February 19-25, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe

Posted on February 26, 2015

Compiled by MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor

Nehanda Radio, February 22, 2015

“Real Zanu PF faction emerges” by Moses Matenga and Obey Manayiti

Ousted Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has announced that he and his other purged colleagues represent the ‘real Zanu PF’. He has called the current ruling party the ‘2014 Zanu PF’ and has indicated that it emerged out of the ‘illegal December congress’.
Gumbo claims that the illegal Zanu PF is comprised of members who did not fight for Zimbabwe’s liberation.
Gumbo said that there were now two distinct parties using the Zanu PF name. Other members of Gumbo’s faction of ousted leaders include Didymus Mutasa, Joice Mujuru, Jabulani Sibanda and several other former high-ranking party members and ministers. Mutasa recently claimed that Grace Mugabe was now at the centre of Zanu PF power.

The Herald, February 20, 2015

“Another minister fired from Govt [sic]” by Innocent Ruwende

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has been fired by President Robert Mugabe. The reason given for Bhasikiti’s dismissal was conduct inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions.
The total number of ministers fired since December 2014 now stands at 17. Many of the ministers were accused of organizing a putsch to ouster Robert Mugabe with former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Mugabe had previously remarked with dissatisfaction that Bhasikiti was close to Mujuru. Mugabe appears to have publicly antagonized Bhasikiti in the past. Bhasikiti has also been accused of protecting Western-linked companies in the province of Masvingo. These companies are ostensibly responsible for plotting the ouster of President Mugabe.
Throughout the last week, Bhasikiti was harassed by Zanu PF youths at speaking events.

Media Daily News, January 30, 2015

“Zanu PF in a fix over Mutasa” by Fungi Kwaramba

Ostensibly, the Zanu PF is in disagreement about how to deal with the rebellious former Presidential Affairs Minister, Didymus Mutasa. Some members are advocating his dismissal while others do not believe this will serve the interests of Zanu PF.
A “source” for the Daily News has indicated that Robert Mugabe appears unsure as how to deal with Mutasa. Mugabe has set up a six-member national disciplinary committee to investigate various charges against Mutasa.
Stephen Chan, professor of world politics at the University of London, indicated that Mugabe has relied heavily on Mutasa in the past and that he cannot simply let go of Mutasa.

NewsDay, January 29, 2015

“Grace Mugabe to decide Didymus Mutasa’s fate” by Moses Matenga

Grace Mugabe will preside over the disciplinary hearing for former Presidential Affairs Minister, Didymus Mutasa.
According to Simon Khaya Moyo, spokesperson for the Zanu PF, Robert Mugabe appointed his wife to the disciplinary panel. Khaya Moyo indicated that it was normal that secretaries from the youth and women’s league sit on such disciplinary panels.
The committee, which will be chaired by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, will also include national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, secretary for legal affairs Patrick Chinamasa, Kembo Mohadi and Pupurai Togarepi.
The announcement of the establishment of the committee was made just before Robert Mugabe’s departure for the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa where he was set to take the chairmanship of the African Union.

The Herald, February 2, 2015

“Noone can destroy Zanu-PF – Mutsvangwa” by Liberty Dube

The Zanu PF has a strong base that cannot be destroyed by individuals, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has said. Mutsvangwa is also Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
Mutsvangwa has also stated that the party is stronger than after “enemies of progress,” led by Didymus Mutasa, have been flushed out.
Mutsvangwa, giving a speech in Manicaland, pledged to remain dedicated to the people of that province.
Desk officer’s note: State-controlled media has been relatively quiet regarding the Mutasa case while the independent media has been reporting on developments almost daily. This may be due to the Zanu PF’s indecision over the matter as indicated by independent media. In the beginning of the affair, the state media was aggressively pursuing the Mutasa case, but the tone this weak has been a bit of a retreat from language used previously. In the state-controlled media, the Mutasa affair has ceased to be headline news.

Inter Press Service, January 29, 2015

“Good Harvest Fails to Dent Rising Hunger in Zimbabwe” by Busani Bafana

Nearly 20 percent of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be attributed to the agricultural sector. Most of these profits are derived from tobacco exports. However, as tobacco harvests expand, food shortages have plagued Zimbabwe since 2000.
The World Food Programme has reported that “hunger is at a five-year high in Zimbabwe with one quarter of the rural population . . . 2.2 million people estimated to be facing food shortages.” The Zimbabwean government disputes these numbers.
Zimbabwe has been importing massive quantities of maize from neighbouring countries to feed its population, yet widespread hunger persists.
Everson Ndlovu, development researcher with the Institute of Development Studies at Zimbabwe’s National University of Science and Technology said that European and other international financial institutions were ready to assist Zimbabwe in developing its agricultural infrastructure, but political and economic turmoil has kept many away.
Economic analyst John Robertson attributes many of the woes of the agricultural sector to Zimbabwe’s land reforms in 2000. This infers that social and agricultural policy of the Zanu PF may be a major contributing factor to the basic human right to sufficient amounts of food (UN’s UHDR, Article 25)

*State-controlled media did not report on this matter.

Montreal Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies