Crisis Looming As Company Takeover Kickstarts

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, August 23, 2011- The government has started issuing withdrawal
licences to companies that failed to comply with the controversial black
empowerment laws that analysts dismiss as legalised thievery by the
governing coalition partner, Zanu (PF).

Radio VOP has it in high authority that Harare adminstration has started
writing to a number of foreign owned companies informing them that it is in
the process of withdrawing their licences due to failure to comply with the
country’s black economic empowerment laws.

Zimplats has been given 14-days to show cause why its licence should not be
withdrawn. Mining industry sources said the same directive also applied to
Murowa Diamonds, Mimosa Mine and Duration
Gold.

The country’s Indigenisation and Empowerment Act requires foreign mining
firms to sell 51 percent direct equity to locals or the State. The
government rejected the mining companies' proposals to sell25 percent direct
equity to locals and 26 percent to be made up of social investment credits.

Local communities, workers and management will get direct equity in foreign
mining firms and this will be taken from the 26 percent mines had wanted to
be met through social investment credits. Part of the 26 percent mining
firms wanted met through social credits will also be housed under a
sovereign wealthfund for future generations.

Officials added yesterday that the same situation was being applied to the
financial sector. The government would be formally notifying Barclays Bank
and Standard Limited on their failure to comply with the country’s BEE laws.
Saviour Kasukuwere, the minister of Indigenisation, confirmed the blitz on
non confirming foreign firms.

“It is true that we are now moving to take over these non-complying
companies. The government has talked for too long. It is now time to take
action,” said Kasukuwere. The government has indicated that banking
institutions unwilling to comply, were free to leave the country, as some of
them were "behaving like estranged women" by refusing to lend money to local
companies.

Blanket Mine to lose licence

http://www.herald.co.zw

Tuesday, 23 August 2011 02:00
Business Reporter

THE Government has so far approved 39 indigenisation plans submitted by
foreign owned mines and has indicated that it will cancel the licence for
Blanket Mine after it failed to meet its minimum requirements.
According to statistics released Friday by the Ministry of Youth
Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Blanket Mine that is owned by
the Caledonia Mining Corporation of Canada failed to submit an acceptable
indigenisation plan within the set period.
Caledonia is a Canadian company listed on the Toronto, New York and London
stock exchanges with a portfolio of exploration, development and mining
assets in Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Gwanda-based Blanket Mine recently recorded a 300 percent increase in
second quarter profits on the back of record world market prices and a
significant ramp up in production.
Gold output for the second quarter topped 8 226 ounces up 12 percent on the
previous quarter and some 141 percent over the comparable period last year.
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere on Friday said that he had written to the Ministry of Mines and
Mining Development recommending that Blanket Mine's licence be revoked.
"We have been talking to them for some time now and it would appear they are
refusing to comply and this leaves us with no choice but to take action and
cancel their licence," he said.
Among some of the companies whose plans were approved by the ministry are
Dorowa Minerals Limited, Kadoma Gold Projects, New Dawn, Exploration Mining,
Anjin Investments, Interfin Resources, Zimbabwe Alloys, Buchwa Iron Mining
Company and African Mills and Minerals.
Minister Kasukuwere said that his ministry would continue to peruse the
plans that have been lodged by the mining firms to ensure that the process
is completed ahead of the September 30 deadline that has been set.
Mining firms had previously resisted the Government's position demanding 51
percent shareholding in foreign owned companies, opting instead to offer
social credits as part fulfilment of the indigenisation requirements.
Minister Kasukuwere, who has maintained that workers and the communities
should instead get direct equity, rejected this position.
Other mining giants including Zimplats, Mimosa and Murowa Diamonds have been
given a two-week ultimatum to refine their indigenisation plans or risk
losing their licences.

Caledonia settles gold mine dispute with Zimbabwe

http://www.theglobeandmail.com

The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 8:22AM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 8:24AM EDT

Caledonia Mining Corporation (CAL-T0.090.0056.25%) says it has resolved a
dispute with the Zimbabwean government over the future ownership of the
company's Blanket gold mine in the southern African country.

Under the settlement announced Tuesday, Caledonia will resubmit a new plan
to sell control of the mine to black Zimbabwean owners under a national law
that went into effect last year.

As well, the government will suspend plans to cancel the operating licence
for the mine.

The company and government met Monday and “agreed on a process that will
result in the production of a revised Indigenization Implementation Plan for
Blanket Mine that is compliant with the Indigenization and Economic
Empowerment Act,” said a joint statement released before North American
stock markets opened Tuesday.

“The plan will take into account the independently verified intrinsic value
of the mineral resources, plant and equipment at the mine,” the statement
said.

A new Zimbabwean law that forces foreign and local companies to sell a
majority stake in their businesses to black Zimbabweans came into effect
last year and required Caledonia to submit a so-called indigenization plan
with the government.

Caledonia said last week it presented such a plan, but the country's
minister responsible for the policy has asked the mines minister to revoke
Blanket's operating licence “on the grounds that Caledonia's proposal does
not meet the legislated indigenization requirements.”

Under the Zimbabwean law, companies worth more than $500,000 (U.S.) run by
non-black Zimbabweans have five years to sell a 51 per cent, upon the threat
of jail sentences.

Blanket's operations continued normally while the company dealt with the
dispute.

Caledonia is an African-focused miner with the operating Blanket gold mine
in Zimbabwe, two platinum-nickel exploration projects in South Africa and a
cobalt-copper exploration project in Zambia.

It also has a portfolio of exploration prospects in South Africa, Zimbabwe
and Zambia .

Harare’s indigenisation ultimatum causes panic

http://www.iol.co.za

August 23 2011 at 05:00am

Basildon Peta

THE ZIMBABWE government’s ultimatum to several multinationals to submit
“acceptable indigenisation proposals” within 14 days or face summary seizure
of their businesses has sent shock waves through the country’s embattled
business community.

Central bank governor Gideon Gono made a spirited attempt to calm nerves,
but he failed to allay investor fears.

The targeted firms include South African mining firms Mimosa Holdings and
Impala Platinum subsidiary ZimPlats, both major investors in the platinum
mining industry.

The legal department of Indigenisation Minister Savious Kasukuwere’s
ministry announced on Friday that it had issued ultimatums to 11 groups to
submit proper proposals on how they planned to implement controversial
indigenisation laws to give majority 51 percent equity to black Zimbabweans
in five years. The minister rejected the original plans submitted by some of
the companies.

The ministry handed ultimatums to the following firms (with deadlines in
brackets): Standard Chartered (14 days); Murowa Diamonds (14): Pan American
Mining (14); Zimplats (14); Blanket Gold Mine (7); Barclays Bank Zimbabwe
(14); Mimosa Holdings (14); Duration Gold Mine (14); British American
Tobacco (7); Nestlé (14); Cargill Zimbabwe (14).

Kasukuwere’s ministry said it had warned the companies that should they fail
to comply, the minister had the powers to withdraw their operating licences
and warehouse their shares in a government share trust, before passing them
on to Zimbabweans.

But in a sign of major fissures within the regime of President Robert Mugabe
over the implementation of the laws, Gono virtually urged Barclays and
Standard Chartered to ignore the ultimatums.

Gono criticised the minister, saying that his ultimatum had caused severe
panic in the banking sector and in the economy in general.

“The Reserve Bank, which is the legal authority to issue or take away
banking licences…, wishes to advise all stakeholders that it has neither
given notice to, nor does it have any immediate or foreseeable intention to
withdraw operating licences from, any registered financial institution,”
Gono said in a statement published by the state-owned Herald newspaper on
Saturday.

He nevertheless qualified his intervention by saying his position “must,
however, not be misconstrued to imply that the bank condones or encourages
non-compliance with the law”.

But he added there were better, “non-confrontational” ways to achieve
indigenisation without hurting the economy.

“To this end, tendencies towards firing harmful verbal economic gunpowder
must be minimised by all stakeholders in the interest of the economy.”

His remarks were not enough to calm the embattled business community as Gono
emphasised that he was speaking only about banks, for which he was
responsible.

Several of the targeted firms declined to issue media statements saying they
would rather engage with the Zimbabwean government directly.

But one executive said even if the Zimbabwe government eventually did not
implement its threat, the damage had already been done. “I don’t see any
major foreign owned companies committing any more investments into Zimbabwe
as long as this madness continues.” – Independent Foreign Service

Zimbabwe may require foreign bank to sell less to locals

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

HARARE — Zimbabwe is considering not forcing foreign banks to sell majority
stakes to locals as it is requiring mining companies to do under
indigenisation legislation, the finance minister said Tuesday.

"Banks are different from mines, mines sit on capital, banks are conveyors
of capital ... Naturally a different approach needs to be recognised..."
Tendai Biti told journalists.

Under the country's empowerment laws, black Zimbabweans should acquire 51
percent of foreign businesses.

"What we have done is that we have made submissions to the ministry of
indigenisation on agreement of a threshold, we have not agreed on a
threshold," said Biti.

A state daily reported last week that Indigenisation Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere had given 13 foreign companies including mining firms and banks
two weeks to submit plans to sell their majority shares to locals or risk
nationalisation.

The new indigenisation law is strongly supported by veteran President Robert
Mugabe but has created tensions within the unity government, with Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai arguing that it will discourage investment.

Biti, an ally of Tsvangirai, said the government asked foreign banks to
outline how they want to include locals in their share structure adding that
a new position will be based on the current negotiations.

The minister said he met on Monday with representatives of Standard Bank,
Barclays Bank and Stanbic Bank.

Central bank chief Gideon Gono has also warned against the taking over of
foreign banks.

The indigenisation ministry has also put pressure on foreign banks to step
up their investment in the country.

Kasukuwere has written to Stanbic, a Zimbabwean subsidiary of Standard Bank,
telling it to invest up to $1 billion (700 million euros) in the Zimbabwean
economy, Business Day newspaper reported.

Zimbabwe tells Stanbic to give 30%

http://www.businessday.co.za

Bank caught in dispute between minister and central bank chief
SURE KAMHUNGA
Published: 2011/08/23 07:11:02 AM

STANDARD Bank Africa’s wholly owned Zimbabwean subsidiary, Stanbic, has been
told to honour a pledge to transfer 30% of its shares to local blacks in the
latest move by a government minister who wants foreign firms to comply with
laws to transfer majority stakes to locals.

The pressure on Stanbic Bank comes less than a week after the empowerment
minister gave Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank two weeks to submit
their empowerment plans or risk losing their licences.

Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere has already ordered foreign firms in Zimbabwe to submit plans
showing how they intended to transfer up to 51% of their stakes to locals
over a phased period of up to five years.

Despite this, pan-African financial services firm Imara yesterday issued a
report that said Zimbabwe was a potential growth market for investors.

Mr Kasukuwere’s ultimatum to the banks has since resulted in a dramatic
public spat with the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe , Gideon Gono.

Dr Gono last week told local media that only the central bank had the power
to withdraw licences of firms in the financial sector under its supervision.
He said the central bank had no such plans at present or in the future.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Herald newspaper quoted a letter written by the
minister to Stanbic that said it should honour a pledge to transfer 30% of
its ownership to locals, and also add another 10% before its provisional
empowerment plans could be approved.

Standard Bank Africa CE Clive Tasker was careful not to wade into the
controversy yesterday. He said Stanbic was consulting the various Zimbabwean
authorities, including the central bank, on the indigenisation process.

"The Zimbabwe financial services sector committee recommended in March …
that indigenisation shareholding in financial services companies should be
at 40%," Mr Tasker said by e-mail .

"The exact nature of what we are expected to comply with is still therefore
a work in progress."

The Herald said Mr Kasukuwere told Stanbic to honour its pledge to achieve a
30% local shareholding, which it reportedly agreed to do when it bought ANZ
Grindlays (Zimbabwe) in 1993.

In addition, the paper said the minister had said the provisional
indigenisation plan for Stanbic would be approved only if it also provided
additional equity to indigenous Zimbabweans within a year from the date of
the agreement.

"We require a total of 40% direct equity participation by indigenous
Zimbabweans in Stanbic Bank," Mr Kasukuwere is quoted as saying in the
letter.

Mr Tasker said: "We remain in discussions with the government, and we are
not able to comment further at this time."

kamhungas@bdfm.co.za

Daggers out for Gono

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

23/08/2011 08:26:00    By Nkululeko Sibanda

HARARE - Knives are out once again for Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
governor, Gideon Gono, amid revelations that some Zanu PF ministers are
pushing for his ouster after a clash with Indigenisation Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere.

The Daily News is reliably informed that after Kasukuwere announced at the
weekend that Gono “must resign or we will kick him out” plans are underway
by the Zanu PF ministers to persuade the inclusive government to fire the
Central Bank governor.

Gono invited the ire of Kasukuwere at the weekend when he attacked the
minister who is driving the largely discredited indigenisation policy.

Gono said Kasukuwere was not qualified to decide who gets banking licences.

This was after Kasukuwere caused turmoil in the market when he gave an
ultimatum to foreign-owned banks and other companies to submit their
indigenisation plans or face having their licences withdrawn.

Gono described Kasukuwere’s threats as “irrational exuberance” done by
someone who did not understand banking.

He said Kasukuwere’s threats were causing damage to the economy and assured
the banks that their licences would not be withdrawn.

“There are people in Zanu PF who want him to leave the office, and if all
goes well, that might happen in the next three months. There is a very firm
belief and push that he has to leave office now. Some of us believe it is
high time he made way for others with fresh ideas,” said one source.

“There is a push to put Gono on the agenda of a government meeting today and
this time it will be the Zanu PF ministers not MDC who will be pushing for
his ouster. Kasukuwere is mobilising people and support to follow up on his
weekend threat to oust Gono."

“But we don’t know how President Mugabe will react because while he supports
indigenisation, it will not be easy for him to dump Gono who is his very
close associate and advisor."

“MDC ministers are watching from a distance and enjoying the fight. But Gono
is remaining steadfast; he is saying that if someone wanted to start a bank,
he would be happy to issue licences."

“It’s going to be a dog eat dog between Gono and Kasukuwere. Remember
Kasukuwere reportedly has an interest in Genesis Bank, which is now in
trouble and obviously Gono will use that as ammunition. He will say you
allowed your own bank to fall on hard times, why do you want to take other
banks,” said a top Zanu PF official.

Kasukuwere said at the weekend: “My humble advice to Gono is very simple: if
he is personally aggrieved as implied by his reckless and irresponsible
statement, then the only honourable thing for him to do is to resign.” -
Daily News

Zim to partner private explorers

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Taurai Mangudhla, Business Writer
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 09:15

HARARE - Zimbabwe intends to partner private sector players to build its
proposed mining exploration company, deputy Mines minister Gift Chimanikire
has said.

The behemoth, known as the Zimbabwe Mining Exploration Company, is being
fashioned to help the mineral-rich southern African nation to properly
identify and quantify its mineral resources for proper marketing, and
investment initiatives in the future.

“Private companies do exploration on a need to know basis and they don’t
share whatever information they get with government, but it is the interest
of government to know the country’s exact mineral resource so that it is
able to market the deposits to potential investors,” Chimanikire told
businessdaily yesterday, adding this came after realisation that
stakeholders were paying little attention to this key mining process.

“It is surprising that the alluvial diamonds at Chiadzwa were discovered by
illegal gold panners whilst a lot of mining activity has been taking place
in and around the area for years. What it means is that the companies
operating from the area have been looting diamonds for long and we don’t
know how much they got away with,” he added.

Public-private partnerships will enable the country to meet the interest of
both private and public players.

Chimanikire also indicated that government was upon approval of the proposed
exploration company mandated to create funds through the fiscus to ensure
that the project materialises.

“Private players have to meet their end of the bargain whilst parastatals
will get money through the fiscus,” he said.

Concerns have, however, been raised over government’s financial and
technological capacity to see the project through, with analysts arguing
against further state involvement in business given the state of publicly
owned enterprises.

There have been numerous reports of inadequate corporate governance
structures and other operational measures — a problem that is inherent
amongst Zimbabwe’s parastatals and other state-owned entities.

The country’s decision to start assessing its mineral wealth comes after the
government in July floated a $32 million tender for aeromagnetic
explorations in the eastern districts, including the controversial Marange
diamond fields.

Aeromagnetic exploration is a type of geophysical survey carried out using a
magnetometer aboard or towed behind an aircraft, allowing large land areas
to be covered.

The tender announcement followed a mining survey conducted last year which
pointed to the existence of new diamond deposits in three specific regions
of the country.

According to the report, three possible and new diamond fields were
identified in Binga, Masvingo and Tsholotsho, and Chimanikire said
government would start securing and preparing the sites as soon as possible
ahead of further research and development.

The new mines would add to the already existing and five joint venture
enterprises extracting diamonds in Chiadzwa.
Chinese-owned Sino-Zimbabwe, in a joint venture with government controlled
Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation has already suspended mining
operations in the area after the claims it was awarded were found not to be
commercially viable for a mining operation.

Police quiz 23 people over Mujuru death

http://nehandaradio.com

August 23, 2011 1:28 pm

Police have so far quizzed 23 people, including three policemen, in
connection with the death of national hero and former Zimbabwe National Army
Commander General Solomon Mujuru (66).

Gen Mujuru was burnt to death in his house last Tuesday at Alamein Farm and
was buried at the National Heroes Acre on Saturday. Sources close to the
investigations yesterday revealed that police were working “tirelessly” to
investigate the case and were still compiling reports.

However, the police are yet to announce the findings of the cause of the
fire. So far, they have interviewed several people including those at places
where Gen Mujuru passed through on his way to his farm in Beatrice before
the incident occurred. The three cops interviewed were those guarding Gen
Mujuru’s farm on the day the fire broke out.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena
yesterday confirmed that investigations were in progress. “We have recorded
statements from various individuals who could be witnesses and the police
officers are among those,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena yesterday said he was not in a position to divulge
the number of witnesses they had interviewed so far. “I can’t give you the
total number (of witnesses), maybe at the appropriate time. We are also
still compiling the reports,” he said. Preliminary investigations suggest
the fire could have been caused by a candle left burning in the house.

Joint investigations by security and other organisations including the force’s
forensic unit and Zesa Holdings began last week. The Zanu-PF Politburo
member was alone at his farm, 60km south of Harare when tragedy struck. His
maid, who stays in separate quarters away from the main house, was among the
first people to be alerted of the fire.

The farmhouse was extensively damaged. Nothing was recovered save for sofas
and few other items. The maid said she was alerted by her brother who lives
in the area whereupon she informed other workers and later phoned Beatrice
Police at around 3 am. Police rushed to the farm and on arrival found the
house engulfed by the inferno.

Police looked for Gen Mujuru in the house but to no avail. His remains were
later discovered in one of the lounges burnt beyond recognition.

Mujuru allies cry ‘murder most foul’

http://nehandaradio.com

August 23, 2011 6:10 pm

By Dumisani Muleya / Faith Zaba

As the nation tries to recover from an avalanche of emotions and grief
triggered by the mysterious death of retired army commander General Solomon
Mujuru (pictured), burnt to a crisp in a firestorm in the early hours of
Tuesday morning, relatives, friends and political allies of the legendary
liberation struggle hero allege he was murdered.

STUNNED...Some of the people who visited Retired General Solomon Mujuru's
farm residence soon after the inferno in which the former army chief
perished mill around the gutted farmhouse.
    STUNNED…Some of the people who visited Retired General Solomon Mujuru’s
farm residence soon after the inferno in which the former army chief
perished mill around the gutted farmhouse.

This comes as threadbare police claims and other similar accounts that
Mujuru died in a fire accident, possibly caused by a candle or an electrical
fault, continue to fall apart as more information emerges showing the whole
incident reeks of foul play.

Mujuru’s relatives, friends and political allies who spoke to the Zimbabwe
Independent since Tuesday have been crying “murder most foul” as facts about
the events and circumstances leading to his death become clear, pointing to
a damning conclusion of a sinister plot.

Investigations by the Independent, which included talking to relatives,
friends and political allies, independent observers and talking to people at
the farm and surrounding community, as well as thoroughly studying the scene
of his death, shows that even if there was an accidental fire Mujuru had so
many options to escape.

On the ground study of the house shows Mujuru could have escaped through the
three exit doors in the bedroom or four windows next to where he was
sleeping. Mujuru’s bedroom has four windows — two double and two single. All
four do not have burglar bars. The single windows are about 42cm from the
ground and 30cm wide, while the double windows are about 1,1m from the
ground.

There are three exit doors to the outside and two other doors — one leading
to the small lounge where his body was found and the other to his daughters’
two bedrooms, which did not catch fire. The house has a total of six exit
doors.

This is confirmed by former Alamein Farm house owner Guy Watson-Smith who
said it was a mystery how Mujuru could have been trapped and burnt inside
the property with so many rooms and exits.

“One has to wonder whether the truth about Mujuru’s death will ever come
out. Our house was a sprawling single storey building, roofed entirely with
asbestos sheeting (which was common in the 1950s when it was built),”
Watson-Smith said. “Of course that makes it absolutely fire-proof, and the
walls were brick and cement.

All that could have burned was roofing timbers and ceilings, and to imagine
the fire spreading quickly without help is hard to do. Finally, there were
more doors and windows than holes in a colander. Our main bedroom alone had
three doors out of it and four double windows. How do you get trapped inside
that?”

Workers at the farm said Mujuru sometimes used to go through the bedroom
windows to the car park because it was the shortest route out. So questions
abound why he did not use those doors and windows, which are very low, to
escape the fire.

Circumstantial and anecdotal evidence shows that if it was an accident
Mujuru would have easily escaped. The situation is compounded by the fact
that instead of leaving through other exits he appeared to have rushed to
where the inferno was concentrated, eventually getting gutted there.

Besides, cremation experts say a fire like that would not have easily burnt
a person like paper since 65-90% of each body cell consists of water (by
weight). Oxygen and hydrogen are the major components of the body. To burn a
body to ashes one needs extremely high temperatures and fuels like diesel,
natural gas and propane. In the past coal and coke were used for cremation.

“It’s not easy to burn a human body. You need extremely high temperatures
and fuel to quicken the process,” a cremator said. “An ordinary fire in a
house doesn’t burn a body to ashes in a few hours. Modern furnaces can do it
in an hour but an ordinary fire cannot do that in a matter of a few hours.”

The Independent yesterday visited the Pioneer Hindu crematorium near Rufaro
Stadium in Mbare to see how a cremation is done.

A body, after it is rubbed with ghee (burning chemical or fuel), is placed
on top of a 1,3 metre high cage, filled with logs, which are at least 30 cm
in diameter. The cage is then wheeled into the cremator furnace, capable of
generating temperatures of more than 600 degrees Celsius.

There are two steel doors, which are about 15 cm in diameter, whose insides
are plastered in mud and the inside walls are lined with heat-resistant
refractory bricks. Some cremations in Zimbabwe are done for up to 17 hours
depending on the body and temperatures.

An electrical engineer said it was highly improbable for a house to be burnt
down as a result on an electrical fault because of the type of the conduit
wiring used these days unless the piping has deteriorated or insulation of
wires at joints had done likewise. Although the house was built in the 1950s
it would be improper for a VVIP’s electricity supply to not have been
upgraded to modern standards.

“In the event that a short circuit did occur, three safety circuit breaking
systems would have to be overcome for there to be a fire. Firstly, each
electrical circuit for all domestic appliances would have its own circuit
breaker. If this was bypassed, there would be the main circuit breaker for
the whole house to contend with,” the electrician said. “If that too was
circumvented, there is also another circuit breaker from a sub-distribution
point to the house.”

Another observer said it was very difficult to believe that a person could
have been burnt to ashes even by large quantities of fossil fuel, let alone
that from a candle. They gave an example of the 30 000 litres petrol tanker
that exploded in Sunningdale recently, killing several people. Although the
victims were burnt from such large quantities of highly flammable petrol
fuel, their bodies, though badly burnt, were largely intact.

Even though the fire in Mujuru’s house could have been intensified by farm
chemicals and fuels at the area where he died, the quantities were low
judging by the spread of the fire. Even then, this does not answer why
Mujuru would have rushed where the hellhole was.

“I think there was foul play in this whole saga. How does a man of Mujuru’s
training, calibre and experience die in a blaze within a generally
fire-proof house and be burnt to ashes when there s many exit points,
including low windows, and doors,” one of Mujuru’s friends said.

“I think there was foul play. This means there was some sort of criminal
activity — not an accident or suicide — which was involved. There is no
logical or reasonable explanation because a study of the situation does not
support claims of a fire accident”

A family member said: “There is something fishy in this thing. I think there
should be a thorough and proper investigation to get to the bottom of the
matter”.

A senior Zanu PF politburo member said Mujuru’s allies were almost certainly
sure he was murdered “This is political murder, call it assassination, by
other definitions,” the member said. “It’s not a continuation of the
struggles within the struggle, but it’s now struggles after the struggle.
You must put this death in this context and the attempt murder of (Air
Marshal Perence) Shiri a few years ago.”

Zanu PF, fractured and torn asunder by divisions and infighting, is reeling
from internal strife whose epicenter is President Robert Mugabe’s vicious
succession battle.

The plot further thickens when it is taken into account Mujuru’s most
trusted diamond dealer Bothwell Hlahla died in a car accident in Mutare a
few days before Mujuru died in a blaze which gutted his Almein farm house in
Beatrice, 60 km south of Harare.

Hlahla was one of Mujuru’s closest diamond deal brokers who had become
wealthy in a short space of time owning posh properties and expensive cars
in Mutare and Harare which he bought after striking a fortune at the
Chiadzwa diamond fields.

Mujuru was heavily involved in the trade of diamonds, gold and other
minerals. He was involved in a fight with government over the Marange
diamonds as part of Africa Consolidated Resources. Government grabbed the
contested Chiadzwa fields and handed out concessions to several companies,
including South Africa’s New Reclamation Group and Canadile Miners.

Some of the concessions at Marange were given to the army police and
intelligence agencies. The area was invaded by dealers, smugglers and former
mercenaries. Curiously, Mujuru died early on Tuesday morning hours before he
embarked on a journey to Beitbridge to meet international diamond dealers
over gems mainly from his River Ranch Mine, located about 30km outside the
border town.

Investigations by the Independent show Mujuru had an appointment at
Beitbridge with diamond buyers to resolve a dispute over payment for gems
already sold.

“He was due to leave early on Tuesday driving to Beitbridge to meet
international diamond buyers to discuss some payment which had not been
settled,” an informed sources told the Independent.

Extensive interviews with workers on his farm show that Mujuru had arrived
at the farm around 8pm driving a white Isuzu Double Cab which he parked and
left on his parking with his groceries, cell phone and other items. Before
parking he had gone to his housemaid’s quarters, which are two kilometers
away, to collect keys to the house. There was no electricity although power
came back shortly after his arrival. The maid, Rosemary Shoti, said normally
he would switch on a generator or use a candle put on a saucer if there was
no power.

The fire burnt his daughters’ bathroom, Mujuru’s bedroom, the corridor where
the fitted cupboards were, the small lounge where everything inside was
burnt down, the dining room where only two chairs survived and the main
lounge where sofas survived. The rest of the house remained intact, save for
a few windows in the daughters bedrooms, which were broken when people
attempted to get into the house.

But the question that is being asked by both the farm workers and relatives
is why it took the three policemen on duty long to react. Contrary to
assertions that the house is partially obscured by tobacco barns from the
guardrooms, they are 50 metres away and are in clear view of the farmhouse.
The sleeping quarters for the guards are directly opposite the main lounge.

In addition to the three police officers, there are also guards at the
entrance to the gate of the farmhouse. The guards reportedly only realised
there was a fire after hearing noise from the collapsing roof but did not
have airtime to call for help. The Independent also visited Beatrice Motel
where Mujuru had four tots of Black Label before retiring home.

The bar lady who served him that Monday night said: “General Mujuru only had
four tots of Black Label and refused to have anymore because he had an early
trip to Beitbridge. He told us that he wanted to wake up at 4am the next
morning. Normally, the General could drink a whole bottle of whisky and
still appeared sober.” Events and circumstances around Mujuru’s death
disprove that he could have died in a fire accident, reinforcing suspicions
of foul play. Zimbabwe Independent

Vice-President want answers; why husband could not escape

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

23/08/2011 16:59:00    Staff Reporter

HARARE - Vice President Joice Mujuru has expressed confidence in the
investigating team set up to probe the death of Retired General Solomon
Mujuru, who died at his Ruzambu Farm in Beatrice on Tuesday last week, but
however, she has raised her suspicions and throwing the whole issue into a
new territory..

Vice-President has raised the stakes expressing surprise at how her husband
failed to escape from a bedroom with large windows which their grandchildren
playfully used as entry and exit points.

Vice President Mujuru hailed the support she has received from President
Mugabe, cabinet ministers and diplomats at her time of sorrow.

Police Chief Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena
yesterday said pathologists, forensic scientists and engineers from ZESA had
already recorded statements relating to the ongoing investigations.

Commissioner Bvudzijena said police have channelled all critical resources
to enable meticulous investigations on the matter.

As the nation tries to recover from an avalanche of emotions and grief
triggered by the mysterious death of retired army commander General Solomon
Mujuru, burnt to a crisp in a firestorm in the early hours of Tuesday
morning, relatives, friends and political allies of the legendary liberation
struggle hero allege he was murdered.

This comes as threadbare police claims and other similar accounts that
Mujuru died in a fire accident, possibly caused by a candle or an electrical
fault, continue to fall apart as more information emerges showing the whole
incident reeks of foul play.

Mujuru’s relatives, friends and political allies who spoke to the Zimbabwe
Independent since Tuesday have been crying “murder most foul” as facts about
the events and circumstances leading to his death become clear, pointing to
a damning conclusion of a sinister plot.

Investigations by the Independent, which included talking to relatives,
friends and political allies, independent observers and talking to people at
the farm and surrounding community, as well as thoroughly studying the scene
of his death, shows that even if there was an accidental fire Mujuru had so
many options to escape.

On the ground study of the house shows Mujuru could have escaped through the
three exit doors in the bedroom or four windows next to where he was
sleeping. Mujuru’s bedroom has four windows — two double and two single. All
four do not have burglar bars. The single windows are about 42cm from the
ground and 30cm wide, while the double windows are about 1,1m from the
ground.

There are three exit doors to the outside and two other doors — one leading
to the small lounge where his body was found and the other to his daughters’
two bedrooms, which did not catch fire. The house has a total of six exit
doors.

This is confirmed by former Alamein Farm house owner Guy Watson-Smith who
said it was a mystery how Mujuru could have been trapped and burnt inside
the property with so many rooms and exits.

“One has to wonder whether the truth about Mujuru’s death will ever come
out. Our house was a sprawling single storey building, roofed entirely with
asbestos sheeting (which was common in the 1950s when it was built),”
Watson-Smith said. “Of course that makes it absolutely fire-proof, and the
walls were brick and cement.

All that could have burned was roofing timbers and ceilings, and to imagine
the fire spreading quickly without help is hard to do. Finally, there were
more doors and windows than holes in a colander. Our main bedroom alone had
three doors out of it and four double windows. How do you get trapped inside
that?”

Workers at the farm said Mujuru sometimes used to go through the bedroom
windows to the car park because it was the shortest route out. So questions
abound why he did not use those doors and windows, which are very low, to
escape the fire.

Circumstantial and anecdotal evidence shows that if it was an accident
Mujuru would have easily escaped. The situation is compounded by the fact
that instead of leaving through other exits he appeared to have rushed to
where the inferno was concentrated, eventually getting gutted there.

Besides, cremation experts say a fire like that would not have easily burnt
a person like paper since 65-90% of each body cell consists of water (by
weight). Oxygen and hydrogen are the major components of the body. To burn a
body to ashes one needs extremely high temperatures and fuels like diesel,
natural gas and propane. In the past coal and coke were used for cremation.

“It’s not easy to burn a human body. You need extremely high temperatures
and fuel to quicken the process,” a cremator said. “An ordinary fire in a
house doesn’t burn a body to ashes in a few hours. Modern furnaces can do it
in an hour but an ordinary fire cannot do that in a matter of a few hours.”

The Independent yesterday visited the Pioneer Hindu crematorium near Rufaro
Stadium in Mbare to see how a cremation is done.

A body, after it is rubbed with ghee (burning chemical or fuel), is placed
on top of a 1,3 metre high cage, filled with logs, which are at least 30 cm
in diameter. The cage is then wheeled into the cremator furnace, capable of
generating temperatures of more than 600 degrees Celsius.

There are two steel doors, which are about 15 cm in diameter, whose insides
are plastered in mud and the inside walls are lined with heat-resistant
refractory bricks. Some cremations in Zimbabwe are done for up to 17 hours
depending on the body and temperatures.

An electrical engineer said it was highly improbable for a house to be burnt
down as a result on an electrical fault because of the type of the conduit
wiring used these days unless the piping has deteriorated or insulation of
wires at joints had done likewise. Although the house was built in the 1950s
it would be improper for a VVIP’s electricity supply to not have been
upgraded to modern standards.

“In the event that a short circuit did occur, three safety circuit breaking
systems would have to be overcome for there to be a fire. Firstly, each
electrical circuit for all domestic appliances would have its own circuit
breaker. If this was bypassed, there would be the main circuit breaker for
the whole house to contend with,” the electrician said. “If that too was
circumvented, there is also another circuit breaker from a sub-distribution
point to the house.”

Another observer said it was very difficult to believe that a person could
have been burnt to ashes even by large quantities of fossil fuel, let alone
that from a candle. They gave an example of the 30 000 litres petrol tanker
that exploded in Sunningdale recently, killing several people. Although the
victims were burnt from such large quantities of highly flammable petrol
fuel, their bodies, though badly burnt, were largely intact.

Even though the fire in Mujuru’s house could have been intensified by farm
chemicals and fuels at the area where he died, the quantities were low
judging by the spread of the fire. Even then, this does not answer why
Mujuru would have rushed where the hellhole was.

“I think there was foul play in this whole saga. How does a man of Mujuru’s
training, calibre and experience die in a blaze within a generally
fire-proof house and be burnt to ashes when there s many exit points,
including low windows, and doors,” one of Mujuru’s friends said.

“I think there was foul play. This means there was some sort of criminal
activity — not an accident or suicide — which was involved. There is no
logical or reasonable explanation because a study of the situation does not
support claims of a fire accident”

A family member said: “There is something fishy in this thing. I think there
should be a thorough and proper investigation to get to the bottom of the
matter”.

A senior Zanu PF politburo member said Mujuru’s allies were almost certainly
sure he was murdered “This is political murder, call it assassination, by
other definitions,” the member said. “It’s not a continuation of the
struggles within the struggle, but it’s now struggles after the struggle.
You must put this death in this context and the attempt murder of (Air
Marshal Perence) Shiri a few years ago.”

Zanu PF, fractured and torn asunder by divisions and infighting, is reeling
from internal strife whose epicenter is President Robert Mugabe’s vicious
succession battle.

The plot further thickens when it is taken into account Mujuru’s most
trusted diamond dealer Bothwell Hlahla died in a car accident in Mutare a
few days before Mujuru died in a blaze which gutted his Almein farm house in
Beatrice, 60 km south of Harare.

Hlahla was one of Mujuru’s closest diamond deal brokers who had become
wealthy in a short space of time owning posh properties and expensive cars
in Mutare and Harare which he bought after striking a fortune at the
Chiadzwa diamond fields.

Mujuru was heavily involved in the trade of diamonds, gold and other
minerals. He was involved in a fight with government over the Marange
diamonds as part of Africa Consolidated Resources. Government grabbed the
contested Chiadzwa fields and handed out concessions to several companies,
including South Africa’s New Reclamation Group and Canadile Miners.

Some of the concessions at Marange were given to the army police and
intelligence agencies. The area was invaded by dealers, smugglers and former
mercenaries. Curiously, Mujuru died early on Tuesday morning hours before he
embarked on a journey to Beitbridge to meet international diamond dealers
over gems mainly from his River Ranch Mine, located about 30km outside the
border town.

