The inclusive government continues to falter and with an increasingly tense political environment is even reversing some of the gains post its formation. In January, President Mugabe was increasing pressure for the discontinuation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and pushing for early elections, while the MDC-T led by Prime Minister Tsvangirai still hopes that the GPA will be fully implemented before any forthcoming election. Zanu PF has embarked on a violent campaign against opposition forces whilst upping the rhetoric that the West is to blame for Zimbabwe’s problems.

In the month of February, the number of media articles catalogued for this edition of the Zimbabwe Inclusive Government (ZIG) Watch jumped from 90 to 132 – an increase of 36%.

Each recorded article signifies a unique breach of the terms set out in the GPA. By categorising these articles according to the nature of the breach, we have generated representative statistics.

This month, violations in the form of intimidation, hate speech, threats, abductions and brutality remain in first place, with 56 reports (42.4% of total). Significantly, in second place, cases of legal harassment jumped to 27 reports (20.5% of total). Cases of corruption, or efforts to entrench corrupt practices, were third with 16 instances (12.1%), whilst denial of freedom of speech rose to fourth place with 9 articles (6.8%). In total, these four categories of breaches accounted for 81.8% of the total analysed.

Within these categories, Zanu-PF were either responsible for, or involved in, 94.4% of the violations recorded. 27.7% of those breaches involved preparations by Zanu-PF for control and manipulation of a possible election in 2011, with 44.4% of the latter involving violence and / or intimidation in some form.

Below we list ten articles that are representative of this month’s media activity. We should note that whilst the latter are representative, they do not represent the real volume of violations and crimes being committed with impunity against the people of Zimbabwe. We therefore invite all our readers to review the summaries of all 132 articles (and if possible, previously captured articles) on the webpage http://www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch and appeal to you to share this information with your colleagues and other interested parties.

Starting with articles covering violence and related issues, our first report details how the youth wing of MDC-T has threatened revenge attacks against Zanu-PF. MDC-T youth chairman Thamsanga Mahlangu said party youths would not stand idle and become victims as in the 2008 polls. “We are prepared to defend the defenceless, if the police continue to stand aloof and be indifferent to Zanu-PF violence,” said Mahlangu. Threats to conduct retaliatory attacks on Zanu-PF members must be recorded as a breach of the terms of GPA.

Meanwhile the Police have threatened to crush any Egyptian-style protests by the MDC-T. Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriyarwa said that Egyptian-style mass protests would not be tolerated, “The situation in Egypt will never be tolerated in Zimbabwe … we are fully prepared for such violent activities …” he said. His statements were swiftly condemned by Co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone of the MDC-T, who called them inflammatory. The Commissioner was obviously ignoring the facts that in Egypt, it was the protestors who were peaceful, and that they were attacked by the security services of the Mubarak regime and its supporters – a scenario clearly reminiscent of that in Zimbabwe.

The basis for the growing levels of violence is Robert Mugabe’s campaign for re-election in polls that may be held in 2011. Mugabe has apparently outsourced his election campaign to the country’s military. Zanu-PF has brought on board recently retired, as well as serving, military officers to prop up its crumbling structures, for what is likely to be an extremely violent campaign. The Joint Operations Command (JOC) is playing a significant role in this process. The JOC has deployed Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena to take over the position of Zanu-PF director of the commissariat. Political analyst Charles Mangongera called the move “chilling”.

In an unusual occurrence this month, eight Zanu-PF members were arrested on Monday after they looted the Gulf Complex in Harare and have appeared in court. The eight, Brian Matonga, Joachim Mabukwa, David Vanhuvaone, Daniel Mapfunde, Prince Nyandoro, Givemore Mpofu, Tawanda Chingwena and Peter Meki appeared in court before presiding magistrate Don Ndirowei. Despite Zanu-PF’s denials of involvement in violence, the accused all revealed that they had received orders from Zanu-PF heavyweights to attack foreigners and that the violence was systematically coordinated from the party’s Harare provincial. All eight indicated that they joined the protesters because they had been promised shops owned by foreign nationals in town – Nigerians in particular.

Refocusing attention on violence issues in the rural areas, Zanu-PF’s controversial war veteran, Jabulani Sibanda, is being accused of child soldier training in Gutu. He defended himself by saying he is ‘only teaching the children to be patriotic’. He has ordered boys aged 12 and above to report at various bases in the district for training, where they have been seen marching, singing and toi-toiing for about two and half hours every day. “We are not going back [on our plans] because you don’t want us to train our children to become patriotic,” he said. Parents in areas such as Chitsa, Guzha, Mutero, Maungwa and Magombedze said they were planning to hide or send their children away to stay with relatives in towns.

And in our last article covering the topic of violence, Prime Minister Tsvangarai has said that President Mugabe is aware of the security forces’ resistance to the inclusive government. Tsvangirai is holding the veteran leader responsible for the forces’ relentless effort to block democratic reform. He went on to say that the security forces have deliberately defied civilian authority, even those under the direct control of their Commander-In-Chief, Mugabe. Tsvangirai concluded his statement by saying that either Mugabe is aware of what is going on, or that there is now a Third Force that has assumed control of the country without the mandate of the people.

