http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
LONDON - The savage repression of the workers’ demonstrations in Zimbabwe this week made the Vigil even more determined to stand up for our suffering brothers and sisters back home. We had with us founder Vigil member Addley, whose sister Grace Kwinje (MDC Deputy Secretary for International Affairs) was arrested during the demonstration on Wednesday.
We were relieved to hear that Lovemore Matombo, ZCTU President, along with the others had been released. On Wednesday, we had his niece Mercy with us in tears when she heard he’d been arrested and beaten.
These torturers must not think they can get away with it forever. The people know who they are and they will be brought to justice. The Vigil was addressed by Julius Mutyambizi-Dewa, newly-elected Secretary of the MDC UK. He said we must not be intimidated by the latest brutal response by the Mugabe regime to peaceful protest. He said that the police and the army are our brothers and some of them are beginning to see the light.
He had spoken to Grace Kwinje, who despite her ordeal, was defiant and determined to fight on. The Vigil made a spontaneous collection for this week’s victims of violence – but the main message we want to send them is our admiration for their courage.
We had a good attendance (including a large group from Milton Keynes) despite some regulars attending a London meeting arranged by the Britain-Zimbabwe Society on Zimbabwean skills and reconstruction. We are glad that so many came to join us to express their outrage at what is going on in Zimbabwe rather than talking about it.
Wonderful to meet the family of founder Vigil member, Patience. Her husband and two children have recently joined her from Zimbabwe. So many families have been divided by the Zimbabwean catastrophe so it’s a great joy to see a Vigil family reunited.
We are glad that so many of the new MDC-UK National Executive are activists, many of them members of the Vigil – we look to them all to do more than just talk. For this week’s Vigil pictures: http://uk.msnusers.com/ZimbabweVigil/shoebox.msnw. FOR THE RECORD: 72 signed the register.
FOR YOUR DIARY: Monday, 25th September, 7.30 pm: Zimbabwe Forum. Upstairs at the Theodore Bullfrog pub, 28 John Adam Street, London WC2 (cross the Strand from the Zimbabwe Embassy, go down a passageway to John Adam Street, turn right and you will see the pub).
LONDON – Scores of Zimbabweans last week demonstrated outside the offices of the Conservative and Labour Party offices in Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester against the deportations of thousands of failed asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe from Britain.
The demonstrations were organised by the United Network for Detained Zimbabweans (UNDZ). The organisation’s spokesman, Noble Sibanda, said the demonstrators handed over petitions voicing their concern over ‘the contradictions which we continue to find in Tony Blair's government over the Zimbabwe crisis’.
"Nobody wants to be here any longer than necessary. Things are not yet okay in Zimbabwe and the British government knows that and that is why Zimbabwe is still under the targeted sanctions," said Sibanda. "As long as they haven't removed those sanctions then it means people are still being trampled on. We want the British government to work with us on this issue and many others. They should not run ahead of us but work with us."
In a recent court ruling, the British government won the right to deport thousands of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers but lawyers have mounted a legal challenge. – Own correspondent
Friday, September 22, 2006
Detention Watch from Zimbabwe Association
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
LONDON - Savage reprisals against trade unionists and protesters in Zimbabwe have shocked us all. The viciousness displayed by the regime in its punishment of anyone who dares to speak out against its abuses has been breathtaking. We salute the brave men and women who will not be silenced.
A recent front page story in The Sun illustrated all that is worst about Zimbabweans in the UK. One young man recklessly endangered the lives of many women through his selfish and irresponsible behaviour. When apprehended he tried to pretend he was an asylum seeker. We understand that he has been returned to Zimbabwe but because of his family links with officials of Zanu (PF) will not be facing the same dangers as other forced returnees.
Rumours continue to circulate about the number of people who have been forcibly returned to Zimbabwe since 2 August. We do not think it is a large number. If anyone is able to help us by providing more information about people they know who have been removed it would be very helpful.
New people calling for help recently have all been picked up from workplaces. It is very difficult to help those who have not got their asylum papers in order. Everyone who is fearful of being detained should by now have arranged to leave a copy of their determination with a trusted friend or family member, plus a signed letter authorising us to look for a legal representative for them (if that is the help they require). Without authorisation or being able to access this information it is difficult for us to assist. Being organised simply enables help to be given.
Detainees continue to be moved from centre to centre which adds to the difficulties in obtaining legal representation for them. Most legal firms only offer their services over a certain area so if the detainee is moved suddenly to Scotland, for example, they may be unable to continue representing their client. This is confusing and depressing for those concerned. It takes time and effort to find decent representation and constant moves are very frustrating.
Numbers of Zimbabweans in detention known to us have risen slightly. This is mainly because we came across a small group of detainees in one centre who were previously unknown and had been there for some weeks. We have not heard of significant numbers of ‘new’ people being picked up and detained. Some of those picked up recently were released after a couple of days in police stations.
Our parting message is “Don’t be fearful. BE ORGANISED.”
We can be contacted at the office on 020 7549 0355 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, messages may be left on the answer machine at other times, or by fax 020 7549 0356 or email: zimbabweassociation@yahoo.co.uk.
ADVICE LINE: Wednesday 2 – 5 pm Support queries: 27 September
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
LONDON - Savage reprisals against trade unionists and protesters in Zimbabwe have shocked us all. The viciousness displayed by the regime in its punishment of anyone who dares to speak out against its abuses has been breathtaking. We salute the brave men and women who will not be silenced.
A recent front page story in The Sun illustrated all that is worst about Zimbabweans in the UK. One young man recklessly endangered the lives of many women through his selfish and irresponsible behaviour. When apprehended he tried to pretend he was an asylum seeker. We understand that he has been returned to Zimbabwe but because of his family links with officials of Zanu (PF) will not be facing the same dangers as other forced returnees.
Rumours continue to circulate about the number of people who have been forcibly returned to Zimbabwe since 2 August. We do not think it is a large number. If anyone is able to help us by providing more information about people they know who have been removed it would be very helpful.
New people calling for help recently have all been picked up from workplaces. It is very difficult to help those who have not got their asylum papers in order. Everyone who is fearful of being detained should by now have arranged to leave a copy of their determination with a trusted friend or family member, plus a signed letter authorising us to look for a legal representative for them (if that is the help they require). Without authorisation or being able to access this information it is difficult for us to assist. Being organised simply enables help to be given.
Detainees continue to be moved from centre to centre which adds to the difficulties in obtaining legal representation for them. Most legal firms only offer their services over a certain area so if the detainee is moved suddenly to Scotland, for example, they may be unable to continue representing their client. This is confusing and depressing for those concerned. It takes time and effort to find decent representation and constant moves are very frustrating.
Numbers of Zimbabweans in detention known to us have risen slightly. This is mainly because we came across a small group of detainees in one centre who were previously unknown and had been there for some weeks. We have not heard of significant numbers of ‘new’ people being picked up and detained. Some of those picked up recently were released after a couple of days in police stations.
Our parting message is “Don’t be fearful. BE ORGANISED.”
We can be contacted at the office on 020 7549 0355 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, messages may be left on the answer machine at other times, or by fax 020 7549 0356 or email: zimbabweassociation@yahoo.co.uk.
ADVICE LINE: Wednesday 2 – 5 pm Support queries: 27 September
A week is a long time in politics
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Sometimes it is quite hard to keep track of all that is going on in this small corner of the world that is so important to us who live here. Must be doubly difficult for those who live “out there”. If you take the past week for example, the main points that we might record are as follows: -
Inflation rose in August to 28 per cent for the month – raising the annual average so far to 1204 per cent. This is dramatically up on the figure for July and the IMF followed this with a brief report that said that inflation was out of control and might reach 4000 per cent in 2007. On the ground the CEO of Dairibord was arrested when he raised the price of milk and the CIO started raids on the homes of senior executives of other companies alleging price fixing and profiteering. After claiming that fuel at controlled prices (Z$330 per litre) would be available, prices rose today to about Z$1000 a litre at retail outlets – local commuter transport charges rose by a third immediately.
The Deputy Minister of Mines reiterated that the State was determined to take 51 per cent of the equity in all mining concerns. Although the mining industry remained silent in the face of this threat, with the sole exception of the Zimplats operation, it now looks as if the rest of the industry will simply sit tight and await developments. All major maintenance and expansion is on hold and will remain so until the policy environment is clarified.
Literally billions of US dollars of investment are on hold as a result. It is yet another example of Zanu (PF) stupidity and greed.
The IMF announced that in their own view the Zimbabwe economy would contract by about 5 per cent again this year – bringing to 7 years the continuous decline in national economic output and coming on top of an over 7 per cent decline in 2005. In the same week the IMF and the World Bank raised their estimate of global expansion to 5,7 percent in 2006, citing strong growth in China and India and stronger performance in Africa. Global trade is growing strongly and the oil exporters are on a global spending spree that is helping offset the higher oil prices.
The Minister of Agriculture, that nutty guy Made, accepted for the first time that we might be short of grain. He explained to a Committee of Parliament that the GMB did not have the required stocks to overcome a shortfall in imports. This after he has persistently claimed we had grown a large crop of maize and would reap over 200 000 tonnes of winter wheat. The reality is that we have grown a small crop of maize (about 700 000 to 800 000 tonnes) and cannot expect to reap more than a tiny wheat and barley crop – no more than about 50 000 tonnes or 15 per cent of our needs.
What nobody has admitted is that the cotton crop – grown almost completely by small-scale farmers who are largely unaffected directly by the farm invasions, has declined by 30 per cent in a year of above average rainfall – a serious development. To emphasize the impact of this, the largest cotton spinner cut back production by 50 per cent last week and went onto short time. Clothing manufacturers were all rushing to try and find fabric to fill the hole in their programmes in advance of the Christmas season when demand is normally high.
On the democratic front, the State announced last Monday in the form of adverts in the government owned press that Rural District Council elections would be held at the end of October and that candidates had to register by Friday morning. Just to make sure everyone had the opportunity to serve their communities, the compulsory police clearances needed by all prospective candidates had to be processed in Harare and would cost Z$2 000.00 (two million dollars in the “old” currency). Now remember there are nearly 2000 seats up for election in these Districts – many in the most remote corners of the country. The Nomination Courts would be held at all Rural District Council Offices in each District.
The MDC had to find candidates, put them through selection procedures and clearance procedures, get their fingerprints done at local police stations and then send the prints to Harare by whatever means possible, get clearance and then get them back to the Districts in time for the applicants to submit their documents – which must include the new “long” birth certificates. All in 5 days! Well, that proved too much even for Zanu (PF) who knew of this plan well in advance and was working on candidates and we got an extension to Wednesday – another three working days. Still this makes a complete mockery of the democratic system – how on earth can people work within a system that is managed like this – we have not seen the voters roll and there has been very little voter registration activity.
Then Mugabe commandeered a plane from Air Zimbabwe, leaving passengers stranded all over the world (as we only have one long distance aircraft flying) and flew to Cuba for the Non Aligned Movement summit. He was in good company as he stridently announced to the world that “democracy was stupid” and that the demand for adherence to democratic principle was an excuse for regime change in counties like his own. How right he is – if we had a real democracy here, he and his clowns would be history, voted into oblivion by the people.
Just to endorse his view of the values of the rest of the world, the Minister of Information here said that “a free press would result in Zanu (PF) losing power” and this was why they were going to keep a tight grip on the press and the electronic media. We all knew that, but it was nice to have it confirmed by the regime itself.
Just to confirm the character of the regime we had the spectacle on Wednesday of 40 000 baton wielding riot police backed up by at least 24 water cannon – most of them brand new, freshly trained by Chinese experts in freedom and democracy, chasing a few hundred Unionists and MDC leaders who were trying to deliver a document to the Minister of Labour.
By my own tally, 260 people were arrested, many beaten in front of thousands of by standers and then taken off to Police Cells. There the leadership of the ZCTU was subjected to a brutal and savage beating. At least two – Lucie Mativenga and Wellington Chibebe were beaten about the head and have serious head injuries. They and others have broken arms and legs and crushed hands.
We will find out who was responsible (not just the Ministers) and we will eventually get justice for those injured in this appalling action.
A long overdue, but still welcome development was a strong statement from the traditional leaders of the Church in Zimbabwe calling for negotiations centered on a fresh vision of the future and to agree on a solution to the present crisis. This was echoed by voices abroad that said it was time to prepare for a post Mugabe era. We in the MDC agree with both sentiments but Mugabe remains obdurate and stuck in a morass of his own making.
Finally, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC, was on BBC World at the weekend on a call-in programme called “Have your say”. The programme was recorded in South Africa because the BBC could not get a permit to enter Zimbabwe. I may be biased, but frankly I thought he was fantastic. It was just what those of us who have worked with the man for the past decade have come to respect. He came across as a man of compassion and intellect, a real human being who wanted the best for his country and its people. There was one “planted” e-mail from a group in Zimbabwe that came via Ireland, but the rest were genuine questions and I think they mostly got a good thoughtful response. It was like a breath of clean air after all the rest. Pity it’s only on DSTV and the great majority of Zimbabweans will not have had the chance (the very few such chances) to actually see the man who almost certainly will be our next President.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Sometimes it is quite hard to keep track of all that is going on in this small corner of the world that is so important to us who live here. Must be doubly difficult for those who live “out there”. If you take the past week for example, the main points that we might record are as follows: -
Inflation rose in August to 28 per cent for the month – raising the annual average so far to 1204 per cent. This is dramatically up on the figure for July and the IMF followed this with a brief report that said that inflation was out of control and might reach 4000 per cent in 2007. On the ground the CEO of Dairibord was arrested when he raised the price of milk and the CIO started raids on the homes of senior executives of other companies alleging price fixing and profiteering. After claiming that fuel at controlled prices (Z$330 per litre) would be available, prices rose today to about Z$1000 a litre at retail outlets – local commuter transport charges rose by a third immediately.
The Deputy Minister of Mines reiterated that the State was determined to take 51 per cent of the equity in all mining concerns. Although the mining industry remained silent in the face of this threat, with the sole exception of the Zimplats operation, it now looks as if the rest of the industry will simply sit tight and await developments. All major maintenance and expansion is on hold and will remain so until the policy environment is clarified.
Literally billions of US dollars of investment are on hold as a result. It is yet another example of Zanu (PF) stupidity and greed.
The IMF announced that in their own view the Zimbabwe economy would contract by about 5 per cent again this year – bringing to 7 years the continuous decline in national economic output and coming on top of an over 7 per cent decline in 2005. In the same week the IMF and the World Bank raised their estimate of global expansion to 5,7 percent in 2006, citing strong growth in China and India and stronger performance in Africa. Global trade is growing strongly and the oil exporters are on a global spending spree that is helping offset the higher oil prices.
The Minister of Agriculture, that nutty guy Made, accepted for the first time that we might be short of grain. He explained to a Committee of Parliament that the GMB did not have the required stocks to overcome a shortfall in imports. This after he has persistently claimed we had grown a large crop of maize and would reap over 200 000 tonnes of winter wheat. The reality is that we have grown a small crop of maize (about 700 000 to 800 000 tonnes) and cannot expect to reap more than a tiny wheat and barley crop – no more than about 50 000 tonnes or 15 per cent of our needs.
What nobody has admitted is that the cotton crop – grown almost completely by small-scale farmers who are largely unaffected directly by the farm invasions, has declined by 30 per cent in a year of above average rainfall – a serious development. To emphasize the impact of this, the largest cotton spinner cut back production by 50 per cent last week and went onto short time. Clothing manufacturers were all rushing to try and find fabric to fill the hole in their programmes in advance of the Christmas season when demand is normally high.
On the democratic front, the State announced last Monday in the form of adverts in the government owned press that Rural District Council elections would be held at the end of October and that candidates had to register by Friday morning. Just to make sure everyone had the opportunity to serve their communities, the compulsory police clearances needed by all prospective candidates had to be processed in Harare and would cost Z$2 000.00 (two million dollars in the “old” currency). Now remember there are nearly 2000 seats up for election in these Districts – many in the most remote corners of the country. The Nomination Courts would be held at all Rural District Council Offices in each District.
The MDC had to find candidates, put them through selection procedures and clearance procedures, get their fingerprints done at local police stations and then send the prints to Harare by whatever means possible, get clearance and then get them back to the Districts in time for the applicants to submit their documents – which must include the new “long” birth certificates. All in 5 days! Well, that proved too much even for Zanu (PF) who knew of this plan well in advance and was working on candidates and we got an extension to Wednesday – another three working days. Still this makes a complete mockery of the democratic system – how on earth can people work within a system that is managed like this – we have not seen the voters roll and there has been very little voter registration activity.
Then Mugabe commandeered a plane from Air Zimbabwe, leaving passengers stranded all over the world (as we only have one long distance aircraft flying) and flew to Cuba for the Non Aligned Movement summit. He was in good company as he stridently announced to the world that “democracy was stupid” and that the demand for adherence to democratic principle was an excuse for regime change in counties like his own. How right he is – if we had a real democracy here, he and his clowns would be history, voted into oblivion by the people.
Just to endorse his view of the values of the rest of the world, the Minister of Information here said that “a free press would result in Zanu (PF) losing power” and this was why they were going to keep a tight grip on the press and the electronic media. We all knew that, but it was nice to have it confirmed by the regime itself.
Just to confirm the character of the regime we had the spectacle on Wednesday of 40 000 baton wielding riot police backed up by at least 24 water cannon – most of them brand new, freshly trained by Chinese experts in freedom and democracy, chasing a few hundred Unionists and MDC leaders who were trying to deliver a document to the Minister of Labour.
By my own tally, 260 people were arrested, many beaten in front of thousands of by standers and then taken off to Police Cells. There the leadership of the ZCTU was subjected to a brutal and savage beating. At least two – Lucie Mativenga and Wellington Chibebe were beaten about the head and have serious head injuries. They and others have broken arms and legs and crushed hands.
We will find out who was responsible (not just the Ministers) and we will eventually get justice for those injured in this appalling action.
A long overdue, but still welcome development was a strong statement from the traditional leaders of the Church in Zimbabwe calling for negotiations centered on a fresh vision of the future and to agree on a solution to the present crisis. This was echoed by voices abroad that said it was time to prepare for a post Mugabe era. We in the MDC agree with both sentiments but Mugabe remains obdurate and stuck in a morass of his own making.
Finally, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC, was on BBC World at the weekend on a call-in programme called “Have your say”. The programme was recorded in South Africa because the BBC could not get a permit to enter Zimbabwe. I may be biased, but frankly I thought he was fantastic. It was just what those of us who have worked with the man for the past decade have come to respect. He came across as a man of compassion and intellect, a real human being who wanted the best for his country and its people. There was one “planted” e-mail from a group in Zimbabwe that came via Ireland, but the rest were genuine questions and I think they mostly got a good thoughtful response. It was like a breath of clean air after all the rest. Pity it’s only on DSTV and the great majority of Zimbabweans will not have had the chance (the very few such chances) to actually see the man who almost certainly will be our next President.
Uproar over brutal police beatings of trade unionists
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
By our Correspondent
HARARE – Brutal beatings by police, with suspected soldiers joining in, of trade unionists arrested for trying to hold a peaceful demonstration in Harare have provoked national and international condemnation.
Reports of brutal behaviour and systematic use of torture by Robert Mugabe’s police are tragically now routine.
But this time, with some trade unionists appearing in court in splints, others hardly able to walk, and their secretary general Wellington Chibebe struggling to speak from a hospital bed, the results of the barbaric behaviour by the regime’s agents were there for all to see.
Outpourings against such official cruelty focussed renewed attention on the Robert Mugabe regime’s disdain for international conventions and the impunity it grants state agents to behave lawlessly.
Members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) were rounded up almost as soon as the Sept. 13 demonstration against the dire state of the economy and workers’ conditions began. Witnesses said police lashed out as they arrested the demonstrators. But the real brutality took place once they were herded into Harare’s notorious Matapi Police Station.
“We were told to get into cells in pairs … they started beating us up all over the body with batons and a knobkerrie. The assault carried on for about 20 minutes. I passed out because of excessive bleeding,” Chibebe told The Standard. He regained consciousness the next morning, having suffered severe head injuries, a broken arm and two broken fingers.
Chibebe said the language of some of the attackers made him suspect they were not all police officers. “They said things like, ‘We were trained to kill and not to write dockets’,” he added.
Magistrate Peter Mufunda held a court session at Chibebe’s bedside in the Parirenyatwa Hospital, granted him free bail, ordered an investigation into the assault and a full report to be delivered to court by Oct. 3. He also ordered that the perpetrators be brought to book.
ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo, also badly beaten, and 29 others appeared in court on charges of breaching the peace. Half had clearly been assaulted. They were granted bail of $20 000 each and ordered to report weekly to police. Earlier, defence lawyers had had to get a High Court order to be allowed to see their clients and to force police to take the seriously injured to hospital for treatment.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Doctors for Human Rights, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum which groups 16 organisations, all protested.
The US and British governments, international labour organizations, Britain’s Trades Union Congress, the African Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joined in.
“The state’s response confirms conclusively that this regime holds human rights and democracy in contempt,” said COSATU, which has long been at logger heads with Thabo Mbeki’s government for turning a blind eye to vote-rigging, suppression of free speech and other excesses by Robert Mugabe.
In London, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber accused the Zimbabwe authorities of “gross violations” of the International Labour Organisation’s conventions, signed by Harare, which oblige governments to observe workers’ rights. The TUC launched an appeal, calling for donations made out to “TUC Aid – Zimbabwe Appeal” to be sent to TUC Aid at its headquarters, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.
“Torture in Zimbabwe is both widespread and systemic, demanding both a national and an international response,” the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum said, demanding the prosecution of the perpetrators of the latest assaults.
National Constitution Assembly chairperson Lovemore Madhuku pledged to hold more demonstrations soon. “The acts of intimidation and primitive repression that were shown by the police … will not deter the people of Zimbabwe from fighting for a democratic constitution that will help them reclaim their freedom,” said Madhuku.
In Brussels, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the police assault on Reuters TV cameraman Mike Saburi, who was filming police beating people when the police turned on him, assaulting and arresting him.
“Banning media coverage and trampling on press freedom will not solve any of the problems of Zimbabwe,” Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
By our Correspondent
HARARE – Brutal beatings by police, with suspected soldiers joining in, of trade unionists arrested for trying to hold a peaceful demonstration in Harare have provoked national and international condemnation.
Reports of brutal behaviour and systematic use of torture by Robert Mugabe’s police are tragically now routine.
But this time, with some trade unionists appearing in court in splints, others hardly able to walk, and their secretary general Wellington Chibebe struggling to speak from a hospital bed, the results of the barbaric behaviour by the regime’s agents were there for all to see.
Outpourings against such official cruelty focussed renewed attention on the Robert Mugabe regime’s disdain for international conventions and the impunity it grants state agents to behave lawlessly.
Members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) were rounded up almost as soon as the Sept. 13 demonstration against the dire state of the economy and workers’ conditions began. Witnesses said police lashed out as they arrested the demonstrators. But the real brutality took place once they were herded into Harare’s notorious Matapi Police Station.
“We were told to get into cells in pairs … they started beating us up all over the body with batons and a knobkerrie. The assault carried on for about 20 minutes. I passed out because of excessive bleeding,” Chibebe told The Standard. He regained consciousness the next morning, having suffered severe head injuries, a broken arm and two broken fingers.
Chibebe said the language of some of the attackers made him suspect they were not all police officers. “They said things like, ‘We were trained to kill and not to write dockets’,” he added.
Magistrate Peter Mufunda held a court session at Chibebe’s bedside in the Parirenyatwa Hospital, granted him free bail, ordered an investigation into the assault and a full report to be delivered to court by Oct. 3. He also ordered that the perpetrators be brought to book.
ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo, also badly beaten, and 29 others appeared in court on charges of breaching the peace. Half had clearly been assaulted. They were granted bail of $20 000 each and ordered to report weekly to police. Earlier, defence lawyers had had to get a High Court order to be allowed to see their clients and to force police to take the seriously injured to hospital for treatment.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Doctors for Human Rights, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum which groups 16 organisations, all protested.
The US and British governments, international labour organizations, Britain’s Trades Union Congress, the African Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joined in.
“The state’s response confirms conclusively that this regime holds human rights and democracy in contempt,” said COSATU, which has long been at logger heads with Thabo Mbeki’s government for turning a blind eye to vote-rigging, suppression of free speech and other excesses by Robert Mugabe.
In London, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber accused the Zimbabwe authorities of “gross violations” of the International Labour Organisation’s conventions, signed by Harare, which oblige governments to observe workers’ rights. The TUC launched an appeal, calling for donations made out to “TUC Aid – Zimbabwe Appeal” to be sent to TUC Aid at its headquarters, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.
“Torture in Zimbabwe is both widespread and systemic, demanding both a national and an international response,” the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum said, demanding the prosecution of the perpetrators of the latest assaults.
National Constitution Assembly chairperson Lovemore Madhuku pledged to hold more demonstrations soon. “The acts of intimidation and primitive repression that were shown by the police … will not deter the people of Zimbabwe from fighting for a democratic constitution that will help them reclaim their freedom,” said Madhuku.
In Brussels, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the police assault on Reuters TV cameraman Mike Saburi, who was filming police beating people when the police turned on him, assaulting and arresting him.
“Banning media coverage and trampling on press freedom will not solve any of the problems of Zimbabwe,” Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office.
Where were the followers? Lessons to be learn about mass action
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
BY STANFORD MUKASA
‘The bruised leaders of the ZCTU see their brutalization by Mugabe’s thugs as a baptism of fire and they are all fired up and raring to go’
WASHINGTON - The ZCTU mass action last week was both a failure and a success. However, the jubilant state media and other propaganda machinery of the Mugabe regime were quick to pronounce it a flop.
Some analysts felt the ZCTU leadership had not adequately prepared its membership for the mass action. Others said people were reluctant to engage in a two-hour action that did not seem to promise any significant push for the demands the ZCTU was making.
But with unemployment in Zimbabwe at 80 percent the number of Zimbabweans in the formal workforce has shrunk considerably. Workers in the formal sector are no longer a very powerful force by themselves.
The ZCTU action may have been effective if it had been coordinated with protests from other groups in the opposition movement. This way Mugabe’s police would have had to deal with numerous protest groups taking place simultaneously.
Imagine if during the ZCTU mass action, Tsvangirai would have been leading his supporters in the historic march to Parliament and WOZA women would have been demonstrating as well as NCA! Another major issue that needs to be considered here is the fact that most supporters did not join when the ZCTU leadership took to the streets. This gave police and the army the golden opportunity to savagely beat the ZCTU leadership. Had people turned up in thousands police would have found it extremely risky to assault the ZCTU leadership.
A very troubling situation is that the ZCTU leaders, supported by some members of the MDC leadership, were out in full force and in front but with very few followers. This raises a serious question about whether the Zimbabwean opposition movement has a leadership or followership crisis.
How does the ZCTU membership feel about the barbaric assault on their leaders? And even after the assault the membership of the ZCTU does not seem to have been outraged enough to take it to the streets to protest.
One would have thought this assaulting of their leaders would have triggered a mass revolt! Yet for most membership it was business as usual while leaders were licking their wounds in hospital. ZCTU members must realize that their leadership are mere mortals. They are human beings just like anybody else. On their own, the leadership cannot achieve much and they stand a great personal risk like what happened to the ZCTU and some MDC leaders who took to the streets.
The same fate befell NCA chair, Lovemore Madhuku, when a few years ago he was savagely assaulted by police and left for dead. There was hardly any mass protest at this act of brutality.
Commentators and analysts have always talked about the need for a triggering event to galvanize the otherwise passive Zimbabweans into mass protests. There have been many such triggering events. The assault on the ZCTU leadership was simply the latest in a series of failed opportunities to mobilize.
Having said this, ZCTU mass action was not a total failure. Even though it was cancelled at the last minute the ZCTU leaders, by their very heroic stand against the Mugabe regime, made some important gains.
First it dramatized the ruthlessness of the Mugabe regime. The savage beating and manhandling of the ZCTU leaders once again brought the international spotlight on Mugabe and his despotic regime.
To those in the international community who were beginning to think that Mugabe was reforming or easing up or scaling back on violence the latest action showed clearly that violence is Zanu (PF)’s trademark.
The police and army had mobilized a large chunk of their manpower and military resources in a bid to cover all areas of the country. Had the mass action been indefinite it is very doubtful that Mugabe’s military machinery would have been able to sustain this kind of nationwide deployment.
The calling off of the mass action by the ZCTU must have come as a big relief to the already tense regime. What the ZCTU needs to do now is build on its success and learn from its failures.
Lesson Number 1 for the ZCTU and the opposition movement is that any preparations for a non-violent action must be planned using military strategies. This means an element of surprise. ZCTU and other opposition groups must have learned by now that giving widest publicity to their planned actions only helps the regime to plan a counter action.
Mass actions must never be publicly announced in advance. The opposition movement should use its own information networks, not the public mass media, to mobilize people.
The repressive law called POSA must never be followed. A mass protest is an act of civil disobedience. Not following the POSA requirement to notify the police is part of that civil disobedience strategy.
Secondly the opposition movement should learn to coordinate their actions. This fragmented and individualized approach to confronting Mugabe is potentially counterproductive. It renders the protesters easy prey to Mugabe’s military machine. If mass action is to be initiated, all opposition groups must be involved in their own ways.
It is also a good idea to spread out the mass action as much as possible. Create pockets of resistance throughout the city or the country. This will stretch the police and army to the limit and possibly degrade their resources and capacity to sustain their control of the protestors.
While it is important that leaders march in front of their followers adequate security measures should be undertaken not to expose the leaders to the brutality of the police and army. What happened with the ZCTU protest where leaders were savaged by the Mugabe military machinery must never be repeated.
Leaders must never be used as sacrificial lambs. For all we know the ZCTU leadership could have been killed by the regime’s trigger-happy, marijuana-smoking killer thugs. Mugabe’s dream is to wipe out the leadership of the opposition movement. The only thing stopping him is fear of what the masses could do in retaliation. This is why the apartheid regime in South Africa kept Nelson Mandela alive when they could have easily killed him.
Mass protests should be viewed in the broader context of a civil disobedience campaign in which alternative forms of non-violent protests should be explored and enacted.
The bruised leadership of the ZCTU has announced that the mass protests will continue. They see their brutalization by Mugabe’s thugs as a baptism of fire and they are all fired up and raring to go.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
BY STANFORD MUKASA
‘The bruised leaders of the ZCTU see their brutalization by Mugabe’s thugs as a baptism of fire and they are all fired up and raring to go’
WASHINGTON - The ZCTU mass action last week was both a failure and a success. However, the jubilant state media and other propaganda machinery of the Mugabe regime were quick to pronounce it a flop.
Some analysts felt the ZCTU leadership had not adequately prepared its membership for the mass action. Others said people were reluctant to engage in a two-hour action that did not seem to promise any significant push for the demands the ZCTU was making.
But with unemployment in Zimbabwe at 80 percent the number of Zimbabweans in the formal workforce has shrunk considerably. Workers in the formal sector are no longer a very powerful force by themselves.
The ZCTU action may have been effective if it had been coordinated with protests from other groups in the opposition movement. This way Mugabe’s police would have had to deal with numerous protest groups taking place simultaneously.
Imagine if during the ZCTU mass action, Tsvangirai would have been leading his supporters in the historic march to Parliament and WOZA women would have been demonstrating as well as NCA! Another major issue that needs to be considered here is the fact that most supporters did not join when the ZCTU leadership took to the streets. This gave police and the army the golden opportunity to savagely beat the ZCTU leadership. Had people turned up in thousands police would have found it extremely risky to assault the ZCTU leadership.
A very troubling situation is that the ZCTU leaders, supported by some members of the MDC leadership, were out in full force and in front but with very few followers. This raises a serious question about whether the Zimbabwean opposition movement has a leadership or followership crisis.
How does the ZCTU membership feel about the barbaric assault on their leaders? And even after the assault the membership of the ZCTU does not seem to have been outraged enough to take it to the streets to protest.
One would have thought this assaulting of their leaders would have triggered a mass revolt! Yet for most membership it was business as usual while leaders were licking their wounds in hospital. ZCTU members must realize that their leadership are mere mortals. They are human beings just like anybody else. On their own, the leadership cannot achieve much and they stand a great personal risk like what happened to the ZCTU and some MDC leaders who took to the streets.
The same fate befell NCA chair, Lovemore Madhuku, when a few years ago he was savagely assaulted by police and left for dead. There was hardly any mass protest at this act of brutality.
Commentators and analysts have always talked about the need for a triggering event to galvanize the otherwise passive Zimbabweans into mass protests. There have been many such triggering events. The assault on the ZCTU leadership was simply the latest in a series of failed opportunities to mobilize.
Having said this, ZCTU mass action was not a total failure. Even though it was cancelled at the last minute the ZCTU leaders, by their very heroic stand against the Mugabe regime, made some important gains.
First it dramatized the ruthlessness of the Mugabe regime. The savage beating and manhandling of the ZCTU leaders once again brought the international spotlight on Mugabe and his despotic regime.
To those in the international community who were beginning to think that Mugabe was reforming or easing up or scaling back on violence the latest action showed clearly that violence is Zanu (PF)’s trademark.
The police and army had mobilized a large chunk of their manpower and military resources in a bid to cover all areas of the country. Had the mass action been indefinite it is very doubtful that Mugabe’s military machinery would have been able to sustain this kind of nationwide deployment.
The calling off of the mass action by the ZCTU must have come as a big relief to the already tense regime. What the ZCTU needs to do now is build on its success and learn from its failures.
Lesson Number 1 for the ZCTU and the opposition movement is that any preparations for a non-violent action must be planned using military strategies. This means an element of surprise. ZCTU and other opposition groups must have learned by now that giving widest publicity to their planned actions only helps the regime to plan a counter action.
Mass actions must never be publicly announced in advance. The opposition movement should use its own information networks, not the public mass media, to mobilize people.
The repressive law called POSA must never be followed. A mass protest is an act of civil disobedience. Not following the POSA requirement to notify the police is part of that civil disobedience strategy.
Secondly the opposition movement should learn to coordinate their actions. This fragmented and individualized approach to confronting Mugabe is potentially counterproductive. It renders the protesters easy prey to Mugabe’s military machine. If mass action is to be initiated, all opposition groups must be involved in their own ways.
It is also a good idea to spread out the mass action as much as possible. Create pockets of resistance throughout the city or the country. This will stretch the police and army to the limit and possibly degrade their resources and capacity to sustain their control of the protestors.
While it is important that leaders march in front of their followers adequate security measures should be undertaken not to expose the leaders to the brutality of the police and army. What happened with the ZCTU protest where leaders were savaged by the Mugabe military machinery must never be repeated.
Leaders must never be used as sacrificial lambs. For all we know the ZCTU leadership could have been killed by the regime’s trigger-happy, marijuana-smoking killer thugs. Mugabe’s dream is to wipe out the leadership of the opposition movement. The only thing stopping him is fear of what the masses could do in retaliation. This is why the apartheid regime in South Africa kept Nelson Mandela alive when they could have easily killed him.
Mass protests should be viewed in the broader context of a civil disobedience campaign in which alternative forms of non-violent protests should be explored and enacted.
The bruised leadership of the ZCTU has announced that the mass protests will continue. They see their brutalization by Mugabe’s thugs as a baptism of fire and they are all fired up and raring to go.
List of those injured
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
List of those injured
HARARE – The following were among those injured during the ZCTU demonstration last week:
1. Lucia Matibenga (ZCTU vice president and MDC women’s asembly chairperson)
She spent the night sitting at the charge office at Matapi police station without blankets and food. She was badly assaulted with batons and has a fractured hand. Her ears are bleeding. She has difficulty in hearing and breathing.
2. Wellington Chibhebhe (ZCTU secretary-general)
Suspected fracture and visible crack on head. Suspected fracture of both hands. Prostrate and heavily swollen.
3. Lovemore Matombo (ZCTU President)
In visible physical pain.
4. Ian Makone (MDC national executive member)
Fainted three times. Blood on his legs, unable to walk.
5. Moses Ngondo (activist)
Fractured left arm, swollen buttocks..
6. Toendepi Shonhe (MDC deputy organising secretary, Harare province)
Leg bleeding.
7. Dennis Chiwara (activist)
Leg injuries. Suspected broken ankle. Swollen all over.
8. Tererai Todini (youth chairperson, MDC Mbare district)
Badly assaulted all over with fists and batons.
9. Tonderai Nyahunzvi (activist)
Suspected fractured hand.
10. Tichaona Basket
Injured back, ribs and head.
11. Stephen Mutasa Mutsipa
Injuries all over.
12. James Gumbi
Bleeding back and buttocks.
13. Nqobizitha Khumalo
Injuries to the back, head and ribs. Passing blood-stained urine.
14. Rwapedza Chigwengwa
Swollen left arm and back injuries.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
List of those injured
HARARE – The following were among those injured during the ZCTU demonstration last week:
1. Lucia Matibenga (ZCTU vice president and MDC women’s asembly chairperson)
She spent the night sitting at the charge office at Matapi police station without blankets and food. She was badly assaulted with batons and has a fractured hand. Her ears are bleeding. She has difficulty in hearing and breathing.
2. Wellington Chibhebhe (ZCTU secretary-general)
Suspected fracture and visible crack on head. Suspected fracture of both hands. Prostrate and heavily swollen.
3. Lovemore Matombo (ZCTU President)
In visible physical pain.
4. Ian Makone (MDC national executive member)
Fainted three times. Blood on his legs, unable to walk.
5. Moses Ngondo (activist)
Fractured left arm, swollen buttocks..
6. Toendepi Shonhe (MDC deputy organising secretary, Harare province)
Leg bleeding.
7. Dennis Chiwara (activist)
Leg injuries. Suspected broken ankle. Swollen all over.
8. Tererai Todini (youth chairperson, MDC Mbare district)
Badly assaulted all over with fists and batons.
9. Tonderai Nyahunzvi (activist)
Suspected fractured hand.
10. Tichaona Basket
Injured back, ribs and head.
11. Stephen Mutasa Mutsipa
Injuries all over.
12. James Gumbi
Bleeding back and buttocks.
13. Nqobizitha Khumalo
Injuries to the back, head and ribs. Passing blood-stained urine.
14. Rwapedza Chigwengwa
Swollen left arm and back injuries.
The people have spoken
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
LONDON – The MDC UK has announced the office bearers elected at its recent Congress. Making the announcement, the secretary for UK and Northern Ireland,
Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa, said the new officers were very aware that their election came with accountability.
“It is with this in mind that we reveal the names of those who are supposed to be accountable to you for the power that you have given to them,” he said.
Provincial Executive Chairperson, Ephraim Tapa, Central London Branch, ephtapa@yahoo.co.uk; Dep. Chairperson, Rodwell Mupungu, Northampton Branch, Secretary, Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa, Central London Branch, Dep. Secretary, Virginia Ncube, Manchester Branch, Treasurer, Mary Kasirowore, North London Branch, Organising Secretary, Jaison Matewu, Portsmouth Branch, Dep. Organising Secretary, Edward Nyakudya, Coventry Branch,; Information and Publicity Secretary, Matthew Nyashanu, Birmingham Branch, Secretary for Women, Adella Mutero, Secretary for Youth, Jameson Mashakada,
Women's Wing Chairwoman, Adella Mutero, Reading,Vice-Chair, Fadzanai Muchenagumbo, Milton Keynes, Secretary, Jenipher Moyo, Walsall; Vice Secretary, Mercy Mwakipesile, Kent; Organising, Chipo Machida, South Beds, Deputy Organising, Bhuhle Maphosa, Treasurer, Victoria Tarupiwa, Information and Pub, Felicity Mucheuki.
Youth wing chairman, Jameson Mashakada, vice chair Linda Mtimbanyoka,
Harris Nyatsanza, Secretary, Tinashe Madamombe, Vice Secretary, Nomalanga Ndlovu, Organising Secretary, Vandirai Zano, Vice Org. Secretary, Alfred Mazhindu, Treasurer, Margaret Chipandambira. – Staff reporter
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
LONDON – The MDC UK has announced the office bearers elected at its recent Congress. Making the announcement, the secretary for UK and Northern Ireland,
Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa, said the new officers were very aware that their election came with accountability.
“It is with this in mind that we reveal the names of those who are supposed to be accountable to you for the power that you have given to them,” he said.
Provincial Executive Chairperson, Ephraim Tapa, Central London Branch, ephtapa@yahoo.co.uk; Dep. Chairperson, Rodwell Mupungu, Northampton Branch, Secretary, Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa, Central London Branch, Dep. Secretary, Virginia Ncube, Manchester Branch, Treasurer, Mary Kasirowore, North London Branch, Organising Secretary, Jaison Matewu, Portsmouth Branch, Dep. Organising Secretary, Edward Nyakudya, Coventry Branch,; Information and Publicity Secretary, Matthew Nyashanu, Birmingham Branch, Secretary for Women, Adella Mutero, Secretary for Youth, Jameson Mashakada,
Women's Wing Chairwoman, Adella Mutero, Reading,Vice-Chair, Fadzanai Muchenagumbo, Milton Keynes, Secretary, Jenipher Moyo, Walsall; Vice Secretary, Mercy Mwakipesile, Kent; Organising, Chipo Machida, South Beds, Deputy Organising, Bhuhle Maphosa, Treasurer, Victoria Tarupiwa, Information and Pub, Felicity Mucheuki.
Youth wing chairman, Jameson Mashakada, vice chair Linda Mtimbanyoka,
Harris Nyatsanza, Secretary, Tinashe Madamombe, Vice Secretary, Nomalanga Ndlovu, Organising Secretary, Vandirai Zano, Vice Org. Secretary, Alfred Mazhindu, Treasurer, Margaret Chipandambira. – Staff reporter
Zim included on Worst of Worst list
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
NEW YORK – Zimbabwe is included in the latest Freedom House Worst of the Worst list: The World’s Most Repressive Societies 2006 - an annual compilation of the most dictatorial regimes in the world. The organization’s executive director testified last week before the United States Congress and called on the UN Human Rights Council to address abuses in the countries listed.
The report, which is intended to assist the new Human Rights Council, as well as members of Congress, journalists and other policymakers, includes detailed descriptions of the dire human rights situations in eight countries judged to have the worst records in the past year. These countries are Burma, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Also included are two territories, Chechnya and Tibet, whose inhabitants suffer intense repression.
In addition, The Worst of the Worst includes nine other countries near the bottom of Freedom House’s list of the most repressive: Belarus, China, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. The territory of Western Sahara is also included in this group. While these states scored slightly better than the “worst of the worst,” they offer very limited scope for political discussion and activity.
“This report should be viewed as the minimal ‘to do’ list to be addressed by members of the UN Human Rights Council and those governments that profess to care about human rights,” Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House, told members of the House International Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, Human Rights and Global Operations. “The Council urgently needs to prove that it can and will act in a constructive manner in furtherance of its mandate, and will be judged on its willingness and ability to take action to address country and situation-specific human rights violations,” she added.
The UN Human Rights Council was established this year as a replacement for the much-criticized UN Commission on Human Rights, and met for the first time in June. A number of decisions, including the establishment of a working group to determine guidelines for a new Universal Periodic Review, were taken at the meeting. However, despite the human rights crises that exist in places like North Korea, Darfur, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere, the Council has only exercised its authority for country specific action in two special sessions focusing on situations in Gaza and Lebanon, and then passed resolutions widely seen in the human rights community as unbalanced condemnations of Israel without reference to human rights violations by Hamas or Hizbollah or the states that support them. - www.kubatana.net
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
NEW YORK – Zimbabwe is included in the latest Freedom House Worst of the Worst list: The World’s Most Repressive Societies 2006 - an annual compilation of the most dictatorial regimes in the world. The organization’s executive director testified last week before the United States Congress and called on the UN Human Rights Council to address abuses in the countries listed.
The report, which is intended to assist the new Human Rights Council, as well as members of Congress, journalists and other policymakers, includes detailed descriptions of the dire human rights situations in eight countries judged to have the worst records in the past year. These countries are Burma, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Also included are two territories, Chechnya and Tibet, whose inhabitants suffer intense repression.
In addition, The Worst of the Worst includes nine other countries near the bottom of Freedom House’s list of the most repressive: Belarus, China, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. The territory of Western Sahara is also included in this group. While these states scored slightly better than the “worst of the worst,” they offer very limited scope for political discussion and activity.
“This report should be viewed as the minimal ‘to do’ list to be addressed by members of the UN Human Rights Council and those governments that profess to care about human rights,” Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House, told members of the House International Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, Human Rights and Global Operations. “The Council urgently needs to prove that it can and will act in a constructive manner in furtherance of its mandate, and will be judged on its willingness and ability to take action to address country and situation-specific human rights violations,” she added.
The UN Human Rights Council was established this year as a replacement for the much-criticized UN Commission on Human Rights, and met for the first time in June. A number of decisions, including the establishment of a working group to determine guidelines for a new Universal Periodic Review, were taken at the meeting. However, despite the human rights crises that exist in places like North Korea, Darfur, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere, the Council has only exercised its authority for country specific action in two special sessions focusing on situations in Gaza and Lebanon, and then passed resolutions widely seen in the human rights community as unbalanced condemnations of Israel without reference to human rights violations by Hamas or Hizbollah or the states that support them. - www.kubatana.net
News from Zimbabwe
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Police seize fuel
BY GIFT PHIRI
HARARE - Police last Thursday seized more than 300,000 litres of fuel from private oil companies in the Southerton Industrial area accusing them of profiteering from long standing arrangements in which they buy fuel at subsidized prices from the state oil procurement monopoly, National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, NOCZIM.
The senseless blitz, led by one Inspector Munyakamwe, was aimed at forcing the private oil companies to sell fuel at the regulated price of $335 a litre although the dealers had bought the fuel at $540 a litre from NOCZIM while others had imported the precious commodity.
After years of acute fuel shortages, President Robert Mugabe three years ago deregulated fuel imports and demanded that private oil companies supply fuel from their external hard currency reserves.
Angry oil industry executives slammed the crackdown, which is being spearheaded by a taskforce created through the Soviet-style committees under the National Economic Development Priority Programme, saying it was unsustainable to sell fuel at loss.
The effect has been a deepening fuel crisis spawned by the shortages as private oil companies simply refused to sell their fuel at that price. Executives said privately the crackdown late Thursday caused disarray in the energy sector and has pushed up the price of fuel to as much as $1,200 a litre.
The crackdown also lent credence to reports that a deal with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea to provide $30 million worth of fuel a month for the next year was falling apart after Zimbabwe failed to pay arrears in shipping and handling costs.
The government has pegged the price at $335 in a bid to hold down inflation, now running at a record 1,200 percent in the nation’s worst economic crisis since independence in 1980.
Acute hard currency shortages since 1999 have led fuel stations to run dry, with long lines of cars regularly waiting for deliveries.
The hard currency shortages have pushed up the illegal black market exchange rate to more than 850 Zimbabwe dollars to one U.S. dollar, compared to the pegged official exchange rate of 250-1.
International oil companies have said they would need to buy hard currency at inflated rates of a blended mix between the official and unofficial rates to remain viable.
Civil unrest erupted three years ago when fuel was raised by 30 percent. Commuters boycotted transport firms and vehicles were stoned until fuel prices were reduced on government orders.
Back then, Mugabe said foreign oil companies would be required to use their external hard currency funds to import fuel, but oil companies insist that they must be allowed to remit some hard currency abroad to avoid being left with large amounts of Zimbabwe dollars in a hyperinflationary economy.
Mugabe described state fuel imports sold by foreign oil companies in Zimbabwe as “this game of foolery” that reaped huge profits for them and losses for the state.
Part of filling stations that lost huge amounts of fuel include Birmingham Road Motors which lost 10,000 litres, Muhammed Mussa which lost 40,000 litres, Caltex Coventry, among others.
Mathematical illusion and the slide into poverty
BY MFANDAIDZA HOVE
At independence in 1980, Zimbabweans enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the region. In fact, we were three times as well off as the average citizen in Botswana. By 1990, our Gross Domestic Product per head was just under US$1,000. However, since 1999, this has fallen to less than US$400 and is expected to fall to US$350 per head by the end of 2006. Over 80% of Zimbabweans are now living on less than US$2 a day. The main reasons for this include the Government’s political illegitimacy, corruption and fiscal profligacy all of which have reduced all economic fundamentals to crisis levels.
This week’s release of the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) revealing a sustained increase in inflation from 993.6% in July to 1,204.6% is further evidence of the continued economic meltdown.
According to the CSO, the month-on-month rate for August increased to 29.2% from 25.5% in July- an increase of 4.1%. On the face of it, this appears to be a modest change; however, this has very little bearing to the facts on the ground. Some of the issues that lead the nation to doubt the integrity of the inflation data released by the CSO include the following:
· The fact that the base year used is the Incomes, Consumption and Expenditure Survey of 2001- very unlikely to be representative of present trends;
· The extent (if any) to which parallel market exchange rates are taken into account in determining the monthly CPI. Given the fact that most producers access their foreign currency requirements through the parallel market, and consequently factor this in their pricing policies, failure to incorporate this into the monthly CPI casts serious doubts relating to its integrity.
In light of these doubts, the CSO’s calculations are a mathematical illusion and therefore fail to portray accurately the continued slide into poverty that the majority of Zimbabweans are experiencing.
The key issue to note is that for as long as this illegitimate government remains in power with the resultant pariah status that it has, the economic meltdown will continue. Consequently, hyperinflationary conditions will persist fuelled mainly by continued foreign exchange shortages, capacity utilization difficulties faced by the manufacturing sector, irresponsibly high budget deficits, increased central government borrowings on the domestic market and the illegal quasi-fiscal operations of the central bank.
The shortage of foreign exchange adversely affects the supply side of the economy in that this reduces output by the few producers that are still able to operate. Consequently, until a favourable business environment is restored, shortages will continue. An environment conducive to a functioning economy is one that enables business to generate foreign exchange through exports and one that attracts foreign direct investment, grants and loans. To the extent that the Zanu (PF) government has no capacity to address these basic issues, Zimbabweans cannot hope that a solution to this problem will be found in the foreseeable future.
We must point out that the crusade against the foreign exchange parallel market dealers is a futile exercise as the existence of such a market is a direct result of a dysfunctional economy. What is needed is a policy that addresses all economic fundamentals thereby ensuring that the incentives for the parallel market to exist are removed. Until this is done, the central bank will continue to address the symptoms and not the causes of the problem.
The scarcity of foreign exchange also results in concomitant shortages of fuel and other petroleum products all of which are imported. Since fuel is an important and significant input in the product cost build-up, any worsening supply of foreign exchange in the country leads to increases in the price of fuel. Such increases are, of course, subsequently factored in the prices of various products. Consequently, until industry and commerce can access fuel at affordable prices, hyperinflation will continue unabated.
A further major cause of inflation in this country, is government’s fiscal profligacy; the Zanu (PF) government is clearly unable/unwilling (or both) to live within its means. This is clearly demonstrated by the relentless increase in the budget deficits –a major source of inflationary pressures in this country. A more disturbing development is that these deficits are mainly financed by printing money, a major proportion of which goes in search of foreign exchange from the parallel market resulting in pressure on rates and the scarcity premiums there.
Finally, the quasi-fiscal activities of the central bank Governor are yet another major contributor to inflation in the country. The Governor continues to behave like a Prime Minister, dishing out printed worthless money across all sectors of the economy especially loss-making state-owned enterprises. The Governor needs to be reminded that the generally accepted view is that successful central bankers should be seen neither as heroes nor villains, but simply as competent referees, allowing the game to flow. – Hove is the MDC Secretary for Economic Affairs
City blames Zinwa
HARARE - In a move laden with hypocrisy, the City of Harare has released a damning report lambasting the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) for failing to provide clean water.
Ironically, the report by the illegally constituted commission-run municipality, comes barely six months after the parastatal took over water supplies for what they allege as: “… mainly because of the need to improve service delivery, which had deteriorated to unsustainable levels” said Zinwa’s weekly ‘What you should know column’ in the local media.
The report by the works department produced in December alleges that the water supplied by Zinwa continues: “to fail to meet the WHO (1993) guidelines and SAZ (1997) standards”.
The report adds: “Free residual chlorine is constantly low in the drinking water, viable counts (TVC) of bacteria and coniforms continue to be present in the drinking water. Toxin-producing blue-green algae is consistently present in the drinking water”.
The continued war of words by the two institutions comes after they have all failed to provide clean water to Harare metropolitan province. Harare supplies water to Norton, Ruwa and Chitungwiza among other cities.
The politically-motivated takeover of water supplies by Zinwa in May, raised questions at the parastetal’s capabilities to effectively manage the distribution of water. However, Zinwa has hit back saying the water treatment for Harare needs an ‘overhaul’ as it has become aged before they took over.
Perennial water problems have engulfed the city as the government-appointed commission bungled water treatment chemical tenders and unprofessional conduct to council business.
Recently, there was a dysentery outbreak in the province caused by the consumption of unsafe drinking water resulting in the loss of lives while many households went for weeks without water. – CAJ News
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Police seize fuel
BY GIFT PHIRI
HARARE - Police last Thursday seized more than 300,000 litres of fuel from private oil companies in the Southerton Industrial area accusing them of profiteering from long standing arrangements in which they buy fuel at subsidized prices from the state oil procurement monopoly, National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, NOCZIM.
The senseless blitz, led by one Inspector Munyakamwe, was aimed at forcing the private oil companies to sell fuel at the regulated price of $335 a litre although the dealers had bought the fuel at $540 a litre from NOCZIM while others had imported the precious commodity.
After years of acute fuel shortages, President Robert Mugabe three years ago deregulated fuel imports and demanded that private oil companies supply fuel from their external hard currency reserves.
Angry oil industry executives slammed the crackdown, which is being spearheaded by a taskforce created through the Soviet-style committees under the National Economic Development Priority Programme, saying it was unsustainable to sell fuel at loss.
The effect has been a deepening fuel crisis spawned by the shortages as private oil companies simply refused to sell their fuel at that price. Executives said privately the crackdown late Thursday caused disarray in the energy sector and has pushed up the price of fuel to as much as $1,200 a litre.
The crackdown also lent credence to reports that a deal with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea to provide $30 million worth of fuel a month for the next year was falling apart after Zimbabwe failed to pay arrears in shipping and handling costs.
The government has pegged the price at $335 in a bid to hold down inflation, now running at a record 1,200 percent in the nation’s worst economic crisis since independence in 1980.
Acute hard currency shortages since 1999 have led fuel stations to run dry, with long lines of cars regularly waiting for deliveries.
The hard currency shortages have pushed up the illegal black market exchange rate to more than 850 Zimbabwe dollars to one U.S. dollar, compared to the pegged official exchange rate of 250-1.
International oil companies have said they would need to buy hard currency at inflated rates of a blended mix between the official and unofficial rates to remain viable.
Civil unrest erupted three years ago when fuel was raised by 30 percent. Commuters boycotted transport firms and vehicles were stoned until fuel prices were reduced on government orders.
Back then, Mugabe said foreign oil companies would be required to use their external hard currency funds to import fuel, but oil companies insist that they must be allowed to remit some hard currency abroad to avoid being left with large amounts of Zimbabwe dollars in a hyperinflationary economy.
Mugabe described state fuel imports sold by foreign oil companies in Zimbabwe as “this game of foolery” that reaped huge profits for them and losses for the state.
Part of filling stations that lost huge amounts of fuel include Birmingham Road Motors which lost 10,000 litres, Muhammed Mussa which lost 40,000 litres, Caltex Coventry, among others.
Mathematical illusion and the slide into poverty
BY MFANDAIDZA HOVE
At independence in 1980, Zimbabweans enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the region. In fact, we were three times as well off as the average citizen in Botswana. By 1990, our Gross Domestic Product per head was just under US$1,000. However, since 1999, this has fallen to less than US$400 and is expected to fall to US$350 per head by the end of 2006. Over 80% of Zimbabweans are now living on less than US$2 a day. The main reasons for this include the Government’s political illegitimacy, corruption and fiscal profligacy all of which have reduced all economic fundamentals to crisis levels.
This week’s release of the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) revealing a sustained increase in inflation from 993.6% in July to 1,204.6% is further evidence of the continued economic meltdown.
