The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE LEGAL COMMUNIQUÉ - February 10, 2003

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AGRI SA PRESS CONFERENCE STATEMENT
31 January 2003

AGRI SA LEADERS' IMPRESSIONS OF THE ZIMBABWEAN VISIT

Agri SA was invited by President Mbeki to send delegates with Ms Didiza,
the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, to Zimbabwe.  They used this
opportunity to speak to Minister Didiza's Zimbabwean counterpart, Mr Made,
Zimbabwean government officials, agricultural organisations, input
suppliers and the leader of the Zimbabwean opposition party, Mr Svangirai.
They also visited farms with the government delegation and later met with
independent people who are familiar with the area and the transitional
arrangements.

From what they observed, the delegates are convinced that the land reform
programme was aimed primarily at securing political patronage and was
implemented in such a way that it caused irreparable damage to the
production base of agriculture.  It also offers little prospect of
sustainable profitability for the present beneficiaries of the programme.
It is tragic that more people have not gained access to land in terms of
the fast-track programme and that 350 000 farm workers and their families
now live as refugees in their own country.  Moreover, 7 to 8 million
people face starvation due to a lack of food and care.

The present dilemma cannot be ascribed to a few administrative errors.
Whilst the need for a fundamental land reform programme is not disputed,
the programme has by no means contributed to economic progress, equity and
improved food security.  It was used as a tool to gain and secure control
in Zimbabwe.  Agri SA's representatives therefore do not believe that they
have witnessed a turning point and that things will now start to improve.
They are of the opinion that the programme is based on unacceptable and
unsustainable points of departure.  It will have to be replaced with a
programme governed by a totally different set of values if agriculture is
to be revived to play the role it should in that economy.

Minister Made stated clearly that the government and the ruling party
would retain title to the land and would dish it out to "qualifying"
persons, which in practice means to those who show support for the ruling
party. The delegation was shocked by the blatant way in which the minister
evaded penetrating questions in this regard and his attempt to justify his
party's actions with thought-transference.

In most cases the beneficiaries knew nothing about farming and many of
them were completely unfamiliar with the farms or production information
aside from occupying the homesteads.  Although it is said that the land
would or should be used productively, a massive decline in production is
inevitable.

When interviewed in the presence of government representatives,
beneficiaries sketched a rosy picture of their agricultural achievements.
Quite clearly this was orchestrated.  When probed about practices and
costs, their response was unconvincing.

Beneficiaries do not hold title to land to use as collateral for credit
and are therefore totally dependent on government support for such credit
and for gaining access to subsidised inputs.  They are therefore shielded
from real costs, while market prices of controlled products, such as maize
and wheat, are pegged at unrealistically low levels.  While this is
normally an intolerable situation, these new farmers have indicated that
they experience no problems. This confirms that they are not functioning
within a market discipline and are basically employed and supported by the
government to keep commercial producers away from their farms, farm
workers and farming operations.

These interventions, together with the impact of a bankrupt economy, give
rise to a lopsided economy of unknown proportions.  It creates
opportunities for political and bureaucratic mismanagement, favouritism
and intimidation, and for some an opportunity to profit immensely.  The
result is that the frustrations of ordinary Zimbabweans are mounting,
which will be difficult, if not impossible, to control.

Apparently, the Zimbabwean government contemplates managing some of the
frustrating bottlenecks and deficiencies by imposing more interventions.
Mr Made, for instance, said that the rest of the economy should also be
"indigenised", as in the case of agriculture, to secure control over the
supply of inputs and related economic activities. He failed to explain how
this would solve existing problems.

He also made no bones about the fact that South Africans with property in
Zimbabwe must accept the reality of Zimbabwe's land programme. Agri SA
delegates are of the opinion that he resented the presence of South
African farmers in Zimbabwe. The fact that an investment agreement exists
between South Africa and Zimbabwe that rules out the present confiscation
approach, is of little concern to him. Between 160 and 200 South African
farmers are currently subject to political theft of private assets, as is
the case for almost all commercial farmers in Zimbabwe.

Mr Made was also irritated when questioned on the negative impact of their
land grabbing policy on investor confidence in general. He made it clear
that ZANU-PF was involved in a different phase of their liberation war and
that a solution to economic problems was a lower priority than the
successful "indigenising" of economic assets.

With this as backdrop, including the demise of the country's institutional
capacity, problems such as food and fuel shortages and the outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease are merely symptoms of an inherently sick and
corrupt system.

The delegation is of the opinion that the SA Government should speak out
against the lack of legitimacy of the Zimbabwean regime, should criticise
that government's fraudulent practices and make it clear to ZANU-PF that,
if they persist with morally wrong practices that most Zimbabweans and the
rest of the world reject, they should not expect the blessing or support
of South Africa as a lifeline to keep themselves in power.

In conclusion, South Africa should endeavour to build national consensus
on a just and implementable land reform policy and programme to speed up
existing processes and to ensure that we do not end up with the same messy
situation as in Zimbabwe.

The role of commercial farmers, respect for property rights and a
constitutionally based judicial system should also be valued and confirmed
throughout the process.


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JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE COMMUNIQUÉ - February 10, 2003

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JAG CONGRATULATES FLOWER & OLONGA ON THEIR STAND

Two of Zimbabwe's cricket players, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga gave a
press statement and made a silent statement on the pitch today by the
wearing of black armbands. Gentlemen you are true heroes and ambassadors.
You have proven to the world and our own starving people that you care.
You are prepared to do your best to serve your nation but you have neither
turned your back on reality or your people. We admire your achievement
against Namibia but much more we admire your great victory over personal
interest for the sake of your nation. We as farmers silently support you
and urge all Zimbabweans to play to win.

From the JAG Team

OLANGA & FLOWER'S FULL STATEMENT FROM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport

It is a great honour for us to take the field today to play for Zimbabwe
in the World Cup.

We feel privileged and proud to have been able to represent our country.
We are, however, deeply distressed about what is taking place in Zimbabwe
in the midst of the World Cup and do not feel that we can take the field
without indicating our feelings in a dignified manner and in keeping with
the spirit of cricket.

We cannot in good conscience take to the field and ignore the fact that
millions of our compatriots are starving, unemployed and oppressed. We are
aware that hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans may even die in the coming
months through a combination of starvation, poverty and Aids. We are aware
that many people have been unjustly imprisoned and tortured simply for
expressing their opinions about what is happening in the country. We have
heard a torrent of racist hate speech directed at minority groups. We are
aware that thousands of Zimbabweans are routinely denied their right to
freedom of expression.

We are aware that people have been murdered, raped, beaten and had their
homes destroyed because of their beliefs and that many of those
responsible have not been prosecuted.

We are also aware that many patriotic Zimbabweans oppose us even playing
in the World Cup because of what is happening.

It is impossible to ignore what is happening in Zimbabwe. Although we are
just professional cricketers, we do have a conscience and feelings.

We believe that if we remain silent that will be taken as a sign that
either we do not care or we condone what is happening in Zimbabwe.

We believe that it is important to stand up for what is right.

We have struggled to think of an action that would be appropriate and that
would not demean the game we love so much.

We have decided that we should act alone without other members of the team
being involved because our decision is deeply personal and we did not want
to use our senior status to unfairly influence more junior members of the
squad.

We would like to stress that we greatly respect the ICC and are grateful
for all the hard work it has done in bringing the World Cup to Zimbabwe.

In all the circumstances, we have decided that we will each wear a black
armband for the duration of the World Cup.

In doing so we are mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe.

In doing so we are making a silent plea to those responsible to stop the
abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe.

In doing so we pray that our small action may help to restore sanity and
dignity to our nation.


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JAG Sitrep February 10, 2003
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Report from Bed de Jager Re: Ormeston Farm

In September 2000 Ormeston farm was listed in the Herald (Sectioned 5), I
was able to continue farming at this time. On 6 August 2001 I was arrested
with 20 other farmers and business men on the Listenshields saga, and kept
in jail for 17 days, and in court we won the case, and no-one was charged.

In March 2002 I received a Section 8 for Ormeston at that time I had a
summer crop in the ground, which I was able to harvest. As a group we were
off Two Tree Farm and Manyamba farm at this time, so we had plenty of
equipment to use on Ormeston, to the extent of prepping and planting a 600
ha crop of wheat in 10 days. We hesitated about planting the wheat but
eventually went ahead and planted. Minister Mombeshora came to Ormeston in
April 2002, with the Chinhoyi lands committee, to tell me that the min has
been given my farm.

In September 2002 I was taken to court for still being on Ormeston, and
not having vacated. The section 8 was declared Null and Void, as the
bondholder had not been served with a section 8. I was legally back in the
clear. At this time Min Mombeshora used the labour to strike, and make
life uncomfortable. I started paying out the S.I.6 end of September. I
left the option with the labour, that if they take the package they leave,
and if they want to work, they don't take the package. 40% took the
package and the balance went back to work. On the 28th of October 2002 I
received a radio call from my clerk that Assistant Commissioner Gwasirai
was at the farm with support unit and other officers, 3 Defenders full, as
well as 2 vehicles from Min Mombeshora loaded with youth and 2 lands
committee members who back him irrespective.

When I returned, 6 support unit members had been placed at the gate, with
4 constabulary members all armed. They refused my entry into the farm. I
returned back to Chinhoyi to go and see Assistant Commissioner Gwasirai.
He told me that I need to get off the farm, and remove my property. He
said I could only venture onto the farm with Police escort. During this
time Min Mombeshora's youth had hi-jacked my excavator and the driver, and
went and dug trenches over all the access roads onto the farm except the
main entrance.

In December 2002 Min Mombeshora had the locks to my brothers house broken,
removed most of the contents, and chucked it onto one of my trailers still
on the farm, and carted this to Friedawill farm, where my sister lives, and
left the trailer there. Many items were also stolen in this operation. My
brother made a report with suspects, and the police has not followed
any up for almost 2 months. On Friday 7 February 2003 Min Mombeshora tried
to get the police to accompany him to break my house and remove my
property. The police refused and advised him 3 times that it was illegal,
and that they will take no part in it. However he went ahead and used my
ex-labour working for him with youth to remove my property and put it onto
trailers and carted it off to Friedawill again. Friday night they did one
trailer, Saturday night they did 2 trailers, Sunday morning they did 2
trailers, which they offloaded at Friedawill, my wife and I arrived as they
started to offload the two trailers, and made a 10 minute video of
it, which they naturally didn't like.

Thanks
Ben De Jager.

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THE JAG TEAM

JAG Hotlines:
(011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need advice,
    (011) 205 374
       (011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us -
       (091) 317 264
    (011)207 860 we're here to help!
(011) 431 068

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The Scotsman

      England's cricketers refuse to play in Zimbabwe

      HAMISH MACDONELL


      ANY last hope that this week's ill-fated World Cup cricket match
between England and Zimbabwe might take place as planned appeared to have
been dashed last night when the England team management made it clear the
players would not travel to Harare.

      Another day of acrimony and confusion ended with Tim Lamb, the chief
executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, announcing in Cape Town
that fresh safety concerns had persuaded the players to stay away from
Zimbabwe.

      Death threats received from a group calling itself the Sons and
Daughters of Zimbabwe had proved too much for the players and persuaded them
to abandon any hope of travelling to the fixture.

      The ECB yesterday submitted a new, formal, request to the
International Cricket Council asking for the match to be moved to a safer
venue.

      But there was continuing uncertainty in the team's camp in Cape Town
later after Mr Lamb stressed the ECB was still waiting for an official
response from the ICC, due this morning, before a definitive decision could
be made. He also took a swipe at the world cricket body for leaking private
correspondence from the ECB - including yesterday's request to have the game
moved - to the press.

      The ICC has taken a consistently hard line against England's appeals
and is not expected to change its approach today.

      The statement from the ICC is expected to turn down the request to
have the match moved, handing the result and all four World Cup points to
Zimbabwe.

      The loss of all the points will make it difficult for the team to
qualify for the later stages of the tournament and the English cricket
authorities will also be fined, possibly as much as £10 million, to cover
lost television coverage and sponsorship.

      England's scheduled home matches against Zimbabwe in the summer are
expected to be cancelled in a tit-for-tat move by the Zimbabwean cricket
authorities and the money-spinning five-Test series against South Africa
this summer is also in doubt.

      This week's fixture has been overshadowed for weeks by wrangling over
threats to player safety because of the turbulent political situation in
Zimbabwe. There have also been calls for England to boycott the game in
protest at President Robert Mugabe's regime.
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The Sun
 
Come to Harare and die
NASSER ... silence over
WORLD CUP 2003
• Call it Dithering-Day
• World Cup round-up
From DAVE KIDD in Cape Town

NASSER HUSSAIN broke his week-long silence on the Zimbabwe row as chaos reigned here last night.

Hussain's England side now look certain not to travel to Harare for Thursday's World Cup clash.

A letter allegedly from opposition group 'Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe' looks to have been the final straw for the players. And full details, revealed yesterday, show why.

It threatens: "Come to Zimbabwe and you will go back to Britain in wooden coffins.

"We know your team. Come to Harare and you will die. And how safe are your families back in the UK?"

The letter, sent to ECB chief executive Tim Lamb on January 20, even claims foreign groups will hunt down the players and their families in this country.

Lord's chiefs refuse to confirm the game is off and the saga has now descended into a bitter legal battle between the ECB and ICC.

But there was no doubting the anguish in Hussain's voice as he finally spoke after being gagged by ECB lawyers.

He admitted: "During a very emotional and heated players' meeting on Sunday, in which some people were in tears, we were suddenly told the letter might be genuine.

"Each player was speaking on the pros and cons of going to Zimbabwe.

"There was a lot of emotion in that room. We weren't sure what we were doing.

"At that point a lawyer burst in and stopped the meeting. ECB chairman David Morgan then told us the letter was a serious threat. Since then the players have not been involved in any further discussions."

The letter will now form the basis of yet another appeal to the ICC to have England's fixture with Zimbabwe switched to a venue in South Africa.

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African solidarity

AFP, Johannesburg

South Africa have threatened to cancel their post-World Cup tour of England
if Nasser Hussain's men refuse to play their February 13 tournament opener
against Zimbabwe in Harare, according to a British newspaper a move that
could do massive damage to English cricket's finances.
Monday's Daily Telegraph reported that, during Saturday's World Cup opening
ceremony at Cape Town's Newlands ground, United Cricket Board of South
Africa (UCBSA) president Percy Sonn warned England and Wales Cricket Board
(ECB) chairman David Morgan that the Proteas might refuse to tour England
where they are due to play five Tests in the northern summer.

England's players and the ECB have both voiced security concerns about
proceeding with the match in famine-threatened Zimbabwe, saying they are
worried about the safety of spectators as well as themselves.

They fear ugly scenes if Zimbabwe security forces crackdown on opponents of
President Robert Mugabe who might use the game as a forum for political
protest.

However, despite months of agonising and numerous rounds of last-ditch
talks, they have still to announce whether they will play the game or not.

Meanwhile Sonn, apparently affronted by what he sees as a slight to his
neighbours, in what is being promoted as an 'African' festival of cricket,
has reportedly told Morgan about the safety threat that exists in the United
Kingdom.

According to the Telegraph, he cited the death of a policeman in Manchester,
northern England, on anti-terrorist duty and also made reference to recent
comments by Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister.

Blair warned, that because terror incidents were now a fact of modern life,
and in particular given Britain's hardline stance against the Al-Qaeda
terror network and his government's willingness to countenance military
action against Iraq, the country was at risk as never before.

His government has also been one of the strongest international critics of
the Mugabe regime and he has called on England to boycott their match in
protest at its alleged

human rights abuses while saying he cannot compel the side to withdraw.

A similar stance has been taken by the Australian government, which is also
fiercely hostile to Mugabe.

English cricket has yet to be blighted by the cancellation of tours on
safety and political grounds that have affected other Test nations such as
Pakistan.

But the ECB have warned that withdrawal from Harare could ultimately cost
them as much as 10 million pounds (16.4 million dollars).

That takes into account both a fine for missing the match itself and the
cost of any subsequent cancellation of Zimbabwe's two Test tour of England
in the early part of the northern summer.

South Africa arrive later in the season with all three countries expected to
take part in a triangular one-day series as well as their respective Test
campaigns.

ECB chief executive Tim Lamb has already said a Zimbabwe withdrawal could
have dire financial consequences for English cricket.

But, with over 80 per cent of their income coming from the proceeds of
international matches, the effect of a South African withdrawal opens up an
even more appalling prospect for the ECB.

On Sunday, the ECB who have exhausted all official attempts at getting their
Harare fixture moved to main hosts South Africa, handed a dossier to
International Cricket Council (ICC) chiefs which they said contained new
security information.

That dossier has been passed to South Africa's second highest ranking police
officer, Andre Pruis who is due to provide an assessment to the ICC later
Monday.

However, as Zimbabwe are adamantly opposed to relocating the fixture,
England must either play the match in Harare or risk losing four World Cup
points as well as incurring a fine for failing to honour their contractual
obligations.

It appears now they are pinning their hopes on World Cup chiefs calling off
the game and awarding both sides two points. But that would represent a huge
U-turn on the part of the game's rulers.
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The Age

Boycott torment leaves England team in tears
February 11 2003

England captain Nasser Hussain today revealed that his team-mates have
become so tormented with the Zimbabwe crisis that some have broken down in
tears.

As the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket
Board (ECB) traded claim, counter-claim and allegations over who was
responsible for the Harare boycott fiasco, the skipper made an emotional
public plea in an effort to win back the support of the public who have
rapidly lost patience with the affair.

"On Sunday, there were 15 England cricketers discussing whether to go to
Zimbabwe or not. It was a very emotional, very heated meeting," Hussain
said.

"There were people in tears, there were people trying to weigh up all the
difficult decisions that we had to make. Each individual was speaking,
talking of the pros and cons.

"There was a lot of emotion in the room. We weren't sure what we were
doing," said Hussain as the team and their ECB employers continued to insist
that Thursday's World Cup clash in Harare should be shifted to a venue
outside Zimbabwe because they were not convinced of the security guarantees
they had received from the ICC.


As they were speaking, said the captain, they were informed that death
threats had been issued against them and their families if they played the
match.

"The chairman David Morgan and chief executive Tim Lamb came in and asked us
to stop what we were doing. We have some additional news for you.

"Tim said: 'I don't want to know anything about this meeting or where you
are with this. I would like to say something'.

"The room fell quiet. The chairman stated that a letter from a group called
Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe had been received and that had obviously very
much upset the team.

"At this stage some of us were taking it lightly, some weren't, but the
chairman confirmed that it was a serious threat.

"Interpol knew who these people were and they were linked to the opposition
in Zimbabwe," explained Hussain although the letter was on Monday dismissed
again as a hoax by South Africa's second most senior police officer.

"Morgan said it would be appropriate if we left the room so that he, Tim
Lamb and the lawyers could go off and discuss it with the ICC," continued
Hussain.

"We've had a weight lifted off our shoulders. That is my statement, that is
the truth, that is where the players have stood and I just feel it's
important that you know that," said Hussain.

- AFP
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Daily Telegraph

Tsvangirai trial witness 'gagged'
By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
(Filed: 11/02/2003)


The Zimbabwean government yesterday imposed a gag on the key prosecution
witness in the treason trial of the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai,
ordering him not to disclose details of his £600,000 contract with the
Mugabe regime.

The defence said the banning order was ridiculous and urged the judge to
ignore it.

Ari Ben Menashe, a Montreal-based consultant, has testified that Mr
Tsvangirai hired him to help kill President Robert Mugabe before elections
last March.

Mr Ben Menashe told the court he was given a £60,000 down payment when he
signed a contract with Zimbabwe in January last year. But he refused to
answer defence questions about work he did for the government, citing a
confidentiality clause.

Yesterday prosecution lawyers produced a certificate signed by Nicholas
Goche, the security minister, banning publication of contract details,
saying it would be "prejudicial to national security".

George Bizos, a South African who defended Nelson Mandela on similar charges
more than 40 years ago, said the gagging order was "ridiculous" and would
"bring the administration of justice in Zimbabwe into disrepute".

Judge Paddington Garwe will give his ruling today.

Mr Bizos said Mr Ben Menashe was paid to entrap Mr Tsvangirai and two other
opposition MPs, Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela. If convicted they could
face execution.
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Independent (UK)

African ambush brings Mugabe in from the cold
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
11 February 2003

The Commonwealth was in turmoil last night after the leaders of Nigeria and
South Africa in effect ensured the readmittance of Zimbabwe to the
organisation.

It took a phone call to John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, in a
phone box in Hawaii to signal the end of President Robert Mugabe's
diplomatic isolation. His African colleagues had decreed that Zimbabwe
should now come in from the cold.

The Commonwealth's most recalcitrant member was suspended for a year last
March after presidential elections scarred by violence and vote-rigging. The
decision was taken by a "troika" of leaders appointed by the 54-member
organisation to oversee its response to Zimbabwe when heads of government
failed to agree on a course of action at a summit in Queensland two weeks
earlier. The panel, comprising Australia, South Africa and Nigeria, was due
to meet again next month to review the position before the suspension
expired. But unbeknown to Mr Howard, chairman of the panel, secret talks had
been going on behind his back.

In the phone call, taken during a refuelling stop on the way to Washington,
Thabo Mbeki, the South African President, told Mr Howard that both he and
Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian President, saw no point in reconvening. In
effect, Mr Mbeki told Mr Howard that Zimbabwe's spell in the doghouse was
over. For if the trio do not meet again, the suspension will automatically
lapse next month.

Mr Howard, who was flying to America for talks on Iraq with President George
Bush, was furious. Caught on the hop, he said yesterday that he had not
expected "to discuss Zimbabwe in a telephone booth in Hawaii". He planned to
write to all other Commonwealth leaders, he said, to recommend that the
suspension be extended until their next full summit meeting in December.

"They [Nigeria and South Africa] didn't agree with me that further measures
should be taken against Zimbabwe," Mr Howard said. "I deduced from that
discussion they would not be unhappy if Zimbabwe were readmitted." For his
part, there was nothing he could do. "If they didn't want another meeting,
then another meeting wouldn't take place."

The ambush, which The Independent reported was being plotted last Saturday,
came after talks in Zimbabwe between Mr Mugabe and Mr Obasanjo. During that
meeting, the Nigerian leader urged his Zimbabwean counterpart to enact at
least some reforms, to make it easier for those who wished to help him. Mr
Howard said Zimbabwe had done nothing to warrant being readmitted. "Zimbabwe
has not done anything effectively to respond to what it was asked to do," he
said. "If anything, the situation appears to have deteriorated and I
certainly wouldn't be supporting any notion that Zimbabwe should be
readmitted."

Mr Howard has been outmanoeuvred and outvoted. Even if he enlists some
support among fellow heads of government, there is no forum in which they
can discuss the issue before December. By then, Mr Mugabe will have resumed
his place at the table.

Once again, the Commonwealth is threatening to split along racial lines.
Last year, in the Queensland resort of Coolum, Britain, Australia and New
Zealand forcefully argued for Zimbabwe to be suspended before the elections.
The move was warranted, they argued, because of the intimidation and
violence that had accompanied the campaign.

African states, who make up 17 of the Commonwealth's 54 members, wanted Mr
Mugabe to be given more time and resisted efforts to railroad them into
immediate action. But after Commonwealth observers reported intimidation
during the elections and that they did not reflect the will of the
Zimbabwean people, Mr Mbeki and Mr Obasanjo could no longer demur.

Almost a year on, things have patently not improved in Zimbabwe, and are
probably worse. Political and human rights abuses are still rampant. Morgan
Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, has just gone on trial on what he says
are trumped up charges that he plotted to assassinate Mr Mugabe. But as far
as Mr Howard's two African colleagues are concerned, Mr Mugabe has served
his time.

Mr Howard said many Pacific nations, as well as Britain, New Zealand, Canada
and India, opposed lifting the suspension. Perhaps those countries should
have anticipated this dilemma when they devolved responsibility to a troika
dominated by two men with a record of being soft on Mr Mugabe.

If Zimbabwe rejoins next month, as seems certain, Mr Mugabe will have won
another diplomatic coup. He has already been allowed by France to attend a
summit later this month when travel restrictions on Zimbabwe's elite expire.
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Independent (UK)


Zimbabwe board probe player protest
PA Sport in Harare
11 February 2003


The Zimbabwean Cricket Union is considering its response to yesterday's
protest by Zimbabwe cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga.

Flower and Olonga pleaded for an end to human rights abuses in their country
before launching their World Cup campaign against Namibia in Harare.

Batsman Flower and bowler Olonga will wear black armbands during the
tournament to mourn the "death of democracy" in their country under Robert
Mugabe's oppressive regime.

The pair issued a joint statement before Zimbabwe's opening match today
against Namibia in Harare.

The statement read: "In doing so (wearing the black armbands) we are
mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe.

"We are making a silent plea to those responsible to stop the abuse of human
rights in Zimbabwe. We pray that our small action may help to restore sanity
and dignity to our nation.

"We cannot in good conscience take to the field and ignore the fact that
millions of our compatriots are starving, unemployed and oppressed.

"We are aware that hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans may even die in the
coming months through a combination of starvation and poverty and aids.

"We have heard a torrent of racist hate speech directed at minority groups."

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union responded tonight with a statement of their own,
which read: "The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has noted the statement by two
Zimbabwean players, Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga.

"The issue is being considered by the appropriate committee of the ZCU. As
soon as the committee makes its decision, the ZCU will issue a statement.

"In the meantime, the Union reiterates its position that it is a
non-political organisation."

Olonga's club Takashinga has already issued a statement suspending him from
representing them again this season.

The ZCU appear to be in a no-win situation regarding this matter.

Should they discipline the players, presumably for making political
statements in breach of their contracts, they will open themselves up to
severe criticism from the rest of the world.

However, should they choose to take no action, they would lay themselves
open to direct interference from the Mugabe government, with possibly
serious consequences for cricket in the country.

FLOWER AND OLONGA'S STATEMENT

"It is a great honour for us to take the field today to play for Zimbabwe in
the World Cup. We feel privileged and proud to have been able to represent
our country. We are, however, deeply distressed about what is taking place
in Zimbabwe in the midst of the World Cup and do not feel that we can take
the field without indicating our feelings in a dignified manner and in
keeping with the spirit of cricket.

We cannot in good conscience take to the field and ignore the fact that
millions of our compatriots are starving, unemployed and oppressed. We are
aware that hundreds of thousands of Zimbab- weans may even die in the coming
months through a combination of starvation, poverty and Aids. We are aware
that many people have been unjustly imprisoned and tortured simply for
expressing their opinions about what is happening in the country. We have
heard a torrent of racist hate speech directed at minority groups. We are
aware that thousands of Zimbabweans are routinely denied their right to
freedom of expression. We are aware that people have been murdered, raped,
beaten and had their homes destroyed because of their beliefs and that many
of those responsible have not been prosecuted. We are also aware that many
patriotic Zimbabweans oppose us even playing in the Wc because of what is
happening.

It is impossible to ignore what is happening in Zimbabwe. Although we are
just professional cricketers, we do have a conscience and feelings. We
believe that if we remain silent that will be taken as a sign that either we
do not care or we condone what is happening in Zimbabwe. We believe that it
is important to stand up for what is right.

We have struggled to think of an action that would be appropriate and that
would not demean the game we love so much. We have decided that we should
act alone without other members of the team being involved, because our
decision is deeply personal and we did not want to use our senior status to
unfairly influence more junior members of the squad. We would like to stress
that we greatly respect the ICC and are grateful for all the hard work it
has done in bringing the World Cup to Zimbabwe.

In all the circumstances we have decided that we will each wear a black
armband for the duration of the World Cup. In doing so we are mourning the
death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe. In doing so we are making a
silent plea to those responsible to stop the abuse of human rights in
Zimbabwe. In doing so we pray that our small action may help to restore
sanity and dignity to our nation."

ANDREW FLOWER
HENRY OLONGA
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Death threat dismissed as Zimbabwe decison is ducked

Paul Kelso in Cape Town
Tuesday February 11, 2003
The Guardian

Followers of English cricket are used to failures on the field, but this
World Cup campaign looks set to be remembered for off the field incompetence
unmatched

     ADVERTISEMENT

in the long, inglorious history of British sporting administrators.
Yesterday, after a fifth day of meetings that taken together have lasted
longer than the average Test match, the England and Wales Cricket Board had
still not reached a final decision over its controversial fixture in
Zimbabwe, scheduled for Thursday.

Despite a day of press conferences, legal threats, missed deadlines and
rapidly deteriorating relations the game was still on, officially at least.
In reality the chances of it taking place are tiny, but the ECB, mindful of
the legal action that seems certain to follow this farcical episode, will
not say so. If they boycott the game England stand to lose four points, and
could face financial penalties of up to £10m.

The International Cricket Council, which wants a resolution to a hugely
embarrassing episode that has overshadowed the start of the tournament and
infuriated its South African hosts, last night called on the ECB to make up
its mind. "The ECB has repeatedly failed to provide a straight answer to a
simple question," it said. "The ICC chief executive tonight asked the ECB if
it would fulfil its commitment to play in Harare on February 13. The ECB's
response was that it could not confirm whether they were or were not going
to take part in the match."

Yesterday's events began with an ICC press conference at which it announced
that a death threat received by the players was not substantial. Andre
Pruis, the second most senior policeman in South Africa, announced that
after consulting various security agencies, the threat was "nonsense. I get
20 of these myself every day", he said.

The ICC also revealed the contents of a letter from the ECB in which it
effectively signalled their intention to withdraw from the Harare match.
Malclom Speed, the ICC chief executive, then said he wanted to give the ECB
more time and set a deadline of 4pm for a decision.

That came and went, but confusion over the letter led many news outlets to
report that the game was definitely off. An ECB press officer was forced to
issue a statement pointing out that no decision had been reached. The ECB
chief executive, Tim Lamb, told the media pack camped in the team hotel
lobby since Friday night that the team would remain in Cape Town for another
24 hours. No one expects their next destination to be Harare.
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iafrica.com

CAPE TOWN
No decision on Zim suspension - SA
Posted Tue, 11 Feb 2003

A final decision had not been taken on whether to lift Zimbabwe's suspension
from the councils of the 54-member body as consultations were still
continuing, presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said on Monday.

He was trying to downplay comments from Commonwealth chairman, Australian
Prime Minister John Howard that South Africa and Nigeria would allow
Zimbabwe to be re-admitted when its suspension expired next month.

Howard told reporters during a visit to Washington that a decision by
President Thabo Mbeki and Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo to cancel a meeting
with him next month would effectively see Zimbabwe readmitted to the
54-nation body.

South Africa, Nigeria and Australia make up the troika mechanism established
at last year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum, Australia
to deal with Zimbabwe.

On Monday, Khumalo expressed the South African presidency's "regret and
disappointment" that Howard had gone public on the issue after a telephone
call from Mbeki at the weekend.

"The president was expressing his opinion in the context of consultations
and we regret very much that Prime Minister Howard has gone public.

"As far as we are concerned these consultations are continuing within the
troika and we have nothing to say until it issues a formal statement.

"No final decision has been taken until the troika makes an official
statement on whether a meeting will take place," Khumalo said.

Obasanjo visited South Africa last week and also held talks with Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe at the weekend. This followed talks between Mbeki
and Mugabe at last week's African Union heads of state summit in Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, DA leader Tony Leon accused South Africa of double standards in
that it propagated multi-lateralism for Iraq, but not for Zimbabwe.

South Africa had abandoned the troika - the multilateral mechanism for
dealing with the crisis - without even bothering to go through the motions
of considering the case on its merits, he said.

Pretoria's refusal to have another troika meeting or to wait for
Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon's report on whether or not the
Zimbabwean situation had improved, meant Mbeki and Obasanjo had simply
decided to scrap the whole process which they were mandated by the
Commonwealth to complete.

South Africa had committed a historic mistake, Leon said.

"The message we send is: Illegal acts pay and undemocratic behaviour is
rewarded.

"South Africa's and Nigeria's rush to judgement on this matter will further
entrench the perception that we are simply involved in a misplaced exercise
of African nationalist solidarity without regard to the principles of either
Nepad (New Partnership for Africa's Development) or the AU, or even the
Harare Declaration of the Commonwealth".

Just as Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was on trial for his
life, South Africa had lifted the pressure on his chief persecutor, Leon
said.

"How can we make any sense in our call for the United States to be guided by
multi-lateralism in respect of the crisis over Iraq, when we have broken the
spirit of multi-lateralism of the Commonwealth?"

Khumalo rejected Leon's comments and said Mbeki was committed to
multi-lateralism.

Howard told reporters at the weekend he disagreed with Mbeki and Obasanjo's
decision and wanted the suspension to continue until the next meeting of
Commonwealth leaders.

"Zimbabwe has not done anything effectively to respond to what it was asked
to do. If anything, the situation appears to have deteriorated."

Howard said that as chairman he would write to Commonwealth leaders and
recommend the suspension remain in place until the next summit.


Sapa
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Laughter replaces English long faces

Hussain relief as practice tops the agenda for players again

Mike Selvey in Cape Town
Tuesday February 11, 2003
The Guardian

England's players began the process of getting the show back on the road
yesterday. Some intensive fielding practice and a competitive game of
football out in the suburbs may not seem much with a World Cup competition
already under way but after the cloak-and-dagger stuff of the past few days
it was a beginning.
The body language was telling, though, with bewilderment and long faces
replaced by laughter and joshing. It might have been kids let out of school.
More likely it was a team relieved now of the responsibility of making a
decision whether or not to travel to Harare and fulfil their fixture on
Thursday. They did not look like a side concerned any longer about security
and death threats. There was even an injury story just to bring normality
back to proceedings even if it was only the current loose state of Ian
Blackwell's guts.

A few hours later, when the searing temperatures of the day had been
replaced by the cool of the waterfront evening, Nasser Hussain walked into
yet another press conference at the team hotel and, looking drawn and not a
little emotional, announced in as many words, that a decision had been made.

"I was sitting in my room 10 minutes ago," he said, "and thought I should
get across to you what has been happening with the players. You know me, I
enjoy talking to you and telling the truth. Well, yesterday 15 players sat
in a room discussing whether or not to go to Zimbabwe. It was very emotional
and heated, with players in tears and trying to weigh up a difficult
decision. Each individual spoke and at times it was clear we weren't sure
what we were doing.

"At that stage David Morgan burst into the room and said he wanted to talk
to us about some additional information that he thought we ought to know
about. The room went quiet and, reading from an email he told us that there
was a letter in the Kroll report from a group calling itself the Sons and
Daughters of Zimbabwe. Some of us took it lightly and others less so. He
said he could confirm it was a serious threat, that Interpol knew who these
people were and that they were linked to an opposition group in Zimbabwe. "

"He said it would be appropriate if we left the room so he and Tim Lamb
could discuss it. In saying that, it felt as if we had had a weight lifted
from our shoulders. We left ICC and the lawyers to get on with it and got
back on the cricket field."

Whether the letter, with its threats of death and vengeance, is genuine,
appears to be open to question. The South African security forces seem to
think it a hoax. But that is not really the point. All through these long
days, through all the comings and goings, the debate increasingly has been
washing above the heads of the players. Arguments of increasing legal
complexity were getting beyond them. They have their views but the very
people at the centre of the argument were becoming marginalised.

Now, the veracity of the letter mattered not, for the sons and daughters of
Zimbabwe, whomsoever they may be, had given the players a peg on which to
hang their decision. And with it the weight was lifted.

There has, of course, still been no official announcement. The procedural
wrangling was still going on last night, and the team were due to remain
here today to continue their preparations. But after all that has gone on,
it would be a pointless exercise - literally so in all likelihood - for them
to go to Harare in any case, for playing cricket while wondering if the
sound of a backfiring car was a gunshot, is no way to go about the job of
representing their country.

They would never in their lives have felt less like playing cricket. Now,
the relief may translate itself from practice into their play. And perhaps,
in instigating what may well be interpreted as the first boycott of an
international cricket match on moral grounds, they can draw strength from
the brave actions of Andy Flower and Henry Olonga in Harare yesterday. What
they will have done is the only humanitarian option and for that the sons
and daughters should be thanked.
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England's death-threat letter: full transcript

Tuesday February 11, 2003

Harare
6th January 2003

Dear Mr Lamb

This letter is coming from Harare, Zimbabwe, but it is going to be posted in
Britain. Congratulations on your decision to come and play cricket in
Zimbabwe.

We were interested to be informed that a spokesman of the Department of
Culture stated: " We are pleased the ECB has made it clear players will not
take part in Mugabe's propaganda" . What a cynical piece of crap!

By coming to Zimbabwe in the first instance, Your Players ARE, wittingly or
unwittingly, taking part in Mugabe's propaganda. Our message to you is
simple: COME TO ZIMBABWE AND YOU WILL GO BACK TO BRITAIN IN WOODEN COFFINS!

Mugabe's thugs and a huge opposing group are like two chemicals waiting for
a catalyst to spark a violent reaction. Your visit to Zimbabwe will provide
precisely that catalyst and there's going to be one mighty bang. The England
players and a load of Zimbabweans will die in the carnage.

Of course, Mugabe and his henchmen will assure you that they will protect
you, and if you seek and accept that assurance are you not, in actual fact,
conniving with his murderous regime? And all for what? Money? One black
Zimbabwean's life is worth a damn sight more than £5m.

So, all you can think of is money when Black men, women and children are
being tortured, murdered, beaten up and starved on a daily basis. Did you
know that there is a facility at Goromonzi, a few miles outside Harare,
which looks like a covered public swimming pool?

The only difference is that the pool is covered with concentrated Sulphuric
Acid. Anybody who opposes Mugabe ends up in there - dissolved and with no
trace left behind. A bit like the Concentration Camps in Nazi Germany, or is
your memory so short that you have already forgotten?

Anyway, we know your Team. Come to Harare and you will die. And how safe are
your families back there in the UK? Even if you survive, there are foreign
groups who are prepared to hunt you and your families down for as long as it
takes, and they will do that in your own very country.

Our advice is this: DON'T COME TO ZIMBABWE OR YOUR PLAYERS WILL BE LIVING IN
FEAR FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

Yours sincerely

Sons and Daughters of ZIMBABWE
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Daily News

      Mugabe bowled out

      2/11/2003 7:00:01 AM (GMT +2)


      By Tendai Madinah

      AS Zimbabwe opened its games in the Cricket World Cup in Harare
yesterday, two of its leading cricketers launched a blistering attack on the
government's appalling human rights record and its lack of commitment to
democracy.

      Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga, in a scathing statement released just
before their Cricket World Cup match against Namibia at Harare Sports Club,
said it was time the world knew how they felt about the situation in
Zimbabwe.

      Olonga, the first black cricketer to make it into the national team,
and veteran batsman Flower, bared their souls at a time when it had appeared
they were happy to celebrate the coming of the World Cup to Zimbabwe without
saying a word about the explosive
      situation in the country.

      Flower, arguably Zimbabwe's greatest player ever, and among the top
batsmen in the world, strode on to the field wearing a black armband and
Olonga said he would do the same.

      In a statement, they said: "In doing so, we are mourning the death of
democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe. We are making a silent plea to those
responsible to stop the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. We pray that our
small action may help to restore sanity and dignity to our nation."

      The players said they were saddened by the fact that millions of their
compatriots were starving, unemployed and oppressed.

      They said: "We are aware that hundreds of Zimbabweans may even die in
the coming months through a combination of starvation, poverty and Aids. We
are aware that many people have been unjustly imprisoned and tortured simply
for expressing their opinions about what is happening in the country."

      They said they had heard a torrent of racist hate speeches directed at
minority groups and pointed out that thousands of Zimbabweans were being
routinely denied their right to freedom of expression.

      The statement said: "We are aware that people have been murdered,
raped, beaten and had their homes destroyed because of their beliefs and
that many of those responsible have not been prosecuted. We are aware also
that many patriotic Zimbabweans oppose us even playing in the World Cup
because of what is happening."

      England and Australia have come under tremendous pressure from their
governments to boycott fixtures in strife-torn Zimbabwe in protest at the
policies of President Mugabe, who is also the patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket
Union (ZCU), who they say rigged his 2002 re-election and whose policies
they say triggered mass hunger.

      The players said it was impossible to ignore what was happening in the
country.
      They noted that they were simply professional cricketers, but they had
      "a conscience and feelings".

      They said: "We have struggled to think of an action that would be
appropriate and that would not demean the game we love so much. We have
decided that we should act alone without other members of the team being
involved because our decision is deeply personal and we do not wish to use
our senior status to unfairly influence more junior members of the squad.

      "We would like to stress that we greatly respect the International
Cricket Council, and are grateful for all the hard work it has done in
bringing the World Cup to Zimbabwe."

      The ZCU yesterday said the action by the two players was being
considered by the appropriate committee of the union.

      Lovemore Banda, the ZCU communications manager, said they were not
sure when the committee would issue a statement.

      But Banda said: "In the meantime, the union reiterates its position
that it is a non-political organisation."

      Olonga and Flower have joined a growing list of people and
organisations against Zimbabwe's hosting of the cricket matches on the
grounds of a worsening political situation and abuse of human rights.

      The players' statement is in sharp contrast with what the government
has been saying.

      Its position has been that all the talk about the absence of the rule
of law and democracy is the work of the British government and the Western
media, angry over the government's land reform programme. The players are
likely to face tough sanctions as they are not allowed to make political
statements.
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Daily News

      Mwonzora sues Mohadi for $65m

      2/11/2003 7:12:02 AM (GMT +2)


      From Energy Bara in Masvingo

      DOUGLAS Mwonzora, a Masvingo lawyer, is suing the Minister of Home
Affairs, Kembo Mohadi and Augustine Chihuri, the Commissioner of Police, for
$65 million for illegal detention and torture by the police.

      Mwonzora, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) spokesman,
claimed he was
      illegally detained, denied food and tortured by the police following
his arrest on 7 January this year.

      According to a notice of intention to sue in terms of the State
Liabilities Act, Mwonzora said: "Mr Minister, the Human Rights put in the
Constitution are not merely provisions.
      "They are meant to be followed. Police brutality must stop forthwith.
Zimbabwe does not belong to your party, Zanu PF, but to all Zimbabweans,
including me.

      "I therefore advise you that I am suing you and your colleagues for a
total of $65 million in damages for malicious arrest, illegal detention,
humiliation, harassment, assaults and breaches of my constitutional right."

      Mwonzora said some time in July his company bought a photocopier from
Laratronics, a Bulawayo-based company.

      A deposit of $200 000 was paid in cash and a balance of $150 000 by
cheque. The post-dated cheque was issued in the name of Mwonzora and
Associates.

      According to Mwonzora a 12-month guarantee was given by the supplier.
However, the
      machine had broken down in less than three months.

      The seller allegedly refused to repair the machine and in return
Mwonzora and Associates stopped payment of the post-dated cheque.

      After the post-dated cheque was dishonoured by the bank, the police in
Masvingo arrested the lawyer for fraud.

      On 8 January, Mwonzora said he was taken to Bulawayo in handcuffs on a
bus. He said he was denied food.
      "During my detention, I was able to make an application for an order
that my liberty not be interfered with. This order was granted by the
magistrate but the police refused to release me.

      "On 9 January in Bulawayo, I was assaulted by a group of 16
detectives. They assaulted me with clenched fists and booted feet all over
the body.
      "Every time I was assaulted reference was being made to my portfolio
as the NCA spokesman and that I was one of the people causing trouble for
the government."

      Mwonzora said since the court cleared him on allegations of fraud the
police force must pay compensation for his illegal detention.
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Daily News

      MDC youths denounce Mugabe, government

      2/11/2003 7:12:30 AM (GMT +2)


      From Chris Gande in Bulawayo

      ABOUT 100 MDC youths in Bulawayo on Friday staged a peaceful
demonstration against the government.

      Police, apparently caught unawares, failed to stop the youths as they
marched in the streets.

      The youths waving placards and chanting party slogans paraded from
Fourth Avenue and briefly stopped at a flea market where they denounced
President Mugabe.

      They then continued to the Bulawayo Centre complex where they
attracted a huge crowd.
      After a brief shouting of slogans they dispersed without incident.

      One youth who took part in the demonstration said: "The police were
caught unawares because they were totally unprepared. The attention we drew
from the people of Bulawayo is encouraging and we hope that next time the
demonstration will be bigger."

      Meanwhile, the MDC vice-president, Gibson Sibanda, on Friday kicked
off his "meet-the-people" tour in Nkulumane, his constituency.

      Sibanda met several people who told him about the problems caused by
the socio-economic situation.

      He is expected to continue the tour this week.
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Daily News

      Muchinguri, Mutasa clash over invasion

      2/11/2003 7:13:46 AM (GMT +2)


      From Kelvin Jakachira in Mutare

      TWO senior Zanu PF officials, Manicaland Governor Oppah Muchinguri and
politburo member Didymus Mutasa, have clashed over the arrest of eight
ruling party activists at the instigation of the governor after they
attempted to invade a farm in Nyazura.

      The youths tried to forcibly occupy West Valley farm with the support
of Mutasa, much to the chagrin of Muchinguri.

      Mutasa is the Zanu PF secretary for external affairs in the politburo.
      The suspects, all said to hold influential posts in Zanu PF's district
structures in Makoni, are understood to have gone to the farm, owned by
Bekker Britz, on Mutasa's orders.

      Muchinguri instructed the police last Thursday to arrest the activists
after they allegedly invaded West Valley Farm.

      Mutasa initially secured the suspects' release from police cells in
Nyazura, on the first day of their arrest. He argued they were arrested on
"trumped-up" charges.

      But all eight were re-arrested and returned to the cells for a night
after the governor ordered their re-arrest by the police.

      West Valley Farm is in Makoni East constituency, represented in
Parliament by Shadreck Chipanga (Zanu PF). Mutasa represents Makoni North.

      Inspector Dhlamini, the officer-in-charge at Nyazura Police Station,
confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects spent a night in the cells.

      Dhlamini declined to disclose the whereabouts of the suspects, except
to say his station handed them over to officers in the law and order section
of the CID in Mutare.
      Yesterday, Muchinguri would only say: "It's now a police matter. You
can get the details from them."

      Edmund Maingire, the police provincial spokesperson, declined to speak
on the matter as well.

      A fuming Mutasa yesterday lashed out at government officials and the
police for their action against the party activists, saying "there is
nothing illegal about land invasions in Zimbabwe".

      Mutasa said: "The police did not tell them they were being arrested
for invading the farm. It's not an offence to do that. It's not a criminal
act to say to a white farmer, 'Can we stay together?'"

      Mutasa accused the police of being dishonest in dealing with the
suspects. "They (the youths) were told they were being arrested for stealing
from the white farmer (Britz). I have talked to him and he said they did not
steal anything from him."

      But Cosmos Chiringa, the acting district administrator for Makoni,
said: "What transpired at West Valley Farm is illegal. The police acted
swiftly to ensure that the invasion was foiled."
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Daily News

      Women activists plan march against violence

      2/11/2003 7:14:21 AM (GMT +2)


      From Our Correspondent in Bulawayo

      A NEW women's group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) is organising
demonstrations in Bulawayo and Harare against hate and violence on Valentine
's day.

      A spokesperson for the organisers said they had been given police
clearance under the Public Order and Security Act.

      The group said women who take part in the march will be expected to
wear black to mourn the unnecessary loss of life as a result of violence
against them. Male participants were welcome to join.

      "We will expect participants to carry a flower to give to male
pedestrians, showing the message of love and appeal to an end to violence,"
the group said in a statement. The march has been organised to start from
the City Hall in Bulawayo but the details for the Harare demonstrations are
yet to be announced.

      The marchers will be expected to bring empty pots and sticks to beat
to press for a secure supply of food for families.

      The statement said Woza's Valentine's Day message is: "Learn to love
again. Say no to hate and violence in all its forms."
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Daily News

      Defence lawyers accuse Goche of protecting Ben-Menashe

      2/11/2003 7:13:02 AM (GMT +2)


      By Lloyd Mudiwa and Fanuel Jongwe

      NICHOLAS Goche, the Minister of State for National Security, was
yesterday accused by the defence team of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and
two senior opposition party officials, of attempting to prevent them from
cross-examining Ari Ben-Menashe, the key State witness in the ongoing
treason trial.

      The defence lawyers accused Goche of protecting Ben-Menashe by
invoking a law used in colonial times to justify the arbitrary detention of
freedom fighters during the liberation struggle. This was the first time in
Zimbabwe that the law was being used in a criminal trial, the defence said.

      Advocate George Bizos, a top South African lawyer, told the Judge
President, Justice Paddington Garwe, Goche's attempt to protect Ben-Menashe
from testifying on the agreement between his political consultancy firm and
the government on 10 January 2002, was tantamount to interference.

      He said this raised a vital constitutional point as to whether a
minister could interfere with a trial.

      But, Bharat Patel, the Deputy Attorney-General, said Goche's move was
constitutional since it was reasonable in that it was designed to protect
national security.
      The judge said he would give his ruling on the application today.

      Goche issued a certificate in terms of Section 296 of the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act, parts of which read: "I have been notified by
the prosecution that the defence counsel seeks this court to compel
Ben-Menashe, who signed the said contract on behalf of his company, to
furnish all the specific details relating to this contract, and more
specifically details of the work performed since the signing of the
contract.

      "With due respect to this court, I hereby certify that I have
personally considered the nature of the contract, and that in my considered
view, the disclosure of any details thereof in court, would prejudicially
affect the security of the State."

      Elisha Muzonzini, the then director-general of the Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which falls under Goche's ministry, signed
the contract for the government.

      Bizos said: "This certificate is an unconstitutional attempt by the
Executive to interfere with Your Lordship's traditional functions and that
Your Lordship has the power to go behind it and ignore it.

      "The court should not allow outsiders, even though they may be
ministers, to interfere with the procedures. We wonder what surprises will
be brought in future by whoever is pulling the strings."

      Bizos demanded that the defence be allowed to cross-examine Goche over
the certificate.
      Patel, in response, said Goche and Happyton Bonyongwe, the CIO's
acting director-general, were prepared to testify in camera on why
disclosing the details of the contract could prejudice State security.

      Patel had produced the certificate in response to an application by
Advocate Chris Andersen, who is assisting Bizos, for an order in terms of
Section 233 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act compelling
Ben-Menashe to disclose why the government had paid him US$400 000 (Z$22
million).

      The section allows the court to imprison a person who unjustifiably
refuses to answer questions in court until he obliges.

      According to parts of the agreement, Ben-Menashe's company, Dickens &
Madson, was supposed to air on international broadcasters at least one
20-minute Zimbabwe-friendly programme four times a year. The company was to
facilitate meetings between the governments of Zimbabwe and the United
States and members of the business community, and to promote the export of
Zimbabwean goods to the US and the European Union.

      Ben-Menashe last Friday declined to reveal the films his company had
aired, citing confidentiality. Bizos and Andersen questioned how revealing
these details, which were, public would prejudice State security.

      "It is ridiculous for the State to refuse that Ben-Menashe answers
questions on the agreement that they themselves brought before the court in
the first place," Bizos said. "We would like to cross-examine the minister
on why he provided the State the agreement and how the State produced it in
the first place, if it was so sensitive."

      Bizos said the production of Goche's certificate was merely an attempt
to protect an "unco-operative and cagey witness".

      Andersen said Goche's certificate was ineffectual because it
contradicted the agreement which made no provision about confidentiality.

      The State, he said, had waived its right to privilege by undertaking
to give the defence information on the contract. This followed an order
issued with the State's consent by another High Court judge, Justice Charles
Hungwe, last December.

      By preventing Ben-Menashe from answering questions, the State was
violating Section 18 (9) of the Constitution which entitles an accused
person to a fair trial, Andersen said.
      Bizos and Andersen said Ben-Menashe was paid the US$400 000 for work
already done for trapping Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, the MDC
secretary-general, and Renson Gasela, the party's spokesman for agriculture,
so they could be charged with treason for allegedly plotting to kill
President Mugabe.

      The agreement, entered into afterwards, was merely a cover-up to
justify the payment, Bizos said, adding that Ben-Menashe "hardly did
anything in relation to the contract".

      He said: "My Lord if our hands are going to be tied behind our backs
and our tongues silenced in the search for the truth, there will be untold
prejudice to the accused persons' defence."
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Daily News

      World Cup brings Zimbabwe under international scrutiny

      2/11/2003 6:59:01 AM (GMT +2)


      By Cathy Buckle

      After two months of arguments, debates, threats and counter-threats,
the Cricket World Cup matches will take place in Harare and Bulawayo after
all.

      Right or wrong, Zimbabweans can be thankful for one thing. With the
cricketers will come the world's cameras, the journalists and the men and
women desperately seeking a front-page story and this is about the only
thing not in short supply in our dying land.

      For the first time in almost three years we will have the kind of
international scrutiny that we so desperately need.

      The cricketers and their reporters have arrived in Zimbabwe a
fortnight before the third anniversary of the start of the land seizures
which marked the beginning of Zimbabwe's present chaos.

      Amongst these foreign visitors there will be some who have not been in
the country since February 2000. What they will see will undoubtedly shock
them beyond words.

      The petrol queues, the massive lines of people desperate for bread,
maize, sugar, oil and
      other basic commodities. With luck a couple of these journalists and
their cameras will find their way to Zimbabwe's smaller towns where they
will witness scenes reminiscent of the French Revolution.

      Perhaps some intrepid journalist may even get as far as Marondera
where, if they are early risers, they may wish to visit the high-density
suburbs of Nyameni and Dombotombo at 4am in the morning.

      Here they will see crowds of many hundreds of people desperately
jostling for a place in a queue outside a shop where bread is being
delivered.

      They will see for themselves how young boys and girls who call
themselves graduates of the Border Gezi National Youth Training camps hit
out at people with rubber batons as they force their way to the front of the
queues.

      Should the journalists arrive after 6.30am there will be nothing to
see because all the bread has gone by then but they could travel into the
little town centre instead. Three or four hundred people wait every morning
outside the only shop in town still selling bread at an affordable price.
Here they will see children in rags, exhausted and hungry men, and desperate
women breastfeeding their babies amongst the flies and filth on the
pavements.

      Any journalists worth their salt must take this unique opportunity to
watch Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC-TV) and listen to
ZBC's Spot FM radio.
      They too can hear the 72 repetitions per day of the Chave Chimurenga
advert which declares ad nauseum that the land is our prosperity while in
reality we are starving.

      They can watch the incessant ZBC-TV film clips of little boys and
girls jiving and bopping in fields bursting with grain-filled wheat or of
women dancing and ululating around massive piles of maize cobs.

      The journalists will be able to judge for themselves if these images
are indeed representative of exactly what is happening on Zimbabwe's 4 000
grabbed farms or if the images are of things in the far distant past.

      Hopefully a couple of international visitors will also get a chance to
listen to ZBC's Spot FM radio on a weekday morning at 7.30am to hear the
latest edition of Update on the New Farmer.

      Here they may hear some of the hate-filled, racist speeches which
describe the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) as the "last citadel of white
mastery". The programme also says that new farmers will not believe the
sincerity of any CFU
      pronouncements until "they release the 30 billion dollars worth of
equipment they are hoarding".

      Hopefully journalists will understand that the presenter is referring
to farmers' ploughs, tractors and equipment which are private assets and
represent a lifetime's work.

      Undoubtedly if any international journalists happen to be in Zimbabwe
on a Friday they will be able to buy a copy of The Herald newspaper.

      In it they will be able to see for themselves that, contrary to all
claims being made by Dr Made and President Mugabe, the land-grabbing
exercise is still far from being completed. The few remaining productive
commercial farms continue to be listed for seizure every Friday and in the
latest list on Friday 7 February, properties as small as 50 hectares are
included.

      Hopefully the international reporters and cameramen will have a chance
to rub shoulders with some of Zimbabwe's reporters who work for the ZBC.
Perhaps they will meet the ZBC's chief correspondent, Reuben Barwe, who is
facing three charges of attempted murder for allegedly firing shots at war
veterans with whom he is squabbling over a seized farm in Norton.

      Maybe they will meet the female ZBC-TV reporter who recently covered
the tragic train crash in Dete. If they do perhaps they can tell this woman
that it is inhumane and exceedingly cruel to say "body parts are going to be
pulled out to aid identification".

      Zimbabweans hope that the international journalists visiting our
country in the next
      two weeks have read the list of dos and don'ts recently published in
The Herald and note that it is even against the regulations to take an
umbrella, deck chair or bottle of soft drink into the grounds.

      As the world's best cricket players run on our green fields we hope
they will remember Edison Mukwasi, the 29-year-old MDC activist who died
last week.

      Twice tortured in police custody and battling with perforated lungs
and liver, Mukwasi was last arrested in November 2002 at a one-day cricket
Test match in Harare.

      While these men play their cricket games we will be praying for
Mukwasi's family, for the 50 people who perished in the horrific Dete train
tragedy, and for rain, so that we will not starve in the coming months.
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Daily News

      Airzim seeks to reclaim confidence

      2/11/2003 7:04:17 AM (GMT +2)


      By Precious Shumba

      RAMBAI Chingwena, the Air Zimbabwe managing director has said the
airline needs support from all stakeholders to ensure that it remains in
business.

      Speaking on Saturday at the Zimbabwe Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
Association's annual general meeting held in Harare, Chingwena said it was
time to recapture passengers' confidence.

      "I really appreciate the contribution engineers make towards
rebuilding Air Zimbabwe," he said.
      "I want to thank all engineers on behalf of our management. Air
Zimbabwe's battle is not between engineers and management but penetrating
the market and expanding our influence in the region."

      He said Air Zimbabwe's immediate task was to comply with international
aviation standards like the Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS)
before 9 April.
      Chingwena said: "The ACAS compliance system has to be implemented on
our three Boeing 737 planes at a cost of US$500 000 (Z$28,5 million). This
has to be done to save the airline."

      The ACAS compliance means that Air Zimbabwe's aircraft would be fitted
with mechanisms whereby pilots would be speedily advised about the position,
direction and movement of other planes grounded or airborne, to avoid
collisions.

      Chingwena said he wanted to improve the image of the airline through
vigorous marketing strategies.

      He said it was frustrating to note that Air Zimbabwe was losing
business to its competitors due to shortage of aircraft, and internal
squabbles.

      Chingwena said on the Harare-London route British Airways commanded 60
percent of the market and Air Zimbabwe enjoyed the other 40 percent of
business.

      He said the South African Airways (SAA) had outclassed the national
airline on the Harare-Johannesburg route while Zimbabweans continued to
bicker over unsubstantiated corruption and scandalous allegations.

      He said the SAA has already purchased a 49 percent stake in Air
Tanzania and was in the process of taking over Air Malawi, entrenching its
authority in the region.

      "We are lagging behind, let's work together and fight this battle
together," Chingwena said. "The SAA has opened two other maintenance bases
across Africa."

      In his address, he admitted that forex problems were affecting the
airline's business. He said their operations required foreign currency to
purchase spare parts and other essential services including the payments to
the International Air Travellers Association (IATA).

      If the airline does not pay its dues to IATA, the organisation would
send out circulars to other airlines and spare parts distributors to
discredit Air Zimbabwe as unreliable and unsafe.

      He attributed some of the airline's woes to the media which he said
had given Air Zimbabwe negative publicity thereby undermining the public's
confidence in its aircraft. Chingwena said: "As engineers, I believe you
have a very serious effect on the media. Use your influence to give
information that will improve the image of the airline. The papers have
tended to portray us as ineffective and unsafe."

      Chingwena said Air Zimbabwe was facing more problems in the region
compared to other airlines.

      He said even on their domestic routes like the Bulawayo-Victoria
Falls, the airline faced stiff competition, unlike Kenya Airways which faced
competition only at Nairobi Airport.
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Daily News

      Foreigners scramble for local properties

      2/11/2003 7:03:01 AM (GMT +2)


      By Colleen Gwari Business Reporter

      A consortium of South African business persons has reportedly put
together more than one billion rands, which is more than $7 billion at the
official exchange rate, and $120 billion on the parallel market, to acquire
properties in Zimbabwe.

      The move has not gone down well with the local business community
which lambasted government for its continued dilly-dallying on the
persistent economic crisis.

      One captain of industry questioned South Africa's sincerity in helping
resolve Zimbabwe's problems saying the strategy was to make the country a
cheap investment destination open to exploitation and manipulation.

      He said: "Honestly, the strategy is to see us becoming very cheap on
the international scene so that they buy us off in the process."

      The scenario puts to naught the much talked about hype on the
properties market which has seen an average house in the low-density areas
selling at more than $150 million.
      Other dissenting voices in the real estate business said the South
African move was a wake up call to government, not to be guided by political
nuances, but by economic imperatives.

      A property consultant said: "It is high time those in politics, became
more business minded when articulating issues and refrained from political
rhetoric."

      While concern was being raised about the worsening economic climate,
pro-active Zimbabweans urged the government to allow commercial properties
to be quoted in hard currencies.

      As the macro-economic environment continues to deteriorate, the
properties market had become the latest victim with revelations that
Zimbabwean properties had become the cheapest on the regional market.

      Investigations by The Daily News showed that despite a surge in prices
over the past few years, internationally, local properties were faring
badly.

      Analysts attributed the drop in prices to the depreciation of the
Zimbabwe dollar against major currencies.

      John Spicer, managing director Gainsborough Seef Zimbabwe said foreign
buyers were finding it much easier to acquire properties in the country.

      He said even Zambian properties were fetching better prices than those
in Zimbabwe.
      Spicer said: "At the moment and probably in the foreseeable future,
local properties would remain the cheapest on the regional market and
foreign buyers would scramble to buy."

      The Seef boss said buyers in South Africa and United Kingdom were
acquiring properties in Zimbabwe with a view of disposing of them when the
socio-political, economic environment stabilised.

      South African buyers were taking advantage of Zimbabwe's weakening
currency to acquire commercial premises in Harare's central business
district.

      When the economy improved, he said, prices would start firming and
foreign buyers would dispose of the properties.
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Daily News - Letter

Nigerian minister's utterances a total betrayal of ordinary
Zimbabweans

      2/11/2003 7:07:47 AM (GMT +2)



      I noted with anguish, total disbelief and horror the comments by Sule
Lamido, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, published in The Herald of 21 January
2003.

      He pre-empted the role of the Commonwealth troika when he said, "If
they put their kith and kin ahead, we will put our kith and kin ahead too."

      I want to ask Lamido who his "kith and kin" are. Obviously Lamido is
talking about President Mugabe and his cronies and not the majority, the
suffering ordinary black and white Zimbabweans who feel not only isolated
but betrayed by your treacherous and outrageously careless utterances.

      Honourable minister, are you so unintelligent as to buy Mugabe's lies
that the opposition MDC is a front, a British puppet movement? If you thus
convinced, then how do you
      account for the more than 40 percent of Zimbabweans who voted for the
opposition, according to Zanu PF's own manipulated figures. Perhaps, it is
this percentage of Zimbabweans who are really stupid!

      Furthermore, when one considers the millions of potential opposition
supporters disenfranchised abroad and in neighbouring countries, as economic
refugees due to their disillusionment with the establishment, it is even
more puzzling.

      The long and short of my argument, Lamido, is that even according to
Zanu PF's contrived statistics, the majority of Zimbabweans are opposed to
its disastrous and oppressive rule.

      If you care about the Zimbabwean crisis, just look back two weeks and
find out about the
      arrests of MDC MPs and the Harare mayor and their subsequent torture
at the hands of Mugabe's police, on spurious charges for which none of them
has so far been convicted.
      In contrast, the British and Americans respect the wishes and
aspirations of their people.

      Another interesting observation in the article is the fact that the
nations who, according to the paper, said that the elections were deeply
flawed are the progressive and developed ones while the ones who approved of
the elections are the underdeveloped and backward ones. Food for thought!

      In conclusion, I would like to urge the MDC on behalf of the oppressed
and suffering people of Zimbabwe to rethink about the relevance and logic of
engaging Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Thabo Mbeki as brokers in the
Zimbabwe crisis. We now know exactly who they mean when they talk of their
"kith and kin".

      Suffering Zimbabwean
      Harare
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Daily News

Feature

      Mugabe stuck in a hole he dug himself into

      2/11/2003 7:01:28 AM (GMT +2)


      By Eddie Cross

      Driving back to Bulawayo from Harare recently, I was again struck by
the beauty and spaciousness of this country. Kilometre after kilometre, the
veldt spread out to the horizon. The clouds were there in abundance towering
up into space some probably well over 45 000 metres high.

      Fantastic shapes and colours. The sun was setting as we entered
Matabeleland and we had that short period before sunset when all the colours
glowed and every feature was set out in sharp contrast and clarity. They had
had a bit of rain, so there was no dust or smoke to limit one's vision.

      Vultures high in the sky maintained their watch for food and used the
wind currents to conquer space. The sky was as blue as you can imagine and
slowly darkened until the evening stars came out and took the place of the
sun.

      It was a magnificent African evening and I rested in the knowledge as
to why I was here, and not somewhere else. We are spoiled.

      But there is a downside to the beauty that we see all around us and
the seemingly endless blue skies and sunshine we enjoy in such abundance. We
are in the midst of that old problem a green drought.

      The country, well most of it, is green with the summer flush, but
there is no substance to the grass cover. It takes someone with experience
to see this and it can be quite deceiving because the roads are tarred and
the grass at the verge make the most of the little rain that has fallen.

      At home we are sitting on 160mm in four months enough to green up the
veldt but nothing more. None of our rivers are running and our dams are
dropping fast under the heat of the days and the demands of our cities. It's
2 February and the rainy season comes to an end in eight weeks' time.

      Then we have seven to eight months of dry weather. So if we do not
have some rain and I mean real rain, in the next few weeks we are really in
trouble.

      In much of the Midlands and the south of the country, the veldt is
already dry and we have had some veldt fires. That is bad news indeed. In
the north it's a bit better, but the crops are not faring well unless they
are getting a bit of extra water from irrigation. Not much of that happening
as this requires heavy equipment and some considerable expertise.

      We saw a few good crops in the Chegutu area where there is a very nice
soyabean and tobacco crop. But for the most, the grain crops are close to
failure. It's difficult for any "townie" to understand the feelings of a
farmer when he is faced with these conditions.

      I can recall like yesterday a phone call I made in the 70s to a farmer
in the north of the country. His wife answered the phone and we talked
briefly about the weather as usual. I lived in Harare and for some reason
that city gets more rainfall than many other areas.
      We had just had rain and I told her that. She responded by bursting
into tears and saying: "Why does it rain in Harare, and not here?"

      I never got to speak to her husband, but I felt something of the
pressure on the farms when you have planted a crop and must wait for the
rains to come to bring the investment back to you. At church the other
Sunday a new family came in and at tea afterwards I got to talk to them
about where they were from, etc. They turned out to be a farming family from
Karoi displaced by the Mugabe campaign against the farmers. She said they
were trying to rebuild their lives and she then said: "With this weather I
am so glad we are not farming."

      So here we are a total mess as far as the farm sector is concerned.
The great majority of the A2 farmers abandoned their farmland allocations
when they realised that this was not as easy as they thought and that they
might even have to invest some sweat and money in the venture.

      Then others soon realised that there were easier ways to make a living
when the borehole blew up and they had to fix it to get water for the house.

      When the fuel crisis struck, they could not get fuel to travel the 300
kilometres to the farm for the weekend.

      Finally, the weather. Even if they had invested time and effort and
some considerable resources in their ventures if it does not rain then it is
all in vain. The very small guys, the so-called A1 settlers, are paid a
small per diem to get them by as they sit on their plots, and if all fails,
they get food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) or a non-
      governmental organisation. Even the government sometimes drops in with
the odd bag of maize.

      So they sit it out, until the water runs out and then they also will
go back to their original homes and abandon "fast-track land reform" to
others.

      But for us in the cities there are no alternatives. We live on
imported food from the farms and elsewhere and on water pumped from our
storage dams. If these fail, then we have real problems and that is where we
are now.

      The food situation is worse now than at any time in the past year.
Maize-meal is unobtainable and bread only available after queuing for hours.
Potatoes are Z$3 000 a bag and rice is 10 times the cost of any alternative.
People are hungry and angry.

      Everyone is in queues every day for everything. There is no milk and
baby food costs Z$5 000 for a small tin.

      Life is becoming impossible for everyone. A member of my staff said
today that they had to send food home to his parents because they could not
queue mother was too frail and his father was unwell.

      Despite all the rhetoric and international appeals, the WFP only
imported 120 000 tonnes of food into Zimbabwe since July last year a paltry
20 000 tonnes a month or 10 percent of what we need to feed the country.

      We are the only country in the region that is not going to be able to
feed itself in the next 12 months. So where do we go from here? The
government has no idea none at all.

      They are talking to the business sector, which seems equally at a loss
to come up with any sensible ideas. What they are proposing are simply
band-aids on a bleeding wound. Business is gradually closing down under the
pressure of all the problems they face.

      With no employment, declining incomes, shrinking savings and shortages
of everything from flour to tampons, Zimbabweans are simply packing up and
leaving 2 500 a week to overseas destinations, 20 000 a week to South Africa
and Botswana.

      President Mugabe has been back in the country after his holiday in the
Far East. He has yet to make any sort of public statement and sits sullenly
in his palace contemplating what to do to get out of the hole he has dug for
himself.
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