Links ~ 27 September 2008

Starving residents take legal action against police (SWRadioAfrica)
Residents of Harare’s Glen Norah suburb have taken legal action to stop police from interfering with critically needed food aid meant to be distributed to two hundred desperate households.

Zim central bank taken to court over cash limits (Zim Online)
Four Zimbabwean workers have asked the High Court to bar the country’s central bank from limiting cash withdrawals, saying the daily limits were too little and also degrading given the number of trips one has to make to the bank to get enough cash. “We are making an urgent application seeking certain acts of the Respondents to wit, limitation of withdrawals, to be declared unlawful, inhuman and degrading and a violation of the right to life and other rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and other international conventions.”

Churches call for truth commission (Zim Online)
A coalition of Zimbabwean churches has called for the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission to lead national healing once an all-inclusive government has been created. The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) said such a commission could help cement the power-sharing deal signed by President Robert Mugabe, opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara two weeks ago but warned ordinary citizens and not powerful politicians should drive the process of reconciliation.

Makumbe decries Mbeki-mediated deal (Zimbabwe Times)
ZIMBABWEAN political analyst Professor John Makumbe, has described former South African President, Thabo Mbeki as a “half-naked man” in the ongoing power-sharing negotiations between President Robert Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Zimbabwe opposition chief tours banks to assess cash crunch (AfricaAsia)
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai toured banks in the capital Friday to assess a severe currency shortage that has left shoppers unable to withdraw enough cash to buy even a loaf of bread. Tsvangirai was mobbed by desperate consumers who had formed long lines at banks to receive a single 1,000-dollar bank note — the maximum daily withdrawal allowed and worth only about two US dollars.

Beleaguered Mugabe regime caves in on forex dealings (Monsters & Critics)
Hundreds of businesses around Zimbabwe were readying Friday to open their doors to sell goods in foreign currency as the country’s own currency accelerated in its crash towards oblivion.

ZCTU To Grill Tsvangirai Over Deal (RadioVOP)
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader and newly designated Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will appear before a Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) general council Saturday morning, where he is expected to be grilled on the merits of his party’s recent power sharing agreement with Zanu PF.

Zimbabwe’s food crisis is escalating (LA Times)
Millions across Zimbabwe are on the brink of starvation, largely because of the failure of this year’s harvest and the nation’s collapsed economy, along with President Robert Mugabe’s ban on humanitarian aid during the recent election campaign.

Tsvangirai still waiting for a passport (IOL)
Despite being Zimbabwe’s prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai still can’t officially travel outside the country. And his aides have to make laborious special arrangements with foreign governments every time he visits them. The registrar-general’s office in Harare is reluctant to issue him with either a new passport or an emergency travel document, it has been established.

ZCTU: New Income Tax bands are out of touch with reality (SWRadioAfrica)
The ZCTU estimates that the PDL is well over ZWD$200,000. Surely, increasing the tax-free threshold to ZWD$15,000 is a mockery.

Mugabe has never been weaker (Zimbabwe times)
ON SEPTEMBER 20, the African National Congress (ANC) asked Thabo Mbeki to step down as state president of South Africa. But it also asked him to continue as mediator in Zimbabwe. The logic, it seems, is that Mbeki is good for Zimbabwe, but not for South Africa.

Dinyero locked up for bad-mouthing Mugabe (Zimbabwe Times)
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has detained former soccer star Masimba Dinyero for three weeks after he allegedly criticized President Robert Mugabe for continuing to cling on power while police officers starve.

Developments Within The Movement (zimeye)
The Inclusive government deal has now been signed. Dr Simba Makoni and the Mavambo/Kusil/Dawn movement welcome this development but we are also extremely concerned at the large size of the cabinet. 31 ministers, 15 deputy ministers, governors and another bunch of “appointed” senators and MPs! Who will pay for this?

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