Messages From Zimbabwe

A novel by Zimbabwean author Petina Gappah has been nominated for the prestigious annual Orwell Prize awarded to the best writers of political books, APA learnt here Monday.

Gappah’s book, titled An Elegy for Easterly, is among six novels short-listed for the British award for political writing.

The book chronicles the resilience and inventiveness of Zimbabweans who struggle to survive under the weight of economic hardships and persecution under Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Also nominated is Scottish author Andrea Gilles for her book, The Keeper, and British journalist Christopher de Bellaigue who wrote the novel, Rebel Land : Among Turkey’s Forgotten Peoples.

Others on the shortlist are British writers John Kampfner, Kenan Malik and Michela Wrong for their books Freedom For Sale : How We Made Money and Lost Our Liberty, From Fatwa to Jihad : The Rushdie Affair and Its Legacy, and It’s Our Turn To Eat : The Story of a Kenyan Whistle Blower, respectively.

The winners of the £3,000 prize in each of three categories ; books, blogging and journalism, will be announced on 19 May.

The Orwell Prize is awarded to journalists and authors who take political writing beyond just mundane analyses and opinions and into the realm of an art form.

(Source)

Zimbabwe’s tourism minister has appealed to activists in the western provinces of Bulawayo to drop plans to protest against the North Korean football team’s scheduled camp in the country during the World Cup.

The presence of the team from the dictatorship of President Kim Jong Il has stirred up strong emotions over the massacre in the early 80s of an estimated 20 000 civilians of the Ndebele speaking people of western Zimbabwe, carried out by soldiers of the Zimbabwe army’s notorious Fifth Brigade who were trained by North Korean instructors.

Groups have threatened to carry out protests against the team in the western city of Bulawayo and in South Africa where over a million Zimbabwean exiles from President Robert Mugabe’s rule now live.

“We are totally against bringing the team to Zimbabwe,” said Methuseli Moyo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe African People’s Union party. “Having a team flying the North Korean flag is very provocative.” The team is due in Harare on May 25 and is set to play friendly matches against the Zimbabwe national team in the capital and in Bulawayo, but activists have warned they would make Bulawayo’s Barbourfields stadium a centre of resistance against the North Koreans.

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi was quoted Sunday in the weekly Standard newspaper as appealing to the groups not to mix politics with sport and to allow national healing to take place.

“Sport must remain the bridge for people-to-people contact, probably the only bridge that has remained standing even when nation states are in a state of fall-out,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to make this a political issue. It’s purely a sports issue.” He said he had extended invitations to the major teams in the World Cup, including Brazil, England and the United States, but North Korea was the only team that had responded.

The North Korean instructors were brought to Zimbabwe in 1983 at the request President Robert Mugabe to form a new brigade of the army, composed exclusively of Shona-speaking veterans of Mugabe’s civil war guerrilla army, to put down a limited insurgency against Mugabe’s rule by Ndebele-based guerrilla veterans.

The Fifth Brigade troops immediately developed a reputation for savage brutality, butchering children and pregnant women to deny the guerrillas support among the population of rural areas where they operated.

Military experts say that the Fifth Brigade’s methods were starkly different from the rest of the country’s largely British-trained army.

Mugabe, held responsible for the massacres, has only referred to the murderous period in the country’s history as a moment of madness. Demands for acknowledgement of the brutality are rising round the country, but two weeks ago police forcibly closed down an art exhibition portraying the suffering of the period, and arrested the artist.

(Source)

President Robert Mugabe on Sunday urged Zimbabweans to “desist from any acts of violence”, the first time he has issued a call for non-violence during the country’s political turmoil.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain, Mugabe said he was issuing the call on behalf of the country’s power-sharing government.

“The leadership of the inclusive government urges you to desist from any acts of violence that will cause harm to others and become a blight on our society,” he said.

“As Zimbabweans we need to foster an environment of tolerance and treating each other with dignity and respect irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation,” he said in Harare’s main sports stadium.

(Source)

In Saturday’s National Post, Peter Goodspeed profiles Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, 30 years after he first took power.

Here, a look at the man who’s been called Zimbabwe’s “kleptocrat-for-life,” and Africa’s “Hitler” (by himself), in quotes.

• “I am still the Hitler of the time… This Hitler has only one objective: justice for his people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people and their rights over their resources… If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold… Ten times, that is what we stand for.”

• On homosexuality, which he’s described as “unAfrican”: “Leave whites to do that.”

• On the UK’s approach to his land reforms: “They are even using gay gangsters on us.”

• On George W Bush: “The inclusive government does not include Mr Bush and his administration. It doesn’t even know him. It has no relationship with him, so let him keep his comments, they are undesired, irrelevant, quite stupid and foolish… We realize these are the last kicks of a dying horse. We obviously are not going to pay attention.”

• “Only God, who appointed me, will remove me – not the MDC, not the British. Only God will remove me!”

• “Cricket civilizes people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen.”

• On why police were present in voting stations during the 2008 elections: “assist illiterate and disabled voters.”

• “It doesn’t matter what happens, Zimbabwe is my country.”

• “Who said the British and the Americans should rule over others? That’s why we say down with you. We have not invited these bloody whites. They want to poke their nose into our own affairs. Refuse that.”

(Source)

Zimbabweans are waiting to see how the police and the inclusive government in general are going to deal with Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo and business tycoon Phillip Chiyangwa who were implicated in illegal land deals by a special council committee.

A police complaint filed by acting Harare mayor Charity Bango on Monday at Harare Central Police Station accused Chiyangwa and council officials Psychology Chiwanga and Cosmas Zvikaramba of fraud.

Bango told the Zimbabwe Independent that he would soon make a more detailed report implicating the rest of the people named in the special council committee report.

“I can’t give you more details of who else we are going to implicate until I file that report. I am currently working on it and will soon make the detailed report,” he said on Wednesday.

Assistant police commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed receiving the complaint saying: “A report for fraud which they said occurred on the 2nd of September 2009 in which they are alleging that two City of Harare officials, Psychology Chiwanga and Cosmas Zvikaramba with Phillip Chiyangwa committed fraud in the sale of Odar Farm. We are now investigating.”

Legal experts, however, pointed out that the police should not have waited for the council to make a complaint but should have summoned Chombo, Chiyangwa and all those officials named in the report as soon as the media reports hit the streets.

But now that the council has lodged a complaint, it will be interesting to see how those named will be dealt with by the police and how much pressure is brought to bear from the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi.

The two ministers were on Monday summoned by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai after Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and eight councillors were quizzed by the police over the report that implicated Chombo and Chiyangwa.

The councillors, who make up the committee that investigated the sale of land in Harare between 2004 and last year, were “arrested” last week after Chiyangwa made a report that they had criminally defamed him. They allegedly leaked the report to the media.

The eight councillors — committee chairperson Warship Dumba, Casper Takura, Herbert Gomba, Thomas Musharurwa Muzuva, Musa Macheza, Job Mbadzi, Paula Macharangwanda and Panganai Charumbira — made warned and cautioned statements last Thursday and were released.

Legal experts told the Zimbabwe Independent that this would be a test case to see if the police had reformed in accordance with the global political agreement, which states that the force should be impartial, non-partisan and should fully appreciate their roles and duties in a multi-party democratic system.

The experts said it will also be interesting to see at what speed the police are going to investigate allegations from a report by an MDC-dominated council accusing people linked to ZANU PF of serious irregularities.

Mutsekwa was quoted saying after meeting with Tsvangirai that: “As you are aware, there is a problem at Harare City Council where councillors have been summoned by the police after having rightfully done their job, instead of Chiyangwa. It is now up to us to act.”

What baffled many Zimbabweans was the reluctance by the police to investigate the allegations against Chombo and Chiyangwa after local and international media broke the story on the report by the council probe team.

Instead, the police summoned journalist Stanley Gama and visited the offices of the Standard where they interrogated two reporters, Feluna Nleya and Jennifer Dube, the day after the reports came out. They asked them to reveal their sources. The detectives also talked to the Standard Editor Nevanji Madanhire and the group Editor-in-Chief Vincent Kahiya.

Bvudzijena said on Monday they did not immediately after publication of the press reports institute an investigation because council had not filed a complaint with the police.

He said this when he was asked why they were not investigating Chombo and Chiyangwa. This was before council had made its report.

Bvudzijena said: “With Chiyangwa’s case, we had a complaint saying that the report was incorrect and defamatory hence the charge of criminal defamation. If councillors say they indeed did that, they should lodge a report that they were defrauded, that is if they sincerely believed it happened. We need a complainant and a witness before we can investigate.”

However, legal experts said it was mischievous for the police to say there has to be a complainant first before they can investigate a criminal act.

Constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku pointed out that at law, the police are supposed to investigate a complaint or whatever information that would have come to its attention.

“Most crimes are investigated on the basis that it would have come to the attention of the police. Many crimes are investigated on the basis of media reports. It is very mischievous to suggest that they need a complainant,” he said.

In support, prominent lawyer, who is also chairperson of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) Tinoziva Bere said: “The police have a right and a duty to investigate suspected crimes even where no complainant has come forward or where there is an anonymous complaint.”

Law Society of Zimbabwe president Josphat Tshuma said the police should investigate whatever information they get on a crime that has been committed.

“They have a duty to investigate. It is their responsibility to ensure that there is law and order. Their actions are both pro-active and re-active.

“As a council, they have a duty to protect the assets of the council and if they believe that something has happened, they have a duty to investigate. It is interesting to see what happens now and how the investigations are going to be conducted,” he said.

Another prominent lawyer, George Chikumbirike, said normally when a criminal act has been committed, the police should investigate.

Madhuku said the fact that the police were reluctant to investigate those named in the report showed that the matter was political because it involved top people linked to ZANU PF.

“The matter is political. The police are still acting in the interest of ZANU PF. They will follow the interests of a certain political line,” he said.

Just last year, a damning report by the comptroller and auditor-general, Mildred Chiri, for the first quarter of the 2009 financial year exposed corruption through abuse of state resources by top government officials.

In the report, several ministers and their deputies and permanent secretaries took away vehicles from the ministries where they had been working before the formation of the inclusive government. Up to this date no police investigation has been instituted to look into the allegations raised in that report.

(Source)

The current Mashonaland Central governor and ZANU PF apologist, Martin Dinha was involved in massive looting of council property after the defeat of his party in council elections by the MDC in March 2008, investigations carried out by the MDC – led Bindura Town Council have revealed.

In an interview with The Changing Times this week, Bindura mayor, Daniso Wakatama, said it was shocking that Dinha, who was then the outgoing Bindura mayor, could engage in such rampant looting of council property at the expense of service delivery to the people.

“Dinha and other ZANU PF councillors were involved in massive looting and illegal auctioning of council property in 2008.

“There was virtually no service delivery to talk of when we went into office as the operations at the council had literally collapsed, all vehicles left behind were grounded and council run enterprises had closed.

The council was in the red and this put us in a very difficult situation in our bid to resuscitate service delivery,” said Mayor Wakatama. Investigations by the council have shown that the mayoral house, which was occupied by Dinha was sold to him for a shocking amount of about US$48.

A council pre-school was also sold to a former ZANU PF councillor only identified as Chitumba under as yet unclear circumstance. Chitumba is now sub-letting the pre-school, which has left the residents of Bindura shocked by the level of corruption that was being practised by ZANU PF in the town.

“But as council we will soon conduct a special audit to identify all assets that were looted by ZANU PF officials and will definitely recover them,” promised Mayor Wakatama.

Mayor Wakatama also said Zimbabwe National Water Supply Authority (Zinwa) was also involved in massive asset stripping just before they handed back the control of water supply to the council.

“All water pumps were vandalised at our water works, a brand new tractor and two motor cycles disappeared and up to now nothing has been recovered,” he said.

However, he said despite this rampant abuse of power by the former ZANU PF councillors, the Bindura Town Council remained resolute in making sure that better service delivery was restored to all residents and businesses.

Two council clinics have been restocked after the council sourced seven tonnes of medical supplies from the Embassy of Iran last December.

“The council has also managed to acquire two utility vehicles for the works’ department and an ambulance as people had resorted to hiring private cars at a high cost whenever they needed ambulance services for urgent treatment at the hospital or clinic,” he said.

On the issue of sewer reticulation, Mayor Wakatama said; “We have partnered with the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) who are providing technical support to revamp the entire sewer reticulation system as the old infrastructure had virtually collapsed due to the increase in population in the town.

Bindura has a population of about 150000 people. “So far we have received sewer rods and protective clothing for the sewer department from UNICEF.

We also have in stock, six months supply of water treatment chemicals,” he said. On social housing, Mayor Wakatama said the council had joined hands with a non-governmental organisation, Zimbabwe Homeless Federation, to build low income houses for the poor.

“I urge all residents with no stands, to register with the council so that they can benefit from the scheme. Land for the scheme has already been identified,” he said.

Turning to investment opportunities, the mayor said Bindura was now ripe for any business opportunities and investors should take advantage as the city had on offer 1, 3 hectares of prime land in the Central Business District.

“The process of applying for commercial and industrial stands is hassle free,” he assured investors. He promised flea market traders who had been neglected for a long time they would soon be allocated to a new place whose construction is nearly finished
in town.

The traders had been displaced under the ZANU PF led Operation Murambatsvina, which saw thousands of Zimbabweans homeless and businesses destroyed.

However, the mayor said council was owed nearly US$1, 7 million by the residents and businesses but the main defaulters were government departments and this had at times seen the council failing to pay its employees on time as revenue collected could not meet the salaries bill.

“But we have engaged the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Sesel Zvidzai with a list of government departments that owe the council so as that he can assist in recovering the money,” he said.

Bindura, the provincial capital for Mashonaland Central province, attained its town status in 1999 and has four residential suburbs, with Chipadze being the oldest.

It is mainly a predominantly mining town with two of the biggest mines in the country; Ashanti Goldfields and Trojan Nickel mine.The council also manages three schools, Chipindura and Chipadze primary and secondary schools.

The town is run by 12 councillors all from MDC and three special interest councillors from ZANU PF appointed by Ignatius Chombo, despite their defeat in the 2008 elections.

However, since going into office in 2008, the councillors have been a target of ZANU PF and police crackdown on various trumped-up charges.“On 29 March this year, we had to postpone a special full council meeting because four of our councillors had been arrested on spurious charges of undermining ZANU PF’s First Secretary, Robert Mugabe,” he said.

Mayor Wakatama also spent some time in remand prison after he was arrested on trumped-up charges of attempting to assassinate Air Force of Zimbabwe commander, Perrence Shiri.

He was acquitted after the State had failed to prove its case However, Mayor Wakatama vowed that despite the attempts by ZANU PF and other State agents in frustrating their work in council,the councillors would continue serving the people.

“We were elected by the people of Bindura to serve them and we will continue doing that despite the harassment and arrests we are getting.

ZANU PF should know that this is no longer its strong territory as they thought before but that this town is predominantly MDC.

“But we will continue to see that service delivery is brought to the people regardless of their political affiliation,” said Mayor Wakatama.

(Source)

At least 25 people were burned to death and two dozen others injured when a bus collided with a truck laden with fertilizer on a highway in north western Zimbabwe, state radio reported on Wednesday.

The accident occurred on Tuesday night, and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation said many of the casualties were believed to be Zambians travelling to South Africa.

There were no further details on the accident, near Karoi, 300 km (190 miles) northwest of Harare.

(Source)

The state security agent who went missing after denouncing President Robert Mugabe and saying he felt used by the government for taking part in the torture, harrassment of innocent Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists, has been found dead.

Innocent Makamure had apologised publicly to villagers here for the role he had played in the torture and killing of innocent MDC activists. He said he had gained nothing by his actions.

Makamure had also expressed his intentions to apologise to the chief of the area.

Makamure went missing after these statements.

