SW radio Africa News stories for Thursday 4 February

ZANU PF tables motion to debate sanctions issue in parliament
Parliament was forced to adjourn prematurely on Wednesday after chaos broke out between the political rivals over the issue of the targeted sanctions. The commotion started when ZANU PF MP for Mwenezi East, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti moved a motion calling for the MDC formations to demand the lifting of sanctions. MDC legislators protested heavily and started heckling.

Kunonga thugs attempt to evict priest and his pregnant wife
Thugs loyal to the excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga on Wednesday raided the home of an Anglican priest in Harare’s Hatfield suburb and attempted to evict him and his pregnant wife. The resident priest Rev Matyatya was not home on the night when the invasion began, after earlier being admitted to Chitungwiza General Hospital following an attack by dogs during a morning jog.

Student beaten after arrest of 11 on UZ campus
The Zimbabwe National Students Union is demanding the arrest of a security guard from the University of Zimbabwe, after a student leader was ‘severely’ beaten in a crackdown by police and security guards on a public students meeting. Police arrested eleven students on Wednesday, including four ZINASU officials who were holding a meeting to address students’ grievances regarding tuition fees and accommodation problems.

Election fever hots up ahead of fresh ZUJ poll
The campaign to elect new leadership for the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) is gathering momentum ahead of polling day in three weeks time. Fresh ZUJ elections will be held on the 27th February at the Royal hotel in Bulawayo after the executive that was controversially voted into office in December last year opted to stand down and allow for new elections.

Rusape family under siege by violent land invaders
Yet another farming family in Rusape has come under siege by farm invaders this week as the offensive against the remaining commercial farmers in Zimbabwe continues.

 

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SW radio Africa News Headlines for Thursday 4 February

 

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This week on Behind the Headlines Lance Guma speaks to Co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa about the unending harassment of Anglican parishioners by police. Around 4000 Anglicans thronged Africa Unity Square on Sunday to hold an open air protest prayer. The church is locked in a dispute over its property with the pro-Mugabe Bishop Nolbert Kunonga who was excommunicated in 2007. Mutsekwa says he has held several meetings with police commanders and the Attorney General and it seems there is confusion over the interpretation of a High Court judgment on the matter.

 

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Tanonoka comments, “if Tsvangirai now feels comfortable seeing his followers being beaten up, arrested and made to disappear; if he feels okay with the army’s abuse of people in Makoni and elsewhere; if he feels fine with the continuing farm invasions and if he is pleased with ZANU-PF’s continuing non-compliance with the Global Political Agreement then it might also be time for western and European countries to slap travel bans and sanctions on Tsvangirai and his top leadership because the reasons those sanctions were imposed have not changed.” Read transcript

 

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Mathe is disappointed that it’s the political parties who are focusing on the new constitution and not the government; Wilbert says Morgan Tsvangirai is continuously making concessions and giving in to Mugabe, the issue now being the lifting of sanctions that are affecting only Mugabe and his cohorts and not the country, and, Fanuel says the only way forward is to prepare for elections otherwise ZANU PF will just continue with delaying tactics.

 

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