Outspoken ANCYL President Malema to Visit Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE - HARARE - AFRICAN Natuional Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, who is expected in Zimbabwe on Friday, will meet President Mugabe to get an appreciation of the country’s indigenisation and empowerment drive.



According to a provisional programme released by the Zanu-PF Youth League yesterday, Malema will meet a number of party leaders and address a rally in Harare on Saturday.


Zanu-PF Youth League deputy national spokesperson Cecilia Chivhunga said: “Malema will be accompanied by the league’s deputy secretary general Steven Ngobeni, treasurer-general Pule Mabe and committee members Floyd Shivarubu, Kenetswe Mosenogi, Clifford Motsepe, Abner Mosaase, Palesa Notsi and Maropene Ntuli.


“This visit constitutes part of the strengthening of relations with former liberation movements and will provide both the Zanu-PF and ANC youth leagues a platform on building a better Africa and how to empower people.

“The platform will also be used to share ideas on the land redistribution programme, how Zimbabwe and South Africa can benefit from their mining resources, youth empowerment and improving education standards for the young,” she said.


Chivhunga said the visit would also be used to raise awareness of South Africa’s hosting of the World Festival of the Youths and Students in December this year.


“We have also arranged for Malema and his delegation to meet Politburo members Absolom Sikhosana (youth affairs) Stan Mudenge (external relations), Didymus Mutasa (administration) before paying a courtesy call on Harare Metropolitan Governor and Resident Minister David Karimanzira.


Malema will also meet the Zanu-PF national political commissar Webster Shamu and Saviour Kasukuwere (secretary for indigenisation) before addressing a rally where we are expecting more than 5 000 youths,” she said.


Chivhunga said Malema will visit a house that used to accommodate the ANC in Avondale, which was bombed during the apartheid era, and the National Heroes Acre.


In a statement the ANC added: “The visit will also incorporate the ANC Youth League’s study tour programme of visiting countries that have succeeded or failed with nationalisation of and greater State participation in sectors of their economies.


“The study tours will proceed to China, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba.” Malema is a strong proponent of nationalisation of South Africa’s mining, agricultural and economic sector.

* Zim Daily

South African Facilitators in Zimbabwe Press for Power-Sharing Report by Deadline

The facilitators were waiting to receive a report from negotiators of the three Zimbabwe power-sharing parties on implementation of the Global Political Agreement and said they had no official word of a hitch in the timetable




A South African facilitation team that returned to Zimbabwe this week to push for a successful conclusion to talks in Harare's power-sharing government brushed off reports saying President Robert Mugabe and other ZANU-PF officials want to defer agreements made earlier this month under South African mediation until Western sanctions have been lifted.



The facilitators were waiting to receive a report from negotiators of the three Zimbabwe power-sharing parties on implementation of the Global Political Agreement and said they had no official word of a hitch in the timetable for the report to be handed over by Wednesday.



Mr. Zuma said on concluding his visit that a "package of measures" had been agreed through his mediation.



The state-run Herald newspaper has quoted ZANU-PF’s chief negotiator, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, as declaring that the negotiators had reached no agreements with Mr Zuma during a two-day mediation exercise in mid-March on behalf of the Southern African Development Community.



The newspaper, regarded as a ZANU-PF mouthpiece, later reported that Mr. Mugabe had made similar comments to the ZANU-PF central committee.



Mr. Mugabe was said to have insisted ZANU-PF would not put in place agreements with the Movement for Democratic Change until Western sanctions have been lifted."The sanctions must go first!," the pro-ZANU-PF Herald quoted Mr. Mugabe as saying.



South African facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu that she and her colleagues still hope to keep to the schedule.



Harare-based political analyst Charles Mangongera said ZANU-PF wants to test Mr. Zuma's resolve.



The talks were supposed to have ended Monday with a report going to Mr. Zuma by Wednesday for forwarding to Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, current chairman of the Southern African Development Community's troika on politics and security.



But sources privy to the talks say progress has been slowed by technical issues having to do with elections, security reforms, cabinet rules and a controversial audit of national farm lands following land reform.



However, party negotiators are said to have agreed the replacement of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and the appointment of senator Roy Bennett to a portfolio other than agriculture.



ZANU-PF negotiators were said to be under intense pressure from party hardliners demanding they back away from commitments made earlier this month through the mediation of Mr. Zuma.

* VoA

AfriForum Attaches Luxury Property of Zimbabwe in Cape Town

The civil rights initiative, AfriForum, today instructed the Sheriff of Cape Town to attach a luxury property of the Zimbabwean government, at 28 Salisbury Road, Cape Town, on behalf of Zimbabwean farmers.




This follows after a legal battle spanning several months, undertaken by AfriForum on behalf of farmers in Zimbabwe, which forms part of AfriForum’s civil sanction campaign against Zimbabwe.


In November 2008, the SADC Tribunal ruled in favour of Mr Michael Campbell and 78 other Zimbabwean farmers that the Zimbabwean Government’s land reform programme was racist and unlawful. In his reaction to this, Pres Robert Mugabe described the ruling as “nonsense and of no consequence” to Zimbabwe. The tribunal followed up its ruling with a contempt ruling and costs order in June 2009.


On 26 February 2010, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria registered these rulings in South Africa. They are now rulings of a South African court and as such the cost order is a judgement that can be executed locally.


In 2009 AfriForum also launched a very successful campaign when it became known that an international dairy company was purchasing milk from a farm that had been confiscated by the Mugabe-regime and transferred to Pres Mugabe’s wife, Ms Grace Mugabe. International pressure lead to a decision by the dairy company not to purchase milk from the said farm.


Mr Louis Fick (the first applicant in the current legal process) is a South African citizen, farming on Friedawil in the Chinhoyi-district. His farm was earmarked for land redistribution and he was effectively chased off his land last year. At the moment, Mr Fick is standing trial on criminal charges that he “failed to co-operate with the Zimbabwean land reform programme”. If found guilty, he faces a sentence of two years in a Zimbabwean jail. Mr Fick could not join today’s process, as he is on Friedawil to try and recover his remaining personal movable assets from the homestead, after the home had been burgled and looted.


Last year when it became known that the South African Government was on the verge of entering a bilateral investment agreement that would exclude South African farmers from protection, AfriForum assisted Mr Fick in an attempt to obtain an interdict against the signing of such a discriminating treaty.


The matter was settled, and the South African Government recommitted itself to the protection of South African farmers, as well as to the upholding of the already mentioned SADC Tribunal’s ruling.


AfriForum regards it as our duty to hold the South African government to these commitments. More particulars of future legal and civil action will be announced in due course.


* The Eye

South African Facilitators Back In Zimbabwe As Power-Sharing Parties Miss Deadline

Facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu, a foreign policy adviser to Mr. Zuma, told VOA that her team was in the Zimbabwean capital to take delivery of a report by party negotiators detailing results of power-sharing talks.

A South African facilitation team was back in Zimbabwe Monday to resume work with negotiators for ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change on resolving differences over power-sharing amid concerns the talks may not reach a successful conclusion by the deadline set by South African President Jacob Zuma.



Facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu, a foreign policy adviser to Mr. Zuma, told VOA that her team was in the Zimbabwean capital to take delivery of a report by party negotiators detailing the results of the talks. If there are unresolved issues, her team will press for results that are “acceptable” to Mr. Zuma, she said.



Sources said chances of a breakthrough appeared slim despite Mr. Zuma’s announcement earlier this month that the parties had agreed a "package of measures" that could be on rapidly implemented to resolve outstanding issues. But last week President Robert Mugabe seemed to be disavowing the Zuma-brokered agreement.



Reached by VOA, Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma, a negotiator for the MDC formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, declined to comment on the status of the talks, as did Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga of the rival MDC formation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.



But Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, top negotiator for Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, told Reuters that the parties had failed to meet President Zuma's March 29 deadline after marathon meetings, and would continue their discussions on Tuesday.



Political analyst Immanuel Hlabangana told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that despite such setbacks, President Zuma would eventually obtain binding concessions from ZANU-PF.



Zimbabwean non-governmental organizations, meanwhile, sought a meeting with Mr. Zuma in his capacity Southern African Development Community mediator to voice their concerns over an upsurge in violence and suggest ways to stop the trend.



Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairman Macdonald Lewanika said civil society feels the unity government is unable to provide protection against such violence, so civic leaders must appeal to President Zuma.



Activists say incidents of violence have been on the rise along with arbitrary arrests of members of the MDC, trade unionists, artists and rights activists.



Lewanika told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere that it is in Mr. Zuma’s interest to take concrete action to curb political violence with the World Cup of Football coming up fast in South Africa.

* VoA

Zimbabwe Artist in Court After Controversial Exhibit

Owen Maseko's painting of the 1987 Unity Accord between Robert Mugabe (ZANU) and Joshua Nkomo (ZAPU) which brought the ZANU-PF party into existence. The painting shows a bloodied Nkomo bending over the accord, while Mugabe is the other individual seated at the table.



Zimbabwe artist Owen Maseko was in court in Bulawayo after the government shut down his art exhibit exploring violence blamed on President Robert Mugabe.


Owen Maseko's exhibition at the national art gallery in Bulawayo focuses on an uprising that was crushed in western Matabeleland after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. Thousands of civilians were massacred by members of the Shona tribe trained by North Korea and loyal to Robert Mugabe.


The most striking image shows the late Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe signing an accord leading to a unity government. In the painting Nkomo is slumped across the table, blood dripping from his shoulders. Behind the two leaders is a line of men all wearing dark glasses, whom many presume are members of the Central Intelligence Organization.


Joshua Nkomo and Mr. Mugabe helped lead the guerrilla war against white rule in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.


Maseko's exhibit was supposed to run through April, but last Friday Maseko was arrested and police blacked out the gallery windows and covered the murals with newspapers.


Maseko is charged with inciting violence, undermining Mr. Mugabe's name, and demeaning Mr. Mugabe's tribe, the Shonas. The charges carry a prison sentence or fines.


Lawyers acting for Maskeo applied for bail at the Bulwayo Magistrate's Court and judgment will be delivered Tuesday. Meanwhile, the artist remains in detention.


Many people in Zimbabwe, particularly in the past 10 years, have been jailed or fined for allegedly insulting Mr. Mugabe.


Last week, photographer Okay Machisa was arrested shortly before his exhibition of photographs of political violence in the 2008 elections opened at a gallery in Harare. Although he was released, all of his photographs were seized by police.


* VoA

MDC-T Lashes Out at Mugabe Over 'Somersault'

Mdc-T has described President Robert Mugabe's claims that the three political parties in the unity agreement have not reached an agreement as a "gobsmacking political somersault" which will not be tolerated.




Mugabe told a Zanu PF central committee meeting on Friday that Zanu PF was still insisting that it would not compromise in the current talks over outstanding Global Political Agreement (GPA) issues until sanctions imposed by the West were removed.



His outbursts were at variance with comments by the mediator South African President Jacob Zuma that the parties had agreed to a package of measures during his intervention a fortnight ago.



The negotiators met on Thursday and Friday and are expected to round off the talks tomorrow. A report will be presented to Zuma before the Southern African Development Community considers a way forward.



MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said his party was shocked by Mugabe who said Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana were not going anywhere.



Mugabe also said there was no deal on the appointment of provincial governors and the status of MDC-T deputy agriculture minister-designate, Roy Bennett.



Relevant Links

Southern Africa

Zimbabwe

"We are shocked," said Chamisa. "We don't know the source of this. It's a Zanu PF political somersault and we don't know the motivation for this. It's revisionism."



He said an agreement had been reached that Gono and Tomana vacate their offices.



There was also an agreement on the re-appointment of provincial governors among other issues, he said.



"We are gobsmacked by the pronouncements from Zanu PF about the lack of progress in the talks when we were of the understanding and view that we are about to conclude all issues," said Chamisa.



He added, "If they are not politicking, it means we will be going back to President Jacob Zuma (South African President) for arbitration."

* Zimbabwe Standard

South Africa’s Malema to Hold Rallies in Zimbabwe, Herald Says

(Bloomberg) -- Julius Malema, leader of the youth wing of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, will visit Zimbabwe this week to hold political rallies, the Herald reported, citing Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.



The trip will “strengthen relations” between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Harare-based newspaper said. Malema will also meet with members of President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, it said.



Malema has been criticized by some South Africans for repeatedly singing a song that calls for whites to be killed. He is also an advocate of nationalizing South Africa’s mining industry. In Zimbabwe, the government is attempting to implement a law calling for foreign-owned miners to hand over 51 percent of their businesses to black Zimbabweans.



To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Durban at blatham@bloomberg.net.

Zimbabwe Police Shut Second Art Exhibit on Violence

HARARE, Zimbabwe — An attorney says police in Zimbabwe have shut down an art exhibit exploring violence blamed on President Robert Mugabe.




Artist Owen Maseko collected family photos of missing people, images of mine shafts where bodies were believed dumped and reports on an armed uprising after independence in 1980 in the western Matabeleland district that was crushed by troops loyal to Mugabe. Thousands of civilians were massacred in the fighting.



Attorney Kucaca Phulu said Monday that Maseko, his client, spent the weekend in jail on incitement charges after police shut down the exhibit in Bulawayo Saturday. Maseko was seeking bail Monday.



On Wednesday, police in Harare forced a human rights group to abandon a photo exhibit on political violence blamed on Mugabe's supporters.

 
* AP

No Progress Yet in Latest Zimbabwe Talks

Talks to iron out differences between Zimbabwe's feuding parties have begun in Harare, but there has apparently been no progress. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the parties agreed last week on a range of issues and says Zanu-PF is now back-tracking.


President Jacob Zuma said the parties have agreed to a package of measures, a statement that gave a desperate nation hope. Zuma's mediation efforts were broadly welcomed and it was hoped the deal would give impetus to easing European and American sanctions.


Zanu-PF however says there will not be concessions to opposition parties until sanctions are lifted. The party’s chief spokesperson Rugare Gumbo says the decision not to grant concessions was confirmed by their political bureau.


Responding to the situation, the MDC accused Zanu-PF of negotiating in bad faith. MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa says Zanu-PF should pronounce to the whole world that they changed their initial position. A report to the facilitator has to be forwarded by March 31 as the nation waits anxiously to see what this round of talks will yield.

* SABC

Zimbabwe Police Action Stops Human Rights Exhibit

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- A Zimbabwean rights group says they're abandoning a photo exhibit that documented human rights violations after fresh attempts by police to shut it down.

ZimRights official Cynthia Manjoro says police returned to the downtown gallery Wednesday evening after the show's opening to demand the photos. She says police also visited the group's office Thursday when they discovered the photos were no longer at the gallery. Police first seized the 65 photos on Tuesday but returned them just minutes before the show was scheduled to open.


The photos depicted political violence and torture blamed mainly on state agents and police since 2007.


Manjoro says organizers have taken the photos to an undisclosed location. The exhibit was slated to run for 10 days.


© 2010 The Associated Press.

Analyst Says Zuma Missed an Opportunity to Resolve Zimbabwe Impasse

A political analyst says South African President Jacob Zuma did not put enough pressure to ensure President Robert Mugabe resolves the ongoing stalemate in Zimbabwe’s coalition government.


Rejoice Ngwenya said President Zuma missed a great opportunity to resolve the ongoing crisis as he ends a three-day official visit to Zimbabwe Thursday.


“Frankly speaking, President Zuma has been very disappointing because he has given too many excuses why Mr. Robert Mugabe should not be called upon to account on reneging on the agreement. And really we feel that he lacks the depth to be able to deal with Mugabe’s political chicanery… and I don’t think he is going to move Mugabe much,” He said.


Mr. Zuma is backed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis after years of sharp disagreements between President Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).


Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party recently boycotted cabinet meetings after accusing President Mugabe of refusing to fully implement the Global Political Agreement that led to the formation of the unity government.


Ngwenya said President Zuma should have been tougher on the partners in the coalition government.


“We want him to be firm with both parties. We know that the issue of sanctions even if it is a so-called contentious issue is beyond MDC’s control. Now, we also know that the aspect of the agreement to freedom in the media the violation of human rights and so forth are only associated with ZANU-PF and Mugabe. He (Zuma) hasn’t mentioned that (and) our feeling is that he hasn’t been firm enough with Robert Mugabe,” Ngwenya said.


Zimbabwe media reported both Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai were positive after meeting separately with President Zuma.


Ngwenya said there is need for reforms that would ensure credible elections in the future.


“The caveat is that unless the electoral playing field has been leveled; the freedom of association, criminal codification and all the other elements that had been impediments to the people of Zimbabwe expressing themselves in the ballot box, the talk of elections is just another myth,” Ngwenya said.


During his recent official visit to the United Kingdom, Mr. Zuma asked Britain and other international donors to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe contending that the sanctions against President Mugabe’s regime are suffocating the unity government.

* VoA

Gono Mum After Meeting With Zuma

President Jacob Zuma has met directly with the men at the centre of the storm threatening Zimbabwe's fragile unity government. Zuma last night held talks with Central Bank chief Gideon Gono and prosecutions head Johannes Tomana in Harare. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wants both men ousted.



The MDC charges that President Robert Mugabe violated the September 2008 political agreement by re-appointing Gono and Tomana, without consulting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. After meeting Zuma, Gono would not reveal if any proposal had been made for his exit.


Zuma then held talks with MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, who is being tried on terrorism charges that the party says are trumped up. Mugabe is refusing to appoint Bennett as Deputy Agriculture Minister. Bennett was upbeat when he emerged from his meeting with Zuma.


"Very good, very helpful, very supportive to the Zimbabwean crisis and for the Zimbabwean people," said Bennet.


Zuma concludes his visit to Zimbabwe today with a joint meeting with the country's political leadership.


Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a unity government last year to end a stalemate over disputed elections and try to end a crisis that helped drag Zimbabwe into economic ruin. The deal has stabilised the economy but squabbling within the fragile alliance over policy and the slow pace of reforms have held back progress and stood in the way of fresh elections.


Tsvangirai boycotted Cabinet meetings late last year due to the dispute over the implementation of the deal.


* SABC

Zimbabwe Parties Happy With Zuma Led Talks

(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were satisfied with talks being mediated by South African President Jacob Zuma, Business Day reported, citing the Zimbabwean leaders.

Zuma, who is mediating talks aimed at salvaging the country’s power-sharing government, met both leaders individually yesterday, the Johannesburg-based newspaper said. Zimbabwe’s main political parties are expected to resolve their differences by next weekend, it said, citing Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

Zuma: Impaase Could Scupper Zimbabwe's Recovery Process

FAILURE to implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by all parties in


Zimbabwe could scupper progress and endanger future elections there, says

President Jacob Zuma .



Zuma, who left for the troubled country on an extended two-and-a-half day

visit last night, told Business Day yesterday that while he could not

"prescribe" to Zimbabweans how to resolve long-standing political and

economic problems, progress on the GPA was crucial.



"Unless we implement, it could jeopardise what needs to be done, especially

the final point, which is elections. Tensions could mount and the atmosphere

would not be conducive," he said.



Zuma would not be drawn on whether he would raise concern over apparent

threats to "indigenise" companies that could involve South African companies

operating there. " I am not sure . this matter will arise," he said.



President Robert Mugabe's decision to strip four ministers from the Movement

for Democratic Change (MDC) of their functions and powers have raised

tension in the shaky unity government .



Zuma's visit is the first since he took on the role of facilitator, and his

much vaunted skills as a negotiator will be tested.



The formation of an inclusive government last September has been bedevilled

by problems, ranging from Mugabe's unilateral appointment of the

attorney-general to the re-arrest of MDC treasurer and Deputy Agriculture

Minister Roy Bennett last month.



It is understood the South African government would encourage the parties to

move ahead and would try to convince the MDC to not get stuck on the three

issues that led to the present impasse.
 
* Business Day

MDC Appeals to South Africa Over Zimbabwe Stalemate

Cape Town - Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has called for South Africa's intervention to help strengthen the country’s fragile accord plagued by power struggles.


The call came amid reports that South African President Jacob Zuma was set to visit the country on Tuesday to assess the state of a power-sharing agreement set up to end a decade-long political and economic crisis.


MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa , told News24 that his party hoped Zuma would unlock the deadlock between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations.


“We’ve just received information through the media reports that President Jacob Zuma is coming and we hope that he will unlock the deadlock. We’ve had a deadlock in the implementation of agreements in the GPA (Global Political Agreement) and we hope that these issues are going to be dealt with and make sure that the government is saved from danger,” Chamisa said.

He said the people of Zimbabwe were tired of the “delaying tactics used by Zanu-PF to buy time so as to de-energise the nation. Unfortunately our guarantors are also becoming victims of these strategies”.


Chamisa said it was unfortunate that Zanu-PF was “falsely” telling the world that sanctions were the problems rattling the country’s government of national unity.


“Let’s implement the agreements in the GPA and the rest will follow. The hope is to be able to enhance the credibility of this government and prepare for non-violent elections,” Chamisa said.



President Zuma is expected to hold a meeting with the three principals in the global political agreement – President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. Reports say that Zuma’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, indicated that Zuma will meet the principals individually and as a group.


Zuma’s visit comes a few weeks after his trip to the United Kingdom, where he reportedly called for international support for Zimbabwe’s troubled coalition.


The MDC has already declared a deadlock on all the outstanding GPA issues and wants them referred back to Zuma.


On the other hand, President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF say the talks should be given time, but have also taken a rigid position not to compromise on anything that is against the resolutions of their December 2009 congress.


The South African leader has made it clear that he wants the parties to “park” the contentious issues around key government appointments, sanctions imposed by western countries, and of late, the stripping of powers of MDC ministers.

- News 24

Court Orders a Fine of R50000 For Malema Over Hate Speech

The Johannesburg Equality Court on Monday found ANC Youth League president Julius Malema guilty of hate speech and harassment.


"This court is satisfied that the utterances by the respondent ... amounted to hate speech," said Magistrate Colleen Collis.


"The uttered words constitute harassment as contemplated in the Equality Act."


Collis ordered Malema to make an unconditional public apology within two weeks and pay R50 000 to a centre for abused women within one month.


Collis concluded her judgment with a word of wisdom to Malema.


"Mr Malema, being a man of vast political influence, be wary of turning into a man that often speaks but never talks." The Sonke Gender Justice group's Mbuyiselo Botha extended a hand of friendship to Malema outside court after the judgment.


"We open our doors to the Youth League and Mr Malema. We would like to work with them," Botha told reporters.

He said Sonke would like to work with the league in addressing problems young people of SA face on a daily basis.


Botha said Sonke felt vindicated after the ruling in their favour. Asked what he wanted Malema to say in his apology, Botha replied: "We want him to say he apologises for the hurt and the pain he caused."


A handful of Sonke supporters celebrated outside the court, carrying placards that stated "Only one in 20 rapes are reported" and singing "Malema is a Mickey Mouse".

Joyce Dlamini, 27, said she was "very excited" by the judgment.

"We were singing that Malema doesn't know what he wants. He's got a big, loud mouth but he's a Mickey Mouse."


Malema's lawyer Tumi Mokwena said that he would study the judgment and take instructions from his client, who was not present at court, on whether to appeal or not.


Sonke took Malema to court for saying President Jacob Zuma's rape accuser had "a nice time".


He made the comment while addressing 150 Cape Peninsula University of Technology students last January.


According to court papers, Malema said "when a woman didn't enjoy it, she leaves early in the morning. Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money".


He was referring to the woman who had accused Zuma of rape, a charge on which he was acquitted. - Sapa

Zimbabwean Diaspora to be Excluded From Constituional Process

BULAWAYO – Zimbabweans living outside the country will be excluded from the constitutional reform process due to funding constraints, a top member of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) leading the reforms said on Friday.

About three million skilled and unskilled Zimbabweans have fled the country to neighbouring nations like South Africa and Botswana and to overseas nations over the past decade in search of better paying jobs and living conditions.

COPAC co-chairperson Edward Mkhosi told ZimOnline that the committee does not have financial resources to visit Zimbabweans in the diaspora to gather their views on the new constitution.

“Diasporans cannot be ignored but in as much as we would want to gather their views, the fact is that there is no money to do that, we do not have funds for example to visit Zimbabweans in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana,” said Mkhosi.

“They (diasporans) are difficult to reach, how do we reach out to people in the diaspora when we are failing to reach out to Zimbabweans here due to lack of funds.”

Under a September 2008 power-sharing deal that led to formation of the country’s unity government between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai the country is supposed to craft a new constitution paving the way for new elections.

But funding constraints and reports of alleged intimidation by soldiers and supporters of Mugabe’s ZANU PF party campaigning for the adoption of the controversial Kariba draft constitution as the basis for the proposed new charter have tainted the credibility of the reform exercise.

Mkhosi however said international donors have poured in funds to pave way for the gathering of views of Zimbabweans for the draft constitution, noting that the process will begin in the first week of April despite the low enthusiasm from Zimbabweans who are now fed up with the delays.

“According to our survey, the enthusiasm that people had about the constitution making process has been tempered with by the continued delays due to funding constraints. There is no enthusiasm any more because of that. Otherwise, we are confident that the process will begin in the first week of April since donors have pledged about US$21 million for the process,” he added.

ZANU PF and the two MDC formations of Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara secretly authored the Kariba draft in 2007 but critics say the document should be discarded because it leaves Mugabe’s immense powers untouched.

The coalition government is expected to call fresh elections after enactment of a new constitution although the administration can choose to wait until expiry of its term in 2013 to call elections.

Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will strengthen the role of Parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guarantee basic civil, political and media freedoms. – ZimOnline

SA's President Zuma to Travel to Zimbabwe Over Impasse

Divisions within Zimbabwe’s unity government have deepened following Mr. Mugabe’s unilateral redistribution of ministerial powers from portfolios held by the Movement for Democratic Change to those held by his ZANU-PF party.


South African President Jacob Zuma will go to Harare next week in hopes of resolving the impasse within the Zimbabwean unity government over a broad range of issues including a recent shuffle of ministerial portfolios by President Robert Mugabe.



Aides to Mr. Zuma told VOA that he will send a team of facilitators ahead of him to prepare the ground for his visit. Mr. Zuma, designated Zimbabwe mediator by the Southern African Development Community, will meet with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.



Divisions within Zimbabwe’s unity government have deepened in recent days following Mr. Mugabe’s unilateral redistribution of ministerial powers from portfolios held by the Movement for Democratic Change to those held by his ZANU-PF party.



Zuma foreign policy adviser Lindiwe Zulu, one of the South African facilitators, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that Mr. Zuma is confident he can break the deadlock threatening the longevity of the inclusive government in Harare.



Mr. Zuma recently lobbied in Britain for the lifting of European Union travel and financial sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle. But the EU wants to see more convincing democratic and political reform and implementation of the Global Political Agreement.



Finance Minister Tendai Biti, lead negotiator in talks with the other unity partners on behalf of the Tsvangirai MDC formation, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu that intra-governmental talks are at a standstill, adding that Mr. Zuma’s intervention is critical.



But political analyst Phillan Zamchiya of Oxford University in Britain said the chances Mr. Zuma will be able to break the political impasse in Harare are slim, so the only solution may be new elections.



Prime Minister Tsvangirai briefed foreign diplomats on Wednesday at his MDC formation's headquarters on the successes of the unity government - and the serious challenges the power-sharing arrangement faces.



He said talks within the government have collapsed, contrary to Mr. Mugabe’s recent assurances that the negotiations were on track. Mr. Tsvangirai called for mechanisms to be put in place ahead of possible new elections in 2011 to prevent violence.

* VoA

Zimbabwean Activist Mukoko Receives Courage Award From Hillary Clinton

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honored Zimbabwe Peace Project Director Jestina Mukoko on Wednesday with one of 10 International Women of Courage awards for 2010 in recognition of her bravery and leadership in the struggle for social justice, human rights and the advancement of women.

Clinton recognized Mukoko, who was abducted from her home outside Harare by state security agents in December 2008, for her courage and the inspiration she provides other women, especially young girls.

Clinton noted Mukoko’s determined activism in defense of human rights, particularly in calling attention to violence against women in Zimbabwe and in securing a Supreme Court victory against the state based on her illegal seizure and detention by state agents.

After she was handed over to police in early 2009 Mukoko was charged with plotting a coup against the former government of President Robert Mugabe.

First Lady Michelle Obama commended Mukoko for her tireless human rights work and urged girls to learn from the experiences of the honorees, borrowing from an earlier statement by Clinton when she was first lady to say that “women’s rights are human rights.”

Speaking on behalf of all the award recipients, Mukoko said the work of women rights activists is filled with trials and tribulations, referring to her harrowing experience during the month she was held incommunicado by state agents.

She said her darkest thought in that period was that she might never see her young son again.
Mukoko said the award gave the honorees a chance to share experiences and make their struggle universal.

Elsewhere, the U.S. government said human rights abuses remain widespread across Africa – though with improvements in a few areas. The State Department's annual report on human rights said government security forces commit arbitrary and unlawful killings in some of the continent's most populous countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

The report said President Mugabe’s ZANU-PF employs arbitrary arrest, torture, killings, and repressive laws to block the right of citizens to change the government.

* VoA

Zimbabwe: Finance Minister Biti Allocates Funds for IMF

FINANCE minister Tendai Biti yesterday distributed US$100 million part of the International Monetary Fund's US$510 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) funds received last year for infrastructural development.


The money, Biti said, would be applied to priority arrears, particularly infrastructure. He said the identified infrastructure was consistent with government thrust of "reconstruction with equitable growth and stability".
"Given that this money has to be repaid at a later stage, it is critical that utilisation be targeted at projects that will generate economic activity and give returns to the country," said Biti addressing the beneficiaries.
Government has so far accessed US$50 million of the SDR which has been directed towards procurement of inputs for the 2009/10 agricultural season.

Of the US$100 million, US$10 million was allocated to rehabilitate Hwange Thermal Power station and US$10,28 million for roads dualisation and bridge construction.

Biti allocated US$18,1 million for the rehabilitation of Harare International Airport taxiways and construction of JM Nkomo airport in Bulawayo.

Rehabilitation of rail infrastructure was allocated US$5,02 million. water and sanitation projects for Bulawayo received US$6,47 million, Marondera US$2,9 million and Mutoko US$180 000.

Mtshabezi Water Augmentation Project was given US$7 million, ICT infrastructure US$6,2 million and broadcasting transmission network US$800 000.

Housing was allocated US$10 million, completion of the central registry US$3,5 million, and US$19,54 was allocated for productive sector lines of credit.

The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe was appointed by Biti to facilitate disbursements as well as recoveries.

"The bank will also in conjunction with my ministry and line ministries, monitor and evaluate the impact of our interventions," Biti said.

"Therefore, we have taken a stance that each implementing agency as well as beneficiary institutions be responsible for the repayment of the loans."

Biti said the projects were selected on the basis of their ability to re-invigorate the economy and hence the need for them to be completed within time and money.
"Based on our experience with other projects last year, the resources will not be disbursed to beneficiary institutions, rather payments will be made directly to supplier of goods and services," Biti said.

* Independent

AU to End Zimbabwe, Kenya Conflicts

The Norwegian Minister of Environment and Development Cooperation, Erik Solheim, had asked the African Union (AU) leader, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika to do all he can to ensure conflicts in Zimbabwe and Kenya ended amicably.


In Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai and long-stayed President Robert Mugabe are sharing a government of national unity (GoU). Tension is however not completely gone between the two arch-rivals.
Solheim told reporters during his visit to Lilongwe that Africa had suffered deep conflicts and it was Mutharika's responsibility as AU leader to help find solutions.
"We want President Mutharika to take a leading role in solving conflicts in Africa," he said, singling out Zimbabwe and Kenya who have been engrossed in election disputes.
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki is also sharing government with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The two agreed to share power after scores of supporters for their differing parties crashed, killing hundreds.
The Norwegian minister also revealed he visited and talked to Mugabe and Tsvangirai after they formed the GoU.

"This is what the continental body should be seen to support to enhance lasting peace," said Solheim.
Africa is riddled with military coups, fresh ones in Niger and Gabon, insurgency in Madagascar coupled with natural disasters that have not spared parts of Uganda.
* Afrik

Zimbabwe Court Blocks Ouster of Parliament Speaker

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- A Zimbabwean court has rejected an attempt to oust the Parliament speaker, who is a top aide to the prime minister.
A supporter of longtime President Robert Mugabe had gone to the High Court seeking to oust the speaker, alleging there were irregularities when legislators voted for him.
A high court judge said Tuesday that the speaker's election was carried out constitutionally and that legislators had voted freely.
Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since 1980. He was forced into a power-sharing agreement that made longtime opponent Morgan Tsvangirai the prime minister.
The coalition was formed following a series of inconclusive elections that were marred by violence blamed on Mugabe supporters.
© 2010 The Associated Press

Caritas Zambia: Zimbabwe Not Ready for Elections

ZIMBABWE is not ready for elections, Caritas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu has said.

Commenting on the current situation in Zimbabwe, Mulafulafu yesterday admitted that elections could not be a solution to the Zimbabwean crisis.

“There are still deep-rooted problems that need to be resolved. Elections cannot resolve that. Unless those parameters are resolved, that's when good elections can be held because if you have reforms in the security structures and openness to international observance and oversight of the Zimbabwean elections, all those issues would help to mitigate the electoral environment,” Mulafulafu said.
“As of now Zimbabwe is not ready for elections as long as the security is still firmly under the control of ZANU-PF. And nothing has changed in their character since the government of national unity was constructed.”
He said the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe was quite problematic.

“What we all know is that there is no commitment on the part of ZANU-PF to keep the commitment that are contained in the agreement. All they are happy with is the lessening of international pressure on the government of Zimbabwe.

And I think that's what they wanted because now with the involvement of the MDC, there has been less pressure on Zimbabwe,” Mulafulafu said.
“Though some international… some governments in Europe like what I know of the United Kingdom (UK) they are not changing their status in terms of their perception of Zimbabwe with respect to sanctions. But the issue is that Zimbabwe is no longer as much under pressure as it was before the government of national unity and that's what ZANU-PF wanted.
“But at the same time they are not making any move on the commitments that were made and ZANU-PF is still arrogant as it was. And it is departing a lot from the agreement that was made with the opposition parties.”
He accused the ruling party of even defying some of the commitments that were made.

“So it's quite a precarious situation and I don't know how long the opposition will remain in that alliance. I have been speaking to Zimbabweans in the recent past, it's quite a frustrating situation,” he said.
Mulafulafu called for serious preconditions if elections were to be held in Zimbabwe.

“First of all, there must be an allowance from the government of national unity including ZANU-PF, commitment that those elections would be held under a conducive environment,” said Mulafulafu. “Without any resumption of violence. Remember that even with the government of national unity ZANU-PF still has a stronghold on the security.”
Recently, President Robert Mugabe declared that he was ready to stand as president in next year's presidential election, which he said would be held whether or not the rival parties agreed on a new constitution.
During a meeting with editors of media houses operating in Zimbabwe, President Mugabe said elections could be held in 2011 when the transition inclusive government's lifespan expires, whether or not the new constitution was in place.
“I am a ZANU-PF son. If ZANU-PF says, 'go for it', I will,” said President Mugabe, who turned 86 two weeks ago and will have been in power for 30 years on April 18.
At the next elections, he will be 87 and if he wins the polls, he will rule Zimbabwe for another five years until he is 92 years old.
But MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai who is also the country's Prime Minister has called for an African peacekeeping force for Zimbabwe to ensure the planned elections to choose a new government to prevent the violence, which occurred at the last elections.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai recently told his supporters to prepare for the polls.

The inclusive government between ZANU-PF and MDC was constituted last year to ward off ensuing tensions and violence that followed a disputed election in early 2008.
It has a lifespan of 24 to 36 months, during which the parties must draw a new constitution that would potentially usher in free and fair elections.
Already, the constitution-making process is lagging behind the time-line accorded to it in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) that established the inclusive government.
A stakeholders' conference was held at which various thematic committees that would go around the country to collate the public's views on what the new constitution should contain were formed. The next process has stalled due to funding constraints but if consultations are successfully held, a document would be written and presented to the electorate in a referendum.
According to the GPA, elections are supposed to be held under a new constitution within 18 months of the formation of the inclusive government.

* The Post

Zimbabwe's Bennett Wants Terrorism Charges Dropped

Reuters - Lawyers for Zimbabwean opposition politician Roy Bennett asked the High Court Monday to drop terrorism charges against him in a trial which has raised tensions in Harare's fragile unity government.
Bennett, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change and close ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, faces a possible death sentence if convicted of illegal possession of arms for purposes of committing terrorism, sabotage and banditry.

"The entire state's case is based on fiction," Bennett's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, told the court. "We submit that the facts presented by the state are not sufficient to have a conviction."

The prosecution's case -- that Bennett planned to fund a 2006 plot to blow up a major communications link and assassinate key government officials -- hinges on emails that prosecutors say link the former commercial farmer to the crime.

Mtetwa has said the e-mails could have been created by anyone to implicate Bennett.

The state's case was dealt a blow last month when its chief witness -- former policeman and arms dealer Peter Hitschmann -- disowned the emails and denied Bennett was involved.

Bennett claimed that he is being persecuted by President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party to stop him from taking up the post of deputy agriculture minister.
State prosecutors Thursday are expected to ask the court to reject the defense's application to drop the case and, instead, ask Bennett to take the stand.

Ahmadinejad Stresses Support for Zimbabwe Against West Sanctions

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran’s President emphasized expansion of ties with Zimbabwe and voiced support for the country against Western sanctions.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Zimbabwean Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa Monday in Tehran said, Iran will stand behind Zimbabwe to help it resist western sanctions.
Iran has always denounced the illegal and cruel pressures by western countries against people of Zimbabwe aimed at making them surrender, he said and added, they are concerned about Zimbabwe’s independence therefore they are trying to dominate the country again.
He also emphasized the two countries should employ capacities in order to promote the level of cooperation and relations and make influential and important steps to deepen ties.



Meanwhile, Mutasa submitted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s message to President Ahmadinejad and stressed that the capacities and rich reserves of the two sides are appropriate grounds for mutual investment and cooperation.



Mutasa has also held talks with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Tsvangirai Wants Peacekeepers for New Zimbabwe Polls

HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for an African peacekeeping force for Zimbabwe to ensure planned elections to choose a new government to replace his uneasy coalition with President Robert Mugabe are free and fair.


Addressing supporters in Chitungwiza city stronghold of his MDC party, Tsvangirai told followers to prepare for new elections, saying ongoing talks to resolve his power-sharing dispute wit Mugabe were not making much progress, hinting that the only way to end the deadlock was through an election.

“We don’t want a violent election but an environment for a free and fair election,” Tsvangirai said. He added: “We have to stop the violence before the election. Let’s bring in foreign observers. Why don’t we have a peacekeeping force so that everyone is going to exercise their democratic rights.

“Why don’t we have a peacekeeping force so that we have peace and stability before we conduct an election. If we can’t do it ourselves lets use SADC (Southern African Development Community) and AU (African Union) to create that environment for a free and fair election.”

Under a 2008 power sharing deal signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai that gave birth to their coalition government, Zimbabwe should hold fresh elections following the drafting of a new and democratic constitution to ensure the new vote is free and fair.

But the constitutional reforms are lagging behind by at least seven months suggesting the new vote that was initially expected in 2011 might have to be delayed to probably 2012 or 2013.

In addition, reports of intimidation by Zimbabwe army soldiers and supporters of Mugabe who want to force villagers’ to support the controversial Kariba draft constitution as the foundation of a new constitution have tainted the credibility of the constitutional reform exercise.

The Kariba draft that was secretly authored in 2007 by Mugabe’s ZANU PF party and the two MDC parties of Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. Critics say the draft leaves untouched the wide-sweeping presidential powers that Mugabe continues to enjoy even after formation of the unity government.

Tsvangirai’s calls on supporters to prepare for elections appeared in response to comments by Mugabe last week that Zimbabwe should hold new elections whether the constitutional reform exercise is successful or not.

Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a first round presidential vote in March 2008 and analysts had tipped him to clinch the decisive second round ballot but the then opposition leader withdrew from the poll citing

state sponsored violence against his supporters.

At least 200 supporters of Tsvangirai’s MDC party are believed to have died while no less than 10 000 were said to have been displaced in the violence in the run up to the June 2008 run-off poll won by Mugabe as sole candidate after the forced withdrawal of his challenger.

However Mugabe’s victory was rejected by the international community including some of his African allies forcing him to agree to form a power sharing a government with his former opposition foes. – ZimOnline

Zimbabwe: Constitution - Outreach Dates Set

Harare — Zimbabwe could have a referendum in November this year if the programme set by the drivers of the new constitution goes according to schedule.
According to the Parliamentary Select Committee work plan, a few administrative issues need to be cleared before the outreach starts on April 10.
This follows the signing of a project document between Government and the United Nations Development Programme on funding for the programme.
The UNDP has said it will help mobilise over US$20 million for constitution-making.
In an interview yesterday, Select Committee co-chairperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said: "According to our plans, we are going to have a second all-stakeholders conference between August 24 and 27 where we are going to come up with a final report that will be used for the referendum.
"The referendum is scheduled to be conducted between November and October but these dates are still subject to revision."
The first phase of the outreach should end by May 14 but before that 210 rapporteurs will be trained on March 24 and 25.
The purpose of the outreach programme is to gather public views on what citizens want included in the new constitution.
"We will have a week-long break from May 15 to 21 to allow thematic committees to report back on the progress they would have made," he said.
Mr Mwonzora said thematic committees would compile bi-weekly reports for Select Committee representatives at provincial level.
The second and final phase of the outreach programme will be from May 22 to June 26.
After completion of the outreach, the Select Committee will review the data gathered and come up with a draft constitution.
A final report that would determine the course of any referendum is expected between July 15 and 24.

Mr Mwonzora said they got assurances from both Government and the UNDP that funding would be sought to ensure the programme was completed without further delays.
It is believed that most donors are not willing to loosen their purse strings after failing to influence talking points that would be used to gather public views.
On Thursday, President Mugabe said harmonised elections would be held regardless of the outcome of the constitution-making process because the inclusive Government's two-year lifespan would expire in February next year.
He, however, pointed out that the three principals to the GPA might sit down to determine a way forward in the absence of finality on the constitution-making process.

* Herald

MICA Helped Oscar Winner 'Music by Prudence'Get to Big Screen

"Music by Prudence," made partly with the financial and creative support of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore's MICA, overcame several other strong candidates, including the American labor tragedy "The Last Truck," to win best short documentary at the 2010 Academy Awards on Sunday night.




Few Oscar films have packed in more profundity per minute than this tale of Prudence Mabhena, 21, and seven other disabled young musicians in Zimbabwe transcending bigotry and isolation through art and fellowship.



"This is amazing. Two years ago when I flew to Zimbabwe, I never imagined I would wind up here," said Roger Ross Williams, the film's producer-director, as he accepted the award. "This is for Prudence."



Many Zimbabweans regard handicaps as signs of sorcery. So singer-songwriter Mabhena and her bandmates in the Afro-fusion marimba group Liyana were stigmatized at birth. Not every band member has an affliction as visible and extreme as Mabhena's: She suffers from arthrogryposis, a condition that deforms joints and cost her both her legs.



But they all the band members survived brutal or apathetic treatment at the hands of parents and/or siblings who regarded them as stains on the family's reputation or drags on the family's fortune.



They found their individual and group voices only when they landed at the King George VI School & Centre for Children with Physical Disabilities in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It's not just an academy but an institution devoted to their physical and psychological care.



In the King George VI School environment, Mabhena was able to dream of reaching an international audience with her singing.



On Oscar night, that audience got a glimpse of her gliding across the red carpet in a green dress, with the film's producer-director, Roger Ross Williams.



Another school, Baltimore's MICA, was instrumental in bringing her story to the Academy's (and now the world's) attention. Last week, Williams said, "MICA was amazing. I couldn't have done the film without them."



Early on, the film's producer, Elinor Burkett, who first thought Liyana should be captured in a movie, put Williams in touch with Patrick Wright, the chair of MICA's video and film arts department. Wright lent his own equipment, and some of MICA's, to Williams for a critical period of early shooting. Wright found seed money for the project, cut trailers to win long-term backing, enlisted students as interns and recommended, as a cinematographer, Errol Webber Jr., who graduated from MICA in 2008 and immediately went to work on the movie.



Recent MICA graduate Matt Davies, who received a credit as production assistant, said that after spending countless hours logging footage, he thought every minute of footage was essential. But when he saw the completed film, he thought it was "marvelous that they packed so much into a short-film format. You get a really good sense of what life is like there, the hardship and what you have to deal with. You could do a half-hour on each member of Liyana, but Prudence's character, who she is, what she has to deal with, her striving to be positive about her future despite her past, is overwhelming."



"We all did this because we love Prudence and Liyana," Wright said at the time of his nomination. "Here were all these young kids, physically disabled, making music in a country falling apart around them. And, here, in the middle, is this beautiful woman who sings like Aretha Franklin."



Tonight, Prudence Mabhena and her friends got respect.

Copyright © 2010, The Baltimore Sun

Ncube: Zimbabwe to Review Local Ownership Rules

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's unity government is reviewing rules forcing foreign-owned firms to sell a majority stake to locals, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday, adding that the regulations were published prematurely last month.
The regulations came into effect on Monday and give foreign-owned companies, including banks and mines, 45 days to submit proposals on how they plan to sell 51 percent of their shares to black Zimbabweans within the next five years.
"Those regulations were published prematurely," Welshman Ncube, Industry and Commerce Minister told business executives.
He said the rules had not been submitted to a cabinet committee for debate on their legality and whether they were consistent with government policy. The committee would then make recommendations to the government.
"That did not take place. It is now taking place and all the ministers will be asked to make contributions," Ncube said.
President Robert Mugabe's government in 2007 passed an indigenisation and economic empowerment law, before he formed a power-sharing administration with rival Morgan Tsvangirai last year, seeking to localise control of foreign firms.

Last week Mugabe defended the local ownership laws, contrasting Prime Minister Tsvangirai, who said last month the latest rules were "null and void" because they were done without consultations in cabinet. Industry executives fear the empowerment drive will discourage foreign investment, at a time the new administration is seeking to attract badly needed investment to grow an economy that suffered from a decade of decline.

"We have consensus that there is need for indigenisation (but) we have no consensus yet on how we should achieve that indigenisation in a manner that empower out people while growing the economy. We don't have that consensus in the inclusive government," said Ncube.

* Reuters

MDC Youths Plan Demo in Solidarity With PM Tsvangirai

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party youth wing is planning nationwide demonstrations aimed at forcing the arrest of people "linked to the nauseating corruption at Chiadzwa”.


The planned protest would be in response to Zanu PF youths month-long ultimatum issued on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to call for the lifting of sanctions or "risk action from the youth of Zimbabwe”.
The ultimatum expires on March 24.
MDC called for the immediate arrest of Zanu PF youths who made unspecified threats against the premier but no one was arrested.
During his birthday celebrations last Saturday in Bulawayo President Mugabe urged youths across the country to rally against sanctions, a move that could incite clashes between MDC and ZANU PF youths.
“I want our youth movement (Zanu PF) across the country to now raise their voices louder than before in demanding that imperious countries of Europe and America leave us alone and drop those evil sanctions that they have imposed on us”, said Mugabe.
He added, “Let it be a vigorous campaign across the country…Why of all countries in the world, of all countries in Africa should Zimbabwe be burdened with sanctions?”
Youth Assembly Chairman Thamsanqa Mahlangu Wednesday said MDC youths would soon stage nationwide demonstrations.
“Now that these hoodlums have been allowed to demonstrate without fear of arrest, Zimbabweans shall soon be embarking on nationwide demonstrations for the arrest of all those linked to the nauseating corruption at Chiadzwa”.
Mahlangu, who is also deputy minister of youth, said Tsvangirai is not under threat from the youth of Zimbabwe but “from a sulking minority in Zanu PF which is busy looting diamonds in Chiadzwa”.
“We shall soon be taking to the street and giving our own deadlines for the opening of new newspapers and television stations, a speedy resolution to the outstanding issues and the completion of media and Constitutional reforms” said Mahlangu.
No dates have been set.
Mahlangu said the youth assembly takes great exception to the so-called ultimatum issued to the premier “giving him a deadline to solve a Zanu PF ulcer which it invited upon itself through electoral theft and gross human rights abuses”.
The ‘motley group of hired thugs”, Mahlangu said, are openly incited by Zanu PF’s geriatric Politburo.
“These Zanu PF saboteurs, who are found in the military top brass and the Zanu PF Politburo, have unleashed these hired street urchins to prevent the hawk-eyed Prime Minister from putting a dead end to the shameful corruption in Marange,” said Mahlangu.
According to Mahlangu, Tsvangirai is fighting to “divert these proceeds from their private pockets into the national coffers so that we can pay civil servants decent salaries which they deserve’.

* Afrik

SA's President Zuma Calls For Lifting Of Zimbabwe Sanctions

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has urged the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, saying it's a necessary step towards resolving its political crisis.
Responding to questions from London newspaper editors at the start of his three-day state visit to Britain, Zuma said he disagreed that more pressure in the form of sanctions was necessary to force a political settlement.
The SADC had suggested that if sanctions were lifted they could always be reimposed if insufficient progress was made, Zuma argued.
He confirmed he would raise this issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown tomorrow.
Zuma's call came a day after Zimbabwe's new local ownership law, requiring locals to own 51 percent of major foreign firms, took effect.

* Cape Argus

Tsvangirai Opposes Zimbabwe's New Indigenistaion Law

A new retrogressive economic empowerment law in Zimbabwe that seeks to grab 51 percent ownership of all international firms operating in the country was set in motion today, Monday.


All foreign firms have from Monday 45 days to meet a government directive to draft plans on how they will cede controlling stake to blacks.
Failure to comply with it could mean up to five years in prison.
But the regulations are silent on where impoverished locals will get money to pay for stake in firms that is expected to run into billions of United States dollars.
Panic has grabbed the economic sector with weekend reports that top government officials from Mugabe’s ZANU PF have positioned themselves to take over some companies, including banks.
“There is uncertainty within the business sector and we are engaging government on this, to say why don’t we set these regulations aside for now and focus on attracting investment,” Kumbirai Katsande, who heads the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries said.
Financial institutions like British-based Standard Chartered Plc and Barclays Plc and mining houses Anglo Platinum Limited (Angloplat), Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) and Rio Tinto all have operations in Zimbabwe and are easy targets in the empowerment drive.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, said the law was "null and void" as it was not debated by the new cabinet.
Mugabe defended the law at his 86th birthday celebrations on Saturday, saying they were designed to broaden Zimbabwean participation in the economy.
"This law will enable us to examine every large company in the country and determine whether the ownership principle has been observed," Mugabe told a crowd gathered in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city.
Renowned economist John Robertson say it will not be business as usual from Monday in Zimbabwe. “If there is anyone who doubts ZANU PF’s resolve, they only need to look at the land invasions, which caught everyone by surprise” said Robertson.
After invading White farms, new black farm owners abandoned most of the vast farm lands that they had appropriated for themselves due to lack of technical know-how. A situation that led to widespread food shortages. It is widely believed that the indiginization law will destroy the Zimbabwe business environment in the same manner.
Mugabe’s band of supporters, led by war veterans and youth militia, shocked the world in 2000 when they invaded white-owned commercial farms, in a spree that left dozens of farmers dead and started the country’s isolation by the West.
The free-for-all farm take-overs disrupted commercial agriculture, which is yet to recover a decade later.
* Afrik

Concern Rises as Zimbabwe Moves on Foreign Ownership

A new Zimbabwean law that forces foreign-owned companies to sell a majority stake in their businesses to indigenous people has come into effect.




Overseas-owned firms worth more than $500,000 (£332,000) will have five years to sell a 51% stake, upon the threat of jail sentences.



Harare-based economist John Robertson told the BBC's Network Africa programme that it was "a very bad idea".



He said it would only deter further badly-needed foreign investment.



"The government appears to have no wish at all to make the country attractive to the [overseas] investors," said Mr Robertson.



Government split



The new rule - dubbed the indigenisation law - is seen as an extension of the government's seizure of white-owned farms, which started approximately 10 years ago.





“ This law could create fears that the process could be chaotic, just like the land reform, which will affect the economic recovery of the country and we do not need this right now as we need investments ”

CTU president Lovemore Matombo

That controversial programme was widely considered a failure, as many of the seized farms have remained dormant.



This resulted in Zimbabwe - once known as the bread basket of Africa - having to become a net importer of food, sparking hyper inflation.



The move to target foreign-owned firms has further divided Zimbabwe's already strained unity government.



President Robert Mugabe has repeatedly defended the law, saying that foreign firms would be "foolish" not to comply.



By contrast, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has rejected the law, saying it was published without due process.



Investment 'needed'



Mr Robertson added that it was likely to have the same negative impact as the farm seizures.



"As soon as the skills are taken away from the businesses they now have their eye on, those businesses will also fail," he said.



He added that far from empowering the wider population, the move would only benefit those individuals that the government appoints to take control of the foreign companies.



The main trade union group, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), has also warned that the new law could have negative consequences.



"Although the principle of the law is good, we fear that this could lead to a creation of new minority blacks who will just replace the minority whites," said ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo.



"The law should have not been rushed, we are just coming out of a self-inflicted economic crisis.



"This law could create fears that the process could be chaotic, just like the land reform, which will affect the economic recovery of the country and we do not need this right now as we need investments."



Story from BBC NEWS:

Unions Decry New Zimbabwe Ownership Law

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) – Zimbabwe's new local ownership law, requiring locals to own 51 percent of major foreign firms, could hurt the nation's economic recovery, the main labour body said Monday.



The law took effect Monday, giving companies valued at more than 500,000 US dollars 45 days to inform the government of the racial make-up of their shareholders.



The companies will be given five years to comply with the 51 percent rule.



"Although the principle of the law is good, we fear that this could lead to a creation of new minority blacks who will just replace the minority whites," Lovemore Matombo president of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions told AFP.



"The law should have not been rushed, we are just coming out of a self inflicted economic crisis.



"This law could create fears that the process could be chaotic just like the land reform, which will affect the economic recovery of the country and we do not need this right now as we need investments," said Matombo.



Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, launched a chaotic land reform scheme in 2000, taking over white-owned farms to resettle with blacks.



The programme was meant to redress colonial-era inequities, but was marred by widespread political violence and resulted in plunging output, decimating the farm-based economy and leaving the nation dependent on foreign food aid.



The new ownership law was passed by parliament in 2007 but was only published as law last month.



Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe's partner in a strained unity government, has rejected the law, saying it was published without due process. But Mugabe has repeatedly defended the law and said foreign companies would be "foolish" not to comply.

*AFP