zimscoop

Tsvangirai lodges complaint over "bribery" scandal

2012-01-14T03:32:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Media Commission over a story published in The Herald newspaper suggesting that he bribed editors of privately-owned newspapers to portray him in good light.

Below is the abridged version of a letter written to the ZMC by Ian Makone, Chief Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister.

RE: COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HERALD ON THEIR ARTICLE TITLED, “PM EMBROILED IN BRIBERY SCANDAL” WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 6^TH OF JANUARY 2012

The Office of the Prime Minister notes with concern the article referred to above.

On the 6^th of January 2012, The Herald published an article titled “PM embroiled in bribery scandal” in which it was unambiguously alleged that the Prime Minister had bribed Editors from three private newspapers in order to influence them to write what The Herald described as positive stories on his political and personal life.

The Herald story however, does not provide proof of these serious allegations nor does it name the sources that provided them with the evidence to support the bribery allegations. There is no attempt in the whole article to substantiate the allegations of bribery against the Prime Minister. The story is shockingly lacking in truth and detail. The specific facts pertaining to the actual event or events wherein the alleged bribes were dispensed are conspicuous by their absence. Indeed, there is no mention in the article of what form these bribes took. In short, it is clear to any impartial reader that the allegations as presented in the article are without any substance.

The Prime Minister is naturally aggrieved by these unjustified allegations in the article concerned. These bribery allegations are false in their entirety. It is the Prime Minister’s view that these allegations were concocted by The Herald and those that are politically associated with them in order to portray him as a corrupt politician, thereby discrediting him. The fact that the article is devoid of any specific detail concerning the alleged bribery suggests to the Prime Minister that both the author and the publisher of the article must have been aware of the falsity of the allegations contained in the article even as they were printing them.

It is pertinent to note that throughout the tenure of the Government of National Unity, the Herald has persistently and consistently poured scorn and abuse on the person and office of the Prime Minister. This article is the latest attempt by The Herald to discredit the Prime Minister through false allegations.

In view of the above, The Prime Minister hereby lodges with your Commission, a formal complaint against the ‘The Herald’ and the Editor of the Herald for their conduct which is in breach of all known journalistic ethics. It is his view that the powers vested in the Zimbabwe Media Commission by Sections 100 (p) and 100 (q) of the Constitution and also by Section 39 (b), (i) and (p) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, enable your Commission to address this complaint effectively. The cavalier attitude with which the Herald recklessly made allegations of such magnitude without an iota of proof to support them deserves censure by your Commission.

It is the Prime Minister’s sincere hope that your commission will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.

Yours Faithfully,

Ian Makone

Chief Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister

CC: Minister of Media, Information and Publicity

Tsvangirai Ditches "wife" of two weeks

2011-11-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

By Morgan Tsvangirai

For the past two weeks, I have been a subject of intense media coverage regarding my relationship with Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga.

I know that as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, my private life is inevitably a public issue because of the public position that I hold.

However, I feel that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to know my position on this matter, which to a large extent has damaged not only the reputations of the two of us involved in this relationship, but equally so the public image of the Tsvangirai and Karimatsenga families.

Like every cultured Zimbabwean, on Friday, 18 November 2011, I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites to formalize this relationship.

I was well-meaning and had good intentions to rebuild my family and start a new lease of life following the tragic passing on of my wife on 6 March 2009.

But since the day I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family, everything has been played in the press and I have become an innocent bystander in what is supposed to be my relationship.

I have become a spectator in this relationship and things are happening too fast, on camera and without my knowledge. This has led me to conclude that there is a greater and thicker plot around this issue which has undermined my confidence in this relationship.

Firstly, I was reported to have been there in Christon bank when in fact I was in my office. There have been several developments since that day which have been deliberately planted in the media and which I have had to read in the press; developments that would have taken place without my involvement and knowledge as an interested party.

The “marriage” has been hijacked and there is an apparent active political hand that is now driving the processes. State security agents have also weighed in to force and direct proceedings which has resulted in everything regarding this relationship now taking place in camera, with the public media journalists in tow.

Everything is so well choreographed. The intention is clear: to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain. This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union that will inspire young couples and reflect marriage as the noble and respectable institution that it is.

My original intention was to make this thing work, to rebuild my family once again and to serve my country with honour and distinction not only as a national leader, but as a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures.

There are many things I have learnt in the process and one is that with the benefit of hindsight, I could have done things differently.

In this regard, I apologize to every single Zimbabwean for any discomfort caused by any of my actions.

I also realized that sometimes when you are searching for a partner especially after losing your wife, there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions.

Having been married for 31 years, the tendency is to want to use your experience as a yardstick for future relationships. Regrettably, the individuals, like the one in question, may not meet the same standards.

I want to admit that the last two weeks have been particularly bad for me, my children, my family and even ordinary Zimbabweans who have sought to find meaning to this sordid saga.

Reputations have been bruised and mutual trust upon which such relations are built and maintained has been lost.

My genuine intention has been betrayed and hearts have had to search long and hard to the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage on my person and character.

I have followed the traditional and cultural route and I have communicated my position through the same channel to inform the Karimatsengas of my position.
This relationship has been irretrievably damaged to a point where marriage is now inconceivable.

However, I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this dark patch in my private life will not dampen my commitment to serve my country and to deliver real change to the people.

I remain unfazed by this sad chapter which will not in any way deter me from my national responsibility to serve Zimbabwe.

I will not expose the people’s struggle for democratic change to machinations of infiltration by those that have oppressed the people of Zimbabwe for the past 30 years.

When the time comes, and when the right person fit to be a reliable partner and mother of my children is found, I will advise the nation accordingly.

May God bless Zimbabwe.

*Morgan Tsvangirai*

*Prime Minister of Zimbabwe*

Zimbabwe crisis: Will SADC come to the rescue?

2011-08-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

Mugabe has refused to institute key democratic reforms ahead of fresh elections. The BIG question is: Will the forthcoming SADC Summit in Luanda, Angola deal once and for all with the crisis obtaining in Zimbabwe. Or SADC has become a toothless bulldog?

Lets wait and see

Give Us Radio Stations Now

2010-12-14T03:52:00.000-08:00

There has not been a single broadcaster that has been issued with an operating since the formation of the unity government in February last year. The GNU is urged to issue these licenses before calling for any elections in this country as media reforms are a vital cog in democratizing the nation.

American doctors released on bail in Zimbabwe

2010-09-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

Four American doctors arrested last Thursday for allegedly dispensing medicines without a license at an unlicensed premise were today granted bail by a Harare magistrate.

The four, who were arrested with a New Zealander based in Harare and a Zimbabwean doctor based in Marondera town, were ordered to post US$200 bail each as well as surrendering their passports. They were asked to return to court September 27th but their lawyer says he wanted their trial to be expedited.

Watch this space for the latest updates.

Mugabe Dies

2010-07-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sabina Mugabe, sister to President Robert Mugabe and former legislator for Zvimba, passed on in Harare today.

Zimscoop has it on good authority that she would be buried at the national shrine on Sunday.

Supreme Court Reserves Judgement in Bennett Case

2010-07-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku reserved judgment in Roy Bennett's terrorism case after the state sought leave to appeal against a High Court ruling by Justice Chinembiri Bhunu acquitting the MDC treasurer.

The prosecution led by Chris Mutangadura of the Attorney General's Office submitted that Bhunu had misdirected himself in acquitting the accused while defense attorney, Beatrice Mtetwa, maintained that the state had failed to prove a prima facie case against her client.

Chidyausiku postponed his ruling indefinitely saying he needed more time study the High Court record of proceedings.

Bennett was charged with plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe's administration in 2006 and inciting to insurgency. He denies the charges saying they were trumped up and brought against him for political reasons.

Mugabe says he will not swear in Bennett until he was cleared of the charges.

Bennett back in court for terrorism

2010-07-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Roy Bennett, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai pick for deputy agriculture minister in the unity government, returns to court tomorrow after the Attorney General appealed against his acquittal by the High Court.

I will give you an update on this

Apologies

2010-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to apologise to followers of this blog for not updating in such a long time. I was sorting out a few personal issues but I promise that from now on you will will get new information on a regular basis.

Zim's Unity Govt Must Act Now

2010-02-17T00:45:00.000-08:00

Zimbabwe's unity government must move with speed to implement the Global Political Agreement and operationalize the Zimbabwe Media Commission so that citizens can have access to alternative news and information.

The failure by the Harare administration to formerly appoint commissioners of the commission is undermining the essence of a free media that the political parties agreed to under the truce.

Zimbabwe continue to be exposed to news mediums that are pro-Mugabe's Zanu PF party yet there are a lot of issues that affect the citizenry that go unreported.

An alternative media is important to Zimbabwe's economic recovery hence the need to ensure that all structures of government are operationalized.

US Media Expert Says Zim Can Learn From US Broadcasting

2009-10-06T08:10:00.002-07:00

Harare, September 24, 2009: An American media expert says Zimbabwe can learn from the experience of the U.S. to provide a platform for under-represented and specialist communities through community broadcasting.

“It took nearly 30 years before both the government and the American population discovered that there was an unheard voice, an unheard community, a niche not being filled and reported about and community radio was going to help cover those communities,” said Stephen Coon, Emeritus Associate Professor at Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.

Coon was in Zimbabwe on a Visiting Speaker Program sponsored by the U. S. Embassy in Harare. The Visiting Speaker Program allows U.S. experts and personalities to meet directly with foreign publics through lectures, workshops and seminars to discuss American policies, society and culture.

The U.S. government granted its first commercial radio license in 1920, but it was in 1949 that the first community broadcasting station went on air.

Coon said the impetus for community broadcasting in the U.S. was assisted by enabling legislation noting that the U.S. government set aside a specific portion of the FM band frequency ‘exclusively and specifically’ for non-commercial radio stations.

“What we are doing with community radio in the U.S. is trying to meet the needs of specific groups and communities. Since 2000, the U.S. government has…encouraged individuals to apply for low power FM stations. The coverage is really small compared with commercial radio stations but it reaches the targeted audience,” Coon told participants at a discussion forum organized by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA- Zim) Harare Advocacy Committee at the Book Café’ last week.

Zimbabweans expect community radio stations to start operating following the liberalization of the broadcasting sector in 2000 which culminated in the promulgation of the Broadcasting Services Act. The law was revised in 2007 and in August this year Parliament submitted a list of names to the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity for consideration into the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. The BAZ is expected to invite and consider licenses from broadcasters, as well as allocate frequencies. The delays have been criticized by civic media groups.

“Although Zimbabwe got its independence in 1980, its constitutional claims of being a democracy have been dented by government’s failure to facilitate the licensing of private players including community radios,” said Kumbirai Mafunda, chairperson of MISA Zimbabwe Harare Advocacy Committee. MISA Zimbabwe has for the past several years been lobbying the government to relax restrictive provisions of media laws to allow alternative broadcasters in the media sector.

Coon chronicled the specific challenges facing community radio broadcasting, chief among which are sustainability, competition and professionalism.

“Sustainability of these media remains a key challenge throughout the world,” said Coon. In the U.S., said Coon, community radio stations receive financial support from an independent federal agency- the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - but these funds are limited due to increasing demand. As a result, a number of community broadcasters have devised a variety of fundraising initiatives to sustain their operations.

In addition to funding challenges, community radio often do not have as high of professional standards as those found in commercial broadcasting, said Coon.

“Many community radio stations operate on limited budgets. Most rely on volunteers and the challenge is to keep volunteers motivated. The quality of the news reporting and production is not as quite competitive as the commercial radio stations. That can be overcome,” said Coon who conducted training sessions for radio production training sessions for aspiring community radio stations in Harare and Bulawayo.

Despite the proliferation of different media including new media, community radio remains popular in the U.S. because “we still have voices, we still have issues, we still have topics that are still being reported on. We have communities that want to say something, have something to say, and have issues and concerns that need to be reported about. The mainstream media in the U.S. are simply not doing that,” said Coon.

This report was produced and distributed by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section. Comments and enquiries should be directed to the Tim Gerhardson, Public Affairs Officer, Tel.+ 263 4 758800-1, Fax: +263 4 758802, E-mail: hararepas@state.gov, http://harare.usembassy.gov

Frank Chikowore eyes top ZUJ post

2009-04-07T05:17:00.000-07:00

I am offering myself for the position of Secretary General in the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.

I have travelled to several parts of the country on a consultative process and the majority of the Union's membership has given me the thumbs up.

I wish to point out here as I launch my campaign that the time for corrupution at ZUJ is over, the time for personal agrandisement is over, the time for favouritism is over, say NO to segregation in union business and Vote Frank Chikowore for Secretray General.

Time is now for generational change! Time is now for leadership renewal! Time is now to reclaim our Union! Time is now to reclaim our profession!

Say No to de-facto ZUJ president Matthew Takaona's leadership style. I wish to remind him that ZUJ is not a dynasty, neither is a tuckshop or Animal Farm. All I need is your vote to provide capable leadership at ZUJ.

I assure the Union's membership that all ZUJ business would be conducted in a democratic and transparent manner in line with the mandate of Congress.

Vote Frank Chikowore for S-G.
Change Starts Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hotline: 0912 963 673

Reporters Without Borders Calls On Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

2009-02-20T06:10:00.001-08:00

Dear Prime Minister,

Reporters Without Borders would like to congratulate you on taking office on 13 February as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe’s new government of national unity.

As you know, our organisation is very concerned about the many violations of human rights and press freedom that have taken place in Zimbabwe in recent years.

Reporters Without Borders therefore calls on you as Prime Minister to demonstrate a genuine political will to restore the rule of law. We think that the Zimbabwean government currently being formed should, as a matter of urgency, take the following three measures.

Firstly, we urge you to take effective action to obtain the release of all political prisoners, including journalist and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko and press photographer Shadreck Manyere. Your government should guarantee that no journalist is henceforth imprisoned in connection with their work.

Secondly, we ask you to adopt thorough reforms that guarantee press freedom and commit Zimbabwe to democratisation. We think that it is essential that your government should repeal that press law known as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which was adopted in 2002. The Interception of Communications Act should also be repealed in order to guarantee Zimbabweans’ civil and political freedoms. Adopted on 3 August 2007, this law allows the government and the police to tap phone calls and intercept email messages and faxes without requesting permission from a judge.

Finally, we urge you to do everything possible to ensure that the Daily News, which was Zimbabwe’s leading independent newspaper, is able to resume publishing. The previous authorities always managed to prevent this, despite several court rulings in its favour. This newspaper’s reappearance on the newsstands would send a clear signal of the government’s determination to promote media diversity and independence.
Reporters Without Borders stands ready to make its expertise available to the Prime Minister’s office in achieving these goals.

We thank you in advance for giving our requests your careful consideration.

Respectfully,

Jean-François Julliard
Secretary-General

Award presentation at Syracuse

2009-01-30T04:34:00.000-08:00

It comes with a lot of hard work, commitment and passion for the profession.

(Pic: Nikky Allem and the Dean of the university present the award to Frank Chikowore)

Frank scoops the Free Speech Award

2009-01-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

I was honored with the Tully Center Free Speech Award here in the United States on Tuesday night.

I would like to thank the Tully Center, the people and organizations that nominated me for this award, not forgetting the panel of judges that saw it fit to recognize my work in poor Zimbabwe as well as all the people who braved the snowy weather to attend the awarding ceremony in the auditorium. It was "fantabulous".

I owe the award to the Zimbabwean people whose right to express themselves has been taken away. Freedom of expression is curtailed with impunity yet citizens continue to be exposed like a defenseless chick besides a hawk.

I must also say that there is freedom of speech in Zimbabwe but there is no freedom after the speech. Thanks again to the Tully Center and I would want to urge to continue the struggle for speech throughout the world.

Students Campaign for Mugabe's Deportation

2009-01-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

The Zimbabwe National Students Union yesterday, the 26th of January 2009 launched a campaign dubbed "Bring Bona Mugabe back to Zimbabwe". Please find below the petition to the Chinesse Embassy demanding the immediate return of President Mugabe''s daughter Bona back to Zimbabwe who is advancing her education at Hong Kong University.

27 January 2009
Chinese High Commissioner
Chinese Embassy
Baines Avenues
Harare,
Zimbabwe
c/o
Bona Mugabe
Corner J.Tongogara and 7th Avenues
Harare
RE: BRING BONA MUGABE BACK TO Zimbabwe Campaign
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), representing the students of Zimbabwe calls for the return of Bona Mugabe, the daughter of the President- designate Mr Mugabe back home to come and suffer with other patriotic students studying in the State Universities. It is disheartening to note that the first family insolently sent daughter Bona Mugabe under an assumed name to the University of Hong Kong, China to further her studies while students in Zimbabwe suffer. Colleges and Universities in the country have failed to open since 2008 amongst other reasons, exorbitant and dollarization of fees, lecturers striking over poor remuneration, serious brain drain of staff resulting in students failing to sit for examinations.
It is the obligation of the Government to oversee that education is accessible to all. The failure by the Mugabe led Government to administer the education sector has seen the once prestigious education sector dilapidated from being one of the best in Africa. According to a UNDP 2006 report, Zimbabwe's literacy rate was at 86% in 1996 but has fallen to 46%. The state of education system is so deplorable that the President has seen it fit to trust the Chinese for the education of his daughter whilst ordinary students are failing to get decent education. The following issues have hit hard on the education system and the Mugabe led Administration has to take immediate action in resuscitating the education system:
· Dollarization of education
The proposed new fee structure quoted in foreign currency has forced thousands of students to drop out of college as a result of failure to pay fees.

· Brain drain
The mass exodus of teaching personnel has resulted in many colleges operating below capacity. Lecturers have migrated to neighboring countries in search of greener pastures and this has had led to the deterioration of the quality of education as many colleges were left with less qualified lecturers resulting in the manufacturing of half baked graduates.

· Academic freedoms
Academic freedoms have ceased to exist in the institutions of higher learning. The imposition of suppressive laws like the Ordinance 30 at colleges has led to the violation of the freedom of expression. Student leaders have been expelled, suspended, arrested for staging peaceful protests against the college administration and the Government over the deteriorating education system.

· Examinations
Lecturers have been on industrial action the greater part of the 2008 academic year and up to date and this has resulted in students failing to write end of semester examinations. 2008 can be declared a non academic year as no meaning learning took place . Grade 7, Ordinary and A Level students were forced to write final examinations without learning the whole year.

In conclusion, ZINASU demands the return of Bona Mugabe as a way of mounting pressure on President Mugabe to resuscitate the once prestigious education system.

Yours Faithfully
Blessing Vava
ZINASU Spokesperson
+263 913 022 456

ZINASU is a national union of students representing all institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe. Its vision is to see a robust education system in a democratic Zimbabwe. And its niche is to defend academic freedoms in Zimbabwe.-- Zimbabwe National Students Union353 Samora Machel Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe,+263912471673/ +263913010369http://us.mc1113.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=zinasu@gmail.com http://www.zinasu.org/ZINASU is a national union of students representing all institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe. Its vision is to see a robust education system in a democratic Zimbabwe. And its niche is to defend academic freedoms in Zimbabwe

Full Text: SADC Communique on Zimbabwe Crisis Talks

2009-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

The Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government met at the Presidential Guest house in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, on January 26-27, 2009. The Extraordinary Summit met to review the implementation of the Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement.

2. The Extraordinary Summit was chaired by H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairperson of SADC and President of the Republic of South Africa

3. The Extraordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government or their representatives:
Botswana H.E. President Lt. Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Lesotho Right Honourable Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Mozambique H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza, Deputy Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Namibia H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe Chairperson of SADC
Swaziland H.M. King Mswati 111, Chairpeson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
United Republic of Tanzania H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Zambia H.E. Rupiah Banda
Zimbabwe H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Angola Hon Assuncao Dos Anjos, Minister of External Affairs
DRC Hon Alexis Thambwe Muamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seychelles Honourable Patrick Pillay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Malawi Hon George Chaponda, Minister of Local Governmnt and Rural Development
Madagascar Hon Dr Denis Andriamandroso, Madagascar Ambassador to South Africa
Mauritius Mr Anund Priyay Neewor, GOSK, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
4. The meeting was also attended by His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and SADC Facilitator on the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue, Leaders of MDC Formations, Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister Designate and Professor Welshman Ncube, representing Professor Arthur Mutambara, Deputy Prime Minister Designate of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.

5. In his opening remarks, His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairpeson of SADC and President for the Republic of South Africa welcomed all delegates to the meeting and re-affirmed SADC’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the implementation of the Zimbabwe global political agreement.

6. The Extraordinary Summit noted that the people of Zimbabwe are faced with difficult challenges and suffering that can only be addressed once an inclusive government in in place.

7. In view of the above, the Extraordinary Summit decided as follows:
(i) the parties shall endeavor to cause parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by February 5, 2009;
(ii) the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers shall be sworn in by February 11, 2009;
(iii) the Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall be sworn in on February 13, 2009, which will conclude the process of the formation of the inclusive government;
(iv) the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), provided for in the Global Political Agreement shall be activated immediately. The first meeting of JOMIC shall be convened by the Facilitator on January 30, 2009, and shall, among other things, elect the chairpersons;
(v) the allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the SADC Extraordinary Summit held on November 9, 2008, shall be reviewed six (6) months after the inauguration of the inclusive government;
(vi) the appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General will be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation; and
(vii) the negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately to consider the National Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T as well as the formula for the distribution of the Provincial Governors;

8. the Extraordinary Summit expressed its appreciation for the efforts of His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and the Facilitator of the political dialogue on Zimbabwe in helping to find an amicable solution to challenges facing the Republic of Zimbabwe and encouraged him to continue with his facilitation efforts.
9. the Extraordinary Summit commended the political parties to the Global Political Agreement for their openness and constructive engagement in finding a lasting solution to the challenges facing Zimbabwe.

10. SADC shall remain seized with the Zimbabwe situation in keeping with its obligations as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement.
11. the Extraordinary Summit directed the chairperson of the SADC to present the African Union at its forthcoming summit a progress report on the implementation of the Sham- El-Sheik Resolution.

12. the Extraordinary Summit received a brief on the prevailing security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and supports the government efforts to finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the Eastern part of the country. The government of the DRC expressed it gratitude to SADC for the support thus far rendered.

13. the Extraordinary Summit also urged the international community to continue providing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo with humanitarian assistance.

14. His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe officially closed the extraordinary summit.
Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

January 27, 2009

2009-01-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

Frank in Syracuse, New York

2009-01-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have just arrived in Syracuse, New York and it's snowy here. I have met Barbara Croll Fought and Nichole Allem of the Newhouse School of Communications at the Syracuse University. They are both sociable and very accomodative.

I must say that I am pretty tired but I will be giving you more details when I get up; that is if the snow does not kill me.

I guess you are asking yourself what I am doing here! Just watch this space.

Tsvangirai returns from exile

2009-01-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe today from self-imposed exile and immediately challenged President Robert Mugabe to respect the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people.

"I would like to emphasize that the MDC would be bulldozed into entering into a deal that does not reflect the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe", said Tsvangirai.

He was referring to participation in an inclusive government with Mugabe and MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara.

The MDC says it will not take in the coalition government if key ministries such as Home Affairs, Local Government and Defence, were distributed equiatably amongst political parties.

Dhiziri Satire Earns Majongwe Award

2008-12-18T03:09:00.001-08:00

Saturday, 13 December 2008
HARARE - RAYMOND Majongwe’s controversial song Dhiziri KuChinhoyi won the human rights song of the year award at the Zimbabwe Human Rights Festival held in Harare last week.
The festival, organised by upcoming theatre production company Vhitori Entertainment, saw outstanding human rights defenders in different categories walking away with certificates and sculptures in recognition of their work.
Dhiziri KuChinhoyi talks of how a Grade 3 drop out, Nomatter Mavhunga, duped President Robert Mugabe’s entire Cabinet into believing that refined diesel was oozing out of a rock on the outskirts of Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West’s provincial capital.
In his acceptance speech, Majongwe said he was happy that people appreciated his music although it was not getting airplay from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
“I am happy that people love and appreciate my music even though it is not being played by ZBH,” the stocky trade unionist said. “Artists should be given a platform to express their views without fear of being victimised or harassed.”
Jenny Williams from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) scooped the woman activist of the year award at the same function. Woza also won the civic society award, while the legal activist of the year award went to Alec Muchadehama.
Freelance journalist Frank Chikowore was honoured as the human rights reporter of the year, while the religion award went to Anglican Archbishop Sebastian Bakare. UK ambassador Andrew Peacock, USA ambassador James McGee and Stan Rylander (Sweden’s ambassador) were also honoured as outstanding campaigners for the rights of Zimbabweans.
The late MDC activist Tonderayi Ndira, who was killed during the run-up to the June 27 presidential election run-off, was also given an award posthumously. The festival was expected to run until yesterday, with a showcase in Harare’s Kuwadzana high-density area.
Source: The Standard - www.thestandard.co.zw

Bring back Jestina Mukoko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-08T00:54:00.000-08:00

Jestina Mukoko was abducted December 3, 2008 by armed men in a pre-dawn raid of her home in Norton, about 40 kilometers south of the Zimbabwean capital Harare and her whereabouts remain unknown.

The government of President Robert Mugabe should do all it can to ensure the safety of Jestina Mukoko and ensure that the human rights monitor and former broadcaster is reunited with her family.

To me as a journalist, Jestina's abduction is an attack on press freedom in Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community as well as the African Union should press the Mugabe administration to release Jestina Mukoko unconditionally.

Free but not free

2008-07-19T02:26:00.000-07:00

I may have been removed from remand on July 14 together with 13 MDC activists on spurious charges but I continue to recieve threats from the state machinery. I now fear for my life.

Zimbabwe is my country, mine and for us all. I have nowhere to run to. But I believe everything has an ending.

Free at last

2008-07-19T02:20:00.000-07:00

A Harare magistrate removed me from remand together with 13 MDC activists on July 14 after the state failed to kickstart the trial for the fifth time.

This means the state will now have to proceed by way of summons , if it's necessary at all.

Armed policemen and state security agents arrested me April 15 and concocted charges of public violence against me and MDC activists in order to justify a crackdown on the opposition parties and undermine press freedom.

I was in the line of my journalistic duties when I was nabbed.

I am under siege

2008-06-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

Zanu PF supporters and war veterans besieged my Harare home Tuesday and abducted my 14 year-old nephew and took her to a ruling party base where the abductors forced the teenager to sing revolutionary songs as well as denounce MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. They also quizzed her on my whereabouts.

My life is now at risk.

House of Assembly Final Results

2008-04-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

MDC (Tsvnagirai) - 99
Zanu-PF - 97
MDC (Mutambara) - 10
Jonathan Moyo (Independent) -1

Results as at 1830 hours

2008-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

Mhangura
ZANU PF 11 042
MDC 1647
MDC 716

Kadoma Central

MDC (Tsv) 8 180
ZANU PF 2 738

Zvimba West
ZANU PF 7 281
MDC 3 801

Chitungwiza North

MDC (Tsv) 7 539
ZANU PF 2 073
MDC (Mut) 734
UPP 47

Zvimba East

ZANU PF 5 197
MDC (Ts) 3 554

Zaka West

MDC (Tsv) 4734
ZANU PF 4 030
PAFA 347
Indep 307

Mudzi South

ZANU PF 8 202
MDC (Tsv) 2 735
MDC (Mut) 1 370
UPP 180

Mazowe Central

MDC (Tsv) 5 573
ZANU PF (Chimutengwende) 4 136
UPP 119
ZPDP 79

Maramba-Pfungwe

ZANU PF 14 916
MDC (Tsv) 1 947
Indep 46

Kuwadzana

MDC (Matibenga) 8 763
ZANU PF 2 048
UPP 198
ZDP 58

Goromonzi North

ZANU PF 5 626
MDC (Tsv) 4 845
Zaka Central
MDC (Tsv) 5 972
ZANU PF 4 974
MDC (Mut) 1 255
Indep 289
Gutu West
ZANU PF 5 054
MDC (Tsv) 4 082
ZANU PF 2 384
Masvingo Central
MDC (Tsv) 4 905
ZANU PF 4 793
Indep 327
ZDP 293
UPP 250
**************************************************
Southerton
MDC (Tsv) 6092
ZANU PF 1 334
MDC (Mut) 900
UPP 99
Murehwa North
ZANU PF 7 104
MDC (Tsv) 6 468
Mabvuku-Tafara
MDC (Tsv) 7 677
ZANU PF 1 901
Indep 543
Indep 261
UPP 93
Mutoko South
ZANU PF 10 795
MDC (Tsv) 2 897
MDC (Mut) 762
UPP 200
Highfield West
MDC (Tsv) 7 532
ZANU PF 1 328
MDC (Mut) 907
ZPPDP 74
Murehwa South
ZANU PF 9 032
MDC (Tsv) 3 410
UPP 287
Kuwadzana East
MDC (Tsv) 8 381
ZANU PF 1 388
Indep 150
UPP 85
Masvingo South
ZANU PF 6 365
MDC 3 707
Indep 500
Mt Pleasant
MDC (Tsv) 3 875
ZANU PF 1 738
MDC (Mut) 1 426
ZCDP 152
Harare South
ZANU PF 7 111
MDC (Tsv) 4 389
MDC (Mut) 819
Sunningdale
MDC (Tsv) 7 071
ZANU PF 980
MDC (Mut) 834
ZANU PF 634
UPP 87
VP 63
Hwedza North
ZANU PF 6 267
MDC (Tsv) 3 586
Makoni Central
MDC (Tsv) 7 060
ZANU PF 4 055
Indep 1 305
Uzumba
ZANU PF 13 396
MDC (Tsv) 2 156
MDC (Mut) 814
Hatfield
MDC (Tsv) 9 575
ZANU PF 1 450
Indep 589
ZDP 54
Indep 0

Marondera East

ZANU PF 6 514
MDC (Tsv) 2 268
MDC (Mut) 788
Indep 201

Chipinge East

MDC (Tsv) 7 038
ZANU PF 4 131

Marondera West

ZANU PF 4 284
MDC (Tsv) 2 132
Indep 1520

Chegutu West

MDC Tsv 6772
ZANU PF 3 713
MDC – Mut 750

Goromonzi West

MDC Tsv 5 931
ZANU PF 6 193

Mutoko North

ZANU PF 6 922
MDC Tsv 3163
Indep 3023
MDC Tsv 1065

Mutasa South

MDC Tsv 8 207
ZANU PF 3 409
Indep 412

Mutare Central

MDC Tsv 7 284
ZANU PF 2 322
MDC Mut 639
Indep 117
ZPPDP 21

Chipinge Central

ZANU PF 6 377
MDC Tsv 5 862

Latest Election Results

2008-03-31T00:04:00.001-07:00

Chegutu West

MDC (Tsv) 6772
ZANU PF 3 713
MDC (Mut) 750

Goromonzi West

MDC (Tsv) 5 931
ZANU (PF) 6 193

Mutoko North

ZANU PF 6 922
MDC (Tsv) 3163
Indep 3023
MDC (Mut) 1065

Mutasa South

MDC Tsv 8 207
ZANU PF 3 409
Indep 412

Mutare Central

MDC (Tsv) 7 284
ZANU PF 2 322
MDC Mut 639
Indep 117
ZPPDP 21

Chipinge Central

ZANU PF 6 377
MDC (Tsv) 5 862

please visit this blog for more results as we get them.

MDC takes early lead, Chinamasa out!

2008-03-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Information reaching Zimscoop suggests Morgan Tsvangirai is leading the pack in votes counted so far. Mugabe is second while Simba Makoni is a distant third. The MDC led by Tsvangirai has also won several seats in Harare and Bulawayo but we dont have the figures at the moment. Zimscoop will publish the full results as they come.

So far:

Patrick Chinamasa out

Job Sikhala out - lost to Marvellous Khumalo of the Tsvangirai faction

Information reaching us also says WEelshman Ncube is trailing behind Thokozani Khupe of the Tsvangirai faction

Elliott Manyika reportedly arrested in Bindura for violence.

please keep checking this blog, we will be giving yoiu updates as we get official results from the national command centre in Harare

MDC defies Chihuri

2008-03-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

HARARE- The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has defied the state saying it will announce the results of the ongoing elections “as they come”.

The party’s secretary general Tendai Biti told journalists this afternoon tha
t it was not unlawful for political parties to announce the results of the polls.

“There is nothing wrong for anyone to announce the election results”, said Biti. “What would be wrong would be to announce incorrect figures and I would want to challenge anyone to question us if we release incorrect figures”.

Biti’s remarks come a day after the Commissioner General of the Police, Augustine Chihuri, had decreed that no party would be allowed to announce the poll outcome. Chihuri said the results were only going to be made public by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, Biti said his party had unearthed elements of vote- rigging in the ongoing synchronized presidential and legislative polls.

Biti claimed there were a lot of assisted voters in several parts of the country while hundreds of people have since been turned away because “they are said to be alien”.

The opposition official also alleged that his political formation had received a report from independent parliamentary candidate aligned to former finance minister Simba Makoni’s project, Ibbo Mandaza, that six boxes containing postal ballots had been discovered in Mazowe.
The Zimbabwe Guardian had yet to verify these claims at the time of going to press.

MDC Polling Agents Barred From Polling Stations

2008-03-29T02:11:00.000-07:00

Opposition polling agents have reportedly been denied access to voting stations in Bikita West constituency amid reports that the anti-riot police squad has been deployed and allegedly victimizing suspected opposition voters.

This follows the arrests of 10 activists in the area yesterday. Reports suggest that one of the activists, Simba Chivasa suffered a fractured leg after he was allegedly assaulted in custody at Bikita Office Police Station.

“The riot police stationed in Bikita are reported to have been deployed from Masvingo, leading to their arbitrary threats on the polling officers”, according the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. “The polling agents had to flea for their dear life, deserting the polling stations”.

At the time of going to Press, the agents had not returned to their polling stations while voters continued to cast their ballots.

The coalition said the denying opposition polling agents access to polling stations was clear evidence that President Robert Mugabe’s administration was “determined to manipulate the already flowed process in its favour”.

Gospel musician Elias Musakwa of Zanu PF is contesting the Bikita West constituency seat against Heya Shoko of the Movement for Democratic Change.

Mugabe is also contesting the presidency against his former finance minister Simba Makoni and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai of the main opposition MDC. Little-known Langton Towungana is also vying for the country’s top job

In Harare, meanwhile, some potential voters decided not to join the polling queues but were instead queuing for basic commodities such as bread and sugar.

Harare, like many urban areas, is believed to be an opposition stronghold.

Some polling stations in Highfields – the ceremonial home of people power – opened some minutes late while some voters said the had joined the queues as early as 0400 hours. Others complained that the voting process was slow with polling officials saying this was because they only had one voters’ roll at every polling station.

It was taking about two minutes per voter to cast four ballots.

Zimbabweans today are electing councillors, members of the House of Assembly, the Senate as well as the president.

Mugabe has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

ELECTION WATCH: SMS Mockery For Mugabe

2008-03-29T02:04:00.000-07:00

Zimbabweans are using the Short Message Service (SMS) to mock the longest serving President in Africa, Robert Mugabe as the crisis-riddled country began one-day polls to elect a new head of state, senators, parliamentarians and councilors.

Despite the high cost of sending text messages, Zimbabwean people are sending each other various messages depicting Mugabe as an opposition after April 1.

One of the messages read: “News Headline on 1 April 2008 – Mugabe has begun his new life as the leader of Zimbabwe’s main opposition. The 84 year-old former president has vowed to fight back into office in elections due 2013”.

Another message read: “Do you know of anyone offering four bakkies for hire? Someone offering huge sums in US dollars wants to hire the trucks to relocate from State House to Zvimba”

Zvimba is Mugabe’s rural home.

A number of Zimbabweans have in the past been arrested and charged under the Criminal Law and Codification Reforms Act for insulting the person of the presidency.

Eyes on Lusaka Summit

2007-08-16T02:22:00.000-07:00

I am in Johannesburg, South Africa. All eyes and ears are on Lusaka, Zambia. What's there? Nothing but the SADC Summit. What will come out of it? Is it the same old story where Southern Africa's bulldogs continue to give each other a pat on the back even if things are not so rosy in their countries, like the situation in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe?

What will Mbeki tell the SADC leaders on the situation in Zimbabwe? how far has he gone in terms of facilitating dialogue? What would be the reaction of the SADC leaders?

I hope the meeting is not gonna be a damp squib.

Lets wait see...its only a few hours away... I hope to get feedback from a colleague on the ground

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slip Sliding Away

2007-08-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

I am not dead yet.

I am on vacation....but I will be dead one day

Zacras born

2007-07-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Frank Chikowore

Community radio initiatives in Zimbabwe formed an umbrella organization called the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) on Saturday.
ZACRAS will represent the interests of community radio stations at national level. The organization will also push for community radio stations to be given licenses by the government as required under the Broadcasting Services Act.
Since the promulgation of the Act, no single community radio station was granted a broadcasting license leaving the state-controlled public broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, to enjoy monopoly of the airwaves.
Radio Dialogue submmitted its application to the regulatory authority but it has since been turned without reason.
The private owned Capitol Radio was banned while Radio Voice Of the People had its equipment confiscated by the state for allegedly operating without a license forcing the station to relocate to South Africa.

BBC's Alan Johnston freed

2007-07-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip after 114 days in captivity.

Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to armed men in Gaza City. He said his ordeal was like "being buried alive" but it was "fantastic" to be free.

And he described how he had been unable to see the sun for three months, and had once been chained for 24 hours.

Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by some 200,000 people.

Mr Johnston's father Graham said he and his wife were "overjoyed" at their son's release.

"It's been 114 days of a living nightmare," he said.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown acknowledged the "crucial" role played by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in securing Mr Johnston's release.

But a spokesman for Mr Brown said Britain's policy towards Hamas had not changed, and the movement was still expected to recognise Israel and show a commitment to non violence.

I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room
Alan Johnston

Hamas role in release
Johnston describes ordeal

The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of Hamas, which controls Gaza, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

He later appeared beside Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, and thanked everyone who had worked for his release. Mr Johnston is now at the British Consulate in Jerusalem but is not expected to fly home on Wednesday.

Hamas gunmen overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction and prompting its leader, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to sack Mr Haniya as prime minister.

Mr Haniya said the result "confirms [Hamas] is serious in imposing security and stability and maintaining law and order in this very dear part of our homeland".

He also said he hoped a deal could now be reached for the release of the Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since being seized in a border raid by three militant groups a year ago.

'Dreamt of freedom'

At the news conference, Mr Johnston thanked everyone who had worked towards his release.

He described his experience of captivity as "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying".

"It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said.

"The last 16 weeks have been the very worst of my life," he added. "I was in the hands of people who were dangerous and unpredictable.

"I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room."

Mr Johnston said he was not tortured during captivity but he did fall ill from the food he was served.

He added that he had been kept in four different locations, two of them only briefly.

He was able to see the sun in the first month but was then kept in a shuttered room until a week before his release, he said.

Mr Johnston was kept in chains for 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity, when his captors hit him "a bit".

Jon's comments in full

He said Hamas's seizure of power in Gaza and its subsequent pledge to improve security in the territory had facilitated his release.

"The kidnappers seemed very comfortable and very secure in their operation until... a few weeks ago, when Hamas took charge of the security operation here," Mr Johnston said.

He said that he was told he was going home on Tuesday night.

"I thought at first 'They are moving me again', and I thought maybe they're handing me on to new kidnappers but then as we got deeper and deeper into Gaza City, I really began at last to believe that maybe we were finishing it," he said.

Radio contact

Mr Johnston was abducted on 12 March by the Army of Islam, a shadowy militant group dominated by Gaza's powerful Dugmush clan.

Just over a month after his capture, it was announced that he had been killed to send a "message" to the Palestinian authorities.

The group released three videos, two of which featured footage of the kidnapped correspondent.

It said it would kill its captive if its demands for the release of Muslim prisoners in British custody were not met.

But Mr Johnston said his abductors had also offered him freedom in exchange for making one of the videos.

Having worked in Gaza for the past three years, Mr Johnston said he was well aware of Palestinian traditions of hospitality and regarded his abductors as an "aberration".

He said he was looking forward to being re-united with his family, expressing sorrow that his "actions" had brought turmoil to their lives.

BBC colleagues have been celebrating the release

He had a brief conversation with his father over the telephone after being released.

Mr Johnston said he stayed aware of efforts to free him by listening to the BBC World Service on the radio.

News of global demonstrations in his support was a source of comfort to him, he said.

"There were demonstrations from Beijing to Buenos Aires, Beirut to London to Washington and you know I could feel how much the Palestinian people were feeling that this wasn't right and how much support there was for an end to my captivity," he said.

The BBC has issued a statement expressing relief and delight at its employee's release.

Zimbabwe has biggest number of journalists in exile

2007-06-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

HARARE - Zimbabwe currently tops the list of countries that have forced the largest number of journalists into exile, according to a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The report released last week showed that 48 Zimbabwean journalists had escaped persecution by the government between July 2001 and this month.

This accounts for about 20 percent of the total global number of scribes forced to flee their countries in the past six years.

"The 243 journalists surveyed by CPJ came from 36 countries, with more than half hailing from just five: Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Colombia, and Uzbekistan," explained the CPJ report.

Sixty percent were from African countries, where porous borders and harsh press freedom conditions contributed to a steady exodus of journalists.

The main destination countries for the exiled Zimbabwean scribes were Botswana, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and Zambia.

Other countries cited in the CPJ report as having a large number of journalists in exile were Haiti, Afghanistan, Liberia, Rwanda, Gambia and Iran.

Most of the journalists cited death threats, likelihood of imprisonment and harassment as reasons for escaping from their countries.

Zimbabwe has some of the toughest media laws in the world. For example, the government’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act requires journalists to obtain licences from the government’s Media and Information Commission in order to practise in Zimbabwe.

The commission can withdraw licences from journalists who fail to conform. Journalists caught practising without a licence are reliable to a two-year jail term under AIPPA.

Besides journalists being required to obtain licences, newspaper companies are also required to register with the state commission with those failing to do so facing closure and seizure of their equipment by the police.

The Public Order and Security Act imposes up to two years in jail on journalists found guilty of publishing falsehoods that may cause public alarm and despondency, while another law, the Criminal Codification Act, imposes up to 20 years in jail on journalists convicted of denigrating President Robert Mugabe in their articles.

At least four independent newspapers including the country’s biggest circulating daily, The Daily News, were shut down over the past four years for breaching government media laws. Close to 100 journalists were also arrested by the police over the same period. - ZimOnline

Please Release Alan Johnston!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-06-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Herald reporter held over bribery allegations

2007-06-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

ZIMBABWEAN police on Friday arrested a state media journalist from the Herald newspaper over allegations that he demanded a bribe.

Sources at Herald House said officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) burst into the newsroom and arrested Brena Chigonga for demanding bribes from evangelists, a Mathias and one Mildred Madzivanzira of the Mathis and Mildred Ministries who have been accused of running a Satanist cult.

On February 10 this year, the Herald carried a report by a gossip columnist, revealing that Madzivanzira had shot dead his maid after she stumbled on "juju" at his home.

The gossip columnist claimed: “Two weeks ago, a rumour doing the rounds in Harare was that the man of the cloth had fatally shot his maid at his Ruwa home. The reason? She had allegedly discovered juju in one of the rooms at the churchman’s luxurious home.

"The juju, it was claimed, was meant to enhance his business empire and generate more money for him.To stop the maid from spilling the beans, the rumour mill said, Madzivanzira shot her in cold blood, leading to his arrest.

"According to the gossipers, Madzivanzira’s vast wealth is linked to Satanism, a religious belief centred on the worship of the devil.”

The report, however, went on to say it had been proved that the couple were not Satanists.

Sources said Chigonga had asked to be paid to do "damage limitation", leading to a police complaint being lodged.

No immediate comment could be obtained from the Herald. Pikirayi Deketeke, the editor, was said to be out of his office on Friday evening. www.newzimbabwe.com

New Zim council is new front in fight for free media

2007-06-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

By Rashweat Mukundu

The newly established Media Council of Zimbabwe, established in the teeth of opposition from the government, represents an attempt by the media to take charge of the nessary agenda of transformation.

The launch of the Media Council of Zimbabwe (MCZ) on 8 June 2007 spurred the struggle for media freedom in Zimbabwe to a new height where the media itself should be in the driving seat.

My optimism might easily be dismissed as naïve, coming as it does against the backdrop of the relentless repression against the media and the citizens' right to freedom of expression.

That optimism is, however, based on the belief that the agents of change are the oppressed themselves and not the oppressors. The MCZ, in other words, marks the resurrection of the repressed.

The MCZ is described in different terms depending on the side one belongs to. Simply put, it is a move by the media to take charge of its own affairs, to boldly say to society we can be accountable and that media workers can contribute to the development of the media without the chains imposed by laws such as AIPPA.

The Zimbabwe media, be it private or state-owned, has been at the receiving end of repression resulting in the closure of four independent newspapers under a repressive regime of state regulation and other extra-judicial means. The state media is persistently purged of dissenting voices and has been made a shameful mouthpiece of the ruling elite.

Having the media take the initiative through processes such as the MCZ is a way of practically seeking media transformation, accountability and responsibility. The MCZ will not, under the present circumstances, result in the licensing of the Daily News, The Tribune or the Weekly Times, but is in fact, opening a new front in dismantling the repressive media law regime currently suffocating media development in Zimbabwe. It might as well be true that some banned newspapers might be gone for good but the struggle by those still operating and those banned should set a firm and secure platform for those that will emerge in the future.

Taking the drivers seat in this case, is thus embarking on a long journey of seeking and acting to influence change, for ourselves and posterity by retaining the public's confidence in the media. The MCZ presents a chance for media workers to unite on a common idea and broaden the struggle for change with the support and involvement of the citizenry who are set to benefit and use the MCZ as an amicable platform for conflict resolution.

The mere existence of the MCZ is a statement that the media is part of society and that for the media to exist it needs two distinct groups:
the public and the publishers/media organisation(s). For the MCZ to work it needs public support because the basis of its formation is to enhance interaction with the public and amicable resolution of disputes in a non litigation manner as opposed to what we have witnessed under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

Under the current media laws, the media are bombed and intimidated notwithstanding the numerous arrests of journalists. It must be emphasised that a critical missing component in the protection of the media in Zimbabwe has been lack of public support for media diversity. The closure of newspapers has thus not only deprived the public access to alternative information but subjected the population to fatal doses of government propaganda that serves no public interest agenda.

The MCZ, it is argued, brings the two together for a common cause on the premise that the media belongs to the people and not to the ruling elite or the Stalinist Ministry of Information and Publicity which spends taxpayers' money making phone calls to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) directing how stories are to be covered. The same ministry argues that AIPPA is a law that defends “national interests”, an obvious confusion and failure to distinguish national interests from partisan selfish interests.

If the media belongs to the people and media owners in their various and diverse forms are using the public space to spread information and honestly make a living, then it follows that the same media should be responsible and accountable to the public. The MCZ then becomes the platform for public and media interaction away from the dictates of policy makers who have totally divergent interests with regard to the media with those of both the media itself and the public.

The vociferous defense of AIPPA as a necessary piece of legislation by the Ministry of Information and Publicity will not abate anytime soon nor should we be foolish to expect the policy dinosaurs in that Ministry to change. Change will, however, come and it will come through struggle and on our own terms. The Ministry of Information will not change because it cannot. Its political life and that of its masters depend on repressive laws like AIPPA.

The MCZ is therefore a tool to fight bad policy. By its very nature
the MCZ cannot work with the state-controlled Media and Information Commission (MIC) - it cannot co-operate with AIPPA because the MCZ is an antithesis of statutory regulation. The MCZ might fail to get the full co-operation of all media players, which is sad, but nevertheless expected because the dominant media is in the hands and control of the policy dinosaurs. What has to be stated for certain though is that the MCZ is not going to simply fade away because some 'powerful' permanent secretary, pseudo intellectuals and soldiers running this Ministry dislike the idea.

The same people who pride themselves with crafting AIPPA, shutting down newspapers and causing the near decimation of the privately owned media in Zimbabwe are still caught up in the Stalinist era with regard to the role of the media.

The media policy dinosaurs within the Ministry of Information and Publicity have no tangible or sensible reason to oppose the MCZ other than that it is not their own initiative and secondly, it is a threat to their stranglehold on the media and the abuse they pile week in and week out on innocent citizens in civil society, the opposition, and private media, abusing publications including The Herald and Sunday Mail.

What has obviously escaped these policy dinosaurs is the movement that has taken place with regard to media the world over. These movements include the diversification of channels of media content distribution, demystification of the media as a newsroom or physical entity that can be shut, threatened, confiscated and regulated. New technologies the world over enable wider participation in information creation, dissemination and consumption. This means that media regulation has to take into account the opening up of media space to as many people as possible, whether through personal websites, blogs, and other online publications.

Participation in information dissemination is no longer the responsibility of a few through regulated media houses, but anyone can do so freely - anyone can sell and disseminate information. Media policy in Zimbabwe should look at the benefits of these new technologies in social and economic development. Media policy can, therefore, not be developed and administered ruthlessly by a paranoid system that looks at the media as an enemy and sees and confuses its selfish interests with national interests.

The MCZ is a statement to say that true national interests are protected by broader participation and involvement and not through exclusion, repression and persecution.

* Rashweat Mukundu is the National Director of MISA-Zimbabwe. This article was first published by www.journalism.co.za

Media Council Launched In Harare

2007-06-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

Journalists gathered in Harare yesterday to launch the first-ever voluntary media council in Zimbabwe.
The body, known as the Media Council of Zimbabwe, seeks to regulate journalists and media houses on a voluntary basis.
The council will in the long term replace the government appointed Media and Information Commission which has shut four independent newspapers since the promulgation of the Access to Infomation and Protection of Privacy Act in March 2002. A number of journalists have been arrested and charged for violations of the draconian law.
The launch of the MCZ marked an important milestone in the defence and promotion of media freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe media repression comes under attack at WAN Congress

2007-06-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

By Frank Chikowore

CAPE TOWN - The World Association of Newspapers (WAN), which is holding its 60th World Newspaper Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, has condemned President Robert Mugabe's “repressive government policy against a free press in Zimbabwe” urging his administration to stop interfering with the operations of the country’s media.

WAN's call came as Gift Phiri, the chief correspondent of a London-based weekly, The Zimbabwean – which is circulated in Zimbabwe - was being arraigned before a Harare magistrate on Monday on charges of violating sections of the country's draconian media law, AIPPA.

Phiri, who was charged for practising journalism without accreditation as required under AIPPA and publishing falsehoods, is expected to stand trial on July 9 at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Phiri alleges that he was tortured while in police custody when he was arrested in April.

