The signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by Zanu (PF) and two formations of the MDC last February not only brought hope but relief to many Zimbabweans who had been living in fear of their lives due to political violence. The three political parties quickly set up a national healing ministry, headed by top officials from the three parties, to spearhead a national healing process and promote re-building of the country hit by political strife and economic decline for a decade. These were Ministers John Nkomo (Zanu (PF)) (now Vice President), Gibson Sibanda (MDC-M) and Sekai Holland.
A year later, Zimbabweans are becoming disillusioned, as healing appears elusive. Civil Society organisations fear another escalation of political violence if the new unity government does not reform the uniformed forces and state security departments.

 

The long running controversy over diamonds from Zimbabwe's eastern Marange district was revived on Wednesday after President Robert Mugabe threatened to market the gems outside the Kimberly Certification Process. Mr. Mugabe said Zimbabwe is trying to adhere to the Kimberley Process, but might step outside it if the demands for compliance are too onerous. Harare recently accepted a Kimberley Process monitor from South Africa to oversee the mining and export of diamonds from the Marange field, where human rights abuses and illegal exports have been alleged. Political analyst Dhewa Mavhinga of Human Rights Watch told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that the threat by Mr. Mugabe indicated that the Marange diamond field has become a key funding source for his ZANU-PF party now that the Reserve Bank can no longer print money.

 

Zimbabwe had cancelled a British firm's mining licence, the company's lawyer said yesterday, in the latest tussle over diamond fields plagued by human rights abuses. The decision to cancel the licence of African Consolidated Resources (ACR) to mine the eastern Marange fields came days after the government unveiled new regulations to force foreign firms to give local investors a 51 percent stake in major corporations. "My clients received a letter last week informing them of the intention to cancel the licence," said Jonathan Samkange, the firm's lawyer. "We were given up to March 10 to appeal against the decision," he added. The London Stock Exchange-listed ACR has been embroiled in a legal fight with mining authorities after it was ordered in 2006 to suspend its operations in Marange.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe defended on Wednesday his government's drive to transfer majority control of foreign-owned firms to local blacks, saying wise investors would continue to put money into the country. Minister of Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere, a Mugabe ally in Zimbabwe's fractious unity government, told foreign firms last week to present plans on how they would transfer 51 percent shareholdings to local blacks within 45 days from March 1.

Mugabe rejected suggestions that implementation of an indigenisation law passed in 2007 would frighten off foreign investors, saying they could still hold large stakes in local companies. "Forty-nine percent is a hell lot of equity, it is only the foolish ones who will say so," he told reporters. "Wise ones will take it up."