Silenced - the sharpest voice against Mugabe

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

December 14, 2008

Sophie Shaw, Harare
The terrifying ordeal of Jestina Mukoko, a television news anchor turned
human rights activist, began at 5am on December 3 when seven men and one
woman forced their way into her house at gunpoint in Norton, a quiet, leafy
town 25 miles west of Harare.

The intruders were not in uniform, although one of the men claimed to be a
police officer. They refused to let her dress, find her spectacles or pick
up the blood pressure pills that she is supposed to take three times a day.

Her 17-year-old son Takudzwa and a six-year-old niece, Tofara, who was in
her care, were left shocked and alone after seeing her led away in her
nightdress.

Mukoko, 51, who was widowed 13 years ago, has not been seen since by family,
friends or lawyers. The regime of President Robert Mugabe has said nothing
about her whereabouts or her condition. Fears for her safety are growing.

Last week supporters assembled in Zimbabwe's capital to turn a celebration
of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
into a demonstration for her release.
Lawyers marched through the streets in their robes calling for an end to
"extrajudicial abductions". But even among activists there is no consensus
about who has taken Mukoko.

Some believe it is the work of the secret police - the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO). Others speculate that she was kidnapped on the orders of
a leading figure in Zanu-PF, the ruling party, irritated by her criticism of
the regime.

Certainly Mukoko has been a thorn in Mugabe's flesh. She resigned from state
television to become director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a human rights
monitoring network, and has been one of the regime's most intelligent,
influential and informed critics.

She has collected evidence of tens of thousands of abuses in the past
decade. Her monthly reports have detailed the routine tyranny of violence,
the shortage of food and the denial of free speech that characterise
Zimbabwean life today, particularly in rural areas.

Mukoko pioneered the use of information technology to map Zanu-PF's attacks
on its opponents. Before elections last March she presented her findings
publicly in a Harare hotel. She knew her audience included members of the
CIO but nevertheless set out patterns of violence in the 2002 and 2005
elections and predicted where trouble would occur in 2008.

The places she identified - such as Manicaland and Masvingo provinces - were
indeed subjected to Zanu-PF campaigns of mass eviction, communal beating and
murder. Opposition figures believe much of Zimbabwe's current tragedy might
have been avoided if international observers had followed her advice and
gone to such trouble spots.

Mukoko has been an outspoken critic of Zimbabwe's system of supplying food.
Her analysis shows food is supplied to those showing loyalty to the ruling
party and is denied to opposition supporters.

While activists still hope for the best, many fear that Mukoko has already
been murdered. Lawyers have visited police stations in Norton and Harare to
search for her.

The High Court stalled for five days before hearing an urgent application
for her release. On Tuesday a judge, Anne-Marie Gorowa, ordered the police
"to dispatch a team . . . to search for Jestina Mukoko". The authorities
simply ignored the ruling. Police said they had no jurisdiction to search
military or intelligence premises.

Other members of the Zimbabwe Peace Project have also been targeted. Three
were arrested for photographing uncollected refuse, bank queues and cholera
victims. Their lawyers say they were released after three days when the
police conceded that they could not bring any charges.

Nobody knows exactly why Mugabe chose this moment to silence Mukoko; but the
abduction is seen as a sign of his desperation and a reflection of the
mounting pressure on him.

Mugabe demonstrated in a rambling speech last Thursday that he is infuriated
by television coverage of the cholera epidemic, which his officials have
blamed on "biological warfare" waged by Britain. The United Nations estimate
the death toll at nearly 1,000, but it may be twice as high. His claim that
cholera has been eradicated backfired as local commentators queued up to
refute it.

Cholera is by no means the only serious threat to life. The UN estimates
that 5m people will soon need food aid. The economy is in freefall. Four
months after launching a new currency, the central bank has bowed to
hyperinflationary pressure and issued Zim $500m notes.

The prospect of a unity government seems further away than ever. The
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition
leader, won elections in March but has been unable to take power. Fifteen
MDC members were snatched from their homes in Mashonaland in late October.
Two senior party officials were arrested in Bindura in November; last week
Gandhi Mudzingwa, Tsvangirai's former personal assistant, was abducted.
Nothing has been heard of them since.

Many in the MDC believe the regime is moving onto a war footing. Mugabe has
been shocked by calls from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Raila Odinga, the
Kenyan prime minister, for him to be removed, if necessary by force.

Eddie Cross, an MDC MP, has suggested that the regime is fuelling an
expectation of conflict by planting stories on the internet alleging that
the Zam-bian army is building up forces on Zimbabwe's northern border. Cross
thinks the CIO has also circulated neighbouring governments with a dossier
of fabricated evidence that Bot-swana is training a guerrilla army to invade
Zimbabwe.

Mugabe may hope that by exaggerating the threat of invasion he can justify
the crackdown on opposition groups. Activists argue that if a woman of
Mukoko's prominence can be made to disappear with impunity, there is no
limit to the regime's readiness to destroy its critics.

Catalogue of tyranny

Jestina Mukoko recorded 20,143 incidents between January and September 2008
including:

- 202 murders

- 463 abductions

- 41 rapes

- 411 cases of torture

- 3,942 assaults

- 907 cases of malicious damage to property

- 444 cases of unlawful detention

- 10,795 cases of harassment/intimidation

- 73% of victims are said to be supporters of the opposition MDC

- 80% of perpetrators of violence are claimed to be Zanu-PF supporters

Source: Zimbabwe Peace Project

Mugabe a past master of holding on to power

http://www.latimes.com

For decades, the Zimbabwe leader has carefully calibrated his actions to a
level of 'acceptable' violence that escapes condemnation while destroying
opposition.
By Robyn Dixon
December 13, 2008
Reporting from Harare, Zimbabwe -- For a very literal example of Robert
Mugabe's staying power, look no further than a recent crisis summit of
southern African leaders designed to settle the political impasse that has
seen the longtime Zimbabwean leader stubbornly cling to the presidency.

The leaders wanted him to leave the room so they could deliberate in
private. He refused.

Between their misguided politeness and his famous capacity to intimidate,
the presidents meekly backed down. Mugabe stayed.

Be it with his fellow African leaders, the West or the Zimbabwean
opposition, the 84-year-old Mugabe has outmaneuvered -- and outlasted -- his
critics for more than a quarter of a century, through a careful calibration
of the international reaction to and domestic effect of his actions. As
close as the end sometimes seems, Mugabe has managed to survive.

To help understand his staying power, one need only rewind to the 1980s and
the massacres of his early years in power, when he was a conquering hero who
had thrown out the white minority regime of Ian Smith.

The name of the murderous operation, Gukurahundi, was as lyrical as a haiku:
the wind that blows away the chaff before the spring rains.

Mugabe's political opponents were the chaff. The spring rains were supposed
to signify the golden era of a one-party state (or rather, a one-man state).

Western leaders and news media ignored the massacres of the "dissidents" by
the army's crack Five Brigade in Matabeleland province in southern Zimbabwe.
Some estimates put the dead at 20,000.

Mugabe drew his most important lesson from the West's blase reaction,
analysts believe: that there's a level of "acceptable" violence that will
escape international condemnation, but still destroy any threat to his
power.

"He's never, ever been frightened of war," said analyst Tony Reeler of the
Research & Advocacy Unit, an independent think tank in Harare, the capital.
Mugabe learned that he could get away with "subliminal terror" that would
not trigger international intervention, he said.

"It's just below the threshold that upsets people, and it's deliberately
so," he said.

"Deliberate" is a word that defines Mugabe. Bony and severe, he is a
teetotaler who freezes debate in Cabinet sessions with silence, former
associates say.

His family history may help explain his chilly, calculating nature. His
father abandoned the family after the death of Mugabe's older brother, the
father's favorite. His mother was a strict, pious woman who believed that
God had great plans for her son, a bookish loner with no real friends, after
a Jesuit priest at the local school said the boy was destined to be a
leader.

His destiny proved to be a ruthless one.

The shadow of the Gukurahundi campaign has haunted Zimbabwe since the early
1980s. Mugabe repeatedly revived its message that opponents would be killed
or tortured. But those who felt the rushing "wind" that was Gukurahundi
needed no reminding.

"It's painful to remember. It's a story told in blood," said a 61-year-old
retired military officer who was attached to the Five Brigade when the unit
"cleansed" villages in 1982, arresting the men, interrogating and torturing
them to identify opposition guerrillas. Like others cited in this report, he
spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions.

He said he saw thousands of people killed. Women were shut into thatched
huts and burned alive. Even the children were targets.

"They would take these young boys about a year old and they would say, 'This
one will grow up to be a dissident,' and they would smash his head against a
tree, or against a wall, or against the ground."

Others who were behind Gukurahundi are now among Mugabe's closest and most
trusted allies.

Emerson Mnangagwa was head of security when the massacres started and is now
Mugabe's heir apparent. He was succeeded as security chief in the 1980s by
Sydney Sekeremayi, now defense minister. The Five Brigade was commanded by
Perence Shiri, the current air force commander.

Like Mugabe, all are obsessed with hanging on to their assets and avoiding
prosecution. Their only guarantee of that is clinging to power.

Mugabe has rekindled the terror whenever he has perceived a political
threat. He unleashed violence in elections in 2000 and 2002 after the rise
of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. He seized land from white
farmers beginning in 2000 because many supported the MDC. In 2005, he
launched Murambatsvina, or Operation Clean Out the Filth, evicting 700,000
urban people in MDC strongholds from their homes.

With every operation, he grew less popular among the people -- but more
feared. It seemed that he no longer could distinguish between the two.

On election day in March of this year, Mugabe affected the air of a leader
so popular that he needn't concern himself with the opposition. He had shown
extraordinary energy in the campaign, blitzing several rallies a day clad in
his favorite election garb: a peaked cap and a yellow, lime green or red
suit decorated with his own grinning face.

"Why should I cheat?" he said, fixing the camera with a beady eye after
casting his vote. "The people are there supporting us, day in, day out. The
moment people stop supporting you, then that's the moment you should quit
politics."

After his shocking defeat by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the first-round
presidential vote, he blamed traitors in his ZANU-PF party, according to
several party sources. Enraged, he accused top ZANU-PF figures of
"de-campaigning," or campaigning against him.

He told military and ruling party leaders that he was ready to step down,
according to numerous party sources. But rather than ceding control to the
"securocrats" and generals, he has instead strengthened his position with
these hard-line forces in the party, the sources say.

"It was done strategically," a ZANU-PF insider said.

"It was to jolt people into action, and it had the desired effect. There was
a lot of lethargy and despondency in the party at the time, and people
thought Tsvangirai was coming in. Mugabe told some people he was willing to
concede defeat and this jolted them into action.

"These are people who depend on Mugabe for their own political existence.
Without Mugabe, they're nothing. They realized they could not afford to let
Mugabe concede, for their own reasons."

So, in the most recent echo of Gukurahundi, the military and war veterans
recruited youthful militants and set up hundreds of militia bases, beating
thousands of MDC supporters, burning their houses and torturing and killing
opposition activists. At least 130 people died, though the figure could be
higher because much of the violence occurred in remote rural areas out of
sight of human rights groups and journalists.

Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round in June because of the violence,
and African observers condemned the result.

After his electoral setbacks, Mugabe initially seemed like a badly mauled
lion, unlikely to survive a night of circling hyenas. In July, when he was
trapped by TV cameras at an African Union conference in Cairo, video of his
rattled, seething responses surfaced almost instantly on YouTube.

Yet since then, he has pulled back from the brink and, amazingly, remains in
power, still recognized as president by African leaders despite his lack of
a legitimate mandate.

Even opponents grudgingly concede that it has been a masterful recovery.
Mugabe has taken advantage of the jumble of motives among ZANU-PF figures,
buying loyalty by doling out rewards such as farms and benefits. None of
them is clean, so all feel vulnerable.

"There are some people who are just in it for the money and other people who
might fear retribution if the opposition party comes in to power. There are
some people who believe that for ideological reasons Mugabe is the best
person to lead the country. And you have other people steeped in the
liberation struggle who don't believe they can let ZANU-PF decline," said
the ZANU-PF insider. "You have a mixed bag of people with the same goal."

Southern African leaders meeting as the Southern African Development
Community have the job of settling the crisis, but Mugabe has cleverly
played on the feelings of the old boys' club of African liberation
movements, most of which see the rise of a strong opposition as an unwelcome
precedent in the region.

"He's managed to get SADC to endorse his position," the ZANU-PF insider
said. "There's still this belief at all costs that liberation movements
cannot be replaced."

Many analysts believe the regime is dying. But it's all in slow motion, like
a protracted death scene in a bad movie.

The victims of the Gukurahundi campaign are waiting.

Solomon Nsingo's wife was bayoneted to death by the Five Brigade in front of
the couple's four children.

"I think about her all the time," he said, "at night and in the day."

He wants Mugabe to pay. "He killed my wife. How can I ever forgive him for
that?"

Dixon is a Times staff writer.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Dabengwa champions PF Zapu revival

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=8767

December 13, 2008

By Our Correspondent

BULAWAYO - Disgruntled senior Zanu-PF officials officially split from
President Robert Mugabe's party on Saturday, dealing a severe blow to the
84-year-old leader who is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down.

Mugabe has been under pressure to relinquish power in the face of a
political and humanitarian crisis blamed on his misrule.

The former Zanu-PF officials, mainly from the southern region, announced
their breakaway from Mugabe's party at a convention on held in Bulawayo on
Saturday.

One of Mugabe's former ministers, Dumiso Dabengwa, is understood to have
championed the split. He said his party would challenge Mugabe and Zanu-PF
in elections.

The re-launch of the Patriotic Front Zimbabwe African People's Union (PF
Zapu), effectively ending a 21-year- old political marriage with Zanu-PF.

Zanu-PF and PF Zapu signed a unity accord in 1987 following a state
crackdown in the southern region where PF Zapu commanded its main support.

The operation resulted in the death of over 20 000 civilians, according to
the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace (CCJP).

The crackdown, which was code-named Gukurahundi, saw Mugabe send a crack
troops to Matabeleland ostensibly to suppress dissents allegedly associated
with PF Zapu.

The operation was also seen as a way of applying pressure on PF Zapu to
agree to be partners with his Zanu-PF and to force a one party state.

The two day re-launch of PF Zapu, held at MacDonald Hall in Mzilikazi
suburb, was attended by hundreds of members of the party's former armed
wing, ZIPRA, Bulawayo residents and delegates from across divide from the
country's ten provinces.

All members of the former Bulawayo Zanu-PF provincial executive attended the
PF Zapu convention. They all quit Zanu-PF last month just before the holding
of the provincial executive polls last week.

Former speaker of parliament, Cyril Ndebele, attended.

Dabengwa, a former member of Zanu-PF's supreme decision-making body, the
Politburo, said PF Zapu split from Mugabe's party as it no longer wanted to
be associated with the Zimbabwean leader's one-man rule of nearly three
decades.

"PF Zapu will forge alliances with other political parties to challenge
Mugabe's one man rule and to dislodge him from power," said Dabengwa, one of
the co-coordinators of the revival of PF Zapu said.

"We will contest any election against Zanu-PF and against Mugabe in
particular."

Elections to choose an interim leadership will be held on Sunday, Effort
Nkomo, the spokesperson of the revival of PF Zapu confirmed

Dabengwa is expected to lead PF Zapu.

A Bulawayo based political analyst Max Mnkandla, commenting on the split,
said although it left Zanu-PF weakened, the party might not be taken
seriously as it had a "tainted leadership".

Zanu-PF has been accused of leading acts of violence against MDC supporters
and politicizing food, he said.

"How is the revived Zapu going to address the gross human rights violations
since most of them collaborated or are implicated in by virtue of their
association with Zanu-PF or activity?" he said.  "Can people take Zapu
seriously with tainted leadership?

"And having been part and parcel of Zanu-PF ideology over 20 years, some at
the highest level of politburo, there is a likelihood of a transfer of
Zanu-PF culture to the revived Zapu.

"The culture of violence, corruption, intolerance, indiscipline cannot be
erased that easily after being practiced for so many years."

The PF Zapu convention came against a backdrop of allegations that Zanu-PF
members had been spreading rumours within Bulawayo and outside that the
convention had been postponed to a later date.

Mugabe splurges while US forks out for suffering people

Second opinion: James McGee says Zimbabwe’s regime has largely abdicated the basic responsibility of caring for its citizens to the international community

President George Bush recently denounced the illegitimate Mugabe regime, calling once again for a government that would end the repression and express the will of the Zimbabwean people.

On March 29, the citizens of the country voted decisively to change their leaders. They demanded a better government.

But their demands have been largely ignored by the losers of the election, hence Bush’s reference to an illegitimate regime. And the Mugabe regime continues to forfeit its legitimacy on a daily basis, by failing to meet the most basic obligation of government — to care for its people.

Governments are created to protect their citizens. Zimbabwe’s government has largely abdicated this responsibility and the work of caring for many suffering Zimbabweans has fallen to the international community.

I am proud of the leading role the US is playing in this regard, but we should not lose sight of the fact that we are doing what the government of Zimbabwe should do, but chooses not to do.

In the past year, the US has provided more than 218-million in humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe. We are the leading food donor, providing 211-million in food commodities to address the food emergency.

The US provides nearly 70% of all international food aid distributed in Zimbabwe through non-governmental organisations and the UN World Food Programme. It spent nearly 30-million last year on HIV/Aids programmes, in addition to paying for 33% of the Global Fund’s various programmes. And it is providing an additional 600000 in emergency aid to combat the cholera epidemic that is devastating Zimbabwe.

What is the Mugabe regime doing? It is buying hundreds of cars so that every minister and governor can have multiple vehicles. It is buying plasma televisions for judges. It is stifling the private sector so that mines and factories are forced to close, laying off workers and harassing NGOs that are trying to provide support to suffering Zimbabweans.

The widespread hunger in Zimbabwe, the cholera epidemic and the collapse of education and healthcare systems are not the result of any targeted sanctions. These disastrous failures result from decisions by a few Zimbabwean leaders to put personal interests ahead of the public interest.

Instead of spending scarce resources on water purification chemicals that might stop the cholera epidemic, they are manipulating currency to make a personal profit. Instead of ensuring that hospitals and clinics remain open, staffed and supplied, they enjoy lives of luxury in gated compounds. Instead of paying teachers a living wage so that the next generation can learn, they fly around the world on shopping sprees.

The US is committed to continue its support of Zimbabwe’s people with food, medical supplies, water and sanitation improvements, and whatever else is needed to save lives. I only wish the illegitimate leaders of this country could find the same compassion and commitment for their own people.

I challenge the leaders of Zimbabwe to set aside their personal greed and commit to spending even a quarter of what the US and other donors will spend this year to meet citizens’ humanitarian needs.

The amount of aid the US gives Zimbabwe is an open fact. The Mugabe regime should open its books and tell the world how much it is spending on the people of Zimbabwe, and how much is being spent on luxury vehicles, the campaign of brutal violence against its own people and the desperate struggle to stay in power at all costs.

The bottom line is that the so-called leaders of this country must stop feeding their insatiable greed and take care of the poor.

Up to five million people will need food aid in the coming months. More than 15500 have suffered from cholera, with 746 deaths, and the epidemic is just starting. Untold thousands have suffered or died because they cannot gain access to medical care.

We remain ready to help.

However, right now the international community isn’t just helping. We’re being forced to lead by the Mugabe regime’s criminal negligence. It’s time for the regime to take responsibility for problems it has created.

Zimbabweans deserve better. They have asked for better through their votes. How long must they suffer before their government responds?

Zimbabwe's Stubborn Middle Class Stays Through Cholera And Political Crisis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

GlobalPost.com   |   December 13, 2008 04:21 PM

By GlobalPost's correspondent in Harare (who cannot be named because of
Zimbabwe's press restrictions)

There is plenty of gallows humor circulating in Zimbabwe these days. One
joke goes: "Q: What's the definition of an optimist? A: A Zimbabwean who
thinks the country has hit rock bottom."

As the cholera outbreak kills hundreds and still rages through the country,
it is obvious that Zimbabwe's already dire political and economic crisis has
drastically worsened and plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis.

The plight of the most vulnerable has received understandable international
attention. The poor have grown steadily poorer and died while President
Robert Mugabe's ruling clique has prospered.

But less attention has been paid to the fate of Zimbabwe's middle class,
once the country's backbone, which has been decimated in recent years. The
skilled have left en masse. Architects, artisans, electricians, mechanics,
doctors, nurses, teachers - all gone to the burgeoning diaspora, now
estimated at 5 million out of a total population of 13 million.

This mass migration at least provides a flow of funds from those working
outside Zimbabwe to those who remain. Zimbabwe is one of the world's newest
remittance economies.

Yet some of the country's middle class remain, determined to see the current
crisis through.

"Every day I am sad and infuriated by the misery of so many people, but I
still love this country," says Joy, 61. "I have a wonderful feeling about
the people I work with. We are all struggling to get by, but we are doing it
together. This government cannot last forever and I believe Zimbabwe will
once again become a magical place to live. I don't want to give up."

Joy conducts workshops with township children, promoting self-confidence and
artistic expression, even though many badly need a good meal. Her husband
James, 51, came to Zimbabwe in the 1980s to escape military service in
apartheid South Africa. He is an artist and sells his paintings to diplomats
and others with access to foreign currency.

Like most people who are "staying on", James and Joy doubt that they would
ever find a country to match Zimbabwe's almost perfect weather conditions.
But life can be frustrating. For example, electricians from the power
utility demand fuel or transport to repair faulty lines.

"The power shortages are infuriating," James says. "But just as we swear we
can't stand it another day, the lights come back on!"

The middle class is both white and black. "A few months ago our water
stopped and my daughter didn't know what to do," says Mildred (not her real
name), a black Harare accountant. "I told her to wash from a bucket of water
we had saved. She didn't know how! In the rural areas everyone knows how to
wash from a bucket of water. She didn't know how to be an African."

Fred, 31 and black, lives in a township on the eastern outskirts of Harare.
He has his own small home, a telephone line and occasionally running water.
He has a small garden where he grows vegetables. He is well-off compared to
the majority of his countrymen. The only way he can afford to stay in
Zimbabwe is by traveling to South Africa to buy goods in short supply at
home such as flour and rice and then selling them in his township.

"I don't want to leave when I have a home and a family dependent on me," he
says. "But I can only survive by cross-border trading. It's now a way of
life for me."

Zimbabweans across the old racial divide have been brought together in
coping with the intensifying crisis. At a bowling club in the city center
where the greens are still immaculate, whites of the old school share tales
of adversity with their black compatriots.

"It will all get better once he goes," one member suggests to wide approval.
Everybody knows who "he" is but no one utters Robert Mugabe's name for fear
of being arrested by one of the secret police - to publicly denigrate the
president is a crime.

No one knows when Mugabe will go, but the stubborn rump of Zimbabwe's middle
class seems determined to hang on.

GlobalPost.com launches January 12, 2009.

Good morning Zimbabwe , a lighter look on an average day in Zim...

http://www.lastrhodesian.blogspot.com/

I wake up, the sun is shining, the sky blue and cloudless and the Heuglin
robin outside in the garden is singing madly . I lean out of bed and switch
on the bedside light. No light! Oh no, that means the power is off again!.
Go to the bathroom to wash my teeth, turn on the tap and it gurgles and
hisses at me. Ooops no water either! Use the remaining water in the hot tap
and burn my mouth and face. Great! Oh well maybe it will help not to get
Cholera!!

Right, better phone the Zesa and water authorities. What a joke!! Phone
rings and rings, no answer to either, although I have tried every number in
book. Let's try the cell phone! Hmm should have known better, Network busy!
and "the number you have called is not available, try later!" Impossible to
phone anyone, even my neighbours. Give up and shout across fence. Yes they
too have no water and lights. Oh well, I suppose they will come on again
sometime!

A quick breakfast and off to the shops. Oh, forgot no electricity and the
gas has run out for the camp stove. The milk is sour anyway and eggs. Oh
well it's good for the figure.

I drive to the gate, but have to get out and manually push it open, as the
motor was stolen some time ago and we have not got round to get another.
Damn the rubbish bag is STILL there, put it out days ago. Beggars been
scrabbling in it too so paper all over the place. .Must remember to do
something about it when I come back.

Turn on to the main rd, but have to edge half way into the road as all the
sisal plants and bush on the side walk just left to go wild hide the road .

Off down the main rd I go.

OH my goodness!!! There is a huge yellow Hummer (huge tank like American
car, been brought in to country, latest trend!) heading straight for me!! Is
he mad!!! Phew, no he is just dodging pot holes and manages to miss me.

Now I have to do the "slalom" skiing thing as well, and dodge round the many
potholes, but OW!!! Did not see that huge one, and hit it with a thump! Hope
it did not break a spring or something.

Looking at the beautiful blue sky and the brilliant red blossom of the
Flamboyant trees, wow, aren't they great, but my eye goes down the trunks to
see the over grown broken side walks and piles of rubbish lying in the
grass. Sigh! The odd rusted street light lies broken in half too. No wonder
it's so dark at night.

Need to get some Zim cash now too. Oh no! What is that crowd of milling
people???? Is it a riot? No, just the daily crowd queuing outside banks to
get their daily 500,000m $ cash each. Some are asleep on ground next to the
wall, looks promising!

Fight my way through into the bank. No the queue is just too long, it will
take me all day. Will just get my account balance instead, that is a shorter
queue so I wait. You get to hear all sorts of things in these 'Q's and make
"new friends". No one very cheerful today tho. Lots of muttering about the
general situation, no water etc. .

O.K get to the counter. Lethargic attendant, tosses her brassy coloured
dreadlock styled hair out of her eyes and says "the lines are down." Well
what do I do?? Know I have at least 50 billion dollars in my account, but
could be weeks each queuing to get it out, and no one accepts cheques these
days. What a good way to save money! Pity it devalues daily as well.

So muttering off I go, scrabble in my purse and find a few 2 million Zim $
and a 50 US$ note, so that should be fine.

I pop into TM and Bon Marche first. Oh, looks like they having a closing
down sale? Just rows of empty shelves!! Most of the shop sort of closed off.
Obviously it's loo paper and cornflakes day, as 2 shelves have only those
spread out to look like a lot.! A few tired veg and a few other odd goods
spread out. Takes not even 5 mins to rush round with a trolley, and still
come out empty. Edgars is the same, big empty shop with a few rails of
garments in one corner. Look at the prices of a blouse and nearly freak. HOW
many zero's???? Maths was never my strong subject at school, but can't even
figure it out, definitely millions, could be trillions?? Lethargic assistant
busy talking on cell phone so can't ask her.

So off I go to another part of the suburbs! Drive thro a "river". No wonder
we have no water! See a huge hole on the side where water is just pumping
out, someone put a huge branch off a tree in luckily as one could just drive
into it! Come up to some traffic lights, hesitate, are they working? Is that
a red light ? Yes, but also a green!! That gets confusing. All cars hesitate
but whoosh, some smart fellow in a brand new latest Merc. doesn t even
pause, drives past us all loud music blaring and talking on his cell phone.
GRRR!

Another traffic light! Well that is just not working at all so I edge my way
through it. Get to the post office and have to negotiate thro a pile of
gravel and an open hole in the tar (been like that for months) and across a
shallow ditch. Feels as if I am on the Dakar rally. No wonder so many people
have 4 x 4 cars in town!. No one in post office and I cough loudly.
Eventually a young girl comes out of the office. I have come to collect a
parcel from Germany that friends sent us over a month ago.

"I think there is something that is rotten in it" she says giving it to me .
It has been at the main sorting office for about a month, but they have no
fuel to deliver parcels and post to the satellite post offices, she
explains. (discover later, the "rotten "smell is a piece of Brie cheese that
they sent with some other goodies, and has got VERY ripe after so long, and
was escaping from it's packaging!)

Now I get to a SPAR supermarket. Wow! That's better, shelves stocked, Xmas
decorations, music playing. Actually feels like the good old days. However
EVERYTHING marked in US $. No wonder it is so stocked. Well that's just
great, but my 50 us is not going to go far judging by the prices!!

A large black lady in front of me doesn't seem to worry though, her trolly
is full! And she pulls out wads of notes from her purse. Meanwhile a little
old pensioner is holding 1 peach wondering if she can afford it! Another
ordinary older black guy looks at a packet of ration bones, shakes his head
and puts it back on the shelf..Meanwhile I buy a few items take it to the
till and when I hand over the 50 note, get told they have no small change,
but he will give me a credit note for 1.75 cents! Great! Now how will I
remember to use that on my next shop trip, even if I can find the slip of
paper again!

However no fresh milk, sugar etc being sold, so on to my next stop. A friend
sells milk, cheese and butter from her back door, from a farmer (amazingly
there are still a few endangered species about) who brings it in twice a
week. Hand over my own containers and get my milk, a cup of coffee and a
chat. On to the next shopping centre. Look around, sure enough a fellow
selling veggies sidles up. "you want cigarettes, toilet paper, mealie
meal??" I tell him I need sugar, so off he goes, back in a few minutes,
looks over his shoulder and hands me 2kgs sugar and tells me it will cost me
2 Us ( pronounced Yoosa) or 4 million Z $ but he would prefer the "yoosa".
Luckily I have got small change so take it.

This is getting quite exhausting! Time I went home, but still need eggs. See
some guy is selling trays of eggs and big packets of loo paper on the side
of the road, but a bit dubious as to how long eggs have been sitting in the
sun, go instead to another shopping centre where a small gift shop sell eggs
as well??

Last but not least stop to get a loaf of bread but need to use Zim $ for
that , however find a loaf is now 3 million, so don't have enough.

Head for home, but see I need fuel, pull in at garage, but see I have to
have fuel coupons for it. Can only get those from the office in industrial
sites, so give up. Hit another pothole on way home and swear madly!

Get home, gardener greets me with "please can he borrow some money to
collect his relation from hospital to send to him back to the rural home, as
hospital has no drugs and are not taking patients". Cook joins in and also
asks s to borrow money for top up school fees for her daughter at nearby
school. As there are no teachers teaching (only get paid a pittance) the
kids just go to school each day and "play", so can't see why they need more
school fees!!!

Anyway the electricity has come on! And there is dribble of water in taps
again. Hooray, life HAS improved; at least I can now have a cup of tea. BUT,
now the phone is out of order, so can not down load my E mails! BIG SIGH!

I have spent all morning shopping, but have about 5 items to show for it,
the car is just about out of fuel and I have driven 35 kms in all.

Just another day in Zim!! AND we are one of the lucky ones who actually are
surviving. Just!

Oh, and to add to it! The cat has eaten the 2 pieces of fish we were
defrosting for supper!! Now THAT'S a disaster!

Well there you are! Saves me trying to explain how we are living in Zim.from
the "ordinary" person's point of view, ( NOT from the wealthy group or the
really poor group! Sure they would have another story.)

Love C and D

Change shortages: Commuters bear the brunt

http://www1.sundaymail.co.zw

By Susan Tokwe

ABSOLUTE madness and greed! The above statement aptly describes the
situation in Harare during the past week, where consumers found themselves
being milked dry following the introduction of the new $10 million, $50
million and $100 million notes by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last
week Thursday.

This was coupled with the increase in the withdrawal limit from $500 000 to
$100 million.

Said one frustrated commuter: "Yes, I have heard of prices of commodities
and other services going up every time the withdrawal limit is reviewed but
never because of a shortage of change. Consumers are being held at ransom by
unscrupulous business people who have taken advantage of the shortage of
change and are forcing people to spend a certain amount in order to get
change."

Most commuters including this reporter were in for a surprise last Thursday
evening when they were told, " only those with loose money would be
permitted to board commuter omnibuses" resulting in others having to go
shopping in a bid to find change.

Private car owners being overwhelmed because their fares are always lower,
but like their counterparts they also did not have change.

Touts could be heard shouting, "Ane $5 million yake yakachinjika mubhazi,
hatidi zvekuzonetsana nekuti hatina change (only those with $5 million
should get onto the bus, we don't want trouble because we have no change)".

It was the same scenario at the few shops that remained opened, as most of
them were only giving change to those that spent 80 percent of their money.

As a result some commuters were forced to part with the $100 million they
had withdrawn so they could go home.

Those who could not find anything to buy had no choice but to leave behind
part of their change before being rudely told to collect the rest of their
money the following day after taking down the drivers' name and the car's
registration number.

"The best thing would be to form a club. One person pays in the morning and
the next in line pays in the evening, because there is nothing we can do. If
you want we can write you a note stating the amount of change we owe you
then you can collect later, but we definitely cannot let you ride for free,"
said one Budiriro driver who was clearly happy about the whole scenario.

Then, there were the daredevils, the worst of the lot.

These could be heard at most ranks shouting at the top of their voices
"anoda change yake" (those who want change), because they had realised they
could make a killing by selling change and were doing just that.

One man who identified himself as Fatso at Copacabana terminus was simply
overwhelmed by the demand for change and had to ask for assistance from a
friend.

Somehow he had "foreseen" the problem of change ahead and was " fully
prepared".

"I am offering $40 million if you have $50 million and $80 million if you
have $100 million," Fatso could be heard shouting.

With a big backpack comprising mainly $1 million notes by their side, Fatso
and his friend became an instant hit.

Fatso's friend was doing the counting while he was shouting and negotiating
with the "customers".

Soon there were more people selling change. By Saturday the margin had gone
up, most people were offering $35 million for $50 million notes and $70
million for $100 million but would not disclose where they were getting the
money.

As of yesterday, most omnibuses were charging $50 million per trip and the
prices of most goods in shops were pegged at $50 million going up because of
the $200 million notes introduced by RBZ.

The shortage of change also resulted in an increase in the number of
commuters paying their fares in forex.

The words "ndine dollar or ndine rand" (I have a dollar or I have R10),
quickly met by the conductors' response, "nerate ye marii?" (at what rate?)
have become popular.

However, as from last week Wednesday those with either US$1 or R10 were
being charged a flat fee and their demands for change were being ignored.

It was either the US$1 or R10 in order to go home or to stay in town.

Change has been of so much importance that even newspaper and magazine
vendors at most street corners, who are usually the ones with loose money
have not been helpful since most of them are also selling change.

While the majority of service providers have been enjoying brisk business,
there have been some casualties.

These include some shops in some high-density suburbs that have had to close
because of change shortages.

A female ice cream vendor at Market Square said she had been left with only
one option and that was "to buy change", then make a few sales before the
day ends.

Fresh Elections To Decide Impasse

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 21:17

THE country inched closer to fresh elections as Morgan Tsvangirai's
MDC formation yesterday said it would not support the passing of
Constitutional Amendment 19 until outstanding issues stalling the formation
of a unity government were resolved.

 The government was yesterday expected to gazette the Bill that gives
legal effect to the formation of a government of national unity between Zanu
PF and the two MDC formations.

 The Bill that is likely to be introduced in Parliament next month
cannot be passed without the support of the two MDC formations that enjoy a
combined majority in the House.

 MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said his party would not support
the amendment until the parties agreed on a fair allocation of ministries,
the composition of the National Security Council and the appointment of
senior government officials.

 "Our position is very clear we will not support the amendment unless
the outstanding issues are resolved," he said. "If these are not resolved
MDC's support of the amendment is not guaranteed."

 The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick
Chinamasa last week said if the two MDC formations failed to support the
Bill, there would be fresh harmonized elections.

 The polls will be for the election of councillors, House of Assembly
representatives, Senators and a President.

 But the MDC said it would only participate in elections under a new
people-driven constitution and an independent electoral commission.  The
party also wants polls supervised and monitored by the United Nations and
the African Union.

 Chamisa said MDC would participate in elections to choose a President
"since it was the only contestable position".

 He said elections for councillors, MPs and Senators were legally
concluded during the March polls.

 "What is in dispute is the position of President. Mugabe cannot drag
the whole country into harmonised elections because he lost," Chamisa said.

 He said Zanu PF was keen on holding fresh elections to reverse the
MDC's electoral gains through an orgy of violence, abductions and killings.

 "Regardless, we are ready to defeat Mugabe for the second time
resoundingly and emphatically," he said.
 On Friday, the Eighth MDC-T national council meeting held in Kadoma
resolved to pressure the AU and UN to ensure that if the political impasse
remained unresolved, fresh elections be held.

 The party also resolved to officially call for former South African
President Thabo Mbeki to be relieved of his duties as a mediator in the
talks with Zanu PF because of his alleged bias.

 Analysts say Mugabe, who recently   told  his  supporters  to prepare
for fresh elections in one and half years was already in an election mode as
evidenced by an upsurge in abductions of his opponents.

Last week, the MDC said suspected state agents have abducted close to
20 of its supporters since last month. About six were abducted in Manicaland
province on Wednesday.

 Meanwhile, suspected state security agents abducted an MDC official
who challenged Vice-President Joice Mujuru during the 2000 parliamentary
election in Mt Darwin from his Norton home on November 27.

 He has not been heard from since then, his lawyers said last week.

 Chinoto Zulu was seized a few days before gunmen abducted former
television personality, Jestina Mukoko also from her Norton home.

 His lawyer, Charles Kwaramba said Zulu's wife reported her husband
was taken from their home around 10am by four armed men who identified
themselves as police officers.

 The men reportedly told Zulu they wanted to question him about an
accident, which happened in Dzivarasekwa.

 In another incident, Mapfumo Gurutsa a fuel dealer from Norton was
abducted on November 30 in broad daylight.

 Enraged onlookers assaulted one of the men before taking him to
Norton police station.

 But he was reportedly released after it emerged that he was a Central
Intelligence Organisation operative.

The MDC has warned that the abductions pose a major threat to the
faltering dialogue between thecountry's main political parties.

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE AND JENNIFER DUBE

Cholera Defies Mugabe

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 20:38

IN a week the government claimed it had "arrested cholera" at least 60
people died of the disease in Chegutu alone, in one of the biggest implosion
of the epidemic since the outbreak in August.

The deaths in the town more than 100 km west of Harare and fresh
reports of new infections in rural Masvingo flew in the face of President
Robert Mugabe's pronouncements on Thursday that the outbreak that has so far
killed 800 people and affected more than 16 000 others had been "arrested".

Dr David Parirenyatwa, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare
yesterday confirmed the outbreak in Chegutu but was unable say how many
people had died.

"Yes, I have heard about the fresh outbreak," he said before
terminating the call.

But sources said efforts to contain the highly contagious but
treatable disease that began on Monday were hampered by an acute shortage of
drugs at Chegutu District Hospital.

Aid agencies only began reacting on Thursday, after reports of the
deaths. Although the United Nations   Children's Fund (Unicef)
communications officer,  Tsitsi Singizi confirmed the outbreak, her agency
could not confirm the death toll.

Unicef immediately dispatched medical teams to assist.

Another 60 had reportedly died in Kadoma, where aid agencies also
deployed resources to fight the epidemic.

 In Masvingo reports said at least 30 people had succumbed to the
disease by last week.

 Sources said the disease was first detected in the province a
fortnight ago, with most of the victims coming from the rural areas that are
facing critical water problems.

 The hardest hit areas in the province are Bikita, Zaka, Mushandike
and Chiredzi.

A senior nurse at Masvingo General Hospital said they were failing to
cope with the influx of patients.

 "Most of the victims are referred here from the rural areas but we
can't treat them because we are facing a severe crisis of drug shortages,"
said the source.

 Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo provincial medical director,
Dr Robert Madyiradima were fruitless as he was said to be out of office.

 Two days after Mugabe's declaration that the disease was under
control, Unicef appealed for funds for an emergency response to the
epidemic.

Noting the serious desperation on the ground, Unicef said it needed up
to US$17.5 million in "immediate funding" to scale-up its response to the
disease.

 "The situation in Zimbabwe is dire and our response has to match the
severity," said Unicef acting representative, Roeland Monasch.

 Stung by attacks from Western leaders who called on him to resign,
Mugabe last week tried to downplay the extent of the outbreak.

 "I am happy to say our doctors, assisted by others and the World
Health Organisation, have now arrested cholera," Mugabe told mourners at the
burial of Zanu PF political commissar Elliot Manyika. "So now that there is
no cholera, there is no cause for war anymore."

Information and Publicity Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu sprung to Mugabe's
defence, claiming Britain and the United States were using cholera in a
chemical war fare against the country.

  Aid agencies said the statements showed that the government was out
of touch with reality.
 They said the situation on the ground suggested that there may be new
infections and more deaths were expected.

  "We are not seeing that it has stopped," United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) administrator, Henrietta Fore said last
week.

 "We currently have a report that there are approximately 800 deaths
and 16,000 people infected."

 The chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors' for Human
Rights, Dr Douglas Gwatidzo said the utterances by Mugabe were "very
unfortunate".

  "Last week government admitted for the first time that Zimbabwe's
cholera epidemic is a national emergency but a few days later Mugabe says
the outbreak is contained," he said.

"I think Mugabe owes the nation and the families of those people who
have died of cholera an apology."

 Oxfam warned that the cholera epidemic posed a "grave danger" to 300
000 people, already weakened by food shortages while local health experts
attacked the government for trying to downplay the crisis.

 The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) appealed to the World
Health Organisation to ignore the government's "political posturing" and
help Zimbabweans fight the cholera epidemic.

 "We recognize that the current health crisis does not emanate from
the health sector as it comes from wider economic collapse," CWGH national
director Itai Rusike said, "and the increasing extent to which people are
not accessing basic public services like education, transport water and
electricity."

 Two Canadian organisations, World Vision and the Health Partners
International of Canada have teamed up to source cholera medications which
they are now preparing to ship to Zimbabwe in the coming week.

BY BERTHA SHOKO AND GODFREY MUTIMBA

PF Zapu Revivalists Set To Elect New Leadership

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 20:27
BULAWAYO - PF Zapu members will today elect an interim executive to
lead the former liberation movement at a convention underway in the city.

Hundreds of former Zanu PF members from various provinces are gathered
at McDonald Hall in Mzilikazi for the two-day convention. This, analysts
say, marks the collapse of the December 1987 Unity Accord.

Zanu PF will hold its annual conference this week and the split might
loom large in discussions over the party's crumbling structures.

Several Zanu PF officials who held senior positions in Matabelelalnd
provincial structures were in charge of the organisation of the first
exclusive PF Zapu meeting in 21 years.

There were also former high-ranking officials such as the former
Speaker of Parliament, Cyril Ndebele who were part of the proceedings.

The delegates went into a closed session around midday and were
expected to discuss the drafting of a new constitution, strategies for
mobilising funds and resources and the proposed leadership structure.

Effort Nkomo, the spokesman for the breakaway group said elections
would be held today for an interim executive to lead the party until a
congress is held next year."The elections for an interim leadership will be
held tomorrow (Sunday) morning," he said.

"Today (Saturday), co-ordinators are discussing the drafting of the
party constitution, mobilization strategies for finance and resources and
its leadership structure.

"The outcome of the discussions and the way forward will be spelt out
at a press conference tomorrow."
Expectations were high that former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary
Army (Zipra) intelligence supremo and veteran nationalist, Dumiso Dabengwa
would lead the party.

Dabengwa fell out with his Zanu PF colleagues after he openly
challenged President Robert Mugabe's decision to hang on to power despite
growing calls for him to pass on the baton to other leaders.

Yesterday Dabengwa said they were determined to end Mugabe's 28-
year-old uninterrupted rule.

He said a revived PF Zapu would be ready to forge alliances with other
opposition parties to dislodge Zanu PF.

"PF Zapu will forge alliances with other political parties to
challenge Mugabe's one- man rule and to dislodge him from power," Dabengwa
said. "We will contest any election against Zanu PF and against Mugabe in
particular."

Analysts say Zanu PF is already smarting under the impact of the split
after its restructuring exercise produced "weak" provincial executive
members in Matabeleland.

Little known Zenzo Ncube was elected the Matabeleland North provincial
chairman while newcomer Isaac Dakamela is the new leader in Bulawayo.

In Matabeleland South, Environment and Tourism Deputy Minister Andrew
Langa took advantage of lack of interest by senior politicians to take the
top post.

A paltry 400 people elected Dakamela as virtually all the party
structures had reportedly defected to PF Zapu.

The revival of the party once led by the late Vice-President Joshua
Nkomo is also likely to erode Zanu PF's thinning grassroots support base
especially in Matabeleland.

PF Zapu revivalists say the nationalist party was forced into a
marriage of convenience with Zanu PF in order to end the Gukurahundi
atrocities in the Midlands and Matabeleland.

They say Zanu PF was never committed to the deal as demonstrated by
its reluctance to change its name and symbols and its reluctance to give for
PF Zapu leaders top posts.

On the streets of Bulawayo, residents were excited about the prospects
of a new party to challenge Mugabe and Zanu PF.

"Anyone who breaks away from Zanu PF - the causers of our suffering -
should be supported," said Gilbert Moyo. "The split from Zanu PF by PF Zapu
was long overdue and it's commendable. They should forge alliances with
other parties."

But Max Mnkandla, who says he rose to the rank of colonel in Zipra,
was sceptical about the relaunch saying its leaders were in Zanu PF for too
long.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Health Workers Reject Govt Forex Pay Offer

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 20:14
IN a desperate bid to end a two-month strike that has severely
crippled the country's health delivery system, the government is proposing
to pay doctors and nurses in foreign currency, it emerged last week.

Sources said the government had finally responded to demands by the
striking nurses and doctors by promising a monthly salary of US$30 for the
least paid health worker.

The lowest paid workers include cooks and cleaners as well as other
support staff.

Nurses were reportedly offered about US$60 while junior doctors were
set to receive between US$150 and US$200.

For senior doctors government had offered a salary of US$400, sources
say.

"These developments have already been communicated by the Ministry of
Health and Child Welfare to chief executive officers of Chitungwiza, Harare
and Parirenyatwa hospitals, and worker representatives have been notified of
these figures," a source said.

"In addition to these amounts government is saying it will provide
transport to and from work for all nurses and doctors.

"The buses that will carry workers were donated to hospitals by the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as part of the Medical Skills Retention and Health
Sector Revival Scheme during the June 27 presidential run-off election
campaign.

"Some buses that were donated to districts were also recalled to cater
for these hospitals."

The government, which is battling a serious cholera epidemic sweeping
across the country, is desperate to convince nurses and doctors to return to
work and fight the fast-spreading disease.

But health workers from Chitungwiza, Harare and Parirenyatwa who met
on Friday to review the work boycott rejected the government offer,
describing it as "too little".

Zimbabwe Hospital Workers' Association representative, Dr Amon
Siveregi, confirmed the developments but refused to shed more light on the
government's proposals.

"I am just from a meeting with workers from Chitungwiza, Harare and
Parirenyatwa and they have flatly rejected the government's offer," he said.
"We feel that government requested too little money from the donors who are
willing to bail it out. The workers are saying they want the lowest paid
worker, in this case a general hand, to be paid at least US$600.

"We want our nurses to be paid nothing less than US$1 500 and for
juniors doctors at least US$2 500.
"These are our demands and unless they are met, hospitals will remain
closed."

The secretary general of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors' Association,
Dr Malcolm Masikati, said the government's offer was an "embarrassment".

"The figures we have received are embarrassing to say the least. This
is why health workers have agreed at our meeting to ask government to go
back to the drawing board," Masikati said.

Health and Child Welfare Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa was not
immediately available to comment as his mobile phone went unanswered.

Last week, Parirenyatwa met potential donors in the hope of improving
conditions of service for health workers by paying their salaries in foreign
currency.

The country's major hospitals have suspended essential operations as a
result of the strike.
The health workers are also protesting against the acute shortage of
drugs, medicines and the lack of essential equipment.

Service delivery at government hospitals has continued to decline due
to perennial under-funding.
Poor salaries and unsafe working conditions have also seen experienced
health professionals leaving the country in droves for greener pastures.

BY BERTHA SHOKO

Squabbles Rock Creche

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 18:18
A protracted dispute between parents and volunteer workers has forced
withdrawal of 2 900 pupils from a Hopley pre-school.

The parents accuse the workers, believed to be Zanu PF supporters, of
looting donations given to the crèche by donors.

The pre-school was set up by former Porta Farm residents  resettled at
Hopley Farm.

The workers who are volunteers have refused to leave the institution
after parents said their services were no longer appreciated.

In October the workers applied for a court interdict against the
parents and won a default judgement.
But the parents have approached the courts seeking nullification of
the judgement arguing that the workers went to the courts behind their
backs. They said they had agreed with the workers to solve their dispute
through dialogue.

In a sworn affidavit, Jonsaya Manyere, one of the parents said they
wanted the volunteers to go because property was being stolen from the
pre-school.

Manyere alleged that out of 1 000 blankets donated to the centre
sometime this year, only 713 were given out to the children while the rest
were unaccounted for.

He also alleged that the bulk of the cups, table spoons, plates and
table tops given to the institution by a donor earlier this year went
missing.

In a notice of opposition, Tsitsi Muringai, one of the workers,
disputed the allegations saying that the applicants in the matter did not
have the children's interests at heart.

The workers say that since the formation of the day care centre,
parents had never complained about the way they were running the pre-school.

They said that "everyone" became interested in the crèche after donors
started dishing out food to workers at the centre.

The case will be heard in court on Wednesday.

BY OUR STAFF

Lawyers Allege Torture Of Diamond Suspects

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 16:33
HUNDREDS of alleged illegal diamond dealers arrested under a joint
army and police operation in Manicaland are still being tortured and denied
access to fair trial, a group of lawyers said last week.

The chairman of the Manicaland Legal Practitioners' Association
(MLPA), Johannes Zviuya said innocent people were being abducted, tortured
and taken to Chiadzwa in Marange to fill the gullies left by illegal
panners.

He said most of them were not taken to the courts to prove their
guilt.

"I can confirm that there are atrocities and torture going on in
Chiadzwa at the moment," Zviuya said. "Some people have died while others
are maimed for life."

He said the association was preparing a letter to the Attorney-General's
Office calling on the government to investigate the cases of human rights
violations allegedly being perpetrated by the police, soldiers and members
of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

"The general feeling here is that people are not receiving justice,"
Zviuya said. "As an association we cannot tolerate injustice. We can't just
watch when this is happening."

The association last week won this year's Human Rights Defender Award
sponsored by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

This was in recognition of its initiative in offering free legal
services to people arrested under the so-called Operation Hakudzokwi (You
don't return).

There are reports that as many as 50 people may have been killed in
Chiadzwa by soldiers and the police since August.

At one time Mutare General Hospital, the province's largest referral
health centre, had as many as 19 unclaimed bodies.

Police last week said they had flushed out 35 000 illegal diamond
miners from Marange and arrested 1 227 others under the operation.

Mutare-based human rights lawyer Chris Ndlovu said those who were
acquitted by the courts on allegations of dealing in diamonds were abducted
at night and taken to Chiadzwa to fill in  the gullies.

"What the police are doing is illegal," Ndlovu said. "Those who deny
the charges in court are abducted at night and taken to Chiadzwa to work.
This is not justice."

As a result several suspected diamond dealers in Manicaland province
have gone underground while others have fled the country.

Efforts to get a comment from police spokesperson Senior Assistant
Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena were fruitless.

However, Bvudzijena recently told The Standard the police would only
release a report after the completion of the operation.

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

RBZ Accused Of Reneging HIV/Aids Drug Support Pledge

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 16:21
AN international HIV/Aids advocacy group has challenged the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to honour a pledge it made two years ago to provide
US$2 million every month for the production of life-prolonging drugs for
people living with HIV/Aids (PLWHA).

In its latest report, the Southern African Treatment Access Movement
(Satamo), which is the regional governing body for the International
Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) and the Pan-African Treatment Access
Movement (Patam), called on RBZ Governor, Gideon Gono to honour the pledge
which he made in 2006.

 "In October 2006, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ),
Dr Gideon Gono, pledged to provide no less than US$2 million monthly towards
improving the health delivery system and purchasing drugs, including ARVs,"
says the report, released two weeks ago.

"Varichem, the local pharmaceutical company that manufactures generic
ARVs, only requires US$1 million monthly for ARV production.

"The RBZ should honour its commitment to the people of Zimbabwe, and
this will be a clear demonstration that the nation's health is a priority."

The report says if the RBZ honours that commitment, Zimbabwe "has the
capacity to manufacture generic ARVs", enough for the estimated 260 000
people in need of the life-prolonging treatment.

 RBZ spokesperson Kumbirai Nhongo did not respond to the Satamo report
despite repeated promises to do so.

The report also says the current tumultuous political and economic
situation was worsening the plight of PLWHA, and that "real changes needed
in Zimbabwe are both political and economic".

"Major barriers to ARV treatment in Zimbabwe include political and
economic challenges, inadequate resources - both human and financial, and a
collapsing health delivery system," says the report. "The past eight years
have been characterised by political turmoil and an economic downturn.

"Among the consequences are hyperinflation, shortages of basic
commodities, mass migration, a reduction in social spending, donor flight
and 80% unemployment."These challenges have directly impacted on health
care."

Despite the HIV prevalence rate having declined to 15,6% last year,
the delayed resolution of an impasse between the three parties to a
power-sharing agreement signed in September is thwarting efforts to tackle
the effects of HIV/Aids.

"The situation has been worsened by the flight of donors, whose
support had in the past sustained the health delivery system, and compounded
by the country's failure to secure funding from a number of Global Fund to
Fight HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria."

The report also challenges the government to set practical treatment
targets that are supported by the necessary financial, human and other
resources, with civil society playing an active role in holding the
government accountable to its commitments.

BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

Zanu PF Resists Eviction

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 16:17
MASVINGO - Zanu PF's provincial executive is reportedly refusing to
vacate a building owned by Zvobgo Holdings despite an eviction order.

The company owned by children of the late Zanu PF secretary for legal
affairs, Eddison Zvobgo, reportedly gave the ruling party an eviction notice
after it failed to pay rentals for six months.

Sources at Zvobgo Holdings said Zanu PF officials refused to vacate
the building, which houses the party's provincial offices, arguing that it
belonged to the veteran nationalist.

"They were not paying rentals for the past six months as per our
agreement and this was impacting negatively on our business," said a source
who requested anonymity.

"But they are resisting saying the company had no power to evict them
from the properties of their late comrade."

The source said the Zanu officials vowed they would not vacate the
building, claiming the property was acquired with the help of the ruling
party.

But Lovemore Matuke, the new Zanu PF provincial chairman tried to play
down the dispute saying the confusion was caused by the recent change of
leadership in the party.

 "We are new in the office and we were told about this recently but we
will be moving out. We never resisted," he said.

"If there were problems they were between the old executive and the
company.  We don't know the arrangements they made when they occupied the
offices in March."

Zvobgo Holdings director, Eddison Zvobgo Jnr, who is also a former
member of the Zanu PF Masvingo provincial executive said they were working
on resolving the dispute amicably.

BY GODFREY MUTIMBA

Severe Water-cuts In The Pipeline, Bulawayo Council Warns Residents

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 16:04
BULAWAYO- The city council has warned of severe water cuts next month
as the municipality only managed to secure water treatment chemicals enough
for only three weeks ahead of the annual business shutdown.

This year most companies closed early due to the economic uncertainty
in the country.

The warning on severe water rationing came amid reports the cholera
death toll in the city had risen to 11.
The mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo, said although the municipality still
had the capacity to provide 80% of the city's water requirements, the
situation could deteriorate further next month.

He said council failed to stockpile the essential chemicals because
suppliers were demanding cash upfront or payment in foreign currency.

 "While the situation is not that bad as we can still provide at least
80% of our residents with water, we are facing a challenge for next month,"
Moyo said.

"The challenge is that we have not yet procured chemicals for next
year because our suppliers are demanding that we pay them cash in advance.

"Given the situation in the country, it is pretty difficult for us to
access cash to pay huge bills such as those for the procurement of water
treatment chemicals."

Moyo said council was also failing to access foreign currency to buy
chemicals.

The council's health services department says 94 residents were
suffering from cholera as of last week.
"Our statistics show that most of the people who have contracted
cholera came from Beitbridge," Moyo said. "As a council, we also have
problems attending to burst sewer pipes because of shortages of fuel."
The cholera outbreak, which began in Chitungwiza in August, has
reached all the country's provinces except Matabeleland North.

Bulawayo has faced perennial water shortages for years as the city's
population has outgrown the five supply dams that were all built before
Independence.

BY NKULULEKO SIBANDA

Trials And Tribulations Of A PLWA

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:38
FOR HIV positive Evelyn Mazula from Rimuka in Kadoma, fighting stigma
and discrimination requires determination and a positive frame of mind.

Mazula says it starts from making the decision to get tested,
accepting one's status and thereafter living a healthy and positive life.

 But as the 40-year-old mother of one recalls, it has been a bumpy
ride.

 It took Mazula almost two years to make the crucial decision to be
tested, and thereafter months to accept her HIV+ status.

 Mazula fell ill in 2001 and was bedridden for the better part of that
year.

 She remembers her weight came down to 25kg but despite encouragement
from her father who is an Anglican Church cleric, she was reluctant to get
tested.

 "I was very ill," the energetic activist told a workshop organised by
the Southern African Aids Information Dissemination Service (Safaids) last
week.

 "My husband asked my parents to come and take me as he felt I had
become a burden. Although my parents were hurt, they accepted me back home.

 "After being sick on and off between 2001 and 2003 I finally decided
to listen to my family's advice and get tested. I was very afraid but I knew
there was no way of running away from the truth. The results came out
positive."

 It took seven tests for her to finally accept her HIV+ status.

 "I just could not believe the results. I kept going back to be tested
and each time the result came back positive until my father finally sat down
with me and told me to accept my status," Mazula said. "It was the words he
told me that day that made me to stop living in denial.

  "I used to cry all the time that my husband brought the disease to
our home but after that talk with my father I finally realised it didn't
matter where I had got the infection from. What was more important was
staying alive for my daughter."

  Although it took another two-year wait for her to be finally enrolled
on antiretroviral drugs treatment, Mazula said she devoted her energy to
staying healthy by shifting to a traditional diet and herbs to boost her
immune system.

 But Mazula said nothing encouraged her to look forward to living
longer than the support she received from her family, especially her father.

 "My father took the bus one day and went to Binga and brought me
Moringa. He was very determined to help me live positively," Mazula said.
"After establishing his contacts in Binga, every month we used to receive
Moringa by post and we would in turn send money to our supplier by money
order.

 "I can safely say that using this herb and my positive frame of mind
boosted my immune system. I began to see changes in my health."

 Three years on, Mazula says there is no one in Rimuka, who does not
know her and her good work.
 For many in that suburb Mazula is the tough talking and inspiring
HIV+ woman with a good heart.
 She is a caregiver, a counsellor, peer educator and community
mobiliser.

 But she admits being HIV positive in a small community like Rimuka
has not been easy.

 Mazula says because of lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS, stigma
and discrimination are still rife.
 "Yes there are people who can whisper behind your back or point
fingers at you and say: 'Here goes that HIV positive woman who got the
disease by sleeping around with men,'" Mazula said with a wry smile. "But
people who can label you like that should be forgiven because they are
ignorant.

 "I believe what is important about fighting stigma and discrimination
is for as many people to come out and get tested and all to come out in the
open and show these people that life does go on after testing HIV positive.

 "Let us remove the mystery behind HIV. Let us show people that HIV is
just like any other chronic disease and life just goes on. Fighting stigma
starts with you, its starts from the day you agree to get tested, agree that
you are HIV positive, agree to live a positive life, disclose your status,
and start taking care of yourself and speaking out openly about HIV and
AIDS."

BY BERTHA SHOKO

Failed Bid For Mawere Assets Gobbles US$8m

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 15:55
THE government spent at least US$7,9 million in its failed bid to
complete the takeover of businessman Mutumwa Mawere's assets, investigations
by Standardbusiness revealed last week.

Last month the UK Supreme Court dismissed an application by AMG Global
Nominees (AMG), seeking to take over shares owned by Mawere's Africa
Resources Limited (ARL) in SMM Holdings and THZ Holdings.
AMG has been fronting government moves to take over the assets since a
2004 Presidential decree specifying the South African based businessman.

The UK court dismissed the AMG application with costs, which means the
government has to pay the legal costs and those of ARL.

When the judgment was delivered, AMG had spent $7,9 million in legal
fees, travel and subsistence allowances for the Zimbabwean delegation that
has made no less than seven trips to the UK since 2004.
The total cost of the litigation to ARL is estimated at £1 million
(US$1.5 million).

The UK court ordered AMG to reimburse ARL the money it spent defending
itself in the case.
AMG's own costs are estimated at no less than a similar amount putting
the total cost of the litigation that was footed by Zimbabwe at £2 million
(US$US$3 million).

The RBZ through AMG also paid US$2 million for the bearer share
warrants to T & N.

It is not clear whether the amount can be recovered as AMG boss Arafas
Gwaradzimba told Standardbusiness they were not in a position to discuss
their strategy in public.

Information gleaned from documents by Standardbusiness show that AMG's
travel and accommodation expenses for UK trips stood at US$45 031,53 as at
February 2006.

But since the matter took two more years, the costs could have
quadrupled to US$200 000, insiders said last week.

In total 11 judgments were delivered in the AMG-ARL case by UK courts
which means that on each and every case, AMG had to be financed by the
government to attend.

In the same period legal fees for services rendered by Dube, Manikai &
Hwacha law firm stood at US$515 070,53 as of February 2006.

Since the matter dragged on for an additional two years, AMG could
have coughed up in excess of US$2.5 million for the legal services rendered.

This brought the amount of money spent by government in the legal
battle to US$7.9 million.

Mawere said the expenditure incurred at a time when the government was
struggling to secure enough foreign currency to buy food for starving
Zimbabweans showed the country had its priorities wrong.

"To imagine that a foreign currency-starved nation can afford to bank
roll the legal costs as well as the initial US$2 million paid to T&N in
November 2004 while the whole nation is appealing to the world for support
exposes the warped priorities that now inform Zimbabwean public policy," he
said.

In 2004 the government through AMG Global Nominees paid US$2 million
for the shares of SMM Holdings (SMMH) and THZ Holdings (THZH) arguing that
ARL had defaulted in payments for the acquisition of the two firms.

ARL bought SMMH and THZH from Tuner and Newell (T&N) in 1996 for US$60
million. It paid US$37 million, leaving a balance of US$23 million.

But after paying the US$2 million following Mawere's specification,
AMG took the matter to the UK courts for it to be registered as the owners
of the two UK registered companies.

The British court ruled that ARL had not defaulted in payment and that
it had title to the bearer share warrants of SMMH and THZH.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa,
refused to say what government was planning to do after losing the UK Court
case.

"We cannot discuss our strategy in public," he said. "We know what we
are going to do.
"Whatever we are going to do we will not discuss it in public."

Chinamasa was the chairman of the Inter Ministerial Committee on SMM
and in 2005 gave Gwaradzimba the nod to oversee Mawere's sprawling empire.

BY NDAMU SANDU

Private Sector Confident Of Leading Economic Recovery

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 15:52
ZIMBABWE'S private sector can still recover from government's
retrogressive policies to lead the recovery of the battered economy,
stakeholders attending the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) policy dialogue
forum said last week.

Participants drawn from various sectors of the economy said although
the government treated private enterprises with suspicion, the sector
remained a vital cog in economic development.

"The private sector is the engine for development and the government
has no business meddling in private enterprises," said Mfandaedza Hove, the
secretary for Industry and Commerce in the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC.

Hove said the government's role was to ensure that there was a
conducive environment for businesses.
Kumbirai Katsande, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)
president, said industry had tried to hold discussions with the government
on how best to rehabilitate the economy but they were not taken seriously.

He said industrialists wanted a political framework conducive for
business to perform. "We probably do not reflect enough on how much work we
need to develop a political framework," he said.

The CZI boss said in agriculture, the government had to put in place a
policy that encouraged market related producer prices and pre-planting
prices.

The issue of pre-planting - recommended by Dr Charles Utete's Land
Audit Commission - had not been implemented causing consternation amongst
the few remaining commercial farmers.

Katsande said there was also need to put in place an industrial and
trade policy that discourages price controls. On Tuesday, the National
Incomes and Pricing Commission, said business should rollback prices to
December 3 levels.

But the CZI boss said businesses that reviewed prices regularly were
not "evil- minded regime change people" as they were responding to the
movements of the unstable local currency.
"It's totally unstable, few people have confidence in the local
currency," he said.

The chairman of the Bankers' Association of Zimbabwe, Dr John
Mangudya, said the level of foreign investments flowing into the country
would determine the revival of the economy.
 He said government should promote "pro-production policies not
pro-consumptive policies such as price controls".

Mangudya said market related policies would ensure the survival of the
economy.

"The price of wheat is known throughout the world," he said. "We don't
need to re-invent the wheel."
Hove pledged that an MDC Finance Minister would work towards reforming
the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to make sure that it sticks to its core
business.

The objectives of the MDTF are to contribute to analytical work on the
key development challenges facing Zimbabwe and to develop suitable
instruments than can enable government and donors to respond to changes in
conditions for re-engagement with the international community.- BY OUR STAFF

Alex Magaisa: State Of Terror And Potential Crime Against Humanity

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 17:13
THE abduction and disappearance of Jestina Mukoko has become the cause
celebre of the current troubles in Zimbabwe. This is hardly surprising. As a
newsreader at the only broadcaster in Zimbabwe, the ZBC, in the 1990s Mukoko
was a regular guest in many Zimbabweans' homes.

She became so familiar many may have unconsciously regarded her as one
of the family.

Now a prominent and effective human rights advocate, Mukoko's seizure
has touched our hearts in a profound way.

All right-thinking people hope she is well, although clearly she has
been placed in harm's way. Others silently pray for her welfare and that
those who hold her have at least something in their hearts that prevents the
kind of treatment that has been visited upon others similarly held
incommunicado.

For this abduction is, of course, a chilling reminder of the darker
days of 2008, when between March and June 2008, many Zimbabweans lost their
lives at the hands of callous characters and an even darker period in the
1980s when men and women disappeared from villages in rural Matabeleland and
the Midlands. Their remains lie buried in mine shafts that were turned into
mass graves.

Presently, the disappearance of Mukoko follows the abduction of 15 MDC
activists a few weeks ago and reports indicate that two of her work
colleagues have since been similarly kidnapped. In addition, it is reported
that Morgan Tsvangirai's former personal assistant, Gandhi Mudzingwa, has
also been abducted.

These are the more prominent people that get (and deserve) the
headlines but what we do not know is the extent to which this has also
affected the ordinary people perceived to be stepping on the government's
toes. It is much easier to abduct an ordinary person whose case is unlikely
to be reported and who knows, there could be scores, it not hundreds who
have suffered Mukoko's fate.

There is, plainly, a pattern forming here. Lest we forget, MDC Youth
leader Tonderai Ndira was abducted and callously murdered in May this year.
His colleague Better Chokururuma, after first surviving horrific torture was
later abducted and murdered in cold blood. Abigail Chiroto, wife of MDC
politician, Emmanuel Chiroto, was abducted from her home and shortly
thereafter her lifeless remains were discovered. The remains of Ignatius
Mushangwe, an official with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission accused of
spilling the beans about the election irregularities, were discovered months
after he  disappeared. Others disappeared without trace.

Those who recall the horrors of Gukurahundi in Matabeleland and the
Midlands know that this terror tactic is not new in Zimbabwe. And one of the
most controversial stories of the Nineties was the disappearance of Rashiwe
Guzha, a woman who worked at the national spy agency, the CIO. She
disappeared without trace and to this day no one has been held accountable
for it.

History has shown that when tyrannical regimes have their backs
against the wall, they tend to escalate the scale of terror. The idea is to
terrorise ordinary people and perceived opponents.

In Uganda, the infamous Idi Amin wrote his own chapter on enforced
disappearances and callous murders in the 1970s. It is said that after a
failed invasion led by Milton Obote in 1972, Amin decided to exact revenge
on those he suspected of opposing his rule. The Archbishop of the Anglican
Church for Kampala spoke out against Amin and a while later his
bullet-riddled body was delivered to the city hospital's mortuary.

The Chief Justice was abducted from his chambers in the High Court,
never to be seen again. Makerere University's Vice-Chancellor, Frank
Kalimuzo also suffered a similar fate as did many professionals when Amin
targeted the intellectuals.

In Latin America, General Augusto Pinochet carried out a systematic
process of elimination through abductions and disappearances. To this day,
many people are still searching for their loved ones.
Now in Zimbabwe, after the fanfare that accompanied the signing of the
political agreement between Zanu PF and the MDCs in September, we are rudely
reminded of the old truth, that some things never change; that no matter how
much it pours, the rain will never wipe away the leopard's spots.

The abductions grossly violate the agreement which exhorts parties to
desist from violence. Abductions and disappearances constitute physical and
psychological violence of the highest order - it's tantamount to torture,
not just for the individual victim but also for the victim's family, friends
and other persons in the victim's position. Everyone is a potential victim
and can no longer afford to sleep with both eyes closed.

Legally, the abductions abrogate the Constitution of Zimbabwe. It
protects, in section 13, the right to personal liberty but abductions
clearly violate this right and the failure by the police to take prompt
action to investigate the disappearances is  itself a violation of the right
to protection of the law which is guaranteed under section 18. At least the
High Court, after an unhealthy and troubling delay before hearing the
matter, has played its part by ordering the police to take a more active
approach to the investigation into Mukoko's disappearance.

It goes without saying that such abductions and disappearance place at
very high risk the right to life that is guaranteed under section 12 of the
Constitution.

But this too is a matter that should place the Zimbabwe crisis at the
centre of the United Nations' attention and perhaps justify more active
intervention because where abductions constitute a systematic practice that
would be considered to be a crime against humanity. That abductions and
disappearances are an affront to human dignity as has been recognised by the
United Nations (UN).

The UN's International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance (General Assembly resolution 47/133 of 18
December 1992) states in Article 1 proscribing abductions that: "No one
shall be subjected to enforced disappearance" and that "No exceptional
circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war,
internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked
as a justification for enforced disappearance".

Article 2 of the Convention defines "enforced disappearances" as "the
arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by
agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the
authorization, support or acquiescence of the state, followed by a refusal
to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or
whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the
protection of the law". This clearly is what has happened to Mukoko and her
colleagues.

Perhaps more importantly, Article 5 of the Convention states that:
"the widespread or systematic practice of enforced disappearance constitutes
a crime against humanity as defined in applicable international law and
shall attract the consequences provided for under such applicable
international law."

As argued above, there appears to be a worrying pattern of enforced
disappearances, often leading to unlawful deaths, and it is surely a matter
for the UN to determine whether this pattern constitutes a "widespread or
systematic practice" to classify it as a crime against humanity. This is
relevant when you consider the present events within the context of the
abductions and disappearances during Gukurahundi in the 1980s.

It is surely, time for the UN and its Committee on Enforced
Disappearances which is responsible for the Convention to play a more
central role to address these violations and take appropriate action.
 We can only hope and pray that Mukoko, her colleagues and many others
similarly encumbered will emerge unharmed.

Magaisa is based at, Kent Law School, the University of Kent and can
be contacted at wamagaisa@yahoo.co.uk or  a.t..magaisa@kent.ac.uk

Sunday Opinion: Understanding Mugabe's Fears

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 17:07
IN order to understand and appreciate the monumental crisis Zimbabwe
is grappling with, Zimbabweans and the international community should locate
why the Zanu PF leader Robert Mugabe and those associated with his almost
three decades or rule are refusing to give way to a democratic transition
premised on the rule of law and provide solutions to stabilize the country.

My contention among other things is that fear of prosecution over
rampant human rights violations, allegations of looting of the national
asserts, loss of employment through the imminent crumble of Zanu PF's
patronage system and the demise of the ruling party are some of the issues
that should assist to appreciate why Zimbabwe remains a failed transition
even after the people voted for a lawful and legitimate regime change in
March.

It should be noted that since 1980, Mugabe and Zanu PF have used the
law to produce and sustain oppression against their political opponents in
what has been described as legislating oppression in the country. This has
been the cornerstone of Mugabe's leadership both at party and national
levels. Fear and violence have become crucial tools of governance by the
Zanu PF administration.

After independence the new government did not repeal notorious and
repressive laws such as the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA) and the
State of emergency presumably because they wanted to stabilize the state
from acts of sabotage by the former colonial rulers.

However, as time moved, the country witnessed widespread human rights
violations against PF Zapu members and their supporters led by the late
veteran nationalist and Vice- President Joshua Nkomo. There is evidence of
how the State of Emergency powers were used to victimise PF Zapu leaders and
their followers leading to the death of people like the late Lookout Masuku
after several years in detention in defiance of court rulings.

The situation continues today as activists of the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) and civil society are often arrested  and
detained outside the provisions of the law although the intensity and
cruelty differs from the grave situation of the 1980s that saw the death of
over 20 000 Zimbabweans in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.

Mugabe and Zanu PF have been using the law and the repressive state
apparatus such as the army, the police and members of the dreaded Central
Intelligence Organization (CIO) to abuse human rights of Zimbabweans as a
way of maintaining their grip on power.

The people in the military and other security forces are well aware
that what they did and continue to do is in violation of the Constitution
and international law such as the Convention against Torture which forbids
State parties to the Covenant to exercise  torture.

Knowing and understanding both the domestic and international
sanctions against people who abuse human rights is one of the major reasons
why Zanu PF and the security chiefs would not want to leave office.

Mugabe and his close allies in government and Zanu PF are not
persuaded or convinced that what they did would just be forgotten. The fear
of possible prosecution over the human rights abuses is one critical reason
that makes Mugabe refuse to surrender power not only to the opposition but
even to a reformer in Zanu PF.

Unless Mugabe and his henchmen's fears are addressed or they face a
revolution, they will continue to hold on to power. This further explains
why Mugabe and Zanu PF would want to cling on to security ministries under
the current understanding with the two formations of the MDC.

Because since 1980, Mugabe and Zanu PF have compromised the security
forces in the country into behaving like party militia taking orders from
the Politburo and the Central Committee, it becomes unimaginable to them
that such institutions can be impartial and serve the national interests.

As a result of years of abuse of the security forces, Zanu PF members
are worried that for instance if the Ministry of Home Affairs goes to the
MDC, the police force would be abused in an equal manner as they are doing.
They think that there would be selective application of justice and the rule
of law in the country as they have done since independence.

More so, because Zanu PF's rule has been premised on the use of
violence and the partisan abuse of the security forces where for instance
the leadership of the security forces has turned into political commissars
of the party and committing crimes against the people they are supposed to
protect. Senior Zanu PF officials know that the professionalisation of the
forces means the end of the party in a democratic society that respects the
rule of law.

It is therefore important to appreciate that Mugabe and Zanu PF's
demands to have these key ministries including the Finance Ministry which
oils these repressive arms for the regime's survival and abuse of human
rights is not linked to the national interest but to maintaining their power
by abusing them as they have been doing since the Matabeleland massacres.

President Mugabe and his senior party members are aware that without
the partisan role of the security forces in suppressing and oppressing
Zimbabweans, they could be history by now. They are also aware that without
money from the government, Zanu PF cannot sustain itself. What this means
for Mugabe and Zanu PF is that succumbing to the democratic sovereign will
of the people of Zimbabwe means an end to their political careers and that
of the party.

Zanu PF companies are broke and they cannot finance the party's
activities so they rely on the government through the abuse of the Ministry
of Finance and the creation of dubious ministries that are allocated money
used to fiancé party activities including oiling its violent machinery.

If both formations of the MDC do not appreciate this and do not seek
to have a balance of power in the control of the security forces and
ultimately seek to professionalize these institutions then they must know
that in a very short period Zimbabwe will witness massive arrests against
them on trumped up charges ranging from possessing arms of war to meeting
foreign powers to discuss overthrowing the Head of State. This will
ultimately lead to treason charges. This has happened before against the
late Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole and Tsvangirai. It can happen again.

Associated with the fear of prosecution are allegations of the rampant
looting of national asserts by the regime and its associates. Most Zanu PF
senior politicians including the hierarchy in the security forces have
benefited immensely from corrupt tendencies in the awarding of tenders and
the buying of shares in public companies where the government has
controlling stakes. In some instances these corrupt practices happened under
the guise of Black economic empowerment which in my view is a euphemism for
corruptly rewarding loyal members of Zanu PF through Mugabe's patronage
system.

These people are aware that a transparent democratic transition
premised on the return to law and order may leave them with nothing because
an audit of how people got certain public utilities will be inevitable and
inescapable. Such elements within the ruling elite are the ones who also
encourage senior Zanu PF official to continue to dig in and refuse to
surrender power when it is abundantly clear they have failed to administer
the affairs of the State.

 It is also important to understand President Mugabe's personality in
order to appreciate why Zimbabwe is in this bad situation and is failing to
manage its transition from one regime to another.

My view is that if one looks into the history of Mugabe's ascendancy
to power in Zanu PF, there is nothing democratic about everything associated
with his election since the liberation struggle. The annual conferences and
the congresses of Zanu PF have never sought to have democratic processes
that allow members of the party to choose a leader. The processes are a
democratic charade where Mugabe is the only candidate.

It is therefore difficult for Mugabe to accept a democratic process at
the national level when it's foreign to him and his party. If he does not
allow, for instance, Joyce Mujuru a loyal member of his party to challenge
him or at least hand over power to her in the party, how can he allow MDC
members to be leaders of Zimbabwe?  Charity begins at home.

In my view, it is important for Mugabe and his security forces to
realize that the economic interests of the elite especially those in Zanu PF
cannot be served by continuing to support the establishment. The erosion of
the interests of those closely associated with Zanu PF including the
security forces have the potential to cause a violent revolution from within
the rank and file of the regime's surrogates.

Mugabe and his group should clearly understand that the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights means that no nation can draw the cloak of
sovereignty over torture, disappearances, officially sanctioned bigotry. In
the end, the UN will use the doctrine of protection to intervene and deal
with the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

Time and history are not on the side of the regime and the earlier the
authorities realize that the better for them.

* Ruhanya writes from the University of Minnesota's Law School, USA

BY PEDZISAI RUHANYA

Comment: Abductions Prove Home Affairs Must Change Hands

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com


Saturday, 13 December 2008 16:45
THE recent abductions and disappearances of several people, including
documenters of human rights violations and supporters of the MDC, provide
the strongest argument yet as to why Morgan Tsvangirai's party should have
total control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Under the terms of the July 22 Memorandum of Understanding the
political signatories to the pact undertook to stop violence.

Clearly that has not happened since there have been more than 20
abductions and disappearances during the past month.

The brutality that has accompanied the abductions of the people who
are missing  runs counter to the letter and spirit of the September 15
Global Political Agreement, which calls for Zimbabweans to freely express
themselves and allows them the right to assemble and demonstrate.

The abductions and disappearances constitute a violation of the rules
of international law guaranteeing the right to recognition as a person
before the law, the right to liberty and security of the person and the
right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. They also constitute a serious threat to the right
to life.

By failing to track down those responsible for the abductions and
disappearances, the law enforcement agencies have provided a compelling case
for the Ministry of Home Affairs to fall under the MDC as all these
dastardly acts are happening on Zanu PF's watch.

Zimbabweans expect those entrusted with the task of protecting
citizens and maintaining law and order to act expeditiously, especially in
circumstances where the courts of law instruct them to do so.
If armed groups are able to roam at will, conduct raids and abduct
Zimbabweans and the law enforcement agencies have no clue as to what is
happening, then there can be no further argument why the Ministry of Home
Affairs should not go to a party that is committed to human rights and the
rule of law. The change could bring sanity and ensure matters are brought
under control.

As it stands, we have become a lawless society. The activities of
groups such as those responsible for the abductions and disappearances can
only thrive if they are being protected or their nefarious deeds condoned.
The people who were abducted deserve to be reunited with their families.

The government has a well-documented history of abducting people and
it will be difficult to try and suggest that the disappearances are the acts
of some lone outfits, adept at evading the various arms of the law
enforcement agencies, who are present at ubiquitous roadblocks across the
country.

The forced disappearances are part of an arsenal of political
repression and cast a dark shadow over the proposed all-inclusive
government. There can be no unity when one party is conducting a systematic
purge of supporters of another party.

The abductions, coming as the world is celebrating the 60th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are significant
because they demonstrate a determination to push the country over the
precipice and return it to the dark ages.

Zimbabweans can only find the path of recovery and reconciliation if
all their rights are fully respected and are afforded the basic dignity owed
to every human being.

Rights defenders and activists are playing a critical role in pursuit
of betterment of Human Rights. They deserve greater recognition and credit
for their significant and persistent contribution, particularly in the wake
of the 2008 elections.

It is difficult to find how those responsible for orchestrating such
terror tactics can be forgiven. There is need to document evidence and name
those responsible so they can have their day in court.

Zim Standard Letters

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com

Why PF Zapu Is Terminating 1987 Unity Accord
Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:30
IT was Joshua Nkomo, President of the Zimbabwe African People's Union
(Zapu), who was the driving force behind the 1987 Unity Accord.

This was in the face of resistance from within both the PF Zapu rank
and file, as well as Zanu PF.

 Nkomo convinced PF Zapu that he was powerless to stop the killings of
PF Zapu members, supporters and innocent Zimbabweans in Matabeleland and the
Midlands provinces.

He worked hard to convince both parties that it was in their common
interest and in the interest of the country as a whole that the two parties
that fought the war should unite and work as one.

 Nkomo got the congress of PF Zapu to pass a resolution to enter into
the Unity Accord. PF Zapu was coerced into the agreement, and therefore it
was always free to terminate it. Throughout the following 20 years, PF Zapu
has tried in vain to make the unity work.

  For example, it was agreed in the Unity Accord that the two parties
were equal partners - but that has never been the case. Zanu PF has always
acted unilaterally and ignored the protests made by PF Zapu;
It was agreed that the symbol of the rooster be abandoned. Zanu PF has
always maintained that symbol knowing well that it caused great offence to
PF Zapu.

Members of PF Zapu were not appointed to positions to an equal degree
with Zanu PF counterparts, whether from civil society or the former
combatants.

It is the perception of PF Zapu members that equitable development in
the provinces has not taken place and that Matabeleland in particular has
been disadvantaged.

PF Zapu can neither identify with nor condone the policies that are
responsible for the political, security and humanitarian crisis of the past
nine months.

PF Zapu has been marginalized in the recent negotiations with other
parties for a unity government. No member of PF Zapu was involved and after
protests, one was appointed even that was neutralised by the further
appointment of Zanu PF members.

 These last two matters have precipitated the decision to abandon the
unity with Zanu PF. In view of the fact that it was the congress of PF Zapu
that took the decision to enter into the Unity Accord with Zanu PF, it is
necessary to convene congress to reconsider the wishes of the members to
dissolve the Unity Accord.

 Accordingly, the members resolved on November 8, 2008 as they are
empowered to do so by the constitution of PF Zapu, to take steps to convene
a congress to give legal effect to the resolution hereunder that; The
political structures of PF Zapu cease to operate under the title Zanu PF,
and to resume the title of PF Zapu.

All party structures operate under the authority of the constitution
of PF Zapu.

The district councils should meet to prepare to convene a consultative
Conference consisting of all 10 provinces by December 2008 for the purpose
of elections and interim executive tasked with responsibility to mobilise
and restructure the party and convene the party's congress by March 2009 in
terms of Article 6 of the Constitution of PF Zapu;

That a campaign to mobilise resources in the country from well-wishers
everywhere,  from fraternal political parties and international
organisations be undertaken forthwith;

To engage as necessary in the negotiations any peace-building
initiatives, to ameliorate the political and economic hardships presently
being endured by the people of Zimbabwe.

 Contrary to the misconception that war veterans are the organisers of
the consultative conference, it is the legal structures of the party that
have been charged with that responsibility.

The extent to which the war veterans are involved in the conference
reflects their membership of PF Zapu. The notion that war veterans are
regrouping is false. It is also incorrect to say PF Zapu is being
resuscitated for the sake of addressing the issue of non-development in
Matabeleland. This is certainly one of the issues that have given rise to
disaffection with Zanu PF.

 The party structures in the 10 provinces will convene in a
consultative conference, which will be charged with the responsibility to
organise for congress. The congress will elect a new executive and debate on
the resolution of November 8, 2008, and shall itself resolve accordingly.

 It is on this point that I call upon all Zapu members from within the
country and outside to attend this historic convention which will be held on
December 13 -14, 2008 at MacDonald Hall in Bulawayo. All members of PF Zapu
will participate in the plenary sessions from 1000hrs to 1230hrs on December
13.

Effort Nkomo,
Zapu spokesperson
Bulawayo

----------------
Teachers In Rare Show Of Unity
Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:26
ONE of the shrewdest and effective methods that President Robert
Mugabe has used over the years to subjugate Zimbabweans is applying divide
and rule tactics in almost every level of society.

For every voice of dissent in any organised institution, he would
create another creature to counter it.  This is how we came about the likes
of Joseph Chinotimba, Obadiah Msindo, Nolbert Kunonga and members of the
apostolic sect.

During presidential elections we have seen the likes of Isabel
Madangure and Egypt Munhenzva. Mugabe does not believe there is anyone in
this country at this moment who can do better and it is precisely this which
is responsible for our current condition.

There are also those who have fallen for his crude tactics, while some
have put their lives on the line in order to expose our ruler's evil
machinations.

It is against this background that I applaud highly the decision by
the two organisations representing the bulk of the teachers in this
country - the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association and the Progressive Teachers'
Union of Zimbabwe. The leadership of the two organisations has finally
realised the folly of fighting each other instead of their common enemy, who
is responsible for so much damage not only to the hard-working teachers but
to the entire education system.

I have repeatedly advised the likes of Godfrey Majongwe on the need to
forge a unified front on issues pertaining to industrial action. My own
observation is that teachers desperately need leaders who can speak with one
voice when it comes to negotiations.

Zimta have allowed themselves to be used by the government, which is
responsible for the break up of many teachers' families as partners seek
greener pastures. It's a monumental tragedy and the side-effects of this
government's neglect towards teachers are tantamount to human rights abuse.

Going to bed with the government has been beneficial for the majority
of Zimta leaders but not all teachers in general. Those in leadership have
been exploited to the detriment of the profession.

Teachers have been their own worst enemies. They have allowed this
divide and rule tactic to persist for far too long. Now, the profession is
on its knees and teachers have lost their dignity and standing in society.
They cannot put food on the table for their families, but one hopes they
have learnt their lesson.

They - PTUZ included - should never allow themselves to be an
appendage of the ruling elite.

Odrix Mhiji
Chitungwiza

-----------------
Zimbabwe Cannot Afford Cabinet Of 31 Ministers
Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:24
WE are aware that there is a "power-sharing" agreement but we must not
overlook the fact that Zimbabwe can not afford such a large Cabinet - 31
ministers.

What we need is a Cabinet of 16 Ministries made up as follows:
Ministry of Finance, with the Ministry of Economic Development becoming a
department in the Ministry of Finance; The Ministry of Defence; Ministry of
Agriculture with the Ministry of Agricultural Mechanisation, Ministry of
Lands and Resettlement and Ministry of National Security and Land Reform
being departments of the Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Industry and
International Trade, with Environment and Tourism being part of the
ministry; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should incorporate Women's
Affairs, Youth Development and Indigenisation as departments in the
ministry; Information and Publicity should have Policy Implementation and
Public and Interactive Affairs as departments along with Political Affairs;
Higher and Tertiary Education should encompass Education, Sport and Culture;
Mines and Mining Development should include Science and Technology as a
department under it; Home Affairs; Local Government and Public Works should
have Rural Housing and Social Amenities as a part of the same ministry;
Transport and Communication should remain but with emphasis on profitable
public transport; Health; Foreign Affairs; State Enterprises and
Anti-Corruption should have under it Small and Medium Enterprises
Development; Energy and Power Development should also encompass Water
Resources and Infrastructural Development as part of the ministry; and
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

The position of Minister without Portfolio should be abolished as the
Prime Minister will cater for almost everything.

M J Nhari
Highfield
Harare

--------------
Transparent To Invisible
Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:20
YOUR readers will no doubt remember the pomp and pageantry  that
accompanied the launch of Transparency International, the Zimbabwe chapter a
few years ago.

This group was at the forefront in the fight against corruption and
your pages were filled with acres of space extolling the good work this
group was doing complementing the work of its sister organisation which
remains visible and offering some comfort to the distressed. I refer here to
Amnesty International.

 Today Transparency International is no longer visible both locally
and internationally. what happened? Did they run out of funds or did they
fire their local and international communications person?

 The starting point towards self redemption for these guys is to tell
us what is going on in their organisation, that is of course if they still
exist.

They may then proceed to tell us about who are the top 500 richest
people in Africa (modelled on the Forbes 500) and then cascade down to tell
us at local level and how those glorious riches were acquired maybe this
could shed light on the reason why the wars in Africa seem to reproduce
themselves endlessly.

No easy task perhaps, but then I am sure the above organisation
appeared to be quite well heeled. Or maybe there is the fear of legal
prosecution and persecution that would follow too much probing and the guys
at Transparency have no stomach for this.

Chris Veremu
Harare.

----------
SMS The Standard
Saturday, 13 December 2008 14:34
Enough is enough!
IT'S time to say enough is enough, if the so-called talks have failed.
We cannot be held to ransom by someone we told to go peacefully in 2002 and
2008. - Tendai, Mutare.

******
RUSSIA and China are equally responsible for the unfolding
humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. - Dilinger.

******
IT would appear that there is no succession planning within Zanu PF or
that the party is full of cadres, who have no presidential capabilities. Why
have they burdened such an old man with state matters? - Tecko.

The guilty are afraid
I wonder why it is always alleged that the MDC is likely to abuse the
Ministry of Home Affairs. Does it mean Zanu PF authorities will not do
exactly the same, or are they confessing to their sins over what they used
to do and know that if the MDC gets hold of that Ministry, they would do
what Zanu PF used to do? If so, then it is a close and shut case. If it is
ok for Zanu PF to have the Ministry of Home Affairs, why is it not ok for
the MDC?- N Mupurisa.

******
I earn trillions and I wonder if the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will
allow me to withdraw all my salary on January 12, 2009 in accordance with
its recent announcement.- Cash baron-in-waiting.
******
I am disappointed. How can the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe give
university Vice-Chancellors luxury vehicles in addition to other luxury
vehicles they already have? They also hand out a fleet of Isuzu KBs each
costing more than US$32 000. That money could have been used to pay
lecturers and upgrade some of the university properties. Students from the
Midlands State University, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Bindura and NUST did not go
back to school for the end of year semester because of various problems like
low salaries for lecturers and poor sanitation. The government should really
think about what it is doing to future leaders of this country. - LOX,
Gweru.

Look east for cash
ZANU PF and the Reserve Bank Governor should stop mourning about
sanctions affecting printing of money because we have never complained about
the bond paper on which the money is being printed. The Chinese can help
with more of the money paper as one of benefits of the Look East policy. -
Why not?

Frankenstein monster
WHEN soldiers and police officers beat up MDC and civic leaders on
March 11, 2007, Zanu PF praised them for bashing innocent and defenceless
civilians. The same soldiers are now robbing and looting and yet Zanu PF
unashamedly has the audacity to blame civil society for their Frankenstein
monster. Blame shifting will not work while Rome burns. - H D, Zvishavane.
******
POLICE and army officers raided people in Mutare and took them to
Chiadzwa. -Eyewitness, Mutare.
Tip of the iceberg
THE recent revelations of the indiscipline in the financial market are
a mirror image of global financial crisis. The real effects are still to be
felt, as what we have seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg. What was
going on in Zimbabwe now makes a mockery of institutions such as Harvard and
Wharton Business Schools because in Zimbabwe you do not need an education to
amass a fortune. Those who had amassed ridiculous amounts of wealth through
deals and speculative activities will soon feel it's after effects as
economics takes its own course in self-correction. A butterfly slapping its
wings in Africa can cause a typhoon in America. What we are seeing in the
financial markets is the calm before the storm.- Oracle, Harare.

******
THE end is nigh. There is a Latin proverb that says: "Those the gods
want to destroy, they first render them mad." That is why we have all this
madness all over. All they are doing is driving themselves into a
cul-de-sac, the exit from which will be extremely humiliating and most
unceremonious. Mark my words. They may delay but they cannot stop the
inevitable. - Clem.

Sham independence
IS this the independence that we all yearned for? Cholera deaths,
water shortages, starvation, elections that are not free and fair, police
brutality, one person presidential race, and useless currency? Did freedom
fighters cross to Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique for schools to
run without teachers? To turn hospitals and clinics into mortuaries? - pad
re.
******
WIN yourself a shopping voucher worth US $500 and shop at any foreign
currency licensed shop. Question: Since Dr Gideon Gono came into office, how
many new currency notes has he introduced? Send your answers to - Mazero
adzoka, Highlands, Harare.

Gono has failed
ONE of every Reserve Bank governor's key objectives is to control
inflation. Dr Gideon Gono has failed dismally on that score. Not
surprisingly, President Robert Mugabe reappoints him. Cruelty? Stupidity?
Incitement? - Pambayi, Harare.

******
THIS government is rewarding failure by extending the term of the
Reserve Bank governor. But what do you expect from this ruinous lot. Do they
have any shame at all? - Tineyi, Harare.

We deserve better
THE Reserve Bank has two options to ease the suffering of the majority
of the people: either to allow people to withdraw their full salaries like
the soldiers are doing, so that they are able to buy foreign currency to buy
groceries or pay them in foreign currency so that they are able to buy
groceries. Third option is to increase substantially the withdrawal limit so
that people are able to buy food. The phenomenon of "burning" should stop
forthwith. People have suffered enough they deserve better governance as
reflected in the March 29, 2008 polls. We don't deserve a bad government. -
Fed Up, Harare.
 ******

THE closure of most of the country's mines must surely be good news
for President Robert Mugabe and his grab-happy cronies. Let us see a fast
track mining reform! - S G, Kadoma.

POSB management should spell out clearly what their business hours
are. Nowadays one gets frustrated because when one gets to the banking hall
at 2.30pm you find them closed, yet they are supposed to close at 3.30pm.
Maybe the workers are bitter because management cut their overtime
allowances. Now some of the workers, particularly the "guards" have become
militant towards the bank's clients. What they fail to realise is that the
customer is king. - Depositor, Harare.

AIPPA, POSA and Broadcasting Services Act should be repealed. No more
crimes against democracy. We need a self-regulatory media. Let information
and ideas flow freely and all the ills in our country will die a natural
death. - Charlal.

 Heads must roll at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority. Imagine an
average of 15 deaths a day because of heartless, corrupt people. My view is
that this institution should be dissolved and the water management returned
to local authorities. - Cholera survivor, Harare.

NetOne is sending out atrocious bills that range from Z$100 million to
Z$250 million for contract line owners and are refusing cheque payments. I
suspect they are doing this guess work in order to raise enough money to pay
their workers Christmas bonuses. In a totally lawless country such as ours,
who cares? Let Net One collapse. - Maneto, Harare.

Zimbabwe's grim lesson for SA

http://www.thetimes.co.za

Mondli Makhanya Published:Dec 13, 2008

Let us not row backwards when the future demands more of us
There was a time when Zimbabeans let go of their own destiny and left it in
the hands of the Harare nomenklatura. Then absolute power corrupted
absolutely.

It was Josiah Magama Tongogara, the Zimbabwean liberation hero, who warned
his comrades back in 1979: "Don't look back to the past. When we look at the
future and its demands, we will be faced with the reality that a lot remains
to be done."

The Lancaster House negotiations were drawing to a close and Zimbabwe was
set to become an independent republic the following year.

Tongogara was telling them not to bask in the glow of their glorious war
records and be stuck with anti-colonial bitterness and recriminations. There
was a job to be done.

It was a prophetic warning that his comrades should have heeded. Alas, he
did not live to see independence. And neither did his words. He died in a
mysterious car accident in Mozambique at Christmas that year while doing the
rounds in the camps, telling the troops that the war was over.

Many Zimbabweans still believe he was killed to leave the road wide open for
Robert Mugabe to be crowned independent Zimbabwe's first president.

Today Zimbabweans hanker after Tongogara and believe things would have
turned out differently had he lived. But we can only speculate.

What we do know is that he would not have been stuck in the past. He would
have looked at "the future and its demands" and led Zimbabwe in that
direction.

You will forgive me, dear reader, for dragging you back across the Limpopo
for the second week running. But the situation is so dire that it would be a
travesty to ignore the dramatic unravelling of a country on our doorstep. It
would also ignore the tons of lessons that we should be taking from the
Zimbabwean experience.

Besides the disease, poverty and total breakdown of democracy, nothing
demonstrates the Zimbabwean collapse more than inflation.

This week South Africa's Reserve Bank governor, Tito Mboweni, announced a
0.5 percentage point cut in interest rates.

In his speech, in which he outlined the monetary policy committee's
reasoning and outlook, he announced that the inflation rate was on a
downward trend, coming in at a still high 12.4%. The outlook was much more
positive.

"Inflation is expected to average 6.2% and 5.6% in 2009 and 2010
respectively and to average 5.3% in the final quarter of 2010," Mboweni
said.

His Zimbabwean counterpart, Gideon Gono, is fighting a totally different
battle. The day after Mboweni cut the Reserve Bank's repo rate, Gono
unveiled a Z500-million note printed on cotton. The reason for that is that
the country, which has been printing more money in a day than Jacob Zuma
will print court documents in his entire life, is running out of paper.

Elegant solution: print the numbers on a flimsy piece of textile.

"The note shall on the back have an imposition of dairy cows being milked
mechanically and a miner drilling underground," the Government Gazette said,
as if to fool the people into believing that the economy is still
functioning.

Zimbabwe's country's annual inflation rate is 231000000%, according to
official statistics. But the respected think tank the Cato Institute
believes otherwise.

It recently estimated Zimbabwe's inflation at 89.7 sextillion percent - that's
(89700000000000000000000%).

The mind boggles.

It was not always so. It is always tempting to take the nostalgic trip to
the time when the country worked. Yes, there was such a time. A time when
the country was viewed as a model of success in the region.

This was a time when Mugabe was implementing some progressive policies and
still had a semblance of respect for order. Even as he carried out the
brutal massacres of the '80s' Gukurahundi, he cloaked his brutalities until
they became too huge to hide.

Today he could not give a hoot what anyone thinks of his actions.

But it started somewhere. There was a point in the life of the Zimbabwean
nation when the people of that country gave Mugabe and Zanu-PF the licence
to mess up their country.

There was a moment when Zimbabweans let go of their own destiny and left it
in the hands of the Harare nomenklatura. Then absolute power just corrupted
absolutely.

This is why South Africans should strenuously avoid the kind of
concentration of power that the Harare lot held.

I've said in the past that I do not believe we could ever go in that
direction. South Africans are far too rebellious and unbowed by authority.

The man who used to run our republic and his coterie discovered this very
rudely after they had gone about greedily accumulating power.

I'm very sure that the current ANC leadership will also discover this if
they continue to treat the country as their personal toy.

There will come a time when society will put its foot down and say "No more".
The thing is, there is no need to take a country to that brink.

We were on our way to building a good republic that had institutional
safeguards against the kind of abuse of power that leads to a Zimbabwean
situation.

Now there is a determination to dismantle those safeguards and leave the
institutions as empty shells. We are rowing backwards instead of facing
present and future realities.

Case for Intervention in Zimbabwe

http://www.khaleejtimes.com

Editorial

14 December 2008

As if the endless nightmare that President Robert Mugabe's rule has not been
enough for Zimbabwe, the country is now battling another mass misery in the
fast spreading cholera.

The World Health Organisation says at least 800 people have been claimed by
the deadly epidemic this week alone, and the country's 12 million population
is at risk. However, Harare has shrugged off these warnings as another
'conspiracy theory' by the Western imperialists to weaken the government of
Robert Mugabe.

International aid agencies and the world at large, however, see the cholera
epidemic as the latest symptom of Zimbabwe's complete collapse. The outbreak
follows months of violence and political turmoil, coupled with chronic food
shortages and a broken water and sewage system. At the moment, the country's
health infrastructure is ill prepared to cope with the epidemic.

A great health disaster is in the making that threatens to spill across the
porous borders of African countries as a wider humanitarian tragedy.

But as always President Mugabe is refusing to acknowledge the clear and
present danger his people are facing. He is busy politicking. Even in this
hour of acute crisis, he has called the epidemic as a "calculated, racist
attack" unleashed by Britain and the former colonial powers as a pretext to
oust him. No wonder the persisting chaos and worsening humanitarian
situation have compelled neighbours like Kenya to call for military
intervention in the failed state next door. In his nearly 28 years at the
helm of the country he liberated from white rule, Mugabe has ruined one of
Africa's most prosperous and developed nations. Even though he continues to
blame Western sanctions for the country's current woes, there's little doubt
that Zimbabwe wouldn't be in the mess it finds itself in without President
Mugabe's disastrous policies, concentration of all powers in one individual
and endemic corruption.

With unemployment rate in the country touching 80 per cent, ridiculous
levels of inflation and no rule of law whatsoever, Zimbabwe is a text book
case how not to govern.

Zimbabwe badly needs immediate international intervention and rescue to save
millions of its unfortunate people from the clutches of disease, hunger and
the regime in Harare.

The world has tried everything to persuade President Mugabe to see reason
and failed. It's time for real and meaningful action. If any country truly
and badly needs international intervention - military or otherwise - it's
Zimbabwe. The world cannot afford to stand and stare any longer while
hundreds of thousands of helpless men, women and children are left to die by
their so-called leaders.

Save Zimbabwe From Mugabe

http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/14677

Sat, 2008-12-13 15:30
By Tushar Charan - Syndicate Features

Zimbabwe is one country that faces threat to its survival, not from the
usual suspects--an outside force, insurgency, terrorism or global
warming---but its own octogenarian president, Robert Mugabe, who has turned
into a megalomaniac.

But Mugabe may well be on his last legs. Neighbouring countries which were
previously unable to take a tough line against his regime are revising their
views. Botswana and Kenya firmly believe that Mugabe must go. Archbishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa has even demanded that if Mugabe does not quit
he should be tried for his 'crimes'.

Much of the population of Zimbabwe has either fled to neighbouring countries
or is struggling to keep itself alive when unemployment at 80 percent is the
rule, prices double every 24 hours and the non-existent health care system
has now led to an outbreak of cholera epidemic in which 600 have already
died and nearly 6000 are said to be in danger of falling prey to the disease
in the next few weeks.

Zimbabwe has declared a national emergency because it has no resources to
deal with the cholera epidemic. The country that was once the breadbasket of
the continent and has now become a basket case does expect the international
community to help it. Help may come but the scale of problems is staggering.
At the same time the continuation of Mugabe might also see another dose of
sanctions slapped on Zimbabwe if he does not honour the terms of a
power-sharing agreement with his main rival, Morgan Tsavangirai.

The year 2008 has been particularly bad for the hapless people in that South
African country, what with political turmoil, election violence, police
crackdown, rigged polls and a ruined economy which has made even buying a
loaf of bread a luxury for most ordinary citizens. Their plight can be
appreciated by the fact that after issuing a $ (Z) 100 million currency note
the government is set to follow it up with a $(Z) 200 million note. These
bank notes of high-sounding denominations can barely buy a day's minimum
provisions for an ordinary household.

The rot in Zimbabwe had set in long time ago because Mugabe, an undoubted
hero of the country's freedom struggle against the British, became
absolutely sodden with power, turning out to be an intolerant dictator who
thought nothing of harassing and imprisoning his opponents. Like all
dictators he began to suffer from the illusion that the country needs him
more than he needs the country.

The neighbours, particularly the powerful Republic of South Africa, decided
to turn a blind eye to all his indiscretions even when people started to
flee Zimbabwe to escape from the intolerant regime in Harare. The early
signs of a humanitarian and political crisis in Zimbabwe were ignored by the
neighbours, perhaps under the influence of Mugabe rhetoric against colonial
powers making a bid to recapture his country.

But when it became nearly impossible to turn a blind eye to the creeping
humanitarian crisis, some well-meaning interlocutors, including the former
UN secretary general, Ghana's Kofi Anan, did speak to Mugabe as also his
main rival, Morgan Tsavangirai, in the hope of sorting out the incredible
mess created by Mugabe..

The picture that emerged after the mediation efforts late in November was
that Zimbabwe was soon going to have a government of national unity-mainly
with representatives of Mugabe's ZANU-PF, Tsavangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change and an offshoot of the latter.

A 46-page document outlining constitutional amendments was signed by the
three parties to pave the way for a government of unity. It was seen as a
major breakthrough. The general opinion in and out of Zimbabwe was that the
new government will be in place by January 2009.

Three months back in September, Mugabe and Tsavangirai, had signed a
political agreement on honourable power sharing. But Mugabe developed cold
feet even before the ink on that agreement had dried. He did not want to do
anything that would weaken his powers and hand over some of them to his
rival-the prime minister-designate Tsavangirai. Mugabe demurred on the
question of sharing important cabinet posts with Tsavangirai's party.

There is some qualitative shift in the situation since them. Many neighbours
who had willingly given Mugabe a long rope have now decided to tell him to
honour his commitments for the sake of his country-and even countries in the
neighbourhood. The last round of efforts at 'mediation' found new
interlocutors emerge, pushing Thambo Mbeki, former president of South
Africa, out of the spotlight.

That was overdue perhaps after Tsavangirai had made a clear demand for his
removal as the mediator appointed with the approval of the South African
Development Community. Mbeki's mandate was to help establish democracy in
Zimbabwe after it had been crushed by Mugabe. Mbeki failed because he
appeared ready to let Mugabe continue with his ways instead.

The writing on the wall is clear. But the question is: Does Mugabe see the
writing on the wall?

- Asian Tribune -

Comment from a correspondent

Ladies and gentlemen, people are dying in Zimbabwe. Of late Chegutu is
one latest cholera victim town.

The alleged president of this country Zimbabwe has entirely failed. For
a long time we have heard of condemnation of his ways of doing things
from all level of the diplomatic community inclusive of the UN. This
voice of criticism has shouted for too long. But it seems to shout that
health care must die in Zimbabwe, education systems must be eliminated
in Zimbabwe, people must be abducted and killed in Zimbabwe, the
government is right in suppressing the will of the people! Is that
really so? If not, why is it that this is what we have seen increasing
on a daily basis? It is rather better for all people of this world to be
silent and pretend things are well in Zimbabwe than showing this
'toothless loudly barking bulldog' character. Democracy was kicked out
of play in broad day light, the voice of the people was declared in
broad day light to be of no effect but the barrel of the gun. Still some
people, in their normal sense, see logic in all this, Thabo, the Chinese
etc.

If what I can see is correct and true, then what respect does the gvt of
Zimbabwe want from SADC, AU, and UN. The only way to stop this country
from dying is disrespect to Mugabe, period! We need one courageous
country to say I will use force to uproot Mugabe, that's it. People have
suffered, all services expected from normal governance are just not
working. While others think people of Zimbabwe are too soft, I believe
they are an intimidated lot, they know they have a ruthless leader, they
still want to look after their families, they are choosing life rather
than death.

We need to see justice to all the government ministers and all ZANU PF
leadership, we need to see the justice done upon Nathaniel George
Charamba, we need that like yesterday

Regards

dm