Moving on to the topic of legal harassment, the MDC-T MP for Nyanga North Douglas Mwonzora, is facing charges of instigating political violence, was granted $50 bail by a Nyanga magistrate. However, his release was immediately suspended by state prosecutors using Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Mwonzora appeared in court together with 24 other MDC activists also arrested for allegedly instigating the violence during his own constituency feedback meeting. The 24 activists were granted $50 bail each, but the state also invoked section 121 on all of them. Mwonzora’s incarceration is also seriously delaying his work as co-chairman of COPAC – the parliamentary body responsible for overseeing the preparation of a new Zimbabwean constitution.

In our second article exposing legal harassment by Zanu-PF, Munyaradzi Gwisai and 45 other student and trade union activists, were arrested and subsequently charged with treason, or alternatively, plotting to ‘overthrow a constitutionally elected government. The activists were arrested during a meeting in Harare, during which video footage of the protests in Egypt and Tunisia was shown. Police allege Gwisai was addressing the meeting to show that Zimbabwe was led by a dictator who had been in power for too long, and had caused the suffering of many people, whilst encouraging a similar action to that in Egypt. This is the first high-profile Zimbabwean case in which the regime change brought about in Egypt has been cited, and the rush to impose the harshest charges indicate that Zanu-PF is trying to cow any would-be protestors from taking to the streets. The question that needs answering is whether or not the charges can be justified against the paltry evidence.

Turning to corruption, the sheer scale of the fraud indicated in the following article is staggering. More than 75 000 ghost workers, mostly unqualified Zanu-PF militias and supporters, have been unearthed in the Zimbabwean civil service through a comprehensive payroll and skills audit done by Ernst & Young on behalf of the Ministry of Public Service. The discovery of thousands of ghost workers — including 6 861 employed in one day in one ministry — has alarmed government ministers and stakeholders who say it revealed the extent of Zanu-PF’s abuse of office to create a huge patronage network using the public service at the expense of taxpayers. The audit shows that there are more than 75 000 ghost workers out of a total of 188 000 employed in various ministries.

And in our last article on the topic of denial of freedom of speech, MDC-T has launched a complaint against the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation following a recent surge in criticism and a blackout of its officials by the broadcaster. The letter of complaint was copied to South African President Jacob Zuma – as the SADC mediator to the Zimbabwe crisis – plus the three principals to the GPA, Information Minister Webster Shamu and JOMIC. In the letter addressed to ZBC chief Happison Muchechetere, MDC-T party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said they wanted to place on record what appeared to be ‘an insatiable, and unhelpful desire to perpetuate selective vilification of senior MDC officials and Cabinet ministers.’ Chamisa also complained that the ZBC rarely gave them airtime to explain policies on issues of national significance.

MDC youths threaten to hit back
Zim Online (ZW): 02/02/2011

The youth wing of MDC-T has threatened revenge attacks against Zanu-PF, a development that could worsen current political violence in many parts of the country. There have been increasing reports of cases of political violence and intimidation mostly blamed on militant Zanu-PF supporters, war veterans and in several cases members of Zimbabwe’s armed forces. MDC-T youth chairman Thamsanga Mahlangu said party youths would not stand idle and become victims as in the 2008 polls, when at least 200 MDC supporters are said to have died. “…. we are …. prepared to defend the defenceless …. if the police continue to stand aloof and be indifferent to Zanu-PF violence,” said Mahlangu.

• ARTICLE XI : RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAWS
• ARTICLE XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Zimbabwean Police Vow to Crush Any Egyptian-Style Uprising in Harare
VOANews (USA): 04/02/2011

A senior official of the Zimbabwe Republic Police has threatened to crush any Egyptian-style protests by the MDC-T formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, further stressing the power-sharing government. Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriyarwa, in charge of Harare province, told Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that Egyptian-style mass protests would not be tolerated. “This is wishful thinking,” he said. “The situation in Egypt will never be tolerated anywhere in Zimbabwe. …. we are fully prepared for such violent activities and our officers are already on the ground to ensure peace and tranquility prevails in the country.” His statements were swiftly condemned by Co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone of the Tsvangirai MDC formation, who called them inflammatory.

• 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 XIII : STATE ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS
• ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION

Zimbabwe President Mugabe Causes Alarm By Outsourcing Election Campaign to Feared Military
VOANews (USA): 09/02/2011

Robert Mugabe’s campaign for re-election in a ballot that has yet to be called has been outsourced to the country’s military, sources say. Zanu-PF has brought on board recently retired, as well as serving military officers, to prop up its crumbling structures, for what is likely to be an extremely violent campaign. The Joint Operations Command (JOC) is playing a significant role in this process. Comprising senior securocrats, it was supposed to have been disbanded at the inception of the unity government, but is still meeting clandestinely. The JOC has deployed Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena to take over the position of Zanu-PF director of the commissariat. Political analyst Charles Mangongera said “the move …. is chilling”.

