The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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I N V I T A T I O N

 

Zimbabwe may be down…  But we most certainly are NOT on our way out!

Zimbabwe may be hanging in there by the tips of our fingers…

But we ARE hanging in there!

It may seem like there is NO good news coming from the place you once called home…

But we've got news for you…  and it's NOT all bad!

 

Zimbabwe Community Support Group and Sharing Health Empowerment of Zimbabwe

invite you to a…

 

                                                            Down-to-earth            but                  Dynamic

                                                            Factual                       but                  Freeing

                                                            Realistic                     but                  Refreshing

 

M E E T I N G

 

FOR THE ZIMBABWEAN (AND EX-ZIMBABWEAN) COMMUNITY CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE UK and other interested parties

 

N.B.     This is NOT a political meeting of any sort

This is NOT a complaints forum regarding the state-of-the nation

 

This IS a meeting held by some of us who are working, living and "at the coal face"

in Zim…  We are visiting the UK and would like to encourage and update you about what is

happening "on the ground" in our day to day lives and what kind of a country you could expect

to come back to sometime, someday.

 

DATE               :       Monday 3rd March

TIME               :       7.30 – 8.30pm

PLACE               :       A pub of course,

                            Slug & Lettuce, Putney 14-16 Putney High Street, Putney                                          London SW15 1SL         Tel: 020 8785 3081

                            Directions available from www.slugandlettuce.co.uk

                    

WHO WE ARE       *       Mrs Debbie Jeans (BSc Hons, A.C.E. Personal Trainer, GFI)

                                                         Co-owner of Rolf Valley gym, Harare

                                                           Three time All African Gold Medallist in Women's judo

                                                            Wife and mother and dangerous Zimbabwean optimist

                                                *            Mrs Pauline Makoni (BSc Hons, MBA)

                                   Longstanding executive member of school boards

                                                            Renowned and respected pillar of the community     

                                                Fearless and relentless truth seeker

                                                *            Dr Ingrid Landman (MBChB, DCH. DObst)

                                   Founder Harare Well Woman Clinic

                                                            Chairman Zimbabwe HIV Clinicians' Society

                                                            Motivational speaker and champion petrol siphoner

 

zimbabweanmenwomenchildrenhivpositivehivnegativerichpooryoungoldnearfarsunshine

WE ARE PROUD TO CALL AFRICA HOME

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JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE LEGAL COMMUNIQUÉ - February 28, 2003

Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

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A further 16 farms were listed today for compulsory acquisition under
Section 5 notice in The Herald.  This brings to a total of 97 farms
issued with section 5 notices this year.

A total of 24 Section 8 orders have been served this week in the
Karoi/Tengwe area and one in the Trelawney area.

Farmers are advised that they must object to all Section 5 notices and make
every legal effort to have their Section 8 orders set aside in the High
Court even reissue Section 8 orders which have a 7 day maturity.  Those
farmers who had the first section 8 set aside in the High Court using the
Tengwe Estate precedent of bond holders or registered real right Holders
are less vulnerable in that both section 5 notice and section 8 order are
rendered invalid.  Hence a new process of acquisition has to be initiated
and the first Sec. 8 under each new process has a 90-day maturity period.
Most vulnerable are those who had their Section 8 orders set aside using
the Simon and Simon precedent of section 7 process being out of time in
that this sets aside the section 8 order and leaves the section 5 notice
valid if it is still under 2 years old. This allows for a re-issue section
8 order with a 7 day maturity.

However many farmers had both strategies available for challenge and before
the 25th October 2002 amendment number 2 these farmers were advised to work
back chronologically in the legal challenges i.e. challenge under Simon and
Simon first. This means that those farmers with both strategies available
having received re-issue Section 8 orders might still have grounds to
challenge if the new process under

Amendment number 2 has not been followed.  Likewise those farmers with no
procedural grounds to challenge could initiate a constitutional challenge
citing 2 precedents from the Quinnell case that are applicable; knowing
full well that the issue will be resolved by the Quinnell case, long before
their constitutional challenge comes to Court.  The interim relief ruling
granted to Quinnell should be applied and granted.  Likewise urgency should
be claimed.

Farmers requiring clarification on this should contact me urgently
(011-612595).

Likewise a recent legal communiqué relating to the new amendment (25th Oct)
is available electronically or from our office in hard copy.

J. W-Worswick
Vice Chairman,
JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE.

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IN THE NEWS TODAY

We commend James Morris, the United Nations special envoy for humanitarian
assistance to the southern African region, for squarely placing the blame
for the current famine where it belongs; on government. He said the biggest
cause of the famine was the land redistribution program, which has resulted
in thousands of productive farms lying idle. Government is blaming the
famine on drought, which Morris disputed in pointing out that this could
have been handled were it not for the land reform programme; restrictions
imposed on the private food-marketing sector and the monopoly on food
imports.  He opposed government's stance that the land reform has been a
success and that it will increase food security as white farmers focus on
cash crops, whilst black farmers focus on the staple maize. This was
reported in the Independent today, along with another article stating that
current maize imports were meeting less than half of the national demand of
about 150 000 tonnes per month. The poor harvest prospects and anticipated
low stock levels have resulted in initial estimates that Zimbabwe will need
to import between 930 000 tonnes and 1.3 million tonnes for 2003/4. The
Famine Early Warning System Network urged Government to start planning now
for finance to import the required maize. JAG takes their hats off to James
Morris for saying what needed to be said.

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JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE PR COMMUNIQUÉ - February 28, 2003

Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

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On Tuesday the 25th of February, I gave a radio interview on SW Radio
Africa with Georgina Godwin. Part of this interview related to reporting
the latest offensive by government authorities and agencies, which had
escalated gradually since the beginning of the year resulting in a gradual
increase in farmers being illegally displaced. There has been a total
disregard for where farmers stood with respect to the law and likewise
disregard for assurances given that farmers would not be interfered with
and would be allowed to harvest their crops. Deals brokered by farmers in
good faith, along the maximum farm size or cession of farms route were no
longer being formalised nor respected.

I drew attention to the fact that this offensive has escalated in the
previous few days and cited incidents of fresh section 8s (22) in Karoi/
Tengwe, increased pressure and threats of jambanjie in Triangle/Chiredzi
and Mash Central. I mention that there seemed to be a new political agenda
and schedule that could possibly see an increased illegal displacement in
line with a new possible political deadline.

I voiced our concern at JAG that recent illegal evictions had involved the
displacement of farmers and the leaving behind of standing crops, some of
which were being harvested, and all equipment; both tractors and implements
as well as irrigation equipment and allowance to take off household
contents only.

Our serious concerns related to the fact that many farmers had not received
bank support and consequently had extended their personal exposure way
beyond normal circumstances. I also stated that in terms of the law any
moveable assets defined in law as not embedded in the ground were not
covered by Section 8 compulsory acquisition and that farmers have every
right to remove such property but were being prevented illegally from doing
so.

I did a similar interview with the same station last night citing further
facts substantiating this current escalation. Namely two farmers being
illegally harassed in the Gwaai area, taken to the ZRP Station by the task
force and released later under the Justice Cheda ruling; a further 2
section 8 orders in Karoi/Tengwe; a jambanjie relating to forced illegal
eviction in Glendale/Concession and increased activities relating to farm
evictions and moveable asset removal in Chiredzi/Triangle.

We feel it is essential that this escalation is drawn to all farmers'
attention in that we feel they need to exercise due caution in their
dealings with the authorities and not fall into the trap of being induced
into a situation that can then be very easily escalated. Being availed of
all the facts as to what is happening elsewhere allow for informed decision
being made.

A situation arose from Mashonaland East province where a report was
received by CFU Head Office from the Regional Office that JAG had gone over
the Marondera Farm security radio network recommending that, in the light
of the new offensive, farmers should evacuate their farms.

This was very alarming to us at JAG in that:
1. The interview was on SW Africa Radio not the security network radio channel
and 2. No recommendation of the sort was given only cautionary advice.

Prompt follow up revealed, fortunately, that wires had crossed and that the
situation and report misrepresented. This had the makings of very serious
rumours and severe consequences.

Farmers are asked to phone in and double check before causing alarm and
despondency and endeavour to squash rumours not perpetrate them.

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INSPIRATION !

Soaring Above the Winds of Adversity.

As the eagle approaches an impending storm, it locks its wings into such a
position as to allow the force of the buffeting wind to lift it, the
forward motion of the wind striking the wings at just the right angle to
cause uplift.

In this way the force of the storm is deflected harmlessly downwards by
those magnificent wings, allowing the bird to soar to new and greater
heights. Rather than accept defeat, the eagle uses the force of the storm
to its own advantage, harnessing the very power that could destroy it.

Excerpt from Dr. David Molapo's "Lessons from the Eagles".

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JAG Sitrep February 28, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

In today's Herald Preliminary Notices were posted to compulsorily acquire
land (Section 5) in the following areas:
Hurungwe - 6
Mazoe - 4
Umzingwane - 2
Chegutu - 2
Harare South - 2

This is yet another instance disputing Government's assurances at the end
of August 2002 that the process of land acquisition was over. These empty
assurances have been flaunted internationally by Government's allies in
calling for the end of Zimbabwe's isolation.

Would the recipients of these notices please contact Justice for
Agriculture on 04 790 410.

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Press Statement from the Commercial Farmers’ Union of Zimbabwe
 
Although the Commercial Farmers’ Union is engaged in a dialogue with the Government on matters of principle, it has not been able to address specific issues of current concern to the farming community. Most of these issues arise from the disparity between what the Government says on the one hand and what actually happens on the other.
 
Such an issue is the now oft repeated statement that ‘the land reform process has now been completed.’ Since 31 August, 2002, some 314 additional farms have been listed for acquisition. Other farms are still being unilaterally taken over by persons acting without any official documentation from the Administrative Court confirming the acquisition.
 
In the course of our recent contact with the authorities, they have expressed some concern about the low level of production on the farms this season. So as to ensure that the little that had been planted was well cared for and marketed to the Nation’s benefit, we were assured that all disruptions on producing farms would be stopped and no further evictions or harassment would take place where crops and livestock were being tended. In stark contrast to this statement, the past weeks have seen more Section 8 Orders being served and farmers being forcibly evicted from farms with crops in the ground. Harassment of both management and workers by individuals and groups continues.
 
Although a desire has been expressed for a substantial winter crop to be grown, the theft and transportation of essential irrigation equipment continues unabated. Farmers expressing their right to remove such property, so as to protect it or offer it for sale for the benefit of others, are being unlawfully prevented from doing so. The Police will not intervene in this matter thereby confirming that the selective application of the law still prevails.
 
Under these conditions, the prospects of local producers and financiers making a significant joint contribution towards alleviating the nation-wide famine which now prevails, remain in jeopardy.
 
 
Colin Cloete
President, Commercial Farmers’ Union of Zimbabwe
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DISCLAIMER:
Unless specifically stated that this is a Commercial Farmers' Union communique, or that it is being issued or forwarded to you by the sender in an official CFU capacity, the opinions contained therein are private.  Private messages also include those sent on behalf of any organisation not directly affiliated to the Union.  The CFU does not accept any legal responsibility for private messages and opinions held by the sender and transmitted over its local area network to other CFU network users and/or to external addressees.
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africaonline

Zimbabwe heading for a winter of discontent?
Staff Reporter
HARARE, 28 February 2003
Signs of discontent within Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF appear to be growing
more public and more challenging to Mugabe's leadership.

HARARE: Signs of discontent within Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party seem to
be growing more public. Former finance minister Simba Makoni is emerging as
a party favourite to, someday, replace President Robert Mugabe.

Though he is a long time member of Zanu PF, Simba Makoni has never had a
large political profile in the party, but that may be changing. Earlier this
week he gave an interview to the Daily News, Zimbabwe's only independent
daily newspaper, in which he spelled out how he believed a national
government should work.

He spoke about a time when a national government would function alongside a
loyal opposition. While the two sides might have different ideologies, he
said, they would converge on matters of national interest.

Political observers say that Makoni's statement is significant because of
its implicit criticism of the way the Mugabe government operates now. The
interview is also likely to add to the speculation about looming political
change in Zimbabwe.

Andrew Nongogo, a respected political commentator in Harare, said this week
that about 90% of the leaders within Zanu PF now believe an honourable exit
had to be fashioned for President Mugabe.

Two camps

One camp supports the present speaker of the house of parliament, and former
liberation fighter, Emerson Mnungagwa, who failed to win his parliamentary
seat in the general elections of 2000. The other, more liberal, camp has
settled on Makoni, a technocrat who has opposed the often violent tactics of
Zanu PF.

Most observers believe that Nigeria and South Africa will be the
facilitators for arranging for the change in power. They say both countries
would prefer to see Makoni emerging as leader of a reformed Zanu PF.

But both Nigeria and South Africa want Zimbabwe's opposition, Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) party to stop its legal challenge to President
Mugabe's win at the presidential poll last year.

Political observers say the opposition's legal challenge, due to be heard in
the High Court in April, is the MDC's best bargaining chip.

This means that the party's legal challenge will most likely not be dropped
until guarantees are in place leading to a transitional authority and
internationally supervised presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

In the meantime, human rights monitors say violence is rising ahead of two
parliamentary by-elections next month within the Harare area.

(Voice of America News)

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SABC

            Zimbabwean farmers still being evicted
            February 28, 2003, 11:45




            Zimbabwe's commercial farmers are still being served with
eviction notices seven months after government officially declared the land
acquisition orders were over.

            Tension is mounting in Mashonaland, where Justice for
Agricultural, a farmers' pressure group, reports that 14 farmers were served
with eviction notices in the beginning of the month. The Commonwealth trioka
on Zimbabwe reported that the land reform had substantially ended last
August.

            Carlos, a South African farmer who requested that his identity
be kept secret, has been told to o vacate his farm, about 260 km north west
of Harare, by the end of the week. This comes despite winning a High Court
order last July to stay on the farm which government did not oppose.

            By last November, there were about 44 farmers left in the
district out of 176. With the new notices, quite a number will now have to
abandon their crop. However, the government says everything is in order.

            After having spent about 20 years on this farm, Carlos is left
desperate. Together with his farm workers they are now left stranded. Carlos
is contemplating leaving for Zambia to continue with his farming operations.
Equally desperate are his farm workers with no idea where they are to go
next.
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SABC

            19 priests arrested during protest in Zimbabwe
            February 28, 2003, 16:30


            Zimbabwe police have arrested 19 clergymen who had marched to
police headquarters to protest what they called a campaign of violence
against them. President Robert Mugabe's government, facing political and
economic crisis, has cracked down on protests as the country falls under the
international spotlight during the cricket World Cup, now being co-hosted by
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

            The churchmen, calling themselves the Zimbabwe National Pastors'
Conference (ZNPC) and carrying wooden crosses, marched to police
headquarters in central Harare and stood outside before police herded them
into two trucks and drove them away. A third truck packed with riot police
armed with batons and singing what appeared to be a mock religious song
followed close behind.

            An official at the ZNPC said the pastors had been taken to
Harare's central police station. "Our lawyers are with them as we speak," he
told Reuters.

            A police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
A petition addressed to the home affairs minister, which the clergymen
handed out to journalists before the march, accused police of disrupting a
Harare church meeting on February 13 and briefly detaining a leading
clergyman, Bishop Trevor Manhanga.

            "This unfortunate incident was among many cases of violence
against people, pastors and clergy in this country. We find this misuse of
police power completely objectionable and unacceptable," the petition said.

            Mugabe signed tough security legislation into law just before he
was re-elected in a controversial poll last March. The Public Order and
Security Act forbids public meetings without police clearance. Critics say
it is aimed at suppressing opposition to the government, and that
enforcement has been stepped up during this month's cricket tournament.

            Earlier this month, police arrested 73 people, mainly women,
after they handed out roses, sang songs and called for peace during
Valentine's Day protests. Those detained included seven journalists covering
the protest and a clergyman whose camera was confiscated after he videotaped
the demonstration.

            Zimbabwe is grappling with its worst economic crisis, fuelled by
soaring unemployment and food shortages, since Mugabe came to power after
independence from Britain in 1980. - Reuters
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Daily Telegraph

Fans find protest platform
By Martin Johnson  (Filed: 01/03/2003)


Zimbabwe (301-8) beat Holland (202-9) by 99 runs

They sang the home team's national anthem before the game, which ends with
the words, "this is our land, our Zimbabwe". A stirring sentiment indeed,
unless you happen to be a white farmer in which case it perhaps ought to end
"this used to be our land, Bob's Zimbabwe".

It is, in fact, the black population who are suffering most from the
desperate food situation in the heartland of Mugabe opposition - they're
boiling tree roots for soup in the nearby townships - and it was not
surprising when Zimbabwe's match against Holland here yesterday provided the
opportunity for an anti-government demonstration.

This sort of thing is not allowed, of course, and resulted in the police
moving in to confiscate banners reading, among other things, "We Want
Justice In Zimbabwe". And at least two of around 50 chanting demonstrators
received what passes for justice in Zimbabwe, from a police force modelled
more on the East German Stasi than Dixon of Dock Green.

The two demonstrators made the mistake of leaving the grassy bank to nip
behind a temporary stand to join the hot dog queue, and once out of sight of
the television cameras, it was collar-feeling time. This also happened after
the recent game against Australia here, and the customary fate for anyone
frogmarched to the cells for political agitation is to spend three nights in
custody. The first night to be taught the error of their ways, and the other
two to allow the bruising to subside.

The Zimbabwe situation has been a prominent feature of this World Cup, and
there has been much speculation that Henry Olonga, one of the two
black-armband protesters in Zimbabwe's opening match, has not played again
since as a result. However, a more likely explanation is Olonga's propensity
to be expensive in this type of cricket, along with the return of two
injured players.

Andy Flower - his co-protester - has remained in the team, though Flower was
telephoned by a selector before the Australia match and threatened with
being dropped for "not trying" against India. Meanwhile, the country has
more or less been split in half by the issue of whether visiting teams are
actually legitimising Mugabe's regime, and the Zimbabwean captain, Heath
Streak, who spoke out in favour of the matches going ahead, has received
enough hate mail to paper the walls of what remains of the family farm.

As for the match itself, it was an otherwise welcome diversion for people
whose friendliness is remarkable in the circumstance of a miserable
existence, and there was a lively and good humoured crowd inside the ground
despite an admission charge of 1,000 Zimbabwean dollars.

This is actually such a small sum that it will buy you only one-and-a-half
meat pies, but in Bulawayo one-and-a-half meat pies is something to kill
for. Literally, maybe, if things get much worse.

The singing and dancing were certainly not the result of a thrilling
contest, but the ICC are so money driven that the next World Cup will
probably include the likes of Papua New Guinea and the Outer Hebrides in an
effort to extend the preliminary rounds to several months. Perhaps they
should introduce a handicap system, as in the far-off days when England were
teaching the world how to play, and the 11 members of the MCC would take on
22 from New South Wales.

In the game Peter Willey declined to umpire in, Zimbabwe, put in to bat,
barely broke sweat in making 301 against a club standard attack and fielding
that can best be described as arthritic. Holland then scraped 200 for the
first time in the tournament, without getting remotely close to doing
England a favour. The permutations will keep going until the last group
game, Zimbabwe v Pakistan here at Queens Club on Tuesday.
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The Straits Times

Asian investors urged to consider Africa
By Simon Wilcox

IT IS a stirring vision: Asian tigers walking side by side with African
lions. But this is not a frame straight out of a National Geographic
documentary.

It is what the African nation of Zimbabwe hopes will be the future of trade
and economic relations between itself and Asian countries like Singapore.

Indeed, Africa is one of the last great frontiers for Singapore business,
offering opportunities to firms willing to take the plunge, said
technopreneur and MP Inderjit Singh.

'Our businessmen have gone to China, they've gone to Europe and the
Americas, but Africa is still an unexplored region for them,' he said on the
fringes of the launch of the Zimbabwe Exposition Centre.

The centre, located in Trade Mart Building, showcases African goods such as
textiles, wood carvings and sculpture.

'There are a lot of opportunities, not only in trading African agricultural
produce or African art products, but also in the manufacturing sector,' Mr
Singh added.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe opened the centre yesterday with an
impassioned plea for greater business cooperation between Africa and Asia.

'Zimbabwe's age-long reflex has been to do business with Europe', but the
opening of Zimbabwean expo centres in Singapore and Thailand this month and
Malaysia last year begins to 'actualise a vision of South-South trade'
between Africa and Asia, he said.

'I would like to see the entrepreneurial spirit of the Asian Tigers forge
bonds with the roar of the African lion.'

However, he said that for trade relations to grow, Asia and Africa need to
improve transport and logistics links.

Asia could also play an important role in helping Zimbabwe's agriculture
sector - the backbone of its economy - by providing offshore investment, he
added. Other areas of cooperation could be mining and manufacturing.

Zimbabwe is a small market of 12 million people, but as a member of the
Southern African Development Community, it can 'act as a hub for other
markets in Africa', he said.

The Zimbabwe expo centre is hosted by the Asian African Investment and Trade
Centre, a joint venture between Mr Singh's electronics trading and services
firm, Tri Star and Singaporean, Malaysian and Zimbabwean partners.
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Zimbabwe families lurch through country's hard times, quietly
criticize government

      DINA KRAFT, Associated Press Writer   Friday, February 28, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(02-28) 09:02 PST MABVUKU, Zimbabwe (AP) --

      It's the end of another long, hungry day. Chipo Riusika woke before
dawn for a job that no longer pays the bills, and her four children -- out
of school for lack of money -- stood in bread lines for hours under a fiery
sun.

      In Riusika's blue-collar neighborhood outside Harare, supplies are so
scarce and expensive that shoppers at the grocery buy cooking oil in minibar
bottles, rice by the handful and one egg at a time.

      The disintegrating economy has sent black market prices soaring. There
are shortages of everything from basic foods to cooking oil to detergent.
Lines for gasoline wrap in thick rows around city blocks and can last for
days.

      At night, Riusika and the youngsters huddle in the darkness of their
cramped cinderblock house at the end of a barren yard. The electricity was
turned off months ago, when the economic crisis first came home for the
Riusika family.

      In the afternoon shade, conversations among the women are punctuated
by bitter complaints about President Robert Mugabe and his government. Anger
simmers but is kept in check by fear of roving gangs of youths organized by
the government to silence dissent violently.

      "I have such pain," says 38-year-old Riusika, clutching her chest. "My
heart feels the pain. Others are going to school but my children are not. I
want them to make good livings, to be doctors, teachers."

      Riusika complains her salary as a security guard hasn't risen with
inflation -- which the government pegs at 195 percent but most economists
agree is closer to 400 percent -- and says she can no longer afford her
children's school fees.

      At the average black market rate, the real gauge of buying power,
Riusika's monthly pay is worth about $6.50, and a semester's tuition for her
four children runs about $6.

      Zimbabwe's vast corn and wheat fields once fed the region, and its
plentiful tobacco crops brought in foreign capital. But agriculture has
crumbled in the wake of erratic rains and Mugabe's often violent land reform
program, and hunger threatens more than half the population of about 13
million.

      Thousands of white-owned commercial farms have been seized since 2000
for redistribution to landless blacks, ruling party officials and their
relatives. Fields now lie fallow and support only subsistence crops.

      Even when Riusika scrapes the money together for a complete meal,
there is often nothing available to buy. Sometimes she cannot get to work
because the bus is out of gas.

      The family often gets by on one meal a day: a few vegetables and rice.
The children say they miss sadza, Zimbabwe's staple of cornmeal mush.

      The price of a 22-pound bag of cornmeal is fixed at about 50 U.S.
cents -- but is usually only available on the black market at 10 times that
amount.

      The grocer is talkative, but refuses to give his name, saying he is
afraid of the government's young enforcers. In an adjacent room his
1-year-old daughter is crying. She has malaria, but he says he can't afford
to send her to the hospital.

      The anger toward Mugabe overcomes others' fear as the afternoon wears
on.

      "We are tired of the government, we are tired of him. They are causing
the food shortage and we are starving," says Fungayi Katema, 39, a bone-thin
mother of three in a threadbare green dress.

      She rails against the government's excuses. "You cannot blame the
drought. It is because the government chased away the commercial farmers and
gave away the land to people ill-equipped to farm."

      Some of her neighbors, wary of beatings and harassment for such blunt
talk, send disapproving glances, but Katema continues boldly: "It's not a
secret life is tough in Zimbabwe. Everyone is talking about it."

      Sitting next to her, a 5-year-old boy writes in the dirt with a stick
the letters MDC -- which stands for Movement for Democratic Change, the main
opposition party, whose leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is on trial on treason
charges.

      And while the flame from a kerosene-soaked rag softens the darkness of
her sparse home, Riusika speaks of the faith she still tries to put in
prayer and song.

      "I pray to God for a better life, for food, and for my family," she
says, then begins to sway and sing.

      "Every burden becomes a blessing ..." she sings, her whispery, lilting
voice trailing off. She shakes her head in frustration.
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Zimbabwe celebrate day of defiance

Andy Flower and Henry Olonga's spirit of rebellion spread to the Queens
Sports Club crowd on Friday as Zimbabwe defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs
to keep their World Cup dream alive.

After making 301-8, Zimbabwe restricted the Dutch to 202-9 off their 50
overs but the Group A game was overshadowed by the controversy over the two
players' ongoing anti-Robert Mugabe protest.

First, it was claimed that the Zimbabwe selectors had insisted on playing an
unfit Douglas Hondo rather than reverting to obvious replacement Olonga as a
continuing punishment for his black armband protest against the regime.

Then, as the Dutch began their reply, Flower left the field injured to be
replaced by Olonga, serving as 12th man.

Both men were wearing heavy, think white armbands to extend their protest
having been warned to desist with the black arm and wristbands by the
Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU).

Olonga's arrival was greeted with a huge roar from the 3000-strong crowd
before two protest banners were unfurled - one saying 'Mugabe equals Hitler'
and the other claiming 'Zimbabwe Needs Justice.'

Some spectators started to sing as police moved in to confiscate the
banners. One of the crowd said the words to the song meant: 'We hate what
you are doing to us.'

On the pitch, Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak was named man-of-the-match for
his 44 runs and 1-36 and said everything was coming together well in time
for the crunch clash against Pakistan here on Tuesday.

"We planned to win and win well today," said Streak.

"The match against Pakistan is a huge game and we'll take a lot of positives
from this win. We are bowling a lot straighter than we were and hopefully
that will continue so we can gave them a hard time."

The win kept Zimbabwe in fourth place in the table on 12 points just behind
England on run-rate with Pakistan in fifth place on eight points.

The Dutch run chase got off to a solid start as Feiko Kloppenburg and Edgar
Schiferli put on 41 runs in the first 11 overs.

But then Bas Zuiderent was run out after a brilliant piece of fielding by
Dion Ebrahim for 15 while leg-spinner Brian Murphy applied the brakes taking
3-44 from his ten overs.

His wickets included dangerman Tim de Leede for one and Luuk van Troost who
made 26 off 25 balls while Olonga refused to be left out of the action when
he took a catch in the deep to dismisss Henk Mol.

Daan van Bunge top-scored for the Dutch with 37.

Earlier, Andy Flower smashed 71 off 72 balls while Andy Blignaut followed up
his 54 against Australia with 58 off 38 balls. Streak clattered 44 off 22
before being dismissed off the last ball.

AFP
Sunday Times (SA)

Crowds protest at Zimbabwe game

BULAWAYO - Part of the crowd at the Zimbabwe v Netherlands World Cup match
unfurled banners and sang protest songs aimed at the regime of president
Robert Mugabe.

A banner reading "Mugabe equals Hitler" was displayed in the 3,000-strong
crowd while, moments later, two men, one black and one white, ran alongside
the banking of the Queens Sports Club carrying another sign claiming
"Zimbabwe Needs Justice."

Some spectators started to sing as around ten police officers moved in to
confiscate the banners.

One of the crowd said the words to the song meant: "We hate what you are
doing to us."
Despite the police presence, one of the fans told said: "As far as I can
tell there were no arrests."

The protest was picked up by the TV cameras inside the ground.

The mood of defiance was bolstered when Henry Olonga, dropped from the
starting line-up because of his black armband protest against Mugabe,
appeared as a substitute fielder taking the place, ironically, of fellow
protestor Andy Flower who was injured.

AFP
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IOL

Zimbabwe deliver final insult to Olonga

      February 28 2003 at 12:52PM

Bulawayo - Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga was left in no doubt on Friday
that his international career was over when it was claimed the selectors had
chosen an injured player ahead of him for the World Cup clash against the
Netherlands.

Olonga, who joined teammate Andy Flower in a black armband protest against
the regime of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, was dropped after playing
the first match of the tournament against Namibia.

He missed the games with India and Australia and learnt on Friday that
Douglas Hondo had been selected to face the Dutch despite aggravating a
groin strain against Australia.

A report in London claimed that Olonga, the only viable alternative to
Hondo, was ignored because of his protest against Mugabe.

His fellow protestor Andy Flower has continued to play and has since
exchanged a black wristband for white armbands to carry on his protest
despite coming under severe pressure from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU)
to abandon the gesture which also included a statement from the two players
mourning 'the death of democracy' in the country.

The report added that the ZCU is sticking rigidly to a policy of fielding
three black players in every game and Olonga was the only other black player
who could come in for Hondo.

"Henry is already half-thinking that his career is half-over," Flower said.

"He's very pessimistic about his chances of ever representing Zimbabwe
again.

"But we've got to make sure that doesn't happen again. It's appalling that
he's not playing against Holland in place of Hondo, but we have to start by
doing something about this scandal of him not being allowed to field."

Flower was reportedly going to be dropped for the game against Australia for
"gross insubordination" before his teammates threatened to go on strike and
secured his place in the side.

Olonga was last week sacked by his domestic team, Takashinga Cricket Club,
following his black armband protest. - Sapa-AFP
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Assessment of Farmworkers, Resettled Farmers, Underway

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

February 28, 2003
Posted to the web February 28, 2003

Johannesburg

An assessment to determine the number of farmworkers and resettled farmers
in Zimbabwe in need of food aid is currently underway following reports that
this sector may have to be added to the list of at least 7.2 million people
who already need food aid in the country.

"We have concentrated on people in the communal areas but we recognise that
there are [food] needs in some of the communal farming areas," World Food
Programme (WFP) Zimbabwe country representative Kevin Farrell told IRIN on
Friday.

He said he had been informed that "some" farmworkers and resettled farmers
in Mashonaland, Matabeleland and Masvingo faced uncertainty about their food
security but the numbers of people affected and the extent of their needs
was currently being assessed.

"We are conducting surveys to get a handle on the numbers involved and hope
to have reliable information soon," Farrell said.

"The issues farmers face now are a result of the past growing season where
the country had an unmistakeable drought which affected production in the
2002 season," he explained. "This is the hungry season," he said referring
to the period that farmers' stocks from last year were finished while new
crops are not yet ready to eat.

He said that in addition, farmers resettled on vacated land, had battled
with seed and fertiliser and did not have heavy equipment for ploughing.
Some did not even have draught power.

A recent Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) report said that
the number of commercial farmworkers affected by the fast-track resettlement
programme had increased from about 488,000 in August to about 1 million in
December 2002.

This was due to the government's fast track resettlement programme which,
the report said, left between 600 and 1,000 commercial farms operational.
This was a sharp decrease from about 3,000 farms last year and about 4,400
when the land reform programme started in 2000.

Compounding difficulties associated with the land reform programme has been
a drought in many parts of the country and an economic crisis which has
increased inflation and made food purchases difficult for families with
cash.

Earlier this week FEWS NET urged NGOs, donors and the government, to prepare
to extend the current Emergency Operation, which ends in March, for another
year, due to worrying indications that the next harvest will not meet the
country's food needs.

Current maize imports were coming in at less than half the national demand
of about 150,000 mt per month and, combined with poor harvest prospects and
anticipated low stock levels, initial estimates suggest that Zimbabwe will
need to import between 930,000 mt and 1.3 million mt of maize for 2003/4.

Meanwhile, Farrell and Sir Brian Donnelly, the British High Commissioner,
signed an agreement this week for Britain to donate US $8.5 million to WFP.

The money willl contribute to WFP feeing programmes in Zimbabwe until the
middle of this year, when a new appeal is expected for the country.

In exchanging the documents with the British High Commissioner, Farrell
said: "WFP is very grateful for this extremely generous donation and ongoing
support from the United Kingdom."
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Mmbegi, Botswana

      Zim. spies stalk Botswana?

      RYDER GABATHUSE
      2/28/2003 12:18:03 PM (GMT +2)

      FRANCISTOWN: The arrest of a Zimbabwean police officer in the village
of Mabudzane has confirmed fears that Francistown and the North-East
District could be home to a number of Zimbabwean spies. It is believed that
members of Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation have been deployed
in Francistown and North-East District.





      A local newspaper has reported the arrest and prosecution of Collen
Mabaya at the Monarch Customary Court. He was reportedly sentenced to six
months wholly suspended for a year. Mabaya is alleged to be a Bulawayo based
policeman. He has since pleaded guilty for working in the country without a
work and residence permit. He is alleged to have been working for a local
designer when he was nabbed. The arrest of Mabaya is viewed to be a tip of
an iceberg by those in the know. "More of these guys are employed illegally
around and they are many," suggested a middle-aged man who spoke on
condition of anonymity. He encouraged the police to do their best to get rid
of the spies. He said the police should not simply arrest and deport
Zimbabweans, but they must "work on them thoroughly to establish their
reasons for coming here". He feels it is not safe for a number of
Zimbabweans and security officers. Last year a number of skeletal remains
were spotted around Francistown and the North-East. The majority of the
remains were positively identified as those of Zimbabweans. Up to now the
cause of deaths remain mysterious.

      Prior to the presidential elections in Zimbabwe last year, there were
reports that members of the CIO were regulars visitors in Francistown
nightclubs and other areas. They were said to be monitoring the movements of
members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who were
suspected to be operating secretly here. A Botswana newspaper even reported
the arrest of some suspected CIOs in the Dukwe Refugee camp who were
allegedly spying on the presence of MDC members in the camp.

      The rumour mill has it that the spying at the Centre for illegal
immigrants at the Gerald Estate, the Police Stations and the Kgotla has been
top priority for the operatives. The officers are alleged to be searching
for concrete evidence supporting recent reports of the abuse of illegal
Zimbabwean immigrants at the hands of the Botswana police. Some Zimbabweans
shopping in Francistown are alleged to have spotted members of the Zimbabwe
police alighting from a bus that plies the Bulawayo-Gaborone route. The trio
is alleged to have dropped in Francistown at night.
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Comment from ZWNEWS, 28 February


Devaluing the truth

By Michael Hartnack


As the Zimbabwe crisis deepens, so the gap between the regime's rhetoric and
reality widens. Last week state radio took Orwellian doublespeak to new
depths when it announced that a slide in the official rate of exchange for
the US dollar from Zimbabwe $55 to Zimbabwe $800 was "not a devaluation." It
was merely a move to "assist exporters and stimulate the economy". The
devaluation (announced, typically, while Robert Mugabe was out of the
country) still fails to bring the official exchange rate into line with the
more realistic underground or "parallel market" of Zimbabwe $1 500 to the US
dollar. At the root of the problem is the belief that the state can force
anyone with something valuable - in this case, foreign currency - to hand it
over to the ruling elite for a fraction of its real worth at international
rates. Mugabe has always believed he can get the productive sector to
subsidise the cost of chronic bad governance. If production collapses, this
is due to lack of patriotism on the part of owners and managers. In similar
vein, while it poured with rain in Harare on Mugabe's 79th birthday last
week and he celebrated with his young wife Grace in an opulent Paris hotel
suite during a French-Africa summit, ruling Zanu PF publicity chief Nathan
Shamuyarira repeatedly announced the anniversary would be marked only by
"modest, low key celebrations because of the drought." Modesty and economy
did not stop the publication of a 10-page supplement of congratulations in
the state-controlled Herald. An amazing array of bankrupt enterprises,
including the Grain Marketing Board, bought advertising space - at the
expense, ultimately, of the Zimbabwean taxpayer and consumer.


Again, while Mugabe insists there will be no going back on a rigid system of
price controls, deputy minister Shuvai Mahofa was caught selling maize meal
at her rural store for four times the legal maximum - and given a trifling
fine. There is no question of Mugabe demanding her resignation, since he
turned a blind eye to past criminal activities, including forgery of a
liquor licence. And there is also no question of politicians such as Mahofa
ever putting national interest before their own selfish survival - Mugabe
has too much "on" her. Meanwhile acting president Simon Muzenda and the Zanu
PF principal spokesman in London, George Shire, blamed all Zimbabwe's
hardships on five years of British-sponsored "sanctions" - their way of
describing 1998 loss of aid due to concealed multi-billion dollar spending
on Mugabe's Congo military adventure and gross breach of all agreed
conditions.


Every attempt to get the regime and Zanu PF to confront the honest facts of
Zimbabwe's situation fails - and their foreign friends, notably South
Africa, Nigeria and Namibia, egg them on. Namibia's President Sam Nujoma
declared recently "he knows of no human rights abuses under Mugabe". The
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation announced that a standing commission of
South African and Zimbabwean diplomats and civil servants met in Harare
February 17 and 18. The commission praised President Thabo Mbeki's
"principled stand on the situation in Zimbabwe"; congratulated Nigeria for
telling Australia that Zimbabwe's isolation should end; and "visited the
rural areas and applauded the success of the land reform programme". The
magazine Africa Confidential published an official Zimbabwe internal audit
on land redistribution which confirmed a well-known fact - that the
influential elite have cornered massive holdings for themselves and are busy
trying to evict rural people who were earlier encouraged to chase away the
white owners. Mugabe's sister, Sabina, military chiefs, and information
minister Jonathan Moyo were named. Africa Confidential reported that
presenting the audit, Vice President Joseph Msika said: "It is very
important to take urgent corrective measures, particularly where the
leadership is perpetrator of anomalies, as the general public is restive...a
multitude of people are still on the waiting list."


No amount of doublespeak can hide from the Zimbabwean people and business
community that the regime has suffered a massive loss of credibility over
maintaining the level of the currency. However, those who really felt the
Zanu PF ship of state lurch alarmingly under their feet will have been
Mahofa and her farm-grabbing colleagues, now afflicted by deep feelings of
insecurity. It was reported last week in South Africa that Mbeki still
thinks the Zanu PF ship can be kept afloat by a new helmsman, in the form of
ex-finance minister Simba Makoni, and is making yet another effort to bring
that about. Here, we are watching for a stampede for seats in the
first-class lifeboats.
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Business Day

      EU considers mission to SA for talks on Zimbabwe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
      It is not clear whether Mugabe would accept Europe's attempt to
mediate
      International Affairs Editor

      THE European Union (EU) is considering sending a high-level mission to
SA and other countries in the region as part of an attempt to break the
impasse over Zimbabwe.

      EU and SA diplomats will discuss the possibilities of the visit, which
may enable the Europeans to keep up talks with African nations despite the
postponement of a forthcoming summit in Lisbon with African leaders.

      In view of EU's targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu (PF)
elite, it is not possible for President Robert Mugabe to be invited to the
Lisbon event. Should he not be invited, the summit is likely to be boycotted
by other African leaders.

      If the visit by the European group goes ahead, it would be the first
attempt by the EU to play a mediating role in Zimbabwe.

      Making up the troika would be senior civil servants from the foreign
ministries of Denmark, Greece and Spain the past, present and future
presidents of the European Council. The report on its mission to Africa
would feed into European foreign ministers' talks later this month.

      Whether any effort to mediate would be accepted by Harare is not clear
because of the EU's targeted sanctions against Harare. Earlier this month SA
and Nigeria accused Australia, the third country on the troika established
by the Commonwealth, of preempting decisions on Zimbabwe's membership of the
group by imposing sanctions.

      The leader of a group of members of the European Parliament presently
touring SA, Gerard Collins, a former Irish foreign minister, said yesterday
he hoped the troika would identify options for a settlement.

      Collins hoped the EU troika would advise Europe on measures to stop
the use of food as a political weapon in Zimbabwe.

      The European Parliament criticised France for inviting Mugabe to the
Franco-African summit, and called on SA and other southern African countries
to put pressure on Zimbabwe and demand new presidential elections.

      Collins said he did not think that the differences between SA and the
EU would affect "a good relationship" negatively.

      Relations between African countries and the EU were soured last year
when African parliamentarians walked out of a meeting with members of the
European parliament.

      The walkout out was in protest to the refusal by the European
Parliament to allow Zimbabwean MPs to attend the meeting.


      Feb 28 2003 06:47:03:000AM Jonathan Katzenellenbogen Business Day 1st
Edition

       Friday
      28 February 2003
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Business Day

Mugabe's allies could regret their support for yesterday's hero

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZIMBABWEANS often refer jokingly to President Robert Mugabe as the
proverbial cat with nine lives.
Indeed, how many times has this 79-year-old strongman been written off in
his 23 years in power, and yet remained firmly in charge to the extent
predictions of his imminent demise now often elicit yawns from
long-suffering Zimbabweans rather than the excitement one might expect to
see generated?

And after a shaky start to this year, when even his most trusted lieutenants
were working towards expediting his exit from the political arena, Mugabe's
tail is up again.

Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo have just put their reputations
on the line by recommending to the Commonwealth the lifting of Harare's
suspension from the 54-nation bloc, made up mostly of former British
colonies apparently because Mugabe has promised to mend his ways.

Similarly, the Nonaligned Movement has also taken the view that Mugabe is a
victim of western machinations and has thus expressed warm solidarity with
him.

And obviously cognisant of the fact that he is back in vogue with some of
his peers, Mugabe opened the final day of the nonaligned summit in Malaysia
this week with a blistering attack on western powers, particularly the US
and Britain, speaking in his usual eloquent way of the dawn of a new age of
colonialism and new liberal imperialism inflicted on the developing nations
of the world.

"Colonialism now assumes a varied form, and seeks to garner all of us of the
third world as we get globally villagised under false economic pretences,"
he thundered, citing the "presidential fiasco" in which George Bush's
victory was declared only after a ruling by a Republican judge-dominated US
supreme court.

He compared this with his own contested victory in Zimbabwe's presidential
election last year, asking: "Is it not ironical that Mr Bush, who was not
elected, should deny my legitimacy established by many observer groups from
Africa and the third world? Who should the world impose sanctions on, Robert
Mugabe or George Bush?"

Mugabe was clearly suffering a bit from temporary amnesia, forgetting to
tell the august gathering that more than 60% of Zimbabwe's food aid is
coming from the US to stave off the biting famine in his country, and in
which his government has played a starring but negative role (aid now
accounts for more than half of the food supplies in the country once
considered the region's granary).

But I am digressing. The important issue is why nations such as SA and
Nigeria are willing to put their own relations with the developed world at
risk given what they stand to lose in the long-term and the unpredictability
of Mugabe.

Also, are Mugabe's sympathisers willing to vote with their pockets to pull
him out of the economic mess he has dug himself into, to the extent that
Zimbabwe now has to rely on food aid from Washington?

It would seem to me that the developing world and Africa in particular are
taking too long to wake up to the fact that Mugabe may have been a hero for
a long time, but is now yesterday's man. Whatever they think, he will be
history soon, for the vast majority of Zimbabweans don't think that he is
the right man to lead them out of the current political and economic crisis
gripping their country.

The cause of his ultimate fall are easy to diagnose: the deadly mix of the
country's deteriorating economy, and the Young Turks in his party too
impatient to await his formal retirement.

Before, Mugabe had only to contend with the likes of white minority leader
Ian Smith, the late Zimbabwe African Patriotic Union leader Joshua Nkomo,
and lately Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change all of
whom he has largely neutralised, by using an evil menu of brutal strategies
and these opponents have, in truth, often proved to be manageable.

The economy, now in its worst state since independence in 1980, is proving
to be an insurmountable problem for Mugabe, who has tried everything within
his power in the past 15 years to mitigate the situation; from half-hearted
structural adjustment programmes to the current and disastrous price
controls but all to no avail.

The net result is that shortages of many basic commodities such as staples
maize-meal, bread, sugar, salt and fuel have become the order of the day.
And when these goods have been available, the prices have been ridiculously
high and well beyond the reach of most Zimbabweans.

The shortage of fuel has also meant that even those few businesses that have
battled gamely against the odds to survive, are now slowly grinding to a
halt.

Their closure, worsening the country's official unemployment rate of more
than 60%, is deepening the socioeconomic crisis facing the country.

It is a grim picture indeed, which makes Africa's endorsement of Harare even
more puzzling.

Goko is Deputy Editor.


Feb 28 2003 06:54:41:000AM  Business Day 1st Edition
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Business Report

Zimbabwean petrol increase 'first of five'
Independent Foreign Service
February 28 2003 at 08:22AM
Harare - This week's petrol price rise in Zimbabwe was the first of between
three and five increases, Zimbabwean economist John Robertson warned
yesterday.

The price would have to rise further. "I can't see how they can get away
with a pump price of less than Z$350 [about R53] to Z$400 a litre."

He was speaking a day after Zimbabwe industry minister Amos Midzi almost
doubled the price of petrol, raising the cost of a litre from Z$74.47 to
Z$145.20.

Diesel, the country's most used fuel, rose to Z$119.43 a litre, 80 percent
up on the previous cost of Z$66.39. Jet A1 fuel almost quadrupled to
Z$220.75 a litre.

Midzi told state radio the rise was necessary for viability, especially at
the state-owned oil importer, the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, or
Noczim.

"You know the price of fuel was half that of bottled water," Midzi said.
"Even this increase isn't sufficient to solve Noczim's problems."

Noczim, which has a monopoly on fuel imports, has been selling fuel to oil
companies at a substantial loss for about three years.

Zimbabwe's petrol has been retailing at less than half the cost of locally
produced bottled water and about a quarter of the price of a litre of
Coca-Cola since the last price rise in June 2001.

Noczim has been buying fuel with money sourced on the black market, where
the exchange rate is Z$1 500 to the US dollar.

Robertson said the price of fuel would be determined by Zimbabwe's recent
devaluation of its currency to exporters.

"The situation is still confused. No one knows whether exporters will get
Z$800 to the US dollar for half their exports or Z$800 to US$1 for all of
them.

"If exporters are getting Z$800 to US$1 for only half their exports and the
other half is being paid at the old rate of Z$55 to the US dollar, then the
price will have to rise to much higher than Z$350 a litre to about Z$1 000 a
litre."

Last week Zimbabwe's finance minister said the currency would be devalued
for exports.

Announcing a new rate of Z$800 to the US dollar, he stopped short of
explaining how the new payment system would work.

Exporters are sharply divided on whether they will receive all their money
at the new rate or only half, as was the case before the announcement.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper said that oil companies might be
allowed to import their own fuel, bringing Noczim's monopoly to an end. -
Independent Foreign Service
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Fuel Crisis Forces Council to Suspend Most Services



The Herald (Harare)

February 28, 2003
Posted to the web February 28, 2003

Mercy Pote
Harare

HARARE City Council has temporarily suspended most of its services owing to
the fuel crisis.

The city council yesterday said some of the services that have been affected
included refuse collection, refurbishment of roads, repairing of street
lights and robots as well as grass cutting.

However, essential services such as the ambulance and the fire brigade are
still running.

Chief public relations officer Mr Cuthbert Rwazemba said most of the trucks
were grounded since the beginning of the week.

"Our fuel station is dry - we have no diesel and petrol. That means all
services that require movement of personnel and material from one point to
the other have been severely compromised. The greater part of our heavy and
light vehicles are grounded," he said.

Mr Rwazemba confirmed that there were repairs that needed to be attended to
such as the refurbishment of roads, the filling in of potholes, the
repairing of burst pipes and robots but there was nothing that the council
could do as long as they was no fuel.

Council last week issued a statement advising all residents that the city
council and its refuse collection contractors might fail to stick to their
usual garbage collection schedules. During this period, Mr Rwazemba urged
residents to stop dumping garbage in open spaces recommending that they bury
uncollected garbage in pits.
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