Zimbabwe gets additional $250 mln credit line -Biti

http://www.reuters.com

Thu May 7, 2009 5:22am EDT

HARARE, May 7 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has secured an additional credit line of
$250 million from the African Export-Import Bank to help econmic
reconstruction in the country, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on
Thursday.

"The future will involve the bank committing to provide lines of credit to
the tune of $250 million that will be used to support...the gold and tobacco
sectors as well as provide liquidity for banks and grain imports," Biti
said.

Zimbabwe journalist's bail application postponed

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
7 May 2009

A High Court Judge has postponed the bail application of journalist Shadreck
Manyere, MDC Director of Security Chris Dhlamini, and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's former aide Gandhi Mudzingwa, because the State said it needed
more time to prepare a response. This is in spite of the fact that 13 other
co-accused persons, including Jestina Mukoko, were finally freed on bail on
Wednesday.

They are all facing charges of terrorism, insurgence, banditry and sabotage
under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The defence team
believes the three are deliberately being used as pawns in a political game.

High Court Judge Justice November Mtshiya postponed the matter to Friday
after the State requested the postponement. State prosecutor Chris
Mutangadura had initially wanted the matter to be postponed to Monday to
prepare their response. He claimed they had been served the papers late
Wednesday afternoon, but the defence argued that Monday was too far and that
the prosecutor was seeking to prolong the incarceration of his clients who
have been in detention since their abduction last year. The accused persons'
lawyer Alex Muchadehama said they had tried to serve the AG's office the
bail application papers on Tuesday, but an officer there had refused them,
resulting in the delay.

Another defence lawyer Charles Kwaramba told SW Radio Africa, the State will
continue to oppose the release of the journalist and the MDC officials
because they want to treat them differently from the rest of the broader
group of abductees.  "When we went to the Attorney General's office
yesterday, the AG made it very clear that they don't want to treat these
ones the same. He could only tell us that these three have their own
controversies. Those were his words. We tried to ask what controversies he
was referring to but he didn't divulge."

Manyere, Dhlamini and Gandhi remain detained in hospital.

The defence team believes the three are 'hostages,' and are being used as
pawns in the political games as there is no evidence to support the State's
charges against them. Kwaramba said: "If you look at the facts, after they
were indicted for court .there is not even any evidence in respect of their
case."
He said in the case of the other 13, 'some sort of witnesses' are being
talked about but in the case of the hospitalised three, 'there is nothing,
and yet they are the ones who are being treated differently and being denied
bail. So I think they are hostages."

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the authorities to release the
journalist, who was the last remaining abductee to leave Chikurubi Maximum
Prison after spending four months in jail. He was re-arrested a few days
after having been granted bail on 17 April.

The journalist has received massive support from fellow colleagues, which
has resulted in a government organised media conference being postponed
following a boycott by journalists in solidarity with him.
The journalist was also last week awarded the 2009 Foreign Journalist's
award by the U.S. based National Association of Black Journalists.
The President of the Black Journalists Association said this year's prize
recognised the 'bravery and courage' of Manyere, and called attention to the
plight of many imprisoned journalists across Africa and the world.

Media conference postponed to Friday pending Manyere bail hearing

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
07 April 2009

A government media conference that was meant to start in Kariba on Wednesday
hung in the balance Thursday, after the majority of journalists stuck to
their boycott threat. The journalists grouped under the Media Alliance of
Zimbabwe have said they will not attend if fellow journalist Shadreck
Anderson Manyere is not released from detention where he is facing spurious
banditry and terrorism charges.

On Thursday Deputy Information, Media and Publicity Minister Jameson Timba
told Newsreel, they were now awaiting the outcome of Manyere's bail hearing
which has been moved from Thursday to Friday morning, and he was hopeful
that a favourable result in court will rescue the conference from collapse.
Timba said they have moved the registration for the conference to Friday and
if all goes well it will now end on Sunday. National chairman of the Media
Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter, Loughty Dube, confirmed to
Newsreel they were sticking to their boycott until Manyere was released.

The re-detention of former ZBC newsreader and Zimbabwe Peace Project
director Jestina Mukoko and Manyere triggered the initial move to boycott on
Tuesday. Although Mukoko was released on Wednesday along with other
political detainees, Manyere remained under police guard in hospital along
with Gandhi Mudzingwa and Chris Dhlamini. The journalists say it is not
possible for them to attend a conference when one of their own is under
detention using the same repressive laws that are meant to be under
discussion.

Meanwhile Timba defended the controversial inclusion of so called 'media
talibans' at the conference, saying while he appreciated the 'emotions
surrounding certain individuals' it was important to allow everyone a chance
to express their own views. 'People are not bound by those views,' Timba
explained. He said the critical working groups at the conference will focus
on media economics, media regulation and law, conditions of service for
journalists, private and public media, and journalistic ethics.

Teachers Fail to Return to School

http://www.radiovop.com


HARARE, May 7 2009 - The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe says
close to 35 percent of teachers failed raise money to return to their
respective posts when schools opened this week.

Teachers this week called off a strike despite their wage demands not
being met. Education minister David Coltart said the government had no money
to raise their salaries, but he had agreed to help teachers by giving their
children free schooling.

Teachers' groups said they accepted the government was struggling for
funds and needed time to raise revenue. Teachers are paid a USd 100
allowance per month but unions wanted four times as much.

In an interview with RadioVOP, Takavafira Zhou, PTUZ president, said
the majority of teachers had anticipated an industrial action and used the
little money they had put aside for travel expenses and on other equally
important commitments.

"I think about 35 percent of teachers have not managed to go back to
their respective schools. The reality of the situation is that the majority
of the teachers had entered into an industrial mood and had spent the little
money that they had on other important commitments.

"When we then said teachers must go back to work following promises by
donors that they would at least find something to enable us to make ends
meet, a number of teachers were caught unawares, their plight is genuine and
they have no money and all we can do as their representative organisation is
appeal to teachers to continue looking for money to return to their
respective schools.

Zhou also urged the responsible authorities not to adopt a hardline
stance and punish teachers for their failure to raise money to cover travel
expenses.

