working in the inclusive government. Also, MDC Finance Minister Tendai Biti is facing treason charges and his case has not been concluded, and Mugabe appears not to have a problem with this.

It is believed that Mugabe has agreed to give Nelson Chamisa his Communications portforlio back, but as usual there is a catch. MDC insiders said there was a trade-off, and it appears that the ‘monitoring/snooping powers’ which were under Chamisa’s Communications’ portfolio will be given to Nicholas Goche’s Transport and Infrastructural Ministry - the same ministry that had recently been given the Communications portfolio by Mugabe. Some argue that while Mugabe is giving back with one hand, he is taking away with the other.

While the crisis talks remained deadlocked in a number of areas, it has emerged that the rival parties have agreed to share the original positions of governors. It is reported the MDC-T will get 5 governors, ZANU PF 4, and MDC-M 1.

The principals are expected to meet again on Monday to thrash out the unresolved issues that include the appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors. Information is not readily available but according to insiders, the parties have so far agreed that 13 current permanent secretaries will remain, while the inclusive government has to review 25. There are still disagreements over how the other 25 permanent secretary positions will be distributed by the political parties. The issue of the ambassadors, farm invasions and media freedoms are still not resolved.

Mugabe had not budged on any of the issues on Monday, but it is understood he made some of these ‘very slight’ concessions after the MDC threatened to boycott Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, and threatened to hold a press conference to expose his insincerity concerning the Global Political Agreement.

Observers say it is clear that the delaying tactics by Mugabe have a motive, and the motive is to stall the reforms spearheaded by the MDC until ZANU PF has access to its assets, frozen under the targeted sanctions. This is why the regime has been pressuring the MDC to push for the removal of targeted sanctions. An MDC MP said: “Like the fresh farm seizures, ZANU PF is aware that this revolution is not stopping and they want their money. They want to try and secure their freedom and get their money that has been blocked as a result of the sanctions. Mugabe knows that if he settles the outstanding issues without securing this, he will lose politically.”

ZIMBABWE’s leaders last night failed for the fourth time in a fortnight to resolve a series of contentious issues threatening to paralyse the country’s shaky coalition government.

The crisis talks remained deadlocked after long hours of intense discussions, signalling a serious political problem besetting the new government. A fierce power struggle is raging behind the scenes as President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai intensify their battle for political control.

Informed sources close to the talks said last night the meeting ended in a stalemate. “ The leaders agreed to meet again today to try and break the stalemate,” a senior government official said. “It’s proving to be very difficult because neither of the leaders want to make any concessions.”

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara met yesterday to sort out issues dividing the government. Their meeting followed similar gatherings on Monday and Thursday last week and another one on April 16.

So far the four meetings have failed to break the impasse, leaving the unity government in a state of crisis. The issues at stake include appointment of senior government officials including permanent secretaries, the accounting officers of ministries, provincial governors and diplomats.

There is also the matter of the continued detention of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials and activists over allegations of trying to overthrow Mugabe, arraignment of MDC treasurer and deputy minister Roy Bennett and farm invasions. Mugabe and the two MDC faction leaders, Tsvangirai and Mutambara, are also fighting over the president’s unilateral seizure of the department of communications from Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa, a member of the MDC .

Tsvangirai said last week these issues had to be resolved to allow the government deal with the country’s economic and social problems.

The deadlock came as Finance Minister Tendai Biti and his delegation to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings returned home empty-handed after failing to get a rescue package. Zimbabwe needs $10bn to fund its economic recovery programme.

The IMF said that it was not in a position to bail out Zimbabwe because of arrears and financial restrictions.

ROY Bennett, the MDC treasurer and deputy agriculture minister designate, has hit back at President Robert Mugabe for refusing to swear him into office, saying nothing can stop the “winds of change”.

Harare — THE Parliamentary Constitution Select Committee spearheading the crafting of the new constitution this week holds an induction course for its members, setting the stage for a major confrontation with civil society which is opposed to a government-driven constitution- making process.

Civil society is demanding "a people-driven" constitution- making process as opposed to the parliamentary-led process.

MP for Nyanga North Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T), who co-chairs the committee with Chivi Central legislator Munyaradzi Mangwana (Zanu PF), said the two-day orientation course was designed to familiarise members with the constitution-making process before commencing their work.

"Zimbabwean experts in various fields will share their knowledge on the various aspects of the process," Mwonzora said.

"Among others, we will have presentations and discussions on the current constitution and its shortcomings."

Mwonzora said there will be presentations on the committee's terms of reference and said their role was to facilitate the process and not to draft the constitution for the nation.

"We will also have presentations on the importance and seriousness of the process and we also hope to broaden the legislators' understanding through analysing the constitution-making processes that have taken place in other countries including South Africa, Zambia and many others in the region and other democracies," he said.

The 25-member parliamentary select committee which comprises members from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations was set up early this month to spearhead the crafting of the country's new supreme law.

This was in line with Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by the three main political parties last September.

According to the GPA, the constitutional committee will appoint sub-committees composed of lawmakers and representatives of civil society, but the committee will have a final say in the crafting of the draft constitution.

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) which is leading civil society's protest said the current constitutional making process is defective and will result in "a defective Constitution".

Its comments were echoed by the Zimbabwe National Students' Union (Zinasu), a coalition of student unions.

They fear the current framework will result in sub-committees which are excessively controlled by the legislature and non-representatives of sectoral and special interests. They also fear overriding parliamentary control over the content of the final draft and that Parliament can change it before a referendum.

The NCA, which has accused Zanu PF of clandestinely manipulating the Lancaster House Constitution which has been amended 19 times since independence to suit its needs, recently launched a "Take Charge" campaign to mobilise the citizenry to reject the process.

Among others, the NCA intends to distribute their campaign material and also to hold meetings with the citizens where it will articulate its views. It will campaign for a "No" vote at the referendum stage.

But what exactly does the NCA want?

Lovemore Madhuku, the chairperson of the NCA said his organisation wanted "an independent commission" of between 400 and 600 people including parliamentarians and civic society members to spearhead the process.

They have already recommended Supreme Court Judge, Justice Wilson Sandura to chair the commission.

"We are not confident in the independence of a 25-member committee from only three political parties.

The independence of the commission can be secured through choosing as many as 400 to 600 people drawn from diverse backgrounds," Madhuku said.

The commission, according to the NCA, will then conduct public consultations leading to a draft constitution.

The draft will then be discussed at a constitutional conference to be attended by at least 3 000 people who would make recommendations and contributions for the final draft.

A referendum will then be held without taking the document for debate in parliament first. Parliament, Madhuku says should only come in to rubberstamp the process.

In an effort to find common ground, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week held a meeting with Madhuku and other NCA officials. But the meeting failed to bear fruit as the NCA refused to accept a proposal by Tsvangirai that would have resulted in the appointment of an independent person to chair the parliamentary committee as a way of eliminating the flaws.

"Tsvangirai raised that point and we made our position clear, that to us, bringing in an independent person would not change anything", Madhuku said.

But some analysts have accused Madhuku of derailing the process to make sure the NCA remains relevant as long as the country has no new constitution.

But the NCA chairman said his organisation will continue to be relevant even if the country gets a new constitution.

Other critics suspect Madhuku harbours political ambitions.

"That is nonsense. There is no need for another party. I am part of the small group of people who formed the MDC," he said. "The problem with MDC leadership is that they want to lead the party away from democratic processes and we are against that."

According to the GPA the parliamentary select committee should convene an "all-stakeholders" conference within three months after its appointment so that the thematic sub-committees can be selected.

It says public consultations should to be completed no later than four months after the stakeholders' conference.

The consultations are expected to last for three months, after which the draft constitution should be tabled at an all-stakeholders conference.

The draft, together with an accompanying report will then be tabled before Parliament within one month of the second all-stakeholders conference where they will be debated and if necessary amended within one month, before it is gazetted and a referendum conducted within three months.

Mwonzora said the process will be modelled along a Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Guideline on Constitutionalism as enunciated by a 2005 Manzini Declaration.

The guideline cites inclusion of various stakeholders and advocates for the supremacy of the Constitution.

HARARE - MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a 10th anniversary rally in Chinhoyi Saturday midday, his first party rally after he assumed office as  Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister.It is one in a series of party rallies lined up countrywide to mark the MDC’s 10 years of existence. The rallies will culminate in a grand 10th anniversary gathering to be held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on September 11, the day the MDC was formed 10 years ago.

The Saturday rally is scheduled for Chinhoyi Stadium at 12pm, according to party spokesman Nelson Chamisa, who will attend along with Tsvangirai’s deputy, Thokozani Khupe and MDC organising secretary Elias Mudzuri.

Secretary general Tendai Biti will not attend the rally as he is in Washington DC, where he is joining other SADC Finance ministers at the World Bank and Washington Spring meetings to extend Zimbabwe’s begging bowl to the Bretton Woods institutions for desperately needed  financial assistance to reboot the ruined Zimbabwe economy.

Tsvangirai became Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister on February 11, joining President Mugabe to form a government of national unity after disputed elections held last March.

“We are celebrating a decade of conviction, courage and leadership with a message ‘together to the end, marching to a new Zimbabwe’,” Chamisa, who is now Information Communication Technology minister in the new administration, told The Zimbabwe Times.

“We have a pact but we are on a journey; we have not yet arrived and the democratisation process is not completed. It’s only the beginning. But it’s the home stretch, the final stretch.

“People should continue to focus together. Basically that is the thrust of this rally.”

