The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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COMMUNIQUE

At the invitation of H.E. Dr. Stan Mudenge, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe, the Committee of Commonwealth Foreign ministers met in Harare, Zimbabwe from 25 to 27 October 2001. The meeting was a follow-up to the Conclusions of the meeting held in Abuja on 6 September 2001. Ministers from Canada, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom and a Representative of the Minister from Australia, as well as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth attended the meeting.

2. The Committee, under the chairmanship of H.E. Sule Lamido, Foreign Minister of Nigeria, received a progress report from H.E. Dr. Stan Mudenge and other officials, on the action so far taken by the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) to implement the decisions taken in Abuja on 6 September 2001, including the following:

i. de-listing of a further 20 (twenty) farms; ii. renewed consultations with the UNDP, resulting in an agreement on the visit of a technical team in mid November 2001; iii. establishment of Committees, composed of Ministers, war veterans and farmers, to explain to the people of Zimbabwe the commitments made in Abuja; iv. establishment of a permanent committee for trouble-shooting, charged with responding to incidents and aberrations; v. instructions to the top leadership of all law enforcement and security organs to ensure that Zimbabwe’s commitments are implemented and, where necessary, enforced; vi. commencements of a programme of information involving all agencies implementing land reform, from national to local levels; and vii. commencement of the movement of settlers to legally acquired lands.

3. During its sittings in Zimbabwe, which lasted till 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, 27 October 2001, the Committee received reports from the following groups and organizations:

Council of Chiefs; Commercial Farmers’ Union; Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative; Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union; Indigenous Commercial Farmers’ Union; UNDP; Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association; Movement for Democratic change (MDC); Zanu PF; Zanu (Ndonga); Church Leaders;

NANGO (National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations):

Amani Trust; Zimbabwe Human Rights Foundation; Affirmative Action Group; National Consultative Assembly; Transparency International; Crisis in Zimbabwe; Indigenous Business Development Centre; National Development Association; Zimbabwe Tobacco Merchants Association;

Media Representatives: - The Daily News; The Herald; The Sunday Mail; The Financial Gazette; Zimbabwe Independent; Zimbabwe Union of Journalists

The Electoral Supervisory Commission

The Law Society of Zimbabwe did not appear before the panel, but submitted a memorandum.

GAPWUZ (General Agricultural and Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe) was invited, but was not available when the Committee was ready to hear from them.

These represented a wide range of groups and organisations in Zimbabwe. The views can be summarized as follows:

i. a majority regarded the Abuja Agreement as a useful one that should be pursued; ii. there was a unanimous view that land reform in Zimbabwe is necessary; iii. there was a divergence in the views and facts, in relation to the farm invasions and occupations; iv. there were a number who believed that the rule of law had not been adequately upheld; v. there was confusion over the process of the implementation of land distribution; and vi. there was concern about the displacement of people currently working on farms.

4. The Committee received a number of conflicting reports of alleged violations of human rights and press freedom before and after the Abuja Agreement. It therefore, called upon the law enforcement authorities to look into all these allegations, ensure that the law is obeyed, in order to build the necessary confidence that will ensure the speedy implementation of the Abuja Agreement.

5. Even though the Committee was given free access to all parts of the country, it was only possible, due to time constraints, to visit two farms outside Harare. The objective was to be informed of the situation on the ground in connection with the implementation of land reform programme.

6. Against the background of the short period since the Abuja meeting, the Committee considered that the Government of Zimbabwe had established a process to implement the Abuja Consultations of 6 September 2001, particularly as they relate to land reform. It however, called on the GoZ to speed up, in particular, the de-listing of farms, which do not meet set criteria, and also implement the entire process in accordance with the laws and constitution of Zimbabwe. The Committee also recognised the clear need to develop and implement an information and publicity programme, which will include public meetings to reach all the stakeholders, in order to generate the much-needed confidence that will ensure the success of the initiative.

7. The committee further urged the GoZ, Commercial Farmers’ Union, and other stakeholders, to work co-operatively, and to adopt a positive engagement with each other, in order to get through these difficult implementation issues. In this regard, the Committee noted the positive attitude of the Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative (ZJRI) as a group that has willingly offered one million hectares of land and resources in order to assist with a comprehensive programme of land redistribution and resettlement that will benefit the optimum number of people.

8. The Committee welcomed the agreement with the UNDP for the visit of a technical team to Zimbabwe mid November 2001. It called on the team to undertake and complete early, the assessment visit, so as to assist the GoZ to fully undertake the land reform programme, on the basis of the UNDP proposals of December 2000. Considering that land is at the core of the crisis, as recognized in the Abuja Conclusions, the Committee reaffirmed the conviction that the work of the UNDP will assist the GoZ to fully comply with the undertakings and assurances freely given under the Abuja initiative. It further called on the GoZ to extend full support and cooperation to the UNDP to ensure the early success of its work.

9. The Committee recognised that this meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Dr. Stan Mudenge, was the second one in the process initiated by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. It was therefore appropriate that the Committee presents its report to the President. The Committee would also recommend to President Obasanjo that it (the Committee) remains engaged and continues to monitor the implementation of the Abuja Agreement by all parties.

10. The committee expressed gratitude and appreciation to President Robert Mugabe for receiving members, despite his busy schedule. It also expressed gratitude to Foreign Minister Dr. Stan Mudenge for the kind invitation, which afforded the opportunity for the meeting and lastly, to the Government and people of Zimbabwe, for the hospitality and conducive atmosphere provided for the meeting.

Harare, 27 October 2001

Statement on behalf of Commercial Farmers’ Union

With reference to the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministers in Harare from 25 to 27 October, I, on behalf of Union members wish to thank our friends for their visit and care shown for the well-being of Zimbabweans. There was recognition and agreement amongst the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers of the urgent need to get farmers to plant without interference, to build confidence and reduce conflict. As to what constitutes the lawful procedure for land acquisition and settlement – the subject will be studied and determined by the UNDP team of experts due to commence work mid-November. CFU members will, along with Government work closely with the UNDP, but in the meantime the Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative (ZJRI) should be implemented, as it will positively chart the way for lawful and transparent agrarian reforms supported by all Zimbabweans.

Harare, 27 October 2001

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The Daily News

War veterans disrupt housing scheme

10/30/01 7:35:15 AM (GMT +2)


Staff Reporter

MORE than 400 prospective home-owners have pulled out of the White Cliff
low-density housing scheme, because illegal settlers continue to flood into
the area.

The 1 065,7-hectare property was invaded by thousands of so-called war
veterans and Zanu PF supporters in the run-up to last year’s parliamentary
election.

The housing estate, about 18km west of Harare along the Bulawayo Road, holds
2 300 residential stands. It is near the Snake Park.

Some of the houses, most of them worth millions of dollars each, stick out
in stark contrast to the pole-and-mud shacks erected by the invaders.

Uncertain of the future of the project, a number of the prospective
home-owners have stopped paying their instalments towards purchase of the
land.

Eddies Pfugari, the developer, refused to comment on the future of the
project. He could only say he was losing millions of dollars because several
of his clients were opting out of the scheme.

Equipment, valued at more than $80 million, which was moved off the site
after the invaders halted work on the roads and other infrastructural
developments, now lies idle.

The invaders allocated themselves stands on the project site, while some
so-called section commanders are allegedly selling pieces of land for as
little as $200.

Senior police and army officers are allegedly among the illegal occupiers.

The developers bought the farm for $35 million from the estate of the late
Frederick Smith.

In November 1997 the company applied for permission from the Minister of
Local Government to subdivide it for residential purposes and this was
granted on 10 April 2001.

The farm had been listed for compulsory acquisition in September last year,
but was de-listed this month.

The White Cliff scheme had provision for garden flats, four schools, a post
office and 53 commercial stands.
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The Daily News - Leader Page

A prelude to a Cabinet reshuffle?

10/30/01 7:24:09 AM (GMT +2)



The Daily News published a story a year ago in which it was alleged that
$165 million had been paid out by the main contractor allegedly to bribe
various government officials in order to secure the contract for the
construction of the new Harare International Airport building.

The basis of the story was a letter written to President Mugabe by Hani
Yamani whose company, Airport Harbour Technologies, won the contract for the
$5 billion project.

Yamani claimed in the letter that the equivalent of US$3 million (then about
Z$165 million) had been paid to two Cabinet ministers, whom he named and
several government officials to secure the contract for his company.

The authenticity of Yamani’s letter has never been challenged.
Yamani originally singled out and named the Speaker of Parliament, Emmerson
Mnangagwa, and former transport minister, Enos Chikowore and recommended
that they be investigated thoroughly. Yamani said such investigations should
not only centre on the airport construction deal, but should also cover
other projects in which Mnangagwa, in particular, and members of the wealthy
Joshi family were involved through Zidco, the Zanu PF trading company.

Mnangagwa and the Joshi brothers, Jayant and Manharlal, are directors of
Zidco.

Yamani, who wrote a seven-page letter to Mugabe in July 1999, in which he
detailed the involvement of the two ministers and several civil servants
whom he accused of allegedly taking bribes, said Mugabe was fully informed
of the deals involving his trusted lieutenants, Mnangagwa and Chikowore.

After The Daily News broke the story Yamani telephoned the paper from Jedda
in Saudi Arabia to say that Mugabe should fully investigate the activities
of the two men to avoid further losses to Zimbabwe. “The issue must be
thoroughly investigated, with all corrupt people being rooted out,” Yamani
said then. “In the past I didn’t have evidence about Mnangagwa’s and the
Joshi’s bank accounts, but I have it now and I will help clean up Zimbabwe,
a country that has a lot of potential but is being pilfered day in day out
by these powerful people.”

Since then Zimbabwe has waited with bated breath for Mugabe to deal with
these serious allegations of corruption. But, alas, the last time anything
was ever said on this issue was in December when a government spokesman
warned that Mugabe would sue The Daily News for defamation. At the same time
Mnangagwa said he had instructed his own lawyers to institute legal
proceedings against the newspaper, also for defamation.

In due course the police caused two Daily News staffers, Sandra Nyaira and
Julius Zava to sign warned and cautioned statements in connection with a
case of alleged criminal defamation of Mugabe. This was back in March.

Former deputy news editor, Julius Zava, has since died.

In the meantime, not a whiff has been heard of any measures taken by
government to investigate the very serious allegations made by Yamani.

One of the greatest weaknesses of Mugabe’s rule has been his inability to
get to grips with corruption which, of his own admission, is now rampant in
Zimbabwe.

Mugabe has proved at the same time to be either totally incapable of or
unwilling to deal with errant ministers. In his 21 years at the helm, Mugabe
has fired only two Cabinet ministers, Edgar Tekere, after he was charged and
acquitted of murder, and the late Herbert Ushewokunze whom he accused of
having no sense of responsibility, discipline and conduct. But Dr
Ushewokunze bounced back in a different portfolio. In 1982 Mugabe did fire a
number of PF Zapu ministers, but for political reasons.

His preferred style has been to recycle even allegedly corrupt and patently
non-performing ministers. He went to considerable lengths to rehabilitate
some of the ministers who resigned in 1989 following exposure in the
Willowgate Scandal. Some of the officials Mugabe has surrounded himself with
are people of dubious credentials and performance. In some cases they lack
moral rectitude.

It is in this context that his intriguing statement over the weekend must be
analysed. Mugabe told revellers at Vice-President Simon Muzenda’s birthday
bash in Masvingo that he no longer had confidence in some of his Cabinet
ministers.

“If I look at the calibre of the ministers that I have, I do not trust
 them,” he is reported to have said. Was this statement a prelude to yet
another Cabinet reshuffle?

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The Independent (UK)

Mugabe accuses ministers as sanctions loom

By Basildon Peta in Harare
30 October 2001

President Robert Mugabe has accused some of his ministers of "wining and
dining" with British officials instead of defending controversial Zimbabwean
land reforms to combat the imposition of sanctions.

He told supporters at the 79th birthday celebrations of his deputy, Simon
Muzenda, at the weekend, that he no longer had confidence in some ministers
"who were likely to give up the fight" if sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe
by Britain and its allies in protest at his radical land reforms.

The country is likely to face tough censure from European Union foreign
ministers, who are this week discussing the imposition of sanctions against
Zimbabwe. Earlier this year, Mr Mugabe's minister of industry and
international trade, Nkosana Moyo, resigned and left Zimbabwe. Now officials
say Mr Mugabe is getting increasingly uncomfortable with other ministers who
have not shared his hardline stance on land reforms. They say the president
accuses them of "wining and dining" with British officials at the expense of
articulating his land policies.

At the birthday celebrations, Mr Mugabe said he would not relent on the
issue, despite pressure from Britain. "If I look at the calibre of ministers
that I have, I do not trust them. They might say something good now, but if
sanctions are imposed because of the land issue, I know they will give up."

Zimbabwe yesterday accused the Commonwealth secretary general, Don McKinnon,
of conspiring with Britain in efforts to sabotage the land reforms and
remove President Mugabe from power.

The Zimbabwe government, through its main media mouthpiece, The Herald
newspaper, accused him of having already unilaterally drafted a timetable of
when Commonwealth observers should be deployed in Zimbabwe for next year's
crunch presidential election. Mr McKinnon, who was part of a Commonwealth
team who visited Zimbabwe last week, told reporters the Commonwealth would
send election monitors to Zimbabwe only if it was invited by President
Mugabe's government.

The Zimbabwe government said it had neither invited the Commonwealth to
monitor the election nor set the dates for the election. The country has
already rejected a call for EU observers. Mr McKinnon has been demonised in
Zimbabwe's state media for being "part of a white Commonwealth group
fighting for the ouster of President Mugabe" instead of helping in efforts
to resolve Zimbabwe's land crisis. Canada, Australia and Britain are
masterminding the efforts of this "white Commonwealth group", says
Zimbabwe's government.

The Commonwealth secretary general also denied mobilising funds for the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change which has a chance to remove Mr
Mugabe from power if he allows free and fair elections. "I'm not mobilising
funds for any political party," Mr McKinnon said. "Never ever. That is not
my mandate."

The Commonwealth committee of ministers on Zimbabwe's land crisis, including
Foreign Office minister Baroness Amos, failed to censure President Mugabe's
government after intense squabbling. Ministers took all Saturday to decide
their watered-down communique urging the Zimbabwe government to uphold the
rule of law in implementing land reforms.

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The Times

God help me, says Mugabe

FROM JAN RAATH IN HARARE

PRESIDENT Mugabe is praying that he lives long enough to achieve his plans
to seize white-owned farms.
“The biggest prayer of my life is that God gives me more life to see me
through the land issue,” he was quoted as saying in the Herald newspaper.

“It’s hard not to see this as an admission that he thinks he is going to die
soon,” a diplomat said. In recent photographs Mr Mugabe, 77, has sometimes
appeared swollen-faced; experts say that this can follow chemotherapy.
Sources in the ruling Zanu (PF) party say that he cannot concentrate for
long in Cabinet meetings.

Mr Mugabe, speaking at 79th birthday celebrations for Vice-President Simon
Muzenda, said that he did not have faith in his ministers. “If sanctions are
imposed because of the land issue, I know they will give up,” he said.

The European Union yesterday considered imposing sanctions after the regime
refused to allow it to send observers to monitor presidential elections.
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Sick Mugabe prays he will live to see land reform

By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
(Filed: 30/10/2001)


PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe, 77, has spoken publicly about his death for the
first time, saying he prays that he will live long enough to see land
transferred to Zimbabwe's black majority. His statement has sparked a flurry
of rumours that he is dying of prostate and throat cancer.

Mr Mugabe said: "The biggest prayer of my life is that God gives me more
life to see me through the land issue. I have the backbone to pull through,
the courage, and I am fearless, but I need God's blessings. I am human and
my biggest prayer is that I live through the land re-distribution process."

One of Mr Mugabe's closest associates said yesterday: "He would tell us if
he was ill. He follows a punishing schedule, he is alert all the time.
Rumours of his illness have been going on for years in the foreign press."

But Prof Masipule Sithole, the head of political science at the University
of Zimbabwe and one of the president's sternest critics, said: "This is the
first time I can recall Mugabe speaking about his death, he is praying for
divine intervention as we are praying for divine intervention.

"I hope that God refuses to answer his prayer. He has messed up the land
issue for those remaining, who will have to unmess it." Mr Mugabe, who has
been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980, must
hold presidential elections before March 17 next year.

The first serious challenge to the ruling Zanu PF and his own position came
in February last year when voters rejected a new constitution. In fury, Mr
Mugabe encouraged mobs and so-called veterans of the independence war to
attack white farmers and seize their land.

Worse was to follow when the Movement for Democratic Change came within a
whisker of winning a majority of seats in June's general election. Several
commentators in the independent Zimbabwean press have raised questions about
Mr Mugabe's health, noting that his face is swollen and his speech is losing
clarity and power.

The European Union played for time yesterday before imposing sanctions on
Zimbabwe over human rights violations. "We want to have more consultations
with Harare first before taking any decision," a European Commission
official said.


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EU gives Mugabe deadline to avoid sanctions

Andrew Osborn in Brussels
Tuesday October 30, 2001
The Guardian

The EU will impose punitive sanctions on Zimbabwe within months unless
Harare can prove that it is serious about human rights and democracy.
The decision is likely to have delighted Britain, which has been pushing for
EU measures for some time, although the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, was
careful to stress that EU ministers had decided unanimously on the action,
Finland and the Netherlands taking the lead.

The foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to begin immediate
"consultations" with Harare, a process which paves the way for sanctions to
be imposed.

Mr Straw stressed that sanctions were by no means inevitable, however. "As
for what action might be taken down the track, that is a matter for my
colleagues and I don't want to speculate," he said.

In theory President Robert Mugabe can escape sanctions if he adopts a more
conciliatory approach towards the EU, but his continued refusal to allow EU
observers into the country to monitor the forthcoming presidential election
suggests that the chances of him doing so are slim.

Yesterday the state newspaper the Herald reported him saying before the EU
vote that his government would not backtrack on land reform.

"The biggest prayer of my life is that God gives me more life to see me
through the land issue. I pray for him to see me live through the land
redistribution process," the newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe, 77, as saying at
the weekend.

Government officials have dismissed recent speculation that the president's
health is failing.

The EU demand for talks will be made under the Cotonou treaty which governs
aid, trade and political relations between member states and their former
colonies.

"There is unanimous support for this measure," an EU diplomat said. "The UK
has been the champion of this for a long time now so this must be really
satisfying for them."

A letter requesting talks will be sent "within days", diplomats said, adding
that Harare would then have 15 days to react before a 60-day countdown to
sanctions began.

In practice this means that the EU will hold detailed talks with Mr Mugabe
during this period, in which it will seek firm guarantees about human rights
and free and fair elections.

Allowing EU observers in to follow the presidential election is likely to
form a crucial part of this.

Zimbabwe's foreign minister, Stan Mudenge, has rejected EU observers because
"Zimbabwe does not accept demands - that is a relationship of a superior and
an inferior".

In Harare's view, Mr Mudenge said, such observers would be little more than
stooges for the opposition.

Mr Mugabe, who has been in power for 21 years, is seeking another six-year
term.

He has promised that if he is re-elected he will continue his controversial
land reform programme, in which many white farmers have been violently
displaced from their land.

The EU gives Harare £6.2m a year in aid: money which is mostly channelled
into health and education programmes.

To avoid punishing the country's poor, EU sanctions may in the first
instance be aimed at the regime itself, in the form of denying its members
visas or freezing their assets.

Diplomats admitted that the aid programme might have to be scrapped too, but
said it would be a last resort, and done with a heavy heart.

Glenys Kinnock MEP, a supporter of sanctions against Mr Mugabe, said
yesterday that Harare's behaviour had left the EU with no choice.

"Politically and economically the country is in a total shambles and unless
something is done the suffering of the people will only get worse and
worse," she said.

She said that the EU would ensure that its funding, particularly for the
critical health programme, continued through NGOs and others ways which kept
it out of the government's hands.
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The Daily News

Zvobgo, Mavhaire snub the President

10/30/01 7:18:14 AM (GMT +2)


From Energy Bara in Masvingo

Zanu PF’s deep-rooted factionalism in Masvingo surfaced again last Sunday
when party stalwarts Eddison Zvobgo and Dzikamai Mavhaire, snubbed President
Mugabe’s presidential campaign rally held at Mucheke Stadium.

The rally coincided with Vice-President Simon Muzenda’s 79th birthday party
celebrations held at the same venue.

Mavhaire yesterday said he and Zvobgo did not attend the Mucheke birthday
party-cum-Zanu PF presidential campaign rally because they had different
plans for the day.

He said, apart from that, no formal invitation had been extended to them by
the party.

“We were not formally invited, so we felt we could not attend the rally,”
said Mavhaire. “We were having our own rally as per our own plans.”

While Mugabe addressed party supporters at Mucheke Stadium, Zvobgo and
Mavhaire addressed their own rally at Dikitiki Business Centre, 40km south
of Masvingo town.

Dikitiki is in Masvingo Central constituency which was won by Silas Mangono
of the MDC who trounced Mavhaire during last year’s parliamentary election.

Zvobgo is the Member of Parliament for Masvingo South.

Yesterday, Zvobgo and Mavhaire vowed that they would not campaign for Mugabe
in the forthcoming presidential election, saying there were adequate party
structures for that task.

Mavhaire said they were not willing to be used by the party to campaign for
Mugabe.

He said: “Zvobgo was injured while campaigning for Mugabe in 1996, and where
is he now? This time we will not be used.”

Asked why they were having rallies in Masvingo Central an opposition MDC
stronghold, Mavhaire said: “If I do not thank the 8 000 people who voted for
me in last year’s election, then I am a fool.”

Zvobgo said they had lined up rallies in Masvingo South and Central to thank
those who voted for them in the June 2000 parliamentary election.

“We are just having victory celebrations in the two constituencies,” said
Zvobgo.

“If you come to our rallies you will see that we still have a huge
following.”

A former Minister without Portfolio, Zvobgo, fell out of favour with Mugabe
after he was ditched from the party’s politburo, Zanu PF’s powerful
decision-making organ.

In Masvingo, two distinct Zanu PF camps exist one led by Masvingo Governor
Josaya Hungwe with the blessing of Muzenda, and the other one led by Zvobgo.

Hungwe attended Muzenda’s birthday party celebrations at Mucheke Stadium.

In June last year, Muzenda made scathing remarks against Zvobgo and Mavhaire
while campaigning for the Zanu PF candidate, Charles Majange, in Chivi South
constituency.

Muzenda said: “I am called Mzee, the Vice-President of this country and
Second secretary of Zanu PF. Who is Zvobgo? Who is Zvobgo? Who is Mavhaire
to me?

“When President Mugabe is not there, I run the country, and if I sign your
death warrant you will hang. So, who are these two to me?”

On Sunday, Muzenda reaffirmed his loyalty to Mugabe. Likening themselves to
soccer strikers, Muzenda and Mugabe said they would not leave politics until
the land issue had been resolved.

In turn, Zvobgo has likened the leaders of his party, who are clinging on to
power, to men running in relay who refuse to “pass on the baton stick”.

Last week, Zvobgo was quoted by The Mirror in Masvingo saying he would not
allow Zanu PF to be abused by a few individuals.

On his part, Mavhaire, then a Zanu PF MP and chairman of Masvingo Province,
fell out with party loyalists when he told Parliament that Mugabe should
leave office. His utterances earned him a two-year suspension from holding
any positions within the party. Mavhaire later bounced back as the party’s
provincial chairman before he was booted out of office again, this time by
war veterans who dissolved his provincial executive last year.

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The Daily News

Mnangagwa refuses to talk on Chikanga’s case

10/30/01 7:35:56 AM (GMT +2)


Court Reporter

The Attorney-General’s Office yesterday questioned the relevance of
contacting Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Speaker of Parliament, as ordered by a
High Court judge to check whether he was willing to give evidence on the
release of a hard-core armed robber serving a 35-year prison term.

Justice George Bartlett last week ordered the Attorney-General (AG), Andrew
Chigovera, to contact Mnangagwa to find out whether he could come to court
to give oral evidence on the matter after he submitted a written affidavit.

Chigovera was said to be out of the country yesterday.

Contacted for comment, Bharat Patel, the deputy AG, initially said Mnangagwa
had not been contacted because he was still out of the country.

However, on being told that he had since returned, Patel said: “The
prosecutor was given an affidavit to present to the court and I do not think
that there is any need for further evidence by Mnangagwa. He is out of the
country and I am not aware that he is back.”

Mnangagwa yesterday remained tight lipped when asked whether he was willing
to give oral evidence on the circumstances leading to the release of George
Tanyanyiwa Chikanga, during his tenure of office as Minister of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mnangagwa hung up the phone without responding to questions posed to him.

The Speaker could not attend the court proceedings last week because he was
out of the country.

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From the Times



WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31 2001

Press freedom in Zimbabwe

FROM MR MARTIN JAMES

Sir, The detention of the newspaper director Judith Todd by police in
Zimbabwe (report, October 26) is another example of the Mugabe regime
demonstrating that it is no better than the white rulers it fought to
depose. Judith Todd’s involvement with the free press in Zimbabwe has been
lengthy and, in the 1960s, she was supportive of the African nationalist
cause, particularly that section led by Joshua Nkomo, which strove to put
power into the hands of the African black majority.
At that time she was involved in the protests against the censoring and
subsequent banning of my father’s newspaper the African Daily News. Several
references to her support are made in the book BANNED The Story of the
African Daily News, Southern Rhodesia, 1964 by Eugene Wason, the Editor of
the newspaper, which also makes this reference to the white farmers:


One can feel for these lonely men, but there has never been any suggestion
that anything is going to be taken away from them.
Yours faithfully,
MARTIN JAMES,
68 Lombard Street,
EC3V 9LJ
October 29.
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ABC

EU gives 'undemocratic' Zimbabwe one chance to avoid sanctions

The European Union has begun procedures to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe if
it fails to make immediate progress towards greater democracy.

EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, have agreed to send a formal
letter to Harare asking for consultations on a number of contentious issues
within 15 days.

These include ending political violence, election monitoring, press freedom,
judicial independence and a halt to illegal occupation of white-owned farms.

Once the consultations are completed, the European Union would then have up
to 60 days to decide what action it might take, including sanctions.

The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, says the EU has moved from a
benign position with Zimbabwe to one of active engagement.
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Tuesday October 30, 12:20 PM

 Yahoo! News



Zimbabwe ready for human rights talks
By Cris Chinaka

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government says it
is ready to meet the European Union's demand for discussions on its human
rights record.


But Harare said it continued to reject what it called EU ultimatums to allow
foreign observers to monitor the run-up to next year's presidential
elections, in which Mugabe, 77, faces his greatest political challenge.


In a response reflecting a two-pronged approach to growing international
pressure, the government welcomed the opportunity to defend its case but
warned the EU that its threats of sanctions might jeopardise its ability to
influence Zimbabwe.


The EU edged closer to imposing sanctions against Harare on Monday by
demanding mandatory consultations on its human rights record.


EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, decided to invoke Article 96 of
the EU's Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific nations,
which allows them to demand talks with any signatory state deemed to have
failed to respect democratic principles and the rule of law.


"Zimbabwe is ready for the consultations, has been ready for the
consultation since June and our position on the issue is clear," Foreign
Affairs Minister Stan Mudenge told Zimbabwe state media.


But while the government was ready for dialogue, he said, it remained firm
on its rejection of ultimatums on the issue of allowing observers to monitor
presidential elections due by April 2002 and on various alleged abuses.


"We are going to engage the EU with an open mind but it is important that
the international community understands that we are not going to accept the
kind of ultimatums like the one we got on the subject of election
observers," Mudenge said.


INTIMIDATION OF OPPONENTS


"We are a sovereign country, and we are entitled to some respect and we must
be treated with respect," he added.


EU diplomats said on Monday that, in addition to the dispute over election
observers, the Europeans would raise the violent occupation of white-owned
farms in Zimbabwe and intimidation of political opponents.


Under Article 96, Zimbabwe has 15 days to arrange a meeting. Consultations
must then be completed within 60 days.


Failure to rectify the alleged abuses within that period would trigger a
"reduction or redirection" of EU economic aid to the southern African
country, EU diplomats say.


The EU has been exasperated by what it sees as Mugabe's failure to keep
promises made in Nigeria last month to end his supporters' violent invasions
of white-owned farms.


A ministerial team from the Commonwealth, which groups Britain and its
former colonies, also expressed dissatisfaction with Zimbabwe's response
during a trip to the country in the last few days.


British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country is Zimbabwe's former
colonial power, stressed on Monday that EU ministers had decided unanimously
on the action with Finland and the Netherlands taking the lead.


He emphasised that sanctions were not inevitable.


On Tuesday Mudenge said the Zimbabwean government -- which says some Western
powers are seeking Mugabe's election defeat as punishment for his land
policy -- did not see EU sanctions as inevitable either.


Critics accuse Mugabe, in power since the former Rhodesia gained
independence in 1980, of using the land issue to fend off a challenge to his
rule at the polls.


But the president and his ruling ZANU-PF party accuse Britain of meddling in
its affairs. They say the charges of human rights abuses are a cover-up for
the West's campaign to drive him out of office.
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CNN


Zimbabwe defends rights record

October 30, 2001 Posted: 5:57 AM EST (1057 GMT)



HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe has accused the European Union of ignoring the
facts and unfairly condemning the government over its human rights record.

EU ministers on Monday demanded Zimbabwe explain why human rights violations
were continuing or face economic sanctions, including a freeze on aid.

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo criticised the demand in the state-run
Herald newspaper Tuesday.

Moyo was quoted as saying that Commonwealth mediators last week concluded "
that there were conflicting allegations on the situation in Zimbabwe"

He said: "What the EU decision means is they are taking sides against the
Zimbabwean government on conflicting evidence."

The Commonwealth trip ended inconclusively on Saturday after the government
insisted it had taken steps to restore law and order and end political
violence that began with the often violent occupations of white-owned farms
in March 2000.

"You don't reward progress with sanctions ... This will shut the door on the
EU's influence on Zimbabwe," Moyo said.

Under a human rights agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and
Pacific nations, Zimbabwe has 15 days to arrange for talks with European
officials that can last no longer than 60 days.

Failure to show Zimbabwe respects human rights, the rule of law and
democratic principles opens the way for sanctions under the agreement.

"We are not at that stage yet," Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge told The
Herald. He said he was ready for talks with the EU, which he described as
"procedural."

President Robert Mugabe has vowed to follow the government's plans to seize
white-owned land despite international condemnation.

Farming districts have been convulsed by chaos for more than 18 months,
after militants began occupations of 1,700 white-owned farms, demanding they
be redistributed to landless blacks.

The government has since embarked on a plan to seize 5,000 farms -- nearly
all the farms owned by whites -- without paying compensation.

Human rights groups and white farmers told mediators Friday that widespread
violence and abuses have continued despite a Commonwealth-brokered deal
signed in Abuja, Nigeria.

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Zimbabwe ready for EU consultations

Sapa-AFP
October 30 2001 at 01:23PM

Harare - Zimbabwe is ready to hold consultations with the European Union,
Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge said Tuesday, the day after the EU took the
first step toward imposing sanctions on the southern African nation over
human rights abuses.

"Zimbabwe is ready for consultations, has been ready for the consultations
since June and our position on the issue is clear," Mudenge told the
state-run Herald newspaper.

At a meeting Monday in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers put into action
Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement that governs relations between the
European Union and its African, Caribbean and Pacific partners.

That means Zimbabwe will be sent a formal letter by the 15-nation EU asking
for consultations within 15 days on five contentious issues: ending
political violence, election monitoring, press freedom, judicial
independence, and a halt to illegal occupations of white-owned farms.

Once the consultations are completed, the European Union would then have up
to 60 days to decide what action it might take, action widely expected to
include sanctions aimed at isolating President Robert Mugabe's regime.

"We are not at that stage yet," Mudenge said. "We do not go into
consultations with the assumptions that they will fail. At the moment, we go
with an open mind."

Monday's decision followed Zimbabwe's refusal to accept EU election
observers, as the southern African state gears up for a presidential vote
due by April next year.

It also followed a Commonwealth delegation's appeal in Harare on Saturday
for Mugabe's government to respect its own laws and investigate reports of
widespread rights violations. - Sapa-AFP

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The Daily News

Motor mechanic shoots client dead over $5 000

10/30/01 7:33:09 AM (GMT +2)


Court Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD South African motor mechanic, Shane Michael Jansen, faces a
murder charge following the death in a shooting incident last Friday of a
Greendale man in Harare.

Derick Leach Dallas, 56, was allegedly shot after he failed to pay
$5 000 charged by Jansen for repairs undertaken on his motor vehicle.

Jansen wanted to use the money to buy his girlfriend a birthday present.

He allegedly shot Dallas in the head at point blank range outside his home
in Greendale.

The alleged murder weapon was a pistol borrowed four days earlier from
Jansen’s friend, Zane Rooney.

Rooney, who lives in Avondale, has not been located by the police.

After the shooting Jansen allegedly drove to Lake Chivero where he dumped
the pistol and a revolver he bought from an army general in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo last month.

It was not specified which army the general serves in.

By yesterday afternoon the police sub-aqua unit was still trying to recover
the firearms from Lake Chivero.

Harare magistrate, Dominic Muzawazi, remanded Jansen in custody to 12
November.

He advised Jansen’s lawyer Obey Matizanadzo of Coghlan, Welsh and Guest to
apply for bail from the High Court.

Muzawazi declined to confirm statements recorded by the police from Jansen
as accurate to allow Matizanadzo time to go through them.

Confirmed statements can be produced in any court as evidence without need
for substantiating them.

Matizanadzo was engaged by Corry Jansen, the accused man’s grandfather, at
the last minute.

The senior Jansen sat in the gallery throughout the proceedings yesterday.

Alvis Chimwaradze, the prosecutor, said Jansen, a motor mechanic, met Dallas
sometime in August along Marion Edwards Road in Greendale and agreed to
repair his sports car, a Nissan 300ZX.

After repairing the car, Jansen charged Dallas $10 700 for the job.

Dallas said he would settle the amount a month later, but asked Jansen to
tune the engine as well.

Dallas later agreed to sell Jansen the car for $200 000. Jansen allegedly
gave Dallas $10 000 as part payment.

Jansen said he would pay the remainder on return from the DRC, where he went
sometime in September leaving the car at a friend’s house in Greendale.

While Jansen was in the DRC, Dallas collected the car from the friend’s
house.

Jansen returned from the DRC on 20 October and offered US$400 (about Z$22
000) towards the purchase of the car. After converting the money at some
rate the two agreed the balance outstanding on the purchase price was Z$90
000.

Jansen left with the car after the two men agreed that a change of the car’s
ownership would be effected once he paid the balance.

Last Friday Jansen drove to Dallas’ house at number 98 Bishop Mount Road
armed with the pistol and revolver to demand the $5 000 for the engine
tune-up on the car when it still belonged to Dallas.

After scaling the wall to the house, Jansen summoned Dallas outside.

Dallas refused to pay the money resulting in a heated argument in which
Jansen allegedly pulled out the pistol and shot Dallas killing him
instantly.

He then drove to Lake Chivero where he allegedly dumped the pistol and
revolver, before handing himself over at Rhodesville police station.

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