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Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch : Issue 28
Sokwanele
June 15, 2011

Polarisation of the three GPA signatories continues to develop. Zanu PF hardliners pushed for President Mugabe to abandon the GPA and mediation efforts by South African President Jacob Zuma on behalf of SADC with regard to the proposed roadmap to elections. The security forces are seen to be the biggest instigators in this position over fears that an agreed upon document will allow too many concessions to the MDC thereby weakening Zanu PF's hold on political and military power.

Of the 100 media articles recorded in this edition of ZIG Watch for May, Zanu PF continue to be the party seemingly determined to stall or prevent full implementation of the GPA. Each recorded article signifies a unique breach of the terms set out in the GPA and by categorising these articles according to the nature of the breach, we have generated representative statistics.

Violations in the form of violence, intimidation, hate speech, threats, abductions and brutality were in shared first place with cases of economic destabilisation, or efforts to entrench corrupt practices, with 23 articles (23.0% of total each).

Legal harassment of perceived opposition politicians and supporters, was in third place with 20 articles (20.0% of total), whilst fourth place was occupied by violations denying freedom of speech, with 11 articles (11.0% of total).

In total, these four categories of breaches (77 articles) account for 77.0% of the total analysed. Zanu-PF were either responsible for, or involved in, 99.0% of all breaches recorded.

We have compiled ten articles at the end of this report to represent the media's coverage of events in relation to the GPA. This list is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive in exposing the volume of human rights violations against the people of Zimbabwe.

We therefore invite all our readers to review the summaries (or original articles) of all articles (and if possible, previously captured articles) on the webpage http://www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch and ask you to share this information with your colleagues and other interested parties.

We begin our report with selected articles illustrating this month's most significant violation of the GPA - that of violence, intimidation, hate speech, threats, abductions and brutality. The first article detailing the lives of 40 families in the diamond rich area of Chiadzwa who were beaten and forcibly removed from their homes by the military, while their property was destroyed. This follows their refusal to move without compensation but the Chinese mining firm Anjin recruited the soldiers to force their removal.

A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer was killed on 29 May in Harare by alleged MDC-T youths because the officer was investigating an alleged illegal gathering by party members. It is unclear at this stage who was responsible for the death but police and Zanu PF militia have retaliated by violently cracking down and arresting MDC-T activists in the Glen View area. Police Chief Augustine Ghihuri warned MDC-T supporters said to be behind the killing that they would 'die by the sword'. He said that the murder undermined the MDC-T's claims of being a non-violent party, and that the police would not rest whilst "opposition" activists tried to make the country ungovernable.

Economic destabilisation partners with the article on the displaced Chiadzwa families: Minister of Mines Obert Mpofu said the families will only receive compensation if the international community allows the free sale of Zimbabwe's diamonds on the open market. "Where do you think we will get the money to compensate them when the same people who are advocating the ban of our diamond sales are the same pushing for the government to compensate villagers? That's idiotic and nonsensical. We will only get the money to compensate the villagers when our diamonds are sold freely internationally" said Mpofu.

An economic row has erupted in Matabeleland North between Gwayi Sub-Catchment Council and newly licensed coal mining companies on the issuing of licences by the Ministry of Mines. The council is accusing the mines of illegally obtaining the rights to extract coal in Sinamatela within the Hwange National Park. Concerns over pollution in the Gwayi-Shangani dam and Lulosi River seem to be at the centre of the dispute.

Our final article dealing with economic destabilisation shows how thousands of villagers in Chisumbanje are living in abject poverty following their displacement from communal lands to make way for a bio-fuel project by the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and Macdom, owned by Billy Rautenbach. The project has procured 30 000 acres of land a move that traditional authorities have been forced to accept even though the acquisition has not been approved by the local council.

Legal harassment of perceived opposition politicians and supporters sees civil society activists and lawyers being arrested and expelled from the SADC summit in Namibia. Among those arrested were Irene Petras from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Joy Mabenge of the Institute for Democratic Alternatives for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM), and freelance journalist Jealousy Mawarire. They were interrogated by Zimbabwean CIO agents who were leading the interrogation of the activists, along with Namibian police, illustrating the partisan position of SADC security organs.

