Human rights abuse a hurdle to Zimbabwe acceptance

Zim Independent


Ray Matikinye
A HUMAN rights record disfigured by countless unresolved cases has left rights activists questioning Zimbabwe’s sincerity in setting up a human rights commission.
"We do not need another commission as there is nothing to gain from such an institution," says human rights lawyer, Alec Muchadehama.
"It is simply a way of diverting people’s attention and a reaction to local lawyers having to resort to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights."
A fortnight ago, Zimbabwe relinquished its seat on the Geneva-based UN Commission for Human Rights, purportedly to give one of its southern African neighbours a chance to represent the region on the international body, according to Boniface Chidyausiku, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the UN.
But observers said the decision was meant to cushion the impact of an inevitable failure to secure election to the new UN Human Rights Council because of continued human rights violations.
The new body is set to replace the UNCHR which has been discredited for hosting states that are serial rights abusers. Zimbabwe’s presence on the body has long been a source of annoyance to those who accuse President Robert Mugabe’s government of routinely flouting human rights.
Craig Mokhiber, deputy director of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, fired a diplomatic salvo before the elections for the new body when he said he expected UN member-states to take into account "each candidate’s contributions".
Each member, he said, should "not only pledge commitment to human rights, but also their record in this regard should be taken into account".
Muchadehama says government should abide by court orders and rein in its agents rather than institute a commission that only panders to its whims.
"We have an Anti-Corruption Commission but corruption is on the increase. Government cannot establish a commission to deal with its own abuses. Government needs merely to empower the courts to deal with incidents of human rights abuse unfettered," Muchadehama says.
Anyone who doubts Zimbabwe’s record of abuse need look no further than a litany of glaring examples of cases that government has done little to resolve.
For instance, opposition activist Tonderai Machiridza died in hospital on Independence Day in 2003 from injuries received while he was in police custody.
Machiridza died five days after being arrested by police in Chitungwiza along with three other MDC supporters on allegations of harassing a police officer during a two-day stayaway organised by the opposition MDC.
After a court application, the High Court ruled that he should be released on bail to receive better medical treatment. Despite him naming a Sergeant Chikwizo as one of his assailants before he died, nothing was done to bring the policeman to book.
The case of two Standard journalists — the late editor Mark Chavunduka and senior reporter Ray Choto — who were abducted and tortured by the military after the paper carried a story alleging a coup plot in the army, has not been fully investigated despite a judicial order.
In a typical response, the then Defence minister, Moven Mahachi, when told that the journalists had been tortured, scoffed at the claims: "The journalists scratched themselves and claimed they had been assaulted."
A court-ordered investigation into the torture claim was never concluded despite assurances from the Attorney-General.
Others like Gabriel Shumba, then a lawyer with the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, were arrested in January 2003, including opposition MP for St Mary’s Job Sikhala.
Shumba was forced into exile where he now heads the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum in South Africa.
In moving testimony to the US Congressional Committee on International Relations in March 2004, Shumba related how riot police armed with AK-47s, teargas canisters, grenades and dogs stormed the room in which he was holding consultations with his client Sikhala. The officers were accompanied by plain-clothes policemen, soldiers and personnel from the CIO.
Charges of treason against Shumba, his brother Bishop and Sikhala, were dismissed by magistrate Caroline Ann Chigumira who ruled that there was no legal basis to press ahead because the document which formed the basis of the charge had been written under duress.
No investigation into the torture of Shumba, Sikhala and those arrested with them is known to have taken place despite assurances given to President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.
No one has ever been charged in connection with the crime. Unable to obtain justice within Zimbabwe, Shumba took his case to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights which has spoken out against the country for its rights abuses.
In April 2004 police in Harare brutally assaulted student activist Tinashe Chimedza when he arrived to speak at an education forum. Police detained him at the venue and assaulted him with batons, boots and open palms before charging him with assaulting a police officer.
At Marlborough police station police verbally abused lawyers representing Chimedza and one lawyer was briefly detained without charge.
No investigation has been conducted into the assault. Like countless others, no one has ever been charged in connection with the incident.
Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was assaulted at a police station by a Zanu PF adherent in October 2003.
But the most notorious incident of government looking the other way while citizens rights are violated by a partisan police force and security operatives has been that of MDC activists Talent Mabika and Tichaona Chiminya.CIO operative Joseph Mwale is alleged to have led a group of Zanu PF supporters who petrol-bombed the two aides of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-up to the 2000 general election.
Chiminya and Mabika were burnt to death at Murambinda growth point while campaigning for Tsvangirai in Buhera North, later won by Zanu PF’s Kenneth Manyonda.
Last year three other accused persons in the case, Webster Gwama, Bernard Makuwe and Morris Cainos (alias Kitsiyatota), were indicted on two counts of murder but their trial has not started.
Last week the Attorney-General’s office assured lawyers for Tsvangirai that the Mwale case was being pursued.

