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October 22 - 29, 2014

Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe
Posted on October 29, 2014

Contents

Compiled by – MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor

  1. Incidents of police and Zanu PF violence
  2. Joice Mujuru and Grace Mugabe: more accusations and denunciations
1. Incidents of police and Zanu PF violence
Independent Media

News Day, October 24, 2014
“Masvingo journalist charged for taking pictures”

  • Police charged journalist Wilson Maphosa with criminal nuisance after taking pictures of houses that had allegedly been burnt down by the police.
  • The Media Institute of Southern Africa have claimed that Maphosa’s camera and press accreditation were confiscated during the arrest.
  • News Day claims that there has been an increased crackdown on journalists in recent months. On Wednesday, Alpha Media Holdings reporter Tapiwa Zivira was assaulted and detained for four hours by police in Harare.
  • In August, Angela Jimu, a photographer for the Zimbabwe Mail, was beaten up for filming an MDC-T protest and assaulted again for filming police harassment of vendors in Harare.
  • Notably, a Zimpapers, photojournalist, Justin Mutenda, was harassed by state intelligence for filming the departure of the Bangladeshi cricket team at the Harare airport.

Daily News, October 29, 2014
“Occupy Africa Unity Square organizers bashed”

  • Itai Dzamara, organizer for Occupy Africa Unity Square was severely beaten by individuals who appear to have been Zanu PF youths on Wednesday before being taken into police custody after staging a sit-in at Unity Square in Harare.
  • He was demanding the resignation of Robert Mugabe for mismanaging the country.
  • Dzamara has previously been questioned for staging sit-ins for fear that he may incite an uprising against the government.
  • This comes as Mugabe had just completed the opening of the second session of the 8th Parliament.

*State controlled media outlets did not cover these stories.

2. Joice Mujuru and Grace Mugabe: more accusations and denunciations
Independent Media

Daily News, 26 October, 2014
“I will never surrender – Mujuru”, by Fungi Kwaramba

  • At Mt. Darwin, Zimbabwe, VP Mujuru finally spoke out claiming that she would overcome Grace Mugabe’s attacks.
  • Mujuru is alleged to have also confronted President Mugabe about Grace’s public behaviour.
  • Mujuru also vowed that she would not sell out Robert Mugabe. This, a response to the accusations of Grace Mugabe that Mujuru was planning an overthrow.
  • Several MPs and government ministers were in attendance at the celebration where she spoke. The event was in honour of her acquisition of her doctorate from the University of Zimbabwe.

Daily News, October 23, October 24, 2014
“Time for Mugabe to rein in Grace”

  • The article notes the dire situation in the country by observing the heavy security presence protecting the Mugabe family from protesters upon returning from a trip home from a visit to the Vatican. 
  • Protestors were stopped from entering the VIP enclosure at the Harare airport.
  • Zimbabweans fear that the escalating levels of factionalism within the Zanu PF could lead to violence.
  • The article calls on Robert Mugabe to “. . . break his silence on this worsening crisis and move quickly to rein in his marauding wife.”

News Day, October 23, 2014
“Newsflash: “Mujuru must resign” Grace Mugabe”

  • Grace, who was garnering support for her takeover of the top post in the Zanu PF’s Women’s League, addressed war veterans in Mazowe; she was attacking those she thought guilty of being a part of Joice Mujuru’s faction.
  • During her Meet the People tour around Zimbabwe, she has accused Mujuru of being corrupt, jealous, divisive and no longer suitable to remain in the Presidium.
  • Grace demanded that “. . . Mururu must resign!”
  • Grace further attempted to discredit Mujuru by claiming that her battlefield service during the Zimbabwean war of liberation was fabricated.

Daily News, October 24, 2014
“Angry Grace goes berserk”, Lloyd Mbiba

  • Instead of toning down her rhetoric after weeks of vociferous ranting, Grace Mugabe has incited more intra-party disdain at her speech in Mazowe.
  • She openly slated Mujuru for the first time after weeks of insidiously hinting that her verbal attacks were directed toward Mujuru.
  • Lines such as “ [w]hen President Mugabe will be busy in the office working, Mujuru will be thinking of grabbing 10 per cent from companies,” were to be found in G. Mugabe’s speech.
  • Grace also said the party was now filled with little terrorists who were running parallel structures in the party.
State Controlled Media

The Sunday Mail, October 26, 2014
“US, VP Mujuru plot to oust President”

  • American Embassy officials have been trying to get MPs to pass a vote of no confidence on Robert Mogabe, The Sunday Mail alleges.
  • This comes on the heels of allegations by Grace Mugabe that VP Mujuru was plotting Mugabe’s ouster with the help of other Zanu PF officials and their financiers.
  • The Sunday Mail alleges that the US has been attempting to have Mugabe removed via an impeachment during the inclusive government era (2008-2013).
  • The story relates back to the September 2014 ‘dirty dozen’ scandal involving twelve Zanu PF officials and alleged CIA operative Eric Little. The State-owned press has alleged that Eric Little attempted to recruit MPs to ouster Robert Mugabe.
  • Members of the Zanu PF allege that with the help of Little, they wanted to topple Mugabe and place Mujuru in his stead.

The Herald, October 24, 2014
“Resign now, VP told”, by Farirai Machivenyika and Felix Share

  • Grace Mugabe has openly called on VP Joice Mujuru to resign or risk being fired.
  • The continued attacks on Mujuru by Grace Mugabe took place at a meeting of war veterans at the orphanage Grace runs in Mazowe.
  • Grace also claimed to be instrumental in Mujuru’s rise to power.
  • She also claims that she had influence in having the seat of VP handed to Mujuru in place of Emmerson Mnangagwa who was voted into the seat. During 2003, the Zanu PF put quotas in place that would guarantee certain positions within the party structure be filled by women.
  • Grace furthermore noted that Mujuru has been plotting against Mugabe since she took office.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, October 23, 2014
“Resign, Dr Mugabe tells VP Mujuru”

  • Grace Mugabe declared VP Mujuru should resign, or risk being fired from her position.
  • This took place as Grace addressed thousands of war veterans in Mazowe.
  • Grace also said that she supported Mujuru’s elevation to the position of VP to stand for the cause of women and the less privileged and Zimbabwe as a whole. She continued accusing Mujuru of siding with Robert Mugabe’s detractors.
  • Grace has been making obscure references to ‘baby dumping’ and in this article, ZBC, quotes her using the term again, referring to the ‘dumping’ of Mujuru.

The Herald, October 24, 2014
“Mujuru sordid deals revealed”, by Farirai Machivenyika and Felix Share

  • Because of gross incompetence and corrupt tendencies, VP Joice Mujuru is not fit to succeed Robert Mugabe as president, Grace Mugabe has claimed.
  • Addressing war veterans in Mazowe, Grace said Mujuru has risen above her capabilities and should vacate the vice presidency.
  • She also claimed that the British and Americans were trying to topple Mugabe with the help of individuals like Mujuru.
  • Grace claims that Mujuru was “given some money and some things to give to people.”
  • She also accused Mujuru of engaging in other illicit dealings and abusing her position in office. Mujuru has apparently duped a Saudi prince in a diamond deal and owns shares in a company with which she intended to “plunder diamonds at Marange.”
  • Grace Mugabe promised to divulge more of Mujuru’s corrupt dealings in the near future.
  • Grace also alleges that Mujuru owns ten percent in Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe, which publishes the Daily News, a paper despised by Grace Mugabe.
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