Wednesday, 31st March 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

-o00o-

This was all over the headlines on television here in the UK yesterday and what I was happy about was that this didn't take years to come to court and justice is seen to be served swiftly.

"A Zimbabwean man has been jailed for life with a minimum of 28 years after being found guilty of strangling his children in a bid to punish his estranged wife for looking for new lovers on the internet.

Petros Mwashita is related to former ZANU PF MP and CIO operative Vivian Mwashita.

Petros Williams, 37, killed his four-year-old daughter Yolanda, and his son Theo, 2, after a filming a 'farewell' video at their Whalley Range home last October.

The finance officer, of Lansbury House, Whalley Road, denied murdering them both in a Manchester Crown Court trial. But, after just one and a half hours of deliberation the jury returned with unanimous guilty verdicts."

I have a question. If this man is related to a known ZANU PF apologist and CIO operative, just what is he doing in the UK? I hear that people will say that if he is a relative, then he doesn't necessarily share the same sympathies as Mugabe-ites, but surely the fact that he murdered his two very young children disproves that?

"Steroid-abuser Williams used internet cable to kill the children in what was described as a ‘symbolic’ gesture to his wife, Morongoe Molemohi. She had recently walked out on him after suffering domestic abuse and had begun looking for a new boyfriend online.

On October 14 she returned from the hotel in Harpurhey where she had been staying to help get Yolanda, a pupil at Our Lady’s RC primary in Whalley Range, ready for school.

She found Mr Williams lying in the bed next to the children. At first, she thought they were asleep, but when she touched them they were ‘stone cold’.

A distraught Miss Molemohi told a 999 operator ‘my husband has killed my children’. The court heard a harrowing tape of the call, in which Miss Molemohi can be heard battling to save the children.

A ‘farewell’ video recorded by Mr Williams with the children was found at the property. The smiling children are encouraged to say ‘bye mummy’ and ‘we will miss you’ to the camera as they watch X-Factor on TV. The tape was labelled ‘daddy, Yolly, Theo, 11 October 09, byee, the end’.

A note was also found which read ‘play the video we made for your memories, thank you Petros’. Another read, ‘sorry mummy decided to leave us for new boyfriend’, and another said ‘Mo, use the internet as much as you like, luv Petros'."

Capital punishment is not in force in the UK, and this man will have shelter and food every day for the duration of his sentence - much, much more than he gave his children.

-o00o-

Today will be a difficult day for Bennett. Bhunu will deliver his ruling as to whether the legal debacle will continue. If you read through the reports on the case from the beginning, then you will see that the Attorney-General, who is personally prosecuting the case, has offered very little to base his allegations upon, and has, at times, attempted to hoodwink the court when it comes to the fact.

"High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu is expected to deliver his ruling Wednesday on whether or not Roy Bennett should be acquitted.

The MDC-T Treasurer General is accused of plotting to assassinate Robert Mugabe in 2006 - an allegation that was thrown out in an earlier case against other MDC members.

Earlier this month Bennett’s lawyers told the court that facts presented by the State were not sufficient enough to have a conviction against their client and that he had no case to answer.

The State’s case had crumbled after its star witness, Peter Hitchmann, told the court that he was tortured into implicating the MDC official.

Bennett is accused of conspiring with Hitschmann to possess weapons of war to commit acts of sabotage, insurgency or terrorism.

The State, represented by the controversial Attorney General Johannes Tomana, is opposing the application made by the defence to have their client acquitted."

The State will want to perpetuate the case as it is pivotal in Mugabe's resistance to swearing the Deputy Minister for Agriculture designate, and in the event that he is discharged, I reckon that Mugabe will drop all pretence and just plain refuse to swear Bennett into cabinet.

In Zimbabwe, what Mugabe says and what Mugabe does are two entirely different things and he will sustain his resistance to change. It will also be very interesting to see what happens to Attorney-General Tomana in the event that the case is thrown out.

And, just as I was preparing the final format for this posting to be published, this just in...

"As Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett arrived at the High Court in Harare on Wednesday to hear whether his application for a dismissal of the state's terrorism trial against him was successful, authorities moved to slap him with new charges - this time for possession of a large amount of maize.

Bennett was summoned to appear in court on April 6 on charges of being in unlawful possession of 109 tons of maize on his farm in October 2001.

Authorities had seized the maize, which Bennett says he grew on the farm for stockfeed and to feed his workers. But no charges were laid until now.

"It's preposterous, absolutely preposterous," said the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) politician, who was nominated by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the post of deputy agriculture minister in the country's unity government.

"These people (President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party, which controls the attorney-general's office) have no will to move this process forward and bring democracy and making a better life for the people," he said angrily.

The development came as the High Court was due to rule on Bennett's application to have charges of terrorism against him thrown out in a case that has drawn out for over a year.

Bennett was arrested a few days before he was due to be sworn in as deputy minister last year and charged with terrorism, banditry and sabotage for allegedly plotting to blow up radio communications masts east of Harare - charges he emphatically denies.

The MDC sees the case as an attempt to keep Bennett, whose farm was expropriated by Mugabe loyalists, out of government.

The hearing has seen the state's case collapse on its key claim that Bennett and Michael Hitschmann, a French-born local firearms trader, exchanged emails planning the alleged sabotage.

Mugabe has been using the case against Bennett as a reason for refusing to swear in Bennett - one of the main sticking points in negotiations between the MDC and ZANU PF on implementing their 2008 unity accord."

Clearly ZANU PF are scraping the bottom of the barrel now... (My thanks to NN for alerting me to this update.)

-o00o-

Mugabe almost daily calls for the lifting of "illegal and economic sanctions" on Zimbabwe - whilst the limiting measures are targeted travel sanctions only. I have likened the measures to Mugabe's refusal to allow a UN torture expert into the country a few months back.

Travel sanctions are basically the control by participating countries of just who enters their countries.

"France has denied Robert Mugabe's rogue Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa a visa to attend a Zimbabwe-European Union re-engagement meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

France is in charge of granting Belgian visas to Zimbabweans. It also emerged yesterday that the EU has deferred the meeting scheduled for this week to April 21 though no reasons were given.

Last week, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the talks would resume this week.

Divisional head for policy, research and training in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sam Mhango, said the Zimbabwe delegation would now travel to Europe on April 21.

"The EU has sent an invitation to the Zimbabwean delegation to visit Europe on April 21.

"In her invitation letter, EU representative for foreign and security policy Catherine Ashton said the European bloc would receive the Zimbabwean delegation," said Mr Mhango."

I see nothing wrong with denying a visa to Chinamasa. I will no doubt be shouted down for this stance - and Mugabe will allege that the decision is 'racist' and 'immoral' - or words to that effect.

"Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi heads an inter-ministerial committee representing Zimbabwe at the talks.

Other members of the committee are ministers Chinamasa, Tendai Biti (Finance), Elton Mangoma (Economic Planning), Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (International Co-operation), and Welshman Ncube (Industry).

However, it emerged that Minister Chinamasa had problems in getting his visa with the French Embassy in Harare. The French said he was on a list of people barred from travelling to the EU.

This is the second time that the minister has had problems in attending the talks because of visa issues."

I expect a lot of finger pointing and accusations because of the visa denial.

"France represents Belgium for the granting of visas for Zimbabweans but as Mr Chinamasa is on the EU travel ban list, it is only Belgium itself which can decide whether it accepts the visa or not for the Minister.

"So we told him we could not deliver the visa - and not that we did not want to - and told him to apply directly to the Belgian Embassy in South Africa, which is competent.

"France is supporting the inclusive ministerial visit to Brussels to promote the EU-Zimbabwe political dialogue and will do all it can to facilitate this visit for the whole delegation," he said."

-o00o-

"ZANU PF bigwigs in the politically volatile Masvingo province have unleashed the partisan police force to arrest hundreds of MDC-T activists in Masvingo West under the guise of a clampdown on illegal mining activities in a well-orchestrated plan to weaken the former opposition party now part of a coalition government.

It emerged this week that police had rounded up mainly known MDC-T activists in Masvingo West following a government-sanctioned clampdown on illegal mining activities at Kimberly and Kismet ranches, in an attempt to weaken the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that wrestled the seat from ZANU PF during the 2008 harmonised polls.

At least 150 suspected illegal miners, mostly MDC supporters were arrested and locked by police following a brutal crackdown in the gold-rich Masvingo West in what is believed to be an attempt to reduce the influence of the former opposition party which gave President Mugabe and his ZANU PF party the sternest challenge to his vice-like grip rule since independence.

ZANU PF Masvingo special interests and self-proclaimed war collaborator Namatirai Chivanga together with her acolytes linked to a faction led by presidential aspirant Emmerson Mnangagwa, is reportedly behind the operation to lock up MDC supporters in Masvingo West in an attempt to weaken the former opposition party."

And no one will lift a finger to help. The MDC will appeal for some sort of assistance to stop this behaviour but ZANU PF are a force to be afraid of - and ZANU PF make sure that everyone knows about it.

"We were just told point blank to go and arrest MDC supporters who were identified to us by members of the ZANU PF youth league who accompanied us to carry the operation against illegal panners. There was no choice for us because during the crackdown the youths (ZANU PF) openly told us that some of the panners who we wanted to arrest were sacred cows and were supposed to be left out," ’said a policeman who took part in the operation against the illegal panners but refused to be named for fear of reprisals.

MDC’s Chiminya confirmed the arrest of his staunch supporters in Masvingo West under the guise of a clampdown on illegal mining saying the operation was an exercise in futility.

"There is a clear strategy to weaken the MDC in the Masvingo West by targeting our supporters and as I speak right now they arrested over 100 MDC supporters under the guise of trying to rid the constituency of illegal panners. However I must point out that the MDC will never surrender and will triumph against all sorts of evil and malicious operations," ’said a fuming Chiminya."

Selective 'justice' is an age-old method used by ZANU PF and here they are using it to their best advantage - and meanwhile, SADC mediator Jacob Zuma is doing very little to resolve the crisis, preferring to give Mugabe more time to establish his own battle lines.

-o00o-

Let's see how Mugabe likes it when the shoe is on the other foot...

"Afriforum seized a Cape Town property belonging to the Zimbabwean state, saying the move is the start of a 'civil sanctions' campaign against President Robert Mugabe's government.

"This is a process aimed at helping all the people of Zimbabwe in a way that creates hope and shows that it is possible for civil society to institute civil sanctions against a regime that does not help its people," Willie Spies, a lawyer for Afriforum, said outside of the offices of the Sheriff for the district of Cape Town.

The process started in November 2008 when the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal ruled in favour of Michael Campbell and 78 Zimbabwean farmers that the land reform program in the country was "racist and unlawful".

Mugabe described the ruling as "nonsense and of no consequence" to Zimbabwe.

The tribunal followed up its ruling with a contempt ruling and costs order in June 2009. On 26 February, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria registered the tribunal's rulings.

Four Zimbabwean properties in the Cape Town suburbs of Zonneblom, Kenilworth and Wynberg were initially identified.

Afriforum agreed to only attach the Kenilworth property, located in Salisbury Road, at this stage as its value - estimated at around R2.5 million - was sufficient to cover the cost of the order."

Mugabe will object, loudly and vociferously, that the seizure is 'illegal' and 'racist'... blah, blah, blah...

How is it that his hoodlums can seize farmlands in Zimbabwe, forcibly and with extreme prejudice, and yet when Zimbabwean property is peacefully taken in RSA, it is not acceptable?

"Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa dismissed the High Court's move as "null and void", calling the attempts to attach assets nothing more than "political grandstanding" and the properties were under diplomatic immunity.

Spies said "Zimbabwean farmers, workers and ordinary citizens" asked Afriforum for help in taking the legal process further in South Africa in September last year.

"What happened today is the attachment of a property situated in Kenilworth. It is being leased to a third party tenant. The fact that it is being leased makes it a commercial property, which makes it liable for attachment as a result of the court order."

I continue to watch the situation closely.

"Spies said the attachment was not a recovery for damages for farmers who had lost their land.

It was, he said, "a symbolic gesture to show it is possible to enforce legal principles against Zimbabwean government in South Africa".

"We see it as a way to send out a message to show the Zimbabwean government that there are certain consequences to their abuse of human rights," he said."

-o00o-

Inter-party negotiations continue, even though Mugabe has stated that his party will not concede any more to the MDC until and unless targeted travel sanctions are lifted.

We need to be aware that Mugabe should not be negotiating from a position of power as his ZANU PF party does not hold the popular mandate in parliament. His party is not the choice of the people, although he continues to 'rule' as though ZANU PF is the ruling party.

We read, in the Western newspapers about 'hung parliaments' and 'lame duck' Presidents and Prime Ministers - but somehow this does not apply to Mugabe and ZANU PF.

When were SADC going to actually intervene and restore law and order to Zimbabwe?

"South African facilitators are in Harare monitoring the inter-party dialogue as it emerges negotiators from Zimbabwe's coalition partners were late Tuesday working overtime to meet today's deadline set be Pretoria to complete negotiations on a dispute threatening the country's power-sharing government.

The talks to iron out issues still outstanding from implementation of a 2008 power-sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party and the two MDC formations led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara have dragged on since the former foes agreed to join hands in February 2009 in a coalition government that has been credited with stabilising the country's economy to improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans."

I wonder how the coalition has improved the lives of Zimbabweans if, at every turn, they are harassed, beaten, arrested, arraigned and prosecuted for the most outlandish 'crimes' - even when ZANU PF commit even worse crimes than those trumped up, without consequence.

Just a couple of days ago we read how one veteran denegrated Mugabe... has he been arrested or charged? No!

Monitoring talks is one thing - getting Mugabe to agree on anything is another. And then, ensuring that Mugabe stand by his word and signature is a mission within itself.

Has the South African President not realised that he is dealing with a cunning individual who sees every day that his 'rule' is continued as a victory?

Just when was Zuma going to admit to himself and the world that he has met his match in Mugabe and that referring the impasse back to SADC is the next obvious step? And even then SADC is reviled by Mugabe and he won't be playing their game...

"The SA facilitation team, is in town monitoring the talk which are being held at a secret location in Harare," a government official privy to the talks told ZimOnline on condition that his name was not published."

Why all the cloak and dagger? The talks are not going to amount to anything - so who cares where the talks are held?

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 30th March 2010

Howzit

I begin today with a story which is almost unbelievable. A pro-ZANU PF governor is blaming sanctions upon the fact that she travel over one thousand kilometres to work each week.

This is just plain stupid! How can targeted travel sanctions be responsible for the distance from the governor's farm near Bulawayo and her offices in Gwanda?

"Provincial governor has blamed international travel restrictions imposed by the United States and European Union member countries on President Robert Mugabe and 200 other government officials for forcing her to commute more than 240 kilometres daily to work at taxpayers' expense.

Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku (ZANU PF) says in a bid to beat the sanctions she is forced to drive more than one thousand kilometres to work each week in her chauffeur-driven government issue Mercedes Benz E280 as she commutes between a farm on the outskirts of Bulawayo and her offices in Gwanda."

If and when the travel sanctions are lifted, ZANU PF will arrange for the relocation of Gwanda to the outskirts of Bulawayo...

I fail to understand how the prevention of her travelling to participating countries can be blamed for a daily commute to Gwanda. And why is she complaining - she is driven by a chauffeur - which means that she can do some work whilst en route?

"Meanwhile, Bulawayo Metropolitan Governor, Cain Mathema, also of ZANU PF, travels a similar distance from rural Tsholotsho to the city. The two government officials jointly clock 2400km to and from work in a five-day week.

"The problems we are facing are caused by the illegal economic sanctions that were imposed by Britain and her allies. Our major buildings in Matabeleland South are still undergoing construction after many years," Masuku said."

The sanctions are neither 'illegal' nor 'economic' - but Masuku has to sing the same song as that of the President. Why the governor should tell us about slow building work and blame that on decisions made by foreign governments which have nothing to do with travel habits within Zimbabwe of ZANU PF officials is beyond me... but I do know this... travel sanctions are targeted and apply to foreign travel conducted by Mugabe and his stalwarts - and blaming the inconsistencies of government on something so disconnected is pathetic.

-o00o-

Mugabe doesn't mess about. Cross him and see how quickly the axe falls.

The only query I have with this story is will Marange face criminal charges? We have read numerous other reports before today where non-ZANU PF people have been arrested and arraigned for bringing the office of the President into disrepute for doing almost exactly the same as Marange.

But, perhaps because he is a ZANU PF supporter, even if he did utter anti-Mugabe chant, it is excusable... in ZANU PF circles at any rate.

"The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWA) has fired one of its top members after he denounced President Mugabe for continuously holding on to power.

Maxwell Marange, who was the association’s chairman in Manicaland Province, chanted slogans denouncing Mugabe in 2007 at the Meikles Park in Mutare during a march organized to support the aging leader’s presidential candidacy in the 2008 elections.

But Marange took everybody by surprise when he took to the podium and chanted: "Pasi naMugabe! (Down with Mugabe)."

Marange was among ZANU PF supporters who felt Mugabe was not the appropriate candidate to stand on behalf of ZANU PF in the 2008 harmonized poll."

It appears that not all of the ZANU PF support is behind Mugabe as he and his apologists would have us believe. Who would want a geriatric anarchist in control anyway?

"Marange was not available for comment but officials from the war veterans’ association confirmed the developments.

However, other war veterans are insisting he must be brought back saying when he denounced Mugabe he was merely expressing his own personal opinion.

"Marange was just saying what he thought was good for the party," said a war veteran based in Mutare. "After all he was right because we saw what happened. We lost the election and by the grace of God we forced a run-off. It is not healthy for people to think that Mugabe is always right."

Don't you like the reference to the vote being stolen - the unnamed veteran says that ZANU PF 'forced' a run-off. Forced it by way of misery, mayhem and murder...

"On arrival at the Meikles Park after the march from the Chiefs’ Hall, the hosting chairperson of the province was given the floor to address the gathering.

"Cde Marange chanted his slogan. In the process he was advised by the people in the gathering to raise his hand in the process of making his slogan. Cde Marange started afresh and in the process of his slogan he said ‘Down with the President’, a move which irked the gathering."

Now perhaps this veteran will discover what real life is like when Mugabe turns his back.

And ZANU PF takes corrective action against one of their own for this anti-Mugabe chant, but we read how the party often comes out with anti-MDC chants. How is that different, and how come Mugabe's party does nothing to stop the 'hate speech' as undertaken in the agreement?

-o00o-

Two stories that make me cringe. Zimbabweans who take the law into their own hands - either at home or in foreign lands - deserve no respect or mercy.

"A Zimbabwean man was beaten to death on Monday, allegedly by three Zimbabwean men who accused him of stealing their belongings in Loate, Pretoria police said.

The victim, also a Zimbabwean, was walking with two friends when they were confronted by three men during the early hours on Monday, Inspector Llisi Ramtlo said.

His friends managed to run away. His attackers allegedly accused him of robbing them of an amplifier, a cellphone and R600. They beat him to death and fled the scene."

Meanwhile, in the UK:

"A man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a woman's body in a flat.

Police were called to an address in Gotham Street, Highfields, Leicester, at about 3.10pm on Friday after concerns were raised about the occupant’s welfare. They discovered the body inside.

The 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday. He was due to appear before Leicester magistrates today.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Castle said: "We’d like to talk to anyone who was in Gotham Street from the evening prior to the body being discovered, to 3pm on Friday.”

The body of Julia Mubvumba, 44, was found at an address in Gotham Street, Highfields, on Friday.

Archibold Gurure, 34, of Humberstone Road, Leicester, was remanded by magistrates in the city to appear at Leicester Crown Court on 5 July.

Ms Mubvumba was originally from Zimbabwe but lived in Leicester, police said."

-o00p-

Zuma is finding out the hard way that whatever may be agreed behind closed doors is not necessarily what comes out in public.

Another report says that Tsvangirai's MDC party is rather surprised at Mugabe saying that no agreement was reached during Zuma's visit...

And I have to ask why the smaller faction of the MDC, led by rocket scientist Arthur Mutambara, has not weighed in with any comment.

"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."

Mugabe will say and do whatever it takes to perpetuate his grip on power. We also have to remember that his ZANU PF party do not hold the parliamentary majority in Zimbabwe, and that Mugabe's being the President was only achieved by his party 'forcing' the run-off following a reign of terror on MDC officials and supporters which left hundreds of people dead and came to an end when Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the election.

"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."

As I have explained more times than it warrants, targeted travel sanctions are not for the MDC to have removed, are the decision of foreign governments, and would only be lifted once ZANU PF stands by its word and implements the GPA...

Zuma is supposed to be Mugabe's shamwari akanaka and he won't be impressed with Bob's abrupt u-turn.

-o00p-

You may recall Mugabe's Mines Minister making the most absurd allegations against the De Beers Diamond Company, saying that they has stolen diamonds from Zimbabwe by not declaring the find...

"Diamond mining giant, De Beers has dismissed as "outrageous and incredible" allegations by the Zimbabwe government that the firm looted the Marange diamonds for 15 years without notifying authorities of the discovery.

Mines and mining development minister, Obert Mpofu early this month claimed that De Beers had extracted tonnes of diamonds from the area while giving government the impression that they were only prospecting and carrying out tests.

"Everyone knows that the diamonds at Chiadzwa are mined from the surface and De Beers was for the last 15 years alleging that they were doing prospecting and carrying out tests when in actual fact they were looting diamonds from Chiadzwa," Mpofu said.

The government says De Beers only pulled out of the country after government launched a probe into the company’s activities in the area.

However De Beers has dismissed the allegations as outrageous saying it was impossible to conduct mining activities for 15 years without attracting attention.

"If we had been mining 'tonnes' of diamonds, over a 15 year period, there would be a very large hole indeed left behind in Marange. Industrial mining of this magnitude would have been impossible to disguise, let alone keep secret," De Beers spokesperson Lynette Gould told an industry publication, Rough & Polished."

Mugabe's administration is prone to making the most far-fetched allegations - without substantiation - and then expect those that are accused to disprove the allegations. Without any substantiation these allegations hold no water and should just be ignored - rather like Mugabe ignores the needs of the people - people who he relied upon for support to put him back into office.

As De Beers says, where is the proof?

"Gould said the company started prospecting the Marange area in the early 1990s but left the country in 2006 after concluding that the deposits were not in line with the firm’s other activities elsewhere across the continent.

"Amongst the reasons for relinquishing the Marange licenses back to the government were: most significantly, after carrying out sampling across the area we concluded that the deposit did not fit the profile of our other activities elsewhere in southern Africa.

"De Beers' exploration focus is on primary deposits and our view was that our resources would be better invested in other prospective areas more suited to our commercial objectives; in addition, the (Zimbabwe) government had created an environment of uncertainty regarding the status and future of the concession and by 2006, the area was being worked by unmanaged, itinerate diggers," Gould said."

ZANU PF now runs the diamond find and although they claim to being transparent in their endeavours, I find it just a little strange that the government is broke...

"The De Beers spokesperson ruled out any future interest in the Zimbabwe diamond sector saying the company was focusing its exploration efforts on Botswana, Canada, Angola, South Africa and India.

Following De Beers departure from Marange, junior resources group African Consolidated Resources (ACR) took over the claims but government has since cancelled the company’s licence.

The state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) has since entered into joint ventures with two private companies to exploit the deposits."

-o00o-

In Zimbabwe, seized commercial farms seem to include whatever is on that land, no matter whether private property is on the land or in the homestead. And, even though the seizures are reportedly for the land and the farm improvement, private property is regularly destroyed or stolen.

"Zimbabwean Senator Roy Bennett, whose status as deputy minister of agriculture designate and prosecution on treason charges have made him a central figure in the ongoing power-sharing negotiations, said Monday that armed police barred him from his former farm though he had authorization to pick up personal effects from the property seized under land reform.

Bennett said he had a letter from the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority granting him access to Charleswood Farm to collect personal property including his father’s ashes, but was unable to do so.

Bennett told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that he and his wife Heather traveling in a vehicle with drivers were stopped at a roadblock outside Chimanimani and harassed by police who told him they did not recognize the unity government."

The police is a pro-Mugabe institution so even if the members do not recognise the unity government, they do know who pays the wages... (sort of...)

"Bennett, treasurer of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was designated deputy minister of agriculture in 2009 but President Robert Mugabe has refused to swear him in because charges have been pending that he tried to overthrow the government in 2006. Bennett's trial has been unfolding in Harare over the past month."

One wonders if the personal property of the Bennett family still is on the farm. Much had happened in Charleswood and not all of it can be published as it would cause major political fall-out.

Not long ago it transpired that diamonds had been found on the farm - but I rather think that the refusal to allow Bennett on the farm is just political posing, using the police as pawns in the bigger game of chess being played by Mugabe.

Mugabe use bully-boy tactics for almost anything he wants, and when painted into a corner, he privately makes deals - which he backs out of as quickly as he made them...

-o00o-

Some days, I have to laugh at the Blogger spell-checker. It highlights words that it suggests are spelt incorrectly - when there is nothing wrong with it - but offer no 'suggestions'...

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 29th March 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

-o00o-

I think that when you run an internet page - be it a blog or a website - that it has to be run responsibly. By messing about with a photograph in an attempt to get a laugh... well, the relevant blog or website brings themselves down with the doctored photograph used.

And this instance is just silly.

"An independent Zimbabwe Sunday newspaper apologizes to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for publishing a computer-doctored photograph showing the 83-year old monarch pregnant during news reports on a state visit earlier this month by the South African president.

The Standard says the photo was drawn in error from an Internet site satirizing South African President Jacob Zuma for his alleged promiscuity. The newspaper says the photo was printed with an article on Zuma's efforts to break a deadlock in the year-old Zimbabwe coalition on his trip to Britain, the former colonial power in Zimbabwe, headlined "Zuma UK trip successful".

The newspaper says while some readers found the photo amusing, it also caused offense and was seen as tasteless."

I am glad that The Standard elected to send an apology to the Queen.

-o00o-

When it comes to street protests in Zimbabwe, the reaction of the police to that protest depends upon who is protesting. If those that protest are pro-Mugabe then the police facilitate the progress of the march/protest and it all goes off very quietly.

Conversely, if the protesting body was anti-Mugabe then first of all there is an attempt to block the event in law courts, and if that fails, then the police are ordered to hinder the protest, effect arrests and beat people for participating.

So much for the freedom of expression in Zimbabwe.

"Zimbabwe students are planning on to stage protests countrywide on Monday in an attempt to push the country’s unity government to come up with sound policies that would put Zimbabwe back on the education map.

The national coordinator of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Mfundo Mlilo, said they had already prepared a petition to be presented to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara - the three principals in the global political agreement, which created the inclusive government."

I am a little surprised that the petition is not also to be presented to the Minister of Education, David Coltart.

And, no doubt, Mugabe will respond with a complaint that the education system in Zimbabwe has broken down because of 'illegal' sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Don't tell anyone, but the only sanctions in place in Zimbabwe are targeted travel sanctions and include Mugabe and 190-odd of his more stalwart supporters. Just how targeted travel sanctions can affect the education system, I don't know - but then you also have to remember that ZANU PF are just about the only people in Zimbabwe that can afford to send their children to universities outside of the country - and, you may recall, some of them have been sent home.

Maybe that is the breakdown of the system that Mugabe will refer to.

"While we acknowledge the positive changes that the inclusive government has brought in the economic government sector generally, we note with great concern that developments in the higher and tertiary education education sector are yet to be noticed," said Mlilo, "Education has been dollarised and the majority of students cannot afford to pay the exorbitant fees being charged by tertiary institutions. This situation has resulted in the high increase of college dropouts."

Not that many years ago, Zimbabwe was considered as having one of the highest literacy levels in Africa, and, as Mugabe's rule has forced people into the wider world, we often see and hear of educated Zimbabweans making something of themselves.

I have written before of my concern that the students of today have been robbed of their education which will mean that tomorrow's leaders will fall short of the mark.

-o00o-

In Zimbabwe, if loyalty is for sale, then Mugabe is buying...

"While the majority of the rural populace is facing serious food shortages, traditional chiefs loyal to ZANU PF's president Robert Mugabe were at the weekend given a 'big thank you' after a three-day workshop was organised for them at a local hotel.

About 20 chiefs were all so spoiled with US$300 each as per diem for the three days they attended the workshop.

Other chiefs suspected to be loyal to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party were left out, sources said."

Mugabe no longer cares who sees his duplicity. He no longer cares who he cheats or influences and doesn't care about who's toes he stand upon on the way.

And, with the economy of the country in virtual ruin, those that would be bought are more than happy to take what they can get from Mugabe and his people.

Obviously, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and, even if Mugabe has 'purchased' loyalties, there is nothing stopping those 'purchasees' from voting against his party.

"The sources said Mugabe's henchmen also used the opportunity to buy chiefs' loyalty while promising them new cars ahead of elections which Mugabe said may be held next year.

The function was also seen as a counter to MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai's drought assessment tour held three weeks ago.

ZANU PF provincial chairman, Lovemore Matuke, as well as other party stalwarts like Education Minister and Politiburo member, Stan Mudenge, senator Josiah Hungwe, politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire, addressed the chiefs.

"They were being in-doctrinated while being thanked for a job well-done. They were also promised more incentives, but told to maintain a grip on the rural populace," said a source who attended the function.

Radio VOP witnessed the chiefs feasting while also drinking expensive wines at a local hotel on a ZANU PF account.

"Mugabe is good, Hey, I had never slept in a hotel. It has also been long since I drank this beer," bragged one visibly drunk chief ordering double tots of Johnny Walker whisky."

Which also begs the question - just where is ZANU PF getting the money to sponsor this grandiose spending? For a party that is reportedly broke, this sort of spending just shouldn't happen...

But it does.

-o00o-

And whilst Mugabe is using money and alcohol in an effort to buy the loyalties of chiefs, the MDC are being lauded in other areas of the country, with "villagers in the Bota area of Zaka led by the local paramount chief, reciprocated a recent visit by PM Morgan Tsvangirai to the area, to assess the impact of this year's drought, by a hosting a traditional ceremony, Saturday, beseeching the country's ancestors to protect the MDC-T leader and give him wisdom on his mission to save Zimbabwe.

The villagers had unanimously agreed to host a special commemorative ceremony in honour of Premier Tsvangirai who two weeks ago visited the area for the first time on a mission to assess the impact of drought since his assumption of office as Prime Minister in a coalition government with President Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC faction.

Bota, in the heart of Zaka Central, is one of the three out of four constituencies in the districts that are under an MDC-T MP and the area which bore the brunt of a clampdown on opposition supporters in the run up to the discredited June 27 2008 presidential run-off."

Mugabe may be intent on buying the loyalties of chiefs with alcohol and empty promises, but this pro-MDC beseeching of ancestors for moral guidance mean a whole lot more than a baabelaas in the morning. (And, I would assume, wasn't half as expensive on the pocket, and was motivated by the people, as opposed to the political party.)

"Chief Bota said it was an honour for him and his subjects to have been visited by Tsvangirai.

''Since his entrance into politics, I had not have the opportunity to see him face to face and only for him to come here recently asking us about the issue of drought and its likely effects. To us that is what good leaders do, going right down to the people asking them about what they need, that was an honour to us that is why we decided to have this special ceremony in his honour," said Chief Bota.

In a veiled attack on President Mugabe, Chief Bota said he now understood why the MDC leader was always being beaten by the previous government.

"'I saw a character in him that convinced me that he was born to lead, he is very passionate about the plight of others especially the poor and I saw for myself why they (previous government) had to beat him the way they did because he identifies with the needs of the common man," said the Chief."

-o00o-

The World Cup football tournament is almost upon us, and, being held in South Africa, the eyes of the world will be on Southern Africa which includes South Africa's northern neighbour, Zimbabwe.

We have read of suggestions that once the FIFA tournament is over, Mugabe is intending to beat up on the population of Zimbabwe (again) and seize power (again) and rule for eternity (again).

"Zimbabwe’s hopes of earning much-needed revenue by hosting football teams before the FiIFA World Cup in June in neighbouring South Africa have been dashed: none of the 32 qualifiers chose to hold training camps here.

The government had made attracting a high-profile team to train here a priority in its rebranding and economic reconstruction efforts after 10 years of isolation and economic distress.

So serious was the government that it dispatched a ministerial delegation to Brazil in May to try to persuade football authorities there to allow the national team to stop here before the June 11-July 11 games. England, Portugal, Nigeria and Ghana were targeted, too.

Joice Mujuru, the vice president and patron of the local tourism sector, and Arthur Mutambara, the deputy prime minister steering the rebranding strategy, led a high-powered delegation that witnessed the World Cup draw in Cape Town, South Africa, in December. Their effort included courting participating teams."

Mugabe's activities in Zimbabwe, including the violence, the unabashed buying of loyalties, the suggestion that he is going to remain in power for as long as it tales, have made the country look like an unlikely sport to visit whilst in South Africa to watch the 'beautiful game'.

Why would someone want to visit Zimbabwe to see, say Victoria Falls, if the powers that be ensure that not only would it prove a very expensive sojourn, but the visitors could be at risk of the violence that is ever-present in Zimbabwe.

If the people want to visit Victoria Falls, they can do it from the Zambian side.

There isn't very much else that Zimbabwe offers that present itself above the risk of bodily violence.

"Hoteliers and restaurateurs spent large sums of money refurbishing their outlets to world-class standards. Home owners in the biggest cities, Harare and Bulawayo, and the resort town of Victoria Falls stampeded to register their houses as the government estimated that established hotels and lodges would be short of space for the anticipated influx of international sport tourists.

All the investment could virtually go to waste, Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism, said.

"We now know all the 32 teams will set up bases in the host country, South Africa. So while we remain hopeful that some teams might camp here, chances look increasingly limited. That is the small chance we are waiting for, but it isn’t promising. As you might appreciate, fans tend to follow their national teams and if we do not host any teams it is unlikely we will get any visitors."

Mugabe's attitude towards events elsewhere in the world was epitomised when he had the trophy in his hands, and then claimed that the cup had been manufactured using gold stolen from Zimbabwe.

For me, the FIFA World Cup is just a trigger which will see Mugabe up his game as soon as the tournament is over...

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Sunday, 28th March 2010

Howzit

Today is the first day of British Summer Time and the clocks have moved forward an hour, which means that we are now two hours ahead of Zimbabwe.

And would you believe that this morning we have woken up to beautiful sunshine...

-o00o-

Last week we read about Finance Minister Tendai Biti being involved in a road traffic accident near Chegutu. According to reports, the police are considering charging Biti with negligent driving.

"Finance minister Tendai Biti who survived a horrific accident on Tuesday evening could be charged with negligent driving amid reports that preliminary police investigations show that he was to blame for the crash.

Sources close to the investigations told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that the preliminary probe showed that Biti’s vehicle could have encroached into the lane of the on-coming truck.

Police national spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, yesterday said the police would not disclose their investigation to the media "just yet".

Pressed to say how the public would get to know the circumstances surrounding the accident given that it involved a public figure, Bvudzijena said that would depend on the outcome of the investigations.

“It will depend (on the outcome). If there is anyone to be prosecuted over the cause of the accident, then it may go to the courts and the public will know," Bvudzijena said."

I am not convinced that the police investigation is as impartial as suggested.

The police in Zimbabwe is pro-Mugabe and Biti is a member of the diametrically opposed MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

"Biti was driving himself when his 4X4 Toyota Hilux Vigo Twin-cab was sideswiped by a trailer of a haulage truck at the 99km-peg along the Harare-Bulawayo road.

The impact spun the car, turning it to face where it was coming from before it landed in a ditch. The vehicle is a complete write-off.

The truck belonged to Miclak Transport of Chegutu and was being driven by Knowledge Gavaza. The driver escaped unscathed.

Gavaza spent Tuesday night in police cells before being released on Wednesday after police said it was still inconclusive that he had caused the accident.

Police traffic evaluators were yesterday still gathering evidence from the scene of the accident and our source said they had collected samples of skid marks and the road surface."

Isn't it amazing that the police should lock up the truck driver for the night?

"Every detail, no matter how minute, is needed to establish or disprove any suspected attempt on the minister’s life," a source said. "The samples have been taken to Harare where forensic tests will be carried out. Initial findings however indicate the minister could face charges of negligent driving. It appears his car encroached into the lane of the haulage truck."

Biti emerged from the accident without any visible injuries but his MDC-T party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa was yesterday quoted as saying the Finance minister was complaining of chest pains."

Mugabe and his senior loyalists will obviously be pushing for Biti to be fined or prosecuted as it reflects badly upon the MDC.

-o00o-

Zuma, in a recent visit to Britain, asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to lift restrictive travel measures against Mugabe and 190-odd members and associates of his ZANU PF party, and was met with a loud and very decisive "NO!". Then, a few days later, Zuma was in Zimbabwe to talk with the three party principals and then we heard how there were big steps taken by the three in their inter-party negotiations.

That was then knocked into a cocked hat by Mugabe who has again stated that his ZANU PF party will make no further concessions until and unless the travel sanctions are lifted.

More valuable time wasted by Mugabe, who has now proved that he is not a man to be trusted.

"Travel restrictions applied by the West to Zimbabwean officials from the ZANU PF, should be lifted, Jacob Zuma, South Africa's president, has said.

The South African leader made his comments, which echo earlier calls, at the tail-end of a visit to Uganda.

Zuma is mediating in a dispute between ZANU PF, the political party of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president, and its rival, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), headed by Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's prime minister.

"What's happening is that one part of unity government, the MDC, can travel all they want, around the world and do what they want while the other part, the ZANU PF, cannot," Zuma said on Friday.

"That's impeding the functioning of the unity government and so the international community that supported the power-sharing agreement must also lift the sanctions to allow the unity government to function to its full capacity."

How can travel limitations 'impede' the unity government? Mugabe and his lackeys have often stated that the travel sanctions imposed upon them make no difference whatsoever - even though Mugabe lets fly at the West on a very regular basis,

"Zuma, who has urged Western powers to lift sanction in the past, said that should sanctions be lifted "we can make faster progress"."

The statement above would suggest that there has been some progress - even though we haven't really had any forward movement for some time.

-o00o-

And if we were left in any doubt about the intentions of Robert Mugabe, then here is absolute proof.

"President Robert Mugabe says his ZANU PF party will never give in to MDC demands for the resolution of outstanding issues to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) before the sanctions are scrapped.

"The position is that there cannot be any further concessions from us unless the illegal sanctions are gone," Mugabe said Friday.

Mugabe, who blames MDC for the targeted travel embargo on his family and some of his loyalists, was addressing a ZANU PF central committee in Harare on Friday.

Western countries that have imposed the sanctions are adamant Zimbabweans should first show commitment to their agreement before the lifting of sanctions can be considered.

During his address on Friday, Mugabe further dismissed media claims central bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana would finally relinquish their posts."

When you remember that Mugabe's ZANU PF party does not hold the parliamentary majority after the March 2008 general election and his position as President was only achieved by calling on his minions to beat, abduct and murder MDC members and supporters.

How come Mugabe has such a hold over the MDC?

"Mugabe appeared surprised the media was convinced his two ardent officials were to cede their posts for fresh appointments to the influential posts by all parties in government.

"Tomana na Gono hapana kwavanoenda (Tomana and Gono are going nowhere). The sanctions must go first!" Mugabe said.

Mugabe further dismissed reports of any agreement on re-appointment of provincial governors.

The stance by the Zimbabwean leader puts paid to the current negotiations by the parties which are aimed at resolving the impasse.

The parties were expected to conclude their talks this month-end."

In the event that sanctions were lifted, what would Mugabe do to perpetuate his rule - even if he is not the popular choice of Zimbabweans? I believe that he will then revert to type and make another demand that will delay the inevitable.

-o00o-

Jacob Zuma, the SADC appointed mediator, has told the world that the crisis will be resolved by the end of the month - which is Wednesday. Throw into the mix that Mugabe has said there will be no more concessions before travel sanctions are lifted, one begins to ask just what will Zuma do then?

"With growing numbers of Movement for Democratic Change supporters being arrested and the International Monetary Fund warning that Zimbabwe's banks are increasingly fragile, the March 31 deadline which President Jacob Zuma gave the leaders of Zimbabwe's unity government to finally sort out their stalled 18 month-old power-sharing political agreement has become critical.

Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe last week brought the negotiators of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC together again for what Zimbabweans sorely hope is the last round of talks, to produce a binding timetable for reforms in the unity government, which would enable peaceful, free and fair fresh elections to be held. A mixture of desperate hope and tired cynicism grips Zimbabwe now in the wake of Zuma's intervention, as facilitator of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The media have been full of encouraging leaks about Zuma having persuaded Mugabe at last to make real concessions, such as firing biased top officials and appointing MDC ones. But Zimbabweans have also seen it all before and are wary of allowing their hopes to rise too high."

With Mugabe saying one thing to Zuma and another to the rest of the world, it is apparent that the deadline will be missed. So we then have to look to Zuma for the next step.

Will he attempt to get the negotiations going again, and perhaps fall for Mugabe's delaying tactic yet again (we have to bear in mind that Mugabe and Zuma are great friends...) or will he refer the whole problem back to SADC - who are singularly powerless in the face of Mugabe's duplicity?

Right now, Mugabe and his ZANU PF party hold all the cards.

-o00o-

We have to wonder whether Chiyangwa (Mugabe's nephew) has done or said something that has upset Mugabe. Chiyangwa has a huge empire, largely built on the family contact he has with his uncle, but the whole thing seems to be imploding around him.

"A special committee investigating the illegal and irregular sale of land by the Harare City Council has recommended that property mogul Phillip Chiyangwa be arrested for irregularly acquiring land in the capital.

Council appointed a special investigating committee chaired by Ward 17 councilor Warship Dumba to probe the illegal and irregular sale of land by previous administrations.

In its 54 page report entitled Special Investigations Committees report on City of Harare’s Land Sales, Leases and Exchanges from the period October 2004 to December 2009 , the committee observed that there was no council approval for all land acquired by Chiyangwa.

The report notes several cases where council procedures were flouted with impunity."

Now, Mugabe is put on a spot by the actions of his nephew.

Mugabe could order the council to mind their own business, or he could allow them to seek and secure Chiyangwa's arrest.

Either way, Mugabe will be questioning every move as he will appear the 'bad guy' - not that I care...

"The committee discovered with concern that Chiyangwa was given first preference ahead of several applications received earlier.

"The committee also noted that the land was exchanged for salaries and two Land Rover vehicles," reads the report.

In its recommendations the committee said the land exchange deal involving Kilima Investments and HCC should be reversed and the land repossessed.

Dumba’s committee said Chiyangwa and some council employees, in particular finance director Cosmas Zvikaramba and director of urban planning services Psychology Chiwanga, must be arrested for carrying out illegal transfers.

"Chiwanga and Chiyangwa must be reported to the police for stealing council land and fraudulently writing powers of attorney to effect title changes knowing well that the information they were giving was false," the report stated."

If they arrest one, they have to arrest the other, and Mugabe will not be happy with his nephew being held in custody. But Mugabe may let it happen as a warning to other member of his party and supporters who transgress laws.

But, in my mind, Mugabe will believe that the greatest wrong done by his nephew was being caught.

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Saturday, 27th March 2010

Howzit

"A group of armed officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on Friday briefly detained Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer and deputy agriculture minister designate, Roy Bennett for as yet unclear reasons.

The party’s spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa confirmed that the former Chimanimani legislator was also blocked from entering his hometown of Chimanimani.

"MDC Treasurer General and deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett has been blocked from entering his hometown in Chimanimani by armed policeman at a roadblock just outside the town," said Chamisa.

It is understood Bennett, who was in the company of his wife, was detained for about 30 minutes before being released. The police officers however took the identity document for his wife, as well as the number plates for the car they were travelling in."

Let me get this straight. They arrest Roy, but take his wife's identity documents as well as removing the number plates from the motor vehicle?

Surely it is against the law to drive a motor vehicle on a public road without it number plate - so, in essence, the police are rendering Bennett's vehicle illegal...

It is also questionable tactics to take Heather's identity documentation. In Zimbabwe, with Mugabe being so paranoid, it is almost impossible to move about without some form of identification.

"An MDC official said Bennett had planned to spend the weekend in Chimanimani, where he owns a house. The MDC treasurer is a former Member of Parliament for Chimanimani and is very popular with ordinary people there, mostly plantation workers. His farm, also in the area, used to be among the leading coffee exporters in the country, before it was grabbed by ZANU PF militants. They have since vandalized equipment at the farm, with no meaningful production.

Bennett was one of three white parliamentarians elected in the 2000 Parliamentary election, despite intimidation against MDC voters by supporters of ZANU PF. During the campaign his wife and family were physically attacked."

Bennett's trial is drawing to a conclusion and I don't think that the State has proved their case 'beyond reasonable doubt' and so the Mugabe-ites are queuing up to make Bennett's life a little more intolerable.

-o00o-

A week or so ago, South African President Jacob Zuma told the world that steps in advancement to resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe had been taken and that the negotiators would have completed the process by the end of the month.

How fitting that the first day after the end of this month should be April Fools Day...

"President Robert Mugabe has insisted that Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana will not go since they were not part of the Global Political Agreement.

His comments come against a backdrop of pressure from the MDC for the two officials to be axed for the coalition government to succeed.

Mugabe, 86, told the ZANU PF 80th Ordinary Session of the Central Committee in Harare, that even outstanding issues in the GPA will not be ironed out until sanctions were removed.

"Tomana na Gono hapana kwavanoenda (they are not going at all). Gono and Tomana are not part of our agreement (GPA). As ZANU PF we say Gono and Tomana have no case to answer but (Roy) Bennett has a criminal case in the courts," he said.

Mugabe was referring to the trumped up terrorism and banditry charges against MDC treasurer general Bennett.

"There cannot be any further concessions from us unless the illegal sanctions are lifted," said the 86-year old president."

Mugabe has it all wrong. The sanctions are not an MDC responsibility. Holding Zimbabwe ransom because of the restrictive measures in place against Mugabe and his loyalists is fundamentally wrong - although Mugabe doesn't see it as that. He see it as a legitimate ploy to get his own way.

But what does the SADC mediator, Jacob Zuma, make of this apparent u-turn?

Unsurprisingly, no comment is recorded from him...

"The parties are meeting in Nyanga until Monday but details of the gathering are kept under wraps.

South African president Jacob Zuma, facilitator of talks, was in Zimbabwe last week and called for the quick resolution of the outstanding issues."

-o00o-

"Negotiations on outstanding issues in Zimbabwe's power-sharing Global Political Agreement resumed on Thursday with President Robert Mugabe's chief negotiator putting a damper on the people's high expectations following South African President Jacob Zuma's recent visit.

There had been speculation that a lot of ground was covered between March 16 and 18 during Zuma's consultations with the three principals in the GPA, their negotiators and other relevant to the successful conclusion of the talks, especially on concessions over certain appointments."

And this would fall in line with Mugabe's statement in the above article.

Mugabe has no wish to lose any control in Zimbabwe - even though his ZANU PF party does not hold the parliamentary majority - and with it, the popular mandate.

But, with Zuma having just visited Zimbabwe and supposedly putting the whole thing to bed, Mugabe has thrown yet another spanner in the works and just plain refuses to be moved.

"However, ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo told The Herald newspaper that no agreements had been reached.

During the visit, Zuma met President Robert Mugabe (ZANU PF), Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC) and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara (MDC). Tsvangirai and Mutambara lead two MDC factions, with Tsvangirai's party commanding more support.

He also met six negotiators representing the three parties in the inclusive government, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and Tsvangirai's nominee for the post of deputy agriculture minister Roy Bennett, as he sought to have a better understanding of what is happening in Zimbabwe within the context of the GPA."

In simple, layman's terms, the power-sharing coalition in Zimbabwe is a non-starter. From the get-go, ZANU PF have regarded the GPA as something of a joke and they have just used the attempt to share power as a base from which to work and begin to claw back the power that they believe is theirs.

Multiple arrests, trumped up charges and re-educating the voter base seems to be the order of the day. He no longer even pretends to be conforming to the agreement and just does what he wants, regardless of the consequences.

Mugabe can't even stand by his own signature, let alone what he agreed in talks with Zuma - but he has a long and destructive record of doing precisely this. Mugabe no longer cares about the country or the people - he is more interested in looking after his own skin.

-o00o-

When anyone is critical of Mugabe, he is swift to knock the critic off his perch and sometimes that person meets a sticky end, or is cast into the abyss, never to be heard of again.

So, we have to recognise Chidoda's comments as an angry outburst which will probably land him in hot water.

"Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to Ethiopia and Botswana Alois Makamure Chidoda has attacked President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party for what he says is a lack of good leadership skills.

Chidoda, who was ambassador to Ethiopia during the era of that country’s former leader Haile Mariam Mengistu, now lives in abject poverty. He accused his former party, ZANU PF, and its leadership of dumping him.

"What is lacking in ZANU PF is good leadership," said Chidoda. "We want leaders who follow the footsteps of the likes of Herbert Chitepo and others and not the current leadership which is just amassing wealth and discriminating people on regional lines."

Mugabe will see Chidodo's statement as sour grapes now that he has lost the support of Mugabe's ZANU PF. Mugabe has a habit of sidelining anyone who has lost faith in, and if they continue to sound off against his party, they have a habit of doing an 'all fall down' should we say?

"The former diplomat accused President Robert Mugabe of selectively helping ZANU PF cadres on regional and tribal lines.

"Look at the way Mugabe is looking after Chombo and others; it is amazing," said Chidoda.

He was referring to Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government. Court documents in divorce proceedings between Chombo and one of his wives have revealed the minister, a former university lecturer, has amassed massive wealth, including residential stands and farms.

Chidoda said: "I played a better role during the war than Chombo. Mugabe just wants to wine and dine with the Zezurus and that is what makes him strong.

"I am living in poverty because the party that I helped has dumped me, and I heap all the blame on President Robert Mugabe.”

-o00o-

Coming on the heels of the story yesterday that villagers threatened to beat Masvingo provincial governor, who they alleged was lying to them, Mugabe will, if anything, point another finger at the MDC, suggesting that they are a violent, destructive party...

"Irate Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) supporters in Chikarudzo area under Chief Murinye teamed up on Thursday before approaching ZANU PF secret torture bases in the area and set the shacks on fire.

Masvingo Central legislator Jeffryson Chitando (MDC) who was in Harare confirmed to have received the report saying a lot of his supporters were being victimised ever since Defence Minister Emmersom Mnangagwa visited the area last weekend.

Chitando said MDC supporters were acting in retaliation following intimidation from ZANU PF youth."

It just goes to show that the 'secret' bases weren't so secret after all - a point that Mugabe will use as a weapon against the MDC when he does react to the story. Mugabe will maintain because the bases were not 'secret' backs up the idea that the bases are not intended torture camps.

"Soon after Emmerson Mnangagwa‘s visit in Masvingo Central last weekend, ZANU PF youth started to set up some bases in the area before intimidating villagers.

By Thursday noon, our reporter was informed that two bases had been set at Barahanga and Chikarudzo areas. The youths who were manning the bases openly told villagers they were preparing to punish all opposition members who fail to follow their orders.

Their first assignment was to severely beat all villagers who did not attend Mnangagwa’s rally.

"It’s sad that these guys were already victimising my supporters. They had already set some camps so that they go in villages and demand chickens, goats and some property thereby punishing our mothers," said Chitando. "However, they got more than what they bargained for in my area when villagers teamed up and demolished their camps. I think it was a lesson and enough warning to ZANU PF," said Chitando."

Daily, we read of beatings and assaults, intimidation and oppression - and no one with any standing in the free world, or even within the African Union, is prepared to state, "Enough!" It is almost as if the rest of the world has no concern that Southern Africa is in danger of being engulfed by a bloody civil war.

And the problem, which grows every day, is that their inaction emboldens Mugabe and ZANU PF.

"MDC-T accuses ZANU PF central committee member and Masvingo Rural District council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Clememce Makwarimba for feeding the thugs and encouraging violence.

"This is coming from Makwarimba. He is the man who supplies youths with food and allowances. He had urged his youths to beat us but unfortunately we could not allow then this time. As MDC-T supporters here, we are not afraid of anyone, we shall revenge, we will fight back," said another supporter.

Makwarimba accused MDC-T of violence.

"These people are violent; they do not know what they do. They have attacked our supporters so they must not cry next time. I can not say anything but MDC-T must not go this far to provoke us," said Makwarimba."

A bit of a Mexican stand-off methinks...

-o00o-

It is the weekend and so I thought that I would finish this morning's posting with a laugh... this story from South Africa.

"A member of the metropolitan police in this city has fined a motorist "because his reverse lights only function when the vehicle is in reverse gear".

Mr Willem Smit of Pretoria was astounded when he was fined R 200. "I couldn’t believe that I received a fine because my vehicle is roadworthy.”

Smit was travelling from Hammanskraal when the metro police stopped him to check the roadworthiness of his vehicle.

"I co-operated with them, as I know my vehicle is completely roadworthy. The man tested everything. I then got a shock when I was fined R 200 because my utility vehicle’s reverse lights only work when the vehicle is in reverse!"

According to Smit, he tried to explain that this is how reversing lights work, "but he would not listen and said I could make representation to the Chief Traffic Officer"."

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu