Category: Rubrique

{{Hundreds of thousands of Zanu-PF supporters converged at the historic Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare, yesterday for the launch of the revolutionary party’s manifesto and 2013 election campaign}}.

The highly-subscribed star rally, that turned the hallowed grounds into a sea of yellow and green, was reminiscent of President Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua

Nkomo’s triumphant return to Zimbabwe from Mozambique and Zambia in January 1980 where they had successfully led Zanla and Zipra guerillas to victory over the Smith regime.

The colourful launch which just like the party’s campaign ran under the theme “Taking Back The Economy: Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment’’ set the stage for what is set to be an intense three-week campaign tailored to culminate in a resounding victory for Zanu-PF.

All the party’s parliamentary candidates were introduced to supporters with the Presidium shaking hands with each of them.

The Zanu-PF candidates for the elections are dubbed Team Zanu-PF and have the brief of slamming the ball into the back of the net in every constituency countrywide.

The revolutionary party has since got a head start on other contestants, bagging 26 council wards unopposed countrywide.

Before the arrival of the President, a number of groups provided entertainment to the crowd in the morning among them Mbare Chimurenga Choir, Vabvuwi, Jah Prayzah, the

Born Free Crew, Mathias Mhere, Sebastian Magacha and Suluman Chimbetu.
In his address, President Mugabe rallied the party’s candidates to victory saying “Go ye and win the battle’’, which he equated to “a battle of our lives”.

“We have just congratulated our candidates for the elections. I say that because you are looking forward. It’s you again whom we are saying you are leaders in the elections that we will have.

“We will only be your supporters, but we will be assisting so that we are elected and elected resoundingly. We are here not only to congratulate, we are also here to send you on a mission, to give you top authority of the party to represent it in the election and to enable you to conquer.

“You are our soldiers; you have a battle to fight. Go into battle well armed with full knowledge that there is a political enemy. This is a do-or-die struggle. You are not alone because your victory will be our victory and your defeat, alas, will be our defeat. We want you to succeed.”

The President described Highfield as a historic suburb where many pioneer nationalists such as Cdes Enos Nkala, George Silundika, Joshua Nkomo and Josiah Chinamano, lived.

Early nationalist parties like the National Democratic Party and later Zapu and Zanu-PF were formed in Highfield.

Therefore, he said the suburb was the cradle of the liberation struggle.

“That is here where we returned after the struggle. Dr Nkomo returned first and he came to Highfield first. I followed. So Highfield is a politically sacred place. It is the cradle of our political struggle but now Highfield, Highfield, Highfield, I cry, where are you?

“We have come here to regain what we have lost along the way, including Highfield, to correct an error, a huge political error.

“We failed in 2008 and so we decided that in this sacred place we should bring our entire team (of candidates) which shall lead in a fight to conquer. We are not talking about defeat, but victory,” he said.

He added that this time, Zanu-PF must secure a massive victory of up to 90 percent majority in Parliament and an equally decisive vote in the presidential race as well.

“Will it be just 51 upon 100?” he asked. “Fifty one percent, 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent or will it be upon, upon in every constituency.

“Let us expect that we lose one or two men who have fallen as soldiers in a fight but we shall be able to say that our victory was not less than 90 percent. Tell the rest of the country that you have seen the soldiers that we put together. We have shaken their hands and we have strengthened them as fighters on our behalf.

“Go ye, fight the battle and come back and tell us that you have won. Go ye meet the people, talk to the people, because you came from people, you were elected.
“Go back to them and join forces in going to the national battle.

It’s a battle for survival and all of us should support them. We shall work together and make the pledge that we of Zanu-PF do not know defeat. We, yes, suffer losses, losses of individuals here and there, a setback but we are able to re-organise and come back invigorated and wage a real, real, vigorous, devastating battle and this one should be a fight of our lives.”

He reiterated that Zanu-PF should get a decisive victory to negate another inclusive Government with parties that work with Zimbabwe’s former colonial master, Britain.

“Never shall Zanu-PF allow such parties to taste government again. You saw that the inclusive Government that gave us a three-headed creature. Some were refusing to let go, ahh, clinging to it, but we said let’s go and seek a new mandate; democracy demands that we do.”

The President launched the 108-page manifesto, which details the party’s five-year plan of action for the party if it secures victory in the forthcoming elections.

The document, the President said, focused on the land reform programme, indigenisation and economic empowerment, job creation, promotion of social services and industrial development, among other sectors.

Small and medium-scale enterprise development, he said, was also an integral part of the manifesto, imploring the SMEs to grow bigger and venture into mining on a large scale.

He acknowledged that the economic hardships caused by the illegal economic sanctions had made life difficult for people including job losses but commended their perseverance and calm in the face of the challenges induced by the sanctions.

According to the manifesto, Zanu-PF would focus on consolidating and deepening “independence, sovereignty, unity, security, respect for the values and ideals of the liberation struggle, patriotism, gender equality, respect for the elderly, economic prosperity, achievement, equality, peace, freedom and democracy, non-violence, tolerance, stability, the youth as the future, employment, housing for all, respect for persons with disabilities, development and freedom of worship.”

It says the revolutionary party has indigenised 12 million hectares of land. It would also seek to create a value of $7, 3 billion from the indigenisation of 1 138 companies across 14 key sectors of the economy.

“These initiatives will create 2, 265 million jobs across key sectors of the economy and contribute to export earnings, food security and to the fiscus among many other benefits including urban housing, and construction of peri-urban farms acquired during the land reform exercise.

In addition, Zanu-PF’s indigenisation and empowerment initiatives outlines in this people’s manifesto will see an average GDP growth rate of nine percent by 2018 up from the current 4, 4 percent.”

Beneficiaries of the projects would include both rural and urban communities, war veterans, women, youths, workers, academic ordinary workers and others.
Zanu-PF also plans to reduce the urban housing backlog, address corruption, give bankable leasehold security of tenure to beneficiaries of the land reform programme, ensure food security and engage Britain, European Union and the US to unconditionally lift their illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Herald

{{Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal to delay elections set for 31 July.}}

Both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had asked for the elections to be postponed.

Mr Tsvangirai argued that Zimbabwe needed more time to prepare for a free and fair election.

The two men have been in a fractious coalition government since disputed elections in 2008 but will again face each other this year.

“For the avoidance of doubt, elections should proceed on the 31st of July in terms of the proclamation by the president of Zimbabwe in compliance with the order of this court,” Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku said, according to Reuters news agency.

Mr Tsvangirai accepted the ruling, his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said, it reports.

“Since the court has ruled, it means we have to go by that date,” he is quoted as saying.

Last month, Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the voters roll was in a “shambles” and the vote could be rigged.

Following an initial court ruling, Mr Mugabe had called elections for 31 July but asked the court for a postponement following pressure from Mr Tsvangirai and regional leaders.

The court said it would give reasons for its decision later.

The election would herald the end of the coalition government the two leaders formed after the 2008 poll.

Mr Mugabe, 89, and Tsvangirai, 61, will contest the election again.

Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round of the 2008 election, accusing the security forces and pro-Mugabe militias of attacking his supporters around the country.

Mr Mugabe denied any links to the violence.

BBC

{{Guinea’s government and opposition parties reached a deal on Wednesday to hold long-delayed legislative elections at the end of September to complete the mineral-rich nation’s transition to civilian rule.}}

Elections scheduled for June 30 were postponed after a wave of protests, with the opposition accusing President Alpha Conde of planning to rig the poll. Conde won a 2010 election in Guinea’s first democratic transition of power, but his victory was contested by the opposition.

“We have reached an agreement,” Mouctar Diallo, one of the opposition’s leaders, told Reuters. “I hope the international community will guarantee the implementation of this deal.”

Political instability following a 2008 military coup deterred some investors from Guinea despite its large deposits of iron ore, bauxite, gold and other minerals.

The election, originally due to take place in 2011, is essential to unlock nearly 200 million euros of European Union funding.

Wednesday’s agreement means elections should be held within 83 days. With Guinean electoral law specifying voting must take place on a Sunday, this would make the date of the election September 29, Diallo said.

The U.N.-mediated talks were aimed at securing the participation of the opposition after some 50 people were killed and about 300 wounded during protests in the past three months.

“This agreement allows progress towards projects in the interest of the country,” U.N. special envoy Said Djinnit told delegates at the talks. “Despite your differences, you are in agreement on the essential.”

Under the terms of the agreement, South African company Waymark, which the opposition had accused of favouring Conde, will keep its contract for compiling the voter register. Waymark has denied any bias.

Neither Waymark nor its local partner Sabari will compile the election results, which will be counted by hand, the deal specified. For the 2015 presidential election, a public tender will be launched to find a technical operator.

The government conceded to demands that Guineans overseas – a group regarded as largely favouring the opposition – should be allowed to vote.

A committee composed of representatives of the opposition and the government will be put in place to oversee the activities of the national electoral committee (CENI).

wirestory

{{Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has rejected calls for his resignation, saying that he is Egypt’s “guardian of legitimacy” after three days of nationwide pro- and anti-government demonstrations, that have drawn millions to the streets.}}

His speech was a response to the protests, and to an ultimatum from Egypt’s military, which on Tuesday said it would issue a political “road map” unless Morsi resolved the crisis in 48 hours.

Morsi had earlier dismissed the ultimatum, demanding in a message posted on Twitter that the army rescind it.

In his televised speech on Tuesday night, Morsi accused members of former president Hosni Mubarak’s regime of trying to topple his government and undermine the revolution.

“There is no substitute for legitimacy,” Morsi said in the 45-minute late-night address. “The revolution of January 25 will achieve its goals. Legitimacy will be safeguarded, and I am willing to give my own life to protect it.”

Just hours after his speech, the health ministry reported that unidentified gunman had killed 16 people and wounded at least 200 more after opening fire on a rally of his supporters in the capital.

At least seven other people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes in Cairo between the president’s supporters and opponents.

Morsi’s speech was received with a mix of anger and disbelief among the vast crowd of protesters gathered outside the presidential palace.

His remarks were punctuated several times by loud chants of “irhal!” – “leave!”

“Legitimacy? It’s like he was trying to convince himself,” said demonstrator Nader Amer.

The president invoked the idea of legitimacy dozens of times in his speech, saying that he was obligated as Egypt’s first democratically-elected president to remain in office.

“What legitimacy? Look around, look at the millions in Cairo and the governorates,” he said, referring to the anti-government protesters gathered nationwide.

The president’s speech was greeted with cheers in Cairo’s Nasr City neighbourhood, however, where thousands of his supporters have been staging a sit-in since Friday.

{aljazeera}

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Tuesday said it was still awaiting $130 million funding from government for general election President Robert Mugabe wants held by July 31.

President Mugabe appears determined to push for elections this month end despite regional pressure to delay the polls by at least two weeks to allow for reforms.

ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau said the body had put all systems in place for the polls but was awaiting the government to release money for voting material and allowances.

“As ZEC we are always prepared for the elections and we are prepared for July 31 as the polling date,” she said.

“We are ready in terms of our machinery and that machinery simply needs to be financed, but it is in place.

“We can do almost everything as long as it is funded.

“We know where we want to set our polling stations, for instance.

“We know what will go into that polling station, the material that we will require, we know how many people we need and how much allowances we will pay out.”

Justice Makarau added: “All we simply wait for is for them (government) to fund that plan.”

{Herald}

{{Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi rebuffed an army ultimatum to force a resolution to Egypt’s political crisis, saying on Tuesday that he had not been consulted and would pursue his own plans for national reconciliation.}}

But the Islamist leader looked increasingly isolated with the liberal opposition refusing to talk to him and the armed forces, backed by millions of protesters in the street, giving him until Wednesday to agree to share power.

Newspapers across the political spectrum saw the army’s 48-hour deadline as a turning point. “Last 48 hours of Muslim Brotherhood rule,” the opposition daily El Watan declared. “Egypt awaits the army,” said the state-owned El Akhbar.

The confrontation has pushed the most populous Arab nation closer to the abyss amid a deepening economic crisis two years after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, raising concern in Washington, Europe and neighboring Israel.

Protesters remained encamped overnight in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square and protest leaders have called for another mass rally on Tuesday evening to try to force the president out.

Senior members of Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood used the word “coup” to describe the military ultimatum, backed by a threat that the generals will otherwise impose their own road map for the nation.

In a statement issued nine hours after General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi delighted Mursi’s opponents by effectively ordering the president to heed the demands of demonstrators, the president’s office used considerably less direct language to indicate he would go his own way.

“The president of the republic was not consulted about the statement issued by the armed forces,” it said. “The presidency sees that some of the statements in it carry meanings that could cause confusion in the complex national environment.”

Official video was released showing Mursi meeting the uniformed Sisi. Their body language seemed awkward, although it was unclear when it was shot.

The statement from Mursi’s office continued, “The presidency confirms that it is going forward on its previously plotted path to promote comprehensive national reconciliation … regardless of any statements that deepen divisions between citizens.”

Describing civilian rule as a great gain from the revolution of 2011, Egypt’s first freely elected leader, in office for just a year, said he would not let the clock be turned back.

Mursi also spoke to U.S. President Barack Obama by phone on Monday, the presidency said in a separate statement, stressing that Egypt was moving forward with a peaceful democratic transition based on the law and constitution.

The White House said Obama, visiting Tanzania, encouraged Mursi to respond to the protests and “underscored that the current crisis can only be resolved through a political process”.

{reuters}

{{Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is now ruling by decree after parliament’s term expired on Saturday, a minister said Sunday.}}

President Mugabe set July 31 as the date for presidential, parliamentary and local government elections but was forced to seek a two week extension from the courts by regional leaders.

The Constitutional Court will on Tuesday hear several applications surrounding the contentious election date.

Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa told state media that the 89 year-old leader was now the sole authority mandated to make laws if the need arose.

“The life of parliament will be terminated by operation of the law,” he said. “It means that there is no authority with power to make legislation except the president.

“This will be the situation obtaining until the next president is sworn in.”

Mr Chinamasa said this was the first time President Mugabe had ruled by decree since coming into power in 1980.

“In the history of Zimbabwe, we have never had a vacuum that has been so long between the dissolution of parliament and the swearing in of the president,” he said. “Normally parliament is dissolved the midnight before elections.”

President Mugabe and his coalition government partners have been haggling over election dates.

Regional organisation Sadc also wants Zimbabwe to implement media, electoral and security sector reforms before the polls.

{{US President Barack Obama called on Egypt’s government and opposition on Saturday to engage each other in constructive dialogue and prevent violence spilling out across the region.}}

Political violence on Friday killed three people, including an American student, and mass rallies are planned for Sunday aimed at unseating Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.

Obama said he was “looking at the situation with concern”.

Hundreds have been wounded and at least eight killed in street fighting for over a week as political deadlock deepens. On Friday, a bomb killed a protester at a rally by the Suez Canal. Washington is pulling non-essential staff out of Egypt.

“Every party has to denounce violence,” Obama said at the other end of Africa, in Pretoria. “We’d like to see the opposition and President Mursi engage in a more constructive conversation about how they move their country forward because nobody is benefiting from the current stalemate.”

He added that it was “challenging, given there is not a tradition of democracy in Egypt”.

Mursi’s critics hope millions will march on Sunday when he marks a year in power to demand new elections. They accuse his Muslim Brotherhood of hijacking the revolution of 2011 and using its electoral majorities to monopolise power.

“Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world,” Obama said. “The entire region is concerned that, if Egypt continues with this constant instability, that has adverse effects more broadly.” US missions would be protected, he said. Last year, a consulate in Libya was overrun and Americans killed.

The Egyptian army, heavily funded by Washington since before Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, is on alert. It warned politicians it may step in if they lose control of the streets – an outcome some in the diffuse opposition coalition may quietly welcome, but to which Mursi’s Islamist allies might respond with force.

It is unclear how big the rallies will be or when they may start. Protest organisers said on Saturday a petition calling on Mursi to quit had 22 million signatures – over 40 per cent of the electorate and 7 million more than they announced 10 days ago.

{agencies}