The wait for a ‘new Zimbabwe’ continues:
The rule of former president Robert Mugabe was characterised by violence and gross human rights violations and that of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has squandered the hopes of many who saw the ousting of Mugabe as an opportunity for a “new Zimbabwe”.
As the country holds its general elections on 23 August, Zimbabwe has yet again experienced an escalation on human rights violations, contrary to the pledge by Mnangagwa during his inauguration in 2018, when he promised “to act fairly and impartially, without fear or favour, as a president of all Zimbabweans”.
This comes as no surprise because Mnangagwa and Mugabe had worked together for decades. Mnangagwa was present throughout Mugabe’s tenure and played a role during the Zimbabwe war of independence. Since then, he has held influential jobs in the government, including that of vice-president.
Despite this, there was hope that Mnangagwa would do things differently. Instead he continued from where Mugabe’s 37-year rule ended, which is a government that was marred by allegations of abuse of due process and widespread violence and intimidation. The Gukurahundi massacre, in which Mnangagwa allegedly played a significant role (which he denies); the food riots; Operation Murambatsvina; and the violence surrounding the 2008 presidential elections are some of the legacies that Mugabe will be remembered for.
Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe enacted several repressive laws including Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) in 2002 (later repealed), the Broadcasting Services Act (2001) and the Public Order and Security Act (2002), all aimed at protecting and increasing the state’s power over the people and clamping down on human rights.
The Mnangagwa administration has continued the legacy of enacting repressive laws that are inconsistent with Zimbabwe’s Constitution and depriving people of their rights. The Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act (replacing AIPPA) and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (replacing the Public Order and Security Act) still infringe on rights provided for by the Constitution. The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill and the recent passing of the Patriotic Bill (now a law), all pushed under the pretext of protecting national security, have been and continue to be used by the government to silence peaceful dissent and target members of the political opposition parties and government critics.
The failure to deal with these human rights violations leads to a culture of impunity and severely limits and infringes on human rights provided for by the Constitution and international and regional human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Zimbabwe is a state party.
Journalists, human rights defenders and political activists have been intimidated, harassed, assaulted, arrested and detained by state security for doing their work. In May 2020, three opposition members of Citizens Coalition for Change were arrested for leading an anti-government protest over the authorities’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic and widespread hunger in the country. On the same day, they were forcibly disappeared from police custody, sexually assaulted, tortured and dumped 87km from Harare. The women have since endured almost three years of abuse by the government, prosecuting them for “faking” their own abduction while the suspected attackers roam free.
Civil society is increasingly restricted and critical voices are silenced. The state continues to use the police to suppress and undermine activities of civil society organisations and the opposition parties’ rallies and meetings. Authorities have either barred or violently dispersed peaceful protests. In 2018, six people were shot and killed after the government deployed the army to stop people protesting delays in releasing the August 2018 electoral results. The Motlanthe commission report into the killings revealed that the deployment of the soldiers was unjustified and excessive.
During and after a national stayaway in January 2019, at least 15 people were shot and killed by security forces, with others treated for gunshot wounds, several hundred arbitrarily arrested and some prosecuted in fast-tracked trials on bogus charges of public violence or subverting a constitutional government.
Mnangagwa’s inaugural speech focused primarily on economic reforms, but he also committed his government to “constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary”. These commitments remain unfulfilled; no meaningful investigations have been conducted to provide access to justice and effective remedies to victims and families, and no one has been held accountable for the deaths, adding to a lengthy list of injustices perpetrated against the people of Zimbabwe by their own government.
Contrary to the promise of an “independent judiciary”, the courts have been used as a tool to criminalise peaceful dissent. Tsitsi Dangarembga was convicted for “inciting violence”, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe members were arrested for peacefully protesting against poor wages; six University of Zimbabwe students — Benjamin Watadza, Emmanuel Chitima, Comfort Mpofu, Lionel Madamombe, Gamuchirai Chaburumunda and Darlington Chigwena — were arrested for staging a peaceful protest and spent more than a month in jail; and opposition party leaders including Jacob Ngarivhume and Job Sikhala are languishing in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
It is disheartening to see history repeating itself, especially the violence and escalating crackdown on human rights ahead of the elections, reports of attacks and banning of opposition parties’ rallies, and the killing of opposition party members. The government continues to ignore the violence and divisions that have engulfed the country and the culture of impunity that is deeply entrenched in state entities, diminishing all hope and the promise of a “new Zimbabwe”.
The Mnangagwa administration did not make good on its promises of a “new Zimbabwe” for all by prioritising full respect for human rights and the rule of law and ensuring adherence to the 2013 Constitution.
The new government must ensure the protection and promotion of human rights and create a peaceful environment for the people of Zimbabwe to engage meaningfully with the government with the aim of building a rule of law-based society. The courts play a vital role in protecting human rights and their impartiality and independence are essential for justice and effective remedies for victims of human rights violations. And the authorities must promote the active and effective participation of civil society organisations in their efforts to promote and protect human rights.
Tshidi Leatswe is the Country Campaigner, Southern Africa for Amnesty International.
eThekwini R1.7m staff party is global best practice, according to ANC:
eThekwini Municipality is following global best practice in rewarding staff by hosting its controversial R1,740 000 million City Stars Awards Ceremony at the Durban International Convention Centre next month.
And the city may be justified if it invoked rule 36 of the Municipal Finance Management Act to pay hundreds of millions of rands for its Revenue Management System (RMS) – that it already replaced at a cost of R1,2 billion several years ago.
This was the view of ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo speaking during a press conference in Durban on Tuesday.
Mtolo said when it came to “the hot stuff” regarding eThekwini Municipality, referring to the R1,740 million spent on a staff awards party, the city was merely following global best practice.
“This is a global phenomenon to say you honour those that have done excellent services,” he said.
He said although a municipality might have faults such as potholes, not all staff were responsible for these, as there could be for example, an “excellent” head of Metro Police or a top official in the finance department who exceeded a target of 66% to collect 90% of revenue.
“He has done his job, he was given his task to do … he has excelled,” he said.
“The municipality has 30 000 workers and it did its research and found this was done all over the world as the best method to reward well performing employees and to make others want to be the ones (who are rewarded) the following year. It makes the labour force want to compete,” he said.
However, Mtolo added that what should be inspected is the costs involved in hosting the event.
“What we should be discussing here is not the programme, it’s the cost of the programme. If lunch or dinner is R4500 then we must be asking what kind of lunch is it? It is not a wrong thing to hold a staff day for the staff because every company around the world does it,” he said.
This comes after DA eThekwini councillor Sakhile Mngadi earlier raised the alarm saying the ANC had blown R106 million on 36 parties of similar nature over the past two years while the municipality was collapsing.
Said Mngadi: “The beneficiaries of this lavish bash in recognition of their ‘hard work’ will be receiving certificates and photos to a total value of R150 000 while the vast majority of the budget R1.55 million will go to service providers to host the event. R900 000 is earmarked for ‘venue hire and catering’ for the 200 guests that will be invited, totalling R4500 a head for the bash. This is more than dinner at the most expensive five star hotel in Durban.”
However, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana defended the event, saying it was aimed at “boosting staff morale” and the public would form part of the nomination process.
“It is not an irregular expense as the budget is from the Corporate and Human Capital Cluster which is responsible for skills development, performance management, staff retention and improving human capital in the Municipality,” she said.
Responding to a question that the city allegedly awarded a R215 million contract for work on its Revenue Management System without advertising a tender, Mtolo, said “I haven’t heard about that but I won’t deny it”.
A report tabled before the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (Mpac) last month reportedly stated that between R300??million and R800 million had been spent on the RMS irregularly and that about R86 million of this was considered fruitless and wasteful expenditure, according to a media report.
Motolo said the government embarked on “transparent, competitive and fair” tender processes in line with the constitution and the billing system was an essential feature to keep the city operational. So, it may have been necessary to award an emergency contract.