Investigations by the Independent show Mujuru had an appointment at
Beitbridge with diamond buyers to resolve a dispute over payment for gems
already sold.

“He was due to leave early on Tuesday driving to Beitbridge to meet
international diamond buyers to discuss some payment which had not been
settled,” an informed sources told the Independent.

Extensive interviews with workers on his farm show that Mujuru had arrived
at the farm around 8pm driving a white Isuzu Double Cab which he parked and
left on his parking with his groceries, cell phone and other items. Before
parking he had gone to his housemaid’s quarters, which are two kilometers
away, to collect keys to the house. There was no electricity although power
came back shortly after his arrival. The maid, Rosemary Shoti, said normally
he would switch on a generator or use a candle put on a saucer if there was
no power.

The fire burnt his daughters’ bathroom, Mujuru’s bedroom, the corridor where
the fitted cupboards were, the small lounge where everything inside was
burnt down, the dining room where only two chairs survived and the main
lounge where sofas survived. The rest of the house remained intact, save for
a few windows in the daughters bedrooms, which were broken when people
attempted to get into the house.

But the question that is being asked by both the farm workers and relatives
is why it took the three policemen on duty long to react. Contrary to
assertions that the house is partially obscured by tobacco barns from the
guardrooms, they are 50 metres away and are in clear view of the farmhouse.
The sleeping quarters for the guards are directly opposite the main lounge.

In addition to the three police officers, there are also guards at the
entrance to the gate of the farmhouse. The guards reportedly only realised
there was a fire after hearing noise from the collapsing roof but did not
have airtime to call for help. The Independent also visited Beatrice Motel
where Mujuru had four tots of Black Label before retiring home.

The bar lady who served him that Monday night said: “General Mujuru only had
four tots of Black Label and refused to have anymore because he had an early
trip to Beitbridge. He told us that he wanted to wake up at 4am the next
morning. Normally, the General could drink a whole bottle of whisky and
still appeared sober.” Events and circumstances around Mujuru’s death
disprove that he could have died in a fire accident, reinforcing suspicions
of foul play.

Retired General Mujuru died in an inferno at his farm house on Tuesday last
week and was laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Vice President Joice Mujuru has urged the Mighty Warriors to
continue with the winning spirit that saw them clinching the Cosafa Cup last
month when they take part in the All Africa Games in Mozambique.

The Mighty Warriors had visited to console the Vice President at her
Chisipite residence following the death of Retired General Solomon Mujuru.

VP Mujuru thanked the players saying, “May God continue to bless you so that
you come out the best. You should always be winning. Thank you very much.”

She said her late husband wanted to see the success of the girl child as
witnessed by his attending the Mighty Warriors Cosafa Cup victory over South
Africa.

She added, “I am grateful. You are always making us proud and you know your
father, yes he came with me to Rufaro Stadium. Mujuru was a father of girls.
He loved his girls even if they were not his, but he was a father - even to
me as a wife he sometimes played his fatherly role...”

Zimbabwe Women’s Football Chairperson, Mavis Gumbo, who led the Mighty
Warriors delegation, handed over a photo album which contained pictures of
the late Retired General Solomon Mujuru at Rufaro Stadium in the Mighty
Warriors 1-nil victory over South Africa in the Cosafa Cup final. Plus
Zimbabwe Independent

Mugabe has the most to gain from Mujuru death: analyst

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
23 August 2011

A respected political commentator, who refused to be named, has told SW
Radio Africa that ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe stands to gain the most from
the death of retired army General Solomon Mujuru. General Mujuru died in a
suspicious farmhouse fire in Beatrice, 60 km outside Harare last week
Tuesday.

“Mujuru was the last remaining person within ZANU PF who was able to speak
out against Mugabe during politburo meetings. His death, whether an accident
or an assassination ordered from the very top, benefits Mugabe more than any
other individual. It has removed the last remaining strong voice to
challenge Mugabe.”

The analyst told SW Radio Africa that most people were focused on accusing a
rival faction led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, ignoring the fact that Mugabe is
still in charge, despite his declining health. Mugabe has also shown no
desire to exit the political stage. In fact he was reported to have
confessed to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that he cannot retire because
his divided party will implode.

MDC-T Secretary General Tendai Biti added to the speculation over Mujuru’s
death by pointing a finger at ZANU PF. Addressing over 35,000 party
supporters at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare Biti said: “ZANU-PF will invest in
violence, they will invest in arms. Now they have a new tactic of roasting
people. That is the ZANU-PF we know, those are the ZANU-PF fingerprints.
That's the ZANU-PF DNA.”

Several reports are also linking Mujuru’s death to the death a few days
before of prominent Mutare diamond dealer, Bothwell "Sir Bathez" Hlahla. Its
alleged former street kid ‘Bothie’, as he was also known, was a front for
General Mujuru and amassed wealth through brokering diamonds from Chiadzwa.
Bothie died when he was involved in a fatal accident while driving his
top-of-the-range CLX convertible Mercedes Benz.

It’s also reported that Mujuru died on the day of a planned meeting to see
international diamond dealers in Beitbridge. Allegedly the meeting was to
resolve a payment dispute over diamonds already sold from the River Ranch
Mine that Mujuru seized from the previous owners. Mujuru dying within a few
days of his most trusted diamond dealer has opened up another massive avenue
of speculation.

Zimbabwe food price hikes raise inflationary pressure

http://af.reuters.com

Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:03pm GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's year-end inflation target of 4.5 percent has
come under pressure from rising food prices, but the government has no
current plans to revise its forecast, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on
Tuesday.

The economy was on track to meet the government's "understated" target of
9.3 percent growth this year, he added.

Zimbabwe's annualised inflation rate was below 3 percent during the second
quarter of 2011 but ticked up to 3.3 percent in July, mainly due to
increases in the price of basic foodstuffs.

"These are worrisome developments, which if not addressed will reverse the
gains made on overall microeconomic stabilisation," Biti told a news
conference in Harare.

The government would consider removing customs duties on basic foodstuffs -- 
mostly imported from South Africa -- that were reinstated in July in a move
designed to promote locally manufactured goods.

Biti said local producers and retailers were abusing the policy change and
unjustifiably hiking prices.

A wage rise awarded to government workers in July had exerted pressure on
state revenues, he said, reiterating that Zimbabwe would record a $700
million budget deficit in 2011.

TOBACCO TO BOOST GDP

The 2011 growth goal was on track mainly due to a recovery in tobacco
production and diamond revenue, the minister said.

"The projected output from tobacco is 174 million kilogrammes. We have met
that. We can easily break through 200 million kilogrammes in 2012," he said,
adding government had received $50 million in diamond revenues from its
share of the Marange mines in July and August.

Zimbabwe's tobacco output peaked at 236 million kilogrammes in 2000, before
the effects of President Robert Mugabe's seizure of white-owned farms to
resettle landless blacks were felt in the key agriculture sector.

Biti said the Ministry of Finance was consulting with Indigenisation and
Economic Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere over his ultimatum to
foreign-owned firms, including banks and miners, to submit plans on how they
would transfer majority shares to locals.

Kasukuwere has given the local units of Standard Bank Group, Barclays PLC
and Standard Chartered, among other foreign-owned firms, until the end of
August to provide details of how they would come under local control or risk
losing their operating licences.

"I have met Stanbic, Standard Chartered and Barclays banks. We have not
agreed on a (local shareholding) threshold. We're still negotiating," Biti
said.

No water for days in Harare suburbs

http://www.swradioafrica.com

by Irene Madongo
23 August 2011

Residents in many of Harare’s suburbs are worried that they are at risk of a
cholera outbreak as they enter another week without any water supply, an
organisation has said.

According to the Harare Residents Trust (HRT), several parts of the city are
going without water. Areas worst hit include Greendale, parts of Glenview,
Highfields and Borrowdale. The organisation quoted the Harare City Council
who said it would be shutting down the main water works in order to carry
out maintenance. On Tuesday HRT co-ordinator Precious Shumba said residents
had been without water for over a week and the situation has not changed.

“With the recent history of cholera outbreak in Harare and across the
country which claimed 4,000 people, the fears are much alive in the minds of
many residents who fear that a continuation of this situation will most
likely cause disease outbreak and cholera is an immediate concern,” Shumba
explained.

“Residents are having to recycle water that has been used for baths, using
toilet water to do other household chores, which inconveniences a great
number of people, particularly those with the sick, bed-ridden; those with
kids are finding it extremely hard to be surviving under these difficult
circumstances,” he explained.

People who rely solely on the Council for water are stranded. “They have not
had in place bowsers in the community. Areas like Kuwadzana Extension have
no single borehole to help them, Glen Norah has only one borehole which has
to cater for the whole community,” Shumba added. “This puts pressure
particularly on women and children who have to wake up very early and
inconveniences a lot of people who would want to be using latrines and do
their laundry.”

Another resident in Mufakose said they are relying on just one borehole.

Zimbabweans are constantly kept in the dark by government departments over
vital issues that affect their lives. Shumba said instead of the City
Council alerting residents of the water problems through district offices,
it merely placed a notice in the Herald newspaper, which many people in
these areas cannot afford. ‘Most of the people are trying to eke out a
living and can’t afford to buy a newspaper which is $1. Harare City Council
has continued to undermine the district offices,’ Shumba said, adding that
the district offices could have put up such information on notice boards,
which are accessible to all.

Harare City Council could not be reached for comment.

Trial of video-watching activists postponed again

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
23 August 2011

The trial of six Zimbabwean activists, arrested in February while attending
a video screening about the people’s uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, has
been postponed for a second time and is now set to get underway on
Wednesday.

The activists' trial was scheduled to begin on Monday at the Harare Regional
Court, after it was postponed last month. But it was postponed again to
Wednesday because no Magistrate had been assigned to preside over the trial.
Regional Magistrate Morgan Nemadire had to recuse himself from presiding
over the trial because of his connections to one of the activists.

The six, including former MDC-T MP Munyaradzi Gwisai, were among more than
40 people arrested after watching the video at an academic meeting, which
was raided by police. After their initial arrest some in the group,
including Gwisai, were tortured in police cells and kept in solitary
confinement at Chikurubi maximum security prison in Harare for weeks.

The whole group was charged with treason and originally held for more than
two weeks. Eventually 39 of the activists were released without charge after
an international campaign calling for their freedom.

However Gwisai, Hopewell Gumbo, Antonater Choto, Welcome Zimuto, Eddson
Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara were still facing treason charges until mid
March, with the state insisting they were either directly linked to the
‘illegal’ gathering or were speakers at the meeting. The treason charges
were then altered in May to a charge of ‘subverting a constitutional
government’.

Last month the state dropped the ‘subverting a constitutional government’
charge, but brought another charge and four alternative charges instead.
They group is now being charged with ‘conspiracy to commit public violence’,
with alternative charges including ‘inciting public violence’,
‘participating in a meeting with a view to inciting public violence’, and
‘breach of peace’.

Meanwhile, a group of about 20 protesters from the pressure group, Women of
Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were all released without charge after they were
arrested during a demonstration on Monday. At the same time Costa
Machingauta, the MDC-T National vice Chairperson, who was summoned to a
police post in Glen View on allegations of assault, was also released on
Monday evening without any charges being laid against him.

Relationship between Zim and USA is like a dysfunctional friendship: US Ambassador

http://www.bulawayo24.com

by Ndou Paul
2011 August 23 12:09:58

United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray address a sizable crowd at
the Bulawayo Club yesterday evening organized by Bulawayo Agenda.

He said he will be among the first to recognize that the bilateral
relationship (Zimbabwe-USA) today is like a dysfunctional friendship or a
faltering joint venture.

"Despite a strong initial foundation, both sides have made mistakes along
the way", said Ray.

He alleges that US has never stopped engaging, "We have always maintained
full diplomatic relations, Zimbabwe has always had a Full Ambassador in
Washington and I represent an unbroken continuum of Ambassadors here dating
back to independence".

He repeated his statement that the US does not favour any one party over
another in Zimbabwe. He said the US want to see an environment where all
parties have the same ability to present themselves to the public and to
compete to represent the people in government.

"The US wants to see a non-violent and credible electoral contest and for
the people's will to be honoured", he said.

He said the US recognize the value of the coalition government arrangement
in bringing diverse views together and we respect the government officials
who have engaged across party lines to foster Zimbabwe's current recovery.

"We welcome the opportunity to collaborate closely with those committed to
building strong national institutions and moving the country forward, and we
will continue to work to minimize the negative effects of those intent on
circumventing the rule of law", said the ambassador.

He said the US will continue to press for the protection of human rights and
accountability for those who abuse them while acknowledging progress where
it is made.

"We fully recognize the opportunities presented by Zimbabwe's current
economic recovery and the U.S. is actively working to draw the attention of
U.S business to trade and investment opportunities here"

Acknowledgement of sanctions

The Ambassador aknowledged that there are sanctions in place.
He said that as Zimbabwe's political parties implement fully the commitments
that they themselves have made in the Global Political Agreement, as state
institutions are de-linked from partisan allegiances, and as credible
elections are held and honoured, there will be no reason for the United
States to retain the current sanctions policy in place.

"I can easily envision U.S-Zimbabwe in the not-too-distant future that are
comparable to U.S relations with other partners in the community of nations"
added Charles.

He said he envision open flows of communications where people can share
ideas, express concerns, applaud progress, and disagree without being
disagreeable.

He also envision a strong development assistance programme in which the U.S.
assistance supports intrinsically the government's development agenda and is
devised in close consultation with the Zimbabwean government.

A gradual transition from foreign-assistance-to-a-developing-partner to
robust economic-relations-with-a-prosperous-partner.
Vibrant trade and investment linkages with goods, services, experts, and
tourists flowing freely between our countries.
No sanctions or restrictive measures in place because the rule of law is
protected by strong state institutions and respected across the political
spectrum.

"Over our 235 years of experience we have seen that stability and good
governance come through a transparent and accountable political system with
checks and balances on power and robust outside oversight through civil
society and the media" he added.

"We have learned that when the strict differentiation between the political
party, the government and the institutions of the state are breached the
public's interest begins taking a back seat to vested interests of those in
positions of power.

Another issue that I believe would contribute to a stronger future
relationship is if both sides fostered a more open and issue-oriented
communications environment.

Too often in the past, we have talked "at" each other rather than with each
other.

In an environment where all points of view can be freely expressed and
candidly discussed we can make real progress.

He ended by a quote "The most stable and lasting system is the one which
creates the least limitations to freedom of expression. In my view, freedom
means freedom of thought and security to express those thoughts without fear
of prosecution," former Iranian President Mahammad Khatami.

We Are Assisting Zim Export Diamonds: US

http://www.radiovop.com/

Bulawayo, August 23, 2011-The United States government has confirmed that it
is working with the Kimberly Process in assisting Zimbabwe export certified
diamonds from Marange while ensuring that the workers and local communities’
rights are respected.

Speaking at a policy dialogue meeting on the future of US-Zimbabwe relations
in Bulawayo on Monday evening US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray said
contrary to Zanu (PF) allegations that  restrictions imposed by the US
government to senior Zanu (PF) officials were hurting the economy , the
Washington administration  is actively promoting Zimbabwe’s economic
recovery.

“We are working within the Kimberly Process to reach a consensus agreement
to allow for Zimbabwe to export certified diamonds from Marange while
ensuring that workers and local communities’ rights are respected “said
Ambassador Ray.

The Ambassador said his government has got also a highly successful loan
guarantee programme to pump the much needed capital back into the
agricultural sector so as to promote food security and help the country to
return to its rightful status as the breadbasket of the region.

“We are also working in the dairy , poultry , coffee , tea and niche
horticulture sectors to add value to produce at the local level and
establish market linkages within Zimbabwe and outside” he said.

Ambassador  Ray also said his government will only consider the scrapping of
personal restrictions imposed by America and the European union to senior
Zanu (PF) officials when only the rule of the law return, state institutions
are separated from partisan allegiance and when the country hold credible
elections.

“As soon as the parties’ honour their commitments under the GPA to allow for
a return of the rule of the law, once state institutions are separated from
partisan allegiances, and once credible elections are held and honoured,
there will be no reason to retain the few restrictions that are in place,”
said Ambassador Ray.

Ambassador Ray pointed out that only 120 Zanu (PF) officials who own about
60 farms and companies are affected by the restrictions

“ Yes, it is true that , Americans cannot do business with about 120
Zimbabweans , about 60 of the farms or companies they own .But let me say
that if this economy is that dependent on 120 people and a few dozen
companies then we should be concerned about a lot more than just sanctions,”
he said.

The ambassador said the first step to normalise the US –Zimbabwe relations
is to recultivate the two country’s partnership.

“We hear a lot these days about Zimbabwe’s “re-engagement” with so-called
western countries. I tend to dismiss that phrasing because we have never
stopped engaging .We have always maintained full diplomatic relations,” he
said. The policy dialogue meeting was organised Bulawayo Agenda.

Parallel structure emerges in Zim diamond sales

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
23 August 2011

Reports that a Chiadzwa diamond mining firm is buying new planes for
struggling Air Zimbabwe, has revealed that a parallel structure, controlling
diamond sales, is undermining the Finance Ministry.

Air Zimbabwe has bought two new A340-200 Airbus passenger planes from France
in a deal that bypasses the national treasury completely. Instead, the Mbada
Diamond firm, which is a joint venture with the state owned Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation (ZMDC), has bankrolled the estimated US$500 million
deal.

The Mbada firm is headed by Robert Mhlanga, a former air vice-marshal who
has a known close relationship with the Mugabe family. Mhlanga was also in
the diamond trade in the DRC when Mugabe committed Zimbabwean troops to the
war there. He was also a key witness in the 2003 attempt to frame
Tsvangirai, then the opposition leader, for treason. Mhlanga testified that
he had contact with a former Israeli spy who claimed Tsvangirai hired him to
kill Mugabe.

Mhlanga meanwhile is one of many Mugabe cronies on the European Union’s
targeted sanctions list. The ZMDC is also on this list, but the airplane
deal with France appears to have bypassed these restrictive measures.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has repeatedly stated that diamond revenue from
the Chiadzwa fields has not reached his Ministry and earlier this year
called for an investigation into the whereabouts of millions of dollars of
missing revenue. He has also insisted that the cash-strapped government does
not have money to pay for wage increases for the civil service. But last
month the ZMDC provided money to increase the salaries, without Biti’s
knowledge

Political analyst Clifford Mashiri told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that a
parallel structure is clearly in place, which openly undermines the MDC-T
led Finance Ministry. He said this move by the ZANU PF friendly Mbada firm
does damage to Biti’s reputation as Finance Minister; “Because it projects
an image that Biti is unable to solve the economic problems of the country.”

Mashiri also pointed out that the decision to buy the planes for Air
Zimbabwe will help silence speculation about other, less transparent
diamond-fuelled transactions, which Biti himself has called for an
investigation into.

“This more or less is like laundering the diamonds and legitimising the
trade in diamonds, mined where human rights abuses are continuing,” Mashiri
said.

US$1.5 Million Worth Of ARVs Burnt To Ashes

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, August 23, 2011-Close to US$1.5 million worth of Anti-Retroviral
drugs (ARV) have been burnt to ashes after the hired truck with the
consignment was involved in an accident.

The accident took place along the Kwekwe-Bulayawo road that has left
thousands of people on the life prolonging drug’s waiting list vulnerable.

According to sources at the country's drug procurement body, Pharmaceutical
Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm) the company had hired a private truck to
deliver the drugs from Harare to Matabeleland.

The sources said both NatPharm and National Aids Council (NAC) were
struggling to cover up the accident which happened two weeks ago by trying
to make it a secret.

Contacted for comment Natpharm board chairman Dr George Washaya said they
were investigating the sad incident.

“We are going to hold a board meeting in which we are going to institute a
board of inquiry and that’s when we will avail you with all the details of
what actually transpired. In fact there were seven trucks carrying the ART
consignment and it is the seventh one which was involved in an accident,”Dr
Washaya responded.

Radio VOP established through the NAC chief executive officer Tapuwa Magure
that the drugs were indeed burnt.

“You have to ask Natpharm since they were distributing the drugs, but it’s
true that something like that happened,” said Magure.

The country which is struggling to secure adequate Anti-Retroviral Drugs for
thousands of its people who are in dire need of the life prolonging drug
last year suffered yet another blow after it lost round 10 of the Global
Fund.

To worsen the situation of people on ART are reports of AIDS donors having
shown their intention to wean the country from offering AIDS service.

Despite these threats and challenges the country is facing in funding, AIDS
services are doing well in the region in reducing HIV prevalence which was
over 27% a few years ago to below 14% now.

Cosatu blasts Zanu PF 

http://www.dailynews.co.zw

By Godfrey Mtimba
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 19:07

BULAWAYO - Militant South African national labour body, Confederation of
South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has accused Zanu PF of pleasing the late
colonial leader of the country, Ian Smith in his grave, by turning against
the people of Zimbabwe, 31 years after liberating them from imperialism.

In his solidarity speech during the just ended Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions (ZCTU) 7th national congress which saw the election of a new
leadership, Cosatu vice president, James Tyotyo took a swipe at the former
ruling party leadership accusing it of oppressing the masses.

He said by doing so the party was reversing the gains of the liberation
struggle and making Smith smile in his grave.

“Those who fought a protracted armed struggle to free the country are now
fighting their children because they are demanding total freedom. The
revolution is now eating its own children and that was not the objective of
the war of independence,” Tyotyo said.

He bemoaned the sufferings of the Zimbabwean people over the past decade as
a result of bad governance and lack of democracy by the then ruling party
and called on the leaders to respect the people’ s rights and will.

Tyotyo said because of the situation in the country, millions of Zimbabweans
have flooded their country in search of jobs and human survival.

“Right now we have millions and millions of your people in South Africa some
who were victims of this regime while others are refugees seeking greener
pastures. It’s not good for a country to have millions of human resources
fleeing it because of a group of people who deny them their freedoms and
rights politically and economically,” he added.

He added that leaders of Zimbabwe should accept the people’s will in
elections as it expresses the people’s views and choices.

He left the Congress in stitches when he suggested that the Zimbabwean
leader, Robert Mugabe should be given a chance to listen to  Oliver
Mutukudzi’s song Wasakara popularly referred to by the public as Bvuma so
that he might probably admit to stand down from politics.

“What difference is there from the colonial era when the people are not free
to exercise their democratic rights in different forms,” he said.

‘Matibenga bound for ministerial post’

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 16:11

HARARE - ZCTU presidential hopeful and Kuwadzana MP Lucia Matibenga has been
tipped for a government post, replacing the late public service minister
Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro who died two weeks ago.

Sources within the former opposition party told the Daily News that
Matibenga was bound for a ministerial post considering her vast knowledge in
labour issues.

They also claimed that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai influenced Matibenga’s
decision to step down from contesting for the ZCTU top job after she was
promised a government job.

However, Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai’s spokesperson could neither confirm
nor deny the development saying his boss will make the announcement at an
appropriate time.

“The PM will make the appropriate announcement when the time comes. As of
now, this is just speculation,” said Tamborinyoka.

Informed sources within the party said Matibenga was headed to join fellow
trade unionists like Labour Minister Pauline Mpariwa as a cabinet minister.

“The President of the party had a choice of three people who included
Douglas Mwonzora, Lucia Matibenga and Morgan Komichi.”

“But Mwonzora could not take up the ministerial job given his position at
Copac. He was left with two; however, Komichi does not have a strong labour
background so it is likely that Matibenga will take up the ministerial
 post,” said the MDC source.

Matibenga stepped down from challenging Lovemore Matombo at the just ended
ZCTU congress giving room to George Nkiwane to battle it out with the former
president and eventually Nkiwane won.

She later settled for a third vice president’s post.

Matibenga was once tipped to take up a governorship post in Masvingo
province had President Robert Mugabe not refused to share provincial
governors with his coalition partners.

