Mugabe returns from an eye check in Singapore

http://news.yahoo.com

AFP

– Sun Feb 20, 4:31 am ET

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) – President Robert Mugabe Sunday returned to Zimbabwe
from Singapore where he had gone for an eye check-up following a cataract
operation there.

Mugabe who turns 87 Monday was met by several government ministers from his
ZANU-PF party at Harare International airport.

A seemingly fit Mugabe arrived at around 9:30 am, but did not speak to
reporters.

Last month, a British newspaper reported that Mugabe had undergone a
prostate operation in Malaysia, but Mugabe dismissed the media reports as
"naked lies" on his return.

Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has been nominated by his party to
stand again for president in elections expected later this year, which will
end his shaky power-sharing government with long-time rival Morgan
Tsvangirai.

Dlamini-Zuma to host Zimbabwe talks: Home Affairs

http://www.businessday.co.za

Sapa
Published: 2011/02/20 04:55:09 PM

Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will host bi-lateral
discussions with her Zimbabwean counterparts in Pretoria on Tuesday, her
office said on Sunday.

The talks were aimed at finalising the process of documenting Zimbabweans
living in South Africa, said home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa.

He said this would be the third meeting between Dlamini-Zuma and the
Zimbabwean Ministers of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone.

Last week, Dlamini-Zuma called attention to South Africa's dependence on the
Zimbabwean government to produce passports, to enable the conclusion of the
documentation process.

"The department has been co-operating with organisations representing
Zimbabweans living in South Africa including representatives of the embassy
and consulate," said Mamoepa.

Tsvangirai Not Afraid Of Elections

http://www.radiovop.com

20/02/2011 12:10:00

MATOPO, February 20, 2011- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and leader of
the MDC-T party says he is ready for elections only if they will be held
under a new constitution.

Tsvangirai was addressing about 700 of his supporters at a rally at St
Joseph Mission near Maphisa Business Centre in Kezi on Saturday.

“ Some are talking about elections being held as soon as possible, we have
no problem with  that, but what we are saying is that let’s have them under
a new constitution. We are not afraid of any elections and will never be
afraid, " said Tsvangirai.

Zimbabwe is currently in the process of writing the country,s first people
driven constitution since independence in 1980.But the process has been
hampered by lack of funding and underhand dealings by politicians from all
the participating parties and organisations.Analysts say President Robert
Mugabe might surprise his partners in the coalition government and call for
early elections.During his address in Kezi the Prime Minister also condemned
the recent violence in Harare which left hundreds of people displaced.

“ Another thing that is worrying us is violence. Zanu (PF) has resorted to
violence against our supporters .I want to tell you we are not going to
participate  in elections with violence. We don’t want a repeat of June 2008
where people were butchered, ” Tsvangirai told the crowd.

The rally was also attended by Tsvangirai,s deputy Thokozani Khuphe and
other top party leaders who included co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa
Makone.The MDC-T leader is also expected to address another rally in the
border town of Beitbridge on Sunday.
Tsvangirai is expected to hold another rally in the border town of
Beitbridge on Sunday.

Late payment to blame for fuel crisis - supplier

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Guthrie Munyuki, Deputy News Editor
Sunday, 20 February 2011 19:00

HARARE - A South African fuel supplier accused of swindling Treasury of
US$5million, has blamed the late payment by government and natural causes,
for the delays in delivering fuel supplies which were due in January.

Nooa Petroleum has, for the first time, broken its silence and said delayed
payment, delayed release of wagons as a result of this, and derailment on
rail track; largely contributed to the late delivery of fuel to Zimbabwe.

To date, however, Noosa Petroleum has delivered more than 1,5 million litres
of fuel by the beginning of last week , with the remainder on the way.

In early January,the Ministry of Energy tasked PetrolTrade to procure fuel
through Nooa Petroleum, who, in turn facilitated payment to their partner
Mohwelere Trading (Pvt) Ltd.

Noosa Petroleum acted as an agent in the deal.

Mohwelere were supposed to be paid US$4,4 million for the delivery of five
million litres of petrol and diesel within 48 hours but the late release of
money by the government led to the delays in releasing product.

“Payment was made and reflected only on the 24th of January, 2011, as
evidenced by a swift in our possession. This payment was made six days after
the signing of the agreement in Harare, and a full week after wagons had
been allocated to us for loading of product,” said Joel Chikapa Phiri, chief
operating officer at Nooa Petroleum.

“While waiting for payment and for such payment to reflect, there was a
derailment on the rail line leading to the Petromoc loading gantry on the
21st of January, 2011. The ensuing debris was cleared on the 26th of
January, 2011, and the necessary rail line repairs could only be done on the
next day as work was hampered by heavy rain,” Phiri told Daily News in an
exclusive interview.

The agreement which was signed between PetrolTrade and Nooa Petroleum on
January 18 contained clauses - Force majeure, casus fortuitus or vis major –
that free both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary
event or circumstance beyond the control of either parties or the legal term
“act of God”, prevents one of the parties from fulfilling their obligation.

Noosa Petroleum sourced the fuel from Mozambique at the height of shortages
that hit the country in January.

“In the agreement between the parties, the seller endeavours to make the
first shipment within 24 to 72 hours of receipt of payment. Due to force
majeure in the form of rain, derailments and other such circumstances, the
first day when a shipment could be made was the 30th of January 2011,
consequently, we were within the 24 to 72-hour window period to load the
first shipment when physically possible on the 1st of February, 2011, and
well within its contractual obligations towards the purchaser,” Phiri said.

He said despite late payment by PetrolTrade, they secured wagons in advance
of payment although the agreement between the two parties required payment
before finalisation of rail logistics.

Phiri said this was done as a result of the urgency conveyed by the
government for the supply of fuel.

“Wagons were allocated to us by CFM on the 16th of January, 2011. These
wagons stood in Mazola at our expense while waiting for funds to be paid for
the payment to reflect in our account as per the agreement so that product
could be loaded.

“We could not acquire a release to secure more wagons for product to be
loaded because payment had not reflected in our account. We had to
constantly negotiate with the wagon allocation administrators to ensure that
wagons for transportation of product were available during a time of acute
shortage as some of the allocated wagons had to be forfeited as a result of
their being empty and taking up space,” said Phiri.

On February 7, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power
Development, Justin Mupamhanga,  told a Parliamentary committee that they
had been “hoodwinked” by Nooa Petroleum who had not delivered fuel within
the agreed 48-hour-window.

He, however, did not tell the same committee the delays in paying Nooa and
derailment in Mozambique at Matola.

Mpumalanga also did not tell the same committee that they released the money
six days later, consequently contributing to the delays in the release of
fuel.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee has said it is not entirely satisfied
with the way the deal was handled.

Noosa Petroleum had delivered more than 1,5 million litres of fuel by the
beginning of last week and the remainder was on the way, said Phiri

He said their wagons were held back at the Beitbridge Border Post because
PetrolTrade had used the Noczim account to clear fuel and ZIMRA refused to
release the wagons.

ZIMRA had in January garnished US$35 million from Noczim account to settle
its arrears.

Zimbabwe not fearful of Australia

http://www.stuff.co.nz

SUDIPTO GANGULY
Last updated 07:44 21/02/2011

Australia's formidable quartet of fast bowlers hold no fear for Zimbabwe and
the Africans do not rule out finally snapping their 29-match winning streak
at the World Cup, coach Alan Butcher says.

Australia's pace battery of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson, who
are backed up by Doug Bollinger, would be enough to worry most batting
line-ups but Zimbabwe feel comforted by the knowledge that they know what to
expect.

"They have four quicks and we have a fair idea how they bowl. If we play our
best cricket and they don't, we may have a chance," Butcher told reporters
on the eve of his team's Group A clash with the four-times world champions
on Monday.

"The longer the winning run is, the closer it might be to coming to an end."

However, Butcher conceded the chances were stacked against his men.

"If both sides play their best cricket, it's very likely that we will lose,"
he added, perhaps remembering his side have not beaten a test-playing nation
in the 50-over World Cup for 12 years.

Ricky Ponting's side will look to stamp their authority once again in
Monday's Group A encounter following two heavy warm-up defeats by co-hosts
India and South Africa.

No longer considered the force which clinched the trophy in 1999, 2003 and
2007, Australia still clearly have enough firepower and talent within their
ranks to sweep aside a team they have beaten in every one of their last 25
ODI meetings.

To all intent and purposes, Australia are likely to treat Monday's match as
a practice session to cover their shortcomings in the spin department.

Their defeats against India and South Africa and the batsmen's failure to
smother spin on both occasions have left considerable doubts about their
ability to prevail once more in the subcontinent.

Former England batsman Butcher's strategy actually may suit Australia well,
giving them the opportunity to focus on a weak part of their performance so
far in the subcontinent.

"We decided that by and large, the spinners are our best bowlers. That's
going to be our strength tomorrow (Monday)," Butcher said.
Ad Feedback

- Reuters

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary – 19th February 2011

Bill Watch Special of 19th February 2011 [Mines Committee Public Hearings in Zvishavane, Mashava: Monday 21 February]

Can failing health stop Mugabe?

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 14:10

BY KHOLWANI NYATHI

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s health is arguably one of Zimbabwe’s best kept
secrets but last week his handlers had to break with tradition.

George Charamba who was at the forefront of denials that the 87-year-old
leader had undergone a major operation to deal with suspected prostate
cancer last month on Sunday announced that his boss had gone to Singapore
for a medical review.

He revealed for the first time that Mugabe had undergone a “minor” operation
during his annual leave to remove an eye cataract.

Mugabe will be back in the country in time for his birthday tomorrow,
Charamba said.

But this has done little to stop the rumours about the president’s health
and speculation that his ability to withstand a grueling campaign for yet
another term is diminishing.

Mugabe is pushing for elections this year despite protests from his
opponents and the business sector.

This has heightened speculation that he is trying to manage his contentious
succession.

Bekithemba Mpofu, a Zimababwean academic based in the United Kingdom said
Mugabe would soldier on despite his failing health.

“There is no evidence that suggests that Mugabe will hand over power within
Zanu PF even when it is clear his health is deteriorating due to old age,”
he said.

“One could therefore conclude that he is convinced no one within his party’s
ranks can defeat the opposition or lead the country.

“Alternatively people within the party itself might agree to the notion that
he is Zanu PF’s holding glue.

“So I do not think his health problems will ever stop him from being a
candidate in the next election.”

Mugabe has never hidden his ambition to become a life president in the mould
of Malawi’s Kamuzu Banda and then Zaire’s Mobuto Sese Seko.

Diplomats who have spent time with the father of three say he is too fit for
an 87 year old.

In one of the United States diplomatic cables leaked by whistleblower
website Wikileaks last year, former US ambassador to Zimbabwe James MaGee
said Mugabe was “alert, articulate, in apparent good health.”

MaGee thought the president who does not drink or smoke was “possibly the
healthiest 85-year old.”

Eldred Masungure, a political scientist from the University of Zimbabwe said
although there was limited information on Mugabe’s health, his continued
absence could be an indication of a bigger problem.

Last week there were reports that some members of Mugabe’s cabinet believe
his prolonged absence was beginning to affect government’s operations.

Masunungure said this would seriously affect the Zanu PF leader’s ability to
campaign if elections were called soon.
“It depends on the gravity of his illness and we don’t seem to have full
information to be able to make an informed assessment,” Masunungure said.

“But if his health deteriorates it will obviously compromise his ability to
launch a fully fledged campaign.
“I think he would not have the physical stamina to spearhead a grueling
campaign.”

Mugabe’s previous campaigns were usually characterised by at least four
rallies in one province a day but it is highly unlikely that he can maintain
the punishing schedule this time around.

His main opponent would be Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who turns 59
next month.

Mugabe became Zimbabwe’s first black leader in 1980 when he was appointed
prime minister.

He became executive president seven years later and has dealt brutally with
pretenders to his throne from within his Zanu PF party.

The wily politician has also dismissed talk about his succession saying
there is no vacancy.

However his popularity has declined sharply since the time his oratory
skills could win the hearts and minds of ordinary Zimbabweans.

In 2002 he controversially beat Tsvangirai in presidential elections.

Tsvangirai also beat Mugabe in the first round of the 2008 presidential
elections but the former trade unionist failed to garner enough votes to
claim the presidency.

Mugabe’s party regrouped and launched a violent campaign never seen since
the end of Gukurahundi and forced Tsvangirai to withdraw from the second
round.

Tsvangirai takes on Chombo over riches

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 13:08

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

IGNATIUS Chombo, Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development
personally benefitted when he appointed a caretaker council in 2008 that
awarded him prime land in Harare, investigations by The Standard have
established.

This was the same time that a project to dualise Harare International
Airport Road was awarded to Augur Investments OU’, a company that shared the
same premises with Chombo’s Harvest-net Enterprises.

Documents in our possession show that during the 63-days that the caretaker
council was in office, Chombo acquired stand numbers 61 Helensvale and 293
Avondale in Harare.

The matter was reported to the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission
last year but no action has been taken yet.
In light of police inaction, councillors have urged Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai to petition President Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara to seek an explanation from Police Commissioner-General
Augustine Chihuri.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka last week confirmed that the
Prime Minister had discussed allegations raised against Chombo with Mugabe.

“I can confirm that the Prime Minister has had a discussion with the
President concerning serious allegations of corruption leveled against
minister Chombo,” said Tamborinyoka, who however could not divulge the
details of the meeting.

During its tenure, the  caretaker council, which was appointed by Chombo,
also employed 742 workers without advertising the posts and awarded the
US$80 million airport road dualisation project to Augur without going to
tender.

Investigations by The Standard have established that at one time Augur
Investments shared the same address with Chombo’s Harvest-net Enterprises
(Pvt) Limited at 62 Quorn Avenue, Mt Pleasant, Harare.

It has also been established that Chombo formally informed Michael Mahachi
of his appointment as chairman of the caretaker council on May 21 2008, the
same day the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the council and Augur
Investments (Pvt) limited was signed.

“The minister was therefore endorsing an agreement being signed by his
appointee (Mahachi) with Augur, a company that shares and operates from the
same address as his company, Harvest-net Enterprises (Pvt) Limited,” said
one councillor, who has done an analysis of the tenure of the caretaker
council.

The MoU was, however, approved in retrospect by the caretaker council in its
meeting on May 29 2008, which was chaired by Mahachi, himself a signatory of
the MoU.

The Airport Road deal between the City of Harare and Augur Investments was
structured in such a way that the Estonian company would acquire land from
council as payment for the dualisation of the road.

The Harare City Council has so far transferred close to 733,9 hectares of
land to Augur as payment for the project although councillors say no
meaningful work has been done on the ground.

The company has registered some property that it got from city council in
seven locally registered companies.
Augur Investments has since sub-contracted the airport road project to Power
Construction (Pvt) Limited, a South African company, resulting in Augur
further charging council facilitation fees amounting to US$1,2 million.

Investigations have revealed that Augur Investments’ physical address is a
small flat in an industrial area in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn and was
registered on September 3 2007.

The shareholding agreement between council and Augur Investments, which
created Sunshine Development (Pvt) Ltd, was signed on September 4 2007, just
a day after the registration of the company.

Augur Investments has close links with West Property (Pvt) Limited, a
company that Chombo recommended to be a partner in the development of the
disputed Crowhill project.

Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda referred all questions to Town Clerk Tendai
Mahachi who was said to be in meetings last week.

But chairman of the State Procurement Board Charles Kuwaza confirmed that
the airport road dualisation project did not go to tender.

“Not to my knowledge,” said Kuwaza. “We never dealt with that matter.”

Augur Investments director Michael van Blerk did not respond to some of the
questions raised by The Standard saying they were not true.

However, three weeks ago, Augur Investments denied any link with Chombo.

“There is no relationship been our company and ninister Chombo other than
his role in the government of Zimbabwe as minister of local government,”
said Augur in an e-mail response.

The company also denied knowledge of Harvest-net Enterprises, although a
representative of Augur Investments, Oleksandr Sheremet, used the same
address when he signed a shareholder agreement with the City of Harare on
September 4 2007.

Contacted from comment Chombo demanded questions in writing because the
issue happened a long time ago.
“Why are you asking things that happened a long time ago?” questioned
Chombo. “Put you questions down and I will go through them on Monday. I am
at Murombedzi at the moment. In any case, who is making those allegations?”
ENDS///

ANC says Lesabe a heroine

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:29

BY KHANYILE MLOTSHWA AND NQOBANI NDLOVU

BULAWAYO - South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) yesterday
described the late Thenjiwe Lesabe – who was denied a national hero status
by Zanu-PF - as an African heroine.
Zanu-PF denied Lesabe the status, which it admitted she deserved, arguing
that ‘she was not consistent’ because she had left to rejoin Zapu.

Baleka Mbete, ANC chairperson yesterday told thousands who attended Lesabe’s
burial at her farm in Fort Rixon, that the Zapu Council of Elders
chairperson was an example of a true leader.

“We need good leadership, leaders who are not concerned about themselves and
their families only but are concerned, even about the future generations.

“We need to work hard to take our people out of hardships and lead them into
the future.

“We will not be here in the next 30 years, but as leaders we should be able
to take the whole of Southern Africa and Africa beyond where we are.

“I learnt that from Lesabe as we were fighting for liberation. We must learn
from the book of Lesabe’s life,” she said.

Mbete said Lesabe was a natural leader whose obituary should be turned into
a book for Africans to learn from.
“Every paragraph of her obituary must be made a book.

“Lesabe was a natural leader, a heroine in her own right. She was not only a
Zimbabwean hero but her efforts are known beyond Zimbabwe.

“We have a lot to learn from the late Lesabe as people of Zimbabwe, South
Africa and Africa as a whole as she was a true African heroine. She had true
natural quality leadership qualities,” she added.

On Friday, Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa said his party will be forced to
exhume the bodies of former Zapu cadres buried at the national Heroes’ Acre
in Harare.

Dabengwa was addressing mourners at Lesabe’s memorial service held at a
fully packed Large City Hall on Friday afternoon.

“Zapu reserves its right, if this continues, to call upon all those Zapu
families who have their dead buried at the Heroes Acre, to have them
exhumed.

“We will not tolerate anyone insulting our leaders after all the
contribution that they have made to the liberation struggle.

“We will ask for the remains of Mqabuko (Joshua Nkomo) so that we can take
them to Kezi’s Nyongolo village where they rightfully belong,” Dabengwa
said.

Lesabe, who died aged 79, was buried at her Fort Rixon farm in Matabeleland
South.

Over 1000 mourners from across the political divide, ambassadors, civil
society activists, relatives and ordinary Zimbabweans attended the burial.

Zanu-PF chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo and MDC president, Welshman Ncube also
described Lesabe as an undisputed heroine.

Lesabe died soon after she was removed from the United States sanctions
list, as according to the US Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign
Assets Control.

The former cabinet minister held several posts within Zanu PF and the
government after the Unity Accord in 1980.

Zesa defends tariff hike

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:27

BY JENNIFER DUBE

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) has defended its decision
to increase domestic electricity tariffs by 30% saying its services have
improved.

Industry regulator, the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority on
Wednesday said it had approved the new tariffs that would see electricity
charges going up by 7.53 cents per kilowatt to hour to 9, 94 cents.

But residents who spoke to The Standard said the increase was not justified
since they did not have electricity most of the time due to Zesa’s frequent
load shedding.

Comfort Muchekeza, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo regional
manager said the utility was trying to punish its customers for its failure
to collect revenue.

“While we acknowledge that Zesa need funds to operate, I believe they are
simply failing to collect revenue and they now want to punish the few honest
customers for their inefficiency,” Muchekeza said.

“In the discussions we have had with them, they always say less than 10% of
consumers pay their bills and 90 % owe them a lot of money.

“Instead of penalising the faithful, they should put in place measures to
ensure that everyone pays even if that means compelling all consumers to use
pre-paid meters.”

Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe executive director John Mufukare said
they learnt about the increase from the press.

“We lament categorically the lack of social dialogue in Zimbabwe,” Mufukare
said.

“We are not aware what has brought about the need to increase the tariffs
and naturally, we would be very suspicious because we were not consulted
although there could be good reasons why they took the decision.”

His sentiments were echoed by Barnabas Mangodza of the Harare Residents
Association who said residents were already overburdened by huge bills.

“This unplanned increase is unfortunate and we may choose not to pay the 30
percent because we are already overburdened,” he said.

Precious Shumba of the Harare Residents Trust said Zesa must show how the
parastatal arrived at the new tariffs, which he said cannot be justified.

He said Zesa should first improve its electricity supplies and rehabilitate
its meter reading system before increasing tariffs.

However, Zesa spokesman Fullard Gwasira said they had followed all the
necessary steps before seeking the regulator’s approval to review tariffs.

“The tariff application and setting is a very consultative process which
involves business, industry and residents through their constituent bodies
and this process was duly completed,” he said.

He said the parastatal had “consistently improved service delivery since the
inception of dollarisation” but needed money for electricity imports.

ZBC TV viewership hits rock bottom

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:25

BY OUR STAFF

TELEVISION viewership fell sharply across the state-controlled Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) channels during the last quarter of 2010 as
the country’s sole broadcaster stepped up its propaganda against President
Robert Mugabe’s opponents, a study has revealed.
ZBC started airing the unpopular Zanu PF jingles and defied protests from
MDC-T that they amounted to hate speech.

Results of the Zimbabwe All Media Products and Services Survey (Zamps)
released on Tuesday showed that viewership of ZBC TVI slumped from 34% of
the population to 24% in the last quarter of 2010.

The news hour programme, which airs during prime time, led the decline with
viewership falling from 30 % in the previous quarter to 26 % although it
remained the favourite programme among viewers.

ZBC Channel 2, which entered the market with 14% viewership, is now watched
by just 10% of the population.

Satellite viewership remained constant at 46% as Zimbabweans continue to
resort to foreign TV stations that provide better content.

The latest statistics come at a time when ZBC is suing The Standard for
US$10 million after it reported that viewers and listeners were deserting
its stations because of partisan programming.

ZBC has also taken offence with claims that towards the end of last year it
was failing to pay its workers on time.

In a letter of complaint to The Standard, ZBC CEO Happison Muchechetere said
the fact that most Zimbabweans were opting for satellite television was
because of “technological advances and variety of choice in broadcast
viewership.”

He also dismissed reports that management was giving itself “obscene
allowances” while ordinary workers were being given little and that ZBC was
a Zanu PF propaganda tool.

The Standard has in its possession ZBC pay slips that show low level
journalists earning as little as US$350 a month.

The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai recently wrote to
Muchechetere complaining that ZBC had “displayed open bias against our
party, its officials and their activities.”

Listenership of ZBC’s radio stations also fell sharply during the quarter
under review.

A fortnight ago, ZBC demanded questions in writing when The Standard sought
its response to the story detailing its multifaceted problems that has been
dismissed by Muchechetere as malicious.

But after the questions were sent to Elliot Kasu, the finance and
administration manager said they would not respond because the paper had
delayed in addressing their complaint.

The ZBC CEO said the top of the range cars being driven by his senior
management were “commensurate with performance contracts approval (sic) by
the board and consistence (sic) with similar organisations.”

ZBC is the only broadcaster in Zimbabwe.  He said The Standard report was
meant to “permanently impair the good will and standing of ZBC and its
management.”

The MDC-T the Zanu PF jingles had a “poisonous impact.” The letter was
copied to the Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu, the
Zimbabwe Media Commission, Jomic, the Organ on National Healing and
Reconciliation, President Mugabe and South African president Jacob Zuma.

Standard readership soars

THE readership of the new look Standard grew by 75 % between October and
December last year, a recent survey has revealed.

According to the Zimbabwe All Media Products and Services Survey, The
Standard now enjoys a 7% market share, making it one of the most read
independently owned weekly newspapers.

The results also showed that The Standard’s sister paper NewsDay enjoyed a
23% share when it entered the market last year.

Readership of the Zimbabwe Independent has also risen to 5%.

US$1m fraud at Trauma Centre

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:13

BY WALTER MARWIZI

A forensic investigation into an expansion project of a prominent medical
facility in Harare has uncovered massive fraud that saw the centre losing
close to US$1 million.
The scam at Trauma Centre, an emergency 24-hour hospital in Belgravia,
exposes how vulnerable companies can be if proper accounting procedures and
reporting systems are not in place.

Shareholders of African Medical Investments (AMI), the owners of Trauma
Centre, hired PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in June last year after
suspecting that senior staff managing the hospital’s expansion project were
mismanaging project funds.

PwC’s brief was to perform a forensic investigation, including use of
forensic technology to image and extract data from computers, covering a
period between October 2008 and June 2010.

What the firm discovered was shocking to the shareholders.

The hospital had been prejudiced of US$957 137,46, PwC concluded in a
confidential report sent to the AMI earlier this month.

In the report seen by The Standard, PwC attributed the loss to overstatement
of payments to suppliers and payroll expenses, abuse of company funds and
theft.

PwC laid the blame on Zarina Dudhia who was the custodian of all the cash at
the centre.

Dudhia who was employed as the project manager, PwC discovered, was the sole
signatory of the bank accounts held at Stanbic, ZB Bank and Metropolitan
Bank.

“The conduct of Zarina was not consistent with her duties and
responsibilities as there were several incidents of funds that were not
accounted for.
“Payments were made to suppliers and contractors who were not working on the
hospital expansion project.

“The payments were however being made from funds intended for the hospital
expansion project.”

PwC noted that there were no supporting documents for the expenses and
payments that were recorded in the cashbook and ledger.

“Through the use of forensic technology, we noted that Zarina created a
fictious invoice for Edget Construction with a value of US$113 100,00 from
her computer and forwarded it to South Africa for payment.

“The South African office then deposited the money into Stanbic bank account
for payment.

“There were a number of invoices where the original invoices that had been
issued by suppliers were altered with the intent of inflating the invoice
amounts.”

In its recommendations, PwC urged AMI to take disciplinary action against
all those who defrauded the organisation, among other deterrent measures.
All in all, PwC said AMI lost US$252 433 through exaggerated payments to
suppliers, US$194 881 through personal expenditure paid up from its funds
and US$355 000 that was withdrawn from banks but could not be accounted for.
An additional US$52 831 was as a result of inflated payroll expenses.
Vivek Solanki, who was the AMI CEO left the organisation amid investigations
of fraud.

-------------------
Dudhia on the run (Zarina PIC)

ZARINA Dudhia who is at the centre of the fraud that rocked Trauma Centre is
a wanted person.
Dudhia whose whereabouts are unknown has been flagged by Interpol who
describe her as a 46-year-old woman who speaks English and “Indonesian”.
Interpol says that there is a warrant of arrest for her issued by a Harare
magistrate court for fraud and anyone who sees her should report to the
police.

----------------
Pigeon fowl runs and flood lights

AMI funds meant for the Trauma Centre expansion project were diverted for
other things that had nothing to do with the hospital, PwC concluded.

For example the firm noted that a house at Number 3 Brelaides Close,
Ballantyne Park was constructed using company funds.

US$7 850 was charged for the construction work and an additional US$12 040
was quoted for the “brick durawalls”.

Contractors were then hired to construct an all-weather tennis court with a
basketball board fitted with floodlights for US$27 500.
A new tennis gazebo costing US$2 900 was also constructed.

A drainage system was laid in the garden for US$3 800.

A pool at the house was renovated for US$5 812 and an additional US$500 was
charged for the fountain.

For the generator and other electrical components, contractors charged US$9
858,98.

Another company was paid US$1 152 for clearing a consignment of Indian
ornaments imported from the United Arab Emirates.

Jeremy Sanford, a representative of AMI told PwC that the consignment was
not meant for Trauma Centre.

At another house, Number 3 Betram Road Milton Park, US$1000 was charged for
demolishing a pigeon fowl run.

PwC established that AMI does not own these two houses.

Zanu PF unperturbed by war veterans’ Heroes Acre snub

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:09

BY KHOLWANI NYATHI

ZANU PF is not moved by the swelling number of its cadres who are snubbing
burial at the National Heroes Acre in Harare because interment at the
national is voluntary, a top party official has said.

Simon Khaya Moyo, the Zanu PF national chairman spoke after the burial of
former Central Intelligence Organisation operative Cornius Nhloko who was
declared a national hero but was buried in his rural home in Gweru.

Nhloko was buried in Silobela on Wednesday and the funeral was low key.

The Zanu PF politburo had declared the little known Nhloko a national hero
but his family said the former Zipra cadre had left instructions that he did
not wish to be buried at the national shrine.

Another illustrious freedom fighter Thenjiwe Lesabe who died the same week
was controversially declined national hero status after her family disclosed
that she also made it clear that she did not wish to be buried in Harare.

The Zanu PF politburo claimed it denied Lesabe the status because she had
defected to Zapu.

But the justification contradicted its decision to award the late
Matabeleland North governor Welshman Mabhena the same status last year after
he left Zanu PF protesting the way President Robert Mugabe treated him in
2000.

Mabhena who was unceremoniously removed from his position by Mugabe had
become one of Zanu PF’s most rabid critics.

Zanu PF in 2009 also buried the late Zipra commander Ackim Ndlovu at the
national shrine even though it was known that he was one of the people
behind the revival of Zapu alongside Dumiso Dabengwa.

Moyo refused to comment on Lesabe’s status but maintained that the party was
not worried about pioneers of the liberation struggle refusing to be buried
at the Heroes Acre.

“It has never been compulsory for one to be buried at the Heroes Acre,” the
former Zapu official said.

“We consult the families of the national heroes and in the case of the late
Nhloko he left a will that he wants to be laid to rest next to his father.

“We had to respect that because that is part of our African culture and I
don’t see the reason why we should be pressing panic buttons.”

Critics say the heroes’ status has lost its significance because of Zanu PF’s
insistence that it would decide who is buried at the shrine built by the
North Koreans.

This has seen pioneers of the liberation struggle such as Ndabaningi Sithole
being denied the status.

Zipra commanders including Lookout Masuku had to be accorded the status
posthumously because they were not in good books with Mugabe at the time of
their deaths.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer John Makumbe said it was
time the Heroes Acre was clearly identified as a Zanu PF cemetery.

“The people who are being buried there are not national heroes but Zanu PF
heroes,” Makumbe said.

“It is interesting to see that Zanu PF people from Matabeleland are now
refusing to be buried there because they realise that it has now lost its
status.”

According to Mabhena’s family, the late nationalist said he did not want to
be buried alongside “thieves and crooks.”

Last year, Sibangilizwe Nkomo, the son of the late Vice-President Joshua
Nkomo also caused a stir when he said he wanted to remove his father’s
remains from the Heroes Acre and rebury them at his Matobo home.

He said his father died a bitter man because of the ill-treatment by Zanu PF
from the country’s independence in 1980.

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa was also quoted saying government should
review the funding of families of late national heroes because the status
had become a party thing.

“Now we are hearing Zanu PF people say you can’t leave their party and be a
hero,” he said.

“If that’s the case, perhaps there is justification in the Finance minister
(Tendai Biti) reviewing state funding for the Heroes Acre so that Zanu PF
can finance what is essential their private cemetery.”

Last year Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai confronted Mugabe on the issue
after Zanu PF refused to declare MDC founder Gibson Sibanda a national hero.

A defiant Mugabe said the Heroes Acre was a preserve of Zanu PF members.

He went on to declare his sister Sabina Mugabe who died in the same month a
national heroine.

Why Zanu PF pushing an early poll

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:09

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE

ZANU PF is banking on violence and a potential split of votes in
Matebeleland to weaken its main political rival the MDC–T ahead of elections
expected this year, insiders in President Robert Mugabe’s party and analysts
have said.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the main reason Zanu PF was
pushing for an early poll was that  its strategists believed  that although
the party will not get many votes from Matebeleland,  its former ally Zapu
will do it a favour by splitting opposition votes in the region.

Zapu broke away from Zanu PF in 2008 citing broken promises from the 1987
Unity Accord between the two liberation movements.

The party now led by Dumiso Dabengwa, a former Home Affairs minister, is now
making serious inroads into its former strongholds of Matabeleland, Midlands
and Mashonaland West.

“We know we will win these elections and this time around we don’t have to
force anyone to vote for us,” said a senior Zanu PF official.

“We know that in Matebeleland where MDC-T used to garner more votes than us
in this election it’s not going to be possible, with the revival of Zapu.

“If the MDC loses the two provinces then we will certainly have more seats
in parliament than them.”

Pedzisai Ruhanya, a human rights activist and political analyst believes
Zanu PF’s main strategy to win the elections is violence, which is on the
rise in Harare and other rural constituencies.

“I agree that violence is Zanu PF’s prime strategy to win elections in the
Matebeleland provinces just like in any other provinces,” he said.

“Zanu PF without the use of violence will just be an empty shell.

“The violence is being organised by the state through the military, police
and intelligence.

“However I don’t believe that Zapu has the potential to divide votes in the
two provinces.

“The Zapu of today is not the Zapu led by the late legendary Father
Zimbabwe, Joshua Nkomo.”

Takura Zhangazha, a Harare based political analyst concurred saying violence
was Zanu PF’s only viable election campaign strategy.

“Zanu PF is trying to demoralise opposition parties so that they don’t reach
their grass roots,” Zhangazha said.

Besides violence, Zanu PF has tried to use MDC-T’s perceived links with
Western countries and the land reform programme as its election platforms.

But the strategies have not worked judging from its dismal performances in
elections since the turn of the millennium.

In Matabeleland and Midlands provinces where emotions still run high because
of the Gukurahundi atrocities in the 1980s, Zanu PF’s influence has been on
a constant decline.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer John Makumbe said with the
revival of Zapu, Zanu PF’s chances of winning any seat in the region would
continue to diminish.

“Zanu PF is in a difficult position in Matebeleland,” Makumbe said.

“In the last election they managed to get one or two seats but this time it
won’t happen because Zapu will not win anything but divide those one or two
seats Zanu PF had managed to win.

“Zapu is mostly supported by a few people with a nostalgic hatred of Zanu PF
and are mainly war veterans and is not taking any MDC supporters.”

MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said opposition parties must realise that
they had one common enemy and stop splitting votes.

“We have always said opposition parties should see the bigger picture, see
value and profits of unity of purpose to end decades of impoverishment,” he
said.

“We respect every party, all forces of light, change, hope based on the idea
to neutralise the thin layer of darkness.”

Chamisa said they were aware of Zanu PF’s strategies to demoralise MDC-T
supporters ahead of the elections.

“While other countries are encouraging people to go and vote in their
multitudes in Zimbabwe we have a party that is trying to drive people as far
away as possible from matters of governance while fertilising seeds of voter
apathy and making voting dirty,” he said.

However, Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo differed saying his party was
capable of winning a free and fair election.

He said they were also not happy with the split but maintained that Zapu
officials had a right to reorganise.

Gumbo also believes that the environment is now different from 2008 where
Zanu PF lost control of parliament for the first time since independence
after the two MDC formations won most of the seats.

“In 2008 people voted with their mouths, this year people are voting for
employment, health and education,” he said.

“We have an edge over MDC.”

Zanu PF wants elections by August but last week Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai said he does not see the polls being held anytime soon because
the environment was still not conducive.

ARV access points distant-patients

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 14:59

BY INDIANA CHIRARA

PEOPLE living with HIV/Aids in the Marange district of Mutare are struggling
to get antiretroviral drugs because of long distances they have to travel to
health centres, it has been revealed.

Care givers who spoke to Health&Fitness said many patients were dying
prematurely because they cannot reach health centres where the
life-prolonging drugs are given.

Marange, despite the vast diamond deposits discovered in the Chiadzwa area
recently, is still poverty stricken and health centres are far in between.

Thokozani Mukwekwezeke, a home-based care worker under Red Cross in Kadzura
village appealed to the authorities to bring ARVs to Zvipiripiri Clinic,
which she said was closer to the people who need them.

“People from this area have to travel more than 5km to access ARVs,” she
said.

“Many of them are dying because some will be critically ill and will not
have anyone to collect the medication on their behalf.

“Something needs to be done as early as possible because we are losing six
to eight patients unnecessarily on a monthly basis.”

Thirty-seven-year-old Tracy Mambo who lost her husband to Aids two months
ago and is four months pregnant said she was no longer taking her medication
regularly because she cannot travel long distances to the nearest hospital.

“My husband used to collect the medication for me and I am now forced to
skip some of the months, which is a danger to my health and that of my
unborn child,” she said.

“My health is deteriorating and I am appealing to the responsible
authorities to come up with a better plan for the sake of our survival.”

Tapiwa Magure, the National Aids Council CEO said the rolling out of ARVs to
the country’s remote areas was affected by lack of trained health workers
and financial resources.

“Where ARVs are distributed there is need for a doctor, qualified nurses, a
laboratory technician and a pharmacist but we do not have enough of these
people,” he said.

“Some health institutions especially in the rural areas do not have enough
security and proper storage facilities for the medication.

“At the end of the day it becomes difficult for every health institution to
have ARVs.”

Magure said to alleviate the problem doctors regularly embarked on outreach
programmes where they dispensed ARVs.

Owen Mugurungi, the director of the Aids and TB programme in the Ministry of
Health and Child Welfare said government was aware of the problem and was
working on a strategy to reach out to all remote areas.

“We know that the ARVs sites we have in the country are not enough for our
people,” he said.

“We are in the process of improving the situation, more nurses are being
trained on the handling of drugs and we are expanding our outreach
programmes so that every corner of Zimbabwe can be reached.” Zimbabwe has
over 300 sites that dispense ARVs, which are mostly in urban areas.

Somebody, mow the grass please!

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 14:54

By CHIPO MASARA

WHEN a nation has other seemingly more urgent and import matters to take
care of, it is bound to result in vast neglect of those elements that are
otherwise viewed to be of less importance.

Most unfortunately, it is normally these “little” things that have managed
to paint very ugly pictures of countries because believe it or not, it is
such elements that people first look at to get the bigger picture.

It has become more of a norm every rainy season in Zimbabwe (especially
since the collapse of the service sector due to the economic meltdown) to
have large unkempt grass all over the cities.

Besides this portraying cities suffering from neglect, the long grass along
the country`s roads pose serious danger for motorists.

Anyone well-versed on the rules of the road will tell you that sight
distance is a definite key factor for the safe and efficient operation of
any vehicle.

The knee-high grass and weeds raise serious visibility concerns on our roads
as they block the sight distance, affecting the ability of the drivers to
spot other vehicles or any other objects on the roads, especially at busy
intersections.

With the long grass, drivers cannot see other vehicles approaching and this
has in a number of cases proved detrimental. The situation gets worse when
driving during the night.

Situations that disturb the ability of the driver to see properly not only
put the motorists at risk but compromises the safety of all road users.

The long grass has also made some spots highly unsafe as they have been
known to be a major breeding ground for muggers.

Another issue that has raised concern is to whom you would report when
someone in your neighbourhood chooses not to cut the overgrown grass on
their properties.

The weeds from a neighbour’s yard have the tendency to invade the
surroundings and are a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Some people have suggested that property owners who keep uncut grass be
fined the same way one would be issued with a parking or speeding ticket.

It would then be the city councils` duty to make sure that enforcement
officers are in place so that conditions are complied with.

The worst thing would be for the city councils to just sit back and let this
continue as it is such issues that can easily ruin the appearance of any
neighbourhood and indeed the whole country, not to mention posing the threat
of many a road accident.

The clear neglect had especially angered those residents that reside in
affluent suburbs who have invested a lot of money in their homes and would
want their neighbourhoods to be neat.

Instead of comely trees and beautiful plants, all we see along our roads is
the grass and weeds with the responsible authorities visibly failing to
devise a workable plan to care for the streetscape.

This has resulted in most people wondering what exactly it is that the
council is doing as it is evidently failing to deliver services.

Is it because our city councils do not have the money to cut grass, which is
long overdue owing to the wet weather, or is it that this problem is
considered too trivial to warrant immediate attention?

What has also become apparent is that for one reason or another, the people
of Zimbabwe generally have low expectations as most do not complain,
choosing instead to suffer in silence.

As a result the responsible authorities are not in the slightest hurry to do
what should have been done ages ago, something that is bound to see our
standards deteriorating even further.

Thank heavens the problem of overgrown grass is only seasonal!

The truth of the matter is that, besides ruining what used to be and could
still be a beautiful environment, the country`s appearance is hurting its
appeal and its potential to attract new investment.

Instead of driving through beautiful trees and plants, all our visitors seem
to be getting is grass and more grass, and it gets longer by the mile!

Given such a scenario, it would really be hard for any visiting foreigner to
see the country for the beautiful nation with so much potential that it is.

Overgrown weeds and grass certainly do not signal potential, what they
instead do is shout NEGLECT! And nobody would really want to invest much, if
anything, in such an environment.

And in an attempt to come closer to home: a house or venue with a well
manicured lawn and beautiful flowers is always a pleasure to visit as you
feel you could stay there forever.

This is in total contrast to a shabby one with uncut grass and an abundance
of weeds where you are bound to wary of your safety lest it is a breeding
ground for poisonous snakes!

It is about time that we started caring and taking care of the “little”
things if we are ever going to realise our potential, and that starts with
you and me, right in our homes.

Maybe then our city councils can finally read the writing on the wall.

Minister in stands row

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 14:19

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

THE Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) has instituted
investigations into how a private company was given State land to develop
housing stands in Borrowdale in a case that has sucked in a cabinet
minister.

Local Government, Urban and Rural Development minister, Ignatius Chombo
facilitated the incorporation of the piece of land, which initially fell
under the Goromonzi Rural District Council into Harare despite objections
from Zanu PF’s top brass and Cynthia Maadza, a war veteran who was allocated
the land under the land reform programme.

Chombo is accused of paying a blind eye to protests that Crowhill (Pvt)
Limited, which is now developing the area in the posh suburb, had illegally
taken over Maadza’s land.

“We want to look on a number of anomalies regarding how they started
developing that area,” said one of the officials. “We will also quiz
Goromonzi Rural District officials over reports of a fake permit that was
once issued to Crowhill.”

ACCZ chairman Eric Harid referred questions to Rungano Utaunashe, a fellow
commissioner who was not available for comment.

Crowhill has already sold thousands of residential stands to prospecting
home owners at prices ranging from US$5 000 to US$12 000 depending on the
size.

Documents in our possession show that Chombo authorised Goromonzi council to
allow Crowhill to develop stands on the property in August 2009 although the
notice to change the status was only published a year later.

In an earlier letter on July 9 2008, Chombo said he supported Crowhill’s
partnership with West Property (Pvt) Limited to develop the same project.

West Properties has close links with Augur Investments, a company from
Estonia doing business with the Harare City Council on the dualisation of
the controversial Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo express way project.

At least two of its directors also sit on Augur Investments’ board.

The documents also show that the change was in defiance to earlier
recommendations from Zanu PF’s top brass directing that the estate remain a
resettlement area as it was supporting beneficiaries of the land reform
programme.

Chombo changed Lot J of Borrowdale from agricultural purposes to urban
stands development although the late Vice President Joseph Msika and
Minister of State in the President’s Office, Didymus Mutasa were against the
idea.

On October 1 2010, the secretary for Local Government, Urban and Rural
Development Killian Mupingo published a notice of intention to incorporate
the estate into Harare although Crowhill (Pvt) Limited had already started
working on the land.

In a notice of objection dated October 11 2010, Maadza accused Chombo’s
ministry of trying to corruptly change the status of her property since
2007.

She questioned why the ministry was publishing the notice when it had
already authorised Crowhill, represented by Cephas Msika Jnr, to develop a
housing project.

Maadza said the ministry never responded to her objections although
Crowhill, which claims to have a permit, is proceeding with the contested
project.

Chombo last week said he was “told” by Minister of Lands and Rural
Resettlement Herbert Murerwa that the farm belonged Crowhill.

“I don’t have any interest in that property,” Chombo said. “We are taking a
lot of land around Harare and we facilitate with the planning on those
pieces of land.”

He said about 72 peri-urban farms would soon be incorporated into Harare.

Chombo said his ministry did not respond to Maadza’s objections because it
was Murerwa who was supposed to object as the land belonged to the State.

Chombo said Mutasa and Msika were just giving political advice.

But Crowhill company secretary Agnes Kusemamuriwo said they were offered a
permit in 2003, adding that the dispute occurred because Maadza had an offer
letter while Crowhill had a permit for the same piece of land.

She said she could not comment on allegations that the permit was fake
because “the minutes are internal documents and we do not know who said it
was fake.”

She promised to come back with documents that confirm that the land belongs
to Crowhill.

When The Standard called later she said she was busy and would phone back
but had not done so by Friday.

Minutes of a conflict resolution meeting by the Ministry of Lands and Rural
Resettlement and the National Land Inspectorate held on November 5 2009,
says that the permit issued to Crowhill was not genuine.

The meeting resolved that a 2004 High Court interdict given to Crowhill be
withdrawn and that the matter be investigated by the police.

The Attorney General’s Office said the interdict that Crowhill sought to
rely on was superceded by Constitutional Amendment No 17 of 2005 under item
No 101.

“A criminal docket, Borrowdale CR 225/02/09 charging the complainant and his
company for holding, using or occupying gazetted land without lawful
authority from the State is with our office and their prosecution is
underway,” wrote Tawanda Zvekare on September 9 2009, to Office-in-Charge of
Borrowdale Police Station.

Efforts to get a comment from Zvekare or AG Johannes Tomana on the status of
the case were unsuccessful last week.

The conflict resolution meeting was attended by Murerwa, Deputy Commissioner
General Godwin Matanga, Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena, Major General
Engelbert Rugeje, Chief Land Officer Joseph Munyanyi, among others.

Efforts to get a comment from Murerwa were unsuccessful.

Tobacco leads agriculture revival

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 15:29

BY KUDZAI CHIMHANGWA

THE adoption of multiple currencies and above average rainfall will spur
rapid growth of the agriculture sector this year, the Zimbabwe Commercial
Farmers Union (ZCFU) has said.
ZCFU’s upbeat outlook followed predictions that tobacco output would
increase by at least 40% during the 2011 selling season.

The tobacco marketing season opened last Wednesday and the Tobacco Industry
and Marketing Board (TIMB) said it expected sales of at least 170 million kg
this year up from 120 million kg in 2010.

The country earned US$384 million from tobacco last year.

Tobacco sales used to be the country’s biggest foreign currency earner
before President Robert Mugabe’s previous administration embarked on a
ruinous land reform programme.

Peter Gambara, the ZCFU acting director and chief economist said
dollarisation had stabilised the agriculture sector and ensured that farmers
can plan properly.

“In this regard, the ZCFU has embarked on a variety of schemes meant to
assist farmers to make the most out of the agricultural season,” he said in
an interview on Friday.

“The ZCFU is co-ordinating a private sector initiative to grow 30 000
hectares of winter wheat this year, among other initiatives in place,” he
said.

Gambara said the union had embarked on a scheme that would see its members
getting access to fertiliser, generators, tractors and tobacco inputs this
season to support the revival of the sector.

He warned that financial institutions who were still reluctant to fund
agriculture projects risked losing out as some private companies were now
engaging farmers directly to increase production.

Following the chaotic land reform programme in 2000, the banking sector
started turning away farmers seeking loans as they had no title deeds.

Most farmers registered with government have offer letters or 99 year
leases, which banks are reluctant to accept.

ZCFU said it was courting the private sector to structure finance deals that
will benefit members.

“For instance, an official body in the form of TIMB effects stop orders for
tobacco farmers, which is a secure arrangement that ensures a win-win
situation for both farmers and bankers,” Gambara said.

Donald Khumalo, the ZCFU president said they were expecting the industry to
grow further this year owing to the now favourable operating environment.

“We want to make it attractive to grow winter wheat by providing the
necessary seed, fertilizers and chemicals, fuel and working capital at such
a critical moment,” Khumalo said.

Agriculture recorded 18% growth last year up from 14.9% in 2009 and would
contribute significantly to the projected economic growth of 8% this year.

Candid Comment: Opportunists behind political violence here set centred

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:06

The violence that is devastating the country at the moment is obviously not
in the national interest. It seems to be driven by a certain clique that
stands to benefit financially if the country remains in the state of chaos
it is in now.
It is not difficult to figure out who constitutes this clique.

The chaotic state Zimbabwe is now in is good for the people who control the
state machinery which they use to acquire state assets for their personal
enrichment. These assets may be farms (including conservancies), companies
or mines. They are wringing shares from foreign firms.

It is now public knowledge some members of this clique literally own little
towns; they control all the hotels, public facilities and have bludgeoned
their way into all major businesses in the towns.

If the status quo changes, they are afraid they would lose all this, so they
have to block change at any cost.

The past two years in which the country had been ruled under the government
of national unity had brought some relief to the country but this breather
is coming to an end throwing the country back to the years of
state-sanctioned mayhem.

The violence only helps to prove that the country is not ready for an
election any time soon. The wounds of the past have not healed and they are
being aggravated again. Zimbabweans are crying out for peace and it is
incumbent upon those who purport to lead the country to fulfil their side of
the social contract that they swore to on taking public office.

Those who have agreed to be used by this cabal of opportunists to perpetrate
violence must realise that, in the end, there is nothing in it for them.

They may be getting some crumbs now in the form of nightly payouts and the
alcohol and drugs that go with it but eventually they will have little to
show for their effort.

And how do the police, in their selective application of law, hope to deal
with the explosive frustration that is simmering under the surface?
Cry, the beloved country.

Sundayopinion: The island called fear

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:03

BY MACLEAN DLODLO

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to
live, taking the form of a readiness to die.” – GK Chesterton.

There is an island called fear, a coral-reef. There are coast guards with
express instructions to keep the captive population in the straight and
narrow, hedged in. They are ominous, the guards are, and swift to execute
judgement.

There is also a dilemma about the island. The guards also are residents of
the island, confined. Are they also hostages? Are they prisoners of the
system, or of conscience? I wonder. One thing that I am persuaded of,
though, is that I want out! I want out of the coral-reef!

Fear has no reward, in both the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of human
beings. Men and women are remembered not for their timidity but for their
bravery in the face of adversity. Courage is honourable.

Why is fear a critical factor within the scheme of things of the sinister?
Fear disables our confidence, our faith in God. Fear stands in the way of
creativity. Fear stifles voices and paralyses action. Fear fragment
communities, breeds mistrust and suspicion. Fear denies people access to the
milk and honey of the land promised both in the temporal and eternal worlds.

Development in Information Technology has worked wonders for communication.
We can now access the internet, for instance, through a wireless signal. If
the particular wireless network that I have access to pops up, I have an
option to connect or not to connect. Yet I can also choose to disable the
network. Disabling the network means no access to the information highway.

Likewise, this is what fear does. By its very nature fear is designed to
dent or destroy our confidence in God. It is configured in such a way as to
achieve one thing — to disconnect us from our sole source of life, strength
and provision. To be afraid is to doubt God and what God has said
repeatedly – “Fear not, for I am with you.” To be timid is to have
misgivings about God’s goodness and His good purposes for our lives. Fear
questions the integrity of God, His ability and commitment to fulfill what
He has promised.

When we are afraid, the faith that we need to possess the promise is
disabled. And this is the exact position where the enemy of humanity wants
you and me to be. When we fear we as well become slaves of wicked men and
women who are bent on keeping us from our God given inheritance. Fear Island
is not where you and I belong. If you choose to stay, rest assured that I
won’t. I want out!

Timid people are barren of innovation. Fear stands in the way of creativity.
When we are afraid we cannot think.

Creative solutions are not products of the enslaved. The slave wants to make
the best of the little space they have, and save some hand-outs for the next
day. Who knows? They may not be any grub tomorrow! Life changing ideas and
solutions emanate from minds that are free from shackles.

Fear freezes the mind. You want to see frozen minds? Go to the island called
fear. Should you choose to go, I choose not to. I have made up my mind. I am
out of that dreadful place. I determine not to go back!

Fear stifles voices and paralyses action. Prisoners of fear cannot speak.
They mumble for the dread of being heard. At best they whisper. In fact they
are synonymous with hushed up voices.

They are bent over by reason of always wanting to be as close as possible to
another ear as to nervously murmur something.

They are strangers to free speech. That is an abomination in the island.
Their voices are arrested. Moreover, in the isle of fear, hands and feet are
shackled. There is neither the ability to write a petition nor the
capability to walk to the chief warden to air their grievances.

The island of fear is a sad place to be, a sore sight — a mass of voiceless
and helpless people. Now you see why I do not want to return there. Memories
of it cause revulsions.

Courage is a deliberate decision to step out of the fear confinement so as
to begin to live life in full. The author G K Chesterton notes that “the
paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even
in order to keep it.”

Courage is honourable.

Editor's Desk: Zim politics, a case of wrestling in the mud

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:01

NEVANJI MADANHIRE

The government of national unity (GNU) has become a mud pit in which a
free-for-all mud-wrestling contest is playing out.

Whereas in the sport of mud-wrestling the emphasis is on entertainment
rather than debilitating an opponent, in the Zimbabwean mud pit, the
grapplers are engaged in mortal combat.
The mud is so viscous no one can wade out of it.

The Global Political Agreement (GPA), on the basis of which the GNU was set
up, was supposed to be an instrument with which to return the country to
normality.

When it was signed in September 2008 Zimbabwe had gone through a crucible;
hundreds of people had been murdered in the run-up to the presidential
run-off of the previous June.

The Year 2008 has become the worst year in the history of the country in
terms of the people’s livelihoods and wellbeing. Economic historians said
the economy had sunk to 1950s levels.

The populace was facing starvation in both urban and rural areas. Empty
supermarket shelves became symbols of the total collapse of our economy. The
food shortages were also a result of the collapse of commercial
agriculture — the mainstay of the country — which happened since the land
reform exercise had been implemented chaotically beginning at the turn of
the millennium.

Zimbabwe had reached a crossroads; the international community rejected the
results of the presidential run-off poll and the country couldn’t move
forward. It was with a huge sigh of relief that Zimbabweans welcomed the
news of the signing of the GPA. It at least promised a new beginning. It set
out a roadmap on how the country could move forward.

A people-driven constitution-making process was to be the first step
followed by a referendum on the new constitution and then a free and fair
election to come up with a government that would be recognised at home and
abroad.

But the process has completely gone off the rails and plunged us into the
mud pit we find ourselves in today.

There are two main grapplers in the pit, Zanu PF and MDC-T; the first is as
clean as any mud wrestler can be while the other is the perennial underdog:
the David who has not the fighting chance against Goliath.

Violence which drove the international community, particularly the African
Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), to act in
2008 has resurfaced with a vengeance, threatening to surpass all past
levels. It has written finis on an effort at national healing,
reconciliation and integration, a process that was another cornerstone of
the GPA.

The violence has thrown us back two years. Once again no one is safe in
their homes. Marauding Zanu PF activists are rampaging across the land
destroying everybody and everything before them. Like in the past, they have
all the state apparatus at their disposal; they are not just above the law,
they are a law unto themselves. The police, whose duty it is to protect the
weak and maintain law and order, have abdicated their responsibility and, in
a cynical twist, have perfected the art of turning the victims into the
aggressors.

But there must be some grand plan behind all this. May be Zanu PF thinks if
it bludgeons the MDC-T  into submission, the latter may quit the GNU leaving
it to take over all the functions of government.  When this happens, Zanu PF
would then call a sham election which it will win. Obviously the MDC-T would
be only too aware of this stratagem and would never quit the GNU.

What we are seeing now is nascent resistance from the MDC-T. Reports
indicate that some members of the MDC-T are beginning to fight back out of
frustration. They cannot expect to win, because they have no police or army
backing them. What is frightening is the possibility of the situation
getting out of hand leading to the escalation of violence.

The government has become dysfunctional. President Robert Mugabe has not
returned from his annual leave and the extent of his ailment is open to
conjecture. So, cabinet is not meeting and crucial decisions have been
shelved. The country has ground to a halt.

Mudslinging, naturally, has become part of the game. A look just at one
issue — civil servants’ salaries — demonstrates the extent to which the
government has become bogged down in the quagmire.

One party promises diamonds money to up the salaries of civil servants, the
other says the money does not exist.

It turns out the whole civil service remuneration issue has become a
political issue. President Mugabe hoped to score a political point
anticipating the elections he says will be held this year.

Zanu PF chiefs of spin are accusing the MDC-T of unwillingness to increase
the civil servants’ remuneration. They think the public workers can be so
gullible as to believe them.

It also turns out that Finance minister Tendai Biti was right in saying
diamonds money is not finding its way into government coffers. He has called
for an investigation into the way money from diamonds is being handled; it
is within his rights to do so as the holder of the Finance portfolio.

But the resistance he is getting from Zanu PF cabinet ministers points to
something sinister that Zanu PF is doing. Questions have always been raised
on how diamonds from Chiadzwa are being auctioned and whether the proceeds
have not been siphoned off by corrupt Zanu PF officials.

There will never be any movement forward if government continues to operate
this way; Zimbabwe will remain literally stuck in the mud while Zimbabweans
watch with increasing frustration.

Sadly, the contest has been left only to the two wrestlers; the other
political parties seem too insignificant to intervene. Zapu’s top priority
seems to be to re-establish itself as a full-fledged national political
party so it would rather watch the contest from the sidelines than
intervene.

The battle of the two professors is getting nuttier by the day and may send
the party reeling into oblivion. Simba Makoni’s role in Zimbabwean politics
has faded after being dented by claims by one of his former lieutenants that
he was a Zanu PF project.

And now the million dollar question: how to get the country out of the mud
pit?

Sunday View: Dictators must take heed: Pride goes before a fall

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Sunday, 20 February 2011 15:52

REV LEVEE KADENGE

The events of the last few weeks across North Africa in particular have made
many revelations to the oppressed of this world.

As is often the case, dictators never learn.  They dig in when they are
supposed to dig out and call it quits.

The major reason for their long stay is complex in that they have supporters
whose only hope is the dictators themselves.  The supporters in most cases
believe their own lie.

Most of them convince themselves that the dictator is doing the good thing.
It is no wonder the support is so zealous because the dictator is their
lifeline.

The ouster of the Tunisian stro-ng man, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the
subsequent humiliating fall of Hosni Mubarak, dubbed the last Pharaoh of
Egypt, demonstrate that “People Power” has come to stay.

In the olden days Harold Macmillan talked of the“winds of change” cutting
across Africa which heralded the ushering in of independence across the
continent. Today “People Power” will change the face of politics not only
across the Arab world but among the oppressed of the world.

Dictators are smart in that they create a patronage system that oils itself.
Guys who do not deserve positions are put there to be used to do the dirty
jobs for the dictators.  In return there are heavy rewards and the status
quo is guaranteed.  Just try to analyse any dictator and you will find that
the above is true.

The patronage system works in that those who benefit will fight to remain in
the gravy train.  They in turn see the oppressed as spoilers and even wish
them eliminated.

Dictators claim to be true liberators of the people.

Initially the so-called liberated people actually believe the dictator.  It
is only when the dictator’s true colours begin to show that the masses are
confused.  They are told that what is being done to them is in their
interest even when their livelihoods are being destroyed.

The dictator will kill his people in the name of suppressing revolt and
bringing peace in the nation.
Dictators forge alliances in which their former opponents are swallowed and
then forced to celebrate unity.

It is only after a while that those forced into alliances begin to see the
light.  But a lot of ground may well have been lost.  A few from the other
side are heavily rewarded and turn against their own for the sake of
continued supping with the dictator.

Dictators surround themselves with the most elaborate security systems.

They know they are enemies of the people; hence they go all the way to
protect themselves as if they would never die.  Because of the false
security they have, they can say anything to those oppressed and to the
world at large which does not support the dictator.  They often use the
language “never, never, never” and actually believe it.

Dictators rule for too long.  Ten years should be enough but they will make
all sorts of adjustments and create loopholes to permit themselves to stay
in power.  Ruling for 30 years as Mubarak did borders on criminality.

The smart ones will always use so-called legal channels and means to stay
put.  Even when they are beaten at polls they refuse to hand over power.
They take all the leadership roles.  One would be the president and first
secretary of the party and so on.

This is done to ensure longevity in power.  This plus elaborate suppression
units of their almost illiterate security system gives confidence to the
oppressor.  Hence no dictator has an exit plan, at least that which people
know of.

The Shona have a saying that goes like; Kana kangoma koririsa kave kuda
kuparuka, which when loosely translated means; pride comes before a fall.

Let those who have ears hear. God bless.