Magistrate Deliberates Future of Zimbabwean Activist Undone by Kimberly Monitor

Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said Kimberly Process monitor Chikane had undone whatever his organization had accomplished in Zimbabwe by undermining its reputation for independence and deterring civic whistleblowers

Zimbabwean state prosecutors on Wednesday offered arguments in Harare magistrate court opposing a move by lawyers for Mutare activist Farai Maguwu to seek his release pending trial on charges he published false information about the Marange diamond field, rather than his being remanded in police custody.

VOA Studio 7 correspondent Thomas Chiripasi reported that the state called a police detective who said Maguwu published falsehoods in reporting that 75 alleged victims of human rights abuse by police and the military were treated in Mutare General Hospital. Lawyers for Maguwu argued that there was no evidence supporting the accusations and that Maguwu's rights had already been violated in being held without charges.

Controversy continued, meanwhile, over the role of the Kimberly Process monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane of South Africa, in Maguwu's arrest. Chikane has acknowledged he  surrendered documents obtained from Maguwu to Zimbabwean officials because they appeared to have been obtained illegally.

Chikane told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira on Monday that he turned the documents over to the Cabinet committee on the Marange diamond field because he feared he might himself be arrested.

Sources on the Cabinet committee confirmed that Chikane had handed over the documents, purported to be from the Joint Operating Command or JOC, which comprises the heads of all main security forces.

"Chikane's dilemma was whether he would accept this official document that was obtained by unofficial means," a Cabinet source said. "I have no problem with Chikane handing over the classified papers," the source said, but he quickly added: "Arresting Maguwu is what I'm against."

The prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said Chikane’s action reversed all the good that the Kimberly Process might have done in Zimbabwe, as the monitor's actions undermined the organization's reputation for independence and deterred civic activists from providing information in future.

Fresh farm raids in Zimbabwe: union

(AFP) – 12 hours ago

HARARE — At least 16 white farmers in Zimbabwe have come under attack over the last week, including several South African nationals and a farm owned by Malaysian investors, the farmers' union said Wednesday.

The attackers were trying to evict them, although many of the farmers have court orders allowing them to stay on their land, while one is protected under an investment pact with Malaysia, the mainly white Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) said.

"The Commercial Farmers Union is gravely concerned with the recent harassment of productive farms and the failure of the police to render assistance in spite of high court orders for farmers to remain in occupation," CFU vice president Charles Taffs told a news conference.

"We are concerned that a time Zimbabwe wishes to re-engage with the international community and encourage investment that these breaches of the rule law will drive Zimbabwe into further isolation."

"The government is not assisting our plight," he said. "We appeal to government to take action. Productive agriculture is on the verge of collapse."

Taffs said squatters have attempted to force 16 farmers off their land since the start of June, and appealed to the country's power-sharing government to intervene.

Five of the farmers are South African nationals whose investments should be protected under a bilateral trade deal signed in November, according to the advocacy group AfriForum.

Another farm in eastern Zimbabwe is owned by Malaysian investors, protected under a similar trade deal, the CFU said in a statement.

President Robert Mugabe launched a land reform programme in 2000 which saw the seizure of more than 3,000 white-owned farms by militant supporters of Mugabe's party.

Mugabe said land reforms were needed to correct colonial-era imbalances which favoured white farmers, but Zimbabwe has failed to produce enough food for the nation since the scheme began.

According to government and UN agencies, the country will this year harvest 1.5 million tonnes of grain, but needs 2.2 million tonnes to feed the population.

Hard road to South Africa for fans for Zimbabwe's refugees

From - SOS Childrens Villages

Jun 09, 2010 10:14 AM

Hundreds of young Zimbabweans trying to flee their country’s tough regime arrive in South Africa every day as the nation prepares for thousands of football fans to descend for the World Cup.

Barbera is not a football fan. The 22 year-old spent more than a year planning to escape Zimbabwe, whose economy is in tatters, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and repression common. She invested her life savings and some borrowed money to become one of more than 300 Zimbabweans pouring across the Limpopo River into South Africa every day.

Her story is worlds apart from the hundreds of well-off foreign football supporters checking into purpose-built hotels in South Africa’s commercial capital, Johannesburg, ahead of Friday, when the World Cup starts. For the next month the football fans and Zimbabwean refugees will live side by side in the same cities.

Barbera, a youth activist was forced to flee the Zimbabwean capital Harare. She was beaten in her own home with her mother and six-month-old daughter watching after her work with the opposition made her a target for government thugs.

She was raped, beaten and robbed on her journey out of the south east African country. Near the border she paid ‘guides’ to help her across the river into South Africa. But, "they stopped us in the bush and told us if we wanted to go further we would have to sleep with them," she told the Independent newspaper. "I said no. But they raped me anyway".

When she got there her first priority was to take an Aids test.

"I was lucky," she said. "If you're unlucky you'll be raped by someone who is HIV-positive."

Scores of other vulnerable women like her are raped by the gangs that roam the badlands between the two countries.

More than a year after Zimbabwe’s controversial power sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe, head of the armed forces and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 2,100 Zimbabweans arrive at the department of Home Affairs office in the South African border town, Musina each week, seeking asylum. Just one per cent of them will get the refugee status they need.

South Africa’s government has shelved plans to give Zimbabweans temporary legal status, so they can stay and work in the country. 
As many as two million Zimbabweans are in South Africa, according to government estimates. About 50,000 squatters live in derelict buildings in inner-city Johannesburg. 

Zim ODI Tri Series Final Preview: Zimbabwe Need to Step Up; SL Needs to Hold off Hosts

USA Trends.info

Posted by Sheena CariCricketJun 9, 2010

Zimbabwe have shown they are going to be more than a fight. Now is the time to step up and overcome the jitters of the final to win the series at home.
Zimbabwe bundled India out of the Zimbabwe ODI tri series, by beating them not once but twice. In the dress rehearsal, Zimbabwe made it clear they were not taking the exercise lightly, executing perfectly the tasks assigned to them. Brendan Taylor has played a big part of their success.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have managed to come out with more grace than India, although paler compared to the success of Zimbabwe. But Sri Lanka will start as the favourites in the final tomorrow when they take on the hosts simply because of the added experience that the team has as compared to the spirited Zimbabwe team.
From that perspective, Zimbabwe winning the dress rehearsal makes it an even field on the final day, and certainly provides an additional impetus when international interest from the sub continent has waned with the exit of India.

Sri Lanka overwhelm Zimbabwe in series final

By John Kelley (AFP) – 14 hours ago

HARARE — A dominant Sri Lanka came to within a freak run-out of whitewashing Zimbabwe in the final of the Tri-nations tournament at Harare Sports Club here on Wednesday.

The Sri Lankans scored a leisurely 203-1 in 34.4 overs to win with ease in reply to Zimbabwe's effort of 199 all out in 49 overs.

The run-out stood between Sri Lanka bowling out the entire Zimbabwe team and then overtaking their target score without the loss of a single wicket.

Although Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor was named man of the series afterwards it was Tillikeratne Dilshan who stole the day.

He was named man of the match after amassing 108 not out, both for his score and for his captaincy, with his 100 coming up in 97 balls and including 13 boundaries.

It was Dilshan's seventh one-day international century and his first against Zimbabwe.

"I was really elated, both for the 100 and for our series victory to take home after a hard time abroad," he said.

"We brought several youngsters with us for experience and they certainly benefitted. It was all well worthwhile."

The run-out came with the score on 160 -- Sri Lanka's highest opening partnership against Zimbabwe in internationals.

Dilshan went for a quick single to Graeme Cremer at point, but when his wicket was about to be broken he kept going and fellow opener Upul Tharanga moved forward from the other end to sacrifice his wicket.

Tharanga produced another of his speciality supporting roles with 72 runs.

The match was killed as a potential spectacle after just a few overs of the Zimbabwe innings.

The home team prodded their way to 15-1 in seven overs and to 40-2 in 15. By comparison, Sri Lanka were 46-0 in seven and 88-0 in 15.

Tatenda Taibu was initially a culprit with only four runs from his first 22 balls faced, but he redeemed himself by becoming easily Zimbabwe's top scorer with 71.

Their meagre 199 runs was soon overwhelmed by Dilshan and Tharanga, who gobbled up the Zimbabwe bowling with ease, if not quite disdain.

Wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor said at the presentations: "We actually worked very hard just to get here. Everybody did well in the series and we expect to move forward step by step from here."

Home team captain Elton Chigumbura said: "We were put under pressure right from the start and just couldn't get going early on. But we take a lot of pluses from the last two weeks."

India, the other team in the Tri-nation series, will play Zimbabwe in two Twenty20 matches this weekend and on Thursday a game has been arranged for them against Zimbabwe A.

Zimbabwe: National Dress Debate Still Open

The Herald
Published by the government of Zimbabwe

9 June 2010

Harare — GOVERNMENT is willing to revive debate on a national dress, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Secretary Dr Stephen Mahere has said.

Dr Mahere said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts and Culture last week.

"During the time when there was Minister (Aaneas) Chigwedere he came up with a national dress fabric. The company that was then contracted (David Whitehead) to manufacture the dress was affected by the economic downturn.

"We are now trying to find a new manufacturer and if it is the wish of the nation to come up with a new fabric, then we would be happy to do that," he said.

During Cde Chigwedere's tenure, Government came up with various designs for a national dress as part of efforts to increase national identity awareness.

Dr Mahere said Government was working on ensuring that schools offer arts and other subjects that help pupils understand their culture and way of life.

Appearing before the same committee, the director of the National Arts Council, Mr Elvas Mari, urged Government to fully implement the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act of 2004 to arrest piracy.

"We have come up with a handbook (on piracy). However, we believe there should be a copyright tribunal that should deal with issues of piracy.

"Unless the structures contained in the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act are implemented then we will continue to shout about piracy with little success," Mr Mari said.

Most artistes, especially musicians, have been affected by piracy and efforts by the police and other authorities to deal with the matter have been met with little success due to the non-deterrent penalties.

Copyright © 2010 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

Cup dream dashed for S.Africa's neighbors

Reuters

Barry Moody

VICTORIA FALLS

Wed Jun 9, 2010 10:54am EDT

Zimbabwe (Reuters) - As South Africa revels in World Cup fever, its neighboring countries, especially devastated Zimbabwe, are left lamenting dashed dreams of a rich dividend from soccer's biggest event.

A year ago, neighbors from Botswana to Swaziland anticipated a flood of tourists and teams taking advantage of their high altitude to prepare for South African conditions.

None more so than Zimbabwe, its economy ravaged by a decade of political conflict, violence and hyper-inflation, whose tourist officials once predicted they could make up to $100 million in World Cup spinoffs.

Now industry sources say they will be lucky to get a tenth of that.

Instead, hotels and tour operators at the majestic Victoria Falls, jewel in the crown of Zimbabwe's tourist attractions and once a major revenue earner, say the World Cup has damaged their business because flights via South Africa are too expensive or full during the tournament.

"I thought a lot of people would come at the time of the World Cup but we actually found that it was a sort of discredit for us," said Barbara Murasiranwa, Managing Director of the big Victoria Falls travel agents Shearwater.

"We don't know what the period after the World Cup will bring but for now it is bad for business," she told Reuters.

Karl Snater, manager of the famous old colonial Victoria Falls Hotel agreed. "Because of the log jam of bookings and flights and increased prices into South Africa, a lot of these tours were stopped over June and July which is really our bread and butter business and that has come to a halt."

"CRUMBS"

"Unless there are last minutes bits and pieces, crumbs that fall off the table, that is what we can hope for," he said.

Murasiranwa said Shearwater would be lucky to get half the 210,000 clients they had anticipated this year and most of these would be South Africans "running away" from a sport they did not enjoy, or who had rented their homes to foreign fans.

Conditions are similar in other countries round the region.

Botswana set up a special World Cup committee to exploit the tournament and hired British consultants to help.

But hotels say they have no World Cup related bookings.

Bruce Page-Wood, regional director of the Peermont Global chain, told Reuters: "Our hotels do not show any additional bookings when comparing with normal. So there is no positive impact from the World Cup."

Other hotels told a similar story. "There is a lot of hype relating to the World Cup, but we are yet to see that hype turning into actual bookings," said Ishmale Matumba, marketing manager for the Gaborone hotel.

Like Zimbabwe, tourist operators said at a conference in Gaborone this week that the soccer spectacular had reduced arrivals because of airline congestion during their peak season for safaris and hunting.

In tiny Swaziland, surrounded by South Africa, commentator Alec Lushaba said: "We should not believe everything people say about this World Cup being an African thing, but the host country's event."

Like other regional critics, Lushaba said South Africa's neighbors had failed to build the infrastructure of training pitches, gyms and hotel rooms that would attract teams.

"A World Cup so near yet so far," he wrote.

EUPHORIA

All this explains the euphoria of the population and the palpable glee of officials when Brazil came to Harare last week to play a friendly -- notwithstanding the bill for this cash-strapped nation, which Brazilian media said was $1.8 million.

"We still feel that those costs are nowhere near in terms of the benefits we have achieved," said Emmanuel Fundira, chairman of the Zimbabwe Tourism Council.

He told Reuters Zimbabwe had approached many teams including England, North Korea, Mexico and several African qualifiers.

The North Korea match was scrapped after protests over Pyongyang's training of an army unit accused of killing thousands of people in the 1980s.

"I think we are more than happy that out of the 20 we tried, the one who eventually came to Zimbabwe is ranked number one in the world," Fundira said.

From government officials, who certainly boosted their popularity, to fans at the match, Zimbabweans believe the game will encourage tourists by showing that the country is now safe after the formation of a power-sharing government last year.

"Zimbabwe is seen by many people as a very risky country to come to, but as you can see everybody is smiling and it is a peaceful environment," said printer Dennis Muyambo at the match, where the joy of local fans was scarcely punctured by a 3-0 drubbing by Brazil.

"You want to think in terms of the future. The post World Cup benefit is tremendous, just imagine having a brand icon like Brazil coming to Zimbabwe. The Google hits on Zimbabwe were so high over the last few days," Fundira said.

Tourism Minister Walter Muzembi said Zimbabwe was still hoping to lure in teams that were knocked out of the tournament early together with their fans. "They will be live witnesses of how peaceful this country is," he said.

(Editing by Ossian Shine)

Zimbabwe says no power cuts during WC

Ninemsn.com.au

08:21 AEST Thu Jun 10 2010

Zimbabwe has promised to suspend its regular program of power cuts to enable football fans to enjoy uninterrupted coverage of the football World Cup in neighbouring South Africa.

"Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is working to ensure equitable distribution of the limited power available to consumers to enable them to watch the World Cup," said Energy and Power Development Minister Elias Mudzuri on Wednesday.

"I have directed ZESA to suspend disconnections to allow the public to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he told reporters.

Zimbabwe's power utility is battling to meet local power needs and frequently cuts off power in certain neighbourhoods for up to 10 hours to save electricity, a process known as load-shedding.

Mudzuri said ensuring uninterrupted supplies during the World Cup was no easy task for the country's power-sharing government.

"The ministry is in a difficult situation in managing the limited power available to consumers to enable them to watch the World Cup," he said, adding that the load-shedding would return after the month-long football tournament.

Zimbabwe has been trying to lure investors to overhaul its power sector but there has been little interest since the introduction of equity laws to give locals majority stakes in foreign-owned corporations.

Mudzuri said Zimbabwe requires 2,200 megawatts of electricity every month but can only produce 1,100 megawatts, importing the remainder.

Zimbabwe wheat production seen at record low

Business Report

Zimbabwe may need to import up to 400 000 T of wheat-CFU


* Wheat output seen at 10 000 T this yr vs 15 000 T last yr
June 9, 2010

Zimbabwe is set to record its lowest ever wheat output of about 10 000 tonnes this year due to lack of funding and continued upheavals on commercial farms, a farmers' union said on Wednesday.

Wheat is Zimbabwe's second staple grain, after maize, but the country -- a regional breadbasket before President Robert Mugabe's drive to seize land from whites to resettle landless blacks -- has failed to meet its annual consumption requirements of between 400 000 and 450 000 tonnes.

Last year, Zimbabwe produced about 15 000 tonnes of wheat, according to the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU), although government projections put the figure four times higher.

The CFU which represents the few remaining white farmers in the country, said Zimbabwe would need to meet almost its entire wheat requirements through imports.

"The winter wheat situation is incredibly serious. We always used to produce in the region of 250 000-300 000 tonnes, there was always a small deficit," CFU vice-president Charles Taffs told reporters.

"However, with this year's plantings we see that this country will produce no more than 10 000 tonnes of wheat. In other words, we are going to have to import in the region of 390 000-400 000 tonnes of wheat to meet our internal consumption requirements."

A huge grain import bill would exert pressure on Zimbabwe's power-sharing government, set up by Mugabe and bitter his rival Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister, which is battling to reverse a decade of economic decline.

The unity government has said it needs over $10 billion aid to fix the economy, but most donors are holding out on funding the fragile coalition, pressing for more reforms and watching for signs Mugabe is ready to genuinely share power.

Taffs said the forecast wheat yield would be the lowest on record, equivalent to just over a week's consumption.

The CFU says continued disturbances on the farms and lack of funding to purchase seed and fertiliser had resulted in a drastic reduction in the planted hectarage.

Frequent power cuts were also affecting much of the irrigated winter wheat crop.

"Productive farming is on the verge of collapse, there is no investor confidence where security of tenure is uncertain," Taffs said.

The eviction of white farmers continues unabated, with 16 more forced off farms in the past four days, Taffs added.

Critics say Mugabe's land seizures triggered the collapse of Zimbabwe's once vibrant commercial farming sector, with the production of most major crops falling sharply.

Aid agencies say millions of Zimbabweans still rely on food handouts, despite some improvement in the production of the staple maize crop, which reached 1.5 million tonnes in the 2009-2010 farming season according to government figures. - Reuters

Statement by the commercial farmers union of zimbabwe regarding ongoing disruption and eviction of commercial farmers

CFU

Written by The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 14:57

The Commercial Farmers Union is gravely concerned with the recent continued harassment of productive farmers and the failure of Zimbabwe Republic Police to render appropriate assistance in spite of High Court Orders for farmers to remain in occupation Particular events reported to these offices include the following: 1.    Manicaland – a farmer’s wife was barricaded into her house in the early hours of Tuesday 8th June 2010 and subsequently given 4 hours to vacate the property.  She is in possession of a High Court Order to remain in occupation. 2.    Manicaland – a farmer was removed from his property over the weekend, his equipment has been vandalized and the farm foreman was beaten unconscious last night.  The farmer is in possession of a High Court Order to remain in occupation. 3.    Manicaland – a farmer in possession of a High Court Order to remain in occupation has been subjected to a long lock-down situation with alleged police protection for an orgy of looting of equipment, farm inputs and crops. 4.    Manicaland – The owners are in possession of a High Court Order for the settlers to be removed.  This is a BIPPA farm with Malaysia.  It is alleged that a prominent Minister has visited the property and informed all settlers to remain in occupation and that all High Court orders must be ignored. 5.    Mashonaland East – An elderly woman has been removed from her homestead on her daughter-in-law’s farm who has since been told that she is to vacate by Thursday this week.  It has been proven that the beneficiary’s offer letter is not correct.  The farmer is in possession of a High Court Order to remain in occupation. The above incidents are not happening in isolation and that similar events have unfolded all over the country which are currently being investigated. These events have been driven by statements allegedly emanating from a prominent politician who has instructed beneficiaries and officials to disregard Court Orders.  Beneficiaries have been allowed to take the law into their own hands to evict farmers without due process. Both farmers and the office of the CFU have received no support from the relevant police stations in affected areas. This constitutes a blatant break down of law and order and the enforcement of High Court Orders and BIPPA agreements. We are concerned that at a time that Zimbabwe wishes to re-engage with the international community and encourage investment, that these breaches of the rule of law will drive Zimbabwe into further isolation.  This will further erode both local and foreign investor confidence and jeopardize economic recovery. This is happening in Zimbabwe at a time when ALL eyes are focused on Southern Africa for the Soccer World Cup which is due to start this weekend – Friday 11th June 2010.  Is this the kind of attention we wish to draw on ourselves at this time?

Zanu PF’s mercenary MPs disrupt Constitution-making process

The Zimbabwean

Written by The Zimbabwean

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 13:00

The MDC dismisses the mercenary attitude by Zanu PF MPs in a deliberate and well-calculated ploy to derail and commercialize the Constitution-making process expected to kick off on 16 June 2010.

The political posturing by the Zanu PF MPs is nothing but an attempt to derail the Constitution-making process by recreating their violent comedy of 13 July 2009. On that fateful day, in front of world cameras, sponsored Zanu PF hoodlums violently disrupted the first All-Stakeholders’ Constitution conference in Harare.

Now the opposition party is at it again, with its MPs demanding huge allowances just to ensure that this historic and important national process does not kick off. Fortunately, they have shown their true colors that they are perennial conspirators against the Constitution of Zimbabwe which has specific time-frames within which this important national process should be over and done with.

The biggest threat to the national interest is Zanu PF MPs and their inherent allergy to transparency, democratic tenets and a free and fair election. Zanu PF MPs are perennially afraid of people-driven processes. Zanu PF is a threat to the GPA. Zanu PF MPs are a pot-pourri of self-centered individuals working in common purpose to subvert the democratization and reform agenda.

The MDC regards the latest attempt to block the Constitution-making process as part of a great conspiracy. We condemn and rebuke this Pioneer column mentality where elected officials demand hefty allowances to undertake a national duty. Coupled with the Zanu PF-instigated violent disturbances in the countryside, where villagers are being coerced to stay silent during the outreach programme, the whole game plan begins to give itself away. It is no coincidence that the so-called public media, particularly The Herald and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, have been conspicuously silent in publicizing this national event. This conspiracy of silence has betrayed Zanu PF’s grand plan to waylay and mug this national project in which Zimbabweans must make their own Constitution.

Zimbabweans want to make their own Constitution. They are determined to carve out a new contract which determines how, why and by whom they want to be governed. Zanu PF MPs cannot hold this nation to ransom. Rantings by a wayward school prefect cannot disrupt a whole school’s morning assembly. Zanu PF cannot easily run away from their own signature under the watchful eye of SADC and the African Union.

We urge all Zimbabweans to participate in this important and historic event which kicks off next week. We, the people, will gather at the consultative meetings and make our voices heard. We, the people, are determined to make our own Constitution. We, the people, will turn out in our numbers during the outreach programmes. We, the people, will make sure that a new Constitution is bequeathed to the next generation.

MDC Information & Publicity Department

Sanctions ineffective

by: Staff Reporter
New Zimbabwe.Com :: The Zimbabwe News You Trust

A REGIONAL political think-tank says that Western targeted sanctions against Zimbabwean officials are largely ineffective and have inadvertently stabilised President Robert Mugabe’s party by winning it friends opposed to US and European policies.

The European Union, United States, Australia and New Zealand slapped more than 200 senior members of the Zanu (PF) inner circle with visa restrictions, an asset freeze and arms embargo in 2002 in protest at the disputed presidential elections allegedly stolen by Mugabe.

Trade sanctions were also imposed on state-owned companies and other corporate bodies linked to President Mugabe and his inner circle.

However, South Africa’s Institute of Security Studies (ISS) said the effectiveness of the “smart sanctions” has been limited by inconsistencies in their implementation as well as their selective nature.

“Although a travel ban may have had an initial impact in the sense that it limited the free movement of a targeted individual, it appears that the impact was not severe enough to compel such persons to change their behaviour,” the think-tank said in a report titled “Zimbabwe : Are Targeted Sanctions Smart Enough ? On the Efficacy of International Restrictive Measures”.

Underscoring this dilemma is the fact that the travel restrictions apply only to certain countries and allow travel exemptions for participation in meetings coordinated by international organisations such as the UN and International Monetary Fund.

Targeted individuals can therefore easily find ways to circumvent the ban – either by travelling to and shopping in countries that have not imposed such restrictions or by attending international conferences or humanitarian events while at the same time pursuing their private interests in whichever countries they visit.

ISS said Mugabe has also successfully transformed the external pressure into political capital in support of his alleged anti-imperialist cause, discrediting anyone in favour of “smart sanctions” as puppets of the West.

The Zimbabwean leader’s manipulative use of terminology by describing smart sanctions as illegal has meant that instead of pressuring Zanu (PF), these measures have been taken hostage and are often used as a scapegoat, with the Mugabe publicly blaming them for the country’s economic decline.

“In this sense these measures have, in fact, been counterproductive, serving to stabilise the Mugabe regime by providing it with an alibi,” ISS said.

Mugabe has insisted that remaining outstanding issues from a power-sharing agreement he signed with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008 would only be resolved once Tsvangirai’s party successfully lobbies for the removal of the sanctions.

Story from : NEWZIMBABWE.COM NEWS:
Published On: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:50 AM GMT
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news/news.aspx?newsID=2586
© New Zimbabwe News

Mineral exports top US$1 billion

New Zimbabwe.Com :: The Zimbabwe News You Trust

________________________________________

by: Business Reporter

MINES and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu says Zimbabwe exported close to US$1 billion worth of minerals in the five months to May.

Mpofu said the performance of the mining sector since January affirmed projections by Finance Minister Tendai Biti that mining would grow by 40 percent this year. 

Gold and other precious minerals, notably those in the platinum group of metals, drove the increase in the value of mineral exports.

The estimated value of mineral exports since January, however, excludes potential foreign exchange inflows from diamond exports, which remain banned over concerns of leakages.

The government decided to ban all diamonds exports from the country until controversies surrounding gems produced from the Chiadzwa-Marange fields in the eastern Manicaland province are resolved.

The Kimberly Process monitor for the country recently announced that minimum conditions needed to allow export of diamonds from the area had been met raising hopes that the export ban could be lifted.

Apart from Chiadzwa, Diamonds are also produced at Murowa Mine in Zvishavane and River Ranch in Beitbridge.

Since early last year, the value of mineral exports doubled when compared to the past two years when production suffered from macro-economic instability.

Mining is now of central importance to the economy, accounting for more than 50 percent of the national foreign exchange generation capacity while contributing about 16 percent to Gross Domestic Product.

The sector which was one of the worst affected by the economic crisis of the last decade with most operators either shutting down or scaling activities down to care and maintenance is firmly on the recovery path.

Most mining houses have resumed operations on the back of a liberalized local operating environment and better commodity prices on the world markets.

Story from : NEWZIMBABWE.COM NEWS:

Published On: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 1:00 AM GMT

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news/news.aspx?newsID=2591

© New Zimbabwe News

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