News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Call for Zanu-PF to amend constitution

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 11:31 PM PDT

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party should use its two-thirds majority in parliament to change the constitution after a high court allowed a public demonstration, a newspaper says.

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Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party should use its two-thirds majority in parliament to change the constitution following a high court decision which gave permission for a public demonstration, a newspaper says.

The protest turned into a riot with looting and violence in the city centre.

The Herald newspaper, which is the largest daily in Zimbabwe, and is largely controlled by the ruling Zanu-PF, ran an editorial yesterday which says the ruling party should "plug loopholes" in the "new" constitution.

The new charter emerged after years of multiparty negotiations ahead of the last elections in 2013, which delivered a massive, if disputed victory to Zanu-PF.

In the high court, Judge Hlekani Mwayera delivered a ruling in his chambers on Friday allowing a protest in the Harare city centre against Zimbabwe's electoral laws and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Earlier in the day, police fired teargas as protesters gathered ahead of the court ruling.

"In our view, the bench should have thrown out the application. The application for a petition march was a clear attempt to escalate the violence which endangered the lives of innocent people, their property and children to whom we all owe protection.

"The national interest should have been paramount here as there is no other value that can surpass it," the editorial said.

The demonstration was the first time several opposition political parties joined forces in a protest against the Zanu- PF government.

The two biggest opposition parties are the Movement for Democratic Change, which is led by Morgan Tsvangirai, and the recently formed Zimbabwe People First, led by former vice-president Joice Mujuru.

The Herald editorial claimed that the judiciary should have also considered the safety of Sierra Leone Vice-President Victor Bockarie Foh, who opened the Harare Agricultural Show on Friday, close to the field where several hundred opposition supporters were gathering.

The Herald described the demonstrators as "hoodlums masquerading as peaceful protesters".

Foreign Service

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Zimbabwe charges 68 people after protests

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 07:19 PM PDT

Zimbabwe has charged 68 people with public violence after violent clashes between protesters and the police.

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Harare - Zimbabwe has charged 68 people with public violence following violent clashes between protesters and the police last week and a magistrate’s court will on Tuesday rule whether they should be released from custody while they await trial.

Police fired teargas and water cannon at opposition leaders and hundreds of demonstrators at Friday's protest before unrest swept across large parts of the capital, Harare.

The 68, who include a freelance photographer, first appeared in court on Saturday. Accused of burning property, attacking police officers and looting shops, they were not asked to plead.

They face a fine and up to 10 years in jail if convicted.

Around 100 riot police stood outside the court house in downtown Harare, accompanied by water cannon and armoured cars. Officers blocked relatives of the accused and members of the public from getting in.

Police arrested three people waving banners criticising 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe, who is facing rising public anger at the dire state of the economy, in particular shortages of cash and unemployment estimated at over 80 percent.

Defence lawyers will argue that those arrested last week were innocent people caught up in the violence.

Magistrate Tendai Mahwe earlier refused bail for political activist Promise Mkwananzi and another man charged with public violence following a protest by opposition youths on August 24.

Mkwananzi is linked to the social media movement #Tajamuka, which joined forces last month with the #ThisFlag campaign of pastor Evan Mawarire to organise a “stay-at-home” protest billed as the biggest strike in Zimbabwe since 2007.

Mahwe ruled that Mkwananzi faced serious charges and should not be freed on bail. His lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara, said he would appeal the ruling at the High Court.

REUTERS

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Zim activists say Mugabe will go by December

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 10:56 AM PDT

#Tajamuka member Hardlife Mudzingwa is confident the 92-year-old Zimbabwean leader would bow down to pressure and step down.

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Harare - Ageing Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe will leave office by December this year as citizens plan a series of demonstrations to force him out, the #Tajamuka group said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Harare, #Tajamuka member, Hardlife Mudzingwa, said he was confident the 92-year-old leader would bow down to pressure from citizens and step down.

“I don’t think we can reach December while he is still in office. We have also made a constitutional court application to challenge his capacity and I have confidence that he will heed citizens’ call,” Mudzingwa said.

He said there would be a total shutdown on Wednesday August 31 to protest against Mugabe’s failure to address their demands by the deadline they had given him.

“We, on behalf of the campaign, announce a national shutdown on 31 August 2016. The national shutdown is a correct footing into the red zone of the campaign.”

He said citizens had for too long been victims of intimidation and harassment by the ruling Zanu PF and this time would not bow to any threats by those wishing to suppress the citizens’ voices.

“This campaign will not waste time responding to empty attempts to criminalise and de-legitimise citizens’ demands. We will continue to build on citizens’ resolve to build a future for Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mudzingwa appealed to all Zimbabweans to heed the call, including transport operators and business people.

He distanced #Tajamuka from messages circulating on social media platforms advocating for violence and the burning of property around the country.

“The campaign will continue to build a seriously strong citizens voice, loud enough to create and shape the politics, sociality and economics of Zimbabwe. We distance ourselves from the dubious hoax messages advocating for burning of fuel stations. These are part of futile attempts to criminalise a peaceful campaign from the public sympathy it has enjoyed,” he said.

Starting from September, Mudzingwa said, there would be protests every week until Mugabe stepped down and made way for a transitional authority that would lead the country to free and fair elections.

“There will be action, serious action. Those who have been blind to the misgovernance have now opened their eyes and will be joining the protests from the provinces,” he added.

African News Agency

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Zim’s failure to find activist sends warning: Amnesty

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 06:06 AM PDT

On ‘International Day of the Disappeared’, Amnesty International said Zimbabwe’s failure to investigate the disappearance of Itai Dzamara sent a warning to other government critics.

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Johannesburg - Amnesty International on Monday marked the “International Day of the Disappeared” by issuing a statement warning that Zimbabwe’s continued failure to effectively investigate the enforced disappearance of pro-democracy activist, Itai Dzamara, sends a chilling message about the security of other government critics.

“The absolute failure of the police to account for the enforced disappearance of Itai Dzamara, almost 18 months after he was last seen, speaks volumes about the high levels of impunity that persist in Zimbabwe,” said Tjiurimo Hengari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa.

“The authorities must take action to ensure truth and justice are delivered and free the Dzamara family from the agonising uncertainty they have been subjected to since Itai’s [Dzamara] disappearance.”

Dzamara, a journalist and rights activist was abducted on 9 March 2015 by five unidentified men while he was at a barbers’ shop in the Glen View suburb of the capital city, Harare.

Two days before his abduction, Dzamara addressed a rally where he called for mass action to address the deteriorating economic conditions in Zimbabwe.

Witnesses say that his abductors accused him of stealing cattle before handcuffing him and forcing him into a white truck with concealed number plates and driving off.

Although the men were in plain clothes, Dzamara was well-known to authorities and had previously been abducted, unlawfully detained and severely beaten by state security agents.

Amnesty International said the enforced disappearance of government critics continues to be common in Zimbabwe.

In 2008, dozens of opposition and human rights activists were forcibly disappeared for weeks in a crackdown. The state repeatedly denied its involvement, but many activists were later found in its custody, while the fate and whereabouts of others remain unknown.

On 18 August 2015 Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, and Human Rights Watch’s Executive Director, Kenneth Roth wrote a letter to President Robert Mugabe’s government. Shetty urged Mugabe, 92, and his regime to establish an independent judge-led Commission of Inquiry into the abduction and likely enforced disappearance of Dzamara.

Shetty also called on Zimbabwe to ensure that those suspected to be responsible for Dzamara’s disappearance are brought to justice in fair trials.

On 13 March 2015, the High Court of Zimbabwe ordered the Minister of Home Affairs, the State Security Minister, the Commissioner-General of Police and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation to investigate Dzamara’s abduction and to report their progress each fortnight to the Registrar of the High Court.

Amnesty International said the reports remain inadequate, providing no substantive details of steps taken by the police except to confirm that investigations into Dzamara’s disappearance are underway.

African News Agency

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There will be attacks, Zim protesters warn

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 03:19 AM PDT

Mass shutdowns and stayaways have once again been called across Zimbabwe as protests in main cities escalate.

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Johannesburg - Mass shutdowns and stayaways have once again been called across Zimbabwe as protests in main cities escalate.

On Sunday several Facebook and Twitter accounts in support of the mass protests gripping the nation called on all people to either join or stay away if they didn't want to get hurt.

"There will be serious attacks on government properties and properties owned by Zanu-PF chiefs and supporters. Businesses in major cities are advised not to open on Monday and Tuesday," one warning said.

A series of images depicting a man believed to be Zimbabwean stabbing and burning his country's flag in solidarity with protests also emerged over the weekend. Reactions to the images were strong, leaving people shocked and upset.

@UnitedZim tweeted: "We, as Citizens United Zimbabwe, condemn this type of behaviour by any citizen of Zimbabwe. Flag is pride," the group said.

Violent protests have hit Zimbabwe over the past few months with many standing in solidarity with #ThisFlag, a movement that has encouraged mass protests against ongoing corruption, high unemployment rates and economic problems plaguing the country.

It was spearheaded by Pastor Evan Mawarire who encouraged citizens to bring change to the country.

Last week fierce clashes in Harare between police, army personnel and locals led to looting, violence and the eventual arrest of 67 people.

However a number of Zimbabwean news agencies have since reported that following the clashes, soldiers and police have agreed to join the ongoing protests.

@Lanc_02

ilanit.chernick@inl.co.za

The Star

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Boko Haram leader wounded in airstrikes - Nigerian president

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 03:07 AM PDT

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari says that the leader of Boko Haram had been injured in the airstrikes carried out by the country's military.

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Moscow - Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday confirmed that the leader of Boko Haram had been injured in the airstrikes carried out by the country's military.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Armed Forces reported that they had wounded Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau in an air attack, also killing several other senior commanders of the group.

"The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military. We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force he was wounded," Buhari said, as quoted by the Daily Nigeria News newspaper.

He added that the country's government had information about the conflict in the leadership of the group.

Sputnik

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'We declare war on opposition supporters' - Zan- PF youth

Posted: 29 Aug 2016 02:59 AM PDT

Zanu PF youths have vowed to "violently" crush any anti-government protests as calls for 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his administration to step down grow louder.

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Harare - Amid mounting unrest in the Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF youths have vowed to "violently" crush any anti-government protests as calls by the opposition for 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his administration to step down grow louder.

The most recent protests were on Wednesday and Friday last week. Protesters destroyed property, looted goods that included shoes, food, clothing, cellphones and computer gadgets. They also set alight a truck belonging to the State broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Police responded by beating protesters with batons, fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse the crowds from the city centre. More than 60 people were arrested by police.

Zanu-PF youth commissar Innocent Hamandishe told journalists at the party's headquarters on Sunday that the youth belonging to the ruling party were ready to take the opposition head-on. "We have been fighting with MDC-T for a long time and they have now gone too far. We can no longer fold our arms and watch them demonstrate against our government and demolish property. We will fight side by side with the police to stop the protesters," he said.

Harare Zanu-PF provincial youth chairperson Edson Takataka said. "We declare war on all opposition parties behind the protests. We know they are doing this because they do not stand a chance in the 2018 elections. We cannot let these people drag the name of our party and country into the mud."

Deputy secretary Kudzai Chipanga urged his Zanu-PF youth colleagues to be "on high alert".

"Make sure you have your phones because fighting can start any time. If a party resorts to violence, it means they are afraid of losing the elections and that they do not have support," Chipanga said.

Last week, home affairs minister Ignatius Chombo warned the security services would be on full alert to quell any violent protests. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Chombo - flanked by defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and his state security counterpart Kembo Mohadi - said: "We will not tolerate and illegal demonstration. If they elect to march unlawfully, the police are there to protect citizens from lawbreakers.

"We have a moral duty to protect citizens of this country and people that do business so that they are not disrupted by malcontents. There is no 'peaceful demonstration' that has been held so far; all violent."

Protesters who spoke to ANA have vowed to keep demonstrating against Mugabe until he steps down, saying they had "nothing else to lose".

The protests have been over several other issues including the shortage of cash, delayed salaries, electoral reforms and the economic meltdown. There is a shutdown planned for Wednesday, such as the one witnessed in early July. Another demonstration is planned for Friday by the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), a grouping of 18 opposition parties calling for electoral reforms in the country ahead of the next elections in 2018.

NERA includes the former vice-president Joice Mujuru-led Zimbabwe People First and former prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai's, Movement for Democratic Change.

African News Agency

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