May 4th News briefs from The Zimbabwean

NEDPP gives fiscal power to army

HARARE - Military and security officials led by army commander General Constantine Chiwenga have taken hold of a number of functions of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, including the determination of a viable foreign exchange policy and managing the national money supply, reports Voice of America.

Economic policy has in recent months come into the hands of the Zimbabwe National Security Council, assigned overriding powers by President Robert Mugabe under the National Economic Development Priority Programme, aimed at reversing economic decline.

The council is dominated by officers from the army, the air force, the police, and the feared Central Intelligence Organization. It has set up nine task forces to manage all economic sectors and oversee foreign exchange and monetary policy.

RBZ Governor Gideon Gono sits on the foreign exchange and other task forces, but his influence is said to be limited under the new dispensation of a military-led command economy.

Central bank sources say Chiwenga ordered Gono to disband his foreign exchange policy advisory board of economists, business executives and labour leaders, and ordered the central bank to print Z$60 trillion to fund pay increases to soldiers and civil servants.

Young Zims play ‘dhindhindi punk’

LONDON - It’s an exciting time on the UK music scene with a wealth of young Zimbabwean music talent coming into it’s own in London. Mann Friday have sold out two of their last four shows, whilst Netsayi’s new album Chimurenga Soul has just received a mention in the Observer summer arts review as one of the 50 hottest thing’s to do this summer.

Meanwhile, former Luck St. Blues vocalist Tomas Brickhill, has teamed up with his sister Amy and Welsh bassist Matt to form Water Ship Down, a self-proclaimed ‘dhindhindi punk’ band which has just started gigging in London. Check them out at www.tsuro.co.uk.

New elections now, demands CHRA

HARARE - The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has rejected the idea creeping into the ruling party’s agenda of replacing a failed commission with another commission to run the affairs of the city at the expense of a democratically elected council.

“The residents of Harare are clear on what they want. For the record, the residents were loud and categorical at the Girls’ High School last week before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government that conducted a public hearing into the state of service delivery by the City of Harare,” says a CHRA statement.

“Perennial commissions with unlimited terms, no matter where they come from are unwelcome in Harare and any other local authority. What we demanded yesterday, what we demand today, and what we will demand tomorrow is that we need new elections for a people’s council now,” says the statement.

“We are aware that the plot is to get residents to endorse the removal of Makwavarara and celebrate a new commission. Service delivery and legitimacy are non-existent in the current strategy.

The prolonged administration of Harare by commissions that lack the mandate of residents will further prejudice residents of their democratic right to choose leaders of their choice. The principle of re-appointing commissions beyond the mandatory nine months has been ruled illegal by the High Court and the Supreme Court.

200% salary increases for civil servants

HARARE - The Zimbabwean government has announced hefty salary increases for the security services, which some analysts claim is a political decision ahead of a threatened civil disobedience campaign by the opposition.

The 200 percent salary rise for the army, police and prison services follows a promise made by President Robert Mugabe last week during independence day celebrations to review their pay. Teachers will also benefit from the increase.

Senior government officials and military officers have voiced concern over the impact of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on the armed forces, with reports of increased desertions, robberies, and soldier sent home because of a lack of food in the barracks.

With the new increase a junior soldier will earn around US $270 - still way below the poverty datum line of $350. In the past few days there have also been hikes of more than 1,000 percent in hospital fees, electricity and water tariffs, and school and university rates have also galloped upwards.

As the cost of living worsens, commentators suggest Tsvangirai’s call for a “short, sharp programme of action” to challenge the government through a series of illegal street demonstrations has growing appeal in urban areas, the traditional stronghold of the MDC before it split into two factions late last year. - IRIN

No date yet for mass protests

HARARE - No date has been set for the start of the civil disobedience campaign. Few civic organisations have publicly supported the call for action, but behind the scenes there has been backing for a more robust challenge to a government seen as weakened by the economic crisis and the fierce succession debate within the ruling Zanu (PF).

“It’s difficult to get 100,000 people on the streets, it’s a problem to even get 10,000,” says political analyst John Mukumbe. “Zimbabweans need to be able to experience pain without flinching, and I don’t think we’re there yet.”

But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is travelling around the country addressing huge rallies in the towns and rural areas. “The democratic resistance will not be done in urban areas only. It will be in all the streets, the townships and the villages,” he has promised.

Mukumbe believes that Tsvangirai cannot turn back after calling for mass action, whatever turnout he manages to attract onto the streets. “He has already distinguished himself from the other faction of the MDC by saying he will take action against the dictator, and if he doesn’t do it will be to his discredit.” - IRIN