Talks to resolve power sharing dispute fail to take place

http://www.apanews.net

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe's main political parties have failed to meet
for talks to resolve the country's power-sharing dispute amid revelations
that some of the negotiators had snubbed the negotiations and travelled
abroad, APA learns here Saturday.

The delay in convening a meeting of negotiators from ZANU PF of President
Robert Mugabe and the rival factions of the former opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) saw the negotiators missing Saturday's deadline set
by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by which they should
have agreed on outstanding issues from last year's power-sharing agreement.

A spokesman for the main MDC wing led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
said negotiators from a breakaway MDC faction had decided to travel on
government business at a time the talks were supposed to have commenced this
week.

"The deadline set by the SADC troika for the resolution of outstanding
issues has once again been missed because of the intransigence, mischief and
insincerity exhibited by the political players who are not taking the plight
of the people of Zimbabwe seriously," the spokesman said.

He said officials from the rebel MDC faction led by Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara were absent from the meeting of negotiators convened by
Tsvangirai on Monday to deliberate on the sticking matters.

The SADC security Troika led by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza last
month gave Zimbabwe's feuding parties 30 days within which to fully
implement terms of a power-sharing pact signed in September 2008.

An emergency summit of the Troika held in Maputo on October 29 gave the
Zimbabwean parties 15 days to agree on outstanding issues from the Global
Political Agreement, after which they should implement the agreed matters
within the following 15 days.

South African President Jacob Zuma is supposed to jet into Harare next week
to assess progress in the negotiations which were called to save Zimbabwe's
coalition government after Tsvangirai threatened to withdraw from the regime
last month.

  JN/jk/APA 2009-11-21

Parties trade accusations over delays

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25277

November 21, 2009

By Raymond Maingire

HARARE - Zimbabwe's crisis talks failed to take off as planned on Friday as
parties traded accusations for their continued failure to convene.

The mainstream MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai blamed Zanu-PF
and negotiators from the smaller MDC in particular for delaying the start of
the crucial talks.

"The MDC is extremely concerned at the dragging of feet by Zanu-PF and
Professor Mutambara's party in resolving the outstanding issues as advised
by the guarantors," the MDC said Friday in a statement posted in its
official website.

"The deadline set by the SADC troika for the resolution of outstanding
issues has once again been missed because of the intransigence, mischief and
insincerity exhibited by the political players who are not taking the plight
of the people of Zimbabwe seriously."

The MDC, the most aggrieved party among the parties in the inclusive
government, claimed "the body language" from both Zanu-PF and the
Mutambara-led political outfit did not show sincerity and faithfulness to
resolve the outstanding issues.

"The unelected negotiators from the Mutambara-led political formation, who
by some chance have found themselves in government, are stalling the
resolution of Zimbabwe's political crisis," said the MDC.

"While the negotiators of the major political parties met on Monday at 10am
to deliberate on the sticking matters, the negotiators from Mutambara's
grouping failed to turn up.

"Professor Welshman Ncube and Hon Priscillah Misihairabwi Mushonga have
chosen to prioritise flying to world capitals at the expense of resolving
critical issues that will deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe.

"The MDC expects urgent resolution of issues that have stalled the work of
the inclusive government.

"We expect that all parties, especially those that have chosen to ignore the
important time-frames, targets and deadlines set by SADC, should urgently
meet and clear the deck of the outstanding issues that have poisoned the
people's collective journey of hope spawned by the formation of the
inclusive government in February 2009."

The claims by the MDC were dismissed by the Mutambara-led party which said
its negotiators were ready to start the talks on Thursday.

Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube, further accused Tsvangirai's
MDC of "grandstanding" by claiming SADC had given the parties a deadline.

He said he had made enquiries on when to meet but was informed by Justice
Minister Patrick Chinamasa that there were "some" negotiators who said they
would not be available for the talks this weekend.

Ncube, secretary general of the smaller MDC, blamed the other parties for
alleged failure to commit themselves to the talks.

"People are there but they are saying they have other commitments," said
Ncube. "I
do not know what their commitments are."

"We told him (Chinamasa) we are available as from yesterday (Thursday) and
were ready to convene continuously and he said he was going to consult the
others.

"He came back to say the others are not available for Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday; the earliest they are available is Monday. I do not
know who in particular was not available."

Chinamasa, who was chosen by the parties to co-ordinate the talks, could not
be reached to comment on the delay.

But Ncube, whose party is not making any direct demands from the others,
sounded sceptical about prospects of reaching a quick resolution to the
political stalemate accusing his party's partners of bad faith.

"The problem is that when we were negotiating we had developed a great deal
of trust and faith," he said.

"Now because of the behaviour of different players there is very little
trust now. It would be very difficult to compromise because there has been a
breakdown of trust."

The talks were expected to start as soon as the parties returned from a SADC
Troika summit in Maputo early this month.

During the summit, all political parties signatory to the Global Political
Agreement were directed to engage in dialogue with immediate effect within
15 days from the date of the summit and not later than 30.

Following a meeting on Friday last week among President Robert Mugabe,
Tsvangirai and Mutambara to formulate a strategy on how to kick-start the
process , the parties resolved to begin their talks this weekend starting
Friday.

South African President and facilitator in the talks, Jacob Zuma, is
expected in the country anytime next week to assess progress.

Zuma, who replaced former South African President Thabo Mbeki, the chief
broker of Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks, will compile a report on the
progress of the talks.

He will then forward it to Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, who chairs
the Troika.

Tsvangirai on Thursday said the SADC deadline was flexible.

The MDC is up in arms over President Mugabe's apparent violation of the
Global Political Agreement which ushered in the coalition government.

Chief among its grievances is the continued refusal by Mugabe to reverse the
unilateral appointment of party loyalists Gideon Gono and Johannes Tomana to
the positions of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor and Attorney General,
respectively.

The controversial posts include those of provincial governors, ambassadors
and permanent secretaries. The MDC also wants Mugabe to unconditionally
swear in its nominee and party national treasurer Roy Bennett to the vacant
post of deputy minister of agriculture.

The GPA enjoins the three principals to consult before appointing persons to
key government posts.

The MDC also wants a stop in the selective application of the law by
Zanu-PF.

Since the formation of the coalition government in February this year, a
dozen party MPs have been arraigned before the courts on charges ranging
from inciting political violence, abusing agricultural inputs, theft, rape,
electoral fraud.

The courts have thrown out almost all the cases.

The MDC wants a stop in hate speech by the state media and the continued
invasion of productive farms by Zanu PF supporters.

It is also agitated by the slow progress of reforms such as the freeing of
media space, the constitutional reform process and the repeal of repressive
legislation.

On the other hand, President Mugabe has refused to cede more political space
to his former rivals arguing that the MDC was not following through on its
own part of the bargain by effectively denouncing the continued existence of
western imposed sanctions on members of his former administration and
associated businesses.

Ministers face chop

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/

Friday, 20 November 2009 13:39

 .as Biti acts on Comptroller and Auditor-General report

Clemence Manyukwe, Senior Political Reporter

CABINET will soon decide on the course of action to take against ministers
who looted State assets before the formation of the inclusive government in
February amid indications that there is convergence in the thinking of the
three principals in the transitional arrangement to wield the axe on those
caught on the wrong side of the law.

