Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Robert Mugabe has been reported dead. HARARE, ZIMBABWE
Former Zimbabwean long serving president Robert Mugabe died peacefully Sunday at his home in Harare, according to a statement from his family. The cause of death was not given.
A statement from Mugabe’s wife, Grace Mugabe, said: “My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Robert Gabriel Mugabe, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has passed away at 94 years of age. His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a statement saying that he and first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa were “greatly saddened” to hear of the former president’s death.
“Ex-president Mugabe was a great Zimbabwean who gave many years of dedicated service to our country,” Mr Mnangagwa said.
“The Zimbabwean people will always admire Robert Mugabe’s devotion to duty, his personal character, and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our longest serving president will always have a special place in our Nation’s memory. On behalf of all Zimbabweans, Auxilia and I offer our deepest sympathies to Grace Mugabe and all of the family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead,” – he concluded.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe, 94, was the longest serving President of Zimbabwe, serving from 1987-2017.
As one of the leaders of the rebel groups in opposition to white minority rule, he was elected Prime Minister in 1980, serving in that office as head of the government, until 1987, when he became the country’s first executive head of state.
He had led the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) since 1975.
As of August 2017, he was the world’s oldest and one of the longest serving Head of State.
His 36-year rule has been characterised by gross human rights violations, resulting in him joining the world list of dictators.
Mugabe rose to prominence in the 1960s as the leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) during the conflict against the conservative white-minority government of Rhodesia.
Zimbabwe’s anti-graft agency investigates Grace Mugabe’s PhD
Zimbabwe’s anti-graft agency investigates Grace Mugabe’s PhD
(FILES) This file photo taken on June 02, 2017 shows Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe addressing the crowd during a Zimbabwe ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Ð Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) youth rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera. South African police on August 15, investigated an alleged assault by the Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe on a model who was in a hotel in Johannesburg with her two sons. Grace Mugabe is alleged to have attacked Gabriella Engels, 20, with an extension cord on August 13, leaving her with wounds on her forehead and on the back of her head./ AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA
Grace, whose efforts to take over the leadership of the ruling ZANU-PF party prompted a de facto military coup against her husband, then-president Robert Mugabe, in November, graduated in 2014, just months after she had registered to study at the University of Zimbabwe.
Up to now, her dissertation for the doctorate has not been published and is not available in the university library, as such academic qualifications usually are.
“We indeed received a report from the sociology department at the university on how Grace Mugabe received her doctorate and that is what we are investigating,” said Goodson Nguni, the head of investigations at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Local media reports say the sociology department told the commission that Grace’s doctorate was “suspicious” and needed to be investigated.
Grace, who was called “Dr Amai” – or “learned mother of the nation” – by adulating followers, has previously defended her academic record and last September told a ZANU-PF rally that she had earned her doctorate even though her detractors thought otherwise.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was on the receiving end of vicious attacks by Grace last year, succeeded 93-year-old Mugabe as president in November.
Grace has not appeared in public since Nov. 15, when army tanks rolled into the capital and confined Mugabe and his family at his luxurious mansion in Harare.
1st white farmer recovers land under Zimbabwe’s new leader
1st white farmer recovers land under Zimbabwe’s new leader
With a military escort, Robert Smart made his way into Lesbury farm about 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of the capital, Harare, on Thursday to cheers and song by dozens of workers and community members.
Such scenes were once unthinkable in a country where land ownership is an emotional issue with political and racial overtones.
“We have come to reclaim our farm,” sang black women and men, rushing into the compound.
Two decades ago, their arrival would have meant that Smart and his family would have to leave. Ruling ZANU-PF party supporters, led by veterans of the 1970s war against white minority rule, evicted many of Zimbabwe’s white farmers under an often violent land reform program led by Mugabe.Whites make up less than 1 percent of the southern African country’s population, but they owned huge tracts of land while blacks remained in largely unproductive areas.
The evictions were meant to address colonial land ownership imbalances skewed against blacks, Mugabe said. Some in the international community responded with outrage and sanctions.
Of the roughly 4,500 white farmers before the land reforms began in 2000, only a few hundred are left.
But Mugabe is gone, resigning last month after the military and ruling party turned against him amid fears that his wife was positioning herself to take power. New President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime Mugabe ally but stung by his firing as vice president, has promised to undo some land reforms as he seeks to revive the once-prosperous economy.
On Thursday, some war veterans and local traditional leaders joined farm workers and villagers in song to welcome Smart’s family home.
“Oh, Darryn,” one woman cried, dashing to embrace Smart’s son.
In a flash, dozens followed her. Some ululated, and others waved triumphant fists in the air.
“I am ecstatic. Words cannot describe the feeling,” Darryn told The Associated Press.
Smart’s return to the farm, facilitated by Mnangagwa’s government, could mark a new turn in the politics of land ownership. During his inauguration last month, Mnangagwa described the land reform as “inevitable,” calling land ownership and management key to economic recovery.
Months before an election scheduled for August 2018 at the latest, the new president is desperate to bring back foreign investors and resolve a severe currency shortage, mass unemployment and dramatic price increases for food and household items.
Zimbabwe is mainly agricultural, with 80 percent of the population depending on it for their livelihoods, according to government figures.Earlier this month, deputy finance minister Terrence Mukupe traveled to neighboring Zambia to engage former white Zimbabwean farmers who have settled there.
The Commercial Farmers Union, which represents mainly white farmers, said it plans to meet the lands minister.
“I am advising our members to be patient and give it time. But I do see many of them going back into farming,” said Peter Steyl, the union’s vice president. “The government seems serious about getting agriculture on track but how it is going to achieve this, I don’t know.”
The firmness with which the government ensured Smart’s return signaled resolve.
At the farm, a soldier sat quietly in a van that acted as an escort for the family. His services were not needed. The people gathered at the farm share deep social bonds with the family, away from the politics of race and elections.
“I have known this boy since day one,” said 55 year-old Sevilla Madembo. “He was born here. I took care of him when he was young. He is back to take care of me now that I am old.”
She was born at the farm, which also was home to her parents and grandparents.
“We are part of one family. We belong to the Tandi people. That’s why we are going to perform a traditional African ceremony before we start on production,” Darryn said, going through the farmhouse.
Locks to some rooms had been changed by the “new owner,” a cleric with close ties to Mugabe’s family. Other rooms had been ransacked and most property was missing.
Left untouched on the walls were a portrait of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a photo of Zimbabwe’s last colonial leader, Ian Smith, officiating at an agricultural fair.
Peter Tandi, the local chief, led efforts to lobby Mnangagwa’s administration to allow Robert Smart to return to the farm. “He voluntarily gave up his estates to the community when the land reform program started. He continued helping us with technical knowledge, equipment and other inputs,” Tandi said.
“That man supported the guerrillas during the war. … He gave us a place to hide from colonial government soldiers,” said Gift Maramba, a war veteran and local ZANU-PF official.
Smart and his son held back tears while greeting familiar faces. Others were keen to get on with business.
“Hey Darryn, I want us to talk about my beans I stored in your warehouse,” one villager said.
“We can discuss that later, man. Come on, for now let’s just be happy to be with each other again,” Darryn replied.
Zimbabwe: Itai Dzamara's Family Asks for Mnangagwa's Help
The Dzamara family are calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to launch an "urgent" and "sincere" investigation into the disappearance of Itai. He was abducted almost two and half years ago after he had staged a series of demonstrations against the former president Robert Mugabe calling on him to step down.
THE Dzamara family have petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanding that he launches an "urgent" and "sincere" investigation into the case of missing Itai and account for his disappearance.
The petition was handed over by missing journalist's brother Patson on Wednesday and was received by an officer who identified himself as Dube at Mnangagwa's office.
Itai was abducted in Glen View almost two and half years ago after he had staged a series of demonstrations against the former president Robert Mugabe calling on him to step down accusing him of running down the country.
Patson said he was asking Mnangagwa to act because of the indifference of the former government in which he (Mnangagwa) was vice president and Justice Minister.
"To date, nothing has been done to assist us as a family to at least come to a closure," said Patson to New Zimbabwe.
"Even though Itai Dzamara openly opposed the former government and some of its policies, his security and right to life remains a direct and unquestionable responsibility of the government."
He added, "Ever since Itai Dzamara's disappearance a lot has transpired and various theories have been promulgated. However and in spite of that, I am of the view that by now some headway should have been made if everyone involved and concerned acted in good faith, especially the government through the responsible ministries."
He said their position regarding the involvement of state security agents particularly the military intelligence in the abduction of Itai Dzamara has not changed.
"As you might be aware, Sir, Itai Dzamara petitioned your predecessor, Mr. Mugabe to step down for failing to run the country well.
"Unfortunately, since that day receiving threats on his life from security agents became the norm and he was subjected to serious torture at the hands of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other private sources within your Zanu PF political party."
Patson added, "He (Itai) was beaten, arrested and received death threats by state security agents several times even though his activities were well within his Constitutional rights."
"We may not agree on many other things but we have to agree on this one thing, a human being cannot disappear just like that."
"I am thoroughly convinced, Sir, that with your assistance and that of your government, in good faith, we can make some headway on this matter, Itai Dzamara must be released to us, his family, dead or alive."
Patson further said as the President of Zimbabwe sworn to protect every citizen, Mnangagwa should immediately issue a statement over Itai's disappearance.
"That as the Head of State and government you order whoever is keeping Itai Dzamara in captivity to release him immediately, dead or alive.
"That as the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces make a commitment and public announcement that the state security agents shall intensify their efforts in uncovering the mystery surrounding Itai Dzamara's disappearance and make sure he is released immediately, dead or alive.
And, "That as the President of Zimbabwe and a concerned leader, you should ensure that your government, through the responsible ministries, engages the Dzamara family and walks with us through this austere experience. Itai Dzamara's disappearance cannot be treated as not being important."
Patson said in the event that Mngangagwa chose to ignore the family's demands and request, he shall engage all progressive Zimbabweans within a week and protest in various ways in a civil, peaceful and resolute manner as provided for within the Constitution.
Zimbabwe: Child, 10, Cries for Father Who Raped Her - Fiend Jailed 20 Years
A Harare court was recently left in shock after a ten-year-old girl wept for her father as he was jailed for raping her.
The minor had narrated a sexual relationship with her father, leaving the court in shock.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, was slapped with twenty years imprisonment for rape.
Testifying, the victim wept and insisted to the court that she was in love with her father.
"I love him. He proposed and I agreed before we discussed how we would sleep with each other. I loved it when we had sex and I enjoyed it," said the girl, speaking in camera.
During the trial court, heard that her own mother turned her Domboshawa home into a brothel, hiring men for young girls and exposed the child to sexual abuse for a long time.
The family resides in Domboshawa where the victim's father operated a college. His daughter is a grade four student at the institution.
The father, who denied the allegations, was convicted of rape but the state did not pursue other charges including incest and sex with a minor on him.
Magistrate Noel Mupeiwa said if that had been considered, the rapist would have faced over 50 years imprisonment.
Prosecutor Timothy Makoni proved that the relationship with the girl had gone beyond that of the father and daughter.
The affair ended recently after the man's wife caught her husband raping their daughter and reported him to the police.
"What we have before this court is a taboo, not only prohibited by religion or the society, but also prohibited legally," said Makoni in aggravation.
"It is aggravatory that a father would propose to his own blood and goes on to ask if she enjoyed after every sexual encounter and then ask if they could repeat the act," he added.
Magistrate Mupeiwa said the fact that it was a consensual relationship falls away considering that the victim is a minor.
"Carry your cross," he told the father.
"Now you are talking about God in mitigation, giving reference to some bible verses but I will leave the process of God to himself and I will deliver my sentence as a man of flesh.
"There are indications that you used protection yet you have other two sexual partners. You regarded your daughter as a wife exposing her to sexually-related diseases that could be in your love triangle. That, on its own, is aggravating."
Zimbabwe: Botswana Denies Deporting Mphoko
By Nqobanbi Ndlovu
Botswana yesterday said it did not deport former vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko as President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government denied reports that he was detained by the army as he returned home on Friday.
Mphoko had been holed up in Botswana since the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) launched Operation Restore Order, placing Mugabe under house arrest before forcing him to step down.
The Botswana government said Mphoko left the country voluntarily.
"In the context of media reports, speculation and inquiries this is to note for the record that the former vice-president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mr Phelekezela Mphoko, was not deported or otherwise forced to leave Botswana," the Botswana government said on Twitter.
"Mr Mphoko entered Botswana on November 22 2017 from a third country. He departed for Zimbabwe yesterday [Friday] of his own free will."
Former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo on Friday claimed Mphoko was detained by the army.
However, presidential spokesperson, George Charamba said the allegations were not true.
"The allegations coming from the Twitter handle of Jonathan Moyo? There is no truth in that and he is at his home," he said.
"You still believe Jonathan Moyo after all the disaster that he caused, he is trying to mislead through his Twitter [account].
"He is a coward and people must just ignore him."
Meanwhile, sources said the government still wanted to pursue G40 members that fled the country after the military takeover on November 15.
The targeted former ministers are Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and Paddy Zhanda.
According to some reports, Moyo and Kasukuwere are in Mozambique, Zhuwao in Zambia and Zhanda in South Africa.
Sources said the four could be charged with corruption like former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, who was arrested on the night of the army takeover of government.
Mnangagwa's government is likely to involve Interpol in the hunt for the ministers, the sources said.
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