South Africa's Zuma Sending High-Powered Team to Harare to Promote Accord

Pretoria sources said the team to be sent to Harare by President Jacob Zuma includes trusted lieutenants who are "as tough as nails"

Blessing Zulu | Washington 25 November 2009

South Africa is expected to send a high powered delegation to Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday in a bit to inject urgency into talks among partners in the troubled power-sharing government on resolving longstanding contentious issues.

Talks among ZANU-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations opened on Monday, well after a deadline of 15 days following a November 5 meeting in Mozambique of the Southern African Development Community's troika or committee on politics, defense and security.

Informed sources said talks were still held up by bickering and a bloated agenda.

The sources said ZANU-PF, supported by the MDC formation of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, wanted talks to address the issue of so-called pirate radio stations broadcasting to the country from outside its borders, such as Washington-based Studio 7 from the Voice of America and London based Short-Wave Radio Africa, urging Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to halt their broadcasts.

The MDC has stated that it is not in a position to control broadcasts from outside Zimbabwe.  

Sources in Pretoria said the South African team to be sent to Harare by President Jacob Zuma, a key facilitator of the talks, includes trusted lieutenants who are "as tough as nails."

The team is headed by Charles Nqacula, a political adviser to Mr. Zuma and a former defense minister. It also includes Mac Maharaj, a former minister of transport and hero of South Africa's anti-Apartheid struggle, and presidential foreign policy adviser Lindiwe Zulu, a former ambassador.

Pretoria sources say the appointments signal the end of former South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts in Harare. Though Mr. Mbeki was instrumental in bringing about the September 2008 Global Political Agreement underpinning power-sharing in Harare, he was often criticized for his "quiet diplomacy" approach to President Robert Mugabe, seen as impervious to such persuasion even from peers.

Zuma spokesman Vincent Magwenya told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu that the team will help the South African president fulfill his SADC mandate to help the Harare power-sharing partners achieve a lasting accord.

London based political analyst Msekiwa Makwanya said Mr. Zuma's robust approach is likely to yield better results in Harare than Mr. Mbeki's low-key style which some saw as too deferential to Mr. Mugabe as a senior regional leader.

Mr. Mbeki stepped down as South African president following a revolt in the ruling African National Congress led by partisans of Mr. Zuma who accused Mr. Mbeki of pushing corruption charges against Mr. Zuma, who was also perceived as a more populist leader than his predecessor.

Zuma appoint new Zimbabwe team

http://www.iol.co.za

    November 25 2009 at 07:16PM

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday appointed a new team to
monitor Zimbabwe's troubled unity government accord, ending former president
Thabo Mbeki's mediation role, his office said.

"As part of the evaluation process, the facilitation team will be visiting
Zimbabwe at a date to be announced," presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya
said.

"Former president Thabo Mbeki's role was in the context of him being the
head of state," Magwenya has said.

Mbeki, who stood down as president in September 2008, led a team of
mediators who brokered the power-sharing deal signed by President Robert
Mugabe and his long-term rival Morgan Tsvangirai who became prime minister.

The unity government formed in February this year has been fraught with
power struggles, which saw Tsvangirai boycott it for three weeks in October.

The stand-off was later resolved by regional leaders at a special summit in
Mozambique.

"The facilitation team will soon engage with the parties as emissaries of
the president, and report back to him," said the statement.

GPA negotiators change venue to dodge prying eyes

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
25 November 2009

Talks aimed at finding a lasting solution to the country's shaky inclusive
government are being held in total secrecy, at undisclosed venues in Harare.

To ensure privacy the negotiators from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations
are changing venues daily, to dodge the 'prying eyes and ears' of local and
international media.

A source in Harare told us the negotiators were planning to meet the whole
day on Wednesday, after they broke off talks early on Tuesday to attend
cabinet. However negotiations resumed later Tuesday evening.

'On Monday and Tuesday the negotiators met, but not for long periods. But
today (Wednesday) they will meet from morning till late in the evening. My
guess is they're rushing to meet the SADC deadline,' our source said.

Although the latest dialogue has failed to meet the first SADC mandated
timeline of 15 days, the negotiators have expressed optimism the talks won't
exceed the 30 day deadline set by SADC, which falls on 6th December.

There is also clear frustration at the lack of transparency and progress so
far. Political analyst Gabriel Shumba warned that this current phase of
talks is expected to be tough, since it ventures into proper power-sharing,
which is at the crux of the dispute. Although many analysts express concern
and amazement that real power sharing was not at the heart of the agreement
from day one.

'What is extremely worrying to most of us now is lack of any information
coming from the talks. This exclusionary approach to rebuilding Zimbabwe can
only spell doom if the fate of the country is decided only by six
individuals,' Shumba said. He added that it was possible to understand the
logic behind the secrecy of the exact details, because of fears that outside
influences can impact negatively on the negotiations.

'But that should not stop them from briefing the media on a daily basis or
weekly basis. There should be transparency during these talks. Ideally they
should call a press conference where they must allow input from Zimbabweans
through interaction with journalists,' Shumba added.

During the Lancaster House talks that brought about the country's
independence from the British, negotiations were not held under the glare of
television cameras, but the process was held in an atmosphere of some
transparency.
At the end of each day the main representatives of the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian
delegation, led by Ian Smith and Bishop Abel Muzorewa of the UANC, and ZANU
PF and PF ZAPU representing Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, each called a press
conference where journalists were briefed on the proceedings of the day.
ZANU PF and the MDC are still deeply divided over a number of issues,
especially Mugabe's powers to unilaterally appoint senior government
officials like the Attorney-General and the Reserve Bank governor.

A SADC ministerial team that assessed the implementation of the GPA last
month recommended that Gono be 'reassigned', in order to solve one of the
thorny disputes in the unity government.

Bennett's Trial Under Scrutiny

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, November 26, 2009 - South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal Judge
Azhar Cachalia is visiting Zimbabwe to observe the ongoing trial of Deputy
Agriculture Minister Designate Roy Bennett, who is charged with plotting
acts of terrorism in the country.

 Image

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), which is an international
non-governmental organisation comprising sixty of the world's most eminent
jurists dedicated to the primacy, coherence and implementation of
international law and principles that advance human rights, said Justice
Cachalia observation of the trial will assist the ICJ to evaluate the
fairness of the trial of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's top aide.

