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Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
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HARARE – Zimbabwean cricketer Mark Vermeulen is facing arson charges following a fire (see photo p23) which destroyed the offices and pavilion of the country's cricket academy last week.
Vermeulen, 27, who played eight Test matches and 32 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, has been described by friends as "depressed" following a recent car accident in which he suffered serious head injuries. He also suffered head injuries after being struck by a cricket ball in two separate incidents in 2003 and 2004.
Zimbabwean police spokesman Andrew Phiri said Vermeulen was being held in
custody and was scheduled in court Friday. He could be jailed for at least
two years.
Zimbabwe Cricket, the sport's governing body, quoted witnesses saying
Vermeulen was seen near the site of the fire that razed the two-storey straw
thatched building in eastern Harare.
SW Radio Africa reporter Tichaona Sibanda said: "Vermeulen allegedly
confessed to the police that he was responsible for the attacks and was seen
on Thursday in the company of detectives at the burnt-out academy showing
them how he carried out the attack."
The fire destroyed national squad equipment including kit used by players
preparing for a trip to Bangladesh, computers and files in offices at the
pavilion. There were no reports of injuries.
In September, Vermeulen was banned from playing in England for three years after throwing a ball at and brawling with spectators. Two of the three years were suspended.
Vermeulen was rumoured to have returned to Zimbabwe to fight for a place in
the team for next year's World Cup and may have been rebuffed by officials.
He was briefly arrested last month after demanding an interview with President Robert Mugabe at his heavily guarded official residence in Harare.
"He loves cricket, and loves playing the game but he clearly looks slightly
unbalanced. He deserves our help than condemnation," said Sibanda.
* Meanwhile, the ICC looks set to re-instate Zimbabwe as a Test-playing nation next year, provided it can improve its internal structure.
The ICC said Zimbabwe could return by November 2007 if it can establish a competitive first-class domestic competition, and play several 'A' sides in the next 12 months.
The announcements came after ICC president Percy Sonn and chief executive Malcolm Speed went on a fact-finding trip to the African nation earlier this year.
Zimbabwe withdrew from Tests in January after two years of playing a second-string side because of the retirement and defection of most of its first team after Heath Streak was dismissed as captain in April 2004. – Sports reporter
Friday, November 10, 2006
Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 28th October 2006
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Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Vigil supporters sent out a clear message to the South African government this week: we will harass you until you stop supporting Mugabe. Both Alois and Wellington were booted out for interrupting a lecture in London on Wednesday given by the South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Alois said “We were sickened to hear Dr Zuma talk about international solidarity when her government is refusing to show solidarity with the persecuted people of Zimbabwe.”
We were pleased to have with us today young Tatenda Tsikire whose mother is to be released from prison just before Christmas. In the Vigil diary of 30th September, we wrote that she had been imprisoned for working with bogus papers and appealed to the British government to allow asylum seekers to work. It was a joy to watch Tatenda dancing as previously he has been so withdrawn. Congratulations to Obey – we have a new Vigil baby, his daughter, Florence. For this week’s Vigil pictures: http://uk.msnusers.com/ZimbabweVigil/shoebox.msnw. FOR THE RECORD: 69 signed the register.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Vigil supporters sent out a clear message to the South African government this week: we will harass you until you stop supporting Mugabe. Both Alois and Wellington were booted out for interrupting a lecture in London on Wednesday given by the South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Alois said “We were sickened to hear Dr Zuma talk about international solidarity when her government is refusing to show solidarity with the persecuted people of Zimbabwe.”
We were pleased to have with us today young Tatenda Tsikire whose mother is to be released from prison just before Christmas. In the Vigil diary of 30th September, we wrote that she had been imprisoned for working with bogus papers and appealed to the British government to allow asylum seekers to work. It was a joy to watch Tatenda dancing as previously he has been so withdrawn. Congratulations to Obey – we have a new Vigil baby, his daughter, Florence. For this week’s Vigil pictures: http://uk.msnusers.com/ZimbabweVigil/shoebox.msnw. FOR THE RECORD: 69 signed the register.
WOZA members walk free
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Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
* Officers threaten severe beatings *8th court victory
BULAWAYO - One hundred and fifty-two members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, (WOZA) including 30 members of Men of Zimbabwe Arise, walked free from court on Tuesday. The state, represented by rosecutor, Mr Manata, withdrew charges before plea citing lack of evidence to support the case. Magistrate Msipha presided over the case.
The members were being charged under Chapter 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘participating in a public gathering with the intent to cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry’.
WOZA said the prosecutor was overheard bearing down on the state witnesses just before the trial, for writing ‘useless’ statements, which he said, were too watery and could not be used to pin down WOZA.
The frustrated Law and Order officers were later heard devising strategies to be employed to stifle future dissent by WOZA members, among which were thorough beatings to cow the members. Another officer replied saying ‘ but these do not run away, they will just sit down and wait for us to stop’.
Riot police arrested WOZA members as they were marching towards the RBZ offices where they intended to hand over an open letter to Gideon Gono. The peaceful protest started at 11am at the Post Office in Main Street. As the procession turned into Leopold Takawira St, to go to the Reserve Bank, police appeared and stopped the march, arresting the members. Over 20 members, many of them minors were subjected to different forms of torture whilst in the offices of the Law and Order Department. They were made to sit on ‘air chairs’ and beaten under their feet.
Advocate Perpetua Dube, a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, defended the women. This is the eighth court victory for WOZA members.
The organisation’s leadership declared it a victory for economic reforms. “By withdrawing charges against us, we take it that it is a confirmation that Gono has a case to answer. We marched to demand economic reforms not just a slashing of zeroes and we have been vindicated. You cannot criminalize the speaking of the truth. So we say once again to Gideon Gono – if you want to be a hero you must slash more than a zero!” they said. – Own correspondent
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
* Officers threaten severe beatings *8th court victory
BULAWAYO - One hundred and fifty-two members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, (WOZA) including 30 members of Men of Zimbabwe Arise, walked free from court on Tuesday. The state, represented by rosecutor, Mr Manata, withdrew charges before plea citing lack of evidence to support the case. Magistrate Msipha presided over the case.
The members were being charged under Chapter 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘participating in a public gathering with the intent to cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry’.
WOZA said the prosecutor was overheard bearing down on the state witnesses just before the trial, for writing ‘useless’ statements, which he said, were too watery and could not be used to pin down WOZA.
The frustrated Law and Order officers were later heard devising strategies to be employed to stifle future dissent by WOZA members, among which were thorough beatings to cow the members. Another officer replied saying ‘ but these do not run away, they will just sit down and wait for us to stop’.
Riot police arrested WOZA members as they were marching towards the RBZ offices where they intended to hand over an open letter to Gideon Gono. The peaceful protest started at 11am at the Post Office in Main Street. As the procession turned into Leopold Takawira St, to go to the Reserve Bank, police appeared and stopped the march, arresting the members. Over 20 members, many of them minors were subjected to different forms of torture whilst in the offices of the Law and Order Department. They were made to sit on ‘air chairs’ and beaten under their feet.
Advocate Perpetua Dube, a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, defended the women. This is the eighth court victory for WOZA members.
The organisation’s leadership declared it a victory for economic reforms. “By withdrawing charges against us, we take it that it is a confirmation that Gono has a case to answer. We marched to demand economic reforms not just a slashing of zeroes and we have been vindicated. You cannot criminalize the speaking of the truth. So we say once again to Gideon Gono – if you want to be a hero you must slash more than a zero!” they said. – Own correspondent
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