His dead body was found on Monday afternoon floating in Mwerahari River, after family members intensified searches.

Family members had last week told Radio VOP that they feared Makamure had been killed.

Manicaland Police spokesperson inspector Philip Makomeke said they had not yet received confirmation from police at Murambinda Growth Point that the dead body found was that of Makamure.

“All we have is that Makamure is on our missing persons’ list. I am yet to check whether he is the one who was found dead on Monday,” said Makomeke.

Makomeke said there were high chances that out of frustration or mental disturbances, Makamure could have committed suicide.

“If someone is highly frustrated or mentally disturbed, there are chances that such a person can commit suicide,” said Makomeke.

Family members who pleaded for anonymity, due to fear of further victimization, said they highly suspected foul play.

“It is unfortunate that these people do not reform. They have killed innocent because he had chosen to tell the truth. He had repented and he wanted to live a free life but they took him and murdered him,” said a family member.

“We are all shocked because of his death but after missing him for more than a week, we suspected something terrible had happened. He is gone and we now pray for our safety,” said the family member.

(Source)

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Walter Mzembi and Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke have been implicated in the disappearance of Mugabe‘s birthday gifts which were donated by Triangle Limited, individuals and other companies.

The gifts which include 30 tonnes of sugar, unknown amount of cash and various other presents were supposed to be handed over to the ageing leader of ZANU PF party at his birthday bash in Bulawayo in February but two months down the line, the gifts are still missing.

Mzembi could not be reached for a comment but Maluleke remained silent for a while before blaming poor network connection and switched off his mobile.

“Are you an auditor… I can’t hear you… phone later I hardly hear you,” said Maluleke.

A ZANU PF party source said party politburo member, Dzikamai Mavhaire, could also be involved.

A ZANU PF party source told Radio VOP that the disappearance of the gifts was not the work of one man .

“A lot of people managed to steal one or two things from the donations. We suspect that less than half of the resources donated found their way to the intended destination,” said the source.

Masvingo provincial chairman Lovemore Matuke confirmed the gifts had gone missing and said a serious investigation was underway.

Matuke also confirmed some “big fish” in the party could have been involved and said they would soon be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing.

“There was a lot of confusion when people went out to source donations for the 21st February movement. Some took everything they sourced. We are aware Triangle donated sugar but no one in the provincial executive know what happened to the sugar.

“Yes there are some big names that might include ministers but it would be premature for us to name them now. We want the investigation to be over first,” said Matuke.

RadioVOP was informed that Mzembi and Maluleke received the sugar and diverted it for their personal use.

“Mzembi and Maluleke collected the sugar but they kept it as a secret and used it. The two were once called by national fund raising chief executive officer Jaya to explain what happened to that sugar.

“More big names are likely to emerge if the investigation continues,” said the source.

A Mr Jaya refused to give any details claiming the issue was “too hot to handle. Instead Jaya said he would want to know people who rushed to the press with the issue.

“This issue is very sensitive; give me the names of people who rushed to the press with the issue. Those people are more dangerous than those who are said to have stolen the gifts,” said Jaya.

Masvingo District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman Xavier Magweva has since been dragged to a provincial disciplinary hearing twice for allegedly looting 200 litres donated by Bikita Minerals.

“Magweva went away with 200 liters of diesel which was also donated by Bikita Minerals. It is really embarrassing,” said another source.

However, Magweva said it was Mavhaire who abused the fuel.

“Aah – those individuals should be after killing my political career, its not me maybe Mavhaire would tell you the person not me,” said Magweva.

(Source)

President Jacob Zuma on Saturday lashed out at the conduct of ANC Youth League President Julius Malema, saying that the statements he made were totally alien to the culture of the ruling party.

Zuma criticised the youth league leader for defying the court ruling which banned the singing of the controversial “dubula ibhunu” (shoot the boer).

He also lambasted the horrendous manner in which Malema treated a BBC journalist and the statements he made about the Movement for Democratic Change after his visit to Zimbabwe.

“We reiterate that leaders should think before they speak, as their utterances have wider implications for the country,” said Zuma addressing the media in Durban.

