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Daily News


Zvobgo blasts Moyo

1/25/02 10:34:13 AM (GMT +2)


By Luke Tamborinyoka

EDDISON Zvobgo, the chairman of the Parliamentary legal committee, yesterday
openly lashed out at Jonathan Moyo, the Minister of State for Information
and Publicity, over the chaos surrounding his controversial and repressive
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill.



The Bill was not tabled in Parliament yesterday after one week of
prevarication, amid reports of rifts within Zanu PF and disagreements over
the harsh and unconstitutional nature of most of its clauses.

“The chaos has not been caused by the legal committee,” said Zvobgo, a
lawyer and former Cabinet minister, to thunderous applause from MDC MPs in
the full House. “The chaos has been caused by the government and the
minister in particular, who has failed to put his Bill properly together.

“The chaos is totally unassociated with my committee. The minister has held
this House to ransom by his failure and inability to put his things a bit
more neatly.”

A number of MDC MPs shouted that Zvobgo would be fired from Zanu PF for
speaking out so freely against the powerful Minister of Information.

Moyo, stunned by Zvobgo’s scathing attack, later engaged in hushed
discussion and consultation with Patrick Chinamasa, the Minister of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, when the House adjourned soon after Zvobgo’
s speech.

Zvobgo was apparently infuriated by an earlier statement made to the House
by Chinamasa, that the legal committee was to blame for delaying the Bill.
The three members of the committee are Zvobgo, Welshman Ncube (MDC) and
Kumbirai Kangai (Zanu PF).

The controversial Bill seeks to muzzle the independent media, curb free
speech and impose stringent conditions in the operations of the media.

The Bill, among other pieces of legislation which have been fast-tracked
through Parliament in the last month, is seen as another attempt to bolster
Mugabe’s re-election chances in the 9-10 March presidential election.

It has been amended 36 times and has failed to be tabled for the fourth time
in a week.
Zvobgo castigated Moyo, saying even though the Constitution allowed his
committee 26 days to look into a Bill, he only had sight of its amended
version on Tuesday.
“I have had to move away from home because of this Bill and the whole
confusion is not associated with my committee, but with the minister. For
the avoidance of doubt, I had to bring my wife into the hotel for the past
two days – all because of the confusion in this Bill,” he said.

The Bill has been amended several times, but has not been brought before the
House for debate because of several imperfections. The 36 amendments have
not toned down its repressive nature.

The Bill was apparently crafted by Moyo’s Department of Information, a point
allegedly raised by Zvobgo and other Zanu PF MPs at the party’s caucus on
Tuesday.

Earlier, contributing to a motion by Saviour Kasukuwere, Tendai Biti, the
MDC shadow minister for foreign affairs, attacked Moyo over the Bill and for
bringing down Zanu PF.
He said MPs had come to Parliament for a whole week, but the Bill was not
ready for debate.

“I wonder how Zanu PF, as a party with so much talent, can leave everything
to Jonathan Moyo. You were doing well before the advent of Jonathan Moyo,
the first successful deserter from Mgagao.”

Mgagao was a training camp for freedom fighters in Tanzania in the 1970s.
Biti accused Moyo, who sat stone-faced throughout, of having written the
statement uttered by General Vitalis Zvinavashe, the Commander of the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

Zvinavashe said the military and security forces would not recognise a
President without liberation war credentials, an apparent reference to
Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC president, seen as a front runner in the
presidential poll. The Bill is expected to be presented to Parliament on
Tuesday.


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Hi everyone.

We always think it won't happen to us. Well the madness in Zimbabwe has now
fallen upon me. We have lost in one week everything we have built up over 3
generations. Stolen, auctioned, and moved in front of the eyes of the
police, the Government and the forces of law and order. Now that the
perpretrators have smelt easy money..why work for something if you can just
take it with immunity from prosecution, this practice is set to sweep
throughout the country.

The world has bigger problems than Zimbabwe, but it is my hope that by
sending this to as many people in authority as you know someone somewhere
may care.

I have an eleven year old daughter who I will have to take out of school
today and leave the country, as spreading the truth in Zimbabwe is a crime
punishable by death.

Thanks for your help.
REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS ON GWALIA AND GEMINI FARMS BEATRICE


I am sending this to the press as a last resort as it patently clear to me
from my dealings with numerous authorities within Zimbabwe over the last 10
days that the rule of law and order is long dead in our beloved country. I
would like it publicised as widely as possible nationally, regionally and
internationally. It is a very short summary of what has been a long,
agonising and protracted and unsuccessful battle to get the forces of law
and order within the country to even recognise their responsibility, let
alone to act.

I am a farmer living in Beatrice, who owns 2 farms, Gemini Farm and Gwalia
farm. Contrary to Governments often espoused policy BOTH farms have been
designated. Gwalia farm (twice) has received a Section 8, and Gemini the
Section 7. My father and mother were resident on Gwalia, but my father died
in May 2001. For security reasons my mother moved to Gemini to stay with me.
Gwalia has 13 workers, and Gemini 20 workers. There are however some 100
dependants. Whilst after my fathers death the Gwalia workers were clearly
surplus to requirement I kept them on given the harsh economic times we were
experiencing, in the hope that following elections some degree of normality
would return; a fundamental mistake on my part as they are primarily
responsible for my predicament. My family have been resident in Beatrice
since 1930, and I have been resident there all my life (47 years). We have
throughout the years experienced a very good working relationship with the
locals and our workers.

On 4th January 2002 whilst returning from Johannesburg I received a phone
call that my family were surrounded by war vets who were seeking to evict
us. I responded immediately. We were given 30 minutes to evacuate the farm
under threat of death. The head vet, a rabid man known as Marewa, reporting
to the Head honcho for the Beatrice area, Zhou, stated clearly that he knew
I had arms, but that he was also armed, and failure to comply would mean
death. He further stated that I could phone the police if I liked, but that
I would find that they would not react. The police had in fact already been
alerted by radio, and sure enough they would not react, claiming lack of
transport. When  provided with  transport by the local community,  they
still refused to react. We eventually left the farm with three suitcases and
meagre belongings.

We stayed in Harare for 2 days with friends. On the 3rd day I arranged a
meeting with the Inspector of Beatrice police to attempt to negotiate a
strategy to get back onto the farm. He stated that I should return the
following day and he would arrange a meeting with both the labour and the
WV. The following day we went to Gemini and Gwalia and held the meetings. He
explained to them that I was entitled to return to the farm until the
acquisition process had been completed. The workers were concerned about
their terminal benefits in the event of acquisition, as the WV were
representing my forced departure as me having “run away”.Despite my
assurances that they would receive all their dues,  they remained concerned.
We agreed to meet on Saturday 12th January 2002 with the WV to reach an
agreement. It must be noted that terminal gratuities are agreed through the
collective bargaining process between the NEC and ALB, and are clearly laid
out in the labour regulations. They also only become payable on termination.
At this time no notice had been given, so any payment of terminal benefits
was premature.

On Saturday we met on Gemini with the WV and the police. The WV stated that
there was no possibility of me returning to the farm. The police, in a
complete about turn, agreed. I was instructed to pay the workers their dues,
and given the undertaking that once this had been done I could remove all my
livestock and household contents. The WV however refused to recognise my
right to remove my movable assets, claiming that these were being acquired.
I agreed to return on Tuesday 15th January 2002 with the proposed payment
schedule, which I did. The proposal I tabled exceeded the amount that the
workers were actually due by 5 times, and in my view was generous in the
extreme. The Inspector undertook to discuss the proposal with the WV and
workers and revert, which he never did.





On Thursday 17th January 2002 morning I phoned the Inspector to confirm the
position. He stated that he had not yet discussed the issue but that I
should pay out the workers on Saturday anyway. I agreed. However, an hour
later he phoned me to say that he had a group of workers in his office
together with their attorney, a Mr Herbert Kawadza, with a court order
authorising the sale of my property to recover the alleged amount owing. I
was astonished. We had agreed on the process, and I had held up my end of
the bargain to the letter. I stated that it was not possible that the
workers could have a court order, as nothing had been served on me. The
Inspector remained adamant. I agreed to immediately proceed to Beatrice
police station to discuss the issue, which I did with my lawyer. To date I
have still never seen my copy of the court application.

On arrival we found that the workers and their lawyer had left. We examined
the document, and as expected it was NOT a court order. It was an
application to the court by the Gwalia workers, in which I was given until
12th February to respond. (CFU has copy) My lawyer went to great pains to
explain this to the Inspector. However he was extremely reluctant to
recognise the truth, and continued to represent the affidavit as a court
order. His attitude in this regard was fundamental to the whole organised
theft of over Z$ 40 million of property, as he had lent an air of legitimacy
to the issue. This resulted in the workers together with the war vets
auctioning 230 head of my cattle on Thursday afternoon. We appealed to the
police without any success. Z$ 12 million worth of cattle were sold for some
Z$ 4 million. The cattle were moved off the farm, many in commercial
transport. We again appealed to the police, again with no success. The
matter was taken to the district police in Chivu, who also refused to act.
The workers and war vets pocketed the sale proceeds which amounted to many
multiples of what they were claiming was due to them.

Now desperate, I went to see the Zanu PF Chairman for Mashonaland East, Mr
Kaukonde. He concurred that this was theft, and was amazed that the police
would not react. He arranged for me to meet the Provincial Administrator, Mr
Chingosho,  in Marondera. I drove to Marondera and met with the PA. He
initially was reluctant to get involved, but eventually stated that there
was a task force currently in Featherstone, consisting of the DA, the
National Chairman for the War Vets, Mr Nyaruwata, and senior police officers
from Chivu, who could be diverted to attend to the matter. I drove to
Featherstone, and eventually found them. I briefed the task force, but they
were unable to assist on the same day.

On the way back I went to the farm. My workers on Gemini stated that the
cattle on Gemini had been forcibly removed by armed war vets and the Gwalia
workers, and taken to Gwalia. They were intending to auction them on Monday.
Over the weekend  the CFU contacted the Assistant Commissioner, Mutanga, and
the WV leadership. I was in constant contact with Mr Cloete, I also phoned
the police hot line without success.

 On Saturday I went to Gwalia to assess the situation on the ground which
was highly volatile. There were several armed men with a very hostile
attitude. I discovered that the cattle were bound for abattoirs, and I
contacted all abattoirs and cattle transport companies to inform them that
the cattle were stolen, and were not to be slaughtered. The cattle are
branded with a “H” on their left flank, and have a triangle cut on their
left ear. One of the armed men shot at me with a shotgun, at which time I
decided to leave.

I received assurance on Sunday evening that a senior officer had been
allocated to stop the sale on Monday until the situation could be properly
evaluated. On Monday I received confirmation from the Inspector in Beatrice
that the sale had been stopped. However, despite these blatant lies, the
auction proceeded on Monday. I am informed that half way through the auction
the proceedings were stopped, and the WV moved all the cattle to Joyce mine,
which serves as the WV base. They have not been seen since, but I am
informed that they have been sold from Joyce to various buyers.

On Tuesday 22nd January I requested the SPCA to go into Gwalia to recover my
domestic animals. Mrs Harrison kindly complied but was met with very hostile
workers and WV, and failed to remove anything. She states that this is the
first time she has been unsuccessful, and that the police escort she was
given was of no use at all.



The bottom line here is that the workers, together with the WV have stolen
and illegally sold over Z$ 40 million of property. They have done this with
the full co-operation of the police, who were fully aware that no court
order existed. They are preventing me from moving 1000 pigs which are now in
a sorry state. They have impounded the movable plant and machinery, and the
household contents, effectively leaving me destitue.

The district is controlled by a war vet named Zhou, who clearly does not
take his instructions from the politicians, the forces of law and order, or
his own leadership, but reports direct to the to. There exists complete
anarchy. Farmers have been threatened with death if they talk to the media.

Fundamental to the whole scene is the complete impotence, ignorance,
arrogance and sheer cowardice of the police in general, but the Officer in
Charge of Beatrice in particular, who is without doubt an accomplice before,
during and after the fact to the whole sorry mess, and is not fit to wear
the uniform.

I intend to proceed legally against the workers, the police, the state, the
lawyer who is responsible for lending an air of legality to the situation,
and all buyers who knowingly purchased stolen cattle, in the hope that in
the unlikely event that law and order ever returns to Zimbabwe some
compensation may be forthcoming. We have lost in a week what has been built
up over 3 generations. If there is a God, may those responsible fry in hell.


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News24

'I'm no Hitler' - Mugabe

Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has made what was seen as an
offensive remark over Germany's Nazi past to a senior German diplomat,
according to reports on Friday.

The state-controlled daily Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe, during a meeting
on Thursday with Peter Schmidt, the new German ambassador to Zimbabwe, as
expressing irritation over being compared with German dictator Adolf Hitler
(1889-1945).

"I have been called a Hitler, but I do not know where Hitler was born," he
said. Diplomats said it was a sarcastic jibe in response to sharp criticism
of Mugabe's regime by German President Johannes Rau on Wednesday when he was
visiting South Africa.

Rau expressed "grave concern" at the campaign of violent repression mounted
by Mugabe ahead of presidential elections in 43 days time.

"It was just crude and ignorant," said a German resident, who asked not to
be named. "Germans feel a deep shame about Hitler, and they have shown the
rest of the world that that kind of evil can never happen in German again."

Comparisons with the tactics employed by Hitler and the 77-year-old African
dictator have been made frequently in the last year.

Observers point to the extensive use by both men of lawless gangs of youths
to intimidate opponents, the persecution of racial minorities, the
appointment of pro-ruling party judges and slick and relentless propaganda
machines.

No comment was available from the German embassy. Schmidt was presenting his
credentials to Mugabe. - Sapa-DPA
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MSNBC



Whites say Zimbabwe near meltdown as vote nears

BASINGSTOKE, England, Jan. 25 — White farmers who have left Zimbabwe said
the country could face meltdown, with food shortages, rocketing prices and
political violence as March elections near.


       ''I really fear what will happen at these elections. There is no law.
There is no food. That is a very dangerous combination,'' said former farm
manager Martin Andrews, one of hundreds of white Zimbabweans to settle in
Britain in the past two years.
       ''The situation at home is diabolical. It is complete anarchy.
Certainly this is hurting the whites, but there are very few of us. Most of
the people who are getting hurt are blacks,'' Guy-Watson Smith, another
ex-farmer, said this week.
       Watson-Smith's farm was seized by the government. He was forced under
threat of death into exile in South Africa, leaving Zimbabwe at the end of
November.
       He said supermarket shelves in Zimbabwe were nearly bare, with sugar,
chicken, beef, eggs, milk and other staples absent or too expensive for even
the minority with jobs.
       The Zimbabwean dollar, officially pegged at 55 to the U.S currency,
was changing hands on the black market at 350 and the rate was dropping
daily, he said.
       Twenty-two years after independence from Britain, Zimbabwe's
inflation is officially at 112 percent, unemployment over 60 percent, food
and fuel scarce and the black market thriving.
       More than 100 people have been killed in two years of political
violence as President Robert Mugabe clings to power.
       ''The speed of disintegration has been dumbfounding,'' said Gerry
Jackson, manager of SW Radio Africa, a London-based station that broadcasts
on the shortwave into Zimbabwe.
       'STRIPPED OF EVERYTHING'
       ''The whole mood is 'everyone for yourself'. The country is being
stripped of everything. A few people are getting very rich on the black
market. Everybody else is sinking under debts,'' she said.
       Andrews, a manager on a farm east of Harare, fled the former Rhodesia
14 months ago with his family in the face of rising violence by supporters
of Mugabe's ZANU-PF government. He spoke to Reuters at his rented cottage in
Basingstoke, a town southwest of London.
       ''You lived every day there not knowing what was going to happen, ''
he said. Andrews' neighbour David Stevens was the first of nine white
farmers killed in two years of violence against opposition Movement for
Democratic Change supporters.
       At least 1,700 of the 4,500 white-owned commercial farms that form
Zimbabwe's economic backbone have been occupied by black supporters of
Mugabe's government, self-styled veterans of Zimbabwe's 1970s war of
independence.
       Farmers and their workers have been forced to flee or beaten into
submission.
       Mugabe has pledged to take back two-thirds of the 12 million hectares
(30 million acres) of white-owned land and redistribute it to landless
blacks in a belated righting of the wrongs of centuries of British colonial
rule.
       He says some 4,500 white farmers occupy 70 percent of Zimbabwe's best
farmland.
       But as the land has been occupied and carved into subsistence plots
for the unemployed, output has plunged, forcing a country that once exported
its crops to import food.
       ''If I was a farmer in Zimbabwe now I wouldn't even plant a crop,''
Andrews said. ''You have no idea what will happen tomorrow.
       ''Farming is based on faith in the future, and there is none,'' he
said. ''Whatever happens now, it will take years for the country to recover.
The confidence. The stability have gone.''

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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
Farm Invasions And Security Report
Thursday 24 January 2002



This report does not purport to cover all the incidents that are taking place in the commercial farming areas.  Communication problems and the fear of reprisals prevent farmers from reporting all that happens.  Farmers names, and in some cases farm names, are omitted to minimise the risk of reprisals.

NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
·        The tragic events at Marakanga Ranch, Masvingo, have been the result of constant violent harassment for the past 13 months.  The ranch has been attacked seven times by 80 Zanu (PF) members and settlers, and six times, the owner has gone back to reclaim the ranch, locate the labour and start operations.  Eventually police arrested eight of the ringleaders, who were charged with public violence, held in custody for six weeks and then released on bail.  A concerted effort was made by the accused to destroy the ranch and wipe out all the wildlife, which ended in a dramatic shooting spree, killing two witnesses in the accused’ case and one game scout.  During the attack, another game scout, badly wounded on the head with a panga, managed to fire his shotgun and wound an attacker.  The wounded attacker hid his SKS rifle and in his report to the police, claimed the owner had shot him!!
·        Five senior people of the labour from Katanya Farm, Mutepatepa, were tortured as the settlers felt one of them was “selling out” and informing the owner of events on the farm.  The settlers beat them severely across the back, buttocks, legs and soles of their feet.   The settlers forced open the big storage shed, where the owner had 350 tonnes of maize stored under GMB exemption and said they would distribute it in the Communal Area.  The owner’s son is attempting to move off the maize.
·        An all night "pungwe" occurred on Magog, Chinhoyi, with selective people beaten up, accompanied by threats the pungwe holders would beat up anyone in the farming area who does not comply with their democratic wishes!!
·        The owners of Glenside Farm and Angwa Farm, Chinhoyi, are prepared to plant a wheat crop if the former is delisted in time and the latter receives a stay on his Section 8 Order.
·        Many beatings are taking place in the Chegutu High Density area.  Top ZANU (PF) leadership and police are in some cases offering payment for people to withdraw their cases.  One woman who is eight and a half months pregnant, was kicked and beaten in the stomach.  She may lose her baby as no doctor has seen her for four days.
·       456 head of cattle forcibly kraaled for two days on Mazongororo Farm, suffered casualties from lack of food and water. one beast is dead (believed to have been ill) and a heifer severely dehydrated.  Despite police support, the settlers refused to release the cattle.  The Zimbabwe National SPCA was called in to defuse the situation and reports indicate the cattle were released.   
·       On Bemthree, Gweru East/Lalapanzi, a pedigree Brahmin was speared to death, with one plot holder’s worker arrested after swift reaction by Sebakwe ZRP.
 
REGIONAL NEWS

MANICALAND
Headlands - on Wakefield 22.01.02, about 50% of the labour force were taken to the resettlement farm next door and many were badly beaten.  As of 23.01.02, 20% of the labour had left the farm, but the situation has calmed down.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Mutepatepa - Katanya Farm received a Section 8 Order just before Christmas, and another during his absence on vacation.  On 15.01.02 settlers threatened to break down the barn complex gate.  The gate was eventually opened and about 150 settlers invaded the barn complex, which is surrounded by a Dura wall.  They declared barns 1-10, the untying shed and grading shed as school classrooms for neighbouring children, although there is a school not far away in the Communal Area, which they attend.  The children from Amanda, Katanya and Minto farms were forced into the Dura Wall to attend school, with no teachers present!  The settlers, lead by Smart Mashandi, Mrs Chipadzi, Solomon Ganizan and Kenneth Musandecheme, then told the people assembled that the door of the manager's house was going to be broken down if it was not unlocked as it was for the headmaster of the new school.  They planned to evict labour still staying in the compound village so teachers could have accommodation.  On 18.01.02, over 500 settlers arrived at the barn complex and subjected the farm labour to a re-education rally.  Police arrived with two Bindura Zanu (PF) members.  The Zanu (PF) said all tractors, implements, machinery, clips etc were theirs. Until recently, the owner had been allowed to continue tending the citrus orchards, but the settlers declared all work on the farm was to be stopped.  Five senior people on the farm were taken aside and told one of them was “selling out” and informing the owner of events on the farm.  The settlers beat them severely across the back, buttocks, legs and soles of their feet.   The settlers forced open the big storage shed, where the owner had 350 tonnes of maize stored under GMB exemption. The settlers said they would distribute it in the Communal Area.  The owner’s son is attempting to move off the maize off the farm.
Bindura - a total work stoppage on Brockley Farm has occurred with settlers demanding to use houses in the farm village as a school. The owner relented after intimidation and threats. On Chumberi Farm a cow was illegally slaughtered.
Horseshoe - There are continuing problems on Hariana Farm. The owner has sought permission to move belongings off the farm. When the DA was approached he was surprised to learn the police had not resolved the problems. The GMB have been very active throughout the area. Mashere Farm was "allowed" to keep what little maize they have in stock. On Ruia Farm a percentage of maize was seized and on Windere Farm a large amount of the maize was seized. There is a work stoppage on Windere Farm and the owner informed he is not allowed to negotiate with the GMB officials.  However, discussions ensued and he was able to keep a small amount of his stored grain. A report was received from Arda Farm that a guard and a mechanic, were in the middle of a dispute and tensions are running high. As a result, a group of 60 - 80 youths gathered and demanded these two be removed from the farm.
Mazowe – On Danbury Park the “war vets” laid claim to a seed maize field, and pegged it.  The owner, after advice received from ministry of Agriculture, Land and Rural Resettlement, spoke with the authorities in the War Veterans Association.  He was given a brief in writing allowing him to continue working the seed maize, as it was vital to the nation.  He recommenced work on the field and “war vets” under the leadership of “Chenjerai” stopped the labour and severely beat up the foreman with sticks.  The owner took the foreman to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and awaits a police visit.

MASHONALAND EAST
Beatrice – Equipment and cattle are being moved to Dunedin from Alamaine.  On Gwalia, a three-tonne lorry was seen leaving with farm equipment, four heifers, two steers and two calves with yellow ear tags, to a "war vet's” camp at Joyce Mine. Eight cows were seen driven down the road by ““war vet”” Chiramba.  On Nebo, youths caused a work stoppage and told the labour to attend a meeting or face eviction.
Enterprise/Ruwa/Bromley – On Fairview the farmer arrived to find a GMB lorry already loaded with his maize stock. There were no official documents produced and the farmer closed the gates and would not let the lorry leave. Police arrived and an estimated weight was agreed upon. The following day the owner was arrested for interfering with a GMB inspector, remanded out of court and released on ZWD 1000-00 bail. Since then a further three x 30-ton rigs have arrived with the correct paper work.
Harare South – on Walmer, Mr. Zhou (who claims to be the acting D.A.) arrived in a police vehicle with escort and told the labour they would return the next day to evict the owner. The owner started moving some of his property at 10 pm and the house was barricaded by ±40 noisy people. The owner contacted the P.G.H.Q. hot line with no reaction.  Some members of the family were allowed to leave the next morning.  The local OIC arrived at midday, found all was quiet and said the owners were not to expect any help in future. That evening “war vet” Makombe and 12 others arrived, saying they had the D.A.’s permission to remove fertilizer. A list would be supplied for government to compensate.  The shed was broken into and fertilizer removed using vehicles, scotch-carts and wheelbarrows. Today police and Support Unit arrived and have recovered nearly all the fertilizer.  There is still a forced work stoppage on Auks Nest.
Macheke/Virginia - the Glensomerset Farm foremen were told to vacate their houses, as these were needed for schoolteachers.  The situation was resolved on the farm by negotiating alternative accommodation and a mutually suitable place for the school.  On Warren Farm the same situation occurred but remains unresolved.  A work stoppage occurred on Leyland, and all labour advised to attend meeting with the youth brigade at Craighlea School.  The labour from Durlstone, Nyadema and Second Chapter Loop Farms were also made to attend meeting.   The owner of Craighlea is not on the farm but three Youth Brigade Members demanded mealie meal from the labour.  After threats, the labour gave them one bag.  The youths then went to owners house demanding food.  The owner was later stopped at a roadblock they had set up on the Murehwa Road and verbally abused, and he consequently refused to give them any food.  He then took some members of the Youth Brigade through to Mr Matatsi (“war vet” leader for the area) who told them to not demand food from farmers.  He gave them a letter for their Zanu PF Chairman, who later came and apologised to the owner.   The roadblock on Murehwa Road near Craighlea Store was manned by 30 Youth, seen throwing bricks and stones at farmers’ vehicles. This was reported to the police and the roadblock was dismantled. On Warren Farm the Youth held an all night pungwe, with the manager and farm pastor told to vacate their houses the next morning for schoolteachers.  The pastor has left the farm. No reaction from the police.  Spes Bona was visited by five Youth. They forced the guards to open the gate, took the farm pick-up with the mechanic and collected the orchard foreman.  They demanded a meeting with the labour.  The owner replied “not during working hours", and they threatened him, leaving with some of the female labour, the guards, foremen and a farm tractor.  They went to the farm village, beat up and abused some labour, then moved to Craighlea and beat up the guards.  The Macheke Police agreed to send a police detail with chief “war vet” Mr Matatsi, who refused to attend.  DISPOL dispatched the Support Unit to Macheke and the Macheke OIC attended the scene.  The two guards were taken to make statements and identify the perpetrators.  On Chirunji a weaner heifer was shot with a .303 rifle.  Police together with Security reacted.  Leyland had a work stoppage and the labour demand wages of ZWD 10 000.00 per month. Police said they could not attend but if the labour did not return to work the next day it would be classed as a strike and they would react.  Two Streams had irrigation pipes stolen.  It was reported to the police who reacted with local security. A very large explosion was heard from the neighbouring communal area late afternoon by a number of farmers in the area.
Marondera South – a foreman travelling between Mushangwe Farm and Rupanga Farm was stopped by ten settlers and asked for his ZANU (PF) card. He stated he did not have one, as he could not vote, as he was an “Alien”.  They detained him for an hour with threats of assault, and told him all foremen were to leave farms and the area.
Marondera North – on Essexvale compensation was demanded for maize eaten by cattle. The owner was pushed around and finally gave them some fertilizer. On Chiparawe the remains of a slaughtered calf were found. Youths led by “war vet” Chipesa arrived in two pick trucks at the farm butchery, claimed the meat on sale was over priced and tried to confiscate it. They eventually left, taking cokes and buns without paying. This was reported to the police and an RRB. Number given. On Closeburn the remains of a slaughtered calf were found.  Armyworm has been found on Rocklands and Rapids Farms.
Wedza - Switch gear stolen on Rapoka and Iamba. Numerous shots heard at night on Leeds and a duiker found subsequently in a farm village house. The settlers herded the owner’s cattle into the house fence demanding compensation for a policeman’s crop. Inspector Nyamatamba arrived with “war vet” Chiota, who did the talking, demanding compensation. The owner countermanded with a demand pf compensation for the electric gate the settlers broke, which was met with laughter. The settlers tried to close the butchery, saying it was over priced and the police intervened, saying the meat was cheaper than other butcheries. (The police buy their meat there!). On Saltash the settler responsible for the attack on the owner appeared in court and was fined.  Shots were heard at night on Ashlyns.  Settlers broke into the grading shed on Bolton, to use it as a classroom and demand the keys to a house for teachers to use. At a meeting earlier it had been agreed they could use the grading shed but none of the other buildings.  At Nelson a lorry with four people, carrying a spotlight and rifle, drove through the farm leaving gates open and letting out cattle. A cow and calf are missing. A cut up cow was found on a neighbouring farm.  Switch gear has been stolen. At Skoonveld “war vet” Murewa demanded the keys for Bickleigh so he could move in and secure the farm village.  A cow had its back legs slashed and another cow slaughtered and the meat taken to Mt Arthur.  On Hull, cattle got into a settler’s maize.  When retrieving the cattle, the owner’s assistant was met by about 30 hostile people brandishing sticks that herded the cattle into the house security fence and demand compensation. The police said it was a civil issue and the owner must negotiate with the settlers. The damage to the maize was very slight and the owner offered ZWD 5000-00 but ZWD 100,000-00 was demanded. After several hours of negotiating a figure of ZWD 27 000-00 was reached, to be paid before the cattle were released.
Note: Cattle are deliberately herded into maize to enable settlers to extort large sums in compensation.
On Bristol, the house was broken into at 1 am and the owner held at gun point and locked in the bedroom. The house was ransacked and the owner’s truck used to transport the deepfreeze, fridge, TV and other goods. The vehicle was later found abandoned.  The police reacted well and recovered most of the property in a well known criminal’s house.  No arrests have been made although finger prints have been taken.  Irrigation piping worth ZWD 800 000-00 was stolen on Beer.  Police found where the pipes had been cut up for resale but no arrests have been made.   The Merryhill owner was forced to inspect maize damaged by settlers’ cattle and held for three hours until he agreed to pay ZWD 10,000-00 compensation, although the demand was for ZWD 200,000-00.  He was told his farm fell into the catchment area of Wedza Country Club School and next week the farm children had to attend that school.  On Igudu, the store was broken into and ZWD 200,000-00 worth of goods taken. A farm village house had the roofing stolen.
General - Despite assurances from ZANU (PF) in Marondera there would be no more work stoppages due to meetings held during the week, the local “war vets” continue holding them.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Raffingora – the Tuinplaats Farm lessee was taken hostage by local resettled Zanu PF followers on 13.01.02.  He was held for four hours, verbally abused and threatened with death.   The settlers attempted extortion, alleging his cattle and goats destroyed their crops, although they have little or nothing growing.  Their own cattle roam at will, and are seen in their own fields daily.  The owner’s cattle had to be moved off the farm two months ago at the end of November, to the neighbouring farm 3 km away.  There has been no police response.  On 17.01.02 a farmer, returning from Chinhoyi, was travelling past Riverside Farm, where Zanu (PF) supporters, singing and dancing tried to stop him.  He drove on as they were armed with axes and "knobkerries."  They proceeded to stone his car and smashed the passenger side window with a steel bar.  Police inspected the vehicle, with no interest shown in the incident.  A white Toyota twin cab was seen at the site, with the occupants directing affairs.
Chinhoyi – on Temperley Farm the gates are still left open continually and the owner has now put a 24-hour watch on cattle.  The settler cattle are put into pens with feeders at night.  The farmer has called a meeting with the settler chairman to resolve the issue.  Bluehills Farm is quiet.  Njiri Farm was listed on 18.02.02.  and had a work stoppage on 23.01.02.  Youths collected labour from the land, grading sheds, and roses at 9.00 am, and released them at midday.  The main topic discussed was Zanu (PF) cards and the fact maize planted is not intended for labour but for the owner’s cattle.  There was good reaction from police who warned no more meetings were to take place and suggested the labour buy Zanu (PF) cards for their own safety.  There were four ZESA poles cut on  Hillrise Farm with all the wire rolled and removed.  Highbury Estate has problems with snaring and the settlers demanding accommodation at schools and information on wheat planting.  On Laighmains, five cattle were slaughtered by stock thieves, who were then arrested by settlers and then released by settlers.  The police are following this up and it is alleged the thieves are settlers on Gambuli Farm.  The owner’s boat on Pondoro Dam was used to ferry stolen property to the Shackleton side.  Investigations are continuing.  On Listonshiels Farm, one weaner is missing, feared slaughtered. A settler was found with kudu meat and the Security Services and police are investigating.  Crop grown on Pamene is being cured on Baramanya, with threats made by settlers to stop the activity. Several settlers and employees were beaten up on Alaska Farm for not attending a Zanu (PF) meeting.   An all night "pungwe" occurred on Magog with selective people beaten up, accompanied with threats the pungwe holders would beat up anyone in the farming area who does not comply with their democratic wishes!!  The owner on Glenside Farm reports the settler summer crop is very low key and he is prepared to plant a wheat crop if the property is delisted in time.  Angwa Farm received a Section 8, but has no settlers and is prepared to plant wheat if allowed.   Settlers are starting their own school on Portelet Estate with 259 pupils enrolled.  They are expecting seven teachers but have only two in attendance.  Portelet Farm is heavily settled and the owner received a Section 8.  Hunnington Farm is moderately settled and also received a Section 8.  The property has foreign investment in a well structured Retreat Centre. On Sligo Farm the tenant was told to move out of his house by Saturday 26.01.02, yet the owner was told to move him out by sunset 22.01.02!!
Umboe – on Ringari Farm a work stoppage resulted in five settlers arrested and charged with Public Violence R.R.B. 016789.  After paying fines they were released, returning to the farm where they confronted the labour, and once again assaulted the labourers who made the original report to the Police.  Reported to the police and the Support Unit arrived.  the settlers responsible were given a severe beating by the Support Unit details, then taken away and have not returned.  All labour back at work.  On going problems with owners cattle on Long Valley Farm as he is restricted to grazing the cattle in one paddock. The D.A. has been advised and gave an assurance that he would sort out this matter by coming to the farm.  Several weeks have passed with no visit.  Highbury Estates has continued poaching and snaring.
Trelawney/Darwendale – on Mtenedere Farm, all labour under 30 years of age were told by Zanu (PF) youth  to attend a political meeting being held by Minister Chombo in Murombedzi, Zvimba. This involved 16 permanent employees. A similar incident involving six labourers happened on Riverside Farm.  A Zanu (PF) meeting was held in the Riverside Farm village and addressed by one Mr Chifamba, of the Murombedzi Zanu (PF) Youth Wing.  Accounts from the labour state he said any opposition supporters would be beaten so severely that they would die.   It was made very clear that Zanu (PF) will murder anyone they feel is supporting the opposition. Mr. Chifamba claimed Zanu (PF) would know what the people vote, and he strongly advised them, for their own sake, to vote for Zanu (PF).  The labour was told they are to beat up and chase away any strangers visiting the farm village, especially if they come from Harare.  On Colenso Farm a three-ton vehicle belonging to Sundown Farm was commandeered to transport people from Trelawney village to the farm. The owner left the farm in the afternoon after discussions all day, and hopes to return.
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Chegutu/Suri-Suri - On Mkute it appears Rural District Council members broke in and occupied the house, and other settlers moved into the house on San Fernando forcing the manager to move out. On Farnham "A" a settler, Joseph, drove the owner’s cattle into the homestead security fence in retaliation for the cattle eating some of his maize. Many beatings are taking place in the Chegutu High Density area.  Top ZANU (PF) leadership and police are in some cases offering payment for people to withdraw their cases.  One woman who is eight and a half months pregnant, was kicked and beaten in the stomach.  She may lose her baby as no doctor has seen her for four days.  On the Chegutu/Chinhoyi main state road ZANU (PF) people were demanding party cards from passing motorists, stoning vehicles if one is not produced. On Farnham, the owner is not able to be out in the garden without verbal harassment by settlers who are continually at the security fence.  
Chakari - On Blackmorvale tractors are commandeered daily so “war vets” can transport evicted labour and all their belongings off the farm, and have evicted all the “top” labour to date.  Other labour was taken for "training", which includes children from the age of 14.  On Deweras 43 labour were removed for an unspecified period of time for "training".  Some farmers are forced to feed the ZANU (PF) youth.  On Rondor Farm the meat from one slaughtered mombe was found in the “war vet” huts.  The owner is forced to sell his cattle because of continual harassment.
Kadoma - On Inniskilling the owner is still forbidden any labour, security guards or domestics.  The owner of Collendale has been forced to abandon the farm.  On Normandy North continued threats are made, with the main settler calling himself "Osama Bin Laden".  On Acton it is reported one, Pembedza, is taking over the house.  On Milverton there is a work stoppage. 
Battlefields - On Twintops settlers assaulted the caretaker of the lodge, then abducted him and his wife.  Settlers went through the lodge smashing property.  They then forced the owner to vacate his home.  Two days later the settlers returned and wanted to move school teachers into the owner’s son’s house.  They also dug a pit for a Blair latrine in the garden.  The owner’s son has moved into the owner’s house for security reasons.  Four labourers were evicted from their houses.  Approximately 50 head of game a week are shot and snared on this property alone.  Similar numbers are shot or snared on Abendrue and Umsweswe River Block 10A.  On Railway Farm 4 a labourer was assaulted and labour in brick houses are currently being evicted.  On Kanyemba some labour has been assaulted.  On Coryton and Lidford the labour continues to face assaults.  On Umsweswe River Block 10A some labour face evictions by settlers.
Norton - On Winsor Farm a threatening demonstration took place around the owner’s security fence.  More influential people are coming to claim plots in this area, but owing to their connections within ZANU (PF), farmers do not want police details to go out unless the situation becomes untenable.
Selous - On Carskey Farm, which is unlisted, settlers drove cattle into the security fence.  On Mount Carmel Farm it appears that a further fifteen cattle have been stolen. 

MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central – The owner of Lothian farm received a Section 7 Notice.  An influx of about 1 000 “gold panners” have invaded Acton farm and Chikore Farm.
Chiredzi – Palm River Ranch, Samba Ranch, Bangala Ranch, African Genesis, Jatala Estate  – all labour were told to attend a meeting at CA Gibbs by the trade union.  They were informed at the meeting of new severance packages of ZWD 7 000-00 and gratuities.  The FA Chairman reports he visited the manager at GMB Chiredzi, requesting GM1 and 2 forms.  The manager wanted to know: “Who’s asking for them and who’s worried about filling them in?”!!  No maize was available with only a small amount of sorghum in stock.  In the past 13 months, Marakanga Ranch has been attacked seven times by 80 Zanu (PF) members and settlers.  Six times, the owner has gone back to reclaim the ranch, locate the labour and start operations.  Eventually police arrested eight of the ringleaders, who were charged with public violence, held in custody for six weeks and then released on bail.  A concerted effort was made by the accused to destroy the ranch and wipe out all the wildlife.  If not for the bravery of the game scouts and farm labour, they might have been successful.  In spite of this, only 50 out of 200 eland remain, with other species suffering the same decimation.  On 22.01.02 some of the accused came to the homestead and fatally wounded one of the witnesses, broke into the house and stole goods.  They went on to the safari camp and burnt it down.  They proceeded to the ranch store and shot and killed a game scout and the ranch driver, the latter another witness in the case against them.  During the attack, another game scout, badly wounded on the head with a panga, managed to fire his shotgun and wound an attacker.  The wounded attacker hid his SKS rifle, then made his way to a friend’s house before being admitted to Chikombedzi Hospital.  He made a report to the police claiming the owner had shot him – a futile attempt to frame the owner.  This appears to be a concerted effort to wipe out all witnesses in the public violence case.  The wounded attacker is in hospital under police guard and charged with multiple murders.  On Palm River Ranch, a Zanu (PF) delegation requested all labour attend a “re-orientation” meeting in the communal lands.  All irrigation and farm work has been stopped on Faversham Ranch by settlers.  Labour was taken away for a meeting held by Mr. Hwararae, the Political Commissar Zanu (PF), and Mr. Chinotimba.  They informed the labour they would receive ZWD 7909-00 per month.  Another delegation visited the property, requesting the owner vacate an old storage building and clean it up for the purpose of a school. The owner of Dawlish Ranch reports a meeting took place along the Zaka Road, apparently headed by the Zaka DA, who handed out letters of ownership.  The ranch owner was visited that evening by Support Unit and the army, who told him they would do a ten-day patrol for political violence, and another team had been sent to the west of Zaka with the same brief.
Save Conservancy – a roadblock on a public road near the Turgwe River was dismantled by police.  Settlers on Mukasi Ranch requested a workshop be cleared to start a school.
Gutu/Chatsworth – The owner of lauder and Wragley Farms was instructed by settlers to remove all cattle by 23.01.02.  Bath Farm was visited by 20-30 people, demanding his office be vacated as it was needed for a proposed school.  Parents and children sat around quietly waiting for instructions.  Eventually they all dispersed.  About 50 people returned, threatening to break the locks.  A police Assistant Inspector said he is unable to assist.  School children are involved in school activities in one shed.  The owner was also told to remove all cattle by 31.01.02.  456 head of cattle on Mazongororo Farm were rounded up and put into a kraal.  The cattle were left there for two days without food and water, with one beast dead (believed to have been ill) and a heifer severely dehydrated.  Despite police orders, the settlers refused to release the cattle.  The Zimbabwe National SPCA was called in to defuse the situation and reports indicate the cattle were released.  The owner was told to have all cattle off the farm by 10.02.02.  Approximately 50 people arrived on Blyth Farm demanding the shed be vacated for a school.  Some have started digging toilets in front of the owner’s gate.  Labour intervened and a compromise tendered by the owner to make accommodation available in the farm village for the school was rejected by the settlers.  Ten labourers on Felixburg Farm were hauled away by settlers for “re-orientation”.  The labour were told to resign as they were working for a “white farmer” and therefore supporting the opposition.
Mwenezi – on La Pache a heifer was driven into a snare and subsequently killed with an axe.  On Kyalami Ranch a heifer was speared. 
MIDLANDS
Gweru - Youth Brigade groups are stepping up meetings and activities in the area.
Shurugwi - Settlers on Impaluli are becoming more aggressive, shouting insults and spreading the word the farmer will be evicted shortly. They are chopping down the trees and carting the wood into town. The herd of 35 Kudu, which used to inhabit the farm has been reduced almost to nothing.
Gweru East/Lalapanzi - Several Section 8 Orders have been served in the area recently.
Kwekwe - On Sebakwe Farms the Zanu (PF) Youth Brigade are assaulting the labour. The labour patrol nightly and therefore most labour are sleeping in the workshops to avoid trouble. On Bemthree a pedigree Brahmin was speared to death, with one plot holder’s worker arrested after swift reaction by Sebakwe ZRP. The owner of Jenville was forced to shoot one of his own cattle with his own weapon, or face looting and burning. Certain members of the Youth Brigade went with the owner in a vehicle and handed him his weapon to shoot the cow.  After it had been shot they took back the weapon and forced him to drive to Umlala Park where the Youth Brigade are stationed. There they returned the weapon and told him to leave. It was decided not to report the matter to the police as it would be the owner’s word against the Youth Brigade members and the weapon had been his own so it would be unlikely police would press charges. The animal is valued at ZWD 25 000-00. With the mobilisation of the Youth Brigade, the Sherwood and Mvuma Road area remain very tense and the level of intimidation is very high.

MATABELELAND
No report received.


aisd1@cfu.co.zw                                               Visit the CFU Website www.mweb.co.zw/cfu

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Zim Independent

Mazoe Citrus Estates designated


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Augustine Mukaro/Jacob Mutambara
1/25/02
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 THE designation of 80% of Mazoe Citrus Estates has dealt a major blow to
fruit juice concentrates production in addition to forcing about 1 400
workers out of their jobs. Interfresh Ltd, the current owners of the estates
located in Mashonaland Central, have to vacate by the end of March. The
estate was issued with a Section 8 Order in December which gives the company
90 days to wind up operations to make way for resettlement.


Interfresh will lose millions of dollars in foreign currency earnings as a
result.

Sources say the designation comes at a time when Interfresh had just
finished refurbishing its fruit processing plant at a cost of $1 billion,
paid in foreign currency to South African suppliers.


The designation will in turn have an adverse effect on the company's new
canning factory at Utopia Farm in Mashonaland East.


At one stage, the citrus estate was the biggest in the world and is still
the country's leading producer of fruit juice concentrates marketed under
the Mazoe label, one of Zimbabwe's best-known products.


At least 80% of the citrus is for the export market while a local
soft-drinks manufacturer, Schweppes, consumes most of the remainder. The
estate also produces soya beans for export.

Sources said the government in December designated about 8 000 hectares,
representing 80% of the estate.


According to the Land Acquisition Act, current owners of the land have to
vacate within

three months of designation. The estate has 540 000 trees, three-quarters of
which are in the designated area. The undesignated area has old trees which
have outlived their 30-year productive life and were due to be uprooted in
March this year.


Efforts to get a comment from Interfresh were unsuccessful. The Independent
sent a list of questions to Interfresh, which they promised to attend to.
However, a representative of the company later phoned to say they had
decided against responding.


While Mazoe Citrus also depended on commercial farms for the supply of
oranges to process, most of these farms have been designated, worsening the
situation.


Sources said in the last growing season, the company earned about $300
million from wheat grown at the estate. The designation will significantly
add to wheat shortages in the country.


Hamilton Farm, another part of the estate, was last year invaded by war
veterans. The farm specialised in wheat and soya bean production.
Previously, the farm was devoted to maize production until the advent of
price controls forced it to diversify.
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Zim Independent


Terror spreads despite peace calls


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1/25/02
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 ELECTORAL violence intensified this week spreading from Mashonaland Central
to Mashonaland West where scores of opposition Movement for Democratic
Change supporters have been attacked. The current wave of attacks on MDC
officials and members began on December 18 and has continued despite calls
for peace and calm by Zanu PF leaders this week.


James Chinyani, MDC district youth chairman for Chinhoyi, was severely
beaten by members of the ruling party in the town last week and is
recuperating in hospital.


Chinhoyi MDC provincial co-ordinator, Gift Konjani, said it was no longer
safe to disclose the names of hospitals for fear of endangering lives.


"The militias have a tendency of following up those who would be in
hospitals and harass the nurses, threatening to finish off our
supporters,"said Konjani this week.


MDC chairperson for Mutorashanga, Tafara Zhanda, said his house was
petrol-bombed and he was forced to flee to Harare on January 15.


Property worth more than $150 000 was destroyed in the process. He also lost
his job as he was now regarded as a security risk.


Zhanda had earlier been attacked by Zanu PF supporters together with his
wife Lenea and party members Shame Gunduza, Washington Chimedza and Jairosi
Rhodi who have all been hospitalised.


MDC members have also been arrested despite the fact that they were the
victims.

"Authority Masimba, the MDC chairman for Makonde, was arrested in Makonde.
Shots were fired by the militia outside his house and in a surprising turn
of events he was arrested on violence charges instead,"said Konjani.


Zvimba, the home area of President Robert Mugabe, has not been spared
either. The violence has claimed the life of Titus Nheya who contested and
lost the 2000 election in Zvimba South where Mugabe's sister Sabina won.
Nheya was beaten to death by Zanu PF militias on December 20.


MDC Zvimba South chairperson Marx Chikore said members of the ruling party
also assaulted him.


"I lost all my property as my huts were burnt, grain was loot-ed and
property worth more than $10 000 was destroyed,"said Chikore this week.


The militia has also banned all independent newspapers in the province.

"The Zimbabwe Independent, Daily News and Financial Gazette have been banned
by the militia,"Chikore said.


Roadblocks are being mounted in the province by the militia and anyone seen
carrying these papers is thoroughly beaten on allegations that they support
the MDC.

Independent newspapers are now only sold in Chinhoyi, Chegutu and Kadoma,
said Konjani.


Joseph Mutsvangwa of Makonde is also a victim of violence.


"My tobacco barn and my chicken run were reduced to ashes and the situation
out there is still very tense. This forced me to leave the area,"Mutsvangwa
said. Staff Writers.
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MUCKRAKER
The Herald badly short-changes its readers

THE Herald, which used to be known as a newspaper of record is now it seems
becoming a paper of omissions. Why were the views of the Sadc leaders on
General Vitalis Zvinavashe's remarks not carried in its reports of the
Blantyre summit last week?

We don't recall their strong and unambiguous statement on generals meddling
in politics being published anywhere except in the independent papers even
though news agencies were circulating the statement around the world. Why
weren't Zimbabweans informed of what the regional heads of state had to say
by their "public" media?

This week the Herald did manage to inform its readers that during his visit
to Harare President Olusegun Obasanjo held talks with Morgan Tsvangirai. But
it claimed, incorrectly, that Tsvangirai had failed to meet Obasanjo in
Nigeria last week. In fact the MDC leader met Obasanjo and three other West
African heads of state.

What is clear from this is that Herald readers are being short-changed and
misled on what is happening. Where news is being reported, reluctantly and
at the bottom of stories, it is being badly distorted.

Readers will only be told what Zanu PF want them to know. At present all it
wants us to believe is that Tsvangirai will deliver a "bitter pill" if he
comes to power. It will include the collapse of industry, massive job
losses, isolation, shortages, price hikes, massive unemployment and total
chaos, the ruling party tells us.

Any of this sound familiar? It should. That's exactly what we've got now
thanks to Mugabe. Tsva-ngirai said South Africa should apply sanctions if
Mugabe and his generals steal the election. Mugabe, it seems, has applied
sanctions already.

It's good occasionally to hear the views of authentic war veterans who have
the country's interests at heart. In a recent interview with the Sunday
Telegraph Wilfred Mhanda of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform commented on
the position adopted by the army, which has said it won't accept a
presidential candidate who does not accept its "values".

The chief of staff and a few other elite officers have benefited hugely from
President Mugabe's patronage, but at the level of colonel and brigadier and
below the support dwindles, Mhanda told the newspaper. In the last
parliamentary elections, held in 2000, a number of constituencies with large
military garrisons voted against Mugabe, he pointed out.

Mhanda joined the guerrilla struggle at the age of 16. He quickly rose
through the ranks of Zanla - the military wing of Zanu - and was sent to
China for military training. He met Mugabe in 1976 just after the Zanu
leader's release from prison and spent days briefing him on the political
situation, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Mhanda told the paper that as he came to know Mugabe he began to fear for
the future of the movement.

"He was very secretive, stubborn and uncompromising and also, whenever he
develops an attitude against you, he will not change his mind…He is very
vindictive."

Despite fighting a bush war which targeted whites, Mhanda is furious that
Mugabe is now using war veterans to attack commercial farmers.

"They have a contribution to make in the development of our country," he
said. "There was no reason for Mugabe to move against them. He had all the
instruments of power and a majority in parliament to affect a more equitable
distribution of wealth. The fact that he did not do so is not the fault of
the whites."

Congratulations to Olley Maruma for getting the editor of the Herald to
allow him to quote from a novel for 25 paragraphs without interruption. This
must be some sort of a record. Holding forth on the subject of Western
influence, Olley says anybody doubting his views on the exploitive nature of
the West's relations with Africa should read the book, The Ugly American
(1958) by William Lederer and Eugene Burdick.

Those of us who hadn't read it no longer need to. The editor of the Herald
kindly allowed Olley to read it to us. The record for the longest recitation
of this sort belongs to Tafataona Mahoso who has managed to reproduce in the
Sunday Mail whole chapters of books published in the 1970s. Now Maruma holds
the prize. When he next says "If anyone doubts me…" we should stop him right
there!

On the same page we had paranoia reaching new levels with an article
suggesting in all seriousness that if Tsvangirai lost in March we could
expect to see US marines land in Zimbabwe. What next!

So the commissioner of police runs a transport business and hair salons?

This is of course in addition to running a farm. The Sunday Mail last
weekend showed us Augustine Chihuri and his wife standing alongside a tall
and healthy maize crop on Woodlands Farm in Shamva.

"Within six weeks of taking up his plot, nearly each part (sic) of his
345-hectare Shamva Woodlands farm allotment is under crop," the Sunday Mail
told us. It didn't say exactly how he "took up" the plot. Nor did it explain
where the irrigation equipment that sustained part of his soyabean crop came
from. But, like the government, Chihuri is confident of a bountiful harvest.
The workers were all retained when their boss "took up" his plot from the
previous owner, Mr Mark Butler. They have no worries as Shamva receives up
to 1 000 mm of rain a year.

"I do not have certificates in agriculture," Chihuri disarmingly admitted.
"But I am not ignorant (about farming)". We liked the brackets.
He said he had invested "a couple of millions" into the plot from his own
savings. But while telling us about his plans for the farm and referring in
passing to his transport business and hair salons he omitted to mention the
other job he was supposed to be doing. Can anybody recall what it was
because he evidently can't?

We enjoyed the story in the Sunday Times about the four members of the
Johannesburg airport heist gang who blew the loot in Bulawayo on "an orgy of
fast cars, prostitutes, and expensive booze in a luxurious hotel". They were
arrested after police caught up with them "living like kings" in the City of
Kings.

Besides buying themselves a BMW, Mitsubishi Pajero, Ssyangyong Musso and two
Mazda bakkies, they lavished money on other needs. Police found one gang
member in bed with three prostitutes and recovered jewellery worth R100 000
plus US$4 million in cash. They also found Z$1 million in the room.

"The suspects were living like kings out of their loot and purchasing
anything that money can buy," ZRP spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told the Sunday
Times.

They are also thought to have bought properties around Bulawayo and
furniture for "unidentified women who accompanied them". But obviously the
$4 million paid to a sangoma for muti to keep the police away didn't have
the desired effect.

What surprised us about the story, which saw the SA police do the detective
work and the ZRP make the arrests, was the MDC wasn't mentioned once.
Only last week we were informed by the state media that there was a MDC
connection to the Johannesburg airport heist. But neither Bvudzijena nor
Senior Assistant Commissioner Albert Mandizha referred to it in the Sunday
Times story. Nor did Commissioner Johan de Beer, head of SAPS detectives, or
Senior Superintendent Martin Aylward who also featured in the story.
Strange!

Given the distortions now appearing in the official media, observers have
adopted the skills familiar to Soviet-watchers in an earlier era of reading
between the lines.

So when Jonathan Moyo claims the Zanu PF caucus had a "spirited open debate"
on the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill he means he came
under sustained fire for tabling a deeply flawed and unpopular measure.

When Patrick Chinamasa says parliament has adjourned to give it more time to
consider suggestions from "objective" media organisations and the legal
committee he means the government is at last doing what it should have done
in the first place: listening to advice, if only from its own captive media
sector, and studying the constitutional implications in order to prevent
possible defeat on the floor of the House.

We should also have read between the lines of the Sadc heads of state
communiqué which, far from being the blanket endorsement the government
media pretended, contained in addition to the sharp rebuke over Zvinavashe's
statement some implicit criticism of how Zimbabwe was conducting its
presidential poll.

Saying they hoped the election would be "peaceful, free, fair and
transparent" the leaders added: "We hope that will be so by allowing every
Zimbabwean to participate effectively in the elections in the spirit of
democratic principles and values which is within the framework of the Sadc
protocol."

If they were already confident of a free and fair poll why did they have to
spell it out? And doesn't the bit about allowing every Zimbabwean the right
to participate refer directly to attempts by the Registrar-General to
prevent people registering?

The same closer examination needs to be given to the Obasanjo visit.
Under Abuja, we are told, Zimbabwe undertook to stop new farm occupations,
delist farms that did not meet the criteria for designation, and remove
settled people from those farms to the ones that had been properly
designated.

"Harare has met its part of the bargain but Britain has so far failed to
honour its part…", the Herald claimed.

Is this true? Why are parts of the Leopard Rock Hotel including its
world-famous golf course still listed? And Zanu PF supporters steal cattle
worth $25 million with impunity in Beatrice?

Then we were told the UNDP was tasked under the Abuja agreement with sending
a technical team to Harare to work out how much funding would be needed.

"Of course, the two major aspects of the breakthrough," Obasanjo said, "were
that Zimbabwe was supposed to take certain measures and then the
international community led by Britain and other members of the
Commonwealth, after the UNDP had done its work, were also to carry out some
work."

Why does Obasanjo say "Zimbabwe was supposed to take certain measures"? And
has the UNDP "done its work"? As it has yet to report, the British
government it seems has no obligation to fund the programme. That's
according to Obasanjo. And his exhortation to "keep Abuja alive" would imply
that it is at death's door. Why do you appeal to keep something alive if it
is already alive and healthy?

Finally, Elliot Manyika concedes that youths being trained at the Border
Gezi camp undergo "survival training". This we can safely assume is
Mugabe-survival training. But asked about employment opportunities he told
ZBC that "we are asking the youths to write their own projects. We will then
give them money".
So that's how it's done!


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Zim Independent


Janet Banana seeks asylum in UK


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1/25/02
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 FORMER First Lady Janet Banana has fled the country and is seeking asylum
in the United Kingdom. The wife of Zimbabwe's first president, Canaan
Banana, is surviving on 10 pounds a week in a tiny London flat a far cry
from the grandeur of State House, the Guardian reports. Banana fled Zimbabwe
with her 18-year-old daughter in October 2000 with one suitcase and 40pounds
to her name.


"I had lived as the president's wife in Harare, but I arrived in Britain
with nothing, fleeing for my life," Banana told the London newspaper.


Although her story and background makes her situation different from most of
the other 106 Zimbabweans awaiting asylum in the UK, it reflects the climate
of fear that increases daily in Zimbabwe in the run-up to the March
elections, the Guardian reports.


The paper says she only agreed to be interviewed at all after discussing it
with officers from the Special Branch. They consider her to be in danger
from secret agents thought to have been planted by President Robert Mugabe.


Banana said while Independence bought freedom, it also brought to light an
increasingly autocratic streak in Mugabe, especially from 1987 when he took
over the role of executive president, effectively forcing her husband out of
office and taking complete control of the country.


"At the beginning, when Mugabe was prime minister, he was a friendly and
approachable gentleman. But when he became the executive president he became
a different man. They say power corrupts and it does. It corrupts
absolutely," said Banana.

Decadent spending replaced the ascetic socialism that Mugabe had once
adhered to, she said.


"I remember visiting his mansion outside Harare for a party after his
marriage to his second wife, Grace. His children had their own playroom with
every kind of gadget you can imagine.


"But each time he entered a room the servants had to squat on the floor.
They looked so nervous."


She said she believed Mugabe planned to assassinate her husband just before
he was sentenced on homosexuality charges.


"Mugabe used the issue of my husband's sexuality as a way of mobilising
opinion against Canaan. Mugabe was jealous of Canaan's role in the OAU,
which offered him an international platform not available to him," she said.


After the trial, Banana found herself in an untenable situation.


"I began to feel that if I stayed in Zimbabwe, my life would be in danger,"
she told the Guardian. "I was followed and monitored by plain-clothes
government agents, and my daughter was harassed in school. I felt I was
about to 'disappear' at any moment. The situation had also deteriorated
between Canaan and me, so even if he came out of prison I knew he wouldn't
support me." Staff Writer.
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Zim Independent

Zanu PF fails to fulfil extravagant electoral pledges - Real issues
abandoned as parties tear each other apart
By Vincent Kahiya/Dumisani Muleya

THROUGHOUT history politicians have used various methods, such as
whistle-stop tours, media advertising and political rallies, to achieve
their primary objective of winning votes and power.

However, they have also found it useful to use crude and negative
blandishments to win the hearts and minds of voters.

Zimbabwe is a case in point. President Robert Mugabe's campaign team and
that of his arch-rival, opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
leader Morgan Tsvangirai are locked in a vicious political advertising war.
The campaign teams for both candidates in the forthcoming presidential poll
have virtually abandoned conventional electioneering strategies for searing
vitriol to win the make-or-break election.

British Conservative politician Alan Clark said this was not unusual.

"We all know the principal preoccupation of politicians is how they can do
down their colleagues so they can advance their own careers," he said.

The media is currently awash with negative ads that are not only designed to
besmirch the rival's image, but verge on character assassination.

In Zimbabwe the increasing use of negative political advertising has been
accentuated by intense rivalry bordering on political warfare.

Zanu PF is focusing on what it sees as the MDC's Achilles heel - its close
association with Western powers. Instead of fulfilling the grand promises it
made during the 2000 parliamentary election, the ruling party has resorted
to a sustained smear campaign as well as violent coercion. This explains the
intensifying official propaganda crusade.

In its 2000 election manifesto Zanu PF promised in five years to resettle
150 000 households and create 850 000 jobs and provide up to one million
housing units. It said a housing development bank would be set up as a
matter of urgency to provide cheap loans for the ambitious plan.

Zanu PF also promised to provide an initial 50 000 housing units and
increase this figure to 200 000 annually over the next five years.

"Direct annual employment from the construction of houses would increase by
between 12 500 and 50 000 annually or between 60 000 and 250 000 over the
next five years.

Indirect employment in the services sector would also increase," the
manifesto said. Nothing followed.

The party promised to boost regional grain exports by 3,75 million tonnes.

"Resettling about 500 000 households on five million hectares of land will
translate into direct employment creation for at least 600 000 people
depending on the agricultural cropping and livestock programme as well as
downstream industries that will be undertaken," the manifesto said.

Now with 10 million hectares under its belt the only result has been serious
grain deficits and food shortages. Unemployment has soared to over 70%.

Referring to British premier Harold Macmillan's House of Commons address in
response to the Queen's Speech in 1959, Labour MP Aneurin Bevan said: "The
Prime Minister has an absolute genius for putting flamboyant labels on empty
luggage." There seems to be a parallel but it's not working for Mugabe.

Zanu PF told the electorate that the current economic problems were
"temporary setbacks" that would be addressed through land reform.

But it is now clear problems besetting the country cannot be wish-ed away by
simplistic declarations. The country's Weimar-era inflation rate, forex,
fuel and food shortages, massive unemployment and severe
de-industrialisation bear testimony to economic decay.

Analysts say it is now impossible for Zanu PF to camouflage its record of
failure through demagoguery and deceitful manifestos, hence the smear
campaign.

Mugabe's creaky disinformation machine is running full-throttle. In one of
its ads, Zanu PF portrays Tsvangirai as a puppet held on strings by foreign
and local interests - "Tony Blair, the US, EU, Tony Leon, the World Bank,
IMF, CFU and Racist Rhodesians" are among those depicted. The ad says: "If
Tsvangirai wins, God forbid, who'll really be running Zimbabwe?"

In another ad, Zanu PF says: "Tsvangirai wants to ruin Zimbabwe, not run
it." He is depicted as prescribing a "bitter pill for Zimbabwe" and -
apparently without any sense of irony - associated with electricity cuts,
industrial collapse, massive job losses, international isolation for
Zimbabwe, goods shortages, price hikes, and unemployment.
Mugabe on the other hand is presented as the exact opposite to Tsvangirai.
He is portrayed as the people's champion and a bulwark against
re-colonisation.

The MDC has refused to be outdone in the political advertising war. Mugabe
is associated with "hunger, inflation, violence, and senility".

One of the opposition ads reads: "How much hungrier do we have to get for a
change of government? Stop Zanu PF from destroying this country."

Political marketing experts say because political advertising, un- like
product advertising, must get results in a short period of time, political
practitioners use several kinds of political advertising: image, issue and
negative advertising.

Image and issue advertising have been employed at the beginning of a
campaign to establish a positive picture of a candidate and negative ads are
then introduced at the end of the campaign to attack the opponent. This is
what is happening in Zimbabwe.

In his research on political advertising, a Missouri School of Journalism
professor, Won Ho Chang, rhetorically asks: "Why do political practitioners
increasingly use negative political advertising? Do they think ads are the
most effective way to persuade voters in a short period of time in order to
win an election?"

His answer was: "Many researchers have conducted studies, but the results
are inconsistent. According to politicians, because attack ads work, they
increasingly use them."
Ho Chang's study investigated the effective- ness of negative political
advertising in terms of informativeness, believability and attitudes towards
both the sponsor and the target of the ads.

"The findings suggested that although both younger and older people agreed
that negative political advertising is not informative, older people
consider negative political advertising as less believable and have more
negative attitudes towards the sponsor than younger people," the study says.

Some researchers say it depends on the credibility of the sponsor of the ad
and its truth-value. The integrity of the target and voter sophistication
also matters.

Others have different views. They believe negative political advertising is
useful in that it allows voters to distinguish candidates' qualities,
positions, and performance more readily than other types of political
information.

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Temperature rises as Mugabe targets foreign reporters

The Guardian's Zimbabwe correspondent reports on heated exchanges in
parliament and the press over Mugabe's planned information bill

Andrew Meldrum in Harare
Friday January 25, 2002


Andrew Meldrum

7am: Read today's newspapers. The independent Daily News has two
hard-hitting stories on the front page. One headline reads, "Mugabe is a
disgrace: UK", which is about Tony Blair's fierce criticism of President
Mugabe in parliament and his call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the
Commonwealth. The second story says, "Fraudulent election result faces
rejection" in which the Brussels-based International Crisis Group states
that conditions in Zimbabwe do not permit free and fair elections. In an
interview with the Daily News, the group's president, Gareth Evans, who is a
former foreign minister for Australia, said the international community
should not accept the results of an election which is plagued by
state-sponsored violence and other unfair practices.
The Daily News is just two years old but it now sells more copies that the
well-established state-owned newspaper, the Herald. It is easy to see why.
The Herald today takes another bash at the British government, the local
white population and journalists who have come into Zimbabwe as tourists and
then write about the situation. This includes the Guardian's Chris McGreal.
The journalists do this because the government has made it extremely
difficult, if not outright impossible, for foreign journalists to get
accreditation.

2pm: Go to parliament. It is stifling hot. Although the Herald had said the
information bill would be debated and voted on today, the bill is not on the
order papers for the day. Although the government had announced over the
state radio and television that all Zanu-PF members of parliament must
attend parliament, there are many empty seats on the benches. Parliament
debates a motion to protest the European Union's moves to impose targeted
sanctions against Mugabe and his cabinet.

4pm: I meet in a corridor with a few other journalists and we discuss what
is happening. Clearly Zanu-PF is divided over the bill and many MPs do not
want to vote for it. Party rebel Eddison Zvobgo has held things up as
chairman of the legal committee by not issuing the legal committee's report
on the bill. Our session is broken up by guards who check all our
identification cards. I am given a hard time because I only had a pass to go
to the speaker's gallery, not the press gallery. I am taken away and
interrogated for about half an hour. I leave parliament.

5:30pm The leader of the house, justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, clearly
frustrated and annoyed, gets up and moves for the house to adjourn. He says
parliament is "being held to ransom by the legal committee" which he says is
delaying its report on the press bill. An angry Eddison Zvobgo jumps to his
feet and retorts: "The chaos has been caused by the government and the
minister in particular who has failed to put his bill properly together."
Zimbabwe's parliament sometimes has heated debate, but never such a bitter
exchange between two top-ranking members of the ruling party. As I am not in
parliament, I get all the information from my colleagues.

8pm: The nation sees the clash between Chinamasa and Zvobgo on the state
television's main news. In an interview, Chinamasa says the bill will be
presented to parliament when it resumes next Tuesday (January 29).


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Guardian

Journalists flee Zimbabwe

Jessica Hodgson
Friday January 25, 2002

Foreign journalists are being forced to leave Zimbabwe today as the threat
from Robert Mugabe's government makes it too dangerous to work there.

The Sunday Telegraph's foreign editor, Robin Geddy, confirmed today that its
Zimabwe correspondent, Philip Sherwell, had escaped from the country.

The paper's decision to withdraw its correspondent followed yesterday's
announcement by President Mugabe's government that it was hunting for
foreign journalists who had entered the country on tourist passes.

Geddy confirmed Sherwell had left the country but was unwilling to go into
details of his escape for fear of jeopardising the safety of other foreign
journalists who may be planning to leave the country.

The Guardian's correspondent, Chris McGreal, is also attempting to leave the
country.

Speaking this morning on Radio 4 Today programme, Alan Rusbridger, the
editor of the Guardian, said McGreal would be leaving "in the next couple of
days".

"If reporters are treated as spies and terrorists, there comes a point where
it's simply too dangerous to work there," Rusbridger told the programme.

British newspapers' decisions to pull out their staff followed a report
yesterday on the front page of the government-controlled Herald newspaper ,
which said several foreign journalists were "illegally" working in the
country "under the guise of being tourists".

"What makes the development quite sinister is the fact these journalists
have got intelligence cover from a hostile state because they are on
assignment," said the government's information minister, George Charamba.

"Our net is closing in on them and we should be able to account for all of
them before the close of the day," he told the paper.

Just four or five foreign journalists remain in Harare legally - others
including BBC staff have been expelled from the country. There are a further
15 journalists who are filing for foreign newspapers, but they are local
with Zimbabwean passports.

Rusbridger admitted that, technically, journalists were operating illegally,
because it was "impossible" for them to work legally in Zimbabwe.

Journalists with Zimbabwean citizenship are allowed to remain in the
country, but newspaper executives fear it is becoming too dangerous for
journalists who are not Zimbabwean nationals to operate.


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From the MDC Mailing List

In this update:

1. Starvation in Zimbabwe deserves urgent measures
2. Zanu PF's sinister intentions on the Identity cards pass law
3. Correction from Eddie Cross re: Save the Children/National Foods maize
distribution
4. Mugabe's hypocrisy exposed as Zanu PF thugs, police prevent MDC Star
Rally
5. Zimbabwe Human Rights Protest-London 16 February


1. Starvation in Zimbabwe deserves urgent measures
23 January

It is now clear that, despite denials from the Minister of Agriculture, the
stocks of maize at the GMB are almost exhausted.  Deliveries to millers have
stopped and commercial stocks are now also finished.  There are no signs of
the imminent arrival of promised supplies from South Africa.

Zimbabwe uses between 150 and 180 thousand tonnes of maize a month to supply
the country with its staple food-maize meal-and to provide stock feed for
livestock production.  It is our most important single food item and the
great majority of the Zimbabweans eat a meal of maize at least once a day.
There is no substitute for maize in rations for poultry and pig production.

The consequences of this development for the people of Zimbabwe are almost
inconceivable.  Substitute foods are all at least twice as expensive and are
also in short supply.  Rice is almost wholly imported, potatoes are produced
by a small group of commercial farmers who are affected by the farm
invasions, and the traditional substitute crops are not available in any
significant quantities.  Hunger and starvation now loom for millions.

It is doubtful that this government can find the foreign exchange to secure
adequate supplies of maize from outside the country.  The whole region is
short of maize, including South Africa, and even if the government can put
up the funds, the railways and roads system is so run down that the capacity
to move the required quantities of imports is not available.

The MDC warned of this impending disaster a year ago-imports should have
begun arriving at least four months ago if the shortage was to be avoided.
The responsibility rests with the entire Zanu PF administration, as only the
Minister of Finance has had the courage to admit officially to the crisis
and ask for assistance.  The Minister responsible, Joseph Made, has
consistently denied any shortfall, made claim to false and inflated
estimates of crop yields and is now completely silent on the issue.  He
should resign immediately, along with the Chairman and Chief Executive of
the GMB.

As far as the people of Zimbabwe are concerned, we urge them to work
together to overcome the problems created for those who cannot find food.
We urge families to share their resources and for people with gardens to
grow short term substitutes such as potatoes and green maize.  We ask the
NGO community to respond to the needs of those most affected with the
limited resources at their disposal.

As far as the international community are concerned, we draw their attention
to the fact that we have run out of maize and that now significant delivery
are due from the crops in the ground until July.  We must therefore import
at least 800 000 tonnes of maize to supply the minimum needs of the country.
We further point out that the best estimates of the crop in the ground are
for a total crop of less than last year.  This means that imports will again
be required from about January 2003 until the 2002/03 crop can be reaped and
delivered.

In addition to the problems in respect to maize, the MDC has been
forecasting for a  year now that similar problems will occur with regard to
other essential foods.  In this respect, we point out that supplies of
vegetable oils and fats are in short supply and that raw materials are
running out for this sector as well.  In addition, as people turn to
substitutes for maize such as bread, supplies of wheat are expected to last
only until mid May 2002 at the most.  This means that up to 180 000 tonnes
of wheat will be needed to meet the needs of the country until the winter,
2002 crop can be reaped and delivered in November 2002.  Substantially more
will be required if farmers fail to plant a significant winter wheat and
barley crop in May.

In the likely event that the present government does not meet the minimum
conditions for financial assistance to supply this food, we ask the
international community to prepare now for the induction of a new MDC
government in April this year, and to mobilise the financial resources
needed to address this crisis.

Morgan Tsvangirai
MDC President


2. Zanu PF's sinister intentions on the Identity cards pass law
23 January

One of Zanu PF's grand plans to deny MDC supporters an opportunity to vote
for MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai in the March presidential election
involves the manipulation of identity documents.

This plan is well thought out.  The Zanu PF government has legislated to
make it compulsory for every Zimbabwean to carry an identity document.  The
bulldozing through parliament of the fascist Public Order and Security Bill
was not coincidental.

The strategy goes like this:  The new fascist Zanu PF security law required
every person to carry an identity card.  Their militia have violent
instructions to confiscate these identity cards from MDC supporters.  The
Registrar General has instructions not to issue new identity documents until
after the presidential election.

So the plan is that every person should carry an identity document to enable
their militia to confiscate the documents from MDC supporters.  The
Registrar General, Tobiwa Mudede, who is an accomplice to the plan will not
issue a new identity card to those affected.

Last week my young brother, Howard, had his national identity card
confiscated by Zanu PF militia at Empress Mine Shopping Centre, in the
Zhombe communal lands.  He was on his way to Harare.  He was identified as
an MDC supporter and heavily assaulted before his identity card was taken.

We have received hundreds of reports from all over the country of people who
have had their identity documents confiscated by the Zanu PF militia.  The
situation will only worsen now that the law makes it compulsory to carry an
identity card.


3. Correction from Eddie Cross re: Save the Children/National Foods maize
distribution

On 20th January I sent out a statement that said that a consignment of food
from National Foods destined for Save the Children Fund in the Hwange area
had been intercepted by Zanu PF Auxiliaries and diverted to Zanu PF
supporters for their use.  The source of this story was industrial sources
in Harare.  Since then I have learned that the report was wrong in both
respects-the food did not come from National Foods, and the eventual
customer was not Save the Children.

In fact, we now have an eyewitness account of what happened in that we
understand it was a commercial delivery of maize meal to the Hwange area,
which was taken by Zanu PF Auxiliaries and sold to people with Zanu PF
membership cards.  I apologise to both National Foods and to SCF for the
wrong information given.  However, the fact remains that the country is
experiencing a critical shortage of all basic foods and that Zanu PF is
desperately trying to control the supply of food to the people to bolster
its election prospects.

Eddie Cross
MDC Secretary for Economic Affairs
23 January 2002


4. Mugabe's hypocrisy exposed as Zanu PF thugs, police prevent MDC Star
Rally
20 January

Any doubts as to Mugabe's hypocrisy, and the lies in his promises to SADC
heads of state last week in Malawi as to his willingness to restore law and
order and ensure free and fair elections will have been put to rest today as
Mugabe's party supporters and police connived to prevent an MDC star rally
in Bualwayo.

Having learnt of the MDC's rally at Bulawayo's White City Stadium intended
for today through adverts in the press, a group of about 150 war veterans
and Zanu PF militia went and camped at the Stadium as from last night.

We reported this to the police and asked them to remove the group in time
for today's meeting, which the police had been informed of well in advance.
However, upon arrival at the stadium, MDC security personnel and party
supporters found that the police had surrounded the stadium and were
preventing anyone from going inside the Stadium.

The MDC leadership in Bulawayo that included Vice-President Gibson Sibanda,
myself, MDC Treasurer Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, Director of Electison Paul
Themba Nyathi and other MPs tried to negotiate with the police at length to
facilitate the removal of the group of Zanu PF supporters and ensure the
meeting went ahead.  Police details on the scene said they were awaiting
orders from the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Assistant Commissioner Mandizha.
No response came from Mandizha for about two hours until about 10am.  By
this time, a crowd of about 10 000 people who were coming to the MDC meeting
had swelled outside the stadium.

At this time, police details announced that they had just received an order
from Mandizha that they had to cancel the MDC meeting and disperse all the
people who were coming to attend.  No sooner had this announcement been made
than the police started firing teargas at the MDC supporters who were
waiting peacefully to go into the Stadium.  Scores of people were injured as
they scurried for cover under hot pursuit from police details that pushed
them well into the residential areas.

Meanwhile, the first people to get to the Stadium who did not know what was
going on were abducted and tortured mercilessly by the Zanu PF group of
thugs.

Up to now we know 18 people have been badly beaten and tortured inside the
stadium.  They have been admitted at Mpilo Hospital and Gallen House.  We
also know that at least seven other members of the MDC are being tortured in
the stadium as we speak.  The police have refused to go inside and rescue
them.  The MDC leadership has also held a meeting with Madizha this morning,
but he has been extremely uncooperative.

This is an extension of the connivance between the police and Zanu PF to
prevent the activities of any party other than Zanu PF.  To date at least 90
MDC members have been murdered in cold blood.  Hundreds of thousands have
been tortured or they have had their homes destroyed.  Thousands more
continue to suffer wanton beatings, intimidation and harassment at the hands
of Zanu PF supporters, attacks which are spearheaded by the Zanu PF
government trained militia under the guise of national service.

Known criminals and perpetrators of this violence continue to walk freely,
simply because they are Zanu PF supporters.  In many parts of Zimbabwe today
it is criminal to support the MDC, or not be found in possession of a Zanu
PF party card.  Many have lost their lives for that simple reason.

Mugabe has not brought the activities of these criminals to an end.  Today's
incident proves that he has no intention to hold free and fair elections and
that his promises to the SADC heads of states was a lie.

The people of Zimbabwe must not despair.  They have the power in their hands
to bring this rot to an end, and they must brace themselves to exercise that
strength.


Welshman Ncube
MDC Secretary General


5. Zimbabwe Human Rights Protest
The 16 February 2002 is the 2nd Anniversary of Farm Invasions.
Venue: Zimbabwe High Commission
429 Strand Street
London
(Nearest tube Charring Cross).
Date: Saturday 16 February 2002 - The last protest prior to elections & my
last one too.
Time: 11.00hrs - 14.00hrs - 3 hours

The normal line up of speakers:
Hopefully an ex-guerrilla to testify - wait and see
Piper, drums and much more
Zimbabwe is at a critical juncture: the outcome of the presidential
election, scheduled for 9-10 March, will decide whether the country returns
to the rule of law and establishes a plural democratic system or descends
into the depths of political and economic chaos. The latter scenario will
have a disastrous effect on the broader southern Africa region where fragile
economies are already suffering the effects of the government inspired
crisis in Zimbabwe.
The current situation in Zimbabwe provides alarming evidence to support the
view that Zimbabwe is indeed disintegrating towards a total political,
economic and social meltdown, resulting in intolerable suffering on the
people of Zimbabwe.
Draconian legislation has been passed to disenfranchise hundreds of
thousands of innocent voters, curtail the opposition from campaigning and
expand the powers of the security forces to such a degree that civil
liberties are all but destroyed.
Zimbabwe can be saved from the abyss if sufficient diplomatic pressure is
exerted from the international community.
We urge the international community, and SADC countries in particular, to
call for the following:
· An end to all acts of political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe
· The implementations of SADC norms and standards for a free and fair
election
· The unequivocal withdraw of the draconian legislation that was recently
implemented
· The Zimbabwe Government to condemn political statements by the army
· The immediate invitation and accreditation of international observers
· Guarantees that international and local journalists will be able to work
without fear of arrest or political intimidation
If the conditions are not met by the end of January the international
community should take decisive action and impose targeted sanctions on
President Mugabe, his family and other leading figures within Zanu PF guilty
of committing gross human rights abuses.
For further information please contact.
Albert Weidemann 01765 - 607900
albert@weidemann.fsnet.co.uk
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Comment from The Vanguard (Nigeria), 23 January

Harare's coming Presidential polls

Lagos - The fiery love of power and the tempting urge to die with it is threatening Zimbabwe's future as another election approaches. As the Presidential polls slated for March 9 to 10 moves closer, the country's President since independence, Robert Mugabe, is creating difficulties in the land. Robert Mugabe, 77, who has ruled for twenty two years is not willing to let go political power. Despite the national and international aversion to his sit-tight ambition, he has been adopting measures that will effectualise his grip on power. We know that human rights violations and fragrant disregard for the judiciary have been the bane of the country in recent past. The President has moved a step further by enacting an Electoral law that will emasculate oppositional efforts in the coming Presidential polls.

The country's parliament where Mugabe's Zanu PF has a comfortable majority attempts some laws recently. The Public Order and Security bill and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill state that it is an offence to criticise the president. Also, election posters and leaflets lacking approval by the authorities are banned; local independent election monitors are barred from the coming presidential polls; while international observers are to be allowed only on strict governmental terms, state-owned media are also closed to oppositions campaign usage. Oppositional majority were also disenfranchised while a curtailment of independent press freedom via government accreditation renewable each year was put in place.

We believe that all these chaos-creating laws are not necessary. Robert Mugabe in over two decades had enough time to create landmark achievement in Zimbabwe. As a radical and socialist, the future of his country had lain in his hand since 1980 when, he assumed office. Twenty-two years after there is the need for change. The former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe needs change. We want the President to ensure a peaceful change of baton in Zimbabwe. He should allow the will of the people to triumph. His present sit-tight posture that is reminiscent of the repulsive culture of African leaders is disturbing. Mugabe started very well but may in the usual African fashion end up tragically. This can be averted if only he quits power now to guarantee a future of pride to Zimbabweans long after his demise. He should allow the Movement For Democratic Change opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai to thrive during the coming election. Vanguard calls on Mugabe to heed the wise counselling of national and international statesmen and bodies on the coming election. Such voices have included that of Bishop Desmond Tutu. He owes Zimbabwe the duty to ensure a free and fair election come March.

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Daily News - The Mole

How the ‘chefs’ preyed on married women

1/25/02 10:06:07 AM (GMT +2)



Whoever coined the expression “speaking with a forked tongue” must surely
have had in mind people such as the lot that makes up the Zanu PF
leadership. Novelist Englishman George Orwell came up with his own
expression for it. He called it “doublespeak”. Both expressions boil down to
one and the same thing, however: insincerity.


And The Mole has no doubt whatsoever that, within Zimbabwe’s borders at
least, Zanu PF leaders are the undisputed masters at that despicable game
called insincerity. Some vivid illustrations.

As President Mugabe was giving double-plus assurances (another Orwellian
expression) to fellow Southern African Development leaders, gathered in
Blantyre, Malawi, last weekend-but-one, that his government would ensure
optimum conditions for a free and fair presidential election were in place
and that he would also work to ensure a peaceful poll by making sure all
perpetrators of political violence are brought to justice, huge strides were
being taken back home in precisely the opposite direction.

Not content with brutally butchering MDC members Milton Chambati, Trymore
Midzi, Titus Nheya, Laban Chimweta, Rambisai Nyika, Shepherd Tigere and
Moffat Chiwaura – all killed in cold blood in Gokwe and Bindura towards the
end of last month – Zanu PF activists were busy bludgeoning to death more
MDC supporters in Zaka and Bikita at the very time Mugabe was making that
promise.

It was at about that moment too that policemen and soldiers at Lupane were
virtually supervising the murderous stabbing and slashing of MDC MP David
Mpala by a knife-wielding gang of war veterans and Zanu PF supporters.

And in the urban centres of Harare, Kwekwe and Chitungwiza that very
weekend, all hell had broken loose as Elliot Manyika’s green-uniformed
militia from the Border Gezi Training Centre – now infamously nicknamed
“Green Bombers” – went on the rampage in the high-density suburbs.

In what Manyika wants us to believe is “national service”, a very sick joke
I must say, the “Green Bombers” were going from door to door demanding to be
shown, by
everyone in each house and in the streets, Zanu PF membership cards and
severely beating up anyone who failed to produce one.

* Talking about Zanu PF party membership cards, please forgive my abysmal
ignorance or crass stupidity, but I am perhaps the only person who was
unaware of this extremely important, if somewhat vexatious, new development.
It would appear the Zanu PF membership card has now replaced the old metal
ID card as the official national identity document for every black
Zimbabwean. (I have yet to be informed of any white, Asian or coloured
citizen who has been affected by it).

Otherwise how else can the authorities explain their studious silence in the
face of the green-uniformed militia’s requirement that everyone must carry
it (Zanu PF membership card) or, for that matter, justify the severe instant
punishment meted out, apparently with the tacit approval of the police, to
those found without it? So it must be the new official decree, I must
conclude.

In which case someone must advise Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo to make
an official announcement about this new national ID, never mind that it is
dubious, to put it mildly. In fact, seeing as it has been in force for quite
some time now already, that up to now he had not done so can only be viewed
as a serious dereliction of duty which must attract a severe reprimand from
“Motor Mouth” himself, no less – on behalf of the President, of course.

That reprimand is justified because Nkomo’s glaring omission to announce the
new law – if, indeed, it is the new law – has caused so much suffering to
thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens. Harrowing tales are being told
every day by scores of innocent citizens who have been unfairly roughed up
when caught unawares moving about without the new ID, not in wilful defiance
of the law in any way, I guess but, like me, most probably out of genuine
ignorance of its existence.

That reminds me. Early into Independence we used to incessantly chant the
slogan: “Zanu vanhu; vanhu iZanu” (Zanu is the people; the people are Zanu).
The Mole proposes that this be replaced forthwith with a new, and infinitely
more realistic slogan: “Zanu PF is the Law; the Law is Zanu PF”.

* As could be expected, the official media allocated acres of newspaper
space and endless hours of airtime to reporting on what has been dubbed “The
December Farce”. Its main feature was, not surprisingly, praise-singing,
punctuated now and then by some truly suffocating hot air, that emanated
from the remarkable non-event which I, and probably quite a few other
similarly-inclined cynics among the country’s political observers, think
Zanu PF’s Victoria Falls “conference” was. But there was another side to the
conference consisting of nefarious activities which, naturally, the official
media did not – and could not – even so much as hint at. These were the
sideshows – the goings-on – that inevitably took place away from the glare
of television cameras at the end of each day when delegates left the
conference hall.

I am told that the less duped – and more adventurous – among senior party
members at the conference who found the shenanigans of their more obsequious
colleagues, such as July Moyo, boring to the point of almost driving them to
screaming, more than made up for that voluntary torture by maximising their
self-indulgence, the all-paid-for fun, especially when the sun went down.

Although the fact that VIPs at the conference were accommodated in hotel
rooms and lodges at a minimum of $6 000 a night was widely publicised,
little or no publicity at all was given to the vast difference between
allowances paid to senior party members and what was given to ordinary
delegates from the rank and file of the party’s membership.

Information which has reached me only recently is that while the majority of
the delegates were paid about $250 a day for-out-of-pocket incidental
expenses, the chefs (party bosses) were paid as much as $15 000 a day for
their total expenses, including accommodation. And it was the
accommodation – the lack of it for ordinary delegates to be precise – that
turned the event into a weekend of sex romps on the cheap for the chefs.

Rather than sleep in uncomfortable places, such as classrooms, commandeered
by the party for the duration of the meeting, the less self-respecting among
the ordinary women delegates (such people will always be found wherever you
go) made it clear to the more luxuriously accommodated chefs that they were
“available”.

I am told there were quite a few nights of illicit bliss for those among the
chefs who were not averse to preying on the women’s love of comfort. I am
also told it was literally a pick-and-choose situation for those powerful
men – what in Shona is known as sharaude.

There was certainly nothing criminal about that since it was a matter of
give-and-take between consenting adults. The one disturbing aspect of it,
however, is that some of the women were married, which means those weekend
liaisons were, quite simply, adulterous.
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Daily News - Leader Page

Are Zanu PF MPs starting to wake up?

1/25/02 10:40:56 AM (GMT +2)



ONE of the major reasons why Professor Jonathan Moyo’s Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Bill suffered two embarrassing setbacks in
Parliament during the past fortnight is because it is anti-media freedom,
and in a country proclaiming itself to be a democracy, it is authoritarian
and repressive.



It is reassuring that there are still some people in Zanu PF who can tell
when the government has exceeded the limit. At least, they are smart enough
to realise that in an election year and in era where Zimbabwe seeks to be
part of the international community, such legislation spells the doom of
democracy.

While today the target may be those perceived to be opponents of the
government, and the independent Press, when these are vanquished, MPs deemed
not to follow the “footsteps” of the architects of the media Bill will be
the next targets.

But while they may not have been thinking that far, one thing is certain:
the Bill offends against any society that cherishes the free flow of
information and accountability by holders of public office.

There is also the anger that this is something that was done without wider
consultations, even among members of the ruling party, and that during an
election year this subverts the ruling party’s electoral prospects.

The best way of protecting the interests of the government is simply by
being transparent in its work and conduct.

The Department of Information and Publicity in the President’s Office has
been controversial since its establishment.

Among government officials, there is the perception that whoever is in
charge is powerful because of the government’s absolute control over the
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Zimbabwe Newspapers.

Other members of the ruling party and government officials may have also
shot down the Bill because it threatens to create an even more monstrously
powerful minister of state for information.

The Bill is one of the few pieces of legislation that seek to wipe out the
gains Zimbabwe has achieved since independence, effectively isolating the
country from the rest of the world and giving rise to the flight of capital.

Foreign and domestic investment has never been known to thrive in
totalitarian environments.
The exodus of human capital that is evident with all Air Zimbabwe flights
bound for London, is a profound statement, confirming the tragedy to which
this country has been reduced.

Any government that has nothing to hide and cares about the views of the
electorate, would not seek to suppress the tolerance of a diversity of
opinions, which is an important facet of working democracies.

The only reason why any government would conspire to bring forth legislation
such as that tabled in Parliament recently is that it has dark intentions.

Viewed differently, it means the government is not planning on having a free
and fair presidential election and that in order to accomplish such an
electoral travesty, it requires the likes of the Public Order and Security
Act, the General Laws Amendment Act, and the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Bill.

The government is misdirecting itself in pursuing enactment of such pieces
of legislation. What is tragic is that after its central committee report
presented to its delegates at the Victoria Falls conference last month, the
Zanu PF government can only come up with strategies to coerce the electorate
into voting for it.

It is an acknowledgement by Zanu PF that it has nothing positive with which
to market itself and its candidate ahead of the presidential election on 9
and 10 March.

While the courage of the MPs in refusing to rubber-stamp the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Bill is commendable, they would have
saved this country from the current mess if they had demonstrated this
refusal much earlier, for example, on such issues as the costly and tragic
safari in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Daily News

Ex-Zipra fighters demand return of seized properties

1/25/02 10:33:21 AM (GMT +2)


From Chris Gande in Bulawayo

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s electoral fortunes in Matabeleland are set to
worsen because of growing unrest among former Zipra members, who are
disgruntled over Zanu PF’s failure to hand back properties which were
confiscated by the government in the mid-1980s.


The war veterans, who have forcibly occupied Castle Arms Motel in Bulawayo,
are demanding an immediate return of their property as they see this as the
only way to alleviate growing poverty and hardships among their ranks. They
have also slammed the land redistribution exercise as biased towards
ex-Zanla combatants.

Members of Zipra, the former military wing of PF-Zapu during the liberation
struggle, contributed funds to buy farms and companies.The properties, made
up of farms, buildings and companies, were confiscated following the
discovery of large arms caches on some of the farms.

The properties include Nest Egg Farm, the 12 960-hectare Hampton Farm in
Gweru, the 564 421-hectare Ascot Farm near Solusi and Castle Arms Motel.The
companies, such as Black Cat Removals, were run by Nitram Holdings, a
company which was formed by the ex-combatants in preparation for their
return to civilian life.

Most of the former Zipra guerrillas are now reportedly destitute either
because their $4 000 monthly pensions have been eroded by run-away inflation
or due to not receiving any State assistance.

There are about 4 000 former Zipra fighters in Matabeleland alone.
One ex-combatant, Albert Mlalazi Ncube, said: “We were tricked and we will
not campaign for Zanu PF this time as long as we are not given back our
properties. For how long shall Zimbabweans be deceived and fooled?”

Some of the destitute former Zipra cadres have forcibly moved into Castle
Arms. The former fighters have tried to repossess some of their property but
they have been driven away by baton-stick-wielding riot
police.

However, the former combatants say they will not rest until they get back
their assets.
“We have resolved to repossess our property. We are not going back on that,”
Ncube said. He added that the discontentment among the former Zipra members
is being worsened by Zanu PF’s neglect of former Zipra commanders, some of
whom have died impoverished while their former Zanla colleagues are
millionaires.
Most of the former Zipra properties have been leased or sold to individuals
and companies. Ncube said it was ironic that most of the people who are
leasing or have bought the estates are the same whites who Mugabe says he is
fighting against.
The war veterans have accused a committee that was appointed by the
government to facilitate the surrender of the properties of being
ineffective and furthering the non-return of the properties.

Some of the ex-Zipra freedom fighters said they were also not satisfied with
the land redistribution exercise because a majority of them were not
benefiting from the programme.

One of them said: “A lot of people from Mashonaland are being given land
here ahead of Matabeleland residents. When we complain we are told that the
programme is national but just look at the list of beneficiaries in the
Mashonaland West scheme – there are hardly any people from Matabeleland.”

Max Mkandla, a member of the Zimbabwe Liberators’ Platform (ZLP) – a
grouping of former freedom fighters – said the return of the property was
long overdue.
ZLP consists of members from both Zipra and Zanla who are opposed to the
chaotic land redistribution programme.

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Daily News

Game guards shot dead

1/25/02 10:30:12 AM (GMT +2)


From Energy Bara

TWO game guards were shot dead and another seriously injured at Malikanga
Ranch in Mwenezi following an incident involving guards and newly resettled
farmers.
A settler was injured after he was shot in the thigh.


Masvingo police on Wednesday said the seriously injured guard was in a coma
after a bullet ripped through his stomach, exposing his intestines.
According to the police, three guards, one of them armed with a shotgun,
confronted a group of seven newly-resettled farmers at around 11pm on
Tuesday.

The settlers were on their way to a nearby beerhall. The guards accused one
of the settlers of causing trouble on the farm because he is a Zanu PF
supporter. There was an altercation and one of the guards shot and injured a
settler before the others took to their heels.

Some of the settlers, after rendering first aid to the victim, took him to
hospital.
Police investigators went to the farm and arrested one guard. As they
tracked down two other suspects they found two different guards lying in a
pool of blood near the compounds.

They also found another guard in critical condition after his stomach was
ripped open by a bullet. Police said they had withheld the names of the
victims because their next of kin had not been informed. Investigations were
still in progress. Malikanga Ranch is owned by Gerald Whitehead, an MDC
activist.

Part of the farm was designated for resettlement.




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Daily News

MPs thrown out of House

1/25/02 10:23:14 AM (GMT +2)


Political Editor

FOUR MPs were yesterday thrown out of Parliament as heated debate raged on a
motion introduced by Mt Darwin South MP, Saviour Kasukuwere. The motion
condemned the European Union (EU)’s demands for Zimbabwe to invite its
members to observe the 9-10 March presidential election.


Paul Madzore(MDC Glen View) and Daniel Mackenzie (Zanu PF Zhombe) were
ejected for 30 minutes by the Deputy Speaker, Edna Madzongwe. Job Sikhala
(MDC St Mary’s) and Leonard Chirowamhangu (MDC Nyanga) were ordered to leave
for the day for trading insults with Zanu PF MPs across the floor.

Kasukuwere was supported by fellow Zanu PF MPs Philip Chiyangwa (Chinhoyi),
Webster Shamu (Chegutu) and Shuvai Mahofa (Gutu South) in his attack on the
EU for “blatantly” interfering in Zimbabwean affairs.

He said Zimbabwe could solve its own problems without being told what to do
by the EU, Britain, the United States or the Commonwealth, which he
dismissed as a social club.

The MDC said the EU's concerns were legitimate because of the ongoing
political violence which has claimed more than 90 lives since February 2000.
Tendai Biti (MDC Harare East) said since Zimbabwe had voluntarily joined the
Commonwealth and other international bodies, it had to abide by the
principles and tenets governing those bodies.

Timothy Mukahlera (Gweru Urban) said the EU and the British were concerned
at the government-sponsored violence against the opposition. He said the
government had to remember that the British government treated its citizens
well and did not murder them to remain in office, as Zanu PF did.


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Daily News

War veterans attack nurses

1/25/02 10:20:49 AM (GMT +2)


From Chris Gande

A GROUP of people believed to be war veterans on Wednesday attacked nurses
at Bulawayo’s Mpilo Central Hospital allegedly for supporting the MDC.
Sources said two nurses and a general hand sustained serious injuries while
about ten student nurses were treated and discharged.


Dr Juliet Dube-Ndebele, the hospital medical superintendent, confirmed the
incident but referred all questions to the Ministry of Health and Child
Welfare in Harare. She said they had sent a report of the incident to the
ministry in Harare.
Nurses at the hospital said the mayhem started when a male student nurse who
is a member of the youth brigade failed his examination and called the war
veterans.
They allegedly demanded he be given high marks despite his lacklustre
performance.




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