Zuma arrives in Zimbabwe under pressure to resolve impasse

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Mar 16, 2010, 17:48 GMT

Harare - South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in neighbouring Zimbabwe
Tuesday, for a two-day visit aimed at resolving the disputes that have
hobbled the country's power-sharing government for the past year.

Mugabe and his arch-rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, were both at
Harare International Airport to meet Zuma on arrival.

Talks begin in earnest on Wednesday when Zuma will hold one-on-one meetings
with Mugabe, Tsvangirai and deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara before
meeting together with all three, his spokesman Vincent Magwenya told the
German Press Agency dpa.

The visit is Zuma's first since he took over as mediator in Zimbabwe from
former president Thabo Mbeki last year and comes amid growing pressure on
him to take a firm hand with strongman President Robert Mugabe

Zuma's three-person South African mediation team of two former ministers and
an international relations advisor were due to brief him Tuesday on recent
developments in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party in February 2009 relented to form a coalition
government with Tsvangirai's former opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) as a way of rescuing the country from economic collapse.

The MDC had won violence-marred elections the previous year.

The unity government did succeed in halting the downward economic spiral in
the first few months but that progress has juddered to a halt as the parties
become bogged down in bickering.

In a sign of how poisoned relations are, a group of women Zanu-PF supporters
were at the airport to meet Zuma with chants of: 'Tsvangirai, you're a
harlot of the West.'

The MDC accuses Zanu-PF of failing to honour its commitments to implement
governance and rights reforms while Zanu-PF accuses the MDC of not doing
enough to have Western targeted sanctions lifted.

Zuma's visit comes amid reports of skirmishes between Zanu-PF and MDC
supporters in the east of the country and a row over the introduction of new
laws on white business ownership.

Under a new indigenization law gazetted last month by one of Mugabe's
ministers, without apparently consulting the MDC, companies with assets of
over half a million dollars are required to hand control of the company to
'indigenous' (black) Zimbabweans.

The law, which came into effect on March 1 but the cabinet is now reviewing,
would affect several South African mining companies operating in Zimbabwe.

When he became president last year, Zuma was expected to take a firmer hand
with Mugabe than Mbeki, who had taken a softly-softly approach to the
iron-fisted 86-year-old.

But Zuma, too, has appeared timid. In meetings with Western leaders, he has
been more vocal in support of Mugabe's campaign to lift sanctions that the
need for further reforms.

 

Zuma has little chance of fixing Zim's issues

http://www.iol.co.za/

    March 16 2010 at 03:25PM

By Peta Thornycroft
Foreign Service

President Jacob Zuma's mission to Harare on Monday is inspiring little hope
among Zimbabweans that he can fix their broken year-old unity government.

Both President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the powerless Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai seem resigned to early elections to end their failed
partnership, settle their protracted political dispute and produce a
single-party government.

The unity government was supposed to make the reforms and change the
political environment to enable free and fair elections next year under a
new constitution. But that has not happened and seems unlikely to. Just last
week Mugabe transferred full control of the election machinery to his party.

So the MDC fears that Zanu-PF will conduct a rigged and even more violent
election campaign than the one two years ago which eventually led to the
formation of the unity government. But it sees no choice as Mugabe has
paralysed the present administration.

Zuma is the official facilitator of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) which guaranteed the political agreement of September 2008
that led to the formation of the unity government.

He has set aside three days to try to solve the deadlock. But he has limited
options as the two main political leaders harden their positions in
preparation for elections.

In the political agreement, facilitated by former President Thabo Mbeki,
only Mugabe can dissolve parliament and call new elections - within 90 days.

Tsvangirai, analysts say, would participate, even knowing a new poll would
be unfair and violent and that he would not get the international
peacekeeping force he has demanded to ensure a free and fair poll.

There is nothing in the agreement that underpins the unity government to
prevent new elections being called now, even though the SADC godfathers of
this troubled marriage wanted it to create the conditions for proper
elections.

The MDC had hoped Zuma would be tougher on Mugabe than Mbeki was, to ensure
that.

But he has achieved nothing so far, they say. Mugabe's minor concessions
such as appointing a few MDC ambassadors and a reasonably neutral human
rights commission were ineffectual Zanu-PF initiatives to try to persuade
the European Union to lift targeted sanctions against Zanu-PF cronies.

In fact the situation has got worse since Zuma sent in his own mediators
late last year.

On top of the many previous outstanding issues from the agreement blocked by
Zanu-PF, two weeks ago Mugabe signed a law which simply took power away from
three ministries assigned to the MDC during negotiations and gave them to
Zanu-PF ministers.

Most ominously, Zanu-PF justice minister Patrick Chinamasa was given power
over elections. This, according to senior MDC sources, will be Tsvangirai's
central complaint to Zuma.
 

Billy Rautenbach fingered in escalation of violence in Manicaland

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tichaona Sibanda
16 March 2010

Billy Rautenbach, the 51 year old multimillionaire businessman with close
links to ZANU PF, has been accused by the MDC of hounding and intimidating
its activists in Manicaland as political tension builds ahead of the
constitution making programme.

Rautenbach, who is well known for his aggressive business tactics has
allegedly teamed up with top ZANU PF officials in Chipinge to drive out
known MDC activists from the vast area of land that he now owns.

MDC spokesman for Manicaland province, Pishai Muchauraya, told SW Radio
Africa on Tuesday that Rautenbach was directly responsible for the tensions
that have led to several skirmishes in the province.

'He has teamed up with Enock Porusingazi (ZANU PF's losing parliamentary
candidate in Chipinge South) to displace, intimidate and beat up our
supporters. The concern is growing in the face of what is happening to our
activists in the province,' Muchauraya said.

'He now controls ARDA Chisumbanje (a sugar cane estate) and (an estate) in
the Middle Sabi areas, that are under the MDC in Manicaland. This gives him
50 percent of arable land in the province where most of the workers from the
estates are MDC supporters. Already we have reports that workers from
Mahanye, Maparadze, Garahwa, Chisumbanje, Madhuku and Makoho areas have been
displaced,' Muchauraya said.

Rautenbach controversially secured the vast pieces of land as part of the
state-owned Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA)'s drive to
lease out to private companies all its estates that lie derelict, after
years of mismanagement by ZANU PF beneficiaries of the land redistribution
programme.

The private companies that benefit are generally owned by friends and
cronies of ZANU PF. Rautenbach's companies, Macdom Pvt (Ltd) and Ratings
Investment, are growing sugarcane for production of ethanol in Chisumbanje
and wheat in the Middle Sabi.

The MDC MP for Makoni South said there were other hot spots in the province
where violence had also flared up. Disturbances have been reported in Buhera
central, north and west. A serving soldier, identified as Major Svosve, is
reportedly leading gangs of ZANU PF youths to harass and intimidate MDC
activists in Buhera.

'The Prime Minister was in the province over the weekend and was able to
hear first hand reports of the resurgence of violence. What he said during
his tour was for people to note down names of police and army officers who
are perpetrating violence in their areas,' Muchauraya said.

'What we have started doing in the province is to compile a database of all
perpetrators of violence. We are getting their names, their identity
numbers, and their village of origin, their next of kin, dates and places of
attacks. We are also taking down the dates when people make a report to the
police and note down if action was taken or not by the authorities,' the MP
added.

Where it's possible, the MDC is also taking photographs of the perpetrators
and keeping them in their database.

'We are not leaving anything to chance. We know that if justice is
suppressed today, tomorrow it will prevail,' Muchauraya said.

In Mudzi, Mashonaland East province, ZANU PF youths are reportedly demanding
livestock to stock up their bases for food for when the constitutional
outreach programmes begins in the next few weeks.

Ian Kay, MDC MP for Marondera told us their activists were being forced to
donate goats, chickens 'and in one instance a full mombe (cow).'

'All this information is substantiated but our activists are scared to
report these incidents in case of repercussions from the ZANU PF people,'
Kay said.

Despite the MDC being in government for a year now, the human rights
situation remains extremely poor and the government continues to restrict or
deny fundamental rights. While the politicians take their time to talk,
meet, negotiate and jostle for power, it is the Zimbabweans in the rural
areas who are at the frontline and they are the ones who have to face the
ongoing violence.

 

Constitutional outreach to begin without repeal of repressive laws

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
16 March 2010

The outreach programme meant to gathers people's views on a new constitution
is set to begin in early April, without the repeal of repressive laws that
are likely to be used by ZANU PF to frustrate the process. Veritas, an
organization that monitors legal and constitutional issues, said it is now
expected that both Houses of Parliament will be adjourned until mid-June,
after the Select Committee on the constitution requested a lengthy recess
for MP's to allow them to take part in the 65-day outreach programme.

MDC-T Chief Whip in Parliament Innocent Gonese told Newsreel he could not
confirm if a formal request had be made for the recess to be granted but
said there was a general understanding this could be allowed in situations
like this. He said Parliament could still be recalled to sit anytime that
urgent business arose during the outreach programme.

But with no parliament sitting for such a length of time this means the POSA
Amendment Bill cannot be passed before the outreach starts and there will be
no amendments to any restrictive media laws. This is despite the same Select
Committee on the constitution admitting that there could be no meaningful
consultation, unless there were legislative reforms leading to democratic
freedom of association and expression.

Over the weekend villagers in Chipinge and Chivi amplified the point further
when they told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that they were being
threatened by ZANU PF militia, who are warning them against participating in
the constitutional outreach.

Veritas also raised similar concerns adding that 'there are also fears that
the constitutional select committee may not gather accurate views from a
terrorized public especially in the rural areas. Some members of the civic
society have been threatened with death if they go ahead with civic
education about the constitutional process, particularly in the rural areas.'

Intimidation, violence and laws like the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act
(POSA) will remain a noose around the necks of those trying to inform the
public about the process of a new constitution.

Gonese meanwhile told us that although most Zimbabweans wanted the removal
of repressive laws what was important in the meantime was the political will
to allow people to express themselves. He said the crafting of laws was a
lengthy process with no guarantees. Legislation had to pass through both the
lower and upper house of parliament and even after this it needed the
signature of the President. He said even if the lower house had remained
sitting the Senate (upper house) had already adjourned until June.

 

Mining firms snub Parliament for 3rd time, on ministry orders

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
16 March 2010

Two diamond mining firms, given government's approval to mine the
controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields, have snubbed a parliamentary probe
into their operations for a third time, apparently under mining ministry
orders.

Officials from Mbada Investments and Canadile Miners, which are joint
ventures with the government's Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation
(ZMDC), on Monday failed to turn up for the scheduled parliamentary
committee meeting. A Canadile official eventually arrived and handed the
committee two letters; one from the mining firm and another from the Mines
Ministry under the leadership of Obert Mpofu. Both letters said that company
directors were not coming the hearing and would not do so in future.

Committee Chairman Edward Chindori Chininga told journalists on Monday that
Canadile and Mbada's refusal to appear before his committee was based on
advice from the Mines Ministry.

"What we have been given by Canadile is an opinion that is coming from the
ministry and that is that they are not coming and they attached an opinion
from the ministry supporting their decision," he said.

Legislators have already threatened to seek 'Contempt of Parliament Charges'
against the companies' directors after two other meetings were also
deliberately ignored. The parliamentary hearings were set up to probe the
two firms' activities in Chiadzwa, where there are still reports of human
rights abuses and diamond smuggling. The firms have taken over mining the
claim from the UK based African Consolidated Resources (ACR), which holds
the legal title to mine there. ACR was forced to abandon the site at
gunpoint in 2006, and has since been fighting a protracted legal battle over
the ownership rights. At least 30 kgs of diamonds at the centre of the
ownership debate have since been handed to the Reserve Bank for 'safekeeping',
after the Mbada firm tried to auction them off earlier this year.
The auction, which was halted at the last minute, apparently because the
right officials had not been properly informed, is also set to be a major
part of the parliamentary probe into the two firms' activities. The
parliamentary committee has since said that it will have no choice but to
invoke the Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act, possibly
resulting in the contempt charges, if the directors do not attend a meeting.
The probe has also been launched to try and verify who authorised the mining
firms to start their operations in the Chiadzwa fields, without following
proper procedures. Finance Minister Tendai Biti earlier this month said the
permits were issued fraudulently, and called for all mining leases to be
cancelled immediately. His comments coincided with the arrival of an
independent monitor ordered by the international diamond trade watchdog, the
Kimberley Process. Abbey Chikane, the head of the South African Diamond
Board and a former Chairman of the Kimberley Process, was finally appointed
as a monitor for the diamond fields after four months of fighting over a
suitable candidate. He arrived two weeks ago and has been meeting with mines
ministry officials and the state-authorised mining firms operating in
Chiadzwa.

Chikane's presence in the country forms part of a list of guidelines set out
by the Kimberley Process last year to try and bring Zimbabwe back in line
with international trade standards. Zimbabwe escaped a widely supported ban
from trade over human rights atrocities at the diamond fields. But the
Kimberley Process instead gave Zimbabwe until June to sort out its diamond
industry, ordering it to follow the guidelines.
Such guidelines have largely been ignored and role of the Kimberley Process
has also been publicly shunned by the government. Mines Minister Mpofu
recently warned that Zimbabwe will sell diamonds without Kimberley Process
certification (KP) should the watchdog rule that efforts to comply with its
standards are inadequate. Mpofu's threats echo comments made by Robert
Mugabe, who also threatened to withdraw from the Kimberley Process.
"If the KP is unsatisfied with our efforts and wants to be difficult saying
that we have failed to comply with their requirements... we will not lose
sleep, but rather we will just pull put and not lose anything," Mpofu said.
This lack of respect for parliament, shown by the Ministry of Mines,
provides a clear example of the problems that the MDC now face as part of
the government. And it's a clear example of who is still in control.

 

Detained Zim asylum seeker starts hunger strike in UK

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Alex Bell
16 March 2010

A detained Zimbabwean asylum seeker in the UK has embarked on a hunger
strike, to protest alleged racism and mistreatment at the hands of detention
centre employees.

The 43 year old woman has been locked up in the UK's Yarl's Wood detention
facility for more than five months. She is also protesting the prolonged
detention she has had to endure despite independent verification of the
torture she suffered in Zimbabwe. In the UK, people seeking asylum who have
been tortured are only supposed to be locked up "in exceptional
circumstances." But new claims, highlighted by the UK's Observer newspaper
over the weekend, indicate that many torture survivors are being wrongfully
detained.

The newspaper quotes medical charities that carry out independent
assessments of torture survivors as part of the UK's asylum application
process. These groups have indicated that their reports are being ignored,
with many victims remaining in detention centres until their asylum claims
are heard.

The Zimbabwean woman, who fled to the UK after being beaten, tortured and
raped, is just one such torture victim set to fall through the cracks in the
UK's asylum system. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, alleges
medical mistreatment and racist abuse by staff, claims that have been
denied. She told The Observer: "The officers are racist and are not
sympathetic. We have suffered and don't want to be tortured here, but inside
here it is a form of torture but nobody can see us locked up."

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, the UK charity
dedicated to the treatment of torture survivors, has reportedly lodged
complaints with the UK Home Office over concerns that its assessments,
documenting evidence of abuse among asylum seekers, were being dismissed.
The foundation cited figures from the last 18 months showing only seven
people had been released from detention out of 250 cases where clinical
evidence of abuse had been presented. The UK Border Agency has meanwhile
denied the claims. Hugh Ind, the agency's director for protection, told The
Observer: "We consider all evidence submitted in support of asylum claims
very carefully, including claims of torture.

Where an individual sets out a credible case that they are in need of
protection, we normally grant asylum."
The UK has been trying to clear a backlog of asylum cases, and introduced a
fast track system this year to try and clear the estimated two hundred
thousand cases still pending finalisation. But the fast track system is
being widely criticised. In his first review of the system, the newly
appointed independent Chief Inspector of the Border Agency said it had
devastating consequences for survivors of torture. Human Rights Watch has
also expressed concern that the system is failing people who genuinely need
protection.

 

Tsvangirai Orders Return Of Mutumwa Mawere's Business Empire

http://news.radiovop.com

16/03/2010 10:49:00

Masvingo, March 16, 2010 - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has fired a
salvo at the previous Zanu PF administration for having pursued failed and
moribund policies that led to the collapse of Shabanie and Mashava Mines
(SMM) saying exiled businessman, Mutumwa Mawere should be immediately
re-called and handed over his business empire to save thousands of jobs and
Zimbabwe's key asbestos industry.

Tsvangirai said Mawere should be allowed to return in the country
unconditionally and handed back control of his mines to save jobs that are
under threat at the collapsing mining firm.

SMM was owned by Mawere's Africa Resources Limited, but the companies were
put under the administration of Afaras Gwaradzimba after the former was
elbowed out of the firm and forced to fled to South Africa after Resereve
Bank Governor Gideon Gono accused him of externalising foreign exchange.

Now Tsvangirai, who is now Premier in a shaky powering sharing deal with his
erstwhile foe-President Mugabe-wants Mawere to return to the country
unconditionally to rescue Zimbabwe's sole asbestos fibre mining concern from
slipping further the precipice.

''There is no need to continue with failed policies of the past which surely
caused the situation that is obtaining at Shabanie Mashava Mines today. The
state of affairs obtaining here today are a result of policies that totally
failed but something can be done to save the thousands of jobs and the
asbetos industry which depends on this mines.

''What we have said and will continue to work towards is to make sure that
Mawere(Mutumwa) is allowed back into the country unconditionally and be
given bac control of his mines to save jobs and the economy, we cannot
continue to live in the past and be associated with bad policies and
decisions,''said Tsvangirai.

The Zimbabweans premier said cabinet was currently working on a short-term
plan to make sure that power was restored at the two mines to avert
continued flooding of the mine shafts.

''I for one because of my history know that there is very big and important
machinery that is underground in the mine shafts and the continued absence
of electricity means some of the equipment will be flooded by the water and
will be very dear to replace so at cabinet level we are working flat out to
make sure power is restored as soon as possible,''he said.
 

Makamba, Mutasa do battle at Telecel

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28028

March 16, 2010

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - An indigenisation political storm is gathering over
telecommunications company, Telecel Zimbabwe, with James Makamba, the exiled
majority stakeholder in the local company, raising the stakes in his battle
with fellow director, Jane Mutasa.

Authoritative sources say a bitter tug-of-war has developed between Makamba
and Mutasa, charged with alleged fraud at the company, over an 11 percent
shareholding of Telecel Zimbabwe, which is up for grabs.

Orascom Telecom, the Egypt-based mobile network operator that owns local
subsidiary, Telecel Zimbabwe, with a 60 percent stake, has put on the table
11 percent which is supposed to be taken up by locals in line with recently
gazetted indigenisation laws.

The laws prescribe that foreigners can only own 49 percent of shares in
local companies.

The 11 percent has provoked a vicious power struggle between Mutasa, the
acting Telecel Zimbabwe chairperson, and former chairperson Makamba, who was
forced into exile after accusations that he had externalised foreign
currency.

Makamba has rolled out a hostile takeover bid of the 11 percent following an
alleged US$1.7 million fraud case against Mutasa.

Mutasa, an outspoken proponent of indigenisation who headed the Indigenous
Business Women's Organisation, was released from Chikurubi Maximum Security
Prison last Saturday after spending more than a week in behind bars.

Mutasa had shown an active interest in taking over the 11 percent shares,
while Makamba was also plotting an increase in his holding. But Makamba, a
specified individual considered a fugitive from justice, appears to be the
hot favourite of the parent company, which is said to be keen to have him
take over the 11 percent.

But his circumstances make this difficult. However, with Mutasa apparently
out of the way, the plan can fly, our sources said.

Mutasa has repeatedly castigated executives at the parent company for
outsourcing top level jobs.

Prior to her arrest last Friday, she had turned the heat on the hot topic of
overseas outsourcing, raising the ire of the Orascom administration, sources
say.

Given her aggressive indigenization drive, Mutasa's presence on the share
register at Telecel has fomented uncertainty about the company's long-term
ownership amid reports she was keen to parcel Telecel shareholding to
Zimbabweans.

Zimbabweans are becoming increasingly nationalistic when it comes to
divesting state assets; so the question of whether Telecel or any other
strategic investor would represent the national interest keeps cropping up.

Mutasa had raised concerns locals were being elbowed from the top echelons
and that the telecommunications facilities were coming under foreign
ownership. The company has rejected the accusations, saying it had sought
technical expertise only.

"The company is currently on an extensive expansion and modernisation
programme and is associated in this endeavour by Telecel Globe and the
parent company Orascom," Telecel said in a statement.

"Orascom Telecel is the largest network in Africa and the Middle East with
over 120 million subscribers and in an effort to modernise our operation it
has helped with consultants and expatriates on short-term contracts.

"The expatriates are on short-term contracts and ahead of the expiry of
their contracts are set to impart their skills to local colleagues. In
addition to this the company has recruited highly skilled Zimbabweans from
the Diaspora to help in this expansion drive."

But sources say there was foreign domination at the top echelons of the
company. The chief financial officer Alexander Kiel is a German, and yet
there were many chartered accountants in Zimbabwe, critics say.

The managing director, Aimable Mpore, who was deported, was from Rwanda.
There were also questions why Telecel needed a foreigner as a managing
director.

The chief technical officer Tobias Jack is a Tanzanian, yet Telecel Zimbabwe
is teeming with experienced engineers who can drive the technical expansion
programmes, the sources say.

The roll out director, Mohamed Abdeikang, is an Egyptian.

The IT consultant was from Russia; even the customer care consultant was a
foreigner, while Anwar Soussa, an Egyptian was in charge of the commercial
department.

Sources said the ownership structure of Telecel's telecommunications
facilities was threatening Zimbabwe's ability to react during a national
emergency, especially if emergency personnel become dependent on foreign
technicians and managers for operating the system.

Telecel Zimbabwe is the second largest telecommunications company in
Zimbabwe.

Mutasa has reportedly also clashed with Makamba over the unfair procurement
processes of handsets, which were imported last year.

The Zimbabwe Times heard that between October and December 2009, US$3million
worth of handsets were purchased outside the country and the cash was
transferred to foreign companies.

"This was done without going to tender," said an authoritative source at
Telecel. "No single local company was contracted to supply the handsets."

It is alleged big contracts were parcelled out to foreign companies at the
expense of the local industry, currently starved of such contracts.

The Zimbabwe Times understands that  in 2009, ACT, a South African company
was paid US$995 452 for civil works that could easily have been undertaken
by a local company, sources say

Cosa, another South African company, was paid US$1.7 million for civil
works.

GAPA Logistics, yet another South African company earned US$470 505 to
supply steel towers, which can easily be provided by local companies such as
ZECO.

Mag-Gog Construction, a company domiciled in Mauritius earned US$333856 for
civil works.

Mobi-Factory of Egypt was paid US$750,000 by Telecel to supply towers.

"The jobs can be done by Zimbabweans to promote black indigenisation and
empowerment," our source said.

It was further alleged that in 2009 amounts of US$18 million and Euro 5
million were illegally externalised, according to documents in our
possession.

There were also concerns about salary disparities between local staff and
foreigners at Telecel.

Damning report unveils workers' rights violation in Zimbabwe 

http://www.sabcnews.com

March 16 2010
, 9:10:00

Thulasizwe Simelane, Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe government is running the risk of being hauled before the
International Court of Justice following a damning report released by the
country's labour body regarding workers' rights.

The report reveals alleged restriction to the right to strike, arrests and
torture, as well as harassment of trade unionists. Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions president Lovemore Matombo says consequences will be grave,
should government fail to comply.

"What this means is that based on the constitution of the International
Labour Organisation - the governing body will have the right to make a
decision to put Zimbabwe before the International Court of Justice - it is
in black and white in the Constitution of the International Labour
Organisation," says Matombo.

Meanwhile, South African leader Jacob Zuma is set to visit Zimbabwe today to
assess the state of a power-sharing agreement set up to end a decade-long
political and economic crisis.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai formed a unity
government last year to end a stalemate over disputed elections, which have
managed to stabilise the economy following 10 consecutive years of
contraction.

State-owned newspapers in the red despite monopoly

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/238/90/45736.html

By: Dumisani Ndlela
Zimbabwe's state-owned newspapers performed dismally last year despite
enjoying a virtual monopoly on the daily news market, recording an
operational loss of US$329 000 during the year to 31 December 2009.
The bleak performance could signal a disaster for the newspapers should
government go ahead and licence new daily newspapers in the country, which
are likely to offer stiff competition and provide readers and advertisers
with an alternative.

Paul Chimedza, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers) group,
which publishes three dailies, The Herald and The Chronicle and the tabloid
H-Metro introduced last year, as well as at least five weekly titles, said
the newspaper printing division had been weighed down by huge overheads and
low revenue.

But he vowed to maintain the group's market share and to "remain the
publisher of choice for both the reader and the advertiser".

He said the company had resorted to importing newsprint after the closure of
the country's sole newsprint manufacturer, Mutare Board and Paper Mills.

"Newsprint, which was previously the main constraint, is now being imported
and the company has adequate stocks," said Chimedza.

[16 Mar 2010 10:46]

'Our ancestors are angry,' say climate-devastated Zimbabwean farmers

16 Mar 2010 11:56:00 GMT

Written by: AlertNet correspondent

Selina Mutoleka and her AIDS-orphaned grandchildren struggle to grow enough food on their farm in Nyimo, Zimbabwe. Climate change is making Zimbabwe's weather more unpredictable, threatening crops, but many local people attribute the growing problems to God's anger. Photo: Fidelis Zvomuya

By Fidelis Zvomuya

NYIMO, Zimbabwe (AlertNet) - Selina Mutoleka thinks God is angry.

"I think God has pushed the sun down as punishment for our sins. Our ancestors are angry with us for dishonouring them as well as cutting down sacred trees," the 86-year-old widow and grandmother said.

Life has become increasing hard for the small-scale farmers of Nyimo village, in Zimbabwe's western Sanyati district. Rains are irregular, erosion and animal diseases are worsening and many people, only faintly aware of the role of climate change in their problems, believe God has brought on their woes.

According to the district's traditional leader, Chief Neuso, the region was once the land of milk and honey. Rains fell predictably from the end of October to March, and the rivers flowed continuously.

"We used to farm traditional crops such as rapoko (finger millet), sorghum and ground nuts. These were fast, (quickly) growing crops and they have since disappeared. Agricultural production has been commercialised resulting in the introduction of hybrids seeds that demand lots of fertilizers, chemicals and rains," the chief said.

Since 2006, the rains in the area have become less reliable. The October and November rains arrive late, and the season is much shorter. This crop season, the area has received only four days of rain.

The rivers that normally provide water for people, livestock and irrigation have run dry, leading to water and food shortages.

DROUGHT 'MORE FREQUENT AND DEVASTATING'

Drought has become "more frequent and devastating" in recent years, Neuso believes, in part because many trees have been cut, particularly varieties considered sacred and associated with rain making.

Population growth and unemployment have helped drive increases in cutting of trees such as Mobola plum, false ash and mutarara, he said.

"These formed part of our sacred forests where rain-making ceremonies used to be conducted and were believed to be where ancestors used to sit," Neuso said.

Sanyati's population, once around 500 people in the 1950s, is now estimated to be around 200,000. Agricultural land has been depleted, particularly after people surged into communal lands during the Zimbabwean government's controversial land reforms, as well as after mine closures that pushed up unemployment.

But people also blame changes in the weather for declining agricultural productivity.

"Crops that I used to grow in the 1990s, when I grow them these days they don't give enough yield," said Mutoleka, the 86-year-old farmer.

Lack of rainfall has also hit the region's cattle as pastures dry up, leaving many of the oxen used as draft animals too weak to work, Neuso said.

Faced with worsening conditions, many farmers have sunk into worsening debt, been forced to sell off assets, become dependent on food aid or simply migrated out of the area.

SURGE IN GOLD PANNING

Others have turned to illegal gold panning, tearing up Zimbabwe's countryside in a bid to survive. They leave behind a trail of devastated fields and forests, mud-choked rivers, and mercury-tainted water.

The situation has left many farmers like Mutoleka near despair.

"The raining pattern has changed. You cannot predict it. Growing up, it was not like this," she said. "There were times that it rained and times that it did not rain. That has changed."

Now, both rain and wind patterns have changed, planting seasons are changing and temperatures are steadily increasing, she said.

The situation is worse for many in Nyimbo because they are already struggling to care for sick relatives in a country heavily hit by HIV/AIDS. Mutoleka cares for six orphaned grandchildren, which makes food shortages even more painful.

As temperatures rise, the area has also seen outbreaks of malaria, Rift Valley fever and tick-borne animals diseases.

In Nyimo these days, the communal pond is a parched dustbowl, the land is cracked like grotesque crazy paving and oceans of lifeless maize and cotton stalks wave in the fields, some barely recognizable as crops.

Mutoleka and her grandchildren now fetch water from five kilometres away to irrigate small patches of maize around their home.

'WE FEEL DEFEATED'

"We feel defeated by drought and the weather in general. Before, with the abundance of rain, life was easy. With this lack of rain we get nothing out of these harvests. As crops fail, some farmers give up their land," she said.

God is behind the bad times, most people believe.

"God brings the rain. The one who causes the drought, who sends us the drought, is God," Mutoleka said.

Chief Neuso said his subjects lacked knowledge and understanding of climate change, in contrast with their high awareness of general environmental degradation.

"Most of the people are aware of the transformation in the natural environment, the depletion of food and water sources over their lifetimes," he said.

"In most community meetings we have, villagers have frequently cited excess heat, increased variability of rains and planting seasons (as problems). But to associate this to climate change is the biggest challenge we are faced with. No vernacular translation is available for this term," Neuso said.

Climate change presents an additional stress for Zimbabweans already struggling with the challenges posed by political instability and widespread poverty.

Washington Zhakata, who heads the climate change office for Zimbabwe's Ministry of Environment, said the country, already prone to irregular rainfall, was seeing worsening conditions as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon this year.

"The damage caused by this weather condition is grave in some parts of the country. We have been experiencing such conditions during the early stages of the each rain season, affecting farmers' ability to meet the planting deadlines and causing poor crop germination," he said.

Zhakata said sub-Saharan Africa is currently the most food-insecure region in the world. Climate change could aggravate the situation further unless adequate measures are put in place, he said.

"We have to educate people on climate change and also explain to them the impacts, and how they can mitigate and adapt," he said.

Fidelis Zvomuya, based in Pretoria, South Africa, is a writer specializing in environmental reporting.

Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Sanctions being used as excuse – US envoy

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=28023

March 16, 2010

By Our Correspondent

BULAWAYO – United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles A. Ray says targeted
sanctions imposed by his country on President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu- PF
allies are not an issue and should not be used as an excuse for failing to
improve the standard of living of ordinary Zimbabweans.

In 2003 the US and other western countries imposed targeted sanctions on
Mugabe and some 200 of his associates. The sanctions include an arms
embargo, travel bans, as well as asset freezes.

Mugabe always blames western sanctions for Zimbabwe’s economic collapse. He
says western countries discourage their citizens from investing or visiting
Zimbabwe as tourists, while lines of credit have been closed.

Last month Zanu-PF youths marched through the streets of Harare demanding
that the sanctions imposed by the west on President Mugabe and the
leadership of Zanu-PF should be removed. During the march the Zanu-PF youths
made a stopover outside the US embassy along the capital city’s Herbert
Chitepo Avenue and presented a letter also demanding the elimination of the
Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, a sanctions law enacted by the
US congress in 2003.

Addressing journalists Tuesday after touring Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo, Ray
said targeted sanctions imposed on Mugabe have no effect on ordinary
citizens and his government will continue to support ordinary Zimbabweans.

“Sanctions are not an issue; the US government has always managed to parcel
out assistance to poor Zimbabweans without the sanctions effect,” said Ray.

Ray said some local politicians blamed the sanctions after they failed to
help suffering Zimbabweans.

“Some people want to use these sanctions as an excuse after failing to
improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabwe,” he said.

The American ambassador said his government would continue to help poor
Zimbabweans and it had already pledged to provide US$300 to fight HIV/AIDS.

Early this month US and European Union extended sanctions against Mugabe for
another year citing lack of progress in implementing the country’s
power-sharing agreement.

President Robert Mugabe and his erstwhile rival, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, formed a unity government nearly a year ago, aiming to end
political violence which targetted mainly supporters of the premier’s MDC
party.

The standoff between Zanu-PF and the MDC over implementation of their 2008
power-sharing agreement deepened recently after British Foreign Secretary
David Miliband publicly stated that Britain would take advice from the MDC
in considering whether to back the lifting of EU sanctions.

In depth: Zimbabwe's crossroads

http://www.inthenews.co.uk

Tuesday, 16, Mar 2010 05:00

By Nqobani Ndlovu.

Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads where one path leads to chaos and the other
economic prosperity, the US ambassador to the African nation has said.

Charles Ray told journalists in Bulawayo that the future of the country
hinged on the success or failure of the shaky unity government formed two
years ago.

A unity government formed between president Robert Mugabe and opposition
leader turned prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai remains deadlocked on the
implementation of a power-sharing deal signed in 2008.

"At the moment, Zimbabwe is a juncture at a road that it can turn into chaos
or turn into the road into recovery," Mr Ray told journalists during a press
briefing after his tour of a government hospital in Bulawayo, the country's
second city.

"The road to recovery is rough one, it is tough and it all depends on the
full implementation of the global political agreement (GPA)."

Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party blames long-time
ruler Mr Mugabe for stalling democratic reforms to pave way for the
successful implementation of the country's GPA.

Mr Mugabe denies the charges and says the main obstacle to the full
implementation of the power-sharing deal are targeted travel and financial
sanctions arrayed against him, his allies and companies linked to them by
the west.

The EU and the US recently further extended sanctions against President
Mugabe, his allies and some companies by a year, citing lack of progress on
the implementation of the power-sharing deal.

The slow progress on the implementation of the country's GPA has forced Mr
Tsvangirai to appeal for South African president Jacob Zuma to intervene as
chairman of the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), which is the guarantor of the power-sharing deal.

Mr Zuma is expected in Zimbabwe to encourage Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai to
quicken the implementation of the GPA.

Mr Zuma's visit comes days after Mr Mugabe stripped ministers from Mr
Tsvangirai's MDC of their powers, leaving them without any acts to
administer.

Plea for help

From: "Zimbabwean Farmer"
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:55 PM
Continued Eviction of White Commercial Farmers despite the agreements signed
upon in the forming of GNU

I am emailing out of desperation.

Despite the agreements made in the forming of the GNU and the
President of South Africa's State visit that is currently underway
white owned commercial farms are being over run by Zanu-PF thugs.

As I am writing this a Zanu-PF thug is driving around my families
farm.  Her name is Adrin Dube (formerly Chinyama).  She walks around
the farm shouting slogans.  Shouting that she is going to kill us
because we are white, threatening to cut our worker's throats and
calling them "mtengesi" (sell outs).  She calls for the death of the
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.  Please help us and other Zimbabwean
farmers to report these cases on the news, there are currently more
than 10 farmers being threatened today alone in our area.

We are desperate.  Please help!!!!!! [I do not know what area he is in - Ed.]

‘Scair Zimbabwe’ and other tourist delights

The 'Smoking lounge'

There has been much hype in the Zim government press over the coming 2010 world cup, with Ministers and their lackeys drivelling on about the (highly unrealistic) expected influx of tourists. Of course there will be some spill over from the soccer frenzy, but sadly most of it will take the form of tourists flying directly into Victoria Falls or crossing over from Livingstone, for a day or two on their way to better facilities in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. One would think that the great Maosi Tunya was actually a South African destination as it is very often included in their domestic tour packages. Having visited the tourist town recently it is a sad, faded, shabby remnant of its previous glorious self. Indeed Unesco is currently threatening to downgrade it as a world heritage site.

Zimbabwe was once a tourist mecca, with all ages and budgets flocking to visit our rich and diverse range of destinations, from the Matobo hills to Hwange game reserve, the Victoria Falls to Kariba dam, Nyanga to Gonarezhou. Today over 80% of the luxury lodges, backpacker inns and small establishments have closed. I visited the Hwange Safari Lodge (owned mainly by ZPF) last year and we were the only tourists there rattling around in a vast hotel and being followed by a herd of staff, all bemoaning the state of affairs and longing for the old days when they were run off their feet.

But even when the holiday makers do trickle in, they face a multitude of obstacles that would challenge even the hardiest of their kind. The border posts are a nightmare, in particular Beit Bridge, which ranks amongst the foulest and filthiest of cess pits on the planet, a place where tourists are treated with hostility and suspicion.

Once the tourist vehicle has managed to traverse the bridge across “the great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo”, which could take hours as it only has two lanes, one into and one out of South Africa, and is often clogged with massive trucks bringing in goods to Zimbabwe (but often empty on the outward journey). Fortunately the World Cup is taking place in mid winter so if you are stuck on this recently and inadequately built bridge, you won’t perish in 42degree heat whilst suspended over the river!

The visitor has arrived on Zimbabwean territory. He will first have to beat a path through the thronging mass of touts, offering to clear the way through the bureaucracy for outrageous fees, of course not including the cost of the bribes (that the tout will sort out for you), to pay for an expedited run through the lengthy border process with the open-to-negotiation border officials.

If the wary tourist is savvy and does not fall prey to the tout, then he has to brave the pushing and shoving in the first of many lines; the bridge toll $10, then into the line to pay the extortionate $100 road tax (for the pleasure of using the pockmarked and treacherous roads). To get clearance through customs you have to find a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official to search your car to ensure you are not evading the payment of any duties. A word of advice, remember to declare your laptop, as if you do not you will be forced to pay a large deposit which in theory will be reimbursed on your outward journey. Zimra are known to base their employment policy on finding the most unpleasant and unhelpful individuals as possible, each one trying to outdo the other in the degree of hostility to travellers. Finally you can start your exploration of Zimbabwe.

But for the traveller who is jetting into the country and expects to depend on domestic flights to get around, BEWARE!

Last week I had the pleasure of flying to Bulawayo from Harare. I arrived at the airport in good time, only to be told the flight was delayed and held up in Vic Falls. When I enquired as to the problem I was dutifully informed by the very polite Air Zimbabwe official, “It is broken”! I waited some hours only to be advised I should return at 6am the next morning. I discovered the previous evening’s flight also had not taken off, as the landing lights at Harare airport were out of commission. So for two nights in a row Air Zimbabwe had to fork out for accommodation for the passengers who had flown into Harare, for the day only, from Bulawayo.

Both flights were put up at the Monomatapa Hotel, which charges a hefty $110 per night, no wonder Scair Zimbabwe is floundering and no wonder the hotel is rubbing its hands in glee. This week I also heard that the plane could not land in Bulawayo as the landing gear was malfunctioning and there is no emergency equipment to land in the second city. Fortunately the landing gear emerged en route to Harare, but once again, another night for passengers at the Monomatapa.

Once again, early in the morning, I made my way to the airport. Please remember that Air Zimbabwe is down to one small plane for domestic and some regional flights as the second is still out of commission from the warthog accident some time ago. So, this overburdened little Chinese-made plane, usually flies Bulawayo – Harare – Bulawayo – Johannesburg or Vic Falls depending on the day – Bulawayo – Harare –Bulawayo. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

My flight still had not arrived from Vic Falls by 6.30am so I decided to hang out in the Air Zimbabwe lounge which runs off the main lounge. There is a sign over the door which reads “Air Zimbabwe Lounge”, not business class lounge, nor VIP lounge, just plain old lounge. So in I went, ensconced myself on the tatty, but comfy, sofa to read the only paper available, the horrible Herald.

After an hour or so the passengers scheduled to leave on the morning flight (who would now have to wait for us evening flight passengers to go to Bulawayo and the plane to then return) started to saunter in. The newcomers into my quiet lounge looked rather officious and I was sussing them out when an Air Zim official asked for my boarding pass and off he went. When he returned he smugly informed me I was not a business class passenger, how could I be I retorted, there is no business class on domestic flights! But rather than fight with this minor official I decided to vacate my seat and returned to the masses, where I belong.

By 10am I was starting to get desperate for a caffeine fix, but the bar in the domestic lounge had no hot water. Finally I begged the barman to go over to the international terminal to get the needed liquid and I was rewarded with the sighs of relief from the passengers who applauded my dogged insistence for service. I glugged the glorious black liquid down, but needed my next fix, a hit of nicotine. I asked the barman where I could smoke and he came out from behind his bar cage, kicked open the grey door next to the men’s loos and welcomed me into what he gleefully informed me was the “Smoking Lounge”. It is a filthy little cage bordering on the runway. I shared the space with the only other smoker, a worker in his green bib.

Finally, at noon, the plane took off to Bulawayo.

How is Zimbabwe going to fare with an increase of tourism? This remains to be seen, but I for one look forward to the day when we once again can rebuild this vibrant industry and welcome back all and sundry to enjoy our rich and diverse land.

This entry was posted by Still Here on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 6:20 pm