Vol 4 (AAC) No 2 | ZIMBABWEASIA Rust never sleeps 27th December 2010 After much stalling, the first privatisation deal with the Zimbabwe government has finally been sealed. An estimated 53% of the country’s largest public company, the Zimbabwe Iron and...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 1 | ZIMBABWEASIA Doing the Charamba 18th November 2010 One consortium gains, another loses: ministers will decide which lucky locals can partner with international investors in the indigenisation scheme George Charamba is President Robert Mugabe’s official spokesman and information supremo. The job description is not well defined and Charamba feels free to ennunciate what he thinks policy...
Vol 51 No 25 | ZIMBABWE The wiles of a crocodile, the memory of an elephant 17th December 2010 The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front will put on a show of unity and loyalty to President Mugabe at this week’s congress in Mutare. Despite the protestations, the party is divided over who should succeed eventually Mugabe as leader. Most activists support Vice-President Mujuru but the securocrats back Defence Minister Mnangagwa. Mugabe, however, knows that he will be the party’s presidential candidate yet again in the 2011 elections. The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front has assembled in Mutare in full battle array for its annual party congress on 15-18 December. General mobilisations, once started, take on...
Vol 51 No 25 | ZIMBABWE One farm good, four farms better 17th December 2010 The 2011 elections are billed as the fourth and final Chimurenga (revolutionary struggle) to consolidate the gains of the revolutionary process. Nowhere have the gains been more substantial...
Vol 51 No 24 | ZIMBABWE Cranswick and Marange 3rd December 2010 A key player in the Marange diamond fields dispute, businessman Andrew Cranswick, has been declared bankrupt in Australia after failing to pay a tax demand of Aus$1.1 million (US$1.07 mn.). Cranswick...
Vol 51 No 23 | ZIMBABWEDIAMONDS A multi-faceted business 19th November 2010 Intrigue over the ownership and profits from the rich Marange diamond fields is causing dissension in State House The growing political crisis over the management of the rich Marange diamond fields shows how important this huge new revenue source is for President Robert Mugabe, politically and...
Vol 51 No 23 | ZIMBABWE Old crocodile, younger croc 19th November 2010 Grace Mugabe, widely known as the country’s First Shopper, has, like Marie-Antoinette, a penchant for diamonds and playing at milkmaids. Her model farm, Gushongo Dairy, is so named...
Vol 51 No 22 | ZIMBABWE Lying big, often 5th November 2010 The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front approaches its annual congress in better shape than a year ago and owing much to Jonathan Moyo’s tactical thinking. He will probably...
Vol 51 No 22 | ZIMBABWEBRITAIN Sanctions fraying fast 5th November 2010 As Harare steps up pressure for the European Union to abandon its sanctions on Zimbabwe, it has emerged that a British-based bank has found a legal way to...
Vol 51 No 21 | ZIMBABWE Everyone wants a vote 22nd October 2010 President Mugabe defies the agreement with the MDC while Morgan Tsvangirai ponders his declining power Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is staying away from cabinet meetings in protest at President Robert Mugabe’s move to extend the tenure of the ten provincial governors without consulting...