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January 21-28, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe
Posted on January 29, 2015

Contents

Compiled by MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor

1. Anti-Mugabe protests in Zambia
2. Mutasa faces charges
3. Brief analysis

Anti-Mugabe protests in Zambia
Independent Media

Daily News, January 25, 2015

“Mugabe, we don’t want you in Zambia” by Fungi Kwaramba

  • A demonstration against Robert Mugabe broke out in Zambia after the Zimbabwean leader arrived for the presidential inauguration of Edgar Lungu.
  • That Mugabe arrived in Zambia to congratulate Lungu, even before votes were counted, seems to be what has irked many of the protesters. Mugabe and Lungu shared a relationship prior to the election.
  • Lungu is alleged to have visited Mugabe before the election, prompting speculation of Zanu PF-style vote-rigging. Opposition supporters taking part in the demonstration belong to the United Party of National Development (Zambian opposition). Lungu is leader of Zambia’s Patriotic Front party. Ostensibly, the demonstrators chanted “Mugabe must go” – they appeared to be more frustrated by Mugabe’s meddling than with Lungu himself.
  • The Zambian elections come after the death of long-time leader Michael Sata in 2014.
State-owned Media

The Herald, January 26, 2015

“Hero’s welcome in Lusaka” by Morris Mkwate

  • Robert Mugabe received a hero’s welcome at the inauguration of Edgar Lungu in Lusaka. There was a small ‘obscure’ demonstration by the opposition in Lusaka who sought to discredit relations between Zanu PF and Zambia’s Patriotic Front.
  • The demonstration “took place at the Raddison [sic] Blu Hotel and only drew attention from a few news websites.”
  • More than 40,000 Zambians cheered Robert Mugabe as he was welcomed.
  • Robert Mugabe reveres Zambia for the role it played in the Zimbabwean liberation struggle against Ian Smith’s regime. Mugabe also taught in Zambia between 1955 and 1958. Zambia in turn regards Mugabe as an iconic leader.
Mutasa faces charges
Independent Media

New Zimbabwe, January 24, 2015

“Mutasa faces abuse of office charges”

  • In the process of destroying what remains of former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s political influence, the Zanu PF are building up a criminal case against former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa.
  • Patrick Zhuwao has indicated that Mutasa should tread carefully as he has skeletons in his closet. This was a reference to his tirade against the Zanu PF in the independent press. Over the past few weeks, Mutasa has come down hard on the reinvigorated Zanu PF that emerged from the December 2014 party congress.
  • The Zanu PF has already moved against former Vice President Joice Mujuru with corruption charges.
State-owned Media

The Sunday Mail, January 25, 2015

“Murder, underage sex and fraud: ‘Mafia boss’ Didymus Mutasa faces a slew of charges” by Itai Mazire

  • Zanu PF Manicaland province is moving to have former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa arrested on allegations of, 1) murder, 2) corruption, 3) abuse of office, 4) fraud and 5) sexual abuse of underage girls. Mutasa lost his position in government after being linked to conspiring with former Vice President, Joice Mujuru.
  • Mutasa has allegedly used his official position to act with impunity over the years. Secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa has been tasked with leading the investigation into Mutasa’s activities.
  • It is alleged that during his time as Presidential Affairs Minister, he used his position of power to manipulate police inquiries into his activities. He also ostensibly gave farms to ‘his lovers and whites.’ The government claims to have repossessed 12 farms from whites of late, all of which were allocated by Mutasa.
Brief analysis
Brief Analysis by Mike Taylor

After a wild end to 2014 in the Zimbabwean political arena, 2015 has begun at a somewhat slower pace. News out of Zimbabwe has been relatively uneventful.

State media has been pursuing a smear campaign against former senior Zanu PF officials who were ousted in the massive party purge leading up to and following the December Zanu PF party congress. Notably, state-owned media has gone after former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa in the wake of an open letter released through the independent media, in which he criticized the Zanu PF. Mutasa has also railed against Zanu PF administration in recent interviews in the independent media. The slew of charges being brought against him are undoubtedly a result of his taking on the regime. As has so often happened in the history of the Zanu PF, once one takes on the regime or powerful factions within it, they can expect public disgrace.

There may indeed be some truth behind some of the charges against Mutasa, but it is more than likely, that for the most part, the imaginations of Zanu PF inquisitors in charge of running such smear campaigns are allowed to run free and stretch the truth to fit what they desire to be perceived as veracity by the Zimbabwean public. Seeds of propaganda are insidiously planted into the state media until they blossom into full-blown charges. This trend has been prevalent in recent months and will continue so long as elements of the current Zanu PF remain in power. A similar smear-campaign to the one against Mutasa is also continuing against former Vice President Joice Mujuru.

As the Zanu PF concentrates on infighting and promoting Robert Mugabe’s image, the people of Zimbabwe struggle to survive. The majority of those employed in the country survive off of shadow economy earnings. Infrastructure failures see entire villages without water, a complete inability to respond to natural disasters such as the major flooding in Zimbabwe over the last month; other essential services are virtually inaccessible to many Zimbabweans.

Violence remains commonplace between Zanu PF elements and the MDC opposition. Most recently, three MDC members were attacked and hospitalized in Zimbabwe. There were no repercussions for the perpetrators who were also ostensibly running an extortion racket in a Harare neighbourhood. Adversity runs deep from both within the Zanu PF and between the Zanu PF and the wider Zimbabwean public.

On the economic front, Zimbabwe has recently seen significant investment from Russia and China, but under the Zanu PF, it appears as if such investment will remain exploitative, benefiting only some elite elements of Zimbabwean society. So long as the Zanu PF continues to run the country as a playground for its elites, vindictive smear-campaigns and all, there will be no improvement in the daily lives of Zimbabweans.

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