All the Wikileaks cables on Zimbabwe

451-Jonathan Moyo friends with Justice Chidyausiku

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo was friends with then Judge President Godfrey Chidyausiku and United States embassy officials speculated as early as January 2001 that as an ardent supporter of President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Chidyausiku could become chief justice because of the “tireless lobbying” by Moyo.

452-ZANU-PF upbeat after winning Bikita West by-election

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was ebullient after winning the Bikita West by-election which it had lost to the Movement for Democratic Change the previous year.

453-MDC challenges Mugabe decree

The Movement for Democratic Change has challenged a decree by President Robert Mugabe prohibiting the nullification of the election of any Member of Parliament.

454-Jonathan Moyo, Chinamasa pile pressure on judges

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa were piling pressure on judges to resign after the Supreme Court ruling that the land reform programme should be halted, Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay told United States embassy officials.

455-How Jonathan Moyo started muzzling the press

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo was slowly muzzling the press but his approach was quite sophisticated and could in the long run be more effective than simply destroying the printing presses of the Daily News.

456-Zvobgo says Jonathan Moyo has struck thunder into ZANU-PF MPs

Former presidential aspirant Eddison Zvobgo told United States embassy officials that Members of Parliament were “absolutely petrified” to speak out against the party. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo had “struck thunder” into the hearts of the ZANU-PF MPs.

457-Jonathan Moyo will never be anything more than Mugabe’s man

Former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo was so despised in the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front that he would never be anything more than “President Mugabe’s man”.

458-US judge describes Jonathan Moyo as “Goebbels reincarnated”

A United States Judge who was part of a visiting International Bar Association delegation described then Information Minister Jonathan Moyo as “Goebbels reincarnated” in his approach both to propaganda and to governing.

459-Rare dissent in ZANU-PF

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front bigwigs were in for a surprise when two Parliamentary committees tabled reports that were highly critical of the government.

460-MDC scores major legal victory

The Movement for Democratic Change won a major legal victory when Judge James Devittie nullified two ZANU-PF parliamentary victories in Buhera North and Hurungwe and declared the two seats vacant.

461-Jonathan Moyo unmoved by MDC victory in Masvingo

The Movement for Democratic Change won the Masvingo mayoral seat when its candidate Alois Chaimiti beat the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front candidate Jacob Chademana, but Information Minister Jonathan Moyo brushed off the victory saying the council was still in the hands of ZANU-PF.

462-Zvinavashe – we will not salute anyone…..

Former Defence Forces chief Vitalis Zvinavashe made headlines in January 2002 when he held a press conference at which he said the security forces would not support or salute anyone with a different agenda that threatened the very existence of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, the country and its people.

463-Funeral of MDC activist postponed because leaders are in hospital

The funeral of a Movement for Democratic Change activist, Gift Tandare, who was killed by the police, had to be postponed because most of the leaders of the party including leader Morgan Tsvangirai were in hospital after being beaten by police.

464-Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland barred from leaving the country

Two injured Movement for Democratic Change officials Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland were barred from boarding a flight to Johannesburg for treatment.

465-How to get Mugabe to step down

The only way to get President Robert Mugabe to step down is to get a series of respectable and influential people in the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front to begin speaking out against his presidential candidacy.

466-Government tightens political noose

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo on 25 June announced that the government would soon prohibit non-governmental organisations, churches, and aid agencies from conducting voter education campaigns.

467-Government bans BBC

The government on 25 June suspended the accreditation of the British Broadcasting Corporation following what it said was a series of distortions of events in the country.

468-How to get accreditation as a foreign journalist in Zimbabwe

Journalists from the New York Times and The Washington Post were able to enter Zimbabwe and report on political and economic issues legally after following procedures laid down by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.

469-Jonathan Moyo says ZIDERA is a racist piece of legislation

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act which was recently passed by the United States government to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe was a racist piece of legislation.

470-Fingaz says Jonathan Moyo will not succeed in silencing media

The Financial Gazette said Information Minister Jonathan Moyo would not succeed in his quest to silence divergent voices especially the independent media.

471-EU banks on SADC to put pressure on Zimbabwe

The European Union was banking on the Southern African Development Community to put pressure on Zimbabwe to honour its obligations under SADC agreements regarding good governance, rule of law, human rights and free elections.

472-Kwinje and Holland released

Movement for Democratic Change officials Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland were released after a High Court judge ordered police to release their travel papers and they flew to Johannesburg for treatment.

473-Mugabe says US is trying to rule Zimbabwe by remote control

President Robert Mugabe said the United States was trying to rule Zimbabwe by “remote control” through its economic might. He was commenting on the proposed Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act which sought to impose travel restrictions on himself and his family, his ministers and service chiefs and their families.

474-Jonathan Moyo, Chombo and Mahofa dishing out cash at rallies

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and Youth Development Minister Shuvai Mahofa were reportedly dishing out large amounts of cash at political rallies in the run-up to the Bulawayo mayoral elections.

475-SA ambassador says Jonathan Moyo is not good friends with the truth

South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Jeremiah Ndou said President Robert Mugabe was being misled by his inner circle of friends especially Information Minister Jonathan Moyo because he was “not good friends with the truth”.

476-Jonathan Moyo says violence begets violence

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said violence begets violence and talk about phantom violence in Zimbabwe could only encourage unscrupulous elements, among them ex-Rhodesians belonging to the Movement for Democratic Change to instigate violence in the hope of using it as a political platform.

477-Tsvangirai confident he would win presidential elections

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was confident he would win the 2002 presidential elections and was more worried about the havoc by the war veterans than the military.

478-Jonathan Moyo says election observers are no different from tourists

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said election observers were “no different from tourists” because they merely watched the proceedings and had no right to intervene.

479-Jonathan Moyo blasts MISA

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo blasted the Media Institute of Southern Africa after it denounced the arrest of Daily News editor Geoff Nyarota and his former business partner Wilf Mbanga for allegedly contravening the Zimbabwe Investment Centre Act.

480-US portrays itself as defender of justice in Zimbabwe rather than dictator

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan said the United States should maintain the image of defender of justice in Zimbabwe and avoid the image of big power dictation.

481-Sikhanyiso Ndlovu says Border Gezi was uneducated and immature

Former Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front commissar Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said it was difficult to work with his former boss Border Gezi because he was uneducated and immature.

482-Sikhanyiso Nlodvu’s college burnt by MDC supporters

A college belonging to acting Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front commissar Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was burnt by Movement for Democratic Change supporters in retaliation to the burning of their offices by war veterans.

483-Jonathan Moyo fighting terrorism!

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said he was fighting against terrorism in the run-up to the 2002 presidential elections and labelled the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the independent media as supporters of terrorism.

484-Mugabe to have an unhappy exit!

President Robert Mugabe will have an unhappy exit when the people take to the streets so he is bent on winning the presidential elections by “hook or crook”.

485-Jonathan Moyo describes ZIDERA as “tempest in a teapot”

The passing of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act which slapped sanctions on Zimbabwe and top ranking officials of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front received wide coverage in Zimbabwe but Information Minister Jonathan Moyo downplayed it calling it a “tempest in a teapot”.

486-Finance permsec resigned to ZANU-PF machinations

The permanent secretary for Finance Nicholas Ncube told a United States embassy official in December 2001 that the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front had been in election mode for almost three years beginning with the failed campaign for a new constitution in 1999.

487-UNDP rep says ZANU-PF is on a suicidal path

Former United Nations Development Programme resident representative Victor Angelo told United States assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner in December 2001 that a growing number of people in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front realised that the party was on a suicidal path but they were not willing to stand up to President Robert Mugabe.

488-Mnangagwa tells US ambassador about his disdain for Jonathan Moyo

Emmerson Mnangagwa told United States ambassador Joseph Sullivan that he hoped the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill would never be passed and voiced his disdain for Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.

489-Obasanjo promised Tsvangirai he would urge Mugabe to step down

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo promised Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he would urge President Robert Mugabe to step down but nothing of the sort happened when the two leaders met a week later.

490-Journalists arrested for demonstrating against AIPPA

Three journalists were arrested for demonstrating against the proposed Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill. The journalists denounced both the bill and its sponsor Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.

491-AIPPA passed

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act was finally passed after three weeks if haggling between Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Parliamentary Legal Committee Chairman Eddison Zvobgo. Zvobgo had argued that the bill was unconstitutional and had issued an adverse report on it and refused to appear in Parliament to present the report.

492-ZANU-PF campaign of intimidation pays off

United States embassy officials still held the forlorn hope that Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change could pip Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front in the 2002 presidential elections but the figures were heavily skewed in favour of Mugabe.

493-MDC leaders planned to go into exile after presidential poll

After witnessing thousands of its supporters being barred from voting in the 2002 presidential poll, the Movement for Democratic Change decided that some of its leaders must leave the country to carry on the struggle but secretary-general Welshman Ncube was arrested near the border with Botswana.

494-MDC disputes poll results, rejects GNU

The Movement for Democratic Change complained that it had been cheated out of the 2002 presidential elections and would only accept a transitional arrangement leading to new elections while the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front sought to legitimise the presidency of Robert Mugabe and was prepared to offer some seats in government to the MDC in a government of national unity.

495-Jonathan Moyo and Nyarota spar for a fight

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo threatened to invoke the recently passed Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act against the Daily News editor-in-chief Geoff Nyarota for “continued misrepresentation”.

496-US accused of coordinating terror campaign in Zimbabwe!

The United States was accused of coordinating a terror campaign to fast-track Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai into power. The accusation was made by the Bulawayo daily, Chronicle, which said the MDC was planning to bomb strategic buildings in Harare and Bulawayo to invoke civil unrest and pave the way for military intervention by Britain and the United States.

497-Daily News under siege

The Daily News was under siege after Information Minister Jonathan Moyo instructed parastatals not to advertise in the paper.

498-Jonathan Moyo says Daily News journalists are common criminals

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said three journalists who had written a story that ZANU-PF supporters had beheaded a 53-year old woman were not journalists but “common criminals” after the story turned out not to be true.

499-Journalists under pressure as Supreme Court says constitutional challenge of AIPPA is not urgent

Several journalists who were facing charges of contravening sections of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act got no relief when the Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional challenge of sections of AIPPA was not urgent.

500-Chakaodza says Jonathan Moyo has lost the plot

The editor of The Standard Bornwell Chakaodza said Information Minister Jonathan Moyo had lost the plot in his anxiety to control everything.

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