Ecological disasters abound

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HARARE - “Disgusted” and “heartbroken” tourists have reported seeing elephants being shot by National Parks personnel.
At least five elephants have been shot in the past few weeks. The first elephant was shot right in front of some South African tourists who, after witnessing the distressing event, vowed never to travel back to Zimbabwe.
One eye witness, who wrote to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, demanded an investigation into the incident. “The Zambezi valley is a wilderness area. The loss of game here has to be seen to be believed - national parks are entrusted to look after our wildlife heritage - which they are not. The callous and inhumane way they are dispatching the game here is appalling and under brutal conditions,” he said.
The ZCTF has also received a report of a black rhino cow being killed for its horn in Hwange National Parks.
The event was witnessed by people taking part in a game count. They heard gunshots and saw two men hacking away at the rhino. They were reluctant to approach the area as the men were armed but did file a report with National Parks.
The ZCTF also reported that river systems in Umfurudzi Wilderness, and in many other places around the country, are under constant attack from gold panners who are digging holes up to 15 feet deep and not refilling them. This is preventing the water from flowing and because of the mass of humanity involved in this practice, the animals are afraid to come down to the water to drink. – KJW


Water disconnections illegal

HARARE - Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) is delighted by the illegal Makwavarara commission’s statement that residents have not paid water rates imposed by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority in May 2006.
Spokesperson Precious Shumba says the threats of water disconnections issued by the City of Harare’s pr manager, Percy Toriro, in the local press this week were ill-timed, misinformed and unjustified.
“Water disconnections are illegal whatever the circumstances. CHRA urges residents of Harare to be resolute in their rejection of a corrupt, illegal and unaccountable system of administration led by the Commission running the affairs of the City of Harare. For the City to disconnect anyone’s water, they must obtain court orders,” said Shumba.
“If the City of Harare decides to be confrontational and proceeds to act outside the law, then CHRA will be left with no option but to respond in the best legal interests of residents.” – Own correspondent

MDC suspends Mubhawu
HARARE - Timothy Mubhawu, the MDC Member of Parliament for Mabvuku, has been suspended from the Tsvangirai MDC as a result of chauvinistic statements he made in parliament two weeks ago and the violence that broke out in his constituency in July.
A commission of inquiry investigating the violence noted that there are serious conflicts in Mabvuku between the MP and the District. The MDC leadership has now dissolved the entire district and Mubhawu has been barred from interfering with party structures there.
Mubhawu also sparked a furore when he said it is against God's principles that men and women are equal during a parliamentary debate on the Domestic Violence Bill.
“His statement was completely at variance with party policy and a very serious breech of discipline on a key issue. The party’s supreme decision making body, the National Council, made a unanimous decision to suspend him and to put his case to the National Disciplinary Committee for consideration,” said a party official. – SW Radio Africa

Endangered species hunted
LONDON - A symposium on sport hunting organised by Safari Club International attracted a large gathering at the London Zoo recently, including safari operators, hunters and government officials from Zimbabwe, who are accused of ignoring the illegal killing of endangered species. Several experts made presentations promoting hunting as a sport and its supposed benefits to the local communities. But there seemed to be a veil of secrecy surrounding the involvement of government officials in the safari business, the illegal seizure of private game reserves and abusive practices that are causing much damage to the environment.
It is no secret that war veterans, under orders from top government officials, have taken over protected areas and some national parks where a lucrative and reckless business in sport hunting is thriving. Foreigners seeking to kill rare species of animals like the black rhino are taking advantage of the lawlessness in the country and offering large sums of money to these corrupt officials.- SW Radio Africa

Students sent home before exams

HARARE - Many students whose parents failed to pay school fees for the third term were sent home Monday by school officials, who are insisting they cannot operate under the fee structure stipulated by education minister Aeneas Chigwedere.
The Association of Schools Trust has taken him to court over the issue, but the courts might take a long time to resolve the dispute while students lose out. Students said they had worked hard to get an education and were shocked to find that the final step of writing the O-level exams was now out of their reach.
The argument presented by the schools is that the Education Act should be applied only to fees charged for the third term of 2006. - SW Radio Africa

Beer price doubles
HARARE – Drinkers reeled on Monday as beer manufacturer Delta Beverages unexpectedly raised the bottle store price of beer by 50 percent for the second time in as many months.
A 350ml bottle of Castle, Black Label and Lion lagers, commonly known as pints, now costs $450 up from $300, while a “quart” or a 750ml bottle of the same brands has shot to a staggering $750, up from $400.
Premier lager beers such as Bohlingers and Zambezi, which only come in pints, are now selling for $600.
The hike is effected through a combination of increase in bottle deposit and basic price. The consumer will be paying $100 more towards quart bottle deposit, which is refundable, and an extra $50 as increase in pints deposit.
Delta corporate affairs executive George Mutendadzamera said the price was pushed up by soaring input costs in the manufacture of beer, driven mainly by expensive imports. – Gift Phiri