Zimbabwe is ranked by the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as one of the worst countries in the world for journalists to operate in.

“The recurrent violations of journalists’ basic rights and the complete disregard for the rule of law of the Zimbabwean leadership and law enforcement agencies are unacceptable,” the WAN Board said in a resolution here during the Congress which is running concurrently with the World Editors' Forum.

WAN is also expressed concern at the recent arrest and assault of lawyers in Harare. The Association said it was alarmed by the recent assaults against human rights lawyers representing journalists in court.

Law Society of Zimbabwe president, Beatrice Mtetwa was among a group of top lawyers assaulted by the Zimbabwe police when the legal practitioners had gathered for a scheduled demonstration outside the High Court in Harare.

“WAN is appalled by the 29 March abduction and murder of former Zimbabwe state broadcaster ZBC cameraman Edward Chikombo, whose killing might be related to the leaking of footage of police brutality against opposition activists earlier that month.

WAN also condemned recent threats of reprisal made by the Ministry of Information to foreign correspondents over what the department claimed to be fabricated stories.

“In its policy to suppress press freedom and to asphyxiate the very last private media, the government is assisted by the Media Information Commission (MIC), which disrupts independent newspapers and strips journalists from their accreditation" said the resolution.

“In this context, WAN wishes to praise the rulings regularly made by Zimbabwean courts, including the Harare High Court, to quash abusive MIC decisions”.

The Board of WAN called on President Mugabe's government to firmly commit to the rule of law.

WAN, which is based in the French capital, Paris, is a global organisation for the newspaper industry, which defends and promotes press freedom world-wide.

WAN represents 18,000 newspapers while its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and world-wide press groups.

Its 2008 or never for MDC

2007-05-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

By Anonymous

Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai should set aside their differences and concentrate on real issues affecting ordinary Zimbabweans if their credibility in the Zimbabean political stage is anything to go by.
Ordinary Zimbabweans from Dotito to Esigodini are searing in the flames of whithering injustice at the expense of the sitting government which is showing no remorse in the suffering of the country's Jack and Jill.
Leaders like Mutambara and Tsvangirai should stand up for the people they purport to represent and this can only be done in the pending elections in 2008. Their threat to boycott the (harmonized) presidential and parliamentary elections due next year shows that these two are fighting for their own selfish interests. At a tinme when inflation is hovering around 3 700 percent - more than Iraq that is at war - arthur and Morgan should go back to the drawing board.
the only hope for Zimbaweans is for the two to participate in the elections. All they need to do is to agree on who will stand against President Mugabe.
Several journalists have seized to function, for example Nunurai Jenawho had his name struck off the Media and Information Commission's roll of journalists.
Political parties and civic groups cannot hold rallies freely. The state continues to use the fascist Public order and Security Act as well as the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to curtail people's freedoms enshrined in the tattered Constitution of Zimbabwe.
It is only participation in the 2008 polls that will take the people out of the mayhem.

This article was written by a Zimbabwean who requested anonymity

NewZimbabwe.com to print

2007-05-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

NEW Zimbabwe Limited, publishers of New Zimbabwe.com, has announced the imminent arrival of a print edition of the website to be published weekly, starting in early July.

In a statement this week, the company also announced the formation of a separate company, known as New Zimbabwe Media Limited which will publish the print newspaper, to be known as The New Zimbabwe.

A limited distribution dummy edition of the newspaper was published early May.

New Zimbabwe.com editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu said: “It has been a long held ambition to venture into print publishing. This couldn’t come early enough.”

Mathuthu is a director of New Zimbabwe Media, alongside Jeff Madzingo, currently boss of Destiny Financial Services Limited.

New Zimbabwe.com went online in June 2003, and was the first commercial Zimbabwean news website. With an average 500 000 hits per day, the website has grown to command the biggest market share after toppling the state-run Herald newspaper in late 2005, according to the web traffic site, Alexa.com.

Mathuthu said: “New Zimbabwe.com has been an emotionally and physically draining adventure, but everyone who works or contributes to the site has worked their socks off in an honest fashion.

“Where others have been cushioned by funding by wealthy foreign organisations and governments, we have had to scrap using very limited resources. It is true that God rewards honest effort, because New Zimbabwe.com’s continued success is living proof of that.”

Mathuthu paid tribute to New Zimbabwe.com readers and advertisers, calling their support “humbling”.

He said: “As a natural progression, we have reached that stage where we need to explore opportunities in the print industry. The growth of Zimbabwean companies in the Diaspora affords us a unique opportunity to reach out to them and deliver their products and services to their target market in a way that was previously never imagined.

“We want to be part of the development of Zimbabwean businesses in the Diaspora, and the professional advance of Zimbabweans in every step of the way. The paper will celebrate the success of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, and raise the profiles of our new heroes and heroines. That’s what New Zimbabwe is all about, raising hope from the decaying politics of our current rulers.”

New Zimbabwe will be published and distributed right across the United Kingdom. Mathuthu said there were no immediate plans to publish the paper in Zimbabwe, although limited copies would be made available to subscribers. Publishing in Zimbabwe, he said, was not commercially viable under the current economic climate.

“The situation will be constantly under review, and hopefully, we will get it to Zimbabwe one day. Zimbabwe is ultimately where the dawn of the New Zimbabwe will crack, and we want to be part of that process.”

The first edition of the paper will be rolled out on Thursday, July 7. The paper will be mainly free, although it could be sold in some areas, Mathuthu said.

New Zimbabwe.com will continue publishing as normal, with separate content from the paper which will have a separate editorial team and editor, the company said. An announcement will be made on the paper’s editor shortly.

"We will be a proper red top tabloid, with a lot of celebrity, human interest, business and sports stories and a sprinkling of political stuff. We will focus mainly on Southern Africans based in the UK. South Africans and Zimbabweans will get special attention," Mathuthu said.

The launch ceremony would be announced in due course, said Mathuthu. - www.newzimbabwe.com

Zim Journalists To Launch Voluntary Media Council

2007-05-23T02:43:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwean journalists will next Tuesday finally launch the Voluntary Media Council (VMC) that had been deferred twice this year, www.zimonline.co.za has reported.

Abigail Gamanya, the co-ordinator of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) an association of media groups pushing for the setting up of the council, said the launch will go ahead next week with or without government approval.

“We are going ahead with the launch of the council on 29 May and everything is so far according to plan. So come Tuesday, the council will be in place as we do not need government approval to launch this council,” Gamanya told the online paper.

Gamanya said the media council, just like the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), did not need a government statute to enable it to be set up since it was a voluntary council.

“The media council is a voluntary council and we do not need government approval for launching a voluntary body for journalists,” she said.

The MAZ groups together media organizations operating in Zimbabwe. Among some of these are the ZUJ, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Editors Forum, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe and the Federation of African Media Women of Zimbabwe.

MAZ said it had so far received 30 names of individuals who have been recommended by media organizations to sit on the 12-member board to be elected into office next Tuesday.

Among some of the individuals that have been recommended are retired judges, George Smith and Justice Ibrahim, publishers Raphael Khumalo (Zimbabwe Independent) and Jacob Chisese (Financial Gazette), Justin Mutasa (Zimpapers), Father Nigel Johnson, lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa and media lecturer Lawton Hikwa.

Zimbabwe does not have a voluntary media council but has a statutory body, the Media and Information Commission, that was set up by the government under the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

The MIC has banned four newspapers including the biggest selling Daily News, over the past four years. Prresident Robert Mugabe's government's government stands accused of masterminding the bombing of the Daily News printing press and the offices of the Voice of the People (VoP) private radio station. VoP has since switched base to Capr Town, South Africa. - ZimOnline and additional reporting by Zimscoop

Zim reporter gets 'taste of state medicine'

2007-05-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

A reporter with one of Zimbabwe's official newspapers got "a taste of state medicine" last week when police angrily confiscated his camera and press card after a Cabinet minister accused him of spreading falsehoods, it was reported on Friday.

Samuel Kadungure, a reporter with the state-controlled Manica Post weekly, was covering a tour of a diamond-mining area in Chiadzwa, eastern Zimbabwe, last Thursday.

He was in the company of National Security Minister Didymus Mutasa, said the Manica Post, which is based in the border city of Mutare.

"When Mutasa introduced the reporter to Mines and Mining Development Minister Amos Midzi, all hell broke loose," Kadungure said.

In an unusual show of discord between senior government ministers, Midzi accused the reporter of gate-crashing a protected zone. He told police to seize Kadungure's state-issued press card and camera, the reporter claimed.

Zimbabwe is a notoriously difficult place for reporters to work in, unless they are employed by the state-controlled media.

Reporters for official radio and newspapers are normally able to work without harassment.

Reporters for the independent press are frequently arrested under Zimbabwe’s tough press law, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which stipulates that all media workers must hold a valid licence.

Licences are rarely issued to those working for the independent press.

The clampdown on the private press has steadily worsened in the last two months, with at least four reporters beaten, a Time magazine correspondent from Britain arrested and forced to leave the country and an ageing local cameraman abducted and killed.

Kadungure was rescued by a senior police officer, according to the Manica Post. His equipment and press card were only returned a day later. The reporter described the altercation as "sad." -- Sapa-dpa

IPI calls on South Africa to ensure Zimbabwean government properly investigates journalist’s murder

2007-05-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe is an IPI Watch List Country

PRESS RELEASE

Vienna, 17 April 2007

IPI Calls on South Africa to Ensure Zimbabwean Government Properly
Investigates Journalist’s Murder

On 31 March, the body of Edward Chikombo, a part-time cameraman for the
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), was discovered close to the
village of Darwendale, outside the capital Harare.

Armed men had apparently taken Chikombo from his home in Glenview Township
on 29 March.

According to information provided to the International Press Institute
(IPI), the journalist may have been murdered because of his suspected
involvement in providing foreign news services with footage of opposition
members being attacked by the security services during recent strikes.

On 11 March, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC), was badly beaten by the security forces. Pictures of his
injuries were later shown on the BBC and CNN.

In recent weeks, there have been rumours that the Zimbabwean government is
employing so-called “hit squads” to carry out abductions and beatings of
opposition members and their supporters.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has also issued statements about the
right of the security services to attack people and these statements have
fuelled an aggressive and violent environment, particularly in Harare.

Chikombo’s murder was not the only serious press freedom violation to occur
recently. On 11 March, photojournalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi was seriously
assaulted while in police custody, and Gift Phiri, chief reporter for The
Zimbabwean, was apparently tortured on 1 April.

Commenting on Zimbabwe, IPI Director, Johann P. Fritz said, “These brutal
attacks on journalists are a sign of the extraordinary lengths that the
government will go to hide the true state of affairs in Zimbabwe.”

“Given its important role in Southern African affairs and its influence
over Zimbabwe, I would call on the South African government to issue a
strongly worded statement reminding the Zimbabwean government of its duty
to uphold the rule of law and urging it to carry out an open and
transparent investigation into the death of Chikombo, and the assaults on
Mukwazhi and Phiri.”

“In doing so, I would remind the South African government that assaults and
murders of journalists are often an indication that other serious human
rights breaches may be occurring or are about to occur.”

“For this reason, the time to act on Zimbabwe is now and there are real
risks that a failure to do so will only exacerbate the current situation
and further encourage the Zimbabwean government to believe that it can
suppress the work of journalists and commit human rights violations with
impunity,” added Fritz.
_______________________________________
International Press Institute (IPI)
Spiegelgasse 2
1010 Vienna, AUSTRIA
Tel: (+43 1) 512 90 11
Fax: (+43 1) 512 90 14
E-mail: ipi@freemedia.at
http://www.freemedia.at

IPI, the global network of editors, media executives and leading
journalists, is dedicated to the furtherance and safeguarding of press
freedom, the protection of freedom of opinion and expression, the promotion
of the free flow of news and information, and the improvement of the
practices of journalism.

**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole
responsibility of IPI**

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Press Freedom Backsliders

2007-05-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 4651004 Fax: (212) 4659568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: mkeita@cpj.org

New York, May 2, 2007—To mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists released today a report calling attention to the erosion of press freedoms in 10 countries worldwide during the last five years. Ethiopia, the Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the nations topping CPJ’s list of the “Top Ten Backsliders” of press freedom. The report, based on CPJ analysis of case data worldwide for the years 2002 through 2007, is available online at: http://www.cpj.org/backsliders/.

Backsliders
A World Press Freedom Day report from CPJ: The 10 countries where press freedom has most deteriorated

New York, May 2, 2007—Three nations in sub-Saharan Africa are among the places worldwide where press freedom has deteriorated the most over the last five years, a new analysis by the Committee to Protect Journalists has found. Ethiopia, where the government launched a massive crackdown on the private press by shutting newspapers and jailing editors, leads CPJ’s dishonor roll. The African nations of the Gambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo join Russia and Cuba among the world’s worst “backsliders” on press freedom.

“Democracy’s foothold in Africa is shallow when it comes to press freedom,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “These three African nations, as diverse as they are, have won praise at times for their transition to democracy—but they are actually moving in reverse on press issues. Journalists in Ethiopia, Gambia, and DRC are being jailed, attacked, and censored, a picture far worse than what we saw only a few years ago.”

In issuing its report to mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, CPJ is calling attention this year to long-term erosion in press conditions. Rounding out CPJ’s “Top 10 Backsliders” are Pakistan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Morocco, and Thailand.

The backsliders reflect a mixture of relatively open countries that have turned increasingly repressive and traditionally restrictive nations where press conditions, remarkably, have worsened. Nations such as Thailand and Morocco have been considered press freedom leaders in their regions but have charted sharp declines over the past five years. Other countries such as Cuba have long had poor records but have ratcheted up press restrictions through widespread imprisonments, expulsions, and harassment.

“The behavior of all of these countries is deeply troubling, but the rapid retreats in nations where the media have thrived demonstrate just how easily the fundamental right to press freedom can be taken away,” Simon added.

To determine trends in press conditions, CPJ analyzed case data worldwide for the years 2002 through 2007. Its staff judged conditions in seven categories: government censorship, judicial harassment, criminal libel prosecutions, journalist deaths, physical attacks on the press, journalist imprisonments, and threats against the press. CPJ staff excluded from consideration major conflict zones such as Iraq and Somalia, which lack conventional governance and newsgathering.

Patterns that emerge from CPJ’s analysis include:
Authorities in several countries are silencing critical coverage by imprisoning journalists. Cuba and Ethiopia became two of the world’s leading jailers of journalists in the past five years. Morocco, often cited as a regional model for press freedom, is now tied with Tunisia for the dubious distinction of sentencing the most journalists to prison in the Arab world.

Violent attacks are going unpunished in many of these countries. In Pakistan, eight journalists have been slain in the last five years, but arrests and convictions have been won in only one case. In Russia, 11 journalists have been murdered in the last five years, but no case has been solved.

Judicial harassment is being used increasingly in many of these nations. In Egypt, 85 criminal cases were launched against journalists between 2004 and 2006. In DRC and Azerbaijan, criminal defamation prosecutions are rising. And in Morocco, politically motivated lawsuits have effectively sidelined a number of the country’s most outspoken editors.

Censorship orders and restrictive legislation are being used in several nations. In Thailand, the new military junta issued broad censorship orders for broadcast outlets. In the Gambia, authorities have shut down a leading independent newspaper. And in Russia, the president signed a law equating critical coverage with “extremism.”

Escalating government attacks in Morocco and Egypt have coincided with increasing assertiveness on the part of independent publications.

Here are CPJ’s “Top 10 Backsliders.” The figures cited are annual unless noted.

1. ETHIOPIA
Leader: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Indicators: Imprisonments rise from two to 18. Dozens forced into exile. In 2006 alone, authorities ban eight newspapers, expel two foreign reporters, and block critical Web sites.

Key fact: Only a handful of private newspapers now publish, all under intense self-censorship.

2. GAMBIA
Leader: President Yahyah Jammeh
Indicators: Editor Deyda Hydara murdered in 2004. The Independent, a leading newspaper, is targeted by arsonists and closed by the government. Criminal penalties instituted for defamation.

Key fact: Eleven journalists jailed for extended periods in 2006.

3. RUSSIA
Leader: President Vladimir Putin
Indicators: All three national television channels now under state control. Eleven journalists murdered in the last five years; no cases solved. Imprisoned journalists rise from one to three.

Key fact: New law defines “extremism” as including “public slander toward figures fulfilling state duties.”

4. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Leader: President Joseph Kabila
Indicators: Two journalists slain since 2005. Attacks increase from three to nine. Criminal libel cases rise from none to nine. Imprisonments climb from three to 11.

Key fact: Leaders of press freedom group Journaliste en Danger forced into hiding in 2006.

5. CUBA
Interim leader: Gen. Raúl Castro Ruz
Indicators: Twenty-nine journalists imprisoned in massive 2003 crackdown. Four foreign journalists expelled after covering 2005 opposition meeting. Another 10 barred entry when Fidel Castro becomes ill in 2006.

Key fact: Cases of government harassment increase in the past year.

6. PAKISTAN
Leader: President Pervez Musharraf
Indicators: Eight journalists killed in the last five years. At least 15 journalists abducted in that time. Government security agents interrogate reporters who interview Taliban figures.

Key fact: Government’s own Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence is suspected in some abductions.

7. EGYPT
Leader: President Hosni Mubarak
Indicators: Government agents assault reporters covering demonstrations. Editor Reda Helal disappears in 2003. First Internet blogger sentenced to prison. Top editor Abdel Halim Kandil abducted and assaulted in 2004.

Key fact: Egyptian Organization for Human Rights says 85 criminal cases launched against press between 2004 and 2006.

8. AZERBAIJAN
Leader: President Ilham Aliyev
Indicators: Editor Elmar Huseynov slain in 2005. Criminal defamation cases rise from one to 14. Imprisonments climb from none to five. Two top journalists kidnapped in 2006.

Key fact: Editor Eynulla Fatullayev receives death threats after investigating Huseynov murder.

9. MOROCCO
Leader: King Mohammed VI
Indicators: Morocco joins Tunisia as Arab world’s leading jailer of journalists, with three sentenced to prison terms. Authorities banish three top journalists through politically motivated lawsuits. State media and government incite protests against independent press.

Key fact: Editor Ali Lmrabet barred from profession for 10 years.

10. THAILAND
Leader: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Indicators: New military junta nationalizes Thailand’s only private television station and orders radio stations to broadcast military-prepared news. Foreign news broadcasts blocked when former prime minister is mentioned.

Key fact: New constitution is being drafted. Press guarantees uncertain.

To learn more about this project, hear an audio report from CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. To learn more about these backsliding countries, read CPJ’s annual report on press freedom, Attacks on the Press in 2006.

CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.

I will be back soon

2007-05-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

On the move

Persecution of Tsvangirai's Aide Continues

2007-01-23T01:49:00.000-08:00

Political repression in Zimbabwe is continuing amid revelations that President Robert Mugabe's administration is using the state machinery to abuse critics of his government.
Movement for Democratic Change activists have been on the receiving end as the Zanu PF government launched an onslaught on all critics of the sitting administration.
Apart from targeting the MDC as a political party, the regime has also put party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his lieutenants as subjects of arrests and harassment. Not only are Tsvangirai and top MDC officials are subject of victimization in Zimbabwe but ordinary people suspected to have links with the opposition party.
Some MDC activists in Mutare were accused of possessing arms of war ostensibly to remove Mugabe's government.
Like Tsvangirai who was accused and later acquitted of planning to eliminate Mugabe using a Canadian firm led by Ari Ben Menashe of Dickens and Madison, the late Zanu Ndonga leader, Ndabaningi Sithole, was also accused of plotting to assassinate Mugabe.
One of Tsvangirai's aides, Sunganai Gwezere, was incarcerated by Harare authorities for allegedly possessing an unlicensed fire-arm in the run up to the June 2000 parliamentary polls. He was convicted by a Harare magistrate and jailed for five years. However, Gwezere appealed in the High Court which grant his application for release. The High Court ordered him to report every Friday at the Criminal Investigations Department Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station while awaiting judgement.
The High Court later upheld the decision of the Magistrates Court prompting him to challenge both his conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Gwezere says his case has taken too long to be finalised.
"I am now sick and tired of reporting every week to the police. This treatment is very degrading and I am traumatised. The police always harass me when I go to report to them every week", said Gwezere.

2007-01-18T03:10:00.001-08:00

Am I in Zimbabwe?

