*Upcoming Events*

10th Anniversary Celebrations events

Mash East
5 July 2009

Mat South
26 July 2009

South Africa

1 August 2009

Manicaland
16 August 2009

Mash Central
30 August 2009

Bulawayo
12 Sept 2009

*All set for Mashonaland East provincial celebratory rally*

Friday, July 03, 2009

*Major Highlights ***

10th Anniversary Celebration Rally

Mashonaland East Province

Rudhaka Stadium

Marondera

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Time: 12:00hrs

“Celebrating a decade of courage, conviction and leadership.”

MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai will on Sunday address the
10thAnniversary provincial celebratory rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera,
Mashonaland East province.

The rally is the first to be addressed by the President since his return
this week from a three week tour aimed at re-engaging Zimbabwe with the
international community after 10 years of isolation.

In Marondera, the President is expected to touch on a number of issues
including his just-ended trip, the progress made by the inclusive government
and the journey the party has travelled in the past 10 years.

The President will be accompanied by members of the Standing Committee, the
national executive, MPs and Senators.

The 10th Anniversary rallies are being held under the theme; *“Celebrating a
decade of courage, conviction and leadership.”*

Similar rallies have been held in Mashonaland West, Midlands North and South
and Mashonaland Central provinces.

*High Court refers MDC activists’ case to Supreme Court*

High Court judge, Justice Charles Hungwe on Wednesday referred to the
Supreme Court the case of six MDC activists and journalist after revelations
that they we abducted and tortured by State security agents in violation of
the Constitutional rights.

Gandhi Mudzingwa, former aide of Prime Minister, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai,
Kisimusi Dhlamini, MDC’s security director, Zacharia Nkomo, Regis Mujeyi,
Mapfumo Garutsa, Chinoto Zulu and freelance journalist, Andrison Manyere are
facing trumped-up charges of bombing police stations and railway lines last
year.

The seven were due to be tried on Monday in the High Court, but their
lawyer, Alec Muchadehama made an application before Justice Hungwe for
referral of the matter to the Constitutional court.

In the application, the lawyer said the applicants’ Constitutional rights to
personal liberty, protection from inhuman and degrading treatment and
protection of the law were violated when they were allegedly kidnapped,
tortured and kept incommunicado last year.

“The State does not have any evidence against the applicants. All
violations that were done, were done firstly as a way of trying to extract
confessions from applicants,” said Muchadehama.

However, State prosecutor Chris Mutangadura argued that the applicants’
application was “frivolous and vexatious” in that (abduction and torture)
allegations raised by the applicants have not been proven before the court.

Justice Hungwe, however, did not see the activists’ application as
“frivolous and vexatious”.

“Give me evidence to show that this is a frivolous application. That is not
a frivolous application at all. There is no need for all this argument
therefore I refer this case to the Supreme Court,” he said.

Last week, a State prosecutor conceded that the manner human rights
campaigner, Jestina Mukoko was abducted by State security agents was
illegal.

Mukoko, the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) had taken her case
to the Supreme Court, seeking a permanent stay of her prosecution.

Mukoko was among 40 MDC and civic society activists including two-year Nigel
Mutemagau, who were abducted by State security agents in pre-dawn raids at
their homes late last year.

*MDC in Government *

*No deal between China and Zimbabwe – Biti*

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Tendai Biti has dismissed today’s media
reports claiming that Zimbabwe had entered into a US$5 billion deal
involving the mortgaging of the country’s platinum resources worth US$40
billion.

Hon. Biti addressing journalists in Harare today said that no such agreement
had been signed between China and Zimbabwe.

“The Zimbabwe government through the Ministry of Finance has not signed any
agreement with China in regard to the disposal of any resources with China,”
he said.

Media reports had erroneously reported that Hon. Biti had signed a cautioned
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Eximbank of China (Eximbank) for
the platinum-backed US$5 billion loan on condition of explicit legal
documentation and declaration of the obligations of the Chinese.

*MDC in Parliament*

*All-Stakeholders’ conference set for next week*

*All-Stakeholders’ conference set for 10 July*

The first All-Stakeholders Conference to draft a people-driven Constitution
will be held in Harare from 10 to 12 July 2009 where 5 000 delegates are
expected to attend, the co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Select
Committee, Hon Douglas Mwonzora has said.

Hon. Mwonzora said the selection of delegates to the conference was being
done by the Parliamentary Select Committee on the new Constitution on the
basis of who registered at the provincial Consultative Meetings held last
week.

Thousands of people from all walks of life attended the provincial meetings
last week as the Constitution-making process got off the ground.

Hon. Mwonzora said organisations and individuals selected as delegates would
be notified soon.

The first All-Stakeholders Conference will come up with thematic groups that
will determine the process of coming up with a people-driven Constitution
despite attempts by Zanu PF to force the Kariba Draft of 2007 on the people.

*MDC in Local Government *

*MDC-led** Harare City** Council receives US$17 million to upgrade water,
sewer systems*

The Harare City Council will embark on an ambitious 90-day plan to upgrade
water and sewerage services after the government through the Ministry of
Finance extended a US$17 million support facility, deputy Mayor Emmanuel
Chiroto has said.

Clr Chiroto said the plan, marks one of the biggest direct investments into
the city’s water and sewer services since the reassignment of water
management from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) in February.*
*

On Tuesday, the MDC led council approved the offer.

Some of the equipment for the upgrading has already been procured with work
already underway at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant.
“Council approved the procurement of materials, goods and services for the
Harare Water and Sanitation from preferred suppliers and manufacturers
without going to tender,” Clr Chiroto said.

The funds will be disbursed to contracted companies through the Ministry of
Finance upon receipt of invoices.

He said the procurement process should be transparent to allow council to
explain to Government how the funds had been used.

*Traditional leaders should be apolitical*

Traditional leaders have been urged to desist from being politically biased
as enshrined in the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the MP for Masvingo
Central has said.

Addressing chiefs and headmen at Chamakondo Business Centre in Masvingo
Central, Hon. Jefferson Chitando said there was need for traditional leaders
to depart from political bias in order for them to avoid violating the GPA.

“We need to understand what the GPA spells out because it will help us in
moving towards a new political era.

“It is therefore vital for chiefs and village heads to be balanced in
exercising their duties. We expect Chiefs to discourage violent activities
in their respective areas,” he said.

His comment comes at a time when some chiefs and headman continue to harass
and intimidate people who are perceived to be MDC supporters.

The threats in Masvingo province are continuing despite calls from the MDC
to end political intimidation in the province and other parts of the
country.

*Informal traders should formalise their operations*

Informal traders should register with the relevant authorities in order to
improve their business operations and reduce poverty in the communities, the
MP for Bulawayo Central, Hon. Dorcas Sibanda has said.

Addressing the Matebeleland Stakeholders’ platform organised by the Zimbabwe
Economic Society (ZES) on Tuesday, Hon. Sibanda said she would lobby other
MPs for lower registration and licensing costs as a way of encouraging Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

She also called on the business community to be involved in the
Constitution-making process.

“This is a platform for Matebeleland as a region to see the change it wants
by owning and taking part in this Constitution process. Be an active part of
this whole process and change the development trajectory of Matebeleland,”
Hon. Sibanda said.

She said the meeting by the business people was timely as it gave them a
platform to air their views and most importantly to come up with their views
in the Constitutional consultations.

*Quote:*

* **“Give me evidence to show that this is a frivolous application. That is
not a frivolous application at all. There is no need for all this argument
therefore I refer this case to the Supreme Court,” Justice Charles Hungwe
referring to the Supreme Court the case of MDC activists who were abducted
by State security agents last year.***