Links ~ 23 July 2008
Zimbabwe rivals to start full talks tomorrow (The Independent)
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe’s Zanu-PF will enter into fully-fledged negotiations on Thursday. Makoni Ratshitanga, spokesperson for South African President Thabo Mbeki, said that the political parties had begun preliminary talks on Tuesday. Ratshitanga however would not divulge any details of the talks. He said that “earnest” talks would begin on Thursday.
WOZA criticises talks without consultation (SWRA)
Jenni Williams coordinator of The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has strongly criticised the political parties of Zimbabwe signing a MoU without any consultation or “grasp of what the issues are”. Williams said that ordinary Zimbabweans have had no insight into the mediation process and that the process needs a neutral and impartial person who will prioritise humanitarian needs and resolving the violence in the country. WOZA has made several demands to resolve the political and economical crisis in Zimbabwe.
To read the full statement, see this link here: Freedom in a fortnight? A view from the trenches (WOZA)
EU targets in Zimbabwe sanctions: central bank governor, head of cricket, 2 reporters (AP)
The European Union has expanded its list of Zimbabwean targets for sanctions to include 37 new targets. The new targets include the central bank governor, two journalists, and a doctor who allegedly had refused to treat MDC supporters. Most of those targeted are security force officers who were directly involved in the terror campaign. Central bank governor, Gideon Gono, Attorney General Bharat Patel and cricket chair Peter Chingoka are amongst those who are now up against travel bans and asset freezes. Two journalists, Munyaradzi Huni (Sunday Mail) and Caesar Zvayi (The Herald) stand accused of propagating hate speech and have been included on the EUs blacklist.
Industry chiefs hope Zimbabwe talks stop the rot (AFP)
Zimbabwe’s industry chiefs are pinning their hopes on the talks between political parties in the hope that ways will be found to stop the political and economic rot after a survey showed investor confidence is at a new low of 2%. The Confederation of Zimbabwean Industries (CZI) said that it fully supports the agreement signed by the political parties in Zimbabwe on Monday. CZI president Calisto Jokonya said, “This will give us a new direction we need as business … we do not want to go back to what we have been doing”. He said that 80% of Zimbabwe’s infrastructure was currently idle due to shortages of skilled workers, power outages and lack of foreign currency.
Zimbabwe Traditional Leader Moves To Expel Opposition Members (VOA)
Political discrimination in Zimbabwe continues despite the signing of an agreement between rival political parties. Sources said that chief Negomo of Chiweshe has demanded Z$350 billion in cash and two goats from each of eight families, whom he has accused as being MDC supporters. Negomo has served the families with eviction orders on Monday. The MDC said that they would obtain legal representation to challenge the evictions.
Zimbabwe bishop warns about Robert Mugabe’s intentions (ENI)
Canterbury, England (ENI). The Anglican bishop of Harare, Sebastian Bakare, has warned leaders of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change to be wary of President Robert Mugabe intentions following the signing of an agreement to open power-sharing talks in the southern African nation.
Manufacturers hit out at Mugabe, Gono (The Zimbabwean)
Manufacturers in Zimbabwe have lashed out at Mugabe’s regime and accused it of sourcing basic commodities outside the country at the expense of local manufacturers. Zanu-PF in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has last week launched a project whereby cheap food hampers with food sourced from outside Zimbabwe were made available to the public.
Anthony Mandiwanza former president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and CEO of Dairibord Holdings said, “The importation of goods that we are able to produce locally indeed is an indictment on business leaders and political leaders for having allowed that to happen. It is not the intention of business to see Zimbabwe being converted into a basket of consumption and a corridor of consumption. Zimbabwe must produce what it consumes”.
Zanu-PF has imported the goods through foreign currency resources availed by Afritrade that is a Ukrainian company and based in Namibia.
July 24th, 2008 13:00
Re: WOZA criticises talks without consultation:
The Jenni Williams piece regarding the talks makes sense in a sane world. I am sure that MDC know what the issues are, but they are not dealing with sane opponents.
Now that Mugabe has openly stated that he needs help from neighbouring African countries it is best to play along with this ‘power sharing’ transition, as it may lead more speedily to the holding of free and fair elections a year or two down the line which will have all the ingredients in place for him to concede his party’s sole grip on power. If, when that time comes, the JOC junta still refuse to let go, the AU will almost certainly be able to force them to do so.
It is to be expected that, by that time also,
the healing process will have been already underway, and that it would then be inconceivable that governing forces would allow the country to plunge yet again to the lows of today.