The Bearded Man

Two Guns Found Next To Mujuru’s Body

2012-01-27T06:57:00.003Z

The inquest into the death of retired General Solomon Mujuru took a dramatic turn on Thursday when it was revealed that two firearms and a magazine of bullets were found next to his charred remains.

Police Chief Superintendent, Crispen Makedenge told the inquest in Harare that one of the weapons discovered was an AK 47 rifle. He did not disclose the details of the second weapon. Both guns were however badly burned from the fire that engulfed the house.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa said that on further inspection of the burned out house, Makedenge discovered 13 more weapons in a gun cabinet in the general’s bedroom. The inquest is being held before Harare Provincial Magistrate Walter Chikwanha.

Muchemwa said Makadenge’s brief testimony raised more questions than answers during his 10 minute appearance. The senior police officer will take to the witness stand on Friday to continue with his testimony before cross examination.

“We have information that either Makedenge or a ballistic weapons expert will testify that three spent bullet cartridges were also recovered near the general’s remains,” Muchemwa reported.

He added: “Questions are also being asked why those two guns were near the general and not in the gun cabinet. Was he protecting himself from some danger… is what people were asking after Makedenge’s testimony.”

Two witnesses have already told the inquest that they heard sound of gunfire moments before they were alerted to a fire that destroyed the former Zimbabwe National Army commander’s farmhouse.

Rosemary Short, a maid at the farmhouse and Clemence Runhare, a private guard at the property also told the inquest they heard gunshots before they rushed to the house to try and douse the fire.

Meanwhile, a ZESA employee testified on Thursday and ruled out an electrical fault as the cause of the fire.

Giving evidence during the inquest Douglas Chiredza Nyakungu, ZESA Consumer Services Officer for Beatrice area, said he noticed that there were two circuit breakers that had tripped on the Meter Circuit Board situated along the passage.

He however could not ascertain which breakers had tripped because the labels had been badly burnt.

“Circuit breakers distributing power to the geyser, water pump, tobacco barns and kitchen remained sound, ruling out fears that an electrical fault inside the house could have caused the fire,” Nyakungu said.

He added that the circuit breakers could have tripped as a result of the socket outlets and lamp holders, which were badly burnt.

He explained that Mujuru’s house had metal electrical pipes, which, in the event of a fault, would have exhibited some holes or damage due to a short circuit. But an inspection of the wiring system found no evidence of damage.

Nyakungu stated that on further investigations he concluded that there were no high currency carrying appliances such as heaters at the time of the fateful incident.

Evidence by Nyakungu who is the 27th witness came after the Fire Brigade Station Officer Clever Matoti, had suggested that a fire such as the one at Mujuru’s farm could have been caused by an act of arson.

He said it was rare for a fire in a house to start in two separate rooms at the same time unless it was an act of arson.

Matoti said a combination of oxygen, hydrogen and heated ceiling dust can explode leading to a house fire especially in hot seasons.

He said the type of fire in which Mujuru is believed to have died could have been caused by petroleum substances because it was extensive, leading to the collapse of the roof of two rooms.

(Source)

Mujuru Inquest: Cops Face Arrest

2012-01-26T08:12:00.003Z

The ongoing inquest into the death of the first commander of the Zimbabwe National Army has highlighted serious incompetence in the force, as well as tough working conditions.

Mujuru’s lawyers and relatives have slammed the police for negligence. His widow vice President Joice Mujuru says government will look into the matter after a police officer admitted having slept on guard.

The inquest has heard that the constables were fast asleep when the fire that incinerated the general broke out. Their police issue radios had not been working for some time – despite having been reported to their superiors. They had no cash for airtime for their mobile phones and therefore no means of communication whatsoever. They did not even know where the general’s bedroom was.

This breakdown in basic standards within the force was compounded by the fact that the municipal fire tender came 60km from Harare with no water in the bowser.

The officers could be charged under any or all of these clauses in the Act: “abandoning or delivering up any station, post, camp on guard which it is his duty to defend; leaving his guard post, beat, patrol or other place of duty without permission or reasonable excuse; or sleeping, loitering or committing any irregularity when on duty.”

Contradictory evidence given by those appearing before the inquest has fuelled speculation that Mujuru, who was said to lead a faction within Zanu (PF) battling to take control of the party and come to some accommodation with the MDC, may have been a victim of foul play. But forensic experts have ruled out the use of inflammables. Some witnesses said they heard gun shots, while others said it was the sound of asbestos sheets exploding.

The inquest heard that Mujuru had ordered staff at his farm to stop feeding the police officers guarding him, and had plans to ask that they be withdrawn just days before he died. He was reportedly furious after the officers, said to have been drunk, severely assaulted one of his workers who had to seek hospital treatment. Rosemary Short, a maid at the farm Mujuru occupied in Beatrice, told the Harare Magistrates’ Court that the powerful Zanu (PF) power broker had confided in her that the police officers were avoiding him since the brutal assault on an unnamed employee.

“He said he had no security and was as good as being on his own,” Short told the court and under the Police Act “being drunk on or off duty,” is a punishable crime.

Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless.

Giving testimony last week under oath Constable Obert Mark admitted under cross examination by Mujuru’s lawyers that he was sleeping and also that he did not know the house plan.

The other cops who also were on duty during the fire are constables Augastinos Chinyoka, and Lazarus Handikatari.

(Source)

Nat Hentoff: The 'Hitler Of Africa' Still Rules

2012-01-25T08:23:00.002Z

Our planet abounds in horrific dictators, most of whom eventually are erased from power by their suffering, mutinous subjects. But one of them - Robert Mugabe - continues his despotic reign as president of Zimbabwe.

This land, once "the breadbasket of Africa," is now a place where hardly anyone feels safe.

In Peter Godwin's book, "The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe" (Little, Brown and Co., 2011), he distills this hell during three decades of President Mugabe's "smart genocide":

"There's no need to directly kill hundreds of thousands, if you can select and kill the right few thousand... It is as if he has taken an entire nation hostage, using them as human shields."

In the Oct. 31, 2011, edition of The Weekly Standard, David Aikman describes the impact of this tyrant:

"With desperate hyperinflation, a drop in male life expectancy from 62 in 1990 to 44 today, widespread cholera, and desperate malnutrition, Zimbabwe is a dying state presided over by an 87-year-old mafioso."

The United Nations, as usual, has been useless in rescuing these utterly helpless people. South Africa and a few other African nations have murmured their displeasure - fruitlessly - at this monster who has actually likened himself to Hitler.

In one of my many ineffective columns about Mugabe's terror ("Mugabe's Victims, Mostly Black," Village Voice, May 6, 2003), I quote his self-appraisal from March 21, 2003:

"I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective, justice for his own people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people, and their right to their resources. If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold. Ten times Hitler, that is what we stand for."

That self-adulatory tribute was in response, as Mugabe noted, to his having been compared to Hitler by the British press. Soon after the speech, the United States "accused Zimbabwe's government of unleashing a new wave of violence against the opposition, which it said was incited when President Robert Mugabe compared himself to Adolf Hitler" ("US slams Mugabe's 'black Hitler' speech," The Mail & Guardian Online, Sapa-AFP, March 25, 2003).

Further along in the story, it was reported that President George Bush, responding to the violent crackdown, froze "the assets of Mugabe and 76 other government officials, charging they have undermined democracy."

But the Hitler of Africa was not intimidated by the president's reaction.

As I wrote six years later, "the BBC's Mike Thomson, in a series of reports from Zimbabwe... spoke to 'a Zimbabwean mother and (13-year-old) daughter who are still too afraid to return home after being abducted and repeatedly raped by militiamen from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party a year ago'... Their fear has not lessened despite the new alleged 'power-sharing' coalition between Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change's Morgan Tsvangirai" ("No One Feels Safe in Zimbabwe," Cato Institute, July 3, 2009).

This so-called "coalition" has not been allowed by Mugabe to actually function, as reported by Celia W. Dugger in The New York Times ("Robert Mugabe Hounds Rivals in Zimbabwe, Parties Say," April 18, 2011):

"More than a quarter of President Robert Mugabe's opponents in Parliament have been arrested since agreeing to join the government in a shaky power-sharing arrangement, part of an intensifying campaign of harassment intended to drive them out of office, officials from both sides say."

This is why one member of the targeted Movement for Democratic Change was arrested: "The police accused Moses Mzila Ndlovu, co-minister for national healing (that is not a typo) of attending a meeting held without their authorization."

His crime, Dugger reported, was attending "a memorial prayer service for the thousands of civilians from the Ndebele minority slain in the early years of Mr. Mugabe's 31-year rule."

But alleged elections continue in Zimbabwe and this Hitler is ready. Last summer, the Times' Dugger quoted a high-ranking general in the Zimbabwe army, Douglas Nyikayaramba, who said this to a state-run newspaper:

"President Mugabe will only leave office if he sees fit or dies. We will die for him to make sure he remains in power" ("General Says Mugabe Rival Is a Threat to Zimbabwe," June 23, 2011).

The military, Dugger reports, will be ubiquitous during the forthcoming elections (as always) because the president's opponent, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is, according to the general, a "'major security threat' who 'takes instructions from foreigners.'"

However, this "security threat" has "survived arrests, a police beating, assassination attempts and a treason trial over the past decade" ("Robert Mugabe Hounds Rivals in Zimbabwe, Parties Say," April 18, 2011).

Thankfully, he's not quitting the government and will campaign for the presidency to free the people of Zimbabwe from Mugabe's shackles.

Next week we will meet Patience Mhlanga, born and raised in Zimbabwe. She will tell us how she escaped and is now a student at Fairfield University in Connecticut while also volunteering in such organizations as the Gospel Mission's orphanage in southeastern India. Patience's calling is to help the abandoned wherever she can.

This witness against the Hitler of Africa has a lot to tell us from personal experience.

And during this next "election," how many members of the American media will be there as our witnesses to the hell that is Robert Mugabe's merciless occupation of Zimbabwe?

Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights. He is a member of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Cato Institute, where he is a senior fellow.

(Source)

Typhoid Outbreak Hits Harare

2012-01-24T08:25:00.002Z

Zimbabwean health authorities have reported that Harare is under siege from the biggest typhoid outbreak in recent history which might sweep across the country with devastating effect.

At least 80 people have been hospitalised in Harare and reports indicate that if the disease is not contained, it could spread rapidly.

The director of the Harare City Council Health Department, Dr Prosper Chonzi told the Daily News yesterday the deadly infection has been traced back to food that is being sold by illegal vendors in Kuwadzana suburb, and frantic efforts were underway to combat the disease.

The latest typhoid outbreak comes amid another outbreak of a diarrhoeal infection caused by the “shigella bacteria”, a deadly mix that could prove to Typhoid outbreak hits Harare nbe a major test for the city health department, which had never before been faced with a typhoid outbreak on such a massive scale.

On the frontline of the battle to save lives and bring the disease under control is medical charity Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) which has moved to pitch tents at the Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital and in Kuwadzana to screen patients.

The Daily News heard that there was an emergency "partners meeting" on Wednesday last week to coordinate a response to the spiralling epidemic.

Following that meeting, according to Chonzi, food samples from Kuwadzana shopping were tested and came back positive of salmonella, an organism that causes typhoid.

"We have traced it back to illegal vendors especially those selling fish, chicken, beef and sadza," Chonzi said. "We took samples and they were all contaminated by salmonella. We even examined those who prepare the food.

“We must stop illegal vending. People must stop buying that food. Very soon it will be city-wide because the salmonella lives under finger nails. This is not good for the city," he said.

Typhoid, a water-borne infection, has been virtually endemic in Zimbabwe and this is just the latest outbreak, but at a much larger scale, health authorities warn.

This is the second outbreak of typhoid in as many months, with health authorities having diagnosed dozens of cases at Beatrice Infectious Disease Hospitals so far.

"This is serious," Chonzi told the Daily News. "It is concentrated in Kuwadzana and 80 people are in Nazareth (Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital) right now."

Typhoid causes vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea - it can kill the old, the young and those who are already weakened.

Although the city's water system is so out-of-date and antiquated that it has failed to adequately supply the whole city, Chonzi ruled out water contamination and said "in those areas, the city of Harare has tried."

"There is water in Kuwadzana and many areas around that area. There is no sewer flowing," he said.

"There is both taped and borehole water. People are boiling water and there is distribution of aqua tablets. The issue is now vending," he said.

A nurse at the Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital said she was on duty when the first victim was brought into the hospital, but had no idea at the time of the seriousness of the outbreak.

The city hospital was eventually overrun with typhoid patients, with the hospital opening up most of their beds to new typhoid admissions.

She said: "The authorities here were quite unprepared. They had no emergency plan to cope with an outbreak, nor any stocks of emergency medicine.

"They appealed to the MSF and I must say they have really helped but it is still a huge challenge."

The panic over the disease has been so great that very few outsiders are daring venture further West into Kuwadzana.

The Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital has been swamped with people, including false alarms as the city is thrown into panic.

The typhoid outbreak comes hard on the heels of the outbreak of shigella, a diarrhoea infection that also hit the Western suburbs especially Warren Park. The disease shows itself through a blood-stained stool, fever and stomach cramps and 36 cases of shigella were diagnosed last week.

Dysentery, cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and a whole bouquet of diseases have been widespread in the capital: "We have been facing an epidemic of typhoid and this is the second time since last month. We don't know when this typhoid outbreak will stop," said Shorai Moyo, of Kuwadzana.

Zimbabwe’s public health system, which before the collapse of the last decade was one of the best in Africa, is on a firm path to recovery but still faces major hurdles.

Most of Zimbabwe’s public hospitals, which were forced to close their doors as they could no longer afford drugs, equipment or wages for their staff at the height of the economic crisis, began operating only months after the formation of a coalition government by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara in February 2009.

The power-sharing government promised to rebuild Zimbabwe’s economy and to restore basic services such as health and education that had virtually collapsed after a decade of economic meltdown blamed on Mugabe's previous government.

But the administration, which says it needs $10 billion to revive the economy, is struggling to deliver mainly because it has failed to unlock financial support from Western governments that have remained reluctant to provide aid until they see evidence that Mugabe is committed to genuinely share power with Tsvangirai.

(Source)

Air Zimbabwe Threatened With Liquidation

2012-01-23T08:46:00.002Z

Air Zimbabwe has been placed under judicial management and may face liquidation after the airline’s debt rose to $140 million.

The application to place the struggling national airline under judicial control was made by the airline’s employees who are owed about $35 million in salary arrears.

The High Court has since appointed Innocent Mavhunga, a chartered accountant, as the airline’s judicial manager and barred the Air Zimbabwe board from any involvement with the company.

The development also came after chief executive, Innocent Mavhunga wrote to President Robert Mugabe pleading for government assistance in keeping the company afloat.

"We wish to advise that the non-payment of salaries and other statutory obligations for the period in question has not been deliberate, but rather a manifestation of underlying viability challenges that our company has been experiencing where we have even suspended international and regional flights with domestic flights having become erratic,” Mavhunga said in the letter which was produced during the court hearing.

The workers’ lawyer, Caleb Mucheche said his clients had not been paid their salaries since 2009.

"Since the court has appointed a judicial manager it means that this is a prelude to liquidation. The judicial manager will now move in and the current AirZim board will have to step aside," Mucheche told the Sunday Mail.

"The judicial manager will assess if AirZim is still a going entity, but as the way things stand all is not well he is likely to recommend liquidation.

That is the process. Whenever a judicial manager comes in, the next step is liquidation."

Air Zimbabwe is battling massive debts which include obligations to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, National Social Security Authority as well as the workers’ medical aid and pension schemes.

Creditors also seized the company’s planes in South Africa and the United Kingdom last December over unpaid debts.

The company’s Boeing 737-500 was briefly held at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg over a US$500 000 debt while an American firm was also forced to seize the long haul Boeing 767-200 at London’s Gatwick airport.

The airline has since been forced to pull-out of the lucrative London and Johannesburg routes to prevent similar actions by restive creditors.

(Source)

Police Detain & Torture WOZA Activists In Bulawayo

2012-01-20T08:42:00.000Z

At least 17 members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) pressure group were briefly detained, assaulted and tortured by police in Bulawayo Thursday morning, for reasons that were not explained.

WOZA leader Magodonga Mahlangu told SW Radio Africa that all of them were released by the afternoon, but one of their members was having problems breathing after police “put her head in a plastic bag and asked if she was prepared to talk”.

Mahlangu said there was no demonstration or large gathering of WOZA members at the time. Two police officers who are familiar with WOZA members initially arrested three friends they recognized, accusing them of “standing” at a mall.

They then bundled the three into a police van and drove around picking up other women they knew to be WOZA members. One male activist was also picked up and then released after an hour. The remaining 16 were assaulted.

It is not clear what the charges are but according to WOZA, a “notorious” officer named George Levison Ngwenya, who has been involved in previous arrests and assaults of their members, dealt with Thursday’s arrests.

“He had the audacity to follow them when they were released and say let’s forget everything that happened in his office. How do you forget a plastic bag over your head,” Mahlangu asked. She added that police stepped on some of the women’s heads and on their toes. No-one has been hospitalized.

“WOZA note that once again the Officer Ngwenya is overzealous and assaults members in his ongoing personal vendetta against WOZA members,” the group said in a statement.

WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are due in Bulawayo Magistrates Court on Friday, in another case where they are facing kidnap and theft charges.

A magistrate ruled earlier this week that two must answer the charges even though witnesses denied the incident ever happened. The magistrate promised a written copy of the ruling, which the defence lawyer needs in order to challenge the ruling at the High Court.

Mahlangu said police officer Ngwenya was also involved in the kidnap and theft case. The group accuses Bulawayo police of harassment and malicious prosecution, but vowed to continue with their peaceful activities.

(Source)

Mujuru Cop Makes Shocking Statement

2012-01-19T09:17:00.001Z

A policeman who gave evidence at an inquest into the death of Zimbabwe’s former army commander, made the shocking claim that he had no airtime to call the fire brigade.

Solomon Mujuru, the husband of Zimbabwe's Vice-President Joice Mujuru, died in a house fire in August 2011.

But some Zimbabweans suspect foul play.

Constable Augustino Chinyoka was one of three police guards commissioned at Mujuru’s Beatrice farm on the night of the blaze.

On Monday, he told the inquest that he noticed the fire at 2am, but they could not contact the fire brigade because they had no airtime on their mobile phones.

Chinyoka said when the fire brigade finally arrived at 5am, there was no water in their fire engine.

Meanwhile, Joice Mujuru said there were many unanswered questions surrounding her husband’s death.

(Source)

US$30 Million Worth Of "Presidential Input Scheme" Looted

2012-01-18T09:29:00.003Z

Robert Mugabe's controversial "Presidential Well Wishers Special Input Scheme" meant to benefit party loyalists masquerading as farmers has been looted; US$30 million worth of inputs have disappeared and members of the Central Intelligence have been called-in to investigate the scandal.

Farmers have appealed to relevant authorities to investigate cases in which some people are reported to have looted fertilisers being disbursed under the Presidential Well Wishers Special Input Scheme.

Farmers who were supposed to benefit under the US$27 million input scheme are breathing fire, claiming that some people in positions of authority abused the facility by taking large quantities of fertiliser at the expense of the intended beneficiaries.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Director, Mr Paul Zakariya said his organisation has been inundated with calls from aggrieved farmers who want relevant authorities to urgently intervene.

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Deputy General Manager, Mr Lawrence Jasi distanced the parastatal from the administration process of the presidential inputs scheme, saying GMB is only involved in the Government Inputs Scheme.

Contacted for comment, the Minister of State Security, Sydney Sekeramayi said they are investigating the matter while Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Didymus "Diesel from Rocks" Mutasa argued that the provision of inputs under the presidential programme is progressing well, adding that the office is not aware of reports of corruption.

However, farmers insist that culprits should be brought to book.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has defended his agriculture funding record insisting criticism of his policies was only coming from failed farmers, among them ministers in the country’s coalition government. Biti has come under fire from cabinet colleagues accusing him of undermining the country’s land reforms by “refusing” to adequately fund the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and help farmers procure inputs. Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa recently said the GMB was failing to pay farmers for grain supplies after being refused funding by Biti.

“We are worried that farmers struggle to get agricultural inputs due to lack of funds when they are owed huge sums of money by the GMB,” Mnangagwa told farmers at a meeting in Chiredzi. We put the blame squarely on Finance Minister Biti of the MDC-T who does not release funds to the GMB on time,” he said.

But Biti dismissed the criticism claiming more than US$2 billion dollars has been put into agriculture since the formation of the coalition government in 2009.

“The people who criticise our work at the ministry, especially what we have done for the agricultural sector, do so from the viewpoint of malice and total ignorance,” Biti said in an interview with The Herald. “This is so particularly with failed farmers, some of whom masquerade as Cabinet ministers who continue to be called new farmers even after 11 years of the land reform programme.”

He said agriculture accounted for up to 40 percent of total government expenditure since 2009 adding the sector had only started recovering after the formation of the coalition government. “In 2008, we could not find a bag of maize meal, wheat production was zero and coffee and tea plantations had become sites of tourism. But in a very short period, agricultural output has massively grown because of the interventions of the inclusive Government,” he said.

Biti claimed some of his critics were actually responsible for the collapse of agriculture in the last decade adding they were further holding back recovery of the sector by blocking a much-needed land audit.

“Unfortunately, the non-genuine farmer in powerful political positions is afraid of the (land) audit, which will expose that they are multiple farm owners. It will further expose the vicious malpractices taking place on the land. There is land that is not being productively used and that is what the audit will expose.”

Biti said the government did not have the resources to fully fund agriculture and warned that a full turn-around in the sector would not be achieved unless farmers were given “securitised long land leases”.

“There is no Government in the world that can ever finance agriculture in full. To expect the Government of the day, particularly the present GNU, to be able to finance agriculture is fiction,” he said. “We can talk about financing agriculture until the cows come home but as long as the farmers do not have securitised long land leases, then let us forget about agriculture beyond subsistence farming.

“As long as the land does not have title, it is dead capital, it has no useful and exchange value. More importantly, without security of tenure, farmers cannot borrow money from the banks to finance their operations.”

The MDC has been calling for a transparent and non-partisan distribution of farming inputs to vulnerable farming communities.

This follows the launch of the Presidential Special Input Scheme by President Robert Mugabe where free seed and fertiliser would be distributed to over 710000 households countrywide.

The Presidential input scheme recently torched a storm in the coalition government with the MDC accusing Zanu PF of politicising the scheme, which is being funded by the taxpayer.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti who is secretary-general for the MDC has mantained that no individual or political party should monopolise national resources for political party gains.

“The MDC recognises the existence of vulnerable farming groups in the country in particular communal farmers and therefore accepts that government must support these vulnerable farmers.

“However, the party is concerned by the skewed and politically biased distribution of farming inputs such as seed and fertiliser and the use of inputs and food as a campaign tool by the ministry of Agriculture and the Grain Marketing Board which borders on vote buying,” said Biti.

Biti said the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was responsible for people’s welfare and was the only ministry responsible for distribution of aid to the disadvantaged population, not the ministry of Agriculture.

The ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is led by an MDC minister, Paurina Mpariwa-Gwanyanya.

The calls by Biti will fly in the face of Zanu PF which had been devising campaign strategies using national resources meant to benefit every citizen, a move that saw national projects like the land reform benefiting those believed to be Zanu PF supporters.

The Reserve Bank Governor, Gideon Gono unveiled an ambitious agricultural mechanisation project that saw mainly Zanu PF supporters access farm implements for free as a campaign strategy by the former ruling party.

Similarly, observers have also raised concern over the current indigenisation and empowerment programme being touted by Zanu PF saying it has been hijacked by Mugabe’s party for political gains.

Biti on Saturday said the indigenisation programme was a “rent seeking regime” and called for a complete restart. Biti said the ministry of Agriculture was supposed to be apolitical in its distribution of farming inputs.

“The MDC calls on the Ministry of Agriculture and the Grain Marketing Board to distribute farming inputs in a transparent manner,” Biti said.

(Source)

"Chiwenga Ordered Mujuru Assassination" - Report

2012-01-17T08:57:00.003Z

An investigation into the mysterious death of army General Solomon Mujuru has not only concluded that he was murdered but Nehanda Radio.com can exclusively reveal that fingers are being pointed at Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, General Constantine Chiwenga.

The 62 year old General Mujuru died in a fire in the early hours of Tuesday 15 August 2011 at his farmhouse in Beatrice, 60 km outside Harare. His death deeply divided Zanu PF because he led a faction that was locked in a fierce contest for influence with another camp led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Nehanda Radio.com has now been told by a senior army officer, that there is even more serious infighting within the army over Mujuru’s death. This is because a secretly conducted investigation by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and police is accusing Chiwenga of killing Mujuru.

Its being alleged General Chiwenga is gunning to succeed President Robert Mugabe and is determined to eliminate anyone opposing his plans. According to the report Chiwenga is running a hit squad within ZANU PF and the army which is seeking to assassinate anyone that he views as an obstacle.

The first target of Chiwenga’s hit squad was Air Force Commander Air Marshall Perence Shiri. Both Shiri and Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Phillip Sibanda are heavily opposed to Chiwenga’s plans of succeeding Mugabe.

The high stakes drama began in December 2008 when Shiri survived an assassination attempt after he was shot and wounded in the arm on the way to his farm. Police said he was accosted by unknown people who shot at his car.

When Shiri heard the gunshots, he got out thinking it was a puncture and was shot.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi immediately blamed MDC-T activists but strangely no one was arrested. Nehanda Radio.com has now been told Chiwenga ordered that hit. Shiri has been vigilant about his security since then and last year when Mujuru died, he is said to have ‘taken extra measures’ to protect himself.

Air Force Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Phillip Sibanda and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwengwa lead the funeral parade in honour of General Solomon Mujuru at One Commando Barracks in Harare.

It’s not clear whether Mugabe sanctioned Chiwenga’s operation but the recent promotion of Three Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, to Major-General by Mugabe, suggests he is on the same side as General Chiwenga.

ZANU PF insiders say although Mugabe is undecided on who should succeed him, there is growing evidence someone who could protect him from future prosecution for human rights abuses, like Chiwenga would be ideal.

We have also been told the infighting in the army is so vicious, Nyikayaramba’s posting at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters in Harare, is not a coincidence. He is there to bolster Chiwenga’s campaign.

