The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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A QUESTION OF TRUTH

 

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The following statement, A QUESTION OF TRUTH, was published by the Major Religious Superiors of Zimbabwe (women and men) in advertising space in the Daily News, an independent daily paper published in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday, May 2, 2003.

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The Church is not bound to any economic, political or social system, but it is bound to ask: What is the prevailing system doing to our people?

As leaders of the Roman Catholic Congregations of Religious in Zimbabwe, we feel duty-bound to ask questions of those responsible for the current critical situation affecting the lives of the people we serve.

We wish to support those who have spoken out courageously against the abuse of human rights. We welcome and support the Bishops Lenten Pastoral Letter which highlights the current problems in our society, and calls for the re-establishment of an environment of Peace and Justice which encourages the full participation of all citizens in the affairs of their nation.This should be based on the four pillars of Peace, namely Truth, Justice, Love and Freedom.

We ask forgiveness for the times when our Church or members of it, have aligned themselves with regimes that did not promote the values of the Gospel, or have remained silent in the face of injustice and evil. We pledge from now on to speak with one voice and act as one body to promote Gospel values.

We challenge the actions and policies of any regime or group that is causing division and disquiet and ignoring human rights in our country. On behalf of the voiceless and marginalized, we question our Government as follows.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Why, when we are not at war, are there shortages of food, fuel and essential goods, requiring ordinary citizens to queue for hours? Why, as a former contributor to the World Food Programme, are we now facing severe famine? Why is the economic infrastructure so debilitated that the import and distribution of sufficient food is threatened? Why, when food is distributed, are there corrupt and partisan practices at local level?

We ask our leaders to come and see, to listen to the plight of our people, to ensure that food is distributed fairly, and local corruption challenged.

ECONOMY: Why have so many businesses closed, prices reached unreasonable levels, a blackmarket been allowed to flourish, and normal trade been hampered? Why are most of the workforce unemployed, the school leavers without prospects of employment, and young people required to do Youth Service of dubious morality? Why do so many of the most highly qualified of our society leave the country every week?

We ask our leaders to revise policies, which are causing economic havoc and enact those which create security and hope.

COLLAPSED HEALTH SYSTEM: Why, when we have an HIV/AIDS pandemic, is the health delivery system being allowed to collapse?

We urge our leaders to come and see the shortage of doctors and nurses, of equipment and drugs, and the pain of our patients.

PLIGHT OF THE YOUTH: Why are scarce resources being poured into the National Youth Service, whose products, rather than serving the community, intimidate and harass them? Why are the communities witnessing the breakdown of a once vibrant educational system, where teachers are now poorly paid, children are dropping out of school, boarding schools are in financial crisis, and resources and morale are at their lowest ebb?

We urge our leaders to disband the militia, and restore our countrys educational reputation.

A PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR OF VIOLENCE: Why have the Law and Order agents and Judiciary ceased to protect ordinary citizens, become oppressive and have lost all credibility? Why are people living in fear of violence, torture and imprisonment for speaking out, for meeting in public and for voting for people or parties of their choice?

We urge that the rule of Law be restored, that torture, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and beatings cease and the climate of fear be removed by a call to genuine reconciliation and the acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

A QUESTION OF TRUTH: Why is the truth of the situation being manipulated and controlled through propagandist media laws?

We urge that people no longer be deceived, and that free expression and reporting be encouraged.

MORAL DECAY: Why is the moral ethos of Zimbabwean society being undermined by violence, intimidation, corruption, polarization and indifference to the sufferings of our citizens?

We urge our leaders to make strenuous efforts towards unity, and to dialogue with all interested parties within Zimbabwe, and with other nations, to resolve the crisis.

CONCLUSION: We wish to know the truth. We appeal to those who have it within their power to change the situation, to let their hearts be touched, to act responsibly for the Common Good, or we will all be held responsible for the destruction of our own people. History will condemn us.

We call on all members of our Church, to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God.(Micah 6:8). Jesussingle new commandment was that we love one another as he has loved us. In this spirit, we shall try to influence those who have not heard the message of the Gospel or heeded its call.



With the world engaged and preoccupied with the madness of war, let us show that we can draw back from the brink of destruction and our own violent responses, and seek the way of peace and prosperity for all the people of Zimbabwe.

(Issued by the Major Superiors of Religious Congregations of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe, and availed to CISA courtesy of Fr Oskar Wermter SJ, of the Jesuit Communications in Harare, Zimbabwe)

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Daily News

      Strike switches off ZESA

      5/21/2003 7:55:51 AM (GMT +2)


      By Precious Shumba Staff Reporter

      NATIONAL strategic institutions such as the Harare International
Airport and the Morton Jaffray water Works and residential suburbs in Harare
yesterday suffered several intermittent power cuts, barely a day after
technical staff at the State-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Supplies Authority
(ZESA) went on a work stoppage demanding higher pay.

      It was unclear late last night whether the power cuts were a result of
sabotage, or the regular load-shedding by ZESA or genuine equipment
breakdowns in the absence of workers.

      The workers, when asked by this reporter if they had switched off
electricity at the key institutions, insisted that the blackouts were a
result of normal breakdowns which they could not attend to because of the
strike.

      Steven Pieron, ZESA's Harare area manager, confirmed there had been
some genuine faults which had caused the power cuts and had coincided with
the strike.

      "There were genuine faults at Parkridge power station which affected
those strategic institutions and the western suburbs," he told The Daily
News.

      "There was nothing underhand and it had nothing to do with the strike.
Some ZESA engineers restored electricity supplies in the morning."

      Residents in areas such as Houghton Park, Waterfalls, Southerton,
warren Park, Budiriro and Kuwadzana had no electricity on Monday evening and
most of yesterday.

      Cuthbert Rwazemba, the spokesman for the Harare City Council,
yesterday confirmed that the council had experienced what he called
disturbances in the water pumping rate due to the power cuts.

      In a statement, Rwazemba said most of the city's water reservoirs were
low.

      "We experienced power surges at Morton Jaffray and Prince Edward water
works this morning (yesterday). Morton Jaffray resumed pumping with five big
pumps at around 9am. We are now pumping with two pumps each to Alex and
Letombo. Prince Edward is still not pumping," he said.

      Rwazemba said Alex was pumping water to Highlands and there was no
pumping through Hatcliffe and Philadelphia lines. Letombo, though
operational, was not pumping to Donnybrook and Greendale, as it should, by
the close of business yesterday.

      Steve Nhuta, acting general manager responsible for marketing at Air
Zimbabwe, said the national airline experienced unusual power cuts at around
3pm but it was unclear if these had anything to do with the ZESA strike or
the outages caused by load-shedding.

      ZESA has been regularly cutting off power in the past two months to
try to conserve electricity because it does not have enough hard cash to pay
for power imports from neighbouring nations.

      Nhuta said the blackouts had severely hit Air Zimbabwe's internal
electronic systems, including computers.

      Anthony Mandiwanza, president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe
Industries, would not comment on the impact of the ZESA strike yesterday,
saying he was attending a national executive meeting.

      Workers at ZESA downed tools on Monday to press for higher pay and the
sacking of Sydney Gata, the executive chairman of the power utility.

      They are demanding a basic salary of $125 000 a month, which is
more-or-less what unions now say should be the minimum wage in Zimbabwe's
hyper-inflationary climate.
      The workers yesterday staged demonstrations at Harare's workington
Power Station, where they held placards, some of which read: "Gata must go."

      ZESA on Monday said the workers had gone on strike without following
proper procedures or informing the corporation's management as required by
law.

      But the workers say Gata, who is President Robert Mugabe's
brother-in-law, must go because of his alleged extravagance. They also
accuse senior management of "abusing" ZESA's pension Fund.

      A representative of the Zimbabwe Electricity Energy Workers' Union,
who declined to be named, said: "The workers are bitter with Gata's personal
expenditure which includes four secretaries and eight vehicles for his
personal use. He has authorised the purchase of new cars almost every
 month."

      Gata, who has successfully negotiated with several Zimbabwean
companies to pay for their power in foreign exchange and thus staved off
deeper and more crippling power cuts, could not be reached for comment up to
last night.

      His public relations department did not respond to several telephone
calls from this newspaper during most of yesterday.

      However, ZESA issued a statement last night saying the strike was
premature and against the "true spirit of negotiations".

      The statement said: "ZESA is in the process of negotiating with
workers' representatives to subsequently award increases that will cushion
the workers' welfare in light of the inflationary economic conditions. ZESA
is a utility that provides essential services to the nation and workers
should be reminded that their premature demonstration is against national
interests."
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Daily News

      CIO to investigate Ben-Menashe fraud

      5/21/2003 8:03:55 AM (GMT +2)


      Court Reporter

      CENTRAL Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss Happyton Bonyongwe
promised under cross-examination yesterday to investigate defence claims
that Ari Ben-Menashe, the star witness in the trial of three senior
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials, could have
defrauded the government of US$25 000 (Z$20,6 million).

      South African advocate George Bizos, who is representing the MDC
officials, alleged in the High Court that Ben-Menashe inflated the costs of
producing video evidence of an alleged plot by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai
and two of his senior officials to assassinate President Robert Mugabe and
overthrow the ZANU PF government.

      Ben-Menashe claimed that Tsvangirai requested Dickens and Madson, a
political lobby firm of which he is head, to assist in the murder and coup
conspiracy.

      He alerted a senior defence forces officer about the alleged
assassination plot several months after he had approached the same officer
selling military aircraft.

      The tape allegedly documents a meeting at the Royal Automobile Club in
London, attended by Tsvangirai, MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube and
Renson Gasela, the opposition party's shadow minister of agriculture.

      On 23 November 2001, Ben-Menashe flew from his Canada base to deliver
an audio-tape, transcript and diskette that he claimed contained vital
evidence of the MDC leaders' plan.

      He promised to procure further evidence in the form of a video-tape of
his meeting with Tsvangirai on 4 December 2001, and asked for a US$30 000
fee.

      Bizos said according to evidence by Ben-Menashe's assistant, Tara
Thomas, the firm secured quotations ranging from US$2 000 and US$3 000 for
the production of the video-tape.

      Bernard Schober, a Canadian security consultant who gave evidence in
the trial, said the most it would cost to produce the tape was US$5 000,
suggesting that Ben-Menashe may have pocketed the remaining US$25 000.

      Asked if the CIO would investigate the allegations of potential fraud,
Bonyongwe said the State security agency would "look into it".

