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Statutory Instrument 273A of 2003.
[CAP. 10:20
Presidential
Powers (Temporary Measures) (Acquisition of Farm Equipment or
Material)
Regulations, 2003
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Prohibition on destruction, etc., of farm equipment or material.
4. Identification of farm equipment or material.
5. Acquisition of farm equipment or material by acquiring authority.
6. Valuation of farm equipment or material.
7. Compulsory acquisition of farm equipment or material.
8. Application for an order to acquire farm equipment or material.
9. Payment for farm equipment or material.
10. Impersonation.
Title
1. These regulations may be cited as the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Acquisition of Farm Equipment or Material) Regulations, 2003.
Interpretation
2.(1) In these regulations—
“acquiring authority” means the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement;
“designated valuation
officer” means a person who is designated as a valuation officer in terms of
section 6;
“farm equipment or material” means movables used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land acquired for resettlement purposes under the Land Reform Programme, including irrigation equipment not embedded in the ground, tractors, ploughs, disc harrows, trailers, combine harvesters, pumps not permanently attached to the land, sprinklers, risers, movable storage facilities, Modrho tobacco curers, chemicals and fertilisers;
“identify”, in relation to farm equipment or material or any item thereof, means include in an inventory compiled in terms of section 4;
“Land Reform Programme” means the Land Reform Resettlement Programme and Implementation Plan (Phase 2), published in April, 2001 (as re-issued and amended from time to time), in connection with the programme of acquiring agricultural land for resettlement purposes which commenced under the terms of the Land Acquisition Act [Chapter 20:10] on the 23rd May, 2000;
(2) Any word or expression which has not been defined in subsection (1) and to which a meaning has been assigned in any provision of the Land Acquisition Act [Chapter 20:10] shall have the same meaning when used in these regulations.
Prohibition on destruction, etc., of farm equipment or material
3.(1) No owner or holder of farm equipment or material shall wilfully demolish, damage, alter or in any other manner impair the farm equipment or material, or cause any other person to demolish, damage, alter or in any other manner impair it, without the permission in writing of the acquiring authority.
(2) An owner or holder of farm equipment or material who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a) a fine—
(i) equivalent to so much of the amount of the impairment caused to farm equipment or material as is ascertainable in monetary terms; or
(ii) not exceeding level ten;
whichever is the greater amount;
or
(b) imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Identification of farm equipment or material
4.(1) Any duly authorised representative or employee of the acquiring authority may enter any land or premises at any reasonable time and do such acts thereon as are reasonably necessary to ascertain—
(a) whether there is on the land or premises any farm equipment or material not currently being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land; and
(b) the owner or holder of such farm equipment or material; and
(c) the items of such farm equipment or material on the land or premises; and
(d) the condition of such farm equipment or material and its suitability for agricultural purposes.
(2) The acquiring authority shall provide each of its authorised representatives or employees with a certificate indicating his or her authority for the purposes of this section and the authorised representative or employee shall produce such certificate to any interested person on demand.
(3) Upon entering any land or premises the duly authorised representative or employee of the acquiring authority shall, if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that there is any farm equipment or material on the land or premises not currently being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land, request the owner or occupier thereof to compile an inventory of such farm equipment or material on the land or premises:
Provided that—
(a) the owner or holder of any farm equipment or material shall have the burden of proving, to the satisfaction of a duly authorised representative or employee of the acquiring authority, that such equipment or material is currently being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land;
(b) if the owner or occupier thereof refuses to compile an inventory in terms of this subsection, the duly authorised representative or employee of the acquiring authority may proceed to compile an inventory of items which, in the opinion of the representative or employee, comprise farm equipment or material not currently being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land;
(4) Any person who, after farm equipment or material has been identified in terms subsection (3), sells, donates, demolishes, damages, alters or in any other manner impairs or disposes of such farm equipment or material without the permission in writing of the acquiring authority, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a) a fine—
(i) equivalent to so much of the amount of the impairment caused to, or loss of, the farm equipment or material as is ascertainable in monetary terms; or
(ii) not exceeding level ten;
whichever is the greater amount;
or
(b) imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Acquisition of farm equipment or material by acquiring authority
5.(1) Subject to these regulations, the acquiring authority may, either by agreement or compulsorily, acquire any farm equipment or material not currently being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land, where the acquisition is reasonably necessary for the utilisation of that farm equipment or material on any agricultural land.
(2) The acquiring authority shall give not less than seven days’ notice of the intention to acquire any farm equipment or material to the person owning or holding the farm equipment or material.
(3) The notice referred to in subsection (2) shall be served in person:
Provided that, where the owner or holder of the farm equipment or material cannot be located after diligent search, the notice shall be published in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the farm equipment or material to be acquired is situated.
Valuation of farm equipment or material
6.(1) The acquiring authority may designate as a valuation officer any member of the Public Service who, in the acquiring authority’s opinion, is qualified to carry out valuations of farm equipment or material and to exercise any other functions of a designated valuation officer in terms of these regulations.
(2) The acquiring authority shall provide every designated valuation officer with a certificate indicating his or her appointment and the designated valuation officer shall produce such certificate to any interested person on demand.
(3) A designated valuation officer shall, at the request of the acquiring authority or his or her duly authorised representative or employee, carry out the valuation of any farm equipment or material identified in terms of section 5.
Compulsory acquisition of farm equipment or material
7.(1) After the identification and valuation of farm equipment or material in terms of sections 5 and 6 respectively, the acquiring authority may, if there is no agreement for the purchase of the farm equipment or material concerned—
(a) acquire the farm equipment or material by making an order compulsorily acquiring the farm equipment or material for compensation equivalent to the value placed on the farm equipment or material by the designated valuation officer; and
(b) serve on the owner or holder of the farm equipment or material a copy of the order referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) An acquisition order made in terms of subsection (1) shall contain—
(a) a description of the farm equipment or material to be acquired; and
(b) the compensation payable for the acquisition of the farm equipment or material.
(3) An acquisition order made in terms of subsection (1) shall be accompanied by a notice in writing inviting the owner or holder to indicate within fourteen days whether he or she contests the acquisition of the farm equipment or material or the compensation fixed therefor.
(4) Upon service of an acquisition order on the owner or holder in terms of subsection (1), ownership of the farm equipment or material shall vest in the acquiring authority, who shall thereupon have the power to take immediate possession of the farm equipment or material.
Application for an order to acquire farm equipment or material
8.(1) Where the owner or holder of any farm equipment or material compulsorily acquired in terms of subsection (1) of section 7 contests the acquisition of the farm equipment or material or the compensation fixed therefor, the acquiring authority shall, not later than thirty days after the acquisition, apply to the Administrative Court for an order confirming the acquisition of the farm equipment or material.
(2) An application in terms of subsection (1) shall be accompanied by—
(a) a copy of the acquisition order; and
(b) copies of the notices served or published, as the case may be, in terms of subsection (2) of section 5 and subsection (3) of section 7.
(3) The Administrative Court shall grant an order referred to in subsection (1) where it is satisfied—
(a) that the acquisition of the farm equipment or material is reasonably necessary for the utilisation of that farm equipment or material on any agricultural land; and
(b) that the farm equipment or material was not, on the date of its identification, being used for agricultural purposes on any agricultural land; and
(c) subject to subsection (4), that the compensation fixed by the acquiring authority is reasonable in the circumstances.
(4) In granting an order confirming the acquisition of farm equipment or material, the Administrative Court may fix any compensation that it deems reasonable in the circumstances.
(5) Where the Administrative Court refuses to grant an order confirming the acquisition of farm equipment or material, it shall order the acquiring authority to return the farm equipment or material to the owner or holder thereof.
(6) Where the owner or holder of the farm equipment or material concerned or the acquiring authority is dissatisfied with any decision of the Administrative Court, whether in relation to the acquisition of the farm equipment or material or the compensation fixed therefor, either party may appeal to the Supreme Court against that decision.
Payment for farm equipment or material
9.(1) The acquiring authority shall pay to the owner or holder of any farm equipment or material acquired in terms of these regulations the compensation offered, agreed or fixed therefor, as the case may be, within a reasonable time and, in any event, where the farm equipment or material is compulsorily acquired—
(a) at least one quarter of the compensation payable shall be paid at the time the equipment or material concerned is acquired, or within thirty days thereafter; and
(b) the balance of the compensation payable shall be paid within—
(i) five years after the acquisition thereof in the case of farm equipment;
(ii) one year after the acquisition thereof in the case of farm material.
(2) The compensation to be paid to the owner or holder of any farm equipment or material in terms of subsection (1) shall accrue interest at the prescribed rate from date of acquisition thereof.
Impersonation
10. Any person who, for the purpose of
gaining entry into any land or premises, falsely holds himself or herself out to
be a duly authorised representative or employee of the acquiring authority or
designated valuation officer, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or imprisonment
for a period not exceeding two years or
both.
Media Institute of
Southern Africa (Windhoek)
PRESS RELEASE
December 16, 2003
Posted
to the web December 16, 2003
Martin Chimenya, a journalist working
for the Voice of the People The meeting comes after criticism by President Mbeki of the Commonwealth's
handling of the Zimbabwe question.
