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Survey of Voter Intentions

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Written by: John Burke

Category: Blog

Published: 07 February 2023

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Results of an independent survey of Zimbabwean voters show that Nelson Chamisa will defeat the incumbent president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, obtaining an outright majority of votes in elections scheduled for later this year.

The survey was conducted for The Brenthurst Foundation by the London-based SABI Strategy Group, which is not affiliated with a Zimbabwean party. The survey, conducted in January using an in-depth 15-minute questionnaire, shows Chamisa would win 53% of the vote to Mnangagwa’s 40% among those who say they will definitely vote.

The result is more evidence of the sliding dominance of “liberation” parties as economic growth in the region lags behind the rest of the developing world — and much of Africa.

SEE THE FULL SURVEY HERE

Zanu-PF was boosted by the ousting of the long-time president, Robert Mugabe, with his replacement, Mnangagwa, given the opportunity to reinvent the party and implement much-needed economic reforms.

Read more: Survey of Voter Intentions

Misappropriated Gold and Diamonds

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Written by: David Smith, Africa Correspondent

Category: Corruption News

Published: 02 August 2022

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WHO MISAPPROPRIATED OUR GOLD /DIAMOND REVENUE  & PROFITS!

What’s the true story behind the Gold/Diamond Corruption? Zimbabwe regime accused of stealing $2bn in diamonds

Report claims that revenue from Marange fields has been channelled into 'parallel government' loyal to Robert Mugabe [2012] Miners dig for diamonds in the Marange fields, Zimbabwe

This article is more than 9 years old:  Mon 12 Nov 2012 18.54 GMT

Diamonds worth at least $2bn (£1.26bn) have been stolen by the Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's ruling elite, international dealers and criminals, in "perhaps the biggest single plunder of diamonds the world has seen since Cecil Rhodes", a watchdog has claimed.

Revenue that could have revived the country's ailing economy has been channelled into a "parallel government" of police and military officers and government officials loyal to Mugabe, according to Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), a group campaigning against "blood diamonds". The Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe were discovered in 2006 and are one of the world's biggest diamond deposits. But funds from diamond sales have not reached the state treasury, says a PAC report, published on Monday to coincide with a Zimbabwe government conference on the diamond trade in Victoria Falls. Instead there is evidence that millions have gone to Mugabe's inner circle.

"Marange's potential has been overshadowed by violence, smuggling, corruption and most of all, lost opportunity," says PAC.

"The scale of illegality is mind-blowing" and has spread to "compromise most of the diamond markets of the world."

The report, Reap What You Sow: Greed and Corruption in Zimbabwe's Marange Diamond Fields, [Available in Full - click the link] describes the $2bn lost to the Zimbabwean treasury since 2008 as a "conservative estimate".

Tendai Biti, the finance minister, [2012] said in his latest budget he had been promised $600m in diamond revenue for the national treasury to help rebuild neglected hospitals, schools and other public services. Only a quarter of that pledge has been received, he claims.

The PAC names Obert Mpofu, mines minister since 2009 and a key Mugabe ally, as perhaps the biggest winner. He has amassed an unexplained personal fortune and is linked to a "small and tight group of political and military elites who have been in charge of Marange from the very beginning" and who are personally benefiting from the diamond sales, the report alleges.

Mpofu spent more than $20m‚ "mostly in cash"‚ over the past three years, the report says, and owns vast swaths of land. "While Mpofu is not the only Zanu official benefiting from Marange's riches, his role as the chief guardian of Marange raises the most concern," the report says.

Mpofu insists that western economic sanctions [sic] have prevented the government from getting fair prices for the diamonds on the international market. He has repeatedly refused to give exact figures on diamond revenues, the PAC claims.

In 2010 leading industry insiders, including Filip van Laere, a Belgian diamond expert working for the Mugabe government, forecast the country could produce as much as 30m to 40m carats a year, worth about $2bn annually, the PAC report says.

The diamonds are being mined and sold but the funds are not reaching the Zimbabwean treasury, according to the report. Instead they are going to Mugabe's allies, a group of Zimbabwean military generals and foreigners in South Africa, China, Dubai, India and Israel.

Most of the revenue is lost through a lack of transparency in accounting for how many diamonds are mined, how much is earned from their sales, the underpricing of gems on world markets, smuggling and a "high level of collusion" by government officials.

Records show that 10m carats of Marange diamonds were exported to Dubai in late 2012 for $600m, which the report says is half the value it should have been. This "underscores a price manipulation scheme perpetrated by Indian buyers and their Zimbabwe allies, with whom they are believed to share the spoils," the report says.

PAC's researchers were also unable to trace a 2.5m carat stockpile, valued at around $200m, which mysteriously disappeared in November 2011. It charges that $300m in diamond sales never made it to the Zimbabwe treasury in 2011. The report also criticises the Kimberley Process for allowing the misuse of funds to happen. "Calls for greater transparency have been dismissed within the Kimberley Process," it says.

"The lack of transparency surrounding Zimbabwe's diamond revenue is a matter of critical public interest and amplifies concerns for some time that these revenues are funding a parallel government" of Mugabe loyalists, many known to be building private mansions and buying luxury cars costing far in excess of their income from tax-funded salaries, the report adds.

Analysts have warned that the diamond wealth could boost Mugabe's war chest for elections expected next year, giving it a huge advantage over prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change. 

Mugabe's Zanu-PF dismissed the report as politically motivated. Rugare Gumbo, a party spokesman, said: "Our view is that PAC is just there to destabilise the situation in southern Africa. The Kimberley Process monitor and other monitors have been here and say it's being done properly. What people don't understand is that we had to bring order to a process that was chaotic." He added: "PAC don't believe we should benefit from the resources of our country. The scapegoat always is President Mugabe because of the regime change agenda. 

Mpofu told Voice of America: "I will not dignify those baseless accusations with a response. This is pure madness, rank madness really from a group that is sponsored by countries that do not want to see us benefiting from our diamonds.

"They can continue to talk but we will not look back. Zimbabwe's diamonds are the best and they are hurting that they are not mining in Marange, that's all. We are used to this. They release reports ahead of major conferences and Kimberley plenary sessions but we are not fazed at all

2022 Walk for Freedom

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Written by: John Burke ZHRO

Category: Diaspora

Published: 01 August 2022

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In this update, made on the sombre anniversary of 1st August 2018 when Zimbabwe's Soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on unarmed civilians - who were quite correctly protesting about the rigging of the 2018 election, we must remind all Zimbabweans, the AU [African Union], SADC [Southern African Development Community] and the rest of the World, that there are currently NO Free and Fair Elections - nor has there been in practice since the 1980 [False] Independence. We will also repeat this item on our  website that highlights the fact that there is a Military Cabal controlling Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF party. https://take2zimbabwe.com

So our WALK FOR FREEDOM is as relevant as ever on this 7th time we have planned this event [the first time was in August 2016 just prior to the formation of ZHRO in October 2016]. Our 'practice walks' this month in London and North Yorkshire, have tied-in with other events to do with campaigning for Free, Fair and Open Elections - as highlighted below:

"Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. . . . The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."
Article 21, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

As in previous year's we will attempt to predict our walking timetable for those who may wish to cheer us on, or join us for part of this well trodden route of ours. So we will publish maps, timetables, and for those with a 'tech savvy' outlook - live navigation links to the UK's Ordnance Survey Mapping software. The same as the organiser's on the day. {Due shortly} Now added below in yellow Highlighter.

This year we are actively seeking supporting donations so that we can [as we have done in every year previously] have a support team(s) to ferry the walkers, food, bandages, blister plasters etc., In addition as necessary, finally collect the "walking wounded" (!) - joking - but some of us have very delicate feet - and the stony footpaths can take their toll on those without practice, multiple pairs of socks {for keeping the feet cool}, good footwear, ankle support, blisters and cramps! Plus a bit of sympathy at times too!

So our donation PayPal button on this page would welcome your spontaneous generosity. Or this QR code using your phone.

Now those wishing to be at the start, we must emphasise that the walkers will hope to leave the Brighton Pier forecourt at 7:00am sharp. This is to facilitate the 8 miles to stand and take in the stunning beauty atop the "Devil's Dyke" hill within the South Downs.

As the organisation is very 'minimal' we cannot accommodate people leaving at different times - as each group would need navigational support - since so few have taken onboard the mapping software in the past. So for practical reasons, we start at one time, in a group, ideally keeping together. This will facilitate the taking of photos, Twitter, Facebook, ZHRO Live, Zim Eye Live and other media we will employ throughout the full 25-30 hours of the "Walk for Freedom"

This link is the most important, its the original detailed full route as plotted on the OS Online platform from Ordnance Survey UK. It is scaleable, in that it can be enlarged right down to individual footpath levels. If you have the OS App then you can navigate "live" in the field using your phone as a direction finder. 100km Route CLICK HERE

Timetable {Approximate}

This timetable is AN APPROXIMATION for arriving and leaving times at the locations identified with Sat Nav Post Codes

Route Maps here - Along the full Walk for Freedom

Ready for further Updates Here  

Moreblessing's Heinous Murder

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Written by: Tryness Ncube

Category: Letters to the Editor(s)

Published: 30 June 2022

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On the 24th of May 2022 Moreblessing Ali was forcibly taken into a car by an unknown man, believed to be part of the state securities apparatus. A few weeks later on the 11th June 2022, her body was found ripped apart. She had been butchered - this illustrates the deep psycosis prevalent within the Regime and its desperation to retain power - at any cost.

This terrible news reached the UK during our Release Moreblessing Ali demonstration outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Flickr Record of the day

This was the worst moment for CCC family and all the human rights organisation who tirelessly called for Moreblessing's safe return. 

Job Sikhala was appointed by Moreblessing Ali's family to represent them in fighting for justice for Moreblessing. Job Sikhala as a human rights lawyer knew what to do and the steps to be taken.  State Securities agents arrested Job Sikhala and he is still in custody at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. Why Job Sikhala was arrested in the first place? This is all of us still asking but we have no answers, but we believe ZANU PF has a hand in it as they have done it before. 

Moreblessing Ali was a CCC supporter, in addition, Langelihle Dube also known as Mr Tuesday, has also been murdered. He was a strong CCC activists who made a name by campaigning for more people to come out in numbers to register to vote and to vote for change.

This is just to mention two of the many Opposition activitist that have been killed - and all these killings are orchestrated by ED Mnangagwa 's regime, ZANU PF. 

In Zimbabwe it's a pity that no rule of law or human rights are adhered to.  Opposition members and activitists are not allowed to voice their concerns. Now ZANU PF is blaming the western countries for supporting CCC and also blaming the west for the sanctions in Zimbabwe.

As a CCC and ZHRO activitist, I am calling more pressure on ZANU PF and ED Mnangagwa to be applied inall four corners of the world.  Zimbabwe was once  bread basket for Africa but today it is now the worst begger.  As it is now we are calling for the world to do something about ED Mnangagwa and ZANU PF as no opposition activitist is either free or safe in Zimbabwe.  I say: "FREE Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole".