The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 2:58 PM

Subject: Fw: Human Rights Abuse in Zimbabwe

 

 INCIDENT OF POLICE ASSAULT AT QUEEN'S SPORTS GROUND 28 FEBRUARY 2003

 During the afternoon of 28 February at the Holland vs Zimbabwe cricket game, a black youth walked into the Queen's Club members stand, he tried to be served with beer and started created when he was told that the bar was closed.  The Queen's security guard advised him that he was not a member of Queen's, and that he was to leave and he started arguing and performing with the security guard and several Queen's members.

 Monty Jenkinson then told him to get away, and this youth then started shouting that he had been verbally assaulted by Jenkinson.  He eventually left the stand only to return with another black guy, we do not know who it was, and they started performing again about the verbal assault to Jenkinson. Another Queen's member told them to leave as they were not members and we were watching cricket.  They left.  The verbal assault was that Jenkinson allegedly called him an "arse" in shona.

Then when the cricket was over - a whole group of policeman, and the black youth approached Jenkinson and said that Jenkinson was to accompany them to the police post in the Queen's grounds.  He went with them.  I followed.  As we got there, Jenkinson was pushed into the police post building, I also entered.  Jenkinson demanded to know what he was being charged for.  The police did not say.  A senior police member in uniform, with a faulty right eye then punched Jenkinson in the mouth and about the head with a clenched fist.  There were approximately five to eight policemen squashed into the police post room.

 At that stage Paul Dietrechsen walked in - he was wearing his official ICC badge around his neck.  He had to push his way through the policemen - and wanted to know what was going on.  There was some sort of confusion - I do not know what really took place-  Dietrechsen tried to push his way though the policemen to get out.  They pushed him back and then started shouting that he was assaulting the police.  They then started assaulting Dietrechsen with fists.  At that time a plainclothes policeman came in and pushed his way through - I saw him grab a long rubber riot baton from one of the uniform police details and started assaulting Dietrechsen with the baton.  I started shouting for them to stop - and threw myself between the police and Dietrechsen to stop him from being assaulted.  Dietrechsen is sixty-five years old.  The plainclothes policeman with the baton then started hitting me around the shoulders, head and neck with the baton - this is whilst I was trying to shield Dietrechsen - and my back was towards the police.  We were then pushed to the other side of the counter by the police, and were forcibly pushed onto the ground into a sitting position and were verbally abused and assaulted again with a baton by the plainclothes policeman - all three of us (Jenkinson, Dietrechsen and Parkin).  The words I remember are:-

 "white f***** c*** - who do the f*** do you think you are"

"DO YOU KNOW ME, DO YOU KNOW ME"

He was carrying on like a raving lunatic.

 I do not know how many times I was assaulted, but many, many blows.  This was also happening to Dietrechsen and Jenkinson.  I did not at any time assault a policeman, or attempt to retaliate and assault a policeman.  Only Rambo or Superman would attempt to take on a room full of policemen itching for a chance to assault us.

 We were then bundled into the waiting police vehicle and taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station.  The black youth who had caused the problem was also taken in the truck to Central Police station and later to Queen's Park police station where we were detained.  This is where we de-bussed - I saw this youth head off in the direction of the toilets - never to be see n again.  We were not allowed access to any legal advice, or to see our family members, or to make any phone calls.

 We requested additional blankets as we were sharing one blanket between three persons.  No blankets were ever allowed in the four nights that we spent in the police cells.

 We went to court on 4 March 2003.  Dietrechsen and I have been charged under some sections of the new Public Order and Security Act.  At this time we are presently on bail until 21 March 2003.

 

Statement compiled by

George Robert Parkin (Jnr)

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The Herald

International Cricket Council salutes ZRP

Herald Reporter
The International Cricket Council yesterday hailed Zimbabwean police for
providing high level security at all the World Cup matches that were played
in the country.

"At the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup matches in Harare and
Bulawayo, I write to congratulate you and your officers for providing a high
level of security for all of the matches," ICC chief executive Mr Malcom
Speed said in a letter to ZRP Senior Assistant Commissioner Fortune Zengeni.

Snr Asst Com Zengeni chaired the security committee.

Mr Speed said while he was disappointed that the England-Zimbabwe match did
not take place, the fact that the other matches passed without any threat to
the safety and security of the players brought credit to the Zimbabwean
police force.

Zimbabwe hosted five of the six World Cup matches in February.

England boycotted the match against Zimbabwe on February 13 citing security
concerns.

This was despite the fact that the ICC had said Zimbabwe was safe and there
were no reasonable grounds for England to boycott playing in Harare.

Prior to the start of the World Cup games, a series of security meetings
were conducted by the ICC on Zimbabwe's preparations to guarantee safety of
players and fans.

Mr Speed and other top officials of the ICC visited the country several
times and during those visits they declared that Zimbabwe was quite safe for
the games to take place.

But the British government, whose relations with Zimbabwe have soured over
the land issue, politicised the issue and urged the England team to boycott
the Harare match.

Similar boycott calls were made by Australian Prime Minister John Howard and
in New Zealand.

But the Australian team defied its government call and played in Zimbabwe on
February 24. Zimbabwe reached the Super Six stage, but bowed out at this
stage after stumbling over Kenya.

The Zimbabwe cricket team won three matches - one by default after England
boycotted the Harare match, drew one and lost five in this tournament which
was being hosted by three nations.

The country plays its last - a dead rubber match against Sri Lanka today.

"We have always been certain that there is peace and security within the
country," said police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena.

"Its unfortunate that we have had calls from certain quarters questioning
the security, mainly from Britain.

"It has nothing to do with safety and security but other concerns.

"Despite the calls, we still have British citizens in the country and
nothing has happened to them. It is political games that are being played."
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Zim Independent

UNDP calls for 2nd land conference
Vincent Kahiya
THE United Nations Development Programme has proposed that government hold
another land conference to restore ties with donors and restart agricultural
production.


The Zimbabwe Independent understands that the UNDP has opened discussions
with the government to identify areas of need and reactivate donor support -
this time focusing on food security and ensuring agricultural growth.


UNDP Public Information Officer Carolyn Williams yesterday said there were
on-going discussions between government and the UNDP but there was nothing
official on the table as yet.


"Indeed, there is continued discussion between the UNDP and the government
of Zimbabwe, regarding agricultural matters," said Williams.


"While there are several options that could be envisaged in the future, no
official proposal is on the table," she said.


However, a UNDP source said the new initiative, especially the holding of a
land conference, should give the government the opportunity to explain its
successes and shortcomings, but more importantly a new plan is required to
restore food production.


"The stage that the land reform has reached at the moment requires lots of
funding which the government does not have. Zimbabwe has to open up and tell
donors areas of need," the source said.


The source said government had not yet responded to the proposals by the
UNDP. Since the failed Land Donors' Conference of 1998 the UNDP has tried in
vain to broker a workable relationship between the government and Western
donors in financing the agrarian reform programme.


Following unilateral moves by the government to seize land the donors have
steadfastly refused to fina-nce any programme that is not transparent or
which ignores stakeholders and jeopardises agricultural self-sufficiency.


Since the collapse of dialogue between the government and donors five years
ago the UNDP has sent three missions to Zimbabwe without any success.


The new initiative seeks to ensure that Zimbabwe's food security is restored
so that dependence on donor food aid is eliminated.


"The UNDP proposal does not seek to reverse the fast-track exercise but
would like to see optimum utilisation of the distributed land," the UNDP
source said.


"It has become clear Zimbabwe cannot go it alone and requires money for
infrastructure development and purchase of capital equipment. The UNDP is
saying the opportunity is there for the government to mend fences with
donors and hopefully improve the situation."


Meanwhile, the UNDP resident representative Victor Angelo and French
Ambassador to Zimbabwe Didier Ferrand got first-hand experience of
environmental destruction wrought by random resettlement when they visited
the south-eastern Lowveld at the end of last year.


"A tour of the commercial farms under designation and different stages of
acquisition was characterised by glaring scenes of wanton destruction of
commer-cial agriculture infrastructure, destruction of vegetation, pastures
and decimation of livestock, poaching, snaring and killing of game by the
settlers," a report prepared after the tour said.


"The stealing of fence and the uncontrolled move-ment of livestock across
veterinary control zones has seen a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in
Mwenezi farms, depriving Zimbabwe of a lucrative export market to the
European Union and other external markets," the report said.
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Zim Independent

Botswana deports 2 Zimbabwean police officers
Loughty Dube
TWO Zimbabwean police officers were last week deported from Botswana on
allegations of spying in that country, a move likely to worsen relations
between the two Sadc states.



The officers, Ranganayi Kakazhu and Collin Mabuya, were arrested after
Botswana police raided a house allegedly used by illegal Zimbabwean
immigrants.


According to reports from Botswana, the two Zimbabweans were hauled before a
magistrate's court where Kakazhu was fined P100 while Mabuya was given a
wholly suspended six-month sentence.


The two were immediately deported after their sentencing.


Reports from Botswana quoted a detective Oabitsa Rankwaila confirming the
incident and saying police officers from other countries needed to get
clearance from the authorities before entering Botswana.


"If they do not follow procedures they will end up in trouble," Rankwaila
was quoted as saying.


Superintendent Gift Moyo of the Zimbabwe Republic Police reportedly
confirmed to the Botswana media that the two officers were indeed Zimbabwean
and that they would face disciplinary action for absconding from duty.


The two entered Botswana through Ramokgwebana border post but didn't declare
that they were policemen. After their arrest immigration authorities claimed
they were on a spying mission.


The Botswana government has already set up a commission to investigate
allegations of ill-treatment of Zimbabwean nationals in that country.


Dozens of Zimbabweans were injured in a Francistown prison recently when
Botswana prisoners teamed up with foreigners to assault them.


Four Zimbabweans have allegedly been killed in Botswana since October last
year, although the figure cannot be confirmed.


Last week Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Co-operation, Mompati Merafhe, told parliament that nationals from her
country should refrain from displaying xenophobic attitudes towards
Zimbabweans as this could cause irreparable damage between the two
countries.
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Zim Independent

Probe into leaked land report
Mthulisi Mathuthu
THE government has launched an investigation to find who leaked the
controversial land audit report to foreign newspapers before it had been
discussed in cabinet.

Among those being questioned are officials close to the audit team which was
led by the Minister of State for the Land Reform Programme, Flora Buka.


The contentious in-terim report exposed evidence of multiple farm ownership.
But political pressure could lead to an airbrushing of some of the findings.


Press reports last weekend said London-based Ugandan fugitive
David-Nyekorach Matsanga is also a suspect although he denies any connection
to the audit team.


Last week Buka told the Zimbabwe Independent she was investigating who had
leaked the report based on what she called "unverified information".


Matsanga, who was in Zimbabwe from December to February, told students at
the Zimbabwe Open University that he was involved in a land research
programme on behalf of the government. But in letters sent to newspapers
this week Matsanga reacted angrily to the allegations and threatened to sue
the South African Sunday Times which carried the reports of his involvement.


"The most naked lie and distortion is to say that I leaked a report I have
never even seen or which I did not know existed," he wrote.


"I have never said and never been near the Hon Flora Buka leave alone ever
sat down to compile a report with her. Which report is this? How does it
look like? Where is sanity in Zimbabwe politics gone? Who in Zimbabwe
politics is trying to damage my good work I have done for the Zanu-PF in
Britain against the British oligarchy? How on earth can I spoil the same
plate that I am trying to repair?"


The report has already caused a stir among Zanu PF heavyweights who stand
accused of using their influence to get more than one farm under the
resettlement scheme. Release of the substantive report has been put on hold
as ministers and others argue they were not consulted about its contents.


The list is not exhaustive, the report said, "as the people interviewed were
afraid to reveal any individuals lest they might be victimised by the
multiple-farm owners who seem to have their loyalists within the various
land committees".
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Zim Independent

Zimbabwe placed on EU/ACP Joint Parliamentary agenda
Mthulisi Mathuthu
DESPITE government's claims of solidarity from developing countries,
Zimbabwe has been placed on the agenda at the forthcoming European
Union/African Caribbean and Pacific states Joint Parliamentary Assembly
(JPA) session in Brazzaville.


The meeting, which is scheduled for March 31 to April 3, will be officially
opened by President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo.

Zimbabwe will be discussed mainly in the context of the breakdown of the
rule of law and the evident upsurge in state terrorism.


The government, which has refused to comply with the international
community's requirements that it end political repression, is hoping to
divert attention to what it claims is Britain's meddling in its affairs.


The Zimbabwe Independent revealed last week that Zimbabwe was lobbying
countries viewed as friendly to press for the lifting of sanctions slapped
on the Zanu PF leadership by the United States and the European Union.


Also included on the agenda are the development of democracy in ACP
countries, progress on Nepad, good governance and trade in Africa and the
International Criminal Court, which was formally inaugurated on Tuesday at
The Hague.


JPA co-president Glenys Kinnock and her vice-president Thierry Cornillet are
expected to present a report on their fact-finding mission to the African
Great Lakes region. So too is the UN secretary-general Kofi Annan's Special
Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Ibrahim Fall.


Last November the fifth JPA meeting was abandoned in Brussels after ACP
countries protested the barring of Zimbabwe's two ministers, Chris Kuruneri
and Paul Mangwana, from attending proceedings.


The Brazzaville meeting will also follow up on resolutions adopted at the
fourth JPA meeting held in Cape Town in March last year where the assembly
voted 68 to two, with three abstentions, in favour of a resolution calling
for fresh elections in Zimbabwe.
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Zim Independent

98% of commercial farms taken
Augustine Mukaro
AS land seizures continue, the government has now acquired 98% of commercial
farms under its controversial land reform programme.

And lawlessness per-sists as the police ignore reports of criminal acts, the
Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) says.


Out of the 11,02 million hectares under commercial farming prior to the
advent of the fast-track land reform exercise in 2000, a mere 220 400
hectares remain unlisted for compulsory acquisition.


The figure constitutes only 2% of what used to be Zimbabwe's commercial
farmland.


Though the land acquisition programme was declared officially over in August
last year, government has continued to designate more farms with the latest
being the serving of Section 8 notices to over 40 farmers in the
Karoi/Tengwe area two weeks ago.


According to the CFU the remaining area would produce not more than 5% of
national requirements.


"Production from the unlisted hectarage would be insignificant," CFU
vice-president Doug Taylor-Freeme, told the Independent.


In its February 2003 survey to establish the current status of commercial
agriculture in Zimbabwe, the CFU described the service of Section 8 notices
to commercial farmers in the Karoi/Tengwe area as part of a record of
deception.


"Government has reneged on agreements and rebuffed sincere attempts to
resolve issues of contention," the CFU said.


Last month government, through Lands and Agriculture minister Joseph Made
and Information minister Jonathan Moyo, tried to lure the CFU into accepting
a government-doctored memorandum of understanding.


The CFU turned down the "olive branch" citing government's lack of
seriousness in resolving the land problem.


"The CFU is con-cerned with the im-plementation of government land policy,
especially pertaining to its one-man, one-farm policy," the CFU said.

The CFU said despite government claims that the acquisition exercise was
over, this was certainly not the case. As of February 2003, listing of
properties for acquisition by government was still going on, it said.

Moreover, the acquisition procedures are still being implemented in a
lawless and disorderly manner, with illegal occupations, interruptions to
productive operations and human rights violations continuing.


"On the ground, commercial farmers are still experiencing great difficulty
trying to work with the police to resolve problems," the CFU said.


"In many cases reports by farmers of illegal acts are ignored and
perpetrators of crimes still not brought to justice," it said.


The CFU added: "Overall production is discouraged by the absence of credit,
erratic input supplies, soaring costs and price controls resulting from a
continued lack of foreign exchange," the CFU said
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Zim Independent

France dismisses Zim claims
Dumisani Muleya
FRENCH ambassador Didier Ferrand has dismissed official claims that Paris
supports Zimbabwe's repressive policies and that President Jacques Chirac
has offered to mediate between Britain and Zimbabwe.

In an interview this week, Ferrand said his country was strongly opposed to
political repression and human rights abuses. He said France's position on
Zimbabwe was clear. It was the same, he said, as that of the other 14
European Union (EU) members and its candidate countries in Central and
Eastern Europe.


"The French position is clearly expressed in the EU declaration of February
23 and all other previous EU statements on Zimbabwe," he said.


"It has nothing to do with President Mugabe's invitation to the
Franco-African summit."


The EU declarations on Zimbabwe have consistently condemned Mugabe's rule.


Ferrand said Mugabe was invited to the recent summit in Paris together with
other African leaders but stressed this was not an endorsement of his
leadership.


"The invitation to the summit was extended to all African heads of state and
our EU partners were informed and did not object," he said. "Indeed, we
talked also to the British and they agreed."


After the renewal of sanctions, the EU on February 19 issued a declaration
condemning tyranny in Zimbabwe.


"The EU calls on the government of Zimbabwe, which has an obligation to
ensure the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms to end all
harassment, intimidation and violence against the opposition and civil
society," the 15-member grouping said.


Ferrand said this was France's position on Zimbabwe.


"France is a member of the EU and therefore contributes to its declarations
and decisions, which it endorses and implements," he said.


Chirac denounced violent dictators during the opening of the recent
Franco-Africa summit.


"Violence must be denounced wherever it comes from," he said. "Those who
perpetrate it now risk punishment at the hands of the International Criminal
Court which extends its protection to all citizens worldwide. The days of
impunity or when people were able to justify the use of force are over."


Ferrand noted this statement represented France's position on human rights
abuses.


Reacting to claims in the Herald that Chirac had offered to mediate in the
Harare/London standoff, Ferrand simply said: "There is no such mediation by
President Chirac."


The French envoy, however, said there were sug-gestions by South African
President Thabo Mbeki that Chirac should help to resolve the Zimbabwe
crisis.


The Herald, quoting Mugabe, on March 3 claim-ed Chirac had offered to
"arbitrate" in the "bilateral dispute between Zimbabwe and Britain" but
Ferrand said there had been no such offer.


Ferrand also dismissed as false the Herald's suggestion that he had
described as "baseless" EU calls for reform in Zimbabwe.
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Zim Independent




      Police seize 120 000 MDC posters
      Ndamu Sandu

      IN yet another crackdown on dissent, police on Tuesday seized over 120
000 posters belonging to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at
Sovereign Printers, the Zimbabwe Independent heard this week.

      Sovereign prints the Independent and the Standard, among other
publications.


      Sovereign's managing director William Nyamangara was subsequently
picked up for questioning by the police. Nyamangara yesterday confirmed he
was taken to Harare Central Police Station where a warned-and-cautioned
statement was recorded.


      He said he spent about two-and-a-half-hours at the police station
before his release.


      MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi castigated the police's action as an
illegal act.


      "As far as we are concerned it is an illegal act," he said.


      Nyathi said MDC had a right to print whatever it wanted and Sovereign
Printers had a right to do business with whoever it wanted.


      He said the MDC was instituting legal action to retrieve the seized
material.

      He said the message on the seized fliers was to mobilise the people to
redeem themselves in the current hardships inflicted on them by the Zanu PF
government.


      Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed
that they were investigating the issue.


      When asked what was wrong with Sovereign printing the material
Bvudzijena said: "You don't print anything that incites people to be
violent."


      He said the contents of the pamphlets were meant to incite people to
be violent.
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Zim Independent

Mugabe looks to church for 'salvation'
Blessing Zulu
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has accepted a church bid to revive dialogue with
the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as the crisis in the
country deepens, visiting Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Reverend
Njongonkulu Ndungane said at a press conference yesterday.

The latest peace initiative is being spearheaded by Archbishop Ndungane at
the invitation of President Mugabe whom he met on Wednesday.


He came to the country on Tuesday and met with a broad cross-section of
Zimbabwean society - including the MDC, representatives of civil society,
and churches. The meetings were organised by the South Africa-based
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Harare.


"When I met with President Mugabe in the first instance and yesterday
(Wednesday) he confirmed support for mediation," said Archbishop Ndungane at
the press conference.


"He has said quite openly that he is open to diversity of political
participation in this country and I think that the fact that he has invited
mediation shows he appreciates the problems affecting Zimbabwe," said
Ndungane.


He said while Mugabe welcomed the fresh bid for mediation, the president
remained adamant that Britain was to blame for the current crisis.

"From my initial meeting with President Mugabe his indication is that
according to him both internal and external problems flow from the
unfinished business of Lancaster House," said Ndungane.


Dr Charles Villa-Vicencio, executive director of the Institute for Justice
and Reconciliation, speaking at the same press conference said the
Zimbabwean crisis goes beyond the land issue.


"All those consulted supported the need for mediation to explore further
possibilities of dialogue and negotiations between all political structures
in Zimbabwe as well as the role of Britain in resolving the land problem,"
said Villa-Vicencio.


"It is at the same time very clear that the Zimbabwe crisis involves more
than a land crisis. The restoration of political normality, a culture of
human rights, hunger relief and political legitimacy are important to bring
peace and stability to Zimbabwe. Mediation initiatives need to be in pursuit
of those needs," he said.


Ndungane said he had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to approach the
British authorities to help solve the crisis.


He admitted that any attempt to resolve the crisis would be difficult.
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Zim Independent

Govt turns against its white supporters
Staff Writer
THE government turned on one of its white allies this week serving Kobus
Joubert with a Section 8 notice to vacate his farm within 90 days, the
Zimbabwe Independent established this week.

Joubert, a former Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) president, was served
with a Section 8 notice last week. Joubert is expected to leave his Scotside
Farm in the Selous area in May.


Joubert's wife yesterday confirmed that they were served with a Section 8
notice last week and would challenge the notice in court.


Contacted for comment, Joubert threatened to sue the newspaper if it
published anything about his Section 8 notice.


"What has that to do with you?" charged an irate Joubert. "Publish that in
the paper and I will hunt you down. What I do in my life has nothing to do
with any of you and I am not newsworthy at all."


Other government supporters whose businesses have been thrown into doubt by
the land reform programme include John Bredenkamp, owner of Thetford Estate,
and Nick Swanepoel, owner of Avalon farm, who are both sitting on Section 5
notices, preliminary government notices showing its intention to acquire a
property.

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Zim Independent

ANZ to launch Sunday paper
Staff Writer
ASSOCIATED Newspapers of Zimbabwe Ltd, publishers of the Daily News, will
soon launch the country's fourth national Sunday paper, it has emerged.

Although details of the project are still sketchy, ANZ chief executive Sam
Nkomo confirmed yesterday that the project was on the drawing board.

Nkomo said the details would be clear after a board meeting scheduled for
the end of the month.


"Yes, we have such plans but I can't really give you all what you need," he
said. "Things are still on the drawing board.


"One of the problems is computerisation because of the fact that the prices
have gone very high and some computers are not available locally."


Nkomo said the computerisation exercise would cost over $200 million. He
declined to disclose the cost of the whole project.


According to Nkomo about seven names have been suggested for the publication
but the final one will be decided during a workshop to be held in two weeks
time in Harare.


Two names proposed are The Daily News on Sunday and The Sunday Express. The
paper's competitors will be the state-controlled Sunday Mail, the Standard
and the Sunday Mirror.


ANZ shareholder Strive Masiyiwa is thought to be backing the project while
former Zimbabwe Independent deputy editor Barnabas Thondhlana has been lined
up as editor with Farai Makotsi, currently with the Daily News in Mutare, as
deputy editor. - Staff Writer.
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Daily News


      No notes, witness told

      3/14/2003 4:06:29 AM (GMT +2)


      Court Reporter

      JUDGE President Paddington Garwe yesterday ordered Tara Thomas, a
witness in the high treason trial of three top MDC officials, to stop
testifying with the aid of a document scribbled with notes.

      Said Garwe: "The general rule is that a witness cannot refresh his or
her memory by statements or notes made before the trial." He said, however,
expert witnesses were exempted from the rule.

      The judge made the ruling after defence lawyer, George Bizos,
protested on Wednesday that Thomas had written notes on a transcript she was
using in giving evidence. "From the submissions made, it appears the witness
made comments to the transcript. I am satisfied, this she can't do." Bizos
said there were fears Thomas would be influenced by what she had written on
the transcript.

      For the better part of yesterday, Bharat Patel, the Deputy
Attorney-General, led Thomas through the video and transcript of the
surreptitiously recorded meeting at the Montreal headquarters of Ari
Ben-Menashe's political consultancy, Dickens and Madson, where Morgan
Tsvangirai, one of the suspects allegedly revealed a plot to assassinate
President Mugabe and overthrow the Zanu PF government.

      Thomas conceded the transcript was "not completely accurate".
Tsvangirai, the MDC president, Welshman Ncube, the party's secretary-general
and Renson Gasela, the shadow minister of agriculture, have pleaded not
guilty to the charges. The trial continues today.
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Zim Independent

Milk shortages set to continue
Ngoni Chanakira
DAIRIBORD Zimbabwe Ltd (DZL) says milk shortages will continue unless value
chain members, mainly producers and processors, sustain viability levels.




The company says the decline in raw milk supply has impacted on the
availability of milk and milk-related products on the market with the
February volumes of two million litres showing a 22% reduction from the same
period last year.


Responding to written questions this week, DZL chief executive officer,
Anthony Mandiwanza, said unless this key issue was addressed, the current
shortages would persist.


He said: "The impact of price controls and foreign currency shortages
creates bottlenecks to processors who in turn have to finance operational
activities and pay favourable prices to producers.


"At a producer level the 2001/2002 drought, uncontrolled stock move-ments -
spread of foot-and-mouth - had a negative bearing on the milking herd. This
situation was worsened by lack of stability on farms, shortage of stock feed
and foreign currency needed to procure relevant inputs. As a company, we are
working with key stakeholders to ensure the resuscitation of the dairy
industry is achieved."


He said the company had initiated a $2 billion Special Purpose Vehicle in
collaboration with producers, government and financial institutions aimed at
boosting dwindling milk supplies.


This vehicle supersedes the Producer Finance Scheme, which benefited 60
large and small-scale farmers, and would benefit both new and current
producers.


Mandiwanza said there had be-en a gradual decline in national milk intake
over the past five years.


However, the decline of 17 million litres in milk intake from 130 million
litres in 2001 to 113 million litres in 2002 marked the largest decline over
the five-year period.


He said: "The decline in raw milk supply has impacted on the supply of milk
and milk-related products on the market. Volumes of raw milk supply were
13,25% down in 2002 compared to 2001, whilst the February volumes are two
million litres (22%) down from the same period last year."


Milk and milk products have been absent from supermarket shelves since the
then Minister of Industry and International Trade, Herbert Murerwa, made
milk a controlled product last year.


Mandiwanza said in the past DZL had strived to operate at optimum levels at
all dairies in the different regions.


"However, due to the decline in milk intake, output levels have been
significantly reduced," Mandiwanza, said. "Currently, we are operating at
70% below optimum capacity. This applies strictly to milk-based production.

On non-milk based production lines, we are operating marginally off maximum
levels."
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Zim Independent

Muckraker

What 'plunder' is the NECF concerned with?
SUSPICIONS that the National Economic Consultative Forum is nothing more
than another money-wasting state agency will have been confirmed by a report
on Monday that it had handed over to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority the
names of six safari companies for allegedly "repatriating" foreign
currency - ie leaving it in the hands of those it belongs to instead of
giving it to President Mugabe.

NECF spokesman Nhlanhla Masuku, confirming that his organisation had
submitted the names of six companies for investigation, said the NECF was
"concerned at the plunder of the country's natural resources". Some
operators were reported to have brought unlicensed hunters into private
conservancies, we were told.

There are a number of points here. Masuku has spent the past few years, for
reasons that are not entirely clear, endearing himself to the government.
During his tenure at the ZNCC he was accused of ingratiating himself with
our rulers when he should have been reflecting the views of the business
community. Acting as an informer for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority,
however, represents a new dimension to a career of collaboration.

If the NECF is "concerned at the plunder of the country's natural
resources", what has it said or done about the invasions of conservancies
and the destruction of game and forests?

We don't recall any statements by Masuku on the poaching of 60% of the
wildlife in some of the conservancies at risk. Nor do we know what his
position is on the loss of forex receipts to the tourism sector as a result
of the occupation of conservancies and the consequent killing of game by
unlicensed hunters linked to the ruling party.

At a time when the tourism and safari sectors are battling to keep their
businesses alive in a climate poisoned by government policies of arbitrary
plunder, Masuku devotes himself to what many will see as a witchhunt
designed to fulfil Zanu PF's political agenda. This is the same person, let
us recall, who supervised the production of a CD-Rom designed to represent
Zimbabwe as a desirable investment destination. Was there a Ben-Menashe
connection there we wonder?

Still on the subject of conservancies, we hope the board of Malilangwe Trust
in Chiredzi has devised an appropriate response to governor Josiah Hungwe's
instru-
ction that it co-opt Enock Kamushinda and Brigadier-General Gibson
Mashingaidze in order to protect it from further invasions.

This sort of political blackmail must be resisted. Tourism minister Francis
Nhema says he knows nothing about Hungwe's instruction. And Zimbabwe
Conservation Taskforce chairman Jimmy Rodrigues pointed out that local
communities should benefit from the conservancy, not chefs.

"What is the role of business people in a venture that is non-profit
making," he asked?

Hungwe has been responsible for some of the worst depredations in the
Lowveld and his encouragement of random resettlement in conservancies and
game parks has been a source of endless problems for the National Parks
department.

"They will need us if the invasions start again," he was quoted as saying
menacingly. "At this time we can't guarantee we will help them drive people
out. That is why they need people with command of security."

The Malilangwe Trust must not succumb to undisguised threats of this sort.
Hungwe, a former Rhodesian radio announcer, should be given the response he
deserves. The F and
O words that involve sex and travel!

We were intrigued by a statement from Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa
last Friday saying the police acted within their powers by arresting High
Court judge Benjamin Paradza. He was responding to a petition from 10 judges
which said a tribunal should have been set up if there was a charge of
misconduct against the judge.

"When the constitution talks of misbehaviour or misconduct," China-
masa replied, "murder, rape, corruption, or drug trafficking are clearly not
envisaged. A proper distinction should be drawn between committing a
criminal offence rendering one liable to prosecution and an act of
misbehaviour or misconduct rendering a person liable to disciplinary enquiry
or proceedings."

Yes, but who is to draw that distinction? Chinamasa is clearly not a
disinterested party. He is part of a regime that has purged
independent-minded judges in its bid to retain power. Now he wants to
determine the nature of the offence committed by Paradza in advance. And he
improperly links a charge of corruption to "murder", "rape", and "drug
trafficking".

Should an unelected minister in a government that has a shocking record of
threatening the judiciary be trusted to determine the legal nature of the
offence a judge has allegedly committed when that same government has a
score to settle with that judge for supposedly indulging the opposition?

Chinamasa declared: "Judges, like all of us here, are mere mortals and as
mortals we are prone to all sorts of crimes including murder, rape,
corruption and drug trafficking."

It is useful to have that admission. But his conclusion is less satisfying.

"It cannot seriously be contended that judges can commit these crimes with
impunity."

Others can. War veterans belonging to the ruling party have committed
several of those crimes with impunity. There are alleged killers belonging
to the President's Office stalking the land with absolute impunity which
Chinamasa has done nothing about despite the matter being formally referred
to him by a court. Now suddenly he is claiming that the police must act
against judges. They should not be subject to a "special process", he
argues.

The reason why judges are "subject to a special process" is to protect them
from political demagogues like Chinamasa and the ANC's Dumisani Makhaye who,
while widely regarded as a fool in South Africa, is taken seriously by the
Herald. Judges need that protection now more than ever as Zanu PF senses its
authority slipping.

Registrar of the High Court Jacob Manzunzu appears to be having difficulty
locating the premises of national newspapers. Last Wednesday he was given a
statement by 10 judges protesting the arrest of Justice Paradza. He managed
to get a copy to the Herald on the same day which enabled it to carry the
story the following day with strong rebuttals from "legal experts" - thought
to be closely related to "African diplomats" and other instant commentators
lodged in Munhumutapa Building.

By Thursday morning Manzunzu was still holding onto the copies addressed to
other newspapers because he claimed he didn't know where they could be
found. This paper had to go and collect its copy. Not too difficult to see
what was going on there!

Muckraker was appalled to learn from the Fingaz that Col Muammar Gaddafi's
regime has been subsidising Zimbabwe's embassy in Libya. The colonel has
been paying the salary of the ambassador, John Mvundura (mysteriously
referred to as "high commissioner" in the Fingaz piece), and paying rent for
his residence and the embassy's chancery building, the paper reported. The
Libyan leader even pays for the ambassador's perks we were told.

Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs Willard Chiwewe denied that Mvundura
was on the payroll of the Libyans but admitted that Tripoli paid the rental
on the chancery building and supplied the ambassador with a vehicle.

Chiwewe explained this as part of Libya's policy of encouraging African
governments to set up embassies in Tripoli. He did not seem to appreciate
the implications for this country's much-vaunted sovereignty.

How will Zimbabwe be taken seriously when it is the diplomatic equivalent of
a kept woman? If we were to differ in any material way from the Libyans on
their African policy (such as regarding the Sudan), how would we be able to
express our objections when they hold the purse-strings?

It is a shocking commentary on Zimbabwe's sunken status in the world. Let's
not hear any more from President Mugabe and his minions about the need to
defend Zimbabwe's sovereignty when that sovereignty has been prostituted to
a notorious dictator who makes no secret of his policy of buying favours in
Africa - when his country isn't expelling Africans that is!

Emmerson Mnangagwa said recently that Zimbabwe had been inspired by the
Chinese example in becoming a sovereign state. He was receiving a Chinese
delegation.

The Chinese, who in recent years have very sensibly avoided too much
partisan support for Zanu PF in favour of a more even-handed approach, now
appear to have reverted to their traditional stance. The leader of the
Chinese delegation, Wan Guoquan, said last year's presidential poll "shows
that Zanu PF enjoys solid support of the people."

He said Zimbabwe was a "dynamite country".

This could have been a reference to the feelings of the majority of people
about the way Zanu PF went about winning the presidential poll. What Wan
Guoquan should have done was explain to Mnangagwa, who has recently felt a
compelling need to slavishly advertise his loyalty to our own Great
Helmsman, what happened when China adopted a policy of agricultural
collectivisation in the late 1950s dubbed the "Great Leap Forward".

It was an unmitigated disaster that led to the death through starvation of
millions. It took China an estimated 30 years to recover from the impact.
Now it is experiencing extraordinary growth as a result of opening up its
economy and abandoning the mantras of the past.

Mnangagwa told the Chinese that Zanu PF had made a decision to "disengage
itself from most Western countries". In other words the opposite of what
China is doing.

We can imagine Wan and his delegation having a quiet chuckle back in their
hotel rooms as they shook their heads at this Maoist folly.

President Thabo Mbeki claimed at the time of John Howard's press conference
in Washington last month that he was "disappointed" Howard had revealed
details of a phone conversation between the two men regarding Zimbabwe's
membership of the Commonwealth.

Now President Mugabe claims Mbeki disclosed details of a conversation he had
with Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers last month. Every time Mbeki's
office is asked about this, the press gets the same reply: "We do not
disclose details of a private meeting".

What they mean is: "We do not disclose details of a private meeting to the
press but we do disclose them to other leaders so they can use them to their
advantage in their war of words with 10 Downing St."

To be fair, we can be sure whatever Mbeki did tell Mugabe has been
embellished and probably downright distorted to suit Mugabe's propaganda
needs. But Mbeki should tell us: Did he disclose details of his discussions
with Blair to Mugabe or not? Let's have a straight answer.

Is the Business Tribune still claim-
ing to be an independent news-
paper? Readers must judge for them-selves. But it is beginning to look
increasingly like the Sunday Mail.

Last week its editor followed the Zanu PF line in blaming shortages on
sanctions.

Lines of credit had dried up and "the country's export sector is not
performing well also as a result of sanctions. Therefore the country is
failing to adequately provide fuel, electricity, food, drugs, and capital
equipment."

So that's all the result of "sanctions" is it? Nothing to do with the
sabotage of commercial agriculture or skewed spending priorities?

"The main victims of this are the common people," we are told. "They blame
the British government for this."

Do they? Is that what you hear out on the streets?

The Tribune's editor knows perfe-
ctly well that only Zanu PF propagandists are so dishonest as to pretend
that the country's problems stem from "sanctions". But he seems to have
joined them in parroting this facile lie.

Curiously, opposite the deceitful editorial was this comment in an article
headed "Stalin's reputation remains untouched":

"One major attribute of Stalinism was stupefaction or stultification. His
subjects or dupes had to act as if they believed what the Kremlin was
telling them in the press, on the radio." Indeed.

The Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe is prone to taking pot shots at
newspapers under the heading "Blunders of the week" which are no doubt
intended for light relief. It wanted to know recently why we carried a story
headed "44 Karoi farmers evicted" when our story referred to "more than 40".
We always understood 44 as being "more than 40" but are open to correction
here. Meanwhile, the previous week the MMPZ carried a piece referring to the
British-based political commentator "George Sherry". He was mentioned
several times as such.

Are we to understand that nobody at the MMPZ has heard of George Shire, the
Zanu PF hired gun at the Open University? Obviously people who live in NGO
grass houses shouldn't get stoned!
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Zim Independent

Comment


Nepad needs basis in rule of law, not deceit

LAST week's meeting of African Union foreign ministers in N'Djamena to
discuss how to operationalise AU structures followed by last weekend's
meeting in Abuja of the implementing committee of Nepad, attended by seven
heads of state including several of Nepad's principal sponsors, should lead
us to conclude that progress is being made in implementing the ambitious
plan for African development. But no sooner had the participants completed
their work than the main impediment to improved governance became evident.

The Sadc council of ministers, meeting in Luanda on Monday, expressed
"support and solidarity with the position taken by the majority members of
the Commonwealth troika to discontinue Zimbabwe's suspension from the
Commonwealth when it expires on March 19 ."

They expressed their satisfaction to the Sadc chairperson (Eduardo dos
Santos), the Sadc troika (Angola, Tanzania and Malawi), and the chair of the
Sadc organ on politics, defence and security (Joaquim Chissano) for their
efforts and wished them to continue "in order to find an early solution to
the problems facing Zimbabwe".

That remains as elusive as ever. And the reason is not difficult to fathom.
Sadc is part of the problem. It has colluded with the Zimbabwean authorities
in endorsing electoral rigging - despite the report of the region's MPs -
and then proceeded to shield President Mugabe from the consequences of his
misrule. By so doing it has almost certainly sunk the Nepad project.

Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo are under the impression they
can sweep the Zimbabwe crisis under the carpet. By buying into President
Mugabe's deceitful assurance that the situation in Zimbabwe has changed
significantly from that prevailing at this time last year, the two leaders
have demonstrated a capacity for self-deception that borders on the
dishonest.

They know, as all Zimbabweans do, that the situation has actually got worse.
The army has taken over electoral management, the registrar-general is
playing hide-and-seek with the voters' rolls, the ruling party's militias
continue to bully and beat law-abiding citizens, judges who prove too
independent are arrested, and the police have become an instrument of brutal
state repression.

All Mbeki and Obasanjo have to show the international community for their
efforts is a promise that Aippa will be amended, an investigation into
police torture that - like all those before it - doesn't seem to be making
much progress, and a dialogue with white farmers that hasn't taken place as
what remains of commercial farmland is taken into state ownership.

Only in the area of citizenship has there been any sign of government
movement and here the state's generosity will extend only to claimants from
Sadc states. The tens of thousands of others arbitrarily disenfranchised by
the 2001 citizenship law will not be so fortunate.

Very simply Mbeki and Obasanjo agreed to look the other way in the hope that
the Zimbabwe problem would go away. It won't. And it's no good Sadc
ministers, echoing Mugabe's propaganda machine, comforting themselves with
the thought that a "majority" of the Commonwealth troika - ie two to one -
want Zimbabwe's suspension lifted. Two to one could only be regarded as an
impressive majority by the democratically illiterate and in any case the
Commonwealth's deliberations proceed by consensus.

Sadc is now tainted by its collaboration with the dictatorship in Harare and
it is significant that the fears expressed by civil society about the
security organ being used to shield dictatorship at the time of its
inception have now been borne out.

Zimbabwe's economy is a wreck today because of misgovernance. An
unaccountable elite has embarked on populist policies - including the
seizure of productive agricultural companies - and engaged in a campaign of
repression in order to stave off electoral defeat. That is exactly what
Nepad was designed to prevent.

Meanwhile, those African heads of state who assumed a responsibility to
resolve the Zimbabwe crisis have abdicated that responsibility thus
abandoning the people of this country to a predatory ruler who is determined
to punish a growing number of opponents.

The G8 leaders will meet in Evian, France, in June where they will review
the commitment they made to Nepad at Kananaskis, Canada, last year.

Despite their enthusiasm for the project, and France has recently made a
strong public commitment, they cannot, like Mbeki and Obasanjo, ignore the
evidence on the ground. Other international organisations such as the
Commonwealth will soon be making it clear that the situation in Zimbabwe has
deteriorated significantly both in terms of governance and economic
mismanagement.

The recommendation of the International Crisis Group this week for the West
and Africa to adopt a collective approach to solving the Zimbabwe crisis is
one we can endorse. It includes, once transitional arrangements are in
place, a package of incentives such as the reengagement of international
financial institutions.

But there cannot be a persistence of the deceit and denial evidenced by
African leaders over the past few weeks. If Nepad has any hope of success,
it must be rooted in the realities of good governance and the rule of law.
At the moment we are seeing the opposite.
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Zim Independent


NERP - govt's latest economic panacea
Ngoni Chanakira

ONCE again, and in less than a year, an economic programme has been thrown
out of the window by the government before implementation.

Now Zimbabweans have been told to brace themselves for the latest economic
miracle in the form of the National Economic Revival Programme (NERP). The
programme seeks to promote economic growth through "home-grown" solutions
underpinned by agricultural reform.

The plan, according to government, supersedes other programmes introduced
over the past 23 years such as Zimcord, the Five-year Transitional National
Development Plan, the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (Esap I and
II), Zimprest and the Millennium Economic Recovery Programme (MERP).

Government says NERP aims to consolidate and build on outstanding fiscal
policy adjustments.

In previous economic programmes the government was accused of failing to go
all the way in fulfilling its ambitious and sometimes ambiguous plans -
missing deadlines, changing direction half-way, and blaming others for its
shortcomings.

This led to multilateral lending institutions such as the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as donors withdrawing their
support for Zimbabwe resulting in a crippling foreign currency crisis.

In February 2000 the government unveiled MERP. The programme's major
objective was to remove the fundamental causes of inflation and to restore
macro-economic stability to create an environment conducive to low interest
rates, sustainable investment, stable real incomes and poverty alleviation.

Nkosana Moyo, the then Minister of Industry and International Trade who had
been brought in by President Robert Mugabe as one of his technocrats,
launched the programme.

Moyo described the programme as "a nebulous entity".

This seems to be the exact position regarding the recently launched NERP.

MERP was also supposed to accelerate public enterprise reforms, stabilise
prices, lower interest rates, stabilise the Zimbabwe dollar, resolve the
foreign currency crisis, stimulate the productive sectors, protect
vulnerable groups and rebuild confidence in the economy.

Moyo, however, resigned before the programme could achieve its objectives.
He was immediately blamed by government for not being "man enough to solve
economic issues".

The minister later joined the International Finance Corporation, an arm of
the Washington-based IMF, which advises Zimbabwe on economic issues.

In similar circumstances to its predecessors, MERP was thrown out of the
window by the government which blamed Westerners of trying to sabotage
Zimbabwe's economy by prescribing "wrong pills" to solve the economic
malaise.

Analysts point out, however, that the post-election period in 2000 led to
serious difficulties for Zimbabwe's economy, which experienced declines in
virtually every sector.

The post-election period led to the government facing two important and
clear-cut policy options.

Firstly, it had to deal with the implementation of an orthodox stabilisation
programme designed to cut the budget deficit, slow inflation and revive the
economy. Secondly, it had to deal with a return to direct controls on
prices, wages, interest rates imports and foreign currency transactions.

NERP has as some of its highlights an export support price of $800 to US$1.
This is designed to boost exports by giving exporters more for their
products. It also has the objective of making Zimbabwean exports more
competitive regionally and internationally to generate forex.

Receipts to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reached an all-time low of
US$600 000 last month. The programme thus hopes also to curb the thriving
black market which has seen more foreign currency flooding the streets when
there is nothing going to the commercial banks.

NERP now allows duty free importation of food by companies and individuals.

Analysts say this could result in direct competition with locally
manufactured goods, which are in many cases of inferior quality. While the
authorities claim that this move should encourage companies to diversify and
become more competitive, analysts say this could result in certain goods
making their way into the country illegally.

The plan notes the very high inflation rate which at 208,1% is the highest
in the country's history. The country's year-on-year inflation rose sharply
from 116,7% in January 2002 to 198,9% in December. The high money supply
growth and the cost-push effects of the depreciating parallel market
exchange rate drive Zimbabwe's hyperinflationary trend.

According to the policy document, government will introduce a number of
programmes to boost production in the agriculture, manufacturing, mining,
tourism, transport, energy and science and technology sectors.

Economic consultant, John Robertson, says there are not many workable
solutions to the "new" programme which "can't be looked upon as a plan"
since most of the items mentioned have not been started.

He points out that the only way
the plan can work is if, for example, within the agriculture sector,
government begins implementing its proposals during the next planting
season.

The new policy, which hinges on the success of the controversial fast-track
agrarian reform, says government will now introduce "viable pre-and-post
harvest prices" of key commodities while post harvest prices would be
announced where necessary.

The major reason why the farming sector is now on its knees is because of
the haphazard way the land resettlement programme was conducted in the first
place. Full-time farmers were chased off their land to pave way for new
farmers some of whom have yet to begin operations despite the season being
almost over.

Blaming the banking sector for not dishing out loans for production, the
majority of the new farmers have gone back to government cap in hand for
"free inputs and equipment" such as seed, fertiliser, tractors, combine
harvesters, and irrigation equipment. In tourism, the new plan says
government will promote the development of the sector through the
introduction of urban duty-free shopping malls, and agro-and eco-tourism
development zones which will enjoy similar incentives as Export Processing
Zones (EPZ) enterprises.

The country's tourism industry has almost collapsed because of the continued
uncertain political environment which has led to Zimbabwe being suspended
from various international organisations. The country is now regarded as a
risky investment and tourism destination.

Donors are not prepared to support Zimbabwe, domestic pressures for the
return of direct controls are growing, and private-sector Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) has nose-dived.

The country's balance of payments position remains under severe stress,
propelled largely by the combined decline in export receipts and the absence
of offshore lines of credit and multi-lateral and bilateral support.

Bankers said the country's capital account was estimated to have registered
a deficit of US$350 million last year from a deficit of US$420 million in
2001. The country's foreign payment arrears, on the other hand, continued to
build up during 2002 and are forecast to have ended the year at US$1,5
billion, up from US$700 million in 2001.

Analysts say the success of the plan rests on the government's ability to
reduce continued and excessive expenditure.

Like all the plans before it, analysts say the programme is too ambitious
and unrealistic. They say Zimbabwe now needs concrete action and commitment
to ensure economic imbalances are addressed and the economy flourishes.

As Nkosana Moyo said about MERP: "For those looking for a quick fix, there
will not be one. Our situation is serious, the consequence of not heeding
warning signals or flashing lights in years gone by. The recovery will be
slow and it will be long."
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Daily News

      MDC official arrested at court over party bulletin

      3/14/2003 4:01:28 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      POLICE on Tuesday arrested a second MDC member, Justin Mugashu, the
district chairperson for Buhera North, at the High Court in Harare, for
carrying his party's news bulletin.

      Security officers at the court entrance confiscated his copy of The
Changing Times as they conducted a body-search on Mugashu, who was attending
the high treason trial of three top MDC officials.

      Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, secretary-general Welshman Ncube,
and the MP for Gweru Rural, Renson Gasela, are being charged with plotting
President Mugabe's murder and to oust his government in November and
December 2001.

      Last Friday, Edmore Mahureva was arrested for carrying the MDC
newsletter.
      Mugasho becomes the fifth MDC member to be arrested, in less than
three weeks, while attending the trial.

      Last Friday, Mahureva, Jane Masvosva, who is in her 70s, and Florence
Ndlovu, were arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station.

      Mahureva and Masvosva, arrested for wearing MDC T-shirts, were only
released on Saturday after paying a $5 000 admission of guilt fine each.

      Last month, Sedweak Mupazviripo, an MDC activist, was arrested for
accusing Ari Ben-Menashe, the political consultant who is the key State
witness in the trial, of wasting taxpayers' money by coming from Canada to
testify against Tsvangirai.

      Mupazviripo was released after paying a $2 000 fine.
      Paul Themba Nyathi, the MDC's secretary for information and publicity,
said life was becoming difficult for MDC supporters as the police continued
to create more rules which criminalised everything associated with the
opposition party.

      He said: "It is very clear the police are working in cahoots with the
Central Intelligence Organisation in an effort to harass and intimidate
innocent civilians perceived to be MDC supporters.

      "Is it a crime to read MDC material? Is it a crime to wear MDC
regalia? This nation needs a professional law enforcement agency and not
this partisan nonsense, which is being demonstrated by the police."
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Daily News

      Zanu PF supporters spoil Jongwe memorial service

      3/14/2003 4:02:43 AM (GMT +2)


      By Brian Mangwende Chief Reporter

      EVEN solemn occasions are not safe from invasion by Zanu PF.

      Zanu PF supporters gate-crashed into the memorial service for the late
Learnmore Judah Jongwe, the former Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana,
outside a community hall in that constituency last Saturday.

      Jongwe died last October in a cell at the Harare Central Remand Prison
while awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his wife, Rutendo.

      Heavily armed riot police created a buffer zone between the two
political parties who were about 10 metres apart taunting each other by
chanting their parties' slogans.
      About 1 000 MDC supporters attended the memorial service while there
were about 200 Zanu PF supporters.

      While MDC supporters chanted "Chinja," Zanu PF members chanted
"Pamberi naComrade Mugabe."

      Nelson Chamisa, the MDC candidate in the parliamentary by-election for
Kuwadzana scheduled for 29 and 30 this month, urged the people from the area
to soldier on and not succumb to widespread intimidation and selective
distribution of relief food aid to Zanu PF supporters only.

      "That Zanu PF crowd over there has been rented from
Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe," he said. "Jongwe died in mysterious circumstances
but we have to soldier on."

      Job Sikhala, the MP for St Mary's said he would commit suicide if
David Mutasa, Zanu PF's candidate for Kuwadzana wins the by-election.

      "I'll commit suicide if that happens," said Sikhala who was allegedly
tortured during his incarceration on suspicion of burning a Zimbabwe United
Passenger Omnibus.

      He said: "We are preparing for mass action against this regime. We are
tired of being raped, beaten, tortured and intimidated. The time has come to
say no to all this. If Zanu PF gets more than 3 000 votes in Kuwadzana, it
would be a miracle. You must listen to the voice of emancipation and walk
along with us on the road to freedom."

      Paul Madzore, MP for Glen View, said the MDC was going to use
constitutional means to bring change into the country.

      He blasted the government for the unlawful arrests of legislators.
      "Of those who have been arrested no one has been convicted," he said.
"Jongwe died in the hands of the police and that is unacceptable. God is on
our side and justice will be done either here on earth or in Heaven."
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MDC to petition UN over surge in state terrorism
Mthulisi Mathuthu
THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will petition the International
Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations over the current wave of
state terrorism which has seen many opposition members of parliament
assaulted or arrested

In an interview this week MDC spokesperson for foreign affairs, Moses Mzila
Ndlovu, said the party was increasingly concerned with the continued
assaults on and arbitrary arrests of its members.


"We are petitioning the IPU because if you see an MP being assaulted like an
ordinary person that should tell you how widespread this violence is," he
said.


The MDC announced in a statement last week that it was spending up to $10
million monthly in legal and medical fees for its members affected by
state-sponsored violence.


Ndlovu said the party would make a follow-up to its earlier petition in
2001, which followed his arrest in Bulilimamangwe after addressing a rally.
Ndlovu said the MDC wanted the IPU to summon the Speaker of parliament,
Emerson Mnangagwa who is also the Zanu PF secretary for administration, to
Geneva.


"We represent the people in parliament and so we shouldn't be abused like
that," said Ndlovu.


To date at least 17 MDC MPs have been arrested on what the party believes to
be trumped up charges.


Only last Saturday, the MP for Makokoba, Thokozani Khuphe, and Nomalanga
Khumalo of Umzingwane were arrested and assaulted while commemorating the
United Nations International Women's Day. This followed the arrest and
torture of St Mary's MP Job Sikhala and the arrest of Harare East MP Tendai
Biti in January.


Ndlovu said the MDC was also going to take advantage of the forthcoming
European Union/African Caribbean and Pacific States Joint Parliamentary
Assembly in Brazzaville to market its case against President Mugabe's
regime.
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