The “Iron Lady” as she is popularly known in the labour movement, has been a
parliamentarian since the formation of the MDC a decade ago

FBC launches air travel facility for crossborder traders

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Tuesday, 23 August 2011 02:00

Business Reporter
FBC BANK has launched a Fly-Now-Pay-Later facility in conjunction with Cross
Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe (CBTAZ) to facilitate smooth travel
for cross-border traders.
Under the scheme, FBC will pay in advance for travel fares ranging from
US$500 to US$3 000 depending on destination, with beneficiaries repaying
over two months after selling their wares. The scheme was launched in Gweru
at the weekend where CBTAZ members from across the country roundly welcomed
the initiative as boosting their business.

CBTAZ president Mr Killer Zivhu said the facility would help his members
venture into markets that had remained unexplored due to limitations in
raising air fares.
"Some of our members have not been able to go to countries beyond the region
because they could not afford the airfares, after raising funds to purchase
their goods.
"Therefore, FBC has come in a way that will enable cross border traders to
simply raise capital to purchase goods while the issue of tickets will be
taken care of under this facility. We commend the bank for assisting us in
this manner," said Mr Zivhu.

Unveiling the new product, FBC Bank general manager-Microfinance Mr Patrick
Mugwendeza said his bank was keen on the economic empowerment of the
majority and would do everything in its powers to ensure it played its part.

"For us at FBC, empowerment issues are critical. Tinoda kuti vanhu vedu
vabudirire. (We want to ensure the majority of our people are economically
empowered).
He said the bank was ready to go beyond the fly now pay later scheme with
CBTAZ and pursue more ways to assist the traders. A new product launched
last month, the FBC mastercard, would also enable crossborder traders and
other travellers to deposit cash which they could then access when they
travel, reducing the need to move about with large sums of cash.

"The card is tried and tested. As crossborder traders you can simply deposit
your money into the card and use it wherever you go worldwide. It is very
convenient and hassle-free," said FBC manager- convenience banking Ms
Tabitha Madzikanda.

Gweru deputy Mayor Mr Taurai Demo applauded the deal between FBC Bank and
CBTAZ as something that would empower cross border traders in their quest to
grow their businesses.
"This is a good facility that will go a long way in assisting the cross
border traders. We appreciate the importance assigned to the City of Gweru
in hosting this event," he said.

However, Mr Zivhu lamented challenges such as high import duties and
ill-treatment of his constituency at border posts, saying this frustrated
their efforts.
He awaited feedback from the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee
(JOMIC) where his organisation had forwarded their grievances.

The launch ceremony observed a minute's silence in honour of the late
Retired General Solomon Mujuru who perished in an inferno last Tuesday.

Chisumbanje villagers furious over lack of consultation for Ethanol project

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Lack of consultation infuriates Chisumbanje villagers

A week of drama has been experienced in Chisumbanje as over a thousand
villagers refused to be cowed by Macdom pvt ltd.The much publicised Ethanol
project hangs on a thread if the Macdom and ARDA remains stubborn by
imposing and defining the project as irreversible against basic
communication skills. A consultation meeting by the cabinet representative
on the 15th of August, as well as that by the company on the 18th of August
2011 has failed to break the impasse.

The company through their Human Resources Manager Mr. Zuze agreed that they
are responsible for the destruction of crops belonging to the residents
since 2008,” we are consulting with Agritex to establish the value of the
destroyed crops so that we start compensation” Zuze admitted. This statement
was made at a meeting at Chisumbanje on the 18th of August. More than one
thousand villagers including Chief Garahwa, Headman
Chisumbanje,Chinyamukwakwa and Matikwa attended.

In response to the admission by the company through Zuze,a resolution by the
villagers was made-
That there will be no talks/engagements with neither the company nor ARDA
concerning their land until farmers whose crops were destructed since 2008
have been compensated satisfactorily.

The villagers have since refuted instructions by the company spoken through
J.C Mundoma, the Chief Executive Officer of ARDA Chipinge. He provided dates
for the community to meet the company at their fields to establish their
hectrage.The villagers’ responded angrily for this imposition of dates when
in actual fact there was no background and proper communication as to the
purpose of the meetings. When Mundoma insisted on the project as
irreversible because the community was less important than government
interests a resolution was made for him and his JEPAC team.

That the villagers has lost confidence in the D.A Noel Mundeta and his
team(Mundoma included),therefore appeals for a fresh team, should there be
need for talks/engagements in this matter.
The community also raised concern that the intended consultations were bent
on dividing people as well as cheating them. The community sighted the
imposition of weak members who are not convincingly representative as much
as they are not familiar with community interests. To this effect a third
resolution was made.

That Platform for Youth Development Trust [PYD} will remain the
representative of the Chisumbanje, Chinyamukwakwa and Matikwa communities is
resolving this land dispute with Macdom pvt ltd with her sister companies.

Platform for Youth Development has been working with the villagers on this
matter since 2008.Since then, the company has been invading the truth by
claiming that PYD was not mandated and therefore not fit to be given a table
talk. It appears, they have not yet learnt the mathematics of community
projects.PYD has already engaged Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Bere
Brothers who have since filed a court application at the high court of
Zimbabwe to stop Macdom pvt ltd and her sister companies from encroaching
the boundaries they have since agreed with ARDA.

It is important to note that PYD is a pressure group that is community based
and well equipped to mediate in this dispute. Macdom management have failed
dismally to respect the community. In addition to handpicking war veterans
(only to abuse their titles), they use hate language and political rhetoric
to intimidate the community into submission. All their efforts having failed
they have again introduced fliers lambasting the director of PYD Mr Claris
Madhuku and one of the community strongmen Wedzerai Gwenzi. In their
laughable messages, they are claiming that these two men are organising the
community in pursuit of political power. Someone must advise them, that they
are dampening relations at the time they need them most.

”The allegations are baseless and nonsensical, am passionate about my
community and will break my bones in defence of genuine and community
empowering development”Madhuku said.

‘As far as i am concerned, Macdom and ARDA representatives risk
embarrassment of a generation if they continue being stubborn without bowing
down to consider talking. The community will do everything peaceful to
demand their rights against imposition of development. The community has no
problem with the plant operating within the 5 112 hectares where there is no
conflict, the problem comes when they start operating illegal by encroaching
into the community before there is a binding agreement” Madhuku fumed.

The court application is meant to inform the company and ARDA that the
community is determined and spirited to pursue justice. However the courts
are not the ONLY option available. The community is prepared to make history
of a monumental stature to display community power against imposition of the
so called development.

Platform for Youth Development is very much concerned that the company has
failed on the Indigenization and Land policies of the country. So far most
of our young people in the area lie idle despite the company claiming at the
international level that they are employing the community members. Over
eighty (80%) of the company’s work force is coming far away from Chisumbanje
and Chipinge. The community feels cheated and taken for granted by the
management who daily harasses employees.PYD has authoritative reports of
discrimination, harassment and bad labour practices at the company.ZCTU and
NEC must visit this place to protect workers’ rights with immediacy.

“If the Ethanol plant is to function without community interruptions, it was
recommended for the management to take their community relations seriously”Wedzerai
Gwenzi, spokesperson for the community said.
”How are we expected to simply accept a deal that displaces people without
taking concern of our cultural concerns and our fore fathers graves am a
traditional leader who gets power from the people” said Headmen, Forichi
Chisumbanje.

Facts available indicates that when Macdom Pvt Ltd entered into the
agreement, it was believed that ARDA would provide the 45 000 hectares but
it was latter realized that the ARDA only had 5 112 hectares hence the
decision to displace villagers to secure the deficit. It is a pity that ARDA
officials Macdom are taking advantage of the vulnerable villagers to dictate
to them what they want to do on their land without their consent. The
company officials connived with the District Administrator (D.A) who then
gave the directive to Chief Garahwa as if it was coming from the government.
It is important to expose those who are clandestinely involved in this deal.

Macdom is owned by a close Zanu (PF) ally Billy Rautenbach who is rumoured
to be one of the party’s financing partners. While the development of
bio-fuels is a desirable initiative especially in Zimbabwe, it however
leaves a lot to be desired as to how a responsible company could impose
itself to the people without any benefit to the locals. Platform for Youth
Development is working closely with the traditional leadership, councillors
and members of parliament in the three constituencies to be affected by the
project.

Rautenbach is not new to major financial scandals with a bad reputation in
both South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rautenbach was also
recently deported from the DRC after government officials established that
he was looting diamonds from the mineral rich country.

Refugees take SA gov’t to court

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Corespondent     Tuesday 23 August 2011

JOHANNESBURG – A group of asylum seekers have applied to the Pretoria High
Court for an order directing the government to provide adequate refugee
reception offices across South Africa.

In an application that if successful could see Pretoria forced to revamp a
refugee management system that is in a state of near- total collapse, the
foreign immigrants want the home affairs ministry to address a host of
problems including rampant corruption and overcrowding at its refugee
reception offices.

The applicants also want the court to declare the ministry’s failure to set
up enough reception offices “unlawful and unconstitutional”.

The Lawyers for Human Rights last week filed the application on behalf of 74
asylum seekers, the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa
(CORMSA) and the Coordinating Body of Refugee Communities (CBRC).

Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and her director general
Mkuseli Apleni are first and second respondent. The director of asylum
seeker management and the officers in charge at Marabastad refugee reception
office and the Tshwane Interim Refugee Reception Office (TIRRO) are the
other respondents in the matter that is yet to be set down for hearing.

The ministry last May closed the Crown Mines refugee reception office that
served Johannesburg, which arguably houses the greatest number of foreign
immigrants. The office was closed after nearby businesses filed a court
application alleging crowds of immigrants that flocked to the office were
disturbing their operations.

Following the closure asylum seekers from Johannesburg were asked to use the
reception offices at Marabastad and TIRRO that were already barely able to
cope with their own workloads before the addition of tens of thousands of
more people that used to go to Crown Mines.

This, the applicants say, has led to overcrowding at the two reception
offices that in many cases it has become virtually impossible for asylum
seekers to get assistance due to them under the Refugees Act.

The applicants want the ministry forced to open a refugee facility in
Johannesburg within 60 days of granting of the order.

They also want the ministry ordered to probe corruption at Marabastad and
TIRRO, implement measures to maximise productivity at the two offices and
ensure that force is not used unnecessarily against asylum applicants.

In addition the applicants say they want the ministry directed to introduce
effective queue management systems at reception offices, put up signage
stating procedures for applying for asylum, scrap fines for asylum seekers
who failed to renew permits on or after June 2011 and set up grievance and
complaints desks at Marabastad and TIRRO.

South Africa, which has Africa’s most prosperous economy, is home to
millions of foreign nationals, many of them living illegally and seeking
better opportunities from failed economies like northern neighbour Zimbabwe.

There no exact figures of how many Zimbabweans live in South Africa but
estimates put the figure at anything above two million or above a sixth of
Zimbabwe’s total population of 12 million people.

Locals often complain that the immigrants steal their jobs or lower working
standards by readily accepting below market wages, while also overloading
government social services and committing crime.

An outbreak of xenophobic violence in 2008 left at least 62 foreigners dead
and thousands of others displaced, leaving foreign investors unsettled and
South Africa’s image as one of the more tolerant countries in the world
shattered. -- ZimOnline

South Africa [and Zimbabwe] at ‘Stage Six Genocide’

http://www.nl-aid.org/domain/human-rights/south-africa-at-stage-six-genocide/

 

Posted on | augustus 23, 2011 | No Comments

http://www.genocidewatch.org updated its Genocide warning for South Africa on 20 Aug 2011 from 'Boer farmers' being at risk of genocide stage 5 to include ALL WHITES and Women being at risk of Stage 6 genocide at the hands of "ANC Youth, black Marxist racists'. It did not continue its previous stage 5 warningthat 'foreign black Africans' were also at risk.

Genocide Watch: “Julius Malema must be removed as leader of the ANC youth league… he is a violent Marxist-racist just like Winnie Mandela.” Genocide Watch updates South Africa’s whites and women (high rape rate) to Stage 6 (of the 8 stages) of genocide at the hands of ANC Youths and Black-Marxist Racists”.

Stage 6 of 8 stages of Genocide: PREPARATION: Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity. Death lists are drawn up. Members of victim groups are forced to wear identifying symbols. Their property is expropriated. They are often segregated into ghettoes, deported into concentration camps, or confined to a famine-struck region and starved. At this stage, a Genocide Emergency must be declared. If the political will of the great powers, regional alliances, or the U.N. Security Council can be mobilized, armed international intervention should be prepared, or heavy assistance provided to the victim group to prepare for its self-defense. Otherwise, at least humanitarian assistance should be organized by the U.N. and private relief groups for the inevitable tide of refugees to come.

7. EXTERMINATION begins, and quickly becomes the mass killing legally called “genocide.” It is “extermination” to the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human. When it is sponsored by the state, the armed forces often work with militias to do the killing. Sometimes the genocide results in revenge killings by groups against each other, creating the downward whirlpool-like cycle of bilateral genocide (as in Burundi). At this stage, only rapid and overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide. Real safe areas or refugee escape corridors should be established with heavily armed international protection. (An unsafe “safe” area is worse than none at all.) The U.N. Standing High Readiness Brigade, EU Rapid Response Force, or regional forces — should be authorized to act by the U.N. Security Council if the genocide is small. For larger interventions, a multilateral force authorized by the U.N. should intervene. If the U.N. is paralyzed, regional alliances must act. It is time to recognize that the international responsibility to protect transcends the narrow interests of individual nation states. If strong nations will not provide troops to intervene directly, they should provide the airlift, equipment, and financial means necessary for regional states to intervene.

8. DENIAL is the eighth stage that always follows a genocide. It is among the surest indicators of further genocidal massacres. The perpetrators of genocide dig up the mass graves, burn the bodies, try to cover up the evidence and intimidate the witnesses. They deny that they committed any crimes, and often blame what happened on the victims. They block investigations of the crimes, and continue to govern until driven from power by force, when they flee into exile. There they remain with impunity, like Pol Pot or Idi Amin, unless they are captured and a tribunal is established to try them. The response to denial is punishment by an international tribunal or national courts. There the evidence can be heard, and the perpetrators punished. Tribunals like the Yugoslav or Rwanda Tribunals, or an international tribunal to try the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, or an International Criminal Court may not deter the worst genocidal killers. But with the political will to arrest and prosecute them, some may be brought to justice.

Dr Gregory Stanton of GenocideWatch.org has changed South Africa (and Zimbabwe) to Stage 6 of genocide – when death lists are drawn up, propaganda targetting the target-groups distributed, murder-groups are formed, armed attacks against the target-groups are starting to culminate in a full-out Genocide, and victims – (in this case more than 800,000 of the 3-million Afrikaner-whites are already living in hundreds of marginal land-sites in dismal squatter conditions) — are being forced into marginal land sites where they are denied food-aid by the regime. Stage 7 is the all-out genocide. Stage 8 is the denial of the genocide which in South Africa already occurred much earlier, during stages 4 and 5 — with the ANC-regime’s denial of its genocidal attacks against Boer farmers and its constant official attempts to hide these facts by stopping its recording these ‘farm-attacks’ in seperate categories on the official police statistics site http://www.saps.gov.za. Stanton writes: “Julius Malema must be removed as leader of the ANC youth league. He is a violent Marxist-racist. Just like Winnie Mandela.”.

Nearly 600 asylum-applications from South Africans
Legally, this designation by the world’s acknowledged expert-organisation on the process of genocide (genocide is not a singular event, it is a long-drawn out process), also means that Boers can use this status – as was already done under status 5 — to be legally admitted as ‘political refugees’ from this government-directed genocidal violence targetting them in South Africa.

Thus far 360 ‘South Africans’ have obtained political asylum in a variety of Western countries, including the USA, Canada, and Ireland. More than 200 applications also are still pending.

It also means that this fact will also be added to the two charges of genocide lodged by Boer-organisations at the International Criminal Court in The Hague in April and May this year.

Up to August 20 2011, two at-risk minority groups were listed in South Africa – the ‘Boer farmers’ and 10-million black-African Refugees. The Boers have been listed at stage 5 since 2002. On August 20 2011, this rating was changed to include ALL whites in South Africa, at risk of Genocide Stage 6. The ‘whites’ now are targetted actively ; they are being publicly demonised and identified as the ‘enemy-group’; many calls are placed in the public media calling for their mass-murders, including the murders of white babies with the song ‘One Bullet – One White Infant’. There are reports that name-lists of white local-level leaders, identified through their participation in the citizen-policing forums, are being submitted to central government agencies. ANC youths are actively engaged in planning and announcing plans to take over all the (estimated 12,000 white-owned private farms) with organised violence-driven youth groups; groups are being trained at military bases at the moment. These newly-trained (8,000-member) ANC youth league members officially are going to help carry out ‘rural census’ from early next year. The ANC-regime does not explain why it is necessary to provide military training and arms to these groups. Stage 8 is the denial of the genocide and attempts to hide it by the perpetrators.

Many of these stages blend into each other: for instance in Stage 6, the victims are also being ‘forced into marginal land-sites or camps’ where they would be left to starve. This has been happening with the whites in South Africa when they were still in Stage 5: when the ANC-regime made black-racist laws barring the Boers/Afrikaners from the entire labour market only because of their ethnicity: more than 800,000 of the 3-million Boers now languish on marginal land-sites: being denied food-aid, government benefits and denied access to the entire labour market under the ANC-regime’s sonamed ‘black economic empowerment laws’. These laws are used to ethnically-cleanse ‘whites’ from their traditional towns and smallholdings because they rapidly become empoverished and homeless.

AUTHOR: Adriana Stuijt
URL: http://censorbugbear.blogspot.com

Mujuru's death, selected comments from Byo24News readers part 1

http://bulawayo24.com/

Written by conscientious objector, August 22, 2011
Rex Mongo was the first terrorist to attack an unarmed and defenseless
farmhouse during the so called war of liberation. During the last election
Zanu PF leadership unleashed a horror road show on the rural ma*ses, thus
including rape murder and infernos, this methodology was authorized,
perfected and enhanced by no other than Rex Nhongo. How many innocent people
during the war, were falsely accused, bounded with barded wire, beaten to
death and set ablaze? Is n’t strange that the man dies in the same way? Zanu
PF’s problems start at the tomb stone and also end at the tombstone. Until
and unless we understand that all lives are created equal and people’s
individual rights have to be respected these sagas will continue to rivet
our society. “Unclinch your fists my brothers” and open your doors to the
rule of law.

written by munhu, August 22, 2011
zizi is absolutely spot on. I do not see how the general could be
a*sa*sinated without instructions or approval from the highest office. It
seems they tried to dissolve his body with acid first, maybe from the
goromonzi torture camps, and when they failed then they set the body alight!
Imagine the mental status of people who do such heinous things to someone
because he does not agree with them? Intolerant murderers. Surely the
general was entitled to his own opinion? I have no doubt that going forward,
the game of political elimination has started. Perence Shiri was fortunate
to survive it, but gentlemen beware!

written by nyikayaramba mhandu, August 22, 2011
there have never been economically-motivated violence in zim. its all
political. i suspect douggie nyikalaramba. remember his words and vows that
he would not sit aside while some people sought to dislodge Bob - his
father. solomon worked hard towards this goal, didnt he? douggie, how could
solomon die so soon after your words. tell us, please do

written by mbudzi, August 22, 2011
Hazvina mhosva hazvo. Zorora murgare rwashe

written by Dread Fata., August 22, 2011
@Njabulo Ncube and Clemence Manyukwe.
Your journalism amounts to fallacy. Your title is suggestive and conclusive.
Do you have the pieces in place to back you submission? Are you sure it is
the succession story or you strongly believe so. Matters of belief and
knowledge are thousands of mile apart. In these trying times where everyone
is both hungry and thirsty for facts leading to the demise of the son of the
soil your submission warrants your questioning. It seems you have m*re of
the answers which the nation are looking for. Your hatred for some or love
for others should not skew you journalism. Do not trivialise yourselves and
the profession at large. Wish you well.
RIP Cde Rex Nhongo.

written by Tavistock, August 22, 2011
The tragedy of Zimbabwe is the adage that man tends to linger over their
past triumphs. The rulers of the country, "emphasise rulers here, not
leaders" have lingered over the pecieved triumph of the liberation war, and
have dismally failed to look into the future. The result is a country that
has remained stagnant, in all spheres and at all levels. Any forward
progress that could have been has been referenced to the liberation war. The
fact that political advancement in the new dispensation was preambled on the
liberation war credentials effectively stymied meaningful advancement in the
political discourse of the country. Where political oxygen is deficient,
governance suffers. Attendant with this are failure are policies,
legislation and institutions. it is symptomatic that such failures breed the
cult of the larger than life leader, the mystical hero cowboy who can save
the town from the baddies. while such a hero maybe required to catalyze
conditions for a healthy and vibrant democracy, it is imperative that a
country relives itself of the disease of lingering over past triumphs. we
need to recognise this affliction first, before it can be cured. sadly,
zimbabwe is yet to diagonise its disease

written by toperasu chirandu, August 22, 2011
In the events of any state there are occa*sions that pull the heartstrings
of all patriots, a moment at which our differences are far smaller than our
unity, the death of Rex Nhongo is such an event. Here was one of the greats,
a true son of the soil. His stature demands that the events leading to his
demise be made public. This call goes beyond politicall differences. Amen

written by pope John, August 22, 2011
Mugabe is the devil behind all the problems in Zims get rid of him and Zims
has no m*re problems

written by widzo, August 21, 2011
those who kill by the sword die by the sword, comment y**o yandisekesa.

written by tirharirha, August 21, 2011
electrical fault when they say there was no electricity. magetsi aenda

written by jeff tonde, August 21, 2011
i am proud of the willingness to have a bright future for zimbabwe without
the bloodshed.we have economically empowered and revived the economies of
sadc why not our own country.if education is for liberating our
socio-economic problems why not let the phd holding sons of the soil come
together and come home to liberate the country.the general and mugabe
generation did their part.it is now phase 2.empowering the nation by
equipping the ma*ses with freedom.in a society where freedom of speech and
expression exists there is the birth of social activism,partic**ation and
expression of ideology.these things are not forthcoming because we are
trying so hard to outdo each other and suppress the next man.we have enough
wealth for everybody.

written by tafffy, August 20, 2011
Ndizvozvo chaizvo elections 2012 "Tsvangirai or Joyce"...Masoja mumabaracks,
ngwena kurwizi.. mapurisa kusunga mbavha kumbare....harahwa kumusha
kunotaura ngano navazukuru dzichirova ndari.

written by FIDZO, August 20, 2011
Next free and fair election 2012 "m*rgiza or Mai Mujuru...Generation 40"
abaiwa ngagabude. Ngwena haulume. Masoja mumabarack.. pamberi ne New
Zimbabwe!!!!!

written by FUTURE, August 20, 2011
Why are citizens worried and bogged down by the past? Why do many when
visiting the toilet (flashing ones), they look at their droppings before
flashing out? Why would people spend considerable time talking about what
happened and not what is going to happen? Why do liberation movements hold
their countries at ransom by constantly reminding us about the past and not
proffering solutions for today? Where is the youth? Who will articulate the
problems of those who were born after the struggle? Was the struggle for
emanc**ation or self-enrichment? Who will put food on the table?

Sober answers on the above will tell us that any discussion about Zanu, who
heads it and who replace it is irrelevant. The discourse ought to be about
NewZimbabwe. In New Zimbabwe no one will be above the law, the government
shall deliver based on measurable performance targets, the communities shall
be empowered to determine their destiny. No tribe, race and creed shall seek
to manipulate the state to dominate others be politics, economics or
otherwise. The economic cake shall be shared equally, thus no platinum from
Shurugwi shall be used to develop other areas before those communities are
catered for. The people of Binga shall be brought in the mainstream through
a quota system. Each province, each district and each region shall be
represented in highest governance structures.

Bragadier Nyikayaramba and his colleagues shall be restricted to the
Barracks where they will be required to discharge their constitutional
duties. Commissioner Chihuri and his team will focus on anti-corruption
activities to ensure government projects and programmes are implemented. The
CIO will be m*re focused on external threats to the country.

I am not day dreaming but laying the true foundations of New Zimbabwe, a
prosperous country of proud people taking its right position in the world
community of nations. A Zimbabwe which promotes and rewards hard work and
honesty. A Zimbabwe where opportunities are not confined only to the Party,
but to whomsoever is so willing to pursue that he/she believeth to be the
true calling.

Witchcraft shall be punished most severely in New Zimbabwe; those who use
magic to harm others (witches) will be burnt to death. Tokoloshes will be
destroyed completely. We affirm and reaffirm that in New Zimbabwe, we are
against the evil of sorcery, for this is one of the main impediment to
development. Why do you use Muti to harm future leaders? What authority do
witches have over people's lives? To what extent shall we tolerate the
burden of witches? When shall we continue to lose our beloved ones because
of this vice?

Witchcraft exists and the government should acknowledge it and take measures
to punish the perpetrators.

So any discussion about Zimbabwe should be on how we take the country to New
Zimbabwe not wasting time hackling on who will replace an illegitimate
party. Tsvangirai continues to be a viable option, despite his fundamental
flaws. He has been consistent in opposing the tyranny. He was magnanimous in
working with the loser and put the interests of the nation above his.
However, he seems to look for the easy way of solving problems: The
so-called DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION is nonsense and sober minds within and
without should highlight to him as such. Where have you seen people just
leaving power like that? We want a clear sweep of the old order and put in
their positions the new, for it is the new who can bring REAL CHANGE.
Tsvangirai thinks that SADC will remove ZANU from power and install him that
is archaic and reminiscent of The Monarchs period. Jacob Zuma is not
president of Zimbabwe and thus does not have the right or mandate of talking
about Zimbabwe politics outside the narrow mandate of bringing the
belligerents to the table. Tsvangirai thus to me a stumbling block to the
change he froth at the mouth.

Now listen to me: there shall be no moderates and MDC, or hardliners alone,
but it shall be the new order! Anyone who can rise to the occasion and seize
the emanc**ation agenda is welcome. Where the son of the soil who is
prepared to lead the Zimbabweans to New Zimbabwe????????

RIP Mujuru

Mujuru's death, selected comments from Byo24News readers part 2

http://bulawayo24.com

2011 August 23 14:52:12

written by Jethro motomuzhinji, August 20, 2011
m*re heads are going to roll,if this succession issue z nt solved.naturaly e
enemy chose the power behind mai mujuru 2 mek her m*re
vulnerable.otherwize,the real target is mai mujuru,the power contester.it z
thus nt surprising 2 wake up one day 2 e news of her death if she is not
careful.the other thing z jonathan moyo hand in this tragedy z widely
suspected,coz he openly denounce mai mujuru leading 2 his so called
tsholotsho declaration.unknnwn 2 him however is that he iz mt invincible a
fact he does not know considering his project- introspection.im sure in tht
project he has bec*m an enemy of many even those aligned to his faction.by
now his enemies are now after his blood,he should be careful,others greater
than him have bec*m victim

written by joshua, August 20, 2011
what if the whole thing is not political but diamond business gone wrong.
Like the VP said taurai zvinu zvamugona kuzozvimiririra mangwana

written by jedye, August 20, 2011
Akafa mufiro unorwadza murume uyu. Zvinotonhuwha kuti panechakavandika asi
chichabuda pachena nenguva. Kuna Jonathan Moyo nemhondi Mnangagwa, enyu
mazuva achasvika, ava pedyo futi.

written by Former CIO Agent, August 20, 2011
To cremate a human body to ashes requires a constant temperature range of
850 - 950 degrees Celsius(in a furnace) for a minimum of two hours. Even at
these temperatures the bones are not completely burnt. Also you will learn
that to achieve such temperatures special chemicals are used(in the 60s ,70s
coal was used). One is left wondering how these temperatures were achieved
in a open house(not a furnace) to completely burn Mujuru ?? From a candle ??
Electrical fault ?? In a house of brick , m*rtar and asbestos ??

To put this into context , remember a few weeks ago there were people burnt
to death when the truck they were draining fuel from burst into flames. With
so much fuel(000's of litres) , their badly burnt bodies were largely
intact.

Food for thought.

written by jj mugadza, August 20, 2011
all nonsense! why can't you write about zim under m*rgan which is what we
are fighting for than succession of a party getting measured for its coffin?
the problem with zimbos is that we waste time cahsing rats in the kitchen
while the house is on fire! sure how can we devote acres of s**ce to the
succession of a party of the past rather than focusiing on the future? also
mr journalist, mujuru retired from the army in 1989 not 1995 coz by that
time he was our mp in chikomba. mujuru is my neighbour panjanja so do not
tell us lies...yellow journalism.

written by jj mugadza, August 20, 2011
all nonsense! why can't you write about zim under m*rgan which is what we
are fighting for than succession of a party getting measured for its coffin?
the problem with zimbos is that we waste time cahsing rats in the kitchen
while the house is on fire! sure how can we devote acres of s**ce to the
succession of a party of the past rather than focusiing on the future? also
mr journalist, mujuru retired from the army in 1989 not 1995 coz by that
time he was our mp in chikomba. mujuru is my neighbour panjanja so do not
tell us lies...yellow journalism.

written by Omo Gezani, August 20, 2011
Too bad-no Gen Rex never said down with Umdala Wethu or any opposition
leader. He was always in good books with all political parties. I could not
put this past Jonathan Moyo and Mnangagwa-fullstop! Noone should ever trust
Jonathan Moyo and his friend. The Dinyane saga was orchestrated by him and
Mnangagwa but obviously with Mnangagwa's experience in dirty politics-he
backed out at the last minute and cunning Jonathan Moyo was exposed for what
he is-just power hungry. We have always said anyone trusting Jono will do so
at their own peril. He doesnt even respect Amai Mujuru cause he says she is
not educated, therefore she cannot be president of the country. Lets see if
they will get their wish-time will tell. Remember after Dinyane Amai Mujuru
and Mugabe confronted him-the man just shed tears like a cry-baby. Why did
Zanu bring this man back??? Mnangagwa always uses Jono and exposed, he shall
be-mark my words!

written by Those Who Kill By The Sword Will Be Killed By Sword Too, August
19, 2011
Emmerson Mnangagwa and Jonathan Moyo, You killed our loved General. You sent
your a*sissins to kill him and burn his remains like that. I can tell you
that both of you will be next. You will be killed like chickens and your
manhood will be taken as prophies and placed on General Muguru's Grave. You
will never be President of Zimbabwe when President Mugabe retires. The
people hate you so much and if you try to do what you did in 2008, you will
be like your friend Gaddaff. Barack Obama and David Cameron will be watching
you this time and if you try anything stupid to kill Tsvangirai or Amai
Mujuru, you will be burried in Zambezi River alive and eaten by crocodiles .
You dare humiliating our General like that and you will pay for sure!!!

written by Mateuro Ropa Re Zimbabwe, August 19, 2011
Rest In Peace (RIP) General Mujuru. You were a*sa*sinated by your enemies.
It is not clear if it were economically or politically motivated, but if it
was politically motivated, that was the biggest mistake your enemies have
made and if they think they will take the Presidency, they can forget. It's
either m*rgan Tsvangirai or Amai Muguru to take over when Mudhara decides to
retire.

written by jeff tonde, August 19, 2011
rest in peace great general.the only problem i had with you was keeping
quiet when they killed tongogara your friend and nyagumbo who was your
neighbor.Zimbabweans lets stop this bloodshed varume.remove mugabe and the
whole zanu pf apparatus and start afresh.i dont think m*rgan is ready.just
because you went to war does not make you a hero.many went to war because
they were criminals running away from the law like webster shamu to name
one.let us look for a female leader maybe pane chance.haikona madhaga aya.i
read that mugabe has 39 farms.is he not the same person trying to spread the
wealth to the nation and you have 39 farms.

written by Tormented Soul, August 19, 2011
Windows with no burglar bars ! Where were the bodyguards ? Police ? Does he
not have a generator ? Fire Brigade attending a fire scene with NO water !
Position of body near door !

I think he was dead and the body thrown into the house and burnt to destroy
the evidence and fake death by asyphixia & 4th degree burns.

But NGOZI (avenging spirit) is unstoppable ...unless he burnt some people
alive in their homes during the war or in the violent elections.

RIP Rex Nhongo, you are a real HERO, not every Chenjerai, Sabina & d**k they
have carried up that hill near the NSS.

Nhai Mkomoa Nhongo bereka su tiended,
Chauya chauya ...

written by vincent, August 19, 2011
zororai murugare Cde real cadre the mujuru family we are with you during the
untimely death of a galant son of the soil

written by Zizi, August 19, 2011
Behind the storm, sits the real devil. Mugabe is the one behind all this
because he is not willing to go and the only way is through a reasonable
justification.

Now that he has manufactured the death of one faction, he can claim that he
can not go because the party is in limbo.

I will not be surprised even if he would use this to destroy all those
internal factions that were vying for the presidency. Mnangagwa should never
think that he is safe because Mugabe may use Mujuru's death to get rid of
him, hence gaining the support of Mujuru and even of Mnangagwa's faction.

I will be surprised if Mugabe is not involved in this dirty game.

written by Those Who Kill By The Sword Will Be Killed By Sword Too, August
19, 2011
Emmerson Mnangagwa and Jonathan Moyo, You killed our loved General. You sent
your a*sissins to kill him and burn his remains like that. I can tell you
that both of you will be next. You will be killed like chickens and your
manhood will be taken as prophies and placed on General Muguru's Grave. You
will never be President of Zimbabwe when President Mugabe retires. The
people hate you so much and if you try to do what you did in 2008, you will
be like your friend Gaddaff. Barack Obama and David Cameron will be watching
you this time and if you try anything stupid to kill Tsvangirai or Amai
Mujuru, you will be burried in Zambezi River alive and eaten by crocodiles .
You dare humiliating our General like that and you will pay for sure!!!

Is the banks seizure threat, a Zanu-pf diversionary tactic?

Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, 23/08/11

Amid growing demands for answers to questions surrounding the sudden death
of Retired General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru whose body was found burnt
beyond recognition at Alamein Farm, Beatrice, is the banks seizure threat, a
Zanu-pf diversionary tactic?

After a display of rare unity at the funeral for Mujuru, Zimbabweans have
been kept in the dark save for what they already know. Note the wording in
this opinion piece, we are not saying he was burnt to death but that his
body was found burnt to ashes, because there has not yet been conclusive
evidence about what caused his death - that is one of the unanswered
questions.

Furthermore, Mujuru’s allies reportedly vowed to have the matter discussed
at the next politburo meeting and that they want the results of the
investigations made public. That is where Zanu-pf is in a classical catch 22
situation.

The regime is very anxious to quickly shift attention to a more convenient
and politically expedient subject of indigenisation or economic empowerment,
this time involving the grabbing of what are mostly Western-owned banks in
Zimbabwe.

The banks seizure threat, if it will ever materialise, would help unite the
potentially fragmenting Zanu-pf, for the time being and earn the party
unguarded sympathy from disgruntled unemployed youths in the same way the
land grab (jambanja) was done with serious consequences to the economic
stability of the country.

One of the dilemmas of the MDC formations in the GNU is which side to back
in the  current tug-of-war between Youth Affairs Minister Saviour Kasukuwere
vs Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Gideon Gono, after the former
demanded that the latter should resign or risk being sacked because the
governor is not sanctioning the banks seizure plan.

It is a matter of common knowledge that Mugabe’s unilateral appointment of
the Governor of the Reserve Bank Gideon Gono was one of outstanding issues
to the GPA implementation until Jacob Zuma the facilitator suggested it be
parked and move on to other issues.

Will the MDC formations say Gono must go and risk playing into Kasukuwere’s
hands or will they say he can stay in his post and risk contradicting
themselves? Is this their opportunity to get Gono out or they have changed
their minds?

Meanwhile, we await the indigenisation activists’ view on how they would
handle a possible multi million dollar reparations claim from victims of
slavery, since Barclays Bank reportedly admitted some companies it bought
participated in the slave trade.

Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London,
zimanalysis2009@gmail.com

Bill Watch 34/2011 of 22nd August [New Parliamentary Session to Open on 6th September]