He said his ANC leadership was drawing the line, and that there would be consequences for anyone who crossed that line.

“The relevant structure in the ANC will look at what has happened to see if the line has been crossed. If the line has been crossed, there will be consequences,” he said.

Zuma said he had spoken to Malema by telephone about what happened in Zimbabwe and how he had treated a BBC journalist.

The commotion between Malema and the journalist took place at an ANCYL media briefing on Thursday.

Malema called BBC journalist Jonah Fisher a “bastard” and an “agent”, before booting him out of the media briefing.

This after Fisher pointed out that Malema lived in Sandton – while the youth leader was chastising Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change for operating out of offices there.

Zuma said he had not received a complaint from the MDC about Malema’s statements.

He said the ANC had called for the “dubula ibhunu” song not to be sung because the organisation respected the court ruling.

“When the ANC has made such a statement, it is totally out of order for us to continue as if such a statement was not made,” he said.

In the current environment, the song could be misunderstood by those not familiar with the context and content of “our struggle”, he said.

“We must recognise the role of the judiciary as the final arbiter in disputes in society,” he said.

He said there were procedures that one should follow to challenge court decisions.

“Defiance of these procedures should not be tolerated. It would make mockery of our judicial system.”

Zuma said the ANC Youth League was not an independent body, saying that it existed within the umbrella policy and discipline of the ANC.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accused ANC Youth League president Julius Malema of using “inflammatory” language and “hate speech” on Friday, demanding an explanation from the African National Congress on what it said gross interference in Zimbabwean internal party politics.

Malema told reporters in Johannesburg on Thursday that the MDC was a “popcorn” and “Mickey Mouse” organisation, days after returning from Zimbabwe where he was a guest of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

“These popcorn and mushrooming political parties in Zimbabwe, they will never find friendship in us,” Malema said in reference to the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

He claimed the MDC was holding press conferences at “air-conditioned offices” in Johannesburg’s upmarket Sandton to “insult” the ANC.

“They can insult us here … we are unshaken. They must stop shouting at us. They must go and fight for their battle in Zimbabwe and win,” Malema said, moments before he ejected a BBC journalist who pointed out the Youth League president also lives in Sandton.

The ANC Youth League riled the MDC further by releasing a statement in which it appeared to label the party an “imperialist organisation” – a common accusation by Mugabe who says the MDC represents western interests.

“We specifically cautioned the youth of Zimbabwe against imperialist organisations,” the Youth League said in reference to a Zanu PF rally held in Harare, “which have potential to give Zimbabwe back to the imperialists.”

The Youth League hailed the “progressive vision of Zanu PF” and vowed to “forever support President Mugabe’s leadership of political and economic programmes, which will redress economic and political injustices of colonialism.”

The comments appeared to have stung the MDC which expressed concern over the “improper and impolitic statements made by Malema about the MDC following his visit to Zimbabwe last week.”

The party said: “Malema should know that the MDC is not an opposition party but a ruling party that overwhelmingly beat Zanu PF on March 29, 2008.

“It is unbridled naivety on the part of Malema to refer to a party that overwhelmingly won an election as a ‘popcorn party’.”

The MDC said “Malema’s pilgrimage and his chanting of Zanu PF slogans represent gross interference in Zimbabwe’s internal party politics to prop up the fortunes of the rejected Zanu PF.”

The party also rejected Malema’s accusations that it was holding rallies in Sandton and not focusing its campaign on the ground in Zimbabwe. It also reminded Malema of Zanu PF’s “violent track record”, including the 1980s Matabeleland massacres which rights groups say left 20,000 civilians dead.

“It is well known that the MDC has been holding real change rallies across the country, which have been attended by thousands of Zimbabweans who overwhelmingly voted for change on March 29, 2008,” the party said.

“The MDC is a party of excellence. We demand an unequivocal position from the ANC on whether Malema’s utterances represent the official position of that party which is involved in a delicate mediation process in this country.”

The MDC hoped the ANC “realises the gravity of Malema’s utterances and their significance to the people of Zimbabwe”.

(Source)