70% of Zimbabwe hospital staff quit - report

May 24, 2006,

By Andnetwork .com

Zimbabwe's health service is on the brink of collapse with the country’s
hospitals having a medical staff deficit of 70 percent, a parliamentary
report published Wednesday revealed.

The report prepared by the Zanu PF-dominated parliamentary portfolio
committee on Health chaired by MDC Kwekwe legislator Blessing Chebundo said
poor remuneration and poor working conditions were behind the massive exodus
of health personnel.
“Some of this information was supplied to us by the government’s Health
Services Board,” Chebundo said.
He added that there was lack of equipment and spare parts for most of the
country's hospitals with the government’s Medical Stores running out of
drugs at one point late last year.
Chebundo said: “(At least) 30 percent of nurses were affected by Operation
Murambatsvina resulting in them relocating to places very far away from
their work places.
"At Harare Hospital some who lived in areas such as Highfield and Mufakose
went to live in areas such as Seke in Chitungwiza and the rural areas."
He added that in December last year, a nurse in Shurugwi was being paid
Zim$4 million after 21 YEARS of service.
The nurse had a child in lower sixth and was supporting an extended family.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe says an average family of five requires at
least Zim$35 million every month but an average middle class citizen earns
just $15 million.
In the report, the committee blasted the Deputy Minister of Health Edwin
Muguti saying he attempted to interfere with the committee’s work after
media coverage of its work that uncovered a grim picture.
He attributed this to Muguti’s “lack of (understandding) Parliamentary
procedures”, but added that the health committee had a good working
relationship with Health Minister, David Parirenyatwa.
Zimbabweans are struggling with unemployment of over 70 percent, the highest
rate of inflation in the world and persistent shortages of foreign currency,
food and fuel as well as constant water and electricity cuts.
Conditions at most government hospitals have deteriorated over the years,
with drugs and trained staff in chronic short supply while relatives often
have to bring food for patients because the health institutions have no
money to provide meals.
Government doctors and nurses have staged a number of strikes over the last
seven years to press for better pay, while thousands others have sought
opportunities abroad.
Earlier this month, the government lifted a freeze on private health care
charges, allowing fees to double in a move that has piled up pressure on
Zimbabweans already grappling with soaring prices of basic commodities like
bread, milk and the staple maize meal.
Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, denies
responsibility for Zimbabwe's economic woes, and accuses local and foreign
opponents of sabotaging the country's wealth over his seizure of white-owned
farms for blacks since 2000.

Source: Newzimbabwe.com

Botswana, Zimbabwe border dispute threatens building of new bridge

Wed 24 May 2006

GABORONE - A border dispute between Zimbabwe and Botswana could scuttle the construction of the proposed Kazungula bridge linking the two countries to Zambia, ZimOnline has learnt.   
Sources said the two countries cannot agree on the boundary line near Kazungula and it is feared their dispute could discourage potential investors keen to fund the project.   
 "The dispute has meant that architects assigned to the project cannot come up with designs until they are sure of the exact position of the border between the two countries," said a senior Botswana government official, who spoke on condition he was not named.   
Kazungula Bridge is one of 16 infrastructural projects for which the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is looking for funding.    
It will be built at a cost of US$70 million and SADC has approached the African Development Bank and private investors for funding.   
The bridge is meant to provide a modern road and rail transport route across Zambezi river. Feasibility studies were completed in 2001 with funding from Japan.   
Relations between Zimbabwe and Botswana have been strained over the past few years, with the Gaborone authorities accusing its neighbour's citizens of fanning crime in its territory. 
In turn Harare accuses Gaborone of ill-treating Zimbabweans visiting Botswana.    
The latest case of the strained relations is this month's claim by Botswana that infected cattle from Zimbabwe were the source of an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in areas along the border. Harare has denied the claims. - ZimOnline

SO, twice as many voters in the Harare suburb of Budiriro would prefer to be governed by a "foreign" party than by President Mugabe.

Zim Independent
Muckraker

SO, twice as many voters in the Harare suburb of Budiriro would prefer to be governed by a "foreign" party than by President Mugabe.
That is the shocking indictment of Mugabe’s party delivered by the residents last weekend.
Mugabe was in Budiriro last Thursday attempting to drum up support for his dysfunctional party. Other candidates were prevented from canvassing while the president was actively campaigning in the constituency, handing out computers to schools. He claimed that the MDC was a "foreign creation" whose aspirations were "at variance with the aspirations of Zimbabweans".
By a two-to-one margin, voters either declined to believe his claims or alternatively said they didn’t care.
It was a humiliating rebuff for a president who quite obviously can no longer deliver votes. It also shows that voters did not buy his promises to turn around the economy. And who can blame them given his past performance?
The Herald’s Caesar Zvayi attempted to discern a silver lining in this dark cloud hanging over Zanu PF. The outcome represented a big improvement on the ruling party’s performance in the general election, he pointed out gamely.
Perhaps it did. But it also showed that voters no longer see any point in expressing their wishes. Zanu PF will continue to misgovern the country and destroy the economy no matter what the views of the electorate. That is the message of 2000, 2002 and 2005. And it is nothing to be proud of!
You have to be very stupid indeed to swallow Mugabe’s exhortation to "vote Zanu PF for meaningful development". What evidence is there of meaningful development after six straight years of GDP contraction?
Why does the president insist on insulting the intelligence of urban voters? He may get away with this sort of thing in Zvimba, but there will be no takers — apart perhaps from Caesar Zvayi — in the nation’s teeming cities.
Zvayi thinks urban residents are "notorious for voting with their stomachs". Does he think hungry people should not protest against the authors of their hunger?
We liked William Nhara’s remarks, in response to Nelson Chamisa’s claims, that Zanu PF did not have the capacity to organise 9 000 people to vote in the election. It sounded very much like a statement of regret. And let us never forget what the party nearly achieved in its bid to unseat Margaret Dongo in Sunningdale. Fortunately we then had an independent judiciary to expose their bussing fraud.
How does Nhara explain the number of new registrations in Budiriro, all living at the same address, the home of a well-known Zanu PF activist?
But "all is not lost", to use a Herald expression. Nhara can advise Jeremiah Bvirindi on what government jobs are available to candidates rejected by the people in Harare and how electoral losers can continue to live the good life aboard the gravy train!
What again exactly is it you do Cde Nhara? And how much do we have to pay you to do it?
Munyaradzi Huni was earning his crust in the Sunday Mail this week rubbishing Tony Blair. But we were intrigued by the ambiguity of his arguments. Here was Huni talking about the "King of Spin", a "creepy character" who is under siege from the public and his own party. He had perfected the art of blundering, we were told. Everything seemed to be going wrong for him. He recently suffered an electoral defeat. And voters wanted him out well before his term expired in 2010.
Readers who hadn’t already been told could be forgiven for wondering who the target was of Huni’s piece!
A political science lecturer at UZ was hauled in to say that for Britain to change its policy on Zimbabwe, Britons would first have to exert pressure from within.
"If Britons put pressure on their government, that it should mend bridges with Zimbabwe, the government could listen," the academic said hopefully.
You can imagine thousands of protestors in the UK carrying banners saying: "Give Bob a chance", "Zim president victim of imperialist plot".
Huni told us that Gordon Brown would be "more sober" than Blair. But George Zimbizi, "a social commentator", said Brown was "a heavy drinker" and therefore wouldn’t be much better.
"These Labour leaders are too young and they don’t appreciate the colonial history," Zimbizi opined.
Really incisive stuff this. Does it get any better?
Last week Muckraker commented on the dishonesty of papers which continued to put words into the mouth of Swedish ambassador Sten Rylander, even after he had denied making the remarks attributed to him.
Unperturbed by any statement to the contrary, the Herald again quoted him last week as saying sanctions were hurting the poor. It even quoted him as attacking the ambassadors of EU countries that supported sanctions. The original false story appeared in the Manica Post.
Rylander immediately sent a statement to the editor of the Herald pointing out that his remarks had once again been deliberately distorted. Sensible readers of the Herald and Manica Post would realise that the ambassador of any EU member state would never make statements deviating from the EU common position, he pointed out.
The statement was published on Tuesday without an apology.
We would love to know who is behind these willful fabrications — the spin-doctors Rylander referred to who appear to be twisting his comments to suit the state’s delusional claims that the EU is divided over sanctions.
Zvayi naively states that he can’t understand how one man can be misquoted in three provinces by different journalists. He evidently doesn’t know how the system works. Wasn’t it exactly Rylander’s point that Herald/Chronicle/Manica Post copy is panel-beaten at one central depot?
Talking of which, has Nathaniel Manheru discovered which country the Aswan Dam is in yet? He situated it in Ghana last week. Perhaps he was thinking of the Volta Dam?
frican presidents seeking to amend their constitutions to enable them to stay on for a third term invariably cite the call of the masses as irresistible. We recall Sam Nujoma justifying his hanging on to office because he was "indispensable". More recently Olusegun Obasanjo received a much-deserved rebuff from Nigeria’s senate when he said the same thing.
Here in Zimbabwe we understand only too well the depredations of "indispensable" rulers foisting themselves upon the electorate for a fourth term.
It must be catching because now we learn NCA chair Lovemore Madhuku is busy behind the scenes arranging another term for himself. And yes, it is the call of the masses he is responding to.
"I am responding to the NCA grassroots and the public," he claimed last week. Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust director David Chimhini provided the response most of us feel: "We need to be honest with one another as civil society," he told the Mirror. "If we criticise the government over its amendments to the constitution, but proceed to do the same, then we are guilty of double standards. We would be mincemeat to our critics because we would be doing exactly what we are criticising."
That Madhuku can’t see this obvious truth tells us all we need to know about his political judgement.
We were interested to read in the Business Herald that a delegation of government officials and industrialists is set to leave for Equatorial Guinea on a trade and investment mission. The story was filed by New Ziana. It concluded thus: "In March 2004 Zimbabwean security agents intercepted a 70-man group of suspected mercenaries at the Harare International Airport while on their way to stage a coup to topple President Nguema’s government.
Last year the Zimbabwe Independent received numerous calls from New Ziana asking why we didn’t take their copy. Here’s why: While we may suspect the motives of the so-called mercenaries in March 2004, they were not charged in court with attempting to topple the regime of Obiang Nguema. Instead they were charged under firearms and immigration laws precisely because the state couldn’t find any evidence to support a more serious charge.
It is elementary practice in journalism not to treat individuals as guilty where the courts have not done so. But the state media proceeded to find the men guilty and described them accordingly.
At least New Ziana in its report above referred to "suspected mercenaries". But they were never charged in this country with trying to "stage a coup" as suggested in the New Ziana copy. The state would dearly love to have brought such a charge and is now preparing legislation which would have made it easier to do so. But very simply, people must be regarded as innocent until found guilty in court, whatever intentions we may suspect them of. News agencies that decline to follow these basic rules deserve to have their copy turned down.
Meanwhile, we welcome the Southern News as a new media player on the regional scene. But how much effort does it take for the editor to spot two references to President Mbeki’s "quite" diplomacy, one of them on the front page?
Education and Sports minister Aeneas Chigwedere says those who blame Zifa for the loss of the bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations 2010 don’t know the history of the tournament.
Being a historian himself, he should know better. And what does that history of the tournament amount to, one might ask?
Chigwedere said the Confederation of African Football leadership only favour either countries from North and West Africa or those that produce oil.
"The rest of us are simple pawns in their game," declared the minister authoritatively.
"We are important to them but only for assisting them to develop their economies. The history of the tournament since its inception in 1957 proves this beyond any doubt."
He didn’t say why South Africa was able to win the bid in 1996 beyond the lame excuse that this was "by default after Kenya ran out of time". But Kenya is neither in West or North Africa nor does it produce oil. Where does that leave the minister’s porous thesis?
What is evident though is that we are proving to be very sore losers. What do these scurrilous attacks on fellow Africans say about the much-vaunted pan-Africanism?
Chigwedere should open his eyes and see what everyone else can see. The Caf decision was based squarely on Zimbabwe’s incapacity to host such an event. It also reflects on his stewardship of sport in the country. This was a vote of no confidence — as much in Chigwedere as Zimbabwe.
By the way, what happened to the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex after the All-Africa Games in 1995? What is the condition of sport generally in Zimbabwe today?
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, it is said. We could think of another name for it: plagiarism.
Here is the Herald’s entertainment reporter on Tuesday this week: "Thomas Mapfumo’s tribute to Benny Miller is an eight-track album which is a special homage to the late Benny Miller, a man who made music but remained an unsung hero even in death."
Several tracks, the author reported, revealed "Mukanya’s voice control" to be "as usual, amazing".
Here is Darlington Majonga in last Friday’ s Independent: "Legendary musician Thomas Mapfumo today releases an eight-track album as a special homage to the late Benny Miller — the man who made music but remained an unsung hero even in death."
In the track Horomba, Majonga said, "Mukanya’s voice control is as usual amazing".
The Herald carries full-frontal assaults on the Independent every week penned by government spokesmen who threaten us with Aippa. But it is happy to copy the work of our journalists and pass it off as its own.
Finally, Muckraker heard the following story from a jocular reader in Malawi.
President Mugabe was asked during his recent visit when he was going to bid the Zimbabwean people farewell.
Looking puzzled, he replied: "Why? Where are they going?"

Zimbabwe : Hippo Valley continues to lobby EU

 
May 28, 2006, 1 hour, 33 minutes and 58 seconds ago.
 
By Mernat Mafirakurewa
 
Hippo Valley, a subsidiary of the multi-national Anglo American Corporation, is continuing lobbying the European Union for the reinstatement of its export quota of 6 858 tonnes of sugar worth more than US$3 million that it allegedly was conned a year ago.
 
This follows the alleged fraudulent export of an equivalent tonnage of Indian sugar under false certificates claiming that it was of Zimbabwean origin.What has further complicated the scam is that it has proved difficult to identity the Indian firm that committed the offence.Hippo Valley is lobbying the EU with the assistance of the Government, through the Ministry of Industry and International Trade.
Sources in the Ministry of Industry and International Trade told this paper that the EU had already begun investigations.Under the ACP-EU Protocol signed in 1975, Zimbabwe, like other African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, was guaranteed access to the EU market for fixed quantities of sugar at preferential prices.
The EU has, however, since shifted its position and the quota sugar preferential prices will now begin in 2008 under new conditions presently being negotiated.During the two-year proposed period of the sugar reform protocol, the preferential price will be cut by 17 percent and will eventually be reduced by 36 percent, a development that will most likely see the sugar industry in the country being prejudiced of an estimated US$19 million.According to Hippo Valley Estates chief executive Mr Sydney Mtsambiwa, the company was continuing lobbying the European Union but said it cannot be ascertained if their effort will be successful."The position is that we are continuing to lobby the EU in conjunction with the Government, which we began last year, but the outcome will depend on a number of factors.
We are, therefore, not sure if our efforts will be successful," he said.Sugar production and exports are integral to Hippo Valley Estates as 90 percent of the 12 400 hectares are dedicated to sugar cane plantations, while more than 40 percent of the sugar is earmarked for the export market.Last year, sugar sales grossed close to $4 trillion in revenue and the product has also been in high demand on the domestic market, where scarcity of the commodity has been experienced.
The company said the present hostile macro-economic environment had posed a serious threat to its profits, with the exchange rate, which has been predominately static, largely compromising its export receipts.The company’s revenue streams may also shrink as a result of the acquisition of Mkwasine Estates, where Hippo Valley controlled a 50 percent stake.Hippo Valley, in partnership with Triangle Limited, also owns Tokwane Consortium (32 percent), NCP Distillers (49 percent), Chiredzi Township Limited (100 percent) and the Botswana-based Sugar Industries Limited in which the company owns 33 percent.
The Sunday Mail

Zimbabwe look abroad to bolster domestic game

Asian sides reportedly approached

May 28, 2006

A report in Zimbabwe's Independent newspaper claims that Zimbabwe Cricket are trying to lure club sides from Asia to give the domestic game a desperately-needed fillip.

The first-class structure virtually collapsed in 2005-06 after bitter infighting among stakeholders, clashes between clubs and the board, and the continuing exodus of players. The Logan Cup, Zimbabwe's century-old first-class competition, was not held, and the Faithwear Cup, the one-day tournament, was reduced to a virtual farce.

A ZC spokesman maintained that the Logan Cup would take place, stating a decision had been made to shift the domestic season. "The Zimbabwe climate is such that cricket can be played all year round, and we intend to fully utilise our climatic conditions," a spokesman told Cricinfo. "Therefore our season will run from January to December." This caught stakeholders completely unawares.

The Independent stated that two club sides from Asia had been approached, quoting a board source as saying: "ZC is in discussion with a number of cricket institutions with the willingness to send clubs to participate in first-class cricket in the country." It was also reported that Bangladesh A might be asked to participate.

What is uncertain is how this will be funded, as ZC has long been rumoured to be strapped for cash. However, even thought Zimbabwe suspended themselves from Test cricket in January, their income from the ICC remains unaffected, so they should receive several million dollars as a Full Member.

The paper added that Ozias Bvute, ZC's managing director, could not be drawn into discussing the foreign clubs issue, only saying the board had tabled "major plans to revive the local game".

© Cricinfo

Tsvangirai slams South Africa

28/05/2006 14:23  - (SA)  

"I see South Africa pursuing a policy of pursuing stability rather than democracy and in that case, they are very suspicious about any change of government," Tsvangirai told BBC television in its London studios.

Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, added that South African President Thabo Mbeki's government had relied on the United Nations after accepting that "quiet diplomacy" has failed to produce results.

However, he said, the UN approach may now be "dead in the water" after Zimbawean President Robert Mugabe poured cold water last Thursday on an initiative from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

A senior UN official, Ibrahim Gambari, said in New York Wednesday that it was premature to talk about a UN plan that would involve Mugabe's departure as Mbeki backed a planned visit to Zimbabwe by Annan.

Tsvangirai said that the people of Zimbabwe would pursue mass civil disobedience after their disappointment with recent elections that he said were tarnished by fraud.

"The people are determined to confront the regime," he said. "They are prepared to take a step further than just go for elections because of the electoral fraud that we've experienced," he added.

"That involves the mobilization of the people... mass crowds... putting people on the streets and making sure they express their discontent," the opposition leader said.

"At the moment one can see a very bleak future," he said when asked to comment about the country's sinking economy.

"The country is looking at the precipice, I think it will be a very disastrous thing if there is no change immediately," Tsvangirai said.

However, in the long run, he said freedom would come.

"The people will always prevail," he said. "Let me say that there is no dictatorship which is permament... At the end of the day the people's determination to see their freedom will prevail," he said.

Zimbabwe: Botswana abandons electric fence

 
May 28, 2006, 4 hours, 46 minutes and 55 seconds ago.
 
By ANDnetwork .com
 
The Botswana government, which has constructed a controversial 500-kilometre stretch of high voltage electric fence along the border with Zimbabwe, has bowed down to international pressure to stop activating it, it has been learnt.
 
 The 220-volt fence was erected in 2003 with the assistance of the European Union, which has a well-documented history of hatred against Zimbabwe. The Botswana government spent $665 billion (35 million Pula) on erecting the electric fence.
This was done under the pretext of allegedly preventing the spread of the foot and month disease by infected Zimbabwean cattle, which could stray into the Botswana side.
However, analysts have noted that the fence was intended to thwart illegal immigrants, particularly Zimbabweans from entering Botswana. There have been numerous incidents of Zimbabweans being ill-treated in Botswana before.
In February this year, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination condemned the Botswana government for ill-treating immigrants, particularly Zimbabweans visiting and living in that country.
Over the past years, hordes of Zimbabweans have been deported from Botswana for allegedly illegally entering the country, while others have been severely beaten or killed by the Botswana security forces. Scores of others have been humiliated and flogged in public by traditional leaders after allegedly committing crimes.
According to media reports from Botswana, the Member of Parliament for Tati East area near the border with Zimbabwe, Mr Samson Moyo, told his constituency during the week that the fence would no longer be put to its intended “use”.
However, villagers are reported to have reacted angrily and threatened violence.
Speaking in a telephone interview from Botswana yesterday, the Press Secretary to the President, Dr Jeff Ramsey, said the government had found it difficult to switch on the fence due to “technical hitches”, hence the suspension of the switching on of the high voltage fence.
“It is not like the Botswana government has abandoned the fence. The true position is we have found it difficult to switch on the fence due to technical hitches. But in the near future we will switch on the fence,” he said.
Dr Ramsey stressed that the fence is not to thwart Zimbabweans from entering Botswana but mainly to control the movement of cattle between the two countries.
“In the interim we will reinforce our patrols along the border and that entails moving police. We agreed with the Zimbabwe government that we should try by all means to stop the illegal movement of cattle between the two countries. When that is done it would go a long way in reducing outbreaks of foot and mouth disease," he said.
When asked whether the suspension had anything to do with international outcry, he said "to the best of my knowledge do not recall having had discussion with the international community on the fence".
However, the erection of the electric fence has been widely condemned as a violation of human rights as it would endanger both humans and animal life.
The Botswana government has continually denied that the high voltage fence is meant to keep out illegal Zimbabwean immigrants from getting into the country.
According to The Voice, a Botswana weekly, the MP for Tati East, Mr Moyo told his constituency during the week that the government had abandoned the switching on of the electric fence.
Mr Moyo said that following criticism by international organisations regarding the high voltage fence that stretches from Bobirwa to Maitengwe in the Central District, the government had decided not to activate the electric barrier.
The abandonment of the project comes a year after the Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Oliphant Mfa told villagers that all was going according to plan.
At that time, he said that the delay in activating the fence was due to lack of trained personnel to operate the electrical system.
He asked the residents then to be patient for a few months.
On hearing the news that the government had abandoned the controversial project, villagers reacted angrily and threatened violence against Zimbabweans.
"People drive our cattle across the border without hindrance and some bring infected animals into the country so that our cattle will be killed," one angry resident identified as Moshoeshoe was quoted as saying.
He threatened that the villagers would have no option but to take the law into their own hands if the situation was not addressed.
"We are fed up with losing our cattle through the government eradication exercise and the thieving Zimbabweans.
"Since the fence has failed, the government should tell us about their new plans to save our livestock and explain why so much money was wasted on a project that is now useless," added Moshoeshoe.
Responding to the complaints, Mr Moyo said he shared the villagers' grievances and advised them to hold the government to account for the loss of their cattle through cross-border crimes.
Mr Moyo said residents must call the president (Mr Festus Mogae) in person to come and explain as he had talked about the matter but nothing was done in response.
The MP said it was high time the government addressed the matter.
"Responsible departments should take immediate action or officers must be told to leave their posts.
"Even me, if you feel that I am not doing enough, I should leave before my term expires. People must know that when they elect someone to represent them, he must do things according to their wishes. I go to Parliament for you and I must serve your interests," Mr Moyo was quoted as saying.
Authorities in that country at one time said the switching on of the fence was possible only in sections where villages were near the Botswana Power Corporation grid.
Botswana imports a lot of its energy from South Africa.
There are reports that the fence is being vandalised by Botswana nationals and is also trampled upon by elephants from South Africa.
Source : Sunday News

Zimbabwe: Government to increase police force

 
May 28, 2006, 4 hours, 29 minutes and 6 seconds ago.
 
By ANDnetwork .com
 
The Government of Zimbabwe plans to increase the country’s police force from the current 23 000 to about 50 000 and the Ministry of Home Affairs has already received $15 trillion to finance the operations of the force.
 
 The Ministry of Home Affairs had applied for about $21 trillion to finance the operations of all its departments, to ensure a successful policing of the nation, but only $15 trillion was released.
Speaking during the tour of Hwange Police Station in Matabeleland North province, the Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Kembo Mohadi, said part of the allocated $15 trillion would be used to improve and strengthen the police force.
“We have since sought for $15 trillion (from the Government) for the upkeep of officers and 100 percent expansion of the force through recruitment of officers,” Cde Mohadi said.
He said that for the police force to fully combat all forms of crime, including high profile ones in the country, there was need to meet the internationally accepted police officers-people ratio.
Cde Mohadi embarked on a tour of all police stations, immigration offices and Registrar General offices in Matabeleland North province last week.
His tour started with immigration offices, police stations and registry offices in Victoria Falls on Wednesday. On Thursday, Cde Mohadi visited Kazungula immigration offices, the horn of the country where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia meet, before proceeding to Kazungula Police Station.
The deputy national police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka yesterday said Zimbabwe’s force was short-staffed as it stood at slightly above 23 000. He said the recommended police to people ratio internationally was 1:500 yet in Zimbabwe, the figure stood at around 1:2 000.
“The recruitment of police officers is an on-going process and I cannot disclose when it will close. We are just recruiting as long one comes with the appropriate qualifications, proof of identity and other necessary details. Normally, the standard ratio recommended is one police officer to 500 people and in Zimbabwe the ratio stands at 1:2 000 or more, which serves to tell that the police are being out-numbered by the people,” said Chief Supt Mandipaka.
According to latest census figures, Zimbabwe’s population is pegged at around 12 million.
The inadequate number of law enforcers in the country has resulted in massive workload and ineffective carrying out of duties by the depleted force, resulting in numerous crimes and criminals going undetected especially in small towns and growth points.
Cde Mohadi said part of the funding would go towards the purchase of high-powered vehicles and other equipment, a move aimed at improving mobility and efficiency in carrying out of duties. He said that there was need for the force to broker a deal with a reputable car manufacturer for the purchase of reliable and durable vehicles.
He, however, could not disclose how many cars were going to be purchased immediately to boost the current fleet the police have.
“We have noticed that police stations throughout the country are experiencing problems of mobility and we are looking forward to acquiring durable vehicles for the force to carry out its duties effectively,” said Cde Mohadi.
The minister, however, hailed the force for managing to stabilise the rate of crimes despite various difficult challenges the officers were facing that included the unavailability of sufficient resources for the law enforcers to fully carry out their duties.
Cde Mohadi said the force should strive to uphold their relations and co-operation with neighbouring countries in a bid to avert the rate of crimes committed by different nationalities.
This comes in the wake of rampant cattle rustling and poaching activities instigated by Zambians in Hwange over the years and cases of Zimbabweans illegally crossing borders to South Africa and Botswana.
The disbursed funds would also enable the Registrar General acquire stationery for passports and other modern equipment meant to assist the department in the speed processing of identification documents.
The department is currently facing an an acute shortage of foreign currency to purchase material to print passports resulting in delays in the issuing of the document. Unconfirmed reports say the Registrar General Office has since stopped issuing out ordinary passing except emergency ones due to shortage of materials.
On Friday, Cde Mohadi visited the Registrar General's offices in Hwange, the local museum and ended his tour at Hwange police station.
Deputy officer commanding Hwange District, Superintendent Harry Musiiwa told the Minister that there were over 110 000 people in the district against a 300 strong police force. He said the major problem the police were facing was cattle rustling by mainly Zambians, adding that on average, 283 cases were reported every month.
"The major problem we are facing is cattle rustling by some armed bandits who are coming from Zambia. However, the situation is under control now because there is good response from the Zambians. In most cases, the affected areas are Binga and Jambezi. Some people from Zimbabwe have positively identified 30 cattle and we have managed to bring into the country 26 and the other four could not fit in the lorry that we used.
"The other problem we face is that the villages in Zambia are widely spaced and in some cases we fail to identify all the cattle. Some cattle have only V brands and they can be changed to M. If we were to take the villagers to Zambia, chances are high that we would bring in more cattle," he said.
Source : Sunday News

Zimbabwe: Hwange Colliery acquires US$1,2m machinery

 
May 28, 2006, 4 hours, 44 minutes and 42 seconds ago.
 
By ANDnetwork .com
 
Hwane Colliery Company Limited in Zimbabwe has procured two state-of-the-art drilling machines from Atlas Copco, a Swedish company, at a cost of US$1,2 million, a move that is set to increase coal production.
 
 Speaking during the commissioning of the two-percussion drilling machines (ROC-L8 Drills), the Secretary of Mines and Mining Development, Mr Thabani Ndlovu, said the purchase of the machinery was part of the coal mining company’s efforts to improve production.
“In my capacity as Secretary of Mines and Mining Development, I have an obligation to ensure that coal production and supply improves in the country.
“I am confident that these two machines will go a long way in ensuring achievement of this national objective,” Mr Ndlovu said.
The purchase of the machinery is part of HCCL’s recapitalisation strategy to improve the supply of coal for both domestic and export markets.
Coal production at the country’s leading coal mine has reached its lowest largely due to serious financial challenges that have seen the company failing to repair and purchase new equipment.
According to the project manager, Mr William Mabutho, the two drills are highly technological and efficient than the rotary drills that were previously used at the colliery.
“This machine is computerised with safety features that protect it and works with very low fuel consumption and does not need much manpower to operate it.
“The machine’s work rate is also higher than the one that is currently being used by the colliery,” said Mr Mabutho.
As part of strengthening their relations with HCC, the Swedish company attached some of its workers to the colliery for two weeks to help locals familiarise with the new machinery.
The colliery also opened Chaba opencast mine in March to help meet the demands of coal from the local market and abroad. Chaba has more reserves of coal.
Since its inception Chaba mine has been producing close to 25 000 tonnes a month but plans are underway to increase production to 100 000 tonnes.
HCC is also in the process of importing two more drills, loaders and coal haulers from the Asian market.
Source : Sunday News

Northwest road accidents claim eight lives

Five died as a petrol tank burst into flames

May 28, 2006, 17:15

Eight people have died and 12 injured on Northwest roads this weekend. Five Zimbabweans who were crossing illegally into South Africa fleeing from political crisis and economic catastrophe back home got seriously injured when the police van they were being transported in overturned near the Derdepoort border post in Northwest.

In another weekend road accident, five people died in a freak accident when two motor vehicles collided head-on on the road between Koster and Lichtenburg in the Northwest.

In a separate accident three people have been killed and three others seriously injured in a collision involving three vehicles on the N12 between Klerksdorp and Wolmaranstad in North West. Elsabe Augustides, a Saps spokesperson and captain, says a Cressida was apparently trying to overtake and then collided head-on with a Corsa.

Harare promises bloodshed if workers go on strike