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Gweru Demo: Police deal Nelson Chamisa’s MDC another huge blow

POLICE on Monday banned the MDC’s Gweru demonstration, pilling more misery on a party that had seen similar protests in Harare and Bulawayo banned in quick succession. The MDC demonstration which the opposition party had set for this Tuesday, is …

Angry Zimbabweans tear down President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s posters

SOME of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s posters, erected on the eve of Heroes and Defences Forces holidays in Marondera, have been defaced and pulled down, in a development that has been linked to anger over the deepening economic crisis. Posters along the Harare-Mutare Highway and Central Marondera were defaced. The posters, inscribed “Vote ED”, were erected […]

We were promised change – but corruption and brutality still rule in Zimbabwe

We were promised change – but corruption and brutality still rule in Zimbabwe Source: We were promised change – but corruption and brutality still rule in Zimbabwe | Fadzayi Mahere | Opinion | The Guardian Emmerson Mnangagwa’s policies have left the country on its knees – and those who dare to protest are met with […]

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We were promised change – but corruption and brutality still rule in Zimbabwe

Source: We were promised change – but corruption and brutality still rule in Zimbabwe | Fadzayi Mahere | Opinion | The Guardian

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s policies have left the country on its knees – and those who dare to protest are met with violence

‘The violent police clampdown is just the latest action in a tale of unbroken state repression that continues from Robert Mugabe’s era.’ Police drag away a protester in Harare last week. Photograph: Aaron Ufumeli/EPA

In the Shona language, Nyamavhuvhu (August) signals the end of winter. The strong winds carry away the frost as they usher in the warmth of summer. With the silent strength of a new season, public discontent towards President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s failing socio-economic policies sweeps across Zimbabwe, manifesting itself through mounting displeasure and the growing threat of civil unrest.

On the streets of the capital, Harare, a middle-aged woman lies unconscious on the asphalt. An uncanny silence hangs in the air, punctuated only by the sound of water cannons patrolling the street and a sea of riot police conversing in hushed tones with each other. The blue-helmeted police, a signature of the Robert Mugabe era, march in straight lines through the central business district. Businesses are closed. Thick clouds of off-white teargas fill the sky. An old, grey-haired man who is left behind by the fleeing crowd is kicked in the ribs by two police officers and dragged by his side. A young man who tries to assist the stricken woman is arrested and bundled into a police truck. Elsewhere, Red Cross volunteers attend to an old woman who has suffered injuries to her head after being beaten.

The protesters had gathered on Friday to express their anger at Mnangagwa’s rule. People are increasingly dissatisfied with the impact of failing economic policies, a broken public health system, the soaring prices of basic goods and the collapse of public services. They had been waiting in preparation for a protest march organised by the Movement for Democratic Change at Africa Unity Square, a garden in the heart of Harare. In this same garden, just a few years ago, Itai Dzamara stood as a lone protester calling for Mugabe to go.

The protesters could not access the square because the police had cordoned it off. Instead, they congregated on a main road adjacent to the square, patiently awaiting the outcome of a court challenge mounted early that morning. The court challenge sought to overturn a police ban that had been instated using the notoriously repressive Public Order and Security Act at the 11th hour, the night before the planned demonstration.

‘Emmerson Mnangagwa’s promise of change and reform, much lauded by the UK and Europe at the time of Mugabe’s ousting, has proven to be a mirage.’ Photograph: Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images

Protesters chanted songs similar to those sung during the liberation struggle. They sat in the middle of the road, in an act of peaceful protest. As they sat, a wave of baton-wielding riot police charged at them in an attempt to disperse the growing crowd. Many, including older people and women, who could not run away as fast as the more youthful protesters, were badly beaten.

The violent police clampdown is just the latest action in a tale of unbroken state repression that continues from Mugabe’s era. In the aftermath of the July 2018 election, the military killed at least six civilians as it drove army tankers through the streets of Harare to quell a protest. Similarly, in January this year, the army fired live rounds at civilians in the wake of a protest against the rising cost of living. At least 12 civilians lost their lives. The perpetrators have yet to be indicted or held accountable for the loss of life, despite a theatrical commission of inquiry launched by Mnangagwa in a bid to repair his already crumbling international image.

In addition to thwarting the freedom to protest, the repression by Mnangagwa’s government has been characterised by the partisan use of security services, tampering with judicial independence, the surveillance and intimidation of activists, sham trials of human-rights defenders, impunity for human-rights-violating security forces – and targeted beatings and abductions of human-rights activists and members of the opposition.

Mnangagwa’s promise of change and reform, much lauded by the UK and Europe at the time of Mugabe’s ousting, has proven to be a mirage. It was argued by the UK and some in Europe that Zimbabwe needed a “strong man”, a Paul Kagame-type figure, to drive economic reforms. However, on this front too, Mnangagwa has failed amid several negative economic indicators: official statistics claim that annual inflation surged to 175.7% in June, although economists project that the real inflation rate is much higher than this. The government has since suspended the official publication of inflation statistics. There have been shortages of food and fuel. There has also been a return to acute, daily power cuts, which often last for 18 hours, with power returning in the dead of night.

The government’s mantra that “Zimbabwe is open for business” has proven to be a hollow epithet, as foreign direct investment remains extremely low and local businesses continue to close shop in the face of a confidence deficit. Corruption remains rampant with little commitment to deal with the perpetrators and recover the looted funds.

Mnangagwa has failed at the most basic political reform. The mask has fallen away leaving in its stead a man more brutal and devoid of character than his predecessor. In the wake of his stewardship lies a country where individuals cannot afford a decent life and are punished for trying to register their growing discontent. It is time for the UK and Europe, who backed Mnangagwa, to stand with democratic forces and innocent, brutalised citizens – not a corrupt authoritarian regime incapable of reforming politically and economically.

Only then can the winds of real change sweep across Zimbabwe.

• Fadzayi Mahere is a Zimbabwean lawyer and politician

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Industry slams demos

Source: Industry slams demos | The Herald August 19, 2019 Sifelani Jabangwe Africa Moyo Deputy News Editor Industrialists have slammed the continued demonstrations being organised by the MDC-Alliance saying they were affecting production, and consequently stunting economic growth. This comes after the MDC-Alliance has called for demonstrations in major cities, with some activists taking part […]

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Source: Industry slams demos | The Herald August 19, 2019

Sifelani Jabangwe

Africa Moyo Deputy News Editor
Industrialists have slammed the continued demonstrations being organised by the MDC-Alliance saying they were affecting production, and consequently stunting economic growth.

This comes after the MDC-Alliance has called for demonstrations in major cities, with some activists taking part in a prohibited gathering in Harare on Friday despite a ban by police and a High Court order upholding the ban.

Most employees failed to report for work due to shortage of transport as some transport operators opted not have their buses on the roads in fear of being attacked as what happened during the January 14 to 16 violent demonstrations.

Equally, some businesses did not open as a precautionary measure to prevent looting of goods, which characterised the January demonstrations.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) immediate past president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe told The Herald yesterday “demonstrations are affecting us”.

“We need to produce, but we continue to lose production time because of demonstrations and of course, electricity shortages,” he said.

“Look, we have just had a holiday (Heroes and Defence Forces Day) and we were not producing; now we lose additional production time because of these demonstrations.

“The problem we have is an economic one and we believe if we focus on reviving the economy through production, we will overcome the problem and should be able to protect the vulnerable people and those on the streets.”

Mr Jabangwe said Zimbabwe should be known “being production orientated”.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) immediate past president and Securico managing director Dr Divine Ndhlukula said: “Demonstrations obviously affect our work, alongside electricity cuts. As business, we want to produce more because that is what this economy wants. But due to demos, our employees either don’t come or report for work late. Today, (yesterday) some of our guys said they were going back home during lunch hour saying they feared transport shortages. It is a very difficult situation we are in. We have been through this (demonstrations) in the last 20 years and we seem to be circulating on the same place.”

Dr Ndhlukula called on businesspeople, politicians and all citizens who can contribute meaningfully, to “sit down” and find ways of boosting the economy.

National Business Council of Zimbabwe (NBCZ) president Mr Langton Mabhanga said: “We reiterate that this emerging culture of violence and destructive activism that is converting our young people into apprentices of hatred for fellow kindred, and destruction of national infrastructure, vendors’ wares, peace and the economic reconstruction crusade, be extricated from our societal systems.

“Confrontation will not rescue the Zimbabwean economy. Preparing for the 2019/2010 agricultural season to produce will rescue Zimbabwe. Conversion of working time to destructive stoppages and disturbances will not move the country forward.

“If only we can all focus the love that we have for our country towards doing what is best for Zimbabwe today and for the onward generations, we will be able to work ourselves out of this economic quagmire much quicker.”

Mr Mabhanga called on Government to continue protecting innocent and peace-loving citizens.

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Government gesture saves Gweru millions

Source: Government gesture saves Gweru millions | The Herald August 19, 2019 Minister Moyo Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief GOVERNMENT’S intervention in sourcing four water pumps for City of Gweru at a cost of US$440 000 has saved the local authority from paying an outrageous US$6 million for the same products. Council recently invited tenders […]

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Source: Government gesture saves Gweru millions | The Herald August 19, 2019

Minister Moyo

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
GOVERNMENT’S intervention in sourcing four water pumps for City of Gweru at a cost of US$440 000 has saved the local authority from paying an outrageous US$6 million for the same products.

Council recently invited tenders for the procurement of the four new water pumps to be installed at Amapongobwe Dam, an alternative to Gwenhoro Dam, which has less than a month’s water supply.

Amapongokwe, according to city fathers, is 70 percent full. To avert a potential disaster, the local authority revealed that the lowest tender submitted had quoted US$6 million against a Government assisted quotation of merely US$$440 000.

GCC acting finance director Mr Owen Masimba recently told a supplementary budget consultative meeting that they needed US$6 million to purchase four water pumps for Amapongobwe Dam.

However, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo, addressing the National Assembly, said GCC had made an outrageous tender for the four pumps.

“Council made a tender which was outrageous and required a lot of money, but we have now been able to get pumps that can pump more water than what was there. Because of the pumps that we are going to acquire from South Africa that are genuine, we are hoping to have those before the two months for use at Amapongobwe so that we can address the water challenges,” he said.

Addressing the media during a State of the City address at Town House, Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe said after approaching Minister of State for Provincial Midlands Affairs Larry Mavima and Minister Moyo for Government assistance in procuring the pumps, the inflated figures came down to US$440 000.

“We engaged the Honourable Resident Minister Mavima to assist and eventually we managed to speak to Honourable July Moyo and with their assistance I am happy to say Government has agreed to loan us US$440 000 to procure four pumps that will ease the water situation that we have in the city. The quotations that we were getting from the tenders that we flighted was close to US$6 million and that is what we have been talking about. But when we engaged the minister who assisted us and we also got in touch with a consultant who looked at what we really wanted and got quotations outside the country, the quotations came up $6,1 million which is close to US$440 000,” he said.

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