“If the infighting in the army escalates, Nyikayaramba will be close by to assist Chiwenga. His previous posting in Manicaland (Three Brigade) was considered too far from the action,” our source said.

Chiwenga is pushing his presidential ambitions aggressively. Last year he acquired a Masters degree in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe. Chiwenga, described by his subordinates as “knowing very little” about the military, went public with his achievement, taking out an ad in the Sunday Mail.

Chiwenga is already nicknamed Zim2, another way of saying he is second in command after Mugabe. The registration number for Mugabe’s official armour-plated limousine is Zim1, so Zim2 is a play on that. Not only are Chiwenga’s presidential ambitions being resisted in ZANU PF, its worse in the army.

Leaked US diplomatic cables showed that Chiwenga is not respected in the army. During a January 5 and 6, 2010 meeting with US ambassador Charles Ray, Brigadier General Herbert Chingono, the Inspector General for the Zimbabwe National Army, and Major General Fidelis Satuku, the ZDF Director General for Policy and Personnel described Chiwenga as an ignoramus.

“General Constantine Chiwenga is a political general who works hard, but who has very little practical military experience or expertise. Given a choice between a military and a political issue, Chiwenga will always choose the political, because he doesn’t know enough about the military to be comfortable discussing it,” the cable reads.

At the end of last year Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba confirmed that he was working closely with hardliners, who include army generals, to manage President Robert Mugabe ahead of elections envisaged for 2012.

Impeccable sources in the politburo told the weekly Zimbabwe Independent newspaper that the military was setting up parallel structures so as to take over the day-to-day running of government. General Constantine Chiwenga was reportedly behind the establishment of the parallel structures.

Mugabe spokesman was also regularly seen visiting Chiwenga at Defence House. “I have no apologies to make about being at Defence House, or at the PGHQ (Police Headquarters) or (the army’s) KG6 - these are the structures I work for,” Charamba fired back.

It was also claimed that “the military’s plans have advanced to the extent that they are now intercepting speeches approved by Mugabe and exchanging them with alternative speeches prepared at Defence House.” Sources who spoke to the paper said this was a direct order from Chiwenga.

An inquest into Mujuru’s death is due to begin on Monday at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and expected to end on Friday. Nehanda Radio.com has been told “this is nothing but a sham exercise meant to divert the nation’s attention. Everyone in the security forces knows Chiwenga killed Mujuru".

“The police also know who killed Mujuru but no one has the guts to take Chiwenga and Mugabe head on, on this matter. By throwing this case to the courts for an inquest, its another way for the police to wash their hands off the matter. Everyone in the security forces knows the courts will do absolutely nothing.”

“The reluctance to make the police report public, tells you everything you need to know. The public don’t know what’s in the report but most senior people in the security forces know what’s inside,” another source told us.

So why did Mugabe sanction the assassination?

Relations between Mugabe and Mujuru were strained. The former guerrilla leader was the only remaining official able to openly challenge Mugabe in high level meetings. Mujuru’s faction also tried but failed to remove Mugabe as the ZANU PF candidate at the party’s extraordinary congress in December 2007.

Mujuru’s second in command during the liberation war, Wilfred Mhanda last year called for a commission of enquiry into Mujuru’s death saying he was “quite shocked and touched by his death and actually surprised that President Mugabe didn’t come out openly to say it is suspicious”.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa, Mhanda said “Any person who has listened to the story, who has read the papers, clearly can come to no other conclusion except that there was naked foul play and why the President could not come out clearly about that and announce the establishment of a commission of enquiry baffles the mind.”

Mhanda said he believed Mujuru’s death benefited Mugabe more than anyone else. Mujuru “as many people have testified including Dumiso Dabengwa was the only one in the current politburo who could speak out to Mugabe. No one now is prepared to do this,” Mhanda added.

Last year Vice President Joice Mujuru publicly spoke out about the suspicious nature of her husband’s death. Speaking to members of a women’s football team Mrs Mujuru said she believed her husband could have escaped the fire:

“The problem is we just hear its fire. But what happened from 8.30pm to when the fire was seen? That’s where the story is. I was called just after 2am and told that the house is on fire. The roof had collapsed, but that doesn’t happen instantly.

“It means the fire had started around that time when he got home on Monday night. That should be the time when people should start, you know, whatever they want to look at because we can’t just start when the roof has collapsed.”

Mrs. Mujuru also questioned why her husband opted to run for the door of the 14-roomed house, when he could have used the bedroom window instead. “The (bedroom) set up had two western big windows, so if you want to come out you just jump. Our little kids used to jump and we used to laugh about it. It was closer to come out through the window than the door,” she said.

“I suppose if they were to give us something satisfying it would make my heart rest. We are anxiously waiting for the police to finish their investigations. They have invited all the experts they could find to look at what could have happened,” Mrs Mujuru added.

That investigation has been completed and the report is not being made public.

Rumblings of discontent also came from Mujuru’s 69 year old elder brother Joel Tazviwinga Mujuru who suggested a lot is being kept from the public.

Joel has already said he is not happy with the police investigation and the way senior ZANU PF officials are ignoring the matter.

Joel said all indications were that Mujuru was murdered and “he vowed to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the mystery behind the death. Solomon was unable to go back to his vehicle where he left his phone, groceries and documents. It was not possible for him to leave his phone in the vehicle and go to sleep.”

“Secondly, I did not hear that the car keys were found. Solomon could have escaped through the window if it was a genuine fire. Where he died and where his bedroom was there was some distance.”

“Solomon could have been burnt on the bed, not where he was found dead. The fire was coming from the other side going to his bedroom, but Solomon died where the fire was coming from. All this gives me unanswered questions,” Joel said.

(Source)

Tsvangirai Hunts 2008 Murderers

2012-01-16T08:39:00.004Z

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC are pushing for the murderers of the 2008 political violence to be brought to justice without any further delays.

But Attorney-General (AG) Johannes Tomana, whose job it is to prosecute these killers, continues to dither and sit on the cases - accusing the MDC of cheap electioneering.

The MDC says it is keen to ensure that perpetrators of the 2008 violence are jailed to prevent them from committing more atrocities as President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF desperately tries to use the next poll to overturn its 2008 electoral defeat.

Churches, civil society and election observer groups largely blame the 2008 violence on the military, as well as Zanu PF supporters - who were all battling to overturn Mugabe’s embarrassing and dramatic defeat in the March 2008 first round presidential poll.

In that light, the MDC says it wants Tomana to use his constitutional powers to force the prosecution of the “murderers” who are still roaming free and appear to enjoy police protection.

The party has implored Tomana to invoke Section 76 (4a) of the constitution to order the commissioner-general of the police Augustine Chihuri to investigate the murders.

The party has also approached the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic), an organ set up under the Global Political Agreement (GPA), to monitor the implementation of the power sharing accord.

Deputy Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Obert Gutu, who is also a top official in the MDC, says the party will this year exhaustively pursue the matter.

“The MDC is still pursuing the matter because it goes to the very root of foundational concepts of democracy, transparency, accountability and good governance,” he said.

“Naturally, the MDC will not rest until such a time that the perpetrators of these brutal murders and other heinous crimes are brought to book. As they say in Shona, mhosva hairovi (you can not run away from the law). It is a fact that no less than 200 MDC activists were brutally murdered between March and June, 2008.

That period in time was a reign of terror,” Gutu told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday.

Gutu accused Tomana of shielding perpetrators of the 2008 violence, saying the AG had been sitting on dossiers containing details of the gruesome 2008 violence “for ages” without acting.

Tomana denied the charge.

He rubbished the MDC’s concerns, saying the party should follow due process.

Tomana told the Daily News on Sunday that he could not invoke the constitutional provisions directing police to investigate the murders when the MDC had failed to meet key conditions for that to happen.

“The Attorney General invokes that power where it is very clear before him that there is a witness who has cared to actually go all the way to assist the police with all the requisite information that is required,” Tomana said yesterday.

“I can only invoke that power when they (police) are not doing what they are supposed to do for example, this could either be because of corruption in the sense of showing favour, or fear because certain threats have been made to them or prejudice,” said Tomana.

“Police stations have jurisdictions because an offence that is committed in Magunje is reported in Magunje and investigated in Magunje. Now we will then check to see whether that report was actually made, what the CR Number is and then over and above that we can certify that yes, the IO (investigating officer) did less than what he is supposed to do.

“We refer you to the DisPol (Officer Commanding District). If the DisPol doesn’t help, we refer you to the province.

“If they don’t help we find that there is a real responsibility? You go up to the PGHQ (Police General Headquarters) itself,” said Tomana, explaining the due process necessary before he can act.

In the meantime, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti has also furnished Jomic with a list of the murders that were perpetrated against MDC supporters in 2008.

Zimbabwe has struggled to regain stability ever since and tensions have been rising again ahead of another election, to be held possibly next year.

“The MDC implores you to ensure that the Zimbabwe Republic Police are made to enforce the rule of law by causing the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of these murders,” Biti wrote to Jomic national coordinator Patience Chiradza.

“It is inexcusable that almost three years after the perpetration of these murders; absolutely nothing has been done by the police to arrest those who committed the murders.”

Police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka declined to comment saying Jomic must answer the questions since the MDC had chosen to write to them.

“They have written to Jomic. I cannot answer for Jomic,” Mandipaka told the Daily News on Sunday. “He (Biti) will get his answers from Jomic.”

Biti’s letter was copied to co-Home Affairs ministers Theresa Makone and Kembo Mohadi as well as Justice and Legal Affairs minister Patrick Chinamasa.

The letter further quotes a speech made by Vice President Joice Mujuru at the Celebration Centre in Harare on December 7, in 2010.

“If you are out there and you kill in the name of Zanu PF, the law will catch up with you because an offence (once) committed should be brought to justice,” Mujuru is quoted saying at the Celebration Centre in the letter.

“Zanu PF won’t protect you. We don’t want to be a country known for murder and harassment.”

Said Biti in his letter: “Indeed, Vice President Mujuru acknowledged in December 2010 that Zanu PF supporters had committed murders in 2008.”

Attached to Biti’s letter was a letter to Tomana written by the MDC director of security and intelligence, Chris Dhlamini, containing the names, districts, dates and summaries of 2008 murders and other violent activities.

“Villages, particulars and locations where the deaths occurred can be supplied by the MDC leadership in respective districts given in the said document,” Dhlamini’s letter to Tomana says.

“The deaths occurred in 2008, over a period of time extending from April 2008 to December 2008. We will forward to you any further reports from our members as they come.

Information available suggests that the deceased were murdered, by, in some cases people who the deceased’s relatives and neighbours will be able to identify or name,” the letter reads.

The MDC intelligence supremo says in his letter to Tomana that reports in some cases were made to the local police stations but the report references were not given to the informants.

“The police have not gone back to the informants/relatives to inform them of the levels of achievements in their efforts to deal with the said matters in accordance with the law,” reads the letter.

Suspected Zanu PF supporters, war veterans and intelligence officers were accused of carrying a retribution exercise against perceived MDC backers in Mashonaland Central and East in the run up to the June 2008 presidential run-off.

Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off days before polling, citing massive violence and intimidation against his supporters.

Mugabe went ahead with the poll widely condemned as a sham and installed himself as the winner of the one-man election.

Sadc leaders, led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, however intervened and forced a political pact leading to the formation of the inclusive government.

(Source)

ZANU PF Running Parallel Government

2012-01-14T08:39:00.002Z

Several events in the last two months have shown that Zimbabwe’s coalition government exists in name only and that Mugabe and his ZANU PF party are now blatantly running a parallel government.

Towards the end of December Mugabe unilaterally promoted Three Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, to Major-General. Nyikayaramba has in the past been implicated in rhino poaching, partisan food distribution, election rigging and even the murder of an army captain.

Not only did Mugabe snub Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in making the promotions, but in June last year Nyikayaramba had told the ZANU PF controlled Herald newspaper that Tsvangirai was a “national security threat rather than a political one”, and suggested the military should step in to deal with him.

This month Mugabe cut short his leave in the Far East to rush back to Harare and meet the Equatorial Guinea President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Obiang was on his way back home when he stopped over in Harare from South Africa where he had attended the ruling ANC centenary celebrations.

Highlighting the dysfunctional coalition government again was the fact that the two MDC formations knew nothing about Nguema’s visit. A ‘raft’ of deals are said to have been signed between the two countries and only acting Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Goche, from ZANU PF, was at the signing ceremony.

According to a report in NewsDay the deals: “Included agreements to develop programmes in education and training, public administration, defence and security, support for Equatorial Guinea’s industrialisation programme, agriculture, agro-industry and livestock production. The two countries also agreed to set up specific projects in mining, infrastructure development, communication and commerce.”

Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said: “The PM did not know anything about the visit and is completely in the dark about the deals. He was not even invited to the State banquet for Nguema on Monday.”

Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube also professed ignorance on the deals signed: “I am not privy to the agreements as I was not involved. I am not able to comment on something I do not know as nobody from my ministry was involved and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be the best to say why they did not involve us.”

Similarly Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa told NewsDay: “That is news to me. I am not aware of anything that was signed about information and communication as I was not involved in the discussions and did not know about Nguema’s visit.”

The end of January is expected to throw up another opportunity for Mugabe to snub his partners. The terms of office for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga and police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri expire at the end of the month.

Expiring at the end of February will be the terms of office for the Prisons Services Commissioner, retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi; Air Force commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Sibanda.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Friday, MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said they did not expect Mugabe to consult Prime Minister Tsvangirai, despite the coalition agreement saying the President had to do so. “Over the years Mugabe has been renewing their contracts from year to year,” without consultation he said.

The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper did quote the MDC saying: “MDC-T and the smaller formation headed by Welshman Ncube said they would fight Mugabe legally and politically if he renewed the service chiefs’ contracts or if he made new appointments without consulting other players in the inclusive government.”

There is however a feeling amongst many commentators that the two MDC formations have effectively given up fighting a losing battle and both are now just waiting for elections.

In an interview with SW Radio Africa in October, Prime Minister Tsvangirai admitted as much saying: “Everyone thinks that the only way to resolve these matters is to go to an election.”

But he did add: “We still want the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement before elections.”

(Source)

Chihuri, Chiwenga Contracts Expire

2012-01-13T08:59:00.002Z

The tripartite partners in the inclusive government - ZANU PF and the two MDC formations - are set to cross swords once again when terms of office of the country’s service chiefs expire at the end of this month and February, the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.

The MDC-T told the Independent yesterday that police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga’s terms expire at the end of the month, while Prisons Services Commissioner retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, Air Force commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Sibanda’s tenures all expire at the end of February.

According to a document prepared by the MDC-T, Chihuri, who took over from Henry Mukurazhizha in 1991 as acting commissioner before assuming the position on a full time basis in 1993, has had his contract renewed 13 times since his first term expired in 1997.

The document revealed that Chihuri’s current term as commissioner-general of the police commenced in January 2008 and would expire at the end of January together with Chiwenga’s contract.

“The effect of the provision of Section 18 of the Interpretation Act is such that the change of title from Commissioner of police to Commissioner-General of police is immaterial,” the document says. “The Commissioner-General’s tenure of office therefore is covered by the provisions of the Police Act.”

“According to Section 6, the Commissoner-General’s term of office expires at the end of four years. Thereafter, the Commissioner-General may be re-appointed by extending his period of service for 12 months at the end of which in the absence of the letter of appointment extending his services, he ceases to be Commissioner-General of police.”

In separate interviews yesterday, MDC-T and the smaller formation headed by Welshman Ncube said they would fight Mugabe legally and politically if he renewed the service chiefs’ contracts or if he made new appointments without consulting other players in the inclusive government.

MDC-N deputy president Edwin Mushoriwa and MDC-T secretary for security Giles Mutsekwa said Mugabe should consult Tsvangirai on either new appointments or renewal of the contracts as underlined by the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which gave birth to the present inclusive
government.

The GPA stipulates that the president should consult the prime minister when making key appointments.

Mutsekwa said they would not allow Mugabe to disregard the GPA by making unilateral decisions.

He said the expiry of the contracts gave the inclusive government an opportunity to get rid of the service chiefs, who have in the past made political statements.

“People like Chihuri, whose term is about to expire, should not have their contracts renewed because they have failed to integrate themselves into the new dispensation,” said Mutsekwa. “They have refused to be part of the future of Zimbabwe. The only wise thing is that as soon as their contracts expire, they should refuse to have them renewed. They must find a different profession. They must just move into politics because they are already practising politics, while putting on uniforms,” Mutsekwa said.

Mutsekwa added that Mugabe had no authority to renew the contracts without agreeing with other parties in the inclusive government.

“This is going to generate a lot of debate and if he makes unilateral decisions, we will take the matter to SADC, but first we will take him on locally before taking the matter to the region. We will wage a legal battle.

We would want these issues to be resolved in the country. We have all the arsenal to fight this. We will wage a war on all fronts- legally, politically and regionally,” he said.

Mutsekwa said his party was not targeting the service chiefs for personal reasons but for their involvement in politics.

He said because of his selective application of the law, Chihuri did not deserve to have his contract renewed.

Mushoriwa said: “Our position as a party has always been that the government needs to work in line with the GPA which states that appointments should be done in consultation with other parties and we must come up with a consensus and we just pray and hope that Mugabe does that. The challenge is that we have a ZANU PF and Mugabe who have always made unilateral decisions. If they do it again, we will approach Sadc because that will be a breach of the GPA.”

The service chiefs have proved to be loyal to Mugabe and have been effective in the political assignments he has given them. The service chiefs fought fiercely to keep Mugabe in power during the 2008 elections.

Mugabe views the service chiefs as loyal to him and this has been evident through statements they have made in the past vowing not to support anyone without liberation war credentials.

Chiwenga, who is referred to as “Zim 2” by his inner circle, is on record declaring that he would not salute anyone who beats Mugabe in an election.

He attacked MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni as “sellouts”.

Similar threats were made by Chihuri and Zimondi in 2008, while the late ZDF chief General Vitalis Zvinavashe made such pronouncements in the run-up to the 2002 presidential poll. The statementsamounted to intimidating voters to vote for Mugabe.

Other high-ranking military officials have also declared that they would not salute anyonewho didn’t participate in the liberation war. Notorious among them is Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, who said Tsvangirai would never rule this country. Nyikayaramba was recently promoted to his current rank in what observers have said is reward for his loyalty to Mugabe and ZANU PF.

(Source)

War Vet & White Farmer Behind Chiredzi Ranch Invasions

2012-01-12T08:53:00.003Z

A white farmer named Ken Drummond is reported to have teamed up with war vet Francis Zimuto, who calls himself Black Jesus, and the unlikely duo are alleged to be intimidating the remaining white farmers in the Chiredzi and Hippo Valley area, taking over properties illegally.

SW Radio Africa reported earlier this week that war vets had taken over Mteri Lodge on the Hippo Valley estate and that Drummond was after the hunting rights. We have since been informed that Zimuto was behind the takeover and has been intimidating the owners at nearby Nhari Lodge.

The two are also alleged to be involved in similar deals at Impala Ranch and Savuli Ranch, both in the Save Valley Conservancy. Five thugs working for Zimuto invaded Savuli ranch four months ago and are living there, attempting to turn the workers against the owner.

Sources in Chiredzi who chose not to be identified, said Zimuto is working for the former ZANU-PF Minister Shuvai Mahofa. Drummond has visited Savuli with his son Tiki, pretending it was an inspection.

“Mai Mahofa” claims to be the new owner of Savuli and has produced a copy of a lease, according to trusted sources, who said close inspection showed that the lease was invalid and had different dates on the pages.

Zimbabwe’s wild life conservancies have been under constant threat for ten years and there appears to be a concerted effort to remove all remaining obstacles to plundering them. Massive deforestation is taking place as all the trees are cut down and thousands of animals continue to be snared and slaughtered.

Deon Theron, former president of the Commercial Farmers Union, said the conservancies were protected by law, but the absence of the rule of law means any individual can target an area and invade with impunity.

“Although there is a unity government we all know that ZANU PF dictates what should happen. Over the last ten years the law has been applied selectively and those with the right connections are not prosecuted,” Theron explained.

(Source)

Kasukuwere To Move In On Commercial Banks

2012-01-11T08:47:00.002Z

The Minister of Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Saviour Kasukuwere will soon meet with local foreign owned commercial banks to tell them about their new indigenisation levels and requirements, Radio VOP can exclusively reveal.

In an exclusive interview, Godfrey Sigobodhla, Director, Indigenisation and Empowerment in his ministry said: "Yes, we will soon set the indigenisation levels for all foreign owned commercial banks operating in Zimbabwe.

"As you know we have already met with the mining industry and the manufacturing sector and their levels have already been set.

"The level for all mining companies is US$1 million annual turnover and for manufacturing it is US$100 000. However, we will soon set new levels for commercial banks. I know the figure but I cannot tell you right now otherwise I will let the cat out of the bag."

He said these figures were being confused on the market because some were saying US$1 million turnover was the requirement for indigenisation.

"This is not true because the general figure right now is US$500 000 and not US$1 million as is going around."

The three foreign owned commercial banks operating in Zimbabwe right now are Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited (Barclays), Standard Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe Limited (Stanchart) and Standard Bank of Zimbabwe Limited (Stanbic Bank).

"There is no reversing this issue," Sigobodhla said in the exclusive interview."It is tight on the mining sector because they are using our land and are benefiting tremendously in Zimbabwe right now."

The economy has been on a free fall for the past 10 years and the new levels are meant to even the playing field he said.

"There is no going back and we are serious but are very patient about this," he said.

"It should benefit everyone even the Indian delegation that is gathered here in Harare today."

(Source)

Zimbabwe Gold Deposits 'Claimed' By Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF

2012-01-10T10:45:00.001Z

A gold rush near a Zimbabwean mining city has raised fears of a violent crackdown by security forces aiming to tighten President Robert Mugabe's grip on power.

Thousands of illegal panners flocked to Kwekwe after word spread of newly discovered gold deposits, the independent NewsDay newspaper reported. As the situation grew chaotic, armed police with dogs moved in to lock down the area.

Its gold wealth has now been "claimed" by Mugabe's ZANU PF party, NewsDay said, in a potential replay of Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields, where ZANU PF has allegedly siphoned off tens of millions of dollars.

Kwekwe grew from a mining settlement on the well-worn road from the capital, Harare, to the second city, Bulawayo. Recent reports that panners in Sherwood Block, in the suburb of Amaveni, had stumbled upon pure gold nuggets prompted a scramble reminiscent of that for diamonds in the country's east. Then, in 2008, diggers were savaged by police dogs, mown down by helicopter machine guns or buried alive. It is thought more than 200 died.

According to NewsDay, "the gold find triggered a spending spree in nightclubs around Kwekwe, where panners from Amaveni who had been lucky were buying expensive drinks for patrons".

But when groups of vigilantes allegedly seized the area and demanded "tax" from the panners, many of whom are typically driven by poverty and desperation, police stepped in with weapons and dogs to take control on behalf of Mugabe.

"Announcing the takeover of the area at a rally attended by hundreds of panners who had been chased away from the fields by police, ZANU PF Midlands provincial security officer Owen "Mudha" Ncube said the gold deposits in Sherwood belonged to his party," NewsDay reported. "Mudha said ZANU PF had fought in the liberation struggle to ensure that Zimbabweans owned their land and the minerals in it and therefore had rights to control who mined at the fields."

The paper described Mudha as chanting party slogans that insulted Morgan Tsvangirai, prime minister and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has a fragile power sharing deal with ZANU PF.

NewsDay said ZANU PF has started compiling registers of people who will be allowed to enter the fields to mine the gold. Cornelius Mpereri, a close ally of Emmerson Mnangagwa, tipped as a possible successor to Mugabe, and Josphats "Gold" Sibanda have registered the Sherwood Block mining claim, it added.

Eddie Cross, policy director general of the MDC, said the Kwekwe area was rich in gold and such discoveries were not rare. "What is unusual, if confirmed, is the move by local ZANU PF leadership. This is the home of Emmerson Mnangagwa. He is the biggest gold trader in the country. The fact they have moved to take control of this by force is unexpected."

Farai Maguwu, head of Zimbabwe's independent Centre for Research and Development, which has monitored rights violations in the diamond trade, said: "It's a country where the law of the jungle, or survival of the fittest, is the rule of the game. Given the politicisation of this new find, and in light of the fact that the gold was discovered by ordinary, hard-working Zimbabweans who are now being forced out by those who abuse state security apparatus for personal gain, violence is inevitable.

"It may not be as herculean as what happened in Marange diamonds fields three years ago, but the hard lesson we all got from Marange is that when politics and poverty come face to face in a resource area, there will be violence."

Campaigners believe that tens of millions of dollars from the Marange diamond fields are bypassing Zimbabwe's treasury and filling ZANU PF's party coffers, strengthening Mugabe's hand for elections due later this year.

(Source)

Police mount bid to nail Biti

2012-01-09T19:00:00.002Z

Police are probing Finance Minister Tendai Biti over the controversial $500-million windfall Zimbabwe got from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009. They aim to arrest him if they detect any trace of fraud.

The Biti probe follows a police bid last year to arrest Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and nephew Hebson Makuvise, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Germany, in a $1.5-million fraud case.

It was alleged Tsvangirai double-dipped into state funds by securing first $1.5-million and then $1-million to buy an up-market house in Kew Drive in Highlands, Harare.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives opened a criminal docket and are still probing the premier in a case being handled by police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri. CID chief superintendent Alison Nyamupaguma is leading the investigating team.

Officials told the Sunday Times this week Biti was being investigated over the $500-million. He and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono fought bitter battles to get control of this money.

"The minister of finance has been under investigation since last year by police and some government officials over the usage of the money, which came from the IMF in 2009. It is alleged the minister was involved or knew about how part of the money was mishandled at some banks," a senior government official said.

"The line of investigation is that part of the money, which was deposited into banks owned or run by the minister's friends, was mishandled through means that border on unauthorised or unlawful practices, including creaming-off interest accrued for individual benefit. Police want to know if the minister was involved in, or was aware of, these activities."

Another official said the team probing Tsvangirai was "on Biti's case".

Biti was not available for comment, but a senior finance official said on Friday he was "not worried about it".

Zimbabwe got $512.3-million in special drawing rights in 2009 after the IMF injected $283-billion into the global economy to provide liquidity and boost member countries' foreign exchange reserves at the height of the financial crisis.

As soon as the money was in the RBZ coffers, Biti and Gono started fighting over it. They engaged the IMF separately. Biti said he was the "sole authority" on how the money would be used. Most of it would go to infrastructure development and exporters' lines of credit. He could channel some to budgetary support.

Biti also told Mugabe and cabinet that he wanted Zimbabwe to use the money to clear its arrears with international financial institutions in a debt-reduction strategy. Zimbabwe's debt overhang tops $8-billion.

But Gono wanted the money for mining, manufacturing, tourism and recapitalisation of public enterprises like the national railways and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, Ziscosteel and Hwange Colliery, among others. He also wanted to use some to repay government debt to corporates, NGOs and the IMF.

Biti has said the IMF money was used for several projects, although the IMF at one time withheld $215-million as national reserves, with another $140-million earmarked for Zimbabwe's obligations with the IMF poverty-reduction growth facility.

About $150-million was used for agricultural inputs in 2009 and 2010, $50-million for summer cropping, $80.46-million for infrastructure and $19.54-million for the Zimbabwe Economic and Trade Revival Facility administered by Interfin Bank.

"Police are interested in money deposited in banks like Interfin and are following the trail," an official said. "They suspect fraudulent activities in the handling and management of these funds."

(Source)

Why Mugabe wasn't in South Africa this weekend

2012-01-09T06:57:00.002Z

Democracy: Why Isn’t It Working In Africa?

2012-01-05T12:25:00.002Z

A Chinese Daily editorial recently argued that “Western democracy” is not only unsuitable for Africa, but is also “tyrannically imposed” by colonial powers that ignore traditional forms of governance. In light of this view that has gained currency in political conversation, does such a thing as ‘Western democracy’ versus ‘African democracy’ exist? This debate is important for Africa at such a time as this when economic miracles of authoritarian regimes are used to corroborate this propaganda. Does authoritarianism work well? For instance, is China’s case a definitive proof that authoritarianism does better in promoting economic growth than we can draw the opposite conclusion on the basis of Botswana, the fastest growing African democracy?

I have never met an ordinary African who agrees that police brutality, torture, extra judicial killings or accessing power through violence are African values, yet in many African countries, fundamental freedoms, political liberties and civil rights are routinely limited. Is there a connection between democracy and development? What does democracy mean? What is the instrumental role of democracy?

Although many African countries are termed ‘emerging democracies,’ the absurdity of “democracy” in Africa is that the majority, including “democratically elected” leaders, do not really understand how democracy works. In Africa, democracy is generally equated to the right to vote. This is where the misconception begins. The election process that is often confused to personify and signify democracy is routinely compromised by factors such as negative ethnicity, violence, bribery, rigging and illiteracy. Isn’t this really a problem of our bad politics as opposed to the un-workability of democracy in Africa? The fact that citizens don’t fully comprehend their role in the period between elections has not made things better. The citizens often disengage from public affairs, complain passively and wait for another election time.

Democracy doesn’t work unless it is worked. Democracy works at the initiative of citizens. Therefore, citizen disengagement leads to irresponsive leadership. When the citizens don’t get the fruits of democracy which include among others good governance, development and security, they attribute the failure to “Western democracy.”

To use opportunistic dysfunctions resulting from the misunderstanding of the working of democracy to disparage democracy as a western concept that has failed in Africa is unfortunate, preposterous and unacceptable. To use selective and limited information on Chinese economic successes to swallow the anti-democracy misinformation is laziness. In my view, while democracy as practiced in the West has evolved over many centuries, in Africa, it is in its infancy.

To contextualize the significance of understanding how democracy works, let us examine the connection between political and civil rights, which are aspects of democracy on one hand, and the prevention of major disasters such as famine that characterize Africa on the other. Political and civil rights are essential in mobilizing citizens around their general needs to forcefully demand appropriate government action. Anywhere in the world, a government’s response to the acute suffering of people often depends on the active pressure that is put on it. This is where rights such as criticizing, open debates, participation in politics and protesting, among others, make a difference. As a matter of fact, no substantial famine has ever occurred in a country with a functional democracy, a robust opposition and a relatively free press. In case of disaster, respective governments respond swiftly to ensure that the affected have adequate relief and can resume normal life. The leadership responds quickly because they know that delayed action or faltering response can quickly turn the disaster into a protest and referendum on the leadership. In my opinion, this type of active and forceful citizen engagement with the leadership is lacking in Africa’s emerging democracies.

To use Armatya Sen's words, democracy does not serve as an automatic remedy of ailment as quinine works to remedy malaria. Democracy should become an everyday instrument for our people to engage each other and their leaders. It provides opportunity that citizens must take advantage of in order to achieve the desired effect. This is the right perspective for emerging democracies in Africa. More important, for democracy to work as it should, African citizens must take on a new attitude, become more responsible, be informed and get involved in public affairs. Africans must reclaim the culture of coming together regularly to discuss community welfare. They must shun criminal activities that cheat democracy such as election manipulations, voter bribery, tribalism and election related violence.

There is power in people coming together and organizing around their felt collective issues. The rulers have incentive to listen to what people want if they have to face their criticism and seek their support in elections. Initiatives such as public debates can work wonders in assessing a leader’s competence in articulation of issues, vision and clear policies. Open discussion, debate, criticism and dissent are essential to generating informed and reflected choices. This makes politics issue-based, eases voters’ decision on who to vote for and spurs accountability. Once we get it right with our politics and work on democracy, there is no doubt that we shall experience the fruit of democracy - development. Of course to get a transparent and responsive government, citizens’ consciousness must be backed up by attendant reforms in institutions such as judiciary, parliament, police and electoral system. It is time we put our democracy train on the rail

By George Nyongesa

New Years 2011/12

2011-12-30T08:43:00.000Z

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-11T20:28:00.002Z

I cannot believe that it is over 7 years since I recorded this track at a friend's recording studio here in Derby... Anyhow, enjoy the track, and the sentiments therein...

Take care.

'debvhu

Still Studying

2011-12-02T10:45:00.004Z

Howzit

I continue to study and I hope to finish the last standard study module today - and then I have three examination study modules which will culminate in the three final examinations, which I only envisage being written in January of next year.

I hope to return to my daily postings not very long thereafter.

Take care.

'debvhu

A Slight Revision To My Study Programme

2011-11-14T14:21:00.003Z

Howzit

It is amazing just how much I miss blogging!

But my studies continue. This morning I completed a study module and was looking for the mock examination module to be going on with before the actual examination. I contacted the company that are providing the course and was told that there is no longer the requirement for an examination for 'Internet Security'.

Wow! Not only a saving on time, but a saving of £90 which would have paid for the examination...

So now I have three short modules and head into three Microsoft examinations and that is it...

It seems to just get better and better!

Take care.

'debvhu

Regrettable Change To Service

2011-11-06T12:21:00.003Z

Howzit

I am very sorry to drop this all on you - especially at the weekend... With immediate effect, posting to this site will be put on hold as I have other priorities right now. My studies are swiftly approaching the taking of numerous examinations and I need to put my head down and do the graft.

I am not withdrawing completely, but am suspending operations on this page for the time being as I need to use the time elsewhere.

Hopefully you all will understand and appreciate the decision I have made.

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 4th November 2011

2011-11-04T08:03:00.003Z

Howzit

The weather people said that we could look forward to 'torrential' rain last night, and hardly a drop fell. This morning we have already had a reasonably short, but heavy, rainstorm. Now it is quiet, with hardly a breath of wind, and it is numbingly cold...

Ever heard President Mugabe singing? If you haven’t, then you should listen to a new song, “Toita Sei?” in which the President - in probably his first recorded song - features.

This has captivated many people who use public transport and other social spheres where the song has become popular. The single is taken off a new album titled “Nhaka Yedu/Our Heritage” by The Born Free Crew, who first caused a stir with their debut offering “Get Connected” last year.

A few years ago, someone did a mix on Mugabe's speeches set to music, and they managed to pick up on Mugabe's undelivered promises and his penchance for threats.

This I don't see as much more than a political move.

The President opens with a narration of how tough life was in Rhodesia.

“Mazuva iwayo vaizvarwa vaifunga kuti nyika inoiyi ndeye maBritish. Vamwe vakatotambira vakati ha hee chido chaMwari kuti maBritish atitonge… (In those days youths were of the mistaken belief that this country belonged to the British). Some even believed that they were under British colonial rule because of God’s will,” says His Excellency in the song.

The President then starts singing: “Toita sei nenyika yeRhodesia?/Toita Sei nenyika yeRhodesia?

“Vazezuru vaida kutonga nyika, vaManyika vaida kutonga nyika, maNdebele aida kutonga nyika.”

If life was 'tough' in Rhodesia, then how do we describe life in Zimbabwe today?

And here we have soldiers rushing to the aid of a crime gang, largely seen as ZANU PF-sponsired...

Soldiers were deployed in the Mbare suburb of Harare Monday after angry commuter bus operators and touts clashed with members of the notorious ZANU PF Chipangano gang.

Trouble started after Chipangano gang members tried to set up their own bus terminus near the ZBC studios in Mbare to extort ‘ranking’ fees from operators.

But just like Hatcliffe on Sunday, when angry MDC-T supporters retaliated against a ZANU PF mob trying to disrupt their rally, a similar angry reaction saw commuter operators refuse to have money extorted from them. Street fighting broke out which the police failed to control, resulting in the army being called in.

According to Precious Shumba from the Harare Residents Trust the Chipangano gang “is merely there to protect business interests of various leaders within ZANU PF, who also use the outfit to intimidate and silence critics and opponents.”

This is just ludicrous!

The calls for Mugabe to step down are growing, although I do not see the m'dala ever stepping down. Even defeat at the ballot box has not prevented him from staying on top.

Robert Mugabe should consider stepping down as old age and health worries catch up with the 87-year-old Zimbabwean president, Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, has said.

"The question of age is catching up, the question of health is catching up. I am sure that advisably he would be in a position for the sake of the country, for the sake of his legacy, for the sake of his children to consider stepping down," Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference.

The comments were the clearest public indication yet that Mr Mugabe's health is failing, amid reports that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

Mr Mugabe returned on Sunday from a private visit to Singapore – the latest in what has become an almost monthly journey.

The president, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, has brushed off speculation about his health.

For someone who claims to listen to the wishes of the population at heart, perhaps his hearing is impaired now as well...

Mugabe claims that SW Radio Africa is a 'pirate' radio station, yet it has broken no laws in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. He just isn't happy with a radio station that looks at the reality of the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe.

And so ZANU PF jam the signal - but got it wrong recently when they jammed the sugnal when one of their own was giving an interview...

SW Radio Africa’s shortwave broadcast on Wednesday evening was jammed by the Mugabe regime. Ironically jamming began after our news bulletin and just as an interview on Question Time was about to begin with ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo.

In 2005 Mugabe's regime began jamming SW Radio Africa frequencies, just before the controversial Operation Murambatsvina. It was reported that the jamming equipment and expertise was provided by China and at the time we spoke to a soldier who says he was sent to China to be trained in jamming techniques.

The jamming has been intermittent since then and often targets our flagship Newsreel bulletin, using a loud and irritating noise to drown out the broadcast. In March 2007 then Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga admitted they were jamming our broadcasts. He told parliament they were generating electronic interference to prevent reception.

SW Radio Africa is run by exiled Zimbabweans who, because of repressive media legislation, are not allowed to broadcast from home. In 2000 the station, then called Capital Radio, challenged the government's broadcasting monopoly and won its case in the Supreme Court.

So - just a little bit of an own goal.

But here's a question... if SW Radio Africa is a 'pirate' radio station, then how is it that ZANU PF officials are always on the station, albeit defending their unruly and distasteful stance?

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 3rd November 2011

2011-11-03T08:24:00.007Z

Howzit

There are some decisions made in and concerning Zimbabwe that just don't make sense. How can the Kimberley Process allow the Mugabe administration to conduct sales of the national diamond stocks when there is a question over the actual mining of the precious stone, together with a query over the final destination of the so-secured funds?

Zimbabwe's mining minister vowed Wednesday that the country "will no longer be begging for anything from anybody" after international diamond regulators agreed to let it trade some $2 billion in diamonds from a field where human rights groups say miners have been tortured.

Earlier this week, Kimberley Process experts meeting in Congo agreed to allow Zimbabwe to sell diamonds from the Marange fields. Zimbabwe, which has denied allegations of human rights abuses in the area, had been under sanctions since 2009 because of "significant noncompliance."

The Kimberley Process was set up in 2002 after brutal wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia that were fueled by "blood diamonds." Participant nations are now forced to certify the origins of the diamonds being traded, assuring consumers that they are not financing war or human rights abuses.

The 60,000-hectare Marange field in eastern Zimbabwe was discovered in 2006 at the height of Zimbabwe's political, economic and humanitarian crisis. It is believed to be the biggest find in the world since the 19th century, and it triggered a chaotic diamond rush.

Last year, the Kimberley Process declared two shipments of stones from the Zimbabwe mines conflict-free, backing off from a ban and allowing 900,000 carats of diamonds to be auctioned.

The latest move allows all diamonds from the area to be sold. The stockpile of Marange diamonds - some 4.5 million stones, is valued at around $2 billion.

For me, the decision to allow the sale just will ensure that Mugabe/ZANU PF will have an adequate cash reserve to run their election 'campaign'. The fact that the Finance Minister is an MDC representative makes no difference as the Ministry of Mines (a ZANU PF ministry) will fail to comply with any auditing function.

The Kimberley Process has failed the people of Zimbabwe.

If the country is footing the bill for Mugabe's numerous (now eight this year) trips to Singapore, surely the population have the right to know what ails him?

Costly and frequent travels to Singapore by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for medication were justified because the 87-year-old might be having "complications," his political rival and Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Wednesday.

"The responsibility of the state is to look after its leaders. If the president is sick, he should be attended to," said Tsvangirai responding to journalists who were eager to know why his and Mugabe's travel expenses had reached $29 million dollars in eight months, according to government figures published quarterly.

The figures represent an enormous sum for a country where the majority of the population struggles to have one meal a day.

Official figures show Zimbabwe spends about $5 million a month. Mugabe's and Tsvangirai's travels consume more than $3.6 million a month, the figures show.

Mugabe has supposedly accrued vast wealth - why doesn't he pay for his own trips to Singapore? And for someone who is always complaining about not enough business at home, how come he doesn't use the doctors in Zimbabwe - or South Africa? Why has he got to travel to the other side of the world each time?

Whilst their is an altogether serious side to this story, I could not help but laugh when I read it initially. Mugabe's lot - including the police and the CIO - know no bounds when it comes to behaviour... and this man got just what was coming to him.

A notorious CIO operative, David Mutobaya was recently thoroughly beaten by MDC-T woman ward youth leader, Jenifer Yovita, after he fondled her behind and said MDC women should be subjected to sexual harassment.

The bragging CIO agent went on to report the incident to the police with some additional falsehoods, resulting in the arrest of the activist.

“Yes, the MDC youth activist has been appearing in court for allegedly assaulting a CIO operative, Mutobaya. with a sweeping broom at Cherutombo Shopping Centre. There has been no progress in the court case as the complainant was not showing up to stand as both complainant and state witness,” confirmed a court official.

Yovita denies most of the contents in the police case classified as C/S 89 of the “Assault” Court summons.

“I beat up Mutobaya as he had provoked and violated my womanhood through fondling my behind. He said MDC women should be open to sexual harassment since their behinds and sexual organs belonged to Mbuya Nehanda. (In ZANU PF circles it is loosely translated that Mbuya Nehanda was a generous woman war liberation hero and whatever belonged to her was public property). I felt highly provoked and humiliated as a woman and had no choice but to vent my anger on Mutobaya,” Yovita told the magistrates court.

Too right! The CIO agent could find himself publicly humiliated in the courts, but there is always the chance that the court, vicariously pro-ZANU PF, may decide that the assault was inappropriate for the sexual assault...

But I do stand with the female MDC activist on moral grounds alone.

This is not 'news'! This is just confirmation of what we already knew...

President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party says the current negotiations with the MDC-T have come to an end and new platforms should now be explored.

The party says it has lost faith with the Global Political Agreement forum of negotiators.

Negotiating teams from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations met Sadc facilitator South African President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team in Harare on Wednesday.

The team which included Charles Nqakula and Lindiwe Zulu, met with the negotiating teams of Patrick Chinamasa and Jonathan Moyo (ZANU PF), Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma (MDC-T) and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC).

(I do note that the smaller faction of the MDC, now led by Welshman Ncube, is shown as just plain 'MDC' as opposed to MDC-M (for Mutambara) or MDC-Ncube... someone is totally unsure and so went the safest, yet rather confusing route. By identifying the faction as just 'MDC', the writer infers that the smaller faction is the original body...)

And how on earth has political chameleon Jonathan Moyo become part of the negotiation team for ZANU PF? No wonder it wasn't going anywhere!

And, at the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time, how can the losers of an election negotiate with the winners of an election as to just how much power the winners can have?

This is not democracy!

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 2nd November 2011

2011-11-02T09:27:00.006Z

Howzit

Only a short posting today, as I am in the middle of quite a lengthy and serious;y mind-boggling module in my studies - and I really would like to finish it today. Trust that you understand.

There was fun and games on the streets of Harare yesterday as ZRP personnel in riot gear besieged the MDC headquarters at Harvest House, allegedly to arrest an MDC supporter/member - although they did not identify this person - and the block was tear gassed.

The crackdown against the MDC-T intensified on Tuesday after a group of armed police officers besieged their headquarters, barricading the main road and firing tear gas.

It’s understood that the afternoon’s chaos began when police tried to arrest local vendors who retaliated, resulting in skirmishes with officers. The police officers apparently retreated to get reinforcements, but when they returned the vendors had scattered.

According to the MDC-T, a group of more than 30 fully armed police officers immediately stormed Harvest House, saying they were looking for the vendors. The officers blocked the main road outside the headquarters and then started firing tear gas, both inside and outside the building, causing MDC-T staff and passers-by to flee.

Eyewitnesses meanwhile explained that the chaos spread across the city, with police officers firing tear gas at members of the public. On First Street, people were seen scurrying for cover as gas canisters were launched at passers-by. On the social networking website Twitter some Zimbabweans shared images of the police stationed on the corner of First Street and Union Avenue “waiting to pounce.” It was also reported that many businesses were forced to close early.

Yet another example of the heavy-handed tactics used by the pro-Mugabe police force to weigh in with the Mugabe thought process - 'my way or the highway'...

More on the same incident:

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party headquarters, The Harvest House was late Tuesday afternoon attacked by police who fired tear gas at staff members based at the property.

“About 36 Police officers in Harare have besieged the MDC head office, Harvest House today at 15:10hrs. Reasons remain unknown. They have since blocked Nelson Mandela to traffic, are gathered outside, armed with teargas canisters, button sticks and guns,” said the MDC’s Information department following the attack.

The Tuesday attack comes barely a week after a last Thursday attack of the same building by suspected ZANU PF supporters who broke several windows in the process.

The incident at Harvest house is said to have started outside the building when police were trying to arrest vendors along Fife Street.

State owned media however reported claiming that violence had erupted after MDC-T youths and vendors attacked policemen who sought to arrest them for selling pirated compact discs near the party’s Harvest House headquarters.

The article read in part:

Six people, among them two vendors and an MDC-T security official, were arrested.Violence broke out after a Chiedza Chevatendi member Tapiwa Chibaya saw pirated CDs of their music being sold by vendors near Harvest House.Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said Chibaya confronted the vendors who assaulted him.

“Chibaya went to the police post along First Street where he made a report. Three policemen went to the scene to arrest the suspects,” he said.They arrested the four, but one of them sneaked into Harvest House, where a few minutes later MDC-T youths emerged and manhandled the policemen.

I do note that no police action was taken when the same building was attacked recently by ZANU PF members and supporters...

Is there a Fife Street in Harare? I know that there is a Fife Avenue, but you can never be sure anymore as Mugabe likes renaming things as his urges take him..

It isn't very often that people in Zimbabwe stand up and say in so many words that Mugabe needs to serious contemplate retirement, so when it does happen, eyebrows are raised.

ZANU PF stalwarts are overworking President Robert Mugabe for their own selfish and greedy gains by not letting him hand over power, firebrand politician Margaret Dongo has said. Dongo, a freedom fighter and former member of ZANU PF, said Mugabe was no longer as capable to make decisions as he used to be.

“ZANU PF is overworking Gushungo (Mugabe), he needs to rest. The law of diminishing returns also applies to humans, as you grow older you can’t do all you used to do. Your mind and body get tired even look at me; I am 51, I can’t do the things I used to do at 30 so well or even at 20. Mugabe must rest,” Dongo said.

A Harvard fellow and one of the first people to break out of the former ruling party and contest for a parliamentary seat as an independent, Dongo urged Mugabe to retire and reflect on his achievements.

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 1st November 2011

2011-11-01T07:50:00.004Z

Howzit

Events in Zimbabwe have a habit of being sinister or just plain silly. We have Senator Eddie Cross and his wife being threatened by the CIO (or, at least, someone claiming to be CIO), whilst we have Mugabe threatening the Swiss authorities that he may take over their properties and businesses in Zimbabwe as a 'pay back' to his wife and other personnel within his huge entourage being denied visa to enter that country...

Swiss companies in Zimbabwe include food giant Nestlé, which temporarily shut down a Harare processing plant in December 2009 due to pressure brought when it stopped buying milk from a Mugabe-owned dairy.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has threatened to seize Swiss-owned properties or companies following that country's denial last week of visas to his wife Grace and five senior aides who wished to attend a United Nations conference in Geneva.

Although Mr Mugabe had received a visa, he canceled the trip and headed to Singapore for treatment of what credible reports say is metastatic prostate cancer.

Arriving home at Harare International Airport late Sunday, Mr Mugabe told journalists he was saddened by the Swiss visa denials, adding, “now they are showing that they are vicious and we will reciprocate because they have properties here. We are not without means to reciprocate.”

Once again, I remind us all that Mugabe denied the entry of a UN torture specialist into Zimbabwe in the first few days of this year. If Mugabe is allowed to pick and chose who can and cannot enter Zimbabwe, then why cannot the Swiss have the same rights?

Or does Mugabe really believe that he and his entourage have default right of entry?

And once again, we have the pro-Mugabe police force acting in contravention of a High Court order...

Police in Victoria Falls yesterday cordoned off Chinotimba Stadium, effectively blocking MDC-T president Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s campaign rally in defiance of a High Court order allowing the rally to proceed uninterrupted.

Tsvangirai said this was a serious matter he would take to President Robert Mugabe as it had exposed the need for security sector reform.

“It’s a very serious issue and the behaviour of the police in the last three days has exposed why there is need for security sector realignment. The issue will be taken up with the President,” he said.

MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa confirmed the incident, adding armed anti-riot police had literally locked themselves inside the stadium as early as 6am.

How can this be correct in any form? Mugabe may be the President of Zimbabwe (by using violence and intimidation in the second round of the Presidential election in 2008 forcing Tsvangirai to withdraw), but he forgets the wishes of the people.

Mugabe describes Zimbabwe as a 'democracy' and then proceeds to be a tyrannical dictator...

Is this the first real signs of Mugabe and ZANU PF beginning to crack under the stress and strain?

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF has for the first time retreated from publicly promoting its leader as its candidate in the next elections ahead of its annual conference in the country’s second city, Bulawayo, this weekend.

The silence signals that Mr Mugabe, battling ill health and old age, could be facing a turning point in his long career in the party he has led for more than 30 years.

General elections are expected next year but may be pushed back to 2013 amid funding shortages and political stonewalling.

Mugabe would be coming up to 90 if elections are held in 2013, and if his health problems now are already beginning to show, in two years time he most likely won't even be with us in the land of the living.

The idea that Mugabe would have died before any election in 2013 would be enough to have me arrested in Zimbabwe, but facts are facts...

I really don't know what to make of this. Is this genuine praise for the man that has held Zimbabwe ransom for the last 31 years, or is this Tsvangirai placating ZANU PF in the hope that they might drop their guard?

Robert Mugabe is a hero, a liberator and the founding father of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, arch rival and victim of rights abuses under his regime, said today.

The conciliatory words chosen by the Zimbabwean prime minister came as he challenged the world to see the president as not only part of his country's problem, but also part of the solution.

Speaking at a conference in Johannesburg, Tsvangirai acknowledged the atrocities of the past decade but insisted Mugabe could rescue his legacy.

"I suppose Robert Mugabe has been portrayed as a demon," he told the Guardian. "He himself made a contribution to that caricature because I cannot defend what he did over the last 10 years in terms of violence, in terms of expropriation and all these other activities.

"But there is also a positive contribution to our country that he has made. Remember that he was the national liberation hero, and so those are positive years. I suppose there is the personality conflict between a hero and a villain, of which you have to make an assessment. History will have to judge him."

Not history - the Zimbabwean people should be Mugabe's judges - and I do believe that the verdict will be unanimous and not altogether complimentary.

ZANU PF is synonymous with violence. Anyone who has lived in Zimbabwe for any realistic period since 1980 will concur.

So I am not surprised to read the opening paragraph of this article.

“Soon after I discovered that my husband had been killed by ZANU PF thugs, I quickly covered him with a blanket and rushed to Gutu police station where I narrated my ordeal to six policemen. But when I told them that the perpetrators were well-known ZANU PF supporters and that the team was headed by a Colonel, they told me to go home as they were not entertaining ‘political cases’.”

The above testimony was recorded by the pro-democracy NGO, Heal Zimbabwe, on 2 July this year during a memorial service for an MDC-T supporter murdered by ZANU PF militants and the army in Gutu East in 2008. It is part of a huge dossier that gives chilling evidence of the genocide committed by President Robert Mugabe’s backers as he desperately clung to power after losing elections to MDC President, Morgan Tsvangirai, that year.

As the prospect of another bruising election looms, ordinary Zimbabweans, politicians and human rights defenders are watching with alarm the violence pervading the country. Those who can manage are fleeing the country in droves. Others are leaving the countryside in the hope of finding safety in cities and towns. Many more have already made the decision not to participate, fearing a backlash if they vote for the ‘wrong’ party.

Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai have said the election will take place in 2012, although they are still haggling over a possible date. Mugabe, who is suffering from poor health, says he will not go beyond March next year before declaring an election date. Tsvangirai says an election can only be possible after a new constitution is in place and other reforms agreed in the Global Political Agreement are implemented.

The continuing violence by ZANU PF is a direct violation of what Mugabe signed up to on September 15, 2008, in the presence of regional leaders acting as observers. Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara made a commitment to “…build a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hatred, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality.”

And, because Mugabe has such a tight grip on the police, the army, the air force, his youth brigade and the war veterans, it is obvious that this sort of mantra is set to remain.

God help all Zimbabweans...

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 31st October 2011

2011-10-30T16:55:00.008Z

Howzit

So the desktop computer decided that following a restart after Microsoft updates had been installed, that it would loop itself in boot after boot. It turned out to be the MBG (Master Boot Record) that had corrupted and was unrecoverable.

Luckily I was able to start it in 'safe' mode which allowed my to move important files to an auxiliary drive. But, as with most things computer, it took time and patience. I finally had it wiped and XP Pro re-installed by early evening.

Score: Me = 1 Computer = 0

So I lost a day's study, but I am not that concerned as having a working PC to study on is more important than the study itself... and the laptop was having one of those days.

My weekend was improved with a great little clip on YouTube, called "Zambezi News" - I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do...

SW Africa had a bit of a scoop late last week with an interview with none other than the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

I was struck by two things. Firstly, at just how relaxed he was, and his apparent uncaring of the seriousness of the situation in Zimbabwe. Whilst he acknowledged the problem, the need for some sort of action was neatly sidestepped - and if I was looking for a clue as to what the future held in respect of the GPA, ZANU PF and the two MDC factions, I was sadly left uneducated...

And much seems to have been made of Tsvangirai's reported lack of education, yet I found his vocabulary to be quite extensive and totally in context.

So, for those that believe we have a semi-educated Prime Minister, perish the thought...

There is a report that the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe needs at least US$2.5 billion - per season - to begin any kind of recovery. But we have to be aware that it was Mugabe and his unruly party members and supporters that precipitated the destruction of the sector...

Zimbabwe's fragile agricultural sector, which suffered massively under the country's controversial agrarian reforms, requires funding to the tune of at least US$2,5 billion per season to fully recover, The Financial Gazette can report.

This emerged as fresh information indicated that a liquidity-strapped domestic banking sector, under political pressure to fund agriculture, was becoming increasingly jittery after default rates for loans extended to the farming sector soared in recent years.

And he will put out the begging bowl with no embarrassment whatsoever...

And this sort of action is entirely unacceptable, unless you are Robert Mugabe...

Harvest House, the headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai was attacked by ZANU PF 'thugs' early Thursday morning resulting in windows being broken and shattered in the first and second floors, the MDC said.

The attack at Harvest House comes at a time when Tsvangirai during the premier's question and answer session in the House of Assembly called for all the parties in the coalition government to observe peace and desist from settling issues by using violence.

Imagine the furore if ZANU PF HQ were attacked in a similar manner...

After a heated debate in Parliament on Thursday the MDC managed to push through a motion aimed at stopping the theft of millions of dollars in revenue from the rich Marange diamond fields.

Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross proposed the motion to nationalise the Marange diamonds. Despite vigorous opposition from ZANU PF MPs, many of whom are believed to be benefiting from the revenue, the motion was passed and now goes to the Prime Minister as leader of the House to take it to Cabinet.

Cross's plan includes moving everybody from the Marange site, fencing it, protecting it properly and then going out to tender for an operator.

Somehow I do believe that Mugabe will never relinquish control of the diamonds fields to anyone.

Take care.

'debvhu

Service Interruption - Friday 28 October 2011

2011-10-28T07:55:00.003Z

Howzit

Sorry, if you were looking for an update on events in Zimbabwe, but I hope to be back on Monday. My desktop PC has decided that it doesn't like me, and I really am too tired to fight with the laptop... (I am, however, persevering with my studies today...)

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 27th October 2011

2011-10-27T07:12:00.005Z

Howzit

And the fun and games in and around Zimbabwe continue...

Mugabe has managed to leave Zimbabwe, supposedly for Singapore, without his huge entourage of followers, worshippers and those that fawn at every word he utters.

Confusion has gripped partners in the coalition circles following President Robert Mugabe’s decision to sneak out of the country without advising his cabinet colleagues on his intended destination and reasons for the trip.

Mugabe sneaked out of the country on Monday morning amid indications that he had for the eighth time this year, flown to Singapore, where some of his doctors are based, raising speculation around the 87-year-old’s health.

What has worsened the situation is that Mugabe travelled without his official delegation, while the state media which usually accompanies him, has not reported anything on the President’s trip.

In government, there had been deathly silence on Mugabe’s whereabouts with coalition partners expressing surprise that he could have flown to Singapore.

Has Mugabe broken the code for legislators in the country by not informing cabinet of his intentions to leave Zimbabwe?

The country is broke and can hardly pay their civil servants, let alone take on an extra US$140 million debt run up by the national carrier. And let's remember that Air Zimbabwe have a very bad habit of dumping paid-up passengers wherever so that the aircraft can be commandeered by Mugabe to transport him all over the place.

I wonder if he commandeered an entire aircraft to travel to Singapore, even though he didn't travel with his normal few dozen followers...

The Zimbabwean government is expected to take over Air Zimbabwe's $140m debt, although with plans to liquidate it over time, the country's Herald newspaper reported on Monday.

Government would work on cutting the airline's staff and would seek a strategic partner to buy into the national airline.

According to Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche, Cabinet had agreed to partially dispose of the National Handling Services.

"At its last meeting on Thursday October 20, Cabinet discussed challenges faced by our national airline, Air Zimbabwe Holdings and resolved that, Air Zimbabwe as a strategic government asset and brand, needed to be preserved and supported as a going business concern.

"To this end, government must assume Air Zimbabwe's current debt and ring fence the same."

I do note a resounding silence from the Finance Minister's office.

Chombo, accused variously of feathering his own nest with residential and commercial stands, has been a itch that the MDC cannot scratch. He may have fired the councillors, and their reinstatements may have been ordered, but we wait to see if the reinstatements will happen, and no doubt, the activities that Chombo has been up to in their absence.

Zimbabwean local government officials on Wednesday hailed a decision this week by the Harare High Court ordering the reinstatement of four Harare city councillors fired last year by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo for alleged corruption.

High Court Justice Bharat Patel ruled that Chombo unfairly dismissed Paul Gorekore, Silas Machetu, Maxwell Katsande and Johnson Zaranyika, saying that the investigation set afoot by Chombo was based on a “grossly irrational” judgment.

A Harare magistrate last week acquitted two other Harare councilors, both members of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change. Warship Dumba and Casper Takura were arrested this month on Chombo’s instructions for alleged fraud.

The MDC has accused Chombo of meddling in the business of municipal councils and of engaging in corrupt activities, calling for his removal from office. The minister is a member of the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe.

Don't you just love it when we see the dogs descending on an estate of a loved one in their attempt to enrich themselves through their passing? Obviously the Mujuru family is no exception to this questionable practise.

A fight has reportedly erupted in the family of the late Retired General Solomon “Rex Nhongo” Mujuru over how to deal with the distribution of the former army commander’s vast wealth due to the large number of people who claim to be his children, it has emerged.

Mujuru’s charred remains were found at his farm in Beatrice after his house was gutted by fire in August.

Nobody knows if Mujuru died before the fire or after the inferno.

He was interred at the National Heroes Acre at a ceremony attended by thousands of people from all political affiliations.

Family sources said there was now a crisis facing the family regarding the distribution of the estate.

Mujuru’s vast wealth includes shares in diamond companies, farms, mines and other investments worth tens of millions of dollars.

I fully expect the same sort of activity when Mugabe finally falls off his perch, but within ZANU PF rather than the President's immediate family.

“There is a crisis in the family,” said a family source.

I am quite surprised that Tsvangirai even thought about taking his political battle with Mugabe into an armed struggle. The very name "Movement for Democratic Change" would suggest that any shift in power would be democratic. An armed strugglle is not worth it...

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai says he thought of taking up arms to force himself into power after failing to outrightly win the 2008 presidential election.

Mr Tsvangirai said this in his recently published book: "Morgan Tsvangirai: At The Deep End" that he was surprised to learn there was going to be a presidential election run-off.

"For a moment I did not know what to do," he said. "I had no arms of war. I lacked the necessary wherewithal to force myself into power to fulfil the people's wish."

Mr Tsvangirai got 47,9 percent of the vote in the first round when the Electoral Act required one to garner more than 50 percent to be declared a winner.

President Mugabe got 43,2 percent while Mr Simba Makoni was third with 8,3 percent.

Little-known Langton Towungana was a distant fourth on 0.6 percent.

The failure by any of the candidates to get the required majority vote meant there was going to be a run-off between President Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai.

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesda7, 26th October 2011

2011-10-26T07:18:00.006Z

Howzit

So - it would appear that common sense does prevail - even if it was given a serious shove by the original story being published on the internet...

A woman of 88 who has won a three-year reprieve from deportation to Zimbabwe has thanked the Daily Mail for highlighting her case.

Frail widow Lydia Werrett was ordered to leave Britain despite fleeing here to escape death threats from Robert Mugabe’s thugs.

At the same time, as the Mail reported on Saturday, one of Mugabe’s torturers has been allowed to stay here because of fears that it would breach his human rights to deport him.

As usual, there is always a sting in the tail with these stories, with the self-confessed Mugabe henchman being allowed to stay in the UK, even though he worked illegally using forged papers, and openly confesses to beating up people in Mugabe's name.

When they initially denied Werrett's claim, were they even thinking about the henchman's case? How are the two comparable? If the bad apple is allowed to stay, then what possessed then to even think about having Werrett deported?

Machemedze - allowed to stay even
though he broke numerous laws

The whole thing stinks to high heaven, although I am comforted somewhat that the 88-year-old's plight is over, for the next three years at least...

The manner in which the ZRP is mismanaged by pro-Mugabe supporters (including their Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri), I would not be very surprised if the police forces were denying something that is in force and is regularly used...

South Africa’s priority crimes unit and the police have denied being part of a deadly deal with its Zimbabwean counterparts, which s resulted in the murder of ‘suspects’ sent across the border.

According to a special report by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, senior officials in the Hawks and the police are conducting illegal ‘renditions’ with Zimbabwean police. A rendition is the illegal kidnapping and transfer of a prisoner from one country to another and, according to the newspaper, Zimbabwean suspects are being arrested in South Africa and then sent across the border illegally and killed

The newspaper reported this weekend that South Africa’s Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, is sitting on explosive reports, listing at least three deaths allegedly as the result of a ‘renditions’ operation led by officers reporting to Hawks boss Anwa Dramat and Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros.

The Sunday Times said it has evidence that Zimbabwean Witness Ndeya, who was suspected of shooting a policeman in his country, was “renditioned” by the Hawks and then murdered, apparently by Zimbabwean police. Ndeya was arrested, along with his nephew and two friends, for being "illegal immigrants" last November. In a sworn statement by one of the four, Shepard Tshuma, they were all taken to the Beitbridge border by South African police and handed over to Zimbabwean officials who “told us that we are under arrest for the murder of police officers.”

Tshuma and Ndeya were detained at a Bulawayo police station before the former was released a week later. Tshuma said that a few days later the Zimbabwean police told the family “that Witness Ndeya was killed by other police officers.” Ndeya’s death certificate reportedly confirmed he died at Hippo Valley Farm in Bulawayo, with the cause of death listed as “multiple gunshot wounds.”

Tshuma, along with the other two surviving “renditioned” suspects, are now hiding in South Africa, after allegedly being threatened. The Sunday Times said that it had met the three at a secret location and they all feared being “deported and murdered."

It reads like something out of a gangster film, but I have no doubt that the practise continues...

Why else would they deny the story?

Jonathan Moyo will do and say anything to keep his profile definitively pro-Mugabe. And when he writes for the local pro-Mugabe rag, we can assume, without much problem, that the words he writes are laced with vindictive rhetoric...

The article by Professor Jonathan Moyo last week attacking the book by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai represents unparalleled naivety that does not bode well for one so wont to pretend he has one of the best functioning brains in the country.

The public media have now joined the fray, misrepresenting the contents of the book to the extent of saying Tsvangirai wanted to take up arms to force himself into power after failing to outrightly win the 2008 Presidential election.

For all the brouhaha in the public media, it appears they have missed some of the juicy stuff in the book that Zimbabweans would be interested to know about.

In the legendary silence when the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to announce Presidential election results, the Prime Minister says in his book that former State Security minister, Nicholas Goche called Hon Elton Mangoma to tell him that he (Goche) needed to talk about transitional mechanisms now that the MDC had won the election.

"According to Goche, Mugabe had agreed to step down and to ensure transfer of power, there was need for us to take some of their ZANU PF winners into the coalition administration," (pp484).

Now this is the juicy stuff those attacking the book should be putting into the public domain rather than complaining about petty typographical errors.

Moyo willingly and knowingly will twist the truth, tell blatant lies and manufacture stories to get into Mugabe's good graces. But it doesn't take a genius to realise just what sort of repulsive individual he is.

Booted out of ZANU PF for plotting Mugabe's downfall (other have died for less), he managed to get himself elected as the only independent MP in Zimbabwe - and then immediately rushed back into the protective arms of ZANU PF.

And from there he issues threats and allegations, launches civil cases and suffers from verbal diarrhoea... all to protect his own skin.

Mugabe is not best amused when his global travel is affected by visa denials - and he will state, often quite publicly, that the travel sanctions in place against him and his followers are a Western plot to cause the downfall of ZANU PF.

What a load of rubbish!

Just as Mugabe denied entry of a UN torture specialist at the beginning of the year, so other countries have the right to decided who can and cannot enter their territories...

Zimbabwe has launched a protest with the United Nations after the Swiss government refused visas for President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, and five others who were due to accompany him for a summit.

Mugabe and more than 100 members of his ZANU PF party and government are subject of a travel ban to most western countries, but countries hosting UN meetings are obliged to grant them visas.

Switzerland, which only joined the United Nations in 2002 and is notably not a member of the European Union which imposed a travel ban on Mugabe, is hosting the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union (ITU) summit this week.

It granted Mugabe and his delegation visas to attend the 2009 summit of the ITU, but this appeared to change this week after Grace Mugabe, Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche, CIO Director General Happyton Bonyongwe, presidential spokesman George Charamba and Mugabe’s aide de camp Senior Assistant Commissioner Martin Kwainona were denied visas.

Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa, a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party in the coalition government, was granted a visa along with Mugabe.

Mugabe ordered the cancellation of the trip, and the Foreign Ministry said it had launched protests with the Swiss embassy in Harare and at the United Nations in New York.

Mugabe travels with an almost legendary number of people, many of which are only amongst his lot to shop. Why on earth are all these people required to travel with him? More to the point, why does the UN continually invite him to their congresses, conferences and summits? And then they compound the error by giving him the floor...

Mugabe is set to throw his toys right out of the cot.

Tough!

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 25th October 2011

2011-10-25T07:30:00.009Z

Howzit

Yesterday I took a few unprintable comments for my mentioning that I grew up in Salisbury in Rhodesia. Apparently I caused offence by mentioning the city and country 'incorrectly'. But when I was growing up, it was Salisbury in Rhodesia. Yes, it is Harare in Zimbabwe now, but I am not about to rewrite history to pacify a few objectors. Sorry.

Almost daily we read some article in the press about white Zimbabweans, and when written about by a ZANU PF ally or sympathiser, these people (possibly including myself) are referred to as 'Rhodesians' or 'Rhodies'... Have these various scribes noticed that Rhodesia ceased to be in late 1979? Where is this Rhodesia that they talk of?

How can we be 'Rhodesians' if there is no such place? (Well, there is a Rhodesia not far from Worksop in the UK.)

In his recent speech addressing an audience in Des Moines, Iowa in the United States MDC-T Treasurer General Roy Bennett spoke about what he terms 'the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe'.

He told the gathering that 'Zimbabwe is not fighting for a return to democracy because the country has never enjoyed or experienced democracy in any real sense'. This is a ridiculous perspective by Roy Bennett who is an icon of the remnants of colonialism in Zimbabwe.

He is unrepentant and mindless over the terror he and his imprudent ancestors caused on Zimbabweans since time immemorial. Bennett should be the last person to preach democracy if ever he is to speak at all.

What form of democracy did the imperialistic white men come to impose on Zimbabwe and Africa during their habitual periods of craziness and madness particularly in the 19th century, when they aggressively and violently expropriated our land, resources, power, comfort, heritage and democracy for over a century?

I have an idea. Institute a referendum in Zimbabwe. Ask the population if they are content to remain as the country is under Mugabe's rule, or, if possible, would they return to the economy and culture during the days of Rhodesia.

The results will speak for themselves.

I am sick and tired of black Zimbabwean politicians painting all and any white politicians in that country as 'racist' or 'attempting to subvert the will of the people'. It is time that the people of Zimbabwe are allowed to speak freely, and the sound of their voices will drown out the rantings of ZANU PF and their spurious associated scribes...

And, as a kicker, the writer says that the lands were 'stolen'. What of the farms that were bought since independence from the Mugabe administration? How were they 'stolen'? Yet they were seized by pro-ZANU PF personages without and thought or subhection...

Oh, and Roy Bennett was never a Selous Scout.

ZANU PF has a bad habit of allying themselves with people of questionable pasts. The multiple rapist, Nzira, was no exception. His early release from jail and then his eagerness to embark upon a pro-ZANU PF trail in the country are just two aspects which should really be seriously considered when someone sits down to write his eulogy.

A ZANU PF loyalist and self styled prophet popularly known as Madzibaba Nzira has died.

Nzira dies at the age of 58 barely a year after he was released from prison by President Mugabe where he was serving his 20 year jail term for multiple rape crimes.

Nzira is survived by three wives, seven children and two grand children. Mourners are gathered at his Johane Masowe Wechishanu, Chitungwiza shrine.

The Vapositori church leader once declared that President Robert Mugabe has been given to Zimbabwe by God and should rule for life.

The leader of the Johane Masowe eChishanu faction was slapped with a 42 year jail term and left with an effective sentence of 32 after the suspension of 10 years on condition of good behavior which was later reduced to 20 years after he appealed against the sentence.

Nzira was released from prison under unclear circumstances before he went on a ZANU PF campaign trail and it was speculated that he had been released in time for the upcoming elections. A family representative who confirmed Nzira’s death reported that he died of Hypertension and a heart ailment.

This sort of thing happens all the time with Mugabe and his apologists. And the death of Nzira will not stop him from doing something similar with convicted criminals again.

Let me get this straight. ZANU PF youth attack him in his vehicle, he reports the event to the police and is arrested for his troubles?

Mkoba MDC-T House of Assembly member Amos Chibaya is back again in filthy police cells. This follows his arrest in the process of reporting a violence case in which his vehicle was extensively damaged by ZANU PF youths.

Chibaya together with Midlands South MDC-T Treasurer, Livingstone Chiminya, were locked up by the notorious Law and Order cops on Sunday upon arrival at Gweru police station where they had gone to make the report.

The Zimbabwean gathered that on Sartuday Chibaya addressed a Peace Rally in Mberengwa. Soon after the event, his driver picked up some supporters on the way back to Gweru while Chibaya followed in another vehicle.

When the driver arrived at a shopping center at Guinea Fowl about 10km from Gweru, they stopped to have some refreshments. Rowdy ZANU PF youths who were listening to Mbare Chimurenga’s song Nyatsoteerera at the shops, became violent at the group and later stoned the vehicle.

So - in Zimbabwe it is a crime to report pro-ZANU PF youths for committing a crime?

And have no misconceptions. Police cells in Zimbabwe are not clean, are not cleaned or freshened up. These are the worst placed in the world to get locked up - ask Roy Bennett.

Nothing has changed in Zimbabwe...

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reiterated that his party is ready to govern when it wins the forthcoming presidential and general elections without shedding blood and firing a bullet. Addressing thousands of villagers in Nkayi’s Ziminya Business Centre in Matabeleland North Province yesterday, Tsvangirai said the fact that his party brought some modicum of stability in the socio-economic sectors meant that they were ready.

“When I look back at the years in which this party has been in existence, I realise we have managed to bring about change in this country without firing a bullet,” Tsvangirai said.

“I am confident that we are going to indeed complete this change without firing a bullet. We are ready to govern this country. This can be achieved because SADC has ensured that systems that would give birth to a free and fair election are indeed put in place.

“I believe that once those systems are in place, you cannot fail to choose your leader and governing party between that old man (President Robert Mugabe) and a younger candidate, your son-in-law, myself,” said Tsvangirai to a loud round of applause from his party’s supporters.

Mugabe will obviously disagree...

So there are political changes going on in North Africa, but these are unlikely to change Mugabe's intention on ruling - no matter what...

The jacaranda trees are blooming in Harare, draping its broad avenues with canopies of purple and green. The shops are bustling, hotels and restaurants are often full, children are at school, young couples are walking in the park. No sign of a revolution here.

Coming to Zimbabwe after two spells in Libya this year, I felt like they were not merely the length of a continent apart, but on different planets. While north Africa has been convulsed by revolution, life in Zimbabwe in 2011 has continued to flow in a comparatively gentle, uneventful way.

President Robert Mugabe, immovable for three decades, has little cause to be kept awake at night by last week's chilling images of a bloody, battered and bewildered Muammar Gaddafi pleading for his life. Could it happen here? Not likely.

I wondered why not. After all, Zimbabweans (led by Mugabe among others) rose up a generation ago to overthrow Rhodesia's white minority regime.

"Fear," explained one former minister in Mugabe's government. Past public marches have been brutally crushed. Earlier this year 46 activists here were arrested and charged with treason for merely watching a video of the uprising in Egypt.

Okay Machisa, director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, told me: "The Arab spring did not go down well with the Mugabe regime. Jailing those activists was a way of saying we don't want people to go on the streets and demonstrate."

Mugabe is not going to go quietly and he has his security forces on high alert, Any suggestion of a popular uprising will be nipped in the bud very early - and one thing we are all painfully aware of, is that Mugabe is not afraid to spill blood to remain at the helm.

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 24th October 2011

2011-10-24T07:18:00.004Z

Howzit

It has been deathly cold in Derby for the past week, but that has not stopped some people from letting off fireworks early. Each evening is punctuated with the fizz and bang of fireworks. Having grown up in Salisbury in Rhodesia, I have not yet accustomed myself to the 'freedom of explosion' - I actually hate it!

I do not look forward to the next couple of weeks - and there are those that will keep the lighting of fuses going right through until the New Year.

Recession? Piffle! People obviously have money to burn - literally!

The more eagle=eyed reader will note my change of headline in the header above. Gaddafi is dead - and Mugabe objects to the manner of his death...

Gaddafi remains a hero in the eyes of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU PF party.

“This is a sad day for the people of Africa. This is the beginning of a new recolonization of Africa,” said retired Major Cairo Mhandu, a ZANU PF member of parliament.

“Through the forces of NATO and the West, we have lost one of our brothers,” said Mandhu to GlobalPost. “Muammar Gaddafi won elections and was a true leader. It is foreigners who toppled him, not Libyans. Gaddafi died fighting. He is a true African hero.”

Mugabe does make the strangest of statements. Lybians didn't want Gaddafi (after 42 years of dictatorship), so they dealt with it.

And move on...

I am fast beginning to believe that the word 'justice' no longer exists in the ZANU PF dictionary.

Police here arrested MDC-T vice District Youth Chairperson, Charles Ngwena, activists Brian ‘Gwekwerere’ Phiri and Shawn Chinhai last Tuesday for allegedly burning a ZANU PF banner bearing Mugabe’s picture.

According to the police, the three pulled down the banner which was hoisted by ZANU PF youths at Dombotombo Shopping Centre Sunday, moments before MDC-T President, Morgan Tsvangirai, addressed a rally at Rudhaka Stadium. The charges are denied by the accused.

“I am sure police investigations are in progress,” said MDC-T vice provincial organiser, Boniface Tagwireyi.

Police was also reported to be keen to arrest and investigate MDC-T Marondera Central District Main Vice Chairperson and councillor ward 4, Caleb Marange, in connection with the ‘torched’ Mugabe banner. Marange was out of town on council business.

Residents and MDC supporters said they were puzzled by what appeared like police continued selective application of justice.

How is it that the police are targeting someone who wasn't even there? Sounds very familiar with the numerous arrests of people in connection with the death of a policeman in Glen View a couple of months ago.

How is it that political preferences are put before family responsibilities?

President Robert Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has been condemned by angry relatives after failing to show up at the funeral of a close relative because she belonged to the MDC, it has emerged.

Zhuwao's aunt, Otillia Nyaude, a staunch MDC-T supporter in Musana communal lands in Mashonaland Central Province, succumbed to injuries sustained from a ZANU PF attack in 2008. She died in August this year and was buried on September 1.

Nyaude was originally from Zvimba but was married in Musana. Bindura South MDC-T MP, Bednock Nyaude officiated at the funeral and confirmed the development. He said relatives were shocked to hear that Zhuwao had snubbed the funeral because his aunt supported Mugabe's nemesis, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC-T.

And how is it acceptable that the aunt died from injuries sustained in a ZANU PF attack?

I am sure that I did read reports that the BMW in question has been cannibalised for spares... If that is the case, then the ZRP will have some embarrassing questions to answer - but in typical ZANU PF manner, these will remain unanswered.

The deputy chairman of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC, Senator Morgan Komichi, has called on the police to return the party's BMW X5 and two other vehicles impounded at the height of campaigning in 2008.

Komichi, who was facing charges of accusing the commander of Matabeleland North provincial police of abusing three MDC vehicles, was removed from remand on September 26. The State was accusing the Senator of communicating falsehoods and undermining the police by accusing them of confiscating three MDC vehicles in 2008 from Tsvangirai. Komichi made the remarks at an MDC rally at Negasha in Lupane, Matebeleland North province.

In the run-up to the sham June 2008 presidential run-off elections, the police impounded Tsvangirai’s armoured BMW X5 campaign vehicle and two others belonging to the Matabeleland North province and the Youth Assembly.

The BMW X5, which was part of Tsvangirai’s security motorcade, was impounded by police and members of the Central intelligence Organisation on June 6, 2008.

"We have been cleared and we hope the police return our cars," Komichi said.

I somehow doubt it.

Amazing (Dis)Grace has risen into the headlines yet again...

Anxiety has gripped residents of Mazowe Valley in Mazowe after they were last week ordered to vacate their houses with immediate effect by the First Lady Grace Mugabe to make way for the expansion of an orphanage she is building in the area.

Officials from Mazowe Rural District Council told the 62 households that they were supposed to have moved on October 1 as the First Lady wanted to build a school on the land they are occupying.

What worries the residents is that the area they are supposed to relocate to has not been serviced.

The area has no roads, no toilets or running water, a recipe for an outbreak of diseases during this rainy season.

Even if the roads were to be opened up they would not be passable because the soils are “heavy” and become muddy when it rains, complained the residents.

Authoritative sources said the First Lady had initially promised to compensate the residents but she has since shifted goal posts ordering Mazowe Council to do it.

The council, said the sources, has no money and has pledged to compensate the evictees by giving them more land.

The words 'Mugabe' and 'compensation' obviously don't roll off the tongue together very easily.

Why am I not surprised? In Zimbabwe, if anyone called 'Mugabe' issues an order, it is attended to in double-quick time, regardless of the damage that it causes, regardless of the unhappiness it causes.

Unreal...

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 21st October 2011

2011-10-21T07:07:00.004Z

Howzit

I see that a friend who runs African Crisis in South Africa has met with Job Sikhala, leader of the MDC99 political party. Let me say from the outset that I do not like small break-away parties as this tends to dilute the voter base against Mugabe and just makes it easier for him to win.

Sikhala is ex-ZANU PF stock (as with very many break-away politicians in Zimbabwe) but when it comes to MDC99, they do not seem to offer anything new to the potential voter and, in my mind at least, are looking to feather their own nest in a future Zimbabwe...

There are a number of of articles that have been posted on African Crisis that may warrant reading.

I, personally, do not expect any new deals or any changes to the structure of politics in Zimbabwe as a direct result of the advent of MDC99.

Robert Mugabe's comeback from the 2008 election loss... How Mugabe will beat the MDC in the next election...

The Letter they don't want you to see: MDC99: Job Sikhala's letter to Jacob Zuma: Total failure of 2008 Govt of National Unity

The Letter they don't want you to see: Job Sikhala's letter to Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube re: Total failure of 2008 Govt of National Unity

It will always happen, when there is more than one person looking at a situation on the ground that there will be a general difference of opinion, but just as the Ncube-led smaller faction of the mainline MDC does not make very much difference to politics in Zimbabwe, neither will MDC99.

The only way to rid Zimbabwe of Mugabe and ZANU PF is to pool all resources and stand together to oust him and his unruly and destructive party.

This is an obscure request. Coming at this time, I am not sure that Mugabe will offer too much with regards to any investigation. Indeed, he doesn't even seem to have a handle on the investigation into the fire that killed his former military supremo, Solomon Mujuru.

Grace Machel has asked President Mugabe to assist in investigating what really caused the death of her former husband Mozambique's founding President Samora Moises Machel.

Cde Machel died in a mysterious plane crash along the border of Mozambique and South Africa on October 19, 1986.

For many years, Mugabe and Machel were close allies and friends. The main road through Harare was called Samora Machel Avenue in honour of that friendship.

But I rather think that Mugabe has other things on his mind right now.

I took a long hard look at a situation here in the United Kingdom yesterday. On one hand we have the former CIO man, who admits to breaking someone's jaw and extracting their teeth with a pair of pliers, somehow got into the UK, used forged documents, was allowed to work in the care sector and he has HIV+ - and when taken to court is given community service... He is not going to be deported, imprisoned, fined or really punished.

Then we learned yesterday of an 88-year-old lady who is to be deported to Zimbabwe. She lost her farm in the landgrab and will probably not survive the flight home.

Now where is the 'justice' in the parity of these two cases?

I am disgusted...

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 20th October 2011

2011-10-20T07:38:00.008Z

Howzit

So Mugabe's crowd wanted to amend the constitution in 2005 so that only those with university degrees could stand for President. Where would that leave the normal person who either did not have the required funding, or never had the opportunity to go to university (i.e. they had been fighting in Mugabe's bush war)?

This was clearly an attempt to ensure that Mugabe would win through no matter what the odds.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he was horrified by 2005 proposals discussed between ZANU PF and MDC MPs to push through constitutional amendments requiring presidential candidates to have university degrees.

The modestly-educated MDC leader fears that the plan was designed to exclude him from running for President.

In a new book, ‘At the Deep End’, Tsvangirai points an accusing finger at Welshman Ncube, who was the party’s secretary general at the time.

He writes: “In June 2005... as ZANU PF factions jostled for turf and supremacy, they kept reaching out to Ncube, our weak provinces and some of our members of parliament.

“Other events inside ZANU PF, emanating from parliament, concerned me. For instance, when Joice Mujuru became vice-president, the Women’s University conferred a degree on her in some dubious discipline, claiming she had done a course on a part-time basis and qualified. There was a clear reason for this.

“Soon enough, I was informed of attempts to push through a constitutional amendment requiring any future presidential aspirant to have earned an academic university degree, not merely to be in possession of an honorary one. At the time of Mujuru’s controversial selection, Mugabe had hinted that for her political advancement the sky was now the limit.”

It is apparent, as these stories come out, that Mugabe was as conniving then as he is today.

I am sad that only 4000 people attended this rally. This is not because support for the MDC is flagging, but because the threats and intimidation from ZANU PF is a very real thing.

President Robert Mugabe should retire from politics and go home to rest, MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai told an estimated 4 000 party supporters at Rudhaka Stadium on Sunday.

Tsvangirai, who visited developmental projects in the district before addressing a provincial MDC People’s Real Change Peace Rally, said: “In the interest of his legacy and family, Mugabe would be best advised to gracefully retire from his failed political career. However, if he wishes to suffer yet another humiliating crushing defeat at the coming elections, let him do so. Mugabe no longer had the capacity to focus into the future. He has no vision,” the Prime Minister said.

Tsvangirai swore never to involve MDC in any coalition government again as ZANU PF was an insincere partner beyond reform.

How do you tell a dictator that it is time to go? In a long distance telephone call!

Senior ZANU PF officials say President Robert Mugabe was a bad choice for the forthcoming poll, but there was no one who could muster enough courage to tell him to step down.

"There is simply no one to tell him that," said a senior ZANU PF central committee member, summing up the mood in the party over Mugabe's decision to seek re-election.

Senior ZANU PF officials and party stalwarts who spoke to this reporter were clearly worried about Mugabe's gamble.

Speaking strictly on condition of anonymity, they were under no illusions that Mugabe needed “nothing short of a miracle” to shrug off a fierce challenge from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC.

And this is just plain ridiculous...

An elderly woman facing deportation back to Zimbabwe could die if she is forced to leave the UK, say her family.

Lydia Werrit, 88, went to Hythe, Kent, to live with her daughter and son-in-law eight years ago after her farm was seized by supporters of Robert Mugabe.

She has received a letter from the UK Border Agency saying she has no basis to remain in the UK and must leave immediately or face removal with force.

Her daughter said she feared her mother would not survive the flight back.

Sophie Laubscher said if she did, she would be questioned by the Mugabe regime as to why she had been out of the country for so long and what she had been doing.

To be forced to return to Mugabe's Zimbabwean dustbin at the age of 88? Where is the compassion? Where is the logic?

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 19th October 2011

2011-10-19T07:23:00.003Z

Howzit

I am deeply saddened by this statement by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The colour of a person's skin should never be a reason for inclusion or exclusion from local government in any country. But, because of the historical nature of Zimbabwe, many whites decided to take an altogether disconnected stance after the end of the Rhodesian war.

As a result, Mugabe was able to do whatever he wanted, and the country began its long decline.

The MDC should not be adding to that hardship by pointing fingers at the whites.

A perception that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was a creation of disaffected white Zimbabweans “delayed the party’s growth” and alienated it “within peer groups in Africa", Morgan Tsvangirai says in a new book.

Tsvangirai blames the “exaggerated transparency” of his white supporters for aiding ZANU PF “propaganda” projecting the party as a front for powerful white interests.

Following the party’s formation in 1999, Tsvangirai says “many whites, especially in rural Mashonaland, began to enquire about the role they could play in the new movement”.

But instead of joining the party and being visible, most whites established “their own structures, in the form of support groups”.

“Generally, I have had an interesting relationship with white Zimbabweans,” Tsvangirai says in ‘At the Deep End’. “The few whites in the MDC exhibited both their strengths and their own idiosyncrasies. Our cultures are different – and that resulted in friction over policies, organisational styles and mass mobilisation activities.”

Does Tsvangirai now feel that whites have no place in politics in Zimbabwe? if that is the case, then all that the MDC stands for becomes a lie.

I am not sure that I will be buying a copy of Tsvangirai's book.

Tsvangirai's election campaign will have to be two-pronged. Firstly, they have to establish a voter base against ZANU PF, and then they also have the stave off the perceived threat by the smaller MDC faction which would dilute the voter base - and a split vote will result in a ZANU PF majority - again..

Abednico Bhebhe who was fired from the Movement for Democratic Change formation now led by Professor Welshman Ncube for indiscipline, will on Sunday have a campaign rally in Nkayi South constituency which will be addressed by Prime Minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, we exclusively reveal.

Bhebhe now belongs to the other MDC formation led by Prime Minister Mr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and has been made the Deputy Secretary for Organizing at national level.

According to a highly placed source in the Bulawayo Province, another rally is scheduled for Nkayi North where Sengezo Tshabangu wants to stand in the next elections.

"Bhebhe and Sengezo will start their campaign on Saturday. Sengezo’s rally is on Saturday whereas Bhebhe’s rally is on Sunday," said the source.

The source added that the "star rallies" have deliberately not been advertised, for security reasons.

How sad is it that the rallies cannot be advertised because ZANU PF will seek to break up any gathering - often with deadly force - and the pro-Mugabe ZRP will do precisely nothing to stop it?

The question of whether to give prisoners condoms is a Catch-22 situation...

Without condoms, the threat of HIV/AIDS rears its ugly head, but issuing condoms means that the government accepts homosexuality in the prisons, which is illegal in Zimbabwe...

Prisoners in Zimbabwe are being denied condoms despite high rates of HIV - because homosexuality is illegal.

The Prison Service said last week that condoms could “encourage” illegal gay sex among the 13,000-strong prison population.

HIV activists, who called the decision “tragic”, have been urging the Prison Service to do more to tackle the disease.

Prison Service deputy commissioner Agrey Huggins Machingauta told a parliamentary committee that while officials are aware that sexual activity happens, “corrective action” can be taken.

“On the issue of condoms, we cannot issue them out to inmates until this House passes legislation to legalise homosexuality in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mugabe has stated publicly that homosexual behaviour is lower than the actions of pigs and dogs.

Mugabe often uses the youth in Zimbabwe to do his dirty work. Fuelled by booze and drugs, they are fired up by political rhetoric and set on the MDC and any other person that gets in the way. Very few of their actions are punished.

Now it is the view of the MDC that they should target the same youth to win them over, and hat way gain their votes in elections.

The MDC-T will run a massive campaign to encourage young voters to register for the next crucial elections, now expected in the last quarter of 2012.

Promise Mkwananzi, the firebrand secretary-general of the Youth Assembly, told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that they’ve put in place a versatile and robust voter registration campaign targeting three million new voters.

‘If you look at world events, starting with the election of Barack Obama, young voters have been on the forefront for change. Only recently in Zambia young voters played a role and got the change they wanted, so I don’t see why that cannot work in Zimbabwe,’ Mkwananzi said.

Time will obviously prove this move right or wrong.

By making this statement, Nkala makes himself a visual and legitimate target for Mugabe's ZANU PF. I wonder if one of ZANU PF's 'accidents' await him?

Veteran Zimbabwean politician and ZANU PF founding member Enos Nkala has urged the party to drop President Robert Mugabe as its 2012 presidential candidate when it meets later this year for an annual conference, saying his former colleague is too old to keep up with the demands of the nation’s highest office.

Nkala said ZANU PF as a party also stands to lose if it keep President Mugabe as its candidate for the next elections – generally expected some time in 2012.

Nkala, in whose Highfield, Harare, home ZANU PF was formed in 1963, says he’s not happy with the direction the party has taken, accusing “cowboys, power seekers and fly-by-night politicians” of hijacking it in pursuit of personal glory and gain.

"I'm not happy at all with the way the party has been going but I make positive contributions by speaking to a lot of senior ZANU PF politicians and telling them that it is time that it is time for them to let Robert Mugabe rest," Nkala said.

Again, only time will prove us right or wrong, although Mugabe is determined to stay, no matter whether he is wanted by the party or not.

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 18th October 2011

2011-10-18T07:17:00.004Z

Howzit

Mugabe is a very difficult character to read. Some days he acts and thinks like a sane human being, whilst other days, his decisions and comments are warped and without any logical foundation.

To the North of Zimbabwe the Vice President in Guy Scott, a white man... and Mugabe has taken some time to explain his own party's thoughts about whites in government, but makes no promises or undertakings...

President Robert Mugabe has commended Zambians on their just-ended elections saying peaceful power transfers opposed to the western bombardment as witnessed in Libya was the only way to build peace in Africa.

He congratulated Dr Guy Scott on his ascension to the office of vice president of Zambia saying there was nothing odd in the development.

The President told delegates in Malawi as he addressed the COMESA Summit plenary Friday that at Independence in 1980, Zimbabwe had five whites in Cabinet four from the Rhodesian Front of Ian Smith and an independent, the then agriculture minister Dennis Norman.

We have had demonstrations of peaceful elections, the most recent one being in Zambia, that is the only way you can build peace, and that is the way to go, the President said as he decried the NATO bombardment in Libya that has claimed thousands of innocent lives.

In other words, unless you have Mugabe's absolute seal of approval, you can field as many players as you like because he will just change the rules accordingly.

Over the last few months, there have been numerous reports of males being raped by women.

It looks like the ZRP have actually done something about it...

Three Zimbabwean women have been accused of a series of sex attacks on male hitchhikers, purportedly to steal their semen for use in ritual practices.

In a case that has gripped media and public imagination, the gang appeared in court to face charges of aggravated indecent assault.

Sophie and Netsai Nhokwara, sisters aged 26 and 24, along with 28-year-old Rosemary Chakwizira, are the first suspects to be arrest since accounts of women gang-raping men in Zimbabwe emerged two years ago. They were charged along with Thulani Ngwenya, 24, who is Sophie Nhokwara's boyfriend.

The gang's alleged 17 victims identified so far include a soldier and a police officer whom they allegedly forced to have sex without condoms, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported.

Mugabe has made his thoughts clear on sexual deviance - so it will be very interesting to see what the court decides.

What else do we expect from ZANU PF and their unruly youth?

A group of ZANU PF youths on Monday disrupted a public hearing into the Electoral Amendment Bill which was being conducted at Nehanda Hall in Marondera. The incident came hot on the heels of a flopped attempt in the same town to disrupt a weekend MDC rally addressed by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa Makoni South MP Pishai Mucharauya, who is part of the parliamentary committee conducting the hearings, said: “A few minutes into the debate, ZANU PF thugs started to chant some slogans and prevented those who were perceived to be MDC from contributing to the debate on the bill.”

This is clearly unacceptable behaviour, but because they are ZANU PF, it is allowed to continue unabated...

And you cannot tell me that this was the action of a gang of robbers - it had to be politically motivated...

Mutare mayor Brian James reportedly lost two laptops, cellphones, cameras and cash to armed robbers who allegedly stormed his home over the weekend.

James, who doubles up as MDC-T treasurer for Manicaland, said he sustained a minor head injury during the attack which occurred on Saturday night.

Although James claimed yesterday he had reported the incident to the police, the latter said they were yet to receive the report. James’s wife, Lynee, said two unidentified armed robbers stormed their bedroom with their faces covered with balaclavas and demanded access to the couple’s safe.

“While we were sleeping at around 9pm we were surprised to see two armed men with a small torch in our room. They had their faces covered with hoods,” she said.

“They asked the mayor where he works. He told them that he was the mayor of Mutare and the armed men accused him of supporting a sell out. They then demanded cash and keys to the safe box. They also demanded diamonds. The mayor became cross and inquired what they wanted. That is when he was hit on the head with the butt of a pistol. They proceeded to tie us and ordered us to lie on our backs,” said the mayoress.

The police claim not to have received a report? What a load of hogwash!

On the Mujuru death, police are refusing to give a public update... Mmmmmm...

Co-Home Affairs Minister, Theresa Makone said police are refusing to give her an update regarding investigations on the death of Retired General Solomon Mujuru, despite being a Minister responsible for police. Speaking to Radio VOP in Bulawayo on Monday, Makone said she doesn’t even know what is happening, as she has not been given any single update by police since Mujuru's death.

“I have not been told anything about this issue, I am being sidelined, I don’t even know at what stage police have reached with the investigations. So I think the only option left for me is to ask Vice President (Joyce) Mujuru about this issue, to find whether she has received any results of probe from the police or not,” said Makone who is also chairperson of the Women Assembly in the MDC-T.

Mujuru died in mysterious circumstances at his Beatrice farm in August, and it is not yet known whether he died before an inferno at his house or was killed by the fire.

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 17th October 2011

2011-10-17T11:44:00.003Z

Howzit

Please forgive the lateness of today's posting. I had a few domestic errands to do and then completed the latest study module as well. Now, believe it or not, I cannot get them to answer their phones so that I can ask for the next module. (I suppose it is just good luck that I will be tied up tomorrow and don't need the module until Wednesday - assuming that it is there for me by then!

Unable to sustain a decent lifestyle in Zimbabwe, these people have illegally crossed into South Africa in desperation. The laws of South Africa and Zimbabwe will deal them lusty financial blows, and they will be worse off than when they started...

South Africa yesterday deported 261 Zimbabweans who were living in that country illegally while 300 more such immigrants are expected to arrive at Beitbridge Border Post today.

This follows the expiry of the July 31 deadline for them to regularise their papers. The first batch of 261 Zimbabweans arrived here around midday yesterday in a convoy of four buses under heavy security.

The deportees underwent rigorous screening at Lindelani Holding Centre in Johannesburg.

Over 275000 applications for Zimbabweans wishing to regularise their stay in South Africa were processed while several others were turned down.

Some people are still waiting to have their permits processed.

South African Home Affairs officials accompanying the deportees said they will be deporting Zimbabweans two times per week - on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"We are only deporting undocumented immigrants and those who are intercepted while trying to skip the border through illegal entry points."

I would think that the Zimbabwean authorities - including Mugabe's secret police - will be wanting to have a 'qiet chat' with the deportees...

Firebrand MDC-T councillor, Queenly Chitopo, was kicked out of her residence on Wednesday after her former employer obtained a High Court writ of eviction against her.

Chitopo confirmed her ejection from her 5 Eastland Crescent residence in Newtown suburb by Zimpost.

Zimpost, through their lawyers Dube, Manikai and Hwacha, obtained a writ of ejectment against Chitopo and all persons claiming occupation through her at the property.

Part of the writ reads:“The respondent be and is hereby ordered to vacate plaintiff’s premises within 14 days from the date of service of this order on her failing which the Deputy Sheriff be and is hereby directed and authorised to evict the respondent from plaintiff’s premises.”

Acting on the court order, the Deputy Sheriff and Messenger of Court for Kwekwe, Energy Pedzera, teamed up with the police and kicked out the councillor.

This is an interesting article, insofar as it finally puts in the public eye the long-believed idea that Grace wields immense power behind Mugabe's throne...

First Lady Grace Mugabe should not be underrated because she wields so much power and influence over President Robert Mugabe.

The First Lady acts as President Mugabe’s gatekeeper and often controls people that see him and what information gets to him. The First Lady also played a crucial behind the scene role during the power-sharing negotiations after the disputed presidential run-off poll in June 2008.

This information is contained in United States diplomatic cables intercepted and leaked by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

One cable quotes then US ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray saying the First Lady wielded immense influence over the former guerilla leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 32 years.

Ray made the assessment after a meeting with Norwegian ambassador to Zimbabwe Gunnar Foreland, an experienced Africa hand, who provided his insights on Zimbabwe.

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 14th October 2011

2011-10-14T06:28:00.004Z

Howzit

As is my norm, I am up early to study - only to find that I am unable to sign-in as the relevant page seems to have disappeared! Unfortunately the staff don't start much before ten o'clock so I will only be able to query it then.

So I could have slept in this morning...

There are Zimbabwean people in the United Kingdom that have a genuine reason to be here, but have been denied asylum - and yet this man is allowed to stay, worked illegally and was given community service and still permitted to stay...!

Why don't we just throw the rule book away and allow whoever wants to come here to do exactly that? Why is the United Kingdom giving shelter to one of Mugabe's thugs? Mugabe says that those who are of foreign extraction should leave - in our case, we did.

But now we've got to share the island with someone who beat people in the Zimbabwean political violence?

A thug who carried out horrifying acts of torture for Robert Mugabe escaped jail yesterday - despite earning £151,000 while working illegally in Britain.

Phillip Machemedze, 47, was able to work here for seven years as a carer for those with learning disabilities and on a unit dealing with drug and alcohol addicts.

He was able to secure the jobs by showing a letter from the Home Office, a National Insurance number and birth and marriage certificates. These documents were not checked properly in a series of failures.

There was outrage earlier this year when he was allowed to stay in Britain to protect his human rights.

Yesterday he admitted breaking immigration rules - but was told he will not be jailed if he volunteers for just half a day a week for the next six months.

Machemedze - who is now jobless and trying to claim benefits - admitted two charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception.

Basically he broke the law in Zimbabwe, broke the law here - and now is to be allowed to remain here and even claim benefits! What justice has been achieved?

Another point - isn't he HIV+? How was it that he was somehow allowed to work in the care of others whilst suffering from this disease? Is he not obliged - by law - to reveal his status? Or has he just ignored yet another law in this country?

People are beaten for wearing MDC t-shirts - and now, it would appear, for wearing Barack Obama t-shirts!

So now, if someone is wearing a shirt that one of Mugabe's youth/soldiers/war veterans/police don't like, they will be beaten?

A 32-year-old popular MDC-T official in Rusape, Manicaland province, is now recovering at home after he was badly beaten by soldiers for wearing a Barack Obama t-shirt.

Teddy Chipere, the MDC-T provincial secretary for Mines and Natural Resources, was at his carpentry workshop in Vhengere on Thursday when a soldier drove up in an army truck with the intention of buying furniture.

‘He enquired about the prices and I told him. He then noticed the Obama t-shirt and asked why I was wearing it instead of Robert Mugabe’s.

‘I respectfully and in an honest manner told him I do not support Mugabe or ZANU PF and I was under no obligation to wear a t-shirt bearing his face. The soldier angrily shot off a few expletives, jumped into his truck and drove off and I thought that was the end of the story,’ Chipere said.

But less than 15 minutes later, at around 11am, the army truck returned with a group of 12 armed soldiers from the Rusape based 3.2 infantry battalion.

This battalion is under the command of Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, who famously declared a few months ago that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai would not rule Zimbabwe.

Without asking questions the soldiers, in full view of Chipere’s colleagues, bundled him into their truck and drove off.

‘I was taken to a farm called TikiTiki just outside Rusape. There at a secluded place, I was pinned to the ground and lectured about the dangers of supporting the MDC-T. Meanwhile, other soldiers were tearing off branches from nearby trees.’

Whilst pinned down, face to the ground, the soldiers severely beat him, leaving his buttocks with deep bruises. They also kicked and punched him repeatedly over a period of 30 minutes. During the beating, one of the soldiers grabbed his buttocks while brandishing a long tree branch and threatened to sodomize him while others subjected him to a mock execution.

The beatings in Zimbabwe continue unabated...

Another foreign company in Zimbabwe being told they have nothing to fear - and I can almost guarantee that the company will be taken over by force.

The government does not intend to take over the Zimbabwe operations of Implats, President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday, adding that he wanted the company to build a refinery in the country.

“Mr Brown, go and tell your shareholders that we don’t intend to take over (Zimplats). We don’t want to steal or rob that which does not belong to us, but we don’t want to be robbed as well,” Mugabe said to Implats CEO David Brown.

Local communities are to acquire a 10% stake in Implats’ Zimbabwe unit Zimplats under an empowerment deal, Brown said on Wednesday.

Impala Platinum, the world’s second-largest producer of the precious metal, said in September a Zimbabwe government threat to remove Zimplats licence had “fallen away” after an agreement on a revised plan to comply with a law requiring foreign mining firms to turn over a 51% stake to local blacks.

Speaking at the official launch of the Zimbabwe Community Trust set up as part of the compliance measures, Brown said Impala Platinum planned a third phase of its expansion programme at Zimplats from 2014 which would raise output to 360000 ounces per annum.

Since Zimplats would not be able to declare a dividend until its $500m expansion project was concluded, “the Zimplats board has agreed to fund the operations of the Trust to the tune of $10mn over a three-year period”, Brown said.

I am totally astounded... Mugabe says "We don’t want to steal or rob that which does not belong to us, but we don’t want to be robbed as well." But he and his various wings have invaded and taken over the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe - some by deadly force - and somehow he expects us to accept that as 'normal'...

I now begin to question Mugabe's logic which only seems to look in favour of ZANU PF.

So ZANU PF would collapse without Mugabe? Bring it on, I say...

ZANU PF senior politburo member and chief negotiator in talks with the MDC movements, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, says his party cannot afford to substitute President Robert Mugabe in the next crucial elections, as pressure mounts for the veteran ruler to quit in December. Chinamasa’s remarks in an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was attending the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review, are likely to fuel controversy within ZANU PF, already rocked by divisions over the issue.

In a cautionary move, Chinamasa, who was part of the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led faction which tried to stage a palace coup in ZANU PF before its 2004 congress, said ZANU PF could ill-afford to replace Mugabe now. He likened attempts to replace Mugabe to efforts to change a ship’s captain in the middle of a storm.

A 'palace' coup? Mugabe lives in a huge mansion in Borrowdale whilst not very far away Zimbabweans are left to attempt to live in holes in the ground - and Mugabe expects their votes in the next election... he is, however, their 'liberator'.

And if they don't give their votes to him, he will take them, and those of their unborn children, their deceased parents and a whole raft of invented people.

Mugabe is the life blood in ZANU PF - but ZANU PF is not the life blood of Zimbabwe.

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 13th October 2011

2011-10-13T09:26:00.003Z

Howzit

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has asked Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to intervene to stop attacks on Anglicans by allies of an excommunicated bishop who has seized church property and intimidated clergy and worshippers.

The leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion on Monday (Oct. 10) handed Mugabe a dossier with descriptions of attacks on parishioners and priests by supporters of excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, who left the Anglican Church in 2007, seized church property and locked out Anglicans from their church buildings.

I managed to find a copy of the dossier handed to Mugabe by the Archbishop of Canterbury on his visit to Zimbabwe... I have made the same available for download from here...

It makes for some very interesting reading.

In typical Mugabe fashion, the complaints put of the table by the Archbishop were sidestepped and dismissed. What else did we expect for the man who believes that it is his divine right to rule Zimbabwe?

President Robert Mugabe entertained the head of the worldwide Anglican Church on Monday to a very English cream tea at State House on Monday.

The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, accompanied by fellow Archbishops of Central Africa, Southern Africa and Tanzania, appealed to Mugabe to help put an end to the relentless abuse the church had endured at the hands of excommunicated bishop Nolbert Kunonga.

But the president told them he could not intervene because the church had taken the dispute to court.

The archbishops gave him a dossier chronicling the seizure of church property and harassment of its followers by Kunonga supporters. A recalcitrant Kunonga, who staged a demonstration against Williams, sounded a defiant tone and said the crackdown was not over.

"Gandiya is a silly man himself for inviting a homosexual to this country,” said Kunonga. But Williams' dossier rejected the “misrepresentation of our church” as not holding to the Church’s traditional teaching on marriage. “This is wholly untrue," it said.

"Details of this litany of abuses, which include false imprisonment, violence, denial of access to churches, schools, clinics and mission stations, are outlined below. In the dioceses of Harare and Manicaland properties belonging to the Province have been misappropriated. It is a matter of the greatest sadness that we are being prevented from continuing our work to support local and often very needy communities with healthcare and education."

You would have thought that the MDC had enough on their plates with Mugabe and ZANU PF without having to fight amongst themselves.

MDC organising secretary Nelson Chamisa was thrown out of a heated National Executive meeting at Harvest House Wednesday, after a stand-off with Senator Morgan Femai.

MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai threw Chamisa out of the meeting after a heated argument over the Wikileaks cables. Femai had reportedly confronted Chamisa over the disclosures in the US embassy cables that quoted the former MDC spokesman telling American diplomats that Tsvangirai was a weak, indecisive and inconsistent leader.

A furious Chamisa was said to have torn into Femai in the meeting, with the Senator threatening to manhandle the youthful minister.

Sources said Tsvangirai intervened and chucked both of them out.

"I will not countenance this," Tsvangirai bellowed, before kicking both of them out of the meeting, according to a source who attended the meeting.

The meeting proceeded where a set of resolutions were passed, including a key decision to reject the Human Rights Commission Bill and the Electoral Amendment Bill - both of them drafted by ZANU PF's Patrick Chinamasa and expected to be brought to Parliament next week.

Gee, what fun and games - and this sort of thing will only bolster Mugabe and his top dogs...

12th October is not a good day in the MDC diary. On that same day in 2005 the formerly united MDC party split into two factions over a dispute on whether to participate in Senate elections. On Wednesday a national executive meeting of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai degenerated into near fistfights as officials debated various thorny issues, including leaked US diplomatic cables.

SW Radio Africa is reliably informed that National Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa and former Harare Province chairperson Morgan Femai had to be separated, following a heated debate on the WikiLeaks saga. Leaked diplomatic cables claimed Chamisa told US Ambassador Charles Ray that Tsvangirai “is weak and has failed to play a co-ordinating role for Government ministries”.

With the National Executive debating this and other issues, Femai is alleged to have called Chamisa a ‘sell out’, to which the former student leader took great exception. Femai and former youth chair Thamsanqa Mahlangu then tried to block former student leader Charlton Hwende from contributing to the debate. Both derided Hwende as a ‘new comer’ and this also did not go down well with Chamisa.

The debate degenerated further after Femai threatened to get Chamisa ‘struck down by lightning’. Chamisa objected to the language arguing it was an ‘archaic’ way of conducting debate. He also told Femai he was a ‘child of God’ and would not be fazed by such threats. The exchanges continued and it was then that Tsvangirai, who was chairing the meeting, called for a ten minute tea break.

And these are supposed to be the leaders in Zimbabwe? What an absolute waste of good time and money...

A highly charged meeting of the national executive of the MDC-T on Wednesday called on the police to fulfil their constitutional mandate by putting an end to Chipangano’s brutal attacks on innocent citizens.

The party said Chipangano’s terror in Harare must come to a stop. Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told journalists after their executive meeting in Harare that police must act professionally and fulfil their constitutional mandate.

‘In most rural areas, night vigils are being held which are characterised by rapes, intimidation and violence. The police are aware of these activities but they turn a blind eye on these criminal activities,’ Mwonzora said.

Dozens of Harare residents have been viciously assaulted by this extremely violent gang who have been on the rampage since the beginning of the year. The gang, which has intensified its attacks in recent weeks, are the chief suspects in a number of brutal crimes including extortion, assault and murder.

The terror group, which is Mbare based has been causing ‘complete mayhem’ in urban Harare areas for months. The group has also seized control of market stalls in the capital as well as extorting money from transport operators at various bus terminals dotted around Harare.

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 12th October 2011

2011-10-12T07:17:00.005Z

Howzit

The internet was buzzing yesterday with regard to the appointment of another MP to be the MDC's deputy agricultural minister, seeing as Mugabe will not stand by his word to appoint Roy Bennett once the criminal charges against him were completed.

Bennett was acquitted, and true to form, Mugabe failed to live up to his own promise.

But the articles on the internet say that Tsvangirai 'replaced' Bennett. How can you replace something that was never in place?

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has finally replaced Roy Bennett, the deputy minister of Agriculture designate, in a major concession to President Robert Mugabe’s demands.

Seiso Moyo, MDC MP for Nketa, was sworn in by President Mugabe yesterday in place of Bennett, while Kuwadzana MP Lucia Matibenga became the minister of Public Service replacing the late Eliphas Mukonoweshuro who died in August this year.

Bennett, who is self-exiled in South Africa, was supposed to have been sworn in as deputy minister of agriculture in 2009 at the inception of the unity government but failed after Mugabe refused.

I really do feel for Roy who has been abandoned by the MDC. He has put himself through so much, in the name of the Zimbabwean people and democracy, and has been left out of the mix.

I also object to the phrase that Bennett has 'finally' been replaced - like the replacement was a foregone conclusion...

When the mass grave was discovered in Mount Darwin not that long ago, ZANU PF were all over it, claiming it to be a mass grave of their freedom fighters dating back to the 1970s in the bush war against the Rhodesian armed forces.

The whole scenario stank as Mugabe's people pulled body after body out, without forensic back-up and then they were all reburied with typical ZANU PF alacrity...

So how come we don't have a repeat performance with the new discovery of as many as 60 bodies in a mass grave at a school in Matabeleland?

A mass grave containing up to 60 victims of a massacre by President Robert Mugabe's troops has reportedly been discovered by children playing football at a Zimbabwe school.

The pupils stumbled on human bones sticking out of the ground after their football pitch caved in during a game, according to New Zimbabwe.com. The remains are thought to belong to victims of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacre, in which an estimated 20,000 civilians were killed by Mugabe's feared Fifth Brigade in the western Matabeleland province.

Moses Mzila Ndlovu, the minister for national healing, reconciliation and integration, reportedly visited the site at St Paul secondary school in Lupane last Friday.

What has the pro-Mugabe ZRP done in response to this crime? I can answer that very easily,,, nothing!

Suspected boisterous war veterans on Sunday night set ablaze a bus belonging to the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at Mashoko mission business centre here. Bikita south MP, Jani Vharandeni, told Radio VOP that he suspected that it was the work of ZANU PF war veterans who accused him of ferrying villagers from his constituency to a rally for the late Gutu South legislator and Public Affairs Minister, Eliphas Mukoneweshuro that was addressed by Tsvangirai the previous day in Gutu.

Vharandeni operates a fleet of buses in the district plying under the name Mabuku bus services.

“My bus was burnt beyond repair and I think war veterans are behind this because they have been threatening me and my people for going to the rally addressed by our President and the country’s Prime Minister,” he said.

It would appear that the rule of thumb in Zimbabwe is that ZANU PF can do what they like - everyone else will be framed, arrested, tried and imprisoned for whatever ZANU PF says they have done.

Other reports say that the Archbishop has now left Zimbabwe...

Visiting Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams was yesterday verbally harassed and barred from attending a church service in Mutare and Penhalonga by thugs believed to have been hired by the excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga. He later told Robert Mugabe to stop the madness and violence.

The highest authority in the Anglican Church worldwide met with Mugabe after having been denied entry into St John’s Cathedral in Mutare and St Augustine’s Mission in Penhalonga earlier in the day by hired Kongonya dancing law breakers.

The Anglican boss saw for himself the lawlessness surrounding his churches in Zimbabwe. Kunonga is a ZANU PF functionary who has been at the helm of destabilising the Anglican Church throughout the country.

Williams, who leaves for Zambia today, was in the country at the invitation of the Anglican Province of Central Africa (CPCA) where he tackled Mugabe over the issue of murder, violence, intimidation, education, health, relief and development programmes which were being compromised by Kunonga’s interference.

The article states that Mugabe was told to stop the violence. I have visions of Mugabe telling the Archbishop to 'go to hell'...

Did the visit achieve anything? I doubt it...

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 11th October 2011

2011-10-11T07:14:00.005Z

Howzit

I have noticed how Mugabe gets his own way without any violence or threats. All he does is agree to one thing and when it comes time for him to fulfill that promise, all he does is keep quiet and not do anything. He seems to have unending patience, and this is shown in the appointment of a deputy minister of agriculture which now means that Roy Bennett is out of government...

How sad.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday appointed a new deputy agriculture minister, after refusing for more than two years to swear in a top aide of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the post.

Tsvangirai had named his party’s treasurer Roy Bennett to the post, but he was arrested in February 2009 shortly before he was to be sworn in over accusations that he had funded a plot to topple Mugabe five years ago.

Mugabe initially said he would not swear in Bennett while the case was pending, but he still refused to let him take office even after he was cleared of the charges.

Bennett’s farm was seized under Mugabe’s land reform programme, and he is one of the most vocal critics of the 87-year-old president.

Bennett is now based in South Africa, after he fled the country saying authorities wanted to arrest him on spurious allegations.

Following Bennett’s long absence from parliament, Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) chose a replacement for his senate post.

Mugabe on Monday swore in MDC parliamentarian Seiso Moyo as deputy agriculture minister, ending what had been one of the most bitter feuds within the fragile unity government.

I don't think that the MDC 'chose' to replace Bennett, but that Mugabe just did nothing, necessitating the eventual change.

As I say, Mugabe has incredible patience...

Mugabe's broken promises are not limited to just within Zimbabwe.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was forced into a mini-reshuffle of his government team following the death of Public Service Minister Elphas Mukonoweshuro in August, and Mugabe’s trenchant refusal to swear-in Roy Bennett as Deputy Agriculture Minister.

Trade unionist Lucia Matibenga stepped into the vacant Public Service portfolio and Seiso Moyo, MP for Nketa, was named Deputy Minister for Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.

Moyo, a first term MP, said he “felt honoured” by Tsvangirai’s appointment.

His swearing-in ends Bennett’s long-running saga after Mugabe refused to accept him into Cabinet, originally citing treason charges he was facing.

Despite telling CNN last year that Bennett, who now lives in exile, would be sworn in should he be cleared of the charges, Mugabe went back on his word after the former Chimanimani MP was acquitted in May this year.

Matibenga, surprisingly overlooked in Tsvangirai’s Cabinet team which took the oath of office back in February 2009, said: “I realise the mammoth task that lies ahead. I assure you, I will be there whether it will be tough or easy."

Mugabe, using his well-known tactic of lying, gets away with it again. Perhaps he needs to look to his North where the new President of Zambia has appointed a white deputy.

I watched a trailer for the new movie "Robert Mugabe... What Happened?" yesterday, and I was struck by an utterance by Mugabe, He stated that 'the problem was an opposition that expects more than it deserves' or words to that effect.

Consider this - ZANU PF lost the 2008 general election, so they are the opposition!

ZANU PF doesn't care about things like elections or majorities - they just assume that they are the party elected to rule Zimbabwe...

I will always question why it is that the United Nations continue to invite Zimbabwe to their conferences and summits. Isn't it apparent to them that Mugabe is just wasting their time?

Zimbabwe has defended its human rights record at the UN hearing while slamming sanctions against the country which it said brought hardship and violated human rights.

"Zimbabwe is a member of the international community and remains committed to its obligations on human rights," Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review.

He said Zimbabwe had reformed its constitution on several occasions to improve the human rights situation.

"We adopted among others laws on the protection of children and orphans, laws against family violence and laws that ensure the rights of NGOs working in our country," said Chinamasa.

He therefore criticised the "illegal economic sanctions against Zimbabwe, which contributes a lot to the suffering of the Zimbabwe people and which are violations of human rights."

The European Union has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe since 2002 due to repeated rights violations by longserving President Robert Mugabe's regime.

Mugabe wouldn't know human rights if they jumped out from behind a bush and bit him in his nether regions!

Is a single weapon an 'arms cache'?

History will tell us that ZANU PF have a habit of setting people up when it comes to weapons, and this would appear to be no exception.

Police here arrested Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) district chairman, Bernard Nyamambi after arms of war were discovered at his home in Chinotimba High density suburb here at the weekend. An AK47 rifle and a full bullet magazine were discovered at Nyamambi’s home on Saturday. But when the MDC-T district chairman, who said the arms were planted by his political rivals, took them to police, he was arrested and questioned. He was released the following day Sunday and police said they will pick him again.

Speaking to Radio VOP on Sunday Nyamambi said he believed this was the work of ZANU PF and government spy agency, Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) members.

“When I took the arms to police they arrested and questioned me on why these arms were found at my house but I told them openly this was the work of ZANU PF and CIOs. ZANU PF wanted me to rot in jail because they believe I am the stumbling block in their bid to win this constituency in next elections,” said Nyamambi.

Who found the weapon? The 'accused'! So why are they wanting to prefer charges against him? Surely a check on the weapon's serial number will be rather revealing...

Take care.

'debvu

Monday, 10th October 2011

2011-10-10T07:33:00.005Z

Howzit

It is bitterly cold in Derby this morning. There are howling winds and it is seriously overcast with scattered rain showers. It is not a very nice day a all...

I struggle with the idea that this visit might do some good for the suffering Zimbabweans. Mugabe has allowed the Anglican church to become a battleground in Zimbabwean politics and seems, reportedly, to be preparing to block the Archbishop with questions about sanctions on Mugabe's party leadership.

Trust me - politics and religion don't mix.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been warned by senior church leaders that he risks handing a propaganda coup to President Robert Mugabe by seeking to meet the Zimbabwean dictator on Sunday.

Senior church leaders are concerned that the 87-year-old leader could use photographs of himself admonishing Dr Rowan Williams to his political advantage.

There are also growing fears that the archbishop's visit to the country could worsen the plight of Anglicans, who have seen their priests arrested, beaten and forced from their homes in a dispute with a breakaway faction backed by Mr Mugabe.

The visit, which begins on Sunday, is regarded as one of the most critical and diplomatically sensitive trips of Dr Williams' time in office. He is expecting to meet Mr Mugabe on Monday and has expressed his determination to challenge him over the persecution of the Church in Zimbabwe.

However, the Rt Rev Sebastian Bakare, the former Bishop of Manicaland, urged Dr Williams to reconsider asking for time with the dictator.

I do believe that the request to meet with Mugabe is problematical as it will lend some sort of legitimacy to his rule.

Mugabe and his party are old hands at making life just about impossible for those that they see as opposition to their party rule. Despite losing the general election in 2008, Mugabe/ZANU PF continue as if there is no change.

I would have thought that Morgan Tsvangirai would have been aware of that.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has complained bitterly to President Robert Mugabe over what he views as machinations by his main rival to create no-go areas for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) in perceived ZANU-PF strongholds ahead of fresh polls.

The premier, who has been on a whirlwind tour of the country to assess the levels of poverty as well as the state of development, has been prevented from venturing into some parts of Mashonaland by ZANU-PF agent provocateurs at the behest of their provincial leadership.

Last Friday, a mob of ZANU-PF supporters blocked the MDC-T leader from visiting market stalls at Murehwa Shopping Centre in Mashonaland East amid threats of violence and physical harm targeting the premier and members of his delegation.

The premier had visited Murehwa Centre as part of his countrywide tour to assess the needs of the people ahead of the National Budget presentation by Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, later this month or early next month.

Biti, the MDC-T secretary-general, is currently living in fear of his personal security after a mob of youths linked to ZANU-PF, picketed outside his ministry's offices demanding funds to bankroll income-generating projects.

Tsvangirai has taken some criticism for his often cancelled visits to parts of the country, but the MDC has stated that this is within keeping of their own non-violent beliefs...

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called off his visit to Marondera last week Saturday as ZANU (PF) had mobilised party thugs to masquerade as residents protesting against poor management of council affairs by MDC-T councillors.

“Tsvangirai was visiting Mashonaland East Province to have first hand information regarding development programmes. He has visited Mudzi and Murewa and was set to visit Marondera town last weekend. He cancelled the Marondera visit as planned ZANU (PF) demonstrations were exposed.

Whilst I fully understand the need for security, allowing ZANU PF thugs to have a visit cancelled just by being there is handing them the baton every time.

The sad thing about this is that we read this sort of report daily and think nothing of it - meanwhile Mugabe is meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Harare. How can the two events even feature in the same country?

An MDC-T activist, Davison Munemo, of Village 5, Zaranyika village, was severely beaten up by ZANU (PF) thugs at Murewa Centre for attending Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s meeting with developmental projects last week Saturday.

He was grabbed by the thugs as he left a council board room where Tsvangirai had just held a meeting with stakeholders regarding the developmental projects.

“The ZANU (PF) thugs staged an ambush from their office along the corridor leading to the council boardroom. Munemo was one of the last people to leave the boardroom and was grabbed by the thugs as he passed the office. They beat him up and he sustained serious injuries,” said an MDC-T official in a telephone interview.

And where are the police? Nowhere to be seen...

The Rotten Row Magistrates’ Courts were yesterday turned into a near warzone when MDC-T youths clashed with anti-riot police as they protested against the arrest of their leader Solomon Madzore who was appearing in court over allegations of murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare, in May this year.

Madzore together with another party activist Lovemore Magaya, face charges of murdering Inspector Petros Mutedza whom police say was stoned by rowdy MDC-T supporters as he attempted to stop their illegal gathering.

The two join 26 other party activists who have since appeared in court over similar allegations.

Drama started after the duo arrived in a police vehicle and the youths who were planted all over drove closer to the police van, chanting party slogans and singing for the release of their leaders who they said were being persecuted.

“You killed Learnmore Jongwe and now you want to kill our president (Madzore). Release our leaders now,” chanted the youths.

Things in Zimbabwe are simmering, and it won't be very long before something happens that will escalate the situation into something much bigger than either political party...

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 7th October 2011

2011-10-07T07:00:00.004Z

Howzit

For those who might have missed it, please take a few moments to read the article under today's posting about the tragic and senseless murder of Keith Nicholson. The article is penned by the family and seeks to correct the reports in the open press...

It isn't every day that we read an admission by Robert Mugabe that he is not in control of something, but he has admitted that the election date in Zimbabwe is not within his control...

Zimbabwe's president said Thursday that he can't force a poll he wants next year to end a troubled coalition government, saying he was "not in control" of elections in a country he's ruled for three decades.

Regional mediators say elections can't be held until constitutional and democratic reforms are in place, but President Robert Mugabe has pushed for polls and maintains the country is ready. On Thursday during a two-hour speech to members of his ZANU PF party, he for the first time showed signs of conceding to mediators' calls.

"We were looking forward to holding elections soon but I'm not in control of the mechanism that would lay the road to elections this year," Mugabe said. He said he wanted elections "soon" but did not specify.

Very interesting. Y'see, for decades Mugabe has been at the steering wheel of every aspect of Zimbabwean life. And his abilities have often been questioned. Now he says that he is not in control - but I do believe that he can still call a snap election at any time.

Jonathan Moyo is a political turncoat - plain and simple. He hoodwinked the electorate into voting him in as an independent MP in 2008, and then promptly rejoined ZANU PF.

Since then he has uttered some quite absurd statement, and Mugabe is reportedly 'fed up' with his activities.

President Robert Mugabe is beginning to lose patience with the truancy of serial political flip flopper Jonanthan Moyo, ZANU PF insiders said yesterday.

The well-placed sources said Moyo was “overplaying his hand” through his public pronouncements - thereby compromising Mugabe who has been under pressure from senior party colleagues, including politburo and presidium members, who want the erratic former junior information minister reined in.

One of the impeccable sources said last night that Moyo, who was “very unpopular” in the party had seemingly begun to take Mugabe for granted “in the mistaken belief” that the octogenarian deemed him indispensable.

“Jonathan is definitely overplaying his hand in the party. From where I sit, it is now a matter of time before Mugabe puts him in his place because he is getting on everyone’s nerves with his reckless pronouncements."

Mugabe has already thrown Moyo out of ZANU PF once, and was probably ill-advised to accept him back. Perhaps Mugabe now realises the error of his ways.

And I am not sure what the regulations say about an MP leaving a party and becoming an independent once again. I do, however, believe that when an MP jumps ship at any time, then that seat should be up for re-election - otherwise we will have a trail of MPs jumping from party to party at will, with no control or regulation.

Mugabe has a knack of concealing reports and investigations. In the 1980s, he sought to have the Dumbutchena report on the Gukurahundi sealed from publication, and there are just so many other documents that would inform the public of so much more that he has chosen to sit on.

Now the people and parliament are wanting the police investigation of Solomon Mujuru's death in a fire made public...

Zimbabwe lawmakers on Thursday called on the police to release the outcome of a probe into the death of former army chief Solomon Mujuru who was killed in a mysterious inferno nearly two months ago.

"Those investigating the general's death must know that Zimbabweans are waiting eagerly to hear their findings," MP Trevor Jones Saruwaka from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party said in parliament.

"The longer they take the more suspicious the nation and people of Zimbabwe become."

Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, a member from ZANU PF, lamented the death of "a great freedom fighter" and "giant of all giants" saying "the truth shall come out of the cause of his death".

Mujuru, a commander of Zimbabwe's liberation war fighters and first post-independence army chief, was killed in a fire at his farmhouse and his burial ceremony was attended by around 40,000 people across political parties.

We have all read the article in the press in which the former owner of the farm has stated that he cannot understand how someone can become trapped in his former homestead.

But Mugabe is determined that the public remains uninformed and that the lawmakers see no reports. He will claim that the police investigation is still in progress...

Mugabe is always bleating about sanctions and how they affect the country, yet here we have an MDC official who now lives in exile because of the Mugabe rule and the hatred Mugabe has for whites in general.

I back Roy's statement to the hilt.

Zimbabwe has never known democracy, exiled MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, told students at Drake University in Iowa this week.

“Democracy in Zimbabwe remains a dream and a desire - a dream that has cost the lives of thousands of brave men and women, and a dream that will, I am sure, cost the lives of many more,” he said.

Bennett described ZANU PF as “a completely immoral and amoral criminal syndicate that masquerades as a political party” and said the first democratic elections in 1980 had also been characterized by widespread violence and a reign of terror against innocent civilians by that party.

He told the students: “At the time, Britain was desperate to wash its hands of responsibility in Zimbabwe - and they were simultaneously pushed by irresponsible western leaders such as Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, who had a naive and ignorant view of Mugabe’s character. And so the first elections were declared by the international community to be an accurate reflection of the will of the people. This provided Mugabe and his party, ZANU PF, with the early political cover they needed to impose an authoritarian system that combined a twisted African nationalist ideology with instruments of oppression that had been perfected by the white state.”

It is very easy to criticise the events of 30-plus years ago, but Mugabe himself makes the task even easier with his totalitarian rule that has left Zimbabwe in its knees and the population scattered to the four winds of the globe...

'Democracy' is a word that doesn't feature in the Mugabe vocabulary.

Take care.

'debvhu

STOP PRESS: The Murder of Keith Nicholson - The Facts

2011-10-06T16:35:00.002Z

Howzit

Yesterday afternoon, I received an email which seeks to rectify some reporting mistakes and assumptions made about the tragic murder of Keith Nicolson on the 13th of last month. In keeping with a request from the family, I repeat their article in toto hereunder...

Due to misinterpretation of the events leading up to Keith Alan Nicolson’s death, his wife Carleen has requested that the following statement be released. This statement has been written by Tim Morgan who was abducted and present when Keith was killed.

Below is a factual account of the events leading to the tragic death of Keith Alan Nicolson, as given by Tim Morgan.

Around 2pm on Tuesday 13th September, the staff at Plot 196 Gold Dust were called to the gate by a group of unknown people in a White Toyota Ipsum. The gang said they were from Chinhoyi CID investigating the report by Mr Tim Morgan regarding his stolen laptop. The men then forced entry, assaulted members of the staff and their families before tying and gagging them inside the main house. The assailants began searching the house for cash and the location of a safe, keeping to rooms not visible on entry at the front door.

Mrs Bev Morgan arrived home at approximately 5.30pm, closely followed by Mr Morgan at 5.45pm. Both were handcuffed, hit and questioned about the safe and contents of Mr Morgan's laptop bag. They were taken to the same room as everyone else to be interrogated. By 8pm, everyone had been tied up in separate rooms and the assailants had loaded their car with a number of items of value and cash.

Mr Morgan was then instructed to get in the back of his twin cab as he was being taken to open the Safe at his Garage in Banket. One of the men got in the back next to Mr Morgan holding a pistol against him, another got in to drive and the remaining two men followed in the white Toyota Ipsum. Mr Morgan was threatened that he would be killed if he tried anything.

During the journey towards Banket there was some movement of weapons between the men in both vehicles, with an extra man getting into the front passenger seat of Mr Morgan's twin cab.

In the meantime a member of the staff had managed to get free and race to a neighbour to alert them of the situation. Henry Allen, his son Tony, Keith Nicholson and Randy Du Rand arrived at the house, on ensuring all was ok Henry, Keith and Tony gave chase as no one was able to contact the police. In the meantime, Keith's wife, Carleen Nicolson, had contacted someone else who arranged to get armed police to Mr Morgan's garage.

