FinGaz
Govt orders varsity's immediate closure
Staff
Reporter
3/13/03 2:05:01 AM (GMT +2)
THE government has
ordered the immediate closure of the University of
Zimbabwe (UZ) because of a
crippling lecturers' strike, amid revelations
that the state and civil
servants have agreed to resolve a separate salary
dispute within 15
days.
Education Minister Swithun Mombeshora told Parliament
yesterday that
the UZ would be closed temporarily while the government
attempted to resolve
a salary dispute with lecturers.
The
University of Zimbabwe's teaching staff downed tools last month,
demanding a
50 percent retention allowance for all academic staff, an 80
percent hike on
basic salaries and a substantial increase in their housing
and transport
allowances.
Mombeshora said all lectures who had not performed
their duties since
the beginning of the year would not receive any
remuneration.
"I have failed to understand why the Association of
University
Teachers is adamant to go on with the strike action and why there
is no
appreciation of all the efforts we have made so far to address
their
demands," he said.
"Even more baffling is their
determination to hold my ministry at
ransom over a proposal that was never
formally presented to me. Government
is therefore compelled to direct the
university to close temporarily while
the contentious issues are being
addressed."
Mombeshora told Parliament that UZ departments that had
not been
affected by the industrial action would remain open. These include
the
education faculty, post graduate departments, medicine and the College
of
Health Science.
Exams scheduled for this month have already
been postponed to May and
June because of the strike.
Meanwhile,
public service union officials told the Financial Gazette
that the government
and civil servants had agreed to resolve a separate
salary dispute within 15
days.
The agreement was reached at a meeting on Monday between
civil service
unions and officials from the Public Service Commission
(PSC).
Civil servants want the government to iron out salary
discrepancies
that they say are the result of an inefficient grading
system.
A review of the grading system would bring the salaries of
all
government employees in line, leading to all civil servants being graded
and
paid according to their qualifications and work experience.
Union leaders say delays in sorting out the discrepancies have
resulted in
delays in the payment of salary hikes that were supposed to be
awarded to
civil servants at the beginning of this year.
Leonard Nkala, the
leader of the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association, told
the Financial Gazette:
"All the stakeholders met and agreed on a deadline of
15 days from Monday to
end the problem.
"Some ministries are arguing that they have not
been properly graded
but as teachers, we are saying we are okay. We have been
graded as per our
expectations. Were it not for the disparities in the
grading of other
ministries, I am sure we were not going to have these delays
in getting our
new salaries and other perks."
He added: "We all
agreed, including the PSC, that the 15-day deadline
is enough for the issue
to be solved amicably. We expect that by April all
this will be history. The
ministries that are complaining about the grading
of their professionals are
expected to submit their concerns by the set
window period."
FinGaz
Evicted farmers still receiving rates invoices
Staff Reporter
3/13/03 1:39:12 AM (GMT +2)
BULAWAYO - Some
rural district councils are still sending rates and
supplementary charges
statements to white farmers evicted under the
government's controversial land
reform programme, with agriculture experts
this week saying the councils
might be unable to collect revenue from
farmers resettled on appropriated
land.
More than 90 percent of Zimbabwe's 4 500 commercial farmers
have been
evicted under the govern- ment's programme to seize white-owned
farms for
the resettlement of blacks, about 350 000 of whom have been
allocated land.
Several white farmers evicted from their properties
in the
Matabeleland region this week told the Financial Gazette that rural
district
councils still wanted them to pay rates, unit taxes and other
supplementary
charges even though they no longer owned land.
They said they were still receiving monthly statements from some
rural
district councils, many of which cannot collect rates from resettled
farmers
because their records do not accurately indicate the changes that
have taken
place because of the farm seizures.
Commercial
Farmers' Union deputy president Mac Crawford said: "The
letters continue
coming from rural district councils demanding that farmers
pay unit tax but
we think this is stupid and crazy as most farmers being
sent the letters and
receipts demanding payment are no longer on their
properties.
"The farmers are unable to continue with their business of farming so
why
should they pay the unit tax and other rates to the rural district
councils?
This is unbelievable and the people now settled on the properties
should fork
out."
A farmer from Marondera, Kerry Kay, was sent an invoice
number 700/434
dated 1st January 2003 by the Marondera Rural Council,
requesting payment of
$395 400 for rates due for the year
2002/3.
Documents in the possession of this newspaper show that Kay
wrote to
the Marondera Rural Council alerting them that she had been evicted
from her
property in the area.
Part of her letter reads: "You
might not have heard that our farm,
together with the others in the area,
were compulsorily acquired last year
by the government and all the owners
evicted, some like ourselves at
gunpoint.
"As we are no longer
the legal owners in terms of the Land
Acquisition, might I suggest that you
refer this account to war veterans on
the farm. I am sure that they will be
able to collectively pay this large
sum of money in order to keep the roads
graded, the health workers paid and
all the other services provided by your
council."
A Ministry of Lands and Agriculture official blamed the
confusion to
inefficiency within rural district councils.
"The
government knows who is on what farm and what is left now is for
the rural
district councils to feed this information into their files," said
the
official, who declined to be named.
"The statements being sent are
emanating from the old files. These
will be updated soon."
But
farming experts pointed out that updating the rural district
councils'
records was not a guarantee that the resettled farmers would pay
the rates
and other charges that provide revenue for the councils and enable
them to
maintain infrastructure.
They said many of the new farmers were not
farming because of lack of
inputs, equipment, financial assistance and the
drought.
They said most of the resettled farmers were not earning
revenue and
therefore might not be in a position to pay the charges.
FinGaz
Financial firms' stance to fuel black market
McDonald Dzirutwe
3/13/03 1:50:58 AM (GMT +2)
MANY local
financial institutions are taking foreign currency
positions that will
provide substantial income for their operations this
year but which analysts
this week said could further fuel Zimbabwe's
parallel market for hard
cash.
The analysts said the financial institutions, buoyed by the
government
's recent devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar, were snapping up
hard cash in
anticipation of further depreciation in the course of this
year.
They said hopes of further devaluation were being driven by
Zimbabwe's
persistent hard currency shortages, which they said were unlikely
to be
alleviated by the adjustment of exchange rates for exporters and
other
foreign currency sellers.
Banks last week devalued the
Zimbabwe-US dollar exchange rate from $55
to US$1 to $824, which the analysts
said would act as a reprieve for
exporting companies facing collapse, but
would not lead to significant forex
inflows.
"Banks are taking
large foreign currency positions at the current
prices because they forecast
that by the end of the year, it is certain that
they will reap huge profits
from disposing of their forex," an analyst with
a local stockbroking firm
said.
"Some banks have been hesitant but I believe they now realise
that
while they can derive earnings from interest income, there is also scope
for
much growth in foreign currency income."
Sagit Stockbrokers
said in its commentary: "With no permanent solution
in place to enhance
foreign currency inflows, we foresee the foreign
currency factor remaining as
a good source of income for banks."
Most banks trade in foreign
currency although this is rarely shown in
their income statements, in which
it is sometimes only reflected as
non-interest income.
Financial
counters have in recent weeks posted exceptional results
that are above
market expectations, adding to the bullish sentiment on the
Zimbabwe Stock
Exchange (ZSE).
Stock market analysts said investors would be
cheered by a proposal by
Zimbabwe Sun (Zimsun) Limited directors to split the
company into two, which
would benefit shareholders.
The company
will be split into a hotel management firm and a property
arm, which is
expected to inherit Zimsun's assets estimated at $51 billion.
Analysts said the property company would be a particular target
for
institutional investors such as pension funds, which would take
long-term
investment positions while the management firm would draw interest
from
individual investors.
"The property company would suit
institutional investors and there
should be a huge appetite for such an
investment vehicle," an analyst with
Intermarket Stockbrokers told the
Financial Gazette.
"The institutions will obviously want to take
long-term positions,"
the analyst added.
Stock market watchers
said the two proposed companies' share prices
were likely to trade at between
$40 and $50.
Zimsun on Monday resumed trading on the ZSE, from
where it was
suspended last Friday after its share price shot to $40 from $18
within a
week.
Meanwhile, insurance heavy weight Old Mutual
tumbled 17 percent to $1
000 last Friday after it fell to an all time low of
R9.10 from R9.49 on the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange, because of a firming
rand and uncertainty over
the United States' threats to attack
Iraq.
The share has been languishing around $1 300 in the last few
months,
making it one of the most inactive counters on the stock market
lately.
Meanwhile, on the money market rates remained firm in a
market that
was $13.8 billion short on Monday and was expected to remain in
deficit the
whole of this week.
The central bank's purchase
agreement rate remained unchanged at 41.88
percent this week, which saw call
rates being quoted at above 60 percent,
the same position as last
week.
Seven and 14-day rates were unchanged at 56 and 57
percent.
The 30, 60 and 90-day Treasury bills eased to 41, 40 and
40 percent
compared to 56, 46, and 45 percent respectively last
week.
According to dealers, the government again rejected all bids
on its
traditional 90-day Treasury bill because banks were quoting higher
rates and
also because the government still had resources from taxes paid
by
corporates at the end of last month.
On the foreign currency
market, dealers said although there were signs
that foreign currency inflows
into the official market could improve in the
short-term, there was however
still little activity.
The dealers however said the Zimbabwe dollar
rate on the parallel
market had firmed from $1 500 to $1 300 against the
United States dollar by
Friday last week, adding that the local currency
could strengthen to $1 000
against the greenback.
"There are
good prospects for the official foreign currency market and
we see the
Zimbabwe dollar touching the $1 000 level against the US dollar
on the
parallel market," a dealer with a Harare commercial bank said.
Strip Mugabe of knighthood say Lib Dems
The
Liberal Democrats have challenged the government to
strip Robert Mugabe of
his honorary knighthood.
The party's peers have called
on the government to advise
the Queen to remove the honour conferred on
Zimbabwe's president.
They have tabled a question in
the Lords arguing that the
government should make a symbolic gesture in
protest at Mugabe's human
rights record.
"By and
large, sanctions from the international community
on Zimbabwe have not
worked. But there is a moral need to send signals to
Robert Mugabe that his
actions are deplorable," Lord Watson said.
"Robert
Mugabe has led the people of Zimbabwe to the brink
of destruction. He does
not deserve an honour of this kind. The government
should advise that his
honorary knighthood be withdrawn."
Zimbabwe: update from Jenni Williams
Dear Friends,
Further to my eye witness account of Saturdays
International Women's Day
Event, I was today visited by two CID law and order
officers who requested
that I visit their office to be formally charged. For
those of you who do
not know, I am a PR Consultant and my company is Public
Relations
Newsmakers.
I went down to Byo Central Police Station and
was charged under POSA Chapter
11:17 Section 24 (1)(6), a charge I denied as
I was merely an observer on
the day. I presume they will proceed by way of a
summons. I know of two
other ladies who have signed statements.
I
watched proceedings from a distance and for the most part was in the
presence
of journalists and was then arrested outside the Central Police
Station. I
had followed the groups of women seeking to assist those injured.
Both
officers were interested in obtaining more information on Public
Relations
and asked me if they could have lectures! I am left wondering
which form of
Public Relations they would required teaching. It seems that
the form of PR I
spend much of my time undertaking at present is 'Protest
PR'. I would gladly
arrange a workshop on this topic but not sure if they
will attend as
participants or if they will attend to arrest/assault the
participants as
they did Saturday.
My sister sent me this quote and hope it is a
meaningful to you as it was to
me ...
Be strong!
We are not here to
play, to dream, to drift.
We have hard work to do and loads to lift. Shun not
the struggle; face it,
'Its God's gift. Be strong it matters not how deep
entrenched the wrong,
how hard the battle goes, the day how long; Faint not,
fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
Malbie Babcock from the book by Frank
Mussel, A more excellent way.
To true FREEDOM!
Client information
- For privileged use by the addressee only.
Contact Jenni Williams on Mobile
(+263) 91 300456 or 11213 885 Or on email
jennipr@mweb.co.zw
or Fax (+2639) 63978
or (+2634) 703829
Office email prnews@mweb.co.zw
A member of the
International Association of Business Communicators. Visit
the IABC website
www.iabc.com
JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet:
www.justiceforagriculture.com
Please
send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject
line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON
THE LIGHTER SIDE:
The Lesson Of The Geese
This fall, when you see
geese heading south for the winter flying along in
the "V" formation, you
might consider what science has discovered as to why
they fly that
way.
FACT: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the
bird
immediately following. By flying in the "V" formation, the whole flock
has
at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its
own.
LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get
where they are going more quickly and easily because they are
travelling on
the thrust of one another.
FACT: When a goose flies out
of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and
resistance of trying to go it
alone. It quickly gets back into formation to
take advantage of the lifting
power of the bird in front of it.
LESSON: If we have as much common sense
as a goose, we stay in formation
with those headed where we want to go. We
are willing to accept their help
and give our help to others. It is harder to
do something alone than
together.
FACT: When the lead goose gets
tired, it rotates back into the formation,
and another goose flies to the
point position.
LESSON: It is sensible to take turns doing the hard and
demanding tasks and
sharing leadership. As with geese, people are
interdependent on each
other's skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements
of gifts, talents, or
resources.
FACT: The geese flying in formation
honk from behind to encourage those up
front to keep up their
speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups
where
there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power
of
encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage
the
heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek. We need
to
make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging.
FACT:
When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two other geese will
drop out
of formation with that goose and follow it down to lend help and
protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it dies or is able to fly
again. Then,
they launch out on their own, or with another formation to
catch up with
their flock.
LESSON: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by
our colleagues
and each other in difficult times as well as in
good!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions
of the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for
Agriculture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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for Agriculture mailing list
To subscribe/unsubscribe: Please write to jag-list-admin@mango.zw
FinGaz
Mugabe firmly entrenched a year after poll
By
Sydney Masamvu Assistant Editor
3/13/03 2:09:22 AM (GMT
+2)
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has defied predictions by maintaining
a
semblance of stability in Zimbabwe in the 12 months since his
controversial
re-election last March, but analysts say there are clear signs
that the
country is ominously heading for collapse.
The analysts
said since the March 9 to 10 2002 presidential election,
Mugabe had
maintained tight control over Zimbabwe despite forecasts of
massive social
unrest that commentators predicted would be sparked by
worsening food
insecurity and an economic crisis that has left thousands of
people nearly
destitute.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), wracked by
internal squabbles, increasing state repression and the
treason trial of
three of its top leaders, has lost some of its lustre in the
past few
months.
Civic society and the general population have
been hard hit by
repressive laws that inhibit free expression, movement as
well as assembly
and have been used to ruthlessly stamp out criticism of the
government.
African leaders have come out in support of the ruling
ZANU PF,
calling for the suspension of sanctions imposed by Western countries
against
Mugabe and his top hierarchy.
Commentators said the
international community had lost some of its
credibility because of divisions
that the government had been quick to use
to its advantage.
"While the crisis deepens, the international response has become
more
divided," the International Crisis Group said in its latest report
on
Zimbabwe.
"The Commonwealth's very purpose is being called
into question. Though
the principles upon which it is based are being
flouted, leading members
South Africa and Nigeria are arguing against all the
evidence that Zimbabwe'
s suspension should be lifted because the situation
has improved."
The report added: "The relevant regional and
continental international
organisations (SADC and the African Union
respectively) have yet to engage
meaningfully while South Africa and Nigeria
set the tone. The European Union
is rent by divisions, with France's
invitation to Mugabe to participate in a
pan-African summit in Paris having
engendered a controversy that nearly put
an end to the targeted sanctions
regime that was established shortly before
Mugabe's re-election.
"The US remains a weak actor, able to implement a promised asset
freeze
component in its own targeted sanctions regime only after nearly a
year's
delay because of internal mid-level policy disagreements. "
Local
analysts said buoyed by the semblance of political stability,
the government
now felt secure enough to launch the agro-based National
Economic Recovery
Programme (NERP) it believed would curb Zimbabwe's
economic
meltdown.
At the launch of the programme last week, Information
Minister
Jonathan Moyo made much of the seeming political stability, saying
the
drafting of the NERP would not have been possible without the "stability
and
security in the country".
But economists and political
analysts warned that far from coming to
grips with Zimbabwe's economic and
political instability, ZANU PF had merely
"papered over the cracks" by coming
down hard on dissent.
In the past 12 months, Zimbabwe's economic
crisis has worsened, with
inflation rising 208.1 percent in the year to
January 2003 and several
companies cutting back or suspending production
because of fuel, foreign
currency and raw material shortages.
"A
year since the election, there is deepening distress of the
economy, it has
been downhill all the way, nothing has changed," said
economic consultant
John Robertson.
"In actual fact, in the past year the country has
been in limbo and
the economy is collapsing."
He said there had
been marked shrinkage in nearly every productive
sector in the past 12 months
while Zimbabweans had become poorer, with at
least 80 percent of the
population now believed to be living below the
poverty datum line and
unemployment estimated at more than 70 percent.
Robertson pointed
out that while Mugabe had received moral support
from other African states,
very few of them had come through with the
foreign investment crucial for the
Zimbabwean economy.
"Zimbabwe has received hollow moral support
from the expected
countries because of historical links, but no help of
substance to boost the
economy has been forthcoming and facts on the ground
speak for themselves,"
he told the Financial Gazette.
Close to
eight million Zimbabweans are in need of emergency food aid
because of severe
food shortages resulting from drought and the government's
seizure of
white-owned land for the resettlement of black peasants and
aspiring
commercial farmers.
Food insecurity is expected to worsen from
April after current food
aid initiatives expire and farmers bring in poor
harvests.
The International Crisis Group said in its report: "The
economic
meltdown, food crisis, and deepening state-sponsored violence that
have
plagued Zimbabwe in the year since the presidential election continue
to
point in one ominous direction: potential state collapse.
"One of Africa's most highly developed formal economies is
disappearing.
Despite price and wage controls, the inflation rate may hit
500 per-cent
before the year is out. Severe food shortages resulting from
the destruction
of the commercial farm sector and the use of food as a
political weapon have
turned one of Africa's breadbaskets into a beggar
nation subject to localised
famines."
The group said there was also a risk that "deterioration
of command
and control" over the war veterans and youth militias the
government has
used against its opponents could lead to a rapid increase in
unstructured
violence throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the
impact of the economic crisis, food shortages and
political violence has
sparked protests from several groups, including the
clergy and women's
groups, all summarily suppressed.
"There is nothing positive to
record over the past year," said
University of Zimbabwe political analyst
Brian Raftopoulos. "The economic
situation has been declining at a very fast
rate and there has been an
increase in state-sponsored
repression."
He said it was crucial for the Zimbabwean economy that
the government
re-establish relations with the international community and
resume internal
political dialogue.
The International Crisis
Group added: "New efforts to coordinate both
African and wider international
efforts are called for, with a practical
focus on restarting, ideally under
new sponsorship, the negotiations between
ZANU PF and the MDC."
FinGaz
HIV/AIDS: legacy of a lost generation
3/13/03 2:08:42 AM (GMT +2)
With an average life expectancy that
has plummeted to 42, HIV/AIDS is
tearing Zimbabwean society apart.
Grandmothers taking care of 780 000
orphans, child-headed households and
dying teachers are some of the virus'
tragic legacies.
The World
Food Programme (WFP)'s Benson Gono reports on how Zimbabwe
is learning to
live without a lost generation.
Nkayi - Mamhlope Nyathi spends
sleepless nights praying and asking God
for forgiveness.
The
Zimbabwean grandmother believes God is punishing her.
In the past
four years, four of her eight children have fallen victim
to Zimbabwe's
raging HIV/AIDS pandemic, leaving her to care for five
orphans, all aged less
than 10.
They need to be fed and sent to school, but Mamhlope's
deceased sons
and daughters left her with virtually nothing to bring-up her
grandchildren.
"Why should all this be happening to me? I looked
after my own
children after the death of their father and up to now I have
never had any
rest in my life," she says.
Her four remaining
children abandoned Mamlhope's hometown of Dakamela
in Nkayi district over two
years ago and are spread in different cities
around the country. None have
returned to help.
"I don't know whether they are still alive or
they are also dead.
People of my age should be cared for by their children. I
don't know why God
is punishing me?"
Mamhlope, who only survives
thanks to a WFP monthly food distribution,
is just one of the increasing
number of elderly Zimbabwean women forced into
a tragic second motherhood by
HIV/AIDS.
Grandmothers taking care of orphans is just one of the
symptons of an
adult prevalence rate which now exceeds 33 percent.
Child-headed households,
780 000 orphans and dying teachers are other painful
realities.
With an average life expectancy that has plummeted to
42, HIV/AIDS is
literally tearing Zimbabwean society apart.
The
UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Southern African
humanitarian
crisis, James Morris, came face to face with the consequences
on his recent
visit to a home-care HIV/AIDS programme in Dziva rasekwa, a
suburb of the
capital Harare.
"I spoke to two young boys, one in seventh grade,
one in fourth
grade," said Morris after his visit, "Mom had died this year of
HIV. Dad has
simply left. Suddenly, these three kids had to fend for
themselves.
"17-year-old children should be having one kind of life
and it usually
doesn't imply being the head of a household."
Zimbabwe's ongoing food crisis, which has left close to eight million
people
in need of food aid, has exacerbated the impact of HIV/AIDS.
Food
shortages rob the infected of one of the first defences against
AIDS-related
illnesses and early death - good nutrition. While households
like Mamhlope's,
who have lost their main breadwinners, are poorer and more
vulnerable to
starvation.
Even before the current drought, the responsibility for
producing,
transporting and marketing the family crop had fallen on
Mamhlope's frail
shoulders.
"The lack of rain has made the
situation even worse," she says.
"After harvesting I would normally
sell part of my maize crop.
But I only managed to get maize seed in
January and that was too late
and so there are no crops in my
fields."
The lack of income from her maize crop means
Mamhlope has been unable
to pay her grandchildrens' fees at the nearby
Dakamela Primary School for
the past two terms.
"The school
authorities are aware of my plight and they no longer
bother to send the
children away from school," she says.
"They know that when I get
the money I will pay, but at the moment, it
is difficult to
promise."
In her own and Zimbabwe's current circumstances, Mamhlope
is only
prepared to make a single pledge.
"I hope that God will
hear my prayers and give me more time to live
and look after these innocent
souls," she says, her frail voice wavering.
"I don't want to think
about what will happen to these children when I
die."
FinGaz
Tamoil to launch first mobile fuel stations in
Zim
Staff Reporter
3/13/03 1:29:09 AM (GMT
+2)
LIBYAN oil firm Tamoil Private Limited plans to
introduce
southern Africa's first mobile fuel stations in Zimbabwe, as part
of a
partnership agreement with the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe
(NOCZIM), it
was learnt this week.
Mohammad Azabbi, the
Libyan ambassador to Zimbabwe, told the
Financial Gazette that the mobile
fuel stations - petrol and diesel
dispensing facilities on wheels - would
especially be targeted at remote
areas where there are fewer or no service
stations.
The proposed service stations are part of an
agreement between
NOCZIM and Tamoil to set up a joint venture oil firm in
Zimbabwe.
The Libyan ambassador said the two companies had
agreed in
principle to create the joint venture firm, but specific details of
the deal
were yet to be finalised.
"We intend to introduce
mobile fuel stations in Zimbabwe but we
are waiting for the conclusion of the
agreement between NOCZIM and Tamoil,"
Azabbi told the Financial
Gazette.
He said the mobile fuel outlets were
manufactured in Germany and
each cost US$150 000 and had the capacity to
carry more than 20 000 litres
of fuel.
Similar mobile fuel
stations are commonly used in north African
countries.
The
Libyan ambassador said Tamoil would provide 51 percent of
the joint venture
company's fuel requirements, adding that this would be
equal to 51 percent
equity in the new firm.
The company would control the
strategic oil pipeline from Beira
to NOCZIM's Mabvuku depot and all fuel
depots owned by NOCZIM countrywide.
It would also set up new fuel
outlets.
Azabbi said Tamoil and NOCZIM were also yet to agree
on a new
fuel supply arrangement for Zimbabwe, which is battling a crippling
fuel
crisis. Tamoil has in the past provided fuel to the country under a
special
arrangement.
The Libyan ambassador said any new
supply agreement would have
to take into account the recent devaluation of
the Zimbabwe dollar from $55
to $824 against the United States
dollar.
According to Azabbi, a team of Zimbabwean officials
that
travelled to Libya last month to renegotiate Zimbabwe's US$360 million
fuel
deal with Tamoil was unsuccessful because the Arab country was observing
a
religious holiday.
He however said a Tamoil official was
in Zimbabwe last week and
had held talks with the Jewel Bank, which in the
past has played the role of
broker in supply discussions between Tamoil and
NOCZIM.
"The mission that went to Libya last month did not
have much
success because we were observing a religious holiday," Azabbi
said, adding
that the trip had now been rescheduled.
"Negotiations are still ongoing but we will have to see the
impact of the new
exchange rate policy," he added.
Under the previous
arrangement between NOCZIM and Tamoil,
Zimbabwe's state oil procurer would
pay the Libyans using the exchange rate
of $55 to the Zimbabwe
dollars.
The money was then used to buy commodities such as
tea and beef
and to invest in local state entities.
3/13/03
1:29:09 AM (GMT +2)
LIBYAN oil firm Tamoil Private Limited plans to
introduce southern
Africa's first mobile fuel stations in Zimbabwe, as part
of a partnership
agreement with the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe
(NOCZIM), it was learnt
this week.
Mohammad Azabbi, the Libyan
ambassador to Zimbabwe, told the Financial
Gazette that the mobile fuel
stations - petrol and diesel dispensing
facilities on wheels - would
especially be targeted at remote areas where
there are fewer or no service
stations.
The proposed service stations are part of an agreement
between NOCZIM
and Tamoil to set up a joint venture oil firm in
Zimbabwe.
The Libyan ambassador said the two companies had agreed
in principle
to create the joint venture firm, but specific details of the
deal were yet
to be finalised.
"We intend to introduce mobile
fuel stations in Zimbabwe but we are
waiting for the conclusion of the
agreement between NOCZIM and Tamoil,"
Azabbi told the Financial
Gazette.
He said the mobile fuel outlets were manufactured
in Germany and each
cost US$150 000 and had the capacity to carry more than
20 000 litres of
fuel.
Similar mobile fuel stations are commonly
used in north African
countries.
The Libyan ambassador said
Tamoil would provide 51 percent of the
joint venture company's fuel
requirements, adding that this would be equal
to 51 percent equity in the new
firm.
The company would control the strategic oil pipeline from
Beira to
NOCZIM's Mabvuku depot and all fuel depots owned by NOCZIM
countrywide. It
would also set up new fuel outlets.
Azabbi said
Tamoil and NOCZIM were also yet to agree on a new fuel
supply arrangement for
Zimbabwe, which is battling a crippling fuel crisis.
Tamoil has in the past
provided fuel to the country under a special
arrangement.
The
Libyan ambassador said any new supply agreement would have to take
into
account the recent devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar from $55 to
$824
against the United States dollar.
According to Azabbi, a
team of Zimbabwean officials that travelled to
Libya last month to
renegotiate Zimbabwe's US$360 million fuel deal with
Tamoil was unsuccessful
because the Arab country was observing a religious
holiday.
He
however said a Tamoil official was in Zimbabwe last week and had
held talks
with the Jewel Bank, which in the past has played the role of
broker in
supply discussions between Tamoil and NOCZIM.
"The mission that
went to Libya last month did not have much success
because we were observing
a religious holiday," Azabbi said, adding that the
trip had now been
rescheduled.
"Negotiations are still ongoing but we will have to
see the impact of
the new exchange rate policy," he added.
Under
the previous arrangement between NOCZIM and Tamoil, Zimbabwe's
state oil
procurer would pay the Libyans using the exchange rate of $55 to
the Zimbabwe
dollars.
The money was then used to buy commodities such as tea and
beef and to
invest in local state entities.
COMMERCIAL
FARMERS' UNION
CLASSIFIEDS
- TUESDAY 11th MARCH 2003
Please
note that the classifieds will go out every Tuesday. Payment is required upfront and all adverts
to be in by 0900 hrs every Tuesday. This
ensures efficient distribution of the Classifieds.
Ø ACCOMMODATION
/ PLOTS / PROPERTIES
PROPERTIES
FOR SALE
BORROWDALE
CENTRAL
Mature
2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house plus 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage. All set in
approx.. 2.7 acres with pool, borehole. Walled 2 sides with electric
gate.
Price
Guide $ 100 million
HIGHLANDS
Huge,
character, executive residence set in 2 acres, fully walled with electric gate
and fence. Pool, borehole, all weather flood lit tennis
court.
Price
Guide $ 150 million
MOUNT
PLEASANT / GROOMBRIDGE
Immaculate,
secure executive residence set in approx 1.5 acres of walled grounds with razor
wire and electric gate. Pool and
borehole.
Price
Guide $ 150 million
MEYRICK
PARK
Immaculate
hill top residence with superb views of the city. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.
Good Value.
Price
Guide $ 50 million
Please
phone EDWARDS REAL ESTATE (PVT) LTD
745642/7 edward@mweb.co.zw
for full details
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOVELY
OLDER HOUSE TO RENT:
On two acres, with pool and tennis court. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large
reception room and dining room (parquet flooring). Pretty garden. Alarmed. Barred. Double car port and electric gate. Walking distance to the Borrowdale Shops (for
all but teenagers!) $220
000/mth.
Phone
882412
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE
TO LET
- Bluff Hill, 3-bedroom house with two bathrooms, double lockup garage, lovely
garden, staff quarter, walled and gated.
$70 000. Avail 1st
May.
Contact
Marion 091 215548, 091 300684.
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COTTAGE
for
rent. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Very neat.
Contact
073-2786.
AF19
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRISTON
BANK. 3
bedroom cottage, lounge, separate dining room, lockup garage. On 12 acres.
Available April 2003. Phone
075-2232, 075-2615, 091 260 494.
DL
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FARMS
FOR SALE.
Natal
Midlands developed dairy farm, supplies nearby cheese factory; fully irrigated
with housing and some machinery. Supplementary income from a tile
factory.
Strawberry
farm with trout dam; up market housing; tourism
potential.
These
farms are adjacent and are available jointly or
separately.
Phone
- 27 33 396 5498 fax - 27 33 386 9993
Cell - 0832744253
GD
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small
secure private cottage available to rent.
Picturesque surroundings in the Avondale area. Rental $40 000 per month includes lights and
water. Tel
304572.
BK
[4/3. 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING
FOR CARING TENANTS. Live-in basis - look after 2 dogs. 1 Rottie,
1 Foxy and keep an eye on property and servant.
Available mid-year.
For
more information write Box WGT 240 or e-mail jfairley@mango.zw.
AF4
[4/3, 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking
for a small house, cottage, flat or house to share in the Marlborough, Westgate,
Avondale, Strathaven or surrounding areas, rent around $30 000.00 per month for
a lady with 3 school going children.
Please call Leonie at 309800 ext 241, cell:
091252076.
LN
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KARIBA:
house for occasional letting. Consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Fully furnished and equipped, swimming pool
and double lock-up garage, walled and serviced.
House is located in Baobab Ridge.
Tel Ben Kaschula on Harare 498121 or at CFU
309800.
#BK
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upmarket
two bed-roomed garden flat with courtyard, self-contained garage, in small
complex for sale in Mandara, Harare.
Please
contact Carrie Wilson on 747935 (evenings).
#CW
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House
to share in Highlands. Fully furnished. Suit single lady or gentleman, available
immediately.
Phone:
Ben on 309800 (Bus) or 498121 (Home).
#BK
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ø COMPUTERS
RD
COMPUTERS
We
offer a personal and efficient service for all your computer requirements,
including: -
*
upgrades
*
hardware and software sales
*
maintenance contracts
*
trouble shooting
*
repairs
Please
call Gus McTiernan at RD Computers on 091 347 961 or email rdc@zol.co.zw for
further details.
#GM
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEARN
HOW TO USE YOUR COMPUTER in a
safe, friendly and pleasant environment, by the real professionals in the
field. If you need to start right at the
beginning, expand your existing knowledge or learn something new, then contact
us to book a place on one of our many courses on offer. Enrol for the ICDL course to gain an
internationally recognised certificate in just 12 days. Join others in a classroom situation or book
the trainer for a one-to-one either at your place or our offices. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU! For more information, phone Sutherland
Computers on 732286 or 726476/9 or E-Mail us on : suth@mweb.co.zw Stay on track . . . .
TRAIN!
AE60
[4/2-11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ø FOR
SALE
BUSINESS
FOR SALE : Photocopying
bureau, stationery shop, binding, laminating, manufacture of rubber stamps,
laser engraving. Msasa. Good customer base, sound investment, trained
staff.
AF33
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VEHICLE
FOR SALE : Nissan
3.2 Diesel Pick-up, 2001, 55000 ks, air-con, power steering, snug-box, tonneau,
solex locks, radio/tape, rhino lined, tow-hitch.
Phone
Mitch Green,- 011 211 911
NP
[11/3. 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHADE
CLOTH 30% WHITE FOR SALE
12
x 12m x 100m
2
x 6m x 100m
10kg
black twine
Contact
Ken King e-mail chinyika@mweb.co.zw Tel 055 24250
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAKE
CROCODILE PARK are selling 51 White Work suits of various
sizes.
Anyone
interested in the items above should contact Serena on email: serena@zol.co.zw
AF32
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
BRICK MOULDING MACHINES.
Over
2 000 bricks/day.
New
price US$6 500 – Our price Zim $2 000 000.
Phone
011 416 592.
AF20
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEUGEOT
FOR SALE
Peugeot
405 - 1995. Genuine mileage 135 000km,
radio/tape. In excellent condition
(single owner).
$6.8
million plus tax.
Phone
Steve Riley 496675 (h), 091-232713/4.
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEEP
FREEZE to
fit standard pickup.
Internal
dimensions 2.7m (long) x 1.5m (wide) x 1.1m (high). Minus 20 degrees.
Highest
Offer secures.
To
view phone for appointment Allan Poultney 091 238 740
AF30
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES FOR SALE
:
1
Defy Fridge/Freezer
1
Kelvinator stove
Contact
Sam - 091 380
814
SC
[4/3, 11/3, 18/3, 25/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACK
ON OFFER – Piranha
75 Mercury.
Plenty of extras.
Tel
Hickman 300443 Cell 011 403 765
AF16
[4/3, 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1x
Drotsky vertical food mixer c/w switchgear & cables.
1x
Drotsky Hammermill c/w 50 Hp electric motor, switchgear &
cables.
For
more info contact Mike 04-481532 or 091 352 267.
AF13
[4/3, 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brand
new Isuzu double cabs and pick-ups.
Brand
new Opel Astra sedans.
Good
quality used cars and pick-ups.
Phone;
Mitch Green 011 211
911.
AE91
[18/2, 25/2, 4/3, 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hino 8
tonne lorry for sale. Bulk sides. Motor is sound. Contact : 334802-4.
CC
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suzuki
125 farm bike. Good condition. Recent overhaul. Contact : 023 782 824 or
496672.
CC
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25000
tobacco clips for sale. Contact : 023
782 824 or 496672.
CC
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ø WANTED
VEHICLE
WANTED : Diesel
Double-cab, 1998 upwards, must be in good nick.
Phone
: Mitch Green - 011 211 911.
NP
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VEHICLE
– Looking
for a diesel pickup.
Phone
04-301565 (pm) or 091 235 161
AF31
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
x Washing Machine with spin dryer in good working order
1
x Polisher
Please
contact:
Jenny
Swift at 055-20160 or e-mail bemthree@ecoweb.co.zw
or write Box 44, Kwe Kwe.
NP
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAKE
CROCODILE PARK are wanting to purchase a 9 000 litre petrol tank (for
underground use).
Contact
Serena on email: serena@zol.co.zw
AF32
[11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanted: Second hand swimming pool fence. Telephone Jo on 301289 or 011 412
901.
BK
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMALL
RELIABLE RUNABOUT VEHICLE FOR OLD COUPLE.
PHONE ROB VAN VUUREN 490771 (H), 309861 (W), 011 203
822.
RVV
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second
hand back pack and warm coat/s. Phone :
303673 (After
hours)
or 091 338 047.
#AB
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buyer
of Irrigation Equipment.
The
buyer of irrigation equipment mentioned in previous Classified Advertisements
has committed all his current resources to the purchase some of the equipment
offered so far. As a result, he is
unable to consider any more offers for the time being. When he is able to re-enter the market, a
notice to that effect will be issued. Water Affairs Exec @
CFU.
#GD
[11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanted:
1. Old
solid wood furniture e.g. Oak or Teak items.
2. Portable
car port, preferably 2 car size with shade cloth cover.
3. Old
Belgian or Persian carpets.
4. Old
silver plate tableware e.g. candelabra and old
brassware.
Phone
Ben Kashula on 309800 (Bus) or 498121 (Home) or Sheila Mumford on
495699.
#BK
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second
Hand Asbestos Roofing Sheets, Wheat straw delivered to Harare (a couple of truck
loads). Please Phone Nick on 011 213 188 / 304310
#KP
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any
old camping equipment e.g. paraffin pressure lamps, folding chairs etc. Phone
Ben on 309800 (Bus) or 498121 (Home).
#BK
[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ø HOLIDAY
& TRAVEL
Ahoy
There! For all your Houseboat and
Cruiser Bookings on Lake Kariba.
Please
contact Rhino Rendezvous Harare
745644/8 rhino@mweb.co.zw
PS.
Discounted Rates Available on Selected Boats.
NP
[11/3, 18/3, 25/3, 1/4]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kariba
- Warthogs Bush Camp. . Simple self cater accomm nestled in Mopane bush
on lakeshore for up to 20 people. 'A' frame bashas and a family dorm. Splash
pool, bar. Boat launching nearby. 3km from Kariba shops and fuel (!!) From
$1,000 p.p or have the whole camp to yourselves for $18,500/night. Bookings being taken now for
Easter.
Tel
011 201 733 or email relax@warthogs.co.zw
.
AF26
[25/2, 11/3, 25/3, 8/4]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VARDEN
SAFARIS - MAVURADONHA MOUNTAINS
SPECIALIST
HORSE RIDING SAFARIS
WALK
- RIDE - RELAX
KOPJE
TOPS LODGE - BAT CAVES CAMP
STUNNING
TRANQUIL LOCATION - NO CELL PHONE SIGNAL!!
PROFESSIONAL
GUIDES - FULL ENSUITE CHALETS
WONDERFUL
FOOD. ONLY 2.5 HOURS EX
HARARE
CONTACT
US FOR OUR LATEST SPECIALS –
DON'T
FORGET EASTER AND OTHER LONG WEEKENDS COMING UP.
AF18
[4/3, 11/3, 18/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EASTER
– HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION – 6 bed wooden Chalet – fully equipped/serviced,
on beachfront. No 10 Kowie River
Chalets, Port Alfred. Two week rental -
April 12th – 26th.
Also available for part time or monthly rental for March/April - 6 bed fully equipped house in Port Alfred,
walking distance from sea.
AF10
[4/3, 11/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three
bedroom luxury thatched house, bathrooms on suite open plan kitchen upstairs bar
with magnificent view, comes with a domestic, lock up garage, sleeps maximum
8. Bookings can be made direct with Eve
at Lomagundi Lake side on 061-3037/39 bookings confirmed on
payment.
#BK[]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“THIS IS IT” HOUSEBOAT FOR
CHARTER
12
Passengers. 3 Crew. 2 Tender
boats.
Splash
pool on top deck. Phone / Fax 066 7315
or 72942.
AE47
[7/1, 28/1] AE48 [4/2] AE51 [11/2] AE49 [18/2] AE50 [25/2] NC [4/3] AF7 [11/3]
AF8 [18/3] AF9 [25/3]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ø POSITIONS
WANTED
SITUATION
WANTED: Gardener. Young, strong and
willing.
Tel:
Hickman 300443, e-mail phickman@mango.zw