In what might pass for the most callous abuse of power in the country's
history, State assets worth several millions of United States dollars were
pillaged closer to the formation of the unity government between ZANU-PF and
the two Movement for Democratic Change formations.
The plunder of government property and resources was brought to light by the
Comptroller and Auditor-General, Mildred Chiri, in her report covering the
first quarter of the current financial term.
Government critics are convinced that the few cases that were uncovered in
the report could just be the tip of the iceberg that must be unravelled by a
forensic audit.
Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, told The Financial Gazette this week that he
will table before his colleagues in Cabinet the damning report he received
from the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Office on public accounts.
"I will table the report in Cabinet. Cabinet will then come up with a
decision on the course of action to be taken," Biti said.
The minister could not immediately say when he intends to table the matter
in Cabinet.
The audit report, compiled by Chiri, and tabled in Parliament last month
lifted the lid on the looting of State funds and assets among other illegal
activities that were perpetrated by some government officials before leaving
office.
The report said a government minister went away with a Toyota Prado despite
the fact that it was a pool car, which could not be handed out as part of
his exit package, while another minister and his deputy are said to have
looted a lap top each from the ministry.
At one of the mentioned ministries, the report said: "The former cabinet
minister took possession of two motor vehicles which he had been using
before leaving the ministry; the former deputy minister was authourised to
purchase the vehicle which he had been using before leaving the ministry and
the former permanent secretary took possession of four motor vehicles which
he had been using when he left the ministry."
Chiri, who conducts three main audits - financial, value for money and
specialised audits charged that the possession of the said assets by the
government officials was not authourised.
At another ministry, Chiri said the former minister, his deputy and
permanent secretary illegally took possession of three vehicles each
belonging to the government. The report also detailed the abuse of funds and
fuel.
This could be the first time that action is taken on officials fingered in
the looting of public assets exposed by the government's top auditor as
previous cases of corruption captured in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's
reports have largely been ignored.
Biti's decision to take the matter up with Cabinet for possible action
appears to have been influenced by the first Parliamentary report by the
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the state of the Comptroller and Auditor
General's Office, which described the office as a toothless bulldog.
The report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on November 3 by the
PAC chairman, Tapuwa Mashakada, said as part of giving the office teeth,
there should be amendments of governing legislation to compel the Finance
Minister to table a remedial plan of action on any corrupt activities that
would have been brought to light by the auditor-general.
"The committee feels that if audit reports are to have the desired impact,
the enabling legislation should place an obligation upon the treasury and
the accounting officers whose accounts have been qualified to respond with a
remedial action plan to the Comptroller and Au-ditor-General's annual
report. The Comptroller and Auditor-General would then follow up on the
action plan and report on action taken in its next annual audit," part of
the PAC report said.
The committee also said the independence of the Comptroller and
Auditor-General was "to some extent compromised" as the incumbent was
appointed by the President in consultation with the Public Service
Commission. It recommended that Parliament should be consulted instead.

Man jailed 15 years for arms theft

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25274

November 21, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - A Harare man charged with the theft of firearms from Pomona Army
Barracks last month has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after
pleading guilty.

Three of his accomplices, who are members of the Zimbabwe National Army
(ZNA), will be court-marshalled.

All the weapons that were stolen from the barracks were recovered. They
include 21 AK 47 rifles and a shotgun.

Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka told the media Friday that the accused,
who was not immediately identified, had been arrested a week after the theft
of the arms on October 20 this year.

"We can confirm the arrest of four suspects in connection with a breaking
that took place at Pomona Barracks and the subsequent theft of 20 AK 47
rifles, and one shot gun," Mandipaka said.

While the civilian suspect was convicted in an ordinary court, Mandipaka
said, the other three soldiers, a serving member and "a deserter" would be
dealt with in terms of the court marshals of the Zimbabwe National Army as
they are bound by the Defence Act.

The civilian suspect, said to be a welder plying his trade in Harare's
Dzivarasekwa high-density suburb, pleaded guilty to the offence.

He had appeared before Harare magistrate William Bhila Friday afternoon who
slapped him with the lengthy jail term.

He is alleged to have accompanied the soldiers on his vehicle at 1 am on
October 20 to steal the weapons.

He was allegedly found with four of the weapons with the rest having been
distributed among the other accused persons, who allegedly used a bolt
cutter to break into the barracks' armoury.

MDC transport manager Pasco Gwezere was seized from his Mufakose home by
armed police and state security agents a week after the break in, in
connection with the alleged crime.

He was on Friday granted bail by the High Court but was denied immediate
release after the state invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and
Evidence Act.

The controversial law empowers it to freeze a court judgement for a period
of seven days pending a written appeal against such ruling.

A dozen more soldiers have been seized and detained for questioning by army
personnel and state security agents over the theft of the firearms.

An MDC suburban house in Harare was also invaded by armed police last month
in search of the weapons. They found nothing.

Sino-Zim in contract farming negotiations

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

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe and China are negotiating arrangements for contract farming as the
Asian giant steps up efforts to assist the country's agrarian reforms.

This was revealed by Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha at
a symposium on China-Africa and China-Zimbabwe relations.

"There are indeed ongoing negotiations for contract farming arrangements in
the agricultural sector. The greatest impact of Chinese involvement in
Zimbabwe has been in the agricultural sector, which as you know is the
backbone of the economy," he said.

China has provided US$260 million to Zimbabwe to support the agricultural
sector for the purchase of inputs and machinery.

"We have been able to acquire equipment, implements and critical inputs for
the revival of this sector.

"This support for the agricultural mechanisation programme has been
complemented by the secondment of experts in the areas of animal disease
control, fisheries and grain," said Ambassador Bimha.

Zimbabwe has also been designated as one of the 10 countries in Africa to
host the first 10 agricultural demonstration centres in Africa.

Apart from the support in agriculture, China has also supported the countriy's
mining and manufacturing sectors with the China-Africa Development Fund
acquiring shareholdings in Zimasco and uranium joint ventures with the
Zimbabwe Mining Development Company.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang, yesterday said they had
provided at least US$300 million to the country in the past three years and
urged the strengthening of ties between the two countries.

"In the past three years, the total amount of aid that the Chinese
Government provided to the Zimbabwean Government is approximately US$300
million.

"Let's make joint efforts to push China-Africa, China-Zimbabwe friendship to
a new height," he said.

'Political interference hinders professionalism at ZBC'

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Correspondent Saturday 21 November 2009

HARARE - Political interference by officials from President Robert Mugabe's
ZANU PF party has compromised professionalism at Zimbabwe's sole
broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), a public broadcasting
report has said.

The report entitled "Public Broadcasting in Africa Series: On Air -
 Zimbabwe" which was released early this week by the Open Society Initiative
Southern Africa (OSISA) said that politicians give instructions to media
professionals at ZBC, leaving journalists demoralised.

The report pointed fingers at Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba, who is
also the Information Ministry's permanent secretary, for treating the state
broadcaster as a personal empire.

"During interviews with journalists and other practitioners at the ZBC, the
majority pointed out that there is a great deal of interference by ZANU PF
officials which hinders the professional and efficient operations of the
ZBC," the report said.

"Politicians often give instructions to managerial staff on their editorial
preferences. It is also alleged that the divisions and factionalism within
the party (ZANU PF) play out in the newsrooms."

The report quoted one journalist who spoke of how an unnamed minister may
phone in and give instructions regarding a story and "soon after a permanent
secretary will call and give instructions that counteract the initial
initiative".

According to the 166-page report, some journalists felt that the broadcaster
was being used as a "personal empire" by those at the ministry, especially
Charamba.

"One journalist who refused to be named said that Charamba was running the
corporation as his personal fiefdom and this was demoralising to most of the
staff as they felt that the core business of the broadcaster was no longer
taking precedence. Charamba wields enormous power here, is untouchable, and
staff at the broadcaster, including ZBC board is terrified of him," said the
report.

"All this has made journalists believe that whatever they do they have to be
answerable to the government or individuals in the ministry rather than the
general public."

The state-owned ZBC - also known as Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) -
which runs Zimbabwe's only television and radio stations was initially
conceived as a public broadcaster but has been tightly controlled by Mugabe's
ZANU PF administration, which has the final say on senior editorial and
managerial appointments.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party which joined Mugabe in a
coalition government last February has criticised the state media for bias
in favour of Mugabe and his ZANU PF party and against other parties in the
unity government.

Speaking at the launch of the OSISA report Tsvangirai said government should
not control the media, adding that the media should regulate itself the same
way other professions do. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Endorses Regional Report Critical of State Broadcasters

http://www1.voanews.com

Mr. Tsvangirai as the leader for a decade of the former opposition party
attested to the negative impact of politically slanted broadcasting

Sandra Nyaira

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has endorsed a regional report on
broadcasting to highlight the lack of progress since February under his
power-sharing government in reforming the state-run broadcasting monopoly to
reflect a broader spectrum of political views.

Mr. Tsvangirai endorsed the report published by the South African-based
Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project and the Open Society
Initiative for Southern Africa before departing late this week for talks in
Libya with African Union President Muammar Gaddaffi.

The report urged the repeal of Zimbabwean legislation repressing freedom of
the media.

As leader of the former opposition, Mr Tsvangirai said state media has
tarnished the image of those perceived to be enemies of the dominant ZANU-PF
party of President Robert Mugabe rather than focusing on the issues and
problems that are most of concern to the Zimbabwean people.

He called for editorial independence in the newsrooms of the state-operated
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, and self-regulation by the media as a
general principle.

"I look forward to the day when the coverage of events attended by political
leaders is decided upon by editors who have only one consideration - what in
the best interest of their reading and viewing public," the prime minister
said.

Mr Tsvangirai said he and President Mugabe were soon to name the new
Zimbabwe Media Commission as the caretaker of a free national media
environment.

Mr. Tsvangirai said that although progress towards the full implementation
of the 2008 Global Political Agreement has not been as rapid "or as
comprehensive as the majority of us would like, there has nonetheless been
noticeable progress".

For more on the regional broadcasting report, Sandra Nyaira spoke with Faith
Zaba, a board member of the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Zimbabwe,
who moderated this week's launch of the critical document.

SA business chiefs to witness trade pact signing

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Correspondent Saturday 21 November 2009

HARARE - At least 60 business executives from South Africa are expected to
witness next week's long awaited signing of a Bilateral Investment
Protection Agreement (BIPA) between Zimbabwe and South Africa, it was
announced on Friday.

South African Trade Minister Rob Davies and his Zimbabwean counterpart,
Elton Mangoma are expected to sign the deal in Harare next Friday after
which an investment seminar will be held.

"The purpose of the seminar, which will be attended by more than 60 business
people from South Africa, is to highlight trade and investment opportunities
following the formation of a transitional government of national unity in
Zimbabwe," South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry said in a
statement.

The seminar and signing ceremony come on the backdrop of the launch by the
government of Zimbabwe of a five-year medium-term blueprint for the period
2010 to 2015 .

The blueprint, in which the Harare commits itself to encouraging new local
and foreign investment to stimulate the economic growth and development,
replaces the Short-Term Economic Recovery Programme (STERP) that was
launched in March 2009 to curb the further decline of the Zimbabwean
economy.

Signing of the agreement between the countries that are each other's biggest
trading partner on the continent in addition to being strong political
allies has on several occasions been postponed on the eleventh hour,
apparently after Harare objected to a clause in the accord referring to land
investments.

President Mugabe's chaotic and often violent programme to seize white-owned
farm land for redistribution to landless blacks has seen several farms owned
by foreigners and protected under bilateral trade agreements between
Zimbabwe and other countries seized without compensation.

The seizure of private land has raised questions about Zimbabwe's commitment
to uphold property rights as well as agreements entered with other
countries.

South African farmers on Thursday called on Pretoria to ensure that
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's controversial land reform programme is
included in the BIPA. - ZimOnline

Hunger Warning Unit Sees 1.6 Million Zimbabweans at Risk Through End-2009

http://www1.voanews.com/

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network or FEWSNET says 1.6 million
Zimbabweans - 600,000 in the cities - will need food aid through December of
this year

Patience Rusere | Washington

About 1.6 million people in Zimbabwe risk going hungry and will need food
assistance between now and the end of the year, the US based Famine Early
Warning Systems Network said in a new food security assessment conducted in
September.

About one million of those likely to require food distributions are in
Zimbabwe's rural areas, the rest in the cities.

The report cites poverty and unemployment as factors in continuing food
insecurity in the country, which has seen a series of bad maize harvests due
to dislocation in the agricultural sector after a decade of land reform and
chronic shortages of essential inputs such as seed and fertilizer.

Board member Peter Muchengeti of the National Association of
Non-Governmental Organizations told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere
that FEWSNET is on target as to the continuing inadequacy of food supplies.

Health hazard looms in Gweru

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=10577

By Moses Muchemwa

Published: November 20, 2009

Gweru  - Gweru residents are facing a serious water shortage that might lead
to an outbreak of diseases such as cholera.

The Gweru City Council is failing to supply safe drinking water due to
shortage of funds to replace ageing infrastructure.

The director of engineering services, John Nantambwe, confirmed that US$5
million was needed to improve water supplies.

"We are operating with three pumps instead of six because the other three
pumps are obsolete and therefore beyond repair," he said.

Council is able to supply only 50 percent of the city's daily water
consumption.

He said the local authority did not install any new pump or replace old
ones, thereby worsening the situation.

"Our situation is getting desperate because the population is growing while
at the same time our pumping capacity is being reduced as a result of the
old pumps and other infrastructure that have outlived their lifespan" said
Nantambwe.

The residents, Nantambwe said were being subjected to erratic water supplies
because council could only provide limited supplies daily.

A number of Gweru suburbs have gone for months without the precious liquid
forcing residents to fetch water from unprotected sources.

Residents have appealed to council to urgently address the water supply
problem, which they say is a time bomb as many of them are using the bush to
relieve themselves, which pauses a health hazard.

Last year, thousands of people succumbed to cholera due to shortage of water
in towns and cities.

Witnessing healing and reconciliation in Zimbabwe

Ashland resident works for peace in torn African nation

 

Ashlander Mark Yaconelli and two of the sub-chiefs from the Mutare district of Zimbabwe at National Healing and Reconciliation Workshop

By Mark Yaconelli

For the Tidings

November 21, 2009

In the summer of 2008 Kokayi, a 35-year-old Methodist pastor in western Zimbabwe, was sitting in his home when a group of men gathered outside his door and began chanting political slogans. When he stepped outside, a group of 20 young men accused him of supporting the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change), the party opposing president Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party in the upcoming elections. Kokayi explained that, as a pastor, he was politically neutral and did not publicly support either party. The men ordered him to chant the political slogans of the Zanu-PF. He refused. They began to beat and threaten him, yet still he refused. They then dragged him to the town's slaughterhouse and beat him again.

As Kokayi began to crawl back to his home, people in the village turned their heads, closed their doors, and hurried past the wounded pastor — afraid that empathy would attract the attention of the Mugabe thugs. Halfway to his home, a second group of Mugabe men recognized Kokayi. One man picked up a rock and hit Kokayi's head over and over again. As Kokayi began to lose consciousness, he heard the man exclaim to his cheering companions, "I've killed him!"

It was after dark when a group of women quietly placed him in a wheelbarrow and took him to a nearby hospital. There he was kept hidden from the vigilantes until he recovered from his wounds. Months later, Kokayi returned home and found his house burned to the ground, his food stock and animals stolen, and his farm and garden torn up. His wife and children had fled to a nearby country.

This is a summary of the story that Kokayi told to a gathering of 85 Christian pastors representing more than 20 denominations, community leaders, heads of various non-governmental agencies, police, and government representatives. The National Healing and Reconciliation workshop sponsored by the Pastoral Care and Counseling Center in Mutare, Zimbabwe was held during the first week of November.

Mazvita Machinga, a Zimbabwe doctoral student at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, Calif., had organized the gathering in direct response to the initiative by the newly formed "Unity" government (a tenuous partnership between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC) calling for healing and reconciliation.

The workshop was the first event of its kind in Zimbabwe that sought to build practical skills as well as design processes that individuals and communities could use for nurturing healing and reconciliation. My colleagues Frank Rogers, Andrew Dreitcer, and I, as founding members of Triptykos, were asked by Mazvita to help document and facilitate the workshop. Triptykos is a public action organization of the Center for Engaged Compassion at CST.

Zimbabwe, once a stable and prosperous country, has experienced economic collapse, due to the destructive policies of the Mugabe government. Beginning around 1999, and escalating during the election of 2008, villages across Zimbabwe suffered a rampage of organized violence and intimidation. Since the formation of a unity government in January, the violence has diminished, military "torture" camps have been dismantled, but communities continue to be traumatized. Victims are afraid to seek healing, perpetrators remain unpunished, and communities remain stuck in fear and alienation.

The first task of the four-day workshop was to encourage victims to tell their stories — this was a difficult request given that Mugabe and the Zanu-PF still control the military, and most victims still encounter their perpetrators within their communities and even within their own churches. For most victims at the workshop it was only when they met with other victims that they were willing to talk, and yet slowly, as the first day evolved, Kokayi and others felt emboldened to make their experience known.

At the end of Kokayi's story he was asked what happened to the men who beat him. "I see them every day — including the man who eagerly tried to kill me. I see him every day." He paused, then said, "I am a Christian pastor. I am supposed to forgive. But I am also filled with anger and bitterness. They have taken my humanity."

The shame, guilt, anger isn't limited to victims and perpetrators, as one pastor explained, "All of us are victims and all of us are perpetrators. Many of us saw our neighbors being harmed. We heard their cries for help, but we did nothing. The victims in our communities know we heard them and did nothing, and so we are also victims and also silent perpetrators of the violence that occurred."

How does healing happen for Kokayi and his community? How does reconciliation occur in a community that harbors victims, perpetrators, and so many silent witnesses to senseless violence? We gathered in Zimbabwe to find a way through these questions.

Next week: Part 2 — Healing victims and perpetrators in Zimbabwe.

Mark Yaconelli is the Co-Director of Triptykos and the author of "Wonder, Fear, and Longing: A Book of Prayers." Read about his experience in Zimbabwe at www.triptykos.com.

Silent fridges

Dear Family and Friends,

The one non-political word most likely to cause animated, angry
outbursts in Zimbabwe is 'Zesa.' Officially the acronym stands for
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, more appropriately it is known
as Zimbabwe Electricity Sometimes Available.

We've now had three grim, gruelling weeks of power cuts where the
lights go out at 4 or 5 in the morning and stay off until 9 or 10 at
night - every day of the week and weekend. Normal functioning has
become almost impossible. Food bought with precious US dollars is
going rotten in silent fridges; geysers are cold and there is no way
to put a single hot meal on the table as zesa is non existent at
breakfast, lunch and supper times.

Only receiving a few hours of power in the middle of the night we
expected our bills would have reduced by three quarters but this
isn't happening. Business and residential areas alike, Zesa bills
continue to be more than most people earn in a month. Unexplained and
incomprehensible is how you go from having a credit balance one month
to owing 700 or 800 US dollars the next. Small businesses already
struggling to stay open are getting bills ranging from 5,000 to
12,000 US dollars a month. It's become commonplace to get home and
find you've been disconnected or, in my home town, to find that Zesa
employees have actually physically removed MCB's (Mains Control
Boards) from your house.

The worst comes when you emerge from a 16 hour power cut, cold, tried
and hungry. The lights flicker once, twice and then stay off again -
it's a fault on the line. Even though Zesa have a 24 hour fault
service, they say they no longer attend at night, or before 8am in
the morning, and so you wait. By the time they go looking for a fault
(after you have picked them up in your car and driven them round and
round) and they have effected the repair, you still don't get
anything done as you are back into the standard 16 hour power cut. If
there is more than one fault on the line then you can go on like this
for days, staggering from power cuts to faults with the briefest
flicker of lights in between but not even enough time to boil a
kettle.

In out of town areas, people are going without electricity for
multiple days, even weeks. One rural friend said they'd had no power
for over a week. The only commercial farmer still operating in the
area had recently been evicted by an army man and now there was no
one with a vehicle prepared to travel the 20 kilometers to town to
collect Zesa workers to fix the broken line.

Sitting here writing this letter by hand I try and remember the last
time I saw Zesa doing any maintenance in my suburb. I decide it must
be about 5 years ago when they came door to door and cut overhanging

branches, cleared around poles and checked their lines. I fume at
this thought and also at the information that a junior Zesa worker in
his early twenties and without tertiary education is currently earning
800 US dollars a month - nearly seven times more than a degreed
teacher or nurse. Perhaps that's why our bills are so high?

Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy Copyright cathy
buckle 21 November 2009.

www.cathybuckle.com

ZCTF Report - November 2009

The hot, dry season has seen poaching intensify in the area as the animals are forced to drink at the lake. Charara is surrounded by game corridors and the animals have to run the gaunlet of snares. There is a large herd of Buffalo in the area but they will soon leave with the arrival of the rains. Impala have dwindled and it seems so have the few bushbuck.

 

17 Oct.- Found the remains of one Impala male in snare opposite Wild Heritage

 

18 Oct. - Found the remains of one Impala male and one Buffalo cow ( pic attached ) in snares opposite Wild Heritage. The meat had been removed.

 

 

25 Oct. - Removed one snare opposite Nzou Lodges.

 

26 Oct. - Opposite WH found 1 Buffalo snare and one Impala female ( pic attached - this animal must have taken a few days to die. I cut the carcase loose and the birds consumed it ).

 

 

28 Oct. - Dropped five scouts off opposite Wild Heritage to search the area where I had found the dead animals. They collected 8 snares and I took them back to Nyanyana and Peters Point.

 

7 Nov. - A snare sweep was organised to which I contributed but have not yet received the results. Will keep you posted.

 

8 Nov. - Removed four large cable snares set for Buffalo close to the NAU. I also found the remains of a Buff they had killed the previous week.

 

Fish poaching is rife and has never been worse. It seems Charara has become a major trading centre in fish and most people are dealing in it. Conditions will not improve untill we have a permanent presence of Parks in the area. I have had discussions with Parks on formulating a plan to catch the fish poachers but the stumbling block is lack of cell phone comms. - most of the time there is no network.

One of the biggest problems is the ability of the poachers to store their fish ( and meat ) in the freezers in the lodges.

 

Wild Heritage has very kindly donated $50 per month to the cause and I received $100 from Old Hararians -  Allan Banks. Many thanks.

 

Steve Kok

 

We have now received the results of the snare sweep on the 7th November that Steve referred to in his report.

 

The sweep was conducted by the Kariba branch of Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ) and there were 42 participants consisting of local guides, youths, National Parks scouts and stakeholders. They managed to remove 38 snares from the Charara area and we would like to compliment WEZ on a job well done. A special thank you to Nyashadzashe Chirengende, Senior Warden Dzodzo and Steve Kok. It is very encouraging to see this type of activity taking place especially in view of the fact that the youths are being involved.

 

RELOCATION OF 9 ELEPHANTS

 

In April this year, 10 elephants were captured from the wild by Basil Steyn and taken to Sondelani Ranch to be trained for elephant back safaris. As it is a well known fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible to train a wild elephant without inflicting pain and suffering, the matter was reported to Glynis Vaughan, Chief Inspector of the ZNSPCA.

 

 It was decided to call in South African wildlife specialist, Karen Trendler to assess the condition of the elephants. The ZNSPCA were unable to pay for her travel expenses so we sent out an appeal and thanks to those of you who responded, Karen was able to come to Zimbabwe. She confirmed that there had been cruelty involved in the training of these elephants.

 

One of the elephant trainers at Sondelani explained how an elephant was taught to crouch down to enable a person to climb onto its back. Four ropes were tied to the elephant's feet - one rope on each foot. The ropes on the front feet were pulled forwards and the ones on the back feet were pulled backwards, stretching the elephant until it went down on its stomach. Once the elephant went down, the trainer would shout "sit!" The process was repeated a number of times until the elephant "sat" upon the command without the assistance of the ropes. In the case of an elephant that refused to obey, it was stretched out with the ropes and left in that position for 2 weeks. In June 2009, one of the elephants, a 5 year old named Dumisani died.

 

Evidence of this cruelty was presented to the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Francis Nhema and he ordered the training to be stopped and the elephants to be released.  

 

In August 2009, Vier Pfoten, Karen Trendler and the ZNSPCA teamed up to care for and rehabilitate the elephants to prepare them for their release into Hwange National Park . The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) agreed to fund the relocation but when Basil Steyn discovered this, he insisted they withdraw from the project. They complied with his wishes, not wanting to risk the possibility of him preventing the elephants from being removed although their donated funds remain in place.

 

On the 3rd of November 2009, the elephants were successfully relocated to Hwange National Park in two batches. After the first batch of four were removed, Basil Steyn said that the remaining 5 elephants belonged to his partner and he demanded payment for them. It was only after he was assured that he would be paid, that he allowed the remaining elephants to go.