The second article illustrating legal harassment records that two ZimRights employees, Florence Ndlovu and Walter Dube, who had been missing since their arrest on Monday 23rd, were finally located by their lawyers at a Lupane police station on Thursday 27th. Although police at Nyamandlovu Police Station had denied holding Ndlovu and Dube, the ZimRights employees said they had been held at the police station since the previous Monday, where they were denied access to their lawyers. The pair were only moved to Lupane Police Station on the 26th where Ndlovu was officially charged with communicating "false statements prejudicial to the State." The police insist that Ndlovu told villagers at Monday's anti-torture workshops that the "police torture and assault people." Dube was released without charge.

Our third article covering legal harassment refers to the previously mentioned murder of a police inspector by suspected MDC members in Glen View, Harare on Sunday 29 May. Police launched a violent crack-down on MDC supporters in the suburb, arresting dozens of MDC activists and family members at their homes and workplaces in connection with the murder, despite the lack of evidence incriminating them. Neither the MDC nor the lawyers representing the detained have been able to ascertain their location. Police have declined to comment, but have reported through the state press that MDC-T members were responsible for the death. The crackdown has since been on-going, and has spread to other suburbs. At the time of this report, at least 24 MDC members had been detained, and it is alleged that those arrested have been beaten and tortured in custody.

We end our report with an article covering the restriction of freedom of speech. Presidential security officials prevented a Daily News reporter from covering a police pass-out parade at Morris Depot in Harare because the paper 'is determined to tarnish Mugabe's image'. He was forcibly removed, whilst journalists from other media houses were able to attend.

Chiadzwa families forced to move by brutal soldiers
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 17/05/2011

The remaining families in the diamond rich Chiadzwa area have been forced to leave their homes, after soldiers brutally evicted them over the weekend. A distraught man called the MDC-T offices on Saturday saying the process was being hurried with properties being destroyed in the hasty operation. "We are being moved from Chiadzwa right now . . . Our properties are being destroyed, and we are not even sure of where we are being moved to," the man said, before the phone went dead. The remaining 40 families in the area had previously refused to move until fair compensation had been paid to them. But the Chinese mining company Anjin, recruited soldiers to start moving the families on.

  • 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

Cop killed by suspected MDC-T youths
ZimEye: 29/05/2011

A police officer was killed in Glen View, Harare on Sunday after suspected MDC-T youths attacked a ZRP detail investigating reports they were holding an illegal meeting. ZRP spokesperson, Andrew Phiri, said a member of the police reaction group died following the skirmishes at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre. " . . . suspected rowdy MDC-T youths started attacking the policemen with stones and other objects," Phiri told the government-run Herald newspaper. "During the attack, one of the officers was hit and fell unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival at Harare Central Hospital." MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora suggested the assailants were not members of his party, but patrons at a bar who had been attacked by police.

  • 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

Cop killers 'will die by the sword' - Chihuri
NewZimbabwe.com (ZW): 31/05/2011

Police chief Augustine Chihuri on Tuesday warned MDC-T supporters said to be behind the killing of a police officer on Sunday that they would "die by the sword". Inspector Petros Mutedza, was honoured following his murder by a mob in Harare's Glen View suburb on Sunday. In a speech read at Inspector Mutedza's funeral service, Chihuri said the murder had undermined the MDC-T's public boasts of being a peaceful party. "The Police shall not, . . . sit . . . while . . . police officers are being decimated by uncouth opposition political elements in a naïve and imbecilic attempt to make our country ungovernable," Chihuri said. "Those who wish to live by the sword must be prepared to die by the sword."

  • 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

No compensation for displaced Chiadzwa villagers - Minister
ZimEye: 14/05/2011

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu said the displaced villagers of Chiadzwa will only be compensated after the international community allows Zimbabwe to sell its diamonds. "Where do you think we will get the money to compensate them when the same people who are advocating the ban of our diamond sales are the same pushing for the government to compensate villagers? That's idiotic and nonsensical. We will only get the money to compensate the villagers when our diamonds are sold freely internationally," Mpofu said at a mining meeting, accusing the reporter of forwarding of interests. Last year the government promised to build schools, clinics and other facilities to the displaced families before awarding mining tenders to a Chinese company.

  • 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 XVI : HUMANITARIAN AND FOOD ASSISTANCE

Mining companies at war with Gwayi Council over licences
RadioVOP: 22/05/2011

Lupane - A row has erupted between the Gwayi Sub -Catchment Council and newly licensed coal -mining companies in Matabeleland North on how the companies got licences from Ministry of Mines. The council is accuses two of the companies that were controversially licensed by the Ministry of Mines to mine coal in the Sinamatela area, in the wildlife rich Hwange National Park. Makomo Investment is accused of polluting Lukosi river while the mining activities of Liberation Mining are said to be threatening the Gwayi-Shangani dam, which is being built within its vicinity. The Council says said the extraction of coal in the catchment area should not be allowed as it undermines national interests.

  • 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

Chisumbanje villagers in poverty after displacement by Rautenbach
ZimEye: 30/05/2011

Chisumbanje - Thousands of families are wallowing in abject poverty after their displacement from their communal lands to pave way for a bio-fuel project by the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and Billy Rautenbach's company Macdom Pvt Ltd. MP Chipinge South, Meki Makuyana, said the project was fraudulently brought to the people without local council approval, while traditional leadership was directed to accept the project as a government initiative. 30 000 acres of land was acquired through displacing families, who are now without basic essentials such as schools, health facilities among others. Makuyana said the people in Chisumbanje believed that it was a government project, while the councilors professed ignorance about the project.

  • 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 XVI : HUMANITARIAN AND FOOD ASSISTANCE

Zim activists, lawyers & journalists arrested at SADC Summit
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 20/05/2011

A group of civil society activists, including top lawyers and a journalist, were on Friday arrested and 'violently ejected' from the Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders underway in Namibia. Among those picked up by police in Namibia were Irene Petras from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Joy Mabenge of the Institute for Democratic Alternatives for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM), and freelance journalist Jealousy Mawarire. The three were being detained and questioned on Friday evening, while another nine civil society leaders were being held under heavy police guard. Zimbabwean CIO agents were leading the interrogations of the activists, along with Namibian police. The group's vehicle was also impounded and equipment like cameras was also confiscated.

  • 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

Missing ZimRights staff finally found in Lupane
SW Radio Africa (ZW): 26/05/2011

Two ZimRights employees, Florence Ndlovu and Walter Dube, who have been missing since their arrest on Monday, were finally located by their lawyers at a Lupane police station on Thursday. Although police at Nyamandlovu Police Station had denied holding Ndlovu and Dube in their cells, the ZimRights employees said they had been held at the police station since Monday, where they were denied access to their lawyers. The pair was only moved to Lupane Police Station on Wednesday where Ndlovu was officially charged with communicating "false statements prejudicial to the State." The police insist that Ndlovu told villagers at Monday's anti-torture workshops that the "police torture and assault people." Dube meanwhile was released without charge.

  • 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

Police wantonly arrest MDC members in Glen View
Zimbabwean, The (ZW): 30/05/2011

Police today arrested dozens of MDC activists and their families at their homes and workplaces on allegations of killing a police inspector, who his colleagues say was murdered by unknown revellers at a liquor store in Glen View, Harare. Before any investigations had been done the police rushed to the national press to blame MDC. The resultant arrests of MDC members are an attempt to justify this unorthodox behaviour. By late last night, MDC and its lawyers failed to ascertain the whereabouts of those randomly picked up, ostensibly to facilitate investigations. The secrecy in which the swoop was done raises suspicion as neither the party nor the accused's lawyers have been able to trace those arrested.

  • 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

Mugabe bars Daily News
Daily News (ZW): 28/05/2011

In yet another clear anti-Daily News move by the government, President Robert Mugabe's security officials yesterday barred the popular daily from covering a police pass-out parade at Morris Depot in Harare where the Zanu-PF leader was guest of honour. Journalists from other media houses were allowed to cover the parade. Security details chased away the Daily News' reporter, arguing that they were taking this uncalled for measure because the newspaper was out to tarnish Mugabe's image. The journalist was told in no uncertain terms that the Daily News was not allowed to cover Mugabe. He was promptly escorted out of Morris Depot by the spooks, who took details of the journalist's residential address and national identity number.

  • 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
  • ARTICLE XIX : FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION

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