Friday, 30th April 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

-o00o-

You will, no doubt, recall that I had an interview in town on Wednesday last week - and that I said as soon as I knew more, I would tell all.

Well - I didn't get the job. I am of the belief that the selection process is flawed and that I was initially interviewed because I claimed the 'guaranteed' interview. In fact, I asked them if that was the case. Suffice to say that they were uncomfortable with the question.

The job was nothing special and the specifics were not included in the job description - so, in that respect, I am relieved.

But the bottom line is that I remain in the domain of the unemployed.

-o00o-

I try not to notice the political cauldron here in the United Kingdom - but for all the 24/7 news coverage it is hard not to be influenced one way of the other.

Perhaps one story which has not been given too much space on the internet of the gross deception being carried out by the Liberal Democrats.

Yesterday I read an article about one of the LibDem candidates being photographed talking with a policeman - only for it to be discovered after the fact that the 'policeman' was, in actual fact, a LibDem staff member dressed in a police uniform! The LibDems refuse to identify the staff member - which, in my mind, makes them complicit in the crime of impersonating a police officer.

The same article also revealed that the same candidate had been photographed talking with a nurse was, in reality, talking with a LibDem staff member dressed in a nurse's uniform.

I will not comment further, but leave the conclusion to be drawn by yourself.

-o00o-

In the reaction to the murder of a ZANU PF thug by the 15-year-old son of one of ZANU PF's victims is causing all manner of discomfort in the Mwenezi district in Zimbabwe.

"Political tension in Masvongo's Mwenezi district was said to be high, after a 15 year old schoolboy exacted his own revenge last week Sunday by killing the ZANU PF thus who murdered his father in 2008. An MDC official in the area told Newsreel that Nhamo Machacha was stabbed in the stomach by the fifteen year old, after a scuffle broke out a church service.

Machacha, true to his reputation, had gone to the church service in Neshuro Growth Point to harass worshippers for yet undisclosed reasons. He had demanded that the service be aborted when suddenly the schoolboy pulled out a knife and stabbed him. The boy has been arrested by the police who claim he is helping them with the investigation. The MDC official was reluctant to link the incident with the murder of the schoolboy's father in the June 2008 election violence, saying they were still investigating."

It is a sad day when children feel enough frustration to act outside the law - but, given the circumstances, whilst I cannot and will not condone murder, I have to be aware that Mugabe's police force just plain refuse - on orders 'from above' - to become involved in cases that have any political connotations.

For me, perhaps the most worrying factor, is that the police are more intent on hunting down protesters than dealing with cases of murder - in which the accused person is named...

"Meanwhile police are hunting down several MDC youth leaders after the party successfully held a demonstration in Masvingo last week, demanding the arrest of people who committed crimes in the run up to the 2008 elections. On Wednesday police raided the MDC provincial office and arrested one official known as Dziva. He was later released on US$50 bail. Dziva and the others are being accused of participating in a march 'likely to cause public disorder and disturbing the peace'."

Surely the actions by police when they break up demonstration are 'likely to cause public disorder and disturbing the peace'?

The police think nothing of beating demonstrators, arresting them and throwing them behind bars for days on end, only for the AG's office to decline to prosecute. Is this not a contravention of the demonstrators' hum rights?

And I am staggered that the police should put obvious ZANU PF political needs ahead of investigating cases of murder, violence and intimidation...

-o00o-

And whilst the police chase their tails and refuse the do the job that they swore to do, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute a ZANU PF member who was accused of defrauding Telecel of US$750000...

"Zimbabwe’s Attorney General Johannes Tomana is refusing to prosecute ZANU PF female black empowerment icon Jane Mutasa and her three alleged accomplices in a high profile company fraud case. Mutasa who is a former board chairperson of mobile phone network Telecel Zimbabwe is accused of defrauding the company of US$750000 via the sale of fraudulently acquired starter SIM-packs. She was jointly charged with her personal assistant Caroline Gwinyai, Telecel’s regional sales manager Charles Mapurisa and commercial director Naquib Omar.

The Attorney General's office is citing lack of evidence as its main reason and has also moved to block the complainant Telecel Zimbabwe from proceeding with a private prosecution of the matter. Telecel Zimbabwe lawyer Godfrey Mamvura of Scanlen and Holderness - unhappy with the decision - wrote to the AG seeking a certificate confirming that the office had declined to prosecute Mutasa and her three accomplices."

On the face of it, Mutasa has been allowed to get away scot-free - although I have a few reservations - but without seeing the docket, it is impossible to get any idea of just why the AG should make this decision.

"Kindly note that I have read the witnesses’ statements in the police docket and have satisfied myself that the evidence therein does not establish a criminal offence against the four suspects. In the circumstances, I find it contra bono mores for me to grant my certificate in this matter. In essence I, therefore, withhold my certificate of Nolle Prosequi (decline to prosecute) and decline to issue the same," reads part of the letter.

Telecel Zimbabwe lawyers meanwhile believe they have overwhelming evidence against Mutasa and her accomplices and intended to proceed by way of private prosecution. They charged that Mutasa connived with former Telecel commercial director Omar to acquire stocks from Telecel Zimbabwe using her company Oxygon Investments. It is alleged the duo stole invoice books with serial numbers 3251-3300, kept by Mapurisa. Mutasa allegedly instructed Omar between August 26 and October 21 last year to request stock from Telecel Zimbabwe stores on behalf of Oxygon Investments.

The case surfaced in September last year while a Telecel finance manager was preparing end-of-month financial statements. Telecel then engaged auditors who managed to quantify the variance to US$1,7 million of which US$750000 was traced to starter packs and airtime cards purportedly sold to Oxygon Investments."

I am also confused as to why a private prosecution has been disallowed. But once ZANU PF, always ZANU PF...

-o00o-

Staying with the courts, by all accounts, a Binga court was vacated with some speed and alacrity as a giant lizard paid them a visit.

"Justice was put on hold at the Binga Magistrates’ Court after an unexpected visitor took the witness stand - a giant monitor lizard.

Guards lost their guard, magistrates abandoned their gavels and lawyers fled their posts after the reptile was discovered at the start of the trial of four Zambian men accused of attempting to smuggle generators into their country from Zimbabwe.

Binga prosecutor Bruce Maphosa said: "No-one told the next person to run, but everyone in court made a bee-line for the door. The reptile appeared very calm in the witness box, with its head slightly raised."

In another country the incident may have raised a laugh or two afterwards, but in Zimbabwe, where many people believe in the supernatural and witchcraft, the visitation by the lizard means so much more than a wild animal losing its way.

"In a part of the world where strange incidents are easily explained away as witchcraft, Maphosa said there were many who believed the reptile had something to do with the smuggling suspects.

Maphosa told the regional Umthunywa newspaper: "This lizard was the type commonly found in water, so there are people raising genuine questions how it ended up in the witness box.

"The nearest river is 10km away, and it is used as a crossing point by people going to Zambia."

The reptile’s notoriety did not end there. After brave locals chased it out of the court and tried to kill it, the massive lizard gave them a slip as it left the court building and raced to safety after reaching the grass outside."

The feeling of witchcraft and associated omens in Zimbabwe are often misconstrued and many people assume those that have these beliefs to be uneducated.

"The prosecutor added: "The Zambians have denied anything to do with the reptile, but the court was immediately closed on that day and their case will have to be rescheduled."

I will bet that there were a few hearts racing during and following the incident.

-o00o-

This is Mugabe smoothing the feathers of senior army officers, I believe, all in preparation for the coming storm...

"Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mugabe, has promoted 21 Zimbabwe National Army officer to the ranks of colonel and brigadier-general with effect from April 21.

Six men were promoted to the rank of brigadier-general while 16 assumed office as colonels from being lieutenant-colonels."

Interestingly, four of the number are women.

But the army sadly remains as a ZANU PF tool and are employed to help evict commercial farmers and 'protect' the President as he moves around the country and some areas of the world.

It is done with total openness, mainly because a) Mugabe can't be asked to attempt to deceive the people, and b) he hasn't got the money to attempt such a huge deception. Even if someone were to whinge, they will be shut up rather quickly or Mugabe will do his favorite thing when it comes to criticism - nothing.

"Speaking after the conferment of the new ranks on the officers, the Commander of the ZNA, Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda said the officer should continue displaying high levels of exemplary behaviour."

Bring me a bucket - I think I am about to be sick!

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 29th April 2010

Howzit

One thing that happens with frightening regularity is politicians and people of Zimbabwe dying on the roads. And, if nothing else, it does show the inability that the coalition government has in maintaining the highways in that country.

Come to think of it, it isn't just the roads. The wall at Kariba on the Zambezi, the Victoria Falls bridge, sewers and water works throughout the country... the whole place is falling to pieces. Mugabe will blame the state of repair upon sanctions, but the truth of the matter is that his administration just plain didn't bother.

In thirty years in power, very little money or time has been spent to maintain anything in Zimbabwe and now it is all beginning to fail.

