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EU lifts travel ban on Mugabe ministers

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Harare – The European Union (EU) has temporarily agreed to lift a travel ban on two Zimbabwean cabinet ministers from President Robert Mugabe’s party, following Mugabe’s threat to call off re- engagement talks with Brussels, officials said Wednesday.

‘This was a temporary visa waiver. It was a decision made after a consultation of all EU partners (in Zimbabwe) and Brussels,’ said Stephane Toulet, the deputy French ambassador to Zimbabwe.

‘The decision is meant to promote human rights and good governance in Zimbabwe and to re-engage Zimbabwe with the EU,’ said Toulet, whose country is processing the visas in the absence of a Belgian diplomatic mission in Harare.

In 2002, the EU slapped Mugabe and dozens of his cronies with targeted sanctions, including travel bans, to protest over human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Patrick Chinamasa and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Zimbabwe’s ministers of justice and foreign affairs respectively, are on the sanctions list.

The EU had initially declined to give the men visas to join former opposition leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at talks this week in Brussels with EU officials. Ministers from Tsvangirai’s MDC and a breakaway faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara are also slated to take part.

On Tuesday, Mugabe had warned he would call off the mission unless the visa ban on his ministers was waived. A minister from Mutambara’s MDC had also vowed to boycott the trip unless his Zanu-PF opposite numbers were included.

The MDC’s number two, Tendai Biti, however ignored the threat and left for Belgium Tuesday.

The remaining ministers are expected in Brussels Thursday.

Tsvangirai is on a three-week long trip to United States and EU to try repair relations damaged during the past decade of Mugabe’s autocratic rule and secure aid towards rebuilding Zimbabwe’s battered economy. DPA

Muchadehama trial fails to commence

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The trial of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) member and prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama failed to commence on Wednesday 17 June 2009 under unclear circumstances.

The State Prosecutor only identified as Andrew Kumire told defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa that the State was delaying the trial as it wants to jointly put him on trial with an unidentified person. Kumire refused to call the Magistrate to preside over the trial and indicated that the State will proceed by way of summons in bringing Muchadehama, who is accused of obstructing or defeating the course of justice to court for trial.

Meanwhile, Harare Magistrate Jackie Munyonga on Wednesday 17 June 2009 deferred to Thursday 18 June 2009 a ruling on an application for bail by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Director-General Toendepi Shone, who was arrested on Tuesday 16 June 2009 upon reporting to Harare Central Police Station.

Shonhe who is accused of perjury and of violating Section 183 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act is alleged to have deposed to an affidavit for a High Court application falsely stating that three MDC members had been abducted by State security agents early this month.

The three namely Terry Musona, Lloyd Tarumba and Fanny Tembo whom the State has listed as State witnesses in the pending trial of several MDC members and human rights activists who were abducted in 2008 for allegedly engaging in banditry and insurgency activities and plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe’s previous administration were reported missing from their homes in Banket in early June. They were later located and Shonhe withdrew his application from the High Court.

In his application for bail defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama whose trial failed to commence in the morning told Magistrate Munyonga that Shonhe was a proper candidate for bail in that he had reported to the police after the publication of a story in the state-controlled Herald newspaper stating that he had committed perjury and faces arrest.

Muchadehama said such actions clearly demonstrated that Shonhe doesn’t have any intentions to run away from the charges.

The defence lawyer indicated that the State’s case is very weak in that the State is simply interpreting Shonhe’s sworn in affidavit to suit their own ends.

Muchadehama said Shonhe filed the application in the High Court to simply protect the disadvantaged persons of his party who were once abducted and held incommunicado and tortured for several months in 2008.

Muchadehama proposed that Shonhe deposits US$200 in bail money and that he continues to reside at his given residential address until the case is finalized. He also proposed that Shonhe would report once every week on Fridays to Law and Order Section of the Harare Central Police Station and to surrender his passport.

However, State Prosecutor Allen Masiya opposed bail on that grounds that Shonhe was likely to interfere with State witnesses. Magistrate Munyonga then set her ruling on Shonhe’s application for bail on Thursday 18 June 2009 at 14:15 PM.

Ncube to boycott EU trip over visa row

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Industry and Trade Minister Welshman Ncube who is also Secretary General of a splinter MDC faction has threatened to pull out of a European re-engagement tour if Zanu PF ministers are not given travel visas.

The European Union has so far refused to give visas to Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been on a world tour with three ministers, from each of Zanu-PF, the MDC and the Mutambara MDC.

This week however three more ministers, Chinamasa, Mumbengegwi and Finance Minister Tendai Biti were meant to join Tsvangirai in Brussels, Belgium for a meeting. Speaking to the German Press Agency (DPA) Ncube said ‘we are supposed to go tomorrow but it depends on whether the other members can get the visas.’

Ncube added that any barring of Chinamasa would mean, ‘no launch of reengagement (with the EU).

In a separate incident, Britain has refused to issue a visa for Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, also of Zanu-PF, who planned on attending a mining conference in the country this week. The cabinet sources say Mugabe dispatched Mutambara to try to intervene with the British and French ambassadors in Harare on the issue.

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi was barred from meeting US President Barack Obama last Friday much to the chagrin of his Zanu PF party. Mzembi is reported to have expressed shock at the decision because earlier he had met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

WOZA beaten & arrested in Bulawayo

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Members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to mark International Refugee Day, commemorated annually on 20th June. Four simultaneous protests began at 12.30pm under the theme – real people, real needs.

The four different protests began at different locations, one of which was outside Bulawayo Central Police Station, converging on the offices of the state-owned Chronicle newspaper to test if media freedom exists in Zimbabwe today.

Three of the four simultaneous protests, including the one that had started outside the police station, arrived at the offices of the Chronicle at which point they were attacked by uniformed police officers who brutally beat them, arresting many.

The fourth demonstration was stopped en route by police who also viciously beat the peaceful protestors. At this point, we are still trying to verify how many people have been arrested and how many require medical treatment.

WOZA traditionally marks International Refugee Day as we believe Zimbabweans are refugees in their own country – displaced, unsettled and insecure. Government is still targeting informal trading, the only means of survival for most people and so many find themselves unable to provide for themselves and their families. Informal traders are harassed by police, their produce often looted and stolen.

In a country where all goods and services are now charged in foreign currency, the inability to earn forex places the vulnerable even more at risk and forces more and more Zimbabweans to flee their country of birth to try and provide for their families.

Through these peaceful protests, WOZA is reminding the inclusive government and the world that the people of Zimbabwean remain the victims of this crisis – it is time to put the needs of the people first. ALL Zimbabweans deserve to enjoy the full rights of citizenship; amongst others, the right to earn a living, the right to personal security and the right to adequate shelter.

Swedish PM urges Zim reforms, no aid yet

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STOCKHOLM, June 16 (Reuters) – Sweden’s prime minister said on Tuesday he saw positive signs in Zimbabwe but stopped short of offering aid to the impoverished country, urging the government to push through economic and political reforms.

“We are determined to do as much as we can to support the transition to democracy and increase the respect for human rights in Zimbabwe,” Fredrik Reinfeldt said at a news briefing after a meeting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

“This will be an important task during the Swedish EU presidency.” But Reinfeldt, who takes over the rotating European Union presidency for Sweden from July 1, offered no aid for the African nation, saying urgent matters needed to be resolved.

“Politically motivated violence needs to be stopped,” he said. “The rule of law and freedom of the media must be established.”

Tsvangirai has been touring Europe and the United States in a bid to woo financial support for the unity government he shares uneasily with rival President Robert Mugabe.

Reinfeldt said Zimbabwe must provide greater transparency in its financial system and start reforming its central bank.

Western donors, who accuse Mugabe of years of misrule and largely shun him, have said aid will only flow when a democracy is created and economic reforms are implemented.

Aid is beginning to trickle into aid agencies, bypassing the government. Germany pledged 25 million euros ($35 million) for Zimbabwe on Monday and U.S. President Barack Obama promised last week $73 million to help fight AIDS and promote good governance. Tsvangirai said he understood the concerns and was not there to defend Mugabe’s past record. “I would be the last one … to say everything is rosy,” he said. “There are some gaps.”

Tsvangirai’s government has said it needs $10 billion to rebuild a country of 12 million people which has been devastated by chronic unemployment above 90 percent and acute poverty.

Zimbabwe’s unity government was formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai in February after an electoral standoff, but their power-sharing deal has not been fully implemented.

Cara, Huber lift fourth doubles title

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By Collin Matiza

CARA Black and Liezel Huber reasserted their claim as the best women’s tennis doubles team in the world when they lifted their fourth title of the year at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham, England, on Sunday.

According to reports from Birmingham, Zimbabwe’s Black and her American partner Huber, co-ranked number one in the world and the top seeds at the AEGON Classic, clinched their fourth doubles title of the season by beating Americans Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears 6-1, 6-4 in the final.

Black and Huber were the defending champions in Birmingham and they successfully retained the doubles title adding it to the three they have already won in Paris (indoors), Dubai and Madrid this year.

After their early season success in Paris and Dubai, Black and Huber hit a rough patch by their standards, losing early in Indian Wells, Miami (both in the United States), Stuttgart, Germany, and Rome, Italy.

However, they righted the ship with their victory in Madrid, Spain, a semi-final showing at the French Open at Roland Garros a couple of weeks ago and the title in Birmingham on Sunday.

The duo has now won 26 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles together, including this year and last in Birmingham.

Black, who also won Birmingham in 2001 with Russian Elena Likhovtseva, now has 50 Tour doubles titles to her name, the 14th woman ever to hit the big 5-0; Huber has 38.

The only upset during the Birmingham tournament was number two seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lisa Raymond falling in the first round to Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci, who were eventually knocked off by the fourth-seeded Kops-Jones and Spears in the semis.

The Americans were gunning for their second Tour title together, having won Estoril last month, but they came unstuck in Sunday’s final against Black and Huber.

Black and Huber were using the Birmingham tournament to fine-tune themselves for the third Grand Slam of the Year — Wimbledon — which starts in a fortnight in London.- TH

Kiglon beat struggling Black Rhinos

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By Edward Marange

Black Rhinos………………..(1) 1

Kiglon……………………..…(1) 2

Black Rhinos look an endangered species after Kiglon poached a 2-1 victory at their new found home- Rufaro Stadium. Kiglon normally based in Chitungwiza have been forced to use the Harare stadium because of security concerns with their Chibuku Stadium.

The switch is paying dividends and they coasted to a third straight victory at their new home. Kiglon have so far beat Caps United 1-0 and Hwange 4-1 inside Rufaro.

On Tuesday Osborne Mukuradare and Tawanda Munyanduri scored for Kiglon while Rhinos scored their consolation through Lloyd Nyamadzawo. It’s not a pleasant time for Rhinos new coach Jimmy Mbewe.

Team Line Ups

Black Rhinos: B. Gwere, B. Chandisaita, L. Nyamadzawo, C. Zimbawu, T. Gonyora, O. Tema (G. Nguwodzawo 58th minute), M. Mupera, L. Muhoni (B. Ngocho 74th minute), A. Mutasa, F. Ncube (G. Karikuimba 41st minute), W. Masenda.

Kiglon: R. Mudimu, T. Munyanduri, G. Bello, G. Zvavanhu(V. Mukudo 65th minute), B. Mazorodze, D. Benati, M. Mususa, J. Mkondiwa, O. Mukuradare (M. Tarusarira 60th minute), I. Pitamuja, T. Nyamandwe.

Obama snubbing Mzembi hugely significant

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Editorial

Zimbabwe’s tourism minister Walter Mzembi was barred from meeting US President Barack Obama last Friday much to the chagrin of his Zanu PF party. Mzembi is reported to have expressed shock at the decision because earlier he had met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Here at Nehanda Radio we are shocked that Mzembi is shocked. It is as clear as daylight why Obama refused to embrace an official who comes from a party that was prepared to slaughter over 200 people last year because they had lost an election and were not prepared to step down.

Much has been made by certain quarters that Mzembi represents a new breed of moderates emerging from Zanu PF. The bottom line is, Mzembi was quiet when members of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) deployed over 200 army officers to coordinate the butchering of innocents in Operation Mavhoterapapi- Where Did You Vote?

The symbolism of Obama snubbing Mzembi is huge. The truth is that all fair minded people embrace the MDC as the real face of the new government while Zanu PF is that part of government which murdered its way into remaining there despite the overwhelming March 2008 vote.

Obama is acutely aware of this illegitimacy and was not willing to fertilize any Zanu PF hopes of growing its way into being accepted. People are willing to leave Zanu PF as the other unwanted half of government as long as this guarantees peace and stability. And that good people is the issue. Zanu PF was simply rewarded for being bullies. Unfortunately for them they cannot bully Barack Obama!

MDC Director-General Shonhe detained

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The MDC director general, Toendepi Shonhe was today arrested by the police on a trumped-up charge of perjury.

Shonhe, who is being charged under Section 183 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification) Act, is accused of having lied under oath when he swore to an affidavit that three members of the MDC had been re-abducted by State security agents.

The three activists, Lloyd Tarumbwa, Fani Tembo and Terry Musona, had been taken by the police from their homes in Banket for interviews at the Attorney General’s Office.

By 6pm, Shonhe was still detained at Harare Central where officers from the police’s Law and Order section were recording a statement from him in the presence of his lawyer, Chris Mhike, of Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners.

Security agents should be non-partisan

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Mutare – THE MDC’s national secretary for security and defence Hon. Giles Mutsekwa at the weekend urged State security agents to be non-partisan when performing their duties.

Addressing more than 5 000 MDC supporters at the MDC 10th Anniversary celebration rally at Dora Secondary school in his constituency of Mutare North  in Manicaland, Hon. Mutsekwa took a swipe at the police for doing little to improve on service delivery and integrate well in the inclusive government to revive the nation.

Hon. Mutsekwa is also the Co-Minister of Home Affairs.

“The police, army and CIO agents should defend the government and not any political party.

Leading is not about being oppressive, fearsome, taking advantage of circumstances or vulnerable people. Leading is offering freedom and protection and ensuring that people live in peace and harmony” he said.

Hon. Mutsekwa also took the opportunity to encourage perpetrators of political violence to surrender themselves to the police and local traditional leaders as a means to truly repent and pay back what they looted after the March 2008 harmonised elections.

He said the people should have a culture of openness so that genuine national healing and reconciliation takes place.

“People should come in the open and spell out their part in the political disturbances that happened and if there is need for restitution, they should do so. They should then seek forgiveness from those they offended. This is the only way people can truly repent and be forgiven” he said.

Over 500 MDC activists were murdered after the announcement of the March 28, 2008 harmonised elections while thousands were attacked by Zanu PF militias.

Addressing at the same rally, Musikavanhu MP, Hon. Prosper Mutseyami warned MDC supporters not to relax but to be prepared for elections as the country had not yet reached their final destination for a better Zimbabwe.

“The inclusive government has indeed started to show some positive changes. This should however not deceive the people. We have not reached the New Zimbabwe that we are hoping for as a party. The struggle is still going on and people should keep on pressing forward until a new dispensation is ushered in”, he said.

The rally was also attended by Makoni South MP, Hon. Pishai Muchauraya, Mutare Senator, Hon. Keresensia Chabuka and Nyanga Senator Hon. Patrick Chitaka.

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