The Zimbabwe Situation

Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.

Zanu PF probe targets Mugabe heir
Attacks on farm workers and their children must end now
A visit to the fat-farm
STREAK SEEKS LEGAL ADVICE
ZESA Seeks Cabinet Approval to Barter Minerals for Loans
Zimbabwe May Force Mining Firms to Give Shares to Indigenous People
Like Gaddafi, Mugabe Should Be Pragmatic
ANZ Lays Off 167
Zimbabwe to amend mining act
Zimbabwe condemns Congo coup attempt
JAG OLF 253
More funds needed to cope with worsening conditions
Old Mutual's Zimbabwe nightmare
Instead of Targeting Sex Workers, Police Harass All Women
Is MDC's Urban Support On the Wane?

New Zimbabwe Zanu PF probe targets Mugabe heir By Staff Reporter 05/04/04 A PROBE announced by the ruling Zanu PF party to investigate its own companies is targeted at President Robert Mugabe's heir apparent Emmerson Mnangagwa, New Zimbabwe.com can reveal. Mnangagwa who is currently the Speaker of Parliament was the Zanu PF secretary for finance until two years ago. His position has become very uncertain in recent weeks following a string of corruption allegations and claims that he attempted a palace coup with members of the opposition. "This investigation is the indictment and trial of Emmerson Mnangagwa," a senior member of the party's decision making organ the Politburo said. He pointed out that the five-member committee was filled with Mnangagwa's political opponents, notably retired army general Solomon Mujuru. The other members of the committee are by finance secretary David Karimanzira, the former Finance Minister Simba Makoni, Matabeleland North governor, Obert Mpofu and the party's deputy secretary for transport and welfare, Thoko Mathuthu. "The outcome is certain, this is the shaming of Emmerson Mnangagwa and the end of his political career," the official said. Mnangagwa not only knows, both literally and figuratively, but is also privy to all the party's financial secrets. It emerged this week that two of Mnangagwa's side kicks, Jayant Joshi, a prominent managing director of strategic Zanu PF holding company, Zidco and his brother Manharlal Chunibal (Manoo) Joshi had fled the country. Jayant Joshi, who also sits on the board of First Banking Corporation and a host of other companies associated with Zanu PF, is alleged to have taken the gap after the announcement of the politburo committee. An intricate web of corporate intrigue has emerged with a fuzzy distinction over the ownership of the companies between Zanu PF or some powerful politicians therein. The man widely perceived as most knowledgeable about Zanu PF's business octopus is none other than the party's secretary for administration, Emmerson Mnangagwa. As finance secretary of the party over a very long time, Mnangagwa was instrumental in weaving the intricate web of Zanu PF's business interests locally and regionally. He has worked very closely with the Joshi family and is likely to feature prominently in the politburo committee's investigations. Zidco was created at the end of the war of independence in 1979 through a joint venture between M&S Syndicate, the first Zanu PF holding company, and a UK-based firm, Unicorn Import/Export. Today Unicorn holds 45 percent of Zidco, while M&S has 55 percent. The London-based company is managed by Chandra Patel, the uncle of Jayant Joshi. In addition to Joshi, the Zidco board currently includes: Mnangagwa; Manoo Joshi, Jayant's brother; Sydney Sekeramayi, the Minister of Defence; and Dipak Pandya, who is its current financial director and is also a non-executive vice chairman of First Banking Corporation. Through these two companies the party has a vast range of interests, including Treger Holdings, producers of building materials, hardware etc; Ottawa, a property management company; Catercraft, which runs the catering at Harare airport and also supplies all domestic and international flights out of Harare; and Zidlee Enterprises, which controls the duty free shops at Beit Bridge, Harare City and Harare Airport, and also supplying diplomats with a range of goods. Sources allege that a prominent ruling party politician appears to "run" the company, and others, like his own personal fiefdom with not much information on its operations known by the wider leadership of the party. Zidco had a 13 percent stake in First Banking Corporation but the latter feared that its links with the Zanu PF entity would spoil its corporate image. Media reports pointed to the fact that the shareholder was offloaded from the bank's shareholder books but reliable sources insist that the company still has its stake in the financial institution albeit with a new pseudonym. To add meat to the contention, individuals who have always been associated with Zidco, namely Joshi and Pandya still sit on the board. Another Zanu PF investment company, AM Treger, is also reported to own 13 percent shareholding in First Banking Corporation. AM Treger also owns an 80 percent shareholding of Treger Products, a company that has recently been in the news for foreign currency externalisation that has been linked to certain Zanu PF stalwarts. The Joshis have always been associated with the business of Zanu PF and they are also running a Zanu PF linked company called Tatos Brothers, which is said to be a wholesaler of cycles and cycle spares, arms and ammunition, as well as hardware. The company is situated in Graniteside and the Joshis are said to be mere fronts for prominent politicians of the party who establish or purchase the businesses under the guise of the party. A well-placed source said it was very difficult to pinpoint specifically which companies Zanu PF owned because in most of them it is not the sole shareholder but has a controlling or minority stake. "There are many companies that one does not know who actually owns them. It is all top secret. For instance there is a company called Histonville Investments, which is said to own a 12 percent stake in First Bank, but its all hush-hush about who is behind the company, "said the source. It has been established that there is another company called Heviba Investments that has been linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the illicit trade in minerals that has been reported by the UN. Mnangagwa was named in that UN report. Attempts at previous Zanu-PF congresses to get the then party's treasurer, Mnangagwa, to divulge the accounts of Zidco and M & S always failed; though he did reveal in 1992 that Zanu-PF's assets were then worth Z$486 million. The Joshis, a family of Malawian Asians with a house in Romford, Essex, Britain, have played a key role in Zidco. Sources say the Joshis were thrown out of Malawi by that country's late dictator, Hastings Kamuzu Banda in the 1960s. They got involved with Zanu PF through a brother-in law of theirs, one Popatlal, who ran a shop in Maputo that operated as an agency through which Zanu PF received much of its goods from friendly countries and organisations. Jayant Joshi, who was based in Britain in the 1970s, extended considerable assistance to Zanu activists sent on scholarships to Britain from the guerrilla camps in Mozambique. After independence Popatlal and his wife, a sister to the Joshi brothers, moved to Zimbabwe and it is through this link that Jayant and his brother Manoo became involved with Zanu PF locally. The Joshi brothers have acted as fronts for many Zanu PF senior politicians and are said to have developed an infamous arrogance in business circles because of their Zanu PF connection. A former secretary general in Zanu PF, Edgar Tekere, who was expelled from the party for speaking out openly against corruption in government said investigating Zanu PF companies was a welcome move that was however long overdue. "For a long time, members of the party raised the question why there was no accountability relating to the affair of Zanu PF's businesses. The whole thing was shrouded in mystery and no audits were done, no books or financial statements were produced. "I believe that this lack of transparency created a very dangerous situation whereby some of those who were entrusted with running the party's commercial concerns abused them and turned them into personal fiefdoms," said Tekere, who hoped the investigations would be taken to their logical conclusions. Additional reporting by Sunday Mirror

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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE AI Index: AFR 46/005/2004 News Service No: 079 5 April 2004 Zimbabwe: Attacks on farm workers and their children must end now Workers on the farm of opposition MP for Chimanimani, Roy Bennett, including children as young as 8 years old, are being targeted in a series of violent attacks by state agents and ruling party supporters. Since the beginning of 2004, men, women and children have been assaulted, two women have been raped and one man has been killed. Despite repeated appeals by Amnesty International the Zimbabwean government has failed to act in the majority of cases. "The Zimbabwean authorities should take immediate steps to end the attacks on workers on Charleswood Farm and conduct thorough, impartial and transparent investigations into all allegations of human rights violations on the farm and bring those responsible for these abuses to justice," Amnesty International urged. On Friday 2 April 2004, seventeen children from Roy Bennett's Charlswood Farm, ranging in age from eight to 17 years were stopped by soldiers on their way home from a football game. After being forced to assault each other they were then beaten by the soldiers. The incident was reported to the police. To date no arrests are known to have been made. On 27 March 2004, four police officers reportedly forced their way into the home of a woman on Charleswood Farm, handcuffed and beat her. Later, three of the men left and the remaining officer raped her. The following morning the woman reported the rape at the local police station and identified the policeman who had raped her. Although police at the station arrested the police officer accused of rape, no action appears to have been taken against the three other officers involved in the attack. On 6 February 2004, three women and two men working on Charleswood Farm were abducted by "war veterans" who severely beat the five workers and set dogs loose on them. One of the women, Violet Ngwenya, was later taken to another room and repeatedly raped. All five were released the following day, and reported the attack to the local police. To date no one has been arrested for these attacks. Two days later, Shemi Chimbarara was shot and killed on Charleswood Farm, reportedly when members of the Zimbabwe National Army opened fire on a group of farm workers. Another farm worker, John Kaitano, was shot in the leg. The shootings were reported to the police. To date no-one has been arrested for these attacks. Amnesty International is calling on the Zimbabwe authorities to ensure that the police and army abide by the highest standards of professionalism and respect for human rights. Background Amnesty International has previously reported on the systematic human rights abuses taking place on the farm of Roy Bennett. On 19 March 2003, Steven Tonera, a security guard working on Charleswood farm was killed following a brutal attack by members of the Zimbabwe National Army. Steven Tonera was accused of training Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) soldiers and burning a bus during the 18-19 March nationwide mass stay-away called for by the MDC. He was beaten and reportedly tortured with electric shocks on his fingers, toes and knees. More than 80 other workers on the farm were also assaulted and badly beaten with batons, including farm manager Norman Gardiner and his wife Isobel. On 26 and 27 March 2003, up to 100 workers were attacked and beaten by intelligence officers from the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO). To date no one has been arrested for these attacks.

