Mrs. Joyce Mujuru, Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. She represented Zimbabwe at a United Nations Summit, the G-192, in New York earlier this year.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Herald Reporter
Vice President Joice Mujuru yesterday consoled the Savanhu family at their Charigwati homestead in Seke following Headman Charigwati Gibson Kaseke Savanhu’s death.
Headman Savanhu was Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Tendai Savanhu’s father. He died on Wednesday after succumbing to diabetes at his home at the age of 82. VP Mujuru said the Savanhu family had lost a repository of knowledge and encouraged them to be forward-looking in their mourning. VP Mujuru is a maternal relative of the Savanhu family.
"I came here as a muzukuru. We have lost a repository of knowledge," she said.
VP Mujuru was joined by senior Zanu-PF and Government officials in paying the condolences. Cde Savanhu said the family had lost a unifier and advisor.
"He loved family peace. He always encouraged us to work as a family unit," he said.
Born in 1928, Headman Charigwati was among the first crop of black sales representatives at Springmaster. Because of his sterling performance, he was rewarded with a furniture shop as his pension.
He also worked as sales manager for Pfizer in Zimbabwe. He assumed the headmanship in 1960.
Headman Charigwati participated in early nationalist politics and was a staunch supporter of the land reform programme. He will be buried today at Charigwati Village.
Headman Charigwati is survived by his wife,children and grandchildren.
SA, EU hail inclusive Govt over GPA progress
Herald Reporter
South Africa and the European Union on Wednesday lauded progress made by the inclusive Government and encouraged strengthening of dialogue between Zimbabwe and the bloc.
This was said in a statement released after a joint ministerial meeting between South Africa and the EU in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday.
"They (the two sides) noted progress made regarding the appointment of the commissioners for the media, human rights and electoral commissions.
"South Africa’s President (Jacob) Zuma and his facilitation team were commended for their efforts and Sadc was encouraged to remain seized with the process," said the statement in relation to talks on full implementation of the Global Political Agreement.
On the issue of talks between Harare and the bloc, the statement said: "The parties also noted and encouraged the ongoing EU-Zimbabwe political dialogue based on Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement.
"They also recognised the complementary role of South Africa’s facilitation efforts and the EU-Zimbabwe political dialogue aiming at promoting and supporting the implementation of the Global Political Agreement."
The dialogue process was scheduled to resume last month but was suspended due to a cloud of volcanic ash that disrupted air travel over most parts of Europe.
New dates for resumption are yet to be announced.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday said: "No dates have yet been set and we are still waiting on that."
The dialogue has been stop-and-go for months with Zimbabwe alleging insincerity on the EU’s part.
Some members of the inter-ministerial delegation — particularly Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa — have faced difficulties in getting visas. Minister Chinamasa was on one occasion delayed at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany, for about six hours in what was said to be a crude attempt to get him to miss meetings in Brussels.
The EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 and has renewed these every year since then.
A 2006 EU study on the im-plementation of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement admitted that the sanctions were imposed to influence Zimbabwe’s domestic politics at Britain’s instigation.
Britain has tried to internationalise its bilateral dispute with Zimbabwe after reneging on obligations entered into at the Lancaster House Constitutional Conference where it agreed to pay compensation to white farmers affected by land tenure reforms.
Bennett opposes State appeal
Herald Reporter
MDC-T treasurer-general and non-constituency senator Roy Bennett has opposed the State’s intention to appeal against the High Court decision acquitting him on charges of terrorism, banditry, insurgency and trying to depose a constitutionally elected Government.
Mr Bennett was on Monday acquitted by High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu who ruled that the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against him and hence there was no reason to put him on his defence.
On Tuesday the State sought leave to appeal against Justice Bhunu’s ruling.
Through his lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Mr Bennett urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Attorney-General Johannes Tomana’s appeal with costs and have his conduct during the High Court trial investigated.
"The trial court was extremely generous towards the prosecution as it gave latitude, which was almost a reversal of the onus of proof. The applicant (the AG) did not even cause its own expert to inspect the laptop and he could not even identify it in court. What is it that the applicant feared would be discovered in the laptop by the expert?
"I repeat that the application constitutes gross abuse of court process by applicant, demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant was not after achieving justice but is after a conviction at all costs, deliberately including false information in the State summary," he said.
Mr Bennett added the Supreme Court should take action against Mr Tomana.
"I contend that the applicant’s actions call for a stern rebuke from this court as applicant occupies a position which requires honesty, candour, fairness, good faith and general demeanour, which will repose confidence in the justice delivery system in the minds of the public who are consumers of the justice delivery system.
"The application must therefore be dismissed with costs and the court is requested to do all things necessary to have applicant’s conduct investigated," argued Mr Bennett through his lawyer.
Mr Bennett argued that the AG’s application was not proper at law.
"I am advised that an application of this nature must be supported by documents such as the judgment sought to be impugned and a draft order setting out what relief the applicant is seeking.
"The papers field before the court do not have the draft order with the result that I don’t know what relief is sought."
He said the absence of the draft was prejudicial to his rights to a fair hearing and full protection of the law because it did not make it clear what the AG wanted to happen to him.
This made it difficult for him to respond to the relief he sought from the court.
Mr Bennett said Mr Tomana had gone ahead with using Mr Peter Michael Hitschmann as his "star witness" in full knowledge that he was not going to give evidence to support his case.
He said the AG’s argument in his appeal that the testimony of Mr Pekerayi Mutsetse, an information technology expert, should have been accepted was wrong given that he had identified as genuine, a fake e-mail generated in court raising questions about his expertise.
The senator also said the State had also failed to provide bank statements indicating that he had deposited money in Mr Hitschmann’s bank account in Mozambique.
The Supreme Court is now expected to make its ruling following Mr Bennett’s response.
He was arrested in 2006 following the discovery of an arms cache and ammunition in Manicaland.
He fled to South Africa and was re-arrested on his return last year. by his wife and several children and grandchildren.
Church urges Govt to create jobs
Herald Reporter
Government should create more employment opportunities in order to reduce the crime rate, a church official has said.
Speaking after the handover of donations worth US$10 000 from Faith Ministries to Chikurubi Female Prison, the executive director of Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe, Mr Peter Mandianika, said many people found on the wrong side of the law were unemployed.
"Every year there are thousands of students completing their studies while the chances of them getting employed are very slim.
"At the end of the day many of them are engaging in criminal activities.
"Police are having difficulties in investigating cases involving these educated people," he said.
The donation is part of the church’s programme titled "Faith Ministries Chikurubi Winter Project".
Programme co-ordinator Mrs Diana Pazvakavambwa said they were trying to identify prisoners’ needs this winter so that they can assist by providing warmth.
"This programme is an ongoing one as we attempt to complement services offered by the Zimbabwe Prison Service," she said.
Among the goods donated were jerseys and sanitary wear.
Officer-in-charge at the female prison Chief Prison Officer Emelda Chifidya said: "This donation will go a long way and we are really grateful as these goods have come just right in time.
"Only half of female prisoners had jerseys, which means the gap has been covered."
International overseer of Faith Ministries Mr Ngwiza Mnkandla said it was the responsibility of churches to ensure prisoners did not feel abandoned.
"These people here are our brothers and sisters therefore we need not to isolate them but to assist them in times of need.
"To all churches and stakeholders out there, let’s come together and we can make a difference," he said.
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