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Country of Origin Information Report Zimbabwe March 2009

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Country of Origin Information Report Zimbabwe March 2009 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT ZIMBABWE 25 MARCH 2009 UK BORDER AGENCY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION SERVICE ZIMBABWE 25 MARCH 2008 Contents Preface Latest News Events in Zimbabwe from 14 February to 25 March 2009 Reports on Zimbabwe published or accessed between 14 February and 25 March 2009 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY........................................................................................ 1.01 map ................................................................................................ 1.06 2. ECONOMY............................................................................................ 2.01 Indigenisation and Empowerment Bill ....................................... 2.07 3. HISTORY.............................................................................................. 3.01 Matabeleland Insurgency 1983–87 ............................................. 3.04 Matabeleland Insurgency – Political developments.................. 3.05 4. LAND REFORM..................................................................................... 4.01 5. SANCTIONS AND COMMONWEALTH SUSPENSION .................................. 5.01 6. ELECTIONS AND POWER-SHARING TALKS 2008..................................... 6.01 Parliamentary/Presidential Elections: March - June 2008........ 6.01 The results ................................................................................. 6.07 Presidential elections................................................................. 6.09 Post - election violence.............................................................. 6.15 The Presidential Run-off.............................................................. 6.22 Events in the run-up to the second round of the Presidential Elections .................................................................................... 6.26 The re-run of the Presidential election....................................... 6.32 Events following the re-run of the Presidential election ............. 6.41 MDC and ZANU-PF hold talks ..................................................... 6.46 Memorandum of understanding................................................. 6.49 Is the MDC being manipulated by Mugabe................................ 6.53 All parties call for an end to violence ......................................... 6.55 Early reports of a deal................................................................ 6.59 The talks collapse ...................................................................... 6.64 Mugabe attempts to form an administration .............................. 6.65 ZANU-PF and the MDC agree a power sharing deal ................. 6.66 Summary of the main points of the agreement.......................... 6.69 The euphoria subsides .............................................................. 6.72 Continuing reports of violence ................................................... 6.76 Deadlock over the allocation of cabinet posts .......................... 6.82 7. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS...................................................................... 7.01 Political violence .......................................................................... 7.01 Elections – March to July 2008.................................................. 7.06 Post election violence: July 2008 to February 2009 .................. 7.11 Power sharing talks ..................................................................... 7.14 An agreement is signed ............................................................. 7.17 The MDC compromises ............................................................. 7.18 Tsvangirai sworn in as Prime Minister ....................................... 7.23 ii This Country of Origin Information Report contains the most up-to-date publicly available information as at 25 March 2009. Older source material has been included where it contains relevant information not available in more recent documents. 25 MARCH 2008 ZIMBABWE Reaction to the agreement ........................................................ 7.25 Humanitarian situation ................................................................ 7.29 8. CONSTITUTION..................................................................................... 8.01 9. POLITICAL SYSTEM .............................................................................. 9.01 State Structures............................................................................ 9.01 ZANU-PF........................................................................................ 9.03 Human Rights 10. INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 10.01 11. SECURITY FORCES............................................................................. 11.01 Police............................................................................................. 11.06 Arbitrary arrest and detention .................................................... 11.14 Torture ....................................................................................... 11.17 Extra-judicial killings .................................................................. 11.23 Armed forces ................................................................................ 11.26 Arbitrary arrest and detention .................................................... 11.30 Torture ....................................................................................... 11.31 Extra-judicial killings .................................................................. 11.35 Central Intelligence Organisation ............................................... 11.37 Other government forces ............................................................ 11.51 ZANU-PF Youth ............................................................................ 11.51 Compulsory service............................................................... 11.57 Recruitment........................................................................... 11.59 Treatment of recruits in the NYS scheme ............................. 11.61 Abuses by the youth militia ................................................... 11.64 Impunity................................................................................. 11.72 War Veterans ................................................................................ 11.73 Abuses by War Veterans ........................................................... 11.79 Impunity ..................................................................................... 11.82 12. MILITARY SERVICE ............................................................................. 12.01 Conscientious objection.............................................................. 12.05 13. JUDICIARY ......................................................................................... 13.01 Organisation ................................................................................. 13.02 Judicial independence................................................................. 13.04 14. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS .......................................... 14.01 Role of police and security apparatus........................................ 14.01 Arrest and detention .................................................................. 14.04 15. PRISON CONDITIONS .......................................................................... 15.01 16. DEATH PENALTY ................................................................................ 16.01 17. POLITICAL AFFILIATION ...................................................................... 17.01 Freedom of political expression ................................................. 17.01 Freedom of association and assembly ...................................... 17.05 Opposition demonstration suppressed/leaders tortured......... 17.09 Background................................................................................ 17.10 11 March 2007 and subsequent events..................................... 17.14 Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) stay-away ......... 17.20 Mugabe threatens the diplomatic community ............................ 17.22 The crackdown continues .......................................................... 17.25 Opposition groups and political activists.................................. 17.37 The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ......................... 17.37 Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) ......................................... 17.56 Student Demonstrations ............................................................ 17.62 18. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA....................................................... 18.01 This Country of Origin Information Report contains the most up-to-date publicly available information as at 25 March 2009. iii Older source material has been included where it contains relevant information not available in more recent documents. ZIMBABWE 25 MARCH 2008 Overview of the Zimbabwean media........................................... 18.01 Newspapers and journals............................................................ 18.01 Television and radio..................................................................... 18.04 The internet................................................................................... 18.18 Treatment of journalists .............................................................. 18.19 Public order and security act (POSA)......................................... 18.24 19. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS,
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