"Officials and rank-and-file members of both formations of Zimbabwe’s Movement For Democratic Change set aside past differences on Wednesday to mourn three top officers of the MDC grouping of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara who were killed in a highway accident in Midlands province on Saturday.

Correspondent Taurai Shava reported from the Midlands province capital of Gweru, where mourners converged for the burial of Lyson Mlambo, chairman of the party’s national disciplinary committee. Another Mutambara MDC member killed in the same crash, Ntombizodwa Gumbo, was buried in Mberengwa at the same time in ceremonies attended by the party’s secretary general, Welshman Ncube, and Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, minister of regional integration and international cooperation.

Mutambara MDC agriculture secretary Renson Gasela was to be buried at his farm outside Gweru on Sunday, sources in the former opposition party said."

In a separate accident in the same night, a ZANU PF official was killed on the Bulawayo-Plumtree road.

"ZANU PF official Alice Nkomo, killed in a separate road accident the same day on the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway, has been declared a provincial heroine and was to be laid to rest on Thursday in Bulawayo.

Spokesman Methuseli Moyo of the revived Zimbabwe African Patriotic Union or ZAPU, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that his party is urging President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF to accord hero status to deserving members of other parties as speedily as it did in the case of the late Alice Nkomo. Mutambara MDC spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa said Gasela, who ran the Grain Marketing Board before he left ZANU PF in the late 1990s, deserved recognition for that work and his defense of human rights."

Mugabe and his loyalists are prone to giving hero status to deceased members of their party, both provincial and national, and this has caused yet another rift within the coalition government. The hero's status, people argue, should be something that should be accorded to members of other political parties.

Some people who are members of other parties have a history that might suggest their status be more than just members that have died.

The National Heroes' Acre in Harare has, almost to a man, been the final resting place for ZANU PF members.

"Chief Whip Innocent Gonese of the MDC grouping led by Prime Minister Tsvangirai said his party has raised the issue in Parliament but ZANU PF has not wanted to relinquish its control of the hero selection process.

For perspective VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere turned to two University of Zimbabwe professors, John Makumbe and Joseph Kurebwa, the latter arguing that ZANU PF as an amalgam of the two national liberation parties has traditionally selected heroes and should continue to do so even under a unity government.

Makumbe disagreed, saying the designation of heroes should be a broader national process. National heroes are buried at Heroes Acre in Harare, often with a eulogy by President Mugabe and until very recently most often without participation by Movement for Democratic Change officials who were accustomed to being denounced on such occasions as disloyal opponents of the Mugabe government."

National hero statues should be exactly that - national - not just Mugabe's ZANU PF party.

-o00o-

"Prime Minister and Head of Government Mr Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday consoled the Gasela and Mlambo families following the tragic passing in a motor car accident of Mr Renson Gasela and Mr Lyson Mlambo and 8 other officials of the MDC party led by Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai visited the Renson Gasela Farm in lower Gweru and later the same evening went to the Mlambo family home in Mkoba Village 12. Addressing mourners at the Mlambo family home, Prime Minister Tsvangirai retraced his friendship with Lyson Mlambo to 1988 when they first met at Midlands Hotel in Gweru at a Trade Union congress.

Tsvangirai was representing the Associated Mine Workers Union while Mlambo was a branch leader of the Urban Councils Union then led by former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mrs Florence Chitauro. It was at that congress that a 36 year old Morgan Tsvangirai was elected Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions then led by Mr Jerry Mutandare as President."

Obviously, the death of four politicians in Zimbabwe in one night in two separate motor vehicle accidents is a severe blow to the parties concerned, and a loss for the country.

As has been written in a few places, finding replacements to fill the void will be a difficult and time-consuming task.

And while I am on the subject, how come, with all of the deaths and imprisoning of various MPs, we haven't seen any by-elections? The lack of any systematic follow-on elections now leaves the people of the relevant constituencies without representation.

"In his speech which was met with deafening applause, Prime Minister Tsvangirai said: "Political differences notwithstanding, the fact that we are all Zimbabweans is what should bring us together. We differed politically with Lyson in 2005 but that does not change the illustrious role he played in an endeavour to bring about democratic change in Zimbabwe.

I am here to say to Lyson you lived a fruitful life and it is time for you to take a well deserved rest. Go well old man."

-o00o-

And while the parties recoil from the loss of their people, the non-existent talks between ZANU PF and the two MDC factions is due to come in for close scrutiny once again as South African President Jacob Zuma's mediation party arrive in the country today to see what is worth salvaging.

They could have saved themselves the trip.

"South African facilitators were due back in Zimbabwe on Thursday to resume mediation between ZANU PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, hoping to achieve a meeting of the minds on the various issues troubling the power-sharing government.

Facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu, a foreign policy adviser to President Jacob Zuma, said her team will meet with the three unity government principals to relaunch the mediation process.

She disclosed to VOA that the facilitators made a low-profile visit to Harare two weeks ago for a round of talks with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, but failed to secure concessions from President Mugabe on key points."

And therein lies the problem. Mugabe refuses to concede anything further in the power-sharing coalition, demanding that 'illegal economic' sanctions be lifted first.

In all seriousness, the sanctions have not been of any real use anyway, and people who run companies that might do business with Mugabe's loyalists are now adequately alert. Whilst sanctions can be a very powerful tool, do we really want the impasse in Zimbabwe to continue if the handbrake is applied by targeted sanctions?

"Mr Zuma himself met with the three leaders in March and said they had agreed on a "package of measures" moving toward the resolution contentious issues, such as the fate of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana, both political allies of Mr Mugabe.

Commenting, London-based political analyst Brilliant Mhlanga told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo he doesn’t expect much from this latest mediation effort.

On the other hand, he added, "the parties in the unity government seem to be working well together despite so-called outstanding issues," he said."

A simple analysis of the above would mean that someone is not playing the game. Zuma said that a raft of measures had been agreed, and had hardly returned home when it turned out the Mugabe wasn't interested in any of the measures.

So who blinked first? Did Mugabe agree to the measures only long enough to get the mediation team out of the country, or was the agreement a fanciful hope of Zuma's?

-o00o-

I was floored when I read this article. This youth was sentenced to three years in jail for possessing dangerous drugs - and he's quite happy about it. Y'see, he felt trapped in the world of drugs as he has 'lost' someone stash and was working off the debt.

"A 19 year Zimbabwean drug dealer told police that the day he was arrested as part of an operation to get heroin off Cardiff's street was the happiest of his life.

Marvin Mhlanga, 19, told officers who charged him with supplying heroin to their undercover colleagues that he had 'never been happier' because his arrest meant he would no longer be under pressure from a drugs gang.

Cardiff Crown Court heard his joy was the relief he felt in no longer being forced to peddle the class A drug in the city."

The youngster is no fool, with 9 GCSEs and whilst in jail, I would hope that he might further his education - perhaps in something that would assist people in similar predicaments.

I do note that his dealing was enforced and he was too afraid to name the others in the drug ring.

I can't really blame him for that. Drugs in the UK is a huge problem. Just yesterday, whilst walking around to the local shops, there was a pungent small of cannabis/dagga - whatever you want to call it. When I mentioned it in passing to my wife, she was keen to know how I was able to readily recognise the smell. Obviously she has forgotten that once upon a time I was a policeman...

"The court heard how, during the drugs operation, he supplied heroin to an undercover police officer on four occasions.

During one of those meeting, others with Mhlanga became suspicious of the customer they knew only as "Dave" and thought he might have been with the police.

But "Dave" allowed himself to be searched, was allowed to go on his way and to arrange further meetings."

Like it or not, drugs are present in our communities. More than a few years ago, there was the story of a drug user that was found dead sitting on the pavement in a Derby street. Dead from an overdose - on our streets... I don't suppose there are very many cities and towns in the UK that have not had something similar occur in their midst.

"Fortunately you yourself are not addicted - you were doing it because you got into trouble and you were being used by people who had some hold over you.

"But these are despicable crimes and there must be a lengthy sentence."

-o00o-

"A Zimbabwe judge has denied an urgent appeal by the diamond mining company African Consolidated Resources to block a controversial sale of diamonds. Despite initial reports by state-controlled media in Harare that the ruling lifted a two-month ban on the sale of Zimbabwe's diamonds, a higher court's original order remains in effect.

Judge Ebrahim Patel ruled last week that there was no urgent need for the High Court to hear African Consolidated Resources' appeal for an order halting the sale of diamonds extracted from the Marange area in eastern Zimbabwe.

The judge had been asked to hear the appeal as a matter of urgency, and he confined his ruling to that aspect of the case. He was not asked, and therefore made no ruling specifically about the sale of the diamonds, which are currently held for safekeeping at the country's central bank, by order of the Supreme Court."

Diamonds are the order of the day - the biggest problem being that Mugabe treats the natural resource as if it is a personal possession rather than national mineral wealth.

Mugabe's ZANU PF party is reportedly broke with the coalition government being in the same position.

Just how day-to-day expenses within government are covered is anyone's guess. There are huge accounts outstanding, and Mugabe would love to be able to sell the diamonds - but the proceeds would be for private pockets as opposed to national coffers.

"Reports circulated Tuesday from the Harare Herald newspaper and the ZIANA news agency, both long controlled by President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party, indicated sale of the diamonds was now possible. African Consolidated Resources said Wednesday those reports were incorrect.

The firm is pursuing its attempt to prevent any sale of the diamonds, but said its appeal will now be heard through the High Court's normal schedule.

ACR's chief executive, Andrew Cranswick, said Wednesday the firm is relying on a Supreme Court ruling two months ago that ordered an immediate halt to all mining in the Marange area, and that any rough stones extracted to date, should be held by the central bank. However, ACR and other companies servicing mining operations in eastern Zimbabwe say two Zimbabwe companies backed by South African and Mauritian shareholders continue to mine for diamonds despite the Supreme Court ban."

As is almost always the case, whenever and wherever there is money, Mugabe's hand is in the pot, and various cases are in front of the courts for consideration although not all the rulings make very much sense.

And, even then, if the courts rule against Mugabe's wishes, he just ignores the ruling. Without consequence, punishment or restraint.

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 28th April 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

-o00o-

A rather late start today, and I have to fulfil a previous engagement in just a couple of hours, so this won't be the longest posting ever...

But before we head into the news in Zimbabwe, I have to say that I am sorry that I have not allowed the political fliers and letters that we receive at our address to accumulate so that when the local candidates do knock on our door they can at least take away their party's rubbish...!

-o00o-

Whilst I cannot sanction murder, I think, given the circumstances and the ongoing violence being visited on the population by ZANU PF, the youngster was driven by the injustices of the day to take the law into his own hands.

"A 15-year-old schoolboy here who has been waiting to see justice being done to the people who murdered his father during the 2008 election has taken the law in to his hands and killed a well-known ZANU PF terror master on Sunday.

The event, which left the whole area in shock took place at a church service where Nhamo Machacha had gone to further victimise worshippers in Village 2 near Neshuro Growth Point.

Machacha was an aide to a ZANU PF Mwenezi East Member of Parliament Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.

Machacha had brought the church to a stand-still demanding the service to be aborted for reasons best known to himself when the 15 year old boy came from behind and pulled out his knife and stabbed Machacha twice in the stomach.

He was rushed to Neshuro General Hospital but he died before he was attended to due to excessive bleeding.

Masvingo Acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Prosper Mugauri, confirmed the incident saying the boy was now assisting the police with investigations."

Proof of the saying that if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.

I cannot excuse the teenager's actions, but I do think that I have an understanding of the torment in his mind.

"Witnesses said the boy (name supplied) said the state had taken long in taking justice to those who killed his father during the height of political violence in 2008.

"That boy’s father Lameck Muripo was killed by ZANU PF thugs in 2008. Their home was burnt and they were left homeless but the children were still young. However, up to now the culprits including the now deceased were walking free and this boy said he wanted to revenge," said one of the witnesses.

Bhasikiti pledged to meet all funeral expenses but declared a war against Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the area.

"There is nothing to hide here… MDC is a party of violence, they need violence and they have provoked us today. How can I keep silent when they slapped us in the face like this?

"They have started it and they must not cry tomorrow."

Two wrongs do not make a right - and here we have the ZANU PF threatening to pursue the fact and are obviously intent on making the people pay.

Let's just look at the facts. This teenager's father was killed by ZANU PF thugs two years ago. The State has been slow in meting out justice - so the teenager wrought his own retribution. And now ZANU PF are wanting to perpetuate another wrong...

Just what does it take to make ZANU PF stop their violence?

-o00o-

Mugabe travels around as part of a huge motorcade. And when the motorcade swoops by, all motor vehicle using the road must stop - even pedestrians have to stop and cannot look in the direction of the motorcade.

A simple comment of grimace can result in a sound beating, arrest and prosecution.

That motorcade is made up of police outriders, several luxury limousines, more than few trucks with soldiers on board bristling with firearms, and the obligatory ambulance following up.

When Mugabe arrives at a destination, he is ringed by several dozen close security agents, all in dark suits and sunglasses and all looking for a fight.

"I wonder what is that makes President Mugabe so terrified of his countrymen?

There were no less than three armoured personnel carriers parked alongside the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair during the visit of the much despised Iranian President.

Bristling with camouflaged military personnel the grey Unimog tanks with fierce 20mm gun turrets points menacingly at the Trade Fair.

Yes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, hated and reviled the world over except the radical extremists, officially opened the 2010 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

What a smear on the faces of the thinking people of Zimbabwe."

