Stephen Chan, a professor of world politics at SOAS, University of London, has warned Zimbabwe against “carelessly” antagonising Qatar.
This warning follows Mehluli Dube, a former Fidelity Printers official, who secured the attachment of Al Jazeera’s property after being implicated in the “Gold Mafia” documentary, which exposed Zimbabwe’s gold smuggling syndicates.
Episode 2, titled “Smoke and Mirrors,” accused Dube of corruptly signing off licenses for gold smuggling, allegedly receiving US$3,000 per month.
Dube claims the documentary damaged his reputation and sought a court order to attach Al Jazeera’s property as part of a defamation claim against the “peregrini respondent” (an international party not domiciled within the court’s jurisdiction).
Justice Siyabona Musithu granted Dube’s request in a ruling at the Harare High Court. Musithu said that the case was of public interest and deserved to be tested in court to determine the validity of the allegations.
He affirmed that the High Court has jurisdiction, and thus, Al Jazeera’s property could indeed be held as requested.
Posting on X, Chan suggested the lawsuit might be sponsored by Zimbabwean authorities as revenge against Al Jazeera for exposing corruption among the elite.
He warned that such a move could backfire, considering Qatar’s substantial international influence.
He wrote:
<blockquote>
An interesting lawsuit. Whether it has merit, the courts will decide. If it is somehow a ‘sponsored’ suit in revenge against Al Jazeera, it should be kept in mind Qatar’s huge international influence. Not a country to pick a fight with carelessly.
</blockquote>
Al Jazeera, a state-funded broadcaster based in Doha, Qatar, is used by the Gulf State as a powerful tool to advance its foreign policy through public diplomacy.
By broadcasting news and perspectives that align with its interests, Qatar can influence public opinion and elite views both regionally and internationally.
Several countries have restricted Al Jazeera. Egypt has banned Al Jazeera since 2013, accusing it of inciting violence.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have blocked Al Jazeera’s websites and channels.
Bahrain has restricted Al Jazeera’s broadcasts, and Israel has called for the closure of Al Jazeera’s Jerusalem bureau and blocked its transmission.
These restrictions are often part of broader political conflicts and accusations of biased or provocative coverage.
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Pindula News

Zimbabwe is warned not to fight with Qatar over a documentary about gold smuggling. An official mentioned in the documentary went to court to sue Al Jazeera, the broadcaster, for defamation. The court allowed him to attach Al Jazeera's property. A professor warned that Zimbabwe should not anger Qatar, who has a lot of power internationally, by suing the broadcaster. Al Jazeera is known for influencing public opinion, and some countries have even banned or restricted it. In the end, the lawsuit could cause more trouble for Zimbabwe if they are not careful.

Zimbabwe Advised To Avoid Confrontation With Qatar Over "Gold Mafia"

Fadzayi Mahere, a former lawmaker for Mount Pleasant, has been accused of betraying her constituency following her <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/01/29/fadzayi-mahere-officially-resigns-from-parliament-amidst-ccc-leadership-crisis/">resignation from Parliament</a> in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa, the former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party. <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/01/25/chamisa-i-no-longer-have-anything-to-do-with-ccc/">Chamisa left the party</a> claiming it had been infiltrated and hijacked by the ruling ZANU PF party and its allies within CCC. Mahere followed suit and resigned from parliament, leaving her constituency without representation.
Political analysts have scrutinised Mahere’s decision, viewing it as a betrayal of the voters who elected her. Eldred Masunungure, a Political Science lecturer from the University of Zimbabwe, criticised Mahere for prioritising loyalty to individuals over the constituency that had placed its faith in her. He told <a href="https://newshubzim.co.zw/2024/02/04/mahere-betrayed-constituency-analysts/">NewsHub</a>:
<blockquote>
Unless she knows what most people don’t, it appears to be a knee-jerk, stampeded decision not grounded in a reflective analysis. That’s the tragedy of loyalty to personalities rather than institutions.
She would have gained a lot of political and moral mileage if she had waited to be recalled by the dark forces rather than recalling herself and giving the impression of utter and callous disregard for her constituency and orphaning the thousands who braved the harsh political environment to go out to vote for a candidate of their choice.
</blockquote>
Stephen Chan, a world politics professor at the University of London, also criticised Mahere’s resignation, stating that elected representatives have a responsibility to their constituents above party loyalty. He he said:
<blockquote>
Resignations from parliament are an abdication of responsibility to constituents. They (the electorate) come first. The party comes second. The party leader comes third. This is the essence of democratic representation. If people voted for you, you have a responsibility to those voters.
</blockquote>
The resignation has further weakened the opposition in parliament. By-elections held in December and subsequent mini-elections have depleted the CCC’s numbers, giving the ruling ZANU PF party a two-thirds majority. This leaves the opposition at a disadvantage and diminishes their ability to act as an effective parliamentary opposition.
There are differing opinions on Mahere’s decision. Some argue that she had valid reasons to resign, as the party she was elected under no longer aligned with her beliefs. Others question whether the remaining members of parliament are truly representing their constituents or betraying them by staying in a party they disagree with.
Several lawmakers from the CCC party have spoken out in support of Nelson Chamisa, the former party leader who recently quit without informing them in advance. However, despite their sympathy towards Chamisa, these legislators have not resigned from parliament yet. One of the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/02/03/harare-east-mp-allan-norman-markham-resigns-from-parliament/">few lawmakers who has taken action </a>is Allan Markham, who won the Harare East seat as a member of the CCC in the previous year. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Mahere Accused Of Betraying Constituency Following Resignation In Solidarity With Nelson Chamisa

Stephen Chan OBE, an author and Professor of World Politics at SOAS, University of London, has said it is not a good thing for Zimbabwe to befriend Belarus considering that “the repression in Belarus makes Zimbabwe look amateurish.”
His remarks followed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s State visit to Zimbabwe yesterday, 30 January 2023. Chan said:  
<blockquote>
Pomp and fanfare. But this is a shame. Lukashenko is NOT someone to be seen closely friendly towards: a dictator through &amp; through. Believe it or not, the repression in Belarus makes Zimbabwe look amateurish.
</blockquote>
The visit is premised on cementing economic and political ties between the two countries that are both close allies of Russia, according to Zimbabwe’s foreign affairs ministry.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zanu-pf-busses-supporters-to-welcome-the-president-of-belarus/">hundreds of singing and cheering ruling party supporters welcomed</a> Lukashenko at the main Robert Gabriel Mugabe International airport in the capital, Harare. 
Belarus has provided Zimbabwe with farm equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters and trucks under a deal worth tens of millions of dollars following Mnangagwa’s visit to the Belarusian capital Minsk in 2019.
Mnangagwa and Lukashenko have repeatedly been accused by internal rivals and the West of using arrests and other forms of harassment to stifle dissent and remain in power in their countries — allegations they deny.
Lukashenko has been in power since 1994. His term was renewed in 2020, in elections widely denounced as a sham. 
There has been widespread repression of political opposition and independent media following the disputed 2020 presidential election. 
The government has used force to crack down on protests, arrested opposition figures and journalists, and limited internet access. 
The international community has condemned the actions of the Belarusian government and imposed economic sanctions in response.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

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