“Under certain circumstances they can invoke section 36 in an emergency situation and we all know the city has been grappling with a billing system that is not 100% correct. And the billing system is the core that says this ratepayer owes so much …. If they go to tender it is going to take a longer time so I would assume they invoked Section 36,” he said.
“I don’t see an official of the city giving a tender for R200 million that is not allowed,” Mtolo said.
A spokesperson for eThekwini Municipality said the city had not secretly grant a R215 million deal to replace the current billing system, as reported in the media recently, but had put the matter out to tender on 28 July 2023.
“The city assessed the current billing system for MSCOA (Municipal Standard Chart of Accounts)compliance and it was found to be non-compliant. Various feasibility studies were conducted to find a cost-effective solution,” a spokesperson said.
Artificial intelligence transforms the world of wine into a realm of artistic expression :
This year’s Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase – Unveiling the artistic journey behind each auction wine
The tasting notes, environmental factors, the science and the process of creating some of South Africa’s finest wines are being brought to life through unique art generated using artificial intelligence (AI) at this years’ Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase. Each art piece will embody “The Art of Wine” — the deep creativity that goes into the winemaking process. This year explores the profound connection between wine and art, where every sip is a masterpiece and each wine collection is an artwork.
The 2023 auction showcases will be held in Cape Town (24 August 2023) and Johannesburg (30 August 2023), giving attendees the opportunity to taste the country’s leading wines and even participate in a wine and art auction, with all proceeds going to the Guild’s Protégé Development Programme.
Wine has the remarkable ability to elevate human senses, taking us on a sensory journey that transcends mere enjoyment. It is a testament to this notion that certain wines are revered as works of art, and winemakers are celebrated as true artists. The theme for this year’s event, “The Art of Wine”, delves into the intricate details of the winemaking process, unravelling the skill, imagination and environment that contribute to the creation of each exceptional bottle.
“At this year’s auction showcase, Nedbank is delighted to once again bring to life the craftsmanship behind each winemaker, which will go beyond the conventional appreciation of wine. It is a celebration of the convergence of craftsmanship, culture, and creativity,” says Nthabiseng Matshekga, Nedbank Executive Head for Group Marketing. “Nedbank invites you to join us for an extraordinary experience that will awaken your senses and deepen your understanding of the artistry behind every sip.”
At the auction showcase, each wine becomes a canvas, a reflection of the winemaker’s artistic journey. To visually encapsulate this unique process, Nedbank has collaborated closely with each winemaker to create a series of prompts based on each wine’s evolution. These prompts will then be transformed into bespoke artworks through the innovative use of AI art generation. The result will be a visual representation of the intricate artistic process that has culminated in every bottle of wine, a true embodiment of The Art of Wine.
“Every sip is a revelation, a culmination of dedication, innovation, and passion,” notes Gordon Newton Johnson, distinguished winemaker and chair of the Cape Winemakers Guild. “Through The Art of Wine, we invite you to witness the essence of our craft, as each wine tells a unique story and imparts a one-of-a-kind sensory experience.”
The Art of Wine beckons all wine enthusiasts, collectors, and connoisseurs to immerse themselves in an unparalleled journey of taste, aroma and creativity. This is an invitation to celebrate the seamless union of wine and art, where each bottle is a masterpiece and every sip a revelation.
The Nedbank and Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcases will take place on the following dates:
Cape Town Auction Showcase
Date: Thursday 24 August 2023.
Time: 6pm
Venue: CTICC 1, Jasminium Conservatory.
Website: Cape Town Auction Showcase
Johannesburg Auction Showcase
Date: Wednesday 30 August 2023.
Time: 6pm
Venue: Nedbank Atrium, Nedbank, Sandton.
Website: Johannesburg Auction Showcase
Guests attending the auctions will experience the wines going under the hammer at the 2023 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. Past auction wines and flagship wines from Guild members will also be available, and the showcase will feature a silent auction of signed, past CWG and flagship wines to raise funds for the Guild’s Protégé Programme. For more information visit https://nedbankcwg.co.za/.
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