April closed with the recurrent themes of wanton violence, continued farm invasions and harassment through the courts of MDC MPs, politicians and activists, as well as high profile legal figures and journalists.

Their actions demonstrate that Zanu PF have had no change of heart. Rather, their activities are clearly and increasingly geared towards intimidating, frustrating or otherwise weakening their former opposition and with it, the inclusive government. Their antics in twisting the law to suit their own ends - often with the complicity of the police - indicate that Zanu PF - or the arrogant diehards within the party - are not going to give up their positions of wealth or power without a fight.

The month started with a Chegutu farm worker, wounded after police opened fire on Stockdale citrus farm, being arrested and held for questioning. The worker and a colleague were both struck in the legs when police fired random shots at the vehicle they were travelling in on the farm. They had accompanied the farm's owner, Peter Etheredge, to inspect his property which has been forcibly taken over by the President of the Senate, Edna Madzongwe. Etheredge was arrested after the police attack and spent almost four days behind bars. He was released, but the harassment continued with the arrest of his wounded employee.

Such is the continuing arrogance of the invaders that, when faced with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara at Swantoen Farm south of Masvingo, they defied his order to leave. Mutambara said the former owner of the farm, Ronnie Sparrow, should be allowed back but the invaders vowed never to vacate the property. They have joined senior Zanu PF officials who are now multiple farm owners.

The violence that has characterised many of the farm invasions continued, with new and violent attacks on Chegutu's Mount Carmel farm. Invaders viciously beat a farm worker as well destroying property, all in retaliation to a court order handed down to the invaders, ordering that they leave the land.

Mount Carmel is owned by Mike Campbell who took his case to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal in Windhoek. Both Campbell and Etheredge are two of the 79 Zimbabwean farmers protected by the SADC Tribunal ruling of November 2008. The tribunal held that that the seizure of land by the Government of Zimbabwe is arbitrary, racially discriminatory and contrary to the rule of law.

Elsewhere, the illegal actions of complicit and vindictive police officers have been clearly shown, as in Chinhoyi where farmer Murray Pott's 80-year-old mother was severely assaulted by police when they arrested her son for being on his land 'illegally'.

Banket farmer Patrick Stooks, who received serious facial injuries after being repeatedly punched and then hit in the face with the butt of a shotgun, was attacked in full view of the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court who was there to serve the order papers on an invader and his men to have them vacate the farm. The attacks are viewed as ongoing efforts to scupper the transitional government.

With respect to farm workers, it has come to light that many workers on farms that have been forcibly taken over are suffering depravation and ill treatment under their new Zanu PF masters. Reports from Masvingo indicate that Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi, who has called for the payment of decent salaries in that sector, has failed to pay workers on his farm BW Farm, allegedly for more than three months. Those attempting to take legal action have been victimised by the minister and boycott attempts have been thwarted. Female employees also claim they were sexually harassed by the cabinet minister.

Even more serious are allegations that some of the new 'owners' of the farms have resorted to de-facto slavery in the running of the farms. A senior prison officer at Harare Central Prison has revealed that prisoners who are hired by top Zanu PF officials are paid in the form of a bar of soap and a single bottle of Vaseline for labour rendered per week. Some of the farmers who hire these inmates do not even give them food. Retired Army General Solomon Mujuru recently bought 'his' group of ten prisoners blankets and donated paint for a single cell where they are now housed.

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The clearly partisan nature of the land 're-allocation' exercise was highlighted when Zimbabwe and South Africa, about to sign an investment treaty, deadlocked over the land issue. Zimbabwe government representatives balked at appending their signatures to the treaty after their South African counterparts insisted that the deal should cover land investments. Zimbabwean authorities were adamant that even existing bilateral investment protection agreements were not immune from the government's controversial land reforms.

Embattled farmers were dealt a further and unexpected blow when Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai played down the serious nature of the ongoing and violent farm invasions, calling them "isolated incidents" that have been "blown out of proportion".

"We have investigated examples of those so called farm invasions," the Prime Minister said, "and have asked the Minister of Lands (Zanu PF) to give us a detailed report of what has been happening…"

Tsvangirai also insisted that the matter was being attended to, despite the clear lack of action by the government that has already sparked anger in the beleaguered farming community. The Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) said Tsvangirai's statements were a clear attempt to "gloss over the truth to encourage Western donors to loosen their purse strings…"

Turning to the next major trend of the last month, Zanu PF kept up the pressure - through its control of the judiciary - on MDC MPs, politicians and activists, as well as high profile legal figures and journalists.

Human rights campaigner Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, and 14 other abductees were back in jail, after having been formally charged in a Magistrate's Court. At that hearing the Attorney General's offices immediately made a submission to have their bail terminated, using provisions of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, claiming "compelling new evidence" was available. Magistrate Catherine Chimhanda remanded them all in custody, including 70-year-old Fidelis Chiramba. Rights groups and the MDC said that this undermined the entire Global Political Agreement that created the transitional government.

In a new twist to Zanu PF's legal assault programme, Constance Gambara, a clerk to High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, was arrested for allegedly assisting defence lawyers in paying an earlier bail for the detained activists. Her 'offence' was that she took the record from her office and gave it to the Registrar, who signs bail orders. Rights lawyers say this is a normal procedure.

To create further confusion, Alec Muchadehama, a high profile lawyer representing the political detainees, was arrested and accused of obstructing the course of justice by "conniving with a judge's clerk (his co-accused, Constance Gambara) to get bail orders filed." This lead to the release of three of his clients. According to Muchadehama, the Attorney General's office appealed against the granting of bail after the seven-day period allowed by law had elapsed.

Zanu PF has once again resorted setting up 'opposition' officials so that they can be arrested, jailed and, in the case of MPs, eventually lose their Parliamentary seats. Mathias Mlambo, the MDC-T MP for Chipinge East, was convicted and sentenced to ten months in jail with hard labour by a Chipinge magistrate for allegedly obstructing the course of justice and inciting violence at a funeral when a Zanu PF activist came to provoke the mourners. According to Zimbabwean law, an MP loses his/her parliamentary seat if given a custodial sentence of more than six months.

Despite the formation of the transitional government, Robert Mugabe and his security chiefs have refused to disband Joint Operations Command (JOC), which was at the forefront of strategising Mugabe's retention of power in last year's violence-ridden elections. It is widely believed that JOC, which is claimed to have taken over control of the day-to-day decision-making of the government in the wake of the presidential election, is once again gearing up for violence to maintain its grip on power.

Wounded Chegutu farm worker arrested
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 27/04/2009

A Chegutu farm worker who was wounded after police opened fire on Stockdale citrus farm last week, has been arrested and is being held and questioned by police. The farm worker and a colleague were both struck in the legs when police fired random shots at the vehicle the workers were travelling in. They had accompanied the farm’s owner, Peter Etheredge to inspect his farm which has been forcibly taken over by the President of the Senate, Edna Madzongwe.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Mutambara clashes with war veterans
Zimbabwe Times, The (ZW): 04/05/2009

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara clashed with war veterans over the invasion of Swantoen Farm, south of Masvingo after they defied his orders to vacate the property. The farm was invaded by former Masvingo Zanu-PF provincial chairman, retired Major Alex Mudavanhu, and Isaiah Muzenda, the former provincial chairman of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association in Masvingo. Mutambara said the former owner of the farm, Ronnie Sparrow should be allowed back. They have joined senior Zanu-PF officials who are now multiple farm owners. Meanwhile, a pride of about 59 lions left behind at Swantoen Farm faces starvation after the invaders failed to adequately cater for them.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Elderly woman beaten and detained by police as farm attacks continue
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 19/05/2009

Chinhoyi farmer, Murray Pott’s 80-year-old mother was severely assaulted by police on Monday when they arrested her son for being on his land ‘illegally’. The attacks are seen as clear police brutality and harassment and part of ongoing efforts to scupper the unity government. A Banket farmer was beaten on his farm by the son of political official Philip Chamboko. A High Court ordered the illegal occupation of the land to cease, but Patrick Stooks came under attack after confronting Chamboko, whose thugs had vandalised farm equipment.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Minister fails to pay workers on his farm
Zimbabwe Times, The (ZW): 22/05/2009

Tourism and hospitality minister Walter Mzembi, who has called for the payment of decent salaries in the sector, has failed to pay workers on his farm BW Farm and Supermarket in Masvingo, allegedly for more than three months. Some of the workers say those attempting to take legal action have been victimised by the minister. “We have been relying on handouts from well-wishers since January this year and our employer threatens us with unspecified action once we talk of taking the matter to the Ministry of Labour for arbitration”, said one of the workers who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation. The workers say they have tried to boycott work on several occasions but the minister has allegedly instructed his drivers to forcibly collect them from their homes and drive them to work. Female employees also claimed that they were sexually harassed by the cabinet minister. Mzembi yesterday dismissed the workers’ allegations out of hand, saying he only owed them a month’s salary, and asked why the women had not reported their allegations of harassment to the police.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Prisoner Abuse by Farmers Rampant
RadioVOP: 22/05/2009

A senior Prison officer at Harare Central Prison has revealed that prisoners who are hired by ZANU PF top officials are paid in the form of a bar of soap and a single bottle of Vaseline for the labour rendered per week. Twenty prisoners are usually released from Harare Central Prison daily to work for a single farmer. “Slavery is happening at our prisons, prisoners are being abused by these corrupt ZANU PF officials. Imagine a single bar of soap per week, which is not even given directly to them but to the organization. Some of the farmers who hire these inmates do not even give them food, and yet they demand their services”, said the senior Prison guard who declined to be named. He said some of the farmers now demand the same prisoners, with Retired Army General Solomon Mujuru demanding the same ten inmates. “The retired army chief recently bought ‘his’ ten prisoners some blankets and donated some paint for a single cell where his inmates alone are now housed. These people are enslaving prisoners”, said the guard.

• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Investment Treaty Deadlocked Over Land Issue
RadioVOP: 21/05/2009

Zimbabwe and South Africa are deadlocked over the signing of an investment treaty due to the land issue, it emerged this week. Sources in the coalition government said on Thursday representatives from the Zimbabwe government balked at appending their signatures on the treaty after their South African counterparts insisted that the deal should cover land investments. It is understood that the Zimbabwean government officials pointed out that land was a national resource, which should not be covered by any trade agreement. The official said Zimbabweans authorities were adamant that even existing bilateral investment protection agreements were not immune from the government’s controversial land reforms, hence the takeover of some farms that previously belonged to multinationals such as the case of the Dutch, French, Italians and English farmers. Gorden Moyo, the minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, on Thursday confirmed no deal was signed between Harare and Pretoria but was reluctant to disclose the cause of the dispute. Welshman Ncube, the Minister of Industry and International Trade, said he was confident a deal would be struck soon after outstanding issues on the treaty had been ironed out.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION

Prime Minister plays down farm attacks
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 25/05/2009

Members of Zimbabwe’s farming community, which has been left reeling by the ongoing farm invasions, have reacted with outrage to comments by Prime Minister Tsvangirai about the attacks. During an interview about the 100-day milestone of the Global Political Agreement last week, the Prime Minister played down the serious nature of the ongoing and violent farm invasions, calling them ‘isolated incidents’ that have been ‘blown out of proportion’. “We have investigated examples of those so called farm invasions,” the Prime Minister continued, repeatedly referring to the land invasions as ‘so-called’ attacks. “We have asked the minister of lands (ZANU PF) to give us a detailed report of what has been happening over all these so called farm invasions and the outcry over that.” Tsvangirai also insisted that the matter was being attended to, despite the clear lack of action by the government that has already sparked anger in the beleaguered farming community. The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) on Monday said Tsvangirai’s statements are a clear attempt to “gloss over the truth to encourage Western donors to loosen their purse strings, hoodwinking them into giving up funds by making them believe everything is fine on the agricultural front” , they said.

• ARTICLE III : RESTORATION OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AND GROWTH
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Zimbabwean abductees re-arrested, pending trial
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 05/05/2009

Human rights campaigner Jestina Mukoko and 14 other abductees were back in jail on Tuesday, after having been formally charged in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday. At that hearing their trials were set into three separate cases, for the months of June and July, and the Attorney General's offices immediately made a submission to have their bail terminated, using provisions of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, claiming “compelling new evidence” was available. On Tuesday Magistrate Catherine Chimhanda remanded them all in custody, including 70 year old Fidelis Chiramba. Lawyer Charles Kwaramba said it is believed 15 activists have now been taken back to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Freelance journalist Shadreck Manyere, plus MDC officials Chris Dhlamini and Gandhi Mudzingwa, are still being ‘detained’ in hospital. Rights groups and the MDC say this undermines the entire Global Political Agreement that created the unity government. Kwaramba said the Magistrate did a u-turn on Tuesday despite the fact that on Monday she had agreed to defer the matter. On Tuesday the Magistrate said she was not going to entertain any submissions from anyone. An urgent High Court appeal is expected to be heard on Thursday.

• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

High Court delays ruling on detainees’ bail and clerk of court arrested
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 08/05/2009

The three political detainees still in custody will spend some more days not knowing their fate, after High Court Justice November Mtshiya deferred a ruling on their matter to Monday, on whether or not it should be heard. Meanwhile Constance Gambara, a clerk to High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, was arrested for allegedly assisting defence lawyers in paying an earlier bail for the three. On the 17th April Justice Hungwe granted Manyere, Dhlamini and Mudzingwa bail, but the state was unhappy with this and an argument between the legal teams ensued, the issue being the interpretation of the ‘seven day period’ as the defence team argued that the State had missed the stipulated period for appeal. The clerk’s “offence” was that she took the record from her office and took it to the Registrar, who signs bail orders. Rights lawyers say this is a normal procedure. She was charged with abusing the public office. She was granted her bail, but as usual the State invoked the notorious Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to appeal against this. This means the clerk will remain in custody, awaiting the State’s appeal, which has to be done in seven days.

• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Lawyer Alec Muchadehama arrested
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 14/05/2009

Alec Muchadehama, the lawyer representing the political detainees, was arrested Thursday, accused of obstructing the course of justice. He said he was being accused of ‘conniving with a judge’s clerk’ to get bail orders filed which eventually led to the release of three of his clients on 17 April, after the State had obtained leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The lawyer said he committed no crime and simply interpreted the law to the best of his ability. According to him the Attorney General’s office appealed against the granting of bail after the seven day period, allowed by law, had elapsed. Muchadehama believes the seven set days included weekends and public holidays. Muchadehama’s co-accused is Constance Gambara, a clerk to High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu. She was arrested last week and is still being held in remand prison with her nine month old baby. She was charged with ‘criminal abuse of duty as a public officer’. The accusation is that she assisted Muchadehama in facilitating “the improper release” of the three activists, after bail was granted for the first time. Muchadehama is a prominent human rights lawyer who has been representing several political and human rights activists.

• 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

MDC MP jailed for 10 months, with hard labour
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 11/05/2009

Mathias Mlambo, MDC MP for Chipinge East, was convicted and sentenced to ten months in jail with hard labour by a Chipinge magistrate on Monday. Mlambo, who was arrested in early April, was found guilty of allegedly obstructing the course of justice and inciting violence at a funeral. Magistrate Zuze gave him ten months but suspended three months on condition of good behaviour. The MP attended a funeral for an MDC activist in Chipinge on 10th April. It is alleged a ZANU PF activist came to provoke the mourners and was moved away by force. Mlambo was at the burial site of the deceased while the commotion was taking place elsewhere at the funeral. The gathering was later disrupted by the police who stormed the funeral in search of an unidentified ‘suspect’, which resulted in Mlambo being arrested for obstructing justice. Muchauraya believes this was nothing more than a political judgment and has no legal merit. An MP loses their parliamentary seat if they get a custodial sentence of more than six months. Mlambo remains an MP until his appeal has been heard. Lawyers were on Monday applying for bail, pending appeal.

• 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

Kwekwe MDC MP arrested on rape charges
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 21/05/2009

Member of Parliament for Kwekwe, Blessing Chebundo from the Tsvangirai MDC, was on Tuesday arrested on charges of raping a 13-year old girl. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said the MP was arrested while on parliamentary business in Harare and has been transferred to Kwekwe ‘to assist police investigations’. Chebundo will appear in court on Friday around 11am in Kwekwe. A complaint was filed by a young girl, who alleges that the MP raped her in his car on the banks of the Sebakwe River between Kadoma and Kwekwe. It’s been reported that the incident happened in January, but has only been re-ignited after Chebundo questioned the two Home Affairs Ministers in parliament over the arrest of two Zimbabwe Independent journalists. One of the Ministers, Giles Mutsekwa, had been forced to admit they were detained on the orders of the Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed Chebundo was still in police custody Thursday afternoon. He described the incident as unfortunate, vowing they would carry out their own investigation. Similar problems have erupted in the past with cases being concocted against their members he said.

• 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

Zimbabwe Police Arrest Lawyer, Kwekwe Mayor Charging Obstruction of Justice
VOANews (USA): 22/05/2009

Zimbabwean authorities on Friday arrested the lawyer for a parliamentarian of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, along with the mayor of the Midlands town of Kwekwe, on obstruction of justice charges. Police arrested lawyer Tapera Sengwini and Kwekwe Mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa on charges that they contacted the family of a teen allegedly raped in January by lawmaker Blessing Chebundo in an effort to negotiate an out-of-court settlement in the matter. Chebundo was charged Tuesday in the case and on Friday remained in the hands of the Kwekwe police. Sengwini told VOA earlier Friday that he expected to be arrested. Sources in the west-central town said the lawyer and the mayor were also being held at the Kwekwe station. All three men are members of the Tsvangirai MDC formation.

• 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

Statement by the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe -21/05/2009
Sokwanele.com: 21/05/2009

An understanding has been reached on: Provincial Governors - will be sworn in at the soonest opportunity, 5 for MDC-T, 4 for ZANU PF and 1 for MDC-M. The six governors whose tenure is to be terminated will be paid an agreed compensation. Permanent Secretaries - we have reached agreement on these appointments. Ambassadors - Appointments will be filled using a formula to be agreed upon. Five vacant Ambassadorial posts will be filled in the ratio, MDC-T, 4, MDC-M, 1. Ministerial Mandates - The Principals agreed that the functions of the communications portfolio will be shared among the three Ministries: the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, the Ministry of Media Information and Publicity and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Roy Bennett - will be sworn in. The Principals failed to reach agreement on the appointments of the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Attorney General. These are senior government appointments yet, in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding, the GPA and the Reserve Bank Act, they were appointed by the President. There is a deadlock on the status of the two individuals, therefore the Principals now refer this matter to SADC as the guarantors of the GPA.

• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS

Mugabe refuses to disband notorious JOC
Nehanda Radio: 21/05/2009

Robert Mugabe and his security chiefs have refused to disband JOC (Joint Operations Command), which was at the forefront of strategising Mugabe's retention of power in the chaotic aftermath of the March elections in 2008. Instead, JOC still sits regularly, thumbing its nose at the Inclusive Government. The meetings are mainly held at State House, which Mugabe now uses as his preferred office after moving his family to his mansion in Helensvale, Borrowdale. The Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara commits to the creation of a National Security Council, on which Tsvangirai is guaranteed a seat. The Service Chiefs and Mugabe have simply ensured that the Security Council never meets. The MDC-T made the mistake of assuming that the creation of a National Security Council meant the disbanding of JOC, but the agreement says nothing about disbanding JOC. Based on this, the Service Chiefs and Mugabe have said the continued meetings of JOC are legal and not in violation of the agreement. Technically, they are correct. MDC has been reduced to demanding that the National Security Council meets without further delay.

• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY