NEWSLETTER FROM BEN FREETH IN ZIMBABWE

It is - and has been - a difficult and sensitive time as we head towards elections next year.  The date has not been announced, but constitutionally they should be held by or before the end of July 2023. However, indications are that President Emmerson Mnangagwa may call early polls in March or April. Fear is very much on the rise as people get unjustly thrown into jail in the most awful of conditions. On the positive side, we distributed more of our free, open-pollinated seed this year than we ever have, giving 12,000 families the wherewithal to feed themselves throughout the year and also give out seed to their neighbours.

Commonwealth warned of ZANU PF brutality

Zimbabwe can’t be re-admitted into the Commonwealth without strict accountability mechanisms, writes Zimbabwean commentator Tendai Ruben Mbofana. Under President Mnangagwa, the situation is even worse than under President Mugabe. The main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party cannot freely participate in the country’s democratic processes and is faced with relentless, vicious attacks on its operations, repeatedly refused permission to campaign, its supporters (including senior members and MPs) routinely brutally beaten up, or arrested on spurious charges (and, denied their constitutional rights to bail).

Elephant battle lines to be drawn at CITES

In 1980, the African elephant population was estimated at 1.3 million. Following a census in 2015, only 415,428 remained. An African Elephant Status Report calculated an overall decline of 68% in the past 30 years, with a catastrophic drop of 86% for forest elephants. From 14-25 November, 183 countries at the CITES Congress of Parties (CoP) meeting in Panama will consider more than 100 proposals on the trade and protection of wild animals and plants. Elephants in Zimbabwe are currently listed as Appendix 2 and tradeable. Five countries are proposing listing all African elephants as Appendix 1 – the highest protection.

Commonwealth delegation arrives in Zim

A delegation from the Commonwealth arrived in Zimbabwe on 12 November 2022 for a week-long visit to assess the human rights situation, more than three years after President Emmerson Mnangagwa asked to be readmitted to the body. Led by assistant secretary-general Prof Luis Franceschi, the visit comes as election violence is on the rise ahead of next year’s general election. It also comes as two main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs, Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole, have been in Chikurubi prison for five months alongside 14 members of the increasingly popular party which poses a threat to ZANU PF.

Ukraine war impacts Zim agriculture further

The Ukraine war has adversely impacted Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector, resulting in a potential food security crisis, reports the World Food Programme, International Organization for Migration and Food and Agriculture Organisation. Titled ‘Impact of the Ukraine crisis in Zimbabwe’, the report notes that, despite the cost of fuel and agricultural inputs, in particular fertiliser, being on the rise before February 2022, the Ukraine crisis drove prices up further, making it difficult for households to access farming inputs ahead of the 2022/23 main cropping season. The reduced 2021/22 maize harvest exacerbates the situation further.

Remembering those fallen in war

In the still, quiet heat of a Matabeleland morning in the Matopos National Park outside Bulawayo, we came to the consecrated ground of a shrine: an enduring memorial to those who have fallen in war, writes Cathy Buckle in her latest newsletter from Zimbabwe. Erected in 1947 by Charles Evenden, Founder of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHS), it serves to “remember all servicemen who have answered the Sunset Call, both in war and peacetime.” The names include: Barr, Francis, Kagwira, Mahmoud,  Norman, Takavera and so many more. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning | We will remember them….”

ZANU PF fears economic implosion

ZANU PF has admitted that economic implosion is a big threat to its bid to retain power in next year’s general elections. In its central committee (CC) report released last week, ZANU PF said high inflation and exchange rate volatilities were causing discontent among the populace. “Prices have been determined by the foreign currency black market rate. That scenario had caused much volatility within the economy to the extent of becoming a security threat which consequently had blighted ZANU PF’s chance of a landslide win in the 2023 harmonised elections,” the CC report read.

ED may call snap 2023 general polls early next year

President Mnangagwa may call snap general elections in the first quarter of next year — in March — after securing a fresh mandate as Zanu PF leader and its candidate in the polls, it emerged during the ruling ZANU PF party’s congress at the weekend. This comes amid reports that ZANU PF is deeply worried about plans by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa and civil society to have a parallel ballot-counting and results tabulation, as well as transmission process to counter vote-rigging. Constitutionally, elections should be held before end July 2023.