Zimbabwe's controversial policy of transferring majority control of foreign-owned firms to black Zimbabweans will begin in the key mining sector, a minister said on Tuesday. Under regulations which took effect on March 1, the companies must submit plans to show how they will sell 51 percent of their shares to black Zimbabweans within five years. The laws have divided the fragile unity government formed last year by Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who said they were issued without consulting the cabinet. "I am happy to announce that government has unanimously decided that implementation of our indigenisation policy starts with the mining sector," Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said after a cabinet meeting.

 

VIOLET GONDA: The Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, Dr Lovemore Madhuku and Paul Themba Nyathi, a member of the Mutambara led MDC, are my guests on the programme Hot Seat, with an analysis of the political situation in Zimbabwe. Let me start with Mr Nyathi, when you were the spokesperson of the original MDC, that is, before the split, you talked a lot about the brutality that was being inflicted on the MDC members. So now that there’s an inclusive government do you think that the sacrifices that were made during those days have borne fruit?

The European Union has pledged an estimated eight million dollars to Zimbabwe's quest for constitutional reform, as the outreach phase of the process remains stalled. Efforts to rewrite the constitution, as stipulated by the Global Political Agreement, have stalled as officials complain they lack the money to conduct the outreach campaign, meant to gather public opinion.
"In order for the project to move forward, we are therefore pleased to grant our approval to the first quarterly work plan which amounts to 8,117,831 United States dollars (six million euros)," Xavier Marchal, EU head of country delegation, said in a letter to Zimbabwean ministers. A Zimbabwean MP involved in the country's constitutional revision process said Monday that there is still no firm date for the launch of the public outreach phase. Edward Nkosi, co-chairman of the parliamentary select committee in charge of the process, has cited funding issues as the key
reason behind the delay. He explained that the government and international donors are "haggling" over how various costs, set aside specifically for the process, will be met.

 

Four members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise held by Harare police since a demonstration last week were released on Tuesday without being charged. The activists included Jenni Williams, WOZA national coordinator, and Magodonga Mahlangu, another leader of the group, which demonstrated at the Harare offices of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority or ZESA on Thursday against high electric power rates. Their release was ordered by the office of the Attorney General after five nights detention, WOZA sources said, citing insufficient evidence. Members Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani were also released Tuesday. WOZA Coordinator Williams told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that the group will sue the government for unlawful arrest and detention.

 

Almost 300 MDC activists in Manicaland province are still to stand trial, a year after police charged them with trying to reclaim their livestock looted by ZANU PF supporters during the election violence in 2008. The activists have been appearing in court for remand hearings at least twice a month. For many it involves traveling long distances to appear before magistrates in Mutare, Rusape, Nyanga and Chipinge. The court delays have also become a huge drain on the financial resources of the MDC in Manicaland, who have to pay legal and travel costs for their activists. Half were arrested in Nyanga North in March 2009 while another 70 were arrested in Mutasa North. Others charged with ‘theft’ are based in various districts of the province. MDC spokesman for Manicaland and MP for Makoni South, Pishai Muchauraya, told us Tuesday the livestock which their supporters tried to reclaim was looted during the June 27, 2008 one-man Presidential run off.