 

The elephants are apparently now doing well in Hwange National Park and we are very thankful to all concerned. The only cloud on the horizon is the fact that there has been no mention of Basil Steyn being prosecuted for cruelty to animals. In addition to that, we have heard that shortly after the relocation of the 9 elephants, he was in South Africa negotiating another elephant capture.  

 

We don't believe Basil Steyn or his partner should be paid for the elephants when it was wrong for him to capture them in the first place. This will send a message to any other unethical people intending to capture elephants, that they won't be any worse off if they are caught in the act because some charitable organization will pay for the elephants if they are confiscated.

 

BRIGITTE RODRIGUES JOINS THE ZCTF

 

It is with great pleasure that we announce that our daughter, Brigitte has come on board as Chief Executive Officer of the ZCTF (European Division).

 

Brigitte lives in Scotland with David Scobie where they are a successful singing duo called "Brogue" and they have just released their third album. Anybody wishing to hear or purchase some of their music can go into their website www.broguemusic.com.

 

In view of Brigitte's busy lifestyle, we are most grateful to her for joining us. She is now the new administrator of our Facebook site http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15148470211 so please go into it and have a chat with her. She will ensure that the site is regularly updated. It is very difficult for us to access our own Facebook site because of the erratic telecommuncation system in Zimbabwe so this is where Brigitte's presence will help us immensely.

 

We currently have three websites, two of which are very outdated. We have found it difficult, if not impossible to update the sites so Brigitte is now building a brand new website for the ZCTF. This will be the main official ZCTF website and it will contain a complete history of everything we have been involved in from the beginning. Brigitte will also keep it constantly updated. In addition to that, she is opening a You Tube site for us where you will be able to see video footage of the ZCTF's activities. As soon as these sites are ready, we will circulate the addresses. 

 

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline:        263 4 336710
Landline/Fax: 263 4 339065
Mobile:           263 11 603 213
Email:             galorand@mweb.co.zw
Website:        www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
Website:        www.zimbabwe-art.com
 Facebook:    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15148470211

JAG open letter forum - No. 680- Dated 20 November 2009

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

Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
jag@mango JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM - No..zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject line.

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

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1.  ZANU ASSASSINATIONS - JL Robinson

2..  Justice, Honesty & Integrity - Robb WJ Ellis

3.  The Land Question: A Case for a Transparent Agrarian Reform & Land
Audit Process

4.  Chris Dunbar - Request for information

5.  Request for information - Henk van Stokkom

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1.  ZANU ASSASSINATIONS - JL Robinson

Dear Jag

The definition of assassination is "killing by treacherous
violence."

This definition and the modus operandi of Zanu need to be considered
seriously by SADC and Jacob Zuma.

It is nearly ten years since Martin Olds and David Stephens were
assassinated by Zanu - and Zanu still continue today to assassinate
their opposition at  their (Zanu's) free will. The Editor of the
The Zimbabwean has succinctly described how Mugabe and Zanu have abused
the land issue to extend their tenure at the expense of the country and
its people.

The recent invitation by the UN for Zanu to attend a summit in Rome
indicates the cavalier attitude of that organisation to the very ethos
that they are meant to live by.

Recent reports indicate that a Zanu tycoon charged with 300 counts of
fraud and tax evasion has entered a deal to pay a R40 million fine to the
State (RSA) and it is alleged that he also paid off a "cat"
(mujiba?) acting for the SA Commissioner of Police for another US$100 000
- for an audience with the Commissioner! These reports tend to point
towards an even more brazen era in Zimbabwe and South Africa where the
proof is now that "Crime does pay."

Perhaps all one needs to do after such behaviour is "have a
shower" and then all will be cleansed and you can zoot off and kill
another farmer, take another farm, burn another homestead, starve a few
more animals, shoot a few more farm workers and then have another shower
again?

As a person attempts to analyse these dynamics analytically, I am not
quite sure how the likes of Morgan Tsvangirayi, Tendai Biti or David
Coltart measure their progress (or lack there of?) on a regular basis. I
would quite like to study their points system!

J.L. Robinson

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2.  Justice, Honesty & Integrity - Robb WJ Ellis

Justice, Honesty & Integrity - The Three Missing Elements In Roy
Bennett's Trial

If anyone were to use one word to describe the judicial system in
Zimbabwe, we might hope for words like 'fair' and 'just' - perhaps even a
word like 'equal' may make the listing - but alas, such a list would be a
lie.

I worked within the judicial system in Zimbabwe in the early to mid-1980s
and watched the legal wheels turn, and perhaps then my only criticism
would be that they turned ponderously slow.

But fast forward to the same system in the courts in Zimbabwe today and
we witness an entirely different story.

One of the cases which has sprung to prominence is the banditry,
terrorism and weapons charges which have been preferred against Roy
Bennett, the white commercial farmer who has become a regular target for
the Mugabe 'treatment'.

Roy "Pachedu" Bennett has already spent time in Mugabe's disgusting
jails, having been imprisoned by Parliament for pushing Patrick Chinamasa
to the ground reacting to being the subject of a Chinamasa haranguing in
which Bennett's forefathers were labelled as 'thieves' and
'murderers'. But that was only the last straw in the wholesale abuse of
Roy Bennett, his family, his farm and his farm workers. Prior to that,
Mugabe sent the army in to steal his farm. The army killed one his
workers, brutalised and raped others and the stress of this whole sorry
saga caused his pregnant wife to lose their child.

Mugabe makes no secret of his dislike of the whites in general and
Bennett in particular.

The evidence that Mugabe's prosecuting council - none other than
his unilaterally appointed Attorney-General - will use is fabricated,
elicited under duress and torture, manufactured and presented displaying
the utmost prejudice.

The State's key witness, one Michael Hitschmann, a former firearms
dealer from the Eastern Highlands town of Mutare, is alleged to have
implicated Bennett in his 'confession' obtained under torture. Hitschmann
supposedly heard and discussed with Bennett an intended conspiracy to
assassinate Mugabe.

Hitschmann spent 2 ½ years in Mugabe's prisons for his
'crimes'

Mugabe's state council have worked tirelessly to present the Bennett case
in the worst possible light, and even went so far as to issue the
indictment at the courthouse and have his bail revoked. Bennett spent a
few days languishing once again in Mugabe prisons - possibly amongst the
worst in the world.

Mugabe has refused to swear Bennett into cabinet, stating that he is
facing serious charges - which carry the death penalty if a conviction is
secured - and prefers to wait for the court to 'exhaust their authority'
before he can consider any move.

Mugabe talked himself in full circle by bringing up the subject of
pardons, stating that any pardon can only be applied once the court has
completed their remit. How is it then that Mugabe was able to issue a
blanket pardon for all persons involved in the Gukurahundi in the early
to mid-1980s in Matabeleland and the Midlands?

Was he not obliged to wait due court process before issuing such an
order?

Bennett has lost his Chimanimani farm, his wife lost a baby, and then he
sought refuge in South Africa - a safe haven - until it was deemed
'safe' to return by none other than the South African government.

His very livelihood was plucked from his hand, illegally and with undue
and specific force. He and his family have had to realign themselves to
being displaced persons, dispossessed commercial farmers, and yet Mugabe
is not happy with that.

He wants Bennett to suffer. And so Bennett does. Under Mugabe's
evil eye and deathlike grip on Zimbabwe and the law courts, he has little
option but to rely heavily upon his legal representative to ensure that
justice is preserved.

Bennett is innocent. If there is anyone out there who believes in justice
and fair play and can put a stop to this farcical charade, justice will
be well and truly served.

The Attorney-General does not just do Zimbabwe an injustice by being
where he is - but the whole of Africa.

The man is ignorant of court procedure, and although the defence council,
Beatrice Mtetwa, is making mincemeat of him, the judge, who has already
sidestepped a defence request to recuse himself, will obviously do what
he is told rather than the right thing.

The Attorney-General has no respect for courts or legal system - what
little remains of it.

And since when does the Zimbabwean Attorney-General prosecute a case in
court? That has to be a first!

But it is Mugabe who should facing treason charges because he is the one
with the blood of thousands of innocent Zimbabweans on his hands.

There is a long list of people who have faced the very same charges that
Bennett currently faces. In every single case, the charges have been
dismissed. Mugabe has corrupted the judiciary to such an extent that he
now uses 'the law' and his judiciary as tools of oppression, as a method
to tie his victims up financially and to divert their attention.

What is different in Bennett's case is the extent to which the
Attorney-General's office have gone to create 'evidence'.

Mugabe desperately wants Bennett convicted.

Not the Mugabe justice that would see people die at the hands of his
minions, but the justice that every sane person in the world seeks
Justice is the right to a fair hearing, reasonable punishment if found
guilty - and entire vindication if cleared in a court of law.

Justice should be blind - blind to colour creed and religion - but in
Zimbabwe it is prolonged, pro-Mugabe and pro-ZANU PF.

In Zimbabwe, the law has become an ass.

Robb WJ Ellis

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3.  The Land Question: A Case for a Transparent Agrarian Reform & Land
Audit Process

A sober interrogation and an intellectual conversation focused on
Zimbabwe's agrarian reform, devoid of partisan emotion, incendiary
sloganeering, and ideological vitriol, is now necessary for the
formulation of a people driven land reform programme. A comprehensive
independent land audit conducted by a civic commission, whose findings
are to be made public, must be a precursor to this endevour.

As much as the government published the lists of all farms gazetted for
acquisition, in the name of transparency and political fair play
Zimbabweans deserve to know who the recipients and beneficiaries of all
the seized land are.

Sustainable economic growth can only be attained with the permanent
inclusion of Zimbabwe's communal farmers into the mainstream economy. The
peculiarity of our history is such that most commercial farmers were
white. It is time to recognise that fact and realise that the land issue
is both an economic and political imperative, an issue that supersedes
one's race or ethnicity.

In 1888, white colonists under the auspices of the British South Africa
Company, led by Cecil Rhodes, expropriated the country's best
agricultural lands and began colonial rule.

The solution to correcting this colonial imbalance, decongesting communal
areas, and empowering previously disadvantaged indigenous citizens
through agriculture, while maintaining productivity is attainable.

White farmers wanting to sell land were legally obliged to offer it to
the state first. If the state did not want the land, it would issue a "no
present interest" certificate (valid for one year), which then enabled
the seller to dispose of the land on the private market. Throughout the
1980's there was a steady flood of land available to the Government of
Zimbabwe. The land acquired included that abandoned by white farmers
during the war, as well as land sold willingly by some landowners.

Senior members of ZANU (PF) under the VIP Farm Scheme acquired farms by
taking advantage of the state's "no present interest". Farm land
totalling over a million hectares was transferred and the VIP Farm Scheme
also leased state land acquired under the resettlement programme to ZANU
(PF) officials and government ministers-none of these farms are in
production today.

In 1981, the Government of Zimbabwe passed the Communal Land Act, which
changed the name of the Tribal Trust Lands to Communal Areas and
transferred authority from the traditional leaders to the local
authorities. The 1992 Land Acquisition Act was enacted to speed up the
land reform process by removing the "willing seller, willing buyer"
clause, limiting the size of farms and introducing a land tax (although
the tax was never

implemented.) The land protection clauses of the Lancaster House
Agreement expired in 1990.

As part of the Lancaster House Agreement signed in London in 1979, a
land-reform program was established, under which land was to be purchased
from white farmers for redistribution to landless peasants on a "willing
seller, willing buyer" basis. Australia, Britain, France, the
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and the World Bank signed on to
provide funds for this program, as well as funds for development. Total
funds pledged for both amounted to $1.9 billion, but the land
redistribution program was so grossly mismanaged that most countries
withdrew their financial support in 1992.

In the first phase of the Land Reform Programme (1980-85) the Government
of Zimbabwe announced its intention to resettle 162 000 families on 10.5
million hectares of land within five years. By 1986, 3.4 million hectares
had been acquired at a cost of GBP 80 million, reducing the amount of
land under white ownership to 29 percent.

By 1996, the United Kingdom had contributed in terms of aid to Zimbabwe
GBP500 billion pounds since Independence. Of this total, GBP47 million
was targeted for land reform, and approximately GBP100 million was
budgetary support which should have been used for land reform. What
happened to all those funds? The UK Land Resettlement Grant closed down
with GBP3 million still unspent following the discovery of massive
corruption and the misuse of land resettlement funds.

The following criterion constitutes the noble Government of Zimbabwe
parameters by which all land was to be acquired:

i) Derelict land;

ii) Under-utilised land;

iii) Land owned by absentee landlords;

iv) Land from farmers with more than one farm or with oversized farms,
and

v) Land adjacent to communal areas. (However, if this was the only farm
of the farmer's possession and if the farmer wanted to continue farming,
he would be offered another farm).

These principles were discarded before implementation. The day after ZANU

(PF) lost the constitutional referendum, violent farm invasions
commenced.

The government had further stipulated maximum farm sizes for each
agro-ecological region as follows:

      Agro-ecological

      Region

     Small-Scale

      Commercial Farms(ha)

     Medium-Scale

      Commercial Farms(ha)

     Large-Scale

      Commercial Farms(ha)

      I

     20

     100

     250

      IIa

     30

     200

     350

      IIb

     40

     250

     400

      III

     60

     300

     500

      IV

     120

     700

     1500

      V

     240

     1 000

     2000

Today senior members of ZANU (PF) own multiple farms and are absentee
landlords; most of these properties are underutilised-hence Zimbabwe's
perennial food shortages.

By 1997, the end of phase one of the land reform and resettlement
program, the government had resettled 71 000 families (out of a targeted
162 000) on almost 3.5 million hectares of land. Close to 400 black
political acolytes leased 400 000 hectares of state land and about 350
black people had bought their farms.

In November 2002, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said the land-grab was
over. He said in total the government had seized 12 million hectares of
land from white farmers. In January 2006, Agriculture Minister Joseph
Made said Zimbabwe was considering legislation that would compel
commercial banks to finance blacks who had been allocated formerly
white-owned farmland in the land reforms. Made threatened local banks
with withdrawal of their banking licenses, should they fail to lend a
substantial portion of their income to these land occupiers.

The current fast track land reform programme in Zimbabwe is chaotic and
was fashioned as a political survival stratagem by ZANU (PF) designed to
appease a restive peasantry and to punish perceived enemies. Gradualist
land tenure reform that pays special attention to the legal status and
economic activities of women must also avoid arbitrary evictions of the
landless and ensure landholders invest in the land. Leaving things the
way they are is not a viable option, agrarian reform is an urgent
national endevour.

2010 Proposed agrarian reform roadmap:

  1.. All land must be converted into 50 year leaseholds.

  2.. Each commercial farmer must be allocated a group of communal
farmers

  whom the farmer assists with agronomic advice and expertise.

  3.. The farmers pay no corporate tax for the duration of the lease once

  the farmer has built a school, clinic and adequate housing on their
farm

  or collective community.

  4.. A fund, managed by the Revenue Authority, comprising of all civic

  stakeholders is inaugurated with the purpose of financing smallholder

  farmer development.

  5.. Young farmers are attached to farmers as understudies and included

  in tenant farming schemes run by the respective Farmers Associations.

  6.. Each Farmers Association is allocated additional state land under
trust

  which is eventually resurveyed and apportioned to new qualified
farmers.

Phil Matibe - www.madhingabucketboy.com

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4.  Chris Dunbar - Request for information

Dear Jag

With the current and continued disruptions to the farming community I
hope that this request is not an added burden.

I am hoping to visit and document as many of the old Portuguese
settlements, citrus groves that are scattered around Zimbabwe, more so to
the north of Harare.

I am particularly eager to visit the old church built in 1629 north of
Guruve.

I am asking for help in achieving this with grid references and local
knowledge, the National Monuments have helped to a degree but still need
some more specific locations.

Are you able to assist?

Thanks

Chris Dunbar

Foodstuffs Auckland

Retail Support - Produce

021 812 384

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5.  Request for information - Henk van Stokkom

Dear Jag

Through one of your readers I received this e-mail address.

 I am looking for more information on `Arriston' an exchange
quoted farm in Zimbabwe (I was told).

Do you have any information or can you point me somewhere on Internet
since I cannot find anything via Google.

Thanks for your help !

Best regards,

Henk J.Th. van Stokkom.

henk@vanstokkom.nl

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All letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions
of the submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for Agriculture.

Mugabe Marching Zimbabwe into Oblivion?

Even if you have not been paying attention to Zimbabwe lately, you were still bedazzled by the ongoing political drama. President Mugabe is confirming every low expectation the people of Zimbabwe have of him. In the end you were probably left wondering what the people of Zimbabwe should really do next;

 Defeat Mugabe to rebuild Zimbabwe, or rebuild Zimbabwe to defeat Mugabe?

Nothing succinctly sums up Zimbabweans’ quandary more than that. It’s not just the main opposition –MDC-T under siege by Mugabe, it’s the whole nation. It is a worrisome dilemma.

What happens if MDC continues to play fair and square, courteous and by the rules? It doesn’t matter; the cobra will still bite you whether you call it cobra or Mr Snake. Mugabe will always be Mugabe – the master of political deception.

Speaking of snakes, Mugabe is a snake oil salesman who knows how to handle African diplomacy (or more precisely – African dictatorship). Whenever there is a crisis (artificially created by him in the first place), he does not cringe. In spite of his casualness, he is quick to tell the world that the crisis is a Zimbabwean problem which Zimbabweans themselves must solve.

Of course ‘Zimbabweans’ refer to Mugabe and his kleptocrats. We all know the solution is State-sponsored violence, which is an integral part of Zanu PF existence.  The army, police and CIO have been a cohesive force of terrorizing the people of Zimbabwe and for cowing activists and the opposition into submission. In addition, the youth militias are not just a bunch of random thugs, they are on State payroll. Zanu PF believes in freedom of speech and nonviolence; but only for itself.

Mugabe’s stratagem zeros in on a dragging approach, no matter how much it costs the nation. Reports indicate that as SADC’s two-week deadline (requiring outstanding GPA issues to be addressed) looms, Mugabe has predictably done absolutely nothing to remedy his violations of GPA terms; Whether it’s reversing his arbitrary appointment of Zimbabwe’s most inept and thoroughly discredited Reserve Bank Governor in history –Gideon Gono, or removal of the excessively obsequious Attorney General, an enabler of Mugabe’s transgressions. Similarly, cessation of violence and restoration of rule of law remain a pie in the sky.

After all, how can Mugabe budge on the removal of AG Johannes Tomana given his critical ‘State assignments’ including the most recent one- to ‘convict’ Roy Bennett, regardless of the treason case’s hollowness? It is no coincidence that the judge in question has refused to recuse himself after massive conflict of interest was unearthed, otherwise the whole plot would have to be re-choreographed and its frivolity exposed.

With the same token, Gono bankrolls Mugabe’s ‘projects’ and stashes his cash in Asia. In any case he stands to resume his job as money-printing CEO as Mugabe intensifies efforts of resuscitating the Zimbabwe dollar. From their adulterated economic perspective which has long-ignored economics 101, the Zimbabwe dollar is necessary for economic activity which creates revenue (in hard currency) for the State. They need it to buy US dollars from the ‘market’. Of course today they have the audacity to perpetuate the grand delusion that sanctions caused Zimbabwe’s economic ruin.

What a nostalgic feeling they have for the black-market economy that created fly-by-night millionaires! People worry about hyperinflation and zeroes re-emerging? Well, “As monetary authorities” Gono, will make another guarantee as he did in July 2008; "This time, we will make sure that those zeros that would come knocking on the Governor's window will not return. They are going for good.” Did anyone believe that?

As you saw, after MDC dis-disengaged, Zimbabwe was temporarily but deceptively peaceful again in spite of scattered incidence of violence in the aftermath of SADC’s intervention (whose outcome is hardly consequential). For the umpteenth time, Zanu PF and the fringy MDC-M politicians told us how they now want to work in brotherhood for Zimbabwe’s sake. Mutambara’s gibberish must be ignored. It’s like taking the advice of the fox on how to protect chickens. The paradox of it all is that violence actually increased to include incarceration of activists and ZCTU leadership.

What looked like a promise of hope is suddenly morphing into a promise of peril. When the Global Political Agreement appended a National Healing and Reconciliation clause, many of us were convinced that it had effectively removed the liability of possible misapprehensions about future calls retribution. It is especially true considering the egregious human rights abuses committed by Mugabe and his ilk. The clause was a de facto amnesty for them.

But then again, at Independence Mugabe backpedalled on his own terms having pleaded with white Zimbabweans, imploring them to stand shoulder to shoulder with black people in building a strong Zimbabwe. As the possibility of Zimbabwe having an inclusive government was gathering momentum, far-fetched political punditry quickly predicted that Mugabe would welcome the opportunity to finally exit the political stage. They were wrong, Mugabe is drunk with power.

The problem is; even if Mugabe were to drop dead today, Zimbabwe’s political quagmire will not end. In fact it is likely to degenerate. Can you imagine what will happen given all the Zanu PF sharks jostling for power? Mugabe’s mess will be with us for some time, long after he is gone. He used it to further his politics of patronage. Mentioning succession planning is a mortal sin in Zanu PF.

 Mugabe made sure that every Zanu PF shark’s political future was entirely in his hands. Their promotion, demotion or excommunication depends on him. In a way he acts as the magnet that holds the party together.  His absence means an implosion and the demise of Zanu PF as we know it. In his absence it will take quite some time for Zanu PF to rediscover its mediocrity.

The problem is that Mugabe is surrounded by people of his mold. Consider Didymus Mutasa - the man cursed with the mind of Idi Amin, being one day at the helm of Zimbabwe one day, then you begin to see that Mugabe is a novice of a devil. His mind is genocidal. Not to mention other politicians in Zanu PF, the Army and CIO. Zanu PF relies on thugs for intellectual guidance.

“We would be better off with only 6 million people, with our own people who supported the liberation struggle. We don’t want these extra people,” said Didymus in 2002. (What a cool name!)

But there are also many pieces to the ever confounding imbroglio; it’s not just the political duplicity that is affecting people, it’s also the emotional toll Mugabe is exacting on Zimbabweans. We have an entire generation whose lives have been shattered. Political violence and lawlessness are still rampant.

South Africa has gained immensely from Zimbabwe’s troubles; cheap labour, extension of South Africa’s markets as Zimbabwe became a de facto province of South Africa. The most unsettling being the emigration of most of Zimbabwe’s best brains. Can you imagine individuals like Strive Masiyiwa, Mutumwa Mawere, Mthuli Ncube, etc, making South Africa their permanent home and nearly giving up their birthrights due to political persecution? But of course, it’s a scenario preferred by Zimbabwe’s politicians. The majority of colleagues I went to University with (in Zimbabwe)have resettled in South Africa.

As xenophobic attacks spiked again this week, many of us were reminded of the evils of Mugabe regime. These attacks are a result of Mugabe-induced displacements of our brothers and sisters. In fact I observed a moment of silence at the sight of the suffering, seeing mothers carrying kids on their backs running away from marauding xenophobes raring to kill as they did last year in Johannesburg. They are being brutally attacked by fellow black South Africans. Zuma must be ashamed of his dithering.

It takes politicians with no hearts to afford a nap when your own people are in such destitution, sleeping in foxholes yet you have the audacity to say we are independent. These are Zimbabweans who have run away from Mugabe and his thugs. Like most of us, we are not in the Diaspora because we want to be here, we are here because of Mugabe. The day that he becomes harmless, we will go back (quickly).

 Pretoria has also amassed massive political capital. Isn’t if fun acting king-maker and then peacemaker? In the article “Indictment of Thabo Mbeki” (September 2008) I wrote “The true barometer of the success of his so-called ‘quiet diplomacy’ and “African solutions” should have resulted in the long-overdue departure of the octogenarian dictator.” Mugabe lost an election, Mbeki rewarded him. If SADC and the African Union had stood up to Mugabe, Zimbabwe would never be such a pariah.

As usual, Mugabe bullies them. On June 26 2008, as the African Union Summit in Egypt was gathering momentum, Mugabe threatened African leaders to stay out of the Zimbabwe crisis stating; “I know some people are gearing themselves for an attack on Zimbabwe. I want to see any country which will raise its finger in the AU, our elections have been free.” But it was the same Mugabe who earlier issued a fatwa that a ‘mere X’ remove him.

While in Rome this week, Mugabe sputtered in feigned rage (as per trademark), the equivalent of ‘f-bomb’ tirades against the West. Pulling spectacular tantrums, Mugabe attacked the "neocolonialist enemies’ for blocking Zimbabwe’s access to world food markets. What an oddity! Markets for maize? The last time Zimbabwe exported food was before the self-destructive farm seizures back in 2000. Of course it’s convenient now just to heap scorn on other nations for our failures.

Zimbabwe’s struggles have to do with at least meeting subsistence threshold. Isn’t there a looming widespread drought as before? Unless the same ‘neocolonialist enemies’ through their NGO’s come to our help with food just as they did to stop the cholera hemorrhage, people will die.

Maybe Mugabe was referring to international markets sanctioned against Gono’s Flowers or milk exports from his wife’s Gushungo Farms recently. Now we know that sanctions are biting them (in their behind!). How many children are going hungry or are malnourished in Zimbabwe who desperately need that milk? If these people were patriotic enough and really sensitive to the people’s plight, shouldn’t they feed the hungry given the multiple farms they now have? A recent report indicated that nearly half of Zimbabwe’s children are malnourished while thirty percent suffer from diseases related to nutrition deficiencies.

It’s about them and their sons and daughters, nephews and nieces. That explains why they are resisting Zimbabwe’s democratization so vehemently. This week, the Swiss government seized assets worth US$350 million belonging to Abba Abacha, one of Sani Abacha’s three sons. US$700 that was stashed in Swiss Banks has already been returned to Nigeria by Swiss authorities. It is part of the US$2.2 billion looted by Nigeria’s former President Abacha, a vicious dictator. The moral of the story is that after all the misery he caused to his people (including hanging Ken Saro-Wiwa) , HE DIED. Someday, Zimbabwe’s day of reckoning is also coming.

The irony of sanctions is really underwhelming and largely misunderstood. Zanu PF will continue to feign moral outrage and instigate violence to prevent the lifting of sanctions and then turn around to criticize MDC for not lifting sanctions. That will give them an excuse for not doing anything. In other words even constitutional overhaul will move forward if sanctions are removed otherwise it’s the Kariba Draft. Even UN cannot enter Zimbabwe to assess human rights situation unless sanctions are removed. But clearly these are targeted sanctions. For Zanu PF no issue, big or small, is immune to political exploitation.

It’s like the US Republican Party which has openly declared that it wants President Obama to fail.You can see how Republican lawmakers consistently oppose every bill no matter how good it is for the country.

So is Zimbabwe marching into total oblivion? That’s an overstatement. We have a democratically elected Prime Minister with very high approval from the vast majority of Zimbabweans. In spite of all the life threatening machinations presented by Mugabe et al, he remains fully competent to lead (with grace). As embodied in its illustrious and distinguished Speaker of Parliament -Honorable Lovemore Moyo, Zimbabwe Parliament is bleeding with talent. There are many capable men and women who should be forcefully moving Zimbabwe’s reform agenda forward instead of ‘being away on leave.’

This is not an attempt to sell a narrative that MDC should get a free pass. But people have to understand what MDC(T) is dealing with. It’s very easy to blame MDC for the impasse -a common phenomenon I always find ridiculous from all facets, especially from those unbothered about the reality of the birth pains of democratic transition or undoing Zimbabwe’s 29-year old dictatorship. Zimbabwe’s choices are limited. What about China promising Zimbabwe US$8 billion? Well, looks like China owns everybody these days (US debt to China is over $1 trillion). But remember Chinese Money – Zimbabwe’s Ultimate Catch 22. (www.nationalvision.wordpress.com)

Of course MDC needs a new aggressive strategy in dealing with Mugabe and a better job of expectation management. For example, the recent passage of Finance Reform Bill, that partly incapacitates Gono from running the Reserve Bank as Gonomugabe Incorporated is a commendable achievement. It’s a product of hard work at the Biti-led Finance Ministry. Amnesty clause is no big deal; it’s about moving the country forward. Likewise other Ministries like Home Affairs and Information can also push vigorously for such kinds of reforms. These constitute pressing national priorities.

In the province of diplomacy, MDC’s going back to SADC and AU – the GPA guarantors, is a necessary exercise even though the results come in dribs and drabs. With the world in turmoil and economies constipated globally, no one really cares about the Zimbabwe situation. It’s a long march for change. But Zimbabwe heal thyself, the emperor has no clothes!

============

Dr Paul Mutuzu

nvinstitute@aol.com

www.nationalvision.wordpress.com

Mugabe to go it alone?

The tempo of events in Zimbabwe continue to gather pace - and all of it has
a more serious nature than happenings of late.

Which begs the question: What is Robert Gabriel Mugabe up to?

He continues to prosecute the MDC for all and sundry - and then he also has
other possible MDC sympathisers arrested on bogus charges, and he shows no
sign of relenting.

Roy Bennett's trial continues as I write, and it is apparent that the
prosecutor in this case - none other than the unilaterally appointed
Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana - is somewhat floored by the strength of
the defence case. Tomana also slipped up by presuming a ruling by the
sitting judge, and had the temerity to question it with a comment: "We didn't
expect that ruling."

Not that long ago, a State prosecutor was sentenced to five days
imprisonment for making a rude noise at a ruling by the judge.

Tomana was not disciplined for that comment, but we begin to wonder if the
Bennett trail is not working to a pre-written script. Justice in Zimbabwe is
an elusive matter.

We also read of how seven students at the Great Zimbabwe University were
arrested for 'conducting an illegal meeting' and that then swiftly changed
to charges concerning the presence of an illegal weapon.

A security detail within the President's unit has been sentenced to twenty
months imprisonment for attempting to sell ammunition - at US$10 a round. (I
wonder whether the imprisonment was gauged on the actual intent, or for the
audacious price asked per round.)

There has been much written about the deadline given by the SADC summit to
resolve the outstanding issues - although ZANU PF have denied that a
deadline was given, and we see that Mugabe is not in an rush to have the
situation sorted out, primarily because that resolution would require him to
concede some more power and position to the MDC.

He also attended the food summit in Rome this last week - with a entourage
of some 60 people - and really needed to be in Zimbabwe to oversee the
negotiations. But since there were no negotiations, his presence would have
been negated.

Did he have prior knowledge that nothing would be tabled or discussed while
he was away?

There has been talk that Mugabe is entirely disinterested in any
negotiations or discussions between his party and the two MDC bodies, and we
also are aware of the temperature within the various political circles is
heating up.

More and more ZANU PF head honchos are telling the world that they are not
finished and that they will 'be back' with more verve and vigour. Didymus
Mutasa told ABC that ZANU PF have as good as won the next election - even
though we are not aware, as yet, of any date of that election.

ZANU PF have already started the operation that they call 'voter education'
which is a misnomer for exercising their will over the potential MDC voter
base.

Even though the three political parties are obliged to live up to the two
agreements signed last year, very little has been lived up to by ZANU PF.

Their hate speech has taken on a new level, voter intimidation has increased
in measure, the prosecution of MDC MPs and their supporters continue
unabated - whilst the MDC can do very little in their own defence.

The MDC is a party borne of the need for DEMOCRATIC change and therefore
will not cross the line into crime and violence. For this reason they leave
themselves vulnerable.

Is Mugabe intending to abandon any pretence of a unity government and
establish a pro-Mugabe police State? Indications on the ground would suggest
that this is a probability more than a possibility.

And with Mugabe upping the ante with relative ease, we await the next ZANU
PF audacious action.

So let's be careful out there!

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man

http://mandebvhu.instablogs.com/entry/mugabe-to-go-it-alone/