adminAnti-Islam filmmaker faces 3 years in prison
LOS ANGELES — The filmmaker behind the anti-Islamic video “Innocence of Muslims” that has sparked violence across the globe faces up to three years in federal prison after being arrested Thursday for alleged probation violations. Probation officials have recommended a 24-month term for
‘Speed up one-stop Beitbridge border post’
Beitbridge Bureau
Officials from Zimbabwe and South Africa have called for the
Red-hot Highlanders in town for Monomotapa
Augustine Hwata Sports ReporterPREMIERSHIP pace-setters Highlanders are bracing for a hostile reception as they roll into the capital today for a Castle Lager League clash against Monomotapa at Rufaro. Bosso shot to the top of the log table during midweek after a sensational victory 1-0 over Hwange at the Colliery and they
‘UN general assembly a disappointment’
Caesar Zvayi recently at the UNITED NATIONS, New York
PRESIDENT Mugabe has expressed disappointment with the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly, describing it as one of the same ordinary repetitive sessions world leaders have held in the past.
Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Harare International Airport from the UN headquarters yesterday morning, the President said the state of the UN bids the developing world to move seriously on reforms.
‘‘It wasn’t a good meeting in the sense that the issues that should have been prominent, issues to deal with unilateralism and multi-lateralism, were sidelined.
‘‘In the General Assembly, the people were just making statements, for instance US president Barack Obama. He just talked about Stevens (the US ambassador who was killed in Libya), nothing that was global, in terms of how the world should move in reforming the UN.
‘‘Yes, we had statements that were made on reforming the UN, but they were just statements. There is need for real movement by the developing world.
“It’s as if we are the minority yet those who have the veto are in fact the minority.’’
The build-up to the 67th Session of the UNGA that officially opened on Tuesday under the theme “Bringing About Adjustment or Settlement of International Disputes or Situations by Peaceful Means”, was characterised by debate on the relevance of the UN to the prevailing geo-political challenges confronting the world.
A high level meeting on the Rule of Law at the International and National Level that convened on Monday was naturally dominated by debate on the need to reform the UN system to make it democratic and effective.
The document released at the end of the meeting implored member states to be bound by the founding principles of the UN, among them the sovereign equality of member states.
Factionalism blights MDC-T’s 13th anniversary
Herald ReporterEntrenched factionalism and in-fighting are likely to take centre stage at the MDC-T 13th anniversary to be held in Bulawayo today. The party on Tuesday dispatched its organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa to the city to “deal” with rogue elements preparing to spoil the celebrations. Mr
Grain import scheme for deficit areas
Agriculture Reporters
ZIMBABWE is in a serious food deficit with 215 000 tonnes of maize in stock against a national requirement of 1,2 million tonnes annually.
There are only 38 000 tonnes of wheat in the reserves and the Government would have to import both maize and wheat to cover the deficit.
Acting Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday said merchants would be allowed to import maize, maize-meal and flour to feed the nation.
Those without capacity to feed themselves would be covered by the grain loan scheme, the minister said.
Under the scheme, the vulnerable would get a 50kg bag of maize monthly until the next harvest.
“There is no vetting and what is required is just for the beneficiary to approach the Grain Marketing Board,” he said.
“Those who are able-bodied and do not want to join the grain loan scheme can join the food-for-work programme where one works for 15 days a month and receives some grain.”
Minister Chombo said projects for the food-for-work programme had been identified and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development was waiting for Finance Minister Tendai Biti to release funds.
He said the grain loan scheme was being hampered by the shortage of transport and funds to pay transporters ferrying grain from areas of supply to areas of deficit.
GMB owes transporters US$4,4 million for grain that was delivered to areas with a deficit during the past three months. Minister Chombo said shortages of grain bags had affected the movement of grain under the scheme.
“Minister Joseph Made and GMB general manager Mr Albert Mandizha have been pestering Finance Minister Biti over the need to capacitate GMB to
UZ gets 30 computers
Herald ReporterAfrAsia Kingdom Zimbabwe on Thursday donated 30 computers to the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Commerce. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara said the donation was a strategic intervention by Kingdom Bank. “This gift is not charity. This is a
SA grave digger discharged
Court ReporterA South African man was recently warned and cautioned before being discharged by a Masvingo provincial magistrate for digging up a grave in Mwenezi. Blessing Makopfane (21) of Levoeng Village, Mpumalanga, said he dug up the grave up to knee level because he wanted to attract the
Court to decide on 2013 election dates
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
JUDGE President George Chiweshe will on Monday either confirm or reject President Mugabe’s proposal that harmonised elections be held in March next year.
He will make the decision when he rules on the urgency of a chamber application in which the President is seeking a further extension of the by-elections deadline from October 1 to March 31 next year.
President Mugabe has since indicated that he wants to call for harmonised elections in the last week of March next year.
The judge is also expected to determine whether it is legally correct for Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa to depose an affidavit in the application on behalf of the President.
Ex-legislators Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East) approached the courts to enforce the holding of by-elections after they lost their seats when they defected from the MDC.
Representing the three, who obtained the order for the proclamation of the by-elections date, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa said Minister Chinamasa was not qualified to depose the affidavit.
She said at least the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission or Finance Minister Tendai Biti could have deposed the affidavit, stating the financial difficulties in holding the by-elections and the challenges facing the Government in logistics.
Ms Mtetwa wants the judge to determine whether or not it was proper for an officer from the Attorney-General to sign a certificate of urgency in the case.
The AG’s Office is the one representing President Mugabe in the case.
Ms Mtetwa also argued that the matter was not urgent considering that the same request for postponement of compliance with the Supreme Court
President committed to helping the physically challenged
Herald Reporter
President Mugabe is committed to improving lives of physically