(HERALD ZW) Gono, Biti ties stir hornet’s nest
December 18, 2013
Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono has hired MDC-T secretary-general, the lawyer Mr Tendai Biti to fight allegations made by Zanu-PF legislator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke that he was involved in corrupt dealings during his tenure at the apex bank.Zanu-PF Manicaland Province has nominated Dr Gono to fill the vacant Buhera Senate seat, but his cosy relations with senior MDC-T officials is causing unease about where his allegiances lie.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Cde Kumbirai Kangai on August 24. Mr Biti was Finance Minister from 2009 to earlier this year and worked directly with Dr Gono.
The two were initially sworn enemies, with Mr Biti calling Dr Gono a terrorist who deserved to be shot, but relations have thawed to the point where the MDC-T secretary-general is giving the former RBZ boss legal representation.
Dr Kereke’s graft allegations, involving millions of US dollars, pertain to the time when both Dr Gono and Mr Biti were in Government. Dr Kereke was for a while one of Dr Gono’s most trusted advisors at the RBZ.
Also cited in the court case, which is before the Constitutional Court, is the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Dr Gono is accused of compromising the independence of the anti-graft body through cash and other inducements, all sourced from Government coffers.
Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairman Cde John Mvundura yesterday confirmed they had forwarded Dr Gono’s candidature for the Buhera seat to a “higher office”.
However, there is much unease within the Zanu-PF leadership about Dr Gono’s suitability.
Documents in our possession show Dr Gono hired Mr Tendai Biti on December 16, 2013 and that Mr Biti has already made representations to the Constitutional Court on the ex-RBZ chief’s behalf.
While some Zanu-PF officials say it is Dr Gono’s right to get legal representation from any lawyer, his choice of Mr Biti has made many others nervous about his loyalty to the party.
Last night, Cde Mvundura said: “We have dealt with the Dr Gono issue and forwarded our recommendations to the party hierarchy. It is now up to the leadership.”
The nomination was endorsed by the Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial co-ordination committee which met at Marymount Teachers College on December 7. It is understood that the nomination is now before the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for confirmation.
A senior Zanu-PF official yesterday told The Herald that they were “disturbed” by Dr Gono’s behaviour.
“Dr Gono on Monday hired Biti to represent him in a fraud case in which he and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission will appear before the Constitutional Court. What is disturbing is the fact that this is happening at a time when he (Dr Gono) wants to be Zanu-PF senator for Buhera yet his trust and faith in Biti is so overwhelming,” he said.
Another official said the “party must consider the implications of giving Gono the Buhera seat when he is wining and dining with the enemy”.
“He is determined to undermine the party and its leadership, especially now after his bid to have his term as RBZ Governor extended failed. We ought to be careful with him,” he said.
But party secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa, who is said to be influential in Zanu-PF Manicaland, said there was nothing wrong with Dr Gono’s decision to work with Mr Biti.
“It is his right to look for the best lawyer. If he thinks Biti is the one he wants to pick, it is up to him. Biti practices in Zimbabwe. He practices in Zimbabwean courts and not in South Africa or England. It is up to Gono to choose who he wants to defend him,” Cde Mutasa said.
But a Zanu-PF Politburo member with close ties to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces countered: “We have been told that some people in MDC-T want to besmirch the image of the military and other security servives and they think they can get help from Gono in doing this. We sincerely hope he does not go rogue.”
What is of particular interest is how the Gono-Biti relationship has mellowed. At one point Mr Biti wanted Dr Gono arrested, and today he is helping him avoid jail.
In the early days of the inclusive Government, Mr Biti vigorously on several occasions pestered Sadc to convene an Extraordinary Summit principally to remove Dr Gono and then Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana from office.
So bad were their relations that on May 22, 2009 Dr Gono wrote to then Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai from MDC-T to intervene.
Read part of the letter: “As you may be aware Hon Prime Minister, the strained relations between the Hon Minister of Finance and myself are a matter of public knowledge and, need I say, concern.
“For more than a year now, the minister has uttered, publicly and privately, words and statements that are not only criminally defamatory but also seriously insulting to my person, family and indeed, to the institution that I work for. His misleading statements are also career limiting in my field of finance and economics.
Dr Gono said Mr Biti “accused me of being at the epicentre of (the) Zanu-PF terror machine, an economic saboteur, terrorist and number one Al-Qaeda who deserves to be shot by a firing squad”.
After a year in the inclusive Government, Mr Biti suddenly went mum about Dr Gono.
In 2012, there were reports that Dr Gono helped Mr Tsvangirai access some US$1,5 million to get an official residence as the Prime Minister. At the same time, it is alleged Mr Biti released another US$1 million from Treasury for the same purpose.
The alleged case of double-dipping from State coffers has never been fully made public with all parties involved denying the allegations.
And last month Mr Biti told a radio station, “Gono has the nation at heart although some people wanted to use him and they indeed used him and just dumped him. We first had challenges, but eventually we had a very good working relationship. He had the nation at heart.”
Labels: COURTS, DIDYMUS MUTASA, GIDEON GONO, MDC TREASON, MUNYARADZI KEREKE, TENDAI BITI
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Furious Mutasa vows to sue Biti over fire death claims
08/07/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZANU PF administration secretary Didymus Mutasa has vowed to sue MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti for allegedly “accusing” him of causing the fire death of a 12-year old Headlands boy in February this year.
A seething Mutasa vowed Monday to take the MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister to the cleaners over public statements linking him to Christpower Maisiri’s gruesome death.
The boy died after fire gutted a hut in which he was sleeping with his siblings. Four of the other children escaped the blaze but Christpowers was burnt to death after the roof caved in.
“I'm going to sue Biti for his reckless statements that I murdered Christpower Maisiri. I want Biti to tell me where he was when I was committing the crime. He must tell me all that,” charged Mutasa.
“I will sue him for a lot of money and if he fails to pay I will attach his house!”
Christpower was son to MDC-T aspiring legislator, Sherperd Maisiri, who is also the party’s deputy organising secretary for Headlands district.
The boy’s tragic death sparked a huge row between the coalition parties after the MDC-T claimed Zanu PF was responsible for the arson attack.
The MDC-T singled out Mutasa - the current MP for the area - for blame, accusing him or ordering an attack on Maisiri’s home.
“We told Didymus Mutasa (Zanu PF minister and local MP) that he is behind the murder of this boy,” Biti told mourners during the boy’s funeral.
“If he thought we were hiding under the cover of cabinet privilege, we are now saying it in public - Mutasa you killed this boy! If you think we are lying take us to court for defamation.”
Zanu PF dismissed the allegations as “baseless, offensive and malicious”.
Police later said the fire was caused by the explosion of tobacco chemicals and ammonium nitrate fertiliser which was in the house, adding they did not suspect any foul play.
Labels: CHRISTPOWER MAISIRI, DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC PROPAGANDA, TENDAI BITI
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(NEWZIMBABWE) VP Mujuru next in line: Mutasa
05/05/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZANU PF administration secretary, Didymus Mutasa, has backed Vice President Joice Mujuru to take over from President Robert Mugabe and dismissed as sell-outs a faction in the party he accused of trying to undermine her prospects.
"We all agreed unanimously (to elevate Mujuru to the Vice Presidency),” Mutasa told the weekly Standard newspaper.
“Now we are surprised that there are some people like Mnangagwa who are now leading another faction claiming that they want to take over the party.
“Anyone who objects to the legitimacy of Mai Mujuru as the Vice-President of the party, then that person does not belong to Zanu PF.”
Zanu PF recently dispatched a team led by national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo, to try and heal divisions in Manicaland after local leaders petitioned Mugabe over problems in the province.
According to media reports the petitioners accused Mutasa of causing divisions in the region.
Party spokesman, Rugare Gumbo, said Khaya Moyo’s team had managed to address the problems which he attributed to personality clashes.
“We were able to resolve the challenges facing the party and the leaders from the province agreed that they will work together for the good of the party," Gumbo told state radio.
"It has since been noted that the problems in that province were not political but merely of personalities."
Mugabe, who turned 89 this year, will lead Zanu PF in elections due this year but the party is still riven by deep divisions over his succession with Mujuru and Mnangagwa said to be leading rival factions angling for the top job.
Mutasa accused those opposed to Mujuru of lacking the courage to openly show their hand and, instead, choosing to engage in divisive behind-the-scenes manoeuvring.
He said: "In all (the congress the party has held) those that are against Mai Mujuru would be quiet. Now some other people are now causing divisions, is it because she is a woman?" he asked.
"Zanu PF is a strong party and Mai Mujuru was put in that position because of her sound track record and good deeds in the party and no one should object that.
“She is our leader. Those that are fanning factionalism are sell-outs and they are perpetuating the destruction of the party."
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, JOICE MUJURU, PRESIDENCY, ROBERT MUGABE
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Zanu PF rule change targets 'opportunists'
16/11/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZANU PF’S new rules on primary elections are designed to protect the party from “nefarious machinations of opportunists” and will not be used to “target any comrades”, politburo member and Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo said on Friday.
Rugare Gumbo, the Zanu PF spokesman, said a committee chaired by Didymus Mutasa which drew up the rules for the party’s internal elections to choose parliamentary candidates will table its proposals during the politburo next week.
The NewsDay newspaper claims Mutasa will recommend that individuals seeking to run for MP “must have served the party for no less than five consecutive years”.
The newspaper immediately speculated that Moyo, who left the party in 2005 and rejoined in 2009, would not be eligible because it is only three years since his readmission.
Other individuals who could be affected, the newspaper said, would be July Moyo, Phillip Chiyangwa, Daniel Shumba and Mike Madiro who were all suspended at some point over the last five years.
But according to the ZBC, “every card-carrying member who has served the party for five or more years is eligible to stand”. All the officials named by NewsDay would be free to contest under that criterion.
Moyo, responding to a NewsDay report on Friday claiming that he had said the party would “bend rules to allow him to stand”, said: “The five-year rule has absolutely and totally nothing to do with me personally and it therefore does not affect me in any way, shape or form in personal terms.
“This is because I have been in Zanu PF for all of my life and in case you don't know I am not five years old. The fact that I have been Zanu PF and defended the party as a liberation movement for my entire life is written in my mind, heart and blood and not in rubbish newspapers run by some cockeyed yellow journalists.”
Moyo said the rule was “intended to safeguard the party by protecting it from the nefarious machinations of opportunists, infiltrators, merchants and agents of regime change and other malcontents in our midst who are wont to use the pretext of elections to derail, demoralise, destabilise or destroy the party."
He added: "The rule is therefore not targeted at any comrades, particularly the so-called Young Turks, most if not all of whom are in the ranks of the youth, professionals or national security structures and may not have been politically active or visible due to their peculiar circumstances.
“Surely the situation of such comrades warrants exemptions from the rule by opening rather than shutting the electoral door to them? It is for this reason that serious minded and mature people, especially within leadership ranks, are always open to exceptions that prove the rule without getting carried away by the dogmas that proclaim the rule.”
Chiyangwa, who is eyeing his old Chinhoyi constituency, said NewsDay had “failed to interpret the [Zanu PF] statement”.
“I have served the party for many years. The rule did not say five consecutive years.”
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, JONATHAN MOYO, RUGARE GUMBO, ZANU-PF
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Zimbabwe asks ANC to block property auction
20/09/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWE will ask South Africa’s ruling African National Congress to take a “political decision” to stop displaced white farmers from seizing its properties, a minister said on Thursday.
South Africa’s Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Zimbabwe against a decision of the Johannesburg High Court to register and enforce a 2008 judgement of the SADC Tribunal which ruled that the land reform programme was “racist and illegal” – clearing the way for white farmers to press for compensation.
The 77 white farmers had gone on to attach a Cape Town property owned by Zimbabwe – which was not covered by diplomatic immunity – with the intention of selling it.
Zimbabwe has always said it did not recognise the SADC Tribunal’s rulings because it did not ratify its founding treaty. The Tribunal has since been abolished.
Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa said: “What they (farmers) are fighting is not about land, but to trouble the government of Zimbabwe.
“After this judgment, which is legal, we should let it go and we speak to the ANC [African National Congress] and take a political decision. I hope that is possible.”
Advocate Martin Dinha, who was part of Zimbabwe’s legal team, said suggested the decision of the South African Supreme Court was racist.
“South Africa’s judiciary is not yet liberated from apartheid; it has cosmetic liberation. South Africa remains a colony of white Rhodesians and apartheid,” charged Dinha, who is also the Mashonaland Central governor.
He added: “Notwithstanding attempts by elements of the Rhodesian Front to derail the land reform programme, the programme is totally irreversible.
“No country has jurisdiction over another. Zimbabwe is a sovereign state.”
He said Zimbabwe fully expected South Africa to take political steps to stop any further seizures of Zimbabwean properties.
“South Africa must be careful. They must respect the sovereignty of Zimbabwe. They have properties here and given that there are unspeakable abuses that were committed during colonialism and property was damaged, nothing stops us from seeking compensatory damages here and attaching those properties.”
Willie Spies, a lawyer for the white farmers, called unanimous decision by the Supreme Court a “a great success ... a symbolic victory that makes it possible for the government of Zimbabwe to be effectively punished.”
Spies, attorney for South African rights group AfriForum and for many Zimbabwean farmers, said the dismissal will bring solace “to the many Zimbabweans who affected by the atrocities.”
He added: “I think it’s probably the first time in legal history internationally that a judicial failure in execution of property will go on after a country is found to be in contravention of certain human rights laws. We’re making legal history.”
Labels: AFRIFORUM, APARTHEID, DIDYMUS MUTASA, LAND REFORM, MARTIN DINHA
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DCC disbanding long overdue
Sunday, 01 July 2012 00:08
Sunday Mail Reporter
The disbanding of Zanu-PF district co-ordinating committees (DCCs) was long overdue as the structures were not part of the original system, a senior party official has said.
In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa said the decision to do away with the committees calls for celebration.
He said it re-positioned the revolutionary party.
“It should be understood that the DCC structures were not part of the original Zanu-PF systems. Zanu-PF has now gone back to its roots; it is a cause for celebration and reflection. The party is focused on maintaining its revolutionary principles,” he said.
Cde Mutasa said the new dispensation gives districts autonomy.
“The removal of the DCCs means that the districts will now be acting with autonomy.
“Each district can now be accountable for its own actions and there is now a clear platform for separation of powers between the province and the districts.” Cde Mutasa said senior party officials will, starting this week, visit provinces to articulate the disbanding of the DCCs and gather recommendations.
“Next week (this week), we are going to start the visits in the Matabeleland provinces and engage with party officials to map the way forward. Obviously, there were some who held influential positions in the DCCs.
“We will also seek audience with them so that they acknowledge that in a democracy, new decisions should be accepted.”
Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu said the DCCs were destroying the party.
“The DCCs must go because they were destroying the party. Zanu-PF will be better off without them,” he said.
Recently, divisions rocked some Zanu-PF districts after candidates disputed DCC polls.
The party then tasked Cde Shamu to gather information regarding the elections with a view to charting the way forward. Addressing the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare last Friday, President Mugabe, who is the party’s First Secretary, said the decision to disband the DCCs was taken at Wednesday’s Politburo meeting.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, ZANU-PF
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‘Council fires perceived Zanu-PF sympathisers'
Tuesday, 29 November 2011 00:00
Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
HARARE City Council has reportedly fired 20 of its 120 workers who graduated from the National Youth Service programme perceived to be Zanu-PF sympathisers. The NYS graduates are being replaced by MDC-T activists, some of whom do not have requisite qualifications, sources allege. Most of those affected are municipal cops.
The development has irked Zanu-PF, whose secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa, has vowed to confront council over the matter.
Besides the 20 municipal police officers, several others face disciplinary hearings for alleged absenteeism from work during the 2008 harmonised elections. This is happening three years after the alleged offences were committed. Worst affected are NYS graduates who were employed between 2006 and 2008.
"What is surprising is that those dismissed are being replaced by MDC-T activists, some of whom do not have ‘O' Levels. One has to have five ‘O' Levels to be employed as a municipal police officer," a source at Town House said.
The source said most of those being recruited were related to MDC-T councillors.
The Herald has a list of MDC-T activists that were recruited into the municipal police without the requisite qualifications.
"They are recruited even after failing a basic municipal police training course," further alleged the source.
The affected NYS graduates have since approached Zanu-PF for intervention.
In a letter to Cde Mutasa dated October 30, 2011, the affected workers accused council of trying to dilute the municipal police "as it is an organisation with liberation war fighters and national youth service graduates".
"This was a plan by the MDC-T to bring their youth into the municipal police. They then employed their youths under intake 30 and 31 of the Harare Municipal Police. Almost half of the two intakes had no Ordinary Level qualifications. The basic requirement for one to be in the municipal police is five ‘O' levels, but due process was not followed," reads the letter.
It added: "The absence of ‘O' levels was regularised by a full council meeting in 2009. No police vetting was done. Most of the youths had criminal records. They failed the basic metropolitan police course, but the full council passed a resolution in 2010 to call them back after three months and they were paid full salaries."
"In 2006 when intake 20, which comprised graduates of NYS was employed, those without Ordinary Level were posted to grade 16 and became general hands. Zimsec was called and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and some Zanu-PF youths were arrested. What special are they to be grade 11 when they do not have five ‘O' levels?" added the letter.
Yesterday, Cde Mutasa confirmed receiving a letter from Zanu-PF youths who were served with disciplinary hearing letters.
"It is true. Efforts to talk to (Mayor Muchadeyi) Masunda have failed. He is not answering his phone and has not responded to messages I left in his office," he said.
"It is a very unfair practice, which I do not believe a person of Masunda's understanding and education should practise," Cde Mutasa added.
He said the Masunda administration should respect and honour workers recruited before it took office.
"It is most annoying to find a council of civilised Zimbabweans behaving the way they are doing. We will take action. We will sue council. Why are they targeting ex-combatants and graduates of the
National Youth Service for dismissal? I will pursue this matter vigorously," Cde Mutasa said.
Harare town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi refu-sed to comment yesterday referring all questions to city spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi.
Mr Gwindi said he needed to clarify matters first before he could comment.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, ZANU-PF
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Hunt for violence sponsors hots up
Thursday, 10 November 2011 00:00
Zvamaida Murwira and Lloyd Gumbo
JOMIC and the Organ on National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation yesterday met representatives of parties in the inclusive Government and chiefs ahead of tomorrow's indaba on violence. While acknowledging the police probe into recent cases of violence, Jomic said it was launching its own investigations to establish the forces behind the skirmishes.
Those fingered in the probe will be prosecuted. Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa, who is co-ordinating tomorrow's high-level indaba, said preparations for the meeting were going on well. He said preliminary meetings were held yesterday.
"We are meeting again tomorrow (today) as co-ordinators and secretaries general of other parties in preparation for the meeting," said Cde Mutasa.
Jomic co-chairpersons Cde Patrick Chinamasa (Zanu-PF), Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC) and Mr Elton Mangoma (MDC-T) said they were going to meet Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri over the issue.
Jomic chairperson for November Mrs Misihairabwi Mushonga said a Jomic committee yesterday met provincial chairmen for Harare from the three political parties.
They met Cde Amos Midzi (Zanu-PF), Mr Paul Madzore (MDC-T) and Mr Trynos Muguchini (MDC).
Mr Madzore confirmed the meeting, but said it was just an interface by the provincial leadership.
"Violence is of concern to everyone, so as the chairpersons of the parties we are going to meet again tomorrow morning (today).
"After we have done our investigations, we will notify the police of our findings and also to find out what would have happened to the perpetrators," she said.
"As Jomic, we do not tolerate violence and we would want political parties' leadership to cascade the message of peace down to the grassroots. We would want the political leadership to always take responsibility in stopping this violence."
Cde Chinamasa said it was critical to establish the underlying causes of violence.
He said the meeting with the police top brass would ensure perpetrators of violence are brought to book.
Cde Chinamasa said it was the responsibility of the police to investigate and prosecute all perpetrators of violence.
"As Jomic, we can't prevent violence and we expect the police to be in the lead in investigating and bringing to book all the perpetrators.
"That is the reason why the police should always be informed of meetings so that they can have their people at the possible flash points because we believe what is important is to prevent violence," he said.
Cde Chinamasa said the meeting with the police will afford them a chance to present their side of the story.
He said the objective was to create an environment for free and fair elections.
Cde Chinamasa said the legitimacy of any election outcome where there is violence would be disputed.
He said Jomic was in the process of establishing district committees to monitor political parties and their supporters.
Cde Chinamasa said the committees would be best suited to impartially advise the Jomic leadership of the causes of violence.
He said Jomic had found funding to finance districts and provincial operations.
Mr Mangoma said there was need for the political leadership to walk the talk on preaching peace.
"We want to see commitment from leadership and what they say in public should be consistent with what they say in private.
"If we let this violence continue, it will consume this nation overnight and as Jomic we will do our part in making sure that there is peace and tranquillity in the country. We cannot develop as a country if there is violence.
"Jomic will carry out its own investigations and everyone knows that a fair game has to be done and the facts will come out and those behind it will have to be prosecuted," he said.
Mr Mangoma said Jomic's goal was to build peace and tolerance through dialogue.
Mr Mangoma hailed parties in the inclusive Government for coming together to promote peace.
He said tomorrow's high-level meeting will be a landmark move in the fight against political violence.
During the Organ on National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation's meeting with traditional leaders, it was agreed that chiefs were best placed to deal with political violence in their localities.
Vice President John Nkomo who chairs the organ said from their interaction with various stakeholders in the past months, traditional leaders were the right people to deal with the vice.
Chiefs' Council president Fortune Charumbira concurred with VP Nkomo, but implored the three political parties to invite traditional leaders to tomorrow's indaba as observers.
The Vice President chronicled the country's political history and the struggle for independence, adding there was no need for brothers to fight each other.
He said the fight should have ended with the war against imperialists.
VP Nkomo said a council will be established from national to district level to deal with political violence.
A code of conduct will be prepared for political parties that should guide them, said the VP.
Chief Charumbira said when political violence occurs, traditional leaders are hurt most.
Some traditional leaders were given an opportunity to give their views on the matter.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, JOMIC, MDC VIOLENCE, PATRICK CHINAMASA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PRISCILLA MISIHAIRABWI
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Zanu-PF invites Sata to conference
Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Newly-elected Zambian leader Mr Michael Sata is expected to attend Zanu-PF's 11th Annual National People's Conference scheduled for Bulawayo in December. Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa said President Sata was invited to attend the conference before he became Zambian Head of State and Government.
"We are inviting all Sadc governing parties to attend the conference. "We have always done that. President Sata's Patriotic Front has won Zambian elections and we are going to invite them to the conference," he said.
Cde Mutasa said Zanu-PF had good relations with President Sata who defeated Mr Rupiah Banda in recent polls.
Addressing the Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting last week, President Mugabe congratulated President Sata. He said Zanu-PF respected the will of the Zambians and recognised their position.
It is Zanu-PF's tradition to invite foreign delegates that share the same values and ideals with the revolutionary party to its national events such as conferences and congresses.
Meanwhile, this year's annual national people's conference will run under the theme "Defend national sovereignty, consolidate indigenisation and economic empowerment."
The theme is tailored to reinforce the indigenisation policy to ensure broad-based empowerment of all Zimbabweans. Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, said preparations for the conference were progressing well.
"We have met as the conference co-ordinating committee discussing various issues relating to this event. We discussed issues such as sprucing up of the venue and agenda.
"We have not discussed the agenda in greater detail. It is confirmed that the conference is going to start on the 6th of December and ends on the 10th.
"On the 8th there is going to be conference of former liberation movements that will run on the sidelines of the conference," he said.
The former liberation movements met in Namibia recently to consolidate their ideologies in the face of machinations of neo-colonialists.
About 6 000 delegates are expected to attend this year's conference.
Last year, Zanu-PF held its conference in Mutare.
The conference resolved to forge ahead with the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme meant to correct historical injustices caused by colonialism.
Government has since gazetted regulations on empowerment.
Several foreign companies have already submitted plans on how they intend to comply with the regulations.
The indigenisation policy compels all foreign companies with a minimum capitalisation of US$500 000 to cede 51 percent of their shareholding to locals.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, MICHAEL SATA, ZANU-PF
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New president for Zambia
Saturday, 24 September 2011 02:00
MICHAEL Chilufya Sata being sworn in
From Takunda Maodza in LUSAKA, Zambia
MICHAEL Chilufya Sata was yesterday sworn in as the fifth Zambian President at a colourful ceremony attended by thousands of his supporters and foreign dignitaries. He defeated Movement for Multiparty Democracy candidate and then President Rupiah Banda and eight other presidential aspirants in tripartite elections held on Tuesday.
The swearing in ceremony at the High Court of Zambia, was witnessed by foreign dignitaries including Vice President Joice Mujuru who was leading a Zimbabwean delegation comprising State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa.
VP Mujuru said in an interview that the coming in of a new leadership in Zambia would not change relations between Zimbabwe and its northern neighbour.
"One thing people must realise is that Zimbabweans and Zambians are one people. If you want to think about how our independence was achieved, we got it through the assistance of Zambia," she said.
"In the region, Zambia is one of us. There is no difference. We came here to fulfill that we are one and we should work as one people."
It was all joy for President Sata and his Patriotic Front supporters who lined the streets in the morning sloganeering and horning their vehicles.
They chanted "Let's Go Sata, Let's Go Sata" while others had banners inscribed "Rupiah Banda for sale".
Some of the supporters carried makeshift coffins bearing the name of Mr Banda signifying an end to his three-year rule.
President Sata took his oath of office in the afternoon before that country's Chief Justice Enerst Sakala.
In his maiden speech, he called for peace and urged all Zambians regardless of political affiliations to join him "in rebuilding the nation".
"We will heal this nation and reconcile all of us. We must not allow violence to separate us. We are brothers and sisters," he said.
President Sata hailed other presidential contenders for giving him "a good fight".
Zambia, he said, was facing huge problems manifested by high unemployment, which he blamed on alleged poor governance by his predecessor.
"Seventy percent of our people live in poverty, a clear testimony of bad governance," President Sata said.
To address the challenges facing Zambia, he promised to reduce the size of Government and to cut on State expenditure.
"We have to restructure things and some of them might take longer," he said.
He promised developmental programmes within 90 days.
"We have to go back to the drawing board and come up with solutions," the veteran politician said.
President Sata promised to deal with corruption.
"This culture should never be entertained at any level," he said, amid whistling and ululation from his supporters.
President Sata pledged to work with existing and new foreign investors in turning around the economy.
He, however, warned investors already operating in Zambia to abide by the law.
The elections were marred by violence though foreign observers including the European Union have endorsed them as held in accordance to international standards.
President Sata thanked his predecessor for allowing a peaceful transition.
The former president was among delegates that witnessed the swearing in ceremony.
Mr Banda conceded defeat and called for unity among Zambians.
"Yes, we may have different ideas but we both want the same thing, a better Zambia. Now is not the time for violence and retribution. Now is the time to unite and build tomorrow's Zambia together. So, I congratulate Michael Sata on his victory. I wish him well in his years as president. I pray his policies will bear fruit."
Mr Banda shook hands with President Sata as he handed over power and the huge crowd went ecstatic.
Zambia's founding President Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana and various other senior Government officials from Sadc also graced the occasion.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, DIDYMUS MUTASA, JOICE MUJURU, MICHAEL SATA, PF, SYDNEY SEKERAMAYI
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Sellouts should be punished: Mutasa
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:22
From Ray Bande in Mutare
ZANU-PF cadres alleged to have collaborated with the party’s enemies in secret cables released by controversial whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks should go through the party’s disciplinary process and be punished if found guilty of betrayal, a senior official has said.
Speaking at the Manicaland inter-party conference held at the Mutare Hall yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa said those caught on the wrong side of the law should be punished regardless of the positions they hold in the revolutionary party.
“The issue of WikiLeaks has become a major challenge for the party. Those that are implicated should go through the normal disciplinary procedures of the party.
“If anyone is found guilty of having sold out, he or she should be punished accordingly like everyone else,” said Cde Mutasa.
“There should be no selective application of the law. If some were punished in the past for selling out, the same should also happen to those implicated in the WikiLeaks saga.”
Speaking at the same occasion, the party’s national commissar, Cde Webster Shamu, urged party supporters to shun corruption and desist from politics of patronage.
“It is sad that there is a lot of infighting in the party because some cadres want to align themselves with certain individuals at the expense of loyalty to the party,” said Cde Shamu.
“As a party we should work towards winning the next election. The Western-sponsored parties should not be given any other chance in the future. This is the time to correct the mistakes we made in the past,” he added.
The event was attended by several senior party officials including secretary for women’s affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri and youth chairperson Cde Absolom Sikhosana.
Labels: CADRES, DIDYMUS MUTASA, WEBSTER SHAMU, WIKILEAKS, ZANU-PF
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Ret Gen Mujuru declared national hero
Posted by By Our reporter at 17 August, at 19 : 52 PM Print
THE late Retired General, Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru, has been declared a national hero and will be buried at the National Heroes Acre this Saturday. The decision to accord the late Retired-General Solomon Mujuru a hero status was reached at the Zanu-PF Politburo meeting held in Harare.
The announcement was made by Zanu-PF National Chairman, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, at the Mujuru residence in Chisipite where hundreds of people are mourning.
Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa, described the late Retired-General Mujuru as a patriot par excellence, adding that his national hero status can never be an issue of debate.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East Province leadership and the Mujuru family hailed the decision by the nation to honour the late national hero.
Retired-General Mujuru was burnt to death at his farm on Monday night and his remains will be taken to his rural home in Chikomba, Sadza, where thousands from the constituency are expected to pay their last respects to one of their own.
From Sadza, the remains will be flown to Marondera before returning to Harare the same day.
Burial will be on Saturday at the National Heroes Acre.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, ZANU-PF
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Tsvangirai should shut up: Mutasa
Posted by By Our reporter at 21 June, at 15 : 40 PM Print
ACTING Defence Minister Didymus Mutasa yesterday scoffed at MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s challenge to the security chiefs to leave the military and join the political ring. Retired senior army officers and legal experts also lashed out at the MDC-T leader and warned him against making statements that incited violence against members of the force.
Addressing an MDC-T rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai threw a challenge at the security chiefs to resign from their posts and take up politics full time. But Minister Mutasa said the MDC-T leader should concentrate on running his party and stop trying to bring the integrity of the security chiefs into disrepute.
Reacting to Mr Tsvangirai’s comments that the generals should quit the army and contest in the political arena, Minister Mutasa said the generals were not politicians.
“Tsvangirai should stop hiding behind unreasonable claims that soldiers are disturbing him. It is his inability to run his party that is making him a failure.
“He should just run his party in peace and if he has failed, he should find someone else to run it.
“He should not be saying those things about soldiers, saying President Mugabe is ill and all those stupid things,” Minister Mutasa said.
Yesterday, the security chiefs referred questions to their parent ministries.
Minister Mutasa said the generals and their soldiers were professionals who executed their duties above politics.
He said the security chiefs had a right to freedom of expression just like any free Zimbabwean.
“The generals I know don’t talk politics. There could be a problem of interpretation where some people think that if someone says something, they will be involving themselves in politics.
“Besides, a soldier is also a human being and they shouldn’t be denied the right to say things which are being said at that particular time.
“There is absolutely no reason for Tsvangirai to attack them,” Minister Mutasa said.
Mr Tsvangirai told the rally that the security chiefs should declare their political interests openly and stop intimidating people.
“Some say we don’t support Tsvangirai and we will not support him but . . . let’s wait and see what happens after the elections. Why can’t we cross the bridge when we get to it.
“If you want politics, remove the uniform and we will show you what politics is. It is not guns. Stop intimidating people, convince Zimbabweans to vote for you,” Mr Tsvangirai said.
He added: “We don’t argue with soldiers. The institutions of the army and police are national organs not owned by individuals so if it’s about elections, remove the uniform and we meet in the political sphere.”
Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, said although Mr Tsvangirai was entitled to his political opinion, the statements he made were uncalled for and did not help the country.
“Some of these utterances are uncalled for. When you talk to the public you should examine what you say carefully. You must not say things that are provocative and that do not help to improve the lives of the people,” he said.
A senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “When somebody issues such statements which concern the State that does not make that person a politician.
“Elsewhere even in the United States, service chiefs issue those statements concerning the security of their country.”
Legal expert, Mr Terrance Hussein said: “The Prime Minister must realise that he is not a Prime Minister of the MDC-T but that of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“As a national leader, you should not get on to the podium and attack an arm of the state. If he is unhappy with a Government that he leads, he either sorts out the issues or resign. That is the way it is done the world over.”
Retired Brigadier Felix Muchemwa yesterday said every member of the force had his/her political allegiance and that was enshrined in the constitution.
He said members of the force were controlled by the Defence Act and no politician was allowed to have contact with them unless the person followed the command structures.
“Tsvangarai should behave as a Government official. No Minister or Government official can demand any salute because there is no law compelling members of the uniformed forces to do so. There is only one person, who is the Commander in Chief – who deserves that and for Tsvangirai to face the generals, he must do so through the Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence
Forces. Not what he is suggesting,” he said.
Security chiefs have said the office of the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is a straight jacket reserved for people with liberation war credentials.
In 2002 Zimbabwe’s military and security chiefs warned that they would not accept any political leader whose agenda reversed the gains of the liberation struggle for which lives were lost.
The MDC-T has been accusing the security arms of the State of dabbling in politics by issuing such statements.
The party and its western sponsors have been pushing for security sector reform but Zanu-PF has said that was a non starter.
Labels: ARMED FORCES, DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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Biti blocking constitutional process: Zanu-PF
By: New Ziana-TZG
Posted: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 2:25 am
THE Zanu-PF party of President Mugabe says the MDC-T party which controls the finance ministry is deliberately trying to derail the constitution-making process by underfunding the Constitution Parliamentary Committee that is spearheading the process.
Secretary for Administration in the Zanu-PF Politburo, Didymus Mutasa, says attempts by the MDC-T to scuttle the constitution-making process through under funding Copac, will however, not prevent the country from conducting an election this year.
There is growing indication that the MDC-T party is becoming very unpopular with its main constituency in Zimbabwe - the urban voter.
Addressing Zanu-PF members and the members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators in Rusape, Mutasa said the liberation party was aware of the MDC-T's delaying tactics in the constitution-making process, manifested through under funding the process, but hinted that this will not stop the process.
Mutasa challenged Zimbabweans to draw their strength and courage in defending the revolution in the face of the economic induced illegal sanctions, adding that time had come for every Zimbabwean to rise up and denounce the illegal sanctions.
“The sanctions are not affecting Cde Mugabe, Cde Mutasa or Cde Muchinguri, for example," said Mutasa.
"No, these sanctions are not affecting us as the leadership, but they are affecting you seriously. That is why we are saying let us go and tell the world that these sanctions must be removed now.
"We should tell the world that anyone who supports these sanctions is the enemy of the people of Zimbabwe,” said Mutasa.
He challenged Zanu-PF members to forge unity of purpose in defending the country’s national sovereignty in the coming election by ensuring that the party sweeps to victory.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, DIDYMUS MUTASA, TENDAI BITI
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COMMENT - Well right on. The MDC is a sellout party, and there is no reason they should be allowed to take over. They can only come to power by lying about what the ZANU-PF is all about, and lying about what they are all about. No one in Zimbabwe wants a return to the austerity of the early to mid-1990s - the MDC does. They want to cut hundreds of thousands of government jobs (Eddie Cross), hand over the country's resources to foreign corporations, and if they could, return land to the white planters who are such a big part of the MDC. They cannot run on that, so they lie. Why would Zimbabwe waste precious years with these people in power, just to 'see what they can do'?
Tsvangirai will never rule Zimbabwe, says Mutasa
By RadioVOP
Published: September 16, 2010
ZIMBABWE-HARARE-Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa, on Wednesday declared that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party that gave President Mugabe his first ever defeat in the 2008 harmonised elections, will never rule Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the landmark elections but failed to garner the fifty plus one majority votes required by law, leading to a runoff that the MDC boycotted citing violence among its supporters. After a legitimacy crisis, Mugabe formed a coalition government with Tsvangirai in 2009.
Mutasa said even defeated in elections proposed to be held next year, Zanu (PF), with a firm grip on executive resources like the army, police and secret service, will not hand over power to the MDC leader.
He said the statements at Bota business centre in Zaka where he was the guest of honour at a field day organised by a Zanu (PF) Agricultural promotional body, the South East Growers Association (SEGA).
“Who is Tsvangirai? He will never rule this country. Never Ever. How can we leave the country be ruled by sell-outs?” Mutasa said.
He added, “Over our dead body. Even if we go to the polls and he Tsvangirai defeats Mugabe, Zanu (PF) and the people of Zimbabwe will not allow that.
“It is a waste of time and resources to hold elections so soon. After all, the electoral playing field is not yet even,” Progressive Teachers Union in Zimbabwe PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said. “The wounds from the last elections have not yet healed and the situation is not yet conducive.”
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NEOCOLONIALISM
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Govt has no regrets on land reform: Mutasa
By: George Maponga
Posted: Friday, September 17, 2010 1:50 am
GOVERNMENT does not regret embarking on the land reform programme to address historical land ownership imbalances in Zimbabwe, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa has said.Minister Mutasa, who is Zanu-PF’s secretary for administration, said Zimbabwe was addressing scores of farmers at a South Eastern Growers Association prize-giving ceremony in Bonge Village, Zaka on Wednesday. He said it was imperative that Zimbabweans fully used the land as that was the only way to reverse decades of colonial oppression. The minister stressed that Government’s land reforms had transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of marginalised people.
“This land that we took from whites to give to our people is ours and we do not have any regrets about that as Government.
“The land belongs to us and it is the only birthright that we have which can be used to economically empower our people. The fruits of ownership of our land are beginning to manifest and we should continue to work hard to consolidate the gains of our land reform programme,” he said.
Minister Mutasa said Zimbabweans should not be distracted by Western propaganda.
“There are many people who shed their precious blood for us to get this land and we should fully use it. Let’s not pay attention to what some bully Western nations say because we never sought to resettle our people in America or Britain.
“We are resettling our people in Zimbabwe, which is the only home that we have,” Minister Mutasa said.
He said Zanu-PF would not stand and watch while reactionary forces colluded with erstwhile colonisers to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle.
Zanu-PF secretary for production and labour, Dzikamai Mavhaire, challenged Zimbabweans to develop a culture of working for themselves.
Minister Mutasa handed over Cottco-sponsored prizes to Zaka farmers who excelled in production of maize, cotton, rapoko, sesame and other crops.
The prizes included wheelbarrows, hoes, ploughs, electric generators and a grinding mill.
Earlier, Minister Mutasa toured Zaka Primary School where he planted two avocado trees before addressing schoolchildren and promised to source computers for them.
Labels: COTTCO, DIDYMUS MUTASA, LAND REFORM, SOUTH EASTERN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (ZIMBABWE)
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MDC-T to 'discipline' Makone
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Monday, July 5, 2010 12:19 am
MDC-T financier and co-Home Affairs minister, Theresa Makone
THE Movement for Democratic Change party's national executive members want new co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone investigated for allegedly seeking the release of the son of Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa from custody last week.
Ministers Makone and Mutasa last Wednesday allegedly went to Mbare, Matapi and Stodart police stations demanding the release of Martin Mutasa and other suspects. Minister Mutasa has denied the allegations. The two ministers are said to be related.
Members of MDC-T’s executive said they wanted Minister Makone to be reprimanded or step down for "brin-ging the name of the party into disrepute".
Insiders say the issue was discussed at a national executive meeting last Friday at the party’s headquarters.
"We discussed her (Makone’s) conduct on Friday as the national executive and we agreed that she should explain what transpired. We feel she has let our party and the people down."
The source added: "What she did is unheard of. Going to the police to demand the release of someone who is facing a charge at the courts is scandalous.
"She has proved she is not qualified for the position.
"When you are a minister and your relative is arrested you don’t intimidate the police and demand your people’s release; you engage lawyers because that is why they went to law school.
"We don’t understand what she was trying to achieve. What picture does that paint to family members of our party supporters who are in cells?" said a source.
Said another source: "We believe this is a slap in the face for Prime Minister (Morgan) Tsvangirai, barely two weeks after he moved her to that ministry she has instantly hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
"Her actions have tarnished our image as a party. It seems to us she values her relationship to (Minister) Mutasa more than to party supporters."
Other members said they were afraid that since Minister Makone wields enormous influence in the party, the issue would "die a natural death".
"The problem is that even if she is caught on the wrong side beyond reasonable doubt, Tsvangirai doesn’t have the power to wield (the axe) on her.
"She and her husband (Ian Makone) have been allowed to control the party and Tsvangirai feels if he reprimands her, it will be a direct attack on Ian.
"However, we believe it is the opportune time for the national executive to make a bold decision and prove that no one is above the party. She can control Tsvangirai, but not the executive," a source said.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai faces a hurdle in trying to discipline Makone as she wields a lot of power in the MDC-T party. Makone's husband Ian, is a financier for the MDC-T party and is also secretary to the PM.
He, therefore, has a lot of influence in the decisions made by the PM.
When contacted for comment, deputy party spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo said she had no comment: "The standing committee has not yet come up with a position on that issue."
The police described the conduct of the two ministers as tantamount to defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Martin Mutasa (47) was arrested on Monday last week along with businessman Themba Mliswa (38) and George Marere (36) on allegations of swindling a Harare man of shares worth over US$1 million.
Mliswa is Minister Mutasa’s nephew.
The three suspects, along with three other alleged accomplices, have since appeared in court.
Last week, Minister Mutasa described as ‘‘nonsense’’ police claims that he and Minister Makone had demanded the release of his son from police custody.
He said he only went there to check on his son who had been arrested.
"I did not interfere with anyone, I only wanted to know why he was held by the police. I was following my son as a father," he said.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC, MDC FACTIONS, THERESA MAKONE
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Ministers, police clash over Mutasa’s son
By Innocent Ruwende and Freeman Razemba
PRESIDENTIAL Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa and Home Affairs co-Minister Theresa Makone on Wednesday went to Mbare, Matapi and Stodart police stations allegedly demanding the release of Mutasa’s son.
Martin Mutasa (47) was arrested on Monday along with businessman Temba Mliswa (38) and George Marere (36) for allegedly seizing shareholding worth US$1 million in a company. Mliswa is a nephew to Minister Mutasa.
Three other people — including a director of the company and his wife — have since been arrested on the same charges.
Martin Mutasa, Mliswa and Marere appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday.
However, according to police, on Wednesday Ministers Mutasa and Makone tried to "intimidate" officers into releasing Martin Mutasa.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commi-ssioner Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday said: "The Zimbabwe Republic Police views seriously the behaviour of the two ministers which sought to interfere with police work, particularly as the ministers sought to protect accused person facing charges of wantonly seizing property outside the law and threatening others."
Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena said the behaviour contravened Section 184 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The law states that any person who "by an act of omission, causes judicial proceedings to be defeated or obstructed, intending to defeat or obstruct the proceedings or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that the proceedings may be defeated or obstructed; or;
"Knowing that a police officer is investigating the commission of a crime or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that a police officer may be investigating the commission or suspected commission of a crime, and who, by any act or omission, causes such investigation to be defeated or obstructed, intending to defeat or obstruct the investigation or realising that there is real risk or possibility that the investigation maybe defeated or obstructed;
"Hinders or disturbs a police officer in the execution of his or her duty, knowing that the police officer is a police officer executing his or her duty or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that the police officer may be a police officer executing his or her duty; shall be guilty of defeating or obstructing the course of justice."
Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena would not disclose what action they were taking against the ministers.
Martin Mutasa, Mliswa and Marere yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei to answer to fraud charges.
They were granted US$400 bail each, but will remain in custody after the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The section empowers the State to keep suspects in remand prison for seven days while it considers appealing against the granting of bail.
The trio is represented by lawyer Mr Charles Chinyama of Chinyama and Partners while Mrs Phyllis Zvenyika prosecuted.
Minister Mutasa made an appearance at the courts in the company of his lawyer, Mr Gerald Mlotshwa.
Three others — Hammarskjold Banda, his wife Brendaly and Alfred Mwatiwamba — last Friday appeared in court on the same charges and are out of custody on US$100 bail.
Mliswa, who is the vice president of the Affirmative Action Group, is accused of misrepresenting to businessman Paul Westwood that President Mugabe and Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere had given them the go-ahead to take over 50 percent of his company, Noshio Investments Limited.
Westwood held 50 percent of the company that is valued at US$2,1 million while one of the accused, Banda, owned the other half.
The State alleges that in October 2009, Westwood and Banda had a dispute over alleged misappropriation of funds by Banda’s wife, Brendaly, who was the company’s finance and human resources manager.
She had reportedly withdrawn US$25 000 without Westwood’s knowledge.
The company resolved to suspend Brendaly in October, a decision that did not go down well with Banda.
It is alleged the husband and wife connived with Martin Mutasa, Mliswa, Marere and Mwatiwamba to seize control of the company.
The State says in August 2009, Banda borrowed US$100 000 from Mliswa at 5 percent interest per month.
He, however, allegedly failed to repay the loan at the agreed rate.
Mliswa is said to have demanded that he surrender his Noshio shares to him to offset the debt.
On December 18, Mliswa, Martin Mutasa, Mwatiwamba, Brendaly and a Nigel Murambiwa allegedly went to Noshio Investments offices claiming Minister Kasukuwere had allowed them to take over the company.
Mliswa is alleged to have claimed President Mugabe was aware of the takeover and it was in line with Government policy.
The five allegedly told Westwood they had taken 50 percent of the company’s shares and threatened him with death if he resisted.
The State says Mliswa called a meeting with Noshio workers during which he informed them he had assumed control and warned them against taking orders from Westwood.
It is alleged that Mliswa further threatened Westwood, who stopped visiting the company premises after bouncers were hired to man the entrance.
As a result, the State alleges, Westwood lost shareholding worth US$1 050 000.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC CORRUPTION, TEMBA MLISWA, THERESA MAKONE
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Minister Mutasa's son, Mliswa remanded in custody
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Friday, July 2, 2010 12:12 am
PRESIDENTIAL Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa and Home Affairs co-Minister Theresa Makone on Wednesday went to Mbare, Matapi and Stodart police stations allegedly demanding the release of Mutasa’s son.
Martin Mutasa (47) was arrested on Monday along with businessman Temba Mliswa (38) and George Marere (36) for allegedly seizing shareholding worth US$1 million in a company. Mliswa is a nephew to Minister Mutasa.
Three other people — including a director of the company and his wife — have since been arrested on the same charges.
Martin Mutasa, Mliswa and Marere appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday.
However, according to police, on Wednesday Ministers Mutasa and Makone tried to "intimidate" officers into releasing Martin Mutasa.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday said: "The Zimbabwe Republic Police views seriously the behaviour of the two ministers which sought to interfere with police work, particularly as the ministers sought to protect accused person facing charges of wantonly seizing property outside the law and threatening others."
Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena said the behaviour contravened Section 184 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The law states that any person who "by an act of omission, causes judicial proceedings to be defeated or obstructed, intending to defeat or obstruct the proceedings or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that the proceedings may be defeated or obstructed; or;
"Knowing that a police officer is investigating the commission of a crime or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that a police officer may be investigating the commission or suspected commission of a crime, and who, by any act or omission, causes such investigation to be defeated or obstructed, intending to defeat or obstruct the investigation or realising that there is real risk or possibility that the investigation maybe defeated or obstructed;
"Hinders or disturbs a police officer in the execution of his or her duty, knowing that the police officer is a police officer executing his or her duty or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that the police officer may be a police officer executing his or her duty; shall be guilty of defeating or obstructing the course of justice."
Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena would not disclose what action they were taking against the ministers.
Martin Mutasa, Mliswa and Marere yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei to answer to fraud charges.
They were granted US$400 bail each, but will remain in custody after the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The section empowers the State to keep suspects in remand prison for seven days while it considers appealing against the granting of bail.
The trio is represented by lawyer Mr Charles Chinyama of Chinyama and Partners while Mrs Phyllis Zvenyika prosecuted.
Minister Mutasa made an appearance at the courts in the company of his lawyer, Mr Gerald Mlotshwa.
Three others — Hammarskjold Banda, his wife Brendaly and Alfred Mwatiwamba — last Friday appeared in court on the same charges and are out of custody on US$100 bail.
Mliswa, who is the vice president of the Affirmative Action Group, is accused of misrepresenting to businessman Paul Westwood that President Mugabe and Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere had given them the go-ahead to take over 50 percent of his company, Noshio Investments Limited.
Westwood held 50 percent of the company that is valued at US$2,1 million while one of the accused, Banda, owned the other half.
The State alleges that in October 2009, Westwood and Banda had a dispute over alleged misappropriation of funds by Banda’s wife, Brendaly, who was the company’s finance and human resources manager.
She had reportedly withdrawn US$25 000 without Westwood’s knowledge.
The company resolved to suspend Brendaly in October, a decision that did not go down well with Banda.
It is alleged the husband and wife connived with Martin Mutasa, Mliswa, Marere and Mwatiwamba to seize control of the company.
The State says in August 2009, Banda borrowed US$100 000 from Mliswa at 5 percent interest per month.
He, however, allegedly failed to repay the loan at the agreed rate.
Mliswa is said to have demanded that he surrender his Noshio shares to him to offset the debt.
On December 18, Mliswa, Martin Mutasa, Mwatiwamba, Brendaly and a Nigel Murambiwa allegedly went to Noshio Investments offices claiming Minister Kasukuwere had allowed them to take over the company.
Mliswa is alleged to have claimed President Mugabe was aware of the takeover and it was in line with Government policy.
The five allegedly told Westwood they had taken 50 percent of the company’s shares and threatened him with death if he resisted.
The State says Mliswa called a meeting with Noshio workers during which he informed them he had assumed control and warned them against taking orders from Westwood.
It is alleged that Mliswa further threatened Westwood, who stopped visiting the company premises after bouncers were hired to man the entrance.
As a result, the State alleges, Westwood lost shareholding worth US$1 050 000.
Labels: DIDYMUS MUTASA, MDC CORRUPTION, TEMBA MLISWA, THERESA MAKONE
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New Dawn Mining, CAG merger threatens our security: Govt
By: Our reporter
Posted: Friday, June 25, 2010 6:03 pm
THE inclusive Government of Zimbabwe has expressed concern at the purported acquisition by New Dawn Mining Corporation of an 89% controlling share of Central African Gold, as the transaction has taken place offshore and without reference to the company's indigenisation and mining laws.In a statement issued by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Didymus Mutasa, government expressed "grave concern" with the deal.
New Dawn is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, while CAG is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), which is the London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies.
In the statement, emailed to the Zimbabwe Guardian on Thursday, Minister Mutasa said "Government is particularly concerned by the fact that it only learnt of this transaction of through the local press."
CAG's major shareholders are also non-Zimbabwean and include Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) Africa Fund, HBD Zim Investments Limited and Investec Asset Management Limited.
"It is manifestly wrong and indefensible for foreigners to play casino with Zimbabwe's assets in this way, whichever way one chooses to look at this transaction, be it political, legal, economic or social," read the statement.
Minister Mutasa said that CAG acquired its controlling share in Falcon and Olympus Mines on 1st March 2007, through a similar offshore share swap transaction. With that, it took ownership of Dalny Mine, Golden Quarry Mine, Venice Mine, Camperdown Mine, Old Nic Mine and other significant additional geologically prospective ground holdings in various parts of Zimbabwe, all attributable 100% to Falgold and Olympus.
These two mining houses, together, constitute the second largest gold mining group in Zimbabwe after Metallon Gold. This makes any transactions involving them strategic and of major national security interest.
"In 2008, CAG decided to shut down operations and place all of the above mines, except Old Nic Mine, under care and maintenance in protest at what it termed a 'hostile fiscal and policy environment'," read the statement.
"CAG leveraged the 2007 acquisitions to raise substantial finances through equity and loans, but went on to invest this money in Ghana where it claims to have lost all of it, while the Zimbabwe assets lay in disuse.
"With the benefit of hindsight, however, it is now clear to Government and all well-meaning stakeholders that CAG never intended to mine a single ounce of gold in Zimbabwe because, by the mere acquisition of these assets, it was able to continue to keep a decent balance sheet through various offshore listings."
According to the minister, this enabled CAG to keep the Zimbabwe assets under care and maintenance for prolonged periods, for speculative negative political ends and "as a result of this deliberate policy, of all the CAG mines in Zimbabwe, only Old
Nic and Dalny are currently producing, after Dalny resumed operations at bare minimum capacity 2009."
"Government cannot, therefore, continue to countenance these kinds of transactions (which do not involve) any local involvement, particularly as the Western sanctions persist."
According to Minister Mutasa, this is "a direct threat to Zimbabwe's sovereignty and national security. No country in the world allows outsiders to play such casino games with its natural resources."
"Government, therefore, will subject this deal to rigorous collaborative scrutiny by Cabinet, the Ministry of Indigenisation & Youth Empowerment, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry of State Security, the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Investment Centre, the Competition and Tariffs Commission, the Securities Exchange Commission and other
relevant Government and regulatory authorities, in order to ensure its conformity with Zimbabwe's immediate national security needs.
"This notwithstanding, Government will also follow with keen interest and encourage any engagements that seek to build honest business partnerships in the interest of indigenisation, international best practice and Zimbabwe's national security."
Labels: CAG, DIDYMUS MUTASA, NEW DAWN MINING
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