By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Legislation passed last September to give 51% control of all businesses to black Zimbabweans has been signed by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. The law defines an “indigenous” Zimbabwean as any person who, “before the 18th April, 1980, was disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the grounds of his or her race, and any descendant of such person.” This corresponds to the date of Zimbabwe’s independence from white rule
The law is complemented by another plan to give black farmers, who have resettled on previously white-owned land, farming equipment and cattle. Many of Mugabe’s critics see these plans as a political scheme to support his political backers and win public favor. Many have in mind Mugabe’s previous redistribution of land from whites to blacks, where the most valuable land was given to prominent figures in his government and party, the Zanu-PF.
This law, promoted by Mugabe as part of his campaign theme of “economic empowerment,” comes ahead of the March 29 elections, which many are predicting will be hotly contested. Already, many are questioning how free and fair these elections will be, as reports of kidnappings and torture against opposition candidates are prevalent. Africa News is reporting the disappearance of Edison Muwengwa, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. Many believe he has been abducted by Zanu-PF militias, as threats by party members in the past few weeks have been directed at Muwengwa and his family.
Furthermore, while the government’s strict media and security laws have been relaxed by means of a constitutional amendment, Zimbabwe Democracy Now (ZDN), a South Africa-based civil society organization, is accusing the government of being unresponsive to calls for abiding by the rules governing elections, which were agreed to by both major parties. The agreement reached was to provide for equal media access, voter education programs and the monitoring of elections by an independent body. However, the Daily News, one of Zimbabwe’s most popular independent newspapers remains banned and ZDN claims that state-run media are refusing to accept their advertisements.
Amidst all this, civil society organizations, including ZDN, have been urging members of the Zimbabwean diaspora to return home to vote in the elections. Organizations in South Africa, where an estimated two million Zimbabweans have settled, have been running billboards and “Rock the Vote” concerts to support their campaign. While some are responding to these calls to vote, many do not have the resources or are in the country illegally and fear deportation back to Zimbabwe if caught. While an International Organization for Migration study found that most native Zimbabweans desire to return home in the future, the current economic crisis makes this unlikely in the near future. This month’s elections will be seen as one indicator as to Zimbabwe’s future and the return of its expatriates.
For more information, please see:
CNN.com – Zimbabwe: Blacks to control firms – 10 March 2008
Chicago Tribune – Zimbabwe’s Mugabe orders black control of businesses – 10 March 2008
NY Times – Zimbabwe Seeks ‘Indigenous’ Control of Companies – 27 June 2007
IRIN – SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE: Go home and vote, NGOs urge expats – 12 March 2008
africanews.com – Zimbabwe: MDC candidate goes missing – 11 March 2008
allAfrica.com – Zimbabwe: Government Violating SADC Guidelines on Elections – 11 March 2008
impunitywatch.net – BRIEF: Zimbabwe bans Western Observers – 10 March 2008
