Friday, 30th September 2011

Howzit

Last year I had the distinct pleasure of riding on the London Eye. I was truly in awe of the experience. In Derby there is a very much smaller version available for people to ride on and my brother-in-law kindly treated me yesterday afternoon.

I had no idea just how big Derby really is, and was impressed with the view...

Former South African President Nelson Mandela advised Robert Mugabe to step down in 2007 as a way of preserving his ‘liberation war legacy’, or run the risk of being disgraced like Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who later faced criminal trials. This is according to a US diplomatic cable revealed by the WikiLeaks website.

The cable was written by former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell. It quotes former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo who said Mandela conveyed his message to the ZANU PF leader via Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono. Mugabe’s response however was to insult Mandela as a ‘Western puppet’.

In the meeting with Dell, instigated by Moyo, the serial political turncoat told the ambassador that Mandela was acting on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC). According to the cable: “The ANC had defended Mugabe and wanted to continue to defend him but the situation in Zimbabwe was creating a threat to his legacy. It was time for him to go in order to preserve that legacy.”

Once again, because the story comes from Wikileaks, the integrity of the story will be attacked, but I can quite well believe it seeing that Mugabe's departure at that time would have saved a lot of time and money, not to mention human lives...

Why is it that Mugabe's police force have a penchant in arresting WOZA leaders? What crimes have they committed?

The MDC Women’s Assembly has called for the immediate release of the leaders of pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), who have been jailed for more than a week.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are still being held in custody at Mlondolozi prison after their arrest last Wednesday. The pair was arrested along with 10 other WOZA members during a peaceful march, which was violently disrupted by riot police.

The 10 other women were released last Thursday after ‘criminal nuisance’ charges against them were dropped.

But Williams and Mahlangu have been charged with ‘kidnapping’ and ‘theft’, which WOZA have called ‘malicious’ and ‘spurious’ allegations.

I can scarcely believe the charges - and how come they haven't been taken to court yet? If the police are to charge them, then at least they should appear in court and be given the option to apply for bail or be held on bail?

The workings of the legal system in Zimbabwe are very curious and do nothing to uphold the human rights of those in custody.

I do get tired of writing the same thing time after time. Here we have three 'suspected' MDC-T supporters being arrested for violence, but when similar acts are committed by ZANU PF thugs, strangely there are no arrests...

Three suspected MDC-T supporters who were part of a group that ran amok and stoned residents at Kuwadzana 5 shopping centre have been arrested.

The three - Gift Mwadzinga (28), Shadreck Chitambo (31) and Steven Machokoto (29) - were arrested on Tuesday and were yesterday still assisting police with investigations.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau, confirmed the arrest yesterday. Police said the three were part of a group that was travelling in a convoy of trucks and going to the MDC-T's 12th anniversary celebrations held at an open space in Kuwadzana 4 on Sunday.

"The group, which was travelling in a convoy of a Mazda B2200 (ABY 4472), Nissan Hardbody (ACB 8815), a Mazda Bongo without registration number plates and a Nissan Precia (ABZ 2897), stopped at Kuwadzana Shopping Centre," he said.

Insp Sabau said the group stoned several people who were at the shopping centre. Ngonidzashe Ruzivo (30) sustained injuries on his right knee while Brighton Chitsa (30) was injured on the elbow.

Vehicles travelling without number plates is a ZANU PF trait, not an MDC habit...

How can someone talk in the past tense about something that hasn't happened yet?

National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board chairman Mr David Chapfika says the indigenisation process has largely been a success, three years after the law setting it up came into effect.

But he told Herald Business in an interview the initiative was "a process" that would span generations.

The fact that the process of ensuring participation of local people in the mainstream economy had started was in itself "a resounding success", he said.

Mr Chapfika said the fact that Government moved to enact the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act of 2008 was a milestone.

Under the law all foreign-owned firms in Zimbabwe or wishing to invest here are required to sell at least 51 percent of their equity to indigenous people.

There has been general consensus among stakeholders in Government, the private sector, the investment community and the general populace that locals should take ownership of the means of production.

Apart from squabbling over the form and model the indigenisation process should take, Mr Chapfika said everyone conceded that the initiative was noble.

Nothing that Mugabe's administration does can be described as 'noble'...

Retired Major General-Kudzai Mbudzi‘s life is in danger after calling for Zimbabwe’s ageing President, Robert Mugabe’s exit. Mbudzi a Zanu-PF’s prodigal son and probably the most outspoken politician from Masvingo was part of the infamous Mavambo/Kusile project said Mugabe was no longer giving positive image of ZANU PF due to his old age.

However, ZANU PF youths in Masvingo have come out with guns blazing demanding for Mbudzi’s head on the cross saying it was an abomination and highly rebelliousness of Mbudzi to call for Mugabe’s exit.

ZANU PF national deputy youth commissar Talent Majoni said they will not rest until justice is done to Mbudzi.

In Zimbabwe, it is seen as a crime to even think ill of Mugabe. When his motorcade speeds by, pedestrians stand still and do not look at the vehicles for fear of being beaten by his security personnel.

So for someone to publicly come out and say Mugabe is too old, he has stepped into the ZANU PF minefield...

Take care.

'debvhu