November 05-12, 2014
Contents
Compiled by – MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor
1. A week of violence, factionalism and accusations
Independent Media
The Zimbabwean, 7 November, 2014
“Heal Zimbabwe condemns assault on peaceful demonstrators”, by Heal Zimbabwe
- Itai Dzamara, journalist and human rights activist has been beaten for leading Occupy Africa Unity Square.
- He was allegedly assaulted by more than 20 police officers after demonstrating with others. They have been calling on the government to improve the lives of Zimbabweans.
- The police also assaulted Kennedy Masiye from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights while he was attempting to represent the demonstrators.
Daily News, 7 November, 2014
“Top Grace ally kicked out”, by Lloyd Mbiba
- Godwin Gomwe, provincial youth chairperson for Zanu PF faced a passed vote of no confidence. He had allegedly been responsible for violence relating to party factionalism and is a top Grace Mugabe ally.
- He had travelled with Grace Mugabe and participated in her Meet the People tour.
- The letter issued by the Zanu PF committee to Gomwe included the statement that, “[d]espite police reports and complaints, you continue to use violence and threats of violence against members of the youth league.”
- He is accused of using violence against provincial members as well as district officials.
- In addition, he has been accused of orchestrating recent violence in Harare South. He bussed youths to Shadreck Mashayamombe’s constituency where violent clashes broke out.
Southern Eye, November 11, 2014
“Anti-Mujuru demos turn violent”, by Albert Ncube
- Zanu PF members physically fought each other in Gwanda and Marondera on November 10.
- Andrew Langa and Ray Kaukonde, Zanu PF chairmen, underwent votes of nonconfidence for insulting Grace Mugabe and the First Family.
- Supporters of these two chairmen were met with angry protestors and the situation escalated from there.
- Langa underwent the process because in private he described the First Lady as “mad” and that she was corrupt with Transport Minister, Obert Mpofu.
State-owned Media
The Herald, 7 November 2014
“Jabu gang’s US ties exposed”
- Associates of prominent war veteran and former chairperson for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Jabulani Sibanda confessed to working with Americans to overthrow Robert Mugabe.
- They also confirmed working with Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) [Zimbabwe’s “third” political party], former South African president Thabo Mbeki and Botswana president Ian Khama to overthrow Mugabe.
- They noted that Sibanda also wanted to march to the State House to meet President Mugabe after having been accused of several transgressions.
The Herald, 6 November, 2014
“Violence erupts in Harare South”, by Prosper Dembedza
- Zanu PF youth who were allegedly hired by Harare South legislator, Shadreck Mashayamombe, attacked individuals wearing Grace Mugabe t-shirts and subsequently destroyed houses.
- ‘Scores’ of Zanu PF supporters were injured and riot police were on site.
- After thugs destroyed a Zanu PF flag, they allegedly used pro-Mujuru chants.
- The land upon which the incident occurred had recently been handed over by Grace Mugabe to the individuals under attack.
- Mashayamombe had allegedly held a meeting with ‘thugs’ to plan the attack. This information was supplied to The Herald by Chairwoman for Herbert Chitepo B Cooperative.
- Meanwhile, Mashayamombe distanced himself from the attacks. When contacted, he indicated that during the incident he had been in Victoria Falls, located 700 kilometres from Harare.
- He did indicate, however, that individuals were being brought in from other Harare neighbourhoods to occupy land in his constituency.
2. Comments from diamond executive concerning human rights violations
State-owned media
The Herald, 11 November, 2014
“Stop soiling Zim diamonds, NGOs told”, by Conrad Mwanawashe
- “World renowned diamond traders and producers have castigated. . .” NGOs for, “disseminating falsehoods about human rights violations at the Marange diamond fields.”
- The Herald alleges that “diamond chiefs” said that the Kimberly Process should only concern itself with certification and not with human rights issues.
- Last week, Zimbabwe held a diamond conference where chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange, Peter Meeus made the remarks.
- Meeus hinted that NGOs were working on behalf of foreign economic interests. He then equated the documentation of Marange human rights violations with fiction. Meeus said that the “stories. . . are good for publicity and fundraising but are blatantly untrue.”
*No independent media commented on this story.
3. Analysis
As violence escalates across Zimbabwe, it is undeniable that the country risks becoming a failed state. The ruling party is in utter turmoil and the bifurcation of Zanu PF is unlikely to end with the much awaited December Party Congress that Mugabe loyalists believe will end the factionalism.
Robert Mugabe has been reluctant to name a successor and until recently, has been utterly quiet regarding his wife’s vehement entry into politics. He has predictably emerged from his shell on his wife’s side, hinting at the removal of Vice President Joice Mujuru in December. It seems he believes that the factionalism will be solved by the ‘democratic process’ of a Zanu PF congress. With a wave of violence erupting in both Harare and in the countryside this week, one must question how far it will go by the time the Congress rolls around. The factions are growing ever larger, as media reports fan the flames in some cases. The intra-party cleavage is quite probably too entrenched to smooth over with the Congress.
The party is being purged of various elements at this time and it is quite likely that the cards may be stacked in favour of the Grace Mugabe faction. Many are being ejected from the party for speaking ill of Grace Mugabe.
It would also be less than surprising if Grace Mugabe were named Robert Mugabe’s successor. It does indeed appear if she has been speed-groomed for the position with the awarding of a dubious doctorate from the University of Zimbabwe (where she was capped by her husband); she also was out on her lengthy Meet the People tour across the whole of Zimbabwe. Reports of events were reminiscent of the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union as Zimbabweans were forced to attend the events. They were also forced to attend the entire duration of the event which included incoherent hate-filled rants against Joice Mujuru (so the Zimbabwean independent media have reported). The cards seem to be stacked in her favour, but this could help push the nation over the edge.
Independent political analysts say that the Robert Mugabe regime is becoming ever more unpopular with ordinary Zimbabweans. A large number of people from Bulawayo to Mutare to Harare are suffering from Mugabe-fatigue.
Mugabe himself has taken a vocal stance against a number of war veterans led by Jabulani Sibanda. Sibanda’s faction is opposed to Grace Mugabe’s emergence as a political heavyweight. Mugabe and others have leveled various accusations against Sibanda, with new ‘revelations’ emerging every day. And exactly like with accusations leveled against Joice Mujuru, Sibanda is accused of plotting the overthrow of Mugabe with assistance from the United States. It seems that anyone with any political clout in Zibababwe who voices concern over the shortcomings of Grace Mugabe is conspiring with the Americans.
Here, are the attributes of a weak regime. The creation of fictional enemies is intended to reflect that Mugabe and his wife as strong leaders standing up to Western ‘imperialism’. These stories of Western plots are intended to garner reverence for Zimbabwe’s leader. To an extent, the stories may work, but the fact of the matter is that many ordinary Zimbabweans just don’t care. They have heard this story before (including repeatedly over the last few months).
To make matters worse, the economy is in a calamitous state which is one of the reasons Zimbabweans may not be concerned with the squabbles of their overtly corrupt overlords. This week, The Globe and Mail gave a poignant account of the dire state of infrastructure outside of Harare. Geoffrey York reported from Mabvuku, a village that has been without running water for four years. The reality is that the Mugabe regime and the Zanu PF cannot take care of its own. The national unemployment rate has recently been reported to be at 90 percent. Compare to Afghanistan which in 2013 had an unemployment rate of between 35 to 50 percent. Zimbabwe has an extensive black market economy which for many is the only way to procure employment. Although rich in natural resources, the country remains underdeveloped. The natural resource industry is also plagued with reports of human rights abuses which do not help Zimbabwe in area of economic development.
Doctors in the country have been on strike for the past two weeks demanding a pay increase. Four hundred junior doctors complain about an excessively strenuous work environment. The country is ostensibly running out of drugs with which to treat patients. There is a shortage of doctors and the doctor to patient ratio adds to the extreme frustrations of Zimbabwean doctors.
The coming months will tell what becomes of Zimbabwe and the Mugabe regime. The situation is unsustainable and although Robert Mugabe has been incredibly resilient in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges throughout his long life, his twilight years may be the undoing of his regime. What complicates the political situation is that the only political alternative to Zanu PF, the MDC, has at best been a hope in days gone by and at worst, a bitter disappointment. It too is divided by infighting. Morgan Tsvangirai recently consolidated power at the MDC Congress, exacerbating the already existing split within the party. It seems that there is now no viable alternative to the Zanu PF. There is also the very real possibility that the Zanu PF may not even be able to function as a party in the near future. In essence, that leaves Zimbabweans with no choice at all. Thirteen million Zimbabweans may soon be facing inhabiting the world’s newest failed. For most of them, their basic human rights are at stake.
MT