According to the CSO, the month-on-month rate for August increased to 29.2% from 25.5% in July- an increase of 4.1%. On the face of it, this appears to be a modest change; however, this has very little bearing to the facts on the ground. Some of the issues that lead the nation to doubt the integrity of the inflation data released by the CSO include the following:
· The fact that the base year used is the Incomes, Consumption and Expenditure Survey of 2001- very unlikely to be representative of present trends;
· The extent (if any) to which parallel market exchange rates are taken into account in determining the monthly CPI. Given the fact that most producers access their foreign currency requirements through the parallel market, and consequently factor this in their pricing policies, failure to incorporate this into the monthly CPI casts serious doubts relating to its integrity.
In light of these doubts, the CSO’s calculations are a mathematical illusion and therefore fail to portray accurately the continued slide into poverty that the majority of Zimbabweans are experiencing.
The key issue to note is that for as long as this illegitimate government remains in power with the resultant pariah status that it has, the economic meltdown will continue. Consequently, hyperinflationary conditions will persist fuelled mainly by continued foreign exchange shortages, capacity utilization difficulties faced by the manufacturing sector, irresponsibly high budget deficits, increased central government borrowings on the domestic market and the illegal quasi-fiscal operations of the central bank.
The shortage of foreign exchange adversely affects the supply side of the economy in that this reduces output by the few producers that are still able to operate. Consequently, until a favourable business environment is restored, shortages will continue. An environment conducive to a functioning economy is one that enables business to generate foreign exchange through exports and one that attracts foreign direct investment, grants and loans. To the extent that the Zanu (PF) government has no capacity to address these basic issues, Zimbabweans cannot hope that a solution to this problem will be found in the foreseeable future.
We must point out that the crusade against the foreign exchange parallel market dealers is a futile exercise as the existence of such a market is a direct result of a dysfunctional economy. What is needed is a policy that addresses all economic fundamentals thereby ensuring that the incentives for the parallel market to exist are removed. Until this is done, the central bank will continue to address the symptoms and not the causes of the problem.
The scarcity of foreign exchange also results in concomitant shortages of fuel and other petroleum products all of which are imported. Since fuel is an important and significant input in the product cost build-up, any worsening supply of foreign exchange in the country leads to increases in the price of fuel. Such increases are, of course, subsequently factored in the prices of various products. Consequently, until industry and commerce can access fuel at affordable prices, hyperinflation will continue unabated.
A further major cause of inflation in this country, is government’s fiscal profligacy; the Zanu (PF) government is clearly unable/unwilling (or both) to live within its means. This is clearly demonstrated by the relentless increase in the budget deficits –a major source of inflationary pressures in this country. A more disturbing development is that these deficits are mainly financed by printing money, a major proportion of which goes in search of foreign exchange from the parallel market resulting in pressure on rates and the scarcity premiums there.
Finally, the quasi-fiscal activities of the central bank Governor are yet another major contributor to inflation in the country. The Governor continues to behave like a Prime Minister, dishing out printed worthless money across all sectors of the economy especially loss-making state-owned enterprises. The Governor needs to be reminded that the generally accepted view is that successful central bankers should be seen neither as heroes nor villains, but simply as competent referees, allowing the game to flow. – Hove is the MDC Secretary for Economic Affairs
City blames Zinwa
HARARE - In a move laden with hypocrisy, the City of Harare has released a damning report lambasting the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) for failing to provide clean water.
Ironically, the report by the illegally constituted commission-run municipality, comes barely six months after the parastatal took over water supplies for what they allege as: “… mainly because of the need to improve service delivery, which had deteriorated to unsustainable levels” said Zinwa’s weekly ‘What you should know column’ in the local media.
The report by the works department produced in December alleges that the water supplied by Zinwa continues: “to fail to meet the WHO (1993) guidelines and SAZ (1997) standards”.
The report adds: “Free residual chlorine is constantly low in the drinking water, viable counts (TVC) of bacteria and coniforms continue to be present in the drinking water. Toxin-producing blue-green algae is consistently present in the drinking water”.
The continued war of words by the two institutions comes after they have all failed to provide clean water to Harare metropolitan province. Harare supplies water to Norton, Ruwa and Chitungwiza among other cities.
The politically-motivated takeover of water supplies by Zinwa in May, raised questions at the parastetal’s capabilities to effectively manage the distribution of water. However, Zinwa has hit back saying the water treatment for Harare needs an ‘overhaul’ as it has become aged before they took over.
Perennial water problems have engulfed the city as the government-appointed commission bungled water treatment chemical tenders and unprofessional conduct to council business.
Recently, there was a dysentery outbreak in the province caused by the consumption of unsafe drinking water resulting in the loss of lives while many households went for weeks without water. – CAJ News
Teaching and Learning for HIV Prevention
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
1200 teachers mobilized to prevent child abuse and support gender-sensitive lifeskills
HARARE - In the wake of increasing reported cases on child abuse and the growing vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Ministries of Education, Sport and Culture and Higher and Tertiary Education, with an NGO the Flemish Office for Development Co-operation (VVOB) have embarked on a four year in-service life skills education and gender training programme for all teachers across the country.
The programme, which began with a five day training of more than 1200 teachers from 18 districts, was launched in the capital this week. The project will then be scaled up nationally.
"Teachers are the pillars of the education system and key change agents in Zimbabwean communities," said UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Festo Kavishe. "Through this programme we want to assist teachers to be more effective facilitators of life skills learning, promote children’s ability to say ‘no’, prevent and detect child abuse, know how to seek action, and to counsel children in need of care and support."
This in-service training programme, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, will equip the teachers with skills to assist pupils in real life situations. The training will be in:
Learner-centred Lifeskills methodology – Teachers will strengthen their skills in using participatory methods to equip children with confidence-building, self-awareness, assertiveness, coping with one’s emotions, interpersonal communication, negotiation, decision-making and problem solving skills. These skills are critical for life in a world with HIV and AIDS.
Counseling - Teachers will receive basic counseling skills, so as to help pupils with the various emotional and social challenges they encounter.
Child Abuse prevention – Awareness creation of children's rights and how and where to seek action when these are violated.
Gender - teachers are being taught how to recognize gender sensitive situations in the classroom and how to deal with them to promote gender equity and empowerment of boys and girls in schools and communities.
While there is an existing national curriculum on HIV/AIDS, programme audits and field monitoring reports reveal that HIV/AIDS education is not being effectively taught in schools. In part this is due to the intergenerational communication barriers on sex and sex-related issues between teachers and their pupils. This is also because the school curriculum is over-loaded and teachers lack the necessary resource materials, motivation and supervision to deliver. This programme aims to remove these barriers to create a generation of well informed and balanced pupils.
This integrated life skills education and gender training programme aims to empower children to protect themselves most importantly from abuse. The AIDS epidemic and resulting orphan and economic crisis in Zimbabwe has made many children vulnerable to abuse. Despite a public outcry against child sexual abuse, a child friendly judiciary system, reported cases continue to rise. Anecdotal evidence from local NGO’s and clinics around the capital also show that there is a sharp increase in abuse. Last year alone, a local NGO recorded an average of 11 cases of sexual abuse in its area of operation every single day. School and community-based support systems remain weak.
"In these trying times, there is a growing need to make use of those people we have around us," said UNICEF’s Dr Kavishe. "Obviously parents must continue to be the front line in their children’s protection, but teachers are highly respected and spend significant amounts of time daily influencing behavoiur formation and development among children. This training gives teachers the know-how to play that role. Every community must continue to support and now ensure teachers have the respect and support they deserve."- www.kubatana.net
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
1200 teachers mobilized to prevent child abuse and support gender-sensitive lifeskills
HARARE - In the wake of increasing reported cases on child abuse and the growing vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Ministries of Education, Sport and Culture and Higher and Tertiary Education, with an NGO the Flemish Office for Development Co-operation (VVOB) have embarked on a four year in-service life skills education and gender training programme for all teachers across the country.
The programme, which began with a five day training of more than 1200 teachers from 18 districts, was launched in the capital this week. The project will then be scaled up nationally.
"Teachers are the pillars of the education system and key change agents in Zimbabwean communities," said UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Festo Kavishe. "Through this programme we want to assist teachers to be more effective facilitators of life skills learning, promote children’s ability to say ‘no’, prevent and detect child abuse, know how to seek action, and to counsel children in need of care and support."
This in-service training programme, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, will equip the teachers with skills to assist pupils in real life situations. The training will be in:
Learner-centred Lifeskills methodology – Teachers will strengthen their skills in using participatory methods to equip children with confidence-building, self-awareness, assertiveness, coping with one’s emotions, interpersonal communication, negotiation, decision-making and problem solving skills. These skills are critical for life in a world with HIV and AIDS.
Counseling - Teachers will receive basic counseling skills, so as to help pupils with the various emotional and social challenges they encounter.
Child Abuse prevention – Awareness creation of children's rights and how and where to seek action when these are violated.
Gender - teachers are being taught how to recognize gender sensitive situations in the classroom and how to deal with them to promote gender equity and empowerment of boys and girls in schools and communities.
While there is an existing national curriculum on HIV/AIDS, programme audits and field monitoring reports reveal that HIV/AIDS education is not being effectively taught in schools. In part this is due to the intergenerational communication barriers on sex and sex-related issues between teachers and their pupils. This is also because the school curriculum is over-loaded and teachers lack the necessary resource materials, motivation and supervision to deliver. This programme aims to remove these barriers to create a generation of well informed and balanced pupils.
This integrated life skills education and gender training programme aims to empower children to protect themselves most importantly from abuse. The AIDS epidemic and resulting orphan and economic crisis in Zimbabwe has made many children vulnerable to abuse. Despite a public outcry against child sexual abuse, a child friendly judiciary system, reported cases continue to rise. Anecdotal evidence from local NGO’s and clinics around the capital also show that there is a sharp increase in abuse. Last year alone, a local NGO recorded an average of 11 cases of sexual abuse in its area of operation every single day. School and community-based support systems remain weak.
"In these trying times, there is a growing need to make use of those people we have around us," said UNICEF’s Dr Kavishe. "Obviously parents must continue to be the front line in their children’s protection, but teachers are highly respected and spend significant amounts of time daily influencing behavoiur formation and development among children. This training gives teachers the know-how to play that role. Every community must continue to support and now ensure teachers have the respect and support they deserve."- www.kubatana.net
South African News
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
SA NGOs call for travel ban on Mugabe
JOHANNESBURG – The South African community has called on President Thabo Mbeki to put a travel ban on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his ministers following the deportation of a coalition of the South African Youth Solidarity Forum.
The South African youths from various national bodies were deported upon arrival at the Harare International Airport on Wednesday last week.
Among other deported youth leaders comprise Young Communist League (YCL) National Secretary-General, Buti Manamela, South African Students Council Provincial Secretary for North West, Mothusi Tsineg, SA Youth Council executive official Nduluza Gceba, Young Christian Students Secretary-General, Bheki Mcetywa, Students Union for Christian Action, Thoko Ntone and Lucian Segami of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum.
Addressing journalists on Thursday at COSATU House, Manamela, said the nation now want President Mbeki to effect a ban on the “increasingly unreliable Zimbabwean government”.
During the meeting, several South African NGOs Coalition (SANGOCCO), COSATU, The South Africa Communist Party (SACP), South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) and several other civic organisations were represented.
The organisations at the press conference called with one voice urging the African National Congress (ANC) and President Mbeki to put a travel ban on Mugabe and his ministers following the deportation on Wednesday.
The deportation came hard on the heels of an attempt by the ZSF delegation to visit Zimbabwe in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
Mothusi Tsineng of the South Africa Students Congress, North West Provincial Secretary, castigated this move by the government of Zimbabwe saying that the rule of law had now become a non-existent feature.
“The rule of law is not respected in Zimbabwe, and our passports were scratched by the CIO officers who were at the airport. The manner in which people are picketing in Zimbabwe shows that all is not well in the country,” said Tsineng.
There are reports that the deported delegation noticed the presence of CIO officers in the plane that was taking them to Zimbabwe.
“The CIO must operate and carry out its activities on Zimbabwean soil. It is not proper that they should be seen invading the South African territory to come and do their intelligence activities here,” said Buti Manamela, the Secretary General of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP) Youth League wing.
He said it was ironic that their own government did not subject them to such surveillance and it was saddening and alarming that they were now under the surveillance of a foreign intelligence organisation.
The decision to deport the delegation was indicative of the increasingly repressive and dogmatic attitude of the Zanu (PF) government.
The visit by the ZSF was made with the intention of making interpretations of the current socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe, meet with the government, the ruling party, civil society and the opposition to gain a wide understanding of the present political situation in Zimbabwe.
The visit by the ZSF was also an attempt to gain first hand insights into the impact of the wave of the displacements associated with Operation Murambatsvina.
Manamela pointed out that prior to this visit they had spoken extensively to the Ministry of Youth Development and Minister Savious Kasukuwere in particular and had also informed the Zimbabwean Ambassador Simon Khaya-Moyo.
“It is this kind of repression that contributes to the migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa. Without lasting solutions the crisis in Zimbabwe will continue to directly affect us here,” said the Secretary General of SACP.
The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum is a network of progressive South African civil society organisations, including youth, women, labour, faith-based, human rights and student formations engaged in the promotion of solidarity for sustainable peace, democracy, and human rights in Zimbabwe. - CAJ News
Pressure mounts on Mbeki
JOHANNESBURG – Pressure is mounting on President Thabo Mbeki to take action against his Zimbabwean counterpart following the arrest and assault of trade union leaders last week.
The latest call comes from the Young Communist League (YCL), which was kicked out of SA's northern neighbour last week.
"We reiterate our call for speedy intervention by our government, the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. Our country is going to be the one that suffers most economically as continued poverty in that country leads to ordinary Zimbabweans fleeing here for better jobs and food," YCL national secretary Buti Manamela said.
About 2000 Zimbabweans are deported from SA every week, but many are known to come back soon thereafter because of the poor conditions in their country.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, has been challenged to intervene on the persecution of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) officials and worsening violations of human rights in Zimbabwe.
Mdladlana is also current chairperson of the International Labour Organisation, and there has been rising concerns of the recent arrest, assaults and detention labour leaders.
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) called for the South African government to end its policy of quiet diplomacy and take a firm stance.
“Politics and political control is one thing, but human rights violation is completely another,” said Dennis George, General Secretary of FEDUSA.
“For too long we have let Zimbabwe be overlooked by the international community, the time has come to say this is no longer a matter of internal strife, it is a human rights issue.” - CAJ News
Gender and media awards
JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabweans proved that sexual discrimination in media reporting is not on the agenda, as they scooped four awards in a recent Gender and Media summit in South Africa. The awards were tightly contested with 187 entries in 12 categories from 12 different countries.
Virginia Muwanigwa, Phyllis Kachere, Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tsitsi Dangarembga all won awards which included a cash prize of R3,000 and an opportunity to speak at the summit.
Muwanigwa scooped the award for best print news and Kachere won her prize for her reporting on forced marriages of young girls. Dangaremba won the features award in the television category with her documentary Growing Stronger filmed and produced by an all female crew. Mukwazhi grabbed his award in the photography category.
Thomas Deve, the chairperson of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) said: “The fact that Zimbabweans won several awards, demonstrates improved consciousness on gender mainstreaming in the media. Mukwazhi was among the three males recognised for their gender sensitive coverage of events in a clear demonstration that gender issues can be addressed eloquently and professionally by both men and women.” - KJW
10 die in Jozi blaze
HILLBROW - Four bodies of Zimbabweans, who died during a blaze in Johannesburg, are still lying cold and stiff, in a mortuary here, as family members battle to raise money for the funeral.
The four members of the same family perished when their Yeoville home was burnt down on Thursday night, killing 10 people.
The deceased’s relatives made a passionate plea to fellow Zimbabweans to donate cash to foot the transport costs of the bodies to Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Murindi, a cousin of the deceased said they needed R28 000 to take bodies of their dearly departed to their final resting place in Bikita in Masvingo province.
“We only managed to raise R2 500 and each body needs R7 000,” said a visibly shaken Murindi, who travelled from Zimbabwe over the weekend to collect the bodies.
The four were identified by Murindi as Helman Pauguti (30), Paguti’s wife Marvis Moyo (28), their five months old Truly and Patricia Machenjere (19).
Police spokesperson, Captain Schalk Bornman, said they were investigating the cause the fire.
Well-wishers who want to assist the family in this hour of need can contact David Magodho on 078 2075 892 or Norman Machenjere on 0838705023.
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Refugees Forum (ZRF) Tawanda Mswazie, who arrived at the scene of the inferno on Friday morning, expressed disappointment over the late arrival of the Johannesburg Emergency Services.
“The police were notified of the burning house by neighbours at 1130 pm, but only arrived at 4 am, despite of the fact that Yeoville police station is only 40m away from the house,” said Mswazie.
Mswazie added that it was sad that Zimbabweans were dying in South Africa like rats, simply because the Zanu (PF) regime was making it difficult for them to settle in their own country. - Sibanengi Dube
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
SA NGOs call for travel ban on Mugabe
JOHANNESBURG – The South African community has called on President Thabo Mbeki to put a travel ban on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his ministers following the deportation of a coalition of the South African Youth Solidarity Forum.
The South African youths from various national bodies were deported upon arrival at the Harare International Airport on Wednesday last week.
Among other deported youth leaders comprise Young Communist League (YCL) National Secretary-General, Buti Manamela, South African Students Council Provincial Secretary for North West, Mothusi Tsineg, SA Youth Council executive official Nduluza Gceba, Young Christian Students Secretary-General, Bheki Mcetywa, Students Union for Christian Action, Thoko Ntone and Lucian Segami of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum.
Addressing journalists on Thursday at COSATU House, Manamela, said the nation now want President Mbeki to effect a ban on the “increasingly unreliable Zimbabwean government”.
During the meeting, several South African NGOs Coalition (SANGOCCO), COSATU, The South Africa Communist Party (SACP), South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) and several other civic organisations were represented.
The organisations at the press conference called with one voice urging the African National Congress (ANC) and President Mbeki to put a travel ban on Mugabe and his ministers following the deportation on Wednesday.
The deportation came hard on the heels of an attempt by the ZSF delegation to visit Zimbabwe in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
Mothusi Tsineng of the South Africa Students Congress, North West Provincial Secretary, castigated this move by the government of Zimbabwe saying that the rule of law had now become a non-existent feature.
“The rule of law is not respected in Zimbabwe, and our passports were scratched by the CIO officers who were at the airport. The manner in which people are picketing in Zimbabwe shows that all is not well in the country,” said Tsineng.
There are reports that the deported delegation noticed the presence of CIO officers in the plane that was taking them to Zimbabwe.
“The CIO must operate and carry out its activities on Zimbabwean soil. It is not proper that they should be seen invading the South African territory to come and do their intelligence activities here,” said Buti Manamela, the Secretary General of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP) Youth League wing.
He said it was ironic that their own government did not subject them to such surveillance and it was saddening and alarming that they were now under the surveillance of a foreign intelligence organisation.
The decision to deport the delegation was indicative of the increasingly repressive and dogmatic attitude of the Zanu (PF) government.
The visit by the ZSF was made with the intention of making interpretations of the current socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe, meet with the government, the ruling party, civil society and the opposition to gain a wide understanding of the present political situation in Zimbabwe.
The visit by the ZSF was also an attempt to gain first hand insights into the impact of the wave of the displacements associated with Operation Murambatsvina.
Manamela pointed out that prior to this visit they had spoken extensively to the Ministry of Youth Development and Minister Savious Kasukuwere in particular and had also informed the Zimbabwean Ambassador Simon Khaya-Moyo.
“It is this kind of repression that contributes to the migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa. Without lasting solutions the crisis in Zimbabwe will continue to directly affect us here,” said the Secretary General of SACP.
The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum is a network of progressive South African civil society organisations, including youth, women, labour, faith-based, human rights and student formations engaged in the promotion of solidarity for sustainable peace, democracy, and human rights in Zimbabwe. - CAJ News
Pressure mounts on Mbeki
JOHANNESBURG – Pressure is mounting on President Thabo Mbeki to take action against his Zimbabwean counterpart following the arrest and assault of trade union leaders last week.
The latest call comes from the Young Communist League (YCL), which was kicked out of SA's northern neighbour last week.
"We reiterate our call for speedy intervention by our government, the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. Our country is going to be the one that suffers most economically as continued poverty in that country leads to ordinary Zimbabweans fleeing here for better jobs and food," YCL national secretary Buti Manamela said.
About 2000 Zimbabweans are deported from SA every week, but many are known to come back soon thereafter because of the poor conditions in their country.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, has been challenged to intervene on the persecution of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) officials and worsening violations of human rights in Zimbabwe.
Mdladlana is also current chairperson of the International Labour Organisation, and there has been rising concerns of the recent arrest, assaults and detention labour leaders.
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) called for the South African government to end its policy of quiet diplomacy and take a firm stance.
“Politics and political control is one thing, but human rights violation is completely another,” said Dennis George, General Secretary of FEDUSA.
“For too long we have let Zimbabwe be overlooked by the international community, the time has come to say this is no longer a matter of internal strife, it is a human rights issue.” - CAJ News
Gender and media awards
JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabweans proved that sexual discrimination in media reporting is not on the agenda, as they scooped four awards in a recent Gender and Media summit in South Africa. The awards were tightly contested with 187 entries in 12 categories from 12 different countries.
Virginia Muwanigwa, Phyllis Kachere, Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tsitsi Dangarembga all won awards which included a cash prize of R3,000 and an opportunity to speak at the summit.
Muwanigwa scooped the award for best print news and Kachere won her prize for her reporting on forced marriages of young girls. Dangaremba won the features award in the television category with her documentary Growing Stronger filmed and produced by an all female crew. Mukwazhi grabbed his award in the photography category.
Thomas Deve, the chairperson of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) said: “The fact that Zimbabweans won several awards, demonstrates improved consciousness on gender mainstreaming in the media. Mukwazhi was among the three males recognised for their gender sensitive coverage of events in a clear demonstration that gender issues can be addressed eloquently and professionally by both men and women.” - KJW
10 die in Jozi blaze
HILLBROW - Four bodies of Zimbabweans, who died during a blaze in Johannesburg, are still lying cold and stiff, in a mortuary here, as family members battle to raise money for the funeral.
The four members of the same family perished when their Yeoville home was burnt down on Thursday night, killing 10 people.
The deceased’s relatives made a passionate plea to fellow Zimbabweans to donate cash to foot the transport costs of the bodies to Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Murindi, a cousin of the deceased said they needed R28 000 to take bodies of their dearly departed to their final resting place in Bikita in Masvingo province.
“We only managed to raise R2 500 and each body needs R7 000,” said a visibly shaken Murindi, who travelled from Zimbabwe over the weekend to collect the bodies.
The four were identified by Murindi as Helman Pauguti (30), Paguti’s wife Marvis Moyo (28), their five months old Truly and Patricia Machenjere (19).
Police spokesperson, Captain Schalk Bornman, said they were investigating the cause the fire.
Well-wishers who want to assist the family in this hour of need can contact David Magodho on 078 2075 892 or Norman Machenjere on 0838705023.
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Refugees Forum (ZRF) Tawanda Mswazie, who arrived at the scene of the inferno on Friday morning, expressed disappointment over the late arrival of the Johannesburg Emergency Services.
“The police were notified of the burning house by neighbours at 1130 pm, but only arrived at 4 am, despite of the fact that Yeoville police station is only 40m away from the house,” said Mswazie.
Mswazie added that it was sad that Zimbabweans were dying in South Africa like rats, simply because the Zanu (PF) regime was making it difficult for them to settle in their own country. - Sibanengi Dube
Ngomakurira: Death Sentence
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Prison is, by definition, a place where people are held. Their freedom is taken away.
Originally it was a way of preventing someone from harming others without actually killing him or her. Gradually prevention moved to punishment and retribution was added to the reasons for seizing someone by force.
But now in many countries there is a third aim – rehabilitation: the desire to help a person reenter normal life with a changed outlook. Great efforts are made to accompany a person in prison with counseling, spiritual care and skills training. We can be thankful that society, at least in its better moments, has moved on to such a noble desire.
But rehabilitation requires resources – human and financial – and Zimbabwe does not spend its money on such services, though the word ‘service’ does appear: ours is officially the ‘Zimbabwe Prison Service.’ That’s a start.
But how does the death sentence fit in to ‘rehabilitation?’ Is it an admission that we have failed on earth and we leave it to heaven to do the rehabilitating? One of the reasons why the death penalty is so distasteful to many societies today is that we sense we have no right to take away the life of another – no matter what the crime.
We may be able to prove in court that this person did this thing but even then there can be room for doubt. In the UK in the 1980s there were unsound convictions for the so-called Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four. There was pressure on state institutions at the time to be seen to be doing something about the IRA ‘terrorists.’ After exhaustive and exhausting campaigns the prisoners were released and their sentences were quashed.
But even if convictions are sound can we really know the motives of a criminal? During the time reviewed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa 2 500 people were hanged; 95% were black and 100% of those who condemned them were white. Is it likely that the judges really understood the motives of those they condemned? One might argue that was an unjust state.
Where then is there a just state? Texas? One of the attractions writers work on in murder stories is how they ‘help us see what we don’t understand.’ (Colin Burrow in LRB, 22 Sept 05). Burrow brings light relief into the search for motives by having an accused explain, ‘This is why I did it: the peptides which control the level of greed in my body were at dangerously low levels, and owing to abnormalities in my hypothalamus my serotonin levels were low. Now do you understand?’
The key reason why taking another’s life can no longer be justified is our growing understanding of human dignity. A human being is just too mysterious to be tampered with. The ‘wonder of my being’ (Psalm 139) is beyond the comprehension of another person.
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Prison is, by definition, a place where people are held. Their freedom is taken away.
Originally it was a way of preventing someone from harming others without actually killing him or her. Gradually prevention moved to punishment and retribution was added to the reasons for seizing someone by force.
But now in many countries there is a third aim – rehabilitation: the desire to help a person reenter normal life with a changed outlook. Great efforts are made to accompany a person in prison with counseling, spiritual care and skills training. We can be thankful that society, at least in its better moments, has moved on to such a noble desire.
But rehabilitation requires resources – human and financial – and Zimbabwe does not spend its money on such services, though the word ‘service’ does appear: ours is officially the ‘Zimbabwe Prison Service.’ That’s a start.
But how does the death sentence fit in to ‘rehabilitation?’ Is it an admission that we have failed on earth and we leave it to heaven to do the rehabilitating? One of the reasons why the death penalty is so distasteful to many societies today is that we sense we have no right to take away the life of another – no matter what the crime.
We may be able to prove in court that this person did this thing but even then there can be room for doubt. In the UK in the 1980s there were unsound convictions for the so-called Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four. There was pressure on state institutions at the time to be seen to be doing something about the IRA ‘terrorists.’ After exhaustive and exhausting campaigns the prisoners were released and their sentences were quashed.
But even if convictions are sound can we really know the motives of a criminal? During the time reviewed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa 2 500 people were hanged; 95% were black and 100% of those who condemned them were white. Is it likely that the judges really understood the motives of those they condemned? One might argue that was an unjust state.
Where then is there a just state? Texas? One of the attractions writers work on in murder stories is how they ‘help us see what we don’t understand.’ (Colin Burrow in LRB, 22 Sept 05). Burrow brings light relief into the search for motives by having an accused explain, ‘This is why I did it: the peptides which control the level of greed in my body were at dangerously low levels, and owing to abnormalities in my hypothalamus my serotonin levels were low. Now do you understand?’
The key reason why taking another’s life can no longer be justified is our growing understanding of human dignity. A human being is just too mysterious to be tampered with. The ‘wonder of my being’ (Psalm 139) is beyond the comprehension of another person.
Travel news from the Lowveld
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Forgotten Lowveld
For the past few weeks we have concentrated the articles on areas around Zimbabwe which we have termed “The forgotten regions”. Hopefully we have managed to sway at least a few people to go out and visit these areas and experience Zimbabwe as a package deal and not just as a one-stop option. Our final forgotten region brings us to the dry, hot Lowveld region of south-eastern Zimbabwe - home to private game farms, sugar-cane plantations and several National Parks.
The Gonarezhou National Park covers an area in excess of 5 000 square kilometers. “Gonarezhou” (meaning “Place of many Elephants”) can rival Hwange National Park, and is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a massive Pan-African Park that includes Mozambique’s Gaza and South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park. This huge area is set to become one of the finest “peace parks” in the world - set up for the benefit of the wildlife, which do not abide by political boundaries and move freely between the three parks. In particular, Kruger’s elephant and eland migrate to Gonarezhou seasonally.
The main feature of this Park is the Chilojo Cliffs. They are one of the most prominent and enduring natural features of Gonarezhou National Park. Chilojo Cliffs are visible from 50 kilometres away. These magnificent red sandstone cliffs have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley. Composed of oxide-rich sandstone, the cliffs are spectacularly colourful at sunset.
Neighboring Gonarezhou is The Malilangwe Private Wildlife Reserve, which is completely non-profit making. It is funded by the Malilangwe Trust, founded by concerned conservationists around the world. The Reserve comprises 105,000 acres of private fenced land, with scouts patrolling the area day and night. Here, not only will one find the big five but also the small six – klipspringer, Sharpe’s grysbok, grey duiker, steenbok, Livingstone’s suni and oribi. This combination of small antelope is unique and has not been recorded together anywhere else in Africa.
Located within this private reserve are two of Africa’s most exquisite safari lodges – Pamushana Lodge (a member of RELAIS & CHATEAUX) and Nduna Lodge. Pamushana Lodge is perched on top of an escarpment with spectacular panoramic views whilst the delightful and rustic Nduna Safari Lodge is a lakeside lodge offering uninterrupted views of the luscious surrounding bush and spectacular rock formations.
Venues4africa.com has several magnificent accommodation options available on its database to enable you to go out and explore this “forgotten region”. Contact the team on info@venues4africa.com or www.venues4africa.com.
“RIVER LODGES OF AFRICA”
“River Lodges of Africa” incorporates three Safari Lodges in South Eastern Zimbabwe: Chilo Gorge, Senuko Safari Lodge and Mahenye are adjacent to Gonarezhou National Park. Chilo and Mahenye are CAMPFIRE projects; this is an innovative approach to conservation at village level, which seeks to empower local people to manage their natural resources in a sustainable way, and to use revenue derived from this to the benefit of the community.
CHILO GORGE Safari Lodge.
This elegant 28-bed lodge provides dramatic views of the river and adjacent Gonarezhou National Park, from each room Each lodge has glass doors that open onto a private balcony, and each room is equipped with mini-bar, overhead fan, separate en-suite facilities, telephone and safe box.
MAHENYE Safari Lodge.
This Safari Lodge offers an intimate experience of a magnificent wilderness. Each of the eight rooms provides private views of the river, local designs and materials such as woven reed walling have been used to great effect. Each room is equipped with an overhead fan and cool box for drinks, and en-suite facilities.
SENUKO Safari Lodge.
Situated on a granite hilltop providing a stunning base from which to explore the Save Valley Conservancy. Senuko’s rooms and facilities at the lodge are open-plan, bright and airy. Sixteen guests are accommodated in eight chalets, the front of the chalets are open-fronted with roll down canvas screens. Each chalet has two four-poster double beds in each, with a mini bar, overhead fan, writing desk and en-suite facilities.
The Lowveld Special
Zimbabwe Residents - Z$28 000.00 per person per night full board. Excludes activities, drinks, National Parks fees and extras.
Non Residents - U$120.00 per person per night full board and activities. Excludes drinks and National Parks fees. - Contact – venues@zol.co.zw
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Forgotten Lowveld
For the past few weeks we have concentrated the articles on areas around Zimbabwe which we have termed “The forgotten regions”. Hopefully we have managed to sway at least a few people to go out and visit these areas and experience Zimbabwe as a package deal and not just as a one-stop option. Our final forgotten region brings us to the dry, hot Lowveld region of south-eastern Zimbabwe - home to private game farms, sugar-cane plantations and several National Parks.
The Gonarezhou National Park covers an area in excess of 5 000 square kilometers. “Gonarezhou” (meaning “Place of many Elephants”) can rival Hwange National Park, and is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a massive Pan-African Park that includes Mozambique’s Gaza and South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park. This huge area is set to become one of the finest “peace parks” in the world - set up for the benefit of the wildlife, which do not abide by political boundaries and move freely between the three parks. In particular, Kruger’s elephant and eland migrate to Gonarezhou seasonally.
The main feature of this Park is the Chilojo Cliffs. They are one of the most prominent and enduring natural features of Gonarezhou National Park. Chilojo Cliffs are visible from 50 kilometres away. These magnificent red sandstone cliffs have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley. Composed of oxide-rich sandstone, the cliffs are spectacularly colourful at sunset.
Neighboring Gonarezhou is The Malilangwe Private Wildlife Reserve, which is completely non-profit making. It is funded by the Malilangwe Trust, founded by concerned conservationists around the world. The Reserve comprises 105,000 acres of private fenced land, with scouts patrolling the area day and night. Here, not only will one find the big five but also the small six – klipspringer, Sharpe’s grysbok, grey duiker, steenbok, Livingstone’s suni and oribi. This combination of small antelope is unique and has not been recorded together anywhere else in Africa.
Located within this private reserve are two of Africa’s most exquisite safari lodges – Pamushana Lodge (a member of RELAIS & CHATEAUX) and Nduna Lodge. Pamushana Lodge is perched on top of an escarpment with spectacular panoramic views whilst the delightful and rustic Nduna Safari Lodge is a lakeside lodge offering uninterrupted views of the luscious surrounding bush and spectacular rock formations.
Venues4africa.com has several magnificent accommodation options available on its database to enable you to go out and explore this “forgotten region”. Contact the team on info@venues4africa.com or www.venues4africa.com.
“RIVER LODGES OF AFRICA”
“River Lodges of Africa” incorporates three Safari Lodges in South Eastern Zimbabwe: Chilo Gorge, Senuko Safari Lodge and Mahenye are adjacent to Gonarezhou National Park. Chilo and Mahenye are CAMPFIRE projects; this is an innovative approach to conservation at village level, which seeks to empower local people to manage their natural resources in a sustainable way, and to use revenue derived from this to the benefit of the community.
CHILO GORGE Safari Lodge.
This elegant 28-bed lodge provides dramatic views of the river and adjacent Gonarezhou National Park, from each room Each lodge has glass doors that open onto a private balcony, and each room is equipped with mini-bar, overhead fan, separate en-suite facilities, telephone and safe box.
MAHENYE Safari Lodge.
This Safari Lodge offers an intimate experience of a magnificent wilderness. Each of the eight rooms provides private views of the river, local designs and materials such as woven reed walling have been used to great effect. Each room is equipped with an overhead fan and cool box for drinks, and en-suite facilities.
SENUKO Safari Lodge.
Situated on a granite hilltop providing a stunning base from which to explore the Save Valley Conservancy. Senuko’s rooms and facilities at the lodge are open-plan, bright and airy. Sixteen guests are accommodated in eight chalets, the front of the chalets are open-fronted with roll down canvas screens. Each chalet has two four-poster double beds in each, with a mini bar, overhead fan, writing desk and en-suite facilities.
The Lowveld Special
Zimbabwe Residents - Z$28 000.00 per person per night full board. Excludes activities, drinks, National Parks fees and extras.
Non Residents - U$120.00 per person per night full board and activities. Excludes drinks and National Parks fees. - Contact – venues@zol.co.zw
Innovative and magical Shakespeare
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
HARARE - Over The Edge once again turn their extraordinary creative talents to Shakespeare, bringing us an innovative and magical Much Ado About Nothing. Over The Edge are famous for adding their distinctive African edge to Shakespeare while maintaining the classical integrity of his text. The dynamic company has a reputation for creating inspiring and technically excellent work while always providing their audience with an exhilarating night out. This captivating comedy, directed by Zane E. Lucas, runs at the Harare International School from 25 - 30 September and is scheduled for the UK and Germany next March.
Much Ado About Nothing is an endearing and enduring comedy about love and gossip. It’s frivolous gaiety makes it one of the most accessible Shakespeare’s and brings us some of his best-loved characters. Many people will remember the movie with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Brannagh: expect something completely different, and just as entertaining... With the use of masks and ingenious set design the six-strong cast bring the multitude of characters to life. Placed in dry, dusty Messina - on the border of Zimbabwe and South Africa - this interpretation has a southern African flavour.
The story unfolds as Prince Don Pedro of Aragon returning victorious from a battle against his brother, visits his old friend Leonato. Claudio, the Prince’s right-hand man, falls in love with Leonato’s daughter Hero. When his good friend Benedick scorns marriage, Don Pedro and Claudio hatch a plot to make the obdurate Benedick and an equally feisty Beatrice, Hero’s cousin, fall in love. Don Pedro’s villainous brother plots to impede the merriment, and the comedy ensues; with mistaken identities, overheard rumours, reputations at stake and conspiratorial lies taken as truth - which in the end all amount to Much Ado About Nothing.
Harare audiences will see some of their favourite O.T.E actors in this production: Craig Peter, Kevin Hanssen and Zane E. Lucas; and the company is delighted to include in the cast Jason Mphepo, Erica Glyn–Jones, and introducing the talented Rumbidzai Machingura from the Theory X drama school in her Shakespearian debut. Outstanding designers Heeten Bhagat, Funki and Carine Tredgold complete the team, creating the unforgettable costumes, masks and set respectively. - Harare International School, 66 Pendennis Rd, Mt Pleasant, 26 - 30 September, Preview 25 September. 19h00, $800.00; pensioners and students half price. Contact: Craig Peter 091 314 552, Gift Marovatsanga 091 854 790
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
HARARE - Over The Edge once again turn their extraordinary creative talents to Shakespeare, bringing us an innovative and magical Much Ado About Nothing. Over The Edge are famous for adding their distinctive African edge to Shakespeare while maintaining the classical integrity of his text. The dynamic company has a reputation for creating inspiring and technically excellent work while always providing their audience with an exhilarating night out. This captivating comedy, directed by Zane E. Lucas, runs at the Harare International School from 25 - 30 September and is scheduled for the UK and Germany next March.
Much Ado About Nothing is an endearing and enduring comedy about love and gossip. It’s frivolous gaiety makes it one of the most accessible Shakespeare’s and brings us some of his best-loved characters. Many people will remember the movie with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Brannagh: expect something completely different, and just as entertaining... With the use of masks and ingenious set design the six-strong cast bring the multitude of characters to life. Placed in dry, dusty Messina - on the border of Zimbabwe and South Africa - this interpretation has a southern African flavour.
The story unfolds as Prince Don Pedro of Aragon returning victorious from a battle against his brother, visits his old friend Leonato. Claudio, the Prince’s right-hand man, falls in love with Leonato’s daughter Hero. When his good friend Benedick scorns marriage, Don Pedro and Claudio hatch a plot to make the obdurate Benedick and an equally feisty Beatrice, Hero’s cousin, fall in love. Don Pedro’s villainous brother plots to impede the merriment, and the comedy ensues; with mistaken identities, overheard rumours, reputations at stake and conspiratorial lies taken as truth - which in the end all amount to Much Ado About Nothing.
Harare audiences will see some of their favourite O.T.E actors in this production: Craig Peter, Kevin Hanssen and Zane E. Lucas; and the company is delighted to include in the cast Jason Mphepo, Erica Glyn–Jones, and introducing the talented Rumbidzai Machingura from the Theory X drama school in her Shakespearian debut. Outstanding designers Heeten Bhagat, Funki and Carine Tredgold complete the team, creating the unforgettable costumes, masks and set respectively. - Harare International School, 66 Pendennis Rd, Mt Pleasant, 26 - 30 September, Preview 25 September. 19h00, $800.00; pensioners and students half price. Contact: Craig Peter 091 314 552, Gift Marovatsanga 091 854 790
Zimbabwean Sports
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Vermeulen banned
LONDON - Former Zimbabwean test cricketer Mark Vermeulen has been banned from cricket in England after allegedly throwing a ball at a fan in a recent Lancashire club match.
Footage taken by the BBC shows Vermeulen being restrained after he lost his temper with a fan who had heckled him during a cricket match. It was believed that he had returned to Zimbabwe after the incident however this is not the case and he now faces a disciplinary hearing in England on his actions.
Vermeulen’s lawyer told the BBC “Mark is devastated to find himself in this position and understands that his behaviour at the match in question was far from acceptable. Naturally he wishes to offer his heartfelt apologies not just to those who witnessed the incident, but to the league and his team-mates.”
Vermeulen is no stranger to drama on the field, he was banned from schools cricket in Zimbabwe in 1996 after knocking out his stumps when he disagreed with an “out” decision given by the umpire. – KJW
Zambia .......... (3) 14 Zimbabwe......... (7) 10
ZIMBABWE’S flirtation the Africa Cup Rugby tournament ended in disappointment in Lusaka on Saturday when the Sables surrendered a first to fall to a shock defeat by Zambia.
The Sables, who are still to win the Africa Cup, bowed out of this year’s competition without a win after playing a 22-22 draw against surprise packages Madagascar at Harstfield ground in Bulawayo last month.
Zimbabwe’s defeat in Lusaka also meant the Sables finished bottom of the three-team group while Madagascar, who beat the Zambians in Antananarivo, emerged the winners and will now proceed to the second round of the competition.
According to reports from Lusaka, Zambia took an early lead when Noble Chisanga scored a drop kick five minutes into the game taking a 3-0 lead.
Zimbabwe replied with a penalty try after Zambia skipper Musonda Kaminsa fouled Zimbabwe wing Lloyd Marwati and Happison Nyatanga made no mistake from the resultant kick.
That conversion thrust the Sables into a 7-3, which they hung onto until the break.
But after both sides missed valuable kicks in the opening half in which Zambia’s Kaminsa and Zimbabwe’s Paul Staak were the main culprits, the hosts brought the scoreline to 7-6 through a Chisanga penalty.
Staak then made it 10-6 with another penalty conversion but Zambia were kept in the picture by Kaminsa’s drop-kick, which made it 10-9.
Staak’s penalty was to be the last time that Zimbabwe registered points on the scoreboard as the hosts seized the initiative.
It was Kaminsa who again returned to haunt the Sables when he killed off the match after planting Zambia’s only try in the dying stages of the game.
Kaminsa benefited from Tom Chalobi’s pass after the latter had produced a good run deep into the Sables territory.
Although Kaminsa failed to convert, his try assured the Zambians of a consolation victory, which also helped them to avoid the Group’s wooden spoon.
Zambia technical advisor, South African Dumisani Mhani told the media in Zambia that although they had won the game, the Sables had given his charges a tough time all afternoon.
Mhani said he would not read much into the group standings as his goal was to build a strong side that would blend youth and experience.
Sables mentor Chris Lampard could not be reached for comment yesterday as he was understood to be still on his way from Lusaka after leaving the Zambian capital late in the day.
Zimbabwe’s failure to register a win in this year’s competition highlights the Sables’ free fall as the senior team now resemble a caricature of the senior side that lost to old enemies Namibia in the 2004 final.
Meanwhile, Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Under-21 sides fought a low-scoring 3-3 battle that preceded their seniors’ match.
Warriors booted out of Cosafa Castle Cup
HARARE - Zimbabwe's Warriors were booted out of the Cosafa Castle Cup after narrowly losing 2-1 to Angola in a closely fought semi-final tie at the National Sports Stadium in Harare at the weekend.
Zimbabwe used a largely developmental side but they found the going tough against the more experienced Angolans. The Angolans will now travel to Lusaka for the final against Zambia.
The Warriors dominated play but were let down by lack of penetration inside the Angola box. The visitors were the first to settle down and scored in the first half through midfielder, Gazeta who took advantage of some terrible defending by Zimbabwe to slot home past goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube.
There was nothing he could have done as he was left all alone to face the Angolan man.
But Zimbabwe were not intimidated and came back a rejuvinated side in the second half. They grabbed the equaliser through hard working midfielder, Francis Chandida.
The talented midfielder responded faster than everyone in the box to level the scores.
But Zimbabwe were to lose towards the end of the match when goalkeeper Dube made a blunder which resulted in Angola's goal.
The Masvingo United goalminder unnecessarily rushed out of his goal area and striker Lebo was on hand to place a header in an empty net. - ZimOnline
Greg Lamb man of the match
LONDON - Greg Lamb, 26-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder, emerged as an unlikely man-of-the-match as Hampshire kept alive their promotion hopes in the Pro40 League with a dramatic five-run win over Yorkshire at Headingley.
Recalled by Hampshire and playing for a new contract, Harare-born Lamb top-scored with 64 in Hampshire’s 220-9.
Then, the sixth bowler used with Shane Warne ruled out by injury, the off-spinner took two wickets in a tense last over to finish with 4-38 as Yorkshire collapsed from 201-5 to 215 all out.
Hampshire will now host Glamorgan on Sunday in English cricket's first-ever play-off to decide who joins already promoted Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in Division 1 next season.
Ex-Zimbabwe star Andy Flower scored 81 as Essex, the new Division 1 champions, recovered from 12-3 to total 201-8 at Durham. But Essex lost by six wickets, with Durham relegated along with Middlesex. – John Hughes
Adebayor strike sinks Unite
LONDON - An 85th-minute goal by Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsenal their first Premier League win of the season as Manchester United's 100 per cent record was ended by a 1-0 home defeat watched by a crowd of 75,59. Didier Drogba scored the only goal as Chelsea, the champions, won 1-0 at home to Liverpool, but Michael Ballack, Chelsea's new German midfield ace, faces a three-match ban after being red-carded for the first time in his career.
Congo star Lomana LuaLua clinched table-topping Portsmouth's 1-0 win at Charlton and new Nigerian signing Obafemi Martins scored his first Newcastle goal in a 2-0 scoreline at West Ham. South Africa's Benni McCarthy was among the Blackburn scorers in a 4-2 home win over Manchester City, while Austria midfielder Paul Scharner twice equalised for Wigan in a 2-2 draw at high-flying Everton.
In Scotland, leaders Celtic laboured to a 1-0 home win over Dunfermline. But Rangers slipped up 2-1 at Hibernian where Chris Killen struck twice before being sent off just before the final whistle.
* This weekend, newly-promoted Reading, who lie in sixth place, host Manchester United on Sunday. The day before, Celtic are at home to Rangers in the big Glasgow derby. – John Hughes
SA coach wants limit on foreign players
JOHANNESBURG - Carlos Alberto Parreira, the recently appointed South African national soccer team coach, wants the number of foreign players in that country’s top flight league reduced to three per club.
Current rules allow five foreign players to be fielded at the same time. If Parreira’s recommendation is taken on board by the South African Football Association (SAFA) it will spell doom for the multitude of Zimbabwean players who ply their trade in that country.
At least 20 top Zimbabwe players, including eight national team members, have established themselves in the PSL and some have over the years won numerous accolades, including PSL player of the year and top goal scorer of the year awards. Countless more play in lower divisions.
South Africa are hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Parreira wants the PSL to be flooded with local talent, a strategy he hopes will help him by having a big player base to choose from. Worringly that country’s football players union has thrown its weight behind Parreira’s efforts to reduce the number of foreign players in the Premier Soccer League.
The problem with this is that many Zimbabwean players will be affected if this quota system is introduced. Football authorities are expected to call for an indaba to discuss this controversial topic. - Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
Mutasa an ‘asset’ in Qatar
JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe’s international under-20 acrobatic goalkeeper, Kundai “Chief” Mutasa (19), who signed a three year contract at A1 Rayyan Football Club in Qatar last month, has been described by the club technical department as an “essential assert”.
Qatar officials are even contemplating offering the former CAPS United junior and Eastern Highlands Academy player Qatar citizenship with a view to having him play for their national soccer squad.
Mutasa gets a monthly salary of US$12 000, US$3000 winning bonuses, US$500 allowances, US$150 medical, accommodation and own transport.
Before being snatched by A1 Rayyan FC in Qatar, Mutasa briefly trained with Wits University Football Club in Johannesburg but the club asked for “too much papers”, a move that forced Mutasa to leave the club as he felt the South African soccer side was xenophobic.
Mutasa, who in the off-season was included in the squad that toured Europe and played in the East Europe Tournament before rubbing shoulders with big names in the six tournament tournament that featured Real Madrid (with David Beckham), Barcelona, Valencia, Sagan from Japan, Perak from Indonesia and Pohang Steelers from South Korea. -CAJ News
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Vermeulen banned
LONDON - Former Zimbabwean test cricketer Mark Vermeulen has been banned from cricket in England after allegedly throwing a ball at a fan in a recent Lancashire club match.
Footage taken by the BBC shows Vermeulen being restrained after he lost his temper with a fan who had heckled him during a cricket match. It was believed that he had returned to Zimbabwe after the incident however this is not the case and he now faces a disciplinary hearing in England on his actions.
Vermeulen’s lawyer told the BBC “Mark is devastated to find himself in this position and understands that his behaviour at the match in question was far from acceptable. Naturally he wishes to offer his heartfelt apologies not just to those who witnessed the incident, but to the league and his team-mates.”
Vermeulen is no stranger to drama on the field, he was banned from schools cricket in Zimbabwe in 1996 after knocking out his stumps when he disagreed with an “out” decision given by the umpire. – KJW
Zambia .......... (3) 14 Zimbabwe......... (7) 10
ZIMBABWE’S flirtation the Africa Cup Rugby tournament ended in disappointment in Lusaka on Saturday when the Sables surrendered a first to fall to a shock defeat by Zambia.
The Sables, who are still to win the Africa Cup, bowed out of this year’s competition without a win after playing a 22-22 draw against surprise packages Madagascar at Harstfield ground in Bulawayo last month.
Zimbabwe’s defeat in Lusaka also meant the Sables finished bottom of the three-team group while Madagascar, who beat the Zambians in Antananarivo, emerged the winners and will now proceed to the second round of the competition.
According to reports from Lusaka, Zambia took an early lead when Noble Chisanga scored a drop kick five minutes into the game taking a 3-0 lead.
Zimbabwe replied with a penalty try after Zambia skipper Musonda Kaminsa fouled Zimbabwe wing Lloyd Marwati and Happison Nyatanga made no mistake from the resultant kick.
That conversion thrust the Sables into a 7-3, which they hung onto until the break.
But after both sides missed valuable kicks in the opening half in which Zambia’s Kaminsa and Zimbabwe’s Paul Staak were the main culprits, the hosts brought the scoreline to 7-6 through a Chisanga penalty.
Staak then made it 10-6 with another penalty conversion but Zambia were kept in the picture by Kaminsa’s drop-kick, which made it 10-9.
Staak’s penalty was to be the last time that Zimbabwe registered points on the scoreboard as the hosts seized the initiative.
It was Kaminsa who again returned to haunt the Sables when he killed off the match after planting Zambia’s only try in the dying stages of the game.
Kaminsa benefited from Tom Chalobi’s pass after the latter had produced a good run deep into the Sables territory.
Although Kaminsa failed to convert, his try assured the Zambians of a consolation victory, which also helped them to avoid the Group’s wooden spoon.
Zambia technical advisor, South African Dumisani Mhani told the media in Zambia that although they had won the game, the Sables had given his charges a tough time all afternoon.
Mhani said he would not read much into the group standings as his goal was to build a strong side that would blend youth and experience.
Sables mentor Chris Lampard could not be reached for comment yesterday as he was understood to be still on his way from Lusaka after leaving the Zambian capital late in the day.
Zimbabwe’s failure to register a win in this year’s competition highlights the Sables’ free fall as the senior team now resemble a caricature of the senior side that lost to old enemies Namibia in the 2004 final.
Meanwhile, Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Under-21 sides fought a low-scoring 3-3 battle that preceded their seniors’ match.
Warriors booted out of Cosafa Castle Cup
HARARE - Zimbabwe's Warriors were booted out of the Cosafa Castle Cup after narrowly losing 2-1 to Angola in a closely fought semi-final tie at the National Sports Stadium in Harare at the weekend.
Zimbabwe used a largely developmental side but they found the going tough against the more experienced Angolans. The Angolans will now travel to Lusaka for the final against Zambia.
The Warriors dominated play but were let down by lack of penetration inside the Angola box. The visitors were the first to settle down and scored in the first half through midfielder, Gazeta who took advantage of some terrible defending by Zimbabwe to slot home past goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube.
There was nothing he could have done as he was left all alone to face the Angolan man.
But Zimbabwe were not intimidated and came back a rejuvinated side in the second half. They grabbed the equaliser through hard working midfielder, Francis Chandida.
The talented midfielder responded faster than everyone in the box to level the scores.
But Zimbabwe were to lose towards the end of the match when goalkeeper Dube made a blunder which resulted in Angola's goal.
The Masvingo United goalminder unnecessarily rushed out of his goal area and striker Lebo was on hand to place a header in an empty net. - ZimOnline
Greg Lamb man of the match
LONDON - Greg Lamb, 26-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder, emerged as an unlikely man-of-the-match as Hampshire kept alive their promotion hopes in the Pro40 League with a dramatic five-run win over Yorkshire at Headingley.
Recalled by Hampshire and playing for a new contract, Harare-born Lamb top-scored with 64 in Hampshire’s 220-9.
Then, the sixth bowler used with Shane Warne ruled out by injury, the off-spinner took two wickets in a tense last over to finish with 4-38 as Yorkshire collapsed from 201-5 to 215 all out.
Hampshire will now host Glamorgan on Sunday in English cricket's first-ever play-off to decide who joins already promoted Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in Division 1 next season.
Ex-Zimbabwe star Andy Flower scored 81 as Essex, the new Division 1 champions, recovered from 12-3 to total 201-8 at Durham. But Essex lost by six wickets, with Durham relegated along with Middlesex. – John Hughes
Adebayor strike sinks Unite
LONDON - An 85th-minute goal by Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsenal their first Premier League win of the season as Manchester United's 100 per cent record was ended by a 1-0 home defeat watched by a crowd of 75,59. Didier Drogba scored the only goal as Chelsea, the champions, won 1-0 at home to Liverpool, but Michael Ballack, Chelsea's new German midfield ace, faces a three-match ban after being red-carded for the first time in his career.
Congo star Lomana LuaLua clinched table-topping Portsmouth's 1-0 win at Charlton and new Nigerian signing Obafemi Martins scored his first Newcastle goal in a 2-0 scoreline at West Ham. South Africa's Benni McCarthy was among the Blackburn scorers in a 4-2 home win over Manchester City, while Austria midfielder Paul Scharner twice equalised for Wigan in a 2-2 draw at high-flying Everton.
In Scotland, leaders Celtic laboured to a 1-0 home win over Dunfermline. But Rangers slipped up 2-1 at Hibernian where Chris Killen struck twice before being sent off just before the final whistle.
* This weekend, newly-promoted Reading, who lie in sixth place, host Manchester United on Sunday. The day before, Celtic are at home to Rangers in the big Glasgow derby. – John Hughes
SA coach wants limit on foreign players
JOHANNESBURG - Carlos Alberto Parreira, the recently appointed South African national soccer team coach, wants the number of foreign players in that country’s top flight league reduced to three per club.
Current rules allow five foreign players to be fielded at the same time. If Parreira’s recommendation is taken on board by the South African Football Association (SAFA) it will spell doom for the multitude of Zimbabwean players who ply their trade in that country.
At least 20 top Zimbabwe players, including eight national team members, have established themselves in the PSL and some have over the years won numerous accolades, including PSL player of the year and top goal scorer of the year awards. Countless more play in lower divisions.
South Africa are hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Parreira wants the PSL to be flooded with local talent, a strategy he hopes will help him by having a big player base to choose from. Worringly that country’s football players union has thrown its weight behind Parreira’s efforts to reduce the number of foreign players in the Premier Soccer League.
The problem with this is that many Zimbabwean players will be affected if this quota system is introduced. Football authorities are expected to call for an indaba to discuss this controversial topic. - Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
Mutasa an ‘asset’ in Qatar
JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe’s international under-20 acrobatic goalkeeper, Kundai “Chief” Mutasa (19), who signed a three year contract at A1 Rayyan Football Club in Qatar last month, has been described by the club technical department as an “essential assert”.
Qatar officials are even contemplating offering the former CAPS United junior and Eastern Highlands Academy player Qatar citizenship with a view to having him play for their national soccer squad.
Mutasa gets a monthly salary of US$12 000, US$3000 winning bonuses, US$500 allowances, US$150 medical, accommodation and own transport.
Before being snatched by A1 Rayyan FC in Qatar, Mutasa briefly trained with Wits University Football Club in Johannesburg but the club asked for “too much papers”, a move that forced Mutasa to leave the club as he felt the South African soccer side was xenophobic.
Mutasa, who in the off-season was included in the squad that toured Europe and played in the East Europe Tournament before rubbing shoulders with big names in the six tournament tournament that featured Real Madrid (with David Beckham), Barcelona, Valencia, Sagan from Japan, Perak from Indonesia and Pohang Steelers from South Korea. -CAJ News
News from Zimbabwe
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Stock exchange goes realtime
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange has launched an electronic trading board, becoming the third African country to move from a manual system and paving the way for investors to access realtime data.
Harare joins Johannesburg and Cairo as the only African countries to offer such a facility, which will also supply data from the Zambian and Malawian bourses.
The Zimbabwe bourse, the second largest in southern Africa after the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, boasts 80 counters and has a market capitalisation of around $6 billion. – Staff reporter
Prospects grim – IMF
JOHANNESBURG – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says prospects for economic recovery in crisis-hit Zimbabwe are “grim” following last month’s surge in the annual inflation rate to 1 204.6 percent, the highest in the world.
Addressing the media at the weekend, IMF’s deputy director in the Africa Department, Siddharth Tiwari, said the situation could only be rectified if the government adopted sound economic policies.
“The country is in a difficult situation and has faced six years of continuous output decline, rising prices, increasing poverty and a decrease in public services ... it’s a tragic situation, frankly, and the prospects are grim," said Tiwari.
“There is substantial goodwill on the part of the international community to help Zimbabwe , but the first step has to be taken by the authorities,” he added. -
ZimOnline
Illegal occupation affects brickmakers
HARARE – Illegal land occupation currently besieging Willdale Farm near the Harare has seen a drastic reduction in brick production, according to the company’s audited financial statement.
Willdale is the latest company to record reduced production at their farms caused by pro-government land invaders sometimes at the instigation of ruling party officials.
“However, we would like to thank the authorities for having removed squatters who were occupying Star Village, the company township,” the statement adds.
The company has also suffered because of inferior products that are flooding the Zimbabwean market – “the use of inferior bricks on the market is a cause for concern for future housing standards in the country… the regulatory authorities have allowed the use of farm bricks in this country,” says the report.
Willdale recorded $48,8 billion turnover up from $13,3 billion last year – a 267 per cent increase, but largely inflationary as volumes only increased by 15 per cent. Due to “difficult trading circumstances” no dividend was declared for 2005. - CAJ News
Increase in violence and abuse - ZHRF
HARARE – Politically motivated violence and human rights abuses are on the increase in Zimbabwe, with for example 68 cases of illegal use of torture recorded last July compared to only one case the previous month, according to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum (ZHRF).
The Forum’s latest report blames most cases of politically motivated torture and assault on state security agents and called on the government to ensure its agents upheld international and local laws forbidding torture and inhuman treatment of people.
“The Forum further urges the responsible authorities to abide by the prohibitions of torture as espoused in the United Nations convention against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment,” says the report.
Ironically, the call for an end torture of opponents comes amid reports that about 15 labour leaders arrested by the police for organising worker protests last Wednesday were all in critical condition after they were severely assaulted and tortured by the police.
The ZHRF report cites several examples of police and army brutality against opponents of President Robert Mugabe’s government.
In one such case on July 9, 2006, the youth chairman of the MDC in Chitungwiza town was abducted by eight men suspected to be Zimbabwe army soldiers who took him to an army camp along the highway from Chitungwiza to Harare and where they severely assaulted and tortured him, the report says.
The report also cited the arrest and subsequent assault of 128 activists of the National Constitutional Assembly for holding demonstrations in Harare demanding a new and democratic constitution in Zimbabwe.
Neither Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi nor Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa were immediately available to respond to the ZHRF report. However, the government has in the past denied that security forces target its political opponents for abuse and torture. - ZimOnline
Girl Child Network accuses Rusere
MASVINGO – A local child rights group has accused a junior Zimbabwean government minister of sexually abusing a child parliamentarian and covering up the crime by bribing the parents in an out of court settlement.
The Girl Child Network, which champions the rights of the girl child, accused Tinos Rusere, 61, of impregnating the former child parliamentarian for Zaka East, Petronella Chimbera.
Chimbera, who was still in her teens at the time of the offence about two years ago, has since given birth to a baby sired by the deputy minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Zaka East constituency.
A report compiled by the Network in February this year but only made available to ZimOnline this week, says Rusere impregnated the minor between 2003 and 2004.
Rusere is also accused of using his immense influence in offering the girl’s parents a farm under the government’s controversial land policies.
The report reads in part: “It is assumed that the MP got into an out of court settlement with the girl and her family. The family was allegedly allocated a farm... It is against this background that the GCN is instituting investigations against the MP with the view to rescue the abused child.”
Contacted for comment, Rusere flatly rejected the allegations.“I am not aware of such a thing. What I only know is that I worked with all child parliamentarians nicely in my area. Even if that might sound true can you not see that it has been overtaken by events?” said Rusere. - ZimOnline
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Stock exchange goes realtime
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange has launched an electronic trading board, becoming the third African country to move from a manual system and paving the way for investors to access realtime data.
Harare joins Johannesburg and Cairo as the only African countries to offer such a facility, which will also supply data from the Zambian and Malawian bourses.
The Zimbabwe bourse, the second largest in southern Africa after the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, boasts 80 counters and has a market capitalisation of around $6 billion. – Staff reporter
Prospects grim – IMF
JOHANNESBURG – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says prospects for economic recovery in crisis-hit Zimbabwe are “grim” following last month’s surge in the annual inflation rate to 1 204.6 percent, the highest in the world.
Addressing the media at the weekend, IMF’s deputy director in the Africa Department, Siddharth Tiwari, said the situation could only be rectified if the government adopted sound economic policies.
“The country is in a difficult situation and has faced six years of continuous output decline, rising prices, increasing poverty and a decrease in public services ... it’s a tragic situation, frankly, and the prospects are grim," said Tiwari.
“There is substantial goodwill on the part of the international community to help Zimbabwe , but the first step has to be taken by the authorities,” he added. -
ZimOnline
Illegal occupation affects brickmakers
HARARE – Illegal land occupation currently besieging Willdale Farm near the Harare has seen a drastic reduction in brick production, according to the company’s audited financial statement.
Willdale is the latest company to record reduced production at their farms caused by pro-government land invaders sometimes at the instigation of ruling party officials.
“However, we would like to thank the authorities for having removed squatters who were occupying Star Village, the company township,” the statement adds.
The company has also suffered because of inferior products that are flooding the Zimbabwean market – “the use of inferior bricks on the market is a cause for concern for future housing standards in the country… the regulatory authorities have allowed the use of farm bricks in this country,” says the report.
Willdale recorded $48,8 billion turnover up from $13,3 billion last year – a 267 per cent increase, but largely inflationary as volumes only increased by 15 per cent. Due to “difficult trading circumstances” no dividend was declared for 2005. - CAJ News
Increase in violence and abuse - ZHRF
HARARE – Politically motivated violence and human rights abuses are on the increase in Zimbabwe, with for example 68 cases of illegal use of torture recorded last July compared to only one case the previous month, according to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum (ZHRF).
The Forum’s latest report blames most cases of politically motivated torture and assault on state security agents and called on the government to ensure its agents upheld international and local laws forbidding torture and inhuman treatment of people.
“The Forum further urges the responsible authorities to abide by the prohibitions of torture as espoused in the United Nations convention against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment,” says the report.
Ironically, the call for an end torture of opponents comes amid reports that about 15 labour leaders arrested by the police for organising worker protests last Wednesday were all in critical condition after they were severely assaulted and tortured by the police.
The ZHRF report cites several examples of police and army brutality against opponents of President Robert Mugabe’s government.
In one such case on July 9, 2006, the youth chairman of the MDC in Chitungwiza town was abducted by eight men suspected to be Zimbabwe army soldiers who took him to an army camp along the highway from Chitungwiza to Harare and where they severely assaulted and tortured him, the report says.
The report also cited the arrest and subsequent assault of 128 activists of the National Constitutional Assembly for holding demonstrations in Harare demanding a new and democratic constitution in Zimbabwe.
Neither Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi nor Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa were immediately available to respond to the ZHRF report. However, the government has in the past denied that security forces target its political opponents for abuse and torture. - ZimOnline
Girl Child Network accuses Rusere
MASVINGO – A local child rights group has accused a junior Zimbabwean government minister of sexually abusing a child parliamentarian and covering up the crime by bribing the parents in an out of court settlement.
The Girl Child Network, which champions the rights of the girl child, accused Tinos Rusere, 61, of impregnating the former child parliamentarian for Zaka East, Petronella Chimbera.
Chimbera, who was still in her teens at the time of the offence about two years ago, has since given birth to a baby sired by the deputy minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Zaka East constituency.
A report compiled by the Network in February this year but only made available to ZimOnline this week, says Rusere impregnated the minor between 2003 and 2004.
Rusere is also accused of using his immense influence in offering the girl’s parents a farm under the government’s controversial land policies.
The report reads in part: “It is assumed that the MP got into an out of court settlement with the girl and her family. The family was allegedly allocated a farm... It is against this background that the GCN is instituting investigations against the MP with the view to rescue the abused child.”
Contacted for comment, Rusere flatly rejected the allegations.“I am not aware of such a thing. What I only know is that I worked with all child parliamentarians nicely in my area. Even if that might sound true can you not see that it has been overtaken by events?” said Rusere. - ZimOnline
Letters to the editor
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Letter from Home: Protect life on earth!
BY LITANY BIRD
Dear Family and Friends,
On Friday morning, escorted by uniformed police, two young girls carried a banner through the town centre which proclaimed: “Protect Life On Earth.” Behind them marched the Prison band in spotless bottle green uniforms with shining gold buttons and all carrying gleaming musical instruments. Behind the band came dozens of drum majorettes, young girls in bright and colourful uniforms. At the rear of the procession, which had bought the town to a standstill, were more police and an ambulance.
There were reporters and ZBC TV cameramen and on the Green tents had been erected, seats were laid out and someone announced that the Mayor and an Honourable Minister would be arriving shortly. For a few minutes it was like being Alice in Wonderland and you had to shake your head and ask yourself: is this the same place, the same town which just two days ago was over-run by police and engulfed in tension? Life is like this in Zimbabwe now, the veneer gets thinner and we swing wildly between extremes.
On Wednesday when the Trade Unions had called for lunch time marches to highlight the deteriorating conditions in Zimbabwe, the police and other state forces moved in and engulfed towns and cities across the country. Just a few days before women of WOZA marched with placards calling for clean drinking water and improved services in Harare. 107 women were arrested and detained for four days in police custody. By Wednesday it seemed the state was not going to take any chances and allow people to air their grievances and the signs were there for all to see by early in the morning. From Harare came reports of roadblocks and large deployments of police in the centres.
Similar reports came from Bulawayo and Masvingo. In our town the water cannons were visible and the town was swamped with police - patrolling on foot in two’s and fours and in pairs on bicycles. Throughout the town police pick up trucks were parked in strategic places, filled with uniformed men. The gates to the police station were closed, guarded by an armed police woman and people had to show ID before they were allowed in.
Right across the country the union lunchtime marches were doomed - crushed before they had even started. Top Union leaders and organisers in Harare were arrested and lawyers representing them say their clients had been beaten and tortured. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said: “From the look of it they were attacked by the police as soon as they were herded into cells. Some have broken limbs. The attacks appeared sadistic because some of the people cannot get up on their own.”
The Union Vice President Lucia Matibenga has a fractured arm, was bleeding from her ears and was having difficulty in breathing and hearing. The Union Secretary General Wellington Chibebe was covered in blood and had a “crack in his head.” Union President Lovemore Matombo had both his arms fractured and so the list goes on - stories of horrors inflicted on the bravest of brave Zimbabweans who want only a decent life.
Despite the fact that the police, the marching bands and the drum majorettes are also drinking dirty water, having garbage go uncollected for weeks at a time and struggle to survive 1200% inflation - all complaints are silenced instantly. The banner proclaiming ‘Protect Life on Earth’ would be more appropriate if it said Protect Life in Zimbabwe. Thanks for reading, until next time, ndini shamwari yenyu.
Letters to the editor
Objection to sale of Makwavarara house
SIR – I hereby lodge my objection to the sale of the property at 19 Nigel’s Lane, Highlands to the sitting tenant, Sekesai Makwavarara, for the sum of $13,750 million (new currency) on the following grounds:
1. The property is grossly under-valued at $13,75 million. Properties in that area sell for at least $60 million, more like $100 million.
2. It is said that there is a standing resolution that she would only have to pay 40% of that under-valued figure, i.e. $5,5 million, as Mayor or Acting Mayor of Harare. That is misuse of one’s position to enrich oneself at the cost of the majority of residents and ratepayers of Harare. We residents were not consulted on the decision to give officials, whether elected or not, discounts on property and other goods and services from our city. Municipal officials need to understand that they are our employees and answerable to us, be they the Mayor or the lowliest street-sweeper. Had we been consulted, I believe most residents would have refused such perks.
3. Sekesai Makwavarara is not the elected Mayor of Harare. She was elected Deputy Mayor for ONE YEAR by the other councillors on her initial election as councillor in 2002. When the substantive Executive Mayor, Elias Mudzuri, was removed from office she became Acting Mayor only until her year expired around August 2003. Sadly, political interference ensured that there was never another election for Deputy Mayor internally, or indeed Executive Mayor in a city-wide plebiscite, therefore she was thrust upon us and we have not been able to remove her! She certainly does not deserve any perk which may be accruing to an elected Mayor or Executive Mayor.
4. Sekesai Makwavarara is not the “sitting tenant” since she does not reside at 19 Nigel’s Lane. She resides in the Mayor’s Mansion which is more than adequate for her needs. It therefore appears that she is misusing her position for financial gain, letting out the property on a commercial basis.
5. She already owns a property in Harare in Mabvuku, most probably the one at 744 Tingini Street, Old Mabvuku, which she owned when she was elected councillor for Mabvuku on an MDC ticket in 2002. As such, she is not eligible to be a beneficiary of a municipal property in terms of Harare Municipality’s conditions for beneficiaries of Municipal housing and stands.
6. She has yet another property, as she is also the beneficiary of an A2 farm under the Government’s land redistribution exercise. She was allocated Tinto Farm, part of the Sipolilo Estate near Raffingora in Mashonaland West, in 2004, apparently through an Offer Letter from the Minister of Local Government, Dr Ignatius Chombo. This farm is some 800 hectares in extent, and she also took over everything inside the house, even granting an interview to the press “reclining in her comfortable lounge”, as I recall. She therefore does not need yet another property in Harare.
7. Now a member of the ZANU-PF party, Makwavarara has contravened the ZANU-PF Leadership Code by using her position for financial gain, and if she is allowed to purchase 19 Nigel’s Lane as well, it will compound her misdeeds in terms of her own party.
8. The fact that Makwavarara already paid a deposit of $1,4 million for the property on 1 September 2006 by cheque number 000428 Barclays Pearl House A/C number 2527746 which was receipted at Sunningdale on 033184 indicates that the process of calling for objections from ratepayers and residents is a mere formality. If Makwavarara has paid a deposit, the inference is that the property is already hers and she only has to pay in full. This is a very serious issue, to which I object most vehemently.
Frankly, “Harare Circus” is a total disgrace to the entire nation, even ZANU-PF itself! This proposed sale is but one small manifestation of the very deep and far-reaching malaise in the City of Harare which will only be resolved when residents can freely elect the Council of our choice and when our elected officials cannot be interfered with or removed undemocratically.
TRUDY STEVENSON, Harare
Sick and tired
SIR – We Exiled Youth of Zimbabwe won’t sit and watch our civic and political leaders being victimised and oppressed for our future. When there is a situation where security services constitutionally mandated to serve and protect the interests of the people, including the upholding of civil rights and liberties of the people, are personalised or tailored to serve the interest of a political party, we have an imbalance in social and political interest.
We are sick and tired of the Mugabe regime using the security forces to crush and silence our “No confidence” in his Government. We demand our civil liberty, you don’t ask liberty from a Dictator but you demand it.
Alois Phiri Mbawara and Wellington Chibanguza, Free-Zim Youth
True heroes of Africa
SIR - It is shameful, the Zimbabwean government is even scared of ordinary South African youths. The deportation of Buti Manamela and his team is disgraceful in the face of SADC. Unfortunately not even one of the regional leaders could boldly condemn such barbaric behaviour by the Mugabe regime.
We condemn such inhuman behaviour by a sitting government of a so-called sovereign state. To Buti and his team, we say “You are true heroes of Africa. You have shown true African Brotherhood. Do not give up to fight for what is right. The effects of the Zimbabwean crisis is affecting all of you directly. The suffering of your fellow youths up North cannot go unchallenged and we hope all the other youths in the region will follow your footsteps.”
On behalf of all peace-loving people of Zimbabwe, we apologise over the barbaric reception you received in our country. You are not enemies of Zimbabwe and you are not prohibited immigrants in our country.
Jay Jay Sibanda, SA
Become unpredictable
SIR - If we want to be successful and beat ZANU-PF, we have to change the game plan and become unpredictable, more fluid and more serious. Why do they keep hitting their heads against a brick wall? To bring change, we have to change ourselves. We have to change the way we behave, we have to change the way we think, we have to change the game plan.
Why is WOZA so successful? Why did Morgan successfully march to Parliament and successfully drop a petition last week?
Concerned Zimbabweans, SA
Milk and money mujiba
Sir - The press reports that Gideon Gono’s Russian Central Bank associate - Andrei Kozlov - was shot dead recently.
I think that Gideon - Mugabe’s most favourite “milk and money mujiba” might do well to take time to give some thought to “self awareness.” In Covey’s words “lose your self awareness and you become like grovelling animals who live primarily for survival and propagation.” One could be forgiven for thinking that Covey was referring to Zanu PF.
Gideon could also give some thought to the trillions that he has stolen from the people, as well as spare a thought for his late friend, Andrei Kozlov. George Bernard Shaw puts it somewhat differently “Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.” Once a person has stolen trillions - “living primarily for survival” appears to be the next preoccupation.
GONOLOGIST, Australia
Silent voices cry out
SIR - As we wait to see Robert Mugabe either leave the position of power voluntarily, stampeded out or otherwise, it is fittingly this very time that we should start deliberating on the prospects of a new constitution with intense resolution. In such a debate, the issue of ethnic imbalances must not be left out.
A regular columnist of this valuable publication made mention recently of the launch of a book titled ‘Silent Voices’. The author laments the struggle by minority groups to have their children taught at school in their respective languages. It has always disturbed the minds of many to be coerced to learn Ndebele or Shona in 26 years of our independence much to the chagrin of their mother languages. But why has this remained the case? The current constitution is flawed to the extent it does not fully reflect the will of the people.
Tonga, Kalanga,Venda, Nambya, Xhosa, Nambya, Sotho and Shangaan people had been kept on the sidelines for years. We have ample evidence to acknowledge that the regime of Robert Mugabe is adept as dividing people over the years as a strategy to cling to power. The current constitution is designed in such a way that minorities must remain suppressed.
The paralysis imposed on these people takes many forms. They have been strategically impoverished and have no access to sound education. Again the dictatorship has ensured that it is entirely not easy for them to partake in political, economic and social issues pertaining to our country. What baffles the mind is that the rare occasions that the government has been cognisant of these people is when election time came. Yet they are dumped after their much-needed vote has been cast. I must correctly assert that we all desperately need to break loose from the absurd thinking that minority tribes are inferior.
What makes this problem more complex is that the particular ethnic groups are devoid of the attacking ambitions to highlight their plight. But we must realise that they where born into a country they did not choose and have love for their country just as any body. We therefore need to make up for the lack of a killer instinct in these silent voices by lending the necessary support.
JAY-ZAT, Jozi
Out, but ready to go back
SIR - ZINASU wishes to express its profound solidarity with those almost maimed by this satanic government which now needs international intervention for redemption. The students of Zimbabwe are seriously disturbed by the unlawful arrests and barbaric attacks on labour leaders. We commit ourselves to write letters to International Labour Organisation, Thabo Mbeki, United Nations, European Union, African Union, SADC and all other relevant international bodies urging them to act on Mugabe and compel him and his rogue regime to comply with the principles that espouse the respect, protection and promotion of human rights as articulated in the numerous human rights covenants to which Zimbabwe is a party.
We salute and are inspired by the courage and resolve of the ZCTU leadership and the workers. The regime fears its misdemeanors and knows the hour is late. The people have decided they want to be free and nothing will stop them now.
Meanwhile the petition to be submitted to the President by ZINASU will go on unabated. The students are not afraid, they are more determined than ever and as their President I shall be the first to step onto the battlefield and shall be the last to step out, but we will all come back home together.
Promise Mkwananzi, President Zimbabwe National Students Union, Harare
Zims demonstrate in London
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Letter from Home: Protect life on earth!
BY LITANY BIRD
Dear Family and Friends,
On Friday morning, escorted by uniformed police, two young girls carried a banner through the town centre which proclaimed: “Protect Life On Earth.” Behind them marched the Prison band in spotless bottle green uniforms with shining gold buttons and all carrying gleaming musical instruments. Behind the band came dozens of drum majorettes, young girls in bright and colourful uniforms. At the rear of the procession, which had bought the town to a standstill, were more police and an ambulance.
There were reporters and ZBC TV cameramen and on the Green tents had been erected, seats were laid out and someone announced that the Mayor and an Honourable Minister would be arriving shortly. For a few minutes it was like being Alice in Wonderland and you had to shake your head and ask yourself: is this the same place, the same town which just two days ago was over-run by police and engulfed in tension? Life is like this in Zimbabwe now, the veneer gets thinner and we swing wildly between extremes.
On Wednesday when the Trade Unions had called for lunch time marches to highlight the deteriorating conditions in Zimbabwe, the police and other state forces moved in and engulfed towns and cities across the country. Just a few days before women of WOZA marched with placards calling for clean drinking water and improved services in Harare. 107 women were arrested and detained for four days in police custody. By Wednesday it seemed the state was not going to take any chances and allow people to air their grievances and the signs were there for all to see by early in the morning. From Harare came reports of roadblocks and large deployments of police in the centres.
Similar reports came from Bulawayo and Masvingo. In our town the water cannons were visible and the town was swamped with police - patrolling on foot in two’s and fours and in pairs on bicycles. Throughout the town police pick up trucks were parked in strategic places, filled with uniformed men. The gates to the police station were closed, guarded by an armed police woman and people had to show ID before they were allowed in.
Right across the country the union lunchtime marches were doomed - crushed before they had even started. Top Union leaders and organisers in Harare were arrested and lawyers representing them say their clients had been beaten and tortured. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said: “From the look of it they were attacked by the police as soon as they were herded into cells. Some have broken limbs. The attacks appeared sadistic because some of the people cannot get up on their own.”
The Union Vice President Lucia Matibenga has a fractured arm, was bleeding from her ears and was having difficulty in breathing and hearing. The Union Secretary General Wellington Chibebe was covered in blood and had a “crack in his head.” Union President Lovemore Matombo had both his arms fractured and so the list goes on - stories of horrors inflicted on the bravest of brave Zimbabweans who want only a decent life.
Despite the fact that the police, the marching bands and the drum majorettes are also drinking dirty water, having garbage go uncollected for weeks at a time and struggle to survive 1200% inflation - all complaints are silenced instantly. The banner proclaiming ‘Protect Life on Earth’ would be more appropriate if it said Protect Life in Zimbabwe. Thanks for reading, until next time, ndini shamwari yenyu.
Letters to the editor
Objection to sale of Makwavarara house
SIR – I hereby lodge my objection to the sale of the property at 19 Nigel’s Lane, Highlands to the sitting tenant, Sekesai Makwavarara, for the sum of $13,750 million (new currency) on the following grounds:
1. The property is grossly under-valued at $13,75 million. Properties in that area sell for at least $60 million, more like $100 million.
2. It is said that there is a standing resolution that she would only have to pay 40% of that under-valued figure, i.e. $5,5 million, as Mayor or Acting Mayor of Harare. That is misuse of one’s position to enrich oneself at the cost of the majority of residents and ratepayers of Harare. We residents were not consulted on the decision to give officials, whether elected or not, discounts on property and other goods and services from our city. Municipal officials need to understand that they are our employees and answerable to us, be they the Mayor or the lowliest street-sweeper. Had we been consulted, I believe most residents would have refused such perks.
3. Sekesai Makwavarara is not the elected Mayor of Harare. She was elected Deputy Mayor for ONE YEAR by the other councillors on her initial election as councillor in 2002. When the substantive Executive Mayor, Elias Mudzuri, was removed from office she became Acting Mayor only until her year expired around August 2003. Sadly, political interference ensured that there was never another election for Deputy Mayor internally, or indeed Executive Mayor in a city-wide plebiscite, therefore she was thrust upon us and we have not been able to remove her! She certainly does not deserve any perk which may be accruing to an elected Mayor or Executive Mayor.
4. Sekesai Makwavarara is not the “sitting tenant” since she does not reside at 19 Nigel’s Lane. She resides in the Mayor’s Mansion which is more than adequate for her needs. It therefore appears that she is misusing her position for financial gain, letting out the property on a commercial basis.
5. She already owns a property in Harare in Mabvuku, most probably the one at 744 Tingini Street, Old Mabvuku, which she owned when she was elected councillor for Mabvuku on an MDC ticket in 2002. As such, she is not eligible to be a beneficiary of a municipal property in terms of Harare Municipality’s conditions for beneficiaries of Municipal housing and stands.
6. She has yet another property, as she is also the beneficiary of an A2 farm under the Government’s land redistribution exercise. She was allocated Tinto Farm, part of the Sipolilo Estate near Raffingora in Mashonaland West, in 2004, apparently through an Offer Letter from the Minister of Local Government, Dr Ignatius Chombo. This farm is some 800 hectares in extent, and she also took over everything inside the house, even granting an interview to the press “reclining in her comfortable lounge”, as I recall. She therefore does not need yet another property in Harare.
7. Now a member of the ZANU-PF party, Makwavarara has contravened the ZANU-PF Leadership Code by using her position for financial gain, and if she is allowed to purchase 19 Nigel’s Lane as well, it will compound her misdeeds in terms of her own party.
8. The fact that Makwavarara already paid a deposit of $1,4 million for the property on 1 September 2006 by cheque number 000428 Barclays Pearl House A/C number 2527746 which was receipted at Sunningdale on 033184 indicates that the process of calling for objections from ratepayers and residents is a mere formality. If Makwavarara has paid a deposit, the inference is that the property is already hers and she only has to pay in full. This is a very serious issue, to which I object most vehemently.
Frankly, “Harare Circus” is a total disgrace to the entire nation, even ZANU-PF itself! This proposed sale is but one small manifestation of the very deep and far-reaching malaise in the City of Harare which will only be resolved when residents can freely elect the Council of our choice and when our elected officials cannot be interfered with or removed undemocratically.
TRUDY STEVENSON, Harare
Sick and tired
SIR – We Exiled Youth of Zimbabwe won’t sit and watch our civic and political leaders being victimised and oppressed for our future. When there is a situation where security services constitutionally mandated to serve and protect the interests of the people, including the upholding of civil rights and liberties of the people, are personalised or tailored to serve the interest of a political party, we have an imbalance in social and political interest.
We are sick and tired of the Mugabe regime using the security forces to crush and silence our “No confidence” in his Government. We demand our civil liberty, you don’t ask liberty from a Dictator but you demand it.
Alois Phiri Mbawara and Wellington Chibanguza, Free-Zim Youth
True heroes of Africa
SIR - It is shameful, the Zimbabwean government is even scared of ordinary South African youths. The deportation of Buti Manamela and his team is disgraceful in the face of SADC. Unfortunately not even one of the regional leaders could boldly condemn such barbaric behaviour by the Mugabe regime.
We condemn such inhuman behaviour by a sitting government of a so-called sovereign state. To Buti and his team, we say “You are true heroes of Africa. You have shown true African Brotherhood. Do not give up to fight for what is right. The effects of the Zimbabwean crisis is affecting all of you directly. The suffering of your fellow youths up North cannot go unchallenged and we hope all the other youths in the region will follow your footsteps.”
On behalf of all peace-loving people of Zimbabwe, we apologise over the barbaric reception you received in our country. You are not enemies of Zimbabwe and you are not prohibited immigrants in our country.
Jay Jay Sibanda, SA
Become unpredictable
SIR - If we want to be successful and beat ZANU-PF, we have to change the game plan and become unpredictable, more fluid and more serious. Why do they keep hitting their heads against a brick wall? To bring change, we have to change ourselves. We have to change the way we behave, we have to change the way we think, we have to change the game plan.
Why is WOZA so successful? Why did Morgan successfully march to Parliament and successfully drop a petition last week?
Concerned Zimbabweans, SA
Milk and money mujiba
Sir - The press reports that Gideon Gono’s Russian Central Bank associate - Andrei Kozlov - was shot dead recently.
I think that Gideon - Mugabe’s most favourite “milk and money mujiba” might do well to take time to give some thought to “self awareness.” In Covey’s words “lose your self awareness and you become like grovelling animals who live primarily for survival and propagation.” One could be forgiven for thinking that Covey was referring to Zanu PF.
Gideon could also give some thought to the trillions that he has stolen from the people, as well as spare a thought for his late friend, Andrei Kozlov. George Bernard Shaw puts it somewhat differently “Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.” Once a person has stolen trillions - “living primarily for survival” appears to be the next preoccupation.
GONOLOGIST, Australia
Silent voices cry out
SIR - As we wait to see Robert Mugabe either leave the position of power voluntarily, stampeded out or otherwise, it is fittingly this very time that we should start deliberating on the prospects of a new constitution with intense resolution. In such a debate, the issue of ethnic imbalances must not be left out.
A regular columnist of this valuable publication made mention recently of the launch of a book titled ‘Silent Voices’. The author laments the struggle by minority groups to have their children taught at school in their respective languages. It has always disturbed the minds of many to be coerced to learn Ndebele or Shona in 26 years of our independence much to the chagrin of their mother languages. But why has this remained the case? The current constitution is flawed to the extent it does not fully reflect the will of the people.
Tonga, Kalanga,Venda, Nambya, Xhosa, Nambya, Sotho and Shangaan people had been kept on the sidelines for years. We have ample evidence to acknowledge that the regime of Robert Mugabe is adept as dividing people over the years as a strategy to cling to power. The current constitution is designed in such a way that minorities must remain suppressed.
The paralysis imposed on these people takes many forms. They have been strategically impoverished and have no access to sound education. Again the dictatorship has ensured that it is entirely not easy for them to partake in political, economic and social issues pertaining to our country. What baffles the mind is that the rare occasions that the government has been cognisant of these people is when election time came. Yet they are dumped after their much-needed vote has been cast. I must correctly assert that we all desperately need to break loose from the absurd thinking that minority tribes are inferior.
What makes this problem more complex is that the particular ethnic groups are devoid of the attacking ambitions to highlight their plight. But we must realise that they where born into a country they did not choose and have love for their country just as any body. We therefore need to make up for the lack of a killer instinct in these silent voices by lending the necessary support.
JAY-ZAT, Jozi
Out, but ready to go back
SIR - ZINASU wishes to express its profound solidarity with those almost maimed by this satanic government which now needs international intervention for redemption. The students of Zimbabwe are seriously disturbed by the unlawful arrests and barbaric attacks on labour leaders. We commit ourselves to write letters to International Labour Organisation, Thabo Mbeki, United Nations, European Union, African Union, SADC and all other relevant international bodies urging them to act on Mugabe and compel him and his rogue regime to comply with the principles that espouse the respect, protection and promotion of human rights as articulated in the numerous human rights covenants to which Zimbabwe is a party.
We salute and are inspired by the courage and resolve of the ZCTU leadership and the workers. The regime fears its misdemeanors and knows the hour is late. The people have decided they want to be free and nothing will stop them now.
Meanwhile the petition to be submitted to the President by ZINASU will go on unabated. The students are not afraid, they are more determined than ever and as their President I shall be the first to step onto the battlefield and shall be the last to step out, but we will all come back home together.
Promise Mkwananzi, President Zimbabwe National Students Union, Harare
Zims demonstrate in London
Political news
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Chissano honoured
CAPE TOWN – Former Mozambican president, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, was on Monday honoured here for his efforts in turning the tide in one of the world’s poorest countries during his 10-year reign.
The former president’s decision not to stand for another presidential term in 2004 were hailed as a positive step in encouraging fellow African politicians, like Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe, to follow and uphold the principles that have given Mozambique international credibility as a pluralist nation.
”Joaquim Chissano is credited with turning Mozambique into one of Africa’s successful states with an annual economic growth rate in 2004 of 8.2%. He secured peace between Mozambique’s warring factions and turned the country into a multi-party state, introducing a free-market economy,” said Chatham House Institute, a UK based international affairs analysis organization in a press release.
Chissano was also praised for his efforts in bringing to his country “economic and political stability, now widely hailed as a success story across the African continent - one which many hope can be repeated elsewhere” The former president will be in London on 16 October, this year, to collect his award.
Other contenders for this year’s Prize were Louise Arbour, Head of the UN Human Rights Commission and Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. The Chatham House Prize is awarded to a leading international statesperson who has made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. – CAJ News
We won’t lift gag – Mangwana
MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe government will not loosen its tight grip on the media because it fears a robust and independent Press could be manipulated by Western powers pushing for “regime change” in Harare, acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana has said.
Addressing journalists here at the weekend, Mangwana, until now regarded as among the doves in President Robert Mugabe’s hawkish Cabinet, said Harare will also not allow private radio and television stations until it finds foreign currency to install infrastructure required before more broadcasters could be licenced.
He did not say when the Harare administration - struggling for hard cash to import fuel and food among other key national requirements - would ever find more cash to enable the state’s Transmedia firm, charged with providing transmission services for broadcasters in the country, to import more transmitting gear and other equipment.
Mangwana said: “If you see big and powerful nations like Britain and United States (US) passing laws to punish Zimbabwe, it means they want to effect regime change. We realise that they would want to effect regime change through the Press because it is a powerful instrument to effect their desired change. We will therefore continue to maintain tight controls on the press in order for us to remain in power.”
The US and European Union have imposed targeted visa and financial sanctions against Mugabe and his top officials of his government as punishment for stealing elections, failure to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
The Harare administration denies the Western charges and says sanctions against its officials – which it maintains have crippled Zimbabwe’s economy – were meant to punish it for seizing white land for redistribution to landless blacks.
Mangwana, who is also Minister of Anti-Corruption and Anti-Monopolies, said the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings would continue to “enjoy the monopoly” until money was found to develop transmission infrastructure.
“For us to develop an infrastructure which will accommodate other players in the broadcasting sector, we need forex for the exercise. We do not have money for that hence Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings will continue to enjoy the monopoly,” he said.
Zimbabwe, which has laws providing for the imprisonment of journalists for up to 20 years for publishing falsehoods, was once classified by the World Association of Newspapers as one of the three most dangerous places in the world for journalists, alongside the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. - ZimOnline
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom
Chissano honoured
CAPE TOWN – Former Mozambican president, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, was on Monday honoured here for his efforts in turning the tide in one of the world’s poorest countries during his 10-year reign.
The former president’s decision not to stand for another presidential term in 2004 were hailed as a positive step in encouraging fellow African politicians, like Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe, to follow and uphold the principles that have given Mozambique international credibility as a pluralist nation.
”Joaquim Chissano is credited with turning Mozambique into one of Africa’s successful states with an annual economic growth rate in 2004 of 8.2%. He secured peace between Mozambique’s warring factions and turned the country into a multi-party state, introducing a free-market economy,” said Chatham House Institute, a UK based international affairs analysis organization in a press release.
Chissano was also praised for his efforts in bringing to his country “economic and political stability, now widely hailed as a success story across the African continent - one which many hope can be repeated elsewhere” The former president will be in London on 16 October, this year, to collect his award.
Other contenders for this year’s Prize were Louise Arbour, Head of the UN Human Rights Commission and Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan. The Chatham House Prize is awarded to a leading international statesperson who has made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. – CAJ News
We won’t lift gag – Mangwana
MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe government will not loosen its tight grip on the media because it fears a robust and independent Press could be manipulated by Western powers pushing for “regime change” in Harare, acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana has said.
Addressing journalists here at the weekend, Mangwana, until now regarded as among the doves in President Robert Mugabe’s hawkish Cabinet, said Harare will also not allow private radio and television stations until it finds foreign currency to install infrastructure required before more broadcasters could be licenced.
He did not say when the Harare administration - struggling for hard cash to import fuel and food among other key national requirements - would ever find more cash to enable the state’s Transmedia firm, charged with providing transmission services for broadcasters in the country, to import more transmitting gear and other equipment.
Mangwana said: “If you see big and powerful nations like Britain and United States (US) passing laws to punish Zimbabwe, it means they want to effect regime change. We realise that they would want to effect regime change through the Press because it is a powerful instrument to effect their desired change. We will therefore continue to maintain tight controls on the press in order for us to remain in power.”
The US and European Union have imposed targeted visa and financial sanctions against Mugabe and his top officials of his government as punishment for stealing elections, failure to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
The Harare administration denies the Western charges and says sanctions against its officials – which it maintains have crippled Zimbabwe’s economy – were meant to punish it for seizing white land for redistribution to landless blacks.
Mangwana, who is also Minister of Anti-Corruption and Anti-Monopolies, said the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings would continue to “enjoy the monopoly” until money was found to develop transmission infrastructure.
“For us to develop an infrastructure which will accommodate other players in the broadcasting sector, we need forex for the exercise. We do not have money for that hence Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings will continue to enjoy the monopoly,” he said.
Zimbabwe, which has laws providing for the imprisonment of journalists for up to 20 years for publishing falsehoods, was once classified by the World Association of Newspapers as one of the three most dangerous places in the world for journalists, alongside the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. - ZimOnline
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