Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch
Nearly two and a half years since the formation of the inclusive government Zimbabwe seems no closer to finding and establishing a unity government.
On the one hand, President Mugabe and Zanu-PF are calling for an end to the troubled political union, and pushing for early elections while the MDC-T led by Prime Minister Tsvangirai perseveres for the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Zanu-PF, with the support of the armed forces, is seemingly gearing up for a brutal pre-election campaign of propaganda, intimidation and violence, largely funded through misused government funds, profits from illegal diamond mining and sales, aided by well-wishers Libya and China.
In the month of January 2011, 90 media articles were catalogued for this edition of the Zimbabwe Inclusive Government (ZIG) Watch. Each recorded article signifies a unique breach of the terms set out in the GPA. By categorising these articles according to the nature of the breach, we have generated representative statistics.
Violations in the form of intimidation, hate speech, threats and brutality remains in first place, but with a significantly higher percentage of 38 reports (42.2% of total). In second place are cases of corruption, or efforts to entrench corrupt practices, with 14 instances (15.6%). Cases of legal harassment were third, with 9 articles (10.0%) and subversion of legal processes came fourth with 8 articles (8.9%). In total, these four categories of breaches accounted for 76.7% of the total analysed.
Within these categories, Zanu-PF were accountable for 94.2% of the violations thereby placing Zanu-PF as agents that were either responsible for, or involved in, 95.6% of all breaches recorded. 34.1% of those breaches involved preparations by Zanu-PF for control and manipulation of a possible election in 2011, with 60.0% of those involving violence and / or intimidation.
Below we list ten articles that are representative of this month’s media activity. Summaries of all 90 articles and all previously captured articles, as well as new entries can be seen at http://www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch.
Starting with cases of violence, abductions, intimidation, and hate speech, our first article records that Zanu-PF plans to embark on an onslaught against NGOs ahead of national elections, possibly later this year. In its Committee Report to the party’s conference in Mutare recently, Zanu-PF said it would silence NGOs critical of the party and step up its propaganda apparatus as it builds momentum towards the elections.
Zanu PF sees many of the 2 500 NGOs operating in the country as supporting Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party and by default trying to facilitate regime change. NGOs provide food and other humanitarian assistance to half of the country’s population, of which over 85% live below the poverty datum line (PDL).
In our next case covering violence, more than 80 000 youth militia, war veterans and soldiers are to be deployed across the country in an army-led drive to ensure victory for President Robert Mugabe in the next elections that look set to be the bloodiest ever witnessed in Zimbabwe.
A three-month investigation by ZimOnline including interviews with Cabinet ministers, senior military officers and Zanu-PF functionaries, revealed the military’s intention to frustrate Tsvangirai through violence and terror. Should Tsvangirai win the next poll, it is unlikely that the security sector will accept him as leader of the country. The Joint Operations Command (JOC) plans to be on the ground well before foreign or local observers, raising fears of another bloody election.
Surprisingly Zipra war veterans have come up with a new strategy to counter Zanu-PF violence. The war veterans, who fought during the war for independence, have urged Zapu supporters in Mashonaland West province to join Zanu-PF and attend that party’s rallies for their own safety.
The Zipra war veterans have split from the main Zanu-PF-controlled War Veterans Association headed by Jabulani Sibanda and are currently re-organising their party structures in resettlement areas east of Karoi in preparation for elections. They also confirmed the deployment of the army in the rural areas of Mashonaland West.
Looking at intimidation and threats, Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono warned multinational banks with operations in Zimbabwe that they would “suffer consequences” if they refuse to give loans to Zanu-PF officials or others on the Western sanctions lists.
In a monetary policy statement, Gono said such banks are unfairly extending what he called illegal Western sanctions. Gono accused the banks of paralyzing Zimbabwe’s money markets by holding domestic deposits rather than recycling them into productive sectors in the form of loans.
Moving to corruption, our first report shows that Zanu-PF legislator for Mwenezi, Kudakwashe Basikiti, is using children in Mwenezi to campaign for the lifting of sanctions imposed on his party members by the West.
Basikiti has mobilised hundreds of mostly orphaned children in his constituency and made them sign a petition demanding the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on his fellow Zanu-PF members. The petition which was being forwarded to the American and British Embassies read:
“The suffering we are having today is a result of the debilitating sanctions which led to the deaths of our parents because they could not afford proper medication.” The abuse of child minors in political matters must not go unnoticed by the international community.
In our second article dealing with corruption, the global diamond industry has inadvertently cleared the way for President Robert Mugabe’s regime to raise millions of dollars from exports according to campaigners. A University of Zimbabwe political science professor, John Makumbe, said: ‘We have just seen the appearance of £20-million worth of farming inputs- tractors, seeds, tools and fertiliser.
That can only have come from underhand diamond deals. Zimbabwean pro-democracy campaigners are divided over Kimberly Process certification. In November, Mugabe’s minister of mines, Obert Mpofu, admitted that diamonds to the value of £100-million had been sold to India despite the KP ban in force at the time…Without the KP agreement Mugabe and his people sell diamonds anyway”.
The issue of the formation of a Matabele state has suddenly come to prominence, with Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri ordering police to monitor and arrest activists who have launched a campaign to breakaway from the rest of the country. This follows the launch of the militant and radical Mthwakazi Liberation Front, a movement calling for the independence of the region claiming that its people have been marginalised for too long and face discrimination everyday at work places and tertiary institutions.
Turning our attention to matters legal, the secret panel appointed by Attorney General, Johannes Tomana, to examine the possibility of criminal conduct by individuals named in the WikiLeaks cables is comprised oflawyers connected to Zanu-PF. Tomana refused to name members of the team, “to protect their professional integrity and … independence”.
However, it has emerged that four of the five-member team (Terence Hussein, Simplicious Chihambakwe, Farai Mutamangira , and Gerald Mlotshwa) have connections with Mugabe and senior Zanu-PF officials –thereby subverting the legality of the grouping.
Zanu-PF has started registering local members for the allocation of sugar cane fields in the Triangle and Hippo Valley estates. It appears preparations are under way for a takeover of the agricultural assets on the estates under the Indigenization Act. Business Forum Secretary Roy Magosvongwe said the move to take over the properties would be economically damaging given the importance of the sugar plantations.
Lastly we note an article showing Zanu-PF’s disregard of the right to Freedom of Speech in which President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba ordered all state media editors to go all out and attack Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai ahead of elections which he insisted will be held this year. Charamba reportedly urged editors to continue with propaganda in support of Mugabe saying Tsvangirai should never be allowed to rule Zimbabwe.
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Onslaught on NGOs ahead of elections
Zimbabwe Standard, The (ZW): 02/01/2011
Zanu-PF has resolved to embark on an onslaught on NGOs sympathetic to Prime Minister Tsvangirai as well as oiling its rusty propaganda machinery ahead of national elections likely later this year.
In its Committee Report to the party’s conference in Mutare recently, Zanu-PF said it would silence vocal NGOs and at the same time step up its propaganda apparatus as it builds momentum towards the elections. President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF accuses most of the 2 500 NGOs operating in the country of supporting Tsvangirai (MDC), to facilitate regime change. NGOs provide food and other humanitarian assistance to half of the country’s population, of which over 85% live below the poverty datum line (PDL).
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION
Military plot to keep Mugabe in power
ZimEye: 20/01/2011
More than 80 000 youth militia, war veterans and soldiers will be deployed across the country in an army-led drive to ensure victory for President Robert Mugabe in the next elections that look set to be the bloodiest ever witnessed in Zimbabwe.
A three-month investigation by ZimOnline that including interviews and discussions with Cabinet ministers, senior military officers and Zanu-PF functionaries, revealed that Zimbabwe’s top generals intend to thwart Tsvangirai through violence and terror, some bragging they would topple the Prime Minister should he somehow emerge the winner of the polls. The Joint Operations Command (JOC) plan to intervene at an earlier stage in the process, well before foreign or even local observers are on the ground.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE VIII : RESPECT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND EVENTS
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE
Join Zanu-PF For Your Protection-Zipra veterans
RadioVOP: 22/01/2011
TENGWE – War veterans who fought under Zipra during the war for independence have urged Zapu supporters in Mashonaland West province to join Zanu-PF and attend that party’s rallies for their own safety. The Zipra war said they have split from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Associations (ZNLWVA) headed by Jabulani Sibanda and are currently re-organising their party structures in resettlement areas around Tengwe 50 km east of Karoi town in preparation for elections. The war veterans also confirmed the deployment of the army in the rural areas of Mashonaland West. During the liberation war Zipra guerrillas who had military bases in Zambia operated in Hurungwe, Makonde and Kariba tribal trust lands.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE
Zimbabwe Central Banker Demands Foreign Banks Lend to Sanctioned Persons
VOA News (USA): 31/01/2011
Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono has warned multinational banks with operations in Zimbabwe that they would suffer consequences if they refuse to make loans to Zanu-PF officials or others on Western sanctions lists. In a monetary policy statement posted to the RBZ website, Gono said such banks are unfairly extending what he called illegal Western sanctions. He said such banks have been refusing loans to sanctioned individuals and companies since the current government of national unity was formed in 2009. Gono accused the banks of paralyzing Zimbabwe’s money markets by holding domestic deposits rather than recycling them into productive sectors in the form of loans.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE IV: SANCTIONS AND MEASURES
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
Zanu-PF MP Using Children To Campaign Against Sanctions
RadioVOP: 04/01/2011
Mwenezi – Zanu-PF legislator for Mwenezi, Kudakwashe Basikiti, is using children here to campaign for the lifting of sanctions imposed on his party members by the west for human rights abuses. Basikiti early this week mobilised hundreds of mostly orphaned children in his constituency and made them sign a petition demanding the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed by the west on his fellow Zanu-PF members.
The petition which was being forwarded to the American and British Embassies read: “The suffering we are having today is a result of the debilitating sanctions which led to the deaths of our parents because they could not afford proper medication,” much to the applause of the party supporters.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION
Mugabe being helped by diamond industry
Mail and Guardian Online, The (RSA): 30/01/2011
The global diamond industry has controversially cleared the way for President Robert Mugabe’s regime to raise millions of dollars from exports, according to campaigners. ‘Underhand deals’ A University of Zimbabwe political science professor, John Makumbe, said: ‘We have just seen the appearance of £20-million of farming inputs- tractors, seeds, tools and fertiliser.
That can only have come from underhand diamond deals.” Zimbabwean pro-democracy campaigners are divided over KP certification. In November, Mugabe’s minister of mines, Obert Mpofu, admitted that £100-million of diamonds had been sold to India despite the KP ban in force at the time. Makumbe said: ‘Without the KP agreement Mugabe and his people sell diamonds anyway”.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
Police Ordered To Crackdown On Matland Secessionists
RadioVOP: 26/01/2011
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has ordered police to crack down on political activists in Matabeleland who have launched a campaign to breakaway from the rest of the country. Chihuri has ordered his commanders in the province to arrest the pro-independence activists.
Chihuri’s order follows the launch of the militant and radical Mthwakazi Liberation Front, a movement which advocates for the independence of the region claiming that its people have been marginalised for too long and face discrimination every day at work places and tertiary institutions. A radio signal from Police Headquarters in Harare to Matabeleland police stations, ordered them to be on high alert to monitor and arrest activists calling for a breakaway state of Mthwakazi.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
Tomana’s WikiLeaks panel revealed
NewZimbabwe.com (ZW): 22/01/2011
The secret panel appointed by Attorney General, Johannes Tomana to examine the possibility of criminal conduct by individuals named in the WikiLeaks cables is packed with lawyers connected to Zanu-PF. The attorney general refused to name members of the 5-man team, claiming this was necessary to protect their “professional integrity and … independence”.
However, it has emerged that four of the five-member team have connections with Mugabe and senior Zanu-PF officials. Terence Hussein, Simplicious Chihambakwe, Farai Mutamangira have worked for Mugabe and Zanu-PF officials before while Gerald Mlotshwa is said to be related to Presidential Affairs Minister, Didymus Mutasa.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
Officials of Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF Party Eye Sugar Plantations for Takeover
VOANews (USA): 19/01/2011
Zanu-PF party have started registering local members for the allocation of sugar cane fields in the Triangle and Hippo Valley estates. Correspondent Irwin Chifera reported on the apparent preparations for a takeover of the agricultural assets on the estates under the Indigenization Act.
Triangle Sugar Ltd. is owned by Tongaat Hulett of South Africa, which also holds a controlling stake in the Hippo Valley Estate. Business Forum Secretary Roy Magosvongwe said the move to take over the properties would be economically damaging given the importance of the sugar plantations. Magosvongwe said he sees an emerging threat to businesses and hoped the pattern would not repeat that of the farm invasions that began in 2000.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
State Editors urged to attack Tsvangirai
Zimbabwean, The (ZW): 20/01/2011
President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba has ordered all state media editors to go all out in attack against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai ahead of elections which he insisted will be held this year. Charamba was addressing the editors at a strategic meeting held in Nyanga two weeks ago.
He reportedly urged the editors to continue pouring out propaganda in support of Mugabe saying Tsvangirai should never be allowed to rule Zimbabwe as he is a sellout. A senior editor from one of the state media newspapers said Charamba had called the meeting to ensure that all of them understood the need to ensure that they campaigned for Mugabe during elections this year.
• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION
Sokwanele