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Comment from ZWNEWS, 5 April A visit to the fat-farm Like many, Zanu PF began 2004 with a New Year's resolution. Led by Gideon Gono - new-age life-style guru and Reserve Bank governor - the party promised a collective visit to the fat-farm: to tone up those muscles, shed those excess pounds, unblock those arteries, and to prepare for a fitter and healthier future. Only last week, the IMF was treated to a display of pec-flexing, with Gono in his role as fitness instructor. So far, the party has managed to give up James Makamba and Jane Mutasa - the political equivalent of resisting the occasional jellybean. It also gave up Phillip Chiyangwa (remember him?) - for about a fortnight. And now we hear, courtesy of the Sunday Mirror yesterday, and repeated in The Herald today, that the next target is the real high cholesterol - those who control the party's own companies and investments. But Chris Kuruneri still stands uninvestigated for being in flagrant breach of taxation and exchange control laws over his Cape property investments. If anyone should know what the law is, it is he. And when the committee set up to probe the party's financial controllers includes Obert Mpofu - he of the multiple hunting concessions and Matabeleland North empire building - the whole thing looks like promising to give up cream-cakes, while tucking in to another helping of deep-fried chocolate bars.

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Sporting Life STREAK SEEKS LEGAL ADVICE Heath Streak has denied resigning from Zimbabwean cricket, as stated by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union on Friday, and he is now seeking legal advice on the matter. This was revealed on Monday by Streak's father Dennis, a former first-class cricketer and also a former member of the national selectors' panel. "Heath, at no time, tendered or threatened to tender his resignation as captain or as a national player as alleged by the ZCU," read part of the statement issued by Dennis Streak. "All he said was that if his concerns were not addressed he would consider possible retirement from international cricket." He was speaking on behalf of Heath who, by nature of his contract with the ZCU, cannot make press statements regarding his employment. "In the circumstances the ZCU has acted unlawfully in unilaterally terminating Heath's position as captain and member of the Zimbabwe national squad. "He is seeking legal advice regarding this matter and enjoys overwhelming support and encouragement from both his fellow players and the cricketing public of Zimbabwe." Streak had demanded that there be an immediate review of the selection panel to leave a maximum of four selectors who should have played first-class or Test cricket and would not be directors or commentators. The national selection panel is made up of Ali Shah (convenor), Steven Mangongo, Max Ebrahim (spokesman), John Brent and national team coach Geoff Marsh, and Streak's demands seemed to target the first three. Shah was doing television commentary during the home series against Bangladesh in March, Ebrahim is a member of the ZCU board while Mangongo has not played first-class cricket before.

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ZESA Seeks Cabinet Approval to Barter Minerals for Loans Zimbabwe Standard (Harare) April 4, 2004 Posted to the web April 5, 2004 Kumbirai Mafunda THE cash-strapped Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is seeking Cabinet approval to raise US$600 million through offshore investments to boost power generation at Hwange and Kariba Power Stations, it emerged last week. Government sources said ZESA presented submissions to Cabinet outlining the conditions set by potential international investors who are keen to commit funds in its projects. Through the investor funds, ZESA intends to raise US$400 million for Hwange and US$175 million for Kariba power stations which it will use for expansion purposes of the two dominant power plants. Kariba and Hwange would be expanded by additional two units each to generate 300 megawatts more under a Build Operate and Transfer arrangement (BOT), according to ZESA plans. The local power utility also intends to embark on grid extension for transmission and distribution. Sources at the corporation said they had also made some recommendations on taking part in coal mining 'in order to ensure adequate supplies of coal'. Zimbabwe's sole coal miner Wankie Colliery is currently operating at 60% capacity owing to viability problems. If approved, ZESA says its plans would help reduce the power utility's huge electricity import burden, which has forced it to charge local exporters in hard currency. 'ZESA has submitted proposals on what investors want as security and this is only left to be discussed in Cabinet. Investors require some securitisation in minerals and agriculture because ZESA could not secure some prime bank guarantees,' the sources said. To date, ZESA has identified investors from China, India, Malaysia and Iran. In China, it is courting the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) with which it has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). It is also negotiating for a government loan from India and Iran. In Malaysia the power generator is in talks with the Export Credit Company under a deal which is camouflaged by a government-to-government arrangement. All the prospective investors are demanding securities in mining and agricultural products, ZESA's General Manager for Corporate Affairs Obert Nyatanga, confirmed last week. 'The concern we have is because of our low credit rating we need to substitute with other securities,' said Nyatanga. Ever since the World Bank and the African Development Bank abandoned funding major electricity development projects in Zimbabwe in 1999 citing failure to service loans, ZESA has struggled to upgrade or rehabilitate its prime power generation plants. However, observers note that the conditions set by ZESA's potential investors are similar to those demanded by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi when he supplied fuel to Zimbabwe. Under the agreement, Libya was allocated some of Harare's prime land and had its debt paid in local currency. Tripoli also had unlimited access to the country's agricultural commodities such as tea, coffee and tobacco. However, Harare failed to provide the commodities and the deal fell through.

