Links ~ 30 May 2008

Family of MDC spokesman assaulted in village raid (SWRadio)
The spokesperson of the MDC, Nelson Chamisa’s 78-year-old grandmother, his mother and young 13-year-old brother were severely assaulted by armed soldiers in the Chiwara Village, Gutu. Two groups of soldiers, estimated at about 40 in total, terrorised villagers and demanded to be shown Chamisa’s rural home. The soldiers chanted ‘Tinoda Chitaka cha Chamisa!’ (We want Chamisa’s heart). The soldiers assaulted Chamisa’s family for over 2 hours. His little brother fainted 4 times during his assault and his mother was beaten while naked. Chamisa blamed the operation on Major General Engelbert Rugejo who sanctioned the operation in the area. Chamisa’s family members are badly injured.

Text: Tsvangirai speech to MDC Parliamentary Caucus (NewZim)
The above is the full text of an address by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to the MDC’ Parliamentary Caucus on Friday, May 30, 2008.

Tsvangirai leaves door open for unity government (NewZim)
Morgan Tsvangirai said that the Zanu-PF party should be reformed. Tsvangirai was speaking to the MDC parliamentary caucus and the media in Harare, on Friday. “Instead of focusing on what divides us, we must now try to heal our nation. This means that we can even talk about restoring Zanu PF,” Tsvangirai said. “In the spirit of moving the country forward, let us seek out those peaceful members of Zanu PF whose eyes are open to the disastrous state of our nation. Let us listen to their views. Let us invite them where we have policy agreements.” Tsvangirai’s remarks may open the door to discussions on a government of national unity.

Five MDC MPs now behind Bars (The Zimbabwean)
Five MDC officials are under arrest since the government has begun its latest crackdown on the MDC leadership.

MDC House of Assembly and Senate elects that have been arrested are:

• Tapela Lutho – MDC Senator for Bulilima-Mangwe
• Norman Mpofu – MDC Senator for Bulilima East
• Heya Shoko – MDC Senator for Bikita West
• Iain Hamilton Kay – MDC Senator for Marondera Central
• Amos Chibaya – MDC Senator for Mkoba

(And as reported in the state-sponsored media)

• Tichaona Mudzingwa – MDC Secretary for Defence

Chombo ignores elected councillors & appoints Commissions (SWRadio)

‘An outrageous criminal act by a criminal regime’

The law stipulates that newly elected councillors should assume office immediately after the announcement of the election results. It is 8 weeks after the March 29 election and not a single councillor have been sworn in. Ignatius Chombo Minister of Local Government has instead allegedly appointed commissions to run the major cities and towns in Zimbabwe. To appoint commissions and to sideline the elected councillors is contrary to the law and therefore it constitutes an illegal act. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) intends to file a complaint with the courts to force the regime to install the legitimately elected councils.

New Accreditation of Local Observers for the Run-Off – Zesn Concerned (The Zimbabwean)
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is concerned about an announcement made by the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on May 16, to the effect that new invitations will be issued to local observers who wish to observe the run-off. The Minister has insisted that that all local observers are required to be invited again and re-accredited, even if they did participate in the March 29 election. The new drive for the re-accreditation of observers, only concern local observers and not foreign observers. In addition, accreditation fees will be revised upwards. ZESN is of the opinion that the run-off is merely an extension of an unfinished process, calls on the Minister to waiver the second accreditation, and to allow all the accredited local observers to observe the run-off for the presidential poll.

Police Take Charge Of Poll (Zimbabwe Independent)
The police have been put in charge of the “whole voting process” during the presidential run-off. Analysts say that such a move would compromise the independence of the ZEC as well as the fairness of the elections. A confidential police circular indicates that the purpose is to secure voting and to prevent any recurrence of so-called irregularities which allegedly marred the March 29 elections. The circular was sent by Police Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustino Mazango and was dated May 2. Mazango wrote “It is hereby directed that for the forthcoming run-off elections, Zimbabwe Republic Police shall have a tacit responsibility to monitor as well as taking charge of the whole voting process at every stage…”

Police in Bulawayo ordered to vote Zanu PF (SWRadio)
According to Thabitha Khumalo, MDC MP for Mkokoba, police officers in Bulawayo was summoned to the Donnington Police Station on Friday and were told by senior officers that they will cast postal votes in favour of Zanu-PF. They were also told that their ballot papers would have serial numbers so that it could be identified who voted and whom they voted for. The police will also cast their votes in the presence of superior officers. The police were told that the MDC planned to fire them all if the party should come into power. Khumalo said that no matter what tactics Zanu-PF used, people still believed that in the end Mugabe will lose as the people have had enough of the misery.

Southern Africa: Presidential Run-Off Accreditation Dates Set (The Herald)
The accreditation of observers and journalists who will cover the run-off for the presidential vote will start on June 2 and will run until Election Day on June 27. Mr Utloile Silaigwana chief elections officer (operations) of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said that accreditation would take place, everyday, from 09h00 – 17h00 at the Bulawayo and Harare polytechnic colleges. Local observers are expected to pay a fee of Z$1 billion each. Local journalists will not have to pay anything. Observers from the SADC region and Africa will pay US$100 per person and observers and journalists form outside Africa will pay US$300 each.

High Court Orders Soldiers in Rural Areas to Return to Barracks (SWRadio)
Justice Chinembiri Bhunu has issued an interim order on May 23, which states that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces should order all of its soldiers who are deployed in rural areas to return to their barracks. The order follows an application filed by Eric Matinenga elected MDC MP for Buhera West. Matinenga said that the presence of soldiers in the rural areas, in particular the Buhera West constituency, was unconstitutional, and violated the provisions of the Defence Act. The army and the regime consistently deny the presence of soldiers in the rural areas. Matinenga could identify serving soldiers who had been involved in disrupting his victory celebrations in Buhera West. Innocent Changonda and Chris Mhike of Artherston and Cook represented Matinenga in court.

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Avails U.S. $300,000 for Violence Victims (TZG – London)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) has announced that he will be availing an initial US$300 000, by means of The President’s Fund for Victims of Violence, to kick-start the process of supporting the victims of political violence. The fund will be administered by a Board of Trustees from churches and grassroots organisations and will be audited by an independent firm of accountants. Eleanor Sisulu, a human rights activist and the daughter-in-law of the late anti-apartheid hero Walter Sisulu, will chair the Trust. Eleanor Sisulu is the co-ordinator, as well as the Media and Advocacy Manager for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (South Africa).

MDC: Zim in a ‘state of disrepair’ (M&G –South Africa)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC said that Robert Mugabe has transferred a country rich in resources into a “state of despair”. Tsvangirai said that Zimbabwe had the world’s highest inflation rate, 80% unemployment and an education sector which had been one of the best and had plummeted to being one of the worst. He said that Zimbabwe was a country which was rich with natural resources and that it will attract foreign investors. Tsvangirai vowed that there will be no amnesty for perpetrators of political violence.

MDC upbeat in face of Mugabe’s “campaign of fear” (Senator David Coltart’s website)
David Coltart re-elected MDC senator said that in the last five weeks, Mugabe’s supporters had committed “a fresh crime against humanity”. Zanu-PF’s campaign against the MDC has been based on increased abductions, displacement of people and the use of violence. Coltart compared the current crisis with the 1983 Zanu-PF campaign, called Gukurahundi, which led to the killing of 20 000 civilians.

Coltart said that the government has thrown caution to the wind and will do anything to win in the run-off. The MDC however will have even more voters turning up to vote as the two factions in the MDC stand united. Voter turn-out in big urban areas had been poor during the March elections, but voters now fully realised that they need to vote in the run-off, “to end this nonsense”. “This is primarily a psychological battle. The rank and file [in Zimbabwe’s police and military] simply cannot come out, but they understand… the only chance for the future is a change,” Said Coltart.

Police order artists to stop human rights satire (Zimonline)
On Thursday, police stormed a theatre house in Harare and ordered artists stop performing and told the audience to leave immediately. The play being performed was ‘Sahwira’, a human rights satire, which depicts political leaders who are intolerant of divergent political views. The play also questions dictatorship and shows that bad governance impacts on fundamental human liberties. The police said that the play could only be staged with their approval.

Bulawayo businessman arrested over detained SA journalists (SWRadio)
Craig Eddy owner of Tribal Logistics a trucking company in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly helping 3 journalists who was arrested the previous week. The police claim that a truck containing broadcasting equipment for Sky News, a British broadcaster, had been parked for a long time, at Eddy’s company workshop.

Tavengwa Hara, a lawyer for the journalists, said that the journalists were asked to collect the equipment and return it to South Africa. They had no knowledge of the contents of the boxes and could therefore not be charged for broadcasting without a licence as there is no proof that they were using the equipment to broadcast.

Arrested foreign media workers appear in court (MISA)
Bennet Hassen Sono, Resemate Chauke and Simon Maodi, journalists who are alleged employees of Sky News, has appeared in court in Bulawayo on May 29 on charges of contravening provisions of the Post and Telecommunications Act. The journalists are being jointly charged with Craig Mark Ram Edy, a Bulawayo resident who allegedly stored equipment for the journalists. The journalists and Edy will remain in custody until 30 May 2008 when a plea will be heard for bail.

Inflation Shocker: 1 700 000% (Zimbabwe Independent)
Annual inflation in May is up to 1 700 000% as the Zimbabwean dollar continues its downward spiral resulting in prices of goods and services to skyrocket. The government now forecast that inflation will be between 1 800 000% and 2 000 000% for the month of May.

A loaf of bread now costs around Z$280 million in shops and Z$400 / 450 million on the black market. Sugar – Z$700 million; 1 Kg Meat – Z$1,5 / 2,5 billion; 1kg Salt – Z$440 million.

Zimbabwe: ‘President to Win Run-Off By 75pc’ (The Herald)
Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu Minister of Information and Publicity has predicted that Robert Mugabe will garner 75% of the total votes in the run-off presidential election. Ndlovu heads Zanu-PF’s election team in Bulawayo. Ndlovu told journalists that voters now understood that the economic hardships in the country were caused by the sanctions imposed by hostile Western countries. He said that a recent opinion poll showed that Zanu-PF was going to have a resounding win in the run-off elections.

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