Saturday, 26th June 2010
Howzit
News on the ground in and about Zimbabwe this morning is very sparse. Perhaps the political wheels in Zimbabwe are taking a short break to recharge their batteries, or perhaps the people are genuinely tired and are more interested in the FIFA World Cup.
But it doesn't mean that the whole country has stopped.
But it doesn't mean that the whole country has stopped.
The rumour mill in Southern Africa - soon followed by the world - worked overtime yesterday. Stories began to be spread that Gideon Gono, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, unilaterally appointed by Robert Mugabe, had died in a car smash on Wednesday on his way to Chiredzi.
Then we discovered that only one internet newspaper had been taken in by the story, and last evening I was reading stories that said that Mugabe's office had delayed the announcement of Gono's death because the President was in Maputo in Mozambique.
Gono's own newspaper published a story stating that reports of the accident and Gono's death were false.
In conversation with a fellow Zimbabwean yesterday I wrote: "Of course, I wouldn't put it beyond Mugabe to engineer the death of someone like Gono. It would save him losing face if he is forced to sack him from the RBZ. A coincidental and advantageous departure into the nest world could suit Mugabe and his administration down to the ground.
But the question I have is, who would have started such a rumour and to what end?"
And I see that the pro-Mugabe police, who very seldom react to serious reports of violence and abduction, are falling over themselves to investigate the source of the rumour. What measure do the ZRP use when dealing with various reports?
"A senior police officer in Harare yesterday said police were now trying to establish the source of the rumour of that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono has died when the central bank chief is alive and well.
Harare
The reports said the RBZ boss was involved in an accident while travelling from Chiredzi."
I see also that Gono was gushing with compliments for The Herald for not running the story. Based upon that logic, how come Gono hasn't complimented me as well for not running the story?
"Speaking from his home where he was watching the FIFA World Cup match between theNetherlands Cameroon
"I never even had a tyre puncture or stopped anywhere on the road.
"Why do people wish me bad things?"
He even gave his mobile phone to his wife and his 10-year-old son to confirm that he was fine and at home."
How does giving your mobile phone to your wife and son prove that you are alive?
I ask again, why would someone begin such a rumour and to what end?
"The Zim Diaspora.com was also inundated with calls from across the world inquiring whether Dr Gono had actually died. This was after theUK
"For someone masquerading as journalist and the just publish news without verifying it’s a travesty to journalism which calls for the need of journalism training. It is a clear sign that this online publication (named) is being run by someone who needs training," said Themba Nkala a journalism lecturer."
What kind of word is "unjournalistically"? And this from a lecturer...
Then we discovered that only one internet newspaper had been taken in by the story, and last evening I was reading stories that said that Mugabe's office had delayed the announcement of Gono's death because the President was in Maputo in Mozambique.
Gono's own newspaper published a story stating that reports of the accident and Gono's death were false.
In conversation with a fellow Zimbabwean yesterday I wrote: "Of course, I wouldn't put it beyond Mugabe to engineer the death of someone like Gono. It would save him losing face if he is forced to sack him from the RBZ. A coincidental and advantageous departure into the nest world could suit Mugabe and his administration down to the ground.
But the question I have is, who would have started such a rumour and to what end?"
And I see that the pro-Mugabe police, who very seldom react to serious reports of violence and abduction, are falling over themselves to investigate the source of the rumour. What measure do the ZRP use when dealing with various reports?
"A senior police officer in Harare yesterday said police were now trying to establish the source of the rumour of that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono has died when the central bank chief is alive and well.
Harare
The reports said the RBZ boss was involved in an accident while travelling from Chiredzi."
I see also that Gono was gushing with compliments for The Herald for not running the story. Based upon that logic, how come Gono hasn't complimented me as well for not running the story?
"Speaking from his home where he was watching the FIFA World Cup match between the
"I never even had a tyre puncture or stopped anywhere on the road.
"Why do people wish me bad things?"
He even gave his mobile phone to his wife and his 10-year-old son to confirm that he was fine and at home."
How does giving your mobile phone to your wife and son prove that you are alive?
I ask again, why would someone begin such a rumour and to what end?
"The Zim Diaspora.com was also inundated with calls from across the world inquiring whether Dr Gono had actually died. This was after the
"For someone masquerading as journalist and the just publish news without verifying it’s a travesty to journalism which calls for the need of journalism training. It is a clear sign that this online publication (named) is being run by someone who needs training," said Themba Nkala a journalism lecturer."
What kind of word is "unjournalistically"? And this from a lecturer...
-o00o-
Whatever the story, Mugabe's hand is more than evident when it comes to the diamond fields. And when it comes to just who has any authority over the diamonds find, Mugabe likes to appoint people who he knows will exert whatever pressure is required to underline ZANU PF's autocracy.
"President Robert Mugabe appointed pal Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba to command the Chiadzwa diamond fields, according to The Zimbabwean newspaper. Nyikayaramba's promotion gives him power to run the third infantry brigade in Mutare and replaces Brigadier General Richman Ncube, who, it was alleged, was demoted for "failing to rein in junior [sic] who were scrambling for diamonds. There have been reports of soldiers shooting each other in squabbles over the gems".
The Zimbabwean, which is based in the UK and often viewed as critical of Mugabe's party, printed: "Our military source said the swift movement of Nyikayaramba is designed to restore discipline and sanity. It is also meant to ensure the loyalty of the senior military commander by giving him illicit access to Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth"."
Restore "sanity"? There never was such a thing in the diamond fields!
The mining of diamonds in Zimbabwe continues to be a huge thorn in the flesh for all Zimbabweans as it has brought nothing but death and destruction to the area, whilst Mugabe's administration have obviously got no intention of playing the find fairly.
The diamonds are a natural national resource that Mugabe has turned into a ZANU PF acquisition and he has no intention of the proceeds of the precious stones' sale ever reaching national coffers.
"Nyikayaramba was described as being a longtime loyalist to Mugabe's ZANU PF party and played "crucial roles" in the past two elections in as much as "covertly" taking control of the "presidential election machinery to ensure (Mugabe's) victory in the 2008 run-off vote...
Meanwhile in Harare this morning, Zimbabwe's government controlled newspaper, The Herald, told its readers that Israel - the Kimberley Process country chair this year - called for "everything possible to be done to ensure Zimbabwe remains within the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme saying the country has the potential to supply nearly a quarter of global demand".
The newspaper only named Israel's diamond controller Shmuel Mordechai and industry consultant Chaim Even-Zohar as making this call for support and aligned comments with Zimbabwe's mines minister Obert Mpofu who told delegates that his nation had met minimum Kimberley Process requirements."
Zimbabwe's mine minister's announcement that the country intended to trade the diamonds whether they got KP clearance or not is highly indicative of the disdain they hold for not just the KP, but any international body that could stop or slow down Zimbabwe's alacrity to dispose of the diamonds of dubious source.
"The Herald quoted Mpofu telling Kimberley Process delegates in Tel Aviv this week: "I would like to take this opportunity to advise that Zimbabwe will be immediately exporting its diamond stockpiles because we are Kimberley Process compliant and we need the money to drive the economy forward."
Mpofu was quoted saying that Zimbabwe would be contributing "more than 30 percent of the diamonds produced in the world."
"We shall be selling with certificates issued by ourselves and in this regard the Kimberley Process monitor (Abbey Chikane) will be free to supervise the exports," the mines minister said."
The statement is also indicative of the self-importance that the Mugabe administration has placed on the diamond find, although there have been human rights abuses and rampant theft of the diamonds by those who are supposed to safeguards the resource.
I often talk about the comment made by a soldier detailed off in Marange to protect the diamonds from illegal diamond miners, who supported the idea of helping himself, saying: "It is hard for someone to die of thirst when they are standing in a river".
"President Robert Mugabe appointed pal Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba to command the Chiadzwa diamond fields, according to The Zimbabwean newspaper. Nyikayaramba's promotion gives him power to run the third infantry brigade in Mutare and replaces Brigadier General Richman Ncube, who, it was alleged, was demoted for "failing to rein in junior [sic] who were scrambling for diamonds. There have been reports of soldiers shooting each other in squabbles over the gems".
The Zimbabwean, which is based in the UK and often viewed as critical of Mugabe's party, printed: "Our military source said the swift movement of Nyikayaramba is designed to restore discipline and sanity. It is also meant to ensure the loyalty of the senior military commander by giving him illicit access to Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth"."
Restore "sanity"? There never was such a thing in the diamond fields!
The mining of diamonds in Zimbabwe continues to be a huge thorn in the flesh for all Zimbabweans as it has brought nothing but death and destruction to the area, whilst Mugabe's administration have obviously got no intention of playing the find fairly.
The diamonds are a natural national resource that Mugabe has turned into a ZANU PF acquisition and he has no intention of the proceeds of the precious stones' sale ever reaching national coffers.
"Nyikayaramba was described as being a longtime loyalist to Mugabe's ZANU PF party and played "crucial roles" in the past two elections in as much as "covertly" taking control of the "presidential election machinery to ensure (Mugabe's) victory in the 2008 run-off vote...
Meanwhile in Harare this morning, Zimbabwe's government controlled newspaper, The Herald, told its readers that Israel - the Kimberley Process country chair this year - called for "everything possible to be done to ensure Zimbabwe remains within the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme saying the country has the potential to supply nearly a quarter of global demand".
The newspaper only named Israel's diamond controller Shmuel Mordechai and industry consultant Chaim Even-Zohar as making this call for support and aligned comments with Zimbabwe's mines minister Obert Mpofu who told delegates that his nation had met minimum Kimberley Process requirements."
Zimbabwe's mine minister's announcement that the country intended to trade the diamonds whether they got KP clearance or not is highly indicative of the disdain they hold for not just the KP, but any international body that could stop or slow down Zimbabwe's alacrity to dispose of the diamonds of dubious source.
"The Herald quoted Mpofu telling Kimberley Process delegates in Tel Aviv this week: "I would like to take this opportunity to advise that Zimbabwe will be immediately exporting its diamond stockpiles because we are Kimberley Process compliant and we need the money to drive the economy forward."
Mpofu was quoted saying that Zimbabwe would be contributing "more than 30 percent of the diamonds produced in the world."
"We shall be selling with certificates issued by ourselves and in this regard the Kimberley Process monitor (Abbey Chikane) will be free to supervise the exports," the mines minister said."
The statement is also indicative of the self-importance that the Mugabe administration has placed on the diamond find, although there have been human rights abuses and rampant theft of the diamonds by those who are supposed to safeguards the resource.
I often talk about the comment made by a soldier detailed off in Marange to protect the diamonds from illegal diamond miners, who supported the idea of helping himself, saying: "It is hard for someone to die of thirst when they are standing in a river".
-o00o-
And while everyone was trying to find out if Gono was indeed dead, it was ZANU PF business as usual elsewhere in the country...
"Three MDC activists were on Thursday abducted by State security agents in Chief Svosve area’s in Mashonaland East province and their whereabouts remain unknown.
According to eyewitnesses, Rodreck Shamu and Temba Masimara of Marondera East were abducted by a group of armed men who were driving a white double-cab CAM truck.
Shamu was the first to be abducted at Twoboy business centre while the same people followed Masimara and kidnapped him at Village 17 in ward 21 of Marondera East. Another MDC activist, only identified as Makunyadze, was later abducted by the same people outside Marondera Hotel.
The three had been instrumental in mobilising MDC supporters in the area to participate in the on-going Constitution-making process.
The whereabouts of the three remains unknown and the MDC fears for their safety."
But I doubt we will see the police investigating the report - they are probably too busy looking for the source of the Gono story...
"Three MDC activists were on Thursday abducted by State security agents in Chief Svosve area’s in Mashonaland East province and their whereabouts remain unknown.
According to eyewitnesses, Rodreck Shamu and Temba Masimara of Marondera East were abducted by a group of armed men who were driving a white double-cab CAM truck.
Shamu was the first to be abducted at Twoboy business centre while the same people followed Masimara and kidnapped him at Village 17 in ward 21 of Marondera East. Another MDC activist, only identified as Makunyadze, was later abducted by the same people outside Marondera Hotel.
The three had been instrumental in mobilising MDC supporters in the area to participate in the on-going Constitution-making process.
The whereabouts of the three remains unknown and the MDC fears for their safety."
But I doubt we will see the police investigating the report - they are probably too busy looking for the source of the Gono story...
-o00o-
Take care.
'debvhu
'debvhu
posted by Robb WJ Ellis at 6:23 AM
Union Jack (1963 - 64, 1998 - ??)
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