Press release – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) Independent Constitution Monitoring Project (ZZZICOMP) have noted with deep concern the delays in the Constitution making process. According to the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the outreach process was supposed to have been completed no later than four (4) months after the First All Stakeholders’ Conference. This has, however, not been the case as it is now eight (8) months since the conference was held and there remains no sign that the outreach will commence any time soon.
Also, of concern are reports of people who are being harassed and threatened for expressing their views on what should be and should not be included in a new constitution. Notably, the process has become highly politicized with several incidences in which constitutional deliberations have ended up entirely focusing on the adoption of the Kariba Draft in sharp contrast to the letter and spirit of the GPA. (more…)
I wonder what it is that makes President Mugabe so terrified of his countrymen?
There were no less than three armoured personnel carriers parked alongside the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair during the visit of the much despised Iranian President.
Bristling with camouflaged military personnel the grey unimog tanks with fierce 20mm gun turrets pointed menacingly at the Trade Fair.
Yes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, hated and reviled the world over by all except the radical extremists, officially opened the 2010 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
What a smear on the faces of the thinking people in Zimbabwe.
Ahmadinejad is renowned for his nasty bed fellows and has added Zimbabwe to his nest of “prestigious” countries-at-arms i.e. Cuba, Venezuela, Belarus.
There had been a lot of dissension amongst the Trade Fair officials as to the choice of guest, but as usual Mugabe got his way.
A small handful of Muslims chanted and sang outside the Trade Fair grounds, as Zimbabwe police, support unit and the army swarmed everywhere to protect the man. The President’s office worked its way round the city seeking fanatics who might have enough hatred for the Iranian president to try and destabilize the event. (more…)
Taking photographs can be a high-risk occupation in Zimbabwe for journalists [and sometimes for other people, including tourists]. Last month a freelance photojournalist was arrested outside Harare magistrates court for taking photographs of arriving prisoners without the permission of the Commissioner of Prisons, and, although this is not against the law, he was detained, questioned by the police and charged with disorderly conduct. This raises the question: “In what circumstances can journalists and other people take photographs in Zimbabwe?”
The Legal Position
The general rule is that everyone is free to take photographs of anything and anyone they like, except where the law specifically forbids photographs to be taken. This is one aspect of freedom of expression, which is protected by the Constitution and which includes freedom to receive and impart ideas and information. This freedom as spelt out in the Declaration of Rights [section 20] can only be limited in certain circumstances, by a law passed in order to protect:
the interests of defence, public safety, public order, the economic interests of the State, public morality or public health; or
the reputations, rights and freedoms of other people, or the private lives of people concerned in legal proceedings; or
the authority and independence of courts or tribunals or Parliament.
And any such law must be “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”. There are several laws that prohibit or restrict the taking of photographs in Zimbabwe. By listing them here we are not implying that they comply with section 20 of the Constitution – even some of the following provisions could be open to a constitutional challenge. (more…)
I visited my Auntie who lives past Kezi over the long weekend. She needed some pills urgently and was unable to get in to Bulawayo to obtain them. I had last been to her rural home, which is past Maphisa , some four years ago and I was shocked and horrified at what I found there.
My Auntie is an excellent farmer, four years ago her granary was bursting with food … sorghum, maize, nimo beans, pumpkins, melons, but this year she had managed to harvest only a few ground nuts and some yellow melons. Her entire maize crop was a total failure. (more…)
WOZA arrive at ZESA headquarters yesterday to petition over the poor delivery of power in Zimbabwe, but are later arrested. Full story blogged here.
Update: 20 April 2010
The four WOZA members arrested on Thursday outside ZESA headquarters, Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani, have finally been released from police custody after spending five nights in cells. The Attorney General’s office refused to press charges against the four women due to lack of sufficient evidence. The women did not appear in court as defence lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, spoke directly with the Attorney General’s office. Officers from the Law and Order Department at Harare Central had tried to force the women to pay ‘admission of guilt’ fines on Saturday to ‘buy’ their freedom. WOZA will now being suing the Zimbabwe Republic Police for wrongful arrest and detention. – More on Woza website.
The four WOZA women arrested at the ZESA headquarters in Harare yesterday remain in police custody. They have still not been formally charged. Their lawyer, Harrison Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, was granted access to them this afternoon. They are in good spirits despite the appalling conditions in Harare Central Police Station. Law and Order officers will decide tomorrow morning what charges they will prefer against the four activists. Due to the public holiday on Monday, if the women are not taken to court tomorrow morning they will remain in custody until Tuesday at the very least.
It has also emerged that a 23-year-old MOZA member, Timothy Katyora, was beaten in Harare Central Police Station yesterday by six uniformed officers. The young man was with a group of activists who presented themselves at the Charge Office attempting to hand themselves in in solidarity with their arrested comrades. Timothy was hauled away from the rest of the group into the guard room and beaten over the head by six officers, who were questioning him constantly about what he was doing there. After being beaten for several minutes, he was chased out of the police station. Timothy received medical treatment for bruising and headaches this morning.
The arrest and continued detention of the four women for exercising their constitutional right to demand a fair service for the electricity that they pay for makes a mockery of the Independence celebrations that no doubt will be taking place across Zimbabwe this weekend. 30 years later, the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans still do not enjoy the fruits of freedom. The promises of the liberation war have not been delivered to Zimbabweans who struggle to survive every day, wondering how they will feed their children tomorrow. Human rights and dignity denied to women, men and children who wish that the great achievement of 30 years of independence from colonial rule was something that could be celebrated. There is very little to celebrate in the cold, dark cells of Harare Central Police Station.
Please continue to call Harare Central Police Station on (+263 4) 777777 or (+263 4) 736931 or (+263 4) 725803 or (+263 4) 733033 or (+263 4) 721212 to demand that the WOZA activists be taken to court tomorrow and that they not be mistreated in custody.
SW Radio Africa report today that “Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi is believed to be involved in the invasion of a South African owned game farm in Beitbridge, in a move that critics say could threaten trade relations between the two countries.”
Further details on this invasion as below, via Press Release:
In defiance of a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (BIPPA) signed by South Africa and Zimbabwe on November 27 last year, a South African-owned game ranch was taken over yesterday at 17h00 in the Beitbridge area of Matabeleland South.
This is the first contravention of the BIPPA which protects South African investments in Zimbabwe from the date of signing and includes agricultural land.
The deal was lauded as being the key to unlocking millions of rands worth of investment from South Africa. (more…)
Oh, how I laughed when I read SW Radio Africa’s account of the confusion surrounding the news that the indigenisation policy has been suspended.
Saviour Kasukawere, one of Zanu PF’s loud-mouthed big-headed young guns associated with unpleasant things like racist attitudes and violence against his constituents, has been sending out conflicting messages through the media.
He told the Zimbabwe Guardian yesterday that “The law is still in force and companies have to comply in line with the regulations issued. The first deadline is set for Thursday this week (tomorrow) and is still in force.” They went off and wrote an article titled Zimbabwe empowerment law still in force: minister.
But then Kasukuwere was quoted by the Associated Press, in an article titled Black empowerment law delayed in Zimbabwe: “There are consultations which must be made with various sectors and this is why the Act has been set aside.”
Both articles with titles sending very different messages were published on the same day. (more…)
61 of the 65 Woza activists have now been released, the four who remain in custody are Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Selina Madukane and Clara Manjengwa. They are being charged with Participating in an Illegal Gathering under Section 37.1c of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act. They are hoping that the four will go to court tomorrow morning, but it seems unlikely and that the four will have to spend the weekend in the cells.
Update 16.17:
This morning the women and men of WOZA and MOZA congregated and marched on Megawatt House in Harare to present their complaints over the poor delivery of power in Zimbabwe.
At the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority headquarters they were asked to wait outside until a senior member of Zesa staff would come and address them. It appears that this was a delaying tactic to allow time for the police to come.
Once the police arrived, they were reticent to arrest the activists, however the Zesa security insisted the “ring leaders” be taken into custody.
Initially Jenny Williamns and Magodonga Mahlangu were the only ones detained and placed into the awaiting police vehicles. When the other members realised their leadership had been taken they immediately climbed into the police vans.
Once the detained activists arrived at Harare Central Police Station, even more of the Woza members forced their arrests in solidarity with their fellow activists.
They are yet to be charged, and the lawyers are currently working on the case.
Please phone Harare police station and voice your concern on Harare +263 4 777777 (more…)
