Charles Davy threatens to sue Zimbabwean website

By Lance Guma
06 January 2011

Controversial commercial farmer Charles Davy has threatened to sue a Zimbabwean website, for publishing a story accusing him of ‘aiding and abetting’ the ZANU PF regime. Davy is father to Chelsy, the ex-girlfriend of British Prince Harry.

The website in question, Zimdiaspora.com, published a story entitled ‘Name and shame: Charles Davy ZANU-PF sponsor, partner, hunter’. The article said “when most white landowners were scurrying for cover from marauding ZANU PF youths, one Charles Davy was enjoying himself at Matetsi Wildlife Enterprises. A hunter by day and a ZANU PF collaborator by night aptly describes the man.”

A six month undercover investigation by a reporter for the website reveals that Davy “has funded ZANU PF since 2002 and has partnered senior ZANU PF officials in illicit rhino horn trade. The officials are Webster Shamu and Emmerson Mnangagwa,” the report said. The story also accused Davy of funding Mnangagwa and Shamu’s parliamentary election campaigns in 2005.
Davy has responded to the article saying this is “exactly why I do not give interviews, they create stories and those stories fuel the fire of creating more absolute rubbish stories.” He claimed “there are over 400 farmers in Zimbabwe who have survived land invasions for various reasons, from geographical position, attitude of local communities, protection from bilateral investment certificates etc.”

Davy also claims that “prior to the land invasions in 2000 we had 25 white farmers in our district, 24 are still on their farms because our local district council/land committee decided that they were not going to disturb commercial farming in the district. They kicked one off his farm because he treated his labor and the local community badly.”

Contradicting Davy’s defence however are secret documents in the possession of Zimdiaspora.com, which expose how he “has not only funded terror to save his wildlife business but he has treated his workers worse than animals.” One of his former workers told the website that “at one time our pay was less than US 15 cents per month and many of us slept on bare floors without blankets. We couldn’t do anything, because he told us that President Mugabe knew him. We just suffered.”

Davy claims there are white farmers who openly support the opposition who are still on their farms “because of this decision by the local community not to interfere with the commercial farmers.” He claims his conservancy “just happens to be one of those farms in a district that is very arid, unsuitable for agriculture and where commercial farming is undisturbed.” He further claims to have lost 140,000 acres of prime agricultural land and forced to sell 10,000 cattle onto a depressed market.

The Zimdiaspora.com story however alleges that in July 2009 Davy met Mugabe in a meeting organised by Mnangagwa. Davy has also managed to meet President Rupiah Banda of Zambia and DRC President Joseph Kabila in the course of his business. The article says his company HHK Safaris ‘surprised many when they solely landed all government owned concessions,’ covering areas in the Midlands, Matetsi, Sabi, Kariba and some parts of Gonarezhou in the lowveld.

Davy is also implicated in the illegal smuggling of ivory to China and Vietnam using his Chinese links in Asia. Several senior members of the army based at the Defence House headquarters are said to be helping him.

“In the operation army helicopters disguised as army Red Cross ambulances or test flights land in Hwange National Park to pick ivory belonging to Charles Davy and partners,” the story claims.
The report also shows that commandos hired from 1 Commando Barracks stay at his HKK Safaris when poaching in the Hwange National Park.

“In many other cases they are given accommodation at Matetsi or Bubye,” the report says.
Davy has meanwhile already sent a letter to the Zimdiaspora.com website saying: “I will be sending an objection to this article to the editor and will take advice from my legal representative about taking the strongest possible action against them. I am done with journalists making money by writing rubbish about me.”

I read the report. It closes by stating that it will publish the secret documents and reports that it has to substantiate its claims.

http://www.zimdiaspora.com/ind...ravel-tips&Itemid=18

Considering Charles davey sold ALL his shares n HHK to an American at least 4 years ago...The article has enough wrong with the known facts to cast doubt on the rest.

Personally I belive that Charles Davey is in bed with several senior government officials but if the MDC ever come to power, lo, it will be found that he is in bed with several senior officials of the new regime...just like John Bredencamp has done twice already (he was Ian Smiths gun runner, Bishop Muzorewa's sanctions buster and then robert Mugabe's man in the war against the dissidents and MNR) Some people have a habit of landing on their feet.

