[Its good to see that Trevor Ncube might be getting his passport back. But whether this will be the end of his harrassment is another question. Mugabe has a history of slowly hammering away at his enemies. Remember, some of the other newspapers were even bombed. Mugabe is of course a terrorist, historically speaking, and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t use it again as in the recent past when he waged his secret war to destroy other private newspapers.

What I do like is the mention that Ncube might have suggested a military invasion of Zim (by the West?). No doubt that has really ticked Mugabe and Cronies off. But if so, I take my hat off to Ncube – because that is the only way that Mugabe and his rotten lot will ever be removed from power. The bullet will always be superior in force to the ballot!

I think it would be great if more prominent Zimbabweans colluded on this War-against-Zanu(PF) idea. But they must do so outside Zimbabwe – even outside Africa preferably – far away from the eyes and spies of Zanu(PF) or the ANC. I still firmly believe that Mugabe and his rickety regime can be taken down if people apply the right principles. Otherwise, as per my statistical analysis of Mugabe’s age – we could expect Mugabe to be around for at least 9(43)+ years – and Zanu(PF) to be around at the very least, for another 15 years. I think its too long to wait. People must start thinking about how to get rid of these bastards. But exactly how that can be done, now with the destruction of the MDC I don’t know.

The MDC was always a misnomer anyway – “Movement for DEMOCRATIC CHANGE”. That’s junk. There is no way to achieve Democratic Change in Zim. A new party must be formed with newer, more firm, more violent ideas, to kick Zanu(PF)’s ass out. Jan]

Zimbabwean immigration authorities on Wednesday handed back a passport seized from Mail & Guardian owner and publisher Trevor Ncube six days ago under a new measure to punish government critics.

Ncube recovered his travel document that was seized at the airport in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, moments after he flew in from South Africa where he is based.

“It appears I am winning. My passport is now in the hands of my lawyers,” Ncube said in an SMS sent to the M&G on Wednesday.

“My lawyers are working on a consent order with the judge. They are also working on a court order making sure my travels are not interfered with,” he said. “Indications are that I will have my passport in my hands by the end of the day.”

“I have got Mr Ncube’s passport in my hands as we speak,” lawyer Sternford Moyo said by telephone in Harare.

“A fellow lawyer went to immigration and they conceded the seizure was unlawful,” he said.

A veteran Zimbabwean journalist, Ncube is the publisher of the weekly Zimbabwe Independent and Standard as well as the M&G.

All three papers have been openly critical of President Robert Mugabe’s policies.

On Monday, Ncube’s lawyers went to the High Court to seek the release of the passport, arguing that the seizure was in violation of “fundamental principles of natural justice”. The court hearing was to take place later this week, but immigration authorities decided to return the passport before awaiting the outcome of the legal action.

Parliament in August approved changes to the Constitution that allow the state to seize the passports of people perceived to be anti-government.

“It’s not morally right and patriotic for any Zimbabwean to go gallivant the world on a Zimbabwean passport asking for a military invasion of Zimbabwe or the imposition of official and unofficial sanctions,” Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told lawmakers at the time the Bill was approved.

The seizure of Ncube’s passport was the first time that the provision had been applied.

The board of M&G Media, which publishes the M&G, on Tuesday said Ncube was effectively under country arrest in Zimbabwe after his passport was confiscated.

In a statement, chairperson of the board Professor William Makgoba said the board was shocked at the confiscation of Ncube’s passport.

“It marks another sad day for Africa,” Makgoba said, “and a step back for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the continental programme aimed at lifting our continent high.”

On Friday, a senior member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Paul Themba Nyathi, became the second high-profile Mugabe critic to have his passport seized.

Nyathi is a former human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Harare government, which he has called “tyrannical”.

Mugabe’s party on Saturday endorsed the seizure of the passports, urging state security agents to draw up lists of targets.

In a resolution adopted by Mugabe’s Zanu-PF at its annual conference, the party said it “welcomes the 17th constitutional amendment, in particular the withdrawal of passports of Zimbabweans who go around demonising the country”.

“We want the security people to draw up a list of people like that and withdraw their passports,” it said.

Source: Daily Mail & Guardian
URL: http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articlei…/p>