The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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The Age

Zimbabwe cricket rebels head for shadows
February 15 2003

To some, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga are heroes, but they live in fear.
Telford Vice reports from Harare.

Andy Flower and Henry Olonga changed their lives forever when they took the
step millions of their compatriots are too fearful to contemplate.

By donning black armbands earlier this week to "mourn the death of democracy
in our beloved Zimbabwe" the cricketers signalled the end of their tolerance
for Robert Mugabe's regime. Their bravery has earnt them a deluge of
support. "We've had so many people call us to say they appreciate what we've
done, it's been unbelievable," Flower said yesterday.

Curiously, they remain easily contactable. But they are becoming more
reticent. Ordinarily Flower is an articulate bundle of worthwhile opinion
and valuable insight. But his willingness to share his thoughts dried up
rapidly when he was asked whether he feared for his safety. "Off the record
. . ." he began, but with painstaking reluctance this hard, proud man
admitted to feeling anxious. "I've been moving around a bit lately," he
said.

Flower, born in Cape Town and raised in modest middle-class circumstances in
Zimbabwe, is one of the game's better thinkers. He studied accountancy and
has delved into the psychology of batting. Now he has more to think about
than cricket. His wife, Rebecca, gave birth to their third child last month
and it is an open secret the World Cup is his international swansong.

His country will not see much of him in the years to come. He has bought
property in Adelaide, and will almost certainly play for Essex this southern
winter.

Had he thought about his playing future? "No, I haven't."

Would he consider announcing his international retirement at this stage? "I
would prefer to get over the next few weeks before I say anything about
that. It can wait."

Flower believes Zimbabwe's matches in the opposition stronghold of Bulawayo,
which include the game against Australia on February 24, could be ripe for
protests. "I think you'll see a bit more happening there than in Harare," he
said.

Olonga, 26, and without a solid career behind him, would seem to have more
to lose than the more secure, 34-year-old Flower, but was the more
forthcoming of the two.

"I'm not concerned about my future at the moment," Olonga said with
something approaching his characteristic perkiness.

"Perhaps I'm naive, but I believe that if I'm wanted and needed in
Zimbabwean cricket then I'll be around. Will I play for Zimbabwe all through
this World Cup? I think so.

"Will I play for Zimbabwe after the World Cup? That I cannot say with
confidence. If I don't I will have no regrets. Do you know why? Because I'd
be able to live with myself."

The fast bowler said he drew strength from his faith. "I'm trusting in God
to help me through this - he's my shelter."

Olonga was also untroubled by fears about his personal safety. "That doesn't
bother me. I've been carjacked and stabbed in this country, all sorts of bad
things have happened to me. I've been in the news for so many reasons, good
and bad."

Those who know the odd couple will not be surprised that Olonga, the born
showman, is noisier than the prosaic Flower.

Olonga, unmarried and reportedly a virgin despite a flood of female
interest, is the son of a Kenyan father and a Zambian mother. At Plumtree,
his exclusive school, he starred in athletics. The arts, specifically opera
and acting, threatened to rob cricket of one of its most colourful figures
before he decided to grace the greensward instead of the stage.

A senior Zimbabwe player, who declined to be named, shed light on his
teammates. "Henry's a deeply religious guy," he said. "His faith dictates
that he has to stand up for what is morally right, and I know he's been
stewing about this for a while. It's a little bit different for Andy because
he's leaving. But he did this because he couldn't go without acknowledging
the support he has received over the years.

"It's just the way he is. He couldn't just play in this World Cup, take the
money and run without giving a flying for the people he's leaving behind."

The player felt Flower and Olonga would not be punished severely. "The ICC
has to do something, but I think Ali Bacher is very conscious of this World
Cup turning into a three-ring circus. All it needs now is a match-fixing
scandal and that's exactly what he'll have."

Kepler Wessels, the former Australian and South African Test player, voiced
his support for the Zimbabweans.

"They have to be commended for taking a stand," Wessels said. "But I think
this could be detrimental to their careers in the long run. Ideally politics
and sport should never mix, but they always have and they always will."

The World Cup has done this country little discernible good so far. Police,
mindful of increased media focus, are swinging their batons with relish at
the queues for fuel and basic foodstuffs. Even queues for minibus taxis have
been broken up.

So news of the stand taken by Flower and Olonga fairly crackled around
Harare Sports Club before the match between Zimbabwe and Namibia on Monday.
They put into courageous, eloquent words the dark thoughts that flit
silently behind the eyes of this gentle nation.

They did so at a cricket ground that rubs rooftops with Mugabe's walled
fortress, where guards loom out of the shrubbery with AK-47s at the ready.
Given all that, perhaps Nasser Hussain and Ricky Ponting should be taken at
face value when they say they are "just cricketers". Clearly, Flower and
Olonga are rather more.
The Times of India

      I have stood up for what was right: Olonga

      TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2003 11:53:04 PM ]

      HARARE: Henry Olonga is the first black cricketer to play for
Zimbabwe. He is a singer. He is an actor. And he is in danger now. He took
the brave step of highlighting the grim situation of his country-mates on
the World Cup stage.


      He knows that the system can destroy him; but he still went ahead and
took a stand, along with Andy Flower, because he believes he was born to be
an ambassador, a pioneer. He also sang a controversial 'Our Zimbabwe' song
that touched the hearts of millions. Bobilli Vijay Kumar unravels the man,
the leader:


      Let's start with your background. I was born in Zambia.


      I lived with my parents in Kenya for three-four years before we
shifted to Bulawayo. My father is a doctor, a child specialist. He never
shared my fancy for cricket; that's how I developed a love for singing,
acting and performing in the earlier stages of my life.


      Looks like you got support from your family to play.


      Well, my dad is actually disabled (paralysis in the legs because of
polio). So he didn't really throw cricket balls at me endlessly nor did he
help me improve my forehand or backhand. But he bought spikes, bats whatever
else we needed. More importantly, he was a role model for me. He was a man
of tremendous strength and I learnt to fight from him.


      How was it to be the first Black player for Zimbabwe?


      Well, it was my reality. Don't know how the others would have felt
about it or taken it. It was a unique experience. It was very special but I
didn't make a big deal of it initially. It is only now, many, many years
later that I understand my role. I feel like a pioneer when I see so many
black players taking the game. They all looked up to me and I simply tried
to set a good example.


      So how does one solve the problem of racial divide in the country? How
does one bridge it?


      The first thing is it requires a tremendous amount of forgiveness. I
know it is not easy to forget the past, to let go off the bitterness. I am
not saying you should let all the wrong-doers go scot-free or not hold them
accountable. But a little forgiveness will go a long way. The second thing
is people must cooperate to empower each other. Everybody has a part to
play: the whites, the blacks and all the other exotic people in this
country.


      What about your controversial song 'Our Zimbabwe.' How did that
materialise?


      First of all I want to stress that there is nothing political about
that song. It is just a little dream. I have done a course called Dynamics
of goal-setting. It taught me the power of visualization. I just sang for a
land of peace where everybody can live in harmony and everybody co-operates.
I believe we'll have a country like that some day.


      You are a staunch believer in Christianity. How did that come about?


      There are three key events attached to it. First in 1992, I made a
confession of faith. Two years later a man came up to me and gave me a
prophetic word, about what is going to happen in my life. I am not going to
say what he said but it had a great impact on me. And finally in 1995, when
I came back from India. Everything seemed to be bleak. I was called for
chucking and I was ready to give up my cricket and go away to England to
pursue a singing career. But this lady singled me out in the Church and she
told me not to give up cricket. She told me I have a place in cricket, and
as a singer too. She told me that I would travel all over the world and
speak to many people and many nations. That I will be an ambassador for
peace and for God's word.


      Isn't the challenge scary?


      No, not really. Christianity teaches me to stand up for what is right,
to oppose what is wrong. To fight against evil and injustice. I am merely
fulfilling my duties. I must say I am very proud of Andy (Flower). He has
shown tremendous strength in taking a stand. I also commend the English
cricket team and Nasser Hussain for talking about morality. It may have got
lost in all the talk about security but it will get noticed.


      What about your own future?


      Aren't you worried about that? I believe I still have a lot to offer
to Zimbabwe cricket. It has to be honest enough with itself and decide
whether I have a part to play or not. If it doesn't want me I will take up a
career as an opera singer. I believe I stood up for the right thing. And it
is time for the others to follow. If you stand up and fight you shouldn't
even complain; you deserve it.


      The consequences may be very harsh?


      Like I said, if they have think I have a part to play I will feel
duty-bound to do that. Because cricket has been very good to me. It has
given me a great life and a number of opportunities. But if they want to
continue the fight with me, believe me, I am not going to fight back. If the
majority in the team doesn't want me, I have no problems with that. I will
walk away; but if they want me to play the role of a pioneer, as a role
model I will fight it out till the end.
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Washington File - US State Department
    
      14 February 2003
      Text: U.S. Protests Detention of U.S. Diplomat in Zimbabwe
(Detention marks "serious breach" of international law, Boucher says)
(340)

The United States February 14 protested the brief detention of one of
its diplomats by police in Zimbabwe and warned that such an incident
marks a "serious breach" of Zimbabwe's obligations under international
law.

In a written statement, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher
said the February 13 incident is the "third time in the past year that
Zimbabwean government officials or supporters have detained, robbed,
threatened or interfered with U.S. diplomats performing official
duties."

The United States, Boucher stressed, looks to the Government of
Zimbabwe "to conduct a thorough investigation of the detention and
questioning of our diplomat and to provide us with a prompt and
thorough explanation."

Following is the text of the Boucher statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
February 14, 2003

Statement By Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Zimbabwe:  Detention of U.S. Diplomat

On February 13, police in a Harare suburb detained and questioned a
U.S. diplomat for approximately one hour. This incident marks a
serious breach of Zimbabwe's obligations under international law to
protect diplomatic privileges and protections. We have called in the
Zimbabwe ambassador in Washington to protest this incident and to
demand an inquiry, explanation, and apology. This is the third time in
the past year that Zimbabwean government officials or supporters have
detained, robbed, threatened or interfered with U.S. diplomats
performing official duties. In this incident, the police knew of our
diplomat's status yet chose to detain and question her anyway.

The detention of our diplomat occurred after police violently
dispersed law-abiding Zimbabweans and diplomats seeking to attend a
public meeting to discuss the crisis in their country. The United
States strongly condemns the Zimbabwean government's violent
repression of the exercise of fundamental political rights.

We look to the Government of Zimbabwe to conduct a thorough
investigation of the detention and questioning of our diplomat and to
provide us with a prompt and thorough explanation.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
 
Bulawayo 12.30 Hrs - A noon walk organ by Women of Zimbabwe Arise meant to spread WOZA' s Valentine's Day message: of  "Zimbabweans: learn to love again!  Say no to hate and violence in all its forms and yes to love.  Love us, respect us and allow us to be women.  Love us today and everyday."was the latest casualty in the Massacre of Democracy in Zimbabwe.
 
This is my personal eye witness account of what happened and is correct to the best of my knowledge. It is important to remember that peaceful demonstration is enshrined in Zimbabwe's democracy and the police have confirmed that such protests will be tolerated.
 
The ladies and a few gentlemen amounting to between 60 and 70 and representative of the people in Bulawayo left the City Hall at 12.10hrs. They proceeded in an orderly manner west to Herbert Chitepo where they turned South and proceeded to 8th Avenue.  At this junction a Landrover Defender was identified. This vehicle is the main transport of CIO and the Police. There were three occupants all busy on radios and cell phones. 
 
The walk was peaceful and happy with the singing of songs. Having turned east on 8th Ave and having crossed Fort Street, the group encountered riot police in full dress at the juction of Main and 8th.  It is understood that some 17 people were arrested and loaded into the back of two Defenders, one being that previously identified by many as following the walkers.
 
Those arrested displayed passive resistance but one man with a camera (just now identified as Fr. Nigel Johnson,a Jesuit Priest) was forcibly loaded into one of the Defenders.  Somehow he managed to eject himself from the vehicle at which time he had his camera forcibly removed. In the confusion he was fored to the ground and appeared to be rendered unconscious. At this time the considerable crowd that had gathered raised their voices in protest. The police objected to this demonstration of protest against their actions and the crowed was suitable cowed.
 
Two lawyers were immediately dispatched to the Central Police Station. Unconfirmed reports are that no legal representation will be allowed until the passing of 48 hrs. Please note that confirmation of this situation is still awaited.
 
To all of you out there who believe that Democracy still exists in Zimbabwe please take note. To all those who believe in truth and justice, let the world know what happens to the ladies of our country for openly showing open legitimate love of one another in the community.
 
Further reports will follow once more confirmed news is received including details of numbers and names of those arrested.
 
Bulawayo is unstoppable. The community is already responding collectively by supplying food, demonstrations of support both physically and spiritually.
 
If you think you can help please make contact. It is time to come together. Get involved with our future
 
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! PLEASE FORWARD FAR AND WIDE! STAND UP FOR FREEDOM
 
God Bless Zimbabwe
 
Mike Lander
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BBC
 
Friday, 14 February, 2003, 12:43 GMT
Zimbabwe 'love marches' broken up
Riot police
The police have wide powers to break up public gatherings
Police have arrested at least 40 women for taking part in Valentines Day "love marches" in Zimbabwe's major cities.

Some 60 protesters had gathered outside the United Nations office in central Harare, where they were handing out red roses before the police arrived.

Opposition activists burning a Nigerian flag in Harare
Nigeria's support for Mugabe angers Zimbabwe's opposition
More were detained in the second city, Bulawayo.

The police had refused to authorise the demonstration under tough new security laws.

The women were marching for an end to political violence and a "return to the spirit of love and peace".

On Thursday, a bishop and four prominent human rights activists were arrested in a Harare church, where they were discussing the church's role in Zimbabwe's political situation.

One of them, political commentator John Makumbe was reportedly beaten across the face.

'Hijacked'

Political tension has risen in Zimbabwe in recent weeks.

The police said that the women's protest would disrupt traffic and could be "hijacked" by political groups.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Mugabe is being supported by other African leaders

The road outside the UN building was already blocked by a two-lane queue for petrol.

The women had gathered outside the UN building because they wanted to ask secretary general Kofi Annan to "be our valentine".

Several journalists covering the march were also arrested and a cameraman for the French news agency, AFP, had his camera confiscated.

Travel ban

Zimbabwe is hosting some matches in the Cricket World Cup although England refused to play on Thursday, citing security concerns.

Political activists have threatened to disrupt the matches.

Queue for food aid
Half the population needs food aid

On the international scene, the European Union has decided to extend a travel ban on the Zimbabwe leadership, although President Robert Mugabe will be allowed to travel to a meeting of African leaders in France next week.

The Commonwealth is also set to decide whether to extend Zimbabwe's one-year suspension, which is due to expire next month.

Nigeria and South Africa say Zimbabwe should be readmitted, while Australia and the UK want the sanctions to be renewed.

Zimbabwe was suspended after Commonwealth election observers reported that last year's presidential elections were held in a "climate of fear".

Mr Mugabe was re-elected but opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has asked the courts to annul the results because of alleged fraud and violence.

Around half of the population - seven million people - need food aid after failed rains and the agricultural disruption caused by Mr Mugabe's land reform programme.

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The Herald

70 arrested over illegal demo

Herald Reporter
AT LEAST 70 people, mostly women, were arrested in Harare yesterday by the
police after holding a suspected illegal demonstration in protest against
alleged violence.

Police also arrested five opposition activists for holding yet another
illegal meeting in Borrowdale on Thursday night.

Both groups are being charged with breaching the Public Order and Security
Act which requires organisers of meetings to seek clearance from the police
two weeks before the meeting is held.

Police Chief Superintendent Bothwell Mugariri yesterday said most of the
city centre protesters - consisting of 47 women and 23 youths - were
expected to be released last night.

He said the protesters are believed to be members of the Club Tropicana of
Harare and Women Arise Group.

Chief Supt Mugariri said the police would charge the organiser of the
demonstration, former spokesperson for Commercial Farmers Union, Ms Jennie
Williams for failing to abide by the laws.

"The group was waving some red roses, chanting MDC slogans and were marching
along Samora Machel Avenue intending to gather in the Harare Gardens. Other
people were also joining in and by so doing peace was disturbed.

"The situation could have been chaotic if the police had not moved in."

Meanwhile, Chief Supt Mugariri said police will summon to court, five
members of the Group Crisis in Zimbabwe namely, Dr John Makumbe; an American
Steven Ann Funk; Lawyer Brian Kagoro; Ian Makore and Trevor Mamhanga.

He said the five were arrested in Borrowdale on Thursday night after they
had convened an illegal meeting.

They were released several hours later.

"We are charging them under POSA and they are expected to appear in court
soon," Chief Supt Mugariri said.
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JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 1: Peter Rosenfels

Some of you may have seen the Media Statement put out by Andy Flower and
Henry Olonga of the Zimbabwe One Day Cricket Team. Statement is below. If
you support their actions, please show it by sending an email to the
Zimbabwe Cricket Union to state your support for their stand. Please state
your country of residence to show world-wide support for these 2 guys.

Please DO NOT simply forward this email. Make a statement of your own and
delete any other unnecessary wording from your email to make it easier to
read. The more support Andy and Henry get, the more impact it has on the
ZCU administration and Zimbabwean cricket in general.

ZCU email address is zcu@mweb.co.zw

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 2: Alex Hangartner

Mr Cloete and CFU Leadership

Further to Peter Rosenfels letter (JAG 13.2.03) which we fully endorse,
perhaps the crisis in sound leadership in the world's major and minor
countries and corporate boardrooms, merely confirms that the crisis
amongst so called "leaders" in Zimbabwe's CFU - an organisation funded by
members to articulate and represent member's views - merely reflects the
current malaise. How can a CFU leader be so uninformed in current events
vital to his job ("haven't seen it") and earn respect? Agri SA has the
moral fibre to call a spade a spade. Is this that confusions nowadays?

It has been said before: All it needs for tyrants to flourish, is for good
men to do nothing!

The quickest way to change this situation in the CFU is for members to
vote with their feet - don't pay!

PS. How many members does the current CFU actually represent, before they
deign speak for Zimbabwe's Commercial Agriculture?

Sincerely, yours

Alex Hangartner

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 3: Alistair Smith

Do you honestly believe that Obasanjo is misinformed?

I believe that the contents of Obasanjo's letter to Howard put forward 2
scenarios:

1. That Obasanjo knows absolutely nothing of what is really going on in
Zimbabwe and simply accepts what is put into print and verbalised by the
Zanu PF propaganda machine. I believe this to be a simplistic and naïve
scenario;

2. That Obasanjo knows quite well what is going on in Zimbabwe and has
unfortunately formed ranks with Mbeki and the rest of the African leaders
who see Mugabe as some form of Messiah, who is making the sort of stand
that they would like to do, and are determined to support him in an "Us
vs. the White (colonial) first world," and that Africa following the NEPAD
guidelines have the political will to allow democracy, peer review and
good governance throughout Africa and thus forms a major part of the
African renaissance. It would very easy for many of us to follow the NEPAD
proposal considering the funding by the West that had been proposed. The
simple truth is that African leaders with few exceptions are unable to
stand up and be counted and practice the democratic theory that is talked
about in public meeting many times over using 'politic speak' - terms such
as bilateral and modalities et cetera that are actual a smokescreen for
nil implementation.

The sad fact is that Mugabe's strategy is demonic and destructive and
shows no thought for the people of the land, and that few African leaders
actually care for their people and focus on staying in power in the name
of the Party and unbelievable enhancement of their personal wealth. His
followers of course follow hand-in-hand.

Regards

Alastair

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 4: Ruth Evans

Dear John

Thank you very much for replying!  You raise more puzzling questions: how
or why do CFU personalities not want to supply information and how on earth
can they expect Mr Robinson, who is an articulate man, to simply keep
quiet?  Many of us are silent in public because we lack the ability to put
our thoughts into words.

It is quite ironic that the ZW$30 billion deal they were into has now back
fired with zany supporters blaming them for with holding the equipment! Of
course, the state of agriculture is of vital interest to all zimbos,
particularly those who have to borrow up to ZW$7 000 to go and look for
food for their families. And to us employers whose workers are too thin
and weak to do a good days work.  We do our best to find them rations!!
Does the CFU realise that if it does not reveal its activities we will
suspect that it has lots to hide.  A once very respected body of men!

Sincerely
Ruth

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justice for Agriculture mailing list
To subscribe/unsubscribe: Please write to jag-list-admin@mango.zw
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Daily News

Feature

      Curtain raised on Mutare's real-life circus

      2/14/2003 9:58:35 AM (GMT +2)



      TRUE, travelling circus shows rarely pencil in Mutare as a favourite
destination for their hilarious performances, preferring instead, to limit
their acts to Harare, the capital, and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city.

      This year promises to be different. All yea residents of the Eastern
Highlands capital, I command thee, hold on to your theatre tickets. You are
about to witness Scene 1 in Act 1 of Home-grown Comic Relief.

      It is a multi-cast performance featuring the "have-beens", the
"never-weres" and the "also-ran" of the city's political establishment in a
circus show, whose stage title is Mutare's Mayoral Campaign 2003.

      I must confess, judging from a sneak preview, the show is at least
several notches above The Three Musketeers.

      Scene 1 (Act 1): Patrick Chitaka, a city businessman and unsuccessful
candidate for the same post four years ago, declares he is gunning for the
city's top executive post.
      The post falls vacant in August when the term of the incumbent,
Lawrence Mudehwe, expires. Mudehwe is prohibited by provisions of the Urban
Councils Act to seek a third term, after serving two straight terms.

      Chitaka, who runs Jopa Construction (Pvt) Limited, says he is
contesting the post on an MDC ticket, a party he chairs in its Mutare North
constituency.
      He is campaigning relentlessly in the city's suburbs as the MDC's
flag-carrier, giving newspaper interviews a move receiving much trepidation
and consternation from members of the party's provincial executive
committee.

      Matters get to a head when Pishai Muchauraya, the opposition party's
provincial spokesperson, issues a statement distancing the MDC from Chitaka'
s candidacy. The party has anointed no one, he says.

      Obviously unrepentant, Chitaka says yes, he is not the "official"
party candidate yet. Still, he continues to campaign on the MDC platform.
Frustrated, the party's provincial committee puts out a newspaper
advertisement advising all interested in the post to submit applications to
the party offices in Darlington suburb.

      In the meantime, Chitaka is galloping in the streets of Mutare,
working feverishly to build up support among the party's district
structures.

      Misheck Kagurabadza, the other MDC member whose name is being bandied
around as another possible mayoral aspirant, has mastered the art of staying
as far away as possible from the media glare.

      I'm told, however, he was probably one of the first people to submit
his application and curriculum vitae to the party offices.

      Scene 2 (Act 1): We cross over to Cecil Chambers, the provincial
headquarters of the ruling Zanu PF party in the city's central business
district.
      Here, daggers are equally drawn over who will represent the party in
the race to Civic Centre.

      So far, two names are on the fore in this camp Kenneth Saruchera, a
former deputy mayor who is councillor for Ward 11 and regional director for
the Zimbabwe Open University, and Shadreck Beta, a city businessman and
former Zanu PF provincial chairman who unsuccessfully ran for mayor four
years ago.

      Charles Pemhenayi, the Zanu PF provincial spokesperson, probably
borrowing a leaf from his counterpart at the MDC, says aspiring Zanu PF
mayoral candidates are wasting their time jostling for position.

      Says Pemhenayi: "The party may come up with a different candidate
altogether. In fact, those who are jostling now are disrupting the party's
projects and programmes in Mutare."

      Still, that has not put a damper on the aspirants. Saruchera, while
careful in prefacing his statements with the proviso, "That's ultimately the
party's decision", has exhibited all signs he is interested in the post.

      I got a distinct feeling he was exulted when someone jokingly greeted
him saying: "Oh, Mr Saruchera, the mayor-in-waiting . . ."

      Beta says he is getting a raw deal and decides to write to the ruling
party's provincial political commissariat, Robert Gumbo, offering his name
for consideration the same scenario playing out across town at the MDC
headquarters.

      "I was forced to write to Gumbo because some comrades, who are members
of the provincial executive committee, are already campaigning," Beta, a
cunning political hand, complained.

      "They're misleading people that Shadreck Beta is not interested in the
post. They're claiming to be the chosen party candidates. I'm concerned. I'm
disturbed. But I know and trust that Zanu PF is democratic."

      Scene 3 (Act 2): I'm at local hotel. The room is full of the city's
public transport operators, not a quiet crowd, as can be noted.

      They are here to discuss the fuel shortage specifically, why it is
that those in the fuel supply chain are not giving special preference in
allocations to public transport operators?
      The regional head of the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, the State
fuel procurement firm, representatives from fuel companies such as Total
Zimbabwe and owners of various filling stations in the city populate the
dais.

      Esau Mupfumi, the largest commuter bus operator in Manicaland, is
chairing the meeting in his capacity as regional vice-chairman of the
Zimbabwe Stage-Carriage Association, the operators' representative body.

      Mupfumi tells the audience there is a "special guest" with a brief
statement before the proceedings get underway.

      Enter Mike Madiro, the Manicaland chairman of Zanu PF, an affable and
soft-spoken man.

      Without mincing words, Madiro says: "Nothing will move here if you
vote for an
      opposition mayor in Mutare. You will be going in the opposite
direction if you do so."
      His message doesn't require deciphering. He is, obviously, referring
to the political gridlock that often is blamed for paralysing the operations
of local authorities elsewhere.

      For example, the Executive Mayor of Harare, Elias Mudzuri, an MDC
member, is in constant battles with Local Government Minister Ignatius
Chombo. In Chegutu, MDC Mayor Francis Dhlakama is in ongoing, hide-and-seek
games with his Zanu PF-
      dominated council.

      Says Madiro: "If you want me to bring Amos Midzi (the Minister of
Energy and Power Development) to discuss your fuel problems I will not have
any problems in doing that under the current status.

      "But if you have an Elias Mudzuri here in Mutare, I will not bring
Minister Midzi here. And nothing will move. That's why I am saying it is to
your advantage to have a Zanu PF mayor," he says.

      Scene 4 (Act 1): Cast members on the far right-hand side of the stage
are hard to recognise, so I put on the binoculars.

      Much better: That is Virginia Pinto, the outspoken city councillor who
rose to prominence in the city's political landscape as head of the Mutare
Citizens and Ratepayers' Association, a residents' pressure group credited
with removing Verbas Matamisa as town clerk eight years ago.

      She has remained in council as an independent but is eyeing the city's
top job, most likely as an MDC candidate. She is mum on the issue.

      There is also Mupfumi, the transport operator who is also secretary
for transport in the Zanu PF provincial executive.

      During interlude, I pose the question directly to Mupfumi: Are you
contemplating throwing your hat into the mayoral sweepstakes?

      "I will be honest with you," he says. "There are very strong forces in
this city urging me to run for mayor. But I'm not interested. I've a busy
schedule on my hands running my businesses, plus I hold several other posts
outside my business operations."

      He pauses, then says: "I am an employer. Why would I want to be an
employee? The salary and perks that come with the mayoral post will be a
climb-down for me. That will mean lowering my standard of living why would I
do that?"

      Besides, he says, he believes in protocol. He says he is too junior a
member of the party to muscle his way up, adding: "Let those senior to me go
for it."

      We come to the end of Act 1. But, as they say in the stage and theatre
world, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
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The Star

      Rift over Harare's suspension grows
      February 14, 2003

      A split in the Commonwealth over sanctions against Zimbabwe has
deepened as South Africa clashed with Australia and pressed for penalties on
Harare to be lifted.

      "At this stage we are not asking for any further suspension," South
African senior diplomat Abdul Minty said yesterday.
      "Our general position is that if we are not talking to the regime,
then we cannot engage them."

      The 54-nation Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe last March after
President Robert Mugabe was re-elected in bitterly disputed circumstances.

      But in the countdown to the expiry of the sanctions on March 19,
arguments within the Commonwealth over Zimbabwe have flared, appearing to
pit white nations against African ones.

      Blurring the rift, Kenya broke ranks with President Thabo Mbeki and
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday, and opposed the lifting of
sanctions.

      Africa's two giants say Mugabe's government has recorded enough
progress over the past year - in land reform, human rights and democracy -
to warrant readmission.

      Mugabe's opponents say that is a betrayal of Commonwealth principles,
pointing to the treason trial of opposition politicians as well as harsh
media and security laws.

      South Africa and Nigeria are also opposed by Australia, the third
member of a troika that was to decide for the rest of the Commonwealth
whether sanctions should continue or be lifted.

      Minty said Australian Prime Minister John Howard had shattered the
troika's consensus by stating publicly in September that sanctions should be
tightened.

      South Africa believes the sanctions should lapse because the troika
cannot agree and no other Commonwealth body is mandated to decide on the
issue until the next summit at the end of the year.

      But this is challenged by Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon,
a New Zealander. He said he would canvass other leaders' views before the
sanctions come up for renewal. - Reuters
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The Star

      Respect Bizos, judge warns irate witness
      February 14, 2003

      By Brian Latham

      Harare - Advocate George Bizos is continuing to produce evidence
suggesting that Canadian businessman Ari Ben Menashe was working for the
Zimbabwean government when he secretly videotaped opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

      Bizos, defending Tsvangirai and two of his senior lieutenants on
treason charges in the Harare High Court, is trying to prove that the
Zimbabwean government paid Ben Menashe to entrap Tsvangirai in an
assassination plot.

      Ben Menashe earlier testified that Tsvangirai had hired him to
assassinate Mugabe. He secretly filmed Tsvangirai and his officials
allegedly hatching the assassination plot in Ben Menashe's Montreal offices
on December 4 2001.

      Ben Menashe testified that it was only after he became alarmed at this
plot that he handed over the video to the Zimbabwean government. He said he
signed a contract with the Zimbabwean government on January 10 last year for
unrelated lobbying work, and was paid for the first time after that.

      But on Wednesday, Bizos produced documentation showing that the
Zimbabwean government had paid US$30 000 (R250 000) into an account of Ben
Menashe's wife on November 30 2001 - a week before the December 4 meeting,
and well before he signed a contract with the government.

      And yesterday Ben Menashe admitted his company had received $200 000
(R1,6-million) from the Zimbabwean government on December 18, also well
before the contract date.
      He became angry when Bizos produced documentation proving this
payment, accusing Bizos of "badgering" him and refused to say exactly what
the money was for.

      He also "couldn't remember" details of work he had carried out for
Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation.
      High Court Judge Paddington Garwe warned him several times not to be
disrespectful and to answer the questions put to him by Bizos.

      "Yes, we did receive the monies, but I don't know the dates. It was
for certain investigative work, nothing to do with this case. It's very
difficult to get into this, I don't even know the details, I wasn't doing
it, but my office said lots of background work was done in December," said
Ben Menashe.

      He added that a "confidentiality agreement" between him and the
Zimbabwean government prevented him from discussing the case further. The
government had earlier asked the judge to allow Ben Menashe not to answer
questions about his government contract "in the national interest".

      Judge Garwe refused but did rule that the more sensitive questions
about the contract would be heard in camera.

      Continuing earlier efforts to undermine Ben Menashe's credibility as a
witness, Bizos yesterday asked him why prominent publications like Newsweek
had labelled him a "fantasist".

      Ben Menashe responded that the label had to do with his arrest in
connection with the Iran Contra scandal, and that the US government had
conspired against him. - Independent Foreign Service
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Daily Telegraph

Pressure builds on England and ICC
By Mihir Bose  (Filed: 14/02/2003)


England should know by this evening whether they will have their World Cup
match against Zimbabwe rescheduled, or at least achieve a share of the four
points.

The technical committee of the International Cricket Council will meet in
Johannesburg to consider fresh evidence that the England and Wales Cricket
Board presented yesterday regarding security concerns.

In theory, the committee could order the match to be relocated outside
Zimbabwe but this seems unlikely and would probably provoke angry protests
from other countries.

Already Jagmohan Dalmiya, former ICC president and now president of the
Indian board, has warned the ICC that they should not placate England and
asked them to award full points to Zimbabwe and deduct four points from
England for not travelling there.

England argue that since then fresh evidence, provided by the ICC
themselves, shows that the ICC's refusal to move the match was wrong.
England are confident that their evidence is strong but if this view proves
misplaced England will not only have lost four points but friends in
international cricket which could cost them dearly in the years ahead.

The seeds of England's decision not to go to Harare were sown in Sydney on
the evening of Jan 23. David Morgan, who had just taken over as chairman of
the England and Wales Cricket Board, met Duncan Fletcher, the England coach,
and Nasser Hussain, the captain.

Hussain spoke about his concerns regarding Zimbabwe. He explained that the
England players had received letters under their hotel room doors from a
group called Organised Resistance asking them not to go to Zimbabwe.

A few hours later Morgan raised the moral concerns of his players when he
participated in his first meeting of the ICC executive board - via a
worldwide telephone conference call.

Peter Cingoka, chairman of the Zimbabwean Cricket Union, warned Morgan about
going down the moral route and Morgan knew England could not win a vote.
Also, there would be another chance to discuss it as the ICC had
commissioned a security consultancy firm to investigate safety in Zimbabwe
and Kenya. It was agreed the board would meet again the following Friday.

It was then that Morgan was reported as saying that the letter the players
had received was a death threat. In fact, there was no threat in the letter,
it was simple political propaganda against the Mugabe regime.

As it happens, by then, the ECB had indeed received a death threat, directed
at the England players, from a group called the Sons and Daughters of
Zimbabwe. A letter written on Jan 6, addressed to Tim Lamb, chief executive
of the ECB, arrived at Lord's on Jan 20. Lamb passed it on to Scotland Yard,
the British High Commissioner in Zimbabwe and to Malcolm Speed, chief
executive of the ICC. Lamb felt he should check out the letter before
telling the players.

Meanwhile, Morgan's misreported comments had alarmed the players and opened
a rift between them and the ECB. The next day the Professional Cricketers'
Association, much to the surprise of the ECB, announced that the players
wanted the match moved for moral, political and security considerations.

On Jan 30, the ICC executive board had another meeting and discussed the
report into security in Zimbabwe and Kenya. It came in two parts: a written
document and some verbal communications. The verbal communications had five
points, four of them related to security in Kenya and one concerned the
letter from the Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe.

There was some discussion about this with the ICC experts having said that
this was not considered a credible threat. The ECB had also heard from
Scotland Yard, who took a similar view about the letter.

The PCA had engaged a lawyer, Gerald Tirrell, and came back into the
picture, stressing to Morgan that the ECB had a duty of care as an employer.
They could not ask England players to go to a country where their presence
might lead to bloodshed.

The ECB knew that whatever the moral issues it did not have the votes on the
ICC board but felt it might be easier to move the match after Feb 2, the
date from which all matters relating to World Cup matches became the
responsibility of the ICC technical committee, felt to be a less political
body than the executive board.

England engaged the services of a top sports lawyer, Mark Gay, and prepared
a case, one of whose main points was fears of what might happen to
protesters who may use the England match to demonstrate against the Mugabe
regime. But England's case failed with the technical committee and on appeal
to Justice Albie Sachs.

The ICC thought that would be the end of the story. There was no appeal
against Justice Sachs and last Friday, even as the judge was giving his
decision, the ICC provided security briefings to England players and
officials.

The players' briefing proved disastrous. Just before the meeting the players
were told by Lamb about the Sons and Daughters' letter and they were
extremely agitated.

The briefing was chaired by Tirrell and according to well-placed sources it
was chaotic. Players' questions flew in from all directions, not all of them
coherent. Far from being reassured, the players were further alarmed.

Morgan, appalled by the chaos of the players' meeting, decided to take
charge and started talking to the players one-to-one.

On Saturday evening, during the opening ceremony, Percy Sonn, president of
the United Cricket Board of South Africa, warned Lamb that if England did
not go to Zimbabwe, South Africa might decide not to tour England in the
summer.

This put more pressure on the ECB. By Sunday, after further discussions with
individual players, Morgan felt the damage had been repaired and provided
the ICC security experts gave reassurances on the Sons and Daughters letter,
England would go to Zimbabwe. But then came the bombshell.

The ICC security sources provided England an e-mail from the Zimbabwean
police which said they took the threat in the letter "seriously".

But by then England's world had been turned upside-down and quite how it
will right itself remains to be seen until, perhaps, this evening . . ..
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50 Zimbabwean Farmers Settled in Mozambique

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

February 13, 2003
Posted to the web February 13, 2003

Maputo

So far, 50 Zimbabwean farmers have settled and are working in the central
Mozambican provinces of Manica and Sofala, according to Mozambican
Agriculture Minister Helder Muteia, cited in Thursday's issue of the daily
paper "Diario de Mocambique".

Farmers who lose their land in Zimbabwe as a result of the Zimbabwean
government's chaotic land reform policy, under which commercial farms have
been seized, supposedly for distribution among land-hungry peasants, have
been turning their attentions to Mozambique.



Muteia said that, besides working in agriculture, the Zimbabwean farmers,
whose investments have been authorised by the government's Investment
Promotion Centre (CPI), are also involved in other activities, including the
sale of agricultural machinery.

He reiterated that these farmers have to comply with all the established
investment requisites, and do not enjoy any special treatment, despite the
controversial politics that determined their exodus from Zimbabwe.

"The Zimbabwean farmers who invest in Mozambique are being treated as
ordinary investors, and do not enjoy any special status", he said, adding
that this helped solve "misunderstandings" with the Zimbabwean authorities,
who at one point believed that Mozambique was granting them the status of
"political refugees".

"All parties came to understand perfectly that these farmers are being
treated as investors", explained Muteia.

Speaking of the advantages of accepting white Zimbabwean farmers, he said
that their investments will create jobs and they will establish partnerships
with their Mozambican counterparts.

He recalled that, for instance, a Zimbabwean company growing flowers for
export in Manica province, is employing 300 people.

This has become the first enterprise in Mozambique to export flowers to the
European market.

Muteia also stressed that accepting Zimbabwean farmers does not entail any
risk of local peasants losing their land. He noted that Mozambique has about
36 million hectares of arable land, of which only four million are being
exploited.
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Zimbabwe inflation of 208% underestimated, say analysts
Reuters
February 14 2003 at 08:35AM
Harare - Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate surged to a record high in January
as the country sank deeper into crisis, official data showed yesterday,
fanning fears that it could hit 350 percent by year-end.

The Central Statistics Office said the consumer price index jumped 208.1
percent after increasing 198.9 percent in December. It blamed the increases
on high food prices.

On a monthly basis the index rose 9.9 percent, slowing from December's 14.5
percent.

Analysts said these figures were not a true reflection of the price
pressures in the economy, with most basic commodities in short supply being
sold on the black market at up to five times their official price.

"There are a lot of inflationary pressures around and we believe annual
inflation could be as high as 350 percent by the end of the year," said
Rashid Mudala, an asset manager at First Mutual Life.

"The shortages of food and other commodities on the shelves of most
supermarkets are an indication that prices will have to rise further if
producers are to remain viably in business," Mudala said.

Zimbabwe has been gripped in a political and economic crisis since land
redistribution began chaotically in early 2000.

Soaring inflation and unemployment have exacerbated shortages of food and
foreign currency as the country battles through the fourth year of a
recession - its worst crisis since independence in 1980.

The government reintroduced price controls on basic commodities in October
2001 in a bid to rein in runaway inflation, a move that analysts said had
created artificial shortages of basic commodities.

Analysts said over 80 percent of basic goods - including mealiemeal, cooking
oil and salt - were being sold on the black market at exorbitant prices.

The Zimbabwe dollar is trading at about 1 600 to the US unit on the black
market, but has been pegged at Z$55 to the dollar since November 2000.

Zimbabwe faced a deficit of about 1 million tons of maize in the 2003/04
season, with foreign donors expected to make up most of the shortfall, the
Famine Early Warning System reported yesterday, according to Bloomberg.

Farmers would probably harvest about 800 000 tons of maize this season, the
US-funded agency said. Zimbabwe's 11.5 million people required 1.8 million
tons a year, the Commercial Farmers' Union said.

"The government's capacity to fill this gap through imports is limited by
the foreign currency shortage," it said. - Reuters
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The Times of India

Australia may delay arrival for Zimbabwe match

REUTERS[ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2003 10:25:50 AM ]

CENTURION: The Australians are looking into the possibility of delaying
their trip to Bulawayo until February 23, just 24 hours before their
World Cup Group A match there against tournament co-hosts Zimbabwe.

Under a proposed travel schedule, the defending champions would then
return to South Africa immediately after the match against Heath
Streak's side.

Australia are scheduled to travel to Bulawayo on February 21, the day
after their game against the Netherlands in Potchefstroom, but the
team's management are now considering reducing the amount of time the
squad will spend in Zimbabwe.

"At this stage, our existing plans are still in place," team manager
Steve Bernard told Reuters on Thursday.

"However, we are exploring the possibility of spending the minimum
amount of time necessary in the country, given the circumstances which
are obviously delicate at this time."

Those delicate circumstances include the ongoing treason trial of
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as well as widespread
hunger and unemployment in the strife-torn country.

Bernard said the move to look at revising the team's travel plans was
not an indication the match was in jeopardy.

He added it was neither a reaction to England's refusal to travel to
Harare for their scheduled game against Zimbabwe on February 13, nor to
increased anxiety about the situation among Australia players.

"At this stage, there is nothing to suggest the match will not go
ahead," he said.

"It is certainly not a case of our players prompting this look at our
travel plans.

"It is simply a case of the team's management looking at the best way to
handle this situation."

If Australia do alter their travel plans, they could decide to stay in
Potchefstroom for an extra day before travelling to Johannesburg on
February 22, a day ahead of the proposed flight to Bulawayo.

Australia cancelled their previous scheduled visit to Zimbabwe in April
2002 because of safety and security concerns during the re-election of
President Robert Mugabe.

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East London Dispatch

Zimbabwe's Mugabe is no cricketer

By Norman Reynolds

AMIDST the furore surrounding Zimbabwe and the Cricket World Cup, a
fundamental point about the game of cricket appears to have been missed.

Cricket is made fascinating by its being a total war -- hard ball, fast
bowling, helmets and pads -- albeit played to gentlemanly rules. The aim of
the fielding side is nothing less than to cause the batsmen to lose their
lives!

Most pertinent to games played in Zimbabwe and to the illegal regime of
Robert Mugabe is the basic right each team confers on the other team --
despite it being total war. That is, the right to also bat under the exact
same rules and to do so in rotation. There can be no complete cricket match
until both teams have batted.

This fundamental philosophy is now deeply embedded in the English and, in
varying degrees, throughout the "British" or cricket-playing world. In the
UK, there is a palpable public moment, after a few years of one of the two
dominant parties having won an election and having formed and run the
government, when the electorate decides, consciously or unconsciously, that
it is time the other party had a chance to bat.

It is only cataclysmic events, like the Falklands War which won Mrs Thatcher
her second term, that can stop the electoral pendulum swinging away from the
batting team towards the team waiting to bat sitting on the opposition
benches.

The advent of one-day, 50-over matches may indeed have shortened the period
from that which earlier generations, brought up more in the tradition of
five-day Tests, may have considered as "enough". (There is at least one PhD
to be awarded on this topic.)

Robert Mugabe's long stint, virtually from independence in 1980, as patron
of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, has moved, like his championing of
"reconciliation" and economic reform, from being useful to the popular
growth of cricket to a mockery of its fundamental values. At first, when he
was properly elected, Mugabe was generous and even magnanimous. Now that he
is long unwanted by the great majority of Zimbabweans, he clings to power by
abusing all the institutions and symbols of democracy, human rights and
civilisation.

Rather than "report" Henry Olonga and Andy Flower to the ICC for wearing
black arm bands to signify the death of democracy in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe
Cricket Union, backed by the ICC, should ask Robert Mugabe to step down as
its patron. He is no cricketer!
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Globe and Mail, Canada

Harare mayor learns price of speaking out

Beatings, death threats all part of the job for political figures opposed to
Mugabe


      Special to The Globe and Mail
      Friday, February 14, 2003 - Page A14


      HARARE -- Elias Mudzuri is in a tough line of work -- he's been
arrested, beaten up and threatened with death in his first year on the job.
But he's not a union leader, an activist or a criminal; he's the mayor of
Harare, and his offence is affiliation with the country's political
opposition.

      In most countries, the position is highly respected and comes with key
functions and the full support of the state. But Zimbabwean authorities are
decidedly less supportive of Mr. Mudzuri, who has used his position to
challenge the long-ruling ZANU-PF of President Robert Mugabe.

      "If anything happens to me, I'll be proud that I've done service to my
people," Mr. Mudzuri, a solemn 45-year-old engineer, said during an
interview at his office in the capital's Town House building. "I refuse to
be silenced."

      The outspoken official, who belongs to the upstart Movement for
Democratic Change, is conspicuously boycotting 2003 World Cup Cricket
matches in Harare, and has called for a full boycott of the event in protest
against alleged government human-rights abuses, economic mismanagement and
vote-rigging. Displeased with Mr. Mudzuri's views, police recently detained
the mayor on the grounds that he had held an unauthorized political
gathering -- actually a civic meeting.

      "They took me out of my consultative meeting by force, tore my shirt,
beat me and dragged me out of my car, which I resisted," the mayor recalled.
He was arrested under the Public Order and Security Act, threatened with
death and held in jail cells like a common criminal for two days without
access to food or legal representation before the charges were thrown out in
court.

      A High Court judge had twice to order his release -- and that of 11
council workers held with him -- before they were freed. The case sparked
international criticism as well as local protests that were quickly
suppressed by force.

      It's been a rough ride, but this has by no means been the mayor's
first clash with higher authority.

      Mr. Mudzuri comes from humble beginnings -- he describes himself as a
"village boy" from southern Masvingo, where his mother was a domestic worker
and his father a clerk. He joined the struggle to liberate Zimbabwe from
white rule as well as studying in Sierra Leone, where he earned an
engineering degree in 1986.

      He returned home and joined the Harare City Council in 1987, rising up
the ranks to become Harare's director of works. But that fell apart in 1999
when he clashed with city leaders over what he perceived as mismanagement.
After an acrimonious battle, council suspended him.

      The High Court overturned his suspension, but Mr. Mudzuri left anyway.
Disenchanted with ZANU-PF, he joined the fledgling MDC, becoming a ward
secretary and finally running for the mayoralty last year.

      Impressed by his courage, Harare voters gave him 260,000 votes --
against 50,000 for his ZANU-PF rival -- in the election last March, part of
a wave of urban sympathy for the opposition that also saw the election of an
MDC mayor in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city.

      Suddenly, with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on trial for treason and
other party leaders stymied by Draconian security and media laws, the humble
engineer was in a position to play a prominent role in the opposition.

      That fact hasn't been lost on Mr. Mugabe's government, which is
determined not to relinquish even local powers to a party that formed three
years ago and nearly rode a tide of popular discontent to topple ZANU-PF in
the 2000 general election.

      So determined, in fact, that ZANU-PF has announced its intention to
appoint new "city governors" to rule over the elected MDC mayors of Harare
and Bulawayo. The government said the move was in line with the
long-accepted practice of appointing provincial governors.

      Mr. Mudzuri says he is now barred from using state media and has been
refused state funds vital to running the capital area, home to four million
people.

      "I've been cut out completely from using television to reach the
population. I can't use radio either. I have to advertise and pay money. The
democratic space for anyone perceived to be opposition is closed," he said.

      Since the MDC mayors were elected, the national government has refused
to pay rental money owed to the city of Bulawayo or to approve capital loans
to either city. It is building to a crisis, since the cities are restricted
from financing with private loans.

      In Harare, the dry coffers are leading to the erosion of
infrastructure and basic services, such as the provision of safe drinking
water. With water-treatment chemicals running low, the city has been forced
to implement rotating shutoffs.

      "We are under siege," Mr. Mudzuri said. "We've allowed this economic
mess and misgovernance to happen -- it is now up to Zimbabweans to say no to
prevailing conditions."
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Business Day

      Ben Menashe says state paid for tape

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Sapa-AP

      HARARE The main state witness in the treason trial of Zimbabwe
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai admitted yesterday he had received
200000 from the government after providing a secretly recorded videotape
incriminating Tsvangirai in a plot to kill President Robert Mugabe.

      Canada-based political consultant Ari ben Menashe denied the money was
paid under a deal with Zimbabwe's security chiefs to entrap Tsvangirai, the
Movement for Democratic Change candidate, before presidential elections last
year.

      He told the Harare high court the money was a fee for other research
work by his Montreal firm, including intelligence and "background work" for
the Zimbabwe government.

      "It may have had to do with the treasonous activities of the MDC, but
it had nothing to do with this case," Ben Menashe said.

      He said his wife, a Montreal lawyer, received another $30000 from
Zimbabwe to cover the expenses of making the secret video. She was to pay
for technical services involved in concealing two ceiling-level cameras and
making the recording.

      Ben Menashe has testified before Judge Paddington Garwe that
Tsvangirai and senior opposition colleagues Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela
hired him to help kill Mugabe. The opposition politicians deny the charges,
and say Ben Menashe framed them.

      The charges are based on a grainy video recorded during a meeting
between Tsvangirai and Ben Menashe in Montreal on December 4 2001 in which
Tsvangirai allegedly asked for help to "eliminate" Mugabe.

      In heated exchanges with defence counsel George Bizos, Ben Menashe
admitted a member of Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation collected
the tape from his offices on December 5 after he informed the government of
its contents.

      He said he wanted to expose Tsvangirai to the Commonwealth leaders,
who were in Australia for a summit. To this end he approached his contacts
at the Australian TV station that broke the story.

      Ben Menashe said he did not sign a formal consultancy contract with
the Zimbabwean government until January 10. In terms of the contract his
firm was to be paid 1m.

      Bizos said records of payments that Ben Menashe received before being
contracted indicated he was rewarded for an operation to entrap the
opposition leaders.

      He repeatedly accused Ben Menashe of lying and being evasive about the
nature of his work for the Zimbabwean government.

      Ben Menashe said he was once an Israeli intelligence agent a claim
denied by Israel.

      He said he led Israel's raid to rescue Israeli hijacking hostages at
Entebbe airport in Uganda in 1976 and "meddled" in the US presidential vote
in 1980 and Australia's 1986 elections.

      A congressional committee and Australian MPs concluded he lied on both
occasions to discredit election candidates, Bizos said.

      Ben Menashe testified that the US government and the Western media
tried to discredit him after he exposed US weapons sales to Iran and
apartheid SA. He said his partner, Alexander Legault, who attended the taped
meeting with Tsvangirai, could not testify in Zimbabwe "because someone has
to be in the office".

      In Brussels the European Union has agreed to renew sanctions against
Zimbabwe for another year but to allow Mugabe to attend a summit in Paris
next week.

      US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the US was "very unhappy"
with France for inviting Mugabe. The EU decided to give Paris an exemption
to host Mugabe. Sapa-APAFP
      Feb 14 2003 06:26:01:000AM  Angus Shaw Business Day 1st Edition
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Ananova

      Summit called off over Mugabe controversy

A summit of EU and African leaders in Portugal has been cancelled because
President Robert Mugabe refused to give assurances that he would stay away.

Prime Minister Tony Blair was among those determined to boycott the April
gathering in Lisbon if Zimbabwe's leader turned up.

The Greek EU Presidency finally called off the event after two days of
approaches to the Zimbabwe regime.

Mr Mugabe had already won one EU concession this week - he can attend a
Franco-African summit in Paris next Wednesday.

This is despite an EU travel ban on the president, his wife and dozens of
members of his political circle and their families.

But a second "opt-out" from the ban was considered a concession too far.

A British Government spokesman said: "It is very important to maintain the
EU-Africa relationship and we worked hard to see if it would be possible to
find a way to hold this summit.

"But Zimbabwe has not given the assurances that President Mugabe would stay
away, and it was clear that a number of EU leaders would not be willing to
meet him at the present time. Therefore the decision to call off the meeting
has had to be taken."


Story filed: 19:06 Friday 14th February 2003
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BBC
 
Zimbabwe duo escape action
Andy Flower and Henry Olonga
The pair put their careers at stake

The International Cricket Council have decided not to punish Andy Flower and Henry Olonga for their black armband protest against the Zimbabwe governmment.

The pair issued a lengthy joint statement shortly before their team's match against Namibia saying they were protesting against the "death of democracy".

They also drew attention to what they described as an "abuse of human rights" by president Robert Mugabe's regime.

Olonga has been suspended by his club side, Takashinga, and the pair were reported to the ICC's World Cup technical committee by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

The players have blurred the lines between political issues and the sporting arena
Malcolm Speed
Full Flower/Olonga statement

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the players had been asked to stop wearing the armbands but no further action would be taken.

"The ICC seeks, at all times, to avoid using cricket as a platform on which to advance political agendas and its very strong belief is that the players, officials and administrators within the game should refrain from doing the same.

"There are enough people outside the sport seeking to achieve political ends through cricket for their own purposes, without the sports participants contributing to this matter."

He added: "While this is a principle that the ICC does not wish to see violated, it is also the case that there is no sound basis for finding that their actions have brought the game into disrepute.

"There is no charge that could be sustained under the ICC Code of Conduct."

Flower is the finest batsman ever produced by Zimbabwe, having score 4,794 runs in Tests and almost 6,500 in one-day internationals.

It is thought he may retire from international cricket after the World Cup to concentrate on commitments with English county side Essex.

Olonga was Zimbabwe's first black Test cricketer and took eight wickets during the 1999 World Cup to help them reach the Super Sixes phase of the competition.

He said he and Flower would discuss the situation and decide whether to stop wearing the armbands or prolong their protest.

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Taxi Fares Set to Go Up to $400 Per Km

The Herald (Harare)

February 14, 2003
Posted to the web February 14, 2003

Harare

TAXI fares will go up by about $400 per kilometre with effect from the
beginning of next week.

The Metered Taxi Operators Association said the increase is a result of
escalating running costs.

With effect from Monday, it will now cost $400 to travel a kilometre up from
the gazetted fare of $4,50.

It means therefore, that a customer would have to fork out as much as $8 000
to cover a distance of 20 kilometres.

ZMTOA president, Mr Kingston Makarichi, said his organisation last increased
its charge in 1992 and has, in between, battled to get a fare review.

The old fare was now existing on paper because almost all taxi operators
were charging fares well above the gazetted rate. Others had abandoned the
use of metres.

"We have established the new fare at $400 per kilometre because of the
increase in the price of the lubricants, tyres and the high cost of sourcing
spare parts.

"The transport sector is facing problems in securing foreign currency needed
to import most of our spare parts," he said.

The new fares have not been approved by the Government, which raises the
possibility of a standoff between the association and the State.

Mr Makarichi said his association is going ahead with the new fares and
would also pursue dialogue with the Government at the same time.

He also urged customers to be on the look out for unscrupulous taxi
operators, bent on overcharging.

"We are looking forward to the public to assist by reporting unscrupulous
operators to the police," he said.

Cases of overcharging are most common among copycat taxi operators. For
instance, some customers are paying as much as $3 000 for a distance that
costs $1 800.

Mr Makarichi said taxi operators should be registered with his association
in line with the requirements of the law.

"We are doing all this to protect the public and for us as an organisation
to remain viable," said the vice-secretary of ZMTOA, Mr Albert Mukonda.
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Daily News

      State injects $42m to fight armyworm

      2/14/2003 10:15:50 AM (GMT +2)


      Farming Editor

      THE government yesterday released $42 million to purchase chemicals
and equipment to spray maize crops and pasture invaded by armyworm.

      Almost all provinces in the country except Matabeleland North and
South are infested by the deadly plant eater.

      The worm was spotted in the country for the first time in Guruve last
month from where it has now spread to most parts of the country.

      The worm, which moves in large numbers, destroys plants such as maize,
rapoko, millet sorghum as well as pasture.

      According to the Plant Protection Unit of the Department of
Agricultural Research and Extension (Arex), more outbreaks of the armyworm
were being reported with latest invasions in Gokwe and Harare this week.

      Dr Shadreck Mlambo, Arex research acting director said yesterday: "The
outbreak is now being treated as a national problem but not yet a disaster.
The $42 million will be used to buy chemicals, sprayers and protective
clothing to wipe out the menace."

      Mlambo said the $42 million was enough to deal with the current
problem and that the government would release more money should the
situation worsen.

      "We want to make sure that no food deficit will happen as a result of
the armyworm. We do not see the problem persisting beyond three weeks as we
will have wiped out the armyworm within this period.

      "Today (yesterday) provincial Arex heads came to collect pesticide and
equipment to spray affected fields and pastures."

      Mlambo said the department would spray all infested areas in communal,
new resettlement areas and at large-scale commercial farms.

      This week the department had been quoted as saying it would only spray
in communal areas and in farms occupied by A1 farmers (those resettled under
the villagised model) only while large-scale commercial farmers and farmers
resettled under the commercial farming scheme were encouraged to purchase
their own chemicals.

      On wether suppliers of chemicals had enough stocks to control the
pest, Mlambo said: "We have already made invoices enough for our
requirements so far."

      There are concerns that the worm, which only attacks plants below knee
level will wipe out the early planted maize crop resulting in serious food
shortages.

      The maize crop is already under severe threat from drought.
      To date the armyworm has destroyed more than 400 hectares of maize and
1 000ha of pasture.

      Considerable damage has also been inflicted on young sorghum, rapoko
and millet plants.
      The worm, which originates from Mozambique and Zambia, is bred by an
insect called Noctud and it is only bred in Zimbabwe in drought years.

      The last serious armyworm outbreak was in 1991/1992 farming season but
the worst in the history of Zimbabwe was during the 1981/1982 year.
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