Henry, Keith and Tony were driving towards the Raffingora Road, when they saw the White Toyota and then the twin cab heading towards Raffingora; therefore assuming the robbery had taken place and fearing Mr Morgan's safety. They decided to follow the twin cab, which was behind the white Toyota, but suddenly it did a U-turn and was facing them.

Henry, Keith and Tony's vehicle stopped in front of the twin cab before it could drive off. The two armed assailants in the front of the twin cab jumped out the car to escape and began instantly shooting at them. Henry leapt out his vehicle and returned fire whilst chasing them towards the White Toyota. Keith and Tony also began to give chase passing Mr Morgan's twin cab.

Mr Morgan and the third assailant were struggling to get out of the back of the twin cab due to central locking. The armed assailant somehow managed to unlock his door when Keith, who had just passed the vehicle heard the door open and turned back towards it. The assailant by this time was outside the vehicle and Keith grabbed him. They were very close together when the shot that killed Keith was fired at point blank range.

The assailant ran off towards Banket whilst being chased by Tony but on hearing gun fire, Tony returned to the twin cab and immediately began administering CPR. By this time Henry had also returned to the twin cab after running out of ammunition.

Keith was rushed to Banket District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Three of the four assailants have been caught. One was shot in the shoulder and was seeking medical treatment in Mvurwi and another was found dead from a gunshot wound. Two of the assailants are in remand awaiting trial.

The gang have been identified as being responsible for other armed robberies; a home in Banket and a store in Mutorashanga as well as various vehicle thefts.

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 6th October 2011

2011-10-06T07:47:00.003Z

Howzit

I finally have managed to squirrel away a little time to begin reworking my second book on the Gukurahundi, this time a work of fiction, but based largely upon my experiences as a young Patrol Officer in the ZRP based in Matabeleland South during those really troubling days.

As I was writing a few comments in the book, I received an email alerting me to an article that reports on a mass grave found in Matabeleland believed to be the victims of the Gukurahundi...

A mass grave containing up to 60 victims of a massacre by President Robert Mugabe's troops has reportedly been discovered by children playing football at a Zimbabwe school.

The pupils stumbled on human bones sticking out of the ground after their football pitch caved in during a game, according to New Zimbabwe.com. The remains are thought to belong to victims of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacre, in which an estimated 20,000 civilians were killed by Mugabe's feared Fifth Brigade in the western Matabeleland province.

Moses Mzila Ndlovu, the minister for national healing, reconciliation and integration, reportedly visited the site at St Paul secondary school in Lupane last Friday.

He was quoted by New Zimbabwe.com as saying: "Villagers told me that St Paul and several other local schools were used as detention points by the Fifth Brigade. Dozens of people were detained, interrogated and executed before their bodies were dumped in mass graves dug up by the detainees."

I have no doubt that ZANU PF will attempt to parry any allegation about the Gukurahundi by claiming that the mass grave contains bodies of their fighters dating back to the Rhodesian bush war, as they did with the bodies discovered in a mine in Mount Darwin not that long ago.

I really don't care what ZANU PF claims. With the correct forensic tests, which I am sure that ZANU PF will not allow, the bodies can be proved to be the victims of the Fifth Brigade.

End of story.

Senior political figures and democracy activists have called on President Robert Mugabe to resign after his seventh medical trip to Singapore, saying his ill health is disrupting government business.

Ministers who spoke to The Zimbabwean off the record this week said they had asked him to step down.

But Information Minister Webster Shamu dismissed the call, saying there was "no basis" for the president to leave office.

Mugabe travelled to Singapore again last week for what his administration claims is an eye problem. It is his seventh state-funded trip this year, each one costing the taxpayer an estimated $3million in travel and medical expenses.

Finance minister Tendai Biti last week lamented budget overruns on travel, and said the GNU had so far blown $40million on travel.

Shamu insisted the president "has not been found incapable of discharging his functions”.

Obviously, even with ZANU PF circles, it is not a wise nor clever thing to state your opinions of Mugabe's abilities in public. Many Zimbabweans have found themselves facing criminal charges for making an altogether innocent remark about Mugabe - so what of those that supposedly support the old man?

It is fast becoming apparent that even Mugabe, with his reported fist of steel has lost touch with the realities on the ground. A supposed pro-ZANU gang has been operating in Harare for a while now and neither the police nor the CIO have been able to bring them back into line, if ever they were law abiding citizens...

It is now patently clear that the police are unable to contain the violence and criminal activity of the Chipangano Gang in Harare. The ZANU PF-supporting police hierarchy has for years instructed junior cops to stand aside while these criminals harassed MDC supporters in the suburb of Mbare.

The gang has now grown in numbers and widened its criminal activities. It has transformed itself into a real mafia – running protection rackets, extorting money from companies, forcibly taking over businesses and, for good measure, beating up MDC supporters and evicting them from their homes in order to maintain its ZANU PF credentials.

The Chipangano mafia has grown so large and become so powerful that the police are unable to control the beast. In fact, Harare policemen have been shown to be afraid of them. Some policemen have actually been assaulted by members of Chipangano. No arrests have been made.

The gang listens to no-one – not even President Robert Mugabe. Recently, while Mugabe was addressing Parliament, saying there should be no violence in Zimbabwe, these thugs were outside the building beating up people – including one policeman. Again, no arrests were made. And this despite photographic evidence, which clearly identifies some of the thugs, being published in various newspapers.

And then we have a senior minister saying that unruly youths should be arrested... If ZANU PF is unable to control Chipangano, how are they supposed to stop the ZANU PF youth in their daily criminal escapades?

Sloganeering, marching, singing, taunting passersby, wielding sticks and uniformly raising vicious fists in the air, ZANU PF youths ransack foreign-owned shops and market stalls owned by suspected MDC activists.

Innocent people struggling for survival have fallen prey to these youths who demand money simply because they belong to ZANU PF. The militant group has seized bus terminuses around the city and even invaded people’s homes.

“We are losing money every day to these criminals. They claim it goes to their party,” said Honest Murombedzi, a kombi driver plying the city-Kuwadzana route.

“Every time we park in town, violent youths, claiming to be sent by ZANU PF bosses, demand $1,00, which they say is for some party projects. The money is not receipted,” he said.

Another victim of the scam, Phindi Sibanda, who used to operate a market stall in Mbare, claimed that she lost her business to the youths, who besieged her market stall, accusing her of supporting MDC.

“I was told to go and make a market stall at Harvest House, the headquarters for MDC-T,” Sibanda said.

Henry Okonkwo, a Nigerian businessman, said he was tired of young people claiming to have been sent by ZANU PF leaders asking him to contribute money towards their party.

“It is so bad. Every day these youths storm my business premises, demanding money. They claim it is meant for party business. They carry what I strongly suspect is a bogus letter signed by Didymus Mutasa, Secretary for Administration,” Okonkwo said.

Scores of other businessmen interviewed across the city concurred.

“This is not new, we have endured this rot for a long time, but we have no choice because we want to keep our businesses up and running,” said Amid Raj.

The independent media has been awash with reports of suspected ZANU PF youths demanding “toll fees” from commuter omnibuses, claiming to have been sent by Mutasa.

The minister has now gone on record, disowning the youths, saying he is keen to see them being brought to book.

“I don’t know who sent them to illegally get money from the kombis,” Mutasa said.

For ZANU PF, lip service seems to achieve the desired appearance of actually caring for fellow Zimbabweans, but falls very short of doing anything constructive in the affected communities.

I cannot say that this impresses me. According to the people on the ground, this is the second time that this has happened.

Travelling to and from any rally venue costs time and money - something which Zimbabweans do not have a lot of.

Where is the apology? Where is the excuse?

The electorate in Matabeleland South has accused MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai of taking the region for granted after he cancelled a rally in the province at the last minute, for the second time this year.

Supporters gathered at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda on Sunday and waited in vain for Mr Tsvangirai.

After singing and chanting party slogans in the sweltering heat for more than five hours, an entourage led by the party's national chairperson, Mr Lovemore Moyo, arrived and announced that their leader would not be part of the proceedings after all.

The party's national event was then changed to a provincial rally.

A number of supporters who spoke to reporters after the event said they were disappointed by Mr Tsvangirai's apparent lack of interest in the province.

"This is the second time he has done this. He did not show up for a rally here in April and he has done it again today. We wish to meet him but he continues to let us down," said the disgruntled supporter.

Another supporter said the MDC-T leader should respect the electorate in the province if he was serious about winning the forthcoming elections.

The MDC seems to be running out of ideas, and with that, they are losing the support of the people, diluting their own popularity and potential votes. Now is not the time for the MDC to shoot themselves in the foot.

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 5th October 2011

2011-10-05T06:55:00.005Z

Howzit

I came in for some serious stick yesterday following my comments that we had been virtually forced out of Zimbabwe through economic need and that we had no want to have Mugabe in our midst.

One reader noted that I left Zimbabwe in 1998, before the situation really got bad - and that I had more opportunity to raise the needed cash for passports, visas and flights because of the timing of our departure - and the fact that we are white.

Granted, we did leave before the 'beginning of the end' in 2000, but I do reject the idea that we were able to raise cash and get documentation more easily because of our skin colour.

The allegation is absurd.

I really have to give the WikiLeaks thing some serious thought as almost daily we read some quite unreal stories. Like this one which maintains that it was the MDC that was behind the 2008 violence... Does that mean that they were beating up, kidnapping and killing their own?

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC planned attacks that rocked Harare and other urban centres ahead of the 2008 harmonised elections.

The attacks, which led to the arrest of MDC functionaries, targeted police stations, military bases, shops and fuel stations owned by ZANU PF members.

According to WikiLeaks cables, an MDC regional co-ordinator for security, intelligence and youth branches Charles Mutama told the US Embassy in Harare that the attacks were meant to force Government into an early election.

The article goes on to publish an MDC comment that there is no such part of the MDC and therefore the person who has made the claims could not have worked there...

I see no benefit to the political parties for this sort of vague argument, and should WikiLeaks have the documentation to support the claim, then let them bring this "Charles Mutama" forward to make his allegations personally...

I don't really care what ails Mugabe. What I do know is that it is Mugabe that ails Zimbabwe. I read an article elsewhere on the internet that Mugabe is Africa's 8th wealthiest person with a personal fortune of some US$3 billion... enough the fix Zimbabwe's problems...

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe went to Singapore for a medical check-up last week, a local privately-owned newspaper reported on Sunday, saying it was the seventh such visit this year by the 87-year-old who denies he is suffering from cancer.

Mugabe's officials were unavailable for immediate comment. But the weekly Standard newspaper quoted Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu as saying Mugabe - in power since independence from Britain in 1980 - was in Singapore for a review of eye cataract surgery he had earlier this year.

"He went for a review following an eye operation he had earlier on. He will be back tomorrow (Sunday)," the newspaper quoted him as saying without giving details.

In an interview with Reuters a year ago, Mugabe dismissed rumours of ill-health, laughing off suggestions that he was dying of cancer and had recently suffered a stroke.

According to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks, Mugabe has prostate cancer that has spread to other organs and was urged by his physician to step down in 2008.

In Harare Robert Mugabe’s Police militia have arrested MDC-T Youth leader Solomon Madzore and details are still sketchy as to the cause of the arrest but many fear this is the beginning of State sponsored terrorism as Robert Mugabe faces imminent defeat in the next general elections.

“We will update you as soon as we get results meanwhile we would like you to send petitions to ZANU PF Political Commissar Augustine Chihuri. Enough is Enough” - A Facebook page, "Mugabe Free our Chairman Solo Madzore" has been set up.

The MDC Youth Assembly, Solomon Madzore, has been arrested and detained on unknown charges, in what the youth group has slammed as another show of partisan policing in Zimbabwe.

I do like the fact that Chihuri is now described as a 'ZANU PF political commissar' as opposed to being the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, His new title is much closer to the truth...

I do believe that we will see instances of political violence begin to increase in number and severity as the country staggers towards a new election...

Two MDC-T officials from Chipinge district were on Sunday evening waylaid and assaulted by a ZANU PF mob while they were on their way home from a party rally in Chisuma, a party official said on Tuesday.

The incident took place around 6pm opposite Garahwa secondary school in Chipinge South. Forget Hlomani, the secretary for youth and Nyasha Madhodha, the district secretary for Chipinge were walking back home from a rally addressed by MDC-T MP Meke Makuyana when they were stopped by a ZANU PF mob that had formed a human roadblock.

Army Maunde, the district treasurer, told SW Radio Africa that the two were assaulted with logs and stones by a gang allegedly sponsored by the former ZANU PF MP for the area, Enock Porusingazi.

Maunde said the mob, which numbered about 20, beat up the duo, took their valuables and warned them of dire consequences if they continued ‘selling out the country'.

Working in the law courts in Zimbabwe was an immensely rewarding task - but then my experiences dats back to the early to mid 1980s...

Zimbabwean prosecutors and court officers embarked Tuesday on a strike demanding salaries comparable to those received by magistrates, paralyzing the legal system and staging a demonstration outside Attorney General Johannes Tomana's office.

General Secretary Dereck Charamba of the Zimbabwe Law Officers Association said his association is unhappy with salary differences between magistrates and prosecutors and support staff, though many of them have the same civil service employment grade.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana - a Mugabe unilateral political appointee - will not be able to do very much for two reasons... He is governed by ZANU PF, and he lacks the ability to even do his own job correctly...

Mugabe and his followers will do anything to upset the normal lives of Zimbabweans in any way they can.

A former magistrate in Western Australia has returned from Zimbabwe as delays continue in the trial of his son-in-law, who is accused of plotting to overthrow the country's president.

Antoine Bloeman's son-in-law Munyaradzi Gwisai, who is a university lecturer in Zimbabwe, was arrested after showing students a video of an uprising in Egypt.

He was charged with treason and plotting to overthrow president Robert Mugabe but that has been downgraded to a lesser offence carrying a 20 year jail term.

Mr Bloeman flew to South Africa to support his son-in-law during the trial but he says there were repeated delays.

"The trial has been delayed on nine occasions," he said.

"I'm personally convinced it is a political matter and not a legal matter.

"He is strongly against the regime of Mugabe and people like Mugabe do not want people like that because they are dangerous."

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 4th October 2011

2011-10-04T07:14:00.003Z

Howzit

For once we have a happening in Southern Africa which, by comparison, shows Mugabe to be a megalomaniac who is only interested in his own comforts...

An African record has been set as Zambia’s new President Michael Sata poured shame on his neighbour Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe assigning the second most powerful governmental post to an indigenous white Zambian, Guy Scott, something Mugabe would not do.

Unlike Zimbabwe, for Zambia it is not the colour of one’s skin or a military record that defines a leader, but rather proven competency to lead that counts.

“This is a strategic appointment which demonstrates how far Sata has embraced the diversity of the Zambian society and is going to reap the benefits of diversity. Sata has set an example for the region which is composed of various ethnic groups who together uniquely make up what Southern Africa is today, and that example should certainly emulated,” Leeds based political analyst Kisitor Ngong said.

It will be very interesting to see what sort of relationship Mugabe has with the Zambian government now that they have a white deputy president...

And, with Mugabe travelling to Singapore for the seventh time this year, I find it very difficult to swallow his line that he went to visit his daughter, Bona...

President Robert Mugabe has brushed aside rumours of ill-health as he returned home on Sunday from yet another trip to the Far East, his sixth this year alone.

Mugabe left the country for Singapore last week prompting renewed speculation over his health.

Information Minister Webster Shamu said the veteran leader had travelled to attend a scheduled review for an eye cataract surgery he had earlier this year.

However, on Sunday the state broadcaster, ZBC, reported that a jovial Mugabe had dismissed the speculation saying he had, in fact, spent time with his daughter, Bona, who is believed to be studying in Hong Kong.

It isn't every day that a world leader flies to the other side of the world to spend a few days with his daughter, but that is the story Mugabe and ZANU PF are sticking to.

And in a strangely comparable story, we have one of the Deputy Prime Ministers fighting cancer very publicly - to the point that the MDC held a prayer meeting addressed by Morgan Tsvangirai.

I am happy to be here today to join all of you in prayer for our Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Thokozani Khupe.

We all know these are trying times for her and I thank all of you for standing by her side because we know she is a strong woman who has withstood many tribulations in her life.

But above all, we must thank the Almighty God, who continues to bless all of us and who continues to heal our Deputy Prime Minister.

We are here today to join and support her in prayer as she goes for her chemotherapy treatment. We thank her doctors in South Africa who continue to work hard to alleviate the pain, but above all, we thank the greatest Doctor of all, the Almighty God.

She has made it public that she is suffering from breast cancer and this is what true leadership is all about.

True leadership is about telling the truth and taking the lead in inspiring the people and giving them hope.

True leadership is about withstanding trials and tribulations.

And true leadership, like what our Deputy Prime Minister has done, means to be prayerful and to give your life to the Lord.

To our Deputy Prime Minister, I want to say our prayers are with you.

We know that the Lord we serve is the Lord of unlimited compassion.

Why can't Mugabe do the same? Or is he just incapable of telling the truth, facing life head-on?

I find it rather disturbing that the UK authorities should even entertain an application for asylum from someone who is so obviously enmeshed in the violence in Zimbabwe...

A former police inspector who represented Zimbabwe on a peace-keeping mission to Kosovo has been denied asylum in Britain.

“Those who take part in common criminal action and are aware of the criminal character are seen as sharing the requisite intent, whatever their role and position played in the commission of crime,” the UK Border Agency said in its determination made available on Friday.

Amos Nyakudya, 45, admitted a role in farm invasions and the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina.

He arrived in London from Harare on February 8, 2009, using a visitor's visa obtained a year earlier in Macedonia.

But the Home Office rejected his asylum bid, accusing him of committing “international crimes”.

Nyakudya, employed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for 19 years, claims to have fled Zimbabwe after he was recorded by a colleague stating that President Robert Mugabe must stand down.

But the UK Border Agency said Nyakudya had either participated in or done nothing to stop rights abuses by the police.

Send him back to Zimbabwe to live in an atmosphere that he assisted in creating!

Yesterday I was sent a very interesting article about Mugabe and ZANU PF wanting to sue the European Union for instituting sanctions against the leader and his apologists...

In a reply email, I stated: "I tend to agree with the learned writer, if only for the fact that Mugabe has made it incredibly difficult for whites/blacks/coloured to live in Zimbabwe today, and he has made it a mission of his to ensure that those not allied with his party should leave the country, and then, once we have departed, we are expected to live with his vapid presence in the freeworld?"

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 3rd October 2011

2011-10-03T08:08:00.004Z

Howzit

I find it almost unbelievable that ZANU PF continue to treat the Zimbabwean people as if they were mentally impaired. Mugabe has made numerous trips to Singapore since the beginning of the year, and his party continue with the pretence that these visits are for an eye condition...

Are we to take it then that there are no Zimbabwean doctors capable in the country? What about South Africa> Are there no eye surgeons there?

No - you can pull the wool as much as you like, but the truth will always come out in the end...

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has again visited Singapore for medical treatment, a minister told the independent Standard newspaper on Sunday. Few details about his visit were released.

Minister of Publicity and Information Webster Shamu said the 87-year-old Mugabe went to seek medical attention in Singapore earlier this week, leaving vice president Joice Mujuru in charge as acting president. He was due to return on Sunday.

"He went for a review following an eye operation he had earlier on. He will be back [Sunday]," Shamu told the newspaper. However, a spokesman had said in March that he had already went for his final check-up.

Mugabe has visited Asia at least seven times this year for medical reasons, fueling speculation that his health is taking a turn for the worse. The Standard earlier reported that Mugabe demanded $3 million in government money during each visit, possibly to cover medical bills and travel expenses.

I am always very interested in any story that comes out about the Gukurahundi - an operation in the early to mid-1980's that killed between twenty and thirty thousand people - as I was a serving police office in Matabeleland South at the time, and when these stories do surface, it only goes to prove the intentions of the Mugabe government, just a few years into their destructive rule, were already to rid themselves of their real and perceived enemies...

Thabitha Khumalo, an MDC-T Member of Parliament broke down in tears in the middle of her Gukurahundi speech in Britain’s Oxford when for the first time she publicly revealed how her father was forced at gun point by the notorious 5th Brigade to have sex with her elder sister, his daughter.

“I have chosen to speak about this sad experience in public here in the United Kingdom because in Zimbabwe we are not allowed to mention such things. We are just dying in our misery. For me, speaking about it like this is therapeutic because I am an angry woman,” said Khumalo, adding how artist Owen Maseko was persecuted for projecting the operations of Mugabe's 5th Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands areas.

Khumalo whose trip to the UK was facilitated by the chairman of South-End-On-Sea Stanford Biti to attend the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, literally broke down in tears and had to be briefly taken out of Oxford’s Headington Community Centre, to allow her calm down.

I am not surprised at the agony felt by this woman. I am not surprised at the revulsion felt by the Zimbabwean people. And I am not surprised at Mugabe's failure to address to situation...

I do question as to whether such an individual exists...

A notorious and disgraceful Zimbabwean approached British authorities and asked for £25 000 as proposed payment for identifying and exposing failed asylum seekers including those without a legal status in the United Kingdom, The ZimDiaspora can sensationally reveal.

This was revealed by British Labour party officials to an MDC-T MP Thabitha Khumalo last week. According to MP Khumalo, British authorities were shocked to receive a £25 000 project proposal from a Zimbabwean offering to hunt down failed asylum seekers for deportation.

The name of this evil Zimbabwean based in the UK has not been revealed yet, but we, as The ZimDiaspora.com promise to find out who he exactly he is, as already there are reports that up to 70 Zimbabweans were being clandestinely deported every month from Britain.

Therefore, we have mandated ourselves to sniff this monster out and, name and shame the shameless culprit.

I watch and wait...

During the Rhodesian bush war, the country faced full economic sanction, yet prospered... and under targeted sanctions, Mugabe's party have destroyed the country... and now want to sue the EU!

Zimbabwe says it is preparing legal proceedings against the European Union over the imposition of smart sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his senior party officials, a state owned newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Sunday Mail said Johannes Tomana, Zimbabwe's chief lawyer had "assembled a team of the country's best legal minds to file papers against the [EU] bloc."

"Of course, we are going to sue. We wrote to them and we want them to justify the continued imposition of illegal sanctions on us," Tomana is quoted by the weekly.

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 30th September 2011

2011-09-30T06:52:00.014Z

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

Thursday, 29th September 2011

2011-09-29T07:05:00.003Z

Howzit

Mugabe and his party have torn Zimbabwe to pieces and they have spent years picking the carcass clean. Now, as the end approaches, however it may end, there are questions being asked as to who owns what, and what belongs to whom...

Zimbabwe House in London was used as surety for ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi by his friend Robert Mugabe, back in 2002. But did Mugabe have the authority to hand State-owned property to a foreign power? And what for?

And, with the ousting of Gaddafi, does the need for surety not fall away?

The transaction was said to have been personally facilitated by Mugabe, after his ZANU PF government’s failure to pay for oil supplied by the Libyan state company Tamoil. Tamoil said in 2002 that Zimbabwe had failed to meet its US$90million quarterly payment as part of a US$360 million oil deal Gaddafi had agreed to.

ZANU PF at the time dismissed the reports that the deeds to Zimbabwe House had been handed over, calling it an attempt to “discredit” the government.

Also in 2002 the UK’s Foreign Office said that it had not been informed of any change in ownership of the property. A spokesman was quoted in 2002 as saying: “It’s their property so I suppose they can do what they like with it.”

How many other properties has Mugabe signed over as surety to other countries for services and goods rendered?

Staying with properties - ZAPU want the title deeds of their properties back...

Former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) members have appealed to President Robert Mugabe for the release of title deeds of properties owned by the former Patriotic Front Zimbabwe African People’s Union (PF ZAPU) then led by the late nationalist Joshua Nkomo.

The former ZIPRA combatants met over the weekend and resolved to follow up on a letter they wrote to President Mugabe in 2009 following up on title deeds of properties that were returned to them in 2004.

In the late 1980s, government seized all properties belonging to the PF ZAPU and its military wing ZIPRA, at the height of the Gukurahundi massacres.

However, some of the properties are yet to be returned to the two organisations.

So Mugabe didn't just have ZIPRA personnel murdered, but he stole from them as well...

What the learned judge omits to say is that the ZRP are a pro-Mugabe/ZANU PF outfit, and will stop at nothing to protect their own...

High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi rapped the Gokwe police who investigated the murder of MDC-T activist Moses Chokuda, for attempting to conceal evidence in favour of the accused persons at the just-ended trial.

Delivering judgment, Justice Mathonsi said the court noted a worrying trend in which it appeared the police were attempting to conceal evidence in favour of the accused persons.

The convicted murderers are Farai Machaya, a member of the ZANU PF provincial youth executive and son of Midlands ZANU PF chairman, Governor and Resident Minister Jason Machaya , Edmore and Bothwell Gana, sons of ZANU PF Gokwe District Coordinating Committee chairman Ignatius Gana, and Abel Maphosa, a close friend of the Machaya’s and a ZANU PF activist.

“The manner in which the Gokwe police who investigated the murder handled the matter was far beyond expectation and we cannot exclude the fact that the police attempted to downplay what happened in favour of the defence. The police omitted vital evidence which was led by State witnesses and this is not acceptable,” Justice Mathonsi said.

The judge noted that State witnesses, who included Tinoziva Batisa, Tinashe Kwicho and Headman Isau Ndokwana, had all told the court that vital information they had given the police in their statements was missing.

Not only do the police allow this sort of thing to happen, but they recently banned a peaceful march by the MDC Youth... where is the equality in that?

And I am confused. The ZANU PF Youth go to the MDC Finance Minister about indigenisation... why not go to ZANU PF's Saviour Kasukuwere who is in charge of the so-called indigenisation?

About 50 pro-Mugabe youths gathered outside Zimbabwe's Finance Ministry on Wednesday, calling for government transparency amid controversial new plans to redistribute foreign-owned equity.

Protesters chanted outside the offices of Tendai Biti, an ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangerai and the country's finance minister.

“Youths have come to the realisation that we will remain poor and even poorer if we do not sign for what we are against,” said Hamilton Pazvakavamba, the leader of the group. “We will leave a petition for (Biti) to read.”

Pazvakavamba said the group is angry that government plans to redistribute foreign-owned equity will not benefit Zimbabwean youths.

“They have started the indiginisation of foreign firms, we do not see where we fit in,” he said.

The Mugabe youth must remember at all times that the land grab and the firm grab are policies dreamt up by ZANU PF, not the MDC...

This is just plain silly. We know the people of Zimbabwe don't want Mugabe to remain in power, but Mugabe, using his 87-years of experience, will do anything to deny the people anything which his security chiefs believe may be used against him, to wit, a Blackberry internet service...

President Robert Mugabe, fearing agitated citizens calling for regime change, is refusing to licence the BlackBerry service in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean citizens are tech-savvy and emboldened, a fact that has raised fears okaying the Blackberry service could result Egypt and Tunisia-style uprisings. The Canadian mobile phones have flooded the country, but it looks as though the BlackBerry internet service will never see the light of day.

Government sources say the Joint Operations Command, a group of top security generals, has sternly warned against it, although Twitter and Facebook are allowed.

ICT minister Nelson Chamisa reportedly approved the service, but has been stonewalled by Mugabe.

"It’s securophobia mutating into technophobia," minister Chamisa told The Zimbabwean. He declined to comment further, saying the matter was still before Cabinet.

In Zimbabwe, it would appear, are unable to access the internet on their mobile techology as it might upset the ZANU PF gravy train...

Vice President John Nkomo has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, officials and family sources said this week.

Unconfirmed reports say that Mugabe has prostate cancer, whilst this article tells us one of his deputies has got brain cancer... Mmmm - very interesting!

An enormous force in Zimbabwean politics for the past decade, 77-year-old Nkomo is one of President Robert Mugabe's top aides alongside Joyce Mujuru.

The veteran politician, who was a senior official in founding nationalist Joshua Nkomo's Zapu before its merger with Mugabe's ZANU PF in the 1980s, is seen by many as an efficient administrator, and a temperamental leader.

South African doctors have allegedly conducted a battery of tests, including a biopsy, and identified a cancerous mass on the top left portion of his brain as the cause of his recent seizure.

The news sent shockwaves across Zimbabwe, particularly Matalebeleland where he is held in high esteem. Many of his colleagues have been shaken by the news, although a family source expressed hope for a full recovery.

Take care.

'debvhu

Wednesday, 28th September 2011

2011-09-28T07:09:00.003Z

Howzit

It is apparent that Mugabe will use the indigenisation law as a weapon against Nestle seeing as the company shut down the supply contract they had with Mugabe's dairy...

Swiss food giant Nestlé and other multinational companies are being forced to sell 51 percent of their Zimbabwean operations to local citizens.

A law enacted in March last year requires any foreign company with assets valued at over $500,000 to sell 51 percent to indigenous Zimbabweans.

Nestlé has until the end of September to comply with the law or risk facing the loss of its license to operate in the country.

Nestlé has been present in Zimbabwe for 50 years.

The company employs some 200 people in its factory in the capital Harare, which produces cereals and powdered milk for the local market.

In 2009, the factory closed temporarily following pressure from the authorities to purchase milk from suppliers who were not contracted by the company.

Nestle is just one of an estimated 700 companies that face a rocky future in Zimbabwe.

About 700 foreign companies in Zimbabwe missed a deadline to submit plans to sell 51 percent of their shares to local blacks under a new law, a government official said Tuesday.

Wilson Gwatiringa, head of the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board, said firms defying the so-called indigenisation law would face "serious consequences" including "cancellation or suspension of operating licences as well as payment of hefty fines."

"Many non-indigenous companies have not complied with the indigenisation law as they are reluctant to submit their indigenisation plans for approval," said Gwatiringa.

He estimated that "maybe around 700" companies had not complied, adding that the board "will be undertaking a wide-scale compliance audit across all sectors of the economy."

Mugabe and his party, with all the extensions of his power, use all manner of excuses to prevent any action by the MDC, even if the intended action is civil...

Police in Harare have banned the MDC Youth Assembly from holding a peace march in central Harare next month. On Monday, the MDC Youth Assembly Secretary, Promise Mkwananzi notified the police of the party’s intention to hold a peace march in central Harare on Saturday 16, October 2011.

The peace march is in support of calls by President Morgan Tsvangirai and Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe for the creation of a peaceful environment in the country. The two leaders have further urged the youths to be peaceful and not to be used by politicians to perpetrate violence against innocent people.

However, the Youth Assembly was today informed by the police that the police had banned all public marches except those organised by government ministries or departments.

The Youth Assembly said it was unhappy with the police decision and would seek legal assistance in order to challenge the decision in court.

We have to remember that if this was an application by the ZANU PF youth to conduct the same event, it would be approved without any further thought.

I find this difficult to swallow, especially when another article states that Mugabe believes that the West has an ulterior motive in re-engaging with Zimbabwe...

President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party says it is ready to resume dialogue with European Union (EU) countries but said Brussels must first lift sanctions against its top leaders.

Party chairman Simon Khaya Moyo told Swedish ambassador Anders Liden that the former liberation movement, most of whose top leaders are banned from EU territory, was ready for re-engagement, telling the diplomat that there was need to move away from “things which separate us”.

"We agree that we must turn a new page. We can't continue to live in the past. We can't dwell on things which separate us after all we are one humanity," Moyo yesterday told Liden, who had paid a courtesy call on the ZANU-PF chairman.

Moyo acknowledged the role played by Stockholm in support of Zimbabwe’s 1970s liberation struggle, while repeating ZANU-PF’s favourite line that the rest of the EU had been misled by Britain into imposing sanctions against the party’s leadership over a bilateral dispute between London and Harare.

I am not so sure that Mugabe is in any position to dictate to the West...

Take care.

'debvhu

Tuesday, 27th September 2011

2011-09-27T07:35:00.003Z

Howzit

When I was in the ZRP, many years ago, as a prosecutor and as an investigating officer, I would often find myself having to visit various prisons in and around Bulawayo - and even then, they were not in the best shape. And I can guarantee that Mugabe's administration spent next to nothing on the upkeep of the establishments, so they must be pretty disgusting now.

And then there is the treatment of the inmates...

A pressure group on Monday denounced what it described as the inhumane condition facing women imprisoned in police cells in Zimbabwe.

In a petition to the country's highest court, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) said incarcerated women were being forced to take off their underwear and shoes, while their cells have no light or sanitation.

"The application seeks to highlight the plight of women in detention, by showing the added hardships they have to endure on account of their sex.

"The filth, coupled with lack of access to sanitation, constitutes a violation of the rights of women in detention," Belinda Chinowawa of the Zimbabwe of Lawyers for Human Rights told the German Press Agency dpa.

The petition follows the recent arrest of four WOZA activists, who were detained at Harare Central Police station for demonstrating against escalating energy costs.

No amount of petitions or court orders will make the situation any easier - Mugabe has decided that the future for Zimbabwe is embodied by his own life, not the lives of lowly criminal Zimbabweans...

Every now and then there is a spark of logic in Zimbabwe, and when it does happen, we should celebrate the common sense being displayed.

The son of Midlands governor Jason Machaya and three other ZANU PF activists were beginning 18-year jail terms on Monday after they were convicted of beating an MDC-T supporter to death.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, on circuit in Gweru, said the sentence should send a “clear message on the sanctity of life” as he put away Farai Machaya, 32, Abel Maphosa, and brothers Edmore, 29, and Bothwell Gana, 27, for the killing of Moses Chokuda in March 2009.

Two soldiers, Obert Gavi, 25, and Tirivashoma Mawadza, 25, involved in the brutal assault on Chokuda, who had been accused of a break-in at the governor’s shop in Gokwe, were given suspended 12 month sentences.

In dramatic scenes outside the Gweru Magistrates’ Court building where the sentencing hearing took place, Chokuda’s father declared he would not be burying his son until the parents of the quartet “come to my own court”.

I wonder if ZANU PF will orchestrate a quiet release for the accused once the spotlight has moved on to other news...?

I interested in reading this...

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will publish his memoirs on October 1 after signing a multi-million rand deal with Penguin Books.

Tsvangirai, 59, will also make extra cash after flogging serialisation rights to eleven South African newspapers.

‘Morgan Tsvangirai: In at the Deep End’, “traces Tsvangirai’s political development and activism, laying bare the challenges and frustrations of his political life, up to and including the power-sharing agreements with President Robert Mugabe,” Penguin Books said in a statement.

The autobiography, Tsvangirai’s first book, was ghost-written by the journalist William Tagwirei Bango. Bango, who worked for the MDC leader for a time as his spokesman, previously worked for The Daily News as a news editor.

Penguin Books said Tsvangirai was “globally regarded as a courageous and indefatigable symbol of resistance in the face of brutal repression” adding that the book would chronicle his travails “from teenage mine worker to trade union leader to Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in a coalition government”.

So Kasukuwere will chase Standard Chartered out of the country - and then attempt to run it using Zimbabwean ownership. The result will be one decidedly ex-bank...

Zimbabwe has rejected Standard Chartered’s ownership plan for its Zimbabwean unit because it falls below the required 51 percent local stake, state media reported on Monday.

Under a controversial “indigenisation” law, foreign firms operating in Zimbabwe are required to sell a majority of their local business to black Zimbabweans. Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that Standard Chartered had offered 10 percent of its operation to locals.

“The law is clear. It’s 51 percent share holding to indigenous people, not the 10 percent they are talking about,” Kasukuwere told the Herald. “Their plan is unacceptable.” Kasukuwere and Standard Chartered officials were not immediately available for comment.

Standard Chartered’s executive for the Africa region, Diana Layfield, met Kasukuwere last week and told him the bank wanted to retain majority control of its Zimbabwe unit, the newspaper said.

Kasukuwere in August gave Standard Chartered, Barclays and other foreign-owned firms, a two-week ultimatum to submit new ownership plans or risk losing their operating licences, a move that was sharply criticised by Zimbabwe’s central bank.

Mugabe doesn't listen to underlings in government - certainly not those of the MDC-T - and only wants to liaise with his own people. Chamisa's challenge will fall on deaf ears - and a very hard heart...

MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa yesterday dared President Robert Mugabe to stop his party’s notorious shadowy group Chipangano from terrorising Harare residents to prove he is sincere in his calls for peace.

The Mbare-based Chipangano is a violent political gang which features at most scenes of political violence defending ZANU PF positions by beating up perceived opposition members.

Chamisa yesterday said the 87-year-old ZANU PF leader, who has of late taken every opportunity to lambaste violence, must put his sincerity to the test by reining in the Chipangano rabble rousers.

The youthful and popular MDC-T leader was addressing a rally in his constituency of Kuwadzana when he challenged President Mugabe’s sincerity.

Chipangano has caused havoc in Harare where it has literally crippled the operations of elected public officials including the mayor and his council who have all but given up on the group’s disruptive and violent activities.

It is not a dare, nor a challenge - but it does bring Chamisa under the Mugabe microscope...

Take care.

'debvhu

Monday, 26th September 2011

2011-09-26T07:01:00.004Z

Howzit

So Mugabe is 'stranded' in New York after the commandeered Air Zimbabwe aircraft burst its tyres on landing... Real or imagined?

Let's face it - a few days of shopping for the Amazing (Dis)Grace never hurt her...

Zimbabwe’s ageing leader, President Robert Mugabe and several government officials are stuck in New York after an Air Zimbabwe plane that was supposed to ferry them back home burst its tyres on Friday.

Informed sources said the long haul aircraft burst four of its rear tyres as a result of hard landing when it landed at an airport in New York to pick up the ageing leader and his delegation which include ministers and senior government officials who had been in the US attending the UN summit.

The sources said the aircraft which was parked at an airforce base close to New York burst its tyres as it landed at an airport in New York due to bad weather.

Engineers traveling with Mugabe secured two tyres to replace the burst ones in the US and were on Saturday awaiting delivery of the fourth tyre from Air Zimbabwe’s spares store in London.

I am willing to bet that the pilot will be brought up on the mat for some sort of disciplining seeing as he was in control of the aircraft when the tyres burst, causing Mugabe and his entourage to be delayed...

We have witnessed the deadly farm grab - now expect to see similar activities as Mugabe and his apologists get stuck into the firm grab...

Foreign companies operating in Zimbabwe have until Sunday to hand in plans to sell majority stakes to local blacks, under a law that has alarmed investors, who are uncertain how the rules will work.

The government's order for the transfer of 51% ownership has been called the final phase of "economic emancipation", after controversial land reforms targeting white-owned farms a decade ago. But analysts are sceptical.

"There is no way the locals and the government have the money to buy shares in the companies. Everybody knows that," Anthony Hawkins, a University of Zimbabwe economics professor, told AFP.

The indigenisation drive could hurt the economy in the same way as the land reforms, which sparked an economic nose-dive after supporters of President Robert Mugabe violently seized white-owned farms, he warned.

Whenever I read of someone in ZANU PF denying something, then I realise that they are conducting whatever they are denying, Sometimes keeping quiet is more powerful than a heated denial...

The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is accusing a senior ZANU PF official in Manicaland of instilling fear amongst villagers opposed to President Robert Mugabe’s party in the Musikavanhu area of Chipinge.

Former Chipinge South legislator Enock Porusingazi is accused of ordering village headmen in the area to list all names of known ZANU PF supporters, sparking fears amongst opposition supporters who fear victimisation.

Porusingazi, however, denied the allegations saying they are carrying out a restructuring exercise.

“Those who do not belong to our party do not know why we are doing this. We are in the process of restructuring our party in the Musikavanhu area.

“Why should we write down names of members who do not belong to our political party?” said Porusingazi.

Matthew Gonera, organising secretary for MDC-T’s Chipinge South district coordinating committee, said Porusingazi and his colleague Tobias Matanga were distributing books to village headmen in the area and ordering them to list all members of ZANU PF.

In Mugabe-speak, 'restructuring' means the stamping out of all known supporters and members of the MDC-T...

Whenever I read the names Mutasa or Shiri, my skin crawls. These are two men whose histories are written in the blood of those who they have killed. Mutasa is known for his power and the ability he has to make lives in the country just cease to exist, whilst Shiri, former commander of the Fifth Brigade, is someone who sees no wrong in his actions.

So this Wikileaks story came as no surprise at all.

ZANU PF heavyweights are said to have been behind the bloody 2008 presidential election runoff which the MDC claimed resulted in the death of more than 200 of its supporters.

According to US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks, former Gender and Women’s Affairs minister Oppah Muchinguri, air force commander Perrence Shiri, and State Security minister Didymus Mutasa as well as former cabinet minister Kumbirai Kangai incited some of the worst violence.

The cable dated April 10 2008 says that ZANU PF central committee member Manatsa Mutasa, who was described as “disillusioned”, told ambassador James McGee that ZANU PF had been disturbed by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s victory in the March 2008 election and had hatched a plan to intimidate MDC leaders and supporters.

Mutasa told the US embassy that bases and command centres were set up in the bush and manned by “off duty soldiers”.

“Disillusioned central committee member Manatsa Mutasa told us that the politburo recognised MDC (Morgan) Tsvangirai had won 48% of the presidential vote against Mugabe’s 43%,” read the cable.

“Consequently, the ruling party had begun a campaign of violence, spearheaded by minister Oppah Muchinguri, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Kumbirai Kangai, Air Marshall Perrence Shiri and minister Didymus Mutasa to intimidate the population and MDC leaders.”

And, despite the bloodshed in Zimbabwe, the free world contents itself with weak statements on Zimbabwe every now and then, preferring to concentrate on conflicts that will dictate who controls world oil.

Take care.

'debvhu

Sunday, 25th September 2011

2011-09-24T20:00:00.004Z

Howzit

Y’know, there are days when the problems in Zimbabwe weigh me down like a physical yoke around my neck. And I know that I shouldn’t let it get me down – especially 6000 miles away from the action, but having lived in that Southern African country from 1964 until 1998, it is the place where I learned who I was, and learned in equal part about the African psyche.

Zimbabwe is part of my mental make-up, part of my character, part of my emotional being…

Therefore, whilst I write about five times a week about the problems that continue to confound the best minds in the land, I find myself caught up in an internal argument as to why should I really be concerned with a conflict half a world away?

Perhaps the answer is the reluctance the free world has to influence the obvious illegalities of Mugabe's rule. Perhaps it is the manner in which the free world prefers to involve itself in altercations that seem to be about who controls world oil... but, in reality, it is because of the people suffering under Mugabe's 'legalised' ruination of Zimbabwe.

The weather, the ecology, the people, the economy, the sense of belonging - all of these attributes have been consigned to the rubbish dump, and the people of Zimbabwe know little more today than a struggle to survive, a struggle to actually still be alive to face the next dawn.

Here in the UK, despite my birth here, because of my strong African accent, I am treated as a foreigner, and I find myself being consigned to the lesser opportunites. So perhaps my concerns and interests in a landlocked country in Southern Africa are well-placed.

Only time will tell.

Take care.

'debvhu

Friday, 23rd September 2011

2011-09-23T06:40:00.003Z

Howzit

Many, many years ago, I had the distinct displeasure of being on crowd control duty as a young Patrol Officer in Plumtree in the ZRP and Mugabe was giving his address. Anyone who has had the pleasure of living in Plumtree will know how hot it gets, so with the added agony of Mugabe sounding forth, it wasn't a happy experience at all.

In a speech ranging from what he said were “illegal” sanctions imposed on Harare by Western nations to Palestine’s desire for statehood, Mr Mugabe said it was sad that the international Criminal Court and the UN Security Council were being used by powerful countries to target leaders from the developing world, in particular African leaders.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe addressed the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Thursday attacking NATO countries for their “blatant, illegal, brutal, callous and murderous bombings” in Libya, helping the National Transitional Council topple Colonel Muammor Gadhaffi.

In a speech ranging from what he said were “illegal” sanctions imposed on Harare by Western nations to Palestine’s desire for statehood, Mr Mugabe said it was sad that the international Criminal Court and the UN Security Council were being used by powerful countries to target leaders from the developing world, in particular African leaders.

Mr Mugabe expressed doubts that NATO’s intervention in Libya would enhance democracy in the North African country.

Mugabe's opinions about democracy are hugely misplaced seeing that he himself is a brutal and bloody dictator.

The escalating incidents of violence against the MDC-T took centre stage at the funeral of the late party founder, Diamond Karanda on Wednesday, as party officials called on their youth members to defend themselves, the way he did until his death.

Gangs of ZANU PF thugs have caused chaos in Harare over the last few weeks, assaulting legislators in parliament, market vendors, minibus operators and even police officers, with impunity.

The Chipangano gang from Mbare have achieved notoriety for their violent activities and have taken over many council-owned properties around the capital, controlling parking lots, bus ranks and market stalls.

This is entirely new. The MDC does not practise violence and their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has made that very obvious. However, with the increase in violence around the country (despite Mugabe publicly calling for the violence to stop), the party has little choice but to call on the MDC youth to protect and defend themselves when attacks occur.

At the funeral where thousands of MDC-T members were gathered, the party’s vice national Chairman, Morgen Komichi, called on the youths to “help Harare” and to defend themselves against ZANU PF attacks.

“Harare is under siege and now ZANU PF thinks this is Uzumba. Let’s rise up and get ready to defend ourselves if (Police Commissioner-General Augustine) Chihuri does nothing,” Komichi told the mourners.

Adding to this, the party’s organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa said their youths are dying from injuries sustained in the attacks. “The ZANU PF youths last year declared they were taking over what ‘rightly belonged’ to them,” Chamisa reminded the mourning crowd.

This is very interesting. ZANU PF bigwigs are threatening to expose Mugabe... I somehow don't think that he'll be having any of that, so his reaction will be most interesting.

Senior ZANU PF officials have threatened to expose President Robert Mugabe's secret dealings with Western businessmen if he brings up the issue of their own clandestine meetings exposed in leaked US diplomatic documents.

ZANU PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa told the media ahead of Wednesday's politburo meeting that the issue of "sellouts" exposed by the US organisation Wikileaks to have pursued a regime change agenda would be top priority at the meeting.

But the issue was inexplicably dropped from the agenda. The party elders then spent a long time deliberating the hero status of financier and politburo member, Kanthibai Patel, who died last week.

Mugabe is accused of dealing with British business people by proxy. The revelations that have thrown ZANU PF into turmoil implicated top officials, including vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo and Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Anything that throws ZANU PF into chaos os okay by me...

Relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe have been slowly deteriorating as the South African leadership has finally realised that events to their immediate North seem to have an adverse effect up their own economy and welfare.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has blamed Zimbabwean leader, President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party for exporting violence through its inflammatory speeches that have been blindly adopted by its (ANC) youth league.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who is on a visit to Harare, accused ZANU PF of influencing the thinking and actions of its controversial national youth league president, Julius Malema.

The firebrand Malema has long declared economic war on whites and his calls for the nationalisation of mines have unnerved investors in Africa's biggest economy.

Mantashe said the youth wing’s inflammatory rhetoric is similar to that of Mugabe’s party.

The ANC secretary was addressing senior ZANU PF members, Acting President, John Landa Nkomo, Vice President, Joice Mujuru, secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa and national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo at a meeting on Wednesday.

After the meeting Mutasa attempted to absolve his party.

Of course the Zimbabwean leader's party will attempt to absolve themselves - it is what ZANU PF does. If they say it, then that is the end to the story. They are of the opinion that they - and they alone - speak the truth...

Take care.

'debvhu

Thursday, 22nd September 2011

2011-09-22T05:27:00.004Z

Howzit

A very early start this morning as B has an appointment at City Hospital on the other side of Derby just after 9 this morning...

Not only has he managed a comeback, but now he is somehow excelling in his attempts to prove himself indispensable. You would have thought that Mugabe party, a party where deception and ulterior motives are known and practised, would have known better.

ZANU PF’s information spin doctor Jonathan Moyo has been promoted by his ZANU PF party to the powerful JOMIC (Joint Operations Monitoring, Implementation Committee) despite his dirty controversies exposed by whistle-blower website Wikileaks.

Moyo, ZANU PF’s ”straying parrot”, will now sit on the board, ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo announced on Monday.

Jonathan Moyo who has become the first to admit his damning shame and part in discussions with a US ambassador was unanimously chosen for the post and has now been informed of this, said Gumbo.

It will be very interesting to see what happens when it all goes horribly wrong...

I wonder if anyone will be able to quantify the loss to Zimbabwe...

Immigration officials at Beitbridge Border Post on Tuesday dismissed as untrue, claims that there was overcrowding at the border post as a result of the closure of the South African side of the border between 9pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday.

Officials said business at the border post, regarded as the busiest in Africa, was normal.

“It’s normal. It seems people heeded the message that the border post would be closed between 9pm and 2am and they did not overcrowd. Even yesterday, we didn’t have any pressure. It was very manageable,” an official said.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority regional manager at the border post refused to comment.

“I am not allowed to discuss such issues with the Press. Try the corporate communications office in Harare,” he said.

There were claims early yesterday that the temporary closure of the South African side of the border had caused chaos as scores of people who had apparently not heard about the move thronged the border post, congesting both sides of the border.

The South African government on Monday temporarily closed its side of the border post in Musina until early Tuesday morning to allow for an upgrade of its immigration department’s information technology system.

Where are the police? Why haven't they done anything?

Or, as is apparent, is the gang politically motivated and therefore the police are instructed to turn a blind eye?

The Chipangano organization, based in the heavily populated suburb of Mbare, has been stepping up criminal activities in recent days with extortion at bus terminals and seizing control of market stalls.

Zimbabwean Co-Minister of Home Affairs Teresa Makone said Wednesday that Harare is overrun by by the gang known as Chipangano which is alleged to have ties to President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF, beating residents and even attacking police officers.

The Chipangano organization, based in the heavily populated suburb of Mbare, has been stepping up criminal activities in recent days with extortion at bus terminals and seizing control of market stalls to such an extent it seems to have the run of the capital.

Witnesses said Chipangano gang members are brazenly committing robberies and assaults while the authorities fail to take action.

Makone told VOA that Chipangano youths assaulted commuter omnibus operators on Tuesday at the bus terminus opposite Harare Central Police Station, and beat up police officers who came to investigate the disturbance.

ZANU PF have never been people to sit doing nothing and the landgrab continues whilst companies are also being targeted...

Youths aligned with President Mugabe's ZANU PF party have begun a new wave of land seizures, attacking white and foreign-owned companies and damaging one of the few functioning parts of the economy.

A country still reeling under the economic meltdown of the controversial land reform, Zimbabwe is on the brink of yet another potentially damaging economic exercise: seizing white-controlled companies in urban centers and mines through out the country.

Under the banner of the 21^st February Movement, an organization formed in line with President Robert Mugabe’s birthday, ZANU PF youths are indiscriminately invading white- and foreign-owned companies under the controversial Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act, which requires that foreigners possess 41 percent of shares while the rest goes to indigenous people.

While compliance should be executed in boardrooms, young members of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front, led by President Mugabe, have adopted the violent land reform style of grabbing the companies, at times forcing the closure of strategic economic units and at the same time causing mayhem, especially in the capital, Harare. It's a method that was used in the past decade against white-owned farms, and which has been blamed for a severe drop in food production. Once a food-exporter, Zimbabwe now is a recipient of food aid.

Mugabe will not allow his perceived enemies a chance to breathe. For him it is attack, attack, attack - even if the policies so adopted are detrimental to the economy and well-being of the country.

Mugabe is not concerned with the country - his concerns are more politically and racially based.

What happened to the Hippocratic Oath? Does the obviously political nature of the attack cancel out the need for medical attention? The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by doctors and other health care professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically.

An MDC supporter was rushed to Zimunya clinic after rowdy Zanu (PF) youths attacked a vehicle he was driving last Saturday.

The youths, who were visibly drunk, pelted Hebert Chiripanyanga’s Isuzu KB double cab with stones near Matondo business centre injuring him as he drove to an MDC youth meeting at the centre.

The injured Chiripanyanga was taken to Zimunya clinic, but was denied assistance because the nurses were afraid of a backlash from the youths.

The attack was allegedly engineered by a youth only identified as Tauzen.

The matter was reported at Matondo Police base, but nothing happened as it was manned by a member of the police constabulary who said he would wait for his boss to solve the matter.

“My hands are too small to deal with that matter. You should wait for my boss who is attending a scene somewhere,” he said, without naming the boss.

We have read of this before where injured motorists, shot by Mugabe's guards, have been refused medical attention - because it is 'political'....

Take care.

'debvhu