"Government must accept the authenticity of teachers' plight.
Industrial action may not necessarily bring something, as the government was
inflexible and irresponsible, claiming that it has no money. We are hopeful
that teachers still have an interest in carrying out their work; we hope
that the majority of the teachers will manage to go back to their stations.

"What is doubtful is whether the donor community will provide the
resources that they had promised because in the event that the donor
community prevaricates and fails to perhaps to do something to lessen the
plight of teachers by June, it will be difficult for those teachers who have
returned to remain at those schools. So we are only hopeful that something
meaningful will trickle to the teachers by June failure of which it will be
difficult to assure donors and the nation that schools will remain open,"
Zhou said.

MAZ Statement on the continued detention of Manyere

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Thursday, 07 May 2009

Statement by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe on the continued detention
of journalist Andrisson Manyere

The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe welcomes news of the release today of
Zimbabwe Peace Project director Ms. Jestina Mukoko and other political
prisoners. However, the authorities' continued detention of freelance
journalist Andrisson Manyere following his initial release on bail remains
an issue that undermines the letter and spirit of the Global Political
Agreement, and particularly offends those terms relating to media law
reform. Such action by the authorities suggest a lack of political will to
adhere to the terms of the GPA, especially as regards the restoration of a
political environment that is democratic and respectful of the fair and just
execution of the judicial process that is cognizant of the need to ensure
the security and freedom of all Zimbabweans.
In the circumstances, MAZ has no option but to stand by its earlier
decision not to participate in the government organized All Media
Stakeholders' conference unless he is released in time for delegates to
travel to the conference's Kariba venue. This conference was due to start
today and run until May 9th.
MAZ remains committed to engaging the government in developing genuine
media law and policy reforms in a politically conducive environment,
according to the letter and spirit of the GPA. - MAZ

Prime Minister Tsvangirai Addresses Seminar on Public-Private Partnerships, Harare

http://zimbabweprimeminister.org

Thursday, 07 May 2009

Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Honourable Ministers, Business
Leaders, Invited Guests:

I welcome this opportunity to speak with you today on the issue of
creating Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to unlock the development
potential of our nation and enhance the ability of this new Government to
deliver much needed services to the people of Zimbabwe.

We are all aware of the devastating impact of the past decade of
economic decline on Zimbabwe's service delivery capacity and infrastructural
base.

The key issue to consider is how we can best reshape our economic
destiny to allow Government to meet the needs of our people through
establishing an environment that encourages sustained economic growth and
development. If we are to ensure sustained recovery in the shortest possible
time, we will have to seek out and implement innovative approaches to
sourcing the capital requirements needed for such a recovery.

As Government, our task is to ensure that the public sector delivers
quality services such as health, education, clean water, efficient
transport, communications and energy services. We cannot achieve this
enormous challenge alone.

Zimbabwe's economic stability requires access to foreign markets,
finance, technologies, skills and ideas, which are only made possible by all
the key stakeholders working together as partners committed to our nation's
development.

This is where the principle of Public-Private Partnerships has an
important role to play. The funding of a government service or
infrastructure development project through a partnership with one or more
private sector companies, has the potential to increase the national
capacity for delivery to the people.

This Government is committed to create opportunities and partnerships
which will enable our people to benefit from the vast wealth potential which
this country possesses.

In this, we are open to, and actively investigating, the viability of
various types of PPPs and we welcome the initiative of this seminar to
define a clear strategy for successful PPP implementation in Zimbabwe.

While the principle of Public-Private Partnerships is sound, the
success of these ventures is dependent on principled policy development to
ensure that citizens are availed of the best quality services at affordable
prices. In many countries, PPPs have failed to live up to this requirement
and it is our duty, both as Government and as the Private Sector, to learn
from the mistakes of others in order to avoid them ourselves.

I firmly believe that Zimbabwe today offers sound investment
opportunities for the private sector, but as Government, it is our duty to
ensure that the welfare of our citizens remains the priority in the
implementation of PPPs.

Thus, it is striking the balance between the interests of our citizens
and the need to attract capital investment that is the primary challenge of
this seminar.

Ladies and Gentlemen, rebuilding our shattered economy is a priority
for every Zimbabwean and it must be driven by the private sector. However,
what the private sector is able to achieve will be dependent on the
leadership role played by your Government.

The role of Government is to provide a stable environment that
facilitates the growth and development of business in line with
international standards and accepted norms that also serve to ensure the
rights and welfare of employees.

In creating such an environment, restoring the rule of law is both a
moral imperative and a business necessity. The rule of law provides the
foundation of confidence for contractual dealings and investor activity
without which no economy can run effectively nor viable PPPs be established.

Only through restoring the rule of law can we remove the uncertainty
of doing business in Zimbabwe and restore investor confidence.

The restoration of the rule of law is also an essential factor in
attracting back to our country the millions of Zimbabwean economic exiles
who have the education, skills and determination essential to reviving our
ailing economy.

The role of my Government in the national economy remains that of
creating an enabling environment for business and labour to engage in the
actual production and output of goods and services.  We are in the process
of formulating and implementing policies and regulations to enhance business
confidence and wealth creation.

As a nation, we face the challenge of demonstrating to the rest of the
world a politically mature Zimbabwe that can offer greater opportunities for
economic prosperity, political stability and poverty alleviation. An economy
that does not benefit its citizens can neither guarantee political stability
nor real harmony.

Zimbabwe is part of the global economy and as such we are seeking to
harness financial, technological and market opportunities, which grow our
economy.

All foreign direct investment will be given the necessary courtesies
and treated with professionalism at all times but based on the rules and
regulations governing such investment. New partners will be sought and old
partnerships intensified. In this, we have already started to build
collaborative arrangements with private investors, international
co-operating partners and financial institutions.

Coupled with this is our absolute need to commit ourselves to sound
management of the national economy.  It is imperative that all partners and
stakeholders in the national economy act with a single resolution and
communicate their single determination to grow Zimbabwe's economy and
wealth. Rather than aspiring merely to be wealthy individuals, we should
aspire to be citizens of a wealthy country.

In March, we launched the Short Term Economic Recovery Plan (STERP)
which, coupled with the full implementation of the Global Political
Agreement (GPA), will provide the framework for our economic recovery.

In turn, STERP and the GPA informed the development of the 100 Day
Plan which commits every ministry to defined and deliverable targets. This
100 Day Plan has been adopted by Cabinet and will be launched officially
next week.

I believe that the Ministerial targets outlined in the 100 Day plan
will also offer insights into opportunities for specific PPP projects and I
encourage you to review the Plan in the context of the conclusions reached
at this seminar.

However, any real, long lasting rebound of a successful economy has to
be accompanied by an equal if not more powerful value system. This value
system can only rest on the pillars of civil liberties, the right of
association and the right of civil society to challenge those entrusted with
governance.

Zimbabwe is richly endowed with human and natural resources to create
sufficient wealth for all its citizens irrespective of race, colour, tribe
or creed.

Let us use our combined national intellectual capacity to create
policies and practices that lead Zimbabwe to the highest level of growth and
development.

Through working together by forming strategic, principled partnerships
we can rebuild our nation and see Zimbabwe restored to its rightful place as
a beacon of democracy, economic growth and prosperity.

I thank you

ZANU PF governors to get compensation for standing down

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
7 May 2009
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement have agreed to
compensate ZANU PF governors who will step down to make way for new ones
from the MDC formations, Newsreel learnt on Thursday.
A highly placed source told us that during their Tuesday meeting, Robert
Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara agreed that six out of the
ten governors appointed by Mugabe on 24th August last year would have to
step down. The sticking point during their previous meetings was what to do
with the governors once they step down.
"The thinking between Tsvangirai and Mutambara was that it was not their
problem to deal with that issue since they were not involved in their
appointments in the first place. They felt Mugabe was best placed to deal
with that because he unilaterally appointed the governors without consulting
them," our source told us.

Mugabe reportedly agreed to the sharing of Provincial governor positions
under an earlier agreed formula but under one condition, that those jobless
governors be paid their full salaries and benefits for up to five years. A
governor's term is usually five years but analysts point out that the
inclusive government will probably last 18 months before fresh elections are
held.

Economist Luke Zunga said the principals should approach SADC or the AU for
the compensation since the inclusive government was broke.

"How can Zimbabweans be punished by providing tax money to compensate people
who were irregularly appointed. The country is broke and the principals
should go to SADC and the AU who are the guarantors of the inclusive
government," Zunga said.

Under the present formula the party with the most seats in a given province
would nominate the governor in that province. Therefore, MDC-T is entitled
to have five governors, Zanu PF four and the Mutambara MDC one.

The MDC-T is currently entitled to appoint governors in Harare, Bulawayo,
Matabeleland North, Masvingo and Manicaland, while Mugabe should have the
three Mashonaland provinces and Midlands. The Mutambara MDC faction will
appoint a governor in Matabeleland South.

Tsvangirai's spokesman James Maridadi confirmed to us that the issue of
governors had now been dealt with. He also confirmed that the principals had
agreed to compensate those who were to step down.

"Some will step down but others will remain. Those who will step down will
be compensated," Maridadi said. He however could not say how much each
governor will receive as compensation.
Maridadi said the principals also agreed during their Tuesday meeting that
they would put finality to the remaining issues next week.
He added that the principals had made progress on some issues, and
disagreement on others, but they have promised to deal with all the
remaining concerns when they continue with their negotiations next week
Tuesday.
The other outstanding issues which Mugabe has refused to back down are the
reappointments of central bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General
Johannes Tomana, and the swearing in of MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett as
Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

The delay in finding a lasting solution to these concerns forced the MDC on
Wednesday to issue a five day ultimatum to the principals to deal with them
by Monday next week.

MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told journalists in Harare that the slow
pace of the negotiations were becoming of great concern to them. He said, in
their view these issues should have been concluded soon after the formation
of the inclusive government in February.

He said the party was worried that some elements in government, ZANU PF, the
security forces and public media, 'continued to disregard some clear
provisions laid out in the Global Political Agreement.'

"There are a number of toxic and poisonous attitudes that some of these
institutions are showing. Their attitude is as if they are in a war
situation," Biti said.

Land audit gets green light as farm attacks continue

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
07 May 2009

The unity government is reportedly set to press ahead with a land audit that
will ultimately uncover the depth of land related corruption in Zimbabwe, as
well as put a stop to the ongoing farm invasions across the country.

The decision comes on the back of a report by a ministerial delegation
tasked to investigate the recent wave of farm attacks, which have left the
remaining commercial farming community reeling. Since February, more than
100 farmers have been targeted with prosecution merely for being on their
land, while most productive farms have been forcibly taken over by ZANU PF
loyalists and their henchmen. Many farmers have been forced into hiding
under constant threat of attack, while hundreds of farm workers have lost
their jobs because of the invasions. The attacks have all been in the name
of Robert Mugabe's land reform programme, which has been wholly beneficial
to only top ZANU PF officials and Mugabe's cronies.

The ministerial team, led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara last
month visited farms that have been recently targeted with attack, and issued
a strong order for the invasions to cease and for food production to
continue. But the order has been completely ignored, and the attacks have
continued and even intensified.

In Chegutu, Mount Carmel farm, which has been almost entirely taken over by
invaders, came under fresh violent attack this week after the farm's owners
sought a court order for the invaders to leave the land. The group of thugs
retaliated with violent threats on Tuesday night, destroying property and
even abducting and beating the farm's foreman. The worker was only
discovered on Wednesday morning at the Chegutu police station where he was
being held, and is now receiving treatment for serious injuries.

The land audit, which has long been a demand of the MDC, is largely being
viewed as the key to resolving Zimbabwe's 'land question.' Justice for
Agriculture's (JAG) John Worsley-Worswick said on Thursday that a land audit
is necessary, but emphasised a need for such an audit to be independent.

"An audit will highlight that the whole land issue is a complete debacle,"
the JAG official explained. "But if it is not independent then we run the
risk of exposing farmers out there and making them more vulnerable to
attack."

Worsley-Worswick added that there needs to be a moratorium declared on land
invasions for the audit to be conducted properly, and said this would create
much needed stability in the farming communities. But he expressed anger
that it would only take an audit for this to happen, arguing the government
'has taken absolutely no stand on these ongoing attacks.'

Zimbabwe tobacco sales open with crop at 20-year low

http://www.africasia.com

HARARE, May 7 (AFP)

Zimbabwe's tobacco selling season began Thursday with the smallest crop in
two decades expected to go under the hammer, in the latest sign of how badly
the economy has crumbled.

About 42 million kilos of tobacco is expected to pass through the auction
floors, according to the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA), a far cry from
the peak of 236 million kilos sold in 2000 when it was the country's biggest
foreign currency earner.

ZTA said not only has crop output declined but growers have also shunned the
market as only 8,000 farmers planted tobacco, compared to 28,000 last year.

In 1990, Zimbabwe produced 133 million kilos of tobacco.

Prices at the three auction floors were ranging from 2.30 to 4.50 US dollars
per kilogramme depending on the quality of the product.

Philemon Mangena, managing director of Tobacco Sales Floor said although
national output for had declined, he expressed hope that the sector would
rebound.

"Last year and the two previous seasons there was chaos because of the poor
pricing structure and the use of the overvalued Zimbabwe dollar, but now
everyone is money in hard currency," Mangena told AFP.

"Although this year's output is the lowest we have had in many years, the
sector will do much better next year as inputs are readily available and
there are no disputes between growers and buyers over pricing."

The government this year abandoned the local currency, which had been left
worthless after years of hyperinflation, in favour of hard currencies.

Zimbabwe uses the South African rand as its reference currency.

Tobacco used to be the country's major foreign currency earner, but
consecutive years of drought and President Robert Mugabe's chaotic land
reforms have decimated farming.

Chairman of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, Njodzi Machirori
attributed the decline in the "golden leaf" to contract growers who failed
to deliver inputs to farmers.

"Most contractors promised to supply farmers with inputs and they failed to
deliver the inputs," Machirori said.

"About 86 percent of crop is financed by contractors who failed to fund the
crops."

Biti to Mediate in Zesa, HCCL Row

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Martin Kadzere

7 May 2009

Harare - FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti will arbitrate in the disputed US$13
million debt Zesa Holdings allegedly owes Hwange Colliery Company Limited.

The coal company claims it supplied Zesa with about one million tonnes of
coal last year, but the utility parastatal only paid for 244 000 tonnes.

Zesa argues it has not paid for 207 569 tonnes. The delivery was made
between last October and January this year.

Officials from both parastatals yesterday confirmed the matter would now be
arbitrated over by Minister Biti.

"In the meantime, Government will try to raise about US$5 million for Hwange
to keep its operations afloat," said one official. Hwange managing director
Mr Fred Moyo was evasive when contacted for a comment. "Figures will be
reconciled amicably," he said.

No comment could be obtained from Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira.

Zesa and Hwange have a coal supply contract that demands Zesa pay for coal
at commercial rates and that the colliery company must supply the specified
product.

Over the year, HCCL has been struggling to supply sufficient coal to the
local market as a result of inter-parastatal debts and recurrent breakdowns.

HCCL requires about US$2 million for dragline repairs.

Early this year, the company suspended underground mining operations after
equipment broke down. The company is facing a shortage of foreign currency,
which is affecting production.

HCCL needs at least US$75 million for rehabilitation that would eventually
improve its capacity to levels around 60 percent.

University Students Given Ultimatum

http://www.radiovop.com


MASVINGO, May 6 2009 - Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students have
been warned that they stand to miss examinations due next week if they fail
to pay registration fees by this Friday.

 Vice Chancellor Professor Obert Maravanyika told RadioVOP: "Though we
might feel sorry for students who shall fail to payt fees, it will be
immoral and unfair for us to allow them to sit for exams. Those who find
university's demands very difficult must look for other options."

About 40 percent of the student population, an estimated 1 000
students are yet to pay the fees.

The university is demanding USd 105 from students as part of their
sports, registration, exams and medical aid fees. However, students were
reluctant to pay the fees and are waiting for the government to settle them
through the student cadetship programme.

Prof Maravanyika said even students who applied for the cadetship were
not exempt from paying the fees. He however, said those who pay the demanded
amount would be allowed to submit their assignments for marking.

Currently, all students who have not paid the fees are not allowed ito
lectures and their assignments are not considered for marking. For one to
qualify to sit for exams, the student should submit at least two assignments
and there is only one week left for the exams to start.

"We really wasted our time because from the look of things, we shall
not manage to pay the fees. Since February, we thought the government would
intervene but unfortunately we have to go back home," said a third year
student from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Those who fail to write exams this semester would be re-admitted at
the institution in October.

Last week students went on a rampage and destroyed university property
in a demonstration against the payment of fees among other issues. Heavily
armed police dispersed the students and 22 were arrested.

Some students who also failed to pay fees at National University of
Science and Technology (NUST) were barred from writing exams recently.

Rio's Zimbabwe diamond produces record output

'Mugabe go home'

http://news.iafrica.com

Thu, 07 May 2009 17:05
There will be no special security arrangements for Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe at Saturday's presidential inauguration in Pretoria, the
foreign affairs department said.

Security had been put in place to protect heads of state, but no special
arrangement had been made for Mugabe, director general Ayanda Ntsaluba told
a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.

Civil rights initiative AfriForum had put up posters reading "Mugabe go
home" around the Union Buildings, to protest against his presence at Jacob
Zuma's inauguration as president.

AfriForum chief executive officer Kallie Kriel said they were protesting
against human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Ntsaluba said they had discussed the possibility of inviting other parties
in the unity government of Zimbabwe.

"This is being attended to as we speak." he said.

He said preparations for the inauguration were going well.

"We are confident that everything that needs to be done has been done."

Twenty-nine countries would be represented by heads of state, seven by their
deputy presidents and 56 by their foreign ministers. Former Southern African
Development Community heads of state had also been invited.

The 5000 guests would be provided with umbrellas should it rain, and
blankets if it was cold. The hour-long inauguration ceremony would start at
11am. The president would then deliver a speech.

He said there would be a fly past and a guard of honour because the
president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

"The president would acknowledge the national salute by the SA National
Defence Force comprising a flight by four SAAF (SA Air Force) helicopters
and Astra Aircraft and a 21 round gun salute.

In addition to the diplomatic corps accredited to South Africa, 100
delegations had confirmed their attendance.

"There will also be representatives of fraternal parties who have been
invited as part of the invitations extended by the ruling party - Frelimo,
Swapo (South West Africa People's Organisation), etc," he said, referring to
Mozambique's and Namibia's ruling parties.

He said that President el-Bashir of Sudan would not be attending the
inauguration. "The unity government in Khartoum will however be
represented."

There was some speculation about el-Bashir's attendance as the International
Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes
against humanity charges relating to the conflict in Darfur, according to
The Star.

As South Africa is a signatory to the court's founding Rome Statute, it
would be obliged to arrest him if he visited South Africa.

Sapa

MDC fires Deputy Mayor over stolen beef

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=16326

May 7, 2009

MUTARE - The mainstream of the MDC political party led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, has suspended the Deputy Mayor of Mutare from the party,
citing allegations of misconduct.

Admire Mukorera, the councilor for the city's Ward 15, is accused of
stealing huge quantities of beef and other foodstuffs meant to feed mourners
at the funeral of Susan Tsvangirai, the wife of the Prime Minister.

Mrs Tsvangirai died in a road accident and was buried in Buhera in March.

The Deputy Mayor is also accused of organizing thugs to assault fellow
councilors who disagreed with him in council. He is accused also of
undermining decisions made by MDC councilors during caucus meetings.
Mukorera declined to comment on Wednesday, saying he had just arrived from
attending a court case in Murambinda, Buhera. He promised to comment on a
latter day.

Patrick Chitaka, the MDC provincial chairman for Manicaland, wrote the
suspension letter and warned Mukorera not to interfere with witnesses.
Mukorera was the MDC organizing secretary in the suburbs of Chikanga and
Dangamvura.

"This letter serves to notify you of your immediate suspension from your
current post within the MDC party structures," said Chitaka in his letter to
the Deputy Mayor dated May 5, 2009.

"You misappropriated food (raw beef, raw chicken, bread, sugar, cooking oil
and a bucket full of cooked meat) meant for Manicaland Province mourners at
the funeral of the late Mai Tsvangirai," Chitaka said. "Your behaviour as
Deputy Mayor of the City of Mutare has brought the party into disrepute
especially among your fellow councillors and the membership of the party."

Chitaka said his action in suspending Mukorera followed a written request
from the Chikanga-Dangamvura district structure of the MDC to act on the
matter.

"You also returned to me some sugar, cooking oil (and) you also tried to
return two whole hindquarters of beef to the (MDC) provincial office. This
'replacement meat' was rightfully declined by the security guard on duty
that day. Your conduct and reactions to our investigations brought the good
name of the party into disrepute."

"You have organised thugs to threaten and beat up fellow councillors (and)
you have refused to respect decisions reached by majority consensus in MDC
councillors' caucuses."

Chitaka warned the Deputy Mayor that should he continue to undermine
decisions reached by MDC councilors during caucus meetings he risked losing
his council seat.

"In accordance with the provisions of the MDC Constitution I hereby advise
you that a disciplinary hearing shall be set up at which the above
allegations shall be laid before a panel to assess your innocence or
 guilty," said Chitaka.

The Deputy Mayor has had running battles with his fellow councilors in the
MDC dominated council amid allegations that he is "disruptive and
disrespectful" of others.

UN Fears Another Cholera Outbreak

http://www.radiovop.com

HARARE, May 7 2009 - Zimbabwe will experience another outbreak of
cholera if the collapsed water and sewer systems in the country are not
rehabilitated, the United Nations has warned.

 "Despite the decrease in reported cases, the health cluster has
warned that the population remains at risk of another major outbreak as long
as the water and sanitation infrastructure is not restored," said the UN
humanitarian monthly report on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

The current cholera outbreak which started last August has so far
infected 97 070 people and claimed the lives of 4 230 according to the
latest UN statistics.

The world body identified major urban arears such as Harare, Kadoma
and Chitungwiza as some of the areas in need of emergency rehabilitation of
water and sewage systems. "The number of reported cholera cases continues to
decline, although indications are that it may reach 100 000 cases if
un-checked.

The downward trend in reported cholera cases continued throughout
April. During April cumulative community deaths remained high at 2,613 in
the period up to April, accounting for 61,2 percent of total deaths."

Zimbabwe which has formed a unity government through the aid of
Southern African Development Community (SADC) is looking for funds to repair
the damage done to the economy in the past decade. However western donors
remain wary of the unity government, saying they want rule of law to be
established first.

The country needs about USD 8,5 billion to restore its economy which
also saw the health sector collapsing due to brain drain, lack of drugs and
equipment.

Mozambique Pledges Drugs

http://www.herald.co.zw/

7 May 2009

Harare - MOZAMBIQUE has pledged to supply Zimbabwe with an assortment of
drugs worth US $300 000 to help revive the country's health sector, a senior
Government official has said.

The pledge was announced at the sidelines of the just ended Sadc Health
Minister's Conference held in Mozambique.

In an interview recently, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr
Douglas Mombeshora said the matter had been referred to Mozambique's Foreign
Affairs Ministry so that the two countries could finalise the paper work.

"The Mozambique Health minister pledged to supply Zimbabwe with an
assortment of drugs that are currently in short supply. He made the pledge
during a meeting that I had with him last week in Mozambique and they are
now sorting out the paper work," he said.

The drugs include vitamin boosters for children, metronizodole -- one of the
most expensive intravenous drugs, and oral dehydration salts, among others.

According to Dr Mombeshora, Mozambique also pledged to second and pay for
doctors that would come to work in Zimbabwe. However, they are still
assessing whether the doctors in question would be specialists or general
practitioners.

"We are short of specialist doctors and they are looking at what they have
at their disposal," he said.

Public Service Association Press statement

7 May 2009

PRESS STATEMENT

The Public Service Association, an umbrella body of five Public Sector
Unions and the representative of all civil servants including non- teaching
professionals in the Civil Service is deeply disturbed and concerned about
the manner in which salaries and conditions of service are being determined.

We take great exception in the divide and rule practice by Government where
some sectors have decided to flout the rules of the National Joint
Negotiating Council (NJNC).

 The Minister of Education  is negotiating with the Education sector unions
and how about the rest of the Civil Service and other related institutions ?
How are they going to have their salaries and conditions of service improved
if the Public Service Ministry remains silent against the background of
harsh economic conditions affecting the entire civil servants? It seems the
said Ministry is only concerned about the teacher and not about those
non-teaching staff working in the ministry.

It appears the Public Service Commission has delegated all the
responsibilities on salaries and conditions of service to service Ministries
resulting in paralyzing our legal negotiating forum,NJNC.

As representatives of the rest of the civil service, we take great exception
in the manner the rest of the civil servants have been ignored in as far as
their salaries  and conditions of services are concerned.

Civil Servants ceased to receive meaningful salaries as far back as
September 2008, but Government has decided to give attention to one sector
leaving  the rest of the Civil Service which has sustained GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS during this economic hardship using their own resources .

Despite the fact that commodities are now available on the market, the 100
US Dollar allowance that Civil servants are getting is falling short of
paying for basic commodities, and other related inescapables such as rent,
rates, school fees, medical fees , electricity and decent clothing. The
transport provided by the employer is not adequate to ferry all civil
servants to work resulting in others finding their way to work THROUGH THEIR
OWN MEANS without any compensation. Efforts to open dialogue on such issues
has not been fruitful ; instead ,government is singling out sectors ignoring
the rest of the Civil Service.

The Pubic Service Association, through extensive consultations with its
stakeholders, hereby wants to categorically state that the employer has
taken us for a ride for a long time abusing our loyalty and therefore we
would be compelled to give an ultimatum of a countrywide Industrial Action
if the employer continues to pay a deaf eye to our concerns and also fail to
respect the legal negotiating  process of constituting the NJNC to deal with
all Civil Servants concerns rather than dealing with sectorial issues.

We have been patient enough in order to make the Inclusive Government work
and be able to produce results that will be emulated by both SADC and the
world at large but it looks like the Government is ignoring the machinery
that is supposed to produce  results for the Inclusive Government to succeed
.

Signed.........

Cecilia Alexander- Khowa,

PSA PRESIDENT  cell  011878275

J .Bvirindi Cell 011880301/ 04 792543

PSA Deputy Executive Secretary

JAG - farm situations communique - dated 6th  May 2009

Email: jag@mango.zw : justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw

JAG Hotlines: +263 (011) 610 073, +263 (04) 799410.  If you are in
trouble or need advice, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here
to help!

To subscribe/unsubscribe to the JAG mailing list, please email:
jag@mango.zw with subject line "subscribe" or
"unsubscribe".

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

1. Mount Carmel Farm - Ben Freeth

2. Stockdale update

3. Mike Odendaal

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

1. Mount Carmel Farm - Ben Freeth

On Mount Carmel Farm the Deputy Sheriff served the High Court eviction
papers on Nathan Shamuyarira's men yesterday afternoon.  The Order,
stamped by the High Court on the 4 May 2009, confirms that HC 1612/09 of
20 April 2009 which says that the invaders must vacate Mount Carmel Farm
is of "full force and effect."

Yesterday morning the invaders had been to the house one of the workers,
Clever Antonio.  He is in hiding because of the high levels of
intimidation being employed by the invaders.  They told his family that
they wanted to cut his lips off.

Last night about midnight they came to the house of Peter Asani, one of
the main Mount Carmel foreman and started beating him before abducting
him.  He is still missing.  At time of writing his family do not know of
his whereabouts.

Prior to that they came to Ben Freeth's house.  They surrounded the
house and were very threatening.  They then came in with tractors and
started ploughing up the driveway and garden around the house before
ploughing up the road that goes to main the road.

The guard was chased away and they burnt his overalls on the fire before
burning sacks under the thatch roof threatening to burn the house down.

In the meantime the orchards, some of which have taken 20 years to
establish have not had irrigation for a month and have not been
fertilised or sprayed or managed in anyway.  Mount Carmel has the biggest
mango orchard in the country.  The owner, Mike Campbell, has been unable
to get to his home for a month.

  Peter Found

We have now found Peter at the police station. He was dumped there by the
Shamuyariras' men.  He had been badly assaulted by them and has
lost the hearing in one ear. His feet were beaten mercilessly and he can
hardly walk.  Police will not let us take him to the hospital and say
they will do it themselves. Police appear to want to arrest Peter
believing him to be another Peter who drove the vehicle when the invaders
were taken off the farm.

Injustice continues to reign unchecked in this unhappy land, so we pray
for Gods Kingdom to come and for God to deliver us from evil.

Wed pm;

It appears that Peter has now been released from custody and is in a bad
way, needing hospitalisation.

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

2. Stockdale update

As of the whole of last week Edna Madzongwe has been reaping about 3-4
tonnes of oranges a day and has been sold mainly locally in Chegutu for
US$5.00 for 50 kg bear in mind that this fruit is not processed through
our packshed (which would get about US$3 for 10kg if processed, do your
sums) on Saturday the packshed office was broken into and our labour was
paid (still to find out how much) however they reaped 20 tonnes of fruit
which was picked up by some Harare and Bulawayo people (we have their
details and reg nos) they are rearing daily and fruit is sold daily .I am
sure there is no TAX paid on this fruit .

All of our sheds have been broken into and locks changed 1 of our
tractors is completely buggered now, there is a Brand new combine parked
in front of the packshed cottage we believe that Edna Madzongwe was
involved in Jambanjering the Henderson's from Idaho farm in
Norton/Selous in the early days and there is video footage one of our
four tracks Honda bikes has been stolen from the houses and is been used
on the farm.

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

3. Mike Odendaal.

Do not think this went out???

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

Court case today.   5-5-09

It basically was postponed to 11th June.     Magistrate was adamant that
there would be no more applications on either side.  So after our Lawyer
asked for 11th June as a further postponement date, the Magistrate, in
good faith, insisted that the trial date is now set for 11th June 09 -
with no further room for manoeuvring for more arguments before trial!!!!

He was also asked by Trust Maanda (our Lawyer) about the double standards
which currently apply in our case - the State has been pretty quick to
charge me, for illegally being on land that we have farmed for years for
the benefit of Zimbabwe - but the authorities cannot seem to want to
request the Police to remove the youth from the farm as per the judgement
made in the High Court - until this current case against me for eviction
is finalised????   How can I be possibly be charged now, when the State
has failed to ensure the Law is carried out according to our Constitution
and Laws made by Parliament by removing the youth in the 1st
instance?????   Only then should the State consider charging me!!

The Magistrate replied and was very abrupt, advising a ruling would be
made by him by Thursday on the youth who are still on the farm and should
be adhered to, once he issued it by both parties.  What has amazed our
Lawyer is that a lower Court cannot overrule a previous Higher Court
decision!!!!  So we wait for Thursday's ruling with `baited
breath' in our quest for some semblance of order in our current
state????!!! We do not hold our "breath"?????

Thought we would leave you with the "Thought of the day"!!!!!

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

Thought of the day!

It was once said by someone in America that a black man would be
president "when pigs fly" - indeed
100 days into Obama's presidency... Swine flu!!!

Daily cholera update and alerts, 06 May 2009

 Full_Report (pdf* format - 174.2 Kbytes)

* Please note that daily information collection is a challenge due to communication and staff constraints. On-going data cleaning may result in an increase or decrease in the numbers.

Any change will then be explained.

** Daily information on new deaths should not imply that these deaths occurred in cases reported that day. Therefore daily CFRs >100% may occasionally result

A. Highlights of the day:

- 65 Cases and 4 deaths added today (in comparison with 26 cases and 13 deaths yesterday)

- Cumulative cases 97 872

- Cumulative deaths 4 270 of which 2 620 are community deaths

- 93.3 % of the reporting centres affected have reported today 56 out of 60 affected reporting centres

- Cumulative Institutional Case Fatality Rate = 1.7%

- Daily Institutional CFR = 3.2 %.

What price a CD4 test?

Photo: Kristy Siegfried/PlusNews

A laboratory technician at Harare Hospital conducts CD4 count tests

HARARE, 7 May 2009 (PlusNews) - At the Opportunistic Infections Clinic at Parirenyatwa Hospital, the largest referral facility in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, a group of 30 HIV-positive patients are having the first of four counselling sessions on staying healthy by eating a balanced diet, disclosing to family members and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol.

Counselling is a requirement for starting antiretroviral (ARV) treatment; the results from a number of tests, none of which can be done at the hospital any more, are also necessary.

Health workers, faced with a lack of equipment, drugs and salaries as a result of Zimbabwe's political and economic meltdown, went on strike towards the end of 2008, forcing most hospitals to close for several months.

Under the new unity government, most have returned to work, but Amon Siveregi, head of the Zimbabwe Health Workers Association and a doctor at Parirenyatwa, said: "In every department, there is still machinery that's not working."

A CD4 count machine, which determines the strength of the immune system and readiness to begin taking ARVs, has been broken for several months; equipment for monitoring liver function and the amount of HI-virus in the blood is also out of order.

Miriam Murema*, 39, has completed the counselling sessions, but regularly scrapes together bus fare and comes to the hospital, hoping the CD4 count machine has been fixed. She last had a CD4 count in 2007, when it was 248, but she has since lost weight and has a urinary infection. By now, her CD4 count is almost certainly below 200, which would qualify her for free treatment.

Murema was referred to Harare Hospital, the only public health facility in Harare with a working CD4 count machine, but, like several other patients IRIN/PlusNews spoke to, because she was not registered as a patient there, she was turned away.

She is now selling vegetables to raise the money to pay for a CD4 count in the private sector. "So far I've saved US$10," she told IRIN/PlusNews. "I need US$20 more."

The few public and mission hospitals that have the equipment charge between US$5 and US$10 for doing a CD4 count, but some also require a liver function test and full blood count, which patients must also pay for.

Fees in the public sector are much cheaper than the private sector, but Zimbabwe's long period of hyperinflation and an unemployment rate above 80 percent mean many people cannot afford them.

After travelling 25km from her home to Parirenyatwa Hospital six times without being able to get a CD4 test, Susan Tsoka* finally raised the US$30 to pay for one at a private clinic. Emaciated and unable to speak above a whisper, her result showed she had a CD4 count of 3. Now, finally, she can see a doctor but with such a dangerously weak immune system, ARV treatment may come too late.

Dr George Vera, the clinical director of Harare Hospital, said there was no official policy of turning away patients referred from other hospitals, but the laboratory was short-staffed and needed to ensure an adequate supply of the chemicals necessary to do the tests.

He pointed out that the health department's protocol for starting patients on ARVs did not require a CD4 count. Health Minister Dr Henry Madzorera confirmed that patients at stage three or four of the disease, determined by observable symptoms defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), should be started on ARVs without a CD4 test.

"There are some doctors who are very idealistic in their thinking, but we're not living in an ideal world," Madzorera told IRIN/PlusNews. "CD4 counts have become very expensive and we're encouraging doctors to use WHO criteria."

Ironically, if Murema had gone to a rural hospital for treatment she may have faced fewer obstacles. Mutoko Rural District Hospital, two hours' drive northeast of Harare, has never had a CD4 count machine, but has started 1,250 patients on ARVs since 2006.

"We were told a CD4 count machine was to come, but it never did," said Kembo Chenjerai, a counsellor at the hospital's one-room opportunistic infections clinic. "Mainly we rely on WHO staging."

	Read more:
	Cross-border healthcare response needed
	Health crisis whacks TB efforts
	Urban patients now referred to rural mission hospitals
	"It's all just misery, death and pain"

Although this is not ideal – "someone might look like they're at stage one and be dead the next week," Chenjerai said – patients can be tested for HIV and start taking ARVs almost immediately if necessary.

Naume Rinomota, 53, a widow who lives with her brother on a resettled farm, tested HIV positive two weeks ago and is already taking ARVs and experiencing less headaches and pain in her joints.

*Not their real names

Politically Motivated Violence against Zimbabwean Women

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Thursday, 07 May 2009

New Documentary and Report Provides Evidence of Politically Motivated
Violence against Zimbabwean Women

The Research and Advocacy Unit [RAU], an NGO working on providing
specialist assistance in research and advocacy in the field of human rights,
democracy and governance in Zimbabwe is releasing a video and written report
documenting political and human rights violations against women in Zimbabwe.
The documentary, 'Hear Us - Zimbabwean Women Affected by Political
Violence Speak Out,' and accompanying report, "Putting it Right: Addressing
Human Rights Violations Against Zimbabwean Women," present the findings of
RAU's study and call for action on the issue of politically motivated
violence against women.
The video tells stories of four women who were tortured for their
political activities or those of a family member. In the video a
30-something year old woman named Memory recounts how she was raped by
youth militia,  She recalls, "When I arrived at the base, they removed all
my clothes and I was raped by three men, one after the other."  When she
went to the police station to report the incident, she was told that they
would not accept her statement. The policeman told her, "We are not dealing
with political violence cases. The time will come when we will deal with
them."
Human Rights groups in Zimbabwe estimate that between May and July
2008, over 2000 women were raped at militia camps.  Given the fact that the
police did not accept reports of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe
and that reports of rape are usually met with suspicion, stigma and
hostility towards the victim causing most victims not to report, these
groups believe the actual number of women impacted by this violence is much
greater.
In the accompanying report, "Putting it Right: Addressing Human Rights
Violations Against Zimbabwean Women," the overriding assertion is that in
all situations of conflict, merely by virtue of their gender identity, women
are both primary and secondary victims of violence. The political parties in
Zimbabwe signed a historic deal on the 15th September 2008, agreeing to put
an end to the political and economic crisis and to end politically motivated
violence in Zimbabwe. Women in Zimbabwe welcomed the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) as it acknowledges the equality between men and women and
recognizes women's role in nation building and the abuses they suffered in
the process, and continue to suffer.
Bearing in mind that any transitional process will not be effective
unless it addresses the issues raised by those affected and acknowledging
the evidence that in Zimbabwe attempts at national healing and
reconciliation without retributive measures provide a short-lived remedy to
conflict, RAU urges the Zimbabwean government to enact the following
recommendations:

*Adhere to the GPA particularly by;
a) Returning to the rule of law (Article 11)
b) Bringing all the perpetrators of violence to book (Article 18.5
(c))
c) Ensuring that there is no discrimination based on gender (Article
7.1(a))
d) Ensuring community integration and national healing (Article
7.1(c))
*Complement any transitional justice mechanism with other programs,
e.g. education, legal literacy and socio economic concerns in order that
victims especially women and girls be able to rebuild their lives;
*Recognize and involve women at every stage of the transitional
process on issues that relate to them as women. The process has to look at
human rights abuses perpetrated against women qua women not as generic human
rights abuses;
* Incorporate all signed human rights instruments relating to women
into domestic law; particularly the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
"Putting it Right" also urges the Southern African Development
Community [SADC] to:
*Ensure the Zimbabwe government implements the GPA and the SADC
Protocol on Gender and Development.

Abducted and held prisoner for seven months, then dumped in a street at night

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/

May 7th, 2009

When people were abducted by State agents last year 2008, and were not
located within a few weeks, it was assumed by many that they had been
tortured and murdered, never to be seen again.

Not so with James (not his real name).

He was abducted from Mt Darwin on the 29th March, 2008 (the day of the
harmonized elections) by State agents who were driving a white Toyota
twin-cab. There were five armed men in the truck. They wanted to know why he
was MDC and also asked for the whereabouts of the MDC councilor.

James was taken to the Bindura prison where he was beaten, and then taken to
Kariba. He was detained at Kariba for 4 months. While being detained at
Kariba he was forced to have sexual intercourse with one of the Junta women.
He was then moved to Kadoma where he was kept incarcerated for a further 3
months.

After 7 months James was dumped in Chitingwiza at 8 o'clock at night. He was
assisted by the local MP to make a report to the MDC head office.

The MDC is still missing approximately 200 people who were abducted by State
agents during 2008.

Where are these people and why is no one being held accountable for the fact
that they are missing!

ACTION: Call the daughter of Senator Edna Madzongwe

PEACE WATCH of 6th May 2009 [Abductees Indicted, Redetained Overnight, Released on Bail]

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Children's school fees or Dad's medical bills?

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4101

Such is the economic climate in Zimbabwe today. Those earning reasonable
salaries in US dollars can survive pretty well. The shops are filled with
South African foods and there is little one can't buy. However, with all
civil servants earning a paltry US $100 per month and the majority of the
populace unemployed one honestly wonders how people are surviving.

An old friend and a victim of the political violence in 2000 (where his
tractor, truck, shop and home was destroyed by Zanu PF supporters) has just
had to have emergency surgery for cancer of the prostate. The total cost
including hospital etc was US $4000. He has now had the operation thanks to
the kindness of the surgeon in Bulawayo who went ahead with the operation
with only a quarter of the money put down. He is staying with his daughter
and son in law who have used the money saved for their childrens school
fees, for their Dad's medical.

They are desperate, but what can they do? No word from Minister Madzorera on
the health system! The people need to know what is going on, it is them that
voted MDC into power. The power that has subsequently been stolen.

It is pleasing to hear from the Minister of Finance Hon Tendai Biti that a
line has been drawn in the sand for Zanu PF to honour their side of the
outstanding issues of the Global Political Agreement. But one wonders what
happens next when Zanu PF and especially the Generals (who are running the
government) are given an ultimatum? They will no doubt rub out the line in
the sand and say "if you don't like what we are doing, then get out of the
inclusive government". This is really what they want.

This entry was posted by Harare activists on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 at
11:12 am.

If the World Hesitates, Zimbabwe Could Be Lost