CRISIS REPORTS

Issue 3 ■ April 2007 Fresh insights into the Zimbabwean situation

RUMBLINGS OF DISCONTENT IN ZANU-PF

Senior party officials dispute the official story that President was formally endorsed as ZANU-PF’s candidate for the 2008 election.

By Nonthando Bhebhe in

Senior ZANU-PF politicians have disputed the official announcement that they backed Zimbabwean presi- dent Robert Mugabe to run as the party’s candidate in next year’s elec- tion, but accept that they failed to challenge the decision when it was foisted on them. Credit: Lazele Credit: Mugabe inspects a guard of honour at the independence day celebrations at the After the March 30 meeting of ZANU- Rufaro stadium on April 18. PF’s Central Committee, party spokesmen told local media that dele- gates had endorsed Mugabe as the Top party members are beginning to One senior official, speaking on ruling party’s candidate, and had talk about what happened at the condition of anonymity, said the agreed to bring the 2010 parliamen- meeting, and they have told IWPR that issue of Mugabe’s nomination was tary election forward so that it takes Mugabe was simply imposed as the never actually discussed, but was place in 2008, at the same time as the candidate, with no debate or formal slipped in as a resolution at the end of presidential ballot. endorsement taking place. the meeting by allies of the president.

NEWS IN BRIEF applications so that “ agents of inflation data for March because a imperialism” in “pro-opposition virus had infected its computer and western organisations system. Analysts say the agency ■ An estimated 30,000 ZANU-PF masquerading as relief agencies” was ordered to withhold the data supporters turned out at a Harare could be screened out. The to avoid embarrassing the stadium to see President Robert government has also cancelled a government during a visit by Mugabe lead a rally marking 27 USAID assistance programme for envoys from the Southern African years of Zimbabwean the Zimbabwean parliament. Development Community to independence on April 18. assess the extent of Zimbabwe’s ■ An international association of ■ economic crisis. Information Minister Sikhanyiso civil society organisations on Ndlovu, the chief government April 17 accused Zimbabwean ■ Three more opposition activists spokesman, said in a surprise state agents of fanning political were arrested over the weekend, move that licences for all non- violence. as police intensified a crackdown government organisations — that has seen assaults on including foreign aid groups — ■ Zimbabwe’s Central Statistical opposition leaders and more than had been revoked. He said they Office on said on April 16 that it 600 activists of the Movement for would have to lodge new was unable to release key Democratic Change thrown in jail.

APRIL 2007 ■ 1 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING

Another ZANU-PF figure who is a The reason the issue was presented in wanted to stand. An angry Mugabe is member of the ruling Politburo, a this manner, the Politburo member said to have told Moyo that this was smaller body than the Central said, was “because they knew that as “none of the Politburo’s business, but a Committee, said the issue was not soon as it had been announced, no matter for the Central Committee”. discussed because it was not on the matter how ambiguous it was, no one agenda for the meeting, which instead would have dared stand up and The Politburo official said only the focused on matters such as internal oppose it. president himself, and pressure from party reforms and Zimbabwean agri- other members of the Southern African culture — but not the disastrous state “So what I am saying is that he was Development Community leaders, of the economy as a whole. not formally endorsed.” could change things now. “Don’t expect much from ZANU-PF itself,” he “Looking at the agenda of the meeting Nor was Mugabe formally backed by added. and any other ZANU PF meetings, it ZANU-PF’s Youth League and seems as if there is no crisis in the Women’s League, which were widely Other ZANU-PF officials have told country,” said the Politburo member. “It reported to have sponsored his nomi- IWPR that although the next party appears like everything is normal and nation. It was only the leaders of the congress is not due until 2009, a you would not think we are in such a two groups who publicly pledged special one is to be held this mess.” support for Mugabe. December to deal with Mugabe’s endorsement. Central Committee members were then caught off balance when Elliot According to these sources, the party Manyika, the party’s “political is currently divided into two camps, commissar” and a Mugabe loyalist, ZANU-PF leaders should with one which wants Mugabe to announced a series of resolutions “tell the man to go” — agree not to stand for re-election and which were never discussed. These Zimbabwean political to allow ZANU-PF to freely choose his included the decision to hold simulta- commentator. successor at the December congress. neous presidential and parliamentary The other consists of Mugabe loyalists elections, a new procedure whereby who may also have their eye on the parliament will select a successor if post of Zimbabwean vice-president, Mugabe resigns before the end of his The ZANU-PF official said that no one which is likely to come up at the party next term, an increase in the number in the party would dare raise the congress. The incumbent, Joice of parliamentary constituencies from matter again, and Mugabe was now Mujuru, is expected to be removed as 150 to 210, and the appointment of free to decide what he was going to she has made her presidential ambi- senators by proportional do. tions plain, to Mugabe’s displeasure. representation. “The problem in ZANU-PF is that we A political commentator in Harare who Manyika told Central Committee are all appointed by the president,” he did not want to be named said he was members that these were all resolu- said. “Some members of the party disappointed at those ZANU-PF tions that had been passed at the have been engaging in illegal and leaders who want Mugabe to step ZANU-PF party conference last corrupt activities and the president down in 2008 — particularly retired December. has dossiers on them. The president army commander General Solomon allowed corruption to flourish knowing Mujuru, who is backing his wife Joice’s According to IWPR’s source, Manyika that one day he would use it against presidential bid, and the other likely said the conference had ‘pledged them. Because we are appointed and contender Rural Housing minister loyalty to the presidium’, and this was some of us are corrupt, no one will — for failing to interpreted through Mugabe’s dare raise the matter at any forums, use meetings such as the Central spokesperson George Charamba to including the Politburo. The best place Committee to challenge Mugabe head mean that we had endorsed Mugabe to debate the issue was at the Central on. as our candidate for the 2008 Committee.” elections. “General Mujuru and Mnangagwa Members of the ZANU-PF Politburo have let the people of Zimbabwe “We were taken by surprise, as we tried to have the issue debated when it down,” said the commentator. thought the matter would have been convened two days before the Central “Change can only come from brought up for discussion and then Committee meeting, but were brushed Zimbabwe — we should not expect it endorsed, or we would have charted off by Mugabe. ZANU-PF sources told to come from [South African president the way forward. But this was done IWPR that Simon Khaya Moyo, Thabo] Mbeki. They should tell the deliberately to make sure that no Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South man to go.” one stood up to contradict it at a Africa, asked Mugabe to clarify press meeting being chaired by Mugabe reports that he now wanted both elec- Nonthando Bhebhe is the pseudonym himself.” tions to happen in 2008 and that he of a journalist in Zimbabwe. ■

2 ■ ISSUE 3 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS MUGABE PRESSURES MDC PRIOR TO TALKS

Continued violence may be attempt to bring opposition to heel in advance of planned peace negotiations.

By Nkosinathi Ndlovu in Bulawayo

Security force intimidation and brutality continues unabated, despite proposed peace negotiations between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC.

Some believe the violence is an attempt by President Robert

Mugabe to soften up his rivals prior Lazele Credit: to the talks, which are to be One-thousand bills lie abandoned and worthless in a drain in brokered by South African president Harare. Picture taken October 2006.

The climate of intimidation led to the activists arrested recently are still fresh This followed the widely failure of the two-day general strike in people’s minds. Mugabe has condemned brutal attacks on MDC organised by the Zimbabwe Congress succeeded in intimidating people and leaders while in police custody on of Trade Unions, ZCTU, on April 3-4 to this is why we have a cowed popula- March 11 for attending what the garner widespread support, say tion unwilling to participate in any government deemed a banned observers. mass action despite the hardships,” meeting. said Highfield resident Jonathan The ZCTU demanded a tenfold Ncube. The attacks prompted the convening increase in the industrial minimum of an emergency meeting of the wage to at least one million Southern African Development Zimbabwean dollars a month (about “Mugabe has succeeded in Community, SADC, in Dar es Salaam, 60 US dollars). It also urged Mugabe’s intimidating people and Tanzania, to discuss the deterio- government to address the seven-year this is why we have a rating security situation in economic crisis that has manifested cowed population unwilling Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic itself in the highest inflation rate in the of Congo, DRC, and recent elections world, massive joblessness and to participate in any mass in Lesotho. poverty. action” — Highfield resident Jonathan Ncube. Commenting on the attacks on There was a heavy police presence in members of his party, MDC leader most of Harare’s densely-populated said, “They were suburbs during the strike, while Savage beatings by police of MDC brutalised… They are in bad shape but reports of police brutality in recent officials abducted from their homes in high spirits.” weeks undoubtedly weakened the and party offices led a Harare magis- resolve of workers to support the trate to refer them for medical Police claimed those arrested were strike. treatment. Two of the men, MDC linked to a spate of alleged petrol national executive member Ian bombings, which they blame on MDC “Images of [MDC spokesman Nelson] Makone and an activist, Shame supporters “bent on illegal regime Chamisa, Morgan Tsvangirai, Grace Wakatama, were apparently unable to change”. The MDC has denied the Kwinjeh, and other MDC stand on their own. allegations.

APRIL 2007 ■ 3 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING

the same time, his secretary-general said while the MDC trusted Mbeki as a broker it had no faith in Mugabe.

“The proposed dialogue might offer Zimbabwe one last chance, “said Tsvangirai. “Such dialogue is as necessary as it is long overdue, but… it cannot take place under conditions of thuggery and violence against the opposition.”

Tsvangirai said dialogue, a new constitution, an overhaul of electoral laws and free and fair elections were the only solutions to Zimbabwe’s problems.

“Dialogue… cannot take Credit: Lazele Credit: Ian Makone, a member of the MDC’s national executive, is taken away from a magis- place under conditions of trates’ court on life support on March 31. He was abducted and brutally assaulted in thuggery and violence police custody. against the opposition” — MDC’s Tendai Biti. One political analyst said the rise in The analyst said the attacks on the repression was not the action of an opposition, and in particular its leader- aimless dictator but a strategy meant ship, were meant to break its spirits to intimidate opponents and demon- before the negotiations. Since 2000, Mbeki has failed to bring strate that the security agencies, the two warring parties to the negoti- contrary to opposition claims that there “They must submit to his will, even to ation table because Mugabe has have been rumblings of dissent in their humiliating terms [for negotiations]. rejected any preconditions. Analysts, ranks, were still prepared to take his Mugabe cannot endure meeting however, see a better chance now orders. Tsvangirai on equal terms,” he said. that Mbeki has been sent by SADC to “What Mugabe wants is to set the speak on its behalf. They also terms of the negotiations, and to do suggest that Mbeki wants another that he must show that he is still in feather in his cap to add to those he “What Mugabe wants is to charge.” earned for brokering peace in the set the terms of the DRC and Rwanda, before his term negotiations, and to do The analyst gave the example of the ends in 2009. that he must show that he late vice-president , is still in charge” — analyst against whose ZAPU party Mugabe Mbeki has also warned the West and launched a bloody military campaign the MDC against setting conditions for in the early Eighties before swallowing the talks, saying this might jeopardise it up in the much-derided Unity Accord the regional initiative. He has said, “We may yet see more repression in of December 22, 1987. however, that so far he has received the weeks or months ahead before the no complaints from either ZANU-PF or proposed peace talks that SADC has That campaign left 20,000 innocent the MDC about his new role to broker mandated South African president civilians dead, after Mugabe openly talks between them. Thabo Mbeki to broker between declared that the army did not distin- ZANU-PF and the MDC,” said the guish between ordinary people and Zimbabwe has been in the grip of a analyst. dissidents. Up until now, he has used political crisis since Mugabe’s the same crude language against disputed re-election in 2002 and the “It [negotiating] is something Mugabe those opposed to his rule, saying alleged rigging of the parliamentary hates doing but he cannot continue to recently that they will be “bashed”. polls two years earlier. defy world opinion and regional leaders about the terrible economic Tsvangirai said the proposed talks Nkosinathi Ndlovu is the pseudonym and worsening political situation in the between his party and ZANU-PF of an IWPR contributor in country.” offered the country a “last chance”. At Zimbabwe. ■

4 ■ ISSUE 3 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS EXILES STEP UP VOTE CAMPAIGN

Zimbabweans abroad want the SADC to force Mugabe to let them take part in next year’s crucial ballot.

By Zakeus Chibaya in Johannesburg

Zimbabwean exiles are intensifying their efforts to force the Harare govern- ment to allow them to vote in the 2008 presidential election, and have vowed to put pressure on Southern African Development Community, SADC, countries to take a stand on the issue.

It is estimated that there are more than two million Zimbabweans in South Africa alone and many others live in surrounding countries, but the Lazele Credit: A man pushes a cart containing his allocation of food donated by an NGO in Harare’s Zimbabwe Supreme Court ruled in Workington area. Hunger and poverty have driven many Zimbabweans to leave the 2002 that people outside the country country. Picture taken February 2007. cannot vote in presidential elections.

The exiles say they will pressure the It is believed that 49,000 participation and that’s why Mugabe is SADC to force President Robert Zimbabweans enter South Africa each boasting of winning the election next Mugabe to give them the right to vote. month. With inflation in Zimbabwe year. He knows that his policies and They argue that most SADC countries reaching 1,700 per cent and prices of violence has forced millions of his allow postal voting for citizens living in basic commodities soaring every day, enemies out of the country.” other countries. Under Zimbabwe’s many risk death, rape and robbery as electoral laws, only citizens who are they cross into South Africa illegally. Now operating a makeshift kitchen at away from their home constituency on The exiles say that they are going to the Zimbabwe-bound buses terminus official duty can cast postal votes — a use this influx of Zimbabweans into near Park Station in Johannesburg, requirement that critics say has disen- South Africa to force the SADC to put Mutero has missed two consecutive franchised more than four million pressure on Mugabe to accept the elections and like many Zimbabweans, people. exile vote. he believes his vote is crucial.

The Zimbabwean National “We will fight for our rights to vote and Constitutional Assembly, NCA, is “An estimated fifth of our we are now prepared to pay the spearheading the campaign for exiles national population is supreme price — death. The SADC to fight for their right to vote. It has located outside the borders leaders know about the influx of started awareness-raising programmes Zimbabweans in their countries and to ensure that citizens understand the of Zimbabwe” — National they need to force Mugabe to accept need for a new constitution that will Constitutional Assembly postal voting. The people are now give exiles the right to vote. official Tapera Kapuya. prepared to take Mugabe head on and the exiles have been keeping quiet for Tapera Kapuya, the NCA’s coordinator a long time, acting as if we are Zanu- in South Africa, said, “The reality is that Tichaona Mutero from Mutoko, north of PF [ruling party] supporters,” said an estimated fifth of our national popu- Harare, who fled the economic turmoil Mutero. lation is located outside the borders of in the country, said, “We need to claim Zimbabwe. They have been disenfran- our stake as we are contributing to the Thompson Temba, a Movement for chised of their citizenship and country by sending foreign currency Democratic Change, MDC, opposition statehood, and cannot be excluded back home. There is no way the oppo- party activist from Bikita, southeast of from contributing to the national vision.” sition can win the election without our Zimbabwe, said, “We are going to

APRIL 2007 ■ 5 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING demand our right to vote. We have stations had closed. Hundreds of continue to close the democratic been silent for too long. Mugabe has people are prevented from voting space as it has total power in the brutalised and disenfranchised oppo- through Mugabe’s dirty works,” he country. sition voters but we are regrouping to said. claim what belongs to us. Mugabe has “Zimbabweans in the diaspora have robbed me of my vote for the past two Gabriel Shumba, the executive no space in the present constitution as elections.” director for the Zimbabwe Exiles’ the dual citizenship that was scrapped Forum, ZEF, said, “If countries like by the government is effectively Mozambique and Botswana can barring a significant number of “Mugabe has robbed me of have postal ballots and if Zimbabwe Zimbabweans from participating in the can allow diplomats postal voting, electoral processes,” he said. my vote for the past two there is no sense in requiring those elections” — MDC activist in exile to be physically present in A group of Zimbabwean exiles calling now in exile. the country before they can register themselves the Diaspora Vote Action and vote.” Group petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse a government policy barring Shumba added that since the largely exiles from casting their votes a Temba was a ward coordinator for the pro-Mugabe Supreme Court has number of years ago. Chief Justice MDC but fled the country in 2001 rejected an earlier application by dismissed the during the by-election, which left many exiled Zimbabweans for their right to application. opposition activists brutally tortured by vote, it seems the legal route in the late war-veteran leader, Chenjerai Zimbabwe has been closed. However, Hunzvi. “I know the importance of my ZEF is taking the case further to the vote to change the country and I had African Commission on Human “Zimbabweans in the to fight for it. If the San people in Peoples’ Rights in May. diaspora have no space in Botswana could claim their land back, the present constitution” — how can we fail?” he said. The ZEF was formed in South Africa in Tapera Kapuya. 2003 and says it is a “non-political, Makanaka Shoko, a farm worker living non-profit and non-partisan organisa- near the Musina border town in South tion with an eye on the future of Africa, complained bitterly of his treat- Zimbabwe”. Justice Minister ment at a border post during the said that Zimbabweans outside the election period. Kapuya said, “Zimbabweans in the country would not be allowed to vote diaspora, like most people back home, in any election. “The law in our situa- “When I arrived at Beit Bridge [border may be focused on mere survival tion is explicit. Citizens of Zimbabwe post] at midnight, I was detained with issues and unwilling to put themselves who are resident will be allowed to hundreds of Zimbabweans and we at risk by engaging in the struggle of vote,” he said. were only released in the late after- converting ideas into action. But if a noon. When I arrived in my hometown new constitution is not crafted with Zakeus Chibaya is an IWPR at Nembudziya, Gokwe, the polling speed, the sitting government will contributor. ■

The Zimbabwe Crisis Report is an The key purpose is to increase Importantly it also builds the initiative of IWPR-Africa’s awareness in the Southern African skills and capacity of the media Zimbabwe Programme. This region of the Zimbabwean situa- to reliably and accurately report programme promotes democrati- tion and the implications for political transition, governance zation and good governance with regional peace, security and and human rights issues. Southern Africa and contributes to economic development. the development of a culture of human rights and the rule of law. It also contributes to the devel- Focusing on Zimbabwe the opment of regional policy, The programme is managed by programme has three core compo- promotes dialogue and builds the Institute for War and Peace nents — information provision, bridges within the region. It also Reporting — Africa. For further capacity building and dissemina- raises the Africa wide and inter- details go to www.iwpr.net tion and distribution. national profile of Zimbabwe in the context of the region.

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