What you may have missed October 6-10

ZANU-PF wars- It’s dog eat dog in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front as the two major factions prepare to position themselves up for succession, according to media reports. But ZANU-PF succession wars have been going on for more than two decades without any split. The two major contenders are said to be Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa, but having just won elections overwhelmingly this could all be talk.

Door closed
Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi today said Zimbabwe had nothing more to negotiate with the West after they failed to endorse the 31 July elections. Instead, he said, it is the West which should seek re-engagement with Zimbabwe.

Market positive
Zimbabwe’s stock index rose for a 16th day, its longest winning streak in a year, as investors speculated President Robert Mugabe’s government will put in place policies supportive of economic growth. The gauge slumped to an eight-month low on 5 September, falling 24 percent after reaching its highest level in more than four years on 1 August. “The www*wsigns have been reasonably positive. The government has put measures in place that would take the country forward. It also said it will keep on engaging with industry on harmonizing of the indigenization program for what is best to industry,” a market analyst said.

Mugabe applauds Moyo
President Robert Mugabe has applauded Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Jonathan Moyo for masterminding the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s landslide victory in the July 31 elections. Moyo is reported to have crafted ZANU-PF’s election manifesto which addressed critical issues affecting the majority of Zimbabweans under the theme: “Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment”.

I don’t want your girls
President Robert Mugabe today called on European nations to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe in order to boost trade ties. “We do not want to visit France. I do not want your girls. I do not want to visit France for romantic purposes. I want to develop relations between us,” he told visiting diplomats from France, Germany and Holland. “Can France have a national introspection and see whether it’s right to continue to pursue the policy of sanctions against Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe backs ICC pull out
Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa today said Zimbabwe backs calls for African nations to cut ties with the International Criminal Court because it was humiliating African leaders by targeting them, while letting off Western leaders over conflicts in Iraq and Libya. “We have now realised it is only being used against Africans and not against cowboys like George Bush. In the lifespan of the ICC, it has not been playing fair with regards to who goes there and who doesn’t…it is biased and why should we go to Europe to be tried?” he said.

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