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Zimbabwe crisis still on ACP-EU agenda

Zim Online

Wednesday 20 June 2007

By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri in Berlin

BERLIN - African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) parliamentarians and their
European Union (EU) counterparts would still discuss Zimbabwe's rapidly
deteriorating crisis despite the southern African country saying it had
pulled out of the dialogue, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.

There was confusion whether the joint ACP-EU parliamentary session in
Germany next week would discuss Zimbabwe after Harare withdrew from the
session, angry over Berlin's refusal to grant visas to two legislators from
President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU PF party who were to form part of the
Zimbabwe delegation.

The ZANU PF officials were refused visas because they are banned from the EU
under smart sanctions the bloc imposed on Mugabe and his officials.

An EU press officer Richard Freedman said the June 23 to 28 session in
Wiesbaden, about 600 km west of Berlin, would debate the human rights,
political and economic situation in Zimbabwe even if the country was not
officially represented.

"Indeed there will be a debate on the situation in the Zimbabwe," said
Freedman, adding that he expected the session to adopt a resolution on
"human rights and the economic and political situation in Zimbabwe."

Two legislators from Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) party will attend the ACP-EU session but it was unclear what
status they would have after the clerk of Zimbabwe's Parliament announced
the House would no longer be sending an official delegation to the Wiesbaden
summit.

State media in Zimbabwe, which normally reflects the government's position,
reported that Zimbabwe could not be an item of discussion it if was not
officially represented at the ACP-EU meeting.

Relations between Zimbabwe and the EU have been strained since 2000 when
Mugabe launched a controversial programme to seize white-owned farms for
redistribution to blacks and embarked on a clampdown on the opposition,
rights groups and the free press.

The EU and the United States imposed a travel ban on Mugabe, his wife Grace
and top officials after the Zimbabwean leader won elections in 2002 that
international observers said were rigged and marred by intimidation.

Meanwhile, Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado said on Monday Mugabe
would not be welcome at an EU-African Union (AU) summit to be held in
November in Lisbon.

"Personally I have no interest in Mugabe coming to Lisbon," Amado said,
adding that the veteran leader's presence would be a "factor of
disturbance".

It had appeared Mugabe, accused of ruining Zimbabwe's once brilliant economy
through repression and wrong policies, would be able to attend the EU-AU
summit after EU president, Germany, reportedly agreed that strained
relations between Brussels and Harare should not hinder the meeting.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel
on the sidelines of the recently held G8 summit, said she had agreed that
relations between Europe and Africa could not solely depend on events in one
country - a clear reference to Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

The EU-Africa summit has been postponed several times because of objections
by some European leaders to the attendance of Mugabe who they accuse of
tyranny and gross human rights violations. - ZimOnline


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Group to challenge constitutionality of protests law

Zim Online

Wednesday 20 June 2007

Nqobizitha Khumalo

BULAWAYO -- A Zimbabwe women's group will challenge the constitutionality of
a government law barring citizens from holding political meetings without
police permission after a magistrate's court conceded it was vague and
susceptible to wide interpretation.

The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) asked the magistrate's court to refer
case in which its leaders, Jenni Williams and Mgodonga Mahlangu, are accused
of breaching sections of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to
the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land that hears constitutional
matters.

Williams and Mahlangu, according to court records, were part of a group of
WOZA activists who demonstrated outside the Bulawayo central police station
this month and demanded release of their colleagues who had been arrested.

The state charged the WOZA women with holding an illegal demonstration
because they had not first obtained permission from the police to protest as
required under the criminal law Act.

Bulawayo lawyer, Kossam Ncube, representing the WOZA women, told the
magistrate's court that the charges laid against Williams and Mahlangu were
in violation of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly contained
in the Declaration of Rights in the Zimbabwe Constitution.

He said the section of the criminal Act under which they were being charged
was: "open to abuse and potentially prohibits all forms of public gatherings
or processions, in the circumstances, it thus violates the right to freedom
of assembly and association, right to freedom of expression and right to
freedom of movement."

Magistrate, Rose Sibanda conceded to the defence and referred the matter to
the Supreme Court for a determination on the constitutionality of the
contested sections of the Act. ZimOnline.


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Zimbabwe rehires dismissed teachers

Zim Online

Wednesday 20 June 2007

By Regerai Marwezu

MASVINGO - The Zimbabwean government is re-engaging all teachers who were
dismissed from the civil service as it seeks to plug huge gaps created by
massive resignations by disgruntled teachers over the past few years.

Teachers who were dismissed for various crimes such as rape and fraud have
been advised to reapply amid reports that at least 10 000 teaching posts
which were advertised since January had not been taken up.

In a circular to regional directors for education, Education Minister Aeneas
Chigwedere said all teachers who were dismissed for various reasons were now
free to rejoin the profession.

"Please be advised that due to the current shortage of experienced teachers
you are now free to re-engage all teaching staff who had been dismissed from
the civil service for whichever reason.

"Only those who were dismissed due to ill-health and mental instability
cannot be rehired. Please ensure that all school heads are informed about
this and the recruitment exercise should start as soon as possible," said
Chigwedere in the circular.

The latest about-turn by President Robert Mugabe's cash-strapped government
comes amid reports that thousands of teachers had quit the profession over
the past three years in protest over poor pay and working conditions.

Chigwedere confirmed that his ministry was desperately seeking to fill the
vacant teaching posts.

"It is true that we need about 10 000 teachers to fill the gap left by those
who retired and others who left the profession.

"We have since advised all our regional directors to hunt for those teachers
who were dismissed for various reasons except for those with mental
problems," said Chigwedere.

Deputy Education Minister Titus Maluleke said although some teachers had
resigned, the media was exaggerating the numbers.

"We know we have a shortage of experienced staff but sometimes the media
exaggerates the numbers," said Maluleke.

Teachers are among the lowest paid civil servants in Zimbabwe with an
average teacher earning just about Z$1.8 million a month after last month's
salary increment.

But despite the salary increment, teachers continue to resign en masse
arguing that they can no longer make ends meet in Zimbabwe's
hyper-inflationary environment.

Zimbabwe is in the grip of a severe economic crisis which has seen inflation
shoot to more 4 500 percent, the highest in the world. The economic
recession has virtually pauperised all workers with most workers saying they
can hardly make ends meet.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and major
western governments blame the economic crisis on mismanagement by Mugabe in
power over the past 27 years. - ZimOnline


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US Voices Skepticism On South African-Mediated Zimbabwe Crisis Talks

VOA

      By Patience Rusere
      Washington
      19 June 2007

Officials of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change concluded a first round of face-to-face talks in Pretoria,
South Africa, on Monday, as a senior US official voiced skepticism about the
process.

Sources close to the talks told VOA that a second round of talks is likely
to open in July based on an agenda that was hammered out Monday.

The MDC seeks electoral reform and a revision of the Zimbabwean
constitution. The ruling party among other demands wants Western sanctions
against President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle to be lifted, and the
cessation of news broadcasts into the country by VOA's Studio 7 and
London-based Shortwave Radio Africa.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, mediating the crisis on behalf of the
Southern African Development Community, is present a progress report to his
regional peers at the end of this month and in July will brief an African
Union summit in Ghana.

But even as the first round of talks concluded, U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer, also in Pretoria, said she was
disappointed SADC was pressing ahead with a negotiation process that has
failed in the past.

Frazer said regional leaders should have sent a clear message to Mugabe at
their summit in March instead of backing him in a communique that asserted
Zimbabwean elections had been free and fair and urged that Western sanctions
be lifted.

She said Zimbabwe's crisis was hurting economic growth across the region.

Researcher Chris Maroleng of the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria,
South Africa, told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe
that some of ZANU-PF's demands evinced a lack of seriousness on Harare's
part.

Zimbabwean civic groups, voiced disquiet at what they described as their
exclusion from the talks, demanding a place at the table. A position paper
was presented to the South African ambassador in Harare recently with a copy
sent to SADC officials.

But Save Zimbabwe Campaign spokesman Raymond Motsi told reporter Patience
Rusere that it is possible, subject to further discussion, that Zimbabwe
civil society will have to let the two MDC factions go it alone in the
crisis talks.


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Coup claim made to 'mask Mugabe party split'

The Telegraph

By Byron Dziva in Harare
Last Updated: 2:28am BST 19/06/2007

A former soldier accused of plotting a coup against Robert Mugabe said
yesterday that the Zimbabwean president's real enemies were inside his own
party.

Government officials claimed last week that Zimbabwe had narrowly
avoided a coup, but Albert Matapo, who is accused of leading the alleged
conspiracy to overthrow the president, said that he was a "victim of
internal Zanu-PF politics".

He claimed that the allegations against him and five others, who
appeared in court in the capital, Harare, last week accused of planning to
oust Mr Mugabe, were designed to mask those divisions.

One of the accused is a serving soldier - but only holds the rank of
private - and two are former soldiers, including Mr Matapo. The remaining
three are civilians.

A government official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the
evidence against them was so weak that only political pressure from the
regime had led to charges of treason being brought.

Speaking through his lawyer, Mr Matapo, 40, said that he was a victim
of "dirty political tricks being engineered by politicians yet to be
identified".

The ruling Zanu-PF party is divided into two main factions, one led by
Solomon Mujuru, a former army commander, and the other dominated by Emmerson
Mnangagwa, a cabinet minister for the past 27 years.

Mr Matapo, who sought to be a Zanu-PF candidate in parliamentary
elections two years ago, is accused of plotting to install Mr Mnangagwa as
president. But Mr Matapo, who is being held at a military prison near Harare
airport, said that he had "never met Mnangagwa, never spoken to him, and had
only seen him on television".

The accused "heard Mnangagwa's name for the first time at the court
when the police were giving evidence in camera where they mentioned he was
to be installed as a leader in the event of a coup".

Mr Matapo was "shocked by the police's evidence" and "baffled". He
believes that the case against him has been trumped up to disguise the
extent of the infighting within Zanu-PF.

Jonathan Samkange, the lawyer who is defending Mr Matapo, said that
his client was arrested at his office in central Harare along with three
other men. They were in the process of forming a new opposition party,
styling itself the United Democratic Front.

Police seized documents during the raid, but Mr Samkange said that
none of this evidence suggested a coup was being planned.

Zimbabwe's spiralling economic crisis has weakened Mr Mugabe's grip on
power. His allies might have faked the alleged coup plot in order to bolster
his position by rallying his supporters inside Zanu-PF and discrediting Mr
Mnangagwa.

Alternatively, senior police officers might be trying to curry favour
with the regime by uncovering - or setting up - the supposed plot.

Meanwhile, formal talks between Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change have begun in Pretoria, the South African capital.
Delegations from both sides are meeting under the aegis of President Thabo
Mbeki, who has promised a new effort to solve Zimbabwe's economic and
political crisis.

The MDC, which is bitterly divided, is seeking assurances that
presidential and parliamentary elections due in March will be free and fair
and conducted under international supervision. All previous talks between
the two sides have ended in failure.


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Donors will move in when Mugabe finally leaves office

Business Report

June 19, 2007

By Donwald Pressly

Cape Town - Donor countries, including former colonial power the UK, have
drawn up a list of Zimbabwe's needs, including about $3 billion (R21.4
billion) over five years to stabilise the country's economy and cope with
what is described in a secret report as "the day when" President Robert
Mugabe leaves office.

A key point the International Monetary Fund (IMF) makes to the donor
community - dubbed the Fishmongers Group - is that "a big bang approach" to
liberalising the exchange rate will send the Zimbabwean dollar "into a
free-fall for some time".

Liberalisation would have to be managed carefully.

Foreign assistance of $650 million would be required in the first year to
support an economic reform programme that is part of a five-year, $3 billion
package, the international donors have been told.

This package would include:

a.. $150 million in food support in the first two years, including $125
million in the first year;

a.. $500 million for land agrarian reform over five years;

a.. $325 million for health services and education;

a.. $550 million for infrastructure;

a.. $1.7 billion for various emergency aid programmes; and

a.. $1.3 billion for balance of payment support and budgetary support.

A report by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), released by
deputy executive director Ivor Jenkins, notes that a national economic and
land reform programme would be necessary to lift Zimbabwe out of its
economic crisis.

This programme must be accompanied by the gradual lifting of sanctions and
the generous injection of international relief aid and development
assistance, says the Idasa report.

Rapid disbursements of development assistance, in the form of balance of
payments and budget support, are also necessary.

The IMF's donor community report emerges as Zimbabwe ruling party Zanu-PF,
which has been in power since 1980, talks in Pretoria with the official
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

These talks include Nicholas Goche, Zimbabwe's labour social welfare
minister, justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and MDC representative Nelson
Chamisa.

Leaders of southern African states in March appointed President Thabo Mbeki
the facilitator of talks between Zimbabwe's main political parties.

Meanwhile, the UK department for international development (DFID) recently
briefed a meeting of the British foreign and commonwealth office and
officials from governments active in donor co-ordination in Harare,
including Sweden, the European Commission, Australia, the US, the
Netherlands, Canada, Norway, New Zealand and Germany.

In response to a DFID paper entitled Zimbabwe - Economic Recovery, focusing
on macroeconomic stabilisation in the country, participants said it was
clear the country would need "hundreds of millions of US dollars per annum".

They noted that IMF studies showed that countries could move from
hyperinflation - now believed to be more than 4 000 percent in Zimbabwe - to
450 percent within a year, provided these countries received significant
support.

This group of donor countries is reported to be "increasingly focused" on
improving its readiness to play an effective and co-ordinated part in
Zimbabwe's recovery process.

The report says the devastated farming community is likely to require
donor-funded compensation for evicted farmers, while the distribution of
agricultural inputs and produce "must be market driven and involve the
private sector".

The report notes that the UK government will be expected to play a major
role in the development of the communal farming sector, in terms of funding
"and other support".

The report mirrors a comment by World Bank chief economist John Page at the
World Economic Forum in Cape Town last week.

Page said that while it "will be difficult" to reach the necessary social
consensus to implement wide-ranging economic reforms in Zimbabwe under the
current political circumstances, there were many factors to ensure that when
an economic turnaround began, it would be "rapid".

The Fishmongers' report notes that much of the prognosis for agriculture -
which has had a decline in production of more than 40 percent between 2000
and 2006 - is tied up with broader political questions around when Zimbabwe
"will transition" to a rational, technocratic government.

The report notes that a constitutionally guaranteed, saleable form of land
tenure must be set up. "This does not need to equate to freehold title," it
says. "Land could remain in black hands, with a multiracial farming
community obtaining access by means of long leases."

The Idasa report suggests Mugabe wishes to stand down about a year after
being re-elected next year. Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and rural
housing minister Emmerson Mnangagwa seem to be favoured as possible
successors.

.. Donwald Pressly is Business Report's new parliamentary correspondent


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Will the economic collapse be the end of Mugabe?


By Violet Gonda
19 June 2008
There is much talk in Zimbabwean circles that Robert Mugabe will not be able
to hang on to power much longer because of the economic crisis. In fact many
believe he will be out of office by the end of the year. Signs on the ground
indicate that this scenario is quite possible.

The Zimbabwean dollar started trading at the rate of £1: Z$305 000 on
Tuesday morning but during the day it went progressively down to Z$355 000,
then Z$375 000 and Z$405 000.

Officially inflation is currently pegged at more than 3,700% but economists
say that in fact it could be as high as 15,000%.

Last week an international aid agency estimated that if inflation continued
accelerating at today's rate it would reach 500 000% by the end of the year.
The experts said some non-governmental organizations agencies were already
paying their local staff on a weekly basis and before long they are going to
have to pay them on a daily basis. More companies are shutting down and
dissatisfaction within the workforce is increasing as more and more people
fail to cope.

Just yesterday other commentators were predicting an inflation rate of 1.5
million percent, by year-end. Most observers now say the chances of the
government surviving the imminent collapse of the economy are slim.

Sydney Masamvu, a senior analyst with the political think-tank the
International Crisis Group, said whilst he agrees that the economy will be
Mugabe's "waterloo" he doesn't think the 83 year old leader will be gone by
year end. Masamvu said the economy of Zimbabwe has been collapsing for the
last seven years but Mugabe has been managing to survive by printing more
money and abusing state minerals. The analysts said some 'friends' of Mugabe
from Africa and parts of East Asia, who don't want to see total collapse,
have also been helping him limp from crisis to crisis.

But there are others like outgoing US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher
Dell who believe the economic signs on the ground point to a Mugabe exit in
2007. Ambassador Dell told journalists on Monday: "We are closer to seeing
change in Zimbabwe today from within than at any time since independence."

Even members and supporters of the ruling party have cast doubt on the
viability of Robert Mugabe. The financial website Moneyweb quotes former
Finance Minister Simba Makoni saying that Zimbabwe is on the threshold of
change, and alluded to presidential succession during a debate at the World
Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town last Thursday.

Moneyweb also quoted Ibbo Mandaza, who is believed to be a ruling party
sympathizer and aligned to certain ZANU PF factions. Mandaza predicted that
Mugabe would no longer be president next year, but pointed out that the
solution lay within ZANU PF. He is quoted saying: "I'll say nothing will
start to happen positively on the economic front until the succession issue
is resolved. I sincerely feel the succession issue will be resolved by the
end of this year - then we can talk about the way forward."

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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New report highlights the crisis caused by farm seizures



By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 19, 2007

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has released a preliminary report on the
human rights violations that occurred on commercial farms from the year 2000
to 2005, due to the illegal eviction of white farmers. Titled "Injury in
addition to insult," the report is the result of a survey conducted over six
months between 2006 and 2007, which looked at what happened to the displaced
farm owners, as well as farm workers and their families and property. The
survey found that the gross human rights violations and property destruction
that took place were much greater than had been previously assumed.

The results show that in addition to human rights abuses, farm owners and
farm workers suffered immense financial losses. Farm workers also lost
accommodation, health services and access to clean water and sanitation. All
this led to a high death rate among the displaced farm workers and created
the growing economic and humanitarian crisis that has crippled the country.

Tendai Chabvuta from the NGO Forum said that contrary to the Zimbabwe
government's claims that most of the evicted white farmers were foreigners,
at least 75% of the 187 respondents identified themselves as Zimbabwean
citizens, not British. The government had also claimed that most black farm
workers came from neighbouring countries and simply went home when they were
displaced. But Chabvuta dismissed this, saying many were now homeless and
roaming around the rural areas. Some of the women who wound up in urban
areas were forced to engage in prostitution to feed their families, and
children remained out of school.

According to the survey, 1% of the displaced farm workers and their family
members have died since losing their jobs. Applying this figure to the
entire population of 1 million farm workers and their families, it means
10,000 people could have died after displacement from the farms. The actual
figures are believed to be much higher.

Chabvuta described this survey as the "first real accounting" of the damage
caused by the government's chaotic land reform programme. Explaining why
this was done so many years after the first evictions in 2000 he said: "When
these things were happening no-one paid much attention because there was
chaos. And people tend to look at the most basic needs first."

Some of the information included in the survey was already known, including
the fact that police did not protect farmers and farm workers, the
perpetrators were mostly government officials using war veterans and youth
militia. The report says that a "plausible case can be made for crimes
against humanity being committed during these displacements" and "there is a
compelling need for these to be investigated and the perpetrators to be
charged and tried."

The Human Rights NGO Forum said they encourage every commercial farmer or
farm worker who suffered losses or damages to participate in the project as
a matter of urgency. The full 40-page report is available here.
http://www.swradioafrica.com/Documents/farm_seizures180607.pdf

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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EU lobbying by MDC pays off



By Tichaona Sibanda
19 June 2007
The MDC's chief representative in the UK, Hebson Makuvise, said their
diplomatic offensive among European Union states is at last paying
dividends. Makuvise had a meeting with Portuguese diplomats in London last
week Friday and said he was delighted by their announcement Monday that
Robert Mugabe would not be welcome at a EU-African Union summit being held
in November in Lisbon.

Makuvise said; 'It was a cordial meeting and I explained to them the
importance of adhering to their travel ban on Mugabe and his cronies. I also
pointed out that of all the diplomats I have met from the EU states none
were willing to let him travel to their countries.'

Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado said on Monday of Mugabe; 'Personally
I have no interest in Mugabe coming to Lisbon. His presence in Lisbon would
be a factor of disturbance.'

The MDC chief said EU diplomats were well aware of what was happening
politically and economically and that most of the states were willing to
help rebuild the country in a free Zimbabwe. He also announced that last
minute changes to the Save Zimbabwe Campaign delegation's itinerary have
forced the cancellation of an MDC rally scheduled for Luton in the UK this
Saturday.

Makuvise added that last minute requests from other European Union leaders
to meet the delegation on its European tour had left little time for Morgan
Tsvangirai to address the rally.

'It's unfortunate we had to cancel the rally because we couldn't say no to
requests by some EU leaders to meet the delegation. The leaders have
realised things are moving fast in Zimbabwe and so have urgently requested
to see the delegation that comprises all opposition stakeholders, civic and
church leaders,' Makuvise said.

The delegation is currently in Berlin, Germany and will visit London,
Brussels and France. Some of the delegation's appointments have been moved
from Friday to Saturday leaving no time for Tsvangirai to meet with
Zimbabweans as he is scheduled to leave the same afternoon for Canada and
then the United States.

The delegation comprises among others Tsvangirai, Zapu leader Paul Siwela,
National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku, Reverand Levy
Kadenge from the Christian Alliance, Zinasu President Promise Mkwananzi.
Arthur Mutambara will be joining the group in Berlin Tuesday evening.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Mutambara gets passport, off to Europe

New Zimbabwe

By Staff Reporter
Last updated: 06/19/2007 11:11:34
ARTHUR Mutambara is set to join Morgan Tsvangirai on a visit to Europe after
Zimbabwean police released his passport seized during the arrest of four
opposition activists in Harare.

Mutambara was attending the World Economic Forum in South Africa last week
and sent his passport to Harare for visa stamping.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara, both presidents of the feuding Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), were scheduled to fly to Europe last Saturday
before police took his passport.

The four activists arrested in Harare on Saturday were also released Monday
without charge.

Speaking from Johannesburg where he has been stranded, Mutambara accused the
Zimbabwe government of attempting to keep the opposition divided.

He told SW Radio Africa: "In particular, they were trying to undermine a
Save Zimbabwe Campaign that we were going to take to Europe. Our colleagues
Morgan Tsvangirai, (Lovemore) Madhuku, (Bishop Levee) Kadenge and the others
have already left so what they have done is to undermine that coalition, to
undermine that working together spirit."

The MDC factions united over the weekend in South Africa only to hold talks
with the ruling Zanu PF party, but Mutambara is not banking on the talks to
yield any positive outcome.

He added: "What is happening right now - the torture and murder of our
members, the torture and abuse of our members, is an indication that Mugabe
is not ready for any serious talks with the opposition."

The talks are part of SADC-initiated mediation efforts in Zimbabwe to bring
the ruling party and opposition interests groups together to agree the
ground rules ahead of general elections next year.


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UN body sets rules on how to move against top rights abusers

International Herald Tribune

The Associated PressPublished: June 19, 2007

GENEVA: Members of the new United Nations human rights watchdog body agreed
in principle Tuesday to a compromise on how to investigate some of the
world's worst rights offenders, sparing it from the potentially embarrassing
prospect of failing to set its own rules.

The Human Rights Council, which was formed last year to replace the UN Human
Rights Commission, has faced widespread criticism from activists who say it
is dominated by its large African, Arab and Asian blocs, and spends much of
its time singling out Israel and fending off criticism of countries like
Sudan and Zimbabwe.

The council's members had negotiated for a year on setting the ground rules
for how it will operate. But just as a compromise package appeared likely to
be approved at a council meeting in Geneva late Monday, the deal was held up
by China's last-minute attempt to raise the threshold for any resolution
criticizing a country over its human rights record.

China said approval by two-thirds of the council's 47 members should be
required before a special investigation of alleged rights violations is
begun. The current requirement is a simple majority.

The council president, Luis Alfonso de Alba of Mexico, said members had
agreed to a new proposal that says resolutions against a country should have
"the broadest possible support" - preferably from at least 15 members -
before being submitted to the full council for approval.

The new proposal was to be put before the council for formal approval later
Tuesday.
"We have all made compromises; it is not a perfect text. Negotiations never
achieve a perfect text," de Alba said.

The agreement was received with relief by member states, who would have very
likely faced more international criticism if no action had been taken.

"This is good for Geneva; it is good for multilateral negotiations," said
Ambassador Blaise Godet of Switzerland, which was instrumental in setting up
the Human Rights Council a year ago.

Although many developing countries object to naming and shaming countries
over their human rights records, they make an exception for Israel, the only
government explicitly criticized so far by the body. Censure by the council
brings no sanctions beyond international scrutiny.

Among the proposed changes to its rules is the establishment of a "universal
periodic review" mechanism under which all countries will have their rights
records examined regularly, so as to remove any accusation of bias.

De Alba's proposal also aims to ensure that annual reports are produced on a
number of specific human rights hot spots, including Haiti, Somalia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Myanmar, North Korea and the
Palestinian territories. But it would cancel longstanding mandates to
investigate Cuba and Belarus.


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MDC wants demands met before next years elections

zimbabwejournalists.com

19th Jun 2007 17:35 GMT

By Dennis Rekayi

MUTARE - The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it has
tabled five major demands it wants to be met before they can participate in
next year's crucial presidential and parliamentary polls.

Nelson Chamisa, the party's spokesman told thousands of cheering supporters
at Chisamba Grounds in Sakubva at the weekend that the MDC will only
participate in the polls if all its demands are met.

Chamisa said the MDC wants a new constitution put in place before the
elections and every citizen to be allowed to vote if they have proper
identification papers, as was the case in the landmark 1980 elections that
brought Zanu PF into office.

Millions of Zimbabweans living abroad will have to be allowed to vote under
a new constitution.

Chamisa said the other demand was that the opposition should have unfettered
access to State media institutions such as ZTV and all radio sations.

The other demands are that the current Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should
be disbanded in favour of an independent electoral body and that laws such
as the Public Order and Security Act should be scrapped as it is being
applied selectively.

"We have to apply for authority from the police to hold meetings but at the
same time Zanu PF are free to hold rallies without clearance from the
police," Chamisa said.

"The police's duty should be to ensure that there is peace at the meetings."

Chamisa said the fifth demand was that traditional leaders should be
impartial and not be used by the ruling party to suppress the political
wills of their subjects.

Chamisa spoke as MDC leaders from both factions flew to South Africa to meet
President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria to map the way forward for talks aimed at
ending Zimbabwe's political and economic problems.

Chamisa said Tendai Biti of the Morgan Tsvangirai faction and Welshman Ncube
of the less popular Arthur Mutambara faction have joined Zanu PF's
PatrickChinamasa and Nicholas Goche in Pretoria.

The youthful MDC spokesman refused to discuss finer details of the Pretoria
indaba.

Mbeki was tasked by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to
mediate to end Zimbabwe's worsening political and economic problems and
ensure the 2008 elections are held under a conducive environment.

The MDC and international observers have in the past condemned previous
elections held in Zimbabwe saying they were flawed and the playing field was
heavily tilted in favour of the ruling party.

To prove their point, the MDC boycotted Zaka by-elections, which were held
recently on the same grounds that the political playing field was not level.

Thokozani Khupe, the MDC vice president, who was the main speaker at the
rally, said the majority of workers in the country were now technically
unemployed because of the runaway inflation, which has eroded salaries and
wages.

"Most Zimbabweans are technically unemployed because wages and salaries are
no longer sustainable. You get paid today but tomorrow you are borrowing
money to pay rentals," she said amid applauses.

Khupe said it was irrational for President Mugabe to even think of being
given another chance to rule the country given the levels at which he has
run down Zimbabwe.


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Change in Zimbabwe Would Boost Country



Business Day (Johannesburg)

ANALYSIS
19 June 2007
Posted to the web 19 June 2007

Mariam Isa
Johannesburg

SA's financial markets shrugged off news of an abortive coup plot in
Zimbabwe last week, suggesting that any political change in the neighbouring
country is likely to be viewed as constructive for the region, analysts
said.

Several years ago, the rand would have been hammered at any suggestion of
further political or economic disruption in Zimbabwe, which was SA's main
trade partner on the continent until last year, and remains the main market
for South African exports in the region.

Talk of a collapse which could have disastrous consequences for SA still
lingers, but the slow pace of Zimbabwe's economic decline has given markets
and companies time to adjust, making the effect of any further implosion
likely to be relatively muted.

"The Zimbabwe episode has been going on for seven years, and the length of
time has masked its effect on SA," Standard Bank group economist Goolam
Ballim said yesterday.

"Financial markets began to show fatigue with Zimbabwe three to four years
ago ... that has made its umbilical cord with SA less obvious."

Inflation in Zimbabwe has soared to more than 3700% and unemployment is at
about 70%.

Thousands of people surge over the border between the two countries every
day, and there are about three million Zimbabweans in SA, many illegally.

But the drain on SA's public resources may be at least partially offset by
the immigrants' skills, while SA has benefited by becoming the smaller
country's supplier of choice after global lenders cut support in response to
President Robert Mugabe's policies.

News yesterday that Mugabe's ruling Zanu (PF) party and the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change had held preliminary talks yesterday
suggested that efforts by South African mediators ar e starting to bear
fruit. In any case, at this stage any change in Zimbabwe's leadership is
likely to look positive to global markets, and in turn benefit SA.

"Just as the South African economy did not suffer from the implosion of
Zimbabwe, no one would benefit hugely if there was a turnaround," said
Citigroup economist Jean-Francois Mercier.

"But it could have an effect on perceptions or sentiment which would be good
for South African companies and might generate more foreign investment. The
short-term response may be panicked but markets could settle very quickly -- 
rebuilding opportunities in Zimbabwe could be substantial. Zimbabwe may be a
remarkable comeback story."


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Student leader's relatives attacked ­ as the state's hunt for Mkwananzi intensifies

The Zimbabwean

(19-06-07)
THE STUDENT
Harare
The police have mounted a ferocious hunt for the ZINASU President; Mr.
Promise Mkwananzi at his relatives' homes in Waterfalls and Glen Norah
suburbs in Harare. Promise has been on hunt by the police and Central
Intelligence Organization (CIO) since March 11, 2007 over unclear charges.
When the police arrived at his relatives' residence,  they started
interrogating them about his whereabouts and when they told them that he was
no longer living with them, all hell broke loose. They were subjected to
untold and wanton assaults with clenched fists and baton sticks. No one was
arrested.

The University of Zimbabwe, in connivance with the state security, has
deregistered Promise from the faculty of Law where he is a third year
student. The university has denied Promise audience to discuss the reasons
behind this technical interruption of his studies. Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights is assisting Promise to challenge the university's decision in
the high court.

Mugwiji in the Intensive Care Unit
Masvingo
The Masvingo University security officers under the instructions of the
dreaded CIO attacked Witlaw Mugwiji, the SRC President in the Examination
room. Mugwiji, together with his Secretary General, Eddison Hlatswayo were
dragged out of the room . Witlaw was subjected to assault by the security
and sustained serious injuries. He is currently admitted at Masvingo Central
Hospital and his condition is reported to be stable. Witlaw has been denied
his basic and inalienable right to a fair trial before the University's
disciplinary committee. He is one of the many student leaders who have
fallen victims of state brutality in the political mayhem which is currently
enveloping the country as democratic space continues to shrink.

 Two student leaders released
Harare

The University of Zimbabwe Secretary General, Kudakwashe Mapundu and Caesar
Sitiya were released yesterday evening after being arrested and detained
over charges of malicious injury to property. The police alleged the two
student leaders smashed windows on a bus at the university campus on May 10
2007. They were arrested on Friday the 14 th of June 2007. Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights represented them.

 Zimbabwe National Students Union
21 Wembly Road, Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe,
+263912471673/ +2634788135
zinasu@gmail. com
www.zinasu.org


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Resource nationalism on way

Fin24

19/06/2007 14:14

London - High raw materials prices are emboldening resource-rich African
states to drive harder bargains with investors, but governments will not
hold the whip hand until they are less dependent on foreign money.
"Resource nationalism is exactly what is happening," Tim Williams, Director
of Metals and Mining at Ernst & Young, said.

"A lot of countries are seeing super profits and they're trying to change
the rules. The problem with that is, it discourages now capital expenditure,
and the high-risk money for new exploration."

Zimbabwe's government said this month it would take control of uranium, coal
and methane projects; the Democratic Republic of Congo is reviewing mining
contracts and Tanzania has agreed new mining deals with two firms.

The moves come against a backdrop of record profits for big mining
companies, the darlings of equities markets. With demand for metal soaring,
largely to stoke Chinese industry, mining stocks are way up and the sector
is awash with merger activity.

Impoverished African countries, traditionally exporters of raw materials
that are refined or turned into manufactured goods elsewhere, see a chance
to get back a bit of their own.

African Eagle, developing Zambian copper and gold projects costing up to
$70m, got a fright when there was talk of boosting the royalty tax on
minerals to 10% from 0.6%.

"When the 10% was mentioned, alarm bells started ringing," Operations
Director Chris Davies said. "At that level, any marginal operation wouldn't
have gone ahead."

In fact, Zambia ended up proposing a 3% royalty tax, which miners say they
can live with.

"You can understand the Zambian government. Copper prices are robust and
they want to benefit from that," Davies said.

"You want a fiscal code that encourages investment, but on the other hand,
the government wants to benefit from it."

Governments emboldened

The knowledge that they have what the world wants gives African states the
strength to ask for more in return, Alex Gorbansky, Managing Director of
advisory firm Frontier Strategy Group, said.

"Governments are behaving in a way they couldn't when commodities prices
weren't what they are today," he said.

African governments would like to wield even more power, but they still need
the money and the expertise Western mining companies bring.

Unless they can take advantage of many years of high resources prices - as
Russia has benefited from oil - African countries can only dictate terms to
a certain extent.

"Compared to Russia and Venezuela, Nigeria and Angola are not quite the same
because they don't have the kind of domestic companies that can do the
actual production on their own," Charles Esser, energy analyst at
Brussels-based advisory Crisis Group, said.

"There is still a certain kind of resource nationalism as they look to grab
a larger share from oil producers, but it's not quite the same as in Russia
and Venezuela."

One way governments have been attracting money is by doing deals with China.

"If you find yourself going head to head with China, they will invariably
pay more," Michael Lynch-Bell, Partner in Charge of Global Mining and Metals
at Ernst & Young. Lynch-Bell said.

Although China may have the edge by being able to offer cheap loans and aid
as part of a resources package, Western companies have the advantage when it
comes to knowledge and experience of running mining projects, he argued.

Contract is king

Investors are always concerned about the possibility of government
interference in resources projects, said Marcus Edwards-Jones, Founding
Partner at financial advisers Lloyd Edwards-Jones.

His company helped raised money for Range Resources, a firm looking for oil
in Somalia, and for White Nile, which has been battling the Sudanese
government over ownership of an oil block.

With Congo due to finish reviewing contracts by the end of August, the
relationship between state and company is paramount.

"Mining companies don't own minerals virtually anywhere in the world," Ernst
& Young's Williams said. "The assets of a mining company are its agreements
with the state."

In the main, companies and investors in Africa know they are dealing with
governments prone to re-writing the rules.

"You will get periodic changes in the tax regime in lots of these places,"
Edwards-Jones said. "People will always do as much as they can get away
with."


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Bindura Nickel to lay off 180 at Zimbabwe's Freda Rebecca gold mine


Tue, Jun 19 2007, 14:56 GMT
http://www.afxnews.com

HARARE (Thomson Financial) - Bindura Nickel Corp, the owner of Zimbabwe's
northeastern Freda Rebecca gold mine, said it will lay off 180 workers after
scaling down operations. The mine employs 564 workers.

"The company is currently running on one mill instead of two, which has
resulted in 180 workers being affected," Bindura Nickel managing director
David Murangari said. "It's a story of starting all over again. We will be
running on one plant for between 18 to 24 months."

Murangari said the closure of sections of the mine was to facilitate
repairs, adding that the company had invested 10 mln usd in the project.

Gold is still one of Zimbabwe's major hard currency earners but the mining
sector has been hamstrung by foreign exchange shortages which have prevented
it from buying new equipment and supplies.

Gold output is this year expected to fall by 23 pct to about 8,700 kgs from
11,354 kgs last year, due to operational problems, according to the Zimbabwe
Chamber of Mines. It added that the situation has been exacerbated by the
non-payment of 20 mln usd owed to gold mining firms since November last year
by the central bank.


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Mugabe not ready to play nice

IOL

    June 19 2007 at 06:08PM

By Basildon Peta

As the South African government confirmed for the first time on Monday
that Zimbabwe peace talks had started in Pretoria, it emerged that Zimbabwe
President Robert Mugabe had set tough conditions for engaging in any
sustained dialogue.

Participants at the first official talks between Mugabe's ruling
Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are
keeping a tight lid on their deliberations, but it is understood that Mugabe
demanded in a letter to Mbeki just before the talks that the opposition
recognise him as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.

He also demanded that the opposition denounce Western targeted
sanctions and call for lifting them, among other things.

Since fraudulent elections in 2000, the opposition has steadfastly
stuck to its position that Mugabe is an illegitimate ruler.

The opposition has also spurned the call for lifting of sanctions
saying it does not control them and is not responsible for sanctions imposed
on Mugabe and his cronies by the West.

This week's talks followed after Mugabe's representatives, Justice
Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicholas Goche, had twice
failed to turn up for scheduled meetings in Pretoria despite frantic efforts
by Mbeki's mediation team, led by Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi.

Mufamadi eventually succeeded in convincing Zanu-PF that obstacles or
demands be part of the negotiations' agenda.

Failure to get any form of dialogue started, he reasoned, would be
tantamount to ridiculing SADC leaders, who mandated Mbeki at an
extraordinary summit in Tanzania to mediate between Zimbabwe's arch foes.

Chinamasa and Goche eventually arrived in South Africa for the talks,
which started in Pretoria at the weekend, chaired by Mufamadi.

The divided opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is
represented by the two secretaries-general of its factions, Tendai Biti and
Welshman Ncube.
Chinamasa, Goche, Biti and Ncube had met in Harare for informal talks
in the past, but these failed to make any breakthrough after Chinamasa
castigated the opposition for being "unpatriotic". - Independent Foreign
Service

Full story available in June 20 edition of Pretoria News, Cape Times,
The Star and The Mercury


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Zimbabwe players told to buy sponsored cars



Cricinfo staff

June 19, 2007

Zimbabwe cricket's bitter relationship with its players may be compounded
if, as reported, West Indies A players' refuse to tour the country, and
further disturbing news comes with claims that players are once against
being short-changed by the board.

Most are still waiting to be paid from the World Cup - the latest is that
they have been told they will receive their money at the end of the month -
and they have now been told they will have to compulsorily buy their
contract cars, or lose them. The outstanding World Cup payments, player
sources said, will form part of the payment for the cars.

Most, if not all, the Nissan Almera vehicles are not in the best of
condition and require regular maintenance at ever increasing costs in a
country where inflation is skyrocketing way above the official 4500%.
Players spoken to said they are being asked to pay between US$12 000 and 15
000 for the cars, sums that will effectively wipe out their earnings from
the World Cup.

A national team player based in Bulawayo said he would not afford to pay
what he is being asked to. "I am not going to part way with such amount of
money for that broken-down vehicle, it's not worth it. Besides I do not have
the money," he said. "They have our money."

Players were also downcast over the situation regarding their playing
schedule and Test return, and said they will decide on their future in the
light of the news from the Caribbean. Training had already started in Harare
in preparation for the West Indies A tour, although some players were
conspicuously absence.

© Cricinfo


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Zimbabwe accuses South Africa of racism over cattle killings

Monsters and Critics

Jun 19, 2007, 10:31 GMT

Harare/Johannesburg - State media in Zimbabwe Tuesday accused veterinary
authorities in South Africa of racism after 100 cattle belonging to
villagers living on the border between the two countries were allegedly shot
dead by South African soldiers.

The official Herald newspaper said the incident which Zimbabwean police
describe as cruel and deliberate occurred earlier this month.

In a front-page story, the paper claimed the cattle, which belonged to
villagers in the Chitulipasi area of Beitbridge, were shot dead by white
South African Defence Forces soldiers.

A helicopter gunship was used to drive the cattle before opening fire, said
the newspaper.

The Herald - which closely reflects the thinking of President Robert
Mugabe's government - failed to say why the cattle had been shot. But it
hinted that tests were being carried out on the cattle for suspected
foot-and-mouth disease.

Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease are a perennial problem in crisis-hit
Zimbabwe. Four years ago Botswana began erecting an electric border fence,
officially to keep out foot-and-mouth infected cattle from Zimbabwe.

But the project, which has since been abandoned, provoked a storm inside
Zimbabwe, with suspicions Botswana was also trying to keep desperate
Zimbabweans out of the country.

The Herald insisted the Chitulipasi cattle killings were racist.

'We have established that the provincial veterinary office, a Dr Luke, who
happens to be white, working with his counterparts in the army, who are
white, shot the cattle,' said police spokesman Ronald Muderedzwa.

There were, however, hints that the cattle may have in fact been grazing on
South African soil.

People from the Chitulipasi area, most of whom have relatives on the South
African side of the border, usually let their cattle graze on that side
where there are good pastures, said the Herald.

The South African authorities were said to be investigating the incident.

© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur


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Misa-Zimbabwe outraged at passage of snooping Bill

zimbabwejournalists.com

19th Jun 2007 17:22 GMT

By MISA

MISA-Zimbabwe wishes to express its outrage and dismay at the passing of the
Interception of Communications Bill by the House of Assembly on 13 May 2007.

In its current form, the Bill carries unconstitutional provisions in that it
threatens citizens' fundamental rights to privacy, freedom of conscience,
expression and association.

MISA-Zimbabwe is concerned that the Bill attempts to overturn the outcome of
the Law Society of Zimbabwe Vs the Minister of Transport and Communications,
and the Attorney General's case of 2003 in which the Supreme Court  ruled
that freedom of expression includes freedom from interference with one's
correspondence (electronic or postal).

MISA-Zimbabwe notes that the case also made it clear that laws such as the
Interception of Communications Bill with vague provisions which bestow
extremely broad and unfettered powers to an individual without checks and
balances are not reasonable.

With terms such as "any directive" as in Section 6 (2) (a), and "any other
information" in Section 10 (1) (c), the Bill renders wide discretionary
powers to individuals.  The last paragraph of the summary section of the
Bill states that the Minister shall be empowered to make regulations for all
matters which in his opinion, are necessary or convenient to be prescribed.
It is MISA-Zimbabwe's considered view that this constitutes a bad law.

This Bill also introduces unprecedented grounds for law making.  The
Minister is empowered to legislate for convenience or expedience to the
benefit of the government, and potentially to the detriment of citizens.

MISA-Zimbabwe notes that it remains unclear why the Attorney General has
been granted review powers, and the right to be consulted on certain issues
under the Bill.  Review powers should be given to High Court judges.

Although attempts are made at defining the terms "national security", and
"organised criminal group", MISA-Zimbabwe expresses concern that the issues
surrounding these terms remain largely debatable and vague.

The definition of Minister also leaves the legislative function open to all
sorts of possibilities.  Any person whom the President, in his whim and
caprice, wishes to lend legislative powers, could end up deciding on these
critical issues affecting civil liberties, notwithstanding the competence or
otherwise of such a person to deal with the relevant issues.  This cannot be
acceptable in a democratic society.

The Bill makes very little provision for citizens to respond to the
allegations that lead to warrants being issued against them.  That is
contrary to the principles of natural justice, which require that both
parties to an issue must be given a fair chance to present their respective
accounts on the subject issue.

The duration of warrants (three months) is far too long.  Why should a
citizen's privacy be under invasion for such a long time?  The Original Bill
provided that the life of a renewed warrant would be only one month long.
The New Consolidated Text extends it to three months, which is an
exacerbation of the infringement of the citizen's liberties.

MISA-Zimbabwe believes that this Bill is an illustration of the government's
determination to criminalise matters that should ordinarily be dealt with in
civil courts or through alternative dispute resolution.

The Bill is grossly unfair as it seeks to impose financial obligations upon
corporate citizens, in a fashion that is not justifiable in a democratic
society.

Under the Bill, private, confidential and personal information may be
intercepted and abused by the system. Lawyer-client confidentiality,
banker-customer confidentiality, doctor-patient confidentiality,
husband-wife confidentiality, and all other forms of confidentiality, shall
be breached should the Bill be enacted into actual law.  Therefore, service
providers including those in the Internet Service Provision, the banking,
the legal, and other industries and profession, will no longer be able to
assure their clients that issues discussed, or information conveyed in the
normal transaction of business, will remain private and confidential

Service providers in the communications industry will incur huge capital and
foreign currency expenses for the acquisition of hardware and software that
will become necessary for compliance with the proposed law.  Most players in
the industry will be driven out of business.

MISA-Zimbabwe notes that the in-house and mass media industries could also
be adversely affected as news materials could be intercepted in the course
of transmission, thereby making it impossible or difficult for the relevant
media houses to operate.  That would also naturally limit the nation's
access to information but infringe on freedom of expression rights.

While the Bill attempts to present the government as a friendly authority as
refered to in Section 9 of the Bill, it is nowhere near that.  This is a
decree as Section 9 (2) of the Bill, declares that  "a service provider who
fails to give assistance . shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a
fine .".

Suffice to say the Bill fails to disclose the solid objective behind the
proposal for interception of communications and the impending snooping into
private and professional communications.

It is MISA-Zimbabwe's unequivocal position that the Interception of
Communications Bill 2006, is a retrogressive and repressive piece of law
that has no place in a democratic society.


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Old people's homes in dire financial straits

The Zimbabwean

(19-06-07)
By Brendon Tulani

BULAWAYO - Hard-pressed inmates of retirement institutions and religious
organisations in Zimbabwe's second largest city are appealing to city
authorities for a reduction in service and water charges following stringent
regulations and hefty penalties the city authorities put in place to
encourage residents conserve water.
Bulawayo city council is proposing a 2 600% increase in rates and services
in its mid-year supplementary budget.
Retirement homes have appealed for a 50% rebate on water and sewerage
charges.
Bulawayo is facing a looming water shortage for its 1,5 million residents
owing to patchy rains over the past wet season in its key water catchments
area.
The council imposed strict water rationing measures and stiff penalties for
offenders to save dwindling supplies in its major supply reservoirs and
avert a disaster.
Officials say the city's water rationing programme aims at achieving a daily
consumption of less than 90 000 cubic metres of water against a daily demand
of 112 000 cubic metres.
Council could decommission two major dams by the end of July if residents
maintain current water consumption.
At the same time increasing purification costs, owing to inflation pegged at
4 230% has forced council to hike its tariffs to sustain service delivery.
One such appeal for a reduction in water charges from Garden Park Trust - a
welfare organisation catering for the elderly whose ages range from 75 to 80
years - says inmates of the institution are all in dire financial straits.
High inflation that has triggered daily price increases has rendered
pensioners' life savings worthless.
"A majority of these people require assistance from "Help" organisations or
family members. Many are pensioners whose income is negligible and often
insufficient to cover essential medical drugs," part of the appeal from the
trustees to council reads.
But council officials have turned down the request.
The city fathers say the old people's homes are benefiting from the council
in the form of grants-in-aid.
Council has already approved more than Z$12,6 million for eight old people's
homes. It also foots half the institutions annual rates bills and allows
these institutions to pay only a quarter (25%) of the annual fixed sewerage
charges.
"If we allow the institutions a further 50% rebate we will effectively
reduce the bills to 25% whereas old people staying in their properties pay
half the rates bill," says acting city treasurer, Middleton Nyoni
Nyoni said such relief should translate to a proportionate benefit for those
who are living in their properties and taking care of orphans.
Church organisations have made similar appeals on water levies. Religious
organisations, which are charged non-domestic consumption tariffs, say they
are finding it difficult to meet water bills.
But council says it risks losing Z$99,7 million in revenue for the last half
of this year if it accedes to the requests.
"Churches are providing a service to the community and council has to
establish a balance between loss of income and appreciation of the sterling
work that churches perform," Nyoni said.
Under the Urban Councils' Act (Section 270) religious organisations that own
properties are exempted from paying rates.
There are 270 church organisations owning properties in the city.


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No help for HIV patients in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean

(19-06-07)
Yesterday morning Simon and his wife and little girl Tandi (not their real
names) went to Parirenyatwa Hospital and the OIU Clinic.  Simon is an MDC
activist and survived by looking after cars outside Harvest House (until the
raid) and picking up odd jobs.  He is one of the few responsible citizens
who, together with his wife and Tandi, went to the New Start Center to find
out their status. They all tested HIV positive. Their other three children
are negative. Tandi's CD 4 count was 134.  ARV treatment is normally
commenced when the clients CD 4 count is 200.  She is a very sick little
girl, with severe ear infections, sores all over her little body and TB.  8
days in hospital cost Z$6 million.  Their CD 4 counts cost a total of 2.5
million. Their anti-biotics cost a further 2 million. Their transport to and
from Chitingwiza yesterday cost them 240,000.00.  And he is one of the 80%
of Zimbabweans unemployed.
What would be the fate of this family had they not been assisted by a
project?  They would probably all be dead by the year end, leaving three
more orphans to add to the already estimated 1,5 million in Zimbabwe.

The promise of the Zanu PF government at Independance was free basic primary
health care for all those unemployed/minimum wage earners and free primary
school education.

The looting and gross mismanagement (and now inevitable collapse) of the
economy, by Zanu PF, has already and will still further be the cause of
hundreds of thousands of deaths in Zimbabwe.  The total collapse of the
Health delivery system has exacerbated the situation. If there is no money
available for Health delivery, Docters and Nurses salaries, food for the
patients, then how do the ZanuPF thieves afford brand new luxury Mercedes
vehicles, huge mansions and decadent life styles.  This is a Genocide.


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WOZA women win court case

The Zimbabwean

(19-06-07)
BULAWAYO:
THE militant Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has won a court application to
have their case referred to the Supreme Court where they are challenging the
constitutionality of the section of the law that the police are using to
harass demonstrators.

Bulawayo magistrate, Rose Sibanda, today (Tuesday) granted the order and
referred the matter to the Supreme Court for a determination on the
constitutionality of Sections of the Act

WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlonga are challenging sections
under which they are charged with through their lawyer, Kossam Ncube.

They are accused of breaking sections of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Act to the Supreme Court following a foiled demonstration last
month.

In the court application their lawyer said Section 37 and 46 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act, that Williams and Magodonga, were being
charged with was vague and was susceptible to wide interpretation.

"Section 37 (i)(a)(i) of the Code is couched in such wide and broad terms
that make it extremely difficult if not impossible to comprehend the
demarcation of the offence," the court papers read.

Woza argued that sections of the act had an effect on all gatherings and
implied that all gatherings whether political or social fell within the
section.

"It is open to abuse and potentially prohibits all forms of public
gatherings or processions, in the circumstances, it thus violates the right
to freedom of assembly and association, right to freedom of expression and
right to freedom of movement," Woza argued in the court papers.

Williams and Mahlangu, according to court records, were part of a group of
women who demonstrated outside the Bulawayo central police station early
this month and demanded the unconditional release of their colleagues who
had been arrested for staging an 'illegal' demonstration- CAJ News.
 


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Zimbabweans living as squatters

The Zimbabwean
 
( 19-06-07)

JOHANNESBURG:


Zimbabweans now living as squaters in Soweto
Photo by Annie Mpalume
OVER 5 000 refugees in South Africa will be converging in various centres of the country to mark the World Refugees Day today.

For many in South Africa, the day will be a time to reflect on the life they are living away from their homelands.
 
Few can proudly say they have been intergrated into the SA society, CAJ News was told.


Mozambiquean refugees in Soweto busy repairing shoes
Refugees and asylum seekers have harrowing tales of police abuse and harassment. Without obtaining refugee status first, those that who are HIV positive can not readily access life saving Anti-Retrovial Drugs (ARVs).
 
Complicating their livelihood, both refugees and asylum seekers have no accommodation, no food and many have this winter been exposed to the cold.
 
A glaring sad incident is that of mothers and children, who sleep on bare floor at the Methodist House in Central Johannesburg without blankets.
 
It is those who are lucky to recieve donations who can spend the night warmly wrapped in blankets.
 
Joshua Mambo-Rusere, a political refugee from Zimbabwe, whose home was razed down by Zanu PF youth militia during the height of the bloody 2002 presidential election has not found joy and comfort in SA some five years ago when he fled the violent presidential election.
 
I am yet to get the refugee status, and what it means is that I am still an asylum seeek. I discovered that being a refugee means continuous suffering.
 
"I harealised for one to be in safe position, especially in Johannesburg you should have lots of money to bribe the police. The police are no longer doing their work properly as greediness has forced many South African Police Service (SAPS) officers not to be trusted," said Rusere.
 
Maria Hailem of Rwanda says she is presently trumatized by the police conduct. She has been arrested several times in Braamfontein and says she can only earn her freedom if
she pays bribes. One fateful day she did not have money on her.
 
"The Hillbrow police drove me to my sister's place where they demanded a R400 bribe," she says. I was set free after my sister paid the amount.
 
"What hurts me most is that the next day she didn't have money to pay for her daughter's fees, that is the money she used," she says.

Hailem has many tales about police harrasment while in exile in South Africa.
 
She added:" Early March this year, I delayed going to the Home Affairs offices in Pretoria to renew my asylum papers, and immediately the police bundled me into their van. We were 12 of us in that van and we were made to spend five hours as they continuously drove us right round Soweto, Johannesburg Central Business District, Jeepstown and Yeoville whilst threatening us with deportation if we could not pay them bribes.
 
"After realising that we did not have the money, they then drove us back to Park Station at around 12:00 midnight before dumping us.  We eventually slept in the open space outside Park Station," said Hailem.
 
Norah Tapiwa of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Civic Society (CSOs) Forum, who was detained by police after producing an asylum paper says the Home Affairs should run an awareness campaign aimed at educating the new police recruits on how to understand that asylum papers or refugees' status permits were different from passports and should be given the rrespected it deserved.
 
 "I was arrested and detained last Sunday on my way to worship God in Braamfontein. The police detained me for two hours at Wits Metro-Rail Station at Park Station. I was told there was no war in Zimbabwe and, hence it was a fraud for me to
possess asylum papers," says Tapiwa.
 
She says her papers were torn into pieces making life difficult for her to travel around the country without the Home Affairs papers.
 
"I think is high time the world must start considering the crisis for refugees in Africa, especially the issue of Zimbabweans living in SA," she said.
 
Tapiwa is the co-ordinator of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Civic Society (CSOs) Forum based in Braamfontein
 
Echoing the same sentiments was the lawyer for human rights and executive director for the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Gabriel Shumba, who says there is a great need to highlight the plight of refugees in South Africa.
 
He said the refugees, women and children were susceptible to all kinds of
exploitation and had become the most vulnerable group in South Africa.
 
"Most Zimbabwean youths in South Africa are refugees who fled the country in fear of their lives. Refugees need a safe haven where they can recover from mental and physical trauma, and rebuild their lives for a better future.
 
"Instead of finding empathy and understanding in the new South Africa, they are instead welcomed with mistrust, scorn and disdain," said Shumba.
 
He said it was the duty of the secutiy officials to protect the every person in the country, women and children who are in distress-CAJ News.


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Letter to Constituents and Friends

Dear Constituents and Friends

You will recall that I wrote to you in March that the regime has cracked and
that the transition to a free and prosperous Zimbabwe is clearly visible on
the horizon, although it may be some time before we can regain control of
our lives through a new, democratically elected government.

Recent events, although both disturbing and frustrating, have confirmed this
prediction.  ZanuPF is fighting among itself - the "coup plot" is just the
tip of the iceberg - but more importantly is busy doing all its usual
nonsense while the country is fallling headlong into serious economic chaos.
It has no solution whatsoever to this economic crisis.  Indeed, when I asked
the Acting Leader of the House of Assembly (Mnangagwa!) a couple of weeks
ago what NEW policy measures government was putting in place to deal with
inflation, he stated quite unapologetically that they had no new policy
measures, but would let us know when they did!!

You will also recall my suggestion that you link up with friends and
neighbours as we face what lies ahead, because we need to stand together and
help each other.  This reaching out and mutual support appears to me even
more important today, as we enter a period of serious difficulty for most of
us.  We simply can no longer cope with these prices - yesterday we faced a
bus fare of $40,000 to get into town (80,000 to go from one side of Harare
to another, 160,000 return), 120,000 for one  litre of petrol, 25,000 for a
loaf of bread, 200,000 for a replacement key, 180,000 for a watch battery -
and don't forget that those thousands were MILLIONS this time last year!

What will it cost to get a plumber or an electrician or to get a car
repaired?  What if we fall sick, or have an accident?  Can we pay the bills?
And who will make sure we are helped in hospital?  Will there be any doctor
on duty?  Will they have the necessary medicines?  Even if we can afford the
school fees, will our children and grandchildren actually be taught anything
worthwhile at school?

This is the situation today, but what will it be in a month's time, or by
the end of the year?  Serious economists have suggested our inflation will
reach 1 MILLION % by November - and the American ambassador suggested
yesterday it would be 1,5 MILLION %  by December!!

Clearly the country will no longer function in such a situation - indeed
already it is not functioning properly in many spheres, as we know.
Therefore we have to help each other and make contingency plans, to be as
prepared as we can be for any emergency or unrest.  We are not a country at
war, but we are in the kind of situation prevailing in a country at war, and
we need to realise this and plan accordingly.

At home, make sure you always have some water stored, some candles and
matches, some emergency rations, etc.  At neighbourhood level, see how you
can help or get help with water, power, transport, emergency response - eg
one person with a vehicle could offer transport if another could provide
some fuel and another repair the vehicle, etc.  If you can help the elderly,
the sick, the vulnerable in your neighbourhood, so much the better.
Families with members outside the country should alert those members that
they may need assistance, and indicate what that assistance might be.

Do not leave your plans to the last minute, hoping that maybe it won't be
necessary.  It probably WILL be necessary to react to various emergencies in
the next few months, so BE PREPARED!  Remember that those who are prepared
are always in the lead.

The good thing about our situation is that we know that it is all part of
the process of CHANGE.    Don't forget that you can play your part in
bringing about the positive change we all yearn for, both by being prepared
to cope with emergencies and also by actively SPEEDING THAT CHANGE ALONG.
How?  One of the most effective ways is always to hit where it hurts - the
pocket.  Don't buy from them, withdraw your business and take it elsewhere.
That alone would make a huge difference.  Don't believe that business is not
political - in this country, everything is political!

Meanwhile also be prepared to vote, even if it means using the current
discredited system - so check that your name is on the voters roll, if you
are entitled to vote.  If you have changed your name or address, register
those changes on the voters roll.  Make sure your children and those of your
friends, workmates and neighbours register as soon as they turn 18.

We can be sure that change is definitely on the way.  There is no government
in the history of the world which has ever survived inflation of the
magnitude forecast this year in Zimbabwe.  So let us keep this in mind as we
prepare ourselves and our families for the months that lie ahead - CHANGE IS
ON THE WAY!

Best wishes.
Trudy Stevenson MP
Harare North Constituency

PS  Please pass this message on to all your family, friends and neighbours
interested in positive change for our beloved Zimbabwe


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World day to combat desertification and drought

CHRA PRESS STATEMENT:

19 June 2007

Zimbabwe's ongoing crisis affects every aspect of our lives to some degree
but in the midst of such gross human suffering, the environmental crisis may
be overlooked therefore the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
comes at an opportune time if it causes us to pause and look around us.

The continuing villagisation of Harare by the regime has seen residents
forced to give up paraffin some years ago and now resorting to firewood to
meet their energy needs. The frequent and lengthy power blackouts imposed by
ZESA means that firewood harvesting and selling has become a lucrative urban
business. The Sunshine City used to be a Forest City too. Now it is neither.
Look at the wholesale felling of avenue trees, gum plantations and
indigenous trees. See the steady stream of bicycles carrying wood from north
to south.

We know that Town House is occupied by an illegal Commission but we would
hope that those professional employees working in the Municipality with a
conscience will attempt to curb the deforestation. Certainly we are
concerned by the deafening silence of responsible authorities in the midst
of this environmental disaster. The various environmental NGOs need to speak
out and to advocate for suitable policies to be implemented that not only
protect our urban landscape but also address the causes of the crisis.

We need innovative alternatives to address the energy deficit. While solar
power and natural gas are viable options for some, why is there no paraffin
available for the urban poor?

CHRA calls on all concerned citizens and stakeholders to come together and
find ways to save Harare from becoming an urban desert.

Regards

Precious Shumba
Information Officer
Combined Harare Residents' Association


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Taking a hard ride on a kombi

New Zimbabwe

By Lenox Mhlanga
Last updated: 06/19/2007 09:33:07
DO YOU remember the days when the Peugeot 404 station wagon was the
transport of choice? They were fittingly called 'Emergency Taxis' and going
by the speed at which they were driven, that title suited them perfectly.
One would be forgiven for thinking that the drivers had licences to fly a
plane.

Boarding these flying coffins required some skill. Seeing that transport was
in dire short supply those days, it meant that one would wait for ages
before an ET appeared and by then a sizeable crowd of impatient commuters
would have gathered. In order to be guaranteed a seat, one had to aim to be
one of those who would gain access to the boot (back of the vehicle usually
reserved for carrying luggage) while the rest huffed and puffed like a rugby
scrum to squeeze into the precious front and back seats.

The problem for aiming for the boot was that if you were the one to lift the
hatch, the rest would literally dive in leaving you to nicely close the
hatch behind them. So when an ET arrived it would be consumed in a cloud of
dust as people scrambled in while at the back of the vehicle you would see
this huge group of people patiently waiting for someone to open the hatch!
Well, at least until the cursing driver came out to do the honours.

Then there was this unwritten rule that an ET never filled up. Utshova
kawugcwali! We used to be packed like sardines in a can. On one occasion,
police at a roadblock counted no less than 14 people (excluding the driver)
in a Peugeot 404 station wagon that was designed to carry 4 passengers. The
French would have been proud! The cops ordered everyone out and then asked
them to go back into the vehicle. Six people could not fit back in!

Nowadays things have changed somewhat. The ubiquitous ET has now been
replaced by commuter mini buses also referred to as kombis. I suppose there
no longer is any 'emergency' in the sense of the word.

I got this idea of writing a script for a short film entitled: Take a Hard
Ride, Commuting In Urban Bulawayo. It goes something like this.

Picture this, a high density suburb in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest
city. It could be Luveve, Magwegwe or Tshabalala. It's very early and in the
bitterly cold winter morning, a steadily swelling crowd shuffles
impatiently. They are sure to be late if nothing happens in the next ten
minutes or so without any transport in sight. But wait! Salvation is at
hand.

In the distance, with tyres barely touching the tarmac, a white vehicle
hurtles at breakneck speed towards the expectant commuters. Is it a plane?
Is it a spaceship? No! It's a kombi! Their prayers are answered in the form
of this low flying craft. But have the commuters spoken too soon? For as the
vehicle screeches to a dusty halt, a mighty stampede ensures!

Fifty or so heaving and panting bodies throw themselves at it even before
the driver applies the brakes. They completely blot from sight. These are
supposed to be your ordinary weekday commuters, eager to avoid being
admonished for arriving late at their respective workplaces. There is
nothing as annoying as rocking up at work and finding the boss wearing that
frown of his at the door of your office.

"Not transport again! Better find a different excuse this time Sibanda."

Among this crowd of hopefuls are teachers, nurses, school children, bank
tellers, shop assistants and the occasional pickpocket thrown for good
measure. Desperate as they are to get to the city, they are forced to shed
all traces of dignity. Using skills that would rival those of Hollywood
stuntmen, they latch onto the doors or any appendage and hold on for dear
life as they are flung this way and that if just for that measure of
advantage over the rest.

However, those that eventually make it are not counting their blessing just
yet. Boarding a kombi might be one thing, riding in it is another. There is
a saying in this fair city that most if not all kombi drivers (and their
repugnant touts derisively known as Owindi) were all born from the same
womb. They are vulgar, rude, loud, immature, utterly corrupt, and filthy.
One would have great difficulty in locating the word 'respect' in their
tattered dictionary.

The long suffering paying commuters are convinced that their hearts are hewn
from granite. Then you ask the question, why board them in the first place?
Kombis, for one, are fast - forget about them being friendly - and
convenient. Conventional buses take centuries to get to town. Speed, which
is where the problem lies, seems to bestow upon the driver, powers of life
and death over the passengers.

Once aboard, there are some unwritten rules the passengers are supposed to
observe. These rules are heavily dependent on the disposition of the driver.
If he woke up on the wrong side of bed, which is always, woe betide the
morning commuter who crosses his path. For example, the driver is always
right even when he is so obviously wrong. Udriver kaphikiswa! Complaining is
a privilege a passenger can ill afford. If one wants to risk being dumped in
the middle of nowhere then dare break this rule.

The passenger is required to remain in the kombi until he or she disembarks
at their destination. That includes the countless hours encased inside a
steaming vehicle that has run out of fuel while the tout goes cross country
to purchase just enough motion lotion to get them to town. One is literally
held hostage throughout the proceedings while half empty kombis zip by.

Thank God smoking inside public vehicles was banned! I don't know what else
these characters would be smoking if that legislation had not been imposed.
In fact passengers suspect that kombi drivers and their touts must be high
on something, always. How else can you explain all that energy and
excitement? A driver can drink, talk, sing, eat and drive all at the same
time!

Joyrides are a definitive no-no unless one is female, beautiful and wearing
a mini skirt. Then the front seat is reserved for the lucky damsel with
Sibanda likely to be ejected from that vantage position to make way for the
newly appointed First Lady. He is likely to be left complaining bitterly in
a billowing cloud of dust miles away from his destination; left to rue the
day sold his 'better-than-walking.'

Failure to pay the fare is a crime punishable by death by firing squad.
Well, that is if these chaps had their way. It's either you part with one
shoe or your front teeth. You take your pick. Imagine hoping to work with
one shoe, so it's to the dentist you go. I would anyway.

Next Week: You find out why foul language is the preserve of the driver and
his tout and how they are able to engage in a lively conversation - spiced
with choice expletives - all above the thunderous din of Mbaqanga music, a
skill worth admiring. So don't miss the exciting conclusion of 'Take a Hard
Ride.'

Lenox Mhlanga is a New Zimbabwe.com columnist. His column is published here
every Friday. You can contact him through e-mail address:
lenoxmhlanga@hotmail.com


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Zimbabwe Court Grants Bail To Six Opposition Activists, Frees Three

VOA

By Jonga
Kandemiiri and Carole Gombakomba

      Washington
      19 June 2007

A Zimbabwe high court judge Tuesday granted bail to six of 21 opposition
members held for the most part since late March under charges ranging from
sabotage to banditry to giving or receiving paramilitary training, but only
three were freed.

Justice Lawrence Kamocha ordered the release of Piniel Denga, Philip Mabika,
Peter Chikwati, Raymond Bake, Arthur Mhizha and Jacob Muvavi on $10 million
bail each - but police continued to hold Mabika, Chikwati and Mhizha on
separate charges.

Denga, Muvavi and Bake, released from remand jail, must now report three
times a week to the law and order section of the Criminal Investigation
Department.

The three men held despite the granting of bail were remanded on charges
that they received paramilitary training across the border in South Africa.

A total of 18 officials and activists of the Movement for Democratic Change
faction led by MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai remained behind bars in Harare.

Lawyer Alec Muchadehama, representing them, told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri
of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that if the courts continue to consider
charges on their merits, all of his opposition clients will eventually
receive bail and be freed.

Government prosecutors alleged that the group of about 30 MDC members
arrested in a March 28 raid on the party's Harare headquarters had a hand in
firebombing attacks on police posts and other targets in February and March.
The opposition says state security conjured up the charges to justify a
campaign of repression.

Elsewhere, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by two leading figures
in the Bulawayo-based activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise which
challenged the constitutionality of parts of the Criminal Law and
Codification Reform Act.

Jenni Williams and Magodhonga Mahlangu were arrested June 6 while demanding
the release of 25 WOZA members then held by police in Bulawayo.

Police charged the two under the Criminal Law and Codification Reform Act
saying they had interfered with the ordinary convenience or comfort of the
public.

A lawyer for the two women, Kossam Ncube, told reporter Carole Gombakomba
that a magistrate in Bulawayo had agreed with his argument that sections of
the law are too broadly written and as a result may violate individual
constitutional rights.

Williams said that while she and her co-defendant are thrilled at the
ruling, they know it will be a long time before the supreme court rules and
that it is very possible that the government may not recognize and respond
to a ruling in their favor.


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JAG Classifieds dated 19 June 2007

As a JAG member or JAG Associate member, please send any classified adverts
for publication in this newsletter to:

JAG Classifieds: jagma@mango.zw
JAG Job Opportunities: jag@mango.zw

Rules for Advertising:

Send all adverts in word document as short as possible (no tables, spread
sheets, pictures, etc.) and quote your subscription receipt number or
membership number.
Notify the JAG Office when Advert is no longer needed, either by phone or
email.
Adverts are published for 2 weeks only, for a longer period please notify
the JAG office, by resending via email the entire advert asking for the
advert to be re-inserted.

Please send your adverts by Tuesdays 11.00am (Adverts will not appear until
payment is received.). Cheques to be made out to JAGMA.

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1.  For Sale Items
2.  Wanted Items
3.  Accommodation
4.  Recreation
5.  Specialist Services
6.  Pets Corner
7.  Social Gatherings

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1. OFFERED FOR SALE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1  Generators & Inverters for Sale

The JAG office is now an official agent for GSC Generator Service (Pvt) Ltd
and receives a generous commission on sales of all Kipor generators and
equipment.  Generators are on view at the JAG office.  Please could all
those JAG subscribes who deal directly with GSC, rather that through the JAG
office, clearly stipulate that the commission if for JAG.

The one stop shop for ALL your Generator Requirements SALES:
We are the official suppliers, repairs and maintenance team of KIPOR
Equipment here in Zimbabwe.  We have in stock KIPOR Generators from 1 KVA to
55 KVA.  If we don't have what you want we will get it for you.  We also
sell Inverters (1500w), complete with batteries and rechargeable lamps.  Our
prices are very competitive, if not the lowest in town.

SERVICING & REPAIRS: We have a qualified team with many years of experience
in the Generator field.  We have been to Kipor, China for training.  We
carry out services and minor repairs on your premises.  We service and
repair most makes and models of Generators - both petrol and diesel.

INSTALLATIONS:  We have qualified electricians that carry out installations
in a professional way.

SPARES: As we are the official suppliers and maintainers of KIPOR Equipment,
we carry a full range of KIPOR spares.

Don't forget, advice is free, so give us a call and see us at: Bay 3,
Borgward Road, Msasa.  Sales: 884022, 480272 or admin@adas.co.zw
Service: 480272, 480154 or gsc@adas.co.zw

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1.2  For Sale

So Far and No further! Rhodesia's Bid for Independence during the Retreat
from Empire 1959-1965 by J.R.T. Wood

533 pages; quality trade paperback; pub. Trafford ISBN 1-4120-4952-0
Southern African edition, pub. 30 Degrees South : ISBN 0-9584890-2-5

This definitive account traces Rhodesia's attempt to secure independence
during the retreat from Empire after 1959. Based on unique research, it
reveals why Rhodesia defied the world from 1965.

Representing Volume One of three volumes, Two and Three are in preparation
and will take us to Tiger and thence to 1980;

To purchase:

Zimbabwean buyers contact Trish Broderick: pbroderick@mango.zw

RSA buyers: WWW. 30 degreessouth.co.za or Exclusives Books

Overseas buyers see: http://www.jrtwood.com
and a link to Trafford Publishing http://www.trafford.com/04-2760

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1.3 Pet Food for Sale

Still supplying pets food which consists of 500g of precooked pork offal and
veg costing $8000 and 250g of pigs liver or heart costing $8000 for 250g.

Collection points:      Benbar in Msasa at 09.00
Jag offices in Philips Rd, Belgravia at 10.30
Peacehaven which is 75 Oxford St at 12.00

This is on Fridays only. Contact details: phone 011 221 088 or E mail at
claassen@zol.co.zw

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1.4 For Sale

Road motorcycle for sale. YAMAHA - Model YZF 600cc - Thundercat - in
immaculate condition.

Highest cash offer secures.  For further details contact Dave on 011 600 770
or 091 22 55 653 or email dapayne@zol.co.zw

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1.5 FOR SALE (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Satellite TV Receivers. Receive TV FREE! This is a one-of payment - NO subs
to pay. No hidden costs. SABC, Botswana, e-TV, CNBC, Trade and Travel,
several religious channels, Radio stations like RSG, Radio Pretoria, SAFM,
2000Fm etc. Contact Joe Esterhuizen on 339378 or 0912 338414 or e-mail
countryjukebox@hotmail.com

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1.6 BRAND NEW LAPTOP FOR SALE (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Toshiba Satellite Pro A120
Intel Duo Core T2250 1,73 GHz
1 GB DDR2 533 MHz Ram
ATI Tadeon Xpress Graphics
80 Gb SATA Hard Drive
15" WXGA TFT
DVD-Super Multi Drive Dual Layer Writer
Wireless and Bluetooth
Lan and 56 Kilobyte Dal-up Modem
Microsoft Vista Business 32 Bit Edition "Original Software"
Toshiba Carry Case.
Brand new.  Asking price US$ 1 950.  Offers considered.
Contact Nico on 04-302030 or Sally on 04-702402.

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1.7 For Sale (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Grader 1999 Champion 710a Under 4000 Hour's Immac.  Contact:  0912235465 or
chippy@ecoweb.co.zw

Paraffin -Petrol/Diesel for Sale 0912235465 or chippy@ecoweb.co.zw

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1.8 For Sale (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

ZNSPCA IS SELLING GOODS DONATED FOR RESALE TO HELP WITH OUR WORK.
ZNSPCA HQ 156 Enterprise RD, Tel 497574/ 497885 or 882566

OLD/ NEW BOOKS SALE 16 JUNE 10 - 1PM
RECORDS-MAGAZINES JIGSAW PUZZLES

 PRINTERS TRAY - $ 500 000

PINE COFFEE TABLE GLASS TOP - 2mtr X 1mtr - $ 3. MIL

STEEL COUNTER DOOR WITH LOCKING MECH. - $1 500 000

GARAGE/GATE DOUBLE DOORS - 3MILL

LARGE MIRRORS
113cm x 139 cm - $3,600,000
90 cm x136cm - $3,000,000
70 cm x 61.5cm - $900,000
59,5cm x 62 cm - $700,000

Down Duvet as new - $1 200 000

FIRE WOOD - $80 000 PER BAG

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1.19 For Sale (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

BMW FOR SALE - MODEL 540i - YEAR 1999 - TYPE SEDAN - COLOUR: SILVER -
MILAGE: 80 000KM

PHONE MRS CRUGER 885585/ 885085 OR MR CRUGER 885014

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1.20 For Sale (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Water tanks,4000LT,brand new, UV stabilised material, access for cleaning,
tough build quality,US$700 equivalent, we also fabricate steel stands for
our tanks,4.5 m high which are able to sustain 5 tonnes of water,US$700
equivalent, call Mike on 0912853163 or Gordon on 023894597 or email
zermatt@mweb.co.zw for details and pictures

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1.21 THE WEAVERY (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Going Overseas or down South? Why not take hand woven gifts for your friends
or family?
These super articles which are light,easy to pack, take or send, and fully
washable.
Contact Anne on 332851 or 011212424.Or email joannew@zol.co.zw

Crocheted oven gloves--$540,000.
Cotton oven gloves--$510,000.
Small woven bags--$443,000.
Large woven bags--$540,000.
Crocheted bags--$630,000.

Queen(approx.250x240cms) size bedcover--$4,040,000.
Double(approx.250x210cms) size bedcover--$3,630,000.
Other sizes to order.
Single Duvet cushions(open into a duvet)--$2,720,000.
Other sizes to order.
2x1 meter Throw--$1,770,000.
Baby Blanket(1x1meter)--$1,170,000.

3 piece toilet set--$1,070,000.
Bath mat--$758,000.(small rug).

Decorated cushion covers--$540,000.

Table runner--$315,000.
Set(4)Bordered table mats + serviettes--$1,070,000.
Set(6)Bordered table mats + serviettes--$1,610,000.
Set(4) crocheted table mats only--$855,000.
Set(6)fringed table mats + serviettes--$1,610,000.
Lots of other combinations.

Small(approx.105x52cms) plain cotton rug--$758,000.
Medium(approx.120x65cms) plain cotton rug--$1,070,000
Large(approx.150x75cms) plain cotton rug--$1,610,000.
Ex.Large(approx.230x130cms) plain cotton rug--$3,470,000.
Small patterned cotton rug--$1,070,000.
Small rag rug--$758,000.
Medium rag rug--$1,070,000.
Medium patterned cotton rug--$1,610,000.
Large patterned cotton rug--$2,150,000
Ex.Large patterned cotton rug--$4,260,000.
Small patterned mohair rug--$2,120,000.
Medium patterned mohair rug--$2,670,000
Large patterned mohair rug--$3,470,000.
Ex. Large patterned mohair rug--$5,870,000.

Lots of other articles.PLEASE be aware that prices may change without
notice and orders take some time as they have to be woven and sent from
Gweru to Harare.

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1.22 For Sale (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Boat
Cougar 16' Hull on trailer with Mercury redline 125 motor, electric start,
ride glide steering system, two built in fuel tanks, one carry tank.

Boat motors:
Mercury Blue line 40hp motor, running but needs minor attn, complete with
controls, plus many spares

Various '94 Peugeot 405 body parts
Windscreen - cracked
Rear window (with heater lines)
Bonnet
Boot
4 Doors (one bit of a dent)
3 glasses for the doors
Door panels
Headlights
Grill
Rear tail lights
Back seats
Rims x3
Front & rear suspension

Contact:  Sandy on 661220 or 091 2908262 for further details.

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1.23 For Sale (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Brand New Laptops, Latest new processor not just Duo core but Duo Core 2
(newest processor in world, 64bit)

Brand New top of line, Acer Aspire 5635WLMI Centrino Core2 Duo T7200 @
2.0GHz / 1GB DDR2 RAM / 15.4 Crystalbrite color TFT LCD / up to 345MB NVIDIA
graphics / 160GB hard drive / DVD Super Multi Drive (Dual Layer) /  Wireless
Lan / 1.3mp Web Cam / Video out / Windows Vista / includes laptop bag.

Price $320 000 000

Brand new Big screen, Acer Aspire 9424WSMI Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 @
1.83GHz / 17" Crystalbrite color TFT LCD / up to 256MB NVIDIA graphics /
120GB hard drive / DVD Super Multi Drive (Dual Layer) / Bluetooth / Wireless
Lan / 1.3mp Web Cam / Video out / Windows XP Media Center Edition / includes
laptop bag. (Has side number pad)

Price $320 000 000

Brand New, Toshiba Core2 Duo T5600 @ 1.83GHz / 1GB DDR2 RAM / 80GB HDD
/15.4" Truebrite Wide View TFT Color Display/Bluetooth / DVD Super Multi
Drive (Dual Layer)/ Intel 945GM Express Chipset 128MB RAM / 5-1 Card Reader
/ SRS TruSurround System/MS Office OneNote/Win XP Home and Express upgrade
to Vista  / 2.71 Kg. Includes Laptop Bag, plus wireless HD mouse

Price $288 000 000

Contact Zane on 0912301396 or email zane@yoafrica.com can send you pics.

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2. WANTED
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2.1 Wanted

By way of loan or donation to the JAG Trust.  The Trust is Capacity Building
a New Project which necessitates the furnishing of an office with desks,
chairs, cupboards and shelving. Any surplus office furniture or trimmings
will be welcomed.  Phone 799410.

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2.2 Wanted

Sheila Macdonald (Sally in Rhodesia) - If you have any of Sheila Macdonald's
books for sale, please let JAG know the details including condition etc with
your name, telephone number and price wanted.

Telephone JAG - 04 - 799410

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2.3 Shotgun Wanted

Good quality, Baretta or Browning, 20 bore over/under shotgun.  In excellent
condition.  Please contact the JAG office on 799410.

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2.4 WANTED ITEMS (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Looking for old, small TV, colour or even black & white.  Also looking for
gas braai or small gas stove.  Pse sms 091 2264160.

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2.5 Wanted (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Peterhouse - a full boarding school situated just outside Marondera, would
like to urgently source old 200 litre drums that can be used for dustbins
and braai units around the campus.

We are also looking to purchase a generator 175kva - 200kva.

If you can help in any way, please contact the Rector's Secretary -
peterrec@mweb.co.zw, or Tel: 079 - 24951/3 or 22200/4

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3. ACCOMMODATION WANTED AND OFFERED

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3.1 Accommodation Wanted

Ex farmers daughter, husband and two young children looking for 3/4
bed-roomed, 2 bath-roomed house, with domestic quarters to rent. Prefer a
long lease.  Please call on 0912258491.

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3.2 For Lease (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Industrial factory in Ruwa 1000 sq/m two houses on same premises for offices
and caretaker cottage with workshop and pit with big garden.

Phone fax 04-308551---0912235465 or chippy@ecoweb.co.zw

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3.3  MALVERN HOUSE TRUST (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Malvern House was built in 1969 in Umvukwes (now Mvurwi) by the local
farmers and businessmen, and was intended originally as a retirement home
for the local residents of the area.

In the last few years most of the farmers have moved away and the facilities
are now under utilized.

The complex consists of a large central building referred to as the
cloisters, which includes the reception area, lounge, library, dining room
and kitchen.  Accommodation consists of 9 double rooms and 7 single rooms al
with en-suite bath/shower and toilet.  The current all in charges for this
facility as at July 2007 are as follows:-

Cloisters   (ALL FOUND)

1 room with bath and toilet for 1 person                          $1,386,000
5 empty

2 rooms with bath and toilet for 1 person                        $2,079,000
2 rooms with bath and toilet for 2 persons          $2,772,000

In addition there are 17 self catering cottages and 4 self catering flats on
the property, the rates for these are as follows:-

Cottages:-

2 empty

2 bedroom cottages
$42,000 per month
1 bedroom cottages
$31,500 per month
3 empty

Flats
$26,250 per month

Lock up garages are available at                                    $31,500
per month

Care Unit:-

There is also a highly rated 13 bed care unit with 24 hour nursing care:-

Long stay patients
$2,142,000 per month

Other Charges:-

Cottage and Flat Residents Meals at Cloisters                $40,000
Guest Meals
$50,000
Guest Nights
$60,000

Al the above charges are payable in advance and are subject to regular
increases

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3.4 For Sale (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

MAZOWE SPRINGS CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT

Wake up to the calls of the bush within a stonesthrow of the city. 16
spacious 3 and 4 bedroomed houses in this most appealing setting.Next to
Wild Geese Lodge.
Payment plan over 4 months. For further details or appointment to view
contact the the Sales Team at Kennan Properties -Central Branch on 251643/5
or 794202/7/9
or Biddy Railton on 023 403 887

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3.5 Accommodation Wanted (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Unfurnished accommodation required for single, professional female in her
late 20's.  Must be very secure - preferably in a block or complex.

Landlord references available from UK & Zimbabwe.

Please contact Hayley on 0912 321 513 or work 708036/7 of hayleyf@zol.co.zw

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3.6 Accommodation Sought (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Blue eyed Dr. urgently looking for accommodation, house-sitting/room for
rent or cottage somewhere near Parinyatwa hospital. Current accommodation
rent increased beyond government doctor's salary.

Contact Dr. Martyn Edwards 335352 or cell 0912 66 44 33 urgent responses
appreciated.

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4. RECREATION

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4.1 Need a break

Getaway and enjoy peace and fresh air at GUINEA FOLWS REST
Only 80kms from Harare, Self-catering guest-house
Sleeps 10 people, Bird-watching, Canoeing, Fishing, DSTV

REGRET: No day visitors.  No boats or dogs allowed.
Contact Dave: 011 600 770 or Annette 011 600 769
or 091 22 55 653 or email dapayne@zol.co.zw

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4.2 Savuli Safari (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Self catering chalets in the heart of the Save Valley Conservancy. Game
watching, fishing, horse riding, canoeing, walking trails and 4x4 hire. Camp
fully kitted including cook and fridges. Just bring your food, drinks and
relax.    Best value for money. U12 are 1/2 price

Contact John: savuli@mweb.co.zw or Phone 091 2631 556

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5. SPECIALIST SERVICES

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5.1 Vehicle Repairs

Vehicle repairs carried out personally by qualified mechanic with 30 years
experience. Very reasonable rates.

Phone Johnny Rodrigues:  011 603213 or 011 404797, email:
galorand@mweb.co.zw

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5.2 SpeedWorx - WYNN'S

Intelligent Car Service has arrived!

Why pay ridiculous prices and be without your car for days.

Our services are done while you wait & cost a fraction of the normal repair.

At SpeedWorx we will:

Service your car
Increase your engine's performance and improve your fuel economy
Completely flush your engine oil to prolong your engine life
Restore your Power steering performance and stop it leaking
Restore your Automatic Transmission performance and stop it leaking
Completely flush your brake system and make you safe
Stop your car overheating and reduce the risk of leaks
Remove bad odours from the interior of your car and keep it fresh

Services done at your home or office.

Contact: Bryan 011 612 650 or Russell 011 410 525.

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5.3 HARDWOOD FURNTURE (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Sleepers and Teak Custom made Dining Tables, Coffee Tables, Bars , Even
Wrought iron and Pine  Phone Simon Silcock  persistently 668843
or sms 091 233 103 and I will reply quickly.

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5.4 VISIO INTERIOR DESIGN (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Specialising in residential and lodge interiors - let us help you create
your dream home.

Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration - Rhodec International UK
Contact - Janna Pole, 19 Rolf Avenue, Ballantyne Park, Harare
091 2 432523 / 870019 / janna@earth.co.zw

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5.5 THE PACKING CO (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Professional packing and crating of trophies
Secure storage of trophies with treatment to prevent any contamination
Thorough inspection of trophies
Trophies individually wrapped and packed in industrial boxes and strong
wooden crates

Fast and efficient processing of documentation
Delivery of packed crate and paperwork to shipping company
Weekly update on progress of shipment
Contact - Janna Pole, 19 Rolf Avenue, Ballantyne Park, Harare
091 2 432523 / 870019 / janna@earth.co.zw

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5.6 Investing in a holiday home or retirement pad (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Are you thinking of investing in a "bolt hole", holiday home or retirement
pad.

Try the beautiful Eastern Cape.

Rob Owsley Properties specializes in property sales along the Eastern Cape
Coast from Port Alfred to Hamburg, including Riet River, Kleinemonde,
Mgwalana, Mpekweni and Birha.  The sales office in located in Kleinemonde,
20km from Port Alfred on the Sunshine Coast between Port Elizabeth and East
London in the Eastern Cape.

The long stretches of white unspoilt beach, warm Indian ocean waves and
peaceful lagoons make it an ideal seaside getaway.  The natural assets of
Kleinemonde make it an excellent venue for all river and beach activities,
including water skiing, surfing, boating up the unspoilt river, horse riding
on the beach, fishing and sand boarding and much more!  The beautiful
indigenous vegetation reaches down to the riverbanks and the ancient cycads
are in abundance.  Bird and wild life are abundant, the cry of the resident
fish eagles echoes in the silence.  In close proximity are various game
reserves and parks where the Big Five can be seen on day and night drives.
There are two excellent golf courses in the area, the Fish River Sun, 5
minutes away and the Royal Alfred Golf Club in Port Alfred.

All this makes Kleinemonde the ideal holiday home area and also a restful
and peaceful place to retire.

Contact : Rob Owsley Properties;  Tel. +27 46 6751021;  Fax. +27 46 6751126,
e-mail :  owsley@imaginet.co.za    www.kleinemondeproperty.co.za

If you have children at school or university in Grahamstown, Rob Owsley
Properties also has many delightful properties available on their books for
short term rents.

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5.7 VIDEO PRODUCTION

Filming & Editing of Weddings & Special Events. DVD Production, Broadcast
Quality.  DVD & VHS transfers. Call Greer on 744075 / 0912 353 047

Greer Wynn - Focused Video Productions:  0912 353 047 / 744075

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5.8 MAGNA PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

MAGNA MULTI CONTRACTING

Please be advised that the above Company has moved premises and the phone
number has changed. We still offer continued professional and prompt service
for the following ;-

A.     Electrical repairs and installations
B.    Plumbing repairs and installations
C.    Home and Office renovations
D.    Extensions and Buildings
E.    Patios and Driveways
F.    Painting, Carpentry and Glazing
G.    Roofing, Gutters and Flashing

Please contact ROB and SUE

Phone         (04) 852658 - Mobile - 011 601 885 / 023 824 896
Email          macgyver@zol.co.zw or havill@zol.co.zw

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5.9 HUNTING TROPHY EXPORTS (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Fast and efficient dipping and shipping
Professional administration and storage of trophies
Taxidermy in the USA
Convenient drop-off

Contact me, Joe Wells on - Tel/fax (263) 04 490677, Cell: (263) 0912 239305
Email: josh@zol.co.zw or Joobie62@yahoo.co.uk

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6. PETS CORNER
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6.1 Looking for a Home (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

My diplomat neighbours are leaving very soon, and cannot take all 3
Ridgebacks back - therefore they are looking for an excellent person or
preferably family to adopt ONE of their pedigree Rhodesian Ridgebacks, who
is some 18 months old - Sire a Sarula (Linda Costa), Dam an Umvutcha
(Sankeys).  If you or your family is interested, please respond as soon as
possible with contact details and information about your home/family of
interest to such a dog.
Please pass this information to anyone you know who might be interested.

Please contact: trudys@zol.co.zw

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6.2 PUPPY WANTED (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

The following puppy wanted: - Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Rottwieler; Boer
Bull; Bull Mastiff or any cross with the above.  Contact Debbie on 091 2 830
953 or 492519 (After Hours)

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6.3 Wanted (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

LABRADOR OR JACK RUSSELL PUP - PLEASE PHONE JENNY TAYLOR ON 495706 OR 011
409 353

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6.4 Looking for a Home (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

Lovely cat -bout three years old, fat and fluffy, looking for a home.  She
is very loving, but doesn't like big dogs.  Or let's say she isn't used to
them.  Her name is Ginger.  Please urgently looking for a home!!!

Contact:  Sandy on 661220 or 091 2908262 for further details.

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7.  SOCIAL GATHERINGS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.1 CUTTY SARK HALF MARATHON KARIBA

MONDAY 13 AUGUST 2007 (over long weekend)

All serious runners, fun runners/walkers, family and friends are invited to
take part in the second Kariba Half Marathon, sponsored by Cutty Sark Hotel.

Disco, full bar and catering at Cutty Sark after the race.

Email: kiara@zol.co.zw or guyhammond@zol.co.zw for more information or
telephone 011 208 218 / 0912 275 714

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7.2 SOCIAL GATHERINGS (Ad inserted 12/06/07)

Come and dance with Country Juke Box. Bring the family. Children allowed.
Reasonable bar prices, club menu and a great atmosphere. A wide selection of
dance music from the 60's to 90's, Country, Tiekkie Draai, Rock and Roll
etc. Contact Joe on 339378 or 0912 338414 for details.

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7.3 Art Exhibition (Ad inserted 19/06/07)

A must see event for serious Art lovers, collectors and investors of fine
Art.

Barry Thomas - Fine Art and Wild Life
Date - 29th June 2007
Time - 4.30p.m.
Venue - Richard Rennie Gallery (7 Downie Ave, Alexandra Park, Harare)
Dress - Smart Casual

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JAG Hotlines: +263 (011) 610 073, +263 (04) 799 410.  If you are in trouble
or need advice, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here to help!
To advertise (JAG Members): Please email classifieds to: jagma@mango.zw
with subject "Classifieds".

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