The Commercial Farmers Union said police have failed to protect farmers from invaders, even those who have court orders asserting their property rights. A union representing Zimbabwe's few remaining white commercial farmers says violence on white-owned farms is on the rise with 16 farmers attacked by suspected ZANU-PF militants within the past few days. The Commercial Farmers Union said Wednesday that police have failed to protect farmers from invaders, even those who have court orders asserting their property rights. The union reported that a farmer’s wife in eastern Manicaland province was barricaded into her house and given four hours notice to vacate her property on Tuesday. It said looting has become rife on many properties. "These events have been driven by statements allegedly emanating from a prominent politician who has instructed beneficiaries and officials to disregard court orders," a statement issued by the union said.

 

A top-secret document allegedly implicating Zimbabwe's security chiefs in illegal diamond dealing has come under the spotlight in a court case in Harare. Farai Maguwu, a witness to alleged irregularities in the country's diamond trade, was yesterday charged with "publishing and communicating false statements prejudicial to the state". The trial continues today. Maguwu was arrested days after he gave Kimberley Process monitor Abbey Chikane a document now considered to be "top secret". The document was said to have been fraudulently obtained from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. There was drama after Magawu handed Chikane the document as part of his evidence alleging that the illicit diamond trade at Chiadzwa, in the east of the country, was still going on. Magawu, director of the Centre for Research and Development, said Zimbabwe had not made progress in meeting expected diamond-trading norms. Security agents swooped on his house in Mutare City, but Magawu escaped. After spending days in hiding Magawu gave himself up to police last Thursday. He was detained and taken to Harare.

 

A new independent daily in Zimbabwe published its first issue on Friday (4 June 2010), in the most concrete sign yet of the government's easing of harsh media restrictions. The News Day tabloid becomes the first private daily in Zimbabwe since 2003, when the government banned The Daily News, a popular newspaper renowned for its willingness to take on the government of President Robert Mugabe. The inaugural issue led with a story about the central bank planning to retrench some 3000 employees. In an editorial, the newspaper said the publication gives the country an opportunity for the citizens to talk to each other in an open and honest way. "In the 30 years of our independence, media have been abused to relay hate and divisiveness and to create personality cult," the editorial said. "News Day shall endeavour to report the news for Zimbabweans whose collective voice has systematically drowned out the din of slogans and abhorrent propaganda," the paper said.

 

Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said that while he is disturbed by the demand by ZANU-PF lawmakers he is confident the process will advance. The scheduled launch next week of the public outreach phase of Zimbabwe's constitutional revision process appeared to be in question on Wednesday as legislators of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party threatened to boycott the exercise if their demand for an increase in daily expense allowances is not met. Responding, the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai accused the lawmakers of being mercenary and at the same time trying to derail the constitutional process.

ZANU-PF legislators told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that they want their daily expense budget during the outreach process increased to US$75 from the US$25 which has been allocated. Led by House Member Kudakwashe Bhasikiti of the Mwenezi East constituency, ZANU-PF lawmakers were saying they would insist the outreach process be postponed unless their allowances are increased.