Ancram - Straw guilty of spineless betrayal on
Zimbabwe
Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram has accused the Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw of "spineless betrayal" of the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking to the Conservative Party conference, Mr Ancram told delegates
that: "While Mugabe continues to torture, to murder and to demolish
democracy and the rule of law, Straw's response is that the suffering
Zimbabwean people must find their own salvation. What a spineless
betrayal."
Mr Ancram went on to promise that: "Within two weeks of taking
office I will table a Security Council resolution to send monitors and
observers into Zimbabwe to protect against Mugabe's brutality and to help
restore democracy and the rule of law."
Zimbabwe Cricket's belief that it had nipped the festering
domestic rebellion in the bud was dealt a blow with the news that Midlands
Cricket Association Chairman Hemat Patel has resigned from the ZC board in
support of the newly-elected Mashonaland Crciket Association
executive.
Patel, who was elected onto the ZC board as a replacement
for Mike Moyo last month, said that there was a general agreement that he
could not continue on the ZC board and the at the same time as being
chairman of Midlands given that he could not carry the mandate of his
province.
In an interview, Patel confirmed that he had handed in his
resignation letter last Thursday. "Following a recent Midlands CA baord
meeting and numerous reports circulated in various sectors of media, Hemat
Patel categorically refutes claims that Midlands had or have withdrawn
support for Mashonaland. The MCA will not be drawn into any conflict between
ZC and any other province. The MCA will recognise any provincial board that
has been elected constitutionally. In the likely event of the recent
Mashonaland general meeting deemed legitimate, the MCA will work hand in
hand with the new Mashonaland board."
Patel said Midlands would
not be part of any playing boycott at this stage, but agreed with
Mashonaland that there were a number of outstanding issues that needed to be
addressed, including the general state of cricket within Zimbabwe. "In a
further development, Patel has resigned as a director of ZC with immediate
effect as it was felt that as chairman of Midlands he would find it
difficult to carry out the mandate of his board and remain as a director of
ZC," Patel continued. "The Midlands CA is committed to the development of
cricket, and will work tirelessly to improve every facet of the
game."
"Midlands CA and ZC have their own outstanding issues which
have not been resolved," Patel said. "I think getting me on the ZC board
might have been a way to soften my province and by resigning from the ZC
board, I am sending a clear message to them that I do not agree with their
policies."
HARARE -- Zimbabwe is fighting an invasion of
Chinese goods, locally known as "zhing-zhongs", which trade unions and
businesses say are undercutting local industry already struggling for
survival in a bruised economy.
The proliferation of inexpensive
Chinese goods, although a worldwide phenomenon and especially acute in
Africa, is partly fuelled by President Robert Mugabe's policy of looking to
Asia after being shunned by the West.
"While China makes some very
good products, there was quite an element of dumping here with factory
seconds and rejects coming in, and this was true especially of footwear and
clothes," says leading economist Eric Bloch.
Zimbabweans call
Chinese products "zhing-zhongs" -- a term which has taken on a derisive
connotation to describe anything that is substandard, irrespective of the
country of origin.
Last year saw a major influx of goods from
China, prompting the government to drastically increase the import duties on
the merchandise that includes everything from toothpaste to clothes to
electronic equipment and solar panels.
"It was a very serious
threat and then the finance ministry on November 25 substantially increased
duties to level the playing field," Bloch told AFP.
"Previously, the import duty was 10 percent of value plus 60 Zimbabwean
dollars (one US cent) for every kilogram in weight, now it is 100,000
dollars across-the-board for all items."
Footwear giant Bata, which
has a factory in Zimbabwe, said sales had dropped 26 percent in 2004, owing
to the influx of cheap Asian -- and especially Chinese --
goods.
"These imports continue unabated, with requests by the
footwear industry to look at the situation falling on deaf ears," said
managing director Edwin Duthie.
"Unless some control is
implemented, I can see 2005 showing a further decline," said
Duthie.
Zimbabwe's economy has been in recession over the past five
years, with economic output falling by 30 percent, according to the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). - AFP
ZANU PF political commissar Elliot
Manyika has warned all primary poll losers they would automatically expel
themselves from the ruling party if they dared stand as independents in the
March general elections.
Speaking to journalists soon after the party's
national elections directorate ordinary meeting at the party's headquarters
in the capital yesterday, Manyika said: "I wish to inform those of our
members who might be contemplating standing as independents, that according
to our rules and regulations governing the conduct of elections, any person
who undertakes such action will have automatically expelled themselves from
the party." Embattled information minister Jonathan Moyo has since hinted he
could stand as an independent, in utterances he made when launching a
scathing attack on party national chairman John Nkomo and politburo member,
Dumiso Dabengwa. When the Tsholotsho seat he was eyeing was reserved for
women, Moyo - who fell out of favour with Zanu PF bigwigs for reportedly
convening a meeting in Tsholotsho meant to prevent the ascendancy of Joyce
Mujuru to the presidium - said there were many tickets to heaven. Back at
the ruling party's headquarters, Manyika urged those who lost in the
primaries to close ranks and campaign together with the victors. Said
Manyika: "The elections directorate was presented with and considered all
the complaints and appeals from aspirants. These appeals and complaints
failed to sway the directorate to act otherwise. In other words, these
appeals and complaints were dismissed. "The party would like to appeal to
them to close ranks and campaign together with those who had won the
ticket," he added. Among those who lodged appeals complaining about the
manner in which the elections were conducted were Murehwa North MP Victor
Chitongo, who was beaten by Health and Child Welfare Minister David
Parirenyatwa, Makoni West Gibson Munyoro, who lost to Agriculture and Rural
Development Minister Joseph Made, and Munacho Mutezo. Mutezo sucessfully
challenged the Chimanimani result, alleging that voting did not take place
at one polling station, Muusha, while school children were allowed to
vote. The ruling party's internal elections were riddled with irregularities,
which have seen scores of some of the losing candidates' supporters
demonstrating against the outcome of the results. However, Manyika said
the party would only hold election re-runs in two constituencies - Mutare
Central and Chimanimani - this Saturday. "The elections directorate confirmed
the results as announced in all constituencies, except in Chimanimani, where
elections will be held at one centre, Muusha, where elections were not
held. "In Mutare Central, the elections directorate was presented and
considered the case of Shadreck Beta. After a thorough consideration of the
case, the directorate resolved that the Mutare Central and Chimanimani
(Muusha) elections would be held this Saturday 29 January 2005. These two
will mark the end of Zanu PF primary elections." Beta was suspended from
taking part in the primaries after he was accused of distributing party
cards that did not originate from the headquarters in Harare. In
Chimanimani, where Samuel Undenge had "beaten" Hwange Colliery Company
chairman, Mutezo, there were allegations that school children voted at
Rusitu Secondary School in the primary elections held last
Thursday. Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe's nephew, Leo Mugabe, was
declared Zanu PF's candidate for Makonde after the elections directorate
endorsed the poll results. Mugabe polled 6 037 votes, ahead of Douglas
Mombeshora's 4 088, while Angela Shamu received 538 and Betty Biri 527.
VICE-President Joyce Mujuru yesterday in Harare commissioned
57 new Zupco buses aimed at easing urban transport blues in the
country. The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing
acquired the Isuzu buses, comprising 40 conventional and 17 mini-buses,
through a local company, Gift Investments. Speaking at the commissioning,
Mujuru showered praises on the local government ministry for taking measures
to improve urban transportation. She stated that the government was working
tirelessly to acquire about 1 500 buses for Zupco to service both urban and
rural areas. "Our aim is to alleviate transport problems being faced in urban
areas. These buses will be deployed in urban areas to help people commute to
and from work. I encourage the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works
and National Housing to buy some buses from our friends in China where they
are cheap," Mujuru said. "We sent a team to China to identify possible
suppliers as we want to acquire the targeted 1 500 buses." The
Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ignatius
Chombo, his deputy Chief Fortune Charumbira, Minister of Agriculture Joseph
Made and other government ministers attended the event. Responding to
Mujuru's call to look East for buses, Chombo said a deal was already in the
pipeline to import 50 new buses and 100 new engines from China. Mujuru
requested Zupco to have at least two buses plying the Harare-Mt Darwin route
where she is the Member of Parliament. Chombo instantly granted her
request.
From Our Correspondent in Bulawayo issue date
:2005-Jan-25
MDC legislator for Makokoba constituency, Thokozani Khupe,
who was arrested on Sunday alongside 60 other party activists on allegations
of holding an illegal indaba, appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate, Kolwani
Mangena, yesterday.
The outspoken lawmaker was remanded to February
10 on $100 000 bail for allegedly contravening provisions of the Public
Order and Security Act (POSA) which replaced the Law and Order Maintenance
Act used during and after the colonial era. Appearing for the State,
Maxwell Nyoni told the court that Khupe allegedly organised an illegal
meeting at her restaurant in town without police clearance as required under
POSA. Khupe and the other 60 supporters were arrested on Sunday morning when
armed riot police swooped on them while in a meeting at her fast-food
outlet. The legislator last week also appeared in court for allegedly holding
an unsanctioned meeting in her constituency.
THE Zimbabwe National Chamber of
Commerce (ZNCC) has called upon the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to
channel the Productive Sector Facility (PSF) to the hard hit fuel and
electricity sectors. The PSF was initiated by the central bank in the 2003
monetary policy. It was a brilliant nursery strategy that, however, proved
futile due to dishonesty by some industrialists who capitalised on poor
surveillance to enrich themselves, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce
(ZNCC) has said. Last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) channelled
$2.058 trillion to resuscitate ailing productive sectors at 50 percent
interest rates. The scheme was hit by poor repayment that by October only
$478 billion had been recovered, leaving an aggregate outstanding balance of
$1.5 trillion, whose fate the RBZ has not revealed. The ZNCC said
instead of doling out support lifelines to the corruption riddled
recipients, the tranches could be utilised better should the monetary
authorities consider diverting them into subsidising critical requirements
like fuel and electricity. "While the facility has been useful to the
companies that benefit, it is also true that it has been highly abused.
Its effective supervision and monitoring has proved cumbersome, practically
impossible and costly. "We agree with its phasing out but recommend that
the RBZ uses the funds to subsidise fuel, electricity, and public transport
which will benefit the entire economy," the ZNCC said ahead of another
monetary policy review tomorrow. Fuel and electricity costs
astronomically surged in the past 12 months amid acute supply bottlenecks
due to the failure by petroleum companies to procure enough
products. Power monopoly, Zesa Holdings this month imposed a 526 percent
tariff hike, threatening to deal a blow to corporate turnaround
battles. Already in the intensive care due to perennial macro-economic
instability spanning five years, companies have been clamouring for a review
of the electricity tariffs but Zesa is also facing acute viability
constraints. The ripple effects of Zesa's challenges have inevitably
spilled into the transport sector whose operations were also derailed by
fuel scarcity, nagging spare parts shortages and dwindling foreign currency
reserves. On the Distressed Companies Funds (DCF) provided by government
through the Zimbabwe Development Bank and the Small Enterprise Development
Corporation (Sedco), the industrial body said government must involve
business associations to deal with the problems of non-repayment. "For
effective distribution and application of the DCF, we recommend that
business associations such as the ZNCC, and the CZI (Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries) assess and recommend legible beneficiaries for
accountability purposes," the ZNCC added. The government identified SMEs
as strategic players for economic growth and employment creation but they
are also limping due to inadequate capitalisation. At least $15 billion
was channelled into their development last year, while over $200 billion was
provided for distressed companies in the formal sector.
Muchena blames aspiring candidates for fanning
factionalism
From Our Correspondent in Mutare issue date
:2005-Jan-25
POLITBURO member and returning officer in Chimanimani Olivia
Muchena has accused Zanu PF's parliamentary hopefuls of fanning factionalism
that threatens to tear the ruling party down the middle because of selfish
interests. Briefing party supporters and officials in Chimanimani soon
after the constituency's primary poll, Muchena lashed out at aspiring
parliamentarians for causing divisions among the electorate, because "they
wanted to win their support at any cost". "It is my observation that Zanu
PF still commands overwhelming support in Chimanimani, but that the problem
is with parliamentary aspirants who fan factionalism. All that these people
(aspirants) preach is hatred to win elections at all costs," Muchena
said. She added that such behaviour was a betrayal to unity. The primary
poll in Chimanimani pitted central committee member Munacho Mutezo,
businessman Misheck Beta and economist, Samuel Undenge. Undenge
controversially won the election, which the Zanu PF national election
directorate said last night must be re-run in one centre of Chimanimani
where voting did not take place. Muchena's pronouncements came in the wake of
increased reports of immense backbiting, malicious de-campaigning and
factionalism allegedly fanned by some of the aspirants. What seemed to
have courted Muchena's ire was the non-show of both Beta and Mutezo at the
election command centre to witness the result verification process. "But
where are we leading the party to with this type of attitude? "We should
learn to accept defeat as we can't all be winners at one time," quipped
Muchena. Mutezo refused to sign the poll results, citing irregularities,
while Beta was nowhere to be seen - a clear indication that he was
disappointed by the results. Undenge polled 4 139, Mutezo 4 074 while 1 631
people voted for Beta.
FORMER Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority (Zesa) boss, Simba Mangwengwende, has been retrenched, four
years after being placed on special leave. Mangwengwende was placed on
leave, and his post abolished three months later, after allegedly
questioning the appointment of Sydney Gata as the power utility's executive
chairman. He reportedly argued that the appointment of Gata resulted in the
duplication of duties. Mangwengwende's retrenchment comes hardly a month
after the former Zesa boss told The Daily Mirror in an interview that he had
sought a salary review as he was "legally still Zesa's chief executive
officer." A senior official at Zesa, who declined to be identified, said
yesterday: "Mangwengwende was retrenched some years ago, but he was
contesting the matter. Now he no longer has anything to do with the
parastatal as he recently lost the case. He has already been removed from
the payroll and the decision has already been communicated to
him." Yesterday Gata said: "Mangwengwende asked that I be recused from the
matter. I cannot comment." During the four years, Mangwengwende remained
on the parastatal's payroll and enjoyed a number of company
benefits. Efforts to get a comment from Mangwengwende were fruitless at the
time of going to press yesterday, but sources indicated that he would get a
golden handshake.
THE National Association
of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) will this week hold consultative
meetings countrywide with heads of NGOs to come up with ways of dealing with
the NGO Bill once President Robert Mugabe signs it into law. This comes
amid reports that most NGOs are not willing to take part in the structures
to be created by the new law governing operations of civic groups. Nango
director Jonah Mudehwe yesterday said they were currently holding regional
meetings to come with practical moves the NGOs could take if President
Mugabe signs the Bill passed by Parliament last year. "We were mandated to
hold regional meetings that would come up with practical ways to implement
the Bill. The major issues are the registration process, participation in
the NGO Council and so on," he said. Mudehwe, however, could not comment on
specualtion that NGOs were not willing to be part and parcel of the proposed
NGO Council. "We are still to complete the consultative exercise. We have
only held one meeting in Harare and others would be held in Bulawayo, Gweru
and Mutare this week," Mudehwe said. He added that it would be premature
to talk about the proposed course of action to be taken before the meetings
have been completed. The NGO Council would be appointed by the Minister of
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and would comprise representatives
of 10 government departments and six from NGOs and one ex-officio
member. Most NGOs were in favour of a self-regulatory body with little, if
any, government interference. The body would be responsible for governing
activities of civic bodies.The government has described most NGOs -
especially those dealing in human rights and governance issues - as enemies
of the State bent on discrediting the country.