The MDC had planned similar rallies monthly but the gatherings were cancelled last month following the tragic death of the Prime Minister’s wife of 30 years, Susan.

Mrs Tsvangirai was killed in a tragic car crash on March 6 as the couple was travelling to Murambinda Growth Point to attend a rally.

Tsvangirai was expected to give feedback to his supporters on how the inclusive government was working in the period it had been in existence.

Very little progress has been made in resolving outstanding issues between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over the appointment of resident ministers, permanent secretaries, diplomats, and the unilateral appointments by Mugabe of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana.

Mugabe has also refused to swear in the MDC’s nominee for the position of deputy Minister of Agriculture, Roy Bennett, ostensibly because he was facing serious charges.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed a power-sharing deal brokered by Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president, promising to resolve the outstanding issues once a new administration was in place.

The bag of outstanding issues is actually filling up as new violations of the Global Political Agreement by Mugabe continue, with the latest being the stripping of powers from Chamisa’s ministry.

A meeting of the principals held on Thursday deferred the issue to Monday, although the three leaders all agreed that the switch of telecommunications functions from Chamisa’s ministry to Transport Minister Nicholas Goche of Zanu-PF was illegal, according to government sources.

The deadlock has frustrated the MDC and its supporters who will be keen to get an explanation from their leaders in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

The continuing deadlock comes amid mounting international pressure for reform and a commitment to real power-sharing by Mugabe before a solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe can be found.

The European Union and the US have refused to remove sanctions on pro-Mugabe officials and companies. The sanctions ban them from travelling to or trading with EU nations.

The EU blacklist, which now totals 203 people and 40 entities, is aimed at increasing pressure on Mugabe to share power. Mugabe’s own interpretation of the sanctions is that they are against Zimbabwe as a whole and they are, in fact, the cause of the country’s economy.

Western governments have repeatedly called on Mugabe to resign, and are also pushing for major economic reforms to be implemented before aid is offered.

JOHANNESBURG – There is a “real risk” of a military coup in Zimbabwe or assassination of the country’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai by military generals disgruntled by an unfolding political transition that is threatening their power and security, an international political think-tank has said.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) warned that a military coup could trigger infighting between factions within the divided armed forces to plunge Zimbabwe into chaos and armed conflict.

“There is a real risk of a coup, initiated by military leaders whose influence is beginning to wane and whose patronage system is being eroded,” the Brussels-based ICG said in its latest report on Zimbabwe released on Monday.

“The unwillingness of some army generals to publicly recognise the inclusive government’s authority, and especially Tsvangirai’s role, lends credence to the threat. An assassination attempt on Tsvangirai also cannot be ruled out,” the group added.

The ICG is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation covering over 50 crisis-affected countries and territories across four continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.

The think-tank said assassination of Tsvangirai or a coup by senior officers to forestall the shaky political transition process may not have backing of all in the military particularly among lower ranking soldiers and could open up a new phase of anarchy and bloodletting in Zimbabwe between rival military factions.

“A coup by senior security hardliners would probably lead to fractures within the army and infighting within and between the ranks, possibly even on ethnic lines, and would likely plunge the country into chaos,” the group warned.

To counter the threat of a coup the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and regional powerbroker South Africa should step in urgently to neutralise the military sector by persuading the hardline senior military leadership to retire, the ICG said.

To get the generals to agree to step down, the ICG advised the carrot and stick method with offers of immunity from prosecution for past political crimes (excluding crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide) in return for retirement.

There was also need to assure the generals they would be able to keep at least some of their ill-gotten wealth and to further sweeten the deal Western governments should lift visa and financial sanctions against officers agreeing top step down.

The ICG said to those who refuse the offer to retire it should be “emphasised that refusal to step aside before the end of the inclusive government’s term will lead to development of cases for prosecution,” including before an international criminal tribunal.

The group also called for the creation of a panel tasked to recommend the modalities for setting up transitional justice mechanisms such as a truth commission as part of security sector and other administrative reforms.

Under the power-sharing agreement brokered by the SADC, Mugabe remains an executive President while Tsvangirai also enjoys executive powers as Prime Minister.

The unity government deal that was clinched after several months of tense and sometimes acrimonious negotiations says that Tsvangirai will be in charge of the day-to-day running of government business. But the former trade unionist is required to keep Mugabe, who still chairs the Cabinet, "fully informed".

The ICG said Tsvangirai and his MDC’s entry into government was a landmark development that had inspired hope that Zimbabwe could at last end its long running economic crisis. 

The ICG noted that Western countries remained skeptic about the durability of the unity government and its ability to implement reforms.

But the group urged the donor community to step in with “humanitarian plus” aid that covers the priority areas such as revival of the education, health and water sanitation sectors, as well as ensuring a functioning civil service and reconstruction of basic infrastructure.