Zimbabwe Update. February 2013. This edition of the Zimbabwe Update .... (
ZIMSEC), Esau Nhandara, announced on 18 February that only 31,767 pupils
out of.
Zimbabwe Update February 2013 This edition of the Zimbabwe Update covers the announcement of a referendum on the new constitution, continued intimidation of civil society, the EU’s easing of targeted measures and the latest on the elections. We also cover the appointment of the new chairs of the elections commission and human rights commission, developments in the mining industry and growing concerns over failings in the education system. You can find more details about ACTSA’s campaign work on Zimbabwe on the ACTSA website
Referendum date confirmed It has been announced that the referendum on the proposed constitution will take place on 16 March, with voting from 7am to 7pm. The Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs and the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) have commenced a nationwide campaign to promote the proposed document. COPAC approved the constitution on 29 January, ahead of its approval by parliament After almost three years of deliberation, adoption of the new constitution seems almost certain as it has the backing of both the MDC and Zanu PF. However, a coalition of civil society organisations, including the National Constitutional Assembly and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe are expected to campaign for a no vote against the draft. President Mugabe said “I consider it desirable to ascertain the view of voters on whether or not the said draft constitution should be enacted as the Constitution of Zimbabwe.” Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said he hopes the referendum will herald a major step towards democratic reform in Zimbabwe. It is estimated that $200 million is yet to be secured in order to pay for the referendum and the elections, which may take place as soon as June. Zimbabwe has nearly six million registered voters out of a population of 13 million, and there are fears that the proposed referendum date of 16 March will not give enough time to distribute copies of the new constitution to voters across the country. There have been fears of a repeat of the violence seen in 2008, but consensus is growing that the referendum will take place without violence or disturbance. Intimidation and harassment of civil society continues Eight members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested outside the Zimbabwean parliament in Harare at a Valentines Day demonstration. The demonstrators, who were handing out roses and teddy bears were beaten and arrested by police. Amnesty International’s southern Africa director Noel Kututwa said “This most recent incident sounds yet another alarm bell for the exercise of internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in advance of the referendum on a new constitution and elections later this year.” The demonstrators were later released without charge. On 18 February, police raided offices of the Zimbabwean Peace Project (ZPP) in Harare, and following a voter education meeting of the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) Mashonaland an elderly pastor and three others were arrested from Church of Christ in Chegutu.
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New chairs of Electoral Commission and Human Rights Commission appointed President Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara met on 17 February to appoint Supreme Court Judge Rita Makarau as the new chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and Jacob Mudenda as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. Justice Makarau is a former Zanu PF MP and was Judge President of the High Court, before her appointment to the Supreme Court in 2010. She replaces Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe who resigned on health grounds. At the same meeting Jacob Mudenda was appointed as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. Mr Mudenda is a former Zanu PF Matebeleland North province Chairperson, central committee and political bureau member. Civil society leaders have expressed concern at the appointment of prominent Zanu PF sympathisers to the two roles ahead of elections.
Labour Minister Paurina Mpariwa said “As Zimbabwe heads for a constitutional referendum and general election this year, political tensions are rising again. What’s disturbing are incidents of harassment, arrest, unlawful detention and office raids of civic society members, countrywide.” There has been a noticeable increase in arbitrary arrests and raids targeted at human rights groups in recent months. The offices of seven civil society organisations have been raided by police in the past two months, suggesting the space for freedom of expression and organisation is being restricted as the country prepares for the referendum and election. EU eases targeted restrictive measures on Zimbabwe On 18 February the European Union agreed to ease targeted restrictive measures on Zimbabwe. The decision follows the agreement on the draft constitution and the announcement of the referendum. Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels stated, "recognising the significance of these advances," the EU was immediately suspending the asset freezes and travel bans placed on 21 individuals and six Zanu-PF cabinet ministers. However 101 individuals and companies remain on the targeted measures list. The decision on easing restrictions was delayed after disagreements on lifting a ban on diamonds from state-run Zimbabwean Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC). Belgium, home to the world’s largest diamond trading hub, Antwerp, called for the restrictions to be lifted, but the majority of the EU were opposed. The Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders, said that measures on ZMDC would be removed within a month of "peaceful, transparent [and] credible" elections. Zanu PF has dismissed the decision as ‘outrageous’. Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo stated “Zanu PF will never accept any conditional removal of the illegal sanction or any self-serving initiatives meant to advance the economic interests of western nations.” MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa welcomed the partial lift of targeted measures and said that Zimbabwe’s political leaders must end rights violations and rebuild the countries relationship with the EU. The targeted restrictive measures were imposed by the EU in 2002 in protest against human rights violations. Parties disagree on election reform Zanu PF have rejected the MDC’s calls for further reforms ahead of elections. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said at the beginning of February there would be no more reforms as specified by the Global Political Agreement (GPA). “We agreed that the completion of the constitution is the only stumbling block towards the holding of elections,” he said. The MDC have demanded the full implementation of the GPA and international and regional standards for free and fair elections. At the end of February various civil society groups and political activists alleged that village heads and various registration offices in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland Provinces are prohibiting people from registering to vote on the basis of their political affiliation.
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Plans to double Marange gem output Mining officials have announced plans to double outputs from the Marange diamond deposits. Goodwills Masimirembwa, chair of the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) said "We got US$684.5 million from diamond exports in 2012." Masimirembwa said Zimbabwe hopes to increase exports this year to 16.7 million carats from the eight million carats sold in 2012. The Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) made calls on 25 January for diamond revenues to be channelled to education, health care, refurbishment of railway lines and trains as well as the provision of clean and safe water. Gold deposits discovered in Matabeland North New gold deposits have been discovered in a village cemetery of Mlonga Village, in the Jambezi area of the Matabeland North Province. The area has been cordoned off in order to stop illegal gold panning. Education system in need of urgent reform The director of Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), Esau Nhandara, announced on 18 February that only 31,767 pupils out of 172,698 passed O’ levels in at least five subjects. Education minister David Coltart added that the country’s education sector has not recovered since the height of the economic and political crisis. During the period 20042009 20,000 teachers lost or quit their jobs. ZIMSEC has not had a more than 25 per cent pass rate since it was established in 2003.
