551-Banker says Chinamasa, Made, Moyo and Chombo are enriching themselves
Standard Chartered Chief Executive and Zimbabwe Bankers’ Association President Washington Matsaira told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan that President Mugabe’s inner-circle “hawks”- Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and Public Works Minister Ignatius Chombo- were either still enriching themselves from the government’s interventionist policies by accessing foreign currency at the official rate or unwilling to press Mugabe to make a change.
552-CFU says Moyo not Made calling the shots on land issue
Commercial Farmers Union president Colin Cloete said after several meetings with government officials he was now convinced that it was Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, and not Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, who was in control of the negotiations.
553-US upset by Obasanjo’s letter about Zimbabwe
The United States was so upset by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to Australian Prime Minister John Howard recommending the lifting of Commonwealth sanctions on Zimbabwe that it said the letter read like a press release from Zimbabwe’s propaganda chief Jonathan Moyo.
554-Gono offered tax-evasion assistance to exporters while at CBZ?
Indigenous banks like the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe had found a niche market offering tax-evasion assistance for exporters that they were not likely to stop this practice despite the announcement of a new exchange rate by the government.
555-US ambassador says Makoni is a breath of fresh air
United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan said former Finance Minister Simba Makoni was a breath of fresh air. “He never feeds us his party’s tired rhetoric, but freely acknowledges the depth of the crises facing Zimbabwe and has good ideas about how to resolve them.”
556-Zimbabwe deports UN Special Rapporteur on torture
Zimbabwe barred the United Nations special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, from the entering the country, though he had initially been invited by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
557-Newspaper says three MDC ministers are facing corruption charges
The Zimbabwe Independent said three Movement for Democratic Change ministers, co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa, Energy Minister Elias Mudzuri and Mines deputy Minister Murisi Zvizwai, were facing internal corruption investigations but party spokesman Nelson Chamisa denied this.
558-Chamisa arrested for inciting violence
Movement for Democratic Change youth chairman Nelson Chamisa was arrested and charged with inciting violence at rallies in Harare’s Glen Norah and Kambuzuma suburbs.
559-Two by-elections critical to ZANU-PF succession planning
With 93 seats in Parliament, only seven short of attaining a two-thirds majority, by-elections in Kuwadzana and Highfield were viewed as key to the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front succession planning. The party could play around with the country’s constitution which it had failed to amend in 2000 if it attained a two-thirds majority.
560-POSA-the curse of the MDC MP
After losing the Kuwadzana and Highfield seats the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front appeared to have stepped up its harassment of Movement for Democratic Change legislators. Several MDC legislators were charged with contravening the Public Order and Security Act and could face penalties of up to 20 years in jail.
Movement for Democratic Change legislator for Kuwadzana Nelson Chamisa was arrested for holding a constituency feedback meeting at his house without police approval in what appeared to be continued harassment of the MDC.
562-Tsvangirai advisor speaks about challenges to MDC
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s special advisor Gandi Mudzingwa said the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was opening political space for the MDC but the party was now in a dilemma on how to exploit these new opportunities without conceding their right to participate or boycott the coming elections.
563-A kinder gentler ZANU-PF- not likely!
Speculation that an overwhelming ZANU-PF win in the parliamentary elections, would lead ZANU-PF to moderate its stance toward the opposition were dashed off soon after the 2005 elections which the party won by a two-thirds majority.
564-Chamisa and Gandi Mudzingwa quizzed over arms caches
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s right hand man Gandi Mudzingwa and youth chairman Nelson Chamisa were detained by police for six hours and were repeatedly asked to identify locations of MDC arms caches.
565-MDC tries to foment disturbances after crackdown on illegal activities
Movement for Democratic Change secretary for presidential affairs Gandi Mudzingwa told United States embassy officials that the party was working closely with civil society to foment protests over the government crackdown on the informal sector.
566-MDC seeks “continued” US Support
Movement for Democratic Change secretary Welshman Ncube, secretary for foreign affairs Priscilla Misihairabwi- Mushonga, youth chairman Nelson Chamisa, Job Sikhala and secretary for economic affairs Tendai Biti, asked a visiting congressional delegation that had come to inspect the effects of the government crackdown on illegal settlements for “continued” US support saying Operation restore Order had weakened the government.
567-Chamisa says taking MDC split to court is political lunacy
Movement for Democratic Change youth chairman Nelson Chamisa told United States embassy officials that party secretary general Welshman Ncube was bent on destroying the party and added that opening up the party to disruption and manipulation by the government-controlled courts was political lunacy.
The split of the Movement for Democratic Change over participation in senate elections took a nastier turn when the faction led by secretary-general Welshman Ncube filed an application with the court barring party leader Morgan Tsvangirai from continuing to speak for the party.
569-Bennett says Tsvangirai is the MDC’s only chance
Movement for Democratic Change legislator for Chimanimani Roy Bennett said party leader Morgan Tsvangirai was their only chance in the next presidential elections and would gave to remain atop the party “for now”.
570-MDC leaders from Manicaland arrested on arms charges
At least six Movement for Democratic Change leaders, including Roy Bennett and Giles Mutsekwa, from Manicaland were arrested in connection with arms caches. The other four were Michael Peter Hitschmann, at whose home the cache was found, MDC provincial treasurer Brian James, MDC provincial youth chairman Knowledge Nyamhuka, and MDC activist Thando Sibanda.
571-Tsvangirai says there is no room for life presidents in Zimbabwe
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said there was no room for life presidents in Zimbabwe and promised to step down as party leader after Zimbabweans liberated themselves from the current dictatorship. He was addressing the party’s congress after the split of 2005 where he was unanimously elected president.
572-Chamisa says “without VOA we are done”
Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa said his party would use Voice of America’s Studio 7, which is targeted at Zimbabwe, to expose the cracks within the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front adding, “without VOA we are done”.
A member of the pro-senate faction of the Movement for Democratic Change Trudy Stevenson was attacked by some youths who she claimed where from the Morgan Tsvangirai faction of the MDC. Tsvangirai’s party denied the allegations but pro-senate spokesman Gabriel Chaibva said one of the cars used was owned by Tsvangirai faction spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
At least three documents claiming to be audits on the controversial land issue were doing the rounds in early 2003 warranting the United States embassy to issue a cable which among others had a hall of shame in which top Zimbabwe African National Union –Patriotic Front officials who had more than one farm were named and shamed.
A stay-away organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions was a success with between 70 to 90 percent of the workers staying at home but the United States embassy said Information Minister Jonathan Moyo could retaliate using the Public Order and Security Act.
576-Repressive laws up for amendment
Two repressive laws, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Electoral Amendment Bill, are to come up for amendments before parliament. If proposed amendments are passed, the bills will tighten restrictions on the Zimbabwean people and journalists, rights of expression, limit the campaigning ability of opposition parties, and make the electoral process less inclusive.
577-Supreme Court nullifies section of AIPPA
The Supreme Court said section 80 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which made the publication of “falsehoods” a criminal offence was unconstitutional. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said he would revise the section.
578-US embassy says government lied to them
The United States embassy complained after the deportation of American journalist Andrew Meldrum that immigration officials had lied to them and his lawyers that they were not deporting him.
579-Jonathan Moyo not yet doctoring inflation figures
Zimbabwe’s inflation had rocketed to 269 percent by April 2003 but United States embassy officials were happy that Information Minister Jonathan Moyo had not yet started doctoring the numbers.
Amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act were expected to top the agenda when parliament resumed seating in the second half of 2003. Critics of AIPPA argued that the law contravened the constitutional right of freedom of expression and was meant to gag the independent media.
581-Tsvangirai leads march on parliament
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai led a demonstration of between 500 and 1 000 supporters from the party headquarters to Parliament calling for President RobertMugabe to step down. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said details of the march were known only to Tsvangirai and a handful of organisers and that the national executive council learned about the march on the morning of the march.
582-Chiredzi South by-election expected to bolster Mnangagwa
A 2007 by-election in Chiredzi South in which the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was fielding an ex-army officer, Killian Gwanetsa, was expected to bolster Emmerson Mnangagwa who was reportedly trying to increase his support within the military as well as his influence in Masvingo Province.
583-Bennett kept million-dollar funding to MDC secret to keep vultures at bay
Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Roy Bennett told United States embassy officials that the party had obtained a US$1 million donation but only party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, secretary general Tendai Biti and himself knew about this funding. Bennett said he wanted to keep things that way to keep the “vultures at bay”.
584-Government arrests human rights lawyers
The government arrested Alec Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni, two prominent human rights lawyers who were representing 31 opposition officials, and charged them with obstruction of justice.
585-Chamisa said MDC would be finished if it boycotted 2008 elections
Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the Movement for Democratic Change would be finished as a party if it boycotted the 2008 elections.
586-Behind the scenes in the run-up to the 2008 elections
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee less than two months before the 2008 elections that the party was broke. It needed US$10 million to run its country-wide campaign.
587-US ambassador refuses to buy MDC spin
United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee refused to buy Movement for Democratic Change spin that a march in the capital had attracted more than 30 000 people, saying instead it had only attracted hundreds. He had been given the figure by MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa and party president Morgan Tsvangirai had confirmed Chamisa’s figure.
588-MDC paralysed by spate of arrests
In what appeared to be a deliberate and concerted effort to paralyse the Movement for Democratic Change soon after its election victory in March 2008, 10 Members of Parliament and two senators were jailed and formally charged. Other MDC officials were detained without charge, harassed or pursued on unknown charges.
The Movement for Democratic Change was ecstatic when it won the Speaker of Parliament post giving it control of the House of Assembly prompting the United States embassy in Harare to comment that Mugabe had been shocked and humiliated by the MDC twice in two days.
590-Mugabe puts US on the defensive
President Robert Mugabe put United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan on the defensive when he said United States President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair had lied about Iraq. Mugabe said the two superpowers were “liars” and “criminals” and must stand before the International Court of Justice.
591-Media reaction to George Bush’s visit to Africa
The reporting of United States President George Bush’s visit to Africa reflected the political divide in the local media with The Herald trashing the visit because Bush was coming to Africa “with dirty hands after his alleged bungling in Iraq”.
592-Herald says MDC antics are childish and laughable
The battle to trash United States President George Bush’s visit to Africa continued with The Herald lashing out at the Movement for Democratic Change.
593-Jonathan Moyo says people are tired of MDC lies and hallucinations
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo spoiled the conciliatory tone of President Robert Mugabe when he opened Parliament on 22 July 2003, easing tensions between the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change, by labelling the MDC a “hitherto treasonous party” which must stop “sabotaging the economy” and claiming that the public was “tired of MDC lies and hallucinations”.
594-Why Mugabe did not want to talk to Tsvangirai
President Robert Mugabe did not want to talk to Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai way back in 2003 for three major reasons. The first was his legitimacy, the second the MDC challenge of the March 2002 presidential elections and the third the MDC’s alleged status as a puppet of the West.
595-Jonathan Moyo blasts US over Studio 7
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo accused the United States and Britain of toughening “their hostility towards Zimbabwe,” by “churning out propaganda about regime change” through the Voice of America’s Studio 7.
596-Gandi Mudzingwa says the MDC does not have anybody beyond Tsvangirai
Gandi Mudzingwa, the special advisor to Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told a United States embassy official that like the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, the MDC had no clear succession mechanism and despite its wide popular support it lacked anybody beyond Tsvangirai who had the stature to command a national following.
597-Jonathan Moyo sends NGOs panicking
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo sent jitters within Non-Governmental organisations when he reportedly said NGOs that did not cooperate with the government “would be cut off at the knees”.
598-Government closes Daily News
Police on 12 September 2003 raided the offices and printing press of The Daily News forcing production to cease. The raid followed a Supreme Court ruling the previous day that the paper’s operations were illegal under the Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act.
599-Mzembi says there is no rift between Mugabe and Mnangagwa
Masvingo South legislator Walter Mzembi told a United States embassy official in late 2008 that he had attended meetings that included President Robert Mugabe and Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and he doubted that there was a rift between the two.
600-Chamisa and Biti did not want GPA
Movement for Democratic Change hardliners secretary general Tendai Biti and spokesman Nelson Chamisa did not want the agreement between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the MDC and were trying to scuttle the deal nearly a month after the signing of the Global Political Agreement.
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