ZIG Watch : Issue 34

The month of November 2011 has been little different to so many before in Zimbabwe’s recent history – violence remains unchecked despite an agreement reached at a meeting by the principals of the GPA to have their supporters restrain themselves. A number of senior Zanu-PF cadres openly indulge in hate speechwhile there are media reports of their supporters running riot riot in high density suburbs. There is news too that  war veterans, militia and the army are continuing to terrorise people living in rural areas.

Members of “opposition” parties (i.e the MDC-T and MDC parties) continue to suffer legal harassment, whilst political and apolitical rallies, marches and demonstrations continue to be banned or blocked by police, even if pre-approved by the courts.

Freedom of speech remains restricted, or abused through the state media, whilst journalists and their media houses are still being hounded and harassed.

During the month of November 2011 a total of 60 media articles were recorded for ZIG Watch. The bulk of the violations reflected in these media articles (constituting breaches of the GPA) was made up of incidences of violence, intimidation, hate speech, threats, abductions and brutalityArticles highlighting legal harassment of perceived opposition politicians contributed a large number of breaches in November, while cases of denial of the right to freedom of speech, or abuse of freedom of speech Also featured prominently, along with stories highlighting violations of the GPSA hrough the subversion of legal processes.

Ten sample articles provided at the end of this report represent this month’s media coverage of events in relation to the GPA.

The full range of articles logged in November  is available at  http://www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch .

An article about angry commuter bus operators and touts in the Mbare suburb of Harare clashed with members of the notorious Zanu-PF Chipangano gang on Monday 31^st October exposes a state of social tension in Zimbabwe. Trouble started after Chipangano members tried to set up their own bus terminus near the ZBC studios in Mbare, in order to extort ‘ranking’ fees from operators. However, angry commuter operators refused to be intimidated into paying more money. Street fighting broke out which the police failed to control, resulting in the army being called in.

The Chipangano gang is known to be strongly aligned to the Zanu Pf party, with one newspaper reporting earlier this year hat it was heavily armed with weapons supplied by the party, and that it was “masterminded” by prominent senior Zanu PF members and politicians, including Ignatius Chombo, Amos Midzi, politburo member Tendai Savanhu and retired soldier Boutros Magwaza (The Zimbabwean, 16 July 2011).

The MDC-T was forced to cancel its rally at Chibuku stadium in Chitungwiza on Sunday 6^th November after violence, reportedly orchestrated, targeted, financed and planned by Zanu-PF, was sparked by Zanu-PF militia, led by the Chipangano gang, who attacked MDC-T rally organisers. Scores of Zanu-PF thugs were bussed in to the stadium armed with iron bars, machetes, and stones. Five MDC-T party vehicles and the public address system were destroyed or had parts stolen, along with money, flags and banners, in full view of the police who took no action. But on the Monday following police had the temerity to arrest two MDC-T youths, Julius Marambakutongwa and Kuda Muchemwa in Chitungwiza, alleging they were behind the disturbances. We note the involvement of Chipangano thugs for the third time in two weeks.

There was more political violence in the rural areas:  villagers in Chimanimani district reported that ZNA colonel Charles Muresherwa is resuscitating torture bases last used by Zanu-PF during the run up to the bloody June 2008 presidential run-off. This activity is seen as preparing for elections tentatively planned for next year. Villagers this week (14-18 November) accused Muresherwa of setting up the semi-military bases at Mhakwe, Biriwiri, Nhedziwa and Shinja primary schools where Zanu-PF youths are being indoctrinated, alledgedly spending the whole night singing pro- Zanu-PF songs and denouncing MDC. Muresherwa is said to be working closely with Zanu-PF youths who terrorised villagers during the previous election.

On 20 November violence broke out when Zanu-PF attempted to extort donations from farmers at a meeting in Insiza North in Matabeleland South. The farmers, including members of varies political parties, declined to fund Zanu-PF’s national conference next month. Zanu-PF Insiza district official Aggripa Ndlukula and an assistant gate-crashed the Insiza/Shangani Farmers Association meeting and told farmers to donate towards the Zanu-PF conference, threatening that those who did not would lose their land.

A case highlighting legal harassment of perceived opposition politicians and supporters occurred at Chikore farm in Masvingo on 8^th November. Thirty three war veterans (representing more than 60 families) were arrested by police for allegedly defying a court order to vacate the farm over a land dispute with Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Stan Mudenge, despite their having appealed against the court order. Mudenge is fighting to evict them from the farm. The war veterans have allegedly been unlawfully detained in custody in Masvingo. Their lawyer alleges that Mudenge is using his political clout to force the Judiciary to detain them. “They should not be arrested until the case is heard in the High court…,” their lawyer said

In another case, members of an international charity group Oxfam fell victim to legal harassment when they were briefly detained by police. Police, accompanied by Immigration officials, on Wednesday 9th detained 10 visiting international Oxfam officials who were attending an internal planning meeting in Harare. The 10 foreign participants were rounded up, their passports seized, and were then transported to Immigration offices. The officers claimed to be verifying the passports and the status of the Oxfam members’ participation at the meeting, as well as investigating if the foreign group had legally entered the country. They were released and their passports returned after lawyers pointed out it was not a public meeting, therefore not subject to security legislation restrictions.

More legal harassment constituting breaches of the GPA was evidenced in an  an extraordinary case in which the High Court had postponed – for the fifth time in a row – (on 23rd November) the bail hearing of MDC youth leader Solomon Madzore, who is accused of murdering police officer Petros Mutedza in May. Justice Maria Zimba Dube said Madzore’s bail hearing will now proceed on November 30. The hearing was postponed to allow state prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba to analyse fresh submissions made by Madzore’s lawyer, Gift Mtisi. Mtisi had presented an affidavit from MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora to convince the court that Madzore was not a flight risk.

Media reports in November highlighted issues with freedom of speech with one article reporting that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is being accused of abusing its authority by awarding the country’s first independent radio broadcast licenses to Zanu-PF affiliated organisations. This partisanship implictly continues the denial of the right of freedom of speech, and access to impartial information, to the majority of Zimbabweans. BAZ chairman, Tafataona Mahoso, announced on 24^th November that Zimbabwe Newspapers’ Talk Radio and Supa Mandiwanzira’s AB Communications had been chosen for the two FM frequencies, from 15 applications. Journalists at the press briefing said they had known for weeks that the result was a forgone conclusion.

Similarly, on November 26th the State-controlled press showed the extent of its influence through its attempts to vilify Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over his personal life. Locadia Tembo, Prime Minister’s supposed wife, is alleged to have slept outside his Harare home in Strathaven for 3 days, in an apparent attempt to force him into marrying her. Sources close to the Prime Minister are reported to have said he is battling a major sting operation coordinated by Zanu-PF. Tembo went at the weekend to meet Tsvangirai’s mother without the knowledge and consent of the PM. Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru, pre-empted Tembo’s visit to Buhera by writing about it even before she made her trip. To make matters worse, Tembo was allegedly accompanied by journalists from the state owned media and posed for pictures outside and inside the house.

In an article dated November 22^nd, MDC-T youths in Midlands South were barred from army recruitment by a Zanu-PF war veteran. The youths, who wanted to join the Zimbabwe National Army as junior soldiers, were removed from the process. One of the youths said the war veteran Maxwell Chitera walked around the queue where youths were waiting: “Chitera pointed at several youths and told us that no MDC members would be allowed to be become soldiers. He said they should first convert to Zanu-PF, if they were serious about pursuing their dreams of getting into ZNA,” said the youth.

——————————————————————————————————-

Soldiers deployed in Mbare as residents counter Chipangano gang

SW Radio Africa (ZW): 02/11/2011

Soldiers were deployed in the Mbare suburb of Harare Monday after angry commuter bus operators and touts clashed with members of the notorious ZANU PF Chipangano gang. Trouble started after Chipangano gang members tried to set up their own bus terminus near the ZBC studios in Mbare to extort ‘ranking’ fees from operators. But just like Hatcliffe on Sunday, when angry MDC-T supporters retaliated against a ZANU PF mob trying to disrupt their rally, a similar angry reaction saw commuter operators refuse to have money extorted from them. Street fighting broke out which the police failed to control, resulting in the army being called in.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• 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

MDC-T – ‘Disruption of Tsvangirai rally was well planned’

SW Radio Africa (ZW): 07/11/2011

The MDC-T party is publicly blaming Zanu-PF for the violence that rocked Chitungwiza on Sunday, forcing the party to cancel its rally at Chibuku stadium. The violence, reportedly orchestrated, targeted, financed and planned by Zanu-PF, was sparked when its militia, led by the Chipangano gang, attacked MDC-T rally organisers. Scores of Zanu-PF reinforcements were bussed in to Chibuku stadium armed with iron bars, machetes, and stones. Five party vehicles and the public address system were destroyed or had parts stolen, along with money, flags and banners, in full view of the police. But on Monday police arrested two MDC-T youths, Julius Marambakutongwa and Kuda Muchemwa, in Chitungwiza, alleging they were behind the disturbances.

• 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 XII : FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Colonel revives torture bases

Zimbabwean, The (ZW): 18/11/2011

A Zimbabwe National Army colonel, Charles Muresherwa, has allegedly been resuscitating torture bases here which were used by Zanu-PF during the run up to the bloody June 2008 presidential run-off. Villagers this week accused Muresherwa of setting up semi-military bases at Mhakwe, Biriwiri, Nhedziwa and Shinja primary schools where Zanu-PF youths are being indoctrinated. “Muresherwa is moving around the district in army uniform setting up Zanu-PF youth bases. One famous base is at Mhakwe primary school where youths spend the whole night singing pro- Zanu-PF songs and denouncing the MDC,” said a teacher. The villagers said the army colonel was working closely with Zanu-PF youths who terrorised villagers during the previous election.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE X : FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Zanu-PF threatens farmers in Insiza North

Zimbabwean, The (ZW): 23/11/2011

Farmers in Insiza North in Matabeleland South, including Zapu members and supporters, on Sunday 20 November, 2011 resisted attempts by Zanu-PF to extort donations from them to fund its national conference taking place in Bulawayo next month. Zanu-PF Insiza district official Aggripa Ndlukula, accompanied by an assistant only identified as Moyo, gate-crashed an Insiza/Shangani Farmers Association meeting and told farmers to donate towards the Zanu-PF conference, threatening that those who did not would lose the land. Vice Chairman of the association, Mr Nehemiah Nyathi told the two that “things have changed” and farmers would not allow politicians to hold them to ransom anymore. The intruders then said only those who were willing should donate.

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

War Vets Languish In Prison Over Land Dispute

RadioVOP: 09/11/2011

Masvingo – 33 war veterans were yesterday arrested by police for allegedly defying a court order to vacate Chikore farm involving a land dispute with Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Stan Mudenge, despite having appealed against the court order. The war veterans represent more than 60 families. Mudenge is fighting to evict from the farm. The war veterans, represented by Martin Mureri of Matutu, Kwirira and Associates are allegedly unlawfully detained in custody at Masvingo remand prison by Magistrate Dorothy Mwanyisa. Mureri said the detention was unlawful and political as Mudenge is allegedly forcing the Judiciary to detain them. “They should not be arrested until the case is heard in the High court…,” he said.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE V: LAND QUESTION
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Oxfam staff detained & harassed by Zim police

SW Radio Africa (ZW): 11/11/2011

Members of international charity group Oxfam were this week briefly detained by police and the local leadership interrogated. The police, accompanied by Immigration officials, on Wednesday detained 10 visiting international officials from Oxfam, who were attending an internal planning meeting in Harare. The 10 foreign participants were rounded up, their passports seized and then they were transported Immigration offices at Linquenda House. The officers claimed to be verifying the passports and the status of the Oxfam members’ participation at the meeting, as well as investigating if the foreign group had legally entered the country. They were eventually released and their passports returned, after ZLHR pointed out it was not a public meeting.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XII : FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

MDC activist bail hearing deferred for fifth time

Daily News (ZW): 24/11/2011

The High Court yesterday postponed for the fifth time in a row the bail hearing of MDC youth leader Solomon Madzore, who is accused of murdering police officer Inspector Petros Mutedza. Justice Maria Zimba Dube said Madzore’s bail hearing will now proceed on November 30. The hearing was postponed to allow state prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba to analyse fresh submissions made by Madzore’s lawyer, Gift Mtisi. Mtisi had presented an affidavit from MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora detailing rallies attended and addressed by Madzore in September – including video evidence – to convince the court that Madzore was not a flight risk.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

Zanu-PF allies get first ‘independent’ radio licences

SW Radio Africa (ZW): 24/11/2011

Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) stands accused of awarding the country’s first independent radio broadcast licenses to Zanu-PF affiliated organisations. Winning bidders are alleged to have been recruiting staff and buying equipment weeks before the results were announced. BAZ chairman, Tafataona Mahoso, announced on Thursday that Zimbabwe Newspapers’ Talk Radio and Supa Mandiwanzira’s AB Communications had been chosen for the two FM frequencies, from 15 applications. Journalists at the press briefing said they had known for weeks who had been selected. Mandiwanzira had been building studios at his offices in Eastlea and had also been recruiting management, while equipment was actually brought into the country, especially for Zimpapers, who will be operating from Herald House.

• ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
• ARTICLE VII : PROMOTION OF EQUALITY, NATIONAL HEALING, COHESION AND UNITY
• ARTICLE XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION

Tsvangirai’s ‘lover’ slept outside his house for 3 days

SW Radio Africa (ZW): 29/11/2011

Locadia Tembo, the woman at the centre of the marriage storm with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is alleged to have slept outside his Harare home in Strathaven for 3 days, in an apparent attempt to force him into marrying her. Sources close to the Prime Minister said he is battling a major sting operation coordinated by Mugabe’s regime.” Tembo went at the weekend to meet Tsvangirai’s mother, without the knowledge and consent of the PM. Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru, pre-empted Tembo’s visit to Buhera by writing about it even before she made her trip. To make matters worse, Tembo was allegedly accompanied by journalists from the state owned media and posed for pictures outside and inside the house.

• 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
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION

MDC-T youths barred from ZNA

Zimbabwean, The (ZW): 22/11/2011

MDC-T youths here have been barred from army recruitment by a known Zanu-PF war veteran. The youths, who wanted to join the Zimbabwe National Army as junior soldiers, were removed from the process. One of the affected youths said the war veteran, Maxwell Chitera, walked around the queue where youths were waiting. “Chitera pointed at several youths and told us that no MDC members would be allowed to be become soldiers. He said they should first convert to Zanu-PF, if they were serious about pursuing their dreams of getting into ZNA,” said the youth. Another youth added: “We are indeed MDC-T supporters, but we never imagined it could cost us an opportunity of becoming civil servants.

• 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
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

This entry was posted by Sokwanele on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 2:06 am. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.