      He however said: "There is a discrepancy, but this business of using
words like 'defraud' to describe the actions of other people, I am not going
to indulge in."

      Bonyongwe also said investigations were in progress to track down a
mysterious figure who chaired a meeting at the Dickens and Madson
headquarters, which was attended by Tsvangirai and officials from the
consultancy. Bizos charged yesterday that the audio-tape of the London
meeting may have been tampered with to make it inaudible.

      He said a transcript compiled from the tape by a government
transcriber was "vastly poorer" and contained less detail than an earlier
version compiled by Thomas and Elizabeth Boutin, her colleague at Dickens
and Madson.

      He said the tape would be more useful to the defence than it would be
to the prosecution because it did not contain any evidence of the alleged
plot.

      The trial continues today.
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Daily News

      Drafting soldiers into ESC illegal: expert

      5/21/2003 8:00:42 AM (GMT +2)


      By Pedzisai Ruhanya Deputy News Editor

      A leading Zimbabwean lawyer yesterday branded as unconstitutional the
drafting into the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) of members of the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) and said their inclusion compromised the
independence of the electoral agency.

      Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional lawyer at the University of
Zimbabwe, spoke after the government-appointed ESC admitted it had several
ZDF members among its staff, throwing the agency's impartiality into doubt.

      Madhuku said it was unconstitutional for the ESC to use the army in
supervising elections because soldiers were not civil servants.

      He also noted that according to Zimbabwe's Constitution, the ESC was
supposed to be independent so as not to create an element of doubt among
electors.

      Earlier yesterday in response to questions from The Daily News, the
ESC acknowledged that some of its employees were ZDF members.

      ESC spokesman Thomas Bvuma refused to give the number of army
personnel serving in his agency, which conducts and supervises all national
elections, but said: "The High Court recently issued an order for the ESC to
make the same list (of ZDF personnel employed by the ESC) available to it
and the matter has not yet been resolved. As such, the matter is sub judice.

      "Under the circumstances, what the ESC can tell you is that some of
the information you have in your possession is correct while other
information is incorrect or outdated.

      "The ESC recruits people who are in the service of the State. This
includes people from the civil service and members of the Defence Forces."

      The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is challenging in
court the validity of President Robert Mugabe's re-election in 2002 on
several grounds, including that the ballot was allegedly rigged by the
ruling ZANU PF party and its supporters who helped stage the poll.

      According to a report compiled by the MDC's election directorate
between January and November 2002, the ESC is reported to have recruited 66
soldiers, including captains, majors, lieutenant-colonels, corporals,
sergeants and warrant officers to work as part of its secretariat.

      Remus Makuwaza, the head of the MDC's election directorate, claimed in
the report that out of the 66 army officials, 39 were in the secretariat
which included drivers, security officers and clerks while 27 were
supervisors.

      They were headed by Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, the chief
executive officer of the ESC. Sobusa Gula-Ndebele, the chairman of the ESC,
is a retired army colonel.

      Madhuku said of the ESC's recruitment of army personnel into the
electoral agency: "It was wrong to use the defence forces because they are
not part of the public service.

      "They are sworn to certain national security secrets. This means they
are not capable of resisting certain pressures which are claimed to have
national significance, but ordinary civil servants can question certain
decisions.''

      Bvuma could not reveal the staff complement of the ESC except to say
that over 95 percent of the monitors and supervisors used by the agency were
teachers.

      He said some of the soldiers on the list shown to The Daily News as
being employed by the ESC had left.

      An inquiry by The Daily News to establish the authenticity of the MDC'
s report at the ESC headquarters in Harare established that one Lieutenant C
Sibanda had indeed left the agency since the 2002 balloting.

      The MDC's Makuwaza said his party had made its findings public in
order to strengthen its calls for the appointment of a truly independent
electoral supervisory body which is not subject to executive directives.

      ''We want to use these findings to demand the setting-up of an
independent electoral commission, as is the case in many countries of
Southern Africa. We also wanted to show that the ESC is a partisan
organisation," he said.

      The MDC cites the ESC as one of the respondents in its court
challenge. No date has been set for the hearing of the case.

      But Bvuma maintained that the ESC was an independent body.

      ''People working for the ESC secretariat get their instructions from
the ESC and not from their original employers. The guiding principles of the
ESC are impartiality and non-partisanship and these apply to all people
seconded to the secretariat,'' he said.
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Daily News

      PTUZ urges members to maintain go-slow

      5/21/2003 8:01:18 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      THE Progessive Teachers' Union (PTUZ) yesterday said its members would
maintain a go-slow for 21 days while a joint negotiating council seeks a
solution to the national teachers' strike, and would begin an indefinite
industrial action if teachers' demands were not met by June.

      Zimbabwean teachers have been on strike for close to two weeks,
demanding a review of their salaries.

      The strike was on Monday declared illegal by the Labour Court, which
referred the dispute between teachers and the Public Service Commission
(PSC), the government-controlled body employing civil servants, to the Joint
Negotiating Council.

      The PSC and the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA), the main
organisation representing teachers, are supposed to reach an agreement
within 21 days.

      If there is no settlement within that period, the parties may refer
the dispute back to the Labour Court for determination.

      PTUZ general secretary Raymond Majongwe said: "The education system in
Zimbabwe has been betrayed as teachers did not go on strike to determine the
legality or illegality of strikes.

      "As such, the Labour Court's ruling is inconsequential because we are
not prepared to wait 21 days of further marginalisation and pauperisation."

      Majongwe said if teachers did not press the government to address
their plight, they would be further plunged into poverty.

      "In the next 21 days whilst the PSC and Zimta "negotiate", we will be
on a go-slow and if our demands are not met by 11 June, we are going on an
indefinite strike," he said.

      The PTUZ is demanding that teachers should be given a minimum monthly
salary of $268 000 and that their working conditions be improved.

      The teachers went on strike early this month, demanding that the PSC
review their salaries to bring them in line with those of other civil
servants.

      They are also demanding that a job evaluation exercise started last
year be completed.

      Ray Ndhlukula, the PSC secretary, could not be reached yesterday for
comment. He was said to be attending meetings.

      Meanwhile, most teachers yesterday did not heed the Labour Court's
ruling on the legality of their strike, although Zimta had advised them to
return to work.

      Teachers have been instructed to return to work within 48 hours, but a
snap survey yesterday showed that there were no lessons in most schools in
Harare.

      Most teachers and students remained at home, while in those schools
where teachers reported for duty, there were no lessons.

      Teachers and students in most Harare high-density suburbs said the
strike was continuing.

      Zimta's Dennis Sinyolo yesterday said it was still too early to tell
whether teachers had heeded the Labour Court's ruling because the 48 hours
they were given to return to work was not yet up.

      "We have communicated the message to the teachers that they should
comply with the court ruling, but we still need time to see how they react
to this ruling," he said.
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Daily News

Leader Page

      Industry's death knell

      5/21/2003 7:56:52 AM (GMT +2)

      NOTHING more aptly illustrates the determination to completely knock
down ZImbabwe's embattled industrial sector than the decision by the country
's power utility to switch off gold miner Freda Rebecca over non-payment of
electricity bills.

      That is not to say that Freda Rebecca, the country's largest gold
producer, should not pay for electricity. No. They, like every customer of
the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), must pay the national
power supplier what is due to it.

      But ZESA's decision to blithely cut off such a huge contributor to the
economy, which employs thousands of Zimbabweans, is surely not the best
solution to the problem.

      But that is not issue here!

      The point is that ZESA, by its own admission, is facing serious
difficulties in raising foreign currency to import more electricity and to
pay off regional power suppliers who in the past have threatened to switch
it off because of large arrears on debt.

      In order to raise the hard cash it requires, the state power company
has demanded that exporting companies pay their power bills in foreign
currency.

      Or, if they want to pay using the discredited Zimbabwe dollar, they
will be levied a higher tariff than non-exporting companies.

      And this is where the problem lies.

      Zimbabwe's mines and industrial companies are fighting for their very
survival because of a myriad of problems, including electricity rationing by
ZESA, which has forced most of them to slash production and is threatening
viability and jobs.

      It is therefore a mystery how ZESA expects these firms to raise
foreign currency, or the required local dollar equivalent, when they are
being forced to spend several unproductive hours because they have no power.

      And equally incomprehensible is how ZESA expects industry to manage to
import machinery and spare parts if the little foreign currency they have
left, after surrendering the bulk of their earnings to the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe, must now be used to bail out ZESA.

      No-one disputes that ZESA needs money to pay foreign suppliers. But
trying to milk the country's already struggling exporters can only achieve
one thing: the demise of the few companies still willing to attempt to brave
Zimbabwe's economic, political and social chaos.

      ZESA officials must be told, if they are not aware, that the foreign
currency crunch their company is facing is not the creation of private
industry and commerce.

      It is clearly the result of ill-considered government policies that
have forced foreign investors to flee Zimbabwe en masse, citing the erosion
of the rule of law and property rights. No-one wants to do business in a
country where the government turns a deaf ear to its own courts.

      Indeed, the deportation last week of journalist Andrew Meldrum, in
breach of a High Court order, will only have confirmed that Zimbabwe is not
a safe destination for investors and this will not help our hard cash
situation.

      Trying to extort foreign currency from the few foreign-owned companies
still operating in Zimbabwe by switching them off if they don't pay up is
not the best way to resolve the hard cash squeeze ZESA and the rest of the
country are facing.

      Only a firm commitment on the part of the government to address the
concerns of foreign investors and international multilateral agencies, as
well as the serious problems affecting exporters, will do that.

      Otherwise Zimbabwe's export capacity will continue to decline and
foreign investors will continue to shun the country in favour of more stable
economies in nations where they are sure that their money is protected.

      Punishing exporters for the government's own incompetence is not the
solution.
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Daily News

Leader Page

      Media should not propose sabotage of the country

      5/21/2003 7:57:37 AM (GMT +2)


      By Kuthula Matshazi

      I PICKED up two disturbing issues in The Daily News (Post-Mugabe deal
in place) and The Herald (State committed to Zambezi Water Project) on 16
May.

      The former reports of a plan by the international community to put
together an economic package should President Mugabe leave office now, while
the latter reports on Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Patrick Chinamasa and Mt Darwin South MP, Saviour Kasukuwere, ridiculing
Zengeza MP Tafadzwa Musekiwa (MDC) for fleeing the country to settle and
work in the United Kingdom.

      The Daily News Assistant Editor, Sydney Masamvu, writes in his intro:
"The international community is putting together an economic package for
Zimbabwe that is dependent on President Robert Mugabe stepping down in the
next six months, Western diplomats in Harare said yesterday." Is this true?
I hope it isn't.

      According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, sabotage means
"to damage, destroy or spoil something deliberately to prevent an enemy from
using it or to protest about something". My point is, if this is the
thinking of the Western community and some people in Zimbabwe about solving
our problems, then it's clearly a case of sabotage for the ordinary people
of Zimbabwe.

      Further, Masamvu writes: "Under the financial arrangement,
international lines of credit would be reopened as a way to trigger inflows
of foreign currency into Zimbabwe". So the lines of credits were
deliberately closed to force Mugabe to go regardless what it would do to the
ordinary Zimbabweans?

      The people of Zimbabwe have clearly demonstrated that they do not want
Mugabe to continue as the President but they are, all the same, slapped with
collective punishment. In fact, the Western countries' actions have hurt the
ordinary people more than Mugabe. Whose interests are they serving?

      And our media, moreso such a senior journalist, picks up this
information and writes about it unquestioningly. In fact, Masamvu seems to
commend their action. He even repeated the idea in another of his articles
in Saturday's issue of The Daily News.

      The media is an important information vehicle and nation-builder.
Besides informing, they educate us. Is Masamvu educating or informing us
that the imposition of sanctions on our nation to force Mugabe to resign is
an issue that people must celebrate?

      The media must be patriotic.

      It is, to a great extent, the media that has relentlessly applied
pressure on ZANU PF to govern properly. But then it is confusing to note a
patriotic paper like The Daily News and a journalist like Masamvu reporting
such Western utterances without any sign of guilt but triumphantly instead.

      Does he want to make us believe that the agenda to "solve" Zimbabwe's
problems is being pushed ahead in a forceful and satisfactory manner? I feel
this particular Western diplomat who made comments to Masamvu was behaving
like a viceroy. Do we now have viceroys in Zimbabwe?

      United States Ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, did something
similar to that by publicly rebuking and promising serious economic
consequences for the Canadian government for refusing to participate in the
war on Iraq. Canadians were not happy at all and they called for his
admonition or even expulsion.

      I am not, however, saying that people must rally behind Mugabe but
rather that we must not rally around the Westerners' idea of making the
ordinary people suffer in a bid to oust
      Mugabe. If at all, there are people who are supposed to pay the price
for failing to generate enough impetus for political change, then it's the
leaders of the opposition political parties.

      Zimbabweans have done all that they can possibly do to dump the
present government without success. Are the Westerners now punishing us for
failing to succeed? Recently in Parliament, Kasukuwere set in motion the
Zanu PF political strategy to embarrass the MDC for having one of their MPs
run away from the country to UK.

      Apparently this shows that the government is devoid of shame for its
conduct. Musekiwa escaped from persecution by ZANU PF and government agents.
What that shows is that Zimbabwe politics is a minefield. Are we not ashamed
to reveal to the world that holding divergent political views in Zimbabwe
can be fatal? Is this an avenue for elected representatives of the people to
try to score cheap political points?

      Political parties, the government, the media and indeed all the people
of Zimbabwe need to understand that above us all, there is an institution
called Zimbabwe, to which we are all subservient. We need to respect it and
conduct ourselves in a manner meant to serve and enhance its existence.

      The interests and welfare of the people of Zimbabwe must supersede
individual interests and must also be respected.

      I hold Masamvu and The Daily News in offence for failing Zimbabwe by
omitting, deliberately or otherwise, to take to task those Western diplomats
who have implicitly confessed to deliberately causing the suffering of the
people of Zimbabwe in a bid to remove Mugabe. To me, this is an
international crime against the people of Zimbabwe.

      Similarly, it is an offence and disgrace for ZANU PF MPs to boast
about their ability to force an elected representative of the people to flee
because he belongs to a different political party.

      Now that the various parties responsible for our problems are
abundantly clear to us, let us find a Zimbabwean solution to the problems
afflicting us.

      Kuthula Matshazi is based in Toronto, Canada
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Daily News

Feature

      Chipangano: Has it become a law unto itself?

      5/21/2003 7:52:26 AM (GMT +2)


      Features Writer

      BENSON, a 30-year-old man with bulging muscles, obliviously walks
through a pool of sewage effluent flowing from a burst pipe in the
overcrowded Harare suburb of Mbare.

      He is chatting to an imaginary person on an imaginary mobile phone.

      "Hello shamwari, (friend) how are you?" he bellows into the
non-existent cellphone.

      Until a few months ago, Benson's huge muscles were the envy of men and
women in the neighbourhood.

      But a brutal beating at the hands of members of Chipangano, a
vigilante organisation allegedly linked to the ruling ZANU PF, is said to
have left him mentally deranged and a pitiful sight.

      His crime? Benson's political allegiances were not clear.

      Chipangano means agreement in the Chewa language, but residents of
Mbare say the group has been terrorising people in the area without the
community's consent.

      As incidents of political violence continue to rise in Zimbabwe,
analysts say shady groups claiming affiliation to ZANU PF are taking
advantage of the party's desperation for support to become a law unto
themselves.

      Chipangano is one of the most notorious.

      Benson, a former soldier, is one of the many people in the beleaguered
high-density suburb who have clashed head on with the gangsters.

      In an interview with The Daily News over the weekend, three members of
Chipangano were unrepentant as they described the activities of their
rag-tag organisation.

      Amid a cloud of marijuana smoke and the consumption of liberal doses
of chapomba (spirits), opaque beer and food, they revealed how the
organisation was born in the run up to the 2000 parliamentary elections. A
period during which political violence escalated in Zimbabwe.

      "Chipangano was formed just before the 2000 parliamentary elections,
when 20 men declared themselves staunch ZANU PF supporters and appointed
themselves commissars for the area," said Muchaneta, not his real name.

      "Our group was originally led by Ali Khan Manjengwa and at the time,
we realised that ruling party candidates and supporters were very generous
with food and drink and they could ensure that we had food on our tables,"
Muchaneta told The Daily News.

      Manjengwa - who contested for the position of councillor in Mbare and
lost - was shot and killed in August last year at a Mbare hostel, in what is
strongly believed to have been an act of retribution by suspected victims of
Chipangano.

      Muchaneta said: "The majority of the members of Chipangano are not
gainfully employed and it had become evident that aligning ourselves to ZANU
PF and violence was a lucrative venture."

      "We immediately ejected members of Batanai Women's Cooperative from a
municipal house, from where widows cooked and sold food to fend for their
families," he added with a mischievous grin.

      At the Chipangano premises, which also doubles up as ZANU PF's Mbare
district offices, two campaign portraits of Tony Gara, a senior ruling party
official, and the late Manjengwa adorn the walls.

      Even though the vigilante group operates out of ZANU PF offices,
ruling party chairman John Nkomo denies that Chipangano is sanctioned by
this party.

      "It's strange that such things could happen," he said. "I don't expect
any ZANU PF executive to sanction such a thing. It is certainly not our
policy to sanction alleged terror groups. I would be surprised if that
allegation were true."

      But the Chipangano members are not embarrassed to admit that they now
use ZANU PF's name to extort money, assault people and have sex with local
girls and women.

      "Since last year, we have cleaned up the area of people suspected of
not being ZANU PF supporters," said Muchaneta, who seemed to be the
spokesman for the three Chipangano members who agreed to talk to The Daily
News.

      "Anybody that we suspected of supporting the MDC (the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change) had their property removed from the hostels.
You must understand that we need to support our families, and anybody who
refused to follow our command or pay us protection fees to remain in the
hostels was kicked out."

      But do they not feel remorse for the anguish they have brought to
families, including young children?

      They laugh nervously.

      "Of course you can feel bad for a while, but times are difficult and
we have to survive," responds Muchaneta.

      So powerful has the gang become that the police are accused of looking
aside and following its "instructions" to detain people "arrested" by gang
members.

      Mbare MDC activist Milson Chigoro reportedly had to beg police in the
suburb to detain him in holding cells after he was assaulted by members of
Chipangano outside a police station.

      He was detained overnight and paid a $500 admission of guilt fine the
following day.

      In April last year, only the para-military riot police could come to
the rescue of 11 tenants from Mbare's Shawasha flats, who had been kidnapped
and detained by Chipangano for 10 hours at their offices.

      The captives were reportedly ordered to perform menial tasks before
being told to sit cross-legged on the floor and instructed not to move an
inch.

      Ten members of Chipangano accused of evicting suspected MDC supporters
from the Shawasha flats and assaulting them are out on bail.

      Other victims of Chipangano include women and youths who earn their
living by selling clothes at Mbare's Mupedzanhamo flea market and at several
vegetable and hardware stalls in the suburb.

      "Vendors from Kuwadzana and Highfield constituencies, where the ruling
party recently lost by-elections to the MDC, became the first victims. Only
those willing to pay us continue to operate from the stalls in Mbare," said
Muchaneta.

      He added that those residents from the affected suburbs who were
unable or unwilling to pay, but wanted to be spared, could produce letters
from their district chairpersons confirming that they were ruling party
members.

      Suspended Harare Executive Mayor Elias Mudzuri said the municipality
was being prejudiced of revenue because members of Chipangano were pocketing
money taken from vendors.

      Municipal police are said to be afraid of apprehending the culprits.
Said Mudzuri: "I have made several reports to the police through the town
clerk, but the police have not acted. The council has been prejudiced of
thousands of dollars where approved vendors and tenants have been ordered to
pay rent to them (Chipangano)."

      Residents from the hostels in Mbare told The Daily News that women and
young girls from the area were afraid to reject advances from Chipangano
members because they could be evicted from hostels.

      "Rubbish!" exclaimed Muchaneta. "It's up to the women to fall in love
with men of their choices."

      But women's groups and other commentators say the emergence of groups
such as Chipangano, which seem to be above the law, has led to a rise in the
sexual abuse of women and young girls.

      There are also fears that criminals are taking advantage of the
erosion of the rule of law to step up their activities, especially in
high-density suburbs.

      Political analysts said most members of groups such as Chipangano were
in fact people with no economic prospects and who would do anything to
survive.

      Elphas Mukonoweshuro, a senior lecturer in the faculty of social
science at the University of Zimbabwe, told The Daily News: "If you look at
the characters involved in the whole set up, people that have been victims
of the system, who are not employed and have a bleak future, are the same
people who are now being abused by the system," he said.

      But members of Chipangano believe they are in fact performing a
community service. Muchaneta claimed his group had "improved the security
situation" in Mbare.

      "Cases of house-breaking have gone down drastically because any thief
caught with any stolen goods is beaten up before being dispossessed of his
loot," he said.
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'Strike Illegal'

The Herald (Harare)

May 20, 2003
Posted to the web May 21, 2003

Harare

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) organised strike has been declared
illegal and all teachers have been ordered to report for duty within 48
hours, the Labour Court ruled yesterday.

In its ruling in the matter between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and
Zimta, the Labour Court said the collective job action embarked on by
teachers when schools opened two weeks ago was unlawful. The court referred
the dispute between Zimta and the PSC to the Joint Negotiating Council for a
determination within 21 days.


It said if no decision was reached at the Joint Negotiating Council either
the parties may refer the dispute back to the Labour Court for
determination.

After hearing arguments from the two parties, the Labour Court declared
that:

"The collective job action embarked on, on the 8th of May 2003 be and is
hereby declared unlawful for want of compliance with provisions of section
104 of the Labour Relations Act (Chapter 28: 01).

"The unlawful collective job action be, and is hereby terminated with
immediate effect.

"All striking teachers are ordered to report for duty within 48 hours of
order, failure of which the applicant is authorised to take disciplinary
action in terms of its disciplinary regulations."

Zimta said it would comply with the order and urged its members to return to
work.

"The Zimta national executive met to review the verdict of the court. Taking
into account the time frame given to the employer to resolve the teachers'
grievances, and in the spirit of abiding by the provisions of the law (rule
of law), the Zimta national executive encourages its members to report back
to work as directed."

Zimta executive director Mr Peter Mabande said although they were complying
with the court's decision, it would have been teachers' wishes to have
instant justice.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he said.

The association, however, said that teachers reserved the right to resort to
collective job action within the confines of the law if their grievances are
not addressed as directed by the Labour Court.

The PSC was granted a show cause order on Wednesday last week compelling
Zimta to justify its job action. Zimta made its representation on Friday
detailing the reasons for embarking on the job action.

Teachers, most of whom earn $56 385 per month have been on strike since
schools opened on May 8.

Zimta's major grievance is the delay in concluding a job evaluation exercise
that would see teachers' salaries upgraded to levels similar to those of
other professionals in the public service.

But the PSC and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture have said the
strike was premature as the job evaluation exercise was a long process.

The PSC and the ministry, however, said the exercise was now close to be
concluded. No comment could be obtained from the PSC or the ministry
yesterday.
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MSNBC

''State security'' row delays Zimbabwe treason trial

By Cris Chinaka


HARARE, May 21 - Zimbabwe's secret service chief, citing national security,
declined on Wednesday to answer questions on why evidence had been destroyed
in the treason trial of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
       High Court judge Paddington Garwe adjourned the trial until Thursday
after Brigadier Happyton Bonyongwe, the director general of the Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO), said he was ''claiming privilege...because
some of this information could compromise national security.''
       Tsvangirai and two other senior members of the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) face possible death sentences if convicted of
the treason charge, which stems from an alleged plot to kill President
Robert Mugabe.
       Bonyongwe said on Wednesday that CIO operatives had destroyed certain
invoices detailing government payments to its star witness, Canadian public
relations consultant Ari Ben-Menashe, who has testified that Tsvangirai
sought his help in a plot to ''eliminate'' Mugabe.
       But the CIO head refused to divulge details of the payments, saying
these were classified as state security matters.
       Lead defense lawyer George Bizos demanded to know how evidence could
have been destroyed in such an important case, and said the state should not
be allowed to block certain information as ''classified'' in the trial.
       ''The questions we are putting to the witness are very important for
a fair trial of the accused,'' he said.
       Garwe agreed to adjourn the trial to Thursday to allow state
prosecutors time to prepare their arguments on why the information should
not be introduced in open court.
       The state's case rests on a videotape of a meeting in Canada between
Ben-Menashe and Tsvangirai, who allegedly discussed Mugabe's
''elimination.'' The tape was recorded just before Ben-Menashe's firm signed
a consultancy contract with the Zimbabwe government.
       Ben-Menashe, challenged as an unreliable witness by the defence, has
admitted he taped the meeting solely to get evidence for the government but
denied entrapping Tsvangirai.
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SABC

            Media institute calls for action against Zimbabwe
            May 21, 2003, 15:15


            Misa-SA, Media Institute of Southern Africa's South African
branch, has called on the African Union (AU) and President Thabo Mbeki to
act against Zimbabwe following the deportation of an American journalist.
Andrew Meldrum, who worked for Britain's Guardian newspaper and had been
living in Zimbabwe for 23 years, was deported from the country last week
after at least two court orders were issued, forbidding his deportation.

            Raymond Louw, the Misa-SA spokesperson, has called on these
bodies to investigate these acts and impose sanctions on Zimbabwe in terms
of their protocols. The organisation said in a statement that Meldrum's
deportation raised serious concerns about the treatment of journalists, the
rule of law and the conduct of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president, and his
officials.

            It also said that the deportation was an unwarranted attack on
the freedom and independence of the media. Louw said the illegal deportation
showed the rule of law no longer had any effect in Zimbabwe. He added the
government was in breach of AU protocols promoting good governance, the rule
of law and freedom of the media.

            The third area of concern was Mbeki's assurance that Mugabe had
promised to ease restrictions on the media and human rights abuses would
end. Misa-SA has called on Mbeki, who is also chairperson of the AU, to
publicly renounce his policy of "quiet diplomacy" and "take firm action
against Mugabe and his top officials by refusing them entrance to SA". -
Sapa
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Guardian reporter's Zimbabwe lawyer threatened with jail

Owen Bowcott
Thursday May 15, 2003
The Guardian

The lawyer representing the Guardian's correspondent in Zimbabwe, Andrew
Meldrum, was threatened with detention herself yesterday after she went on
his behalf to the headquarters of the immigration service in Harare.
Beatrice Mtetwa, a prominent local lawyer, was there to hand in a letter in
response to the Zimbabwean government's confiscation of Meldrum's passport
and residence permit.

Immigration officials alleged earlier this week that he had breached the
terms of his residence permit by writing about the country's political
situation. Meldrum, 51, who has been covering Zimbabwe for 23 years, was
told he should write only about economics and tourism.

Ms Mtetwa was confronted by immigration officials and police officers
infuriated that she was not accompanied by Meldrum.

She was told she would be held until she had produced her client, despite
the fact that there had been no previous request for Meldrum to attend
yesterday. After further exchanges, she was finally allowed to leave.

Ms Mtetwa and Meldrum, one of the last foreign reporters working in
Zimbabwe, have been ordered to appear at the immigration office tomorrow
morning.

Last year Meldrum, an American citizen, was one of the first journalists to
be prosecuted under new media laws. A Harare magistrate acquitted him of
criminal charges of publishing false information about Zimbabwe. The law has
been criticised by civil rights groups as an attempt to stifle criticism of
President Robert Mugabe's government.

Meldrum insists he is fighting to remain in the country, not just on his own
behalf, but to secure the rights of other journalists.

"The government thinks that by trying to intimidate or deport me, or prevent
me from working, they will also prevent other journalists who are doing
great work," Meldrum said last week.
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News24

Treason trial docs 'destroyed'
21/05/2003 20:21  - (SA)


Harare - Vital documents requested by defence lawyers in the treason trial
of the country's opposition leaders have been destroyed, Zimbabwe's top
intelligence chief said Wednesday.

Retired brigadier general Happyton Bonyongwe, who heads Zimbabwe's Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO), told the High Court that some documents
relating to government payments to Canadian-based political consultancy
firm, Dickens and Madison, have been destroyed.

The defence lawyers for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and two other
opposition officials had requested Bonyongwe hand over the documents
relating to US$30 000 paid to Dickens and Madison to produce a video tape.

The tape is the main piece of state evidence against Tsvangirai, who with
the two others has denied charges of plotting to assassinate President
Robert Mugabe in 2001.

Dickens and Madison produced a grainy video of a meeting they held with
Tsvangirai at which the plot was allegedly discussed.

But Bonyongwe said the documents about the payment were destroyed three
months after the meeting as they were related to a covert operation.

A Canadian witness Bernard Schober, who recorded the meeting and has already
given evidence in the trial which has been running since February, said the
most it cost to produce a video tape was $5 000.

The Zimbabwe government has paid the Canadian firm $650 000 and there is an
outsanding payment of about $400 000 in consultancy fees.

Defence lawyer George Bizos said he will argue "those monies were paid for
services for the purposes of entrapment and preparing evidence in an attempt
to prosecute" the opposition leaders.

MDC officials admit to meeting with Dickens and Madson officials for
political consultancy before they knew the company had links to Mugabe's
government. - Sapa-AFP
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      ZIMBABWE: Food "monetization" aims to reach urban poor
      IRINnews Africa, Wed 21 May 2003

      ©  IRIN

      Street corner shop in Harare's informal settlement of Porta Farm

      JOHANNESBURG, - Deliveries of food relief in Zimbabwe have almost
exclusively focused on rural communities, bypassing the needs of the urban
poor.

      Providing aid to towns is complicated by the difficulty of properly
targeting the food-insecure, and the logistics of distribution, relief
workers say. As a result, urban households in Zimbabwe have been largely
left on their own to struggle with the impact of severe food shortages and
spiralling black market prices.

      An initiative by the Consortium for the Southern Africa Food Emergency
(C-SAFE), which still awaits funding, seeks to increase the access of poor
urban households to affordable food supplies by using the market - rather
than food handouts.

      C-SAFE, made up of the NGOs World Vision, CARE and Catholic Relief
Services, is proposing a three-month pilot programme in Zimbabwe's second
city of Bulawayo to sell 15,000 mt of US Agency for International
Development (USAID)-supplied sorghum through small-scale traders. An added
bonus is that profits from the sales would be ploughed back into development
projects.

      Maize and wheat are Zimbabwe's staple foods, but their importation and
domestic marketing is under the monopoly of the state-run Grain Marketing
Board (GMB). Confronted by the country's food crisis, fuel shortages and
administrative problems, GMB has been unable to come even close to meeting
the demand, humanitarian officials say.

      In urban areas, price controls - the government's answer to rising
prices - have further distorted the market, with basic commodities being
re-directed onto the more expensive parallel market. But despite escalating
prices - Zimbabwe's inflation rate last month jumped by 41 points to reach
269 percent - the lack of availability of maize and wheat remains a more
significant problem.

      "We aim to target the poor by using a market mechanism. Sorghum [a
less preferred commodity] is the [food] option to pre-select those desperate
enough to buy," Steve Goudswaard, C-SAFE project manager in South Africa,
told IRIN.

      Sorghum is more freely marketed than maize or wheat, although the
government did impose a price freeze on the grain last year. C-SAFE would
need to work with the Ministry of Commerce and local authorities to
determine its price, Walter Middleton of World Vision explained.

      According to the C-SAFE proposal, with funding secured, imported
sorghum would be milled and bagged in Zimbabwe. From there, supplies would
be directed to street corner grocers as another tool for targeting poorer
households. Credit facilities and an auction system for tender bids could be
used creatively to help ensure the participation of small-scale traders.

      "This innovative and untested approach is inevitably risky.
Assumptions about such things as the effectiveness of sorghum as a
self-targeting commodity, the capacity/willingness of private sector agents
to participate, and government cooperation/approval, all require testing," a
project assessment report noted.

      "In addition, the availability of resources (particularly sorghum)
that are currently available for this intervention are quite limited."

      Bulawayo was selected as the pilot city for the project because of
consumer familiarity with sorghum, the acuteness of the food shortage in the
drought-hit region and the available milling capacity.

      At the ration rate of 10 kilos per person per month, the planned
importation of 15,000 mt of sorghum for Bulawayo would feed 500,000 people
for three months, Middleton calculated. If successful, the scheme would be
replicated in other cities, he added.
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ZIMBABWE: Tsvangirai trip to Malawi postponed

JOHANNESBURG, 21 May 2003 (IRIN) - A visit to Malawi by Zimbabwean
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for talks with President Bakili Muluzi
has been postponed.

"Our understanding of the trip ... is that it has been put on hold until
further notice," Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), told IRIN on Wednesday.

The invitation to Tsvangirai was made by Muluzi last month as a follow-up to
a diplomatic initiative, led by himself and the presidents of South Africa
and Nigeria, to break the political impasse in Zimbabwe since disputed
presidential elections in 2002.

Tsvangirai said he was "disappointed" by the lack of progress after the
visit to Harare by presidents Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muluzi, and
hoped that his visit to Malawi could be rescheduled.

According to the pro-opposition newspaper the Daily News, Tsvangirai was
supposed to have travelled to Malawi on Tuesday for talks with Muluzi, but
the invitation was cancelled by the Malawian High Commission in Harare.

Tsvangirai, on trial for treason, surrendered his passport as part of his
bail conditions and would need the agreement of the Attorney General's
Office for the return of his travel document.

The director in Malawi's Ministry of Information, Robert Ngaiyaye, told IRIN
that as late as last week Muluzi had said Tsvangirai was due in the country
for talks.

"Everybody in SADC [Southern African Development Community] knows very well
that because of the court case, Tsvangirai's passport was removed from him.
The president [Muluzi] must have made contingency plans if this [the visit]
were to happen," Ngaiyaye said.

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Comment from the Mail & Guardian (SA), 19 May

Mbeki, the apologist

Brian Raftopoulos

It appears that President Thabo Mbeki's recent letter on Zimbabwe is
designed to achieve two major objectives. Firstly to stay close to Mugabe as
the negotiations on a way out of the Zimbabwe crisis proceed; and secondly
to use the politics of Zimbabwe to attack his opponents on both the left and
the right in South Africa. However, in attempting to deal with these issues,
Mbeki has underlined the problematic nature of both his interpretation of
the Zimbabwean situation, and the role of South Africa in defining the way
out of the crisis. On the president's analysis of the post-independence
history of Zimbabwe, it is clear that he has presented what amounts to an
apologist account of the 23-year rule of Zanu PF. One can certainly agree
with his position on the enormous strides made by the Zimbabwean government
through its social expenditure programme in the first decade of
independence, and the unsustainability of such expenditure without
substantial changes to the economy. However, Mbeki's assertion that the
mistakes in economic policy made by the Mugabe government were basically the
result of a benevolent elite, committed to the poor, which nevertheless
failed to understand "harsh economic reality" is, to say the least,
ill-conceived.


No discussion of the post-1980 period that fails to discuss the increasingly
selfish interests of the ruling elite, as well as the destructive effects of
the structural adjustment programme of the 1990s, is likely to do justice to
an understanding of the Zanu PF era. Moreover it is inconceivable that an
analysis of this period should exclude the increasing authoritarian nature
of the state and massive abuse of human rights that has characterised Zanu
PF rule, both during the tragedy in Matabeleland in the 1980s, and in the
post 2000 period. Evidence concerning these abuses is available in
abundance, and they have little to do with the needs of a benevolent state
trying to maintain "law and order" in the face of economic factors beyond
its control. Instead they relate to a state whose legitimacy has been
decreasing since the 1980s, to a significant extent because of its
undemocratic style of government, and as a result has had to rely largely on
the use of force to remain in power.


It is true, as Mbeki asserts, that people make history in conditions not of
their own choosing, and that the processes that human beings set in motion
lead to destinations they "may not have sought". This premise, however,
cannot absolve us as actors in our society from seeking accountability from
those in our midst who have had most influence over the course of events
that we are forced to deal with. This is particularly the case when the
consequences of their actions have had fatal effects on large numbers of
people. Generalisations about historical processes do not remove
responsibility over historical agency, and special pleading for a particular
regime because of the difficult constraints it faces will not suffice
either. There have been too many of both kinds of arguments in the
Zimbabwean case and the victims are sinking beneath a deluge of such
rationalisations.South Africa has an important role to play in helping to
bring pressure on the Mugabe regime to return to meaningful dialogue.


It is likely that the recent visit of presidents Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo
and Bakili Muluzi to Zimbabwe has once again proved that Mugabe is likely to
toy with them as long as he can. Under such conditions Mbeki may continue to
feel that it is better to keep Mugabe's confidence through continued shows
of support. This strategy has already proved extremely costly, and unless
there is a decisive shift in applying more pressure on Mugabe in the very
near future, Mbeki and other African leaders may soon find their influence
severely decreased.


Brian Raftopoulos is an associate professor at the University of Zimbabwe
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From iafrica.com (SA), 21 May


Zim admits treason tape discrepancies


The head of Zimbabwe's secret intelligence service on Tuesday admitted that
there were "discrepancies" in the fees his organisation paid for a secretly
recorded video tape allegedly showing the leader of the opposition plotting
to kill President Robert Mugabe. Head of the Central Intelligence
Organisation Brig. Happyton Bonyongwe, said the spy agency did not
investigate the informant who provided the tape and did not know the
informant's partner was wanted in the United States for fraud. He was
testifying at the treason trial of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and
two aides. Bonyongwe said he did not seek the help of Canadian authorities
or inform them of a plan by Ari Ben Menashe, a Montreal-based political
consultant, to video a meeting with the Zimbabwe opposition leader in
December 2001. He said Ben Menashe was in Zimbabwe two weeks before the
meeting and asked for money to pay recording costs. Ben Menashe was given
US$30 000 for hiring equipment and other expenses, he told the Harare High
Court.


South African attorney George Bizos, heading a team of defence lawyers, said
state witnesses, including the maker of the video, already testified that
Ben Menashe paid US$5000 to have the recording made. Ben Menashe himself
testified that all the US$30 000 went to the firm that made the video and he
got nothing from that payment. "Yes, there are discrepancies. Fraud is a
very strong word I am not going to indulge in. We will look into this
matter," said Bonyongwe. The state case against Tsvangirai, party
secretary-general Welshman Ncube and MDC official Renson Gasela hinges on
the video tape. They deny the charges, saying Ben Menashe was secretly on
the government payroll and framed them. The three could face the death
penalty if convicted. Defence lawyers say that nowhere in the grainy,
muffled video does Tsvangirai mention an illegal conspiracy or the murder of
Mugabe. Bonyongwe said he did not know Ben Menashe's partner, Alexander
Legault, was facing extradition to the US in connection with US$7-million
and US$13-million fraud in Louisiana and Florida. He said he did not want to
involve Interpol or foreign police services in the investigation into the
assassination plot or send his own agents to help Ben Menashe. "Ben Menashe
was going to secure the evidence and deliver it to us. The more people
involved in a delicate operation like this, the more the chance it will be
compromised," he said.


Bizos has repeatedly described Ben Menashe as a liar and fraudster. He said
defence lawyers found it astonishing the spy agency gave Ben Menashe's firm
more than US$600 000 without checking his or Legault's bona fides or seeking
official assistance from other security or police agencies on the alleged
assassination plot. Attorney Chris Andersen, also appearing for Tsvangirai,
protested to Judge Paddington Garwe on Tuesday that police guards at the
courthouse gates seized confidential documents being brought to lawyers in
the building by an opposition official. The documents were returned to
defence lawyers after witnesses saw them being photocopied, he said. Police
denied making photocopies, saying the nearest copier was not working. "This
is wholly unacceptable. It affects one of the most basic rights of
client-attorney privilege," Andersen said.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Updated May 21, 2003

Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities <justice@telco.co.zw>

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HARARE
(ad inserted 14 May 2003)

TRIAL BALANCE BOOKKEEPER required by agricultural engineering firm. The
company is sound and well established, with a young and dynamic management
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This is a full time position requiring efficiency and dedication.

Incumbents should be computer literate and should be able to do profit and
loss accounts.  Experience in Pastel, Exel and Word would be beneficial.

Please send your applications to browneng@africaonline.co.zw or
Box ST 311, Southerton, Harare.

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NEAR HARARE
(ad inserted 15 May 2003)

Tobacco farm managers. Three needed urgently for farms near Harare.  30 -
50 ha crop with irrigation. Great opportunity for a good manager.
Contact Joe Pistorius @ agri.joe@hms.co.zw or phone 336722

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NEAR HARARE
(ad inserted 30th Jan 03)

Retired Farming couple required to live and work on a farm 60 km from
Harare. Husband to carry out Sourcing and Procurement of farm supplies as
well as run Stores and Arrange movements of farm Transport fleet. Wife to
run Farm Store and Tuck shop. Usual farm perks are offered. Contact 011 403
558 or 091 218 822 or email timjack@zol.co.zw.

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(ad inserted 24th February 03)

Part time Manager for small farm 7 km on tar from Westgate Shopping Centre,
Harare. Wide range of crops- herbs, spices, etc with cleaning plant and
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Accommodation available - cottage with 3 bedrooms. Might suit someone with
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email details to fsfoods@zol.co.zw

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Position available for a Director of a registered welfare organization
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------

HARARE

I have 2 jobs available, which might be of interest to some displaced
farmers:

Job # 1
Salesman, selling automotive chemicals. Training will be provided,
applicant must have own car, remuneration will be on commission. Hours will
be flexitime, and the opportunity to earn significantly is there provided
the person has energy and is reliable. Start immediately. Job#1 Applicants
should contact Mark Wilson @ 498745 or 011218006.

Job # 2
Security manager is required at Borrowdale Brooke Estate. We have our own
security team but it needs management. Hours will be flexible to a degree
and further details can be obtained from Brian Moorse, the estate manager @
860370 Harare.

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HARARE
We need a retired semi retired mechanic to assist in the daily running of
our vehicle workshop behind Jaggers Harare.
Mornings only is preferred but we can offer flexibility of time.
Job description: to assist and advise workers on the floor. Undertake some
of the more complex work. Offer general expertise.

Vehicles maintained are general light goods. Work covers all aspects of
repair and maintenance.
Package subject to discussion.
Please contact Kevin or Chris on Debonair@africaonline.co.zw
Sincerely, Kevin Smeda
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HARARE
(ad inserted 1 April 2003)

WANTED: FARM TRIAL BALANCE BOOKKEEPER, computer literate, based Harare.
Pleasant environment at Fife Ave/10th Street - hassle free on site car
parking. Full time preferably, but part-time/flexi-time will be considered.
Negotiable salary based on experience.

Contact Norma Gordon Tel. 04-704949/email norma@zimcor.co.zw

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Positions Vacant

Highly capable farmers required to join a progressive team.
Qualifiers will be men who have the ability to grow within themselves and
to generate growth within a team. Experience and competence in one or many
facets of agriculture will be of interest, in particular irrigation,
horticulture, tobacco and cattle.

Please respond to Carswell Group
                            email reg@icon.co.zw
                            Fax: 304415

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(ad inserted 10 April 2003)

Carswell Group is looking for experienced Cattleman to run a ranch 60 km
from Harare.

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CREDIT-CONTROLLER
(ad inserted 6th Feb 03),

Bright Steel (Zimbabwe) Ltd requires a Credit Controller with a strong
accounting background to manage a large debtors portfolio.  Strong computer
skills in Microsoft packages essential and the ability to communicate
across the board.  Main accounting package is Sage but knowledge of at
least one accounting package is essential.  Main duties will include the
following:
1. All credit control functions
2. Product costing of imports.
3. Salaries for junior staff using Belina Computer System.
4. Computation of sales tax
5. Checking & capturing Goods Received Vouchers.
6. Preparing audit schedules.
7. Spreadsheets - excel.
8. Sage Computer System would be an advantage.
The above person to report to the Financial Controller and will have a
debtors clerk reporting directly to him/her from Bulawayo and a trainee.
Conditions:
1.  Competitive salary
2.  Pension scheme
3.  Profit Incentive Bonus Scheme (P.I.B.S.)
4.  Medical Aid paid in full
5.  Lunch provided
6.  Travel allowance
7.  Cell phone time paid.
Contact Brian Wilson
Phone: 754324. 091 400 588.

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BEIT BRIDGE
(ad inserted 21 May 2003)

We are looking for a managerial couple to join our team on an established
horticultural farm in Beit Bridge, (Benfer Estate). Experience is not
essential but the couple should be dynamic and keen to learn.

The husband will be responsible for all aspects of management of the citrus
& field crops, as well as the export pack shed. Labour force of approx.
260. Wife's' responsibilities are general farm administration, paying
accounts and pack shed assistance.

Usual farm perks are on offer, a good package for the right couple.

Contact us on Tel: 086-2612 / 2613 / 2582 / 2611(f)
email: benfer@mweb.co.zw

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BROMLEY
(ad inserted 21 May 2003)

Farm Manager urgently required for mixed farming operations in Bromley.
Must be highly motivated, progressive and hands on.

Experience in Livestock. Poultry, Horticulture and Paprika would be a
distinct advantage.

Accommodation, farm vehicle and the usual farm perks are available. Need to
start 1 August 2003

Applicants reply, with CV, to: simona@surrey.co.zw
or in writing to:
The General Manager
Box 269
Marondera

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TENGWE
(ad inserted 28 April 2003)

Caretaker required for a farm (2000 chickens) in Tengwe.  Please contact
011 204 454 for further details.

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TRELAWNEY
(ad inserted 24 April 2003)

Job available in the Trelawney area to manage 6 Ha of roses. Looking for a
couple, the wife to do the farm books. Start on May 1. Phone 011 401 974.

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Tshabezi Safaris - West Nicholson
Garage manager required for country workshop. Toyota Landcruiser experience
would be an added advantage. This position would suit a husband and wife
team - wife could help out either in safaris office or accounts department.
She must be computer literate.
Please reply with current CVs to:
Rogers Brothers & Son P/L (Garage Manager)
P O West Nicholson

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MARONDERA

WARDEN: BORRADAILE TRUST.
The post of Warden at Borradaile Trust Marondera has become vacant.
This is a retirement complex with about 70 cottages for independent
residents. Two large establishments house about 60 semi-independent
residents and there is a small hospital called Borradaile House, for
dependent residents.  In the grounds is the separately administered
Borradaile Hospital. The Warden is provided with a house in Marondera.
Applications with C.V.s and two references should reach the Administrator,
Borradaile Trust, Pvt. Bag 3795, Marondera as soon as possible.  In view of
the high cost of postage, the Administrator only undertakes to reply to
those short-listed.  Acknowledgements will be made to those providing
e-mail addresses.

Thank you very much, from the Administrator.

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CHEGUTU
(ad inserted 08 May 2003)

Opportunity to either manage/lease a farm in Chegutu area.  Irrigation
available for 40ha tobacco.  Please contact JAG offices for contact number.

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VICTORIA FALLS
(ad inserted 29 April 2003)

I am looking for a Lodge Operations Manager for our up-market lodge outside
of Vic Falls. I am hoping to offer an employment opportunity to somebody
who has been affected by the closure of tourism facilities.

Here is a brief description of who we are looking for:
Vacancy for a Lodge Operations Manager

We have a vacancy for a Lodge Operations Manager / Deputy General manager
at our up-market 60 bed, 125 staff, Safari Lodge situated 30 km outside of
Victoria Falls.
He/she should have the following qualifications & skills:
· Extensive knowledge and previous experience in lodge /hotel management
· Management skills
· Ability to co-ordinate the day to day lodge operations
· Good knowledge of Zimbabwe labour laws
· Computer literate, XL, Windows, F&B service systems
· Knowledge of food & beverage
· Drivers license & valid passport
· Proven track record & traceable references

Responsibilities:
· Front of house operation
· Control of kitchen & kitchen supplies
· House-keeping
· Control of cellar
· Guest hospitality & guest delight
· Groups co-ordination
· Liaison with head-office
· Staff motivation
· Staff training
· Managing relevant budgets
· Running of lodge in the General Managers absence

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated all-rounder who is energetic and
has the ability to work independently. He/she must be able to work under
pressure, whilst monitoring standards and staff performance. The position
offers a comprehensive package to the right candidate.
Please contact Mr. R. Steiner at gm@telcovic.co.zw

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INTERNATIONAL
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SOUTH AFRICA
(ad inserted 29 April 2003)

I am currently looking for a farm manager to manage a mixed farm on the
Transvaal highveldt. Please could you circulate this advertisement to any
of your members who may be interested?
Farm Manager
Duties
Day to day management of farm activities
cropping (maize)
poultry management
beef herd management
sheep flock management
pasture management
Full responsibility for production and sales activity.

Farm
400 Ha situated 30km north east of Middelburg, Mpumalanga.

Mixed animal production farm consisting of beef, broilers, sheep and
supporting pastures and maize cropping.
Remuneration is open for negotiation and could include profit share.
Accommodation, water, lights and use of company LDV is included in package.

Ideal candidate will have animal husbandry experience and be able to
operate independently.
My contact details are
Bruce Cook
e-mail: bcc_consult@iafrica.com
telephone - 27-833256874 or -27-21-9753138 a/h

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SOUTH AFRICA
(ad inserted 10 April 2003)

Drummond area of Natal....roughly 30 km from Durban on the way to
Pietermaritzburg.

Organic Veg farm manager required.  General farm management and tractor
skills, knowledge of organic veg growing and Zulu.

We are looking for someone who is prepared to run the farm as their own
business, what you put in you get out.  Salary linked to profit share and
house.
Phone/fax 031-783 4995 or e-mail gjtech@iafrica.com

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SOUTH AFRICA
(ad inserted 09 April 2003)

My brother has asked me to put ads in the local papers for a tractor
mechanic with Ford/New Holland, Massey experience.

Contact details in RSA are: Dennis on email address
mailto:Cilla@futurest.co.za

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SOUTH AFRICA

Opportunity in Polokwane South Africa.

Mature person required as maintenance and farm manager including wildlife
for a very reputable hotel and game farm, (conservancy) outside Polokwane
(Pietersburg) Limpopo Province.

Duties include.
Organizational ability, vehicle maintenance, boreholes, electrical
maintenance at hotel and farm, good labour relations etc.

Only hard working and sober persons need apply.

Please contact, e-mail, vhbristow@hotmail.com Phone 0027836565729
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MOZAMBIQUE
(ad inserted 12 May 2003)

"Barra Lodge " right on a beautiful beach, near Inhambane in Mozambique, is
looking for the following.

1. Food and Beverage manager, pref, experienced and be able to do F and B
figure work, stock control and maintain standard. To run 2 busy bars, 1
pizza hut and busy restaurant catering to up to 200. Frequently also 80+
"walk ins" with out booking.

2. Admin/ Bookkeeper.  Able to do pastel & excel. Needs to go to trial
balance, produce forecasters and monthly figures and stock controls,

For full details etc contact Dave and Jill Law at barra@pixie.co.za or P.O.
Box 6921. Halfway House 1685, Joburg, S, Africa

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MOZAMBIQUE

I felt that there might be someone in your network that may be interested.
The post could suit a person that is currently underemployed, and it falls
vacant because the present incumbent has been employed by the World Bank.

ICC is looking for an agricultural consultant to service our market in
Manica and Tete provinces of Mozambique. The responsibilities include
selling to donor agencies, helping to write proposals, and helping to
manage the resultant consulting projects. The ideal person will have
extensive agriculture experience, both commercial and small scale, will be
fluent in Portuguese and English, will be familiar with the customs of
Mozambique, and preferably live close to Mutare.  We can teach them the
consulting skills.

ICC is a Southern African consulting company with offices in Harare, Maputo
and Lusaka. In Mozambique we are active in consultancy work in Micro
finance, commercial and smallholder agricultural projects. Recent projects
include:

Strategic plan for a Mozambiquan manufacturer of oils, fats and soaps.

Market analysis and feasibility study for a new horticultural project.

Assisting a major regional tea and coffee producer to prepare for further
regional expansion.

Business plans and facilitated negotiations for a major Zimbabwean agri
business to start a joint venture in Mozambique.

Feasibility and business plans for greenfields tea project in Espungabera.
roger.purcell@iccafrica.net
Tel: + 263 4 731555/7
Fax: + 263 4 731558
Cell: + 263 (0) 91 272 767
www.iccafrica.net

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ZAMBIA
(ad inserted 6th Feb. 03)
The JAG Office received an enquiry from Mr George Mashinkila who owns some
farmland in Zambia. He wants to lease out his farm. If anyone is
interested, they can get hold of him directly at e-mail
George.Mashinkila@fao.org

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BOTSWANA
(ad inserted 12 May 2003)

Botswana Development Corporation Ltd (BDC) invite tenders for the lease of
Mogobane Dairy Farm situated in Mogobane, 50km south of Gaborone (next to
Otse Police College).  The farm is accessible by tarred road up to the
Police College and only 5km of good gravel road.  This therefore gives the
farm easy access to the main markets, which are Gaborone and Lobatse.

The farm measures 116 hectares fully developed with the entire necessary
infrastructure such as water (2 boreholes, of which only one is equipped),
generous water rights from Mogobane Dam, electricity and telephone.  Other
infrastructure includes state of the art dairy parlour with kraals,
executive housing for top management, comfortable houses for middle
management and good housing for farm workers.

The terms and conditions of the tender are as follows:

1. The minimum rental for the farm shall be P12,000 per month and payable
monthly in advance.
2. Duration of the lease is 10 years negotiable.
3. The lease is for all immovable property on the farm.
4. The lessee would continue with dairy farming and/or irrigated crop
production although not necessarily restricted to those.
5. The successful tenderer shall enter into a written lease agreement
before the commencement of the lease.

Tenders should state the following:

· Farming expertise/experience (track record).
· Documents showing the financial history and strength of the tenderer.
· Written references from the tenderer's bankers.
· In the case of duly constituted companies, the latest audited financial
statements.
· Rental offered.  Interested parties are encouraged to visit the farm so
that they can have first hand view of the farm before they submit their
tender.

Should there be need for further information, please contact BDC,
Agribusiness and Services Division.

Sealed tenders marked FARM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (PTY) LIMITED on the
envelope should be sent or hand delivered to:

Group Company Secretary
Botswana Development Corporation
Moedi, Plot 50380, Showgrounds
Private Bag 160
Gaborone
Botswana

Telephone: 3651300
Fax: 3903114/3904193

The closing date for the receipt of tenders is 30 May 2003 at 12:30 hours.

Tenders will be opened at BDC offices on 30 May 2003 at 14:00 hours.  BDC
is not obliged to award the tender to the highest or any bidder.

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BOTSWANA
(ad inserted 27 April 2003)

A very good friend of mine who lives in Gabarone Botswana has asked me to
put out this piece of information so I thought your organisation would be
ideal to do it for me.

His name is Snowy Du Toit (ex Zimbo) and his details are as follows: -

Phone: 00 267 3971026 / 00 26771724810 ( cell )
Fax: 00 267 3909610
Email: snowjudy@global.bw
He has been offered a certain piece of land near Gabarone, which would be
ideal for market gardening or horticulture. It apparently has plenty of
water from the municipal waste. He has indicated that he could probably
negotiate a loan on anyone's behalf should they be interested as he is now
a citizen of Botswana. All the technical details can be provided by Snowy
himself, so if anyone is interested, please could they contact him direct.
I know time is of the essence so if anyone is interested they must contact
him ASAP.

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BOTSWANA
(ad inserted 22 April 2003)

Mr Johan Boshoff - Pontdrif, RSA is looking urgently for a dynamic reliable
middle age couple to manage a farm in the northwestern part of Botswana,
close to the Caprivi strip. Preferable no young children still in the
house, due to the distance from schools.

Experience: Farm management & general farm equipment maintenance
Crops: Vegetables under irrigation - drip & Pivot irrigation
Contact # Johan Boshoff
Tel (+27) 15-5751425
Fax (+27) 15-5751580
Cell (+27) 82 822 6310
e-mail Minds, ratho.pburg@minds.co.za

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BOTSWANA

PRIME CATTLE FARMS FOR SALE IN BOTSWANA
Cattle farming business in Ghanzi District, Northwest Botswana for sale.
(The owners moving for kids schooling.) Comprises 2 well-developed freehold
farms, measuring 10 112,06 Morg (8 660 Ha) in total, 1050 head of cattle
(cross Santa-Sussex), all necessary farming equipment, lighting-plants,
gensets, inverter equipment managers residence, main farm residence, staff
accommodation, workshops and storerooms etc, etc Walk-in / walk-out deal
BWP4 500 000-00 (Approx US$ 775 000-00). All serious offers will be
considered.
Contact Mike on (267) 72290622 or e-mail airfield@it.bw

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MALAWI - TOBACCO MANAGERS

Tobacco managers wanted in Malawi: 2003/4 seasons
100ha Flue cured 100ha Maize African tobacco managers of Malawian
extraction wanting to relocate with costs paid and paper work facilities.
Malawian Passport Holders will obviously be given preference. Respond to
JAG's email address and we will forward.

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MALAWI
(ad inserted 17 April 2003)

We are looking for an ex farmer, with tobacco experience, to oversee the
building of tobacco curing systems in Malawi.  This position will be for a
period of ten months, with the possibility of extending the contract to two
years, either in Zimbabwe or elsewhere.  Accommodation and vehicle will be
provided.  Contact browneng@africaonline.co.zw or send your application to
Debbie Graham at Brown Engineering, Box ST 311, Southerton, Harare.

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ANGOLA
(ad inserted 12 May 2003)

If you are interested I have an enquiry for someone to supervise setting-up
of following in Angola:

1) PIG FARMS. I can connect you with good contacts.
2) DAIRY FARMS.
3) BROILER FARMS??
4) BEEF / FEED LOTS.

Most of the products will be required for the American communities involved
with oilrigs etc, so I imagine a fairly high quality wanted. I don't have
all the info/specs yet, just establishment of interest. Also no idea where
in Angola, (but assume close to Luanda), or size of outfits, money
available etc etc.

Let me know if you are interested. Email: cehutchn@futurenet.co.za

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ANGOLA
(ad inserted 22nd Feb 03)

A farming opportunity exists in Menongie Cuando Cubango Province in Angola
for a person experienced in the cultivation of maize. Land will be made
available and various options exist with regards to the funding of the
operation. Interested parties can e-mail their information and a summary of
their experience to hendrik@burmeister.com.na

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KENYA
(ad inserted 08 April 2003)

Farm Manager wanted for a coffee/tea estate in Kenya.  Please phone 091 233
852 for further information.

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KENYA
(ad inserted 24th Feb 03)

I came across your website when searching for information on Zimbabwean
Farmers. We are looking for a General Manager for a large horticulture and
floriculture company based in Nanyuki, Kenya. I wanted to know if you could
pass on the attached brief to farmers that might be interested in looking
at this opportunity?
Many thanks and Kind Regards,
Zia Manji
Recruitment Manager
CAREER CONNECTIONS (K) LTD.
P.O. BOX 25118, 00603 NAIROBI, KENYA.
TEL: +254-2-3752400 / 1 FAX: +254-2-3752401
MOBILE: 0733 994469 OR 0722 516043
EMAIL: info@careerconnections.co.ke
Position Specification & Candidate Profile

GENERAL MANAGER, LARGE HORTICULTURAL & FLORICULTURAL COMPANY

THE COMPANY
Our client, one of Kenya's most established horticultural and floricultural
companies, is a major exporter to the large retailers in the United Kingdom
and Europe. The group encompasses 3 large vegetable and flower farms,
packing facilities, a clearing and forwarding company, and a propagation
business. Exporting Two Million stems of cut flowers and 120 MT of
vegetables monthly, the Company is managed by a dynamic multicultural team
employing over 3,000 staff countrywide.

Our client's biggest challenge is to remain the market leader by
maintaining a strong customer focus coupled with a continuous expansion and
improvement strategy to deliver the highest possible quality products in
line with the requirements of this fast paced industry.

THE LOCATION
Nanyuki, Kenya.

THE POSITION The General Manager will be responsible for independent
co-ordination and management of all aspects of the business unit
incorporating 15 hectares of flower greenhouses, a fully automated rose
propagation unit and 25 hectares of vegetables. Within the framework of the
company's objectives and action plans, the manager's key focus will
include: Day to day growing, packing and propagation of required product
within the specified quality, cost and time. Overseeing the packing of
flowers onsite to meet international standards. Overseeing the cutting and
bulk packing of vegetables to the centralized pack house in Nairobi.
Managing the financial and administrative functions on the farm, providing
frequent and accurate reports to the head office. Ensuring optimum
processing and workers performance as well as maintaining safety and
developmental requirements.
Supervising the maintenance of all processing equipment. Ensuring the
compliance of the farm, packing operations, workers welfare and environment
within Company's and client requirements. Responsibility for the manpower
organisation of 600 employees including maintaining cordial and efficient
industrial relations. Managing and coordinating the audits by client
supermarkets throughout the year.

Responsible for the preparation of operating plans and programmes and
ensuring proper implementation.
Providing strategic advice and co-ordination of agreed development and
expansion projects. The General Manager reports to the Board of Directors.

KEY PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
These include:
Respecting production commitments in terms of volume, deadlines, costs, and
product compliance.

Correct team performance. Creating and encouraging a cordial working
environment in the farming and processing team.

Guaranteeing the compliance of the Company and its Clients standards in all
areas of farming, processing, staff welfare and environment.

Proper management of the farm's budget.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities include:
Help define the long-term plan, the improvement and expansion plans for the
entire farm.
Proposing annual production programmes and making adjustments as required
in line with group requirements and good agricultural practice.
Preparation and submission of annual budgets. Identify adjustments and
modification required in the farming and processing to optimise the
performance and the quality of the products.
Co-ordination of the program of inspections, visits, and audits with the
Board of Directors.
Planning and organisation of manpower to best suit the delivery programme.
Identifying and resolving problems relating to farm and processing
management on a daily basis.
Maintaining of equipment in good working condition by ensuring compliance
with correct usage practices, and regular inspection and liaison with the
maintenance team.
Implementation and management of approved expansion and improvement
projects in line with Company objectives.
Monitoring labour performance, setting work targets, implementing viable
bonus schemes to boost labour productivity and motivation.

EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND NEEDED:
A graduate in agriculture/horticulture/floriculture or any other relevant
field. 5 to 8 years experience at a senior management level in a large
horticulture or floriculture concern.
Relevant experience in rose growing is an advantage.
Good knowledge of product quality parameters and compliance regulations.
In-depth knowledge and a proven track record in of growing, packing and
propagation.
Computer literate and proficient in the use of MS Office.
An understanding of management concepts, agricultural practices and quality
management methods e.g. ISO 9000, HACCP and EUREPGAP.

OTHER VITAL QUALITIES:
The candidate must also be:
Able to manage and work with a culturally and educationally diverse team.
A good planner and organiser.
Must have good analytical skills, and a decision-maker.
Proactive in their work and take the initiative to propose and implement
new approaches.
Out-going, articulate with high verbal abilities.
Results oriented.
A team player willing to work in a very competitive and fast-paced
industry.

COMPENSATION:
A highly competitive package will be offered to the right candidate.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY:
Online registration only. Log onto the following web-site, register and
upload your CV: http://www.high-fliers.com
For more information, please email: zia@careerconnections.co.ke
Zia Manji
Recruitment Manager
DEADLINE: 28/02/03

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
(ad inserted 21 April 2003)

A 5000 hectare concession in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of
Kasaï Province, 800 km to the south of Kinshasa, in the region of Kikwit.

This property was farmed by a Belgian for more than 40 years and he had
nearly 4,000 head of cattle!

There is a forest with nearly 150,000 trees, mostly eucalyptus and pine. A
river flows on the domain's border. Agricultural plantations such as corn,
manioc, groundnut as well as chicken farming are possible.

There is a building in Kikwit with a commercial ground floor and living
quarters on the 1st floor.

The whole complex is very pleasant and offers great opportunities of
further economic development!
Asking price for the transfer of the concession is 125,000 euros.

I sincerely believe this project is well worth your attention so please do
not hesitate to ask should you require additional information. If you like
I could for instance scan some photos.

Contact: Rue des Chardons, 20/8 - 1030 Bruxelles -
Tél. +32-2/644.17.73 - GSM +32-496/87.11.66

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NEW ZEALAND
(Ad inserted 24th Feb 03)

Employment available as part of a Team, thinning and harvesting summer
fruit, apples and kiwifruit in the Hawkes Bay area of New Zealand, (North
Island, East coast).  The company, Labour Force, NZ, is expanding to fill
contracts.  Dormitory/Single/Married

Accommodation is available within easy commuting distance. For more
information, please email labour.force@xtra.co.nz in the first instance
with personal details, and a summary of recent work experience. Advice,
assistance and support with settling in, will be given by local branch of
the Zimcare Trust, NZ, contact kiwi_team@gpoffice.com

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AUSTRALIA
(ad inserted 02 April 2003)

There is a newspaper report this week of the dire shortage of skilled
farmer workers to take up vacancies in the cropping areas of Western
Australia. This is predominately seasonal, i.e. seeding time and harvest
time but can also be on a long-term basis in many instances. I have this
afternoon spoken to the President of the W.A. Farmers Federation, Colin
Nicolle, based in Perth and he was very sympathetic and indicated that his
office could be a source of contact at this end. Their E-mail address is
waff@waff.org.au

I am sure there might be some Zim. farmers who could benefit in this way,
but in some cases the Aus. farmer would have to provide sponsorship to
assist the Visa application. I am told that the Australian High
Commissioner in Harare would look favourably at applications from
Zimbabwean farmers. It also could be an idea for some to come on a visitors
Visa initially to get the feel of the work, which would largely entail
operating and maintaining tractors and machinery.

Hopefully this letter might be a catalyst to assist some families to make
contact with farmers in Australia.

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AUSTRALIA
(ad inserted 02 May 2003)

Nursing opportunities in Australia. For more information please contact
Ginty Thomson on 237442@ecoweb.co.zw or 091 237 442 or 066 30555

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALIA
(ad inserted 22 April 2003)

email: richjude@tpgi.com.au

telephone: 61 0356832464

message: We have two beautiful farms in the South of Victoria, Australia.
We would be interested in sponsoring a family to migrate with a view to
help us.  We can offer a package of a base of $50000 Australian plus a 3
br.house.  One farm is dairy, the other beef. We are in our late fifties so
need someone in say mid 30's to late 40's

Please reply to Dick and Judy Edwards richjude@tpgi.com.au

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALIA
(ad inserted 19 April 2003)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nt/metnt-19apr2003-4.htm

Foreign teachers for NT jobs 'better late than never': CLP

The Northern Territory Opposition is welcoming a move to recruit teachers
from overseas, but says this should have been implemented months ago.

The Government has announced it will try to attract teachers from regional
areas, as well as from countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada.

The Government says there are 25 permanent teaching vacancies in the
Territory.

Shadow Education Minister Terry Mills says the Country Liberal Party (CLP)
has been calling for this to happen since late last year.

"To implement them now is an indication that they are in panic mode, the
teacher shortage is in excess of what the Government currently claims," Mr
Mills said.

"These initiatives will take an extended period of time to actually bed in
and to produce the results, which is teachers in the classroom for students
now."

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FRANCE
(ad inserted 21 May 2003)

Is there a fit couple in their 50's or 60's, with no at-home dependents,
European passports and the desire to spend at least a year in the South
West of France, not far from Toulouse?

Accommodation is free and in the countryside.

Her duties (paid for) are several hours of housework and babysitting in the
mornings.

His duties (also paid) are light gardening and handyman jobs.

French is not a necessity!  The family involved is looking for all the best
of Zim qualities and has been wonderful to several displaced farmers
already.

If any one is interested or would like to know more, please contact me at
the email address given
wheeler_t@club-internet.fr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENGLAND
(ad inserted 18 April 2003)

HELP ON FARM needed for approx. 3 days per week.  The farm consists of 400
acres of marginal pasture and woodland overlooking the Severn Estuary. The
grazing is let on an annual basis, and some of the woodland is of special
scientific interest.

Work would comprise farm and estate maintenance, including driving of
Unimog, use of chainsaw, fertiliser spreading, weed-wiping, fencing.
Mechanical ability an advantage.  Might suit someone with an interest in
wildlife and conservation.  Preferred age 24-45.  Suit couple.  Ability to
caretake occasionally would be an advantage.

East Wing Annexe is available as part of a deal to be negotiated.  It
comprises separate front door, lobby, kitchen and small living or dining
room downstairs, and bathroom and two good-sized rooms upstairs.  Partial
central heating included.  Extra storage space available.

For further details please ring 01633.400213, or contact us by `e'-mail:
richard@penhein.co.uk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENGLAND
(AD INSERTED 31 MARCH 2003)

I am wondering if you might be able to assist me. I am a partner in a farm
in UK and we currently have a vacancy for a Farm Manager and I thought this
might be of interest to some of the unfortunate farmers recently displaced
from Zimbabwe by Mugabe. Would you have any idea where it might be best to
advertise the vacancy in order to attract any interested parties'
attention? I am contactable at abrich@hotmail.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENGLAND

We are a Farming partnership in North Essex. We have a 600 acre mixed farm
and are currently seeking a Farm Manager. This position may well suit a
displaced Zimbabwean farmer and his family. Accommodation is likely to be
available and the position should become vacant in the autumn.

Please forward this message to any who may be interested or please let us
know the best way of contacting such dispossessed farmers who are arriving
here or planning to move here in the near future.  Our email address is:
thomas.richardson@ukgateway.net

Many thanks

Tom Richardson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw (updated 21 May 2003)
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Catholic News
 
Colin Powell thanks Zimbabwe archbishop


US Secretary of State Colin Powell has expressed his appreciation to controversial Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube for his outspoken opposition to the policies of President Robert Mugabe's government.

Powell lauded Ncube, archibishop of Bulawayo, for his "principled stance" against the Mugabe regime, a stance that earned him a warning from police in February.

A senior State Department official who attended a meeting on Tuesday between Powell and Ncube said the US Secretary of State "wanted to recognise the strong role the archibishop has played in standing up for the Zimbabwean people and their humanitarian and civil rights."

"Ncube has been explembery in being willing to put himself in a strong position for his people."

Washington has become highly critical of Mugabe and his increasingly autocratic style, with some US officials calling for him to hand over power to a transitional government that would hold free and fair elections.

Ncube, along with other members of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, signed a letter made public last month that criticised Mugabe's government for failing to create a free and just environment.
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kubatana.net

Report on Internally Displaced Farm Workers Survey - Kadoma, Chegutu and KweKwe Districts
Zimbabwe Community Development Trust (ZCDT)
February 2003

Executive summary
Zimbabwe has the greater part of its population forming the agrarian community. Generally, the farming community used to be a peaceful community before the February 2000 constitutional referendum. The population of Zimbabwe voted overwhelmingly against the government's purported people-driven constitution and all hell broke loose. From February 2000 until to date, Zimbabwe had experienced the worst violence, torture, harassment and illegal eviction of commercial farmers and the farm workers under the guise of a land redistribution programme, which was later, code-named "Fast Track Land Resettlement" programme.

Lack of planning and the haphazardness of the process itself rendered the programme null and void of the initial ideas and major objectives of land reform in the country. Civil society in the country dismissed the land resettlement programme as a violent way of fast tracking disenfranchisement, hunger, starvation, abject poverty and destitution in Zimbabwe - an analysis that the government vehemently denied.

The reality on the ground is that the violence and lawlessness associated with the programme drove many displaced farm workers into the jungle. (By 'jungle' we mean remote areas of t