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

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A NIGHT IN A ZIMBABWEAN CELL
 
Returning to South Africa after a holiday in Zimbabwe we reported to the Beit Bridge Border Post.  On the Zimbabwe side we were required to pay a R76 fee (or border tax?).  It had to be paid in foreign currency (while most government’s charge fees duties and taxes in their own currency – in Zimbabwe the government has such little faith in its own currency that it must charge in foreign currencies!).  We tendered a R100 note expecting to receive R24 change.  No the change would be in Zim Dollars (of no use to a person exiting the country!).  I insisted on change in Rand on principle.  The surely official shook his head.  Fellow travellers in the queue offered to change the R100 into smaller denominations so that we could pay the exact amount.  The official refused to return the R100 note and gave us change in Zim Dollars at the official rate of Z$4.5/R1 (it should have been Z$7/R1 or better still the parallel rate of Z$40/1) and pushed Z$110 across the counter (the equivalent of R2.75).  Clearly he was conducting his own very profitable business.  In disgust and since we would have no use for this money in SA I tore the notes up and threw them away.  A silly thing to do, as you will see!
 
Immediately I was arrested by a CID Constable for destroying the currency and taken to the Police Station to be interviewed by a Det. Insp. During the course of which an aggressive and belligerent Det. Sergeant entered the office and began haranguing me about destroying his countries currency and insisting that I be jailed for the offence.  (this little Hitler was to dog me continuously thereafter).  So it was that I was to be fingerprinted, Warned and Cautioned and detained.  I asked to see my wife waiting outside and tell her of my fate.  While so doing a group of about 10 plain clothes policemen verbally harangued and harassed me.  Clearly the detention of a white man was a sport not to be missed.  Little Hitler led the verbal assault with vigour.
 
After I had made a statement I asked to see the Member-in-Charge, a Detective Chief Inspector and urged that since it was a minor crime that I either be allowed to pay a deposit fine or that my passport and car be held as security while was released to find accommodation in a local hotel to appear before the magistrate the next morning.  He was sympathetic but refused.
 
Since no food was provided my wife was told to bring food for me at 6 pm.  However having done so I was not permitted to eat it.  The stoney faced orderly in charge of the cells had it as an essential part of his job description to ensure that his wards were subjected to every possible discomfort and ill consideration.
 
I was locked up with 12 others in a cell that stank of stale unwashed bodies and urine.  Two blankets were provided for the twelve inmates to sleep on.  These blankets had obviously not been washed in a long time and were greasy and putrid with the accumulation of human sweat & excreta.  My black cellmates lay dovetailed banana like on the blankets.  I chose to rather lie on the cement floor.  Even the cement stank of the strong ammonia smell of urine.
 
From 5.30p.m. to nearly 7 am the cell was in absolute blackness, there being no light  other than that which entered through the small inspection hatch in the door.  With each being immersed in his private hell there was no conversation, the only sound being the racking cough of one or two of the inmates, the odd sound of flatulence and the rasping breathing of one who had a respiratory problem.
 
In the blackness the squat pan could not be seen and efforts to relieve oneself often went amiss, leaving a growing area of excrement around the pan for the next person who stepped up to the plate.  This was then carried on the soles of our bare feet across the cell and onto the blankets.  As the toilet was flushed but once in 22 hours the smell became steadily worse.  The stench became so overwhelming that breathing became unbearable.  I discovered a weak flow of fresh air under the cell door and lay with my head against it.
 
No food or water was provided in the 22 hours that I was in the cell (other that food brought in the morning by my wife which I shared among my cell mates).  One cellmate had been there for several days and complained that he was thirsty, but he explained that he had only been given water when he asked the orderly.  This had only been a few mouthfuls, accompanied by several blows.  He was scared to ask again.
 
A young Zambian man was distraught.  He had been arrested because the Chirundu Border Post stamp in his passport was said to not be correct.  H had come through the border at Chirundu and his passport had been stamped by the authorities there.  He could not understand why the stamp was alleged to not be correct.  He said he had saved long and hard for this trip to South Africa (to seek his fortune).  Now his resources were exhausted, his one chance in life had been dashed.  He was in a foreign country none of his family would know what had become of him – even if he could get to a phone he did not have the money for the call.  I offered to phone his brother in J’burg if I was released in the morning.  He asked the guard for a pencil and paper to write down the number for me.  His request was refused by ‘stone face’.
 
From time to time through the night we were removed from the cell for a head count which was usually accompanied by verbal abuse and blows (kicks, punches and slaps) being inflicted on several of the inmates.
 
In the morning we were removed from the cells and paraded before 10 or so CID detectives.  Each prisoner had to present himself before this group, announce himself and his crime, following which he was subjected to a stream of verbal abuse; at least half of the prisoners were kicked, slapped or punched (hard).  Perhaps because of my white skin I was not assaulted during my stay, however I was always subjected to the greater degree of verbal abuse.   Little Hitler as always was the most vocal, he really unsettled me when he threatened that there must have been some political motive to my tearing the bank notes and that other charges were being prepared against me.  I realised that if a charge under the Law & Order Maintenance Act or Emergency Powers Act was trumped up I might never see the light of day again.  I became seriously worried!
 
Half an hour later we were again paraded in the exercise yard for a repeat  performance, this time by uniformed policemen led by a sergeant in plain clothes.  This time the beatings were more violent.  A favourite was for one policeman to bend the man over and lift his shirt from his back while another slapped him with all the force he could muster, in the small of his back.  Again I was spared these beatings in return verbal abuse. 
 
All the blows and beatings that I witnessed were completely unprovoked and without purpose or reason, simply a wonton abuse of power and animalistic viciousness.
 
Eventually my investigating officer released me and with his own money hired a taxi to take us to court (since there was no Police transport available).  The prosecutor  quickly & inefficiently determined that the maximum penalty provided by law was Z$50 (R1.25 at the parallel rate) and he invited me to pay an admission of guilt fine for this amount, which I readily accepted.
 
From the CID Chief Inspector down the members of Beit Bridge Police Station, behaviour was  unacceptable, unprofessional, arrogant and without compassion.  They are a discredit to their force and their country.
 
While my crime was self evident, the proper treatment should have been to fine me at the time of the incident (in fact a formal warning would have been more appropriate).  This was clearly a case of a heavy-handed abuse of power, smacking of racialism.  These policemen should hang their heads in shame; they bring no honour to their profession or country.
 
The star of the show was the Detective Constable who was the “Investigating Officer”.  He was efficient, courteous, well organised and had a properly balanced approach to his work.  He documented the case neatly and correctly.  At the same time as doing his job he showed compassion and respect for my rights.  This is a fine policeman by any standards, that he achieved and maintained such standards in his present environment is greater credit to him.
 
As much as I was abused in my treatment (I should never have been detained for this offence), my concern and the reason for this report is the treatment meted out by the ZRP to their black countrymen.  The conditions in the Police holding cell are inhumane – even the Smith Government provided clean blankets, food and water to prisoners and the cells were regularly scrubbed with Jeyes fluid.  The irrational and random beating of the prisoners is totally unacceptable and deserves stern action by the senior officers.  But then of course all this is to be expected the ZRP have long gone beyond acceptable norms of an impartial and professional Police Force.
 
Prisoners in Police cells have not been convicted of any crime.  Their detention is merely to secure their attendance in court (if this is at question).  It is not a form of punishment and should not be made such by bullying strong armed thugs who profess to be policemen.
 

Rob Hamilton
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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
Farm Invasions And Security Report
Friday 19 July 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

·      Trelawney/Darwendale – there are reports of massive theft, particularly of MCB and switchgear, which appears to be the work of more than one gang operating in the area.  Some criminals were recently released on amnesty and it is felt they are responsible. 

·       Gutu/Chatsworth - On Bath Farm, an individual from the ZFTU approached the owner on the evening of 11.07.02, saying if the owner paid him a certain amount he would stop the full delegation of the ZFTU approaching the owner and extorting huge sums of money.