Then there was an article that said the the Iranian President's security personnel had taken over the security of their man, saying that the Zimbabwean security was 'inexperienced'.

It beggars belief that people like Mugabe and Ahmadinejad should put their own security over and above that of the people.

In democracies, where normal people vote for their own leaders, the resultant heads of State are servants of the people and should therefore not place themselves on a pedestal. Mugabe is a past master at not only stealing elections, but then living within a cocoon, ignoring the realities of life in Zimbabwe.

What has Mugabe got to be afraid of the people for? Unless his conscience has been pricked over his destructive thirty year rule...

"Helicopter circled overhead, giant belligerent, clench-fisted posters, quite out of character with the usual very business-like attitude of the ZITF. festooned every hall giving the fair a "Kim Jong II' atmosphere.

"Hundred of police in bran-spanking-new fluorescent sleeves, together with men brandishing automatic weapons, surrounded the fair and manned every intersection on the road from the airport to the fairgrounds."

And, as anyone who knows Bulawayo will tell you, the airport is a fair war out of town...

Excuse the expression, but a complete and utter overkill...

-o00o-

Mugabe and his party have, in the recent past, accused the MDC of running a 'parallel government'... But what is this? Chombo is setting up his stall to run parallel councils!

"Last week Chombo announced that in the next few weeks his ministry will complete the appointment of special interest councillors in Bulawayo, Harare and other urban councils in a bid to provide expertise and improve service delivery.

According to the Urban Councils Act, the appointed councillors are entitled to participate in the business of the council and perform the same functions as elected councillors. They are also entitled to the same benefits but do not vote at council meetings.

Chombo claims his ministry was mandated to appoint the councillors as a means of providing expertise to the city councillors especially when considering that a majority of them were new to council affairs thereby lacking experience."

Um - who exactly 'mandated' Chombo's ministry? And when ZANU PF first took office in 1980, they were also inexperienced and if the state of the country after thirty years of their 'service' is anything to go by, they haven't learned anything in that time!

Who says that ZANU PF should have the ability to impose their people on councils?

Mugabe? Give me a break!

"However speaking to Radio VOP on Monday, Thaba-Moyo said Bulawayo City council is not going to allow Chombo to go-ahead with appointment of the special interest councillors.

"Our position remain the same since 2008 .We are not going to allow that. How can he talk about appointing special interest groups who bring nothing to the city?" said Thaba-Moyo.

In 2008 Bulawayo City council went to the High Court to block Chombo from appointing special interest councillors and won the case.

The Bulawayo City council is dominated by the mainstream MDC which has 23 councillors. Six are from the small breakaway Mutambara faction."

Is Chombo that ignorant that he will defy the High Court ruling? Probably...

-o00o-

Y'know, day after day, I write about various cases of violence in Zimbabwe, and although the evidence in there and perpetrators have been named, ZANU PF refuses to have any of their number arrested, charged and prosecuted.

"The MDC-T in Mashonaland central province claimed on Tuesday that it has indisputable evidence that the ZANU PF MP for Muzarabani South, Edward Raradza, was fuelling a surge of violence and torture in the district.

Tonderai Samhu, the MDC-T youth chairman in the province, told SW Radio Africa the political violence exhibited by ZANU PF militias and youths in recent weeks has the blessing of the ZANU PF provincial governor Martin Dinha.

There have been numerous reports from human rights organisations of an upsurge of violence in rural areas, such as Mutasa North, Mudzi, Bindura and Masvingo, by ZANU PF sponsored thugs."

This is how ZANU PF play the game. They deny all the accusation - or remain silent - and then, when violence does occur, they point fingers at the MDC. That the perpetrators are named makes no difference. That there are witnesses to the violence makes no difference.

The frustration that the teenage boy was experiencing when he finally felled one of ZANU PF's thugs, must be replicated in many lives throughout Zimbabwe.

"Two weeks ago the pressure group Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) reported that terror had broken out in Muzarabani, resulting in 16 families fleeing their homes.

ROHR said the families from Hoya ward in Charunda village of Chief Kasekete in Muzarabani, fled at night to seek refuge at St Albert business centre, 84 km away. They did this to try to escape the organized terror from a group of 200 ZANU PF youths, sponsored by Raradza.

Reports say Raradza gives free rein to militias to burn down people’s homes and cause mayhem in the villages, and that he also ferries party cadres to villages to scare the electorate. The MDC has the vehicle registration numbers of the various lorries, trucks and cars used to ferry the thugs. Governor Dinha has allegedly also ordered the police not to interfere with ZANU PF activities in the province.

"ZANU PF enjoys a free rein in the province. They’re untouchable because Dinha has told the police to back off and not to interfere with their activities good or bad," Samhu said.

A case in point is the refusal by the police to grant MDC activists and supporters permission to demonstrate in major towns of the province, while allowing ZANU PF to protest anytime, anywhere.

"The villagers here, especially those deemed pro-MDC, are defenceless and have no one to defend them, because the police are partisan and too scared to stop ZANU PF supporters from their violent activities," Samhu added."

And, instead of disproving the accusations and evidence. ZANU PF stay silent, preferring that their actions speak loudly instead.

-o00o-

And now, I must away...

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 27th April 2010

Howzit

Sorry that this posting is so late. I went into town first thing this morning to do some private business before it got too full of people. I dunno how it happens, but even if I am wearing a long sleeved jacket and my hand is in a pocket, I still somehow get everyone walking into me, so I tend to shy away from crowds...

-o00o-

There is one thing I note with the Mugabe administration. If they deny a story, then the chances are that it is true. If they remain silent about a story, then the chances are that it is true.

In short, the Mugabe administration wouldn't know the truth if it leapt out from behind a bush and bit them in their nether regions!

"Zimbabwe's government on Monday denied reports that it had signed an agreement allowing Iran to mine uranium, saying there was no certainty that the southern African state had commercial uranium reserves.

President Robert Mugabe told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Harare last week that Zimbabwe backed Iran's controversial nuclear programme and accused the West of seeking to punish the two countries for asserting their independence.

But Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube on Monday dismissed a report in Britain's Daily Telegraph claiming Harare had struck a deal allowing Tehran to mine untapped uranium reserves to secure raw material for its nuclear programme.

The report said Zimbabwe would get oil for access to potential uranium deposits."

Well, if the Zimbabwean government hasn't signed a deal with Iran, perhaps it should! But it must be a governmental deal, not a ZANU PF deal. Mugabe has a hbit of mortgaging the country's natural resources away - and whatever the country gets for their resources, Mugabe treats as if it is the property of ZANU PF.

Wrong! Natural resources belong to the country, not to a select few elitist members of his party.

"It's not true. No such agreement was signed," said Ncube, a minister from a splinter faction of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe's unity government.

"There is no certainty that Zimbabwe has uranium deposits. You first have to prove that there are uranium deposits and that has not been done," he told Reuters.

Ahmadinejad was in Zimbabwe last week for a two-day visit and there was no official indication of any link between his trip and Iran's nuclear programme."

Oh well. No one wants to tell us the truth - so perhaps we should take this denial as confirmation that the deal was brokered and agreed - just as other denied deals are in place...

"Ncube said Zimbabwe and Iran had only signed general cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, science and technology and agriculture but officials from the two countries still had to meet to finalise details of any investment.

Asked whether Zimbabwe would in future consider jointly mining uranium with Iran, Ncube said: "There is no evidence that Zimbabwe has commercial deposits of uranium, so that question does not arise at all."

-o000-

The number of politicians killed in motor vehicle accidents this last weekend had risen to four, with a second accident on Saturday night claiming the life of ZANU PF Centrel Committee member Alice Nkomo.

And perhaps I need to correct myself as the three MDC members that died in the first accident on Saturday night near Zvjshavane were members of the Mutambara-led MDC factions.

"Zimbabwe’s roads claimed four senior politicians from both ZANU PF and the MDC-M, this weekend alone, raising more questions about the state of the roads, but more importantly, the way people drive in Zimbabwe.

ZANU PF Central Committee member Alice Nkomo died in a car accident Saturday night along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road, together with three other people she was travelling with.

Also on Saturday the MDC-M’s Renson Gasela, Lyson Mlambo and Ntombizodwa Gumbo were killed in a road accident along the Zvishavane-Gweru road. The party said the vehicle slammed into a stationary front-loader when they were on their way to an MDC meeting in Shurugwi. Six other party members from the Midlands province sustained injuries and were taken to United Bulawayo Hospital.

MDC-M Education Minister David Coltart told SW Radio Africa on Monday: "We are all devastated by this. This is the loss of three outstanding colleagues who worked very hard for the party over the last decade."

"I am particularly sad about Renson Gasela. He was an MP with me from 2000. He was a particularly outstanding MP and member of our party, both the former united MDC and the MDC under the leadership of Arthur Mutambara since 2006."

"He was a principled man, had a great integrity and a thoroughly nice individual. A true patriot of Zimbabwe and I think people from across the political divide will acknowledge this."

Gasela was the former MDC MP for Gweru Rural and the Party’s Secretary for Lands and Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity. He was also a founder member of the original MDC and former general manager of the Grain Marketing Board. Lyson Mlambo was the party’s National Chairperson for the Disciplinary Committee and Midlands South Provincial Chairperson. Ntombizodwa Gumbo was the Midlands South Women’s Assembly Provincial Chairperson."

Coltart went on to explain while Zimbabwean history is littered with numerous 'accidents' which killed a number of aspiring politicians, foul play is not suspected in this instance.

"I think in the circumstances of this case, we probably have to rule out foul play. It seems to me that this is just yet another example of the breakdown of law and order in the country. Where someone has had a vehicle breakdown, without lights and they have not bothered to put warning triangles or other warning signals."

The Minister added: "Normally of course this would be met by a criminal prosecution. We would have police out trying to prevent this type of thing but it doesn’t happen in Zimbabwe because the rule of law has broken down."

As the article says, the ZRP are to busy propping up ZANU PF to do the job which they are employed to do.

-o00

While the government has indicated that it will seize some of Chiyangwa's land, the civil case in which Chiyangwa is suing the Harare City Council and he is preferring charges of criminal defamation on the Harare Mayor, we who observe the proceedings are to be forgiven for the confusion this has all caused.

The Mayor is being sued for statements he made while heading the probe into the acquiring of the land, but the governmental is taking the land anyway.

Do the two cases not cancel each other out?

"Controversy mounted over businessman Philip Chiyangwa's property acquisitions following the publication of a notice that the government intended to compulsorily acquire some of his land in Harare.

In a government gazette published in The Herald on Friday, the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Herbert Murerwa announced that the government would repossess more than 586 hectares owned by Chiyangwa, through his company Pinnacle Holdings (Private) Limited.

The government also intends to acquire land from the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association and Jetmaster Properties another of Chiyangwa's companies.

Murerwa said the land would be used for urban developments.

"Notice is hereby given in terms of section 8(1) of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 20:10) that the President intends to acquire compulsorily the land described in the schedule for urban development," reads the notice.

"Deed of Transfer 5021/07, registered in the name of Pinnacle Holdings (Private) Limited, in respect of land situate in the district of Salisbury, being the remainder of Subdivision A of Stoneridge, measuring 586,8960 hectares."

Perhaps Chiyangwa is not the much-loved nephew of Robert Mugabe as he would have us believe. Yes, he probably is a relative, but the fact that the government is taking his land questions just how close he is to the President.

"Yesterday Chiyangwa refused to comment on the announcement saying: "Respect my freedom. I don't want to talk to you people. Don't phone me again, tell everybody there (at The Standard) not to call me."

Methinks this is a case of the petulant infant throwing a tantrum...

"According to the website, the stands are for churches, corner shops, a residential park, agri-residential premises and shopping centres.

Available are 4775 stands serviced for sale in a proposed mixed use development at Stoneridge in Waterfalls with planning permission for a shopping centre, industrial, institutional and recreational development, said the company.

Meanwhile, Harare councillors are reportedly planning to counter sue Chiyangwa who has pressed criminal defamation charges against them following the publication of report accusing him of illegally acquiring vast tracts of land around the city. The councillors say Chiyangwa also defamed them when he said they were "hoodlums" after council resolved to investigate his property deals around December.

Councillors hope the counter suit will offset Chiyangwa's claim for US$900 million in a defamation suit filed at the High Court last week. Alec Muchadehama who represents the councillors said he had entered an appearance to defend but could not confirm that the councillors wanted to counter sue."

-o00o-

Given the lateness of the hour, this will be today's last article.

"Econet Wireless, the country's largest mobile operator las week launched a free phone service in a major investment into communities. The first free phone service was launched in Epworth on Thursday.

The innovation comes as another first from the mobile operator soon after the launch of a new national call centre in Graniteside industrial area in Harare.

The free phone service will be run under Econet's YourFone brand.

YourFone pay phone will provide an inititative for everyone to manage a call through "call me back" messages."

I'm no stranger to Graniteside, having worked for two companies with offices in the immediate area, one on Kelvin Road South and the other on Crawford Road.

I am not sure I understand the end for a call centre, and I don't process to have any knowledge of the "call me back" system. All I can say is that I hope it works.

"Not owning a cellphone will no longer be a barrier to communication," said Ranga Mberi, Econet's corporate communications manager."What people will be able to do is approach an operator who has one of the free phones and contact their relatives who own Econet mobile phones, asking then to call them back, for no charge at all."

Just to clear up any confusion, what has "no charge"? The initial call, or the resultant call?

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu