Saturday, 27th June 2009
Howzit
"The Zimbabwean military and senior figures in Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party are making millions from a diamond field where hundreds of miners were massacred last year, a new report has claimed. The diamond deposits at Chiadzwa, in Marange district in eastern
Amid widespread reports of police exploitation and corruption, at the end of last year hundreds of Zimbabwean soldiers, some of them airborne, were sent in to evict the miners by force, and the resulting massacres were revealed by The Daily Telegraph.
In its report, Diamonds in the Rough, Human Rights Watch says that "at least 214" people were killed at Chiadzwa, and that ZANU PF used the mineral deposits to reward the military and keep them loyal as Zimbabwe spiralled into chaos.
"The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence," said Georgette Gagnon,
Operation Hakudzokwi - or 'No Return' - lasted for three weeks in October and November 2008.
"From the helicopters, soldiers indiscriminately fired live ammunition and tear gas into the diamond fields and into surrounding villages," the report said."
What else did we expect from Mugabe? Whenever he takes control of something that has the potential to bring Zimbabwe back from the brink of the abyss, instead he takes it out of context and uses it to a political end, which enriching the lives of himself and his stalwart ZANU PF supporters.
"One miner told Human Rights Watch: "I first heard the sound and then saw three helicopters above us in the field. I was not worried, I just assumed it was a team of buyers who had come for business in helicopters as they sometimes did. However, soldiers in the helicopters started firing live ammunition and tear gas at us. We all stopped digging and began to run towards the hills to hide. From my syndicate, 14 miners were shot and killed that morning."
Another said he, along with others, had been forced to dig a mass grave for the victims, in which 72 bodies were buried, and a headman in the area said that at the time Chiadzwa resembled "a war zone in which soldiers killed people like flies".
Thousands of miners fled the region, and mining and the associated revenues are now controlled by the military and police. While the prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai is on a tour of Europe and the US seeking funding for reconstruction, it is estimated that the diamond fields, if operated legally, could earn the government USD 200 million a month."
The Chiadzwa field had the ability to finance the rebuilding of Zimbabwe and make it a viable country yet again, but Mugabe has decided that the financial rewards are too great to pass up. So the fields remain a question mark for the country, with some reports saying that the soldiers are forcing children to mine for them.
And I have found a very basic article on the report, "Diamonds In The Rough".
"ZANU PF figures, though, deny any wrongdoing. Human Rights Watch alleged that Gideon Gono, the governor of the reserve bank of
Joyce Mujuru, the ZANU PF vice-president, is also alleged to own a claim in the diamond fields known as churu chamai Mujuru - Mrs Mujuru's anthill.
Soldiers on mission in Marange would first get special allowances directly from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and then be offered a 'once- in-a-lifetime' opportunity to benefit directly from diamond smuggling," it said. "The plan was for all army units to rotate and take turns to 'guard' the diamond fields and take the associated benefits."
Not that many months ago, Gideon Gono quantified the weekly loss of the precious stone in Chiadzwa, but has failed since then to account for that loss. If ZANU PF have taken control of the fields, then surely the official diamond input would increase? Not so...
-o00o-
We should fully understand that in the event of a ruling in Mukoko's favour, Mugabe's administration has a couple of options. They can concede that they have made a huge error and drop the charges, or, they can do their normal thing and defy the court order, electing to go ahead with the case - or, as a third option, they can compound the error and spirit Mukoko away yet again.
Whatever happens, Mukoko and her co-accused are in for a serious ride...
"Zimbabwe
The case has raised tensions in a new unity government formed by arch-foes President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and is a test of the administration's commitment to democratic reforms demanded by Western donors. Mukoko says she was seized at dawn in her night dress by unidentified armed men from her home on December 3 last year and tortured before being handed over to the police 19 days later.
Her lawyer Jeremy Gauntlet told a full bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday that Mukoko's rights had been grossly violated, including by being denied medication and a lawyer, and by being kept in solitary confinement.
"The process [of her arrest] is so contaminated that you should order a stay of prosecution," Gauntlet told the court, adding that prosecutors were solely relying on evidence extracted from Mukoko during torture to prosecute her. The court reserved judgement on the matter indefinitely.
If it rules in Mukoko's favour it would affect the other activists who have made the same application at the Supreme Court.
State prosecutor Fatima Maxwell, in response to a question from Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, said the state did not dispute Mukoko's evidence and had not questioned the security agents who had abducted her. Asked if she was conceding that Mukoko's abduction and detention were illegal, Maxwell told the court: "Yes my Lord."
And Maxwell will probably find herself divested of her job, if not in a cell next door to Mukoko. That's what you get for being honest in Zimbabwe.
"On whether Mukoko had been tortured, Maxwell added: "The allegations as they stand and if proved are a clear violation of the three rights in the constitution."
These are the right to liberty, protection at law and right from torture. But Maxwell said the violations should not prevent Mukoko from being prosecuted but rather there should be a separate inquiry to investigate the allegations.
"We respectfully submit that yes the violations are serious, multiple and were protracted... the only meaningful redress in this case is a stay of prosecution," Gauntlet said."
Does Mugabe really expect the law courts to proceed with a flawed case whilst a separate enquiry is held into the case at the same time? How does an innocent person fight a lawful case if the State is intent on continuing with the charade?
Whatever happens, Mukoko and her co-accused are in for a serious ride...
"Zimbabwe
The case has raised tensions in a new unity government formed by arch-foes President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and is a test of the administration's commitment to democratic reforms demanded by Western donors. Mukoko says she was seized at dawn in her night dress by unidentified armed men from her home on December 3 last year and tortured before being handed over to the police 19 days later.
Her lawyer Jeremy Gauntlet told a full bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday that Mukoko's rights had been grossly violated, including by being denied medication and a lawyer, and by being kept in solitary confinement.
"The process [of her arrest] is so contaminated that you should order a stay of prosecution," Gauntlet told the court, adding that prosecutors were solely relying on evidence extracted from Mukoko during torture to prosecute her. The court reserved judgement on the matter indefinitely.
If it rules in Mukoko's favour it would affect the other activists who have made the same application at the Supreme Court.
State prosecutor Fatima Maxwell, in response to a question from Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, said the state did not dispute Mukoko's evidence and had not questioned the security agents who had abducted her. Asked if she was conceding that Mukoko's abduction and detention were illegal, Maxwell told the court: "Yes my Lord."
And Maxwell will probably find herself divested of her job, if not in a cell next door to Mukoko. That's what you get for being honest in Zimbabwe.
"On whether Mukoko had been tortured, Maxwell added: "The allegations as they stand and if proved are a clear violation of the three rights in the constitution."
These are the right to liberty, protection at law and right from torture. But Maxwell said the violations should not prevent Mukoko from being prosecuted but rather there should be a separate inquiry to investigate the allegations.
"We respectfully submit that yes the violations are serious, multiple and were protracted... the only meaningful redress in this case is a stay of prosecution," Gauntlet said."
Does Mugabe really expect the law courts to proceed with a flawed case whilst a separate enquiry is held into the case at the same time? How does an innocent person fight a lawful case if the State is intent on continuing with the charade?
-o00o-
Do we expect that the Mugabe administration will abide by this high court ruling?
"A high court judge in Zimbabwe on Friday ordered the release of a top official of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party after he had been locked up for 11 days on what the MDC called "trumped-up charges." MDC director-general Toendepi Shonhe was arrested earlier this month for reporting to police that four other MDC activists, released in March after having been abducted and held in illegal detention for nearly six months, had been abducted again.
Police said they had not been abducted, but collected by officers for further investigations in alleged terrorism charges. They then arrested Shonhe on charges of perjury.
The arrest indicates that tensions remain high between the MDC and the ZANU PF party of President Robert Mugabe, which the MDC said was behind the incarceration."
There was a time that I was building a list of all of the court orders that Mugabe, his party and the police has chosen to ignore and defy - but it actually got that unwieldy and large that I abandoned it. I am sorry that I stopped it now.
"When Shonhe appeared in court a week ago, a magistrate granted him bail. But authorities appealed against his decision, effectively forcing him to wait for the appeal to be lodged.
However, the appeal had not been lodged a week after the initial sentencing. Instead, the state on Friday appealed to the higher court against granting Shonhe bail.
Judge Felistas Chatukuta dismissed the appeal after hearing arguments that there was "no merit" to the state's case."
'No merit' will not deter Mugabe. More 'evidence' will be brought up, made up and 'found' - and the case will continue...
"Shonhe has lodged an appeal to the supreme court to strike down the provision forcing suspects to stay in custody if the state lodges an appeal, on the grounds that it contravened the rights of accused persons.
The provision has been used repeatedly against opponents of Mugabe ever since Tsvangirai and Mugabe entered into a coalition transitional government."
This is the nature of the inclusive government. Mugabe and his party will attempt to prosecute where they can - and where they can't then the 'accused' persons will be held incommunicado and in a secret place until they feel that the time is right to produce them in court.
When it comes to ZANU PF, the law means absolutely nothing - at home or abroad. And, it would appear, that no one or no organisation is prepared to go toe-to-toe against the regime.
"A high court judge in Zimbabwe on Friday ordered the release of a top official of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party after he had been locked up for 11 days on what the MDC called "trumped-up charges." MDC director-general Toendepi Shonhe was arrested earlier this month for reporting to police that four other MDC activists, released in March after having been abducted and held in illegal detention for nearly six months, had been abducted again.
Police said they had not been abducted, but collected by officers for further investigations in alleged terrorism charges. They then arrested Shonhe on charges of perjury.
The arrest indicates that tensions remain high between the MDC and the ZANU PF party of President Robert Mugabe, which the MDC said was behind the incarceration."
There was a time that I was building a list of all of the court orders that Mugabe, his party and the police has chosen to ignore and defy - but it actually got that unwieldy and large that I abandoned it. I am sorry that I stopped it now.
"When Shonhe appeared in court a week ago, a magistrate granted him bail. But authorities appealed against his decision, effectively forcing him to wait for the appeal to be lodged.
However, the appeal had not been lodged a week after the initial sentencing. Instead, the state on Friday appealed to the higher court against granting Shonhe bail.
Judge Felistas Chatukuta dismissed the appeal after hearing arguments that there was "no merit" to the state's case."
'No merit' will not deter Mugabe. More 'evidence' will be brought up, made up and 'found' - and the case will continue...
"Shonhe has lodged an appeal to the supreme court to strike down the provision forcing suspects to stay in custody if the state lodges an appeal, on the grounds that it contravened the rights of accused persons.
The provision has been used repeatedly against opponents of Mugabe ever since Tsvangirai and Mugabe entered into a coalition transitional government."
This is the nature of the inclusive government. Mugabe and his party will attempt to prosecute where they can - and where they can't then the 'accused' persons will be held incommunicado and in a secret place until they feel that the time is right to produce them in court.
When it comes to ZANU PF, the law means absolutely nothing - at home or abroad. And, it would appear, that no one or no organisation is prepared to go toe-to-toe against the regime.
-o00o-
I said that Mugabe would not be amused with Tsvangirai. I said thatMugabe will rip into him - and that is what has happened.
"As Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai concluded his Western tour Friday inFrance
In an interview broadcast on state television, Mr Mugabe chided Mr Tsvangirai over his high-level contacts with leaders including US President Barack Obama, saying "these that you call your friends" were "imperialists" who could never be friends of "people that desire... freedom."
Two points here. Firstly, Mugabe neatly forgets that he was once the darling of the West and it was various Western governments that effected his rise to power.
Secondly, Mugabe sent Tsvangirai into the world as the 'acceptable' face of the unity government. He faced a call for more reforms and any aid promises would be through aid programmes and agencies.
Does that not tell Mugabe something?
Why is it that Mugabe homes in on 'sanctions'? Surely, if he were the humanitarian that he would have the world believe he is, his main thrust would be to improve the life standards of the Zimbabwean people?
"Other ZANU PF officials, speaking through state media, have been critical of Mr Tsvangirai’s just-ending three-week Western tour, during which he re-engaged Western governments and sought reconstruction aid. Mr Obama and other Western leaders said development aid depends on reform in human rights and the rule of law, among other issues.
Mr Mugabe saidZimbabwe Far East where he turned to after relations with the West soured in the past decade."
Sadly, Mugabe has missed the point entirely and has told the world that any money raised in the East would be used to 'prop up' ZANU PF and make the party a more presentable creation for the voters.
The profile of ZANU PF can never be disguised, no matter how much money is thrown at it.
And Mugabe misses the opportunity to draw the Zimbabwean people closer to him with this outburst.
"Harare-based independent political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo of VOA's Studio 7 forZimbabwe
"As Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai concluded his Western tour Friday in
In an interview broadcast on state television, Mr Mugabe chided Mr Tsvangirai over his high-level contacts with leaders including US President Barack Obama, saying "these that you call your friends" were "imperialists" who could never be friends of "people that desire... freedom."
Two points here. Firstly, Mugabe neatly forgets that he was once the darling of the West and it was various Western governments that effected his rise to power.
Secondly, Mugabe sent Tsvangirai into the world as the 'acceptable' face of the unity government. He faced a call for more reforms and any aid promises would be through aid programmes and agencies.
Does that not tell Mugabe something?
Why is it that Mugabe homes in on 'sanctions'? Surely, if he were the humanitarian that he would have the world believe he is, his main thrust would be to improve the life standards of the Zimbabwean people?
"Other ZANU PF officials, speaking through state media, have been critical of Mr Tsvangirai’s just-ending three-week Western tour, during which he re-engaged Western governments and sought reconstruction aid. Mr Obama and other Western leaders said development aid depends on reform in human rights and the rule of law, among other issues.
Mr Mugabe said
Sadly, Mugabe has missed the point entirely and has told the world that any money raised in the East would be used to 'prop up' ZANU PF and make the party a more presentable creation for the voters.
The profile of ZANU PF can never be disguised, no matter how much money is thrown at it.
And Mugabe misses the opportunity to draw the Zimbabwean people closer to him with this outburst.
"Harare-based independent political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo of VOA's Studio 7 for
-o00o-
For almost 30 years, Mugabe has gotten his own way in Zimbabwe. In the last year or so, some of his control seems to have been wrested from him. And I am not so sure that he is too happy about it.
"Two ZANU PF legislators yesterday defied their party by refusing to appear before a disciplinary hearing arguing that the issues raised were insignificant.
Chivi North Member of Parliament Tranos Huruva and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti Mwenezi east legislator yesterday refused to attend a party disciplinary hearing in which they were supposed to answer charges of placing the party’s name in disrepute when they engaged in a fist fight following district elections in Mwenezi last month.
"We can not attend such a hearing when the issues raised are so insignificant," said Huruva. "Even if they summon us a hundred times were will not attend."
Bhasikiti also said that he had snubbed the hearing because it was not important.
When the MP says that he has more important things to attend to, I wonder what he means? Does he mean that he is busy feathering his own nest, or is he working to improve the living standards of the Zimbabweans within his constituency?
I will not presume to make a decision on the answer.
"The Masvingo ZANU PF provincial executive had summoned the two to answer charges of putting the name of the party into disrepute after they engaged in a fist fight following a restructuring exercise of the Mwenezi district executive committee. At least four party members were injured in the ensuing melee.
The hearing had been scheduled for yesterday but did not take place when the two legislators failed to turn up."
Just being a member of ZANU PF is questionable - and when two legislators deem it necessary to resolve their differences with violence - well, it sort of fits the mold.
"Two ZANU PF legislators yesterday defied their party by refusing to appear before a disciplinary hearing arguing that the issues raised were insignificant.
Chivi North Member of Parliament Tranos Huruva and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti Mwenezi east legislator yesterday refused to attend a party disciplinary hearing in which they were supposed to answer charges of placing the party’s name in disrepute when they engaged in a fist fight following district elections in Mwenezi last month.
"We can not attend such a hearing when the issues raised are so insignificant," said Huruva. "Even if they summon us a hundred times were will not attend."
Bhasikiti also said that he had snubbed the hearing because it was not important.
When the MP says that he has more important things to attend to, I wonder what he means? Does he mean that he is busy feathering his own nest, or is he working to improve the living standards of the Zimbabweans within his constituency?
I will not presume to make a decision on the answer.
"The Masvingo ZANU PF provincial executive had summoned the two to answer charges of putting the name of the party into disrepute after they engaged in a fist fight following a restructuring exercise of the Mwenezi district executive committee. At least four party members were injured in the ensuing melee.
The hearing had been scheduled for yesterday but did not take place when the two legislators failed to turn up."
Just being a member of ZANU PF is questionable - and when two legislators deem it necessary to resolve their differences with violence - well, it sort of fits the mold.
-o00o-
"There are reports that the Attorney General is ready to formally charge Finance Minister Tendai Biti with treason, and to also arrest Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma on kidnapping charges, SW Radio Africa has been told.
A highly placed source in the MDC told us on Friday that Johannes Tomana, under instruction from some members of ZANU PF, has already crafted the indictment charge sheet and was waiting for Biti to return fromLondon Harare Brussels London
The Finance Minister, who is also the secretary general of the MDC, confirmed to SW Radio Africa about the plot. "Yes I’ve heard of the plan (arrest) from reliable sources but I can’t comment any further," Biti said."
Mugabe does this sort of thing to deflect the attention elsewhere. He is very accomplished at this - and it has proved to be very successful in the past.
Biti is at the helm of the finance ministry - and with that position comes the ability to delve into the financial misgovernance by ZANU OF in previous years.
Why not have the threat of prison (or worse) hanging over Biti's head?
"The state first laid the treason charges against Biti last year, for allegedly authoring a document said to have contained details of a plot to ‘fix’ the election outcome.
Biti denies the allegations and maintains charges against him were politically motivated.
Authorities last year April produced a secret document, alleged to have been drafted by Biti, showing how teachers employed by the electoral commission had agreed to overstate the MDC votes, in return for payment. The document has already been discredited and most analysts point a finger towards the agents of the Central Intelligence Agency for drafting it."
We don't expect anything less from Mugabe and his followers.
"Not much is known about the Mangoma kidnapping allegation, but the Makoni North MP and MDC deputy treasurer-general, has been arrested on countless occasions in the last two years. On all occasions he has been released without being charged.
"In simple, this will be the end of the Inclusive Government, surely because one would be hard pressed to justify why we should continue to be part of the ‘half fish-half human’ government,’ our source said.
Political analyst Glen Mpani warned that the consequences of such arrests would be costly, and unimaginable. "The plot to arrest Biti and Mangoma is ample evidence all is not well in the inclusive government. What it simply shows is that the hardliners will stop at nothing to try and ensure that they entrap those they consider to be the key pillars in the sustenance of the life of the MDC," Mpani said."
-o00o-
"There are reports that the Attorney General is ready to formally charge Finance Minister Tendai Biti with treason, and to also arrest Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma on kidnapping charges, SW Radio Africa has been told.
A highly placed source in the MDC told us on Friday that Johannes Tomana, under instruction from some members of ZANU PF, has already crafted the indictment charge sheet and was waiting for Biti to return from
The Finance Minister, who is also the secretary general of the MDC, confirmed to SW Radio Africa about the plot. "Yes I’ve heard of the plan (arrest) from reliable sources but I can’t comment any further," Biti said."
Mugabe does this sort of thing to deflect the attention elsewhere. He is very accomplished at this - and it has proved to be very successful in the past.
Biti is at the helm of the finance ministry - and with that position comes the ability to delve into the financial misgovernance by ZANU OF in previous years.
Why not have the threat of prison (or worse) hanging over Biti's head?
"The state first laid the treason charges against Biti last year, for allegedly authoring a document said to have contained details of a plot to ‘fix’ the election outcome.
Biti denies the allegations and maintains charges against him were politically motivated.
Authorities last year April produced a secret document, alleged to have been drafted by Biti, showing how teachers employed by the electoral commission had agreed to overstate the MDC votes, in return for payment. The document has already been discredited and most analysts point a finger towards the agents of the Central Intelligence Agency for drafting it."
We don't expect anything less from Mugabe and his followers.
"Not much is known about the Mangoma kidnapping allegation, but the Makoni North MP and MDC deputy treasurer-general, has been arrested on countless occasions in the last two years. On all occasions he has been released without being charged.
"In simple, this will be the end of the Inclusive Government, surely because one would be hard pressed to justify why we should continue to be part of the ‘half fish-half human’ government,’ our source said.
Political analyst Glen Mpani warned that the consequences of such arrests would be costly, and unimaginable. "The plot to arrest Biti and Mangoma is ample evidence all is not well in the inclusive government. What it simply shows is that the hardliners will stop at nothing to try and ensure that they entrap those they consider to be the key pillars in the sustenance of the life of the MDC," Mpani said."
Take care.
'debvhu
'debvhu
posted by Robb WJ Ellis at 7:20 AM
Union Jack (1963 - 64, 1998 - ??)
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