Cosatu Media Monitor 9 March 2009

Addressing SAA striking workers yesterday afternoon, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said: “Things have changed when he (Ngqula) had permanent friends from the government to protect him. He has mismanaged public resources and must go ... there is a new regime now in Luthuli house going to parliament.”

“The minister of public enterprises, Bridgette Mabandla, must intervene,” he said.

Vavi’s statements come after workers of the national airline who are also members of Satawu (South African transport and allied workers union), an affiliate to Cosatu, down tools three weeks ago, protesting against alleged irregularities in the labour broking system. The workers are also demanding the the lawful expulsion of the entire SAA executive committee and the negotiationg team as well as payment of retention bonuses be extended to all employees.

SAA ceo Khaya Ngqula is on special leave pending an investigation into allegations of irregulaties levelled against him.

Dimension Data and Quest are responsible for rendering labour broking services to SAA. Ngqula and his wife are said to own shares in these companies. The executive committee though refuses to disclose information regarding these companies.

An emergency meeting with the airline’s management is expected to be held this week to resolve the protracted strike.

Meanwhile, the airline insists that operational services have not been disrupted by the on-going strike.

“We have implemented a contingency plan and we have had the best turnover since 2006 during this period,” said acting CEO Chris Smyth.

1.2 Cosatu: Masualle for EC boss

Msimelelo Njwabane, Dispatch, 9 March 2009

COSATU want Finance MEC Phumulo Masualle as the premier of the province – and they hope the ANC will follow their lead.

At the trade union’s Eastern Cape provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting yesterday, they officially adopted a resolution to have Masualle become the premier of the province.

The resolution was passed during Cosatu’s PEC meeting, which was held yesterday at the Regent Hotel in East London. Saturday Dispatch understands that Masualle’s name has the backing of the trade union federation’s highest decision-making body, the central executive committee , as well as the South African Communist Party . Cosatu’s decision is a major blow to the ANC leagues- favoured Mcebisi Jonas.

1.3 ‘Cosatu are sellouts’

Kea’ Modimoeng, Sunday Times, 8 March 2009

Former Cosatu boss Willie Madisha, has lashed out at his former union federation colleagues in a rare interview since being booted out last year. Madisha said Cosatu bosses were using members’ dues to fund the ANC election campaign and had lost interest in fighting for the rights of workers. He also accused Cosatu of failing to adapt to the needs of workers after 1994.

Former Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha has accused the labour federation of putting electoral support for the ruling African National Congress ahead of workers’ interests.

In an interview this week, Madisha, now a member of the ANC breakaway Congress of the People, accused Cosatu of diverting worker contributions to cover ANC election costs and using union funds to pay salaries of South African Communist Party staff.

Madisha, who was sacked following a disciplinary hearing in July after nine years as Cosatu president, said the way the federation was currently “doing business” within the tripartite alliance went against the interests of workers, especially those who are not supporters of the ANC.

He said funds collected from affiliated unions were being used to bankroll the ANC, especially during the elections.

“It is not a secret. Poor farmworkers and mineworkers who work under very bad conditions contribute money to Cosatu on a monthly basis for the improvement of services and workers’ representation.

“Instead this money is used for printing pamphlets for the ANC election campaigns and, on top of that, workers who are not ANC members are forced to promote and distribute these pamphlets,” he said.

Philip Dexter, former general secretary of the Cosatu-affiliated National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), said Nehawu’s Investment Company had recently received R20-million in dividends, some of which was used for ANC election campaigning.

“They are using money which should be educating workers and improving their lives for the printing of ANC election T-shirts and rental cars. There are funds also used by Cosatu to fund salaries of SACP officials,” said Dexter.

Madisha alleged that Cosatu had failed to adapt to the needs of a post-apartheid society.

“The tripartite alliance did a good job in South Africa until 1994 by liberating the nation. Now we need unions which are not politically aligned to ensure that the workers have absolute freedom of choice,” he said.

He said he was preparing for a workers’ convention, to be held on March 21 in Johannesburg.

He said the convention would bring workers together to discuss how they wanted to take their challenges forward.

Cosatu members who were not ANC-aligned were called “counter-revolutionary” and “dogs”, he charged.

“The tripartite alliance is now costing workers their most valuable freedom and right, which is the right to vote for a political party of their choice. Workers who want independence have realised that they can’t remain in Cosatu,” he said.

In July last year Cosatu found Madisha guilty of misconduct for talking to the media about an alleged R500000 donation to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, and for disobeying a South African Democratic Teachers Union and Cosatu resolution to support Jacob Zuma’s candidacy for ANC president at the December 2007 ANC Polokwane conference.

But he insisted this week that his hands were clean.

“I gave Blade Nzimande that money in full view of witnesses. South Africans should wonder why until today Nzimande is not in court for this matter. What happened to the money Nzimande received from the former MEC of transport in Limpopo, Justice Pitso?”

Sizwe Pamla, national spokesperson of Nehawu, disputed the allegations, saying the union’s marketing plans are based on prior planning and collective union resolutions.

Political analyst Sipho Seepe said it was a valid question of fairness whether workers’ money should be used for ANC — but also noted that there should not be “pretence” from former leaders.

“Madisha was there in 1999 and 2004 when Cosatu supported the ANC, so people shouldn’t make it as if this is a new thing.

“However, non-ANC supporters should raise it as an inquiry for fairness.”

Patrick Craven, national spokesperson of Cosatu, dismissed claims that trade union federation money is used to fund the SACP.

On the issue of non-ANC supporters within Cosatu, Craven said there was no discrimination against such members.

“It should be noted that the decision to support the ANC was taken by overwhelming majority vote, and non-ANC supporters within Cosatu should also respect that.”

According to Craven, Cosatu receives funds from its member affiliates, with individuals’ contributions being made on a monthly basis.

The amount paid to Cosatu depends on the number of members the union has, and differs from one union to the other.

South Africa

2.1 CCMA; 2.2 ANC; 2.3 Zuma; 2.4 SABC; 2.5 Malema; 2.6 Mandela; 2.7 Arms deal; 2.8 Motlanthe

2.1 Labour disputes on the rise

Andile Ntingi, City Press, 8 March 2009

As the economic slump deepens and job cuts mount, the number of labour disputes between financial services firms and their employees are also piling up.

Official figures gathered by City Press Business from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) show that the dispute resolution body has been handling more cases since April 2007.

The financial services industry, which is under pressure from rising loan defaults and weak investment markets, is currently experiencing an increase in disputes related to retrenchments and dismissals related to misconduct.

The caseload for cases related to retrenchments or the so-called Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act skyrocketed by 46% between the period April 2007 to March last year and April last year to last month.

In this period, retrenchment related cases handled by the CCMA jumped to 131 from 71. Cases related to misconduct, which one labour lawyer suspected was largely fraud, leaped 26% to 763 from 563.

On its website, the CCMA lists fraud, physical assault and sexual harassment as some of the examples of misconduct. However, it does not provide data on which of the three examples accounted for most of the dismissals.

The slowdown in the economy and rising bad debts have forced some financial services companies to cut costs by reducing their workforce. Labour union Solidarity, which is keeping track of retrenchments across the economy, says about 1 925 jobs have been lost so far in the sector. In its Retrenchment Crisis report, last updated on February 25, the union estimates that the South African economy has lost more than 27 353 direct jobs and 10 189 indirect jobs.

Last year banking group Absa retrenched nearly 1 000 employees at its head office in Johannesburg while short-term insurer Mutual & Federal laid off more than 600.

First National Bank (FNB) is retrenching 23 people in its FNB housing finance in Centurion. The division is part of the housing loan business that FNB bought from Transnet in 2007 for R1.4 billion. In the same Centurion office, about 26 sales consultants in the bank’s insurance unit, FNB Life, lodged a complaint of unfair dismissal and salary deductions with the CCMA. The bank has since backed down and will reimburse the salary deductions from the consultants, who have been laid off.

“Anything that was unfairly deducted will be paid back. Even though the consultants were initially treated unfairly, FNB has taken responsibility. All of them will be placed on a redeployment list,” said the consultants’ attorney Marleze Swanepoel said.

Absa’s head of retail banking Louis von Zeuner said the bank had a few cases that went to the CCMA during its retrenchment programme but they had been resolved. “We had a few cases but I am not aware of any unresolved disputes,” Von Zeuner said. He said the country’s biggest retail lender was not considering more job cuts. “Retrenchments are always a last option but we will obviously watch what is happening in the economy.”

Mutual & Federal said it had two disputes that were currently being handled by the CCMA following its retrenchment programme. It said it did not foresee more job cuts this year.

2.2 ANC leaves 133 MPs off its list

Wisani Wa Ka Ngobeni and Ndivhuho Mafela, Sunday Times, 8 March 2009

Prominent Thabo Mbeki loyalists lose their seats to accommodate women, SACP

The ANC has dumped well over 100 sitting MPs from its list for the election, replacing them with supporters of party president Jacob Zuma.

High-profile casualties include minister of public enterprises Brigitte Mabandla, deputy minister of arts and culture Mantombazana Botha, national council of provinces chairman Mninwa Mahlangu, and deputy minister of agriculture and land affairs Dirk du Toit.

Minister of communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, former ANC Youth League deputy president Reuben Mohlaloga, who is chairman of the agriculture and land affairs portfolio committee, and former Western Cape ANC chairman James Ngculu also did not make the list.

The axe also fell on several former New National Party MPs who joined the ANC after the last elections.

They include Craig Morkel, who joined the DA before defecting to the ANC after a short stint as the sole MP for a now defunct party, the Progressive Independent Movement.

The ANC has, however, retained former NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who is minister of environmental affairs and tourism — and he features among the ANC’s top 100 candidates.

The ANC list is dominated by Zuma supporters and representatives of Cosatu and the SACP, the ANC’s left-wing allies.

Businessman Tokyo Sexwale, former South African National Defence Force chief General Siphiwe Nyanda, national secretary of the Young Communist League Buti Manamela, former youth league president Fikile Mbalula, former youth league leader Songezo Mjongile and Thulas Nxesi, general secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, feature prominently.

The list does include several cabinet ministers who served under former president Thabo Mbeki. The biggest casualty among the ministers appears to be Mabandla. She was axed even though she sits on the party’s powerful national executive committee.

Mabandla served as minister of justice under Mbeki. She was moved to her current position after a cabinet reshuffle sparked by the firing of Mbeki and the subsequent resignations by ministers sympathetic to the former president.

The ANC has 315 MPs serving in both houses of parliament — the national assembly and the national council of provinces.

An analysis by the Sunday Times shows that of the 315 sitting MPs, the ruling party has retained only 183.

A total of 133 MPs — including 38 women — will not be returned to their high-paying jobs after the April 22 poll.

The Sunday Times spoke to a number of the discarded ANC MPs this week. They all expressed different views on why they had been dropped.

Some said they believed that they had not been retained because of the ANC’s decision to raise the proportion of women in the national and provincial legislatures from 30% to 50%.

Others, however, claimed they had been dumped because of their perceived support for Mbeki, or because of suspicion that they might be aligned to the breakaway party, COPE.

Tsietsi Louw, an MP from the Northern Cape, who has been in Parliament for the past 10 years, said he suspected he had been dumped because he was seen as an Mbeki supporter.

“This is a consequence of Polokwane,” Louw said.

“Some of us were thought to be close to Neville Mompati (the former ANC provincial secretary who has since joined COPE),” he said.

Louw said his position had also been complicated by his wife’s decision to join COPE.

“But I cannot divorce my wife because she has joined another organisation. She supports other things which I do not.

“She is a fan of Orlando Pirates and I am a supporter of Kaizer Chiefs. She is a Christian and I am not, and we have been married for many years,” Louw said.

Themba Mahlaba, an MP from KwaZulu-Natal, said he believed the ANC had removed some of the sitting MPs to accommodate members of the SACP and to make way for women.

“We expected that a number of males would be left out. I cannot blame anybody for being left out. The process was fair,” Mahlaba said.

Morkel said that when he decided to cross the floor to the ANC, he had not been given any guarantees that he would remain in parliament.

2.3 Zuma wants new powers as president

S’Thembiso Msomi, Sunday Times, 8 March 2009

ANC leader Jacob Zuma would get new and wide-ranging powers — including oversight of all elected public representatives — if his plans for the presidency get the nod

The ANC president, who is almost certainly to become the head of state after next month’s general election, has said repeatedly that he wants an evaluation, monitoring and planning commission set-up within the presidency when he takes over.

His spokesman, Zizi Kodwa, yesterday said the powers of the commission would include evaluating the performance of all public representatives — from cabinet ministers to town councillors.

“The new ANC administration will do everything in its power to change the quality of life for our people for the better. The ANC will not tolerate any public representatives who don’t do their work, hence the president [Zuma] has suggested the creation of the commission,” Kodwa said.

The commission, he said, would evaluate the implementation of government policy by all state bodies.

Ministers, premiers, mayors and councillors would be regularly evaluated by the commission to determine if they were doing their work and to identify weaknesses.

Asked how this would work when a premier, mayor or councillor was not an ANC member, Kodwa said: “The president of the republic is the president of the whole of South Africa and not only of his party.

“The commission will set key performance indicators for mayors, ministers and premiers and you won’t be bench-marked on the basis of your party [ affiliation].”

He said that when a mayor or premier from an opposition party did not perform, Zuma would consult the leader of the opposition party before taking action.

2.4 Experts say SABC needs new board

Jocelyn Newmarch, Business Day, 9 March 2009

The crisis at the SABC can only be resolved with a truly independent board and a complete overhaul of the legislation governing it, according to experts.

Corporate governance and independence have been identified as key elements if the broadcaster is to adequately fulfil its mandate.

There is also evidence that editorial decisions have adversely affected the bottom line.

At a presentation last week, the SABC’s acting CE, Gab Mampone, identified the expansion of the news infrastructure as a “challenge” facing the broadcaster.

The SABC remains adamant that SABC News International should continue to operate, despite the enormous costs involved in running its overseas bureaus and the satellite linking of the channel to foreign carriers.

The Cape Argus reported in 2007 that the SABC had budgeted R120m to establish the new bureau, the 24-hour channel, and a news agency. Little information has been available since then on the costs of the operation.

Allister Sparks, a former board member and previous head of TV news at the SABC, said the news operation was unnecessarily bloated as it had to send news bulletins in all 11 official languages. Other broadcasters in Africa showed news in only one language.

He also told Business Day the board should not be appointed by Parliament, but by an independent body modelled on the Judicial Service Commission, which would be free of political interference.

This was how the first post-apartheid board had been appointed, with 80 candidates given televised interviews, and names presented to the president for approval, including Sparks’s.

Sparks said that was where the problem started. FW de Klerk removed the names of those he did not like, such as Sparks and chairman Njabulo Ndebele, thus beginning a tradition of political meddling in board appointments. Sparks was later appointed to the board by then-president Nelson Mandela.

Sparks said there were four key levels at the SABC: the board, the CE, and the heads of TV and radio news. It was crucial that board members included appointees with media experience. Once an independent board was appointed, it could then choose a CE with extensive media experience, “who would run proper newsrooms” and who in turn would appoint the editors in charge of TV news and radio news.

These positions needed to be occupied by experienced journalists with high ethical standards who would be able to withstand the pressure that came with such a role, Sparks said.

Taking Sparks’s argument further, the Save Our SABC Coalition argued that the entire structure governing the board needs to be overhauled. The coalition represents several civil society organisations, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions and nongovernmental organisations such as the Freedom of Expression Institute.

At present, the broadcaster was a public corporation that allowed considerable political influence “through the back door” as the articles of association gave the communications minister considerable power, said Kate Skinner, spokeswoman for the coalition.

Skinner said new legislation was needed that would cover governance issues, the appointment of the board, the appropriate background and skills mix of board members, the legal structure of the organisation, and its funding.

She said the SABC should be a chapter nine institution, which would afford it more protection.

2.5 Malema delivers furniture for pensioner

Bonile Ngqiyaza, The Star, 9 March 2009

African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema has made good on his promise to a pensioner whose house is constantly flooded during the rainy season.

"Au! Whu! Nkulunkulu (Almighty)! I feel like jumping up and running, screaming all over the place," 74-year-old Bramfischerville resident Zenzile Lephina Kunene said on Sunday afternoon.

On his birthday last week, Malema - who was on a walkabout in flood-ravaged Bramfischerville and Soweto - had given Kunene his word that the Youth League would donate new furniture and rugs by last Friday.

"We will buy you new furniture, fridges and rugs. We will buy you (these) before Friday," Malema had said, comforting the distraught Kunene.

On Sunday, Kunene's small RDP house sported a set of three cabinets, a bed, blankets and a duvet.

"They said there was more furniture they were supposed to bring (yesterday)... but they did not come. However, they have made a list of things they will be bringing again," said an elated Kunene.

However, her joy is tempered by the fact that the flooding - which she says is the source of the damage to her possessions and her health - has still not been dealt with.

"But now that it looks like raining, my fear is that the furniture is going to be ruined," she said.

Even now, my body aches all over. I am forcing myself to move about.

"During the rainy season I do not have time to rest - the water floods the house and I have to scoop it out all by myself, from morning till late," she said.

Kunene pointed to a pile of bricks she had placed at the door's threshold to try to prevent water getting into the house. The new and the old furniture sits on bricks.

"Sometimes I am tempted to think that it would have been better if the house had been fixed up first. I am really troubled inside by the water," she said.

2.6 Mandela’s grandson slams abuse claims

Thabo Mkhize, The Times, 9 March 2009

“Happily married” was how the grandson of former President Nelson Mandela responded to reports yesterday that he beats his wife and that his marriage was over.

Sunday World reported yesterday that Mandla Mandela, 33, physically abused his wife Thando Mabunu in front of friends. According to the report he is wooing a Swazi princess and Mabunu has walked out on him because he insists that she allow him to take a second wife.

His grandfather has tried to intervene to keep the couple together, but to no avail.

Mandla Mandela slammed the claims yesterday as “nonsense”.

“I’m a happily married man. I don’t know anything about these stories. I’m not aware of such a divorce. I cannot comment on such nonsense,” Mandela told The Times, adding that “I will never discuss my private life with the media”.

The Times has learned from sources at the Umtata High Court that Mandla Mandela was served divorce papers late last year. Those divorce plans were shelved because he also received notice that the papers had been withdrawn.

Mandla Mandela, 33, the newly-installed chief of the Mvezo clan, is the son of the late Makgatho Mandela, born of his grandfather’s marriage to first wife Evelyn.

He is also number 13 on the Eastern Cape ANC’s provincial list and is almost assured of a position in the provincial legislature following the April general and provincial elections.

Mandela and Mabunu were married three years ago in Nelson Mandela’s home village, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. The lavish two-day wedding was attended by dignitaries such as human rights lawyer George Bizos, United Democratic Front leader Bantu Holomisa and former president Thabo Mbeki.

Mandla Mandela recently hit the headlines in reports that claimed he had risked his grandfather’s life by taking him to an ANC rally in the Eastern Cape, which was addressed by party leader Jacob Zuma, without making proper security and hospital arrangements for the ageing statesman.

Sunday World quoted a spokesman for the Swaziland Royal family as saying the young Mandela “has a good reason to spend more time in Swaziland and he is the one who must explain why”.

Numerous attempts to contact Mabunu for comment were unsuccessful.

2.7 COPE leaders 'looted ANC money' – Malema

IOL, 7 March 2009

African National Congress Youth League president, Julius Malema, accused Congress of the People leaders of enriching themselves through the arms deal, the SABC reported on Saturday.

"Many of them did not benefit genuinely. They looted the ANC money. They stole money, they stole every big deal in South Africa including the arms deal, they stole that.

"They stole everything. They must leave our president [ANC president Jacob Zuma] on arms deal, he was in KwaZulu Natal when they were stealing arms deal, he was not national.

"There is no KwaZulu Natal arms deal... there's a national arms deal which they stole themselves before they resigned in the ANC and formed their own party, they made sure they closed all the deals," Malema said.

Zuma is embroiled in a corruption case surrounding the arms deal.

Malema was campaigning with Zuma in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.

The ruling party president urged people to vote while electioneering, the party said in a statement.

"It is important for you to vote so that the government can prioritise your needs after the election.

"By voting, you are actually creating an important link between you and the government," Zuma was quoted as saying.

He was responding to Middelburg residents who had, according to the statement, complained of unemployment, a lack of water and sanitation as well as poor infrastructure.

"The residents had prior to Zuma's visit, threatened to boycott the elections unless their service delivery demands were met," said ANC spokesman Moloto Mothapo in the statement.

Voting, said Zuma, was the "stepping stone" to receiving better services.

"My arrival shows that the ANC is serious about addressing your challenges," he said. – Sapa

2.8 Economy boost - Motlanthe says government aims to invest hugely in infrastructure

Mhlaba Memela, Sowetan, 9 March 2009

President Kgalema Motlanthe has urged businesspeople to unite and take advantage of the global economic meltdown to reposition South Africa to sustain its economy.

Addressing businesspeople in Ballito, near KwaDukuza on Saturday, Motlanthe said South Africa would not copy the United States’ stimulus packages initiative.

He said South Africa’s response to the economic crisis must be a home-grown solution and not copy the US.

The Barack Obama- led US government recently approved multibillion-dollar stimulus packages to rescue its collapsing economy.

Motlanthe said to deal with the issue of massive unemployment exacerbated by retrenchments caused by the economic crisis, the government would invest in infrastructural development and also improve the quality of education.

“We should invest in the construction of roads, clinics and schools for the Confederations Cup this year and the Soccer World Cup next year to boost the economy.”

He said South African banks were “doing fairly well” compared to those in other countries because of the country’s sound credit control regulations.

“We believe that our response to this global economic crisis must be around creating more decent jobs and investing in infrastructure,” he said.

Motlanthe said the biggest difficulties of dealing with the economic crisis was that, although it had been declared that some countries were facing recession, the extent of the crisis was not yet clear.

“We have not seen the bottom of it.”

Local businessman Mike Taylor told Motlanthe that their strategies to invest in infrastructure had been hampered by the land claims.

He said as developers they were facing a huge delay due to the land claims.

“We wait for over two years to get the land. And the issue of cost rates is quite closer to be resolved with the municipality,” Taylor said.

He said the high rate cost also had a negative impact on creating many jobs.

Taylor also urged businesspeople to rally together to attract more investors.

“We need to create a marketing campaign to attract foreign investors.”

Motlanthe also met iLembe district sports people and donated kits for different sports codes, including soccer, karate and cricket.

He urged retired professionals to plough back into communities by instilling discipline in youth through sports.

2.9 Zuma’s education trust gets R700000 pledge

Mhlaba Memela, Sowetan, 9 March 2009

Business people opened their wallets again and pledged more than R700000 to the Jacob Zuma RDP Educational Trust to help poor children pursue their studies.

The fundraising dinner was held at Greyville race course on Friday.

However, the pledges on the night proved a drop in the ocean as the trust has run into millions of rands in debt.

Addressing the business community, Zuma said people needed to do more. He estimated that the trust owed educational institutions more than R7,8 million.

Zuma said some students seeking help from the trust had been turned away due to a lack of funds.

He accused Cope member Barney Pityana of blocking students associated with the trust from enrolling at Unisa, where Pityana is vice-chancellor and principal.

“We have been writing letters, assuring them that we will pay. The institutions have been very cooperative. But not Unisa,” said Zuma.

The trust has funded over 3000 children to get an education at school level, and sent four students from disadvantaged backgrounds to Pakistan in 2001, where they studied information technology.

Pityana denied that he had blocked students funded by the trust from enrolling at Unisa. We have investigated the allegation when we firstly heard about them. And found that there were certain students that were in arrears and were asked to pay their debts,” he said.

International

3.1 Tsvangarai

3.1 Tsvangirai back in Harare today

Dumisani Muleya, Business Day, 9 March 2009

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai returns home from Botswana today to make funeral arrangements after receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident on Friday in which his wife, Susan, was killed.

The burial of Susan comes under a cloud of suspicion and speculation about the cause of the crash, which has left Zimbabweans shocked.

Fears of foul play were gathering momentum as foreign governments called for a full investigations into the cause of the accident.

France and Australia have openly demanded an investigation to establish the truth about the crash. Britain, while saying the driver of the truck which hit the Tsvangirai’s car was lucid and sober, also called for an investigation. Police have launched an investigation into the accident.

Tsvangirai was flown to neighbouring Botswana on Saturday to recover from the accident and to undergo another medical check-up, but is expected to return to Harare late today , said the official, who asked not to be named. The decision to fly Tsvangirai out of Zimbabwe was taken after Botswana’s President Ian Khama sent officials to visit him in hospital in Harare on Saturday.

Some opposition officials claim the accident was contrived. In the same light many Zimbabweans suspect the accident was politically motivated given the country’s long record of high-profile accidents involving politicians.

Suspicious accidents have over the years claimed prominent political figures, such as Josiah Tongogara, Sydney Malunga, Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika and Moven Mahachi.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa said funeral arrangements for Susan were at an advanced stage. “The body of the prime minister’s wife would be removed from the mortuary tomorrow and lie in state at their Stratahaven home in Harare. On Tuesday the body will be taken to Glamis stadium for viewing before being transported to Buhera for burial on Wednesday morning,” Chamisa said.

President Robert Mugabe has described the accident as a “tragedy”. Desperate to distance himself from ties to a conspiracy that his diehard loyalists opposed to Tsvangirai’s presence in the inclusive government could be involved, he visited the hos- pital with his wife Grace, and is likely to attend the funeral. His presence there would be unwelcome as the funeral will be dominated by angry MDC activists who might turn on him, as they have since entering Zimbabwe’s parliament.

“The accident has presented a very challenging hurdle for Zimbabwe’s fragile accord,” said Daniel Makina, an analyst based at the University of SA. “People are not going to stop speculating and will probably start pointing fingers. Unfounded and damaging speculation could be disastrous.”

Tsvangirai claims to have been the target of four assassination attempts including one in 1997 when he said assailants tried to throw him out of his office window. He has also survived a severe beating by security forces. While there were claims the accident could have been caused by potholes or a drunk driver, it emerged yesterday that this was not the case.

The driver of the truck has been named as Chinoona Mwanda, 35. Mwanda was taken back to the scene of the crash on Saturday morning after spending the night at a police station. At the scene a tearful Mwanda begged for forgiveness.

He is likely to face culpable homicide charges. Mwanda was driving a truck owned by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). He was carrying HIV/AIDS drugs for a project co-funded by the US and British governments and run by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council. Britain has confirmed that it was their truck and driver who it said was not drunk or sleeping at the time of the accident.

Weekend reports quoted Sharon Hudson-Dean, the US Press Attache in Pretoria, as saying that although the truck was bought with USAID money it was privately contracted. She declined to comment further.

“We deeply regret this tragic accident and extend out deepest condolences to Tsvangirai,” she said.

Tsvangirai, who turns 57 on Tuesday, had six children with Susan, who was popular among MDC supporters. She avoided the spotlight but stood by Tsvangirai throughout his ordeals as Mugabe’s most determined opponent. With Reuters

image001.png

image030.jpg

image031.jpg

image032.gif

image033.jpg

image034.gif

image035.png

image036.jpg

image037.jpg

image038.jpg

image039.gif

image022.jpg

image040.jpg

image041.jpg

image023.jpg

image024.jpg

image025.gif

image026.jpg

image027.gif

image028.jpg

image029.jpg

Reply all

Reply to author

Forward

0 new messages