Name and shame: Charles Davy ZANU-PF sponsor, partner, hunter


HARARE - When most white landowners were scurrying for cover from marauding Zanu PF youths, one Charles Davy was enjoying himself at Matetsi Wildlife Enterprises. A hunter by day and a Zanu PF collaborator by night aptly describes the man behind the name, Charles Davy.

To many, he is an animal saviour. He owns many conservatives from Matetsi to Zambia. Charles Davy is a hunter, an animal philanthropist, is that all? Far from it.

Six months of undercover investigations on Charles Davy revealed that he has funded Zanu PF since 2002 and has partnered senior Zanu PF officials in illicit rhino horn trade. The officials are Webster Shamu and Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A confidential report acquired by this reporter confirmed the above.

Circumstances are that at the beginning of Zimbabwe’s land reform program found his vast business empire threatened. President Mugabe and Zanu PF targeted white landowners. To this end, Davy hatched a plan to save his land. Paying homage to the militia party that was terrorizing blacks and whites alike became his master plan and key to his continued stay.

It marked the beginning of his marriage with Zanu PF. Despite spirited denials by Mr. Davy, secret documents have exposed what he really is. He has not only funded terror to save his wildlife business but he has treated his workers worse than animals. One of his former workers had this to say, “At one time our pay was less than US 15 cents per month and many of us slept on bare floors without blankets. We couldn’t do anything, because he told us that President Mugabe ‘knew’ him. We just suffered”

In July of 2009 Mr. Davy met with President Mugabe. The meeting was arranged by Minister Mnangagwa. The report says that Webster Shamu and Mr Davy have met several times in Chegutu, twice in July 2010. Again, Mr. Davy has managed to meet President Rupiah Banda of Zambia and DRC Joseph Kabila in the course of his ‘business’.

HHK Safaris surprised many when they solely landed all government owned concessions. But the truth was Mr. Davy had paid a fortune which sources in the state security organ peg at a whopping USD44 000 in 2001. The money was crucial in President Mugabe’s presidential crusade that left many dead, raped and homeless. To Davy, the money meant concessions.

His concessions covered central Midlands, Matetsi safaris, Sabi area, the south western and south eastern of lake Kariba and some parts of Gonarezhou in the lowveld. HHK safaris became the marketing arm on behalf of several Zanu PF owned concessions. Famba Safaris owned by Webster Shamu, Khanondo owned by Obert Mpofu, Unit 6 owned by General Chiwenga among others.

Recent security reports implicate Mr. Davy and his accomplices in illegal rhino trade. According to a secret report in our possession army intelligence officers led by one Colonel Dube based at Defence House in Harare provide guns and helicopter. On the other hand Ministers Shamu and Mnangagwa cushion the groups from any prosecution and arrests. Joceline Chiwenga, wife to Army General Constantine Chiwenga is fingered in the secret report as part of the rhino horn racket.

According to the secret reports Chirisa is owned by Famba Safaris in which Minister Shamu is a significant shareholder, Unit 1 and Kasibi held by Matetsi Wildlife, Chete owned by Burmakino Travel and Tours, Omay by National Safaris and Lemco owned by Mazunga Safari. The report further alleges that HHK Safaris represent Famba Safaris internationally.

In the report proceeds from Famba Safaris have been managed and distributed using Matetsi bank accounts. Zanu PF’s Shamu and Mr. Davy are approved the transaction. Traced transactions point to international transfers handled and destined for offshore accounts in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Switzerland the report further alleges.

In his homage Mr Davy funded part of Mnangagwa’s 2005 election campaign and footed all costs of Shamu’s campaign in 2005. Again, Mr Davy donated undisclosed amounts in foreign currency to Shamu for his 2008 campaign.

The report further reveals that In May 2008 Charles Davy met Shamu at Wild Geese lodge near Mazowe. The meeting was for his donation to Zanu PF Mashonaland West campaign. The money was handed over to then Mash Wet Chairman John Mafa.

The secret Intelligence report points to Charles Davy as being involved in the smuggling of ivory to China and Vietnam using his Chinese links in Asia. Two individuals have been involved, one Lee Hu Ming and a businessman now with Sino Zim. Information at hand shows the involvement of army intelligence from Harare’s Defence House as well as from 1 Commando base. At Defense House Mr. Davy’s contact is Col Dube.

In the operation army Helicopters disguised as army Red Cross ambulances or test flights land in Hwange National Park to pick ivory belonging to Charles Davy and partners. Secret details from the National Parks show that Mr. Davy’s has sold trophies extending him into areas under government jurisdiction. Action against him on account of orders from Hon Mnangagwa and Shamu

The report show commandos hired from 1 Commando Barracks stay at HKK Safaris when poaching in Hwange National. In many other cases they are given accommodation at Matetsi or Bubye.

NB: In our next issue we will publish the secret document.

Also, since when did the vie president ever need a white man to organise the sale of rhino horn from the parks stockpile (just over 6 tonnes in 1997) to the north koreans or chinese? Shamu certainly doesn't need charley davey or HHK or any other white man expecting a cut!

There has been extensive poaching by the military but if the zimbabwean equivalent of wiki leaks wants to name and shame anybody they need to start by looking at Xu Peng and Mudariki (Great Wall Co) and the current parks director General

It will be interesting to see what 'secret document' they have.

Davy threatens legal action on ZimDiaspora "inaccuracies"


ZIMBABWEAN farmer and businessman Mr Charles Davy has come out fighting after The Zim Diaspora published a story accusing him of aiding and abetting the ZANU-PF cabal, a political party which is guilty of mass murder, plunder, torture and exploitation.

Below we publish the email sent by Mr Davy to a British journalist (name withheld) who contacted him after reading our article on Mr Davy. He also copied the email to The Zim Diaspora editor. In his email, he protests the "inaccuracies" in our article. Mr Davy is now threatening to sue The Zim Diaspora.

By Charles Davy

The article below is exactly why I do not give interviews, they create stories those stories fuel the fire of creating more absolute rubbish stories.

There are over 400 farmers in Zimbabwe who have survived the land invasions for various reasons, from geographical position, attitude of local communities, protection from bilateral invest certificates etc.

Prior to the land invasions in 2000 we had 25 white farmers in our district, 24 are still on their farms because our local district council/land committee decided that they were not going to disturb commercial farming in the district. They kicked one off his farm because he treated his labor and the local community badly.

This is a fact that our district keeps very quiet about, some of the farmers who are still on their farms in our district are openly supportive of the opposition and are still on their farms because of this decision by the local community not to interfere with the commercial farmers. Our conservancy just happens to be one of those farms in a district that is very arid, unsuitable for agriculture and where commercial farming is undisturbed, this is one of the facts that you were going to be shown when you visited. No one chooses to mention that I lost 140,000 acres of prime agricultural land and was forced to sell 10,000 head of cattle onto a depressed market.

The problem is when people like this ‘Name & Shame’ and you write these completely unsubstantiated stories about people other journalists pick up on these stories and embellish them and add their own rubbish to these stories and they grow and get nastier each time. Quite clearly the only reason they even write them is because the stories are saleable because of the Royal connection and journalists write these stories to sell and not to publish the truth, frankly disgusting behavior that should lead to serious consequences for those journalists. Good stuff does not sell papers.

As you will notice a lot of the rubbish in this article is a repeat of the nonsense you wrote previously.

I will be sending an objection to this article to the editor and will take advice from my legal representative about taking the strongest possible action against them. I am done with journalists making money by writing rubbish about me.

Just so you and the editor of Name & Shame have clarity I have marked all the rubbish below in RED this will go through to the editor of Name and Shame. Please read the remarks in RED below.

NB. Tomorrow The Zimdiaspora will publish Mr Davy’s “editing” of our article in question in RED.

Good evening Ladies and gentleman
On my way by car to the Zambezi river on a fishing trip, a local resident in the area told us the same story. It seems to me the rumor is running wide. Where there is smoke there is fire.

That would be a circus.

I would "bet the farm" he does not. If it is like America he would be required to take the witness stand.
If there is any truth to those allegations, his business partners would not allow him to live that long.
Dead men tell no tales...

Rich
DRSS

The ONLY PRESS to be totally legit and trusworthy is the Printing Press / press the button and it prints bank notes, that is what keeps the whole story going is MONEY MONEY MONEY

Cheers, Peter

He will only sue if he can buy the trial court judge and the judges in the courts of appeals above the trial court judge.

And he may be able to do just that.

Let it be said again: Non Sed Homine Sed Sub Deo Et Lege.

Charles Davy "mutilates" our story, threatens lawsuit


Editor

LAST week we published an exclusive story implicating one of Zimbabwe's white farmers, Charles Davy for allegedly "aiding and abetting" the Zanu-PF regime for various reasons. Mr Davy has responded combatively by editing our story which he dismisses as inaccurate and despicable. Below we republish our story which Mr Davy has edited with RED.

However, The Zim Diaspora is still withholding some incriminating secret documents which implicates Mr Davy together with another South African farmer (named) based in Gauteng and operating from Musina. We are yet to make an editorial decision on whether to go aheard with the publication of these documents in view of the lawsuit threat by Mr Davy. We are currently reviewing the threat.

Edited version By Charles Davy

HARARE - When most white landowners were scurrying for cover from marauding Zanu PF youths, one Charles Davy was enjoying himself at Matetsi Wildlife Enterprises. A hunter by day and a Zanu PF collaborator by night aptly describes the man behind the name, Charles Davy. Rubbish I do not get involved in politics and have never ever joined any political party.

To many, he is an animal saviour. He owns many conservatives from Matetsi to Zambia. Charles Davy is a hunter, an animal philanthropist, is that all? Far from it. This is correct.

Six months of undercover investigations on Charles Davy revealed that he has funded Zanu PF since 2002 and has partnered senior Zanu PF officials in illicit rhino horn trade. The officials are Webster Shamu and Emmerson Mnangagwa. This is absolute rubbish, I again reiterate that I do not know and have never met Emmerson Mnangagwa and am not in business with him in any way, I have never traded bought or sold a single Rhino horn in my life.

I used to be in business in Webster Shamu though my holdings in HHK in 1996 and he was a great business like partner, while I am not involved with him in business any more I still talk to him and consider him a friend, we have known each other since 1996. I am not embarrassed about this fact.[/b]

A confidential report acquired by this reporter confirmed the above.

Circumstances are that at the beginning of Zimbabwe’s land reform program found his vast business empire threatened. President Mugabe and Zanu PF targeted white landowners. To this end, Davy hatched a plan to save his land. Paying homage to the militia party that was terrorizing blacks and whites alike became his master plan and key to his continued stay. Rubbish again I have never met any Militia and we never ever saw them in our district.

As did all farmers, I dealt through local District council and the local Land committee. I have ten years of letters and documents relating to this which I can make available to anyone interested in the truth rather than a story, I gave up 140,000 acres of agricultural land in order to retain our wildlife holdings.

It marked the beginning of his marriage with Zanu PF. Despite spirited denials by Mr. Davy, secret documents have exposed what he really is. He has not only funded terror to save his wildlife business but he has treated his workers worse than animals. One of his former workers had this to say, “At one time our pay was less than US 15 cents per month and many of us slept on bare floors without blankets. We couldn’t do anything, because he told us that President Mugabe ‘knew’ him. We just suffered” This is the most despicable rubbish I have ever heard, any person with the slightest knowledge of the workings of the district land committees will know that when the land issue was first stated in 2000 it was policy to take half the farms for re-settlement. Within this it was the policy that first farms put on the list for acquisition were the farms owned by farmers who did not have good relations in dealing with their labour and the local communities.

There are may be many reasons why we have survived from (Bilateral protection agreements,) ( the district we are in) or because I recognized that I owned far more land then I needed and agreed to give some up BUT perhaps the main reason that we survived is because we have excellent relations with our labour and local communities, we have great outreach programmes to our local communities and we employ over 300 people in our district.

In July of 2009 Mr. Davy met with President Mugabe. The meeting was arranged by Minister Mnangagwa. The report says that Webster Shamu and Mr Davy have met several times in Chegutu, twice in July 2010. Again, Mr. Davy has managed to meet President Rupiah Banda of Zambia and DRC Joseph Kabila in the course of his ‘business’. I have never met President Mugabe or Mnangagwa and I have never met anyone in Chegutu. I often talk to W Shamu and I meet him in Harare if I want to talk to him. I have met President Rupiah Banda as an investor in the Zambian economy but I have never even seen Joseph Kabila of the DRC, can't think who dreams up all this rubbish.

HHK Safaris surprised many when they solely landed all government owned concessions. Webster Shamu though his company Famba Safaris obtained one concession, the Chirisa concession though an open public auction, I was at that auction and I bid against W Shamu for this concession but he paid more than I was prepared to pay. Four years after the purchase of this concession by Shamu HHK bought a 50 % stake in Famba in 1996. We did not buy from Shamu we bought from his existing partners. But the truth was Mr. Davy had paid a fortune which sources in the state security organ peg at a whopping USD44 000 in 2001. The money was crucial in President Mugabe’s presidential crusade that left many dead, raped and homeless. To Davy, the money meant concessions. Absolute Rubbish never paid a cent to any government organization.

His concessions covered central Midlands, Matetsi safari , Sabi area, the south western and south eastern of lake Kariba and some parts of Gonarezhou in the lowveld. HHK safaris became the marketing arm on behalf of several Zanu PF owned concessions. Famba Safaris owned by Webster Shamu, Khanondo owned by Obert Mpofu, Unit 6 owned by General Chiwenga among others. I do not have and have never had any Farm or concession in the midlands in the midlands Neither HHK or any company in which I am a shareholder has had or has any property in the MIDLANDS, We have no farms or concessions in the SABI no concessions in the Gonarezhou nothing at all to do with Unit 6 and nothing at all to do with Khanondo.

THE FACTS ARE: that I used to have a concession Unit 1 in Matetsi which I bought on open public auction, the national parks who I had bought this concession from allowed it to be invaded and taken from me.

I also had an interest in a farm in Matetsi that has been taken from me.

Recent security reports implicate Mr. Davy and his accomplices in illegal rhino trade. According to a secret report in our possession army intelligence officers led by one Colonel Dube based at Defence

House in Harare provide guns and helicopter. On the other hand Ministers Shamu and Mnangagwa cushion the groups from any prosecution and arrests. Joceline Chiwenga, wife to Army General Constantine Chiwenga is fingered in the secret report as part of the rhino horn racket. This is all rubbish and I repeat I do not know and have never met and am not in any business with Joceline Chiwenga, Mnangagwa, Colonel Dube. I have never traded or bought or sold a single rhino horn.

I was W Shamu’s partner though HHK in Chirisa.

According to the secret reports Chirisa is owned by Famba Safaris in which Minister Shamu is a significant shareholder, this concession is run by HHK a company in which I sold my shareholding 2006 and have nothing to do with this company since. I sold my shareholding for purely commercial reasons.

Unit 1 and Kasibi held by Matetsi Wildlife Expired and taken from me Matetsi wildlife in about 2003 and have had nothing to do with it since then, Chete owned by Burmakino Travel and Tours, Omay by National Safaris Burmakino Travel and tours, National Safaris are nothing to do with me and Lemco owned by Mazunga Safari. The report further alleges that HHK Safaris represent Famba Safaris internationally.

In the report proceeds from Famba Safaris have been managed and distributed using Matetsi bank accounts. Zanu PF’s Shamu and Mr. Davy are approved the transaction. Traced transactions point to international transfers handled and destined for offshore accounts in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Switzerland the report further alleges. Absolute rubbish. I have had nothing to do with any funds from HHK and Matetsi Wild life has not had a bank account since it lost its concessions in about 2005.

In his homage Mr Davy funded part of Mnangagwa’s 2005 election campaign and footed all costs of Shamu’s campaign in 2005. Again, Mr Davy donated undisclosed amounts in foreign currency to Shamu for his 2008 campaign. Rubbish

The report further reveals that In May 2008 Charles Davy met Shamu at Wild Geese lodge near Mazowe. The meeting was for his donation to Zanu PF Mashonaland West campaign. The money was handed over to then Mash Wet Chairman John Mafa. Have not been to the wild geese hotel since 2001 and do not know John Mafa and have never given him money.

The secret Intelligence report points to Charles Davy as being involved in the smuggling of ivory to China and Vietnam using his Chinese links in Asia. Two individuals have been involved, one Lee Hu Ming and a businessman now with Sino Zim. Information at hand shows the involvement of army intelligence from Harare’s Defence House as well as from 1 Commando base. At Defense House Mr. Davy’s contact is Col Dube. Never heard of Col Dube and don’t know one single Chinese in Zimbabwe or anywhere else in the world and have never met Lee Hu or Sino Zim where does this rubbish come from. I have not sold ivory for 30 years.

In the operation army Helicopters disguised as army Red Cross ambulances or test flights land in Hwange National Park to pick ivory belonging to Charles Davy and partners. Secret details from the

National Parks show that Mr. Davy’s has sold trophies extending him into areas under government jurisdiction. Action against him on account of orders from Hon Mnangagwa and Shamu. I have never ever been granted a single animal in Hwange national park and I have not sold Trophies in the park, and I have not been in an Army helicopter since 1980. This stuff is so easily checked out with the people that run the park. Who dreams up this rubbish

The report show commandos hired from 1 Commando Barracks stay at HKK Safaris when poaching in Hwange National. In many other cases they are given accommodation at Matetsi or Bubye. As far as I know HHK has nothing to do with Hwange. I do not have a place in Matetsi and we have never ever had any commando’s at Bubye.

This entire thing is written by someone with snippets of info and no facts or even proper detail. These info provided in this article is so easy to check out in Zimbabwe it is all a matter of Public record and it would seem absurd that someone who in fact knew anything about the way things worked in Zimbabwe would write an absolutely absurd article as this.

Besides the fact that I am a businessman, I am a property developer, own shares in a hunting company in Zimbabwe and Zambia and besides the fact that I was involved with Mr Shamu and he is a personal friend of mine there is nothing factual here.

If this is the stuff you want to check out you can do this in a couple of days, there are people who are involved in trying to protect all the wildlife areas in Zimbabwe who have all the facts and would gladly see you.

Regards Charles

Pretty accurate from Charles. He admits what is nown and denies what is known locally to be BS.

He did loose charter estates (140,000acres of the finest cattle country in zim) in 2000/2001

His main crime has been buying a farm in 1999 from an oposition (white) politician who was sure he would loose the farm...and then being able to keep it becuase 51% was owned by a US national.

Charles davey is a nasty buisnessmean who I have NEVER done a hunt for. He is, however, much maligned by a small section of very bitter political oponents who see that he has survived (even thrived) while they have gone bankrupt

Sounds like an astute businessman to me, and has invested very heavily in wildlife and land here in Zambia. How he is going to make a return on his money I do not know?

Very intersting thread. Any release of the secret documents?

By the way, I have a friend in Zim who has managed to keep some of his farms albeit after giving up others.

No release of the secret documents yet. I will keep a eye on this story and post it here as soon as it becomes available.

Alan, when are the next "elections" scheduled?

David,

Are you asking about the Zimbabwe presidential elections?

If so, the local media reports they are talking about 'mid-year'... whatever that means.

Here is an interesting story that cuts to the bottom line.



ELECTIONS 2011 – ARMY GOES ON RECRUITMENT DRIVE

The Zimbabwe National Army is beefing up its numbers ahead of next year’s Presidential elections in which it is expected to play a major role.

With the ruling party expected to cow its opponents through violence the army could be a permanent feature on Zimbabwe’s streets.

Army recruitment teams will from November 22 to December 20 embark on a recruitment drive for general duty and specialist soldiers in Matabeleland.

In a statement yesterday, One Brigade spokesperson Captain Richard Mizha said prospective candidates should be originally from Matabeleland.

“We want the applicants to report to their districts of belonging in order to reduce congestion.

“The candidates should have at least five ‘O’ Levels and should be between 18 and 22 years of age.

“For professionals like artisans, teachers, nurses and morticians, the age is restricted to people of between 18 and 30,” said Capt Mizha.

As for Youth National Service graduates, Capt Mizha said the age limit is between 18 and 30.

“Male applicants should have a minimum height of 169 centimetres while their female counterparts should be at least 155cm,” said Capt Mizha.

He said candidates should weigh not less than 57kg.

The November recruitment days for Matabeleland South are: Beitbridge /Chasvingo (22), Hwali (23), Guyu (24), Gwanda (25), Simbumbu/Chief Mathema (26) and Natisa (27).

The December dates for Matabeleland South are: Filabusi Centre (1), Nkankezi (2), Mbalabala (3), Kezi (7), St Joseph/Tshelanyemba (8), Brunapeg (9), Chief Tshitshi (10), Masendu/Ndolwane (11), Plumtree (12) and Fort Rixon (17).

In Bulawayo, recruitment will be at One Brigade Headquarters on December 19 and 20.

For Matabeleland North, the teams will in November visit: Tshabanda Secondary School (22), Dinyane Secondary School (23), Tsholotsho Secondary School (24 and 25), Siphepha Secondary School (26), Nyamandlovu Police Station (27), Inyathi Police Station (28 and 29) and Siganda Secondary School (30).

In December the teams will be at Nkayi Police Station (1 and 2), Gwelutshena (3 and 4), Dakamela Secondary School (5), Phunyuko Secondary School (7 and 8), Lupaka Secondary School (9), Gomoza Secondary School (10) and Zenzele Secondary School (11).

In Jotsholo prospective recruits will be vetted on December 12 at Lupane Police Station, on St Luke’s (13 and 14), and Mbembesi Police Station (18).

They should bring original and certified copies of national identity cards, birth and academic certificates, a handwritten application letter, an A4 exercise book, pen, a blanket/sleeping bag and a plate.

Zimbabwean Prez 'confident' of winning 2011 elections

Mutare: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday said he was "very confident" of victory after his party backed him to contest a likely election next year against his arch-foe Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, was officially endorsed by his ZANU-PF followers as its presidential candidate at the party's annual conference in the eastern city of Mutare.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) conceded for the first time that a Presidential Election could take place in 2011, but it ruled out parliamentary polls until 2013.

Mugabe, 86, could stay in office until well into his nineties if he wins a new ballot that for months he has insisted must take place next year because a power-sharing deal with Tsvangirai, the current prime minister, is not working.

An official document released at the end of the conference "unanimously endorsed" Mugabe to contest a presidential vote next year and insisted that the country must also hold Parliamentary Elections "in 2011 without fail”.

"Very confident, sure why not?" he later told reporters when asked if he thought he would win another election.

The long-serving ruler, slammed by human rights groups and the West for stifling democracy and sweeping abuses, had earlier addressed thousands of ZANU-PF delegates, setting the tone for a heated battle against the MDC.

"We are indeed a fired up, fuelled and fast-moving train. Those who stand in the way of that train stand the risk of being crushed," said Mugabe.

"Let other parties now take care... 2008 will never come back again, never, never, ever," he said, alluding to the election win that year of Tsvangirai's MDC. "We cannot fail because that would be a disaster," Mugabe added.

ZANU-PF party chairman Simon Moyo earlier urged its members to prepare for elections in 2011.

He also hit out at Tsvangirai, who for almost two years has shared power with long-time foe Mugabe after the disputed Presidential Election in 2008.

"We want to bury, once and for all, this Western project called the MDC," Moyo said. "We must bury forever this combined British and American non-governmental organisation. For that is what the MDC is," he added.

The uneasy "unity" government has been on the brink of collapse for months with Mugabe and Tsvangirai at loggerheads over how to handle the country's massive debt and food shortages, and internal haggling over who gets key jobs.

On Friday, Mugabe told more than 4,000 delegates attending the conference that the power-sharing agreement between ZANU-PF and the MDC must end.

He also threatened to nationalise British and American companies operating in Zimbabwe if the international community failed to drop restrictions placed on him, his wife and key lieutenants.

Mugabe and members of his inner circle are subject to travel bans and asset freezes in the European Union and the United States, which accuse him and his allies of human rights abuses and denials of basic freedoms.

Bureau Report

Thanks Alan. Interesting that they want recruits from Matabeleland. Most peoples of that region remember well the slaughter unkle Bob put on them. I see the Matabele's and Mashona's still divided. Just my take on it all.

yes, David you are exactly right. the people in Matabeleland remember all too well the 5TH Brigade's little excursion into their homeland. recruiting there should be a bit difficult. at the end of the day though, it is a moot point. witness the result of the last election. the entire world knows Mugabe lost and he is still in power. whoever controls the guns(i.e. the army), controls the country.

When Mabuto Se Se Seko was told that Keneth Kaunda had lost the Zambian Presidential election he responded..." lost an Election! HOW????"

The implication is simple...if the army and police are loyal you cannot loose. KK had lost their suport and made the classica mistake of trying to play fair. Bob is not known for his mistates. Cunning, deviousness, swift out manouvering of oponents (he ha made a fool of two SA presidents and got away with it. In Brief say what you like about the bastard, (and Under Zimbabwean custum he is a litteral bastard...try tracking his father) but he is more cunning and a better 'politician' than anybody else in the region

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
but he is more cunning and a better 'politician' than anybody else in the region

Reminds me of a SOB from not too far from my home that became US president. What was his name?...referred to by his three initials.

quote:

Originally posted by Cazador humilde:

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
but he is more cunning and a better 'politician' than anybody else in the region

Reminds me of a SOB from not too far from my home that became US president. What was his name?...referred to by his three initials.

Sounds like a personal problem, take it to ARPF