All the Wikileaks cables on Zimbabwe

501-Jonathan Moyo says retrenchments at ZBC will boost morale

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said he was sure that the retrenchment exercise at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, where 60 percent of the 900 employees were to be laid off, would boost morale. “What the ZBC has announced are not plans to retrench, they have announced an action programme in the on-going restructuring exercise,” he said.

502-Government appoints media and information commission

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo appointed a six-member Media and Information Commission to license media organisations, accredit journalists, and assume other functions related to controlling the media in Zimbabwe. Tafataona Mahoso, head of the journalism department at Harare Polytechnic and strong supporter of the Mugabe administration and media control, was named executive chairman of the Commission.

503-American journalist charged under AIPPA

An American Andrew Meldrum who was writing for the British newspaper The Guardian was facing trial for contravening a section of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for publishing a false story. Meldrum filed a story with The Guardian which said ZANU-PF supporters had beheaded a 53-year-old woman. The story was not true.

504-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.

505-Lawyer says Mugabe wanted to control professional workers

Harare lawyer Sternford Moyo, who was president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe at the time, said President Robert Mugabe had put his ministers under “enormous pressure” to come up with ways to control professional workers and the organisations that represented them including the Law Society.

506-New media law demands sensitive corporate information

New regulations for the registration of media organisations demand detailed and sensitive corporate information which includes market analyses, the organization’s financial backers, business plans, projected three-year earnings or losses, and the professional history of the organisation’s leaders.

507-Nyarota sues Jonathan Moyo for $6 million

Geoff Nyarota, editor-in-chief of The Daily News, filed a Z$6 million lawsuit against Information Minister Jonathan Moyo for defamation in July 2002. He argued that an article which appeared in the June 7, 2002 edition of The Herald under headline “Moyo files lawsuit against Sikhala, Daily News” was insulting.

508-Rumours fly as MDC spokesman dies in jail

There was wide speculation when Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Learnmore Jongwe was found dead in his prison cell on 22 October 2002. Jongwe was arrested in July for fatally stabbing his wife, and he subsequently confessed to the crime. He had been denied bail by both the High Court and Supreme Court, ostensibly for fear that he would abscond.

509-Confusion still abounds over Jongwe’s death

There was still confusion about how Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Learnmore Jongwe had died with police saying he had died from chloroquine poisoning but his family still blamed the government for his death. The United States embassy commented: “Whatever the circumstances of Jongwe’s death, it is extremely unlikely that most opposition supporters will accept that he died at his own hand”.

510-US embassy says Chamisa a hardliner who does not shrink from a fight

The United States embassy described then Movement for Democratic Change youth chairman Nelson Chamisa as a hardliner who does not shrink from a fight. Chamisa had just been selected as the candidate for the Kuwadzana seat which had been left vacant following the death of party spokesman Learnmore Jongwe.

511-Dell walks out on Mumbengegwi

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell walked out of a briefing with Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi after the minister refused to give an assurance that diplomats would be allowed to ask questions after the briefing.

512-Dell says talent is thin in MDC

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, who the state-owned media repeatedly said had been deployed to Zimbabwe to remove President Robert Mugabe, was disillusioned by the Movement for Democratic Change when his tour ended and said that talent below the top ranks was thin. The only exceptions were Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa now both ministers in the inclusive government.

513-MDC sets conditions for SADC agreement

The Movement for Democratic Change said it would not be possible to enter into an agreement with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or to have free and fair elections until at least six conditions were met.

514-Chamisa’s 78-year-old grandmother assaulted in run-up to presidential elections

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa’s 78-year-old grandmother, his mother and brother were assaulted by armed soldiers when they raided their home in Gutu South during the run-up to the presidential elections of 27 June 2008.

515-Chamisa versus Mugabe

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa on the current impasse in talks: “We want to share power. But Mugabe wants to swallow the MDC. We will not allow that. He wants all the key ministries – finance, home affairs, defence, information, foreign affairs, justice and even women and youth.”

516-Tsvangirai says there was a one-in-one-thousand chance that accident that killed his wife was intentional

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee that there was a one-in-one-thousand chance that the accident that killed his wife Susan less than a month after he assumed office was an intentional act.

517-Rare week in Harare

It was a rare week in Harare as the funeral of Susan Tsvangirai united politicians from both the Movement for democratic change and the Zimbabwe African National Union- patriotic Front.

518-Tsvangirai charged over careless remark about Mugabe

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was charged with inciting violence over a careless remark he made about President Robert Mugabe that if Mugabe did not go peacefully, “we will remove him violently”. The MDC leader was charged five months after making the remark.

519-Chamisa, Musekiwa, Jongwe and Sikhala are ZANU-PF plants!

Senior Movement for Democratic Change official Trudy Stevenson said she did not trust MPs Tafadzwa Musekiwa, Job Sikhala and Learnmore Jongwe and youth leader Nelson Chamisa because they were possibly ZANU-PF plants.

520-Local journalists challenge AIPPA

Local journalists filed an application with the Supreme Court challenging the legality of some sections of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The application was filed by Abel Mutsakani of the Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe and Vincent Kahiya of the Independent.

521-Jonathan Moyo says British government has gone bananas

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo accused the British government of “going bananas” when they refused Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front politburo member Joshua Malinga entry into the UK because of the European Union travel ban on senior ZANU-PF officials.

522-Mugabe, Jonathan Moyo rap the West

President Robert Mugabe and Information Minister Jonathan Moyo both rapped the West to trying to topple the Zimbabwean government with Mugabe accusing the West of waging a racist campaign to undermine his government. He said the West was resisting the completion of the independence process began in 1980 in order to protect their kith and kin.

523-Chamisa stripped of powers

Information and Communications Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa was stripped of his powers when the communications portfolio was reallocated to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development led by Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front minister Nicholas Goche.

524-Tsvangirai’s honeymoon over

Movement for Democratic Change ministers were growing impatient with President Robert Mugabe’s flouting of the Global Political Agreement, his stripping of Information and Communications Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa of his powers, and his refusal to swear in MDC deputy Minister for Agriculture Roy Bennett.

525-Tomana refuses to budge

Attorney-general Johannes Tomana reasserted his legitimacy as the government’s top prosecutor when he responded to criticism from Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Minister of Information Communications Technology Nelson Chamisa who accused him of being “divisive” for refusing to release the passport of Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Roy Bennett.

526-Zimbabwe sliding slowly into police state

Zimbabwe was sliding slowly into a police state with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front escalating its intimidation of Movement for Democratic Change leaders and supporters.

527-MDC sweeps Bulawayo elections

The Movement for Democratic Change swept the September 8-9 elections in Bulawayo, winning the mayoral race and all seven city council seats under contention by a landslide.

528-Tsvangirai escapes ZANU-PF attack- Jongwe suspended

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai escaped injury on October 12 after his convoy was attacked by stone-throwing ZANU-PF supporters. Two windows of his vehicle were shattered and the vehicle’s body was damaged. Police were unhelpful and failed to arrest or charge any of the perpetrators.

529-Government crack down on MDC after murder of Cain Nkala

There was a government crackdown on the Movement for Democratic Change in Bulawayo following the murder of war veterans leader Cain Nkala. The government accused the party of being responsible for the murder.

530-Violence intensifies in run up to presidential elections

Police and Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front militants blocked a Movement for Democratic Change rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on 20 January 2002 as violence intensified in the run-up to the presidential elections.

531-Human rights activist arrested for publishing falsehoods

The acting director of Amani Trust Frances Lovemore was arrested on 29 August for violating a section of the Public Order and Security Act which prohibits publication of “falsehoods” prejudicial to the State.

532-Jonathan Moyo says Zimbabwe is not a banana republic

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said Zimbabwe was not a banana republic wanting to please foreign journalists because it had its own impressive professional cadre of journalists who needed work.

533-Delta financing its own interests while appearing benevolent

Delta Corporation, one of the heavyweights in the Zimbabwean economy, was reported to be financing its own interests in a Z$10 billion initiative through which it was to loan inputs for the production of maize, sorghum and malting barley to selected farmers.

534-Police and soldiers arrest MDC supporters in run up to presidential elections

Police reportedly raided the Movement for Democratic Change Harare provincial headquarters and arrested 31 supporters claiming that the gathering was illegal under the Public Order and Security Act.

535-Government running scared despite presidential victory

The government was running scared despite its victory in the presidential elections of March and was using all of the means at its disposal to head-off and disrupt any kind of gathering lest it erupt into a demonstration or riot that might spark a larger uprising.

536-ZESN chair says people voted for food and not political candidate

Zimbabwe Election Supervisory Network chairman Reginald Matchaba-Hove criticised the government for vote buying and said in the Insiza by-election people had voted for food and not for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front candidate who won the election.

537-MDC silent about results of private autopsy on Jongwe

The Movement for Democratic Change was still not aware of the results of the second independent autopsy commissioned by the party on former spokesman Learnmore Jongwe, almost a month after his death.

538-NCA-MDC sponsored stay-away flops

A stay-away organised by the National Constitutional Assembly and the Movement for Democratic Change flopped after the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions refused to endorse it because it did not have the mandate from the grassroots. Eleven ZCTU leaders were, however, arrested while attending a seminar though they had distanced themselves from the intended stay-away.

539-One dies after clashes in Kuwadzana

Political clashes continued in Kuwadzana in the run-up to a by-election to replace Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Learnmore Jongwe with one person believed to have died from severe burns. Sixteen other suspects had been arrested, all of them MDC youths.

540-A poisoning pattern

The Movement for Democratic Change complained that several of its members, including Job Sikhala, who had been detained by police and suspected CIO agents, had been forced to drink unspecified liquids resulting in severe sickness in three cases, and death in two cases.

541-MDC activists receive better treatment in prison

Movement for Democratic Change activists who were being held in custody following the death of war veterans leader Cain Nkala said their treatment had improved after they complained that they had been tortured into making confessions.

542-MP says Mugabe wanted to step down in 2001 but was urged to stay on

Former legislator for Murehwa North Victor Chitongo told a United States embassy official in September 2002 that President Mugabe wanted to retire in 2001 but was urged to stay on by several of his appointed cabinet ministers.

543-Government stops food aid to Insiza

The World Food Programme suspended food distributions in Insiza district a week before a parliamentary by-election after ZANU-PF youths seized three tonnes and began distributing it themselves.

544-Government cracks down on NGOs

The government intensified its crackdown on non-governmental organisations towards the end of 2002 with food seizures in Insiza and the halting of food aid in Binga, and piled pressure on human rights organisations like Amani Trust.

545-Parirenyatwa doubted Zimbabweans could find a solution to their crisis

Former Health Minister David Parirenyatwa doubted that Zimbabweans could resolve their political crisis on their own and suggested that major powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom should intervene. He however said President Robert Mugabe should be part of the solution.

546-US ambassador threatens Zimbabwe after farm seizure

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan said his country could review Zimbabwe’s trade benefits under the General Schedule of Preferences because Zimbabwe had seized two properties belonging to American citizens.

547-US ambassador says very few resettled farmers are actually farming

Although the government claimed that it had resettled 350 000 farmers, fewer than 100 000 had taken up residence and less than 40 000 were actually farming.

548-Daily News challenges AIPPA

The Daily News challenged the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act arguing that it interfered with and restricted freedom of expression. The respondents were Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

549-Jonathan Moyo says Daily News is operating illegally

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said the Daily News was operating illegally because it was not registered in terms of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Its journalists were also not accredited as required by the law.

550-Herald refuses to apologies for chain of “lies”

The Herald refused to apologise after a series of stories which diplomats complained had been distorted arguing that newspapers throughout the world were not immune to making mistakes and The Herald was no exception. The paper argued that there was a clear distinction between a mistake and publishing falsehoods.

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