Ailing Zimbabwe First Lady, Grace Mugabe, rushed to Singapore

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe again left the country for Singapore on Friday evening amid revelations that it is actually the First Lady Grace Mugabe who is this time seeking treatment in the Asian country for a serious ailment. Mugabe has been frequenting Singapore since his annual leave in January and his spokesman George Charamba last month clai-med he was going for a review after undergoing an operation to remove a cataract in his eye. But impeccable sources have since told The Standard that Grace Mugabe slipped and fell in the bathroom at their Borrowdale house and is suspected to have suffered a dislocated hip. She has reportedly not recovered from the injury and could be seriously ill. Charamba yesterday confirmed that the First Family was in Singapore but said he did not know the purpose of their visit as he was in Kadoma when they flew out of the country. Mugabe’s trips to Singapore are said to have gobbled US$12 million from the public purse. Charamba, however, hinted that the First Lady is battling illness. He disclosed that she has not fully recovered from a complication she suffered while giving birth to her last-born son Chatunga 14 years ago adding he was not aware of the hip dislocation. “I would not be privy to that kind of information,” Charamba said. “I have not heard about it. However what I know is that the First Lady, after the birth of Chatunga, developed some slight discomfort with her back but that was a long time ago.” Charamba also confirm-ed that the President had gone to Singapore but said it was not an “official visit.” But the fact that the presidential spokesman was not briefed about the trip hints to the fact that it was an emergency. Charamba said there were two possibilities why Mugabe went to Singapore. “It could be that they went to visit their daughter (Bona) who is on attachment in China, because they usually meet up in Singapore but then maybe there is something else,” Charamba said. “However it cannot be anything serious. Usually, if I am in Harare, I will go and see him off at the airport and I would be briefed on the reason on why he is travelling but I am in Kadoma attending a Zimbabwe Media Commission conference.” As usual Mugabe and his wife took an Air Zimbabwe plane and striking pilots had to be recalled to fly them. Air Zimbabwe board chairman Jonathan Kadzura justified the move yesterday saying the flight was not a commercial one but the pilots were on “national duty.” “There is a difference of going on strike for commercial flights and flying on national duty,” he said. “You can’t say no to national duty because yesterday’s flight wasn’t a commercial one.” Grace Mugabe has not been seen in public in a long time, further fuelling speculation about her health. However, the speculation had mainly centred on her 87-year-old husband who was driven in a golf cart during the Southern African Development Community troika summit in Livingstone, Zambia recently. Mugabe was seen struggling with his step. There have even been reports that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

Tomana accused of intimidating judges

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE LAWYERS for Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma have lodged a protest against Attorney General Johannes Tomana accusing him of trying to intimidate High Court judges into treating the top MDC-T official unfairly. The protest letter to the Judicial Services Commission was in reaction to reports that Tomana had lodged a complaint to the Judge President George Chiweshe and the Judicial Services Commission alleging that High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya passed judgement on factual issues before Mangoma’s trial. Tomana was said to be not happy with Kudya’s remarks when he granted Mangoma bail on March 15 on the grounds that the state’s case appeared to be weak.  The minister is accused of sealing a US$5 million fuel deal with a South African company NOA without going to tender. In remarks that have drawn parallels with comments that saw Zanu PF apologists calling for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo’s arrests on alleged contempt of court charges, Tomana appeared to be calling for action against Kudya. But Mangoma’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, in a letter seen by The Standard accused Tomana of attempting to bully members of the judiciary and interfering with their independence. “In our respectful view, if the Attorney-General was unhappy with the judge’s findings in the bail application, his proper course would clearly have been to seek to appeal against judgement,” reads part of the letter. “Traditionally and taking into account what the state would have placed before a court, judicial officers have always considered the strength or weakness of a case in considering a bail application and we do not consider that the judge in this case went  beyond this traditional consideration.” She said although they had read about Tomana’s complaint in The Sunday Mail, it appeared it was intended to intimidate the judges handling Mangoma’s cases. Tsvangirai last month threatened a “clean divorce” from the unity government following Mangoma’s initial arrest last month saying the prosecution and judicial system were being manipulated to persecute his party. But he was forced to apologise after President Robert Mugabe’s sympathisers pushed for his arrest. The complaint by Mangoma’s lawyers will resurrect debate about the alleged conspiracy. “Whatever the ‘complaint’, it is our view that the Attorney General’s ‘complaint’ is nothing but an attempt to intimidate members of the judiciary into not exercising their independence in matters that come before them,” Mtetwa wrote.