"Justice Cachalia's experience will therefore be invaluable in assisting the
ICJ to come to a conclusion on the fairness or otherwise of the Bennett
trial process" said Martin Masiga, the senior legal adviser at the ICJ
Africa Programme.

Bennett is charged with the possession of weapons with the intention to
commit sabotage, terrorism, banditry and insurgency.

He had earlier been charged with treason but this was dropped.

"The trial of Roy Bennett is significant as Zimbabwe goes through its
transitional phase because serious allegations of executive use or misuse of
the justice system to persecute legitimate opposition to it have been made,"
said Masiga.

The ICJ said the question as to whether the trial of Roy Bennett is in good
faith at all or is politically motivated continues to overshadow his trial.

"The handling of what to charge Bennett with and the failure to explain the
multiple changes in charges against him raised suspicion. The issuing of
summons and/or arrest of some the lawyers defending Roy Bennett and his
potential witnesses deepened the suspicions," the ICJ said.

The State has exhibited rare zeal in matters of criminal prosecution when
the Attorney General Johannes Tomana personally appeared in court to
prosecute the case against Bennett.

Justice Cachalia who is a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa
has had a distinguished career as a lawyer and judge.

He has over the years developed expertise as a judge in dealing with
evidence alleged to have been obtained unlawfully through torture for
example in the celebrated precedent setting case of Mthembu v The State
(64/2007) [2008] ZASCA 51 (10 April 2008).

Justice Cachalia has previously visited Malaysia in 2002 as part of a
delegation from the Joseph R.Crawley Program in International Human Rights
at Fordham Law School, which undertook a study of that country's Internal
Security Act.

More recently he visited Cairo at the invitation of Freedom House to
examine, among other things, the impact of the ongoing state of emergency in
Egypt on democratic opposition in that country.

Another witness in Bennett trial exposes more inconsistencies

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
25 November 2009

The trial of Roy Bennett, the MDC senior official accused of trying to
overthrow the Mugabe regime, continued on Wednesday with the cross
examination of another state witness, Superintendent Arnold Zorodzai
Dhliwayo. Journalists covering the terrorism case of the MDC's Deputy
Minister of Agriculture designate say the statements made by the state
witnesses expose even more holes in this controversial trial.

Bennett is accused of conspiring with Peter Michael Hitschmann, a registered
firearms dealer, to acquire weapons to 'eliminate' government officials.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa said that just like the first
State witness, Dhliwayo's testimony was full of inconsistencies and
contradictions. The first State witness was lead police investigator Chief
Superintendent James Makone, who told the court that Dhliwayo had recorded
all the weapons found at Hitschmann's house.

But Muchemwa said Dhliwayo contradicted Makone's testimony, saying he only
noted about half the weapons, as anything that might explode was left in the
hands of military experts. This showed that the 'firearms' could have been
tampered with by the military, who took over the investigations at an army
barracks in Mutare when Hitschmann was arrested in 2006.

Muchemwa said most of the evidence Dhliwayo gave created laughter in the
court as he contradicted statements made by the previous witness. He was
also constantly caught off guard and seemed unable to answer any of the
questions properly. Observers say there was often a clear indication that he
may have been coached to lie, on behalf of the Attorney General's Office.

Makone had on Monday also revealed in court that he had not yet completed
the investigations which resulted in the defence team, led by Beatrice
Mtetwa, saying the whole case against her client is based on 'false
evidence.'

Bennett himself told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that the trial was an
absolute 'farce and a joke'. He also said it would appear the State was
using delaying tactics to prolong the duration of the trial. He said he also
feared the trial could take several months, in spite of the fact that the
State has so far failed to link him in any way to a plot to overthrow Robert
Mugabe.

Muchemwa said because of the numerous breaks being taken in-between the
court sessions, the cross examination of Dhliwayo continues on Thursday.

Negotiators haggle in marathon session

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25348

November 24, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Talks aimed at resolving Zimbabwe's protracted political crisis
finally started in Harare Monday afternoon with the three parties in
government haggling over their differences for nearly half a day.

After missing the first 15 day deadline set by the SADC Troika in Mozambique
early this month, the parties started their talks at 12pm on Monday and
adjourned at 11pm.

SADC gave the parties 15 days and no further than 30 days to resolve their
disputes.

All the six negotiators were present while and there were no additional
persons in the negotiations.

According to Industry and Commerce minister, Professor Welshman Ncube, the
talks were set to resume Tuesday.

They will run every day until the negotiating parties satisfy themselves
they have exhausted all the outstanding issues raised by the MDC and Zanu-PF
as per the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the SADC communiqué in South
Africa in January this year.

Ncube, secretary general of the smaller MDC faction led by Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara said the parties would not be pressured by the
dates set by SADC.

"The 30 days set by the Troika is a timeframe for the facilitator to report
the status of the talks and give whatever guidance he wants to give but we
are certainly not guided by any deadline. We have never done that and we
will never do it," he said.

Ncube said there was no renewed acrimony among the parties during Monday
talks.

"You are talking about people who have been negotiating for the past two or
more years. There was nothing unusual whatsoever," he said.

He further said there is nothing that has changed in the manner in which
they have been conducting their talks even after the Troika summit in Maputo
passed what sounded like an ultimatum on the feuding parties.

He said the negotiators will not be making any regular reports on the
progress of the talks to their principals unless they ask for reports.

He also said South African President and facilitator in the talks has not
informed them on his visit to assess the progress of the talks.

While the public acrimony has been between the mainstream MDC and Zanu-PF,
Ncube said his MDC party also has its own demands on the fulfilment of the
GPA,

"We are fighting for ourselves," he said. "We have issues of our own. The
fact that we are not masters at playing politics, grandstanding or
defections does not mean we have no issues.

"We have our issues and lots of those issues which are in the public domain,
We have issues about provincial governors, issues about themedia and so
forth."

As usual, Zanu-PF is being represented by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa
and Transport Minister Nicholas Goche while the MDC party led by Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is represented by Finance Minister Tendai Biti
and Elton Mangoma, minister responsible for investment promotion.

The smaller faction of the MDC is represented by Ncube and Priscilla
Miscihairabwi Mushonga, in charge of regional integration.

The MDC seeks the reversal of all unilateral appointments of Zanu-PF
loyalists by President Robert Mugabe which were made after the signing of
the GPA in September last year.

They include those of the Attorney General, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
governor, provincial governors and ambassadors.

The MDC also wants its treasurer general Roy Bennett, who is currently being
tried for terrorism, to be unconditionally sworn into his position as deputy
minister of agriculture.

It is also seeking a stop to continued invasions on productive farms by
Zanu-PF supporters, state media bias against it, the failure by the National
Security Council to meet regularly and the continued arrest of its activists
on spurious.

Zanu-PF also wants the MDC to unequivocally commit itself to making calls
for the lifting of western imposed targeted sanctions on its officials and
businesses and the demolition of the so-called parallel government
structures which it claims Tsvangirai is forming.

US$15bn for new Zim recovery programme

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Lizwe Sebatha Thursday 26 November 2009

BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe requires more than US$15 billion to finance its latest
economic recovery programme, a figure nearly double the US$8 billion Harare
failed to raise for a short term recovery programme announced weeks after
the administration came into office.

Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma said US$15.8 billion five-year
Medium Term Plan (MTP) would be launched next January to the replace the
Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) that was launched in March
and expires in December

"As the government, we are presently setting policies that will promote
investment by the private sector to ensure financing of this programme. One
of the policies is to ensure that public-private sector partnerships play a
crucial role in the implementation of the MTP," Mangoma told ZimOnline.

But Mangoma did not say how exactly the government would raise funds for its
latest recovery programme especially after problems it encountered trying to
mobilise donor and investor support for the STERP.

The STERP was expected to stabilise the economy and lay the basis of a
mid-to-long term recovery programme. While the economy has stabilized, the
STERP has largely fizzled out after key Western donor governments and
multilateral institutional declined to bankroll the programme demanding more
political reforms.

Zimbabwe's coalition government - that President Robert Mugabe and Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to form only because of pressure from
southern African leaders - is seen as offering the country its best
opportunity in years to turn around its economy after a decade of severe
recession.

But analysts remain skeptical about the government's long-term
effectiveness, citing unending squabbles between Mugabe's ZANU PF and
Tsvangirai's MDC parties and refusal by rich Western countries to provide
financial support. - ZimOnline

Zim inflation now 0.8 percent

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Own Correspondent Thursday 26 November 2009

HARARE - Zimbabwe's monthly inflation for October has increased to 0.8
percent, gaining 1.3 percentage points on the September rate of -0.5
percent, the government Central Statistical Office (CSO) announced
Wednesday.

"This (inflation increase) means that prices as measured by the all items
Consumer Price Index increased by an average of 0.8 percent from September
2009 to October 2009," the CSO said.

Month on month food inflation and non-alcoholic beverages inflation stood at
0.31 percent in October after gaining 1.51 percentage points on the
September rate of 1.2 percent.

During the period under review, month on month non-food inflation stood at
1.03 percent, gaining 1.23 percentage points on the September rate of -0.2
percent.

Zimbabwe no longer calculates it's inflation basing on the local currency
after shelving it's use in March this year in favour of the American dollar
alongside a basket of foreign currencies for all trade. - ZimOnline

Diamond processing plant at the airport

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25359

November 25, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - The government has set up a diamond processing plant at the Harare
International Airport for purposes of processing the raw mineral from the
Marange diamond fields in Manicaland, sources say.

The plant is located on the domestic airport terminal at the Harare
International Airport .

A South African registered company Grandwell Holdings, which uses the trade
name Mbada Investments, owns the plant.

Our sources say the company has links to senior army and Zanu-PF officials.

"They have set up base at the airport," said the source, "that's where they
are processing the diamonds and sending them straight thereafter to buyers
outside the country."

Currently about 2000 hectares of Chiadzwa diamond fields are being exploited
for diamonds. Truckloads of alluvial diamonds are taken to Harare everyday.

"About 3000 diamond carats are mined everyday at the Chiadzwa diamond
fields," said the source. "These are transported everyday to the Harare
airport processing plant.

"Currently there are four companies mining diamonds at Chiadzwa, extracting
diamonds at 30 000 cubic metre level but with the new equipment coming in,
they shall be mining up to 100 000 cubic metres going down by year end."

An official from Mbada Investments confirmed Monday that they had
established the plant and were preparing to lay a runway for aircraft that
would transport diamonds from Chiadzwa.

"We are in the process of laying a runway to make sure that diamonds from
Chiadzwa can be flown to Harare, and we have made sure that a diamond
processing facility is in place in Harare," said Robert Mhlanga, a board
member of Mbada Investments while addressing a ministerial taskforce team
for Chiadzwa in Harare Tuesday.

The Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Obert Mpofu, however, denied
the existence of such processing company at the airport when contacted for a
comment.

"We are serious and we are not going to be derailed by people saying what
they want," said Mpofu. "We are moving ahead and we want the minerals to
benefit our people.

"Don't listen to what the people say. Listen to the official position."

Elton Mangoma, the Minister of Economic Planning, said the government was
working on a plan that would see 60 percent of diamonds mined in the country
being processed locally.

"I do know that there is a company that has been given a diamond processing
licence and it is a respectable one led by an experienced team of people,"
said Mangoma. "I just don't have the name with me here.

"We want to have a situation where 60 percent of diamonds mined locally are
processed, polished and packaged here. We want diamonds to be a blessing to
our people not a curse."

Although the entire Chiadzwa diamond fields cover 67 000 hectares stretching
to Mutambara communal lands, only 2000 hectares are being mined at the
moment.

The 2000 hectares have been heavily fortified by a security fence and
private security details brought in by the mining companies that have moved
into Chiadzwa.

Members of the Zimbabwe National Army and police, accused of killing
hundreds of people during last year's infamous operation to flush out
illegal diamond miners, are said to be gradually withdrawing from the
diamond fields.

But sources say they are only moving out of mining claims that have been
allocated to mining companies.

Mpofu stands accused of not floating a tender to select prospective
investors to partner the government in diamond extraction in the Marange
Diamond Fields amid allegations he overlooked better equipped and
experienced diamond miners.

He is said to have cherry-picked Canadile Investments and Mbada Minerals
without going to tender. But sources say serious political considerations
where taken into consideration.

Candile Mine, Mbada Mines, Grandwell and Core Mining Minerals are mining in
Chiadzwa in a partnership with Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation
(ZMDC).

The sources said most companies from the western countries that were pushing
for the country's suspension from the Kimberly Process were excluded.

About 4 800 families will soon be moved to a relocation farm in Nyazura in
an operation that is expected to start soon.

There are, however, reports that the families were resisting the relocation
because they were not sure if they were going to get proper housing and
other infrastructure such as schools and clinics.

Others are complaining that they were not consulted in the planning stages
of the relocation while others want to be given free seed and fertiliser
that they were promised as part of the relocation package.

Mangoma said the government was working on the best plan possible to
humanely relocate people from Chiadzwa.

"We are taking the issue of relocation seriously and we would want people's
human rights to be respected," said Mangoma.

ZCTU say police shooting inquiry should be led by Parliament

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
25 November 2009

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on Parliament to
lead an inquiry into the police shooting of striking workers at Shabanie
Mine. In September riot police shot and injured 3 workers at the mine,
following a demonstration by over 2000 of them over unpaid salaries.

Co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa announced last week that a board of
inquiry would be set up to investigate and that police Commissioner
Augustine Chihuri would be required to recommend people to a board that
would carry out the probe.
Not surprisingly this has failed to placate the union, who want an
independent body to deal with the matter. Acting ZCTU Secretary General
Japhet Moyo argued that 'the involvement of these figures is tantamount to
them handpicking people to investigate their conduct. Our calls for an
inquiry did not border on the shootings alone, but the ZCTU also wanted
circumstances leading to workers not being paid since January 2009, probed.'
Even after the shooting incident mine management proceeded to harass and
intimidate workers, while scores were summarily dismissed. Moyo said
although the ZCTU welcomed the inquiry only Parliament could ensure a
'wholesome approach to the matter' and probe both the shooting and
management of the mine.
Shabanie Mine was seized from businessman Mutumwa Mawere using controversial
anti-corruption legislation in 2004. The government claimed his companies
owed the state huge sums of money, something Mawere has vigorously
challenged in court. Since then the administrators have been accused of
asset stripping and running down the mine. The non-payment of workers
salaries is said to be one of the symptoms of the rot that has set in at the
company.
Meanwhile the mine shooting is one of many incidents that have highlighted
the trigger happy nature of the police force. In August 2001 heavily armed
riot police and soldiers shot into a crowd of 4000 workers who were on
strike at the state owned Ziscosteel iron and steel company. Three workers,
Samuel Masiyatsva, Never Daniels and Joshua Zimbwa died instantly, another
two succumbed to injuries later on, while 22 others were seriously injured.
The ZCTU wrote to Mugabe demanding the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry
into the shootings but nothing was done. The union accused Ziscosteel of
trivializing the shooting and not doing anything to have it investigated.
But because of pressure from the Iron and Steel Workers Union of Zimbabwe
and the widow of Masiyatsva, who took the matter to court, a High Court
judge later ruled in their favour during a compensation claim.
The court ordered the Zimbabwe National Army and Commissioner of police to
compensate her. Highlighting the impunity and scorn for the law Raymond
Zvoushe, the army officer who shot Masiyatsva through the back of the head,
did not even bother to turn up for the trial.

 

SA farmers threaten legal action over new investment pact with Zim

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
25 November 2009

The imminent signing of a new bilateral investment protection treaty (BIPPA)
between Zimbabwe and South Africa could be halted, if an application in the
Pretoria High Court on behalf of more than 200 farmers proves successful on
Thursday.

The BIPPA, which is set to be signed this weekend at an investment
conference in Harare, controversially excludes protection on all South
African owned land expropriated by the government during the so-called land
'reform' programme. The agreement itself has not yet been made public, but
South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies recently revealed that
the agreement will only provide security for South African investors in any
sector, including agriculture, 'from now on'. He added, in an interview with
South African newspaper Business Day, that it would have been impossible to
negotiate this agreement with a 'retrospective clause', with regards to
expropriated land.

244 South African farmers, whose land was seized during Robert Mugabe's
chaotic land grab campaign, are now threatening legal action for being
excluded from the investment pact. Lawyers representing the farmers, as well
as South Africa pressure group AfriForum, are now set to file an application
in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, to have the signing of the agreement
halted.

The farmers are being led by Louis Fick, who is still in the middle of a
land wrangle with Zimbabwe's deputy Reserve Bank governor Edward
Mashiringwani. Fick, a South African citizen, has received absolutely no
assistance from his own government, despite being forced off his land,
threatened, intimidated and harassed. Mashiringwani and his hired thugs
meanwhile have completely taken over the farm, by force, operating with
total impunity.

Fick is one of more than 70 farmers who were awarded legal protection of
their land through the human rights court of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) last year. The SADC Tribunal ruled that the
farmers had been unlawfully deprived of their property and that the
Zimbabwean government should restore their rights or compensate them. But
the ruling has been completely ignored, and the Tribunal itself snubbed by
the government, which has been charged with contempt. SADC meanwhile,
including former chair South Africa, has made no comment about the snub,
which included Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa announcing Zimbabwe was
pulling out of the Tribunal.

South African farming union Agri-SA said such silence, particularly from the
South African government, would amount to 'retrospective approval' of the
Mugabe regime's unlawful actions. The group has expressed its concern about
the investment pact, insisting that victims of the land grab campaign be
included. The group last week urged the South African government "not to
buckle under pressure" from Zimbabwe to exclude the land 'reform' programme
from the agreement.

The BIPPA, if signed, effectively immunises the government from facing any
legal prosecution for sanctioning the illegal takeover of land. The
agreement too is set to badly damage South Africa's reputation, as the South
African government will be allowing Zimbabwe to flout the SADC treaty that
both countries are party to. Most concerning is that South Africa will be
contravening its own Constitution, by not protecting the rights of its
citizens whose land was seized in Zimbabwe.

A legal opinion on the proposed BIPPA, produced by Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett
for Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers Union, highlights these concerns.
Gauntlett writes that the investment pact "constitutes a breach of South
Africa's legal obligations," adding that the agreement "purports to immunise
Zimbabwe from its international law liabilities." Gauntlett concludes that
by entering into the agreement, South Africa "would act contrary to the
principles of the SADC Treaty and other international instruments, and in
violation of the South African Constitution, and may in law be interdicted
against doing so."

No extra money to pay invigilators as exams start a month late

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
25 November 2009

The Education Ministry has announced it does not have the extra money to pay
special incentives to exam invigilators, as the 2009 exam period is set to
get underway a month late, on Thursday.

The announcement was made by Education Minister David Coltart on Tuesday in
Harare, where he urged teachers to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure
the exam period runs smoothly. Teachers' unions earlier this month said
their members wanted compensation for the 14 'extra days' they will be
working, given exams will still be written after schools officially close on
December 4. The public exams begin on Thursday and the final paper will be
written on December 18.

Public examinations were originally scheduled for last month, but were
postponed mainly due to a strike by workers at the exams council, ZIMSEC,
who were demanding salary increases from US$115 to US$400. The strike was
later called off after a meeting of ZIMSEC management and workers in which
they were promised salary increases up to US$270 per month. The exams were
finally rescheduled to start this week, more than a month late.

The Reserve Bank last year paid invigilators allowances as 'incentives' for
them to supervise the writing of examinations, and this trend was widely
believed to continue this year. Last week, the teachers wrote to the
Education Ministry threatening to boycott invigilating examinations if no
allowances were paid.
Minister Coltart explained to SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that such
incentives cannot be paid by the Ministry, saying sacrifices 'for the sake
of the children' will need to be made. He acknowledged that "this is not
going to be a perfectly run process," lamenting the already badly damaged
public confidence in ZIMSEC and the education sector.

"We have been trying to restore confidence in ZIMSEC and our Ministry but
that has been difficult with the numerous issues ZIMSEC has raised," Coltart
said.

He explained that only one teachers' union, the Progressive Teachers Union
of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), has so far agreed to ensure that invigilators are
available through the exam period.
"I am quite hopeful that the other unions will follows suit, but I am
waiting with baited breath," Coltart said.

 

Let’s prevent election violence repeat: ZANU PF

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Simplicious Chirinda Thursday 26 November 2009

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s political parties should act now to prevent recurrence
of election violence that last year left at least 200 supporters of the then
opposition MDC party dead, a senior official of President Robert Mugabe’s
ZANU PF party said on Wednesday.

ZANU PF secretary for women’s affairs Oppah Muchinguri said: “I am worried
about what happened last year. We have to put a safety net and make sure
that the violence that happened last year does not happen again.”

Muchinguri, who was speaking at the launch in Harare of a gender report by
the Women in Politics Support Network, said political parties should start
campaigning against political violence now and not wait for election time.

Zimbabwe is expected to hold fresh elections either at the end of 2010 or in
early 2011 once a new constitution is put in place and that is expected to
pave way for free and fair polls.

But human rights groups say ZANU PF and members of the fiercely pro-Mugabe
security forces are committing violence in some parts of the country to try
and intimidate voters into backing a controversial draft constitution known
as the Kariba draft as the basis of new constitution.

The Kariba draft was prepared by ZANU PF and MDC officials but critics say
the document should be discarded because it leaves Mugabe’s immense powers
untouched.

Unprecedented violence broke out across Zimbabwe last year immediately after
it became clear Mugabe had lost a first round presidential vote to MDC
leader Morgan Tsvangirai who, however, failed to achieve outright victory to
avoid a second round run-off poll.

Human rights groups blame the violence on ZANU PF supporters and security
forces who they say resorted to terror tactics to forestall what had looked
a sure defeat for Mugabe in the decisive second round ballot.

However Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round vote because of attacks
against his supporters.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai eventually bowed to pressure from southern African
leaders to agree to form a government of national unity that has been able
to end hyperinflation to stabilise the economy.

But the coalition government has struggled to enforce the rule of law with
frequent reports of political violence and farm invasions blamed on the army
and militant supporters of ZANU PF. – ZimOnline

ZOU degrees questionable

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by John Makumbe
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 17:10
President Mugabe last week capped some 1 311 graduates of the Zimbabwe
(ZanuPF) Open University (ZOU). This was a joyous occasion for those who
graduated and their loved ones.

Unfortunately, there has been considerable anxiety regarding the calibre of
some, but not all, ZOU graduates since the institution was created. A long
distance educational institution, ZOU has become the panacea for students
who fail to make the mark and are unable to qualify to enter such
universities as UZ, NUST and MSU.This perception is actually borne out by
both the admission criteria of ZOU and the type of students who end up being
admitted by the invisible institution. For example, secretarial staffs at
other universities, who would not qualify to register as students at the
very institutions they work for, are readily admitted into ZOU and some have
actually graduated with Masters Degrees. They have, however, never been able
to secure higher employment positions at the institutions they work for
since their credentials were considered questionable.There is obviously a
degree of unfairness in judging ZOU so harshly. Perceptions can be quite
wrong, but they can also be quite accurate. But there are too many stories
about how an astute ZOU student can get his or her instructor to write his
or her assignment for a fee.Then the instructor marks his own work and
credits the (client) student accordingly. In these days of a dollarized
economy, who would sneeze at a $50 dollar note Zanu loyalists set to become
rights commissionersZOU degrees questionablefor writing a few pages of
absolute rubbish? Sadly, the ZOU student stands to learn nothing even though
he or she will graduate with the others and get capped by good old Bob. A
story is told of one very senior military officer, a ZOU student, who never
showed up for classes whenever they were held, but who was awarded the Best
Student Award for that year. 'ZOU is a national institution that should be
under close public scrutiny at
all times'The question is, was he being rewarded for having earned so many
marks in class or in his assignments and exams, or was he being recognised
as one of the top soldiers of this nation? Other stories indicate that some
of the faculty members at ZOU have rather limited and questionable academic
qualifications. Indeed, the majority of them would not qualify to be
employed at any of the real universities in this country. I am aware of a
local university which will not employ any applicant who holds a ZOU degree
to be a lecturer. The same university is also reluctant to admit ZOU
graduates into its post-graduate studies for obvious reasons.It is
absolutely imperative that the recently constituted Council for Higher
Education should urgently undertake an audit of ZOU in terms of its syllabi,
the credentials of its faculty and the level at which students are being
taught and examined. The results of such an audit should be made public and
appropriate measures taken to ensure that students get value for money from
the distance education institution. It may also be helpful to include in the
audit team several specialists in distance education such as personnel from
UNISA. The credibility of ZOU and all Zimbabwean tertiary institutions is at
stake. I know that I may have opened Pandora's Box and may be taken to task
for what I have expressed in this contribution. But like all other
universities, ZOU is a national institution that should be under close
public scrutiny at all times. The latest scandal pertaining to examination
papers printed in South Africa seems to confirm that the management of ZOU
may need to be evaluated from a realistic point of view. Degrees cannot be
churned out like confetti; they have to be earned.

Israel’s agriculture to inspire Zim

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Josephat Zimunya
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 14:37
MUTARE – Zimbabwe’s agro-businesses will this year participate at the
Agrictech International Exhibition in Israel in a bid to source new markets.
(Pictured:  Women plant seedlings on a farm near the Gaza Strip in southern
Israel)

The tri-annual exhibition is the biggest fair in the Middle East and
attracts over 250 buyers, as well as visitors from Israel and the rest of
the world.
Head of delegation and organiser to the fair, Christian Friends of Israel
Zimbabwe, told ***The Zimbabwean that a total of 50 companies would travel
to Israel for the exhibition set for December 5-11 this year.
Director Yisrael Yehudah said the exhibition offered local firms an
opportunity to market their products and strike deals.
In 2008 companies such as Windmill and Zimbabwe Fertilizer Company took part
in the fair.
“This fair presents an opportunity for our companies to market their goods
to the international world and boost their exports,” he said.
The fair, he added, would also enable the country to source inputs ahead of
the 2009/10 rainy season.
Israel, with a population of about seven million people, is regarded as one
of the few countries in the world with a vibrant agriculture industry.
“Local firms can learn a lot from Israel and improve its sector,” Yehudah
said.

ZRP’s poor working conditions

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Zwanai Sithole
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 15:52
BULAWAYO - Several graduates of the infamous Border Gezi youth training
centres who were incorporated into the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) as
special constabularies have complained about poor working conditions within
the force.

More than 20 former Border Gezi trainees here said that they had been
promised permanent jobs in the regular force, but had been waiting for a
long time.
"I joined the police in 2006 after completing national youth service
training at Kamativi youth training centre in Hwange. Some of my colleagues
opted to join the army and the prison services but I chose the police
because we were promised employment. I wasted my time because I am still
doing voluntary services for the force "said a Border Gezi graduate who
refused to be named for fear of victimization.
Another graduate from Guyu training centre in Gwanda said when he joined the
force towards the 2005 parliamentary elections he had been made to
understand that he would be eventually sent for proper training at
Ntabazinduna police training depot.
He is now frustrated and bitter that nothing happened.
The special constabularies said they had forwarded their plight to the
Minister of Youth, Savious Kasukuwere, who deployed the youths to the police
force during the run up to the 2005 elections.

Aus commissions boreholes

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Staff Reporter
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 12:53
HARARE - Australia's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, John Courtney, last week
commissioned eight boreholes worth US$65,000 at the University of Zimbabwe.
The project is part of a US$1.2million borehole programme that Australia is
funding across Zimbabwe.
The University of Zimbabwe boreholes were funded by the Australian
Government through the United Nations Children's Fund. The borehole project,
which was requested by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, will
bring a sustainable alternative source of safe water to the University of
Zimbabwe, Courtney said.
"Assistance through UNICEF to restore safe drinking water to the University
of Zimbabwe is an important part of Australia's support for restoring basic
services to the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
With funding from the Australian Government, UNICEF has invested some
US$65,000 for borehole drilling and supporting infrastructure such as tanks
and pipes to help provide a continued supply of safe drinking water for
students and staff at the institution of higher learning. Borehole drilling
has been identified as a cost-effective and long term back up system to
address the perennial water problems experienced by the university,
currently blighted with critical water shortages.
The boreholes, which will remain an important back-up system for the
university even after the main water supply is re-established, have been
designed to provide high quality water that meets World Health Organisation
standards. They have a depth of between 40-67 meters. Further, to maintain
safety, UNICEF will continue chlorination of the water from these boreholes,
Courtney said.
"This is a long-term back up system to the University's water shortage
problems and at UNICEF we are grateful to the Australian Government for
their support," said UNICEF Country Representative Dr Peter Salama,
"Students and staff members can be assured that water from these natural
sources is rigorously tested and safe for human consumption."
In addition the Australian Government has provided US$1.2 million for
drilling of 200 boreholes in cholera affected areas across Zimbabwe.
Over the last three years water supplies to cities and towns in Zimbabwe
have become erratic and unsafe owing to years of infrastructural decay and
the lack of funds to purchase water purification chemicals.

State stifles investigative journalism

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25366

November 25, 2009

By Raymond Maingire

HARARE - Senior journalists have cited state repression among the main
reasons reporters were now reluctant to venture into investigative
journalism for their newspapers.

Zimbabwe Independent newspaper assistant editor Dumisani Muleya said most
Zimbabwean journalists should weigh the excitement of publishing a ground
breaking story against the cost of exposing the murky activities of powerful
individuals and organisations in society.

He said most scribes were practicing self-censorship because they did not
know what would befall them if they wrote controversial but revealing
stories.

"Local journalists in a number of times are now prisoners of fear," Muleya
said during a journalists' discussion at the Quill club, Harare 's press
club this week.

"There are big stories we come across but journalists are not writing about
them. You calculate the cost of writing and the consequences.

"You have got to be intelligent in this environment to say 'is it worth it
to write the story and you spend the Christmas holiday languishing at
Chikurubi prison?'"

Muleya was among three panellists during a brief session to discuss the
state of investigative journalism in Zimbabwe .

The discussion was also to celebrate the life of slain Mozambican
investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso who was gunned down on November 22,
2000.

Cardoso was in the middle of investigating a US$14 million fraud involving a
son to former Mozambican President Jocquim Chissano.

Zimbabwe is yearning for stories that unravel massive corruption at
government level. But local journalists have largely shied away from doing
such stories.

Some stories include the state sponsored abductions on critics and opponents
of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF, civilian massacres by the army in
Chiadzwa diamond fields, corruption and how much of taxpayers' money is
gobbled by the President's endless trips abroad.

"If you are not going to overcome the issue of the political climate of fear
you are not going to get the big stories," Muleya said.

"If you are not going to make sure the newsrooms are run by experienced
people who have been through the mill to know how to coordinate stories, you
are not going to get the big story."

The award winning journalist also cited the lack of resources among the
factors that continue to hinder investigative journalism in Zimbabwe .

He said lack of transparency within the government itself also made the job
hard for journalists with an appetite for investigative stories.

Muleya, who is arguably the best investigative journalist in Zimbabwe at the
moment, said journalists were also hard pressed to balance the credibility
of their stories by quoting anonymous sources.

Similarly, Financial Gazette political editor Njabulo Ncube, who was also
among the panellists bemoaned lack of financial capital to fund research as
one of the reasons.

"The situation in Zimbabwe can hardly provide ample opportunities for such
kind of journalism," Ncube said.

He also blamed this on the impact of "horse racing" in reporting as having
greatly affected the standard of investigative journalism in the country.

Ncube said this was exhibited by the polarisation of the media in Zimbabwe
that has resulted in the state media vilifying President Mugabe's opponents
and the independent media doing the same against Zanu-PF.

"We also have self-censorship and pre-publication censorship in the
newsrooms which generate fear among reporters as a result of political
intimidation," he said.

Zimbabwe has one of the most repressive media laws and environments in the
continent which have forced dozens of experienced journalists into exile.

"There is the issue of poverty and meagre salaries which demotivate
journalists to go up for full investigation of a story and that results in
lack of commitment

"One of the biggest obstacles that inhibit thorough investigation in a story
is the restricted media space that would allow diversity that will allow
journalist to indulge in investigative reporting.

"Overall, journalists would rush to beat deadlines or to please people in
colourful articles that have nothing to do with investigative journalism."

Apart from the repressive environment, Ncube said there were some
journalists who had compromised themselves by becoming too close to
politicians and now found it difficult to do stories on them.

The two-hour discussion also had its own acrimonious moments.

Former Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who was seated in the audience
touched a raw nerve when he said Zimbabwean journalists should abandon
stories on corruption and start showing "patriotism" by bashing western
imposed "sanctions" on President Mugabe and his cronies.

Ndlovu said state media and independent media journalists should mingle and
talk the same language.

He was to vanish from the press club minutes after his controversial
assertions when some journalists started questioning what legacy he himself
left when he was still minister.

A top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, who graced the occasion also
blamed Ndlovu for "categorizing" Zimbabwean journalists.

"The categorisation is from the state," she said, "the state will call
journalists that are not in the state's stable, journalists for imperialism,
regime change and that categorisation has come from a system that was
controlled for a long time by Dr Ndlovu. And if it is to stop, the state
media must stop that categorisation."

Pushing the knowledge envelope – Nationalisation

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Mutumwa Mawere Thursday 26 November 2009

OPINION: We all have a view on the Africa we see today. For 53 years of our
post-colonial experience, we have attempted to style ourselves as democrats
implying that unlike during the colonial era, policies emanate from
deliberations that involve discussion among the affected people.

Today in South Africa, the continent’s economic powerhouse, a war of words
is raging between the comrades in the ruling tripartite alliance with ANC
Youth League president Julius Malema and South African Communist Party
(SACP) deputy secretary Jeremy Cronin, providing a voice to one of the
greatest debates that any nation must and should engage in on whether or not
to nationalise.

Although South Africa is a more sophisticated economic system, it remains an
African state exhibiting dualistic characteristics that largely define the
continent’s concrete and objective circumstances.

Only a few have climbed the opportunity ladder and the role of
apartheid/colonialism in crystallising a small but economically effective
class of key decision makers on racial lines.

The majority of the people in the opportunity valley are black and when they
try to put meaning to why they are poor the tendency is to explain poverty
in a racial and historical context.

One cannot deny that race had an impact on how the resources of Africa are
allocated and shared.

To escape poverty, therefore, a viewpoint is held that change must take
place in Africa and the racial question must be addressed in its proper
context and content.

To the extent that the asset ownership patterns were not market-created, a
justification is then made that the state must necessarily take an active
and decisive role in the transformation process notwithstanding the lack of
empirical evidence supporting a proposition that the state can be a reliable
agent for any meaningful transformation that is not supported by a
determined and active citizenry.

Indeed, one of the greatest issues that confront contemporary Africa is
whether this continent can advance its cause without nationalisation of
resources.

Nationalisation is the act of taking an industry or assets into public
ownership of a national government or state.

In advancing the interests of the national democratic revolution, a strong
view is held that the state, itself a product of the civil rights struggle,
can be a reliable instrument for exercising full democratic control over the
means of production thereby ensuring that frontiers of poverty can be
reduced through a redistribution mechanism.

This is a central theme in many socialist economies where a view is held
that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned by
the state on behalf of the people to allow for rational resource allocation,
planning, operation and control of the economy.

Notwithstanding the fact that Africa’s democratic constitutional order
guarantees citizenship rights to all who choose to be Africans, white
Africans are generally not accorded the same rights and identity as the
majority black Africans meaning that assets that are controlled by white
Africans are generally deemed to be in foreign hands.

We all wish the best for Africa the continent we all love. Economic
nationalism is not a uniquely African ideology.

At the individual level, people endeavour to advance their well being and
are motivated by an unwavering belief that tomorrow can be a better and
brighter day only if they choose to do something about it today.

It is rare that an individual will seek to externalise progress but will
more than likely attempt to locate such progress in a family setting.

Equally, when we say a country is doing well we expect that its citizens
must show signs of progress and the frontiers of poverty must be reduced.

By citizen, most people will interpret this concept to mean black indigenous
people although this may be at variance with the constitutions of the
countries in question.

Around dining room tables in South Africa and across the continent, citizens
are agonising about what the future holds and what can be done to make the
future what we all want to see.

Africa needs economic transformation and debate on future options is
necessary and yet there is silence on the many defining issues in many of
our daily conversations.

When, for example, in a population of 48 million, only two people take
centre stage in the nationalisation debate then one must take note of the
real risks that lie ahead.

The biggest challenge in Africa is not the tyranny of the few whose voices
dominate conversations but the silence of the many when their future is
being debated and decided by the few.

The debate on nationalisation is largely informed by ideology. The resources
in question are situated in Africa and can, therefore, never be considered
to be external.

The real issue is who is best equipped to convert the resources into
products and services that can be exchanged in the market place.

History has demonstrated that the state, being an organ of the people, with
its challenges on accountability can never be relied upon as an agent of
economic change and transformation.

The state itself is weak in many African states because underpinning it is a
dependency syndrome on donor funds.

If African states are institutionally and capacity challenged, how can
anyone come to the conclusion that nationalisation will advance the economic
democratisation process?

I have always held the view that anyone who builds in one’s yard is in
effect glorifying the titleholder.

Equally, people who decide to invest in Africa are in effect advancing the
African promise because without such discretionary investment there appears
to be no alternative plan.

If an alternative plan does exist, then one would observe the displacement
of investment by indigenous Africans by the so-called foreign investment.

It is God who made minerals and hid them our job is to find them at a cost
and extract them at a further cost.

If funds for exploration and exploitation are not available as is the case
in many situations in Africa, the resources will remain in situ and no
amount of rhetoric will lift the minerals from where they are resident.

Even in the case of land, the land cannot be externalised and is where it is
and the situation has not changed since the beginning of human civilisation.

It would be wrong for one generation to take the view that they own the land
instead of taking the view no human being is capable of owning land but in
life one can use the land.

Human beings are perishable but in life we all want to be in control.
Ownership implies the concept of exclusion.

If we exclude white Africans from using land then one must provide a viable
alternative that will see land being used to produce products that can
address human challenges.

In many cases we have observed that exclusionary policies have not yielded
the intended benefits and yet this has not stopped the use of inflammatory
language.

Democracy needs deliberation and deliberation is lubricated by knowledge.
Ultimately, democracy is discussion and, therefore, it is incumbent upon us
to engage in the great debates of our time.

By pushing the envelope of knowledge on what it takes to build a prosperous
and secure nation state, finding a common ground is made easier.

There are just too many of us who believe that Africa belongs only to the
people they classify as indigenous forgetting that even indigenous people
can elect to migrate to foreign states and in doing so challenge the
exclusionary argument that is often advanced that Africa can only advance
its cause if its resources are perpetually controlled and managed by
so-called indigenous people.

I invite all to join in the conversations of our time so that together we
can impact on the world we live in. Let us share ideas. Let us debate. Let
us negotiate our future. Let us deliberate.

Our continent needs our voices and more importantly ordinary as we are we
can accomplish extraordinary outcomes if we reason together.

As a businessman, I have been advised by many of my colleagues to stop
writing and focus on business.

Yes, this makes sense but if our voices are missing at this defining hour in
our history then what will future generations say about us?

Let us get out of the comfort zone and be the change we want to see. I
joined Africa Heritage Society www.africaheritage.com based on my belief
that Africa belongs to all who believe in it.

The face of an African need not be my face but must embrace all who make
Africa what it is. We are all human and it is our actions that leave a
legacy not our skin color or religion, for example.

If a foreign born person decides to call Africa home let us embrace the
person because making that decision is in fact an expression of the
affirmation of Africa as a home of hope.

If Africa can convert dreams of foreign-born person into real and tangible
wealth why is it difficult for us to spread the message of hope and
opportunity to the many that believe they are condemned to live in poverty?

Will nationalisation ever assist in improving the lives of African people?
This is the question that you must answer in your own words with your own
circle of friends and family. – ZimOnline

Zim’s collapse dominates “special memoir”

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Kenneth Ingham
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 17:01

Beyond the Malachite Hills
By Jonathan Lawley (foreword by Lord Carrington)
I. B. Tauris; Hard cover, 304pp
‘What a wonderful book!

Every now and then one comes across a truly special memoir, and Beyond the
Malachite Hills deserves to become a classic of its genre: a poignant,
evocative, nostalgic account of a remarkable career that was dominated by
Africa. But it is much, much more than this - it is a chronicle of Europe's
involvement with the continent, seen through the eyes of a man who never
failed to appreciate the privileged vantage point his colour afforded him.

Much of Jonathan Lawley's time abroad was spent in central Africa, including
Zimbabwe, the country for which he has the most affection. Its tragic
collapse dominates the last chapters of this fine and sensitive book.

Rich with insight and written with passion - and with an edge of anger and
sadness at opportunities wasted and potential squandered - Beyond the
Malachite Hills should be read by every diplomat setting off on an Africa
posting, not to mention well-meaning aid workers and gap-year students.’ -
Michael Holman, Africa editor, Financial Times (1984 – 2002)

‘This is a remarkable book.  Autobiographies of former colonial officials
who have served in Africa have proliferated in recent years, some of them
both exciting and informative.  Most of them however, read like funeral
orations for a lost empire.  Jonathan Lawley, by contrast, writes of his
colonial career as an overture to the drama of independent Africa.  There is
no doubt that he regards his time as a colonial official as an important
learning experience, and relying upon his diaries, he describes in
understated language a contemporary experience un-tempered by the
reservations and modifications of hindsight.  His more exuberant writing he
reserves for his colourful descriptions of Africa’s superb scenery and
fascinating fauna and flora...

...The final third of the book is concerned with his plan for [Africa’s]
future and his own role in laying its foundations.  This is an inspiring
piece of writing because it not only expressed hope, but also offers
practical advice on converting hope into reality.  His subsequent
experiences in training Africans for management and, particularly, for
technical management, is written with a full appreciation of the
difficulties facing Africans who are trying to establish their credibility –
in their own eyes as well as in those of their subordinates – of their
managerial capabilities... It seems to me that Lawley points the way ahead
and will prove to be something of a prophet.’ - Kenneth Ingham,
Vice-President of the Royal African Society.