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NEWS FROM JOZI

Joyce Mujuru – SA’s “guest of dishonour”

BY GIFT PHIRI

HARARE - Zimbabwe’s civic society has said it was “dismayed” and “extremely disappointed” by the presence of Vice-President Joice Mujuru at the golden jubilee of the South African Women’s Day last week given the atrocious and systematic subjugation of women in Zimbabwe.
Mujuru presided over the 50th anniversary of the brave women who marched across Soweto in 1956 protesting the “anti-pass laws” put in place by the apartheid regime.
Mujuru was a guest of honour at the historic anniversary that was capped by a demonstration by more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Building in Pretoria where they handed a set of demands calling for greater freedoms and empowerment of women.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a broad alliance representing more than 50 civic groups, said it was shocked by Pretoria’s decision to invite Mujuru to preside over the historic event given the upsetting suppression of women in Zimbabwe.
“Mrs Mujuru is a central figure in a government that has refused to take responsibility for or address the untold damage and destruction of Operation Murambatsvina,” the coalition said in a press statement. “She has shown no concern for the plight of the women who lost their homes and businesses. She has not done anything to preven-t the ongoing harassment of women vendors in the informal sector. She has supported the denial of basic freedoms to women throughout her political career, and has vehemently and publicly opposed the principle of women’s equality to men.”
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), a militant women’s pressure group which has staged more than 35 pro-democracy protests since its launch in 2003, said it was “deeply disturbed” to see Mujuru officiating at the SA Women’s Day when her government back home was at war with women, harassing vendors and demanding bribes from desperate women hard-pressed to educate and feed their children.
“She is complicit in the oppression of women and it was so ironic to hear her address a foreign crowd about human rights. We will continue to give her and the regime our dose of tough love,” said a WOZA spokesperson.
Crisis Coalition said Mujuru’s presence as a guest of honour was an affront to the memory of those brave veterans of the 1956 march that would have been illegal and subject to brutal repression had it been attempted in present-day Zimbabwe.
“Leaders whose actions have caused untold harm and suffering to the poorest and most vulnerable women in their countries should be held accountable – not feted as guests of honour,” Crisis Coalition said.


No Heroes Acre rest for Mugabe

JOHANNESBURG - Hundreds of Zimbabweans living in South Africa brushed aside economic and political havoc at home and honoured their national heroes at a commemoration organized by Zimbabwean civic organizations.
Human rights lawyer and leader of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) Gabriel Shumba described living Zanu (PF) heroes as “enemies of the people.”
Speaker after speaker slated the ruling party for privatizing a national commemoration of genuine heroes who died for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
The exiled student leader, Givemore Chari, who survived a CIO abduction attempt, had harsh words for President Robert Mugabe. The militant former student leader of Bindura University vowed that his generation would never allow Mugabe to rest at Heroes’ Acre.
“Mugabe brought misery to the people of Zimbabwe and we will never insult our ancestors by accommodating him at the national shrine,” said Chari.
The second leg of the commemoration was moved to Tembisa township of Ekurhuleni Metro where the local MDC leadership read out 400 names of people who died in Zanu PF hands.
A minute of silence was observed. MDC secretary of the South Africa branch, William Mabona lamented the militarization of heroes in Zimbabwe and said many genuine heroes had been denied due recognition.
“Everyone who is here is a hero, because we are current combatants for change. Zanu heroes include Enos Chokowore, Hilter Hunzwi, Joyce Mujuru and of course Joseph Chinotimba. What kind of heroes are these?” asked MDC Chairman of the West Rand district, Tawanda Mswazie. – Sibanengi Dube


MDC petitions Gauteng MEC

JOHANNESBURG - Over 300 supporters from the Mutambara faction of the MDC gathered here last week to protest against the treatment of Zimbabwean nationals by the South African police.
The protesters handed over a petition to the Gauteng MEC demanding that “police officers conduct themselves professionally when executing their duties.”
In the petition the MDC state their concern about the way the SA police “raid our flats in the middle of the night” victimising woman and children and destroying and stealing property.
A spokesperson for the party said: “We support the South African government in the fight against crime. Most of us are victims of violent crime. But the police are no longer hunting down criminals - they are targeting Zimbabweans who are victims of the Mugabe regime.”
The petition demanded that Zimbabwean nationals be treated with respect and dignity, that police officers conduct themselves professionally when executing their duties and refrain from arresting people who are in possession of asylum documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs. – Staff reporter

SA human rights abuses documented

BY SIBANENGI DUBE

JOHANNESBURG - Shocking violations of basic human rights being perpetrated on Zimbabwe farm labourers by South African farmers and government officials were laid bare last week by Human Rights Watch.
The report reveals how Zimbabweans employed in Limpopo farms were subjected to constant maltreatment by farmers who occasionally get them deported on pay-days before collecting their wages.
It also documents how state officials arrest, detain and deport undocumented foreign migrants in ways that flout South Africa’s immigration law.
The abuses violate the country’s Immigration Act as well as its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which South Africa ratified in 1999.
Human Rights Watch also found that the SA government routinely failed to enforce its employment law for farm workers. Rural migrant workers are particularly vulnerable, since commercial farmers often do not comply with basic employment laws, even for documented migrant workers.
The report also identifies ways in which SA’s immigration and employment laws do not provide adequate legal protection for migrants. The organisation called on the government to enforce and, where necessary, amend its laws to ensure that foreign nationals are able to realize their rights protected under the constitution.
Human Rights Watch called on the SA government to enforce its employment laws by increasing the number of labour inspectors and introducing mechanisms to enable workers to report employers who do not meet labour standards, and encouraging nongovernmental organizations to help monitor labour practices.
17 aug p 8 news from jozi

Govt gives white farmers ultimatum

JOHANNESBURG – White farmers in South Africa have been given an ultimatum by National Land Claims Commissioner Tozi Gwanya – “accept government offers to buy your land or we’ll take it”. The ultimatum expires in October.
Gwanya said the whole exercise or returning land to the blacks on a willing-seller basis was taking too long.
Agreements on land transfers have been reached the past few months with 200 white farm owners at a cost of R109m (US$16m) to the government, and Gwanya said he was "hopeful" that deals could be reached with the other farmers.
If negotiations fail, the government would issue farmers with letters of notice of appropriation. A farmer would then have 30 days to reconsider, and would thereafter lose their land and be paid the current market value for the property.
The SA government has categorically denied that this development is the thin end of the wedge that culminated in Zimbabwe’s notorious land grab. It insists the land will be paid for. In Zimbabwe it was merely confiscated or, as many believe, stolen.
Since 1995, the SA government has spent some R2.5bn (US$368m) on white-owned farms and transferred the property to blacks.
However, this represents a mere 4% of its target to put 30% of farm land into black hands by 2014. – Staff reporter