Zanu PF tried to bribe me: Mtetwa

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE AWARD-winning human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa says Zanu PF officials tried to bribe her so that she would stop representing President Robert Mu-gabe’s opponents. Mtetwa, who was last week announced the winner of the United States’ Case Western Reserve University’s 2011 Inamori Ethics Prize said she had resisted offers of a farm and appointments to boards of parastatals. But she refused to name the officials who attempted to bribe her. “I have also been offered perks if I abandon my human rights work,” Mtetwa said. “In 2001 in particular I was offered various positions, boardships in parastatals, even a farm if I abandoned my human rights work. “I found it very interesting because the people making those offers were people I had once represented when their own rights had been violated by the very system.” Mtetwa said she turned down the offers because she was not doing her work for financial benefitbut simply because she believed in what does.

Families of slain MDC-T activists feel abandoned

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE FAMILIES of slain MDC-T activists have accused the party of abandoning wives and children of members who died while serving the party. At an emotional memorial service on Wednesday at the Dutch Reformed Church in Harare, relatives of Tonderai Ndira, Better Chokururama, Cain Nyevhe and Godfrey Kauzani told stories of broken dreams, untold suffering and abject poverty. The activists were brutally murdered during the run-up to the June 2008 presidential election run-off election where the leading contender, MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw because of violence. Their mutilated bodies were found dumped in Goromonzi and Murehwa. Kauzani’s wife Sarudzai Chiutsi told The Standard that her husband’s death had driven her into abject poverty. An emotional Chiutsi said she now regreted why her husband ventured into politics. She chronicled how she struggled when her disabled son who had a hole in one of his ears that stretched to the brain fell ill and eventually died in February. Chiutsi claimed the MDC-T refused to provide her with transport to take her seriously ill son to Harare Hospital. “I am now both mother and father to my children,” she said. “I struggled with my son alone and they even refused to give me a car to transport my son’s body for burial. They only gave me US$100. The coffin cost almost US$200 and I had to borrow money from work which I am still paying back. I have nothing to show for my husband’s struggle.” But Chiutsi exonerated Tsvangirai, saying she did not believe he was aware of their plight. She said she last got assistance with school fees for the children, rent money and food two years ago. “I am grateful the party helped me get a job but the money is not enough,” she said. “In the past we used to go to the MDC-T offices seeking audience with Tsvangirai but those people who work there always denied us that opportunity,” she said. Ndira’s elder brother Cosmas, who was choking with emotion, also had no kind words for the MDC-T. “There is no money to pay school fees for Tonderai’s children,” he said. “It pains us that his children are suffering and living in abject poverty. Tonderai used to look after his children well when he was still alive.” Cosmas said it pained them to see senior MDC-T officials driving luxury cars and assisting their relatives to get jobs while people who bore the brunt of their fight against Zanu PF were wallowing in poverty. Nelson Chamisa, the MDC-T spokesman maintained that the party had done a lot for the families by helping some of them get jobs, start income generating projects and secure scholarships. “In fact we have exceeded our capacity to help the children, wives and husbands of survivors,” he said. “Unfortunately, those who perished run into hundreds if not thousands and survivors run into tens of thousands. Considering the task before us, the party is bound to be overwhelmed and this is why we have called for restorative and rehabilitative justice at a national scale from the government of the day,” he said.

Mugabe wins on Bennett

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will finally have his way in the stalemate over the appointment of MDC-T treasurer general Roy Bennett as deputy Agriculture minister when Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai withdraws the former commercial farmer’s nomination to Senate this week. Tsvangirai has been forced to take the drastic action after the popular politician missed 21 consecutive seatings of the Senate. He was forced into self-imposed exile in South Africa by sustained Zanu PF persecution. According to the law, if a senator misses 21 consecutive sittings he loses his seat. It was not clear yesterday who Tsvangirai had chosen to replace Bennett as senator and deputy Agriculture minister designate. Mugabe refused to swear in the former Chimanimani MP citing his race and colonial past. Bennett said he feared arrest if he returned to Zimbabwe after police indicated that they were looking for him in connection with a US$1 million lawsuit filed against him by High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu. His legal woes came hard on the heels of his acquittal on terrorism, banditry and insurgency charges. MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa yesterday confirmed the new developments. “It is true that Bennett’s period of absence outlived the stipulated time in parliament,” he said. “The next step would be taken in consultation with the other principal Mugabe with the MDC-T informing him on who it wants to replace Bennett. As you know, it’s a non-constituency post.” However , Chamisa refused to shed light on Bennett’s possible replacement although unconfirmed reports indicate that it would be a toss between Marondera Central MP Ian Kay’s wife Kerry and united MDC founding youth secretary-general Bekithemba Mpofu. Bennett, also popularly known as Pachedu by many MDC-T supporters, is the only ministerial designate Mugabe refused to accept. He is also likely to lose his post at the MDC-T congress with Mpofu, who holds a PHD in Finance from the UK, again being linked to the position.

Grace Mugabe mystery deepens

THE mystery surrounding First Lady Grace Mugabe’s whereabouts deepened yesterday with President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman saying he does not know where she is.  Grace is reportedly in Singapore where she is seeking treatment after she allegedly dislocated her hip in an awkward fall at their Borrowdale house. Last Friday her husband flew to the Asian country but returned home for the burial of Central Intelligence Organisation deputy director general Menard Muzariri who was declared a national hero. His wife, who usually accompanies him to state occasions, was conspicuously absent. When asked whether she had returned home, Charamba who last week confirmed that the First Family was in Singapore said: “I am not in touch with that side.” But last week, Charamba hinted that Grace could be battling an illness. He disclosed that she had not fully recovered from a complication she suffered while giving birth to her last-born son Chatunga 14 years ago. Her principal private secretary Lawrence Kamwi yesterday refused to comment saying he was not the Mugabes’ spokesperson. “I am not their spokesperson,” he said. “There is one spokesperson and you should go to him.” Sources last week said Grace actually left the country soon after the burial of Harare governor David Karimanzira on March 27. Some publications last week tried to rubbish The Standard story claiming that it was planted to divert attention from Mugabe’s own health problems. However, the 87-year-old Zanu PF leader appeared fit at Muzariri’s burial and spoke for more than an hour. —Patience Nyangove

Mugabe’s Singapore trips cost $3m each

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mu-gabe left the country on Friday to collect his ailing wife in Singapore; they are expected back home on Wednesday, sources have revealed. Mugabe’s sixth trip to Singapore since the beginning of the year came amid revelations that the ageing leader demands at least US$3 million from Treasury each time he leaves the country. Impeccable sources have revealed that soon after his return Mugabe will be off to Rome on Friday for a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) summit. Grace Mugabe has been receiving treatment in Singapore since last month and this has forced her husband to travel to the Asian country frequently. She allegedly dislocated her hip during a fall at their Borrowdale house sometime in March and doctors have been battling to rehabilitate her. Her 87 year-old husband, according to his spokesman George Charamba, had an eye operation to remove a cataract in January also in Singapore. Impeccable sources told. The Standard that Mu-gabe’s handlers demand US$3 million from Finance minister Tendai Biti each time he leaves the country. The money is believed to be for medical bills and travel expenses for his usually large entourage. Mugabe is known for travelling with as many as 80 people as part of his entourage that are all given hefty allowances. Sources in the inclusive government that spoke on condition of anonymity said Mugabe’s demands had become excessive and were threatening to cripple the cash-strapped coalition. The sources said Biti had tried to stand his ground but was now forced to release substantial amounts after sustained pressure. “The travelling expenses have shot up to an extent that they have gone out of hand,” the source said. “They are now crippling government operations. “The demands are unlawful and if you look at it they have gone there almost six times this year. “However, Mugabe is not given the US$3 million he demands because the money is just not there.” Repeated efforts to get a comment from Charamba were fruitless. One of Biti’s major challenges since he took over the hot seat in 2009 has been to reduce money spent on foreign trips by the government but the MDC-T secretary general appears to be losing the war.