President Mbeki said the organisation had lost sight of the key issue of
redistributing land from white farmers.
On Monday, Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticised his country's failure to speak
out against human rights violations in Zimbabwe.
President Mbeki's visit to Zimbabwe comes as Nigerian President Olusegun
Obasanjo is preparing to send an envoy to Mr Mugabe.
The Nigerian leader has said he will do all in his power to secure Zimbabwe's
re-admission to the Commonwealth.
There are suggestions in the South African press that the Nigerian and South
African visits to Zimbabwe could coincide.
Tutu
Archbishop Tutu said the violations in Zimbabwe were reprehensible and that
the credibility of South Africa's democracy depended on acting against these
abuses.
The Nobel peace prize winner said he supported
the exclusion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth -- a decision that was opposed
by Mr Mbeki.
Zimbabwe was suspended from the 54-nation body of mostly former British
colonies in 2002 after Commonwealth observers criticised the conduct of the
election, won by Mr Mugabe.
Zimbabwe responded to its exclusion from the recent Abuja summit by severing
all ties with it.
South Africa - which has mediated between resident Mugabe and his critics -
had argued that bringing Zimbabwe back into the international fold was the best
way of solving the crisis
there. 30 November
2003 It has been about two months since our
last report but there has been very little time for correspondence. Most of you will already be aware that there
has been a further deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe. Following the closure of our only independent
daily newspaper, there has been an escalation in violence and oppressive
activities. This obviously makes the work of the
Rescue Team more difficult than it already is as they often fail to secure the
appropriate armed support usually required to effect a
rescue. The Team have been attempting to locate
a 9 month old Labrador in Odzi which was ‘abducted’ from a farm in the
area. All other dogs were
rescued The Team have been trying to negotiate
for the release of 11 diary cows and a bull on a farm on Bromley which are being
held hostage. The settlers are demanding
the return of the farm’s generator. There have been numerous tragic cases
involving dairy herds which are literally starving to death as disputes over
wages and farm equipment continue. In Beatrice, the ZNSPCA will be
prosecuting a new farmer as at least 200 cattle have died and continue to die on
a daily basis. The Team have provided
hay and ensured the provision of water.
The remaining animals have been auctioned via video as most would not
survive being sent to the sale pens. The
herd has been dipped by the ZNSPCA and
the Team will monitor the removal of the animals as farm workers have not been
paid for 3 months and may dispute the removal of the
herd. On a neighbouring farm, the absentee new
farmer is also being prosecuted for similar cruelty. It is a smaller diary herd but 59 cows have
already collapsed and died. Despite
supplementary feeding not being provided for at least 3 weeks, the cows are
still being milked. On the farm, the
Team also found 7 pigs without any food or water. They were let out of their pen in order to
forage. There was a little rain this week which
should provide some new grazing. In the Concession area a very militant
and influential new farmer has been extremely difficult to contend with,
claiming that the ZNSPCA are working with the commercial farmers. Meryl reports that they have received no
co-operation from Concession police who also appear to have been
intimidated. The Provincial Veterinary
Officer has been assisting by addressing the Ministry of Agriculture in this
case. The herd of about 180 cows is
being milked daily also without any supplementary feeding. The animals are infested with ticks as they
have not being dipped for some time. Due
to unrelenting lobbying by Meryl, the herd Bull was finally destroyed. The animal was in a severely injured
condition and must have suffered immense pain until he was put
down. On a farm in the Marondera area (where
Meryl and Addmore were barricaded in last year) 2 polo horses were reported to
have been left behind and were in poor condition. The Team were refused entry when they tried
to gain access. The farm belongs to an
MP. An escourt has been promised by the
Marondera Police. The Team returned to Golden Acres Stud
Farm (reported on previously). Four
Stallions had been left behind on neighbouring farms and had become very
wild. They managed to break through the
fence to Golden Acres and mate with two pregnant mares causing them to
abort. It is suspected that this may have
happened previously and blood tests will have to be carried out on certain
foals. Although a difficult task for the Team,
all four Stallions were humanely destroyed. Cattle on a farm in the Wedza area were
found to have various axe injuries and one had a snare imbedded around its
neck. The house and tractor had been
completely vandalized and trashed. There
should have been a herd of some 134 beef cattle on the farm but only 19 were
recovered by the Team. The prized bull
had been badly axed. One cow had been
axed in the stomach and another in the back.
The cattle were originally being herded but the workers were ambushed and
beaten. Since the Team’s visit, a
further 18 head have been recovered and one arrest
made. The Lion and Cheetah Park was re-invaded
(for the third time). The white Manager
was thrown off and threatened that he would be shot if he returned. He was concerned about certain animals
requiring treatment and medication, but Meryl was able to gain access and
arrange for their treatment. Contingency
plans have been made to remove the animals to nearby
Pamuzinda. The Team continues to expend a great
deal of time and fuel on locating stray horses which have been left
behind. I asked Meryl for her overall view of
the situation on the ground and she is deeply concerned at the level of
suffering taking place, particularly dairy cows which are proving to be most
vulnerable. They required constant
experienced attention which they are not receiving and are subsequently dying in
huge numbers. She is also alarmed at the
level of suffering of pigs left on the farms – often found without food or water
in unhygienic conditions. Meryl is further concerned by a 'rabbit
project' initiated by the Zimbabwe Trust.
The staff are inexperienced and unqualified and there is a huge hygiene
problem with insufficient bedding and water being provided for the poultry,
rabbits and pigs being kept.. To end on a positive note, Meryl did
report that the large female that was removed from the University has integrated
well with the colony and has had a baby.
‘Tiggy’ the young female has sadly not yet been
'adopted'. I apologise that this update is already
somewhat out of date but have had to compile it whenever I have a few moments to
myself. I will endeavour to get a
further report out before year end. Kind
regards Bernice Addis Ababa - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
lashed out at rich western African Church
Information Service Zimbabwe Independent
(Harare) THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
has come down hard on banks in line with
Communications Trust (VOP), was arrested on 8
December in the city of
Masvingo, 293 km south of the capital
Harare.
He was charged under section 79 (1) of the Access to Information
and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for allegedly practising as a
journalist
without accreditation. Under this section journalists are not
allowed to
work without a license from the Media and Information
Commission.
The magistrate's court released Chimenya on December 10 on a
Z$15 000 bail
(approximately US$19). He was ordered to appear in court again
on December
23, 2003. His recorder and tapes are yet to be
returned.
Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) picked
up Chimenya
from his home in Masvingo on December 8. The agents ordered him
to take all
his equipment, which included tapes and a recorder. Since his
arrest till
the afternoon of the following day, December 9, Chimenya's
whereabouts were
unknown as the police denied his arrest.
Tongai
Matutu, a lawyer hired by the Media Institute of Southern
Africa
(MISA)-Zimbabwe to find and represent Chimenya was only able to see
him on
Tuesday afternoon at the Masvingo Central Police station. Other
journalists
in the city informed MISA-Zimbabwe said that Chimenya was handed
over to the
police on December 9. CIO agents have no arresting powers under
Zimbabwe
law.
The police also accused Chimenya of recording interviews
in which president
Robert Mugabe was denigrated. Under section 16 of the
Public Order and
Security Act (POSA) it is an offence to denigrate the
President.
On his release Chimenya told MISA-Zimbabwe that he was not
harassed or
beaten. He added that his interrogators wanted to find out
which
organisation he worked for and how they transmit
news.
BACKGROUND
VOP is a short-wave radio station based in
Zimbabwe. Its offices were bombed
in 2002.
OUR NIGHT OF TERROR
Dave, Daniel, Amy and I would just like to tell you
all about our night of
terror.
On Tuesday night I put Dan and Amy to
bed, had a bath and jumped into bed.
Dave stayed up watching TV. At around
9:30pm, he heard a noise in the
kitchen and got up to investigate. He picked
up a knife, put his head out
of the window, and called for our guard only to
be met by a gun being
pointed at him and an order to put the knife down,
which he did. The next
minute 8 thugs, some armed, climbed through our
kitchen window and tied Dave
up. He asked them to leave his sleeping family
and take what they wanted
and do what they wanted to him.
I was asleep
in bed when I felt hands touching me all over - I woke with
such a fright
and began screaming hysterically when I saw 3 males by my bed.
One shouted at
me to shut up and began to strangle me. I could not breath
for what seemed
ages and so many thoughts flashed through my mind - I was
about to die!. I
experienced the most terrifying feeling ever. He
eventually let go and began
slapping my face telling me not to scream or
he'd kill me. I frantically
looked around to see where Dave was but did not
see him. This savage then
asked me to take him to my cellphone and
jewellery which I did. At that
stage I saw Dave lying on the kitchen floor.
Little did I know that they'd
already given him a few blows to the back with
a wooden baton. Dave shouted
to me that he was alright. I was absolutely
terrified - I can never explain
the feeling to you. One then took his gun,
and loaded a bullet into it,
saying "we are all born to live and then die".
Dave and I thought they were
going to shoot us. They then led us both into
the Study and ordered us to
lie on the floor. Dave kept winking at me and
touching my leg as we lay on
the floor not knowing what our fate was.
Then the beatings really
started. One thug dressed in black kept asking
Dave for "the money" each
time taking a full swing with the baton onto
Dave's back. They kicked him in
the stomach and hit his knees with a long
screwdriver. I had to watch in
horror as my helpless, tied up husband was
repeatedly beaten. I begged and
begged them to stop. At some stage, Daniel
awoke and came to find us in the
study. I pulled him onto my lap and hugged
him tight. He was also
petrified. Danny and Amy's worst nightmare had come
true. Tsotsi's
(thieves) had come. Dave was then blindfolded and beaten
again and again,
this time in front of his son. Daniel screamed to them to
please stop as he
loved his daddy so much.
Daniel pulled off the blindfold from his daddy
and one of the thugs led
terrified, crying Daniel away from us. Dave shouted
to him to do what he
was told to do and reassured him that everything would
be alright. Amy was
then woken up and our 2 precious children were told to
go to sleep in our
bedroom. They lay in our bed together holding hands,
while 3 of these
B*****ds questioned them about our business, and where they
could find
money. Dave and I had no idea what they were doing to our darling
children.
While all this was going on, our house was being looted - they went
through
every single cupboard in our house, helping themselves to what they
wanted.
We gave them the key to an empty safe which seemed to infuriate them
even
more - they were after money and were not going to stop until they got
what
they wanted. We told them there was some money in the safe at our
work
which they could have and that they could have absolutely anything else
they
wanted. They wanted to take me to work and leave Dave behind but
he
insisted we all go together. This didn't't stop the beatings!.
The
creature in black then told Dave he had 5 lessons to learn and the
beatings
were Lesson Number Zero. Now was the time to rape his wife. With
this we
were led to the lounge and Dave was made to sit on one chair and I
on the
other. One thug came over to me and gave me a good hard slap on the
face,
while another tied my hands behind my back and took off my pants. He
then
proceeded to take of his jeans saying I want to F.... your wife. Two
others
tried to hold me down and open my legs. He also asked how old our
daughter
was and said that she would also like his penis insider her. I
begged,
begged and begged them not to rape me or touch Amy, while my darling
husband
could do nothing but watch in horror and beg in Shona for them to
leave me
alone. Dave then began to negotiate again in Shona about going to
Kitchen
Décor (our business) to get the money there. He was telling them
how he
could phone the security company to switch off the alarm and kept
trying to
make a plan with them to go and get this money. At this stage
they left me
alone. One came over and covered me with a blanket and offered
to put my
pants back on - I cannot tell you how relieved I felt, until
another came
over and said, come we have to rape his wife. I pleaded again
saying the
others had agreed to leave me alone and go to Kitchen Décor for
any thing
they wanted. Then they stopped. A couple of the thugs were
excited by the
idea of going to Kitchen Décor, while the others thought it
was not
safe.
After 2 hours of terror, I think they finally realised there was no
money in
our house. They asked Dave which truck they could take and loaded
our
Mitsubishi Colt full of our things. They then said we must go into
the
toilet and we begged for them to give us our children which they
finally
agreed to do - they locked the 4 of us in, took the keys and spare
keys and
drove off, laughing - music blaring.
The 4 of us stood in the
loo and hugged each other very tight, so relieved
to all be together again -
alive. Thank you God for answering Daniel's and
my prayers and sparing our
lives. Brave Daniel and Amy then climbed through
the tiny toilet window and
walked through the house to find any keys that
had been left so they would be
able to open the door. They were so
incredibly brave for two little people
who had just experienced a nightmare
come true. We managed to unlock the door
and were all numb with shock.
Dave called for our guard who we thought
may have been killed - he'd been
handcuffed with his own handcuffs, severely
beaten, tied to a tree and
gagged. We drove to our neighbours and phoned my
mum and dad to tell them we
were on our way to them.
The next day, we
packed up our beautiful home of five happy years and left
with frightening
memories.
This is Daniel's story : I was sleeping when a thief came up
to me and
said, I am a killer, I ran to my mum, watching my dad getting
beaten and I
was frightened so I asked them to stop because I didn't like to
see my dad
getting beaten and I love my dad so much. Then they put a
blindfold on my
dad. I jumped up and took it off. They then told me to go and
sleep in my
mum and dads room with my sister. Me and Amy lay in bed and I was
so scared
the whole bed was shaking. They asked us some things and said if we
tell
lies they would kill us. At last they went and locked us in the
bathroom.
Amy and I went through the window and got the keys.
This is
Amy's story : I was sleeping and they pulled my mosquito net down
and it
fell onto me and I woke up. Then they pushed me to my mum and dads
room and
shouted at me to go to sleep. I said ok!!! I went to sleep then I
woke up
then the guy asked me where upstairs was and I said there was no
upstairs I
said it is just a place where the air comes in. They also shouted
at me and
Daniel. Then I heard my mummy call me to come and we got locked in
the small
toilet all together. We climbed out the window to get the keys and
we heard a
noise and got a fright so jumped back into the window. Then we
climbed out
again and found the spare keys and took them to my mum and dad
and we found a
key to unlock the door.!!!!!
Please forward this onto all your
friends.
Dave, Lindsay, Daniel and Amy
South African President
Thabo Mbeki will travel to Zimbabwe this week to meet President Robert Mugabe.
JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE
PR COMMUNIQUÉ - December 15, 2003
Email:
justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet:
www.justiceforagriculture.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR
Communiqué No. 1
Crisis in Zimbabwe CoalitionBox CY434 Causeway,
Harare
Phone/Fax: 747817
Email: info@crisis.co.zw
STATEMENT
Government
of Zimbabwe's Withdrawal from the Commonwealth
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition, a coalition of 350 Zimbabwean civil society
organizations, is
alarmed at the decision taken by President Mugabe and the
ruling party to
withdraw Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. It is our
considered belief that
President Mugabe's decision shuttles Zimbabwe into
the darkest abyss, and
will most likely lead to worse human rights
violations and the subversion of
the country's constitutional order.
We note with deep regret that
President Mugabe's decision to withdraw
Zimbabwe from the commonwealth was
unilateral as it was announced to the
nation before he had consulted his
cabinet or sought authority from
parliament. It is most disheartening that
the President abuses ZANU PF's
parliamentary majority - obtained courtesy of
Presidential powers to
appoint 20 members of parliament - to rubber stamp
ill-considered executive
decisions. We deplore the dictatorial manner in
which President Mugabe
slighted by the decision of the commonwealth to extend
the Zimbabwe
government's suspension selfishly declared Zimbabwe's withdrawal
from the
association.
The decision to extend Zimbabwe's suspension was
based on the fact that the
Zimbabwean government had not addressed the
Commonwealth's concerns. In
particular the Commonwealth was concerned that
the Zimbabwe government:
i. had not restored the rule of law;
ii. was
opposed to meaningful dialogue between itself (ZANU PF
government) and the
opposition, which talks are perceived as essential in
the promotion of
national reconciliation and stability;
iii. had reneged on its undertakings
to Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo
that it would repeal legislation such as the
Public Order and Security Act,
the Access to Information and Protection of
Privacy Act, the Broadcasting
Services Act, and several other enactments that
violate basic human rights
and had instead amended the legislation making it
more repressive; and that
iv. it continued to organise and condone electoral
violence, as well as
continued violent commercial farm invasions in breach of
its domestic laws.
President Mugabe personally withdrew his government
from the Commonwealth
because he does not wish to be bound by the
Commonwealth principles, some
of which, ironically, where drawn up in Harare
under the Harare
Commonwealth Declaration of 1991.
In addition to the
international community, we as Zimbabweans have been at
the forefront
condemning the government's subversion of the Constitution,
and its gross
human rights violations. Most Zimbabweans are extremely
concerned about
government-sanctioned or condoned violence; violence during
farm and company
invasions and during all elections conducted since the
referendum of February
2000. Crisis Coalition and other Zimbabweans have
previously expressed dismay
and outrage at the government's obvious efforts
to compromise the judiciary,
the police and army, and the promulgation and
use of legislation to prevent
Zimbabweans from having access to newspapers,
radio and television stations,
of their choice. All Zimbabweans know of the
ongoing arrests of civil society
leaders, trade union members, church
pastors, women and ordinary members of
society whose crime is to picket or
complain about the parlous state of the
economy and violations of basic
rights. In the circumstances, is it any
wonder that most urbanites, i.e.,
those that pay most taxes, are mostly
educated and have access to some
media, and have had their economic
wherewithal destroyed, have since
February 2000 voted against the President
Mugabe's party and policies?
In the circumstances it is downright
dishonest to suggest that the white
commonwealth spearheaded Zimbabwe's
suspension from the Commonwealth for
racial reasons, because Mugabe invaded
and confiscated white commercial
farmland. ZANU PF lost a number of seats in
parliament and President
Mugabe scrapped a dubious and disputable minor lead
of about 400 000 votes
in the Presidential elections because Zimbabweans
voted against an
oppressive and economically ruinous regime. Opposition to
President Mugabe'
s policies was not just external but is essentially
local.
The claim that Southern African Development Community (SADC)
countries
support President Mugabe is false and misplaced. These countries
agree that
there is a governance and land crisis in Zimbabwe, largely the
result of
President Mugabe's policies. Certain SADC countries merely
disagreed with
some Commonwealth countries on the means of resolving what
they clearly
agree is an unfolding Zimbabwean crisis. In other words the
world
unanimously agrees that:
(1) the Zimbabwean government violates
its
nationals' basic human rights;
(2) recognises that Zimbabwe has the
dubious
honour of having the fastest receding economy in the world; (3) and
that
its laws are similar to those used by Ian Smith's minority
government.
In 1965, in an effort to prevent majority rule Ian Smith and
his government
declared UDI (unilateral declaration of independence) from
Britain,
isolating the country in the process. It is ironic that President
Mugabe
and his government, in an effort to prevent the legitimate
democratic
aspirations of Zimbabweans, has withdrawn from the Commonwealth,
isolated
the country, and now claims legitimacy from associations such as
SADC and
African Union. This may be because none of these bodies have
censured the
country for its human rights abuses and the undermining of
democratic
principles.
While the association of the Commonwealth was
born primarily out of a
colonial legacy, it is the only body which had
initiated a process of
pressurising the Zimbabwe government to resolve
issues, stated above, which
were of concern not just to member countries of
the association but to most
Zimbabweans.
President Mugabe's decision
is therefore lamentable and should be of grave
concern to all Zimbabweans.
One of the dire consequences of his action is
that there is, at the moment no
other international organisation peculiarly
familiar with the Zimbabwean
crisis. The deliberate ploy to isolate the
country is geared to prevent the
world and other international bodies from
resolving what is an unfolding
disaster. Mugabe's decision is similar to
that taken by South Africa when it
withdrew from the United Nations because
it wanted to continue with its
racial policy of apartheid.
We call upon all Zimbabweans to reject
President Mugabe's unilateral
decision and insist on a full and considered
countrywide discussion about
Zimbabwe's membership in the Commonwealth. In
additional, we plead with the
international community that while Zimbabweans
are supposed to determine
Zimbabwe's future, we are under a state of siege,
from a government that
does not permit freedom of association and expression,
and that has
virtually no respect for the rule of law. The world and in
particular SADC
and AU countries must condemn the government of Zimbabwe's
excesses.
Issued on December 10,
2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR
Communique No. 2
Foreword from Bishop Kevin Dowling
Dear friends
and all who seek for peace through justice,
This report from priests and
pastors is both tragic and at the same time
instructive for those who have
"eyes to see" and "ears to hear". To those
who are wilfully blind and deaf,
the cries of the poor, the marginalised,
the vulnerable, and the oppressed in
this report will go unheard - and yet
another shocking injustice on our
continent will not be addressed, and the
"little ones" in Zimbabwean society
will once again be sacrificed for
political ends which have nothing to do
with the ideals espoused by the
African Union.
The Solidarity Peace
Trust has prepared this report for one purpose only:
to proclaim the truth in
the ongoing quest for justice in Zimbabwe, and so
that the suffering and
cries of the oppressed millions in Zimbabwe will be
heard. This quest of ours
faces formidable obstacles, above all the
obfuscation and manipulation of the
reality by the Zimbabwe regime
supported by an African leadership,
particularly in the SADC region, which
is nothing short of
shameful.
It belongs to the Church and faith communities, especially but
not only in
the SADC region, to raise its prophetic voice in the name of all
those who
have been tortured, killed, raped, and denied basic human rights
in
Zimbabwe by a regime which callously disregards its fundamental duty
in
terms of the UN Charter. This duty and responsibility is very simple
and
clear: to protect and promote the rights and quality of life of every
human
being in Zimbabwe, regardless of race, religion, sex, economic
condition,
political persuasion, or any other distinguishing characteristic -
but
especially of the poor and marginalised in that society. That the
Zimbabwe
Government has not done so is abundantly clear from what you will
read
here.
What is truly iniquitous is the way the "land issue" and
ideological red
herrings such as "standing up against Western imperialism"
and "you are
getting engaged in the Zimbabwe question only because white
farmers have
been affected" have been used by African political leaders to
mask what is
the real issue. And that is, that President Mugabe and his
Government have
systematically engaged in human rights abuses of the very
worst kind in
order to retain political power.
To politicise food
distribution in a time of famine; to deny access to
health clinics by the
poorest members of Zimbabwe society, i.e. by those
who are regarded by the
regime as MDC supporters and who are systematically
excluded from such
access, has nothing whatsoever to do with the "land
issue" or anything else.
It is simply a blatant abuse of power to make
political opponents, and those
who simply want a change of government,
suffer for a choice which should be
free.
To engage in systematic torture of MDC supporters, either real
or
perceived, on a countrywide scale is to engage in what is
specifically
prohibited by all conventions accepted by the world community;
to train at
least 30,000 young people as a youth militia and then unleash
them on civil
society to create mayhem by arson, torture, rape, murder and
intimidation
on behalf of the ruling party flies in the face of United
Nations
conventions on child soldiers, and borders on what is defined as
"crimes
against humanity".
Such examples are not idle speculation.
These human rights abuses have been
carefully documented and attested to by
Zimbabwean people themselves, aided
by Churches and NGOs who care about
people and not about meaningless myths.
I personally witnessed victims of
torture by the Zimbabwe regime in
Bulawayo in June 2002, and I participated
in the release of documentary
evidence of systematic use of torture and the
training of youth militia in
Zimbabwe at 2 news conferences this year. The
second news conference
brought before the media three former youth militia
who gave chilling
evidence of the above - quite apart from the heartrending
account of a
young woman repeatedly gang raped in the youth militia training
camps, and
who was now trying to come to terms with the fact that she had
AIDS - and
a baby to care for.
For African leaders to commit
themselves to "solidarity" with President
Mugabe and his regime, and to turn
a blind eye to the suffering of millions
of ordinary Zimbabwe citizens, again
has nothing to do with the "land
issue", nor with "standing up against
Western imperialism". It has to be
named for what it is, and Church
leadership must fearlessly proclaim this.
Such "solidarity" is to take an
option which clearly states that the
ordinary African citizen in Zimbabwe
does not have basic human rights which
should be protected and promoted at
all costs by African political leaders.
Indeed, by African leaders who should
be publicly proclaiming now their
solidarity with their suffering African
sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe -
just as they did when their South African
brothers and sisters were
suffering under the brutal apartheid regime. Their
silence and denial at
the moment is deafening.
It is to take an option
which, in effect, proclaims to the world community
that ordinary African
citizens can be "used" and "sacrificed" on an "altar"
, i.e. not for some
valid reason, but for what amounts to an ideology. It
is this: that the
protection of and support for manifestly unjust African
political leaders
like Robert Mugabe must be pursued against all odds and
at any cost by
African heads of state to ensure the "sovereignty" of
African nations, to
find "African solutions to African problems", to resist
"the use of human
rights by Western nations to whip Africa into shape", or
whatever. It is to
state that fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the
United Nations
Charter, mean one thing for the rest of the world, and
entirely another thing
for Africans. And that, I would submit, is an
appalling affront to the
dignity of African people in Zimbabwe and on this
continent. Human rights are
objective realities and belong to the essence
of what it means to be human
both as individuals, and as communities and
nations. Human rights, therefore,
mean exactly the same thing whether one
is in Europe, or in
Zimbabwe.
I hope that this report, and the others released by the
Solidarity Peace
Trust, will help in some small way to conscientise our
African people
everywhere, supported by all who have a concern for justice
and human
rights, to challenge African political leadership to fulfil its
fundamental
responsibilities on the African continent, and to stop hiding
behind
obfuscations and manipulation of truth and reality. Nothing less
than
decisive action on these issues is demanded by the present situation
in
Zimbabwe. We cannot allow the cries of so many poor, suffering
and
unprotected people in Zimbabwe to remain unheard. That would be to "walk
by
on the other side" and to condemn our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe to
a
truly hopeless future.
Bishop Kevin Dowling
Trustee: The
Solidarity Peace Trust
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace
representative within South
African Catholic Bishops' Conference
JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet:
www.justiceforagriculture.com
Please
send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject
line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
1: Re Thought For The Day dated 12 December 2003
the weakness of this
thought for the day is the first sentence of the third
para...quote...' if he
cannot do or change something, it does not disturb
his peace of
mind...'
the fact is ...nowadays...if it means something to you...then
you CAN do
something about it...just writing letters of protest, opinion or
demand are
DOING something...in fact even the feeling or the thought itself
can
ultimately lead to change...
strong enough emotions can for
example make such a strong impact on a third
party that HE decides to DO
something...
now most of your 'thoughts for the day' I have not been able
to fault...
but this one I take exception to....for the reasons
stated...
rob
gass
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
2:
Dear Jag,
In a brief reply to the open letter by Alexander
Cameron I would like to
point out a few facts that may put in perspective the
suggestions made by
the above mentioned.
1) Mugabe and cronies have
been to China and numerous other communist
states over the years and in fact,
if you look closely at the strategies
imposed by this illegal regime you will
see that they have chopped and
changed the thinkings of Mau Ching and other
communist doctrines to suit
the advancement of their own ends from the days
of the liberation struggle
through independence to date.
2) The
political/economic woes of Zimbabwe have been brought about by a
select few
who have used the so-called injustices of the past to simply
feather their
own nests. There are no other excuses but this!!!!
3) It must be
remembered that Mugabe is not the one and only party involved
in the total
collapse of a once vibrant and economically stable country but
he in fact had
his "back against a wall" in a number of meetings held by
war vets at their
headquarters in 1998. A once off payment as compensation
was not enough to
quench the thirst of money hungry thugs and so the plan
of a land grab was
hatched.
4) What has since transpired is a classic case of
gangsterism-similar to
that of the Boston (USA) mafia 1920's - again, a
select few who have taken
control of the country for their own
gains.
5) Zimbabweans (the new generation) are not dummies but have in
fact played
the "game" as a chess player would play-let your opponent make
the
mistakes. Unfortunately there have been casualties both emotional
and
physical but it has not been in vain and the tyranny is slowly being
eroded
away.
6) As a reply regarding the way Britain have "fulfilled
their obligations"
in respect to Hong Kong-Zimbabwe has had many years of
dialogue and
dealings with Western power houses such as Britain, USA and
South Africa
and, as has been documented many times over, these governments
both past
and present have always had their own best interests at heart when
it has
comes to the interests vested in Southern Africa.
7)
Finally-thank you for the offer to purchase air tickets but Mugabe is
quite
capable of paying his own way-anywhere in the world. It is the masses
at home
that need the financial assistance-the cost of a return ticket to
HK would
cloth, house and feed a Zimbabwe family of 5 for the next
2
years!!!
May I take this opportunity to wish all Zimbabweans a
Peaceful Christmas
and the very best Wishes for the New
Year?
M.Quinn
All letters published on the open Letter Forum are
the views and opinions
of the submitters, and do not represent the official
viewpoint of Justice
for Agriculture.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Updated December 15, 2003
Please send any job
opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities
<justice@telco.co.zw>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 14 December 2003)
WANTED
Honest hardworking caring
experienced stockman with contactable references
and provable track
record.
Grade A2 plus good farm perks to start.
Write to:
The
Advertiser
P. Bag 903
Norton
Include references and contact
details.
Contact person Dr. Doug Bruce at 062 3515 or 062
3559
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 14 December 2003)
Trucking Company Vacancy
Require the
service of a person or husband and wife team, to run around odd
jobs
associated with the sourcing and procurement of spares, breakdowns.
Checking
up on arrival and departure of trucks.
Accounts for the business, phoning and
emails etc
In return, accomodation in HRE is available and a package will
be
negotiated depending on the applicant or applicants.
Please reply to sandg@hms.co.zw
Or phone 091-206267 or 011
202411
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 01 December 2003)
Graniteside based Chemical Company is looking
for a mature Personal
Assistant to run the office and assist Marketing
staff.
Attractive salary for the right person.
Tel: Bulawayo
473009
Contact Person: Simon Spooner (091 202
319)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 18 November 2003)
LA DOLCE VITA, Italian restaurant located in
Avondale Shopping Centre, is
looking for a RESTAURANT MANAGER.
The
ideal candidate should be a dynamic person with entrepreneurial
spirit,
highly motivated and a self-starter.
A very competitive package
will be offered.
Please reply to ladolce@mweb.co.zw or afrisun@icon.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 10 November 2003)
GENERAL MANAGER
The Harare SPCA needs
an active general manager who has a good knowledge of
animal care procedures
and is a good administrator, organizer and planner.
Applicants must be
able to deal with potential corporate donors at all
levels. The ability to
motivate staff is essential. The opportunity
exists for a creative person to
formulate a new image for the society. The
post is reasonably paid but the
successful applicant should also view the
post as a vocation. Please email
your CV to easthill-rw@laws.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 10 November 2003)
VACANCY.
We are looking for a switched
on Technician who can repair Multimeters &
timing Lights and similar
instrumentation!
Our e-mail address is constell@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 05 November 2003)
PA to CEO of property development company.
Centre of town. A
self-starter, age not important, but someone who "knows
their way around".
Includes minutes and statutory work. Competitive
package. To start as
soon as possible. Short CV in the first instance
to
cff@zimstocksales.co.zw or
telephone Ann on 756855-9 (keep trying!)
or
752742-4.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 05 November 2003)
Reliable drivers with traceable references,
clean class
and 4 licences and at least 5 years experience required for a
FMCG
distribution company. Send detailed CV's to Box AY 132,
Amby.
Warehouse assistants required for distribution company.
Traceable
references. Send CV's to Box AY 132, Amby
Many
thanks
Jennifer Van Wyk (nee Kriedemann)
Financial and Administration
Manager
Hotelserve Distribution
P O Box AY 132, Amby, Msasa, Harare
Tel
480073-5, Fax 480076 Cell 011
607218
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 30 October 2003)
Bookkeeper / Accounts Administrator
Required:
A small but growing manufacturing / retailing / investment
group of
companies, seeks the services of a Bookkeeper/ Accounts
Administrator.
The person should have very good knowledge of practical
business
bookkeeping, up to Trial Balance. A reasonable knowledge of Balance
Sheets
is required. The person should be a self-starter, motivated, and
outgoing.
The chosen candidate will have all the direction needed for him/her
to
perform their tasks. The following description with regard to the
position
is needed:
1) Cashbooks, Debtors, Creditors, Bank
Reconciliation's, Wages,
2) Must be computer literate with regard to
Microsoft Office, i.e. MS Excel
and Windows and MS Word.
3) Must be
computer literate with regard to Our Accounting Software,
such as QuickBooks
Accounting, Sage, or Pastel
4) Must be able to handle Monthly Returns,
such as, Sales Tax (Shortly
VAT), PAYE, NEC, NSSA, Manpower and Standards
Development Levy.
5) Basic understanding on implementation and the
administration of company
flow charts (paper work trail) and the correct
manner in storing and filing
company records.
6) Basic knowledge on
compiling accounting records for External Auditors.
Interested
candidates, please e-mail a copy of your CV to vb@hms.co.zw or
phone 091 253
991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 30 October 2003)
We are looking to recruit an assistant
restaurant manager for our St.
Elmo's location in Harare. The successful
candidate should be highly
motivated, and preferably have good food service
experience. A competitive
package will be offered.
The St. Elmo's
franchisee in Zimbabwe/ Zambia is expanding and this job
will almost
certainly lead to promotion.
The successful candidate will be sent to
Cape Town for Training with the
Franchiser.
Please respond
to:
ted@houses.africaonline.co.zw
and copy all responses to:
elmos@pc2000.co.zw
(Bus:
263-4-702412
(Home: 263-4-861930
ÈCell: 263-91-210-203
ÊFax:
263-4-790584
ted@houses.africaonline.co.zw
*
Snail Mail: Private Bag 604E, Harare, Zimbabwe
*Physical (i.e. courier)
Address: No 2 Denmark Road, Milton Park,
Harare,
Zimbabwe
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
HARARE
(ad
inserted 15 October 2003)
I am looking for an experienced driver.
Ideally, the successful applicant
will be able to double as a gardener and
live on the property.
Alternatively, is there anyone in the Highlands
area who has a driver whom
they would be prepared to share?
Replies to
gailc@zol.co.zw or phone
498266/091-354079
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 02 October 2003)
RESCUE Sheltered Workshop for 43 mentally and
physically disabled invite
application for the following posts:
1.
Administrator/Director
2. Workshop Manager
3. Bookkeeper
The
disabled persons have been trained to carry out various semi-skilled
work in
the manufacture of wheelchairs in a well-equipped and spacious
workshop in
Harare.
Applications with CV to be sent to Chairman Executive Committee,
P O Box
A381, Avondale, Harare.
Tel: (w) 304575, cell 011 405
046
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARARE
(ad
inserted 01 October 2003)
We are looking for someone to work on our till
in the Art Mart, please
contact Lindy Rowlands at 485514 for more
details.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
BULAWAYO
(ad
inserted 14 December 2003)
We know of a displaced farmer with a Heavy
Duty License that urgently
requires some work.
He would prefer a flexi
time type job in the Bulawayo area and full details
are available of his
credentials.
Please call the writer on 091 202
319.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
BULAWAYO
(ad
inserted 11 November 2003)
A small and congenial club is looking for a
couple who would take over day
to day management.
Modest salary, free
house and lights and water. Opportunity for profit on
catering. Lovely
surroundings.
Please contact JAG office for further
details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BULAWAYO
(ad
inserted 10 October 2003)
We are looking for someone who has:
1.
Loads of common sense
2. Patience
3. Sense of humour and an ability to
communicate at all levels
4. Self-motivation
5. Prepared to work hands on
(mostly feet on!)
6. Perseverance
7. A touch of stubbornness would be an
advantage
8. ENERGY (that should perhaps have been listed first!)
That
is the basic mindset.
Then:
Experience in sewing most important.
Designing and pattern making an
advantage but not essential.
The
working environment is in an export orientated clothing factory - we
are
unquestionably competitive in the world market and have
uncompromising
quality standards to support this.
The work is hard,
the job is rewarding. If you are interested, please
contact me on email: judepete@mweb.co.zw
Judith
Clark
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENTERPRISE
(ad
inserted 14 December 2003)
Wanted - Handyman/mechanic to caretake a farm
in the enterprise area,
furnished cottage, farm transport and basic salary
(negotiable), starting
asap. plse send CV to jdrakes@africaonline.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
GWERU
(ad
inserted 11 November 2003)
Vacancy exists for a highly motivated, capable
person or couple to manage a
safari camp near Gweru. Must be able to take
full control of all aspects
of a large camp and staff. Previous experience
in the tourist, hospitality
and wildlife industry and a farming background
would be an advantage.
Position available immediately. Reply to aconolly@ecoweb.co.zw or write to
The
Manager, PO Box 1218,
Gweru.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
GWERU
(ad
inserted 30 October 2003)
Vacancies exist at a safari camp near Gweru for
Hotel School trained staff
with at least 2 years experience in the Hotel and
Catering industry.
Positions offered include Food & Beverage manager,
reception staff, chefs,
cooks, housekeepers, laundry staff, general cleaners
and ground staff.
Send CV with application to The Manager, Box 1218,
Gweru.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
HEADLANDS
(ad
inserted 30 October 2003)
Position suitable for retired man or couple to
help with cattle operation.
Large house and garden.
Negotiable job
description and remuneration.
Phone 04 - 882978
Email: fertylin@zambezi.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
JULIASDALE
(ad
inserted 20 November 2003)
MANAGER REQUIRED FOR SMALLHOLDING IN
JULIASDALE, NEAR PINE TREE INN.
200 acres, largely granite rocks, but
plenty of arable land. Lavender,
rosemary, proteas, hypericum etc., already
planted. Huge potential for
expanded business venture. Water
available.
4 long-term employees/caretaker already on site. Fully
furnished cottage
available. Suitable for couple or someone with limited
farming experience,
lots of energy and enthusiasm!
For more details
please contact J. Calder at 04 - 499119 or e-mail
calder@zol.co.zw
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
KARIBA
(ad
inserted 20 October 2003)
Do you love the bush, enjoy gardening, and have
the personality to make
guests feel welcome? Are you mechanically minded?
Interested in catering?
We are looking for a mature fit couple to run our
resort at Kariba. If you
feel this is for you, please email us on conquest@mweb.co.zw.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
MUTARE
(ad
inserted 03 November 2003)
Management position available on an expanding
horticultural project a half
hour outside Mutare.
Please contact: dalyn@mutare.icon.co.zw
telephone -
020 4 2207 / 011 210 668 / 020
64065.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NKAI
(MATABELELAND NORTH)
(ad inserted 08 October 2003)
We have a job offer
as a manager of a large Timber Milling operation in
Nkai. We are looking
for:
1. A decision maker with good managerial skills, able to control
and
discipline a large work force. Integrity and honesty are
vital.
2. Because Nkai is in the middle of the bush and far away from
any towns,
it is important that the applicants are personalities that are
not
interested in social life or likely to turn to alcohol. A more
introverted
type of person would be more suitable. Preferably without
children at
school.
3. Duties will involve the running of a very
large hardwood sawmill, hire
and fire of labourers, maintenance of all
machinery and vehicles and
dealing with customers. Work will often take up
weekends. Any mechanical
knowledge will be greatly advantageous.
4.
Accommodation at the moment consists of a Bungalow. However when the
right
person is found for the position we intend building.
5. Salary although
not fully decided at this point will be very high. We
will work out a scheme
based on percentage of profits as well as a basic.
Salary although paid in
Zim Dollars will be based on the Rand.
Regards
Glen
Wiseman
Cell phone: 011 208
329
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
ODZI
(ad
inserted 15 November 2003)
MANAGEMENT POSITION AVAILABLE
Hypericum
project situated in the Odzi area, currently 8 ha with further
expansion in
progress.
Applicant would be required to manage all production and
development
aspects of the project. Experience in agriculture essential,
experience in
horticulture a definite advantage.
Highly competitive
package on offer.
If interested please respond to:
dalyn@mutare.icon.co.zw Tel: 020 4
2207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ODZI
(ad
inserted 10 November 2003)
FRESH EXPORT VEGETABLE PACKHOUSE PRODUCTION
MANAGER.
Key attributes are: -
3 - 5 years experience in fresh
vegetable packing.
Able to manage a large labor force.
Be in
possession of "O" or "A" certificates with at least five passes.
A clean
class 4 Drivers license.
Be in a position to work flexible hours at
times.
Be able to deal with Suppliers/Customers on a one on one
basis.
Have a sound knowledge of the requirements of the export market
and
customer requirements.
All C.V`S to be sent to email kondozi@zol.co.zw
Address to
The
Packhouse Manager
P.O.Box
102,
Odzi
Zimbabwe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAFFINGORA
(ad
inserted 20 October 2003)
Wanted:
Someone to assist on farm; any
retired farmer or displaced couple looking
for somewhere to live or something
to do.
Contact Doreen for more information on e-mail: sylviadu@ecoweb.co.zw
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
WEST
NICHOLSON
(ad inserted 04 November 2003)
There is a vacancy for man
and wife team running a service station in West
Nicholson, modest salary with
substantial perks.
Please contact JAG office for contact
details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANGOLA
(ad
inserted 05 November 2003)
1) Eucalyptus Plantation - Lubango Southern
Angola
2) Hardwood Plantation - Tomboco Northern Angola
Adventurous people
with forestry knowledge required for these projects.
Reply cabiffen@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MALAWI
- TOBACCO MANAGERS
Tobacco managers wanted in Malawi: 2003/4 seasons
100ha Flue cured 100ha
Maize African tobacco managers of Malawian extraction
wanting to relocate
with costs paid and paper work facilities. Malawian
Passport Holders will
obviously be given preference. Respond to JAG's email
address and we
will
forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOZAMBIQUE
(ad
inserted 14 December 2003)
Chimoio
Produce Procurement Manager
required for export fresh produce company.
Tasks include quality control,
produce procurement, export and logistics.
Training provided. Best suited to
young, dynamic bachelor.
Good package offered.
Start date: Between
3&10 January
Contact: 091 602815
Email: ed.afruita@citchem.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOZAMBIQUE
(ad
inserted 26 November 2003)
Excellent opportunity in Chimoio, Mozambique
for ambitious and dynamic farm
manager. Start-up agricultural operation
requires a farm manager to build
it into an efficient and profitable
commercial operation. You have a
degree in agriculture, at least five years
of successful
tobacco/horticultural farm management, and strong people
management skills.
Shona is a must - Portuguese a big
advantage.
Excellent performance-related package offered. Good housing
available on
the farm. Please send your CV to post@ecoweb.co.zw".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIGERIA
(ad
inserted 10 November 2003)
PARTNERS NEEDED
RECENTLY, NIGERIAN
GOVT. IS INVITING WHITE FARMERS TO NIGERIA FOR BUSINESS.
WE ARE USING
THIS MEDIUM TO ANY GOOD ZIMBABWEANS TO JOIN HAND WITH US TO
DEVELOP OUR
POULTRY FARM WITH EQUIPMENT AND CASH.
WE HAVE OVER 12 -15ACRES OF LAND
WITH OPPORTUNITY TO BUT MORE AND ABOUT
2,000 CHICKS.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:-
SYLVESTER EWEJE, TEL:(H) 020 - 86502783 (W)
020 - 86769200 email
Admin@zawt.org
WE ARE BASED IN ENGLAND
AS A BRITISH CITIZEN BUT WITH NIGERIAN
ROOT.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIGERIA
(ad
inserted 16 October 2003)
I work for a US based Consulting firm -
GoodWorks
International LLC, engaged in amongst other things, promoting
investment in
Africa.
Some of our clients in Nigeria, in this respect,
Northern State Governors
have asked that we enquire into the possibility of
attracting farmers
seeking to divest or diversify their knowledge, expertise
or investments
from Zimbabwe and the Southern African region into the
northern part of
Nigeria.
The northern part of Nigeria is seeking to
boost its economic activity and
develop its communities by promoting the only
viable assets it has - its
agriculturally viable land and traditional farming
communities. Riding on
the back of an "agricultural boost" would be the
development of tourism in
the area, largely renowned for a rich culture,
colorful festivals, an
erstwhile beautiful game reserve and numerous other
historically valuable
sites which have suffered neglect.
The northern
part of Nigeria has a traditionally farming community, notable
for the
production of maize, sorghum, cowpeas, groundnuts, rice, sugar cane
etc.,
cattle rearing and poultry farming.
The idea would be to have these
farmers, enter into joint
venture/working/concession/management agreements
for farms or land either
owned and/or controlled by the state
governments.
Similarly, I am also seeking game park operators who might
be interested in
considering a similar working arrangement for a game reserve
located in
Bauchi state (Yankari game reserve).
I would appreciate
your putting me in touch with members of the farming
community interested in
exploring this opportunity further and I would be
happy to provide additional
information and arrange working
visits/conference calls.
If you have
any questions, please let me know.
I look forward to hearing from you as
soon as possible.
Regards.
Aisha Rimi
GWI Consulting
1900 K
Street, Suite 1050
Washington DC, 20006
www.gwiconsulting.com
Tel: 202
736 2152
Fax: 202 736
2213
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOUTH
AFRICA
(ad inserted 07 October 2003)
There is a vacancy for a
vegetable production manager in SA. The project is
involved in the production
of baby vegetables and peas (Mange Tout) for the
local market (Woolworths)
and the European markets.
The applicant must be able to work in SA. The
project is based in the
Southern Cape region of George.
Good
experience in all aspects of farming are essential - I am looking for
a
particularly dedicated person.
Please contact me - CHRIS CHARTER
info@1910fruitbox.co.za
+27 82
880-1351
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UGANDA
(ad
inserted 09 October 2003)
Ugandan Forest Resource Management and
Conservation Programme
PLANTATION SPECIALIST: TERMS OF
REFERENCE
Qualifications:
Degree or Diploma in Forestry or Forest
Engineering
Essential Experience:
· Minimum 8 years practical
experience of establishing, management and
harvesting of large-scale,
commercial, tropical or sub-tropical timber
plantations - particularly pines
and eucalypts.
· Proven experience of modern weed control techniques -
including the safe
use of herbicides.
· A thorough understanding of modern
tree nursery techniques.
· Demonstrable experience of working with chain
saws.
· Experience with skidding logs using a 4WD tractor and double-drum
winch.
· Organising and supervising private Contractors to carry out
work.
· Drawing up and implementing fire protection plans for
forests.
Desirable Experience:
· Knowledge of Health and Safety issues
in forestry operations.
· Experience in training in various aspects of
plantation silviculture and
harvesting.
· Forest Certification
experience.
· Knowledge of marketing roundwood.
· Competence in computer
use - especially MS Office applications.
Duration:
A 12-month contract
initially but with a likelihood of extension
Location:
The successful
applicant will be based in Kampala. The work will involve
frequent travel
around Uganda which will necessitate frequent overnight
stays up-country.
Kampala is a thriving, cosmopolitan city with excellent
facilities for
shopping, schooling and general R&R.
Start Date:
ASAP from 1st
October 2003.
Support:
The post-holder will have the use of a good 4WD
vehicle to carry out his or
her duties and a driver will be assigned to the
vehicle.
Salary and Conditions:
To be discussed with Agrisystems Ltd.
(UK).
Background:
The activities of the FRMCP places considerable
emphasis on the development
of new plantations and the sustainable management
of the remaining mature
plantations.
Despite the excellent growth
conditions available for tree plantations in
Uganda, the forest plantation
sector still remains under developed and a
serious shortfall of timber is
predicted in the near future.
The FRMCP has already started establishing
some demonstration plantations
in Forest Reserves in strategic places around
the country and has also
recently launched a Sawlog Production Grant Scheme
to act as an incentive
to the private sector to plant commercial timber
crops.
The lack of practical skills (following years of poor management
and
general unrest in the country) is severely affecting the FRMCP's
plantation
development plans hence the need to recruit a suitable person who
can pass
skills to the Programme's management team, private sector &
other
stakeholders to meet its plantation development targets.
Other
Info:
The post-holder will join the Agrisystems Technical Advisory (TA) team
-
reporting directly to the FRMCP's Chief Technical Advisor.
Please
contact: david@agrisystems.co.ke
for further
information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZAMBIA
(ad
inserted 05 November 2003)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Technical Supervisor
/ Administrator / Site Clerk
MINING / FARMING BACKGROUND
The company
is constructing a major mining plant, with associated
facilities, and is
seeking someone with experience in resolving a host of
practical issues
commonly arising in projects of this size. This will
include refurbishment
and construction of houses, purchasing other
buildings, resolving matters
with community and government authorities and
helping with supervision of
personnel and labour matters. Appropriate
qualifications and experience are
important, but identical experience is
not essential.
We are looking
for a well-organized person who can help sort out these
varied issues for the
Construction Manager. Someone with a mining or
farming management
background, experience in Southern Africa and with
practical ability are our
main requirements. Ability to improvise,
flexibility and commercial nous are
essential. The position is a
short-term assignment and the successful
applicant would live on site with
regular returns to home. A long-term
position may become available in
which case accommodation will be provided
for someone to take up a support
and administration role.
Applications
along with CV should be sent, for the attention of the MINE
SECRETARY, with
subject stated as TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR, to -
brevalan@connectit.co.za
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZAMBIA
(ad
inserted 01 October 2003)
HORTICULTURE MANAGER REQUIRED IN ZAMBIA ON THE
COPPERBELT
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
Vegetable and fruit grower supplying large
supermarket chain from
developing irrigated Copperbelt Farm requires a
suitably qualified hands-on
Assistant. Married or single. Wife could assist
in office. Some
experience with seeding growing an
advantage.
Excellent free housing and services paid, and vehicle
provided. Salary
negotiable.
Please reply email simmonds@zamnet.zm
Fax: Zambia +260 2
210468
Tel: Zambia +260 96
990096
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED
KINGDOM (Gloucestershire)
(ad inserted 13 November 2003)
I have been
asked if I knew of any couple who were looking for a position
that included a
'fully found' house in exchange for about three days of
gardening, some
cooking, and some driving in a very decent part of
Gloucestershire. The whole
arrangement is negotiable and on flexitime to
enable the applicants to take
on other jobs as well. The position is with
an elderly couple who are
extremely well disposed to the plight of the
farmers and others from Zim. If
you know anyone could you put them in touch
with me in the first instance so
that I can explain it a bit further?
Please contact JAG office for further
information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
(updated 15 December 2003)
IOL
China a shining economic example, says Mugabe
December
16 2003 at 06:21AM
countries on Monday and, together with other
African leaders, heaped praise
on China as officials from across the
continent and Beijing met in Ethiopia
for a Sino-African conference on
co-operation.
Mugabe spent much of a keynote speech delivered to an
audience, which
included Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and leaders or
ministers from
almost all African states, lambasting "the predatory warrior
states and
kingdoms of the West."
Today's "dangerous, unipolar world
is characterised by the brutal
predominance of America, unconditionally
supported by Britain, Australia and
other nations of Europe, recklessly
seeking global hegemony under the
convenient but false cover of good
governance, human rights and democracy,"
he said.
The West believes
"it can make and unmake, dismantle and occupy sovereign
states, loot their
economy as it seeks to remake the world after its own
image," he
said.
'The biggest world market, the fastest growing economies, are
in fact
in the East'
On the economic front, Africa's "business people have
remained under the
spell of a Western sorcerer whose bag of dirty tricks is
that of devious
deals and unfair trade practices," said the Zimbabwean
president.
Conversely, said Mugabe, China has been "among the few genuine
global makers
of democracy, among the authors of comprehensive human rights,
rule of law
and legality."
"It is taking far too long for most of our
business people to realise that
the biggest world market, the fastest growing
economies, are in fact in the
East, the largest being China," he
said.
"It is taking them far too long to realise that the thousands of
seasons of
our association with the west have not yielded fair trade terms,
technology
transfer or development," added Mugabe.
"Broader
partnerships with friendly Third World countries and emerging
markets such as
the People's Republic of China and other countries of the
Far East should be
the focus and emphasis of our efforts," he said.
"Zimbabwe will not
collapse, our struggle will not fail and we will never be
colonised again,"
he declared.
Zimbabwe, which quit the Commonwealth this month after the
grouping of
mainly former British colonies extended its suspension, faces
massive food
shortages blamed on both drought and the government's
controversial land
reform programme, under which white-owned farmland has
been seized and
re-distributed to blacks.
Wen Jiabao told the
gathering that global stability depended on boosting
development in the
world's poorest countries.
"It is clear that world peace and development
cannot possibly be sustained
if the North-South divide grows wider and
developing nations grow poorer,"
he said.
The prime minister said
"economic globalisation, while bringing development
opportunities, is also
posing unprecedented challenges to the developing
world."
"In the face
of this fact and truth, China's assistance offer to Africa is
with sincerity
and without any political conditions," he said, pointing out
"difficulties
Africans are facing with the international monetary agencies
and in their
bilateral relations with the western countries."
African states
frequently complain about the "conditionalities" attached to
loans offered by
the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and blame
the economic
policies of these organisations for holding back the
continent's
development.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told the meeting that
"China had been
a reliable friend of Africa during the liberation struggle"
against European
colonial powers.
"Taking into account our experience
of the last three years... I hope the
economic and social development
co-operation between Africa and China will
be as fruitful as it had been in
the liberation struggle," Meles added.
Mozambican President Joaquim
Chissano also expressed hope that cooperation
between Africa and China would
continue to flourish.
"In areas of peace and security, agriculture,
infrastructure, transport,
human resource development, health, science,
technology, trade, and finance,
Chinese entrepreneurs can play a big role,"
said Chissano, who is also
chairman of the African Union (AU).
Crackdown On Zimbabwean Striking Doctors Continues
December 15, 2003
Posted to the web December 15,
2003
Ntungamili Nkomo
Nairobi
Zimbabwean police this week
arrested ten more striking medical personnel as
they attended a hearing of
seven of their colleagues, who had been charged
with defying a labour court
order compelling them to resume work.
This now brings to 17, the number
of arrested medical personnel since the
strike started.
Junior and
middle-level doctors went on strike about two months ago,
pressing for a
whooping 8,000 percent salary increment and better
working
conditions.
The government subsequently took them to the
labour court, which ruled that
the strike was unlawful, ordering them to
resume work..
Under the country's laws, doctors cannot engage in any
industrial action
because their services are considered
indispensable.
Nurses, who had also gone on strike much earlier but later
resumed work,
have again rejoined the doctors in the strike, after the
government failed
to fulfil its promises.
Analysts say the situation
has done more harm to the country's ailing health
sector, which is already
reeling from the shortage of drugs and qualified
health personnel.
A
police spokesman here said the arrests would continue until all
striking
doctors got behind bars.
But doctors have been hitting back
by tendering resignations, while those
who remain in the sector have vowed to
remain on strike until the government
addresses their
grievances.
Eye-witnesses say there was drama at the courts when some of
the doctors
tried to resist arrest, demanding to see their warrants of
arrests.
"When our colleagues appeared before the magistrate, we also
came in and
settled in the public gallery, but no sooner had we settled down,
than the
police pounced on us," said Molefi Ndlovu, one of the doctors who
survived
the arrests.
"We don't know how they identified us, but that
is what happened. Some
doctors tried to resist but the police dragged them,
huffing and puffing
into their van," he continued.
No comment could be
obtained from the Hospitals Doctors Association of
Zimbabwe, since the
doctors' entire leadership is in police custody. It
however, remains
uncertain when they will appear in court.
Junior and middle level doctors
currently earn Z$4.5 and 5.7 million (about
US$ 5641 and 6917) a year
respectively, but they argue that the money cannot
sustain them, and are
pressing for an annual salary of Z$30 million (about
US$ 36,407).
The
government has however, indicated that it was not prepared to pay as
much,
and has described the demands as unrealistic.
Reserve Bank Gets Tough On Travellers
December 12, 2003
Posted to the web December 15,
2003
Godfrey Marawanyika
the Exchange Control Regulations
pertaining to holiday travel allowances to
financial institutions.
The
RBZ has sent a circular to commercial banks informing them that
individual
foreign currency account holders should not carry-over to the
next calendar
year a maximum US$2 500 in allowances.
Regulatory requirements allow
individual foreign currency account holders to
annually receive US$2 500 as
their holiday travel allowance.
In the past, holiday allowances could
accrue for a period of three years,
but with effect from last month this will
no longer be applicable.
In 2001, the then Minister of Finance and
Economic Development Simba Makoni
slashed holiday allowances from US$5 000 to
the current US$2 500 per annum.
According to a circular Reference Number
453, written last month by the
central bank to financial institutions, there
have been amendments
pertaining to holiday travel
allowances.
"Exchange Control advises that Directive RE 451 dated 13
November 2003, is
replaced by this directive RE 453, with amendments made on
holiday travel
allowance," the central bank said.
"Current Exchange
Control policy states that an equivalent of up to US$2 500
may be issued a
holiday travel allowance to any one individual per calendar
year. This amount
may not be accumulated to another calendar year. The
amount issued must be
endorsed in the applicant's passport as evidence to
the exchange control of
holiday travel allowance availed to any one
individual year."
The RBZ
has already instructed banks to retain 50% of foreign currency
from
individual FCAs with effect from November.
The arrangement means
that when an individual intends to withdraw foreign
currency from a personal
account, half of the money must be exchanged using
the official rate of $824
against the greenback.
The bank has to remit the other 50% of the hard
currency to the RBZ.
This development comes in the wake of moves by
government proposing to
target individual FCA holders although it was never
enforced. Finance
minister Herbert Murerwa said he would be tough on all
banks. Banks have now
been ordered to account for foreign currency held in
all accounts.
"The holder of a foreign currency account may be issued
with additional
funds from his/her foreign currency account for the purpose
of travel," the
RBZ said.
"In addition, individuals holding cash may
exchange same with travellers'
cheques issued by the authorised dealers.
Exchange control further advises
that foreign currency drawn from the
individual FCA's for travel purposes,
or foreign currency cash exchanged for
travellers' cheques must not be
endorsed in the applicant's
passport."
As part of managing the foreign currency shortages in Zimbabwe
government
has since formed a special taskforce to address the management of
foreign
currency which it says is being abused.
The taskforce has
directed the RBZ to scrutinise all individual
FCA
transactions.
However, like all government taskforces, the latter
is still to announce
what it has achieved so far.
On a message board:
We are leaving Zim. I have two boys aged 9 and 12 and
our school fees for
next term which are revewable monthly are 6.8 million
dollars. We do not
even earn that kind of money in a term.We used to consider
ourselves
comfortable here but things have deteriorated so quickly it is now
time for
us to press on and start again. Most street intersections are now
filled
with vendors trying to sell stolen christmas trees for between 50 and
80
thousand zim dollars. A loaf of bread and 2 litres of milk yesterday cost
me
ten thousand dollars. I can still buy this at a push but there must
be
millions of lower income or no income people who are now dying. The
plight
of pensioners is critical....some of them only get Z$ 5 000 a month.
We are
collecting food through Lions clubs here on a daily basis so that
these
people at least can eat. As a white person here and watching our
earnings
dwindle rapidly daily there is also a limit to how much extra I can
provide
to help the elderly.Have a Happy Christmas everyone and May 2004
bring you
all you wish for.
The Star
Zim diplomacy set to get 'louder'
December 16,
2003
By Allister Sparks
One major change emerges from
the events at Abuja that led to
Zimbabwe's continued suspension and
subsequent resignation from the
Commonwealth. Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo
will now take over from President
Thabo Mbeki as the lead player in trying to
bring about political change
in Zimbabwe.
Until now
Obasanjo has deferred to Mbeki's policy of "quiet
diplomacy", taking the view
that Zimbabwe was within South Africa's sphere
of influence and it should
therefore take the lead in dealing with this
problem - just as Nigeria has
taken the lead with its regional problems in
Sierra Leone and
Liberia.
But now Obasanjo emerges from the Abuja summit as chairman
of the
Commonwealth and head of a special seven-man committee mandated to try
to
implement a "road map" to bring Zimbabwe back into the club.
At the same time Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" has manifestly failed, and
he has
emerged from Abuja with his international prestige and
influence
damaged.
Mbeki's strategy was based on the belief that
the best way to persuade
Robert Mugabe to leave office was to enable him to
retire in dignity; that
condemnation and isolation would make him more
bloody-minded and aggressive.
Mbeki may have been right in this,
but his approach was complicated by
the fact that he did not want to see the
ruling Zanu-PF party ousted from
power and the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) take over. He
seems to have an innate dislike of the
MDC, perhaps a doubt about its
ability to govern, but more likely because he
didn't like the prospect of a
liberation movement being ousted by a
post-struggle opposition party spawned
by the country's labour movement. A
discomfiting precedent for the leader of
the ANC alliance.
In
addition, Mbeki seems to have been haunted by a fear that other
African
leaders might label him a stooge of the white Western world if he
appeared to
be siding with it against an African liberation leader of
Mugabe's
stature.
He believes emphatically, and wrongly in my opinion, that
the West is
upset over Zimbabwe only because some white farmers have been
maltreated,
and that the white world generally cares little about much worse
atrocities
elsewhere in Africa.
To him, therefore, it is a
racist issue of discriminatory outrage. And
that angers him.
Whatever the merits of these views, the fact is they inhibited Mbeki's
"quiet
diplomacy" to a point where, in the words of Wits University's Tom
Lodge, the
policy became so low-key, so nuanced, so subtle that it
became
invisible.
The result was that Mugabe played Mbeki for a
fool.
With no meaningful pressure on him, Mugabe carried on as usual
leaving
Mbeki to bat for him on the international field with repeated
assurances
that talks were taking place between Zanu-PF and the MDC and that
Mugabe
would be gone by next June.
In fact, no negotiations were
taking place. At most there were some
informal one-on-one discussions earlier
this year between MDC
Secretary-General Welshman Ncube and the Minister of
Justice, Patrick
Chinamaso, about a possible new constitution, and a group of
three Zimbabwe
bishops shuttled briefly between Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan
Tsvangirai.
Nothing substantive, and even these flimsy contacts broke off
nearly four
months ago and there has been nothing since.
Meanwhile violent repression and intimidation of opposition supporters
has
intensified rather than receded, peaceful protest demonstrations have
been
broken up an