Denford Magora's Latest Zimbabwe News Blog

Harare, Zimbabwe, 10 August 2009 Robert "The Solution" Mugabe, the dictator of Zimbabwe, finished his speech a couple of minutes ago here in Harare at Heroes Acre, where the late Vice-president Joseph Wilfred Msika was being buried. The speech was short, shorter than Mugabe's usual speeches at such functions. Notably, Mugabe delivered a direct attack on the strategy of Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti to, as the Prime Minister said, "re-engage the international community". Mugabe's specific words were: "Let everyone in the Inclusive Government be clear that no nation wll ever prosper through handouts, with a dime here for drugs, a dime there for food and perhaps a farthing here for your budget". Mugabe was referring to Tsvangirai's recent trip to the United States and to Europe where nation after nation pledged small amounts of money to Non-Governmental Organisation but nothing at all to help government programmes. Using a Shona (local languag...

Dr Simba Makoni, the interim president of Mavambo, seen here at the July 01 launch of the party, visited the Msika family home in Mandara last night and delivered a condolence message Harare, Zimbabwe, 07 August 2009 Dr Simba Makoni, the Interim President of Mavambo.Kusile. Dawn party. last night paid a visit to the Msika home in Mandara to pay his respects and console the family on the passing of the Vice-president. Below is the full text of the Condolence Message sent by the party. The message is also going to appear in the local press on Sunday: HARARE 06 August 2009 Press Statement: Condolences To The Msika Family And The Nation The Interim President of Mavambo•Kusile•Dawn, Dr Simba Makoni, the National Steering Committee of the Party and our members join a shocked and grieved nation in consoling the family of Vice-president Joseph Msika, the President, Prime Minister and Government of Zimbabwe as well as the entire nation on his passing away. We will forever ch...

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, seen here with the late Joseph Msika in April this year, has revealed that the Zimbabwean Vice-president "is my father" and says he and Mugabe were "the only two people left to give us guidance." Harare, Zimbabwe, 07 August 2009 Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda yesterday both paid visits to the Msika family home in Mandara, Harare, to pay their condolences. Tsvangirai, in his condolences to the Msika family, said the late "vice-president and President Mugabe were the only people who were left to give us guidance" He went on call on Zimbabweans not to "betray his (Msika's) legacy of the liberation struggle" Tsvangirai also echoed Mugabe's sentiments expressed at the Msika home and the National Healing Conference a week or so back by calling for "unity". The Prime Minister revealed that "the vice-president is my father. My family ori...

The late VP Joseph Msika at a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe function Harare, Zimbabwe, 06 August 2009 The family of Vice-president Msika demanded that the veteran nationalist's body to Bulawayo, his political roots, it has been confirmed. The state media, mentioning in passing, only says that his family "requested" that he be taken to Bulawayo. As you have read before on this blog, the tense negotiations with the family gave birth to these two events. I am told that the Msika family was emotionally torn between his burial at Heroes Acre or his beloved rural home in Chiweshe. "We knew there was no choice, but we knew how much the old man loved kumusha," says a source. Ambuya Msika's health also gave cause for pause. Having been with her husband for so long, she herself was said to be thinking about the real possibility that she would not, when time comes as it must to all of us, lie next to her husband if he were to be taken to Heroes Acre. I understand an assura...

Robert "The Solution" Mugabe, seen here swearing Vice-president Joseph Msika into office in October last year, put on a bizarre display at the home of the late Vice-president in Mandara, Harare, today. Harare, Zimbabwe 05 August 2009 President Mugabe has just left the Msika home where he put on a bizarre display, impersonating the dead man for a good ten minutes or so. Mugabe, who arrived with his wife also left it to Didymus Mutasa, one of the old members of ZANU PF and a member of the Politburo, to announce that the Vice President has been declared a National Hero by that ZANU PF body. But most people present were stunned by Mugabe's lengthy impersonation of "Joe" (which he says is how he always addressed the late VP). In the impersonation act, Mugabe said, amongst other things: "I hear Muzenda's voice calling (Simon Muzenda was another of Mugabe's Deputies who died a few years ago) and I have listened. I leave Mugabe, (John) Nkomo and others. Zim...

The late Vice-president Joseph Msika, seen here in October 2008 soon after he and Joice Mujuru had been sworn in as Vice-presidents by Mugabe at State House, will now almost certainly be buried at Heroes Acre on Heroes Day. Harare, Zimbabwe, 05 August 2009 As I write this now, just after 4:30p.m. Harare time, there are fighter jets and helicopters flying over the city centre of Harare. It is an indication that there will indeed be a huge State Funeral for the deceased Vice President of Zimbabwe, Joseph Msika. What is still not certain is whether the president and ZANU PF have won out and the funeral will be held at Heroes Acre in Harare on Heroes Day, 11 August. It is worth noting, this activity by the Zimbabwe Air Force because, normally, although they do conduct a fly-past on Defence Forces Day, 12 August, their practice sessions do not start until two or, at most, three days before the holiday itself. Those who were with Mugabe at his Politburo meeting this morning when he announced...

Vice-President Msika (centre), who died this morning at West End Hospital. Details of his funeral and burial are now proving to be a sticky affair. Harare, Zimbabwe 05 August 2009 Less than five minutes ago, I spoke to a son of the Vice President Msika who confirmed that the Vice President died early this morning. State broadcaster ZBC is also confirming the death, saying the President had visited Msika yesterday at West End Hospital, where he was on life-support, confirming the report I gave you yesterday. Mourners have already gathered at the VPs home in Mandara. The son tells me that since last week they have been getting reports and messages saying the VP was dead and that yesterday, when it was mentioned during a routine government meeting that the VP was on life support, some in government took the gamble to leak the fact that he was already dead. Meantime, it emerges according to inside sources that there is a stand-off between the Msika family and Mugabe's government over ...