2007-01-18T03:10:00.000-08:00

By Frank Chikowore

Johannesburg: Walking along Abel Street in Johannesburg's sprawling suburb of Berea, one might think he or she is in the Joburg Lines in Harare's Mbare high density suburb. But alas, this is South Africa where you here Zimbabwean music from almost each and every household.
Is this because South African love Zimbabwean music most or what? Its because several Zimbabweans are making their way here every day as the economic situation is getting worse every day in Zimbabwe.
How these people find their way here is vry miraculous with the tight security that has been put in place by President Mbeki's government.
But some Zimbabweans I spoke to were quick to point out "this is South Africa, money speaks my friend. Everything is possible when you have money".
They bought their way into the country. Corruption at the border, azt roadblocks and corruption everywhere.
In some cases, some Zimbabweans who came here illegally now even have South African identity documents. Some are even contemplating not going back to Zimbabwe again unless the economic and socio-economic crisis in the country comes to an end.

Media Fraud! What Fraud Mahoso?

2007-01-14T02:13:00.000-08:00

When Wilf Mbanga, one of the founding editors of the banned Daily News, introduced his title from London, the Media and Information Commission chairperson Tafataona Mahoso was quick to dismiss the paper as a “gigantic media fraud”.
Little did he know that the paper was going to be accepted by concerned Zimbabweans as an alternative media!
What Mahoso implied in his statement is that Mbanga’s establishment was a creation of foreign powers. Not only did he know that the arrival of the paper would create competition with the state-controlled newspapers, but it would mark a new media shift from the usually run-on-the-mill stories published by the state-media that are awash with pro-Zanu PF propaganda.
I have to admit that most of stories being published by The Zimbabwean are critical of the dictatorial tendencies of the sitting government, but it has to be put on record that such publications are necessary in pushing for checks and balances in any democracy.
While Mahoso is entitled to his views, I would want to challenge him to explain to the world why he is forcing journalists to pay a fine of ZW$10 000 (US$ 40 at the official exchange rate) per day for not renewing their accreditation in time.
The fine that Mahoso is imposing is in itself a “gigantic media fraud”. If I may ask, what is going to be done with that money? I know it for certain that the MIC has performed dismally since the promulgation of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in March 2002. I don’t know of any training programs that the commission has supported or facilitated.
Where does Mahoso think that journalists get the money when he knows fully aware that journalists are being paid peanuts for their published stories? Imagine one getting a payment of not more ZW$2 000 (US$8) for a story by well-established newspaper domiciled in Zimbabwe. I challenge Mahoso to consult editors at the few newspapers that are in the country today to see how much money they are paying their stringers.
What does one do with an amount? ZW$2 000 only pays one person’s round trip to go to the city centre from Mufakose high density suburb.
It is a pity that the MIC has seen it fit to criminalise the journalism profession. What Mahoso needs to understand is that the registration fees imposed by the MIC covers the whole year from January 1 to December 31.
I challenge Mahoso to explain why his commission thinks the fine is necessary. In view of these stringent measures that the government continues to impose on the media, it must also be noted that the MIC is also requiring freelance journalists to produce letters of recommendation from the editors. Some editors have allegedly told my fellow comrades that they would not be able to provide them with such kind of letters for undisclosed reasons.
The MIC must be reminded that their commission is destroying hopes of a positive development in the country’s media sector.
There is need for the establishment of an organization that caters for the genuine interests of genuine freelancers not organizations that are led by people who are known to be political activists.
I note with dismay that such hindrances are not at all healthy to the development of the media in Zimbabwe.
I feel that the Voluntary Media Council that media groups in Zimbabwe intend to launch on the 26th of this month is the only answer to the problems journalists are facing in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe flexes muscles to extend his tenure

2007-01-04T02:11:00.000-08:00

By Frank Chikowore

President Robert Mugabe’s succession squabbles within his ruling Zanu PF party prompted Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo to drop Tendai Savanhu from the commission running the affairs of the City of Harare , The Zimbabwe Times has established.
The sources said Chombo was acting on instructions from the head of state who is flexing his political muscles to extend his term of office by a further two years to 2010.
Mugabe’s latest antics to weed out his critics occupying key positions as demonstrated by Chombo, according to top Zanu PF officials, are ploys to force the party’s Central Committee to endorse proposals extending his hold on power.
“Savanhu is a member of the Central Committee. He is also a member of the (Zanu PF) Harare Province and it is a public secret that the provincial committee refused to endorse the proposal to extend the President’s term. Through Chombo’s actions, the President Mugabe wants to whip Savanhu into line before the Central Committee sits to review the resolutions made at the (Zanu PF) Annual People’s Conference in Goromonzi”, said a politburo member who requested not to be named.
The Goromonzi conference referred the proposal to extend Mugabe’s term to 2010 to the party’s Central Committee for scrutiny but the party organ is yet to make a decision.
Before being dropped by the minister last week, Savanhu was deputizing the re-appointed chairperson of the commission, Sekesayi Makwavarara – herself a political turncoat who got to Town House on an MDC ticket and later crossed the floor to join the ruling party.
“His (Savanhu’s) sacking from the Harare Commission is only a tip of the iceberg. Several heads are going to roll in our party’s structures as we prepare for our congress. The President is targeting all those who vehemently opposed the extension of his term during consultations before the conference in Goromonzi”, said one of the party’s Central Committee members.
But Chombo said he was acting in the best interests of Harare ’s ratepayers.
“As the responsible minister, I looked at who is capable of delivering and who is not. So at the end of the day I came up with a team that I believe will move the City of Harare forward. Political motives are neither here nor there”, said the minister before switching off his mobile phone.
Meanwhile, Mugabe reportedly quizzed Mashonaland East Governor and Resident Minister, Ray Kaukonde, over his utterances at the Goromonzi meeting where he told delegates that “yava nguva yekutaurirana chokwadi (Its time to be open with each other), things are not normal in the country economically”.
The sources said this statement provoked the ire of Mugabe who reportedly felt his power base was under siege.
“With a number of people within the party being viewed as potential candidates to succeed him, President Mugabe was really not happy with the governor (Kaukonde) and ended up summoning him for an explanation of his utterances. Kaukonde is being viewed as the front-man in the Mujuru camp and the President knows it and he is worried that Mujuru is being diplomatic in his approach to the succession saga at the same time pulling the strings from a distance”.
The sources said if the Central Committee does not approve proposals to extend the head of state’s tenure, Mugabe – who turns 83 in February this year – is contemplating calling for an extra-ordinary party congress before the expiry of his current term that would seek to endorse him as Zanu PF’s presidential candidate in 2008.
Zanu PF holds its congresses after every five years and the next one is penciled for December 2009. The congress elects the party’s presidium. Sources said Mugabe is now already pushing for congressional re-election after realizing that several figures within the rank and file of his party are against a constitutional amendment that would keep him in office a little bit longer.
“Mugabe wants to be in power for as long as it takes because he fears that he would be targeted by the international community for human rights violations. The Gukurahundi massacres are a thing that the old man is worried about, especially after the execution of Saddam Hussein who was viewed by the world superpowers ( Britain and the United States ) as a despot. This is why he is not happy with the bill that Jonathan Moyo wants to table before parliament”, said one source adding that Mugabe has ordered his party’s legislators to reject the bill when it is brought to the House of Assembly for debate.
Documented evidence suggests that more than 20 000 people were killed during the disturbances by the North Korean trained Five Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands regions in the mid 1980s.
But Mugabe maintains that the Unity Accord of 1987, signed between Zanu PF and PF Zapu, marked the amicable resolution of the tribal conflict.
Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba could not be reached for comment while Zanu PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said “there are no problems in Zanu PF” emanating from the succession issue.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

I wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

I will be in the rural areas with my family so I will be updating this blog after the holidays.

Enjoy yourself

Anti-Mugabe Regalia On The Move In Jozi

2006-12-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

Zimbabweans here can easily be identified by their language but to a greater extent they are recognised through their regalia.

It is now common among Zimbabweans here in Johannesburg where I am currently visiting to wear t-shirts that portrays the situation back home.

I saw one Zimbabwean wearing an anti Operation Murambatsvina t-shirt with the inscription "Mugabe's police destroyed our homes" at the back. This goes to explain how people in Zimbabwe have suffered and continue to do so.

Of special interest to me was a t-shirt with the inscription "Mugabe bring back all banned newspapers and private radio stations".

So is Zimbabwe plunging itself in hell because of Uncle Bob? For how long shall we continue to see the government muzzling our press and undermining our constitutional rights to express ourselves freely?

Zimbabweans Stranded In Johannesburg

2006-12-17T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have just arrived in Johanesburg, South Africa and I have witnessed a situation where bus operators are taking advantage of the festive season to hike fares willy-nilly.

The bus operators are now charging between R400 and R600 for a one way trip from Johannesburg to Harare. A visit to the Park Station revealed that several Zimbabweans were stranded at the terminus as they had no money to travel back home. The money they had budgetted for is no longer enough. It used to cost about R250 for a one way trip to Harare per capita.

One Zimbabwean who identified herself as Tinei Mangwiro of Mabvuku high density suburb told me in Joburg this morning that Christmas is going to be hell for him and his family.

"I had budgetted R300 for transport back home but now I don't where I will get the other money to top up my bus fare. I have had to come to buy groceries for people back home but it appears I wont be able to buy much items given that I had bought the rands on the black market".

Frank Chikowore Joins New Media

2006-12-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

I introduce myself as Frank Chikowore, a Zimbabwean independent journalist who has worked for the banned Weekly Times as a senior reporter. I have also worked as News Editor of the Southern News, a southern African regional newspaper that was headquartered in Gaberone, Botswana.

There are developments in the NEW MEDIA where blogging has become the order of the day the world-over. I find myself in a situation where Zimbabweans are adjusting to the increased use of the internet because of the closures of independent newspapers and jamming of private radio stations by the sitting government. But as the government intensifies its crackdown on the independent press, people ought to get the news and information come what may.

As I introduce myself as one of the few bloggers based in Zimbabwe, I would want to urge the Zimbabwean populace to take bloggers seriously. I am doing this for a reason. I would not be wasting my hard-earned resources by blogging.

I am clear and resolute in this project. In this regard, I would want to urge all visitors of this blog to use it as a source of verified information.

I wish you pleasant reading.

TO THE GOVERMENT OF ZIMBABWE, I SAY FREE THE MEDIA! THE STRUGGLE FOR A FREE PRESS CONTINUES