April 01-08, 2015
Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe
Posted on April 8, 2015
Contents
Compiled by – MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor
Miscellaneous reports
Independent Media
The Zimbabwean, April 1, 2015
“Chitungwiza land dispute turns ugly” by Philemon Jambaya
- Desk Officer’s note: This article was not entirely cogent. It appears as if some Zanu PF youth members took over vending stalls from merchants in the informal sector. MDC youth may have responded violently which led to a Zanu PF counter-attack.
- MDC-T youth activists are accused of destroying a building belonging to Zanu PF member Norman Kuzanga.
- Witnesses say that MDC-T youth were attacked by Zanu PF youth under protection of the police.
- It appears as if some members of Zanu PF were stealing business stands from their owners due to some sort of misunderstanding. Chitungwiza city council said that what the youths were doing was illegal. Some of the youths ostensibly work for the town. Town Clerk George Makunde said that the law would eventually take care of the youths who were illegally occupying businesses.
The Zimbabwean, April 2, 2015
“Aus[tralian] Embassy urges govt (sic) to find Dzamara”
- Human rights activist Itai Dzamara, leader of Occupy Africa Unity Square, has been missing for over three weeks. The Australian Embassy in Harare appears to be concerned.
- The government of Australia called on the government of Zimbabwe to do “everything in its power” to find Mr. Dzamara.
Mujuru expelled from Zanu PF/ Mujuru ‘cabal’ intimidated
Independent Media
Daily News, April 3, 2015
“Zanu PF expels Mujuru on Grace Return”
- Zanu PF has expelled former Vice President Joice Mujuru from the party for indiscipline. This comes on the same day that Grace Mugabe returned to her duties.
- Purges instigated by Grace Mugabe continue to unfold. Last week, Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa were also expelled from the Party. Both have ties to Mujuru.
- Zanu PF is purging anyone it considers loyal to the former VP. Rugare Gumbo and Jubulani Sibanda were also expelled from the party.
- Several other ministers considered loyal to Mujuru have been sacked.
Daily News, April 3, 2015
“Zanu PF wants to kill me – Mutasa” by Fungi Kwaramba
- Former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa says that Zanu PF has ordered a hit-squad to kill him so he will be silenced once and for all.
- Mutasa believes he will be silenced in the same way ‘disappeared’ human rights activist Itai Dzamara has been silenced.
- Mutasa has decided not to participate in upcoming elections for fear of his personal safety. Mutasa, who has an ‘intimate’ knowledge of the inner workings of Zanu PF says he is aware of a plot to assassinate him. Mutasa has created many enemies because of his open defiance of Zanu PF hardliners.
- By-elections are expected in 16 constituencies in mid-June. Daily new alleges that members of Zimbabwean security forces are being irregularly deployed to the constituencies in question to coerce voters.
- Mutasa accuses the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of remaining silent on this issue regardless of their awareness of coercion by armed forces in the constituencies.
NewsDay, April 3, 2015
“Zanu PF fires Mujuru” by Moses Matenga and Obey Manayiti
- Zanu PF politburo has expelled Joice Mujuru accusing her of plotting to topple Mugabe and fanning factionalism.
- Robert Mugabe chaired the Politburo meeting which decided Mujuru’s fate and Grace Mugabe attended the meeting. Several other Zanu PF members have faced expulsion since last year – many of them loyal to former VP Mujuru.
- Mujuru joined Zanu PF as a teenager during the liberation war and was one of the youngest Cabinet ministers when Zanu took power in 1980.
- Mujuru lost her post as VP in December 2014 - the Vice Presidency was a position she held since 2004. Mujuru has denied the charges against her.
- Many of the allegations brought against Mujuru came forth during Grace Mugabe’s Meet the People Tour in which the first lady vehemently attacked the then-Vice President.
State-controlled Media
The Herald, April 3, 2015
“Zanu-PF expels Joice Mujuru – Slew of allegations cited – Plots traced as far back as 2004” by Farirai Machivenyika
- Former Vice President Joice Mujuru was expelled from Zanu PF on April 2, 2015 on a wide range of allegations.
- Some of these allegations include attempting to illegally remove Robert Mugabe, corruption and colluding with enemies of the party.
- The decision to expel Mujuru was made by the end of a nine-hour Politburo meeting which included presentations from various individuals on why Mujuru should be expelled.
- The Women’s League, the Youth League and war veterans were especially vocal about dismissing Mujuru from the party.
- Mujuru has been accused of undermining Zanu PF ever since she was elected VP in 2004. She ostensibly collaborated with her husband, General Solomon Mujuru.
- Mujuru is accused of manipulating intra-party elections with designs on reducing Robert Mugabe’s power. Furthermore, Mujuru has been accused of using witchcraft in an attempt to undermine Zanu PF.
- Mujuru is also accused of holding clandestine meetings with US diplomats. She is further said to have engaged in shady international business deals in which she was illegally dealing in gold.
The Herald, April 4, 2015
“Experts speak on Mujuru expulsion” by Vamaida Murwira
- Legal analysts have said that the expulsion of Joice Mujuru from Zanu PF is ‘good riddance’ for the party. Analysts also advised that the party lodge a complaint against Mujuru with the police.
- Mujuru, the former Vice President of Zimbabwe, is accused of plotting to assassinate Robert Mugabe, corruption, criminal abuse of office and other allegations.
- Harare lawyer, Terrence Hussein said that police will not investigate Mujuru until a complaint has been lodged against her.
The Herald, April 7, 2015
“Mujuru putschists vindicate expulsion” by Lovemore Mataire and Susan Nyabunze
- Actions by former VP Joice Mujuru’s “putschist cabal” vindicate the Zanu PF expulsion of Mujuru, party leaders claim.
- Legal experts also scoffed at the proposal to call a new political party formed by Mujuru loyalists, “Zanu-People First”. ‘Legal experts’ said the courts would not allow the new party to “piggyback” on Zanu PF.
- Didymus Mutasa, leader of the Mujuru cabal said that he was working with former presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Mutasa’s nephew, Temba Mliswa, is now seeking an alliance with MDC-T. Mliswa was a former Zanu PF member.
- Zanu PF responded by claiming legitimacy as the true, revolutionary Zanu PF and by implying that Didymus Mutasa had “lost his marbles”.
- The Herald maintains that Joice Mujuru is the “brains behind Zanu People First”.
The Sunday Mail, April 5, 2015
“Axe looms large over Mujuru allies” by Kuda Bwititi
- Zanu PF intends to move forward with a singular vision and is willing to purge all those loyal to former VP Joice Mujuru. Mujuru was expelled from the party on Thursday for plotting to overthrow Robert Mugabe and for several other charges.
- Sources for The Sunday Mail have revealed that during the Politburo meeting that saw Mujuru expelled, the Politburo also resolved to ‘come down hard’ on individuals associated with Mujuru.
- Jubulani Sibanda and Temba Mliswa, Mujuru loyalists, have now professed their loyalty to MDC-T. The ‘Mujuru cabal’ allegedly wants to support Morgan Tsvangirai in the 2018 election in a Grand Coalition.
- Mliswa says that he has support from people inside of Zanu PF who are encouraging his endeavors with MDC-T.
- Godfrey Gomwe, Zanu PF Youth League chair encouraged Zanu PF to go to the police with a complaint against Mujuru. Gomwe also said that Mujuru’s experience was a warning and showed that no one is untouchable.
Natural resources
Independent Media
Zimbabwe Independent, April 2, 2015
“RBZ tasked to plug diamond leakages”
- Robert Mugabe has asked the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to innovate ways to stop diamond leakages as the country desperately tries to maintain sources of revenue. RBZ is tasked with collecting all diamond revenues owed to the government.
- RBZ has allegedly claimed that if leakages were stopped, mining revenues could turn around the situation in Zimbabwe. RBZ is working with the firm “Marange Resources” to create a joint venture to manufacture jewelry. The venture will be stateowned.
- The move is to ensure more transparency in the diamond mining industry according to minister of mines, Walter Chidhakwa.
- Many companies operating in Marange are in a last-minute looting-spree, according to Zimbabwe Independent. Miners are exploiting legal loopholes as much as possible in anticipation of new regulations.
- Corporate tax collection is on track to plummet even further this year than in 2014 which saw only $372 million in revenue. The government is currently defaulting on loan, insurance and medical aid payments.
The Zimbabwean, March 31, 2015
“Mining community battles Grace’s son”
- The community of Kadoma is complaining about Russell Groeraza, the son of Grace Mugabe. They are fighting to push him out of Tolrose Gold Mine. Goreraza is Grace’s son from her first marriage.
- Goreraza has enraged the community by ill-treatment of workers and community members. He has failed to pay several workers at Tolrose, a property that he invaded in 2013. Goreraza ostensibly beats up workers who ask for money and treats the community like “slaves and animals”.
- Goreraza is also allegedly smuggling gold out of the country instead of selling it to Fidelity Printers which is what is dictated by law. Goreraza was apparently threatened with violence by locals three weeks ago. The locals have since retreated.
- Goreraza has been indicating that he is ‘untouchable’ because his mother is First Lady of Zimbabwe. Local police do not interfere with Russell Goreraza.
*State-controlled media did not report on this story.
Fraudulent Elections
Independent Media
NewsDay, April 8, 2015
“MDC-T condemns recent by-elections as fraudulent”
- Recent by-elections won by Zanu PF in Mt. Darwin and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe were characterized by rigging and coercion says MDC-T. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) allegedly colluded with corrupt forces.
- MDC-T said that ZEC is incapable of conducting legitimate elections. The ZEC is unable to detect Zanu PF’s electoral manipulation, although they are honourable men and women, commented MDC.
- Zanu PF marched voters to the polling stations and forced citizens to vote Zanu PF. MDC also said that the voter roll was a complete shambles. According to MDC, Zanu PF failed to meet the free and fair election criteria as set forth by the SADC.
*State-controlled media did not report on this story.
Mugabe refuses to ratify African Court protocol
Independent Media
Zimbabwe Independent, April 7, 2015
“Mugabe reluctant to ratify African court protocol” by Herbert Moyo and Elias Mambo
- Robert Mugabe is refusing to ratify the protocol on the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. This is frustrating efforts to monitor the behaviour of African governments vis-à-vis human rights issues.
- Officials at the African Court said that Mugabe, who chairs the African Union, should be leading by example. It appears that he is not.
- The court came into force in 2004 and is based in Arusha, Tanzania. 28 out of 54 African states have ratified the protocol; Mugabe refuses to sign despite attempts to get him to do so.
- A team from the court is due to make an appearance in Zimbabwe to begin work with various NGOs. While in Zimbabwe, the team intends to spread a positive message about the court, said an official.
- The court has heard 37 cases so far. Mugabe has also refused to ratify the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying that it targets African heads of state, while ignoring Western leaders.
- Mugabe is using his capacity as head of the African Union (AU) to encourage African nations to pull out of the ICC because of its bias against AU leaders.
*State-controlled media did not report on this story.