Nineteen months on, the Zimbabwean Global Political Agreement (GPA) is still not fully implemented. A new political and economic order - promised by politicians - is still on a distant horizon, and the world media churns out a daily stream of articles describing a political landscape that closely resembles a warring battlefield.

It doesn’t take much to see where the problem lies. A simple analysis of the current state of the country can be done by capturing and cataloguing news articles about the country. For the month of April, a list of seventy-nine articles were selected from the internet media, with the criteria that they each represent a record of a unique event that details a breach of the terms of the GPA. They were then categorised according to nature of breach, and basic statistics drawn from them.

The results - from the month of April 2010 - are staggering. Twenty-two articles (27.8% of the total) detailed cases of violence, intimidation, hate speech and abductions, of which Zanu-PF were accountable for 90.9%. Cases of subversion of legal processes were second with seventeen articles (21.5% of the total), and harassment through the courts of MDC supporters and politicians came in third with 11 articles (13.9% of the total) - of which Zanu-PF was accountable for 100% of both cases. Summarising just these three most significant categories, Zanu-PF were accountable for 60.8% of breaches of the GPA that were recorded for this exercise. Space does not allow us to publish more details in this document, but suffice to say, the remaining 49.2% of breaches recorded are also almost all attributable to Zanu-PF.

The most disturbing aspect of the whole situation is the fact that Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations are supposedly not in a state of conflict. They are – on paper at least – three willing and equal partners to a national political alliance underwritten by a regional political body, the SADC. The facts (in the news articles appended below) lay bare a painful reality. Whilst the two MDC formations may hold the moral highground, they are politically and influentially junior partners in the GPA. Zanu-PF is very definitely still in control of power in Zimbabwe – with the obvious and shameful collusion and support of regional African leaders. Zanu-PF do not want the GPA to work – they have an unpublished agenda.

Violence again took centre stage this month. Even Zanu-PF were not immune as a report on a provincial meeting of Zanu-PF’s Mashonaland West province showed. At the meeting a former Chairman and the Chakari MP were dragged out and beaten up by other Zanu-PF party officials. This was done in front of politburo members who attended the meeting. Only two politburo members tried to intervene. The others just watched.

Rural violence increased significantly this month as Zanu-PF appear to be gearing up for intimidation of the electorate before a Constitutional outreach campaign. Evidence suggests the Zanu-PF MP for Muzarabani South is promoting violence and torture in his district by Zanu-PF militia and youths with the blessing of the Zanu-PF Provincial Governor. In one incident, 16 families from Charunda village in Muzarabani fled at night to seek refuge 84 km away, trying to escape organized terror from a group of 200 Zanu-PF youths sponsored by the MP. He has “given” free rein to militia to burn down homes and cause mayhem in villages. The Governor has allegedly also ordered Police not to interfere with Zanu-PF activities in the province.

In a sad turn of events, a 15-year old schoolboy in Mwenezi, whose father was murdered during the 2008 elections, unwittingly became another statistic of violence when he killed a well-known Zanu-PF thug. The thug was at a church demanding the service be aborted when the boy came from behind and stabbed him twice in the stomach. He bled to death as a result. The boy has been arrested, whilst the Zanu-PF MP for Mwenezi East has declared war against MDC, calling them “a party of violence”.

April also saw Zanu-PF honing their skills at abusing legal processes, where twice they blocked Parliament's Committee on Mines from carrying out a fact-finding mission in the Marange diamond field. For a second time, members gathered in Harare to travel to Manicaland, but were told the Ministry had not cleared them to enter Marange. The Clerk of Parliament had requested clearance from the Ministry of Mines, but the Permanent Secretary replied his Ministry was not responsible for giving clearances to classified or protected areas, but the Home Affairs Ministry told the Clerk that Police Clearance could not be given until the Ministry of Mines had given its assent, leaving the legislative Committee stymied.

Again, showing their ability to subvert legal issues, Police in Harare are so scared of investigating Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa over the land grab scandal, that the City Council was forced to appeal to highly ranked Police officers to intervene. Acting Mayor, Charity Bango, had to write a letter of complaint to the Officer Commanding Criminal Investigation Department and urge him to act on the investigations, copying the letter to the Police Commissioner and Co-Ministers of Home Affairs.

In a similar vein, Zanu-PF continued their harassment of MDC officials through the legal system. Bikita West MDC legislator Heya Shoko faces a murder charge - instead of culpable homicide - after fatally knocking down a child whilst driving. A legal expert said it was very unusual for a person to be charged with murder arising from a traffic accident unless intention to kill had been fully established. In another questionable arrest, two provincial leaders from MDC-T in Mashonaland Central were accused of “disrespecting” Zanu-PF Governor Martin Dinha. The MDC chairperson for Mashonaland Central and the District Treasurer were arrested for not standing during Independence Day celebrations in Bindura. When the MDC Mayor arrived, Zanu-PF supporters remained seated, so in ‘retaliation’ the MDC supporters didn’t stand when the Zanu-PF Governor arrived, resulting in the arrest.

Turning to the Constitution drafting process, Zanu-PF have clandestinely launched ‘Operation Hapana Anotaura' - meant to stop the rural population participating in the decision making. Sources say that Zanu-PF plans to make sure that grass-roots citizens cannot air their views during the Constitutional outreach programme. As reported above, there has been a huge rise in cases of intimidation and violence, aimed at making people endorse the Kariba Draft constitution that Robert Mugabe favours.

In an effort to spruce up their image, Zanu-PF have offered new Mugabe praise singer Sizzla Kalonji – a reggae superstar of dubious reputation - a farm in Mashonaland West in exchange for doing Zanu-PF public relations worldwide. Ministry of Lands have been instructed to “window shop” for a suitable white-owned farm, preferably in Chegutu, and then compulsorily “acquire” it for him. Clearly this is not part of the Land Reform programme.

A contentious issue amongst GPA partners, and a clear indicator of the “junior” partner status of the two MDC formations, raised its head again this month, following two separate road accidents that killed three senior officials of the MDC-M formation and one from Zanu-PF. Alice Nkomo of Zanu-PF was declared a Provincial Heroine by the former ruling party. Of the three MDC-M officials none were accorded, or even considered for, Hero status. Zanu-PF has to date refused to relinquish control of the Hero selection process.

And as April drew to a close, in an article that may have best been published on April Fool’s day, an official letter from Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri that was leaked to the press shows that the Zimbabwe Republic Police want to get involved in mining diamonds in Chiadzwa in conjunction with the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. Serious questions that come to mind are:

– doesn’t the Police Commissioner know what a “Conflict of Interest” means, and
– does he not remember the Police Force motto: “Pro Lege, pro Patria, pro Populo” (“for the Law, for the Fatherland, for the People”)?

Further information, with links to original sources for all cases mentioned above, are available online at www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch. A summary of breaches mentioned in this mailing appear below.

Note to our subscribers: Sokwanele has unfortunately had to cut back on the number of mailings subscribers will have become accustomed to receiving from us. From now on we will be sending out ZIG Issues intermittantly. However, we would like to draw our readers' attention to the fact that we continue to log breaches on a monthly basis, and these are regularly updated on our website. Please visit www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch for counts and tallies of ongoing breaches of the Global Political Agreement.

Fistfight Breaks Out at Zanu-PF Meeting
The Zimbabwe Independent: 15/04/2010

Political divisions in Zanu-PF’s Mashonaland West province deepened after senior provincial officials were assaulted at a meeting in Chinhoyi as the fight for control of the province intensified. Tension was high at a provincial meeting where former Chairman John Mafa and MP Wurayayi Zacharia Ziyambi were dragged out and beaten up by Zanu-PF party officials. This was done in front of politburo members who attended the meeting, including Political Commissar for the Women’s League Olivia Muchena, Lands Secretary Ignatius Chombo, National Commissar Webster Shamu, and his deputy Ephraim Masawi. Only Masawi and Muchena tried to intervene, while others just watched.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Zanu-PF MP Accused of Fuelling Political Violence in Muzarabani
SW Radio Africa: 27/04/2010

Evidence suggests that the Zanu-PF MP for Muzarabani South, Edward Raradza, is fuelling a surge of violence and torture in the district. The Provincial MDC-T Youth Chairman said violence by Zanu-PF militia and youths in recent weeks has the blessing of Zanu-PF Provincial Governor Martin Dinha. 16 families from Charunda village in Muzarabani fled at night to seek refuge 84 km away, trying to escape organized terror from a group of 200 Zanu-PF youths, sponsored by Raradza. Reports say Raradza gives free rein to militia to burn down homes and cause mayhem in villages, and that he ferries party cadres to villages to scare the electorate. Governor Dinha has allegedly also ordered Police not to interfere with Zanu-PF activities in the province.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XV : NATIONAL YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMME
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Boy (15) Murders Zanu-PF Terror Master In Revenge For Dad
Radio VOP : 27/04/2010

A 15-year old schoolboy, whose father was murdered during the 2008 elections, killed a well-known Zanu-PF thug on Sunday. The event took place at a church service where Nhamo Machacha, an aide to Zanu-PF Mwenezi East MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, had gone to intimidate worshippers. Machacha was demanding the church service be aborted, when the boy came from behind and stabbed him twice in the stomach. He died from blood loss. Masvingo Police said the boy was assisting them with investigations. Bhasikiti declared war against MDC, calling them a party of violence.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Zimbabwe Parliament Mines Committee Again Blocked in Diamond Oversight Mission
VOA News: 20/04/2010

Ministry of Mines again prevented members of Parliament's Mines Committee carrying out a fact-finding mission in the Marange diamond field. Committee members gathered in Harare to travel to Manicaland, but were told the Ministry had not cleared them to enter Marange. Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma, asked the Ministry of Mines for clearance before lawmakers set off for Marange. Mines Ministry Permanent Secretary Thankful Musukutwa replied saying the Ministry was not responsible for clearances to classified or protected areas, but the Home Affairs Ministry told Zvoma that Police clearance could not be provided until Ministry of Mines had given its assent, leaving the legislative Committee stymied. Lawmakers vowed to get access to the Marange field.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VIII : RESPECT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND EVENTS
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Zimbabwe Police Scared To Turn in Chombo and Chiyangwa
Radio VOP: 16/04/2010

Police in Harare are so scared of investigating Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa over the land grab scandal, that the City Council has been forced to appeal to highly ranked Police Officers to intervene. Council also wants senior employees – Psychology Chiwanga, Director of Urban Planning Services and Cosmas Zvikaramba, the Finance Firector – arrested for conniving with Chiyangwa and Chombo to steal Council land. Acting Mayor, Charity Bango, reported the matter to Harare Central Police Station and later to Fraud Section, but Officers refused to act, passing Councillors from one office to another. On Thursday the Council wrote a letter of complaint to the Officer Commanding Criminal Investigation Department and urged him to act on the investigations, copying the letter to Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Co-Ministers of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

MP Charged With Murder After Accident
The Daily News: 07/04/2010

Bikita West MDC legislator Heya Shoko faces a murder charge after allegedly fatally knocking down a nine-year-old child while driving a car along the Nyika-Zaka highway. Police in Masvingo confirmed that Shoko was facing a murder charge, instead of culpable homicide. “We charged him with murder because investigations reveal that he was negligent ….”. However, a legal expert said it was unusual for a person to be charged with murder arising from a traffic accident unless intention to kill had been fully established.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Two MDC District Leaders Arrested for ‘Disrespecting’ Zanu-PF Governor
SW Radio Africa: 20/04/2010

Two provincial leaders from the MDC-T were arrested for allegedly disrespecting Zanu-PF Governor Martin Dinha. MDC-T chairperson for Mashonaland Central, Tongai Jeki, and District Treasurer, Saymore Mhenhe, were arrested because they didn’t stand up during Independence Day celebrations in Bindura. Tension started when MDC Mayor Daniso Wakatama arrived. Zanu-PF supporters remained seated, so in ‘retaliation’ the MDC supporters didn’t stand when the Zanu-PF Governor entered the stadium. The two MDC leaders, were arrested and are accused of instructing supporters to disrespect Governor Dinha.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Operation “Hapana Anotaura”
The Zimbabwean: 16/04/2010

As the end of the Constitution drafting process draws nearer, Zanu-PF has coined another operation - 'Operation Hapana Anotaura', meant to stop people in remote parts of the country participating in the decision making. According to sources, Zanu-PF plans to make sure that grass-roots citizens of Zimbabwe cannot air their views during the constitution outreach programme to be done by the Parliamentary Select Committee. There has been a huge rise in cases of intimidation and violence since late last year, with former ruling party supporters on the rampage, the intention being to make people endorse the Kariba Draft constitution that Robert Mugabe favours.

• ARTICLE VI : CONSTITUTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE VIII : RESPECT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND EVENTS
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Mugabe Offers Jamaican Artist Farm for Zanu-PF Public Relations
Zim Diaspora: 19/04/2010

Jamaican Reggae superstar and new Mugabe praise singer Sizzla Kalonji has been offered a farm in Mashonaland West in exchange for doing Zanu-PF public relations worldwide. Sources at the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement said that Sizzla, who is on the run from Jamaican authorities for gun related and robbery cases in Kingston, is considering the offer. “We have been instructed to locate an appropriate white owned farm, preferably in Chegutu, for compulsory acquisition. Sizzla will then be reallocated the farm and tractors and other equipment provided,” said the official.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Funerals for Zimbabwe Politicians Spark Debate Over National Hero Designation
VOA News: 28/04/2010

Zanu-PF official Alice Nkomo, killed in a road accident the same day as three top MDC-M officials, was declared a Provincial Heroine by Zanu-PF and was to be laid to rest in Bulawayo. Officials and other members of both formations of MDC set aside differences to mourn three top officers of the MDC-M grouping who were killed in a highway accident in Midlands province on Saturday. None were accorded Hero status. Zimbabwe African Patriotic Union (ZAPU), said it is urging Zanu-PF to accord Hero status to deserving members of other parties. MDC-T say they have raised the issue in Parliament but Zanu-PF has not wanted to relinquish control of the selection process.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE VIII : RESPECT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND EVENTS

Police Join Diamond Rush
The Zimbabwe Independent: 29/04/2010

Information obtained shows that Police want to get involved in Chiadzwa diamond mining in conjunction with the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, and want to mine diamonds through a security company called Security Self-Reliance Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd. In a letter, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri wrote to Mines Minister Obert Mpofu asking for a mining concession in Marange.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS