Messages From Zimbabwe

The pews are often virtually empty on Sunday mornings at Harare’s St Mary’s and All Saints Anglican cathedrals, but this is Bishop Nolbert Kunonga’s “throne” and he is prepared to defend it with violence.

After a service attended by a few followers last Sunday, Kunonga, the priest who has divided the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe and set disciples on rival clergymen, stood in front of his pulpit and raved against gays and Rowan Williams, the visiting archbishop of Canterbury. “This is my throne,” he declared. “I am in charge. He [Williams] cannot come here.”

Kunonga regards the cathedral as a prized asset among hundreds of church properties he has taken over in a fight that has demonstrated the impunity enjoyed by President Robert Mugabe’s allies.

Excommunicated in 2007, Kunonga is fighting for control of the Anglican Church, seizing assets and barring worshippers from churches. A dossier on the dispute presented to Mugabe this week claimed that at least one parishioner, Jessica Mandeya, might have been killed in attacks by Kunonga’s followers.

Also last Sunday, 15000 members of the rival faction led by Bishop Chad Gandiya were attending a mass held by Williams in a sports arena. Kunonga rustled up a crowd of women, who marched outside the cathedral where he was preaching to denounce Williams. One placard read: “Homosexuals must die.”

It is Kunonga’s central claim: the church is at risk of being overrun by homosexuals and he alone stands in its defence.

“Williams is the reason why the Anglican Church all over the world is divided. He has not taken a position on homosexuality,” he has said.

But his critics see this as a cover for his campaign for power. Parishioners have left him, to worship in parks and rented halls, but he has insisted: “It is not about who has the majority or the minority. It is about who is right.”

Kunonga was elected bishop in 2001, beating Tim Neill, a rabidly anti-Mugabe priest. At a time when the church — including Mugabe’s own Catholic Church — was growing increasingly critical of his rule, Mugabe found an ally in Kunonga among the hostile clergy.

At Mugabe’s inauguration in 2002 Kunonga described his victory, which came after a violent campaign, as “God’s will”. He has also described Mugabe as “a prophet of God who was sent to deliver the people of Zimbabwe from bondage”.

A church tribunal accused Kunonga of plotting the murder of rival priests and misusing church funds, but the trial was abandoned after a judge hearing the case stepped down.

In 2007 he formed a splinter church, claiming it was in protest at the Anglican Church’s tolerance for homosexuality. He began seizing church assets, at one time moving out of his suburban home to sleep in the cathedral to ensure that his rivals stayed out.

Over recent months Kunonga has grabbed churches, schools, hospitals and orphanages, evicting priests and staff and locking out worshippers.

He has also seized the church’s most sacred shrine, which honours one of Africa’s earliest martyrs, Bernard Mizeki.

On Monday Williams handed Mugabe a dossier giving details of Kunonga’s campaign. It said that police had “disrupted church services and used tear gas and batons to drive people out of church buildings”.

“As a consequence most churches lie empty each Sunday, except where a handful of Dr Kunonga’s priests and their families are able to occupy them,” the dossier stated.

Priests and deacons were arrested without charge and many of the arrests were deliberately made on Fridays to keep priests from church, said the dossier.

“Parishioners are not only denied access to their churches, but increasingly are threatened with punishment if they worship at all, or attempt to carry out their ministry to the community.”

Kunonga’s followers barred Williams from entering churches in Mutare on Monday.

At church hospitals, his loyalists have also been denying health care to members of the rival faction and turning away drugs and equipment donated by aid agencies.

Kunonga denied the dossier’s charges and said he would continue the fight “as long as the archbishop of Canterbury remains homosexual”.

The large crowd attending Williams’s mass contrasted sharply with Kunonga’s small congregation, but he remained defiant.

“Williams’s coming here will not make them get in the church buildings. We are the ones here in the cathedral; they are meeting at the sports centre.

“I am the owner of all this. Gandiya is showing off with a white man and I do not care. This is not the end of Kunonga.”

The troubles that have gripped Zimbabwe’s Anglican Church have further exposed the country’s feeble human rights record, even as it mounted a bold defence during the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review this week.

In Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick Chinamasa said Western-imposed sanctions — in place since 2003 — contributed to the suffering of Zimbabweans and were “the greatest violation” of human rights.

Zimbabwe’s attorney general, Johannes Tomana, has threatened to take legal action against the European Union over the sanctions.

The debate on Zimbabwe’s human rights coincided with a visit from the global Anglican Church leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

A report presented to the UN council by a coalition of 27 civil society organisations from Zimbabwe challenged the government’s glossy report on the human rights situation in the country. Dewa Mavhinga, regional co-ordinator of Crisis in Zimbabwe, said: “We want the world to know the real situation in the country. It is not ready for elections next year. There is still just a lot to be done on the human rights front.”

Effie Ncube, a political analyst, said: “ZANU PF’s denial of the atrocities and human rights violations of the past 31 years is a demonstration of the severe moral deficiency in the party.”

South Africa demanded an investigation of the ­killings that occurred during the presidential run-off elections in June 2008. The United States, Australia and Pretoria have all expressed their deep concern over the killings and said those responsible in the army, police and secret service had to be punished.

Zimbabwe’s dark human rights past has hogged the international limelight with several high-profile cases, such as the Gukurahundi massacres during the 1980s, the controversial Murambatsvina clean-up exercise in Harare in 2005, the killings by the military at the Chiadzwa diamond fields in October 2008 and the violent presidential run-off elections in June that same year.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have estimated that nearly 300 Movement for Democratic Change supporters were murdered during the run-off elections by ZANU PF members.

But a rare triumph of justice has occurred in the past month when a court sentenced ZANU PF militia base commander Gilbert Mavhenyengwa (55) to 20 years in jail for the rape of the wife of an MDC supporter during those elections.

(Source)

Zimbabwe’s top Anglican bishop says a breakaway church leader close to the country’s president has taken over an orphanage home to 80 children.

Bishop Chad Gandiya, leader of the mainstream Anglican group, says the breakaway leader also has seized mission schools and priests’ homes.

On Tuesday, Gandiya visited nuns and priests evicted from the church facilities near the provincial town of Murewa, 50 miles (85 kilometers) from Harare. Gandiya says he is worried about the fate of the 80 children left at the orphanage.

Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, the breakaway church leader who insists he split from the Anglican church because it recognized gay marriage, has protection of police loyal to President Robert Mugabe.

(Source)

The Foreign ministry said it had declared Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi, in Libya’s Harare embassy ‘persona non grata’ and ordered him and his family to leave Zimbabwe.

Diplomatic sources said Elmagrahi argued against the decision, saying this would send him and his wife to a country in civil war.

Foreign ministry permanent secretary Joey Bimha said the ambassador no longer had any business in Harare because he has broken ranks with the man who sent him here.

Harare opposed military intervention in Libya and NATO’s air raid on Gaddafi’s forces, and has steadfastly stood with Gaddafi, who has helped prop up President Mugabe’s Zanu PF.

Zimbabwe has flatly refused to recognize the legitimacy of Libya’s rebel council.

On Wednesday, Libya’s ambassador in Zimbabwe joined his fellow countrymen to burn the effigy of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and hoisted the flag of the rebels that have seized power in Tripoli.

“From today, August 24, we follow the Libyan majority, the Libyan people, through our National Transitional Authority,” Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi told reporters outside the embassy in down town Harare. “We are here representing the Libyan people and not Gaddafi. I am not Gaddafi’s ambassador. I represent the Libyan people.”

Embassy staff and Libyan nationals sang freedom songs while others honked car horns while burning Gaddafi’s green flag at the offices just next to the Financial Gazette’s office.

Locals also joined in chanting down the “dictator” Gaddafi. The hoisting of the red, black and green independence flag was met with wild applause and cheers.

The celebration came a day after rebels stormed Gaddafi’s compound and looted his palace in Tripoli. The transitional authority has received widespread backing.

(Source)

While the controversy over whether Gen Solomon Mujuru’s death in a fire at his home last week was accidental or foul play rages on, Zimbabwe’s political parties are reassessing their strategies now that the Zanu-PF kingmaker has gone.

With President Robert Mugabe (87) nearing the end of his political career, the stage is set for a fierce clash between two Zanu-PF factions, one led by the general’s widow, senior vice-president Joice Mujuru , the other headed by defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

On the face of it, Mujuru is the big loser. Without Gen Mujuru, deputy-commander of the Zanu liberation army during the civil war in the 1970s and the first black head of the Zimbabwe National Army, her faction has lost its brand. He was always the real power in the faction of which she is titular head. Few analysts see her as the effective, decisive leader that her late husband certainly was.

For months now there has been talk of a possible alliance between prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai (59) and the Mujuru faction against Mugabe, with some in Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change fearing their party could be co-opted and swallowed in the same way that Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu was absorbed by Mugabe’s Zanu-PF two years ago.

After the general’s death, this is a much less attractive option for Tsvangirai but a more promising one for the general’s widow. Though as the senior vice- president she is the heir presumptive to the Mugabe throne, especially as the other vice-president, John Nkomo, 20 years older than her and reportedly unwell, is not a player in the succession stakes. Mugabe himself prefers Mnangagwa.

The vastly experienced Mnangagwa (65) has been in government since independence in 1980, holding many senior cabinet portfolios, including defence, finance, justice and state security, as well as serving a spell as speaker of parliament. Those who worked with him in the finance and justice ministries, including senior judges subsequently dismissed by Mugabe, describe him as a competent administrator who listens to his officials.

Joice Mujuru (56) has no such track record as an administrator and owes her prominence in the party more to her late husband’s powerbroker activities than her own ability.

On paper, who succeeds Mugabe could turn out to be largely academic because opinion polls, such as they are, suggest an easy win for Tsvangirai, assuming that the elections are even remotely free and fair. Those who support a Tsvangirai-Mujuru ticket — which includes many businesspeople — argue that this would continue the inclusive government of national unity while marginalising extremists within Zanu-PF, such as the Mnangagwa faction and political hotheads like indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere .

Kasukuwere hit the headlines again last week with his threat to cancel the business licences of 13 multinationals which have so far, he says, failed to comply with Zimbabwe’s localisation law requiring foreign-owned firms to dispose of 51% of their shares to black Zimbabweans. Kasukuwere gave the multinationals, including Barclays and Standard Chartered banks, Impala Platinum , Aquarius, Rio Tinto, Nestlé, British American Tobacco , Cargill and Canada’s Caledonia Mining, 14 days to submit their proposals for localisation, which should be completed within five years.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono responded angrily, seeking to reassure depositors who were reported to have withdrawn their money from the two international banks that he was the only person with the authority to withdraw banking licences and that he had no intention of doing so.

Kasukuwere promptly hit back, telling Gono that if he did not want to implement government policy, he should resign or “we kick him out”.

Lurking in the wings is the military. Gen Constantine Chiwenga (55), is often named as a possible starter in the race to succeed Mugabe, though this seems unlikely. More important is which faction the top brass will back when the time comes to choose a new Zanu-PF leader. Only last month a senior military officer told a foreign visitor that however the succession struggle played out within Zanu-PF, the party would remain in government. “No other party would be allowed to win,” he said.

Just how much of this was bluster and bravado is impossible to assess. Like so many leaders in Zimbabwe today from all parties, regardless of whether they are discussing politics, the economy, the country’s mineral wealth or its external debt, there is a disconcerting disconnect with reality. Ministers, officials and soldiers are prone to wild claims, devoid of any realism but resonant of the leadership deficit that is clear in Zimbabwe in 2011.

Mujuru’s death and Mugabe’s impending retirement will leave a vacuum that none of the pretenders to the throne seems competent to fill.

(Source)

In a desperate bid to meet the three million signatures, the former ruling party, ZANU PF has allegedly taken the anti-sanctions petition to the army barracks and police stations here where it is forcing all officers to sign it.

In Harare state journalists have been forced to do the same.

Junior officers here have expressed disgruntlement after they were allegedly forced by their chefs to sign the petition under their supervision as the former liberation movement party continues to abuse members of the security forces politically.

Police officers from the province’s seven districts have been ferried to the provincial headquarters, Masvingo central police station, since Monday and forced to put their signatures on the petition that was launched by President Robert Mugabe a fortnight ago.

Investigations by Radio VOP after observing winding queues of junior officers outside the police headquarters since Monday revealed that ZANU PF had ordered the Police top brass to force all their subordinates to sign the petition to increase the number of signatures on the petition.

The same operation is also said to be going on in all army barracks in the country as junior soldiers are being forced to sign the petition under the watchful eyes of the generals who are loyal to President Mugabe’s party.

A Police officer who preferred anonymity said they received an order from their bosses and were also threatened with unspecified action if they refused to sign the petition.

“We had no choice but to sign because the order came from the bosses and they made it clear that those who refuse would be dealt with effectively although they did not specify the kind of action they will take. All police officers commanding the seven districts of Masvingo have been summoned to bring their juniors since Monday as you can see them in queues waiting for their chance to put their signatures,” he said.

He added that the exercise will be ending on Saturday as every district has its own day to report at the police headquarters.

A soldier at four brigade said they were told by their generals that any military men who refuse to sign would be confirming his sympathy for the Morgan Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change and will be punished for that. He, however, said the situation was similar to that of elections were they are forced to vote for ZANU PF in front of their bosses in the military camps.

“We are always being abused by this party. They are forcing us to sign the petition just like they do during elections when they make us vote for ZANU PF in front of our generals who shower us with all kinds of threats including death and dismissal from work. Right now all soldiers from the army barracks in the province are reporting to the headquarters where they are putting their signatures,” said a junior soldier who declined to be named.

Journalists and employees from state owned media houses were also this week forced to sign anti-sanctions campaign forms which are meant to push the United State and the European Union member countries to remove targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his close associates.

Mugabe was slapped with sanctions by the US and the EU after the violent 2002 presidential elections which was condemned world wide. Mugabe then said sanctions or NO sanctions he will continue to rule over the country. But this year he made a u-turn with his party and embarked on the anti-sanctions campaign to push for the removal of the embargo.

The anti-sanctions campaign was snubbed by Tsvangirai and his senior government ministers and officials as well as the smaller formation of the MDC.

A reporter with the state-controlled Herald newspaper told Radio VOP that senior editors and managers in different departments announced on Monday that everyone under the Zimpapers stable, the parent company which owns state newspaper must append their signatures for sanctions on Mugabe and his cronies to be removed.

“Our editors told us on Monday that we must sign anti-sanctions campaign forms for the sanctions to be removed. The announcement was done in a soft way, they were saying it is voluntary but we know it is mandatory,” said the reporter.

The Herald reporter said journalists and staff at the state owned and sole country broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) were also forced to sign the forms. ZBH is the parent owner of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) which has two television stations and four radio stations under its management.

The state media has been accused of supporting Mugabe ZANU PF party and reporting propaganda and lies.

Herald assistant editor, Ceasar Zvayi, ZBC chief correpondent Reuben Barwe, diplomatic correspondent, Judith Makwanya and former ZBC reoporter Musorowegomo Mukosi are on the US sanctions list. The three are accused of fanning violence, hatred and churning lies in support of ZANU PF and Mugabe who are accused of human rights abuses.

The EU and US renewed sanctions on Mugabe and his top ZANU PF officials with another year saying they are yet to implement key reforms in the country for free and fair polls to be held.

Mugabe last year said he will not compromise in implementing key reforms in the inclusive government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. He said he will only accept to implement reforms once the sanctions are removed on him.

The EU said its policy on Mugabe and ZANU PF is planned by Brussels and the 27 member block will not be moved by the ZANU PF petition.

(Source)

Many broke government ministries this week dug deeper into their begging bowls and splashed full colour advertisements in the state-controlled The Herald newspaper congratulating President Robert Mugabe on his 87th birthday.

President Mugabe has been single-handedly at the helm of Zimbabwe’s political affairs since the country became independent on April 18, 1980. Most of his fellow President friends have either passed on or have retired from active politics.

They include Dr Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), Joachim Chissano (Mozambique), Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and the late Dr Kamuzu Banda (Malawi). Ministiries that booked colour advertising space in the newspaper on Monday included that of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, currently led by the wealthy Dr Ignatious Chombo.

Chombo is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Zvimba where President Mugabe’s rural home is located. “May the Lord continue to bless You!,” the advert read. The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs led by Patrick Chinamasa also threw in its support for the President, pointing out that it “continues to be inspired and guided by His Excellency’s illustrious and visionary leadership. We wish him many more!” Not to be outdone was the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, under young MDC-T economist, Tapiwa Mashakada.

The National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (NIEEB) also chipped in with an advert and so did FT Travel (Private) Limited, Africa University, the Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society and the Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited Group, who publish The Herald and The Sunday Mail in their stable. Telephone network operator, TelOne (Private) Limited (TelOne) also placed an advertisement pointing out the HE “brings people together like them”.

The President of the Senate, Edna Madzongwe from Zanu PF and the Speaker of Parliament, Lovemore Moyo from the MDC-T, were also not left out, saying they hoped God would “continue to give Mugabe strength, good health and wisdom to be an example to the younger generation as they benefit from the country’s independence”. However, the largest advertisement was placed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infratsructural Development, under presidential confidante, Nicholas Goche.

The advert covered almost half the page. Members from the christian world were also not left out as the Apostolic Chrisian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) chipped in with a small one. President Mugabe has been seen in Apostolic garb on several occasions “wooing” members from the sect to join  his Zanu PF party at a time when membership is tricky.

The Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy and mining concern, Zimbabwe Alloys Limited Group of Companies (ZimAlloys) also advertised. Mugabe turned 87 years old on Monday. He had, meanwhile, returned from an overseas trip where he sought treatment for his eyes.

(Source)

Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister, Ignatius Chombo has threatened to fire MDC-T councillors in Victoria Falls Town council accusing them of politicising council business.

“Committed individuals will be appointed to take charge of council business in the resort town. It is very unfortunate that most of these councillors don’t know local government business.This time we are not begging them,” said Chombo.

Chombo’s threats follows  the arrest of three MDC-T councillors by Victoria Falls police last week on allegations of assaulting the town mayor Nkosilathi Jiyane.

Jiyane resigned from MDC-T recently claiming that he was being harassed by party leaders in Matabeleland North province. He now runs Victoria Falls Town Council as an independent but has strong links with some ZANU PF leaders.

Last month Chombo came to Jiyane’s defence after MDC-T councillors threatened to fire him accusing him of incompetence. The minister in turn accused the councillors for bringing internal party squabbles into local governance issues. MDC-T wanted to replace the mayor with a former commercial farmer Larry Cunnings.

Chombo has to date expelled 11 MDC councillors country wide and suspended two. The MDC-T has accused Chombo of fighting to reduce the number of its councillors in local authorities and also of frustrating corruption probes against him.

Zimbabwe’s elected councillors last week formed an association which seeks to challenge their harassment by Chombo.

(Source)

The Chinese have built a state of the art giant television screen in Harare’s busiest mall, the First Street, which shows Zimbabwe’s Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) television programmes and ZANU (PF) jingles 24 hours daily.

The project is believed to have cost about US$20 000 and was sponsored by the Xinhua News Agency in China.

The Minister of Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, was supposed to be guest of honour at the unveiling of the huge screen.

The television shows mainly ZBC TV programmes but which are interrupted by the now “infamous” ZANU PF “Team” advertisement showing President Robert Mugabe and his two deputies Joyce Mujuru and John Nkomo playing football together on the same “team”.

Insiders said this project would help the ZANU (PF) election campaign at a time when membership has nose-dived for the former ruling party ahead of elections pencilled in for later this year.

The huge tv screen has become popular with street kids who sleep on First Street.

The Chinese helped ZANU PF during the liberation struggle against the British Government leading to Independence in 1980.

The mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai this week issued a warning to foreign embassies against continued funding of ZANU (PF) after the Libyan embassy in Harare donated tractors and other farming inputs to the party.

China has aggressively moved at the speed of light, in making Zimbabwe its oasis of quenching her thirst for Beijing’s economic boom and pivot for her foreign policy objectives on the African continent, as disclosed yesterday by ZNI. The Asian aspiring world power now has an iron grip on the country’s economic and security nerves, raising fears of a total buy out.

Top level army sources revealed that Beijing plans to set a strategic military base in the country, as the Asian nation’s sphere of military influence on the continent spreads. ZNI also reveals today that unknown to the Zimbabwean citizenry, China has acquired significant stakes and rights to the country’s mineral wealth worth billions of dollars at rock bottom prices.

The government has sold mining rights for undisclosed amounts of the country’s diamonds to a Chinese firm called Anjin, while nickel, cobalt and copper have been grabbed by another company called Jinchuan Nickel Mining Company. The same goes for platinum, whose Chinese exploration firm is unknown. Zimbabwe has the second largest platinum reserves in the world, officially being mined by Zimplats, a member of South Africa’s Implats Group of Companies with operations at the Great Dyke.

Diamonds

Anjin joins Canadile Miners and Mbada Diamonds, the two controversial companies awarded contracts to mine diamonds legally in Chiadzwa. There are reports that Anjin has built a massive infrastructure in Chiadzwa to mine the diamonds, and intelligence information filtering in suggests that the Chinese are possibly earning US$1,5 million per day through the shady deal, reportedly spanning a period of five years.

Beijing dealers alongside Russian businessmen Lebanese, Mozambican, Belgian, Angolan, Liberian, Indian and Sierra Leonean dealers are also fingered in a racket of diamond smuggling said to be worth millions of dollars. At least 2000 carats of diamonds are being smuggled out of Chiadzwa daily, according to the Mutare based Centre for Research and Development (CRD).

The diamond watchdog, whose director Farai Maguwa was recently imprisoned for exposing massive human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields by military personnel, warns that large quantities of the precious gem are finding their way illicitly onto the International diamond markets without Kimberley Process (KP) certification.

Doing the maths

According to a recent report in the Sunday Times, the value of the Chiadzwa deposits could be worth up to a staggering US$800 billion and could be mined for the next 80 years or more. The blood-soaked fields, following the alleged killing of about 214 peasant diamond panners in the area by armed soldiers in 2008 according to Human Rights Watch in New York, hold at least three billion carats.

If operations at Marange are well managed, the country can earn between US$75billion to US$200 billion in the next 50 years and that could reach US$800 billion in 80 years, the Sunday Times report adds. This means that if China’s Anjin firm is walking away with US$1,5 million every day (excluding smuggled diamonds), it stands to pocket on estimate terms a massive US$3 billion dollars after five years. (US$1,5 million x 365 days = US$547,5 million. US$547,5 million x 5= US$2,7 billion).

Platinum

Unconfirmed reports talk about a US$5 billion the Chinese paid, to secure at least 50% of the country’s platinum resource, which fetches a real value price tag of over US$40 billion, making it a give away financial rip-off. Finance minister, Tendai Biti has however vehemently denied the reports. Biti’s mouth could have been shut by the egregious Official State Secrets Act

Not so long ago information minister, Webster Shamu said ministers who leak cabinet deliberations to the media face arrest together with the offending journalists under the Orwellian piece of law. The Official Secrets Act, was promulgated in 1970, and prohibits the disclosure of any information to an enemy, which prejudices the security and interests of Zimbabwe.

Land and businesses

Chinese nationals and businesses have also acquired prime residential and commercial land in the capital, in areas such as Gunhill, Ballantyne Park, Westgate, Bluffhill, Borrowdale and Mt Pleasant for close to a song in contravention of municipal by-laws. Some Chinese nationals have even been seen in various high density suburbs in Harare.

Culture invasion.

Now Beijing is opening another frontier of domination through culture. Chinese is being taught at various universities across the country, and there are indications of plans to introduce Chinese as a subject in primary schools with karate lessons being given for free as a sweetener to the young susceptible minds.

(Source)

The MDC condemns the dismissal of Bindura mayor, Daniso Wakatama and another councillor, Christopher Mazembe by Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development after a magistrate’s court acquitted the two on similar charges. What the MDC finds shocking is that Chombo decides to uphold a ruling from a kangaroo court presided by a handpicked commission, throwing out a ruling of a competent and legally constituted court.

If there is anyone who must be fired for corruption, it is Chombo himself following the recent publication of massive wealth and property which could only have been corruptly acquired. Chombo’s dubious commission found Mayor Wakatama guilty of a truly administrative issue such as collecting revenue from ratepayers and failing to bank it.  There is no way a Mayor of a town can move around the town collecting money from ratepayers.  This is purely a fabricated charge, which should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

After years of Zanu PF maladministration, corruption and embezzlement of council resources, Chombo and Zanu PF continue to meddle in the affairs of local authority with limited resources. No amount of firing and setting up of commissions of inquiries for democratically elected councils will cleanse Chombo of his grime. His actions are not only politically motivated, but are a clear evidence of abuse of office to further the interests of the opposition Zanu PF.  He should be stopped immediately from manipulating the law for selfish Zanu PF projects that affecting service delivery.

The MDC calls for a spirited campaign against Chombo by all progressive forces. It is an affront to democracy when Chombo, a senior member of a losing party, Zanu PF, continues to abuse a public office. Zimbabweans deserve real change. They want the councillors they elected to deliver quality service and not to be interfered with by a top politician who is facing serious enquiries on how he acquired his vast nauseating wealth.

(Source)

LOCAL Government, Rural and Urban Development Mini-ster Ignatius Chombo is embroiled in an acrimonious property-sharing wrangle with his wife, Marian, from whom he has been separated for the past three years.

The protracted divorce and property sharing dispute is now before the High Court.

The estranged couple agreed to divorce, but failed to reach a settlement on the sharing of vast properties spread countrywide despite several pre-trial conferences held to try to resolve the matter without going to trial.

On Wednesday, Judge President Justice George Chiweshe referred the contentious issues to trial after another attempt to resolve the matter hit a brick wall.

During the civil trial, the court will seek to come up with a formula on how to share the matrimonial property.

The court will hear evidence regarding contributions made by each of the parties in acquiring the properties.

The court will look at money invested as well as generation of ideas.

The hearing date is yet to be set.

Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase is acting for Minister Chombo while Mr Motsi Sinyoro of Sinyoro and Partners is representing Mrs Marian Chombo (nee Muhloyi).

The two separated in 2007 and Minister Chombo wants a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

“The marriage between the two parties is irretrievably broken down to an extent that the two are not reconcilable and no prospects for . . . restoration of a normal marriage relationship,” stated the minister in his declaration filed with the court.

He says the two have not lived together as husband and wife for at least 24 months and there is no more love or affection.

Minister Chombo has pledged to look after their two children, born in 1986 and 1989.

“He will take care of his two children’s educational requi-rements, including air fares once a year to and from school, tuition and ancillary expenses,” he said.

Minister Chombo says during the subsistence of the marriage they acquired property like furniture, utensils and electronic equipment.

He wants the couple’s two houses in Alexandra Park and Greendale awarded to his wife.

The minister also proposes that all movable property at their Allan Grange Farm go to Mrs Chombo on condition that farming equipment which is not on loan or not yet fully-paid for is valuated and shared.

He also wants to be granted the first offer to buy the equipment.

Minister Chombo, however, is not agreeable to paying his estranged wife the US$2 000 monthly maintenance she is claiming, arguing that she can earn a living from the properties and businesses he wants to cede to her.

Mrs Chombo, in her summary of evidence, claims she was customarily married to the minister in the United States in 1985.

In 1993 she said they renewed their vows and remarried under the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11).

“Defendant (Mrs Chombo) will testify that the relationship became strained when plaintiff (Minister Chombo) left matrimonial home saying that he wanted to sort out some personal issues and promised to come back home,” Mrs Chombo says.

She says since then the marriage has been strained but there are prospects for restoration of normal marriage.

Given a chance to reflect on the matter without undue influence, Mrs Chombo feels the marriage can be successfully resuscitated.

On the matrimonial assets, Mrs Chombo says she signed a post-nuptial agreement stating that they will share 50 percent of all properties acquired – whether held personally or in proxy – during the subsistence of their marriage.

She averred that on top of fixed assets including a borehole, generator, coldroom, it will be just for Minister Chombo to pay a monthly maintenance of US$2 000 until her death or re-marriage.

She also wants the court to award her 15 of the family vehicles that include:

4 Toyota Land Cruisers

3 Mercedes Benzes

l Mahindra

2 Nissan Wolfs,

1 Toyota Vigo,

1 Mazda BT-50,

1 Bus

1 Nissan Hardbody

1 Toyota Hilux

Mrs Chombo is also claiming other properties that include:

2 Glen View houses

2 flats in Queensdale,

A property in Katanga Township,

Stand Number 1037 Mount Pleasant Heights

4 Norton business stands

3 Chinhoyi business stands,

4 Banket business stands,

1 commercial stand in Epworth,

2 residential stands in Chirundu

4 commercial stands in Kariba

1 stand in Ruwa

1 stand in Chinhoyi,

2 stands in Mutare

2 stands in Binga.

4 stands in Victoria Falls

1 stand in Zvimba Rural

Chitungwiza (two residential and two commercial stands)

Beitbridge (four stands),

20 stands in Crow Hill, Borrowdale

10 stands in Glen Lorne,

2 flats at Eastview Gardens (B319 and B320)

1 flat at San Sebastian Flats in the Avenues, Harare

Number 79 West Road, Avondale.

Greendale house

Number 36 Cleveland Road, Milton Park

Number 135 Port Road, Norton,

2 Bulawayo houses.

Number 18 Cuba Rd, Mount Pleasant

Number 45 Basset Crescent, Alexandra Park,

2 Chegutu houses

1 Glen Lorne house (Harare)

2 houses (Victoria Falls).

1 Stand along Simon Mazorodze Road,

Norton (one stand)

Avondale (two stands)

365 Beverly House (one stand)

Bulawayo (three stands),

Mica Point Kariba (one stand).

She further wants the court to share farming equipment at New Allan Grange Farm including three tractors, two new combine harvesters, two boom sprayers and two engines.

She is also seeking an order compelling Minister Chombo to cede to her shares in the family’s 10 companies including Dickest, Hamdinger, Landberry and Track in Security Company.

Mrs Chombo, in her court papers, is also claiming cattle at Darton Farm, shared chicken runs, pigsties, a shop, grinding mill, house, mills, tractors, lorries, six trucks, five of which are non-runners, four trailers (three non-runners) and one truck.

She added that other interests were the Mvurwi Mine, hunting safari lodges in Chiredzi, Hwange, Magunje and Chirundu as well as properties in South Africa.

(Source: The Herald – via email )