• 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

‘We were given orders to attack foreigners’, Court told
ZimEye: 12/02/2011

Eight members of Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party who were arrested on Monday after they looted the Gulf Complex have finally appeared in court at Harare Magistrate’s courts. The eight, Brian Matonga, Joachim Mabukwa, David Vanhuvaone, Daniel Mapfunde, Prince Nyandoro, Givemore Mpofu, Tawanda Chingwena and Peter Meki appeared in court before presiding magistrate Don Ndirowei. All of them stunned the court when they revealed that they received orders from Zanu-PF bosses to attack foreigners and that the violence ‘was systematically coordinated from the party’s Harare provincial offices at 4th Street’. All the eight indicated that they joined the protesters because they had been promised shops owned by foreign nationals in town and Nigerians in particular.

• 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 XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Zanu-(PF)’s Controversial War Vet In Child Soldier Training
RadioVOP: 16/02/2011

Gutu – Zanu-PF’s controversial veteran of the liberation war Jabulani Sibanda is being accused of child soldier training here, but has defended himself saying he is ‘only teaching the children to be patriotic’. He has ordered boys aged 12 and above to report at various bases in the district for training, where they have been seen marching,singing and toy-toying for about two and half hours every day. “We are not going back because you don’t want us to train our children to become patriotic,” he said. Parents in areas such as Chitsa, Guzha, Mutero, Maungwa and Magombedze said they were planning to hide or send their children away to stay with relatives in towns.

• 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 XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Mugabe behind army actions – PM
Zim Online (ZW): 17/02/2011

President Robert Mugabe is aware of the security forces’ resistance to the unity government and its change programme, says Prime Minister Morgan, virtually holding the veteran leader responsible for the forces’ relentless effort to block democratic reform. …. Tsvangirai said Mugabe – who is supreme commander of the armed forces and appoints the country’s police, secret and prison service chiefs – was in the know …. “They (security forces) have deliberately defied civilian authority …, even those … under the direct control of the Commander-In-Chief,” Tsvangirai said in … Harare … Tuesday night. [Mugabe] … is aware … or there is now a Third Force that has assumed control in this country without the mandate of the people.”

• 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 XVIII : SECURITY OF PERSONS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Mwonzora & 24 MDC activists granted bail, but remain jailed
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 21/02/2011

The MDC-T MP for Nyanga North Douglas Mwonzora, … facing charges of instigating political violence, was on Monday granted $50 bail by a Nyanga magistrate. But his release was immediately suspended by state prosecutors using Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Mwonzora appeared in court together with 24 other MDC activists arrested a week ago, following disturbances during a rally he hosted in his constituency. Mwonzora was arrested last week Tuesday for allegedly instigating the violence during the constituency feedback meeting. According to Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC-T spokesman for Manicaland, the 24 activists were also granted $50 bail each, but the state also invoked section 121 on all of them.

• 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

Gwisai and 45 activists charged with treason
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 23/02/2011

Munyaradzi Gwisai, plus 45 other student and trade union activists, were on Wednesday charged with treason or alternatively plotting to ‘overthrow a constitutionally elected government.’ The activists from the ISO, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Zimbabwe National Students Union, were arrested during a meeting in Harare. During the meeting video footage of the protests in Egypt and Tunisia was shown. Police allege Gwisai addressed the meeting to the effect that Zimbabwe was led by a dictator who had been in power for too long and had caused the suffering of many people. They allege that he told the crowd that what happened in Egypt should also happen in Zimbabwe to remove the dictator.

• 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

Zanu-PF militias among 75 000 ghost workers
Zimbabwe Independent, The (ZW): 10/02/2011

MORE than 75 000 ghost workers, mostly unqualified Zanu-PF militias and supporters, have been unearthed in the civil service through a comprehensive payroll and skills audit done by Ernst & Young (India) on behalf of the Ministry of Public Service. The discovery of thousands of ghost workers — including 6 861 employed in one day in one ministry — has alarmed government ministers and stakeholders who say it revealed the extent of Zanu-PF’s abuse of office to create a huge patronage network using the public service at the expense of taxpayers. The payroll and skills audit shows that there are more than 75 000 ghost workers out of a total of 188 000 employed in various ministries.

• 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

MDC-T complains to ZBC
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 24/02/2011

MDC-T has launched a complaint against the state controlled ZBC, following a recent surge in criticism and a blackout of its officials by the broadcaster. The letter of complaint was copied to South African President Jacob Zuma, as the SADC mediator to the Zimbabwe crisis, plus the three principals to the GPA, Information Minister Webster Shamu and JOMIC. In a letter to ZBC chief Happison Muchechetere, MDC party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said they wanted to place on record what appeared to be ‘an insatiable, and unhelpful desire to perpetuate selective vilification of senior MDC officials and Cabinet ministers.’ Chamisa also complained that the ZBC rarely gave them airtime to explain policies on issues of national significance.

• 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 XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION