Messages From Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday that foreign investors should embrace Zimbabwe’s equity laws which require them to sell 51 percent stakes to locals or “stay out”.

“Our resources are ours, they belong to Zimbabweans, they belong to the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe and those who want to share our resources must get our permission to do so,” Mugabe told mourners at the burial of a stalwart from his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party in the capital.

“We must agree that they (investors) come as partners, and come as partners in a manner which we define and not in the manner which they define.

“Some would say we will lose investment. Which investment? If people don?t want to come on those terms then let them stay out, they are not good for us.”

Mugabe said some Western-owned firms from countries whose governments have imposed sanctions on himself and close associates were keen to invest in the southern African nation.

“Our true friends are eager to come and in fact, even companies from those countries which today have sanctions on us are asking to be accommodated,” he said.

The new law took effect on March 1, requiring large foreign corporations to give majority stakes to local shareholders.

The government had given firms 45 days to report their efforts at complying, but the deadline was extended indefinitely.

The government also dropped the term “cede” from the law and replaced it with “business transaction”, which was welcomed by foreign embassies although they still expressed reservations.

The empowerment law has raised divisions in the coalition government with Mugabe’s former long-time rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who has said that the new legislation scares off investors.

However, Mugabe said the investors should only come on Zimbabwe’s terms.

“They are just not good for us, those who want to come on terms to dominate us,” he said.

Some of the foreign firms operating in the country include British Petroleum, Total, Chevron, Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered and platinum giant Zimplats.

(Source)

MDC-T National Executive led by Party President, Morgan Tsvangirai (pictured), was briefed by concerned Marondera District Party officials about wolves in sheep’s clothing among members of the Mashonaland East Provincial Structures.

The party convened a no holds barred and fact finding meeting at Harvest House last Sunday, to iron out in-house squabbles within the Mashonaland East Province.

“Mr President, Provincial National Representative, Masimba Ruzvidzo, was working against party interests. His conduct remained suspicious following his December 4, 2005 disclosure of identities of district officials to CIO. He has been shuttling across districts misinforming party supporters that Secretary General, Tendai Biti, was plotting a rebellion against your Presidency as party leader,” Marondera Central District Chairperson  Main Wing, Chengetai Murova, told Tsvangirai and other national members present.  

MDC-T Mashonaland East Provincial Chairperson and former Zanu (PF) top official, Patrick Chabvamuperu, was not spared the whip. He was accused of threatening Mutoko party supporters with an iron fist rule. MDC-T supporters in Mutoko did not approve Chabvamuperu’s chairmanship. He joined MDC-T in 2002 after reluctantly abandoning Zanu (PF) for selfish reasons. While at Zanu (PF) he reportedly forced suspected MDC supporters in Mutoko to drink human urine. Villagers vowed not to forgive Chabvamuperu of his inhuman and cruel conduct.

Provincial Organizer, Tapfumaneyi Muzoda and Provincial Vice Chairperson, Didymus Chinyowa, were accused of unfair dismissal of elected members of the district executive.

“At one moment they declared dissolution of elected mayor and councilors’ offices for selfish purposes. The two rogue leaders conducted Kangaroo type of courts to persecute district leadership. They also dissolved the district executive a few days before commencement of Copac outreach programmes. A move aimed at confusing party supporters and give Zanu (PF) an upper-hand in the constitution making exercise,” added Murova.                            

All districts of the province expressed vote of no confidence in Ruzvidzo, Chabvamuperu, Muzoda, Chinyowa and company.

Tsvangirai took note of concerns raised by district officials.

“Chabvamuperu, when you lead people you should constantly look back over your shoulders to see if people were behind you. It would seem no one is behind you. Your leadership is at risk. People are not happy with your leadership,” Tsvangirai told the besieged Chabvamuperu.

Tsvangirai gave the province three months to reform its bandit type of administration or risk being fired from the party.

(Source)

Violent attacks on individuals who contribute ideas opposed to ZANU PF policy at constitutional outreach meetings, have continued in Manicaland province, where MDC officials fear for the life of a colleague who was abducted this week.

Blessing Matake, the Organising Secretary for Buhera South district, has been missing since he was abducted by four armed and unidentified men at Birchenough Bridge business centre on Wednesday.

The MDC provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said: “He was abducted two days ago by some people believed to be linked to Joseph Chinotimba because they were using a maroon Toyota Hi-Lux which is similar to the one used by Chinotimba and we suspect it was him and his militia who abducted Matake ahead of the COPAC meetings due to take place in Buhera South anytime now.”

Muchauraya said teams of supporters are out canvassing the surrounding areas for the missing official, especially checking police stations.

“We’ve been looking at surrounding police stations because we know ZANU PF has got a tendency of abducting and beating people then dumping them at the nearest police station so that they will be charged for crimes that they did not commit. But in this case we have not located him,” explained the MDC official.

The frustrated MDC spokesperson also reported that there was a lot of retribution and intimidation of people who contribute at outreach meetings in Nyanga North and South and parts of Makoni. He stressed that headmasters in particular were being targeted.

Meanwhile another attack on an MDC activist was reported in Midlands North province, where Nation Nyamambishi of Chakari mine is reported to be battling for his life in hospital. According to the MDC, Nyamambishi was attacked by over 30 ZANU PF youths on Monday after he had commented that things in Zimbabwe have improved since Morgan Tsvangirai became Prime Minister last year. The MDC said that the ZANU PF youths followed Nyamambishi to his home and severely assaulted him.

A statement released by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Thursday condemned the violence that has characterised constitutional outreach meetings since the process started in June. The Coalition has urged the current government to investigate cases of violence in the outreach program and to prosecute the perpetrators.

(Source)

President Robert Mugabe should not be allowed to stand in any future elections in Zimbabwe, as it was overdue that the ageing dictator retired, after being in power for the past 30 years, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Chairman, Dr Lovemore Madhuku has said

Madhuku told journalists at the Quill Club in Harare that the only candidate, who should be stopped from contesting in any elections in the country, was President Mugabe as the 30 years he has been in power was enough.

“It is dangerous and stupid for any group of citizens to call for Mugabe to stand again in the next elections. We are not being unfair here. Thirty years is enough and the next leader must only be allowed to be in power for a maximum of 10 years,” he said.

Madhuku called for the disbandment of the Constitutional Select Committee (COPAC), saying the current process to write a new constitution has failed dismally.

“We appeal to our political leadership to accept that the COPAC process is not going anywhere and accept that a mistake was made to do the process led by politicians,” he said.

He said if the political leaders refuse to abandon the COPAC led constitution making process, NCA would continue to oppose the current process and mobilize people to vote No in the Referendum.

Madhuku said there was need to reengage the broader society and establish an Independent Commission responsible for writing a truly people driven constitution.

The NCA boss said there was no need to rush for new elections as the inclusive government was a transitional authority whose mandate ends in 2013.

“If we go to elections we know what will happen. Focus must be on making reforms and getting a properly done constitution which will ensure that  the playing field is even to provide for a free and fair election,” he said.

Madhuku said Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has taken the right step in accepting that violence and intimidation by the military were hindering attempts to write a new constitution.

Tsvangirai on Wednesday said the process had failed  to pass the test of legitimacy, credibility and people-drivenness and promised to meet President Mugabe and the other principal, Arthur Mutambara in order to map the way forward.

This followed the suspension of  public consultations on the constitution after ZANU PF militias and the military unleashed violence in Harare and Chitungwiza resulting in the death of an MDC-T supporter Chrispen Mandizvidza who was beaten by thugs at Mai Musodzi Hall in Mbare.

(Source)

Zimbabwe is considering an out-of-court settlement with German bank KfW Bankengruppe which is owed €40 million borrowed more than 12 years ago to rehabilitate the troubled Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel), APA learns here Thursday

Sources said the KfW Bankengruppe settlement would be announced on October 8 when the case comes up at the North Gauteng High Court in South Africa.

“The Zimbabwean government has decided to go for a settlement with the German bank KFW Gruppe and offered to repay the 40 million Euros,” Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) Vice President Louis Fick said.

A South African farmer dispossessed of his property under President Robert Mugabe’s land reform programme, Fick is leading a campaign to sue the Zimbabwean government over the expropriation of farms.

The North Gauteng High Court in July postponed the auction of several properties in South Africa owned by the Zimbabwean government which had been seized to pay back loans from the German bank as well as compensate a group of South African farmers who lost their farms under the land reform programme.

The postponement came after the Zimbabwean government appealed against the legality of the sale.

Seven properties in South Africa’s Western Cape and Gauteng provinces were seized by KfW Bankengruppe in May over Harare’s failure to settle a multi-million dollar loan.

The government, through Ziscosteel, entered into the loan agreement with the German bank in January 1998.

Repayment of the loan was then meant to be done in 16 instalments starting from May 2000. But after only four payments, the last being in 2002, Ziscosteel stopped paying, leaving the German bank with no other option than seek other means of repayment.

(Source)

A court in Zimbabwe has freed 83 activists jailed for two days after staging a march to demand better policing and public safety in the southern African nation.

Harare magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi released them without bail Wednesday but called them to return to court Oct. 6 to face minor “criminal nuisance” charges.

Activist group Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise said 600 members marched Monday, the eve of International Peace Day, to protest police conduct.

The group accuses police of beating suspects in public, harassing street vendors and stealing their goods and routinely demanding bribes.

Police said the march was conducted without routine police clearance.

(Source)

How does any right thinking person let alone a senior government official publicly proclaim that even if Morgan Tsvangirai were to defeat Mugabe at the next poll he would never rule this country? What kind of a country are we turning Zimbabwe into? It is an astonishingly reckless thing to say. Quite infuriating too!

Of all the signs and statements of ZANU PF’s intransigence in recent years, Didymus Mutasa’s declaration in Masvingo last week is the most alarming. Doubtless, it is a slap in the face of those committed to reconstructing and democratizing this country.

Blessed are those who preach peace, tolerance, shared-prosperity and democracy. Woe betide those who propagate doom, violence, self-interest and dictatorship.

The fiasco in Masvingo was perpetrated by a high profile ZANU PF commissar who is Minister of State for Presidential Affairs yet ZANU PF has not castigated what is clearly indefensible behavior. Has he not shamed their party? Has Zanu-PF become a democratic party that does not believe in democracy? President Robert Mugabe, Mutasa’s immediate and only superior, has yet to publicly admonish him. If this is not telling then nothing is.

Mutasa’s statement came a few days after the release of an opinion poll in which Morgan Tsvangirai was tipped to win by a landslide at the next election. Ignore Nathaniel Manheru’s baseless claim that there was connivance of some sort between Alpha Media Holdings and Tsvangirai’s MDC. What else would you expect Nathaniel Manheru to say – that the poll accurately reflects the opinion of the people? The guy sings Zanu songs at the breakfast table. Perhaps he is not used to the idea that a poll in our country might be fair. Let him condemn the real frauds and fakes.

Apparently Mutasa also dismissed the opinion poll as implausible. Nice going Didi. Perhaps you intend to allow only senior soldiers and war vets to vote in the actual election. If this does not bespeak ZANU PF’s underlying unwillingness to accept the people’s desire to freely choose a government of their own then I am not sure anything under the sun does. Let Tsvangirai and other optimists beware. The fix is in.

Mutasa will escape any kind of rebuke from Mugabe or ZANU PF. Indeed he is certain to receive a pat on the back. As far as ZANU PF is concerned he deserves praise rather than censure, honor rather than dishonor. Whatever precedent there is for the matter supports only this supposition and no other. And this is the same party that claims to have the best interests of the people at heart? The party that claims to have fought for the freedom of Zimbabwe and its people? The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

Meanwhile, for all his supposed shrewdness Mutasa is not the cleverest guy around. Quick to strike deals and slow to anticipate, he was effortlessly conned into believing that rocks in the Maningwa Hills were an infinite source of diesel! Accordingly, he has earned himself the nickname ‘Diesel’.

It is all about power and money for these impostors: they will do anything and everything to maintain the status quo. With ineffectual bodies like SADC on their side, biased or compromised service chiefs on their side, ZANU PF judges on the bench and money in their pockets, running a country could not be any easier!

Make no mistake, when marching to the party’s tune Diesel is a particularly nasty bit of work. In 2002 he wanted 6 million of the country’s population dead. ‘We would be better off with only six million people, with our own [ZANU PF] people who supported the liberation struggle. We don’t want all these extra people,’ he said. In recent years his name has come up in countrywide farm invasions. He is the guy that stood by and watched corruption spiral uncontrollably even as Anti-Corruption Minister in 2004.

He is the same poseur who repeatedly kicked Roy Bennett as he lay on the floor of Parliament after the latter was involved in a fight with then Attorney General Patrick Chinamasa. In 2005, Diesel launched the infamous Operation Murambatsvina- a salvage and unforgivable assault on the impoverished and unprotected later described by UN Special Envoy Anna Tibaijuka as inhuman and inimical to international law. Most recently he ordered villagers in Chipinge to occupy a tea and coffee estate in defiance of a court ruling.

Since the Masvingo debacle he has threatened to beat up a NewsDay journalist for no reason other than that he was asked simply to amplify what he had said there.

That is the kind of man Zimbabwe has in Didymus Diesel Mutasa. Of course he does not work in isolation. There are many more like him. That is the reality. That is what Zimbabwe is up against.

Psychology Maziwisa

Union for Sustainable Democracy

leader@usd.org.zw

Source: (via email)

At noon today, 600 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe marched to Parliament in Harare to mark International Peace Day. 25 members were arrested at Parliament (most of them handing themselves in) and taken to Harare Central Police Station. 59 more handed themselves in, in solidarity with their arrested comrades after marching from Parliament to Harare Central. The total arrested is believed to be 84.

The aim of the peaceful protest was to highlight community safety issues and police behaviour in communities. When the peaceful group arrived at Parliament, they handed over a list of demands for members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Police Commissioner and the co-Ministers of Home Affairs to police officers stationed outside Parliament. The full list of demands can also be found below.

Two members addressed the peaceful group outside Parliament explaining that tomorrow (21st September) is International Peace Day and using the example of the violence at COPAC consultations over the weekend to illustrate how Zimbabweans have little experience of peace. They called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to allow Zimbabweans to be able to give their views of what they want in a new Constitution without violence and called on police to arrest those that threatened others or used violence.

Bystanders were overheard supporting the protestors – commenting on the violence shown by police officers in recent weeks and how police officers should be ashamed of themselves for not being the ones to keep the peace.

WOZA members have been worried about the performance and professionalism of our police officers for some time. As a result, WOZA has observed their behaviour in select communities in Bulawayo and Harare for four months.

WOZA members observed police officers beating suspects in public; harassing vendors and taking their goods for their own use, without any receipting; demanding and accepting bribes, both in public and at police stations; drinking in uniform in public, sometimes stopping to drink while escorting suspects who will be under arrest and making people under arrest ‘run’ in front of their motor bikes and/or horses to the police station. In Bulawayo, many police officers refuse to respond to citizens’ complaints if they speak in the Ndebele language, insisting they speak in Shona.

75% of people whose rights were violated during arrest reported damages, injuries and or loss of property. These incidents are common when one is arrested by the plain-clothed and municipal police.

A more detailed account of our findings can be found in the Woza Moya newsletter below. The investigations done during the four months is just a small part of what is happening and are a reflection of a poor relationship between police and the community. It is clear that police officers routinely violate human rights and do not follow proper protocols of arrest and detention. In this regard, they are not following the Zimbabwe Police Act, the ZRP Service Charter and ZRP Service Standards as well as regional and international standards and instruments.

For the full list of demands and more information on WOZA’s observations of police behaviour in Harare and Bulawayo over the last four months, click here: Woza Moya Sep-10

For more information on the ZRP Service Charter, Service Standards or the SARPCCO Harare Protocol Code of Conduct, click on the following links: ZRP Service Charter, ZRP Service Standards, SARPCCO Hre Protocol-Code of Conduct

(Source)

A brave Grimsby based Zimbabwean born British soldier is using his specialist knowledge of roadside bombs to help save British lives in the dangerous Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Albert Dzapasi moved to the town from Zimbabwe to study electronics at Grimsby Institute – and he is now putting his expertise to the good use by training UK service personnel to operate technical equipment that detects deadly explosives.

The fearless 25-year-old, who is known as ‘DZ’ to his colleagues, serves with the 30th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals and volunteered for the six-month operational tour where he is responsible for maintaining and repairing the life-saving kit.

(Source)

The two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions are engaged in informal reunification talks following their 2005 acrimonious split, David Coltart, the legal secretary of group led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said.

Coltart, who emphasised that he was speaking in his personal capacity, told participants at a lecture series organised by the Students Solidarity Trust (SST) that he regretted the split and the two factions’ failure to form an electoral pact ahead of the 2008 elections.

A fortnight ago, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai – who leads the other faction — said he was not opposed to calls for the two factions to reunite ahead of elections expected next year.

The MDC split into two following differences over the party’s participation in Senate elections. Tsvangirai said the Senate was a waste of tax-payer dollars, while the MDC party in Matabeleland where the party had the highest concentration of parliamentary seats felt having ZANU PF Senators working in MDC-controlled constituencies would disrupt the party’s programmes.

Tsvangirai’s deputy Gibson Sibanda, now late, and secretary general Welshman Ncube led the break-away.

Coltart, who stuck with his colleagues from Matabeleland, said strong leadership would be needed if the two groups were to reconcile after 2008 talks aimed at re-unification collapsed.

He said a united front was necessary to help complete Zimbabwe’s transition to democracy.

(Source)