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MWEB explains technical problems

HARARE - The following is a statement issued by the chief operating officer of MWEB Zimbabwe, Nikki Lear, in response to an article in The Zimbabwean last week: “MWEB Zimbabwe has asked The Zimbabwean to withdraw and apologise for a story published in its issue of June 22-28 headlined Cyberspace Blocked.

This story claims that MWEB has issued a statement inferring that the Government is interfering with its technology systems to monitor customer communications. This a complete misinterpretation of a statement to MWEB customers sent out last week in which an explanation was given for recent slow browsing speeds, attributing these to technical problems beyond its control. This original statement did not refer directly or indirectly to “interference” by the authorities and MWEB Zimbabwe is distressed and disappointed that its statement could be misinterpreted and that no comment or clarification was sought by the newspaper before the article was published.”

* We apologise unreservedly for the story, which had been received from one of our stringers inside Zimbabwe. - Editor


Walsall library group wins double award

WALSALL - The Black Reading Group which meets at Walsall Council’s Central library are in line for recognition after they published ‘Dis n Dat’ – a collection of their own work. Judges are to review the book for the Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Both awards are given by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The Kate Greenaway Medal, which carries a £5,000 prize, was established by The Library Association in 1955 for distinguished illustration in a book for children.

The Carnegie Medal, worth £500, is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children and was first awarded in 1936 and set up in memory of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie who also funded Walsall Central Library in Lichfield Street. –Staff reporter


NEDPP target a mirage as forex market slumps

HARARE - The stock market closed last week on a firm note as the market was driven by gains in Old Mutual and Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC). The rest of the market continued to experience mixed trading but the two counters masked the effect and this saw the industrial index putting on 7.2%.

The gain in the counters was driven by the 37% plunge in the parallel rate hardy a month after another 37% slump. With the NEDPP target of raising US$2.5 billion within the remaining 30 days fast becoming a mirage and this having been the barrier between the fair pricing of the currency in relation to developments on the inflation front over the last three months, the collapse was inevitable.

Speculative buying became rampant over the last month as the Greenback had effectively become cheap within Zimbabwe using purchasing power parity. The maturities on the money market had also released some funds into the market that would either find its way back on the money market or alternatives such as the stock market. With the performance of the stock market having been stifled this year the forex market became the only viable option. Other significant changes that occurred during the week were the scrapping of the 2-year treasury bills, the introduction of 30-day, 0% treasury bills and the reduction in statutory reserves.
The statutory reserves for banking institutions were reduced to 50% from 60%. The 10% however was not returned to the market but put into 1-year CPI-linked bonds. The punitive two-year Treasury bills closed at a rate of 375% before being scrapped. The form of penalising would become a 30-day Treasury bill at 0%.

The moves are unlikely to significantly improve the current liquidity position of the market but could indicate that the RBZ is becoming softer on its tight liquidity control measures as we approach the mid-term monetary and fiscal review statements due next month.

The top gain of the week was NMB, which gained 38% to $1800. The gain could be simply repricing or maybe the bank could have had some financial fortunes following the change in statutory reserves and the scrapping of the two-year paper. KINGDOM also put on 35% as the curtains came down on the rights offer. The results of the rights offer are to be published on Friday and they should be quite interesting. Also interesting to note is that the current CEO of KFHL will be reassigned into the regional operations.

COLCOM, which had stagnated over the last 5-months, gained 30% to $26,000. PPC put on 29% to $15.5 million while Old Mutual gained 28% to $900,000. The OM Implied Rate moved to $308,298.76/USD and thus there still is some upside.

FML put on 21% following the hotly disputed AGM and closed the week at the psychological level of $2000. TANGANDA advanced 21% to $40,000 following the publication of its interim results.

The top loss was PGI which was retracing back after a leap in the previous week. The stock shed 33% to $10,000. PIONEER also shed 33% to $1000. MEDTECH and BARCLAYS were quoted 21% weaker at $300 and $2300 respectively.

In minings, RIO ZIM held its 2 for 1 bonus issue. As anticipated given the inefficiency of the local market, the ex-bonus issue price was at a premium to the pre-bonus issue price. As a result the stock put on 30% to $475,000 ($1,425,000 pre-bonus issue). The movement carried the mining index as the other mining counters were either unchanged or quoted weaker.


Bus fares soar as fuel pumps run dry

BULAWAYO - Commuter omnibus operators are set to increase transport fares soon by 90 % to $150 000 a single trip following fuel price increases last week.

This is the second fare increase in less than a month after commuter operators raised fares from $50 000 to $80 000 citing high operational and fuel costs.

Since Friday most commuter operators have been charging $100 000 a single trip but indicated they would soon increase this to $150 000.

Garages in Bulawayo are selling a litre of petrol and diesel for $400 000-$450 000 a litre up from $300 000-$350 000 last Monday.

Despite the increase, most garages had virtually no fuel the whole week, leaving commuters stranded.

Bulawayo Transport Operators Association (BUTOWA) chairman, Francis Malunga said though they were yet to agree on new fares, $100 000 would see them operating at a loss.
“A trip for $100 000 only gives you $1.8 million yet 5 litres is more than $2.4 million. We do not know what to do as we are operating at a loss. The government is just quiet but arresting us for increasing fares yet everyone can see that the situation is bad…we have not met as an association to agree and finalise on new fares,” said Malunga.

Strike Ndlovu, Bulawayo Passenger Transport Association (BUPTA) chairman refused to talk to the press. He was once arrested for calling on operators to increase fares.

Cain Matema, the Governor and Resident Minister of Bulawayo Metropolitan province, who called for the arrest of operators charging $80 000, refused to comment. The latest fare increase comes at a time the government was yet to approve the $80 000 commuter fares. A fortnight ago, the Bulawayo Residents Association (BURA) was granted permission by the police to stage demonstrations against $80 000 transport fares. But the demonstrations were flop. - CAJ News


Building boom for Byo

BULAWAYO – The City Council has approved building plans valued at $87.2 billion in April – more than the total it approved in the first quarter of 2006 ($72.8 billion).

Most of the development is concentrated in the low-density suburbs of Burnside, Matsheumhlope, Selborne Park and Suninghill where approved plans in totalled $29.5 billion, including a town house developed to be built in Matsheumhlope valued at $4.9 billion.
Plans valued at $26.4 billion were approved in Mahatshula, Killarney and Parklands.
Cowdray Park, which hosts Operation Hlalani Kuhle, dominated the building boom in the high density suburbs with plans valued at $5.7 billion being approved.

For the first time in years the approved plans also showed that developers were coming back into commerce and industry. Five industrial plans valued at $1.6 billion and seven commercial plans worth $8 billion were approved together with seven public works plans valued at $7.3 billion. – Staff reporter


US$20 million for farmers

MAPUTO – The World Bank is supporting Zimbabwe's white commercial farmers, who are now living in Mozambique after the Zanu (PF) government evicted them during the bloody 2000 land grab.

The Bank released a whopping US$20 million over the weekend to Mozambique for the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project in the Zambezi Valley aimed at boosting the country's food security, John Donaldson of the World Bank told CAJ News.

"Full debt cancellation approved for some of the world’s poorest countries has seen the Bank approve US$37 billion for multilateral debt relief," he said. - CAJ News


All roads lead to Sydenham

LONDON – Southern Africans will be heading to the 2006 Summer Fest this weekend, where CM Events has put together fun filled day, including a football tournament with teams from South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

There will also be a girls’ volleyball tournament and teams can be registered on the day. One of the highlights will be a Mini Market selling a wide range of products from the region.

There will be a special kids programme and Out Door Music will be provided by Joburg Project, WellyTee and Dj Paul (Deepbreath). – Venue Footsie Social Club next to Lower Sydenham Station, Adults £7 ; kids under 14 free.


Qabuka – focus on Zims in exile

LONDON - Qabuka - a unique Zimbabwean theatrical production at the Oval House Theatre - kicks off this Friday with a special premiere for Zimbabweans in the UK sponsored by The Zimbabwean.

Scheduled to run from 28 June – 15 July, Qabuka, by British playwright Ben Evans and his team at Full Frontal Theatre, features the personal stories of more than 100 Zimbabweans in exile.

The production is billed as: “A magical and exuberant look at the lives of Zimbabweans living in the UK. QABUKA is a timely and at times spontaneous show, made in response to current and changing events that affect those exiled.”- Box Office 020 7582 7680. For online booking and more information, check: www.ovalhouse.com


Jokonya dies

HARARE - Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya, 68, was found dead in his room at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on Saturday morning, just a few hours before he was to meet with senior executives of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings to discuss major changes at the state broadcaster, including the consolidation of nine operating units.

Jokonya, a former envoy to the United Nations, was considered relatively moderate - despite his recent denunciation of locally-based foreign correspondents and private media. – Staff reporter.


Rioga remanded in custody

CAPE TOWN - Tinashe Rioga, appeared in a South African court last week on charges of attempted hijacking. The case was remanded in custody until July 26, when an application for bail will be heard.

Rioga was arrested when he allegedly tried to force his way into the cockpit of the aircraft on a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. He apparently wanted to divert the plane to Maputo in Mozambique. – Staff reported


Police launch Op ‘No going back’

HARARE – Desperate Zimbabwean police this week rounded up more than 100 foreign currency dealers as authorities battled to suppress a booming parallel market where the greenback hit an all-time high of Z$410 000 against the increasingly worthless Zimdollar.
Most of the arrests were made at the Roadport bus station in central Harare where buses from the region arrive and depart."We have been conducting raids on a daily basis on the spots that are prominent in foreign currency deals like Roadport and we have undercover officers that are stationed at these areas," police spokesperson Andrew Phiri said. "We can confirm that to date 134 arrests have been made."

Zimbabwean police recently launched a new blitz to enforce a ban on street vendors, touts and black marketeers in the city centre. Dubbed Operation No Going Back, this is a follow-up to Operation Murambatzvina, launched one year ago that also saw the demolition of houses, cottages and backyard shacks across the country and the arrest of tens of thousands of traders. The UN roundly condemned the operation. - CAJ News


Makwavarara takes control

HARARE - Sekesayi Makwavarara, the unelected chair of the Harare Commission is reportedly trying to oust the town clerk, Nomutsa Chideya, and has assumed executive control of the council.

With the full knowledge of the minister of local government, Ignatius Chombo and Harare Metropolitan Resident minister, David Karimanzira, Makwavarara has banned commission, committee and heads of department meetings and directed that all matters be sent to her office.
She has denied press reports that she wants to get rid of Chideya, who has apparently been accused of leaking information to the press. Makwavarara hit the headlines recently when she tried to sell herself a municipal dwelling at a fraction of its market price, and spent unauthorised billions of dollars of the cash-strapped council’s money to buy herself a satellite dish, furniture and personal groceries. – Staff reporter


Travel ban to stay

LONDON - The European Union and the United States pledged last week to maintain personal travel and monetary bans on President Robert Mugabe and his top Zanu (PF) officials in an effort to bring about the rule of law and respect for human rights and democracy.

The travel restrictions affect about 120 individuals who are banned from travelling in the EU and the US. Private assets in their names are supposed to be frozen, but up to now not one has had any assets found as they are hidden in the accounts of their children and other relatives.
Mugabe’s propaganda machinery persists in claiming that these restrictions are illegal ‘sanctions’ against Zimbabwe and are responsible for the economic collapse of the country.

His critics say that the alarming economic meltdown is solely due to poor governance, political repression and the corruption-riddled ‘land reform programme’ that destabilised agriculture, sending food production tumbling by about 60 percent.

However, the European leaders are not all united on this. According to diplomatic sources, some countries such as France, are putting pressure on the others to give the Mugabe regime an international platform. A few years ago, the French were criticised for inviting Mugabe to attend a Franco-African Summit in Paris in breach of the travel ban. – Staff reporter


Bredenkamp denies reports

HARARE – Zimbabwean business tycoon John Bredenkamp has denied reports he has fled Zimbabwe after government opened full-scale investigations into his business empire on allegations of economic crimes.

Bredenkamp, who has a wide range of mining and tobacco interests in Zimbabwe, is rumoured to be linked to top ruling party politicians, including former speaker of parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa. Unlike other prominent white businessmen he has been spared from scrutiny until now.

The tycoon, ranked the 33rd richest businessman in the UK did confirm that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had recently ‘made enquiries’ into his businesses.

Reports suggested he was being investigated by the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI), a little-known body that appears to be part of Zimbabwe's newly-launched drive against corruption. – CAJ News


Police disrupt funeral

BUHERA - Armed police disrupted the funeral of the MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai’s father here last week. About 1000 mourners had gathered to pay their last respects to Dzingai Tsvangirai (78), some of them sporting MDC t-shirts and bandanas.

During the funeral service, a truck-load of policemen, some of them carrying guns and tear-gas canisters, arrived and ordered the mourners to remove their party regalia and stop shouting party slogans.

Tsvangirai was in the process of thanking the people for sharing the loss of his father with him and his family. He carried on talking and said he did not know what business the police had coming there. However he welcomed them, as they were supposed to be "everybody's" police.
The police demanded to know why official permission to hold a “meeting” had not been sought.
An angry exchange took place between some members of parliament and the police, who eventually backed down when they could not explain which section of the Public Order and Security Act had been violated. Tsvangirai was visibly upset by the invasion of his family’s privacy. – Own correspondent


Studio 7 jammed in new assault on independent media

By a Correspondent
HARARE – Media monitors in the week June 12-18 were able to hear just one broadcast by the independent Studio 7. The rest were “suffocated by a steady droning sound similar to that used to jam SW Radio Africa and Radio Voice of the People frequencies last year,” the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) said.

Thus the Robert Mugabe regime stepped up its tactics of seeking to muzzle and intimidate independent media and restrict Zimbabweans to a stream of propaganda and distortions put out by the state-run media.

MMPZ said that while the authorities denied jamming Studio 7, independent broadcasting experts said the jamming signal came from Thornhill air base near Gweru using equipment of Chinese origin.

Condemning what it termed this “totalitarian tyranny of thought,” the media monitors said the latest jamming, combined with the proposed snoopers' charter allowing interference with private mail and internet communications, represented the “final steps in the total control of all information received by Zimbabweans”.

On top of all that, the authorities announced plans to reappoint the notorious chairman of the state's Media and Information Commission, Tafataona Mahoso, under whom five newspapers have been closed and no independent privately owned broadcasting stations have been allowed to operate. “He has government support,” said Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga.
Nothing new in that. Nor was there anything fresh about the state media's attempt to divert attention from the dire state of the economy by hyping alleged business deals, mostly with China, with no attempt to assess the value or differentiate between any actual signings and rhetoric. Thus a visit to China by Vice President Joyce Mujuru was covered with regurgitations of empty official pronouncements. These included Zimbabwe being poised for increased foreign investment “as the Look East policy begins to show results.”

First prize for the most meaningless pronouncement of the week must go to the state-run Herald. It quoted Mujuru as saying: “Within the next 60 days something must be done. We should be at it.” Another good one by The Herald was depicting a Mugabe visit to Beitbridge as part of the latest economic revival plan.

But the private press, MMPZ said, remained unimpressed both with the China visit and the management of the economy.

The Financial Gazette described the Mujuru visit as “ill-fated” and yielding a “pathetic US$6 million.” The Zimbabwe Independent said that a state plan to set up with Chinese help a coal-powered electricity generation plant in the Zambezi Valley would go the way of at least 10 other stalled schemes, including the Batoka Gorge hydro-electricity plant and the Sengwa thermal plant. The Sunday Mirror poured more cold water on the state media hype, saying Zimbabwean exports to China had declined drastically from over US$1 billion in 2003 to US$1.8 million in 2005.

On the land chaos, the state media recorded three incidents of farm evictions perpetrated by Zanu (PF) leaders against white commercial farmers or newly resettled black ones but, said MMPZ, “failed to view them as a reflection of the chaos bedevilling agriculture.”

The private papers, however, continued to blame the agricultural chaos squarely on the regime's policies.

“For example, The Financial Gazette castigated government for failing to put an end to corruption, multiple-farm ownership and illegal seizures of farms and equipment by senior government officials,” said MMPZ.