Top stories November 1-5

No judgement- South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal today reserved judgment in the appeal hearing that that South Africa was obliged under international law to probe alleged atrocities by officials in Zimbabwe. A lower court had ruled that the National Prosecuting Authority could prosecute Zimbabweans alleged to have committed atrocities if they ever set foot in South Africa. South African police argued that they could investigate a person involved in an alleged crime only when that person set foot in the country. To spend resources on an investigation where there were no prospects of a prosecution, such as if a foreigner might enter the country, would be wrong “because it would lead to nothing”.

Mad man
President Robert Mugabe today described Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai as a mad man for refusing to accept his election defeat on 31 July.”We won elections, now Mr Tsvangirai is running around saying he was cheated. I don’t think he is normal. He is as good as mad. He is running to London and has been to TB Joshua seeking prayers. But you cannot pray for a person who is bent on wrong-doing. He knows he lost but he says we stole the vote. If someone tells such lies and goes to the pastor to say pray for me, God will not listen to such a prayer. You know you are telling a lie and you kneel down asking God to give you blessings. Unless you know how to be honest, truthful and frank and admit your mistakes, God will not listen to you.”

Get out of election mode
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo today slammed politicians for keeping the country in perpetual election mode instead of focusing on national development. “People are tired of elections and there is no way we can be in election mode for ever like we have witnessed that in the last two weeks. When we have a party that is supposed to be at the forefront of rallying people for developmental issues locking themselves up in the mode of elections then that is dangerous and unfortunate. They pursue politics that are personal, driven by the need for money and corruption and that does not speak to the ideology of the party as enunciated by President Robert Mugabe,” he said.

Fertiliser companies told to jack up
Zimbabwe’s fertiliser companies have been told to boost their production to stop increasing imports. According to the African Development Bank, Zimbabwe’s three fertiliser companies have the capacity to produce enough fertiliser for domestic use and for export but during the first half of this year Zimbabwe spent more on fertiliser imports than on fuel. At one time the fertiliser companies had the capacity to produce 500 000 tonnes. Local demand is estimated at 300 000 tonnes.

Budget delay
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa today said he would not be able to announce his budget for 2014 this month but would definitely meet the deadline of unveiling it before January 2014. “We won’t have a budget statement in November. I need more time, possibly in December, but we will meet the constitutional requirement of doing it by January 2014,” he said.

Economy to grow
Zimbabwe’s economy is expected to grow by 6.1 percent next year up from this year’s 3.1 percent because of the robust mining sector. Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa today said that the country’s gross domestic product will expand to US$15.5 billion next year. Growth will average 7 percent up to 2018.

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