·        Masvingo East and Central – on Chidza Farm, despite numerous promises made to the owner the DA will address settlers and move them off the property, the owner has not seen any delegation arrive on the property.

REGIONAL NEWS

MANICALAND
Chipinge
- ZFTU are still very active in the area and are causing problems on some of the farms.  The settlers are ploughing and buying maize seed from ZFC.

Burma Valley - DDF ploughed nearly three weeks ago, but nothing has been done since.  Some settlers have grown wheat and vegetables.

Odzi - Settlers are still going around looking for jobs from farms in the area.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Mvurwi
– continued harassment by ZFTU stirring up labour to ask for full terminal benefits.  This has been reported by eight farms. 

MASHONALAND EAST
Beatrice – Seven Section 8 Orders received week ending 12.07.02.  Two workers were abducted by "war vets" and beaten up.  Although the workers returned, no police reaction.  In general thefts of electrical equipment, pumps, cables, switch gear stolen and one MCB.  Ongoing poaching, stock theft and cattle slaughtered.  A vehicle was apprehended with 2 slaughtered cattle, which was involved in an accident.  Two of the occupants escaped with a firearm, and two others taken to the police. 

Harare South – in the week ending 12.07.02, 18 cows in calf were stolen.  One Section 8 was received, and later +-20 settlers arrived in three vehicles on the farm concerned.  One farm reported poaching.  Agritex visited a couple of farms with recent Section 8 orders to gather statistics on production, yields and facilities.

Macheke/Virginia - One farmer had a work stoppage and workers demanded severance packages.  They later locked him in the security fence.  No police reaction.  Another farmer experienced a work stoppage by workers demanding severance pay, which was resolved.  Another farmer, who paid off his labour months ago, received threats from his ex-labour.  There was theft of an electric motor and cattle, with one cow slaughtered.  One farmer was locked out of his house.  A farmer moving his diesel tanks, had to break down a wall, and the settlers accused him of destroying property.  The labour was chased away and his keys taken away.  The DA was contacted who said he would react.  A farmer recovered 12 cattle missing for a year, and the thief is in gaol.  Another farmer had a fire deliberately set in the gum plantation.  A farmer had all his cattle pushed into the garden, and one walked through the glass door of his lounge.

MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Banket - There was a major problem on a farm when farmers were barricaded in their house.  Eventually a Lt. Col. Mataruka solved the problem.  The owner is now farming from Harare.

Trelawney/Darwendale – there are reports of massive theft, particularly of MCB and switchgear, which appears to be the work of more than one gang operating in the area.  Some criminals were recently released on amnesty and it is felt they are responsible.  Three borehole pumps, 11 electric motors, 3 motorcycles, 2 batteries, 6 starters and 5 cases of aluminium pipe theft reported so far.

Raffingora - On Sunday 14.07.02, Dr. Chombo and Mr. Chiangwa arrived late at a rally held at Katawa farm for the Victory Celebrations. Dr. Chombo spoke briefly, re-emphasising he wanted the owners of Erewhon, Chinomwe and another farm off their properties. He instructed local "war vet" Kangachepe to carry out this task. Before the audience could ask any questions the two officials left, claiming they had to rush off to their next appointment.   A2 settlers continue arriving on farms. DA Tembo visited Raffingora Estates and removed the "youth" from the yard. He also visited Minihaha Farm and removed settlers from the spare house and allowed the owner to remove property. He also visited Perth Farm advising the settlers to move off for A2 settlement and go to the adjacent property. District is reasonably peaceful at present.

MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
No report received.

MASVINGO
Reports up to 15.07.02

Mwenezi - Battlefields Ranch settlers now demand the use of the owner’s dip tank facilities approximately 100m from the owner’s homestead. Another Impala was found dead in a snare.  At Valley Ranch there is a very serious shortage of grazing. It is inundated with communal cattle and heavily over stocked. It was reported cattle originate from as far as Malapati area and are moved on to the ranch.  On Tuesday 09.07.02, settlers on Umbono Ranch were "clearing" lands by burning. Mwenezi is in a drought situation and no rain has fallen since December so the grass is tinder dry. The fire spread into Nuanetsi Ranch and burned all day and smouldered all night. The next day it flared up again, threatening grazing leased by Carswell Meats, so the labour teamed up to fight the blaze. High winds fanned the flames and a few thousand hectares of valuable grazing was lost. The settler concerned is employed on Matibi Section by Nuanetsi Ranch. There is also no underground water on Umbono, so water is carried in from neighbouring farms.  There were no apologies or attempt to fight the fire by the settlers concerned.  Nuanetsi Ranch itself has been leasing out grazing to farmers' whose cattle had  been forced off their own farms as part of the cruel abusive tactic of starvation of livestock on commercial farms. They are also leasing much of their grazing out to the new black commercial farmers. However Nuanetsi Ranch is now in a serious situation for grazing of their own cattle, which have slowly moved towards the centre of the ranch due to settler encroachment, poaching, burning and destruction of pipelines. This incident just illustrates the continual destruction of the environment.

Gutu / Chatsworth – the Makanya Farm P/L owner’s wife employs women in a sewing project. After her husband was subjected by firstly permanent workers then contract workers in paying millions of dollars to ZFTU, she faced the same harassment and had to pay millions of dollars on 12.07.02 to the sewing project workers.  The ZFTU claimed they were underpaid. This has subsequently led to the closure of the business.  The Condor Farm owner reported one cow slaughtered on the property to the ZRP. It was believed to be his labour who removed the meat. ZRP investigated and approached a large group of settlers, who were in a meeting, to ask questions. The settlers objected to this and a delegation of approximately 60 settlers approached the owner demanding he remove his cattle immediately and asking why he accused them of theft, an unfounded statement. On Bath Farm an individual from the ZFTU approached the owner on the evening of 11.07.02, saying if the owner paid him a certain amount he would stop the full delegation of the ZFTU approaching the owner and extorting huge sums of money.

Chiredzi - Ongoing poaching and snaring within this area.

Masvingo East and Central – the Townlands Farm owner reports stocktheft of another 14 cattle.  The Lochinvar Farm owner reports stocktheft of another 12 head of cattle.

Reports up to 18.07.02

Masvingo East and Central – on Chidza Farm despite numerous promises made to the owner the DA will address settlers and move them off the property, the owner has not seen any delegation arrive on the property.

Chiredzi - Poaching and snaring continue.

Mwenezi – the Alko Ranch owner received a letter from a certain individual (politician) demanding she be off the property by a certain date.  Kyalami Ranch and Kalahari Ranch each received a Section 7 Notice.  At Valley Ranch World Vision Malapati has now moved cattle on to the property. World Vision is also transporting settlers on to the property, driving around and checking up on cattle.  In general, slaughtering of cattle, snaring, theft, poaching and deforestation continue unabated within this area.

Save Conservancy - Poaching and snaring continue in this area.

Gutu / Chatsworth - Slaughtering of cattle, snaring, theft, poaching and deforestation continue unabated within this area.

Masvingo town: The ZFTU are said to be doing the rounds within the town and have visited two business premises.   In the one business the entire work force has signed up after continued harassment. The ZFTU are aggressive in approach causing endless harassment to both shop owner and working staff.

MIDLANDS
No report received.

MATABELELAND
No report received.


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

Press Statement

In line with their intention to continue to pursue dialogue with the
Government of Zimbabwe, the Commercial Farmers Union makes the following
announcement.

By mutual agreement and with immediate effect, Jenni Williams - a public
relations and media consultant, who has also been a CFU spokesperson, will
no longer represent the Commercial Farmers Union  (CFU), or issue statements
on their behalf.

During the past year Jenni Williams has been an exemplary and highly
respected communicator with regard to fulfilling CFU's mandate from members.
The Union has taken the decision to release Jenni Williams who has elected
to continue representing individual farmers who prefer to take recourse to
legal action as a means of resolving their current impasse.

We wish her well in giving voice to other views within the agricultural
sector.

C. B. Cloete President
Jenni Williams - Consultant

19th July 2002
For more information, please contact the
Commercial Farmers Union
Tel Harare 309800
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MSNBC

Mugabe declines dialogue with Zimbabwe white farmers



HAVANA, July 19 - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe rejected on Friday an
appeal by white farmers for a meeting ahead of a government deadline for
hundreds of them to leave their land next month.
       Mugabe, speaking at the end of a visit to communist-run Cuba, said
the farmers should address their problems to Vice President Joseph Msika,
who is in charge of the land acquisition program.
       ''The white farmers have channels they must follow. They are not
superhuman beings,'' he said at a news conference.
       ''They are not satisfied with that level of authority because they
think, by virtue of being British and being white, they are more divine than
anyone else,'' he said.
       ''There is an authority which can address their problems. Why do they
avoid it? Who are they after all?'' he added.
       Nearly 3,000 white farmers have been ordered to vacate their farms by
Aug. 10 to make way for landless blacks.
       The embattled farmers were ordered to stop all farming on June 24,
and those found guilty of defying government orders face heavy fines or two
years in prison.
       The farmers appealed on Monday for face-to-face dialogue with Mugabe,
saying the government's decision to press on with its two-year land reform
plan had severely hurt crop production.
       Aid agencies say 6 million Zimbabweans need emergency food aid as a
result of a drought and disruption of farming operations resulting from the
government's land drive.
       Zimbabwe was plunged into its worst crisis in two decades of
independence in 2000 when pro-government militants, led by veterans of the
1970s liberation war, began invading farms.
       Mugabe says his ''fast-track'' land resettlement program is aimed at
correcting imbalances in land ownership created by British colonialism.

CUBA JOINS AIDS WAR IN AFRICA
       Mugabe ended a four-day visit by thanking Cuban President Fidel
Castro for his country's military assistance in fighting for independence
wars in Africa and by welcoming Cuba's offer to help fight the AIDS pandemic
sweeping the continent.
       Cuban genetic engineers and biotechnology researchers are working on
a vaccine against the sub-type C of the HIV virus prevalent in Africa, which
they hope to have ready by 2007.
       Cuba agreed to send another 71 doctors to Zimbabwe, including
gynecologists, pediatricians, general surgeons, neurologists and
pharmacists, Mugabe said. There are currently 117 Cuban doctors serving in
the southern African nation.
       Mugabe, 78, criticized wealthy nations for ignoring Africa's health
crisis while praising the sacrifice economically weakened Cuba was making to
help African nations.
       Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in
1980, also defended the validity of his re-election to a further six-year
term in March.
       Zimbabwe's opposition and many Western countries accused him of
cheating and using violence and food as campaign weapons to win the
presidential election.
       Mugabe said African nations considered the vote to be free and fair,
while Europe and the United States did not.
       ''To this day I don't know whether Bush won the election as president
at all,'' he said, adding that the 2000 presidential race in the United
States was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
       ''I did not have to go to court for the validation of the people's
verdict,'' Mugabe said. ''And yet Mr. Bush dares say he is holier than I.''
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Daily News

Letters/Opinions

      African leaders masters at blaming other people

      7/19/02 8:10:54 AM (GMT +2)



      It is a well known fact that African leaders are masters at
scape-goating and mismanagement of their countries' affairs.

      They blame everyone and everything for the unfortunate situation their
countries find themselves in. The only people spared this blame are
themselves. Botswana and a handful others are the only exceptions.

      The weak South African President Thabo Mbeki has blamed
pharmaceuticals for the Aids pandemic and Cyril Ramaphosa (through Steve
Tshwete) for an attempt on his life.

      Our very own leader, who is determined to rule for life, Robert
Gabriel Mugabe, blamed his opponents for causing drought and starvation (not
his war veterans/"Green Bombers") and has blamed the bureaux de change for
the foreign currency shortages.

      Let's not forget that we are living in the 21st century where
democracy and good governance are the in-thing.

      Mugabe rigged the presidential polls and God has been frowning at him
all along. Now God is extremely angry. The international community will
never release funds or support the present government because it is
basically illegitimate and irrelevant.

      The people of Zimbabwe have now suffered to the extent that no one
should afford to be selfish anymore. Let's kick out these bankrupt leaders
and save our nation. The name Gabriel is supposed to signify the lead angel.

      Our children will soon be forced to undergo the so-called national
service, supposedly to teach them patriotism. Patriotism can never be forced
on anyone, worse still on empty stomachs. Zimbabweans should resist sending
their children to those Border Gezi National Brainwash Centres.

      Mugabe is prone to using force for very personal and selfish reasons
to do with staying in power. He forced Joshua Nkomo to remain in office even
when he was in very ill health and the man died in office because Mugabe was
convinced if Nkomo left government Ndebeles would stop supporting him and
his Zanu PF.

      Similarly today, he is forcing Simon Muzenda to remain in office
because he fears he will lose the support of the Karanga if he allows him to
retire. Muzenda has been in China and will probably face the same fate.

      Kumbirai Kangai is in the United Kingdom, presumably for treatment,
while our local hospitals have been turned into morgues where the sick, poor
and starving come out in coffins. Must we continue to blame the West?

      The Green Bombers must produce more food, the non-performing ministers
must create more foreign currency and Mugabe must allow a rerun of the
rigged presidential poll under United Nations supervision.

      Mugabe should have no problem with a rerun of the election since he
claims he won the poll and that he is not to blame for most of our economic
ills as he always tells us.

      But, deep down his heart, Mugabe knows who is to blame.

      Jennings Rukani
      UK

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Daily News

Leader Page

      Peasant agriculture unlikely to feed the nation

      7/19/02 8:03:06 AM (GMT +2)



      FOR Zimbabwe to restore food self-sufficiency, let alone exports, will
be a daunting task. I think the government of the day will have to
disillusion the population as to every person's "right" to free land; this
is a fallacy.

      Peasant agriculture is very unlikely to feed the nation or produce
large volumes for export. There are numerous reasons for this, among these
being lack of training, plain lack of ability and societal pressures in the
rural culture, which go against efficient production and modern methods.

      Agriculture requires the same entrepreneurial skill as other forms of
business, and very few have this skill. Though again many may dream of being
farmers, most are better served by being employed on successful farms. It
will be a long, hard job and will take many years to get back to the same
level of production as in 1980.

      My thoughts on agricultural reform are these: No one appreciates
anything that is given free. Because it has involved no cost, it carries
little value in the recipient's mind.

      Stolen items similarly have little perceived value: easy come, easy
go.
      What is worked and strived for carries a high perceived value.

      Therefore, I would make loans available to those wishing to go into
farming, to cover the cost of the land and the inputs, and demand a proper
business plan. Gwebi graduates and those with genuine farming knowledge
would have this taken into consideration.

      An inspector (from the bank? the Land Bank?) would make regular visits
in order to assess the way the loan is being utilised.

      If the land is not worked, then the land must be repossessed. If the
loan is not repaid, the land must be repossessed.

      Land is too great a national asset to be squandered on non-productive
possession.
      Many, many of these new farmers will fail and go broke; that is the na
ture of things.
      However, some will prosper, and buy up neighbouring land, whose owners
may then work for them. That, too, is the nature of things.

      A realisation is dawning that the United States of America and the
European Union (EU) are extremely protectionist to their farmers (even
though they are a tiny minority in their countries - surprise, surprise!)

      Appealing to their better nature won't work, I can assure you. What I
believe to be the answer is to get businesses in those countries to invest
heavily into agriculture, so that our interests become their interests.

      This is the way other businesses have gone, for example electronics
and the motor industry. Japan, the USA and EU now have a large proportion of
their goods made in China and South-East Asia.

      Therefore, no concerted push for high tariff barriers into the "home"
countries because the home countries own or use these Asian businesses.
Therefore, if corporations in the home countries owned and operated farming
ventures outside those countries there would be a strong push for fairer
trade laws.

      It's no good fighting globalisation; globalisation is an artefact -
and effect of modern communications technology. It's like the Industrial
Revolution - the Luddites could not make it go away, it was part of human
progress.

      In Africa we need to encourage multinationals to set up operations in
our countries, and provide no barrier to the remission of profits.

      There is no practical way a company can take out of a country more
than it puts in unless, of course, it is stripping resources as with timber
in the Congo. And guess who's there to help them? Why, President Mugabe and
Zanu PF, of course!

      That's it for today. I may continue (I probably will), but this is
some food for thought now. I am both an idealist and a cynic. I can see the
way things should go, but am cynical enough to know that is not the way they
usually go, even out of Africa.

      It will take a leader, a statesman, to see Zimbabwe realise it's
potential after Mugabe's demise. Without a statesman, matters will improve
slightly, but it will take more than a hundred years to get back to 1980
levels.

      Do we have such a leader, such a statesman?
      Only time will tell.
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Daily News - feature

      Consultation needed in formulating economic policies

      7/19/02 8:37:25 AM (GMT +2)


      By Dumisani O Nkomo

      TRADITIONALLY the field of economics has always been the exclusive
domain of economists and financial fundis.

      For the ordinary man in the street, economics is a subject studied at
school for the purpose of passing the examinations and there seems to be no
direct Iinkage between him or her and this mythical subject.

      However, the economy and economic policy must be the interest of
everyone and it is therefore imperative that economic policy be implemented
in consultation with the people who are affected by those policies.

      While referendums have been held on political issues such as the
territorial affiliation/ ownership of the country (1923) and the referendum
on the constitution (2000) no consultation or collective evaluation has been
undertaken on issues of economic policy.

      Since colonialism, the Zimbabwean citizenry has always been a passive
recipient of economic policy.

      Even with the dawn of independence, the government introduced Growth
with Equity without adequately informing the nation what this economic
policy was about.

      Of course, one can argue, that few if any nations in the world engage
in any form of citizen participation in formulation of economic policy.

      Students of free market economics may argue that to involve people in
economic policy making is not only impractical but also a sure remedy for
economic suicide. They would argue and rightly so that populism may
overthrow economic sense and give way to mass plundering of the economy.

      Students of socialism may argue that the struggle for class equality
should be spearheaded by the "Vanguard Elite" as Lenin espoused and not the
proletariat or peasantry.

      The truth, however, is that throughout their history, the people of
Zimbabwe have always had economic policies forced down their throats without
fully understanding their implications.

      The people of Zimbabwe should at least be given a chance to understand
the basic economic principles governing them and how these affect them.

      They should be given a chance to collectively evaluate these policies
through civic groups with an economic justice agenda.

      Historically, the people of Zimbabwe have never had a say in either
formulation or evaluation of economic policies.

      The government soon abandoned its socialist orientated economic
policies and engaged in trade liberalisation, which was percussor to more
comprehensive economic reforms embodied in the Economic Structural
Adjustment Programme (ESAP).

      There was no consultation undertaken with Zimbabweans when this policy
was formulated with the only consultation that took place being that with
international monetary organisations, the IMF and the World Bank.

      While it had become clear that the economy needed some form of reform
the populace at large was not involved in evaluating previous government
economic programmes such as Growth with Equity.

      Instead Zimbabweans found themselves being the passive recipients of
yet another economic package in the form of the ESAP.

      Of course, hindsight teaches us that quite possibly at the time the
bulk of the citizenry itself might not have been interested in formulation
of economic policy.

      In the same way that the citizenry was either oblivious of or
apathetic to amendments to the constitution, which created the executive,
and its unlimited powers.

      The people were equally unaware of how economic policy impacted on
them.

      Without much dialogue, debate or consultation on ESAP the programme
was soon at full throttle.

      Tragically ESAP yielded little results but once again no wholesale
evaluation was undertaken and government technocrats were quickly tasked
with drawing up another economic policy paper - Zimbabwe Programme for
Economic and Social Transformation (Zimprest) - without the involvement of
civil society and the citizenry at large.

      The Zimprest document appeared to be a well thought out document
written specifically for the country's donors.

      Indeed very few people knew what Zimprest was all about.

      After much pomp, ceremony, drink and razzmatazz Zimprest was launched
officially but it soon gathered dust in some government office.

      Then the government officials stopped talking about Zimprest as it
became increasingly obvious that the policy had been designed to win the
sympathy of international monetary organisations.

      In spite of this call for all Zimbabweans to be involved in charting
the economic path of the nation Zimprest remained a high-sounding, thick
volume which did not have its origins with the people of Zimbabwe.

      The most impressive thing about Zimprest was the name which implied
that there would be a fair measure of social and economic transformation.

      At the end of the programme there was neither economic nor social
transformation but poverty now impacted over 64 percent of all households.

      Within the framework of ESAP the government had introduced the Social
Dimensions Fund which was meant to cushion vulnerable sections of the
community from the effects of economic reform.

      This was later changed to the Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAP)
and up to now the benefits of PAP are yet to be seen by most Zimbabweans.

      A lack of a culture of accountability in matters of economic justice
and policy enabled the government to change policies wily nilly without so
much as a whimper from the populace.

      The government in its typical impulsive and suicidal fashion was soon
pontificating about a new economic programme, the Millennium Economic
Recovery Programme (MERP).

      Unlike, Zimprest, MERP seems to have been still born as the President
announced (soon after the March elections) that the government would put in
place an agrarian based economic reform programme.

      Since the government has not developed a culture of consultation with
it citizenry on economic policies, it is quite likely that the citizenry
will find it burdened with plethora of new economic policies with impressive
acronyms, which are fat on description but thin on practicality and
implementation.

      Economic policy directly affects "bread and butter" issues hence it is
important for the citizenry to demand to be consulted in the formulation of
such policies.

      Civil society needs to engage in intensive economic literacy
programmes. These programmes should focus on defining key economic terms,
policies and principles.

      It is from this basis that the populace can actively and pro-actively
interrogate economic policy.
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Daily News

      Police impound scarce commodities

      7/19/02 8:34:15 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      HARARE police are on the warpath, confiscating basic commodities that
are in short supply and being sold at very high prices by vendors.

      There are serious shortages of maize-meal, sugar, salt and cooking oil
country-wide but vendors always have the commodities in abundance.

      The police recently started impounding all basic commodities being
sold at exorbitant prices by the vendors.

      But some vendors interviewed this week claimed they had bought the
goods they planned to resell from the policemen.

      A vendor calling herself Ndomene said the police were confiscating the
commodities for their personal use.

      The police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said: "I don't have any comments
on that."
      A 2kg packet of white sugar ranges from $270 to $350 while a 750ml
bottle of cooking oil is sold for $400 on the black market.

      The war against vendors has been waged at Mbare Musika, Kuwadzana 4
and Machipisa shopping centres in Highfield.

      In addition to losing their commodities to the police, those arrested
pay a spot fine of $500 each.

      But this has not completely destroyed the parallel market.

      The vendors are always on the alert, looking out for the police.

      They now display one item per commodity on tables, while the rest are
kept in their "warehouses".

      Denis Ngwenya, a vendor at Machipisa shopping centre said they had
resorted to hiding some their goods so that the police would only seize
those displayed.

      The vendors admitted they were selling the goods illegally at high
prices but blamed the government for the current economic situation.

      Bernard Madziyire of Kuwadzana 4 said: "I am an unemployed driver and
I can only survive by selling these scarce commodities."

      The vendors buy 25 litre containers of cooking oil and re-package it
into 750 ml bottles.
      Tawonga Nemawura of Highfield said not everyone could afford the
25-litre containers of cooking oil that were available.

      The vendors felt Olivine Industries, the manufacturers of cooking oil,
were to blame for making only large gallons containers of cooking oil
available on the market.

      Nemawura said he even started selling cooking oil before the
shortages, and that vendors were actually making life easier for those who
could not afford the big containers.

      On overcharging, John Sharara of Kambuzuma said: "We are getting the
commodities from other second parties who can obtain them from the
manufacturers, so we also add our own mark-ups."
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Daily News

      Charges against Spooner in Nkala case withdrawn

      7/19/02 8:27:07 AM (GMT +2)


      From Our Correspondent in Bulawayo

      THE State has withdrawn charges against Simon Spooner, one of the
suspects in the Cain Nkala murder case, due to lack of evidence.

      The magistrate, Elizabeth Rutsate told the court on Monday she had
been instructed by the Registrar-General's (AG) Office to withdraw charges
against Spooner and indict three of his co-accused, Fletcher Dulini Ncube,
Sony Nicholas Masera and Army Zulu for trial in November.

      However, their lawyers, Nicholas Mathonsi and Josphat Tshuma, both of
Web, Low and Barry filed an urgent chamber application seeking the
nullification of the indictment.

      They argued there was no evidence in the papers to justify their
indictment for trial. Zulu and Masera were briefly detained on Monday after
warrants of arrest were issued against them after the indictment.

      In the Bulawayo High Court on Tuesday, Justice Lawrence Kamocha,
granted an order postponing the indictment. The interim relief orders the
State to postpone the indictment of the three until a determination has been
made to prove they have a case to answer.

      Kamocha ordered the AG to show cause why the three should not be
removed from remand.

      Already, the State has indicted three key suspects in the case,
Khethani Sibanda, Sazini Mpofu and Remember Moyo, accused of the abduction
and subsequent murder of Nkala, the provincial war veterans chairman for
Bulawayo.

      Initially 14 people, all MDC activists, were arrested for Nkala's
murder and that of Limukani Luphahla, a Zanu PF activist in Lupane. Now only
six face the charges.

      The State-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television on
Tuesday night said that Kamocha's granting of the order to postpone the
indictment was "shocking".

      The report, however, did not mention the State's withdrawal of the
charges against Spooner, who was facing the same allegations as the three
whose indictment was quashed.

      Allegations against Spooner and the others are that they hatched a
plan to kill top Zanu PF officials in Bulawayo to avenge the death of
Patrick Nabanyama, an MDC polling agent abducted in 2000. He has not been
seen since.

      Nkala was abducted from his Magwegwe home last November and his body
was later found buried in a shallow grave near Solusi, outside Bulawayo.

      The trial is set to start in November.
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Daily News

      War veterans vow to confront Moyo

      7/19/02 8:25:15 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      WAR veterans yesterday said they were still negotiating with the
police for clearance to demonstrate against Jonathan Moyo, the Minister of
State for Information and Publicity in the President's Office, over the fate
of Joy TV.

      Mike Moyo, the national treasurer of the Zimbabwe National Liberation
War Veterans' Association, said they were still negotiating with the police
for permission to confront Moyo.

      Mike Moyo said: "Action is coming. We are seeking audience with the
police to get clearance to fight our enemies."

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Zim Independent

War veterans on warpath over evictions
Blessing Zulu/Augustine Mukaro
CRACKS are forming in Zanu PF's armour as the real beneficiaries of the
chaotic land reform programme emerge as it enters its final phase.

Reports that leading politicians, governors and party hangers-on were
evicting peasants from farms and taking over the properties are coming in
from across the country. War Veterans Association secretary-general Endy
Mhlanga this week warned governors that his members would "deal with them"
if they continue to allocate land to their relatives and friends.


"War veterans are very bitter with what is going on at the moment," an irate
Mhlanga said.

"The governors are now evicting war veterans from fertile soils and
allocating it to their relatives and friends. Some settlers are now being
evicted on farms to pave way for Zanu PF heavyweights and this has irked the
war veterans."


The land reform programme was used by President Robert Mugabe as a campaign
tool to win the presidential election. He justified it as decongesting rural
areas and empowering peasants. The evidence on the ground though shows that
the peasants are still crowded in rural areas and Zanu PF politicians have
grabbed all the best land.


Olivia Muchena admitted in a visit to Mount Darwin last week that all was
not well. "There was chaotic allocation of land in the district with the
council waiting list not being followed," she said.


Even the peasants who were dumped in the bush without any infrastructure or
support over the past two years are being forced to vacate the farms.


"The war veterans who were leading the invasions have now been sidelined and
are being given infertile land and if this continues we are going to deal
with the governors," Mhlanga said.


"The word 'fear' does not exist in our vocabulary and we will take action if
they continue to grab all the land and leave us out. War veterans are
prepared to go to jail after a head-on collision with the governors. We want
to rebuild the nation," he said without specifying what action they would
take.


Mhlanga's warning comes amid reports that newly-resettled farmers in
Mashonaland West have accused provincial governor Peter Chanetsa of
betraying the cause of the land redistribution programme by evicting
invaders from farms they occupied over the past two years.


The majority of the settlers, who came from Nyabira communal lands to settle
on Golden Stairs, Sortbury and Little England farms, said they were angry
with Chanetsa for wanting to remove them from farms they have occupied for
the past two years so that they can be given to Zanu PF officials and A2
Model farmers, the majority of which are ruling-party supporters.


"Chanetsa even brought riot police to forcibly remove people from Golden
Stairs and Sortbury," one of the settlers living at Sortbury Farm claimed.


"He is telling us that we will be allocated land on other farms but this
makes us question whether government is determined to make us farm for the
country. We had already built permanent structures on the farm and prepared
land for next season and to be allocated another piece of land would be
unproductive.


"We are told that Golden Stairs is earmarked for Sabina Mugabe but we are
not leaving our land," the settler said.


Settlers said Chanetsa has laid claim to six properties in the province:
Gabaro Farm in Karoi, Riverside Farm in Norton, Elwin Farm in Raffingora,
Sligo Farm in Zvimba North, and Deary Farm in Nyabira.
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Zim Independent

War veterans ready to deal with Moyo

A WAR of words has broken out in Zanu PF between war veterans on the one
hand and arriviste ministers on the other. And it is becoming more vicious
by the day.

Last Saturday the Daily News quoted the war veterans' association secretary
for security Mike Moyo as questioning national commissar Elliot Manyika's
liberation-war credentials.

"Who is Elliot? What role did he play in the liberation struggle?" Moyo
asked. He described Manyika as "a confirmed coward".

Moyo claims Manyika heads an outfit called G7 which he said uses the police
and other state agencies "to harass, intimidate and frustrate potentially
prominent war veterans in any party leadership structure".

This was presumably a reference to the dissolution of the Harare provincial
executive.

There is now a palpable sense among many war veterans that they were used by
Zanu PF in the 2000 and 2002 election campaigns and are now being cast aside
as the government attempts to give the impression that it is proceeding to
redistribute land in an orderly manner.

Referring to Manyika's impromptu renditions of his unappealing song, Moyo
tartly observed that singing Nhora didn't make Manyika any more loyal than
other members of the party.

Not content with this broadside, Moyo told the Sunday Mirror that
Information minister Jonathan Moyo was part of the conspiracy to place war
veterans at a disadvantage.

"Jonathan Moyo is killing the war veterans by subjecting them to bad
publicity," he alleged. He said the state's ideological apparatus was being
manipulated by "counter-revolutionaries" in the government to neutralise the
influence of the veterans.

"We are against the use of both the state's ideological and repressive
apparatuses against the war veterans," Mike Moyo said. He didn't say if he
was opposed to those apparatuses being used against anybody else. Nor did he
appear to see any contradiction in his complaint that the law was being used
selectively to silence war veterans.

Meanwhile, other war veterans are mobilising behind James Makamba's attempt
to secure a broadcasting licence for Joy-TV. The Independent recently
revealed that a number of Zanu PF heavyweights including Vice-President
Joseph Msika and Phillip Chiyangwa were lining up behind Makamba.

War veterans' association secretary-general Endy Mhlanga told the Mirror the
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe should give Makamba a licence.
"We will definitely clash with Jonathan Moyo if he refuses to put the
station back on air," Mhlanga said. On Wednesday he was quoted by the Daily
News accusing Moyo of using ZBC, the Herald and other media as "tuckshops to
further his interests".

Mhlanga warned Moyo the veterans would fight him over the Joy-TV saga. Moyo
was "an agent working to destroy the party from within", he claimed. "Moyo
is not a war veteran but a sellout."

Moyo was given acres of space by Munyaradzi Huni in a rambling Sunday Mail
interview last weekend to pour scorn on Makamba's supporters.
The expression "even kindergarten children" now appears to have replaced
"you don't have to be a rocket scientist" as the standard usage to rubbish
the views of Moyo's critics. "Ignorant" and "malicious" were also freely
used, often in combination.

Joy-TV's licence expired, it was not terminated, Moyo pointed out. ZBC was
in fact operating in violation of the law when it allowed Joy-TV to continue
broadcasting without a licence between April 2001 and May 2002, he said
Moyo appeared to take exception to claims that the government was not
willing to free the airwaves. The airwaves had been free since 1980, he
falsely claimed. He even tried to suggest that in the United States the
airwaves were not free because there was "one pro-America groupthink".

There may indeed be a "pro-America groupthink" but that does not mean
broadcast media or any other media think President Bush is doing the right
thing. He and his administration are daily subject to excoriating criticism
by radio and TV stations. Who has ever heard a single word of criticism of
President Mugabe on ZBC? Even a kindergarten child knows that would be the
end for any ZBC announcer's career! And where else in the world would you
have the Minister of Information calling a TV station during a news bulletin
to "correct" a statement while the announcer sits there looking
shell-shocked?

We are sorry to note that the editor of the Herald is short of readers'
letters. Last Friday he had to resort to publishing two letters about
stories carried in other newspapers - the Zimbabwe Independent and Daily
News.

We are only concerned with the first here. It was from High Court Registrar
J Manzunzu complaining about an article written by Geoffrey Robertson QC in
which reference was made to the case of two Law Society of Zimbabwe
officials detained by the police.

Manzunzu, whose reference to "one Geoffrey Robertson QC" suggests disdain
for the distinguished Australian barrister, nevertheless sought to instruct
him on what habeas corpus meant. Judge President Paddington Garwe, contrary
to Robertson's contention, had in fact issued a writ of habeas corpus on
June 4, Manzunzu pointed out, ordering that the two Law Society officials be
immediately given access to their lawyers and that the police produce them
before the High Court the following morning at 9am.

"In compliance with the order, the police did in fact produce the two
officials before the High Court the following morning as directed and did
allow them access to their lawyers," Manzunzu states.

At the time the ruling was made on whether or not the police had reasonable
suspicion, the two Law Society officials were in attendance before the Judge
President, Manzunzu said. "The order of habeas corpus had been complied with
and was no longer in issue."

Manzunzu was also at pains to point out that Robertson's claim that those
attending the hearing did not rise when Judge President Garwe left the court
as a sign of displeasure with his ruling showed the author had "no idea" of
court proceedings. This was an urgent chamber application and those
present - including many lawyers - had no obligation to be properly attired
or to rise when the judge left, he said.

This may be true as far as it goes. But it ignores a number of salient
facts. The application before Judge President Garwe was for an order to
forthwith produce the two Law Society officials before the court; allow
unhindered access to legal representation; release the two LSZ officials
from detention; and declare the police search warrant invalid.

Despite assurances to the Judge President by the police through the
Attorney-General's representative during the hearing that the LSZ officials
were being held at Harare Central, the police were unable to produce them on
that day, June 4.

Despite repeated submissions by the AG's representative that he had no
instructions in regard to the application, the Judge President adjourned the
proceedings on several occasions to allow the AG's representative to obtain
instructions.

The AG's representative repeatedly informed the Judge President when the
hearing resumed of the frustrations he and the AG were having in trying to
contact the police since Police Commissioner Chihuri, his deputies, and the
senior officers assigned to the case had all switched off their mobile
phones and were unavailable.

The Judge President adjourned the proceedings from about 6pm to 9.48pm on
June 4 but still the police were unable to produce the LSZ officials.
Lawyers for the LSZ officials pressed that the three police officers in
attendance, ie the investigating officer, the arresting officer, and the
officer-in-charge, be incarcerated at the High Court cells until such time
as the LSZ officials had been produced since, they claimed, the Judge
President had been misled that the officials were being detained at Harare
Central.

The Judge President turned down the application for the incarceration of the
policemen and instead issued an order at around 9.48pm that the two LSZ
officials be produced before the court at 9am the following day, June 5.

On the following day the officials were produced, but well after 9am. The
Judge President was told that while the hearing was in progress the previous
evening the police had taken the two officials to the national park at Lake
Chivero.

With regard to the remaining issues, the Judge President finally handed down
judgement at 3.40pm on June 5, but only after repeated adjournments to allow
the AG's representative to get further instructions from the police
officers.

The AG's representative remained unable to obtain instructions from the
police. The lawyers for the LSZ officials maintained that the charges
contained in the warned-and-cautioned statement were patently defective.
The Judge President declined to order their immediate release. He held that
it could not be said that the police had no reasonable suspicion to arrest
the men, given the contents of the letters. He did not address the issue of
the redetention by the police of the two after they had been initially
released.
In the end the men walked free because the police had not applied for a
warrant to further detain them.

Manzunzu, in his letter, made much of the nature of the proceedings. Whilst
it may be true that the proceedings were in the form of an urgent chamber
application which had to be transferred to a courtroom on account of the
large turnout, and while it is also true the lawyers were not dressed for
court for the same reason, it was reported that everybody in the courtroom
rose as the Judge President entered and bowed as he took his seat. Therefore
it was a pertinent observation by Robertson that some of those present
remained seated when he left the courtroom, as reported in the media.

Not all of these facts were contained in Manzunzu's letter. What perplexes
us is why he wrote to a newspaper that had nothing to do with the story in
question. The letter ended up in a space normally featuring correspondence
from supporters of the ruling party.

The Nigerian money-scammers are becoming badder and bolder with each passing
week.

The latest applications for assistance in releasing their huge ill-gotten
sums come from Emeka Okoye, who says he is holding US$152 million from the
account of the late Magnus Leon, "a foreigner and sailor", and Dr Victor
Peters, who claims to be financial director of the Nigerian Electoral
Commission. He says he is hanging onto $170 million left over after the last
poll.

But the baddest and the boldest of them all is somebody claiming to be
Maryam Abacha, widow of the late dictator who, it may be recalled, died in
the exotic embrace of a couple of imported hookers. This is probably what
Maryam means when she says her husband "died while still on active service".

She says she has US$52 million to dispose of "which I intend to use for
investment, like real estate development or import/export business
specifically in your country. This money came as a payback contract deal
between my late husband and a Russian firm involved in our country's
multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel plant project."

"Mrs Abacha" recommends that the recipients of her e-mail act fast if they
want a share of the loot because the present regime is catching up with her
assets.

Amidst the acclamation of a bright new dawn in Durban last week, South
African newspapers have been reporting a less sunny scene. African Union
delegates spent thousands of rands cavorting with naked table dancers and
escort girls at nightspots, the Sunday Times reports. The Libyans were the
biggest spenders on escort girls, the paper said. One of their delegates
spent R30 000 on tips alone at a striptease joint.

Delegates from the DRC were also spotted on "active service" at some of
Durban's most expensive nightclubs where a tot of whisky costs R18. They
ordered a number of strippers to perform for them at their table.

But DRC ambassador to South Africa Bene M'Poko doubted whether the group at
the club were from the official Congolese delegation.

"We kept them very busy preparing documents for the next day so I can't see
how they could have gotten out of their work," he said.

Yes Mr Ambassador. We all know what documents they were studying. They had
tassels on!

President Mugabe must be thanked for showing the world who his friends are.

First we saw him hobnobbing with Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi in Durban.
Next he received a visit from the racist demagogue Louis Farrakhan who, like
Mugabe, is persona non grata in many countries.

Then he was seen in the fond embrace of Fidel Castro who offered him
hospitality as consolation for a cancelled trip to Fiji where stopovers
proved problematic. Given this dubious line-up, can we soon expect the
following Herald headline: "Bin Laden arrives on state visit"?
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Zim Independent

Govt accused of fuelling parallel market
Barnabas Thondhlana
GOVERNMENT is one of the biggest players on the parallel market despite
assertions to the contrary, bankers said this week.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has on a number of occasions been forced to
authorise a number of transactions outside the interbank rate to pay off
pressing debts. Payments for fuel, power and government commitments have all
been met from the parallel market.

While individuals in government and industry are accusing bureaux de change
and banks of fuelling the foreign currency parallel market rates, it emerged
this week that government has gone further and sanctioned banks to
extensively explore the parallel market for its benefit.


"Take for example the deal to repay Air Zimbabwe's US$28,6 million debt to
the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the US$5 million initial
payment was raised on the parallel market and was approved by government,"
said one analyst.


"In fact, it is that deal alone which resulted in the parallel market rates
going up as government paid a premium of $450 to the US dollar while the
going rate then was $300/US$1. From then onwards, the rates shot up as it
had been evidenced that there was demand."


The analyst said government and the Reserve Bank's endeavours to find
scapegoats in the banking industry would not yield the desired results.


"In any case, the chartered accounting firms which government has said it
will commission to investigate banks have turned down the offer. How do you
expect an accounting firm, which only in February said a bank's results were
in order, to now go back and look for something wrong, which they did not
find in the first place," the analyst said.


It is understood chartered accou-nting firms have instead asked government
to furnish them with figures - sourced from the RBZ's bank inspectorate
division - which they can then interpret.


One banker said he believed things were coming to a head.


"Politicians are just blank on what action to take in light of the current
crisis," the banker said. "The witchhunt is meant to protect some
individuals who are major players in the foreign currency market. Those who
have benefited from the system are actually at the forefront of calling for
an investigation."


He said international financiers were waiting in the wings to sell foreign
currency to the country at a premium.


"Otherwise, how would one explain the foreign currency position of the
country? The 40% taken from exporters is nowhere near meeting our
obligations," the banker said.
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Zim Independent

British MP horrified by Mugabe's misrule
Dumisani Muleya
SENIOR British politician Michael Ancram, who was in the country on
Wednesday to assess the political and economic situation, says the time has
come for the international community to halt President Robert Mugabe's
heightening repression.

In an exclusive interview, Ancram, who is deputy leader of the Conservative
Party and shadow foreign secretary, said he was horrified by the legacy of
dictatorship he witnessed in Zimbabwe on his visit. He said Mugabe's misrule
is now "censurable" and "reprehensible".

"For the first time I saw for myself how bad the situation is in this
country," Ancram said.


"The problem is, here is a country with a huge potential for prosperity and
a good democratic base but it's being destroyed by its leadership. They are
just plodding through destroying agriculture and democratic institutions.
Human rights are challenged and broken on a daily basis."


Ancram, who met opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan
Tsvangirai and representatives of human rights organisations, said Mugabe
was threatening former South African President Nelson Mandela's democratic
legacy in the region. "Mandela's legacy of democracy and respect for human
rights is at risk in southern Africa because of what is happening in
Zimbabwe," he said.


The combative British politicianvisited displaced farm workers in Epworth
and toured the Mazowe-Glendale farming districts.


"I saw what should be productive land lying derelict while people are
starving and children malnourished," he said.


Constitutional reform and fresh elections, said Ancram, were the only way
out for Zimbabwe. He said the international community should ensure Mugabe
did not drag down the country with him.


"South Africa can really suffocate the Zimbabwe government if they want," he
said. "I'm not saying they should do so but if they don't act now the
problem will be much worse later. It's not in their own interests to ignore
what is happening here."


Turning to government's threat to deport Britain's Guardian newspaper
correspondent Andrew Meldrum, Ancram said: "It's yet another example of
government's contempt of court decisions and freedom of the press. It shows
civil rights are under threat in Zimbabwe and that civilised forms of
democratic behaviour are lacking."


Ancram came to Zimbabwe as part of a three-nation tour of southern Africa.
He was in South Africa for three days and will also visit Malawi.

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Financial Times

      Harare defies contempt of court ruling

      By James Lamont in Johannesburg
      Published: July 19 2002 5:00 | Last Updated: July 19 2002 5:00

      The Zimbabwean govern-ment said yesterday it would defy a three-month
jail sentence and a Z$50,000 (£595) fine handed down by a judge this week on
the country's justice minister.

      Judge Fergus Blackie found Patrick Chinamasa guilty on two counts of
contempt of court relating to his criticism of a court verdict governing the
illegal possession of weapons by US citizens in Zimbabwe three years ago. Mr
Chinamasa had said the sentence of six-month jail terms was too light.

      "It is difficult to imagine a more deliberate and contemptuous
response to the authority of the [High] Court than Chinamasa's," said Judge
Blackie in his judgment.

      President Robert Mugabe's government responded by saying the hearing
was irregular and its verdict should be disregarded. But Mr Chinamasa's
legal counsel says he intends appealing against the sentence.

      The government has called Judge Blackie a "racist" presiding over a
sinister "kangaroo court". It views his verdict as stoking tensions between
the government and the judiciary, which have risen since the government
supported illegal land invasions of white-owned farm land.

      Jonathan Moyo, the information minister, said Judge Blackie had
embarked on "a personal crusade and has done that in a manner that will
erode public confidence in the justice system".

      The relationship between the government and the judiciary has been
fractious. Senior judges believe the government has sought to meddle with
the judiciary's independence. Last year, Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay
resigned his post after differences with Mr Mugabe over judicial
independence.

      Earlier this week, their differences erupted over a US journalist
based in Zimbabwe. The Harare magistrates court acquitted Andrew Meldrum,
correspndent for the Guardian newspaper of the UK, on charges of spreading
false information under new media laws.

      Minutes after the verdict, the government issued an order for his
deportation within 24 hours.

      Meanwhile, Michael Ancram, shadow foreign secretary in London,
returning from a one-day fact-finding mission to Harare, said yesterday
conditions in Zimbabwe were far worse than he had expected.

      He warned that the crisis - in which about 6m people are facing severe
food shortages - threatened to damage neighbouring South Africa, Botswana
and Malawi.

      Mr Ancram said he would recommend the application of tougher sanctions
to the British government, which would bar Mr Mugabe's business associates
from travel to the European Union.

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IOL

EU adds more Mugabe cronies to travel ban

      July 19 2002 at 02:45PM



Brussels - The European Union is set to extend "targeted sanctions" against
President Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe on Monday by adding more names
to a list of people who are banned from visiting EU states and whose
European-based assets have been frozen, diplomats said.

Former colonial power Britain is behind the initiative to have EU foreign
ministers decide on adding 20 more names to a list of people in Mugabe's
circle, a diplomat close to the case said.

Mugabe himself tops the list of those under a foreign travel ban imposed on
top Zimbabwean officials in February, mainly because of serious
pre-electoral violence.

However, the travel ban has not prevented Mugabe from attending UN-organised
functions.

      'All the signs are that things are going from bad to worse'
His government is also at odds with the United Kingdom over implementation
of its policy of land reforms, which entails seizing commercial farms owned
mainly by the small white minority for transfer to landless blacks.

"All the signs are that things are going from bad to worse and the question
of tightening sanctions thus has to be raised," the diplomat said, asking
not to be named. He added that political dialogue in Zimbabwe was at a
"total impasse" and cited threats against foreign journalists.

Mugabe has also passed tough new media legislation which is currently being
tested in the case of US journalist Andrew Meldrum, who was this week
acquitted of publishing false information but immediately found himself up
against an expulsion order he is contesting.

Another diplomat confirmed that the EU was "heading towards" an extension of
the list of those targetted by a travel ban and a freeze on their overseas
bank accounts, but ruled out any other kind of sanctions against Zimbabwe at
present.

The EU imposed the initial visa restrictions and asset freezing measures
after Harare expelled an EU observer team monitoring preparations for the
presidential poll that saw Mugabe returned to power in March.

The EU has also imposed a ban on arms sales and military supplies to
Zimbabwe. - Sapa-AFP
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BBC
 

Friday, 19 July, 2002, 15:22 GMT 16:22 UK
Two guilty in Hoogstraten trial
Nicholas van Hoogstraten
Mr van Hoogstraten denies any involvement in the plot
An Old Bailey jury considering whether property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten murdered a business associate has been sent home for the weekend, after returning guilty verdicts on two other men.

Robert Knapp and David Croke have been found guilty of killing retired businessman Mohammed Sabir Raja, at his south London home.

Mr van Hoogstraten was accused of hiring the men to kill Mr Raja, who was stabbed and shot at his home in Sutton on 2 July 1999.

The six male and six female jurors told the judge they were unable to reach a verdict on Mr van Hoogstraten, and were told they could return a majority verdict.
David Croke
David Croke: Guilty

They are due to continue their deliberations on Monday.

Croke, 59, from East Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and Knapp, 55, from Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, now await sentencing.

Mr van Hoogstraten, of Framfield, near Uckfield, East Sussex, denies murdering Mr Raja.

During the trial, the jury was told Mr Raja had been taking civil court proceedings against the tycoon, alleging fraud.

Disguised

The jury convicted the Knapp and Croke unanimously on Friday, the seventh day of its deliberations.

Robert Knapp
Robert Knapp was also convicted
Knapp and Croke had turned up on Mr Raja's doorstep, pulled a sawn-off shotgun from a bag, stabbed him five times, then shot him at close range.

Mr Raja's grandsons were in the house at the time and ran downstairs to find him clutching his chest.

They said Knapp and Croke were disguised as gardeners, wearing floppy hats, boiler suits and gardening gloves.

Charge dropped

One was wearing a false moustache and carrying a gardening fork.

A charge of conspiracy to murder against Mr van Hoogstraten, 57, was dropped last week when the judge started his summing up of the case.

The judge had told the jury it had the option to deliver a verdict of manslaughter.

The prosecution said Mr van Hoogstraten could be guilty of murder even though he was not present when the offence was committed.

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Ban On Zim Products Stands - Lewanika



The Post (Lusaka)

July 19, 2002
Posted to the web July 19, 2002

Larry Moonze


THE ban on Zimbabwe products stands, commerce and industry permanent
secretary Mbikusita Lewanika has said.

Launching the Agricultural Trade Forum (ATF) yesterday, Lewanika said
historically Zambia had been too accommodating in trade at the expense of
its own economy. "The ban on 14 Zimbabwean products remain unblocked to
compel mutual trade between the two countries," he said.

"The ban is a temporal move to reduce institutionalised smuggling." Lewanika
said at a meeting in Zimbabwe on Wednesday his counterparts were unhappy
with the unilateral decision effected by Zambian government but that the
delegation from Zambia justified the need to reduce dumping. Lewanika also
said the meeting reached a consensus in which Zimbabwe agreed to address the
problem to ensure sustainable trade. And commenting on the ATF Lewanika said
trade negotiations in the past were a preserve of the government but there
was a dilemma because government did not always have expertise.

He said the ATF would help the government in negotiating trade imbalances in
agriculture so that the sector could surge. And Zambia National Farmers
Union (ZNFU) president Ajay Vashee in a speech read by his vice-president
Paul Cartwright said Zambia needs to build the capacity to undertake trade
analysis that would enable it to invoke protective provisions in COMESA and
World Trade Organisations (WTO) protocols.

Vashee said there was need for capacity to analyse and know when to impose
anti-dumping or countervailing measures. He said the ATF will be responsible
for co-ordinating technical assistance to build trade analysis capacity in
the private sector.

Vashee said Zambia was experiencing adverse effects of the Free Trade Area
(FTA) treaty because the country went into COMESA blindly. "Our current
situation has been made worse because there is no existence of a well
co-ordinated and methodical forum such as the ATF where such grievances can
be articulated and addressed," he said.

Vashee said ZNFU believed in free trade but this should take place on a fair
and even playing field where the participating partners were mutual
beneficiaries.
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Call to Tighten Smart' Sanctions On Harare



Business Day (Johannesburg)

July 19, 2002
Posted to the web July 19, 2002

Jonathan Katzenellenbogen
Johannesburg

THE British Conservative Party's spokesman on foreign affairs, Michael
Ancram, is urging European governments to tighten the "smart" sanctions
which are in place against Zimbabwe.

Ancram said in Johannesburg yesterday, after a seven-hour undercover trip as
a tourist to Zimbabwe on Tuesday, that President Robert Mugabe's recent
visits to Europe for conferences "made a mockery" of the smart sanctions.

These sanctions have the effect of freezing the assets of Zimbabwe's
political elite in Europe and also restricting their travel to European
Union member states.

At present the sanctions "are confused in definition (and) in application as
well," Ancram said.

He said he is urging European foreign ministers, who hold their monthly
meeting next week, to act to extend the smart sanctions to families and
business associates of Zimbabwe's political elite. The US has done this
already.

Ancram said he is on a regional study tour, and looking at the effect of
HIV/AIDS, the food crisis, and Zimbabwe. Yesterday he met with Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, but declined to say what message he
would be delivering about SA's attempts at mediation in Zimbabwe.
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Zim Independent

Zanu PF militia impose 'curfew' in Buhera
Taurai Dzengerere
ZANU PF militia have embarked on a terror campaign in the Buhera North
constituency ahead of council elections scheduled for September, the
Zimbabwe Independent heard this week.

The terror has been unleashed to coerce opposition supporters to rally
behind the ruling party.


MDC provincial secretary for information and publicity in Manicaland, Pishai
Muchauraya, confirmed the terror campaign. Buhera North is the home area of
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.


Muchauraya said Zanu PF militia clad in police uniforms and purporting to be
members of the police were beating up people suspected of supporting the MDC
in the constituency.

"These militia move with a list of all people who support the MDC. They get
their lists from kraal heads," he said. "There is a virtual curfew
unilaterally declared by these militia from 5pm to 5am."


The terror campaign is said to have spread to Mutare South where the militia
have also declared another dusk-to-dawn curfew at Berzel Bridge.


"In Chipinge South we had scheduled a meeting for the MDC in preparation for
council election, but we were surprised to receive a letter from the
officer-in-charge in Chipinge banning us from holding our meeting," said
Muchauraya.


He said a number of cases had gone unreported to the police because victims
were not sure who the real police officers were.


He said the MDC provincial offices in Mutare had received numerous
complaints from people in Buhera who were being brutalised by the militia.


Police spokesman Andrew Phiri said he had received one report of political
violence in Manicaland.


"We have so far received only one case of arson from Dorowa from Stewart
Makwiti who reported that his house was burnt down.


"Makwiti said his house was burnt because he was accused of being an MDC
supporter. No-one has been arrested as yet as investigations are
continuing," Phiri said.
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