The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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Sunday Herald (UK)

Party in Pretoria . but not for all

As dignitaries join the ANC to mark a decade of freedom, Fred Bridgland in
the South African capital finds many Zulus have little reason to celebrate

South Africa's political, cultural and business elite will hold an almighty
15-hour party on Tuesday, in front of the splendid sandstone Union Buildings
in Pretoria, to celebrate 10 years of democracy since Nelson Mandela was
sworn in as the country's first black president on April 27, 1994.
More than 400 performers, all South African, will join in the debauch of
self-congratulation, along with around 4000 guests. Between the music acts,
and as champagne and Castle lager are swigged and caviar and mabele (sorghum
porridge) devoured, Thabo Mbeki will be sworn in for his second and final
five-year presidential term.

The seating of 119 representatives of foreign governments has been
immaculately planned, so that deputy prime minister John Prescott and
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe will not need to look each other in the
eye or exchange gossip about their wives' shopping habits and hairdos, which
is a pity.

But there have been complaints about the sheer extravagance of the party in
a country where, proportionately, more people are out of work than in the US
during the great depression of the 1930s.

But the complaints do not seem to be coming from South Africa's
poverty-stricken black masses, who a few days ago returned the once-banned
African National Congress to power, with its biggest majority yet and in the
country's most peaceful election ever.

Romantics are writing that it is a miracle which has brought South Africa to
this superficially serene and almost banal point in its history. But it was
no miracle - just the exercise of phenomenal restraint by an authentically
great man, Nelson Mandela, and a lot of common sense by other players in the
saga, their behaviour to be understood against the vital background of a
tectonic shift in world history.

If there is any miracle to be found, it is in the fact that the ruling ANC -
the 900-pound gorilla of South African politics - is still so greatly
trusted in a country with so many huge problems and with yet bigger ones
looming like great black clouds in a high veld thunderstorm.

It would, for example, take several PhD theses to explain exactly why the
people of Limpopo Province, in the north bordering Zimbabwe, gave the ruling
party 89% of their votes when unemployment there runs at nearly 60%.

Perhaps it is out of relief that the civil war never happened.

There were several times when, as a foreign correspondent based in South
Africa to report the transition from apartheid, I thought the apocalypse was
inevitable. Most of all on April 10, 1993 when two white right-wingers
assassinated Chris Hani, the second most popular ANC leader, in the driveway
of his home. Daily low-level conflict accelerated so dangerously that FW de
Klerk, the last white National Party president, asked Mandela to address the
nation on television in a bid to avert civil war.

"Our whole nation teeters on the brink of disaster," said Mandela. "Tonight
I am reaching out to every single South African, black and white, from the
very depths of my being. Now is the time for all South Africans to stand
together against those who, from any quarter, wish to destroy what Chris
Hani gave his life for - the freedom of all of us."

Mandela pointed out that although it was whites who had killed Hani, it was
also a white woman, an Afrikaner, who risked her life by identifying the
assassins and helping bring them to justice.

The post-assassination storm of violence subsided to "normal" levels and
Mandela, his right-hand man, Cyril Ramaphosa, and De Klerk used the events
to accelerate constitutional negotiations.

There was always localised civil war on Khumalo Street in Thokoza, a black
township to the southeast of Johannesburg. People died there daily in
fighting between supporters of the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party
and the ANC. Journalists died there, too, as both sides committed acts of
frightful bestiality. Trucks gathered dead bodies every morning. John
Mhlambi, a former ANC fighter, still struggles to eat meat to this day as he
recalls the Khumalo Street battles. Understandably so.

He flinches as he recalls Zulus armed with axes, machetes and sharpened
bicycle wheel spokes tying up a man with wire before dousing him in petrol
and forcing him to drink some. "As he struggled to drink the petrol, they
taunted him by moving their weapons around his face and private parts," says
Mhlambi.

"After he had drunk some of the petrol he was untied, given a cigarette and
ordered to light it. As he struggled to delay the inevitable, the men lit
the cigarette for him. Fire engulfed him, and seconds later his body
exploded and internal organs scattered around, burning still."

Khumalo Street is curiously peaceful today, although stinking sewage still
spills on to the street among the fruit vendors, welders sit in the dust and
little post-apartheid children play on trampolines. Sister Philistus
Kgatlhanye, a Roman Catholic nun who ran a clinic just off Khumalo Street
and who works there to this day, says: "What happened here was horrific.
People are still on medication for post-traumatic stress disorders, saying
they still hear the screams of their children being killed."

The 10th year of democratic history has not been kind to Inkatha and its
leader, the irascible Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, much loved by British
right-wingers as a "good" African who deserved power in South Africa.
Buthelezi, descendant of a line of prime ministers to legendary Zulu
monarchs such as Shaka, Dingane and Cetshwayo, exercised near-feudal control
over the rolling green hills of rural Zululand, where chiefs' decrees are
law.

His party of the Zulus, South Africa's biggest ethnic group, ruled KwaZulu
Natal, the country's most populous province, until this month. But the ANC
won the provincial election this time, signalling another huge shift in the
political landscape as Zulus move from the countryside to cities such as
Durban and Pietermaritzburg. And in the city, the wits like to say that "the
only skins I'm interested in wearing are designed by Gucci" - a jibe at
traditional Zulus' fondness for leopard skins, often made of nylon these
days, and ostrich feathers.

And so, Buthelezi has become part of the detritus of the past as the ANC
holds its 10 years of democracy party before facing the daunting challenges
of the future - 28 million in a population of 43 million living on less than
US$1 a day, with 20,000 people dying of Aids each month, a figure that is
still rising. By the time of the next election there will be more than one
million Aids orphans, and there will be no excuse for a party.

25 April 2004
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news.com.au

Howzat for a farce

From our wire services

April 26, 2004

AUSTRALIA'S forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe is shaping as a farce after Sri
Lanka skittled the depleted Zimbabweans for a world record low of 35 then
clinched the series with a nine-wicket win in the third one-day
international in Harare yesterday.

Zimbabwe, with an inexperienced squad for the five-match series after 15
capped players ruled themselves out in a selection-process battle with their
board, were dismissed in 18 overs after losing the toss.

Sri Lanka, who won the first two one-day internationals in Bulawayo, replied
with 1-40 in 9.2 overs.

Zimbabwe's total beat the previous low of 36 by Canada against Sri Lanka at
Paarl during last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Already Australia's Stuart MacGill has pulled out of the tour due to
Zimbabwe's poor human rights record, while other leading players in the
Australian squad, including spin star Shane Warne, have expressed concerns
over whether they should tour against such weak opposition.

No Zimbabwe batsman reached double figures at Harare Sports Club, Dion
Ebrahim top-scoring with seven. There were four ducks.

Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took 4-12 in nine overs for Sri Lanka,
becoming the second Sri Lankan to take 300 one-day wickets after spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan.

Vaas got swing and seam and was virtually unplayable on a lively pitch of
uneven bounce.

Medium pacer Dilhara Fernando shared the new ball with Vaas, taking 2-18 in
six overs.

Debutant paceman Mohamed Maharoof bowled the remaining three overs, taking
3-3. The last nine wickets crashed for just 17 runs.

Zimbabwe's innings began to disintegrate in the eighth over, when Ebrahim
drove loosely at a ball from Fernando and was caught behind by wicketkeeper
Kumar Sangakkara.

Seven balls later, Zimbabwe had plummeted to 5-19, losing four wickets for
just one run. Among them was captain Tatenda Taibu, who held his team's
innings together in the first two matches of the series with top scores of
96 not out and 35.

Yesterday, however, Taibu was dismissed first ball, leg before to an
inswinger from Fernando that straightened after pitching and struck him on
the back pad.
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'The cancer is at the heart of the board'

April 25, 2004

One of the senior Zimbabwe 'rebel' players, who obviously needs to remain anonymous, spoke exclusively to Wisden Cricinfo in the last couple of days

What's just a game of cricket shouldn't be a matter of life or death
As far as you are aware, how did this crisis begin?
A number of us as players were not happy with the way things were going in Zimbabwe cricket and the way the ZCU board were running the game, especially the increasing politicisation, so Heath Streak put our principles to them and said he would consider retiring or resigning if they were not met. And the board sacked him. We decided to come out in support of him because we believe Heath is the right man to captain the side, there are people on the board who shouldn't be there, and the selection policies are wrong.

Where do things stand with you at the moment?
We are now in a 21-day period before further action will be taken, and we're not sure which way it will go. They [the board] are claiming breach of contract against us, but the players believe that various transgressions on their part constitute breach of contract by them. They tried to get us to sign a statement yesterday to say there was a mediator involved who would act as a player's representative and we would go back to practice as of yesterday. We went back to Vince Hogg and told him we did not believe this was true and we were not prepared to sign it. So we are waiting for our lawyer to return from South Africa on Tuesday and then we will see where we are.

They are running scared because the team got thrashed
How is morale generally among the 'rebel' players?
It's hard to tell because we haven't been together for about a week, but I think our spirits are still up. We still all want to play for Zimbabwe, but at the moment that is not tenable as we see it. We got together in the first place to try to make things better for everyone, but I don't think things have moved very far.

Do you have any expectation that the letter the board wanted you to sign yesterday show they want to work towards a genuine agreement or be prepared to compromise, or do you think they are trying it on?
No, I don't think they want to address the important issues. They might be willing to change a couple of things which aren't that important, but the cancer of Zimbabwe cricket is at the heart of the board, and they won't want to change that. If that doesn't change, the policies running Zimbabwe cricket aren't going to change either. We think it's a red herring, and they're running scared because the team got thrashed the other day. Three major sponsors I understand have threatened to pull out, and there is major pressure on the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - and on us as well. It might go to court, but the guys are adamant and feel so strongly that they are willing to stick together and see out the cause. Costs may run into millions, and most of the guys can't afford that. But it looks like it might go that way, unless there is some sort of arbitration that can resolve the whole issue.

Do you fear possible reprisals against yourselves or your families?
That's a worst-case scenario, but I think the guys are aware it might get to that. What's just a game of cricket shouldn't be a matter of life or death.

Is there any kind of feeling about whether, under the present circumstances, Australia and England should tour?
We haven't really thought too much about that side of things yet, but we know they are obliged to come and we can't change that.

They don't seem to care about us as players, and they seem determined to run Zimbabwe cricket their way at all costs
Are many of the players considering leaving Zimbabwe now?
I think some of us have something in the pipeline, playing for clubs overseas and that sort of thing. But that's just for the future, if the worst comes to the worst. We still want to play for Zimbabwe, but we do have to make contingency plans if that proves impossible.

We have heard of examples of supposedly impartial board officials acting in inappropriate manners.

I could fill a book if I started talking about that! We object to their principles and the way they treat us. To give just one example, in a meeting Ozias Bvute laughed at one of our most senior players and said, "You can go whenever you want to; you can go and play club cricket and take your mates with you if you want." This was his attitude to a player who had given many years of loyal service … quite disgusting. They don't seem to care about us as players, and they seem determined to run Zimbabwe cricket their way at all costs.

We didn't do it because of race, we did it because we want to put things right in Zimbabwe cricket
Are there any other points you feel should be made by the players?
Yes, definitely. We are all cricketers here together, but it has been turned into a racial thing. We didn't do it because of race, we did it because we want to put things right in Zimbabwe cricket. We've been called white rebel cricketers, but we're just cricketers, and that's all we want to be. It's not a matter of being black or white, it's just about trying to do the right thing and get things right. The media here has turned it into white versus black. We would like Heath Streak as captain, not because he's white and Tatenda [Taibu] is black, but because we think Tatenda is too young. He's going to have a great future ahead of him, but we believe Heath is still the man to lead Zimbabwe for the next year or two. We just think it's a bit premature for Tatenda to take over the reins now.

Have you had any genuine feedback from any black players about how they feel about the situation?
Yes, we did. Three of them were going to side with us, but I think they got influenced by the powers that be and they turned around and reneged on their decision. Other than that, we haven't had any more contact with them.

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd
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Reuters

      Tutu urges England cricketers to boycott Zimbabwe

      Sun April 25, 2004 9:23 PM LONDON (Reuters) - South African Nobel
prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu urged England's cricketers on Sunday to
boycott a planned tour of Zimbabwe in October.
      Tutu, one of the world's most prominent campaigners for peace and
democracy, said the cricketers would send the wrong signal to the government
of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe if they were to go ahead with the
tour.

      "We need to put as much pressure as we can on the political
community," he told BBC television. "We need to help the world show clearly
that we disapprove of what is happening in Zimbabwe.

      "That is what we want to do. It isn't that we want to clobber them.
Let's do what most of the people, especially the ones who are suffering, are
saying we should do."

      England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan said last
week he thought it was likely England would go to Zimbabwe for the tour.

      "It's fairly certain that England will have to honour the commitment
so long as it's safe and secure," Morgan said.

      Morgan's comments followed threats from the International Cricket
Council (ICC) to suspend and impose a $2 million fine on teams who refuse to
tour unless there are legitimate safety concerns or they are asked not to go
by their governments.

      British Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said last month
the government had serious concerns about Mugabe's administration but made
it clear that a final decision on whether to tour lay with the British
government.

      England under former captain Nasser Hussain refused to play in
Zimbabwe during last year's World Cup because of security concerns. British
media reports have suggested players may be allowed to decide for themselves
whether they want to tour.
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Zimbabwe Mirror

      Multiple farm owners to be investigated
      Nkululeko Sibanda

      The police have been tasked with investigating the circumstances under
which some high profile members of the government and a number of public
figures have managed to acquire more than one farm as opposed to the
government's one-man-one-farm policy under the recently-ended fast track
land reform programme, a government minister said yesterday.

      The government in 2000 embarked on fast track land reform programme
whose basic objective was to empower the majority of Zimbabweans who had for
decades been crammed on unproductive land as a white minority group owned
more than 70 percent of prime land.

      However, some cabinet ministers, other government officials and
powerful businesspersons took advantage of the unplanned programme to amass
farms for themselves.

      Speaking to the Sunday Mirror yesterday, the Minister of Special
Affairs in the President's Office responsible for Land, Land Reform and
Resettlement, John Nkomo said the police would investigate those culprits
who would have been identified as having violated the policy.

      This follows several meetings that Nkomo held with provincial land
committees throughout the country to establish the progress that has taken
place as far as tidying up the loose ends of the land redistribution
programme is concerned.

      "We met recently with officials in the ministry and provincial land
task forces to review the situation. We discovered that despite the
one-man-one-one farm call by the President and my office, there were still
some people who had seen it fit to hold onto extra pieces of land.

      "According to the Land Acquisition and Amendment Act that was signed
by the President, anyone who keeps any piece of state land that has not been
allocated to him is committing a crime that places him or her on the line
for prosecution.

      "As part of the clean up campaign, we have taken aboard the deputy
police commissioner, Godwin Matanga and other officers from the police Fraud
Squad to help us investigate all those that have other pieces of land apart
from those they were allocated by government," said Nkomo.

      "The government made it clear that for the programme to cover almost
everyone, there should be an amicable way to address the issue of land
redistribution. It was also made clear that for us to achieve that feat
which some people thought was not achievable, there was a need for all the
people to get one farm each so that everyone would be catered for.

      "But to some, this had a different meaning and they decided to
allocate themselves more than one farm and as government we say to them, now
is the time to face the music for your actions," said Nkomo.

      He added the move to include the police in the investigating team
should not be viewed as a sinister move, but one that is positive and
seeking to bring about sanity in the land reform programme. "The police
would seek to fish out those characters, even outside the government, who
have hidden state land and possibly bring them to book as part of the
efforts to restore sanity in the whole programme." However, the new twist to
the clean-up exercise could see a number of high profile government
officials being netted in the whole process as Nkomo said there was no stone
that would be left unturned in the latest wave of the campaign.

      Several government officials have been accused of using their
political muscle to elbow out the defenceless majority and poor who were
supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of the programme.
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Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 8:18 PM
Zim Hyena attack

An Encounter on the Wild  Side

Do you ever have times when your own words come back to you?  Each term I
choose a key word and base my assemblies around this word. In the  middle
term
2003 I chose the word "Challenges, and in the 3rd term - "Attitude".  The
stories, homilies, quotations, etc that I spoke to the children about
certainly set
me up for my start to 2004.

I had  joined family and friends, about 14 of us, for a New Year fishing and
camping  trip at Mongwe, 30kms downstream from Chirundu, on the banks of the
Zambezi. My  husband had opted not to come as he reckoned he'd done enough
camping in his  lifetime. We had been having an idyllic time, fishing,
cruising,
eating,  drinking, talking - as one does on the banks of that incredible
river.
On the  2nd January we'd spent the morning fishing, had drifted down the
river for a  late afternoon sundowner, had returned to camp, had a wonderful
meal
- in true  Zimbabwe fashion we had taken two cooks with us who even managed
to
produce  freshly baked bread each day. At about 9.30 we all decided to
retire
for the  night. Isn't it amazing how tired one gets doing nothing all day?

I settled into my little tent (one of those 2-man  jobbies made for
undersized midgets!). It was extremely hot so after about an  hour of
tossing and
turning I decided to sleep on the stretcher I had outside my  tent. The tent
was
too small for the stretcher to fit inside. I must admit, that  as I arranged
my
pillow and sheet on the stretcher, the thought of hyenas did  cross my mind
but I instantly dismissed the idea and was soon fast  asleep.

At 10 to 12 I was jerked to wakefulness  by the sound of the scrunching of
bone and the most disgusting smell, as a hyena  bit into my face and hand
and
started dragging me. I screamed and screamed,  thinking that my end was in
sight!! It must have been only a few seconds before  the brute, realising
that he'd
bitten off more than he could chew, let me go and  vanished into the night.
As I knelt in the dirt, the blood pouring from my face,  I realised that my
hands and feet still worked and that I could still think so I  must be all
right!!

My son-in-law, Trevor  Gilbert and a friend picked me up and carried me to a
thatched A-frame, where  they sat me in the light. My daughter Jenna and her
friend Kim then proceeded to  clean up all my wounds and bandage them. What
a
dreadful thing for a daughter to  have to do for her mother but both she and
Kim managed superbly. Trevor and my  ex-husband (you can work that one out
for
yourself) then drove me to the  hospital in Kariba, encountering many
elephants
en-route, some of whom were not  too keen to get out of our way. Arriving at
2.30am at Kariba, we met the only  piece of negativity we found when the
duty
nurses told us to go on to Harare as  they had no facilities. Luckily, two
Cuban doctors appeared and immediately put  me on a drip, administered pain
killers, gave me an anti-tetanus injection,  rabies vaccine and sewed up my
thumb,
apologising that they could do nothing for  my face. They really gave me a
good Z$120 worth.

In the meantime, after many phone calls, Trevor managed to get hold  of my
sister in Harare who contacted MARS, who agreed to come and fetch me. As
there
was an air-controllers' strike in prgoress they were only able to land in
Kariba when it was light. Here the pilots apologised for not arriving
sooner.
The MARS doctor and sister were superb, very efficient and reassuring.
During
the flight they radioed ahead to the Avenues Clinic for a receiving surgeon
to
be waiting for me and to have a plastic surgeon on stand-by. Upon my arrival
at  the Clinic, things went pretty much according to the movies, where I was
handed  over to the doctors and plastic surgeon, x-rayed, prepared for
theatre,
operated  on, then sent to the wards. Contrary to what I had been led to
believe, my  treatment and nursing was second to none and I have nothing but
praise for all  the people who attended to me. They were all highly skilled
and
very caring. We  are so fortunate in this country to have so many dedicated
and
highly tought of  specialists still practising here.

Meanwhile my  poor husband, who was in Chipinge had been told by me elder
daughter Alison, who  lives in Middle Sabi, that I had been attacked and
dragged
by my head by a hyena  - the message she had received. Fearing the worse, he
packed his funeral suit  and set off for Harare, planning my service and
choosing hymns on the way. He  actually was highly relieved to see me alive!
I am
sure that I was on half the  prayer lists in the country upon my arrival in
Harare and probably most of the  others by the time I was in theatre. It was
incredible how quickly the news  spread. I do believe that I am living proof
that
prayers are answered. From the  moment that hyena let go of me, everything
was
positive. I did lose my eye but  the surgeon managed to re-attach my
eye-lid,
which is a big plus for holding in  a false eye, and still has hopes of
finding tear ducts. After the first op he  thought he would have to do a
couple of
skin grafts, but during the second op,  ten days later, he found that it
wasn't
necessry. The bone man managed to put  my very "graunched" hand back
together
with skewers and thinks I will probably  get full movement back. Having been
for various neuro-scans, it appears that the  nerves in both my face and
hands
are working --more or less.

I still have a long way to go, but think that by the  end of the year and a
few more ops I should be as good as new, complete with a  matching glass
eye.
My face, especially the eyelid, is very swollen, needing to  be massaged for
at
least half an hour three times a day. This, my husband does.  I then lie
back
and revel in the joys of formication (note the letter "m")  following the
stimulation to my face. I never cease to be amazed at my recovery  and have
been
back at school for three weeks. I really have no hang-ups about my  injuries
or disfigurement. I think it is something to do with this half  empty/half
full
thing. Much worse things happen to other people. I am still  alive. My
injuries could have been much more horrific. The response of my family  and
friends
has been wonderful. The prayers, support, good wishes, flowers and  gifts
given to us by so many have been unbelievable.

Zimbabwe is still a very caring society to live in. People see what  needs
doing and do it. I arrived home to a full freezer and fridge and a house
full
of flowers and meals. My little school was in perfect running order, as I
knew
it would be.

Life is good. Take up the  challenge and be positive!!!

Di Paterson

19th February 2004
Chipinge
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theherald.co.uk

Cricket: Harare debacle may lead to a tour reprieve

DOMINIC O'REILLY

The England and Wales Cricket Board would have discreetly cheered each
wicket yesterday as Zimbabwe slumped to 35 all out against Sri Lanka in
Harare to suffer the lowest score by any side in a one-day international.
Having failed to persuade the International Cricket Council to let them
abandon a tour of Zimbabwe this winter on moral or security grounds, the ECB
is hoping the Africans' poor form can offer an escape.
Should there be a similar humiliations against Sri Lanka, or when Australia
tour next month, the ECB could claim Zimbabwe are not up to international
standards and that the tour would be a mismatch.
Last week, Ricky Ponting claimed that "the Australian team is not really
noted for going easy on any opposition" and, as a new captain, he would not
want to change that.
The Australian leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, has announced he will not tour
Zimbabwe, but several others will travel due to a desire to keep their
place.
Zimbabwe's weak side has been hit by 15 white cricketers boycotting the
national team, over Heath Streak's dismissal as captain for strong criticism
of political team selections. When they toured England last year, Zimbabwe
lost five of their six one-day games and were defeated in three days in both
Tests. Robbed of their best players, they're now little more than a club
team who would probably lose to Bangladesh.
The new skipper, 20-year-old wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, held the side
together in the first ODI against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 96 taking them
to 211-6, and top scored again with 36 in the second match as Zimbabwe made
136.
The Africans lost both games without being routed, but Taibu's dismissal for
a first-ball duck in the third game seemed to panic the team. Skittled for
35 in their capital city by a Sri Lankan side without three first-choice
players, including Muttiah Muralitharan, the pre-series fears were
ruthlessly exposed. The Zimbabwean public suspected as much, with barely 500
people going to the match, the lowest crowd for any international match at
the Harare Sports Ground.
The latest debacle will only discourage fans from turning up, which would
lend strength to any ECB request. There is little point in a tour if no one
wants to see the matches.
The ICC president, Ehsan Mani, said last week "it is one of the ICC's
responsibilities to ensure that everything possible is done to protect the
integrity of the sport" and this is the perfect time to prove that as there
is little chance of any Zimbabwean improvement.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the players a deadline of May 7 to
abandon their boycott or be sacked.
England's second one-day international with the West Indies was again
disrupted by the weather yesterday with not a single ball bowled due to
rain. The game was abandoned with the West Indies on 57 for 2 on Saturday
after 16 overs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board would have discreetly cheered each
wicket yesterday as Zimbabwe slumped to 35 all out against Sri Lanka in
Harare to suffer the lowest score by any side in a one-day international.
Having failed to persuade the International Cricket Council to let them
abandon a tour of Zimbabwe this winter on moral or security grounds, the ECB
is hoping the Africans' poor form can offer an escape.
Should there be a similar humiliations against Sri Lanka, or when Australia
tour next month, the ECB could claim Zimbabwe are not up to international
standards and that the tour would be a mismatch.
Last week, Ricky Ponting claimed that "the Australian team is not really
noted for going easy on any opposition" and, as a new captain, he would not
want to change that.
The Australian leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, has announced he will not tour
Zimbabwe, but several others will travel due to a desire to keep their
place.
Zimbabwe's weak side has been hit by 15 white cricketers boycotting the
national team, over Heath Streak's dismissal as captain for strong criticism
of political team selections. When they toured England last year, Zimbabwe
lost five of their six one-day games and were defeated in three days in both
Tests. Robbed of their best players, they're now little more than a club
team who would probably lose to Bangladesh.
The new skipper, 20-year-old wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, held the side
together in the first ODI against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 96 taking them
to 211-6, and top scored again with 36 in the second match as Zimbabwe made
136.
The Africans lost both games without being routed, but Taibu's dismissal for
a first-ball duck in the third game seemed to panic the team. Skittled for
35 in their capital city by a Sri Lankan side without three first-choice
players, including Muttiah Muralitharan, the pre-series fears were
ruthlessly exposed. The Zimbabwean public suspected as much, with barely 500
people going to the match, the lowest crowd for any international match at
the Harare Sports Ground.
The latest debacle will only discourage fans from turning up, which would
lend strength to any ECB request. There is little point in a tour if no one
wants to see the matches.
The ICC president, Ehsan Mani, said last week "it is one of the ICC's
responsibilities to ensure that everything possible is done to protect the
integrity of the sport" and this is the perfect time to prove that as there
is little chance of any Zimbabwean improvement.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the players a deadline of May 7 to
abandon their boycott or be sacked.
England's second one-day international with the West Indies was again
disrupted by the weather yesterday with not a single ball bowled due to
rain. The game was abandoned with the West Indies on 57 for 2 on Saturday
after 16 overs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board would have discreetly cheered each
wicket yesterday as Zimbabwe slumped to 35 all out against Sri Lanka in
Harare to suffer the lowest score by any side in a one-day international.
Having failed to persuade the International Cricket Council to let them
abandon a tour of Zimbabwe this winter on moral or security grounds, the ECB
is hoping the Africans' poor form can offer an escape.
Should there be a similar humiliations against Sri Lanka, or when Australia
tour next month, the ECB could claim Zimbabwe are not up to international
standards and that the tour would be a mismatch.
Last week, Ricky Ponting claimed that "the Australian team is not really
noted for going easy on any opposition" and, as a new captain, he would not
want to change that.
The Australian leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, has announced he will not tour
Zimbabwe, but several others will travel due to a desire to keep their
place.
Zimbabwe's weak side has been hit by 15 white cricketers boycotting the
national team, over Heath Streak's dismissal as captain for strong criticism
of political team selections. When they toured England last year, Zimbabwe
lost five of their six one-day games and were defeated in three days in both
Tests. Robbed of their best players, they're now little more than a club
team who would probably lose to Bangladesh.
The new skipper, 20-year-old wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, held the side
together in the first ODI against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 96 taking them
to 211-6, and top scored again with 36 in the second match as Zimbabwe made
136.
The Africans lost both games without being routed, but Taibu's
dismissal for a first-ball duck in the third game seemed to panic the team.
Skittled for 35 in their capital city by a Sri Lankan side without three
first-choice players, including Muttiah Muralitharan, the pre-series fears
were ruthlessly exposed. The Zimbabwean public suspected as much, with
barely 500 people going to the match, the lowest crowd for any international
match at the Harare Sports Ground.
The latest debacle will only discourage fans from turning up, which would
lend strength to any ECB request. There is little point in a tour if no one
wants to see the matches.
The ICC president, Ehsan Mani, said last week "it is one of the ICC's
responsibilities to ensure that everything possible is done to protect the
integrity of the sport" and this is the perfect time to prove that as there
is little chance of any Zimbabwean improvement.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the players a deadline of May 7 to
abandon their boycott or be sacked.
England's second one-day international with the West Indies was again
disrupted by the weather yesterday with not a single ball bowled due to
rain. The game was abandoned with the West Indies on 57 for 2 on Saturday
after 16 overs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board would have discreetly cheered each
wicket yesterday as Zimbabwe slumped to 35 all out against Sri Lanka in
Harare to suffer the lowest score by any side in a one-day international.
Having failed to persuade the International Cricket Council to let them
abandon a tour of Zimbabwe this winter on moral or security grounds, the ECB
is hoping the Africans' poor form can offer an escape.
Should there be a similar humiliations against Sri Lanka, or when Australia
tour next month, the ECB could claim Zimbabwe are not up to international
standards and that the tour would be a mismatch.
Last week, Ricky Ponting claimed that "the Australian team is not really
noted for going easy on any opposition" and, as a new captain, he would not
want to change that.
The Australian leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, has announced he will not tour
Zimbabwe, but several others will travel due to a desire to keep their
place.
Zimbabwe's weak side has been hit by 15 white cricketers boycotting the
national team, over Heath Streak's dismissal as captain for strong criticism
of political team selections. When they toured England last year, Zimbabwe
lost five of their six one-day games and were defeated in three days in both
Tests. Robbed of their best players, they're now little more than a club
team who would probably lose to Bangladesh.
The new skipper, 20-year-old wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, held the side
together in the first ODI against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 96 taking them
to 211-6, and top scored again with 36 in the second match as Zimbabwe made
136.
The Africans lost both games without being routed, but Taibu's dismissal for
a first-ball duck in the third game seemed to panic the team. Skittled for
35 in their capital city by a Sri Lankan side without three first-choice
players, including Muttiah Muralitharan, the pre-series fears were
ruthlessly exposed. The Zimbabwean public suspected as much, with barely 500
people going to the match, the lowest crowd for any international match at
the Harare Sports Ground.
The latest debacle will only discourage fans from turning up, which would
lend strength to any ECB request. There is little point in a tour if no one
wants to see the matches.
The ICC president, Ehsan Mani, said last week "it is one of the ICC's
responsibilities to ensure that everything possible is done to protect the
integrity of the sport" and this is the perfect time to prove that as there
is little chance of any Zimbabwean improvement.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the players a deadline of May 7 to
abandon their boycott or be sacked.
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International Herald Tribune

      Cricket: Dismal showing is symptom of Zimbabwe's woes
         Huw Richards IHT  Monday, April 26, 2004

Zimbabwe was dismissed by Sri Lanka for 35 runs in Harare on Sunday, the
lowest score in the history of one-day internationals and a graphic
illustration of the difficulties now besetting cricket in Zimbabwe.
.
The troubled African state has no rival as a source of political unrest
within the game.
.
India and Pakistan, whose relationship remains potentially a far more
serious worry, have just resumed relations with a stunning series of
fiercely purposeful matches played amid an atmosphere of good will and
mutual respect.
.
Reaction to Robert Mugabe's dictatorship is now not only destabilizing
English and Australian cricket, but also clearly threatening the game in
Zimbabwe itself.
.
When Australia visits Zimbabwe next month, it will go without spin bowler
Stuart MacGill. MacGill, a highly intelligent and sophisticated man , has
pulled out as a protest against Zimbabwe's government. In doing so, he is
risking his future as an international player. Already, he plays a perpetual
second fiddle to the incomparable Shane Warne, but now he has created an
opportunity for Cameron White, a formidably gifted 21-year-old. Others may
follow Warne.
.
Meanwhile, England's hapless cricket authorities continue their long-running
bid for the U.K. all-comers irresolution record. They had previously
indicated that they would probably not make their scheduled tour of Zimbabwe
later this year, maintaining the position taken when they were supposed to
play there in last year's World Cup but breaking a promise made since to the
Zimbabwe Cricket Union.
.
Now, warned that the International Cricket Council may impose penalties
running into the millions of dollars, potentially devastating for the
English game as a whole, they have indicated that they almost certainly will
go.
.
There are, though, several months in which the combined effect of
nervousness among players, demonstrations by well-organized anti-Mugabe
groups and the open distaste of the British government could take effect.
.
Thus far, the government has neither offered the clear guidance that would
get the England and Wales Cricket Board off the International Cricket
Council's hook, nor deterred other political and economic contacts with
Zimbabwe. Which way the England Cricket Board will be facing when the final
decision has to be made is still anybody's guess.
.
So, too, is the composition of any team Zimbabwe might field. The team
dismissed for 35 on Sunday was little more than a youth squad pressed into
service after a split on racial lines.
.
All of the experienced white players are in dispute with the Zimbabwe
Cricket Union. The 15-man group of white players is acting in solidarity
with the deposed captain, Heath Streak, who lost the job when the Zimbabwe
Cricket Union refused his demands to restructure its international selection
committee by excluding two members with no serious cricket experience.
.
Aside from the political implications of a schism on racial lines, Zimbabwe,
with the narrowest base of any of the 10 test nations, and having already
lost numerous players - white and black - in recent years who decided not to
play for their country any longer, cannot afford to lose 15 players, white
or otherwise. Not even Australia could afford losses on that scale.
.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the captaincy to a 20-year-old
wicket-keeper, Tatenda Taibu. He is, like Streak, a cricketer of quality,
character and substance. It was entirely typical that he scored 96 runs in
his first match as captain. He is, though, in an unconscionable position:
isolated from his former colleagues and expected to lead a minimally
experienced squad with an average age of only 20 against international
opponents.
.
Against a team as accomplished in one-day internationals as Sri Lanka, it
was a task akin to leading a team of college freshmen against the New York
Yankees. Taibu was out first ball Sunday as his team broke the unwanted
record for the lowest score in 2,122 limited-over internationals, previously
36, made by Canada against Sri Lanka in the World Cup in South Africa last
year. Dion Ebrahim, one of the more experienced of the Zimbabweans, was the
top scorer with seven. Sri Lanka reached the target for the loss of one
wicket in just 9.2 overs. The whole match lasted barely two hours.
.
Zimbabwe's dissidents are seeking Streak's reinstatement and the
restructuring of the selection panel. The Zimbabwe union has warned that it
will fire them if they do not come to terms by May 7, the second day of the
forthcoming two-match series of five-day tests against Sri Lanka.
.
The International Cricket Council has tried to mediate, as yet with no
success. Mugabe's controlled press has accused the protesting players of
racism. The whining of some white Zimbabwean cricketers about quotas for
others may have echoed any privileged group whose monopoly is challenged,
but that charge won't stick to Streak Co., who have stuck with Zimbabwe
through contentious and challenging times.
.
Observers in Zimbabwe say the most powerful influence on the Zimbabwe
Cricket Union is not its chief executive, Vince Hogg, nor its chairman,
Peter Chingoka, but Ozais Bvute, an appointee of Mugabe's ruling party. The
irony is that Mugabe once said he wanted all Zimbabweans to play cricket, a
game for gentlemen. But his interference in the game - Mugabe is patron of
the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - has resulted in a most ungentlemanly dispute.

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The Herald

Zim Miners' Federation dissolved

By Leonard Makombe
THE Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has dissolved the Zimbabwe
Miners Federation national executive following squabbles which have rocked
the body in the last two months.

A constitution that was adopted by ZMF was also invalidated and a new one is
expected to be tabled before fresh elections for office holders are held
next month.

In the meantime, a working committee chaired by Mr Mugejo Makoni has been
put in place to run the organisation until substantive executive members are
elected.

"I can confirm that last Thursdays meeting with the minister was quite
fruitful as we realised that there were a number of issues both parties were
missing.

"It was realised that the constitution we were using was not valid and it
also follows that the elections held in Masvingo are void," said one of the
executive members who attended the meeting held last week.

This development brings to an end the name-calling and accusations which had
come to characterise the association.

Problems at the association started when disgruntled executive members
staged a "coup" to out incumbent president, Mr Nixon Misi.

This move divided the association into two factions, one supporting Mr Misi
and the other one recognising Mr George Kaonza (Misis vice) as the new
president.

It was a timely intervention by the ministry which saved ZMF from further
decay.

"Both parties have seen that they were making mistakes and it is agreed that
fresh elections would be held on the 6th of next month.

"It is expected that by that time, we would have adopted a new constitution,
which is being written at the moment under the supervision of the working
committee," added the executive member who declined to be named.

It is expected that all constituent organisations, making up ZMF, would
study and adopt the new constitution in time for the elections.

Mr Makoni confirmed that he has been chosen the chairman of the working
committee, but referred further questions to the ministry.

Efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development
Ambassador Amos Midzi were fruitless at the time of going to press.

ZMF was reduced to a battlefield as the organisations national executive and
general council fought for control of the federation.

Formed mid-last year, ZMF was hailed as the voice of the small-scale miners,
before problems resurfaced.

It is ironic that the association, formed to replace the Giles Munyoro-run
Small-scale Miners Association, which was also accused of mismanagement, is
already embroiled in such a mess.
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The Herald

Illegal forex probe widens

Herald Reporters
POLICE are investigating 59 individuals, companies and churches suspected of
involvement in illegal foreign currency dealings as the crackdown on
economic crimes intensifies.

Police last week arrested 24 people in Harare for allegedly being involved
in the illegal foreign currency deals.

According to a list released by the Criminal Investigation Department's
Special Unit, police are looking for and probing 59 suspects and
institutions, who include churches, individual priests, companies and
business people, who were involved in illegal foreign currency deals.

The special investigations unit is probing illegal foreign currency dealings
involving banks, companies, organisations and individuals.

"We have been trying to get hold of the individuals and companies with no
joy," said Superintendent Erasmus Makodza of the CID.

He said the wanted companies, individuals and organisations externalised
funds running into billions of dollars, and the net was closing in on them.

Supt Makodza said police were looking for the following individuals,
companies and organisations: Shoppers World (Bejel), Sea Sea Enterprises, J
P Hartinack, R Goodwin, Clarkson, G Shaw, Remo Investments, Sister Francis,
J Crawford W King, G Roberts, J Leanders and Simone.

H Schur, D Helfar, Regiahook, Matt Taylor, Valley Corners, D Ray, Highveld
Seeds, Willem, Bobat, Veldsman, Mageza, Bejel, Brinkworth, B Ray and Father
Joseph.

The others are Lambert Porter, A C Transport, F R Audin, J Harmer, Beit
Trust, Lowveld Leather, S Kumbani, H Mawema, Olray Investments, W Adams, W
Hancock, B Craigg, Schoeman, Robotson, C Chiromo, T Munjoma, Petkin
Investments, C Friend A Feldman, Farlow, D Weinenburg, R Goodwin, Hozelock
Time and D Mutch.

Police also said they were keen to interview Sister Francis and Father
Joseph, believed to be of the Roman Catholic's Bulawayo parishes.

Father Kizito Mhembere of Roman Catholic admitted there could be some
missionaries from his church who might have been dealing in foreign
currency.

"Yes, I can confirm that some missionaries receive foreign currency from
their relatives overseas, but I do not know how they change it or what they
do with the money," Father Mhembere said.

He said if the particular culprits are identified by the police, his church
was more than willing to help.

"But as of now nothing has been communicated to me by the police," he said.

The head of the Salvation Army Church in Zimbabwe, one Commissioner Makina,
said he had to ascertain first whether organisations linked to his
denomination were involved in illegal foreign currency deals.

"I will check with the homes, including Athol Evans Hospital (an institution
for the aged), to see if at all there were any deals," he said.

Police said they were also investigating several companies for under-valuing
goods exported to other countries.

The goods, which included in most cases minerals, were under-invoiced and
the owners of the companies externalised the foreign currency.

At least 24 people were arrested at Roadport bus terminus last week for
illegally dealing in foreign currency. They were released after paying fines
of $25 000 each.

The suspects were mostly women.

Some taxi drivers who, according to police, act as middlemen, were also
netted as the bus terminus.

Police spokesperson Inspector Andrew Phiri said they charged the suspects
under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

"We charged them for allegedly blocking other people and traffic at the bus
terminus," he said.

He said police were fully aware of what was going on at Roadport and would
continue to arrest the culprits until they desist from their illegal
activities.

In a related incident, police arrested 20 touts and 23 illegal vendors as
they intensified their campaign to reduce crime in the city centre. They
were released after paying admission of guilt fines of $25 000 each. -
Herald Reporters/Bulawayo Bureau.
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New Zimbabwe

Just how do you get rid of Mugabe?

By Brian Dube
Last updated: 04/26/2004 11:08:26
IT WAS the other day when I asked a friend what was to be done about Robert
Mugabe, the self-appointed President for life of Zimbabwe.

I have to admit I see no solutions beyond the people reclaiming their lost
dignity through whatever means are deemed necessary in dealing with a
dictator of the acumen of Robert Mugabe. My friend thought that the huge
number of voter turnout in next year's elections was the answer to removing
tyranny. I dissuaded him from that illusion. Elections are won before the
first vote is cast. In Zimbabwe, they reflect political manipulation rather
than any pretence to democracy. They are the preferred route but are marred
by intimidation, torture, rape and murder.

I have to admit I have never seen people so much resigned to their fate.
Zimbabweans have no clue as to how best to rid themselves of the demons of
Mugabe and Zanu PF. Why this lack of resourcefulness? In any case
Zimbabweans are known to be an educated people who once fought against
oppression ushering in a new political order.

The problem lies in history.

I remember a neighbour called Mpofu in the 1980s who used to be chauffered
to his house by police vehicles even though he was no policeman. It is the
same Mpofu who alerted the Fifth Brigade to search evidence of my father's
participation in the liberation struggle on the side of ZIPRA. Fortunately
my father survived because we had torn and burnt all the photos taken with
his comrades, and they found none. It is the same Mpofu who was disowned by
his party a few months latter and nearly beaten to death by Zanu PF's youth
brigade.

The culture of corruption, greed and violence has echoes of history in
Zimbabwe. The country is in a mess today not only because of one man but of
the mass of the people who stood by and watched their country going to the
dustbin, the people who like Mpofu were happy to join in in the kleptocracy
of Mugabe and his cohorts, the people who value bread more than human life
and people whose sole concern is the affordability of what they eat than the
blatant abuse of minorities.

What a difference could have been made by Zimbabweans in Harare and
Mashonaland asking Mugabe to account for the murder of 20 000 Ndebeles.
Instead Mugabe was the untouchable Comrade President who appealed to the
baser instincts of man to further his hold on political power. Not a
nationalist by any mile but a tribalist, the man who has cowed Zimbabweans
to submission.

The failure to get rid of Mugabe is due to Zimbabweans failure to defend
their country's democracy and sanity.

Some politicians in the MDC look immature because they believe Mugabe's
evils began in 1997. They are oblivious to the elective dictatorship in
Zimbabwe that had one party dominating parliament since Independence.

They are blind to the creation of a one party state by mass murder and
unwilling to admit their naivety. They too have no clue. They are confused
and sometimes bickering amongst themselves. They are also part of the
problem. They hero worshipped a man who is forever condemned by history.
They once saw through his spectacled eyes and lost a sense of direction.

Mugabe may go most likely through old age, but without a new political
culture that is devoid of the Mugabeist philosophy then Zimbabwe will seek
to find itself for a long time to come.

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news.com.au

Pay $3m and 'scrap Zimbabwe tour'

26apr04
THE government should consider paying a $3 million fine to allow the
Australian cricket team to withdraw from its tour of Zimbabwe, federal
Liberal backbencher Bronwyn Bishop said today.

Mrs Bishop said she had problems with the Australians touring Zimbabwe and
backed Stuart MacGill's decision to make himself unavailable before the team
was announced.

Asked if the government should pay the $3 million to the International
Cricket Council to enable Australia to withdraw, and allow players a
conscience vote on the issue, Mrs Bishop said she would if it was up to her.

"If it was up to me, I'd say yes," she told the Seven Network.

"The government could consider making a payment to the cricket board to keep
it afloat, because I think I've seen the story that says if they don't go
and they're fined that there's a flow on effect from the sale of seats,
television rights ...

"I do think it's a very important issue, I felt very strongly for Stuart
MacGill.

"I have a good deal of problem about going."

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said the opposition would keep
a close watch on developments in Zimbabwe.

If Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was dumped on racial grounds, that had to
be condemned, Mr Rudd said.

"It is absolutely reprehensible," he said.

"If this guy's been knocked out of the captaincy of his team on the basis of
racial profiling, it deserves absolute total condemnation.

"We can't allow this sort of behaviour to extend and to continue.

"At the same time, we recognise the autonomy of Cricket Australia."

MacGill said he had been worried about the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe
for more than a year before making himself unavailable for the tour.

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