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VOA Zimbabwe May Force Mining Firms to Give Shares to Indigenous People Peta Thornycroft Harare Zimbabwe 05 Apr 2004, 18:09 UTC The Zimbabwe government is considering legislation to compel mining companies to turn half of their shares over to indigenous people. Ian Saunders, president of Zimbabwe's chamber of mines, said the new law is unnecessary. He add's that most of the major mining companies sold off their assets to black owners. He said the largest employer in the mining sector is a black-owned Zimbabwean company and an indigenous South African businessman has recently bought one of Zimbabwe's biggest gold mines. He said the debate within President Robert Mugabe's government about legislation to expropriate Zimbabwe's mines will drive away foreign investors, and retard domestic investment in mining. According to Mr. Saunders, the country's mining sector is already in trouble, mainly because the official exchange rate set by the government - which is much lower than the exchange rate on the streets - is forcing mining companies to sell at a loss. He said the mining industry hoped the central bank would review its foreign-exchange policy. More than a million people are employed in Zimbabwe's mining industry. Exports of Zimbabwe's raw materials are expected to earn Zimbabwe 750-million dollars this year.

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Sundaytalk: Like Gaddafi, Mugabe Should Be Pragmatic Zimbabwe Standard (Harare) COLUMN April 4, 2004 Posted to the web April 5, 2004 Pius Wakatama WHILE in my teens, in the fifties, I worked for my aunt's husband, Diamond Chimchembere, in his restaurant at Matapi Hostels in Mbare. This was one of the first black owned restaurants in the city, where one could enjoy a meal in a modern setting and listen or dance to some of the popular bands of the day. At that time Africans were not allowed in the city restaurants or nightclubs. One day I got into a heated argument with a rather short patron who was complaining about my service. I have now forgotten the details of the argument. What I remember is that I was not going to let him win it. I told him to go to hell or do whatever he wanted to do as I was not going to tolerate any nonsense from him. Upon hearing the noise of our arguing my nephew, Joseph, came out of the kitchen and beckoned for me to follow him. When we were in the kitchen he said to me:" Do you know who it is you are challenging to a fight?" "I don't know and I don't care,"I said. "Well, that is Shakie Mupoto, the champion boxer." "Wha-a-a-a t!" I exclaimed. I immediately went back and with a big smile said:" Mukoma Shakie, I am sorry for what I said. Please have a plate of rice and chicken on me." Shakie Mupoto laughed and said:" I have already eaten." "Alright, then have a bottle of coke to wash the food down." He accepted the coke and a friendship was established. From then on, I boasted to whoever cared to listen, that the champion boxer, Shakie Mupoto, was one of my best friends. Readers will agree that I used good common sense to get out of a rather threatening predicament. So did the President of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. When faced with a rather threatening situation he put the adage "When you can't beat them, join them," into practice. For 15 years Col Gaddafi maintained that Libya was not involved in the 1988 PanAm airliner bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, in which 270 passengers were killed. For years he lambasted the West for slavery, colonialism, racism and blamed Western powers for all the ills besetting Africa today. His vitriol against the West knew no bounds. In a surprising right about turn, Gaddafi recently surprised the world by accepting responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and opening his country to foreign nuclear inspectors. He allowed Americans to dismantle and carry away his weapons of mass destruction. It is said when a journalist asked Gaddafi why he had suddenly changed his mind to now befriend the West, the Colonel said: "It is because of what happened to Saddam Hussein." He is also on record as saying in February, this year: "The Europeans have learned the lessons of the bitter experience of their colonial past." Evidently, Colonel Gaddafi is a pragmatic politician who realises that in national or international politics there are no "permanent friends or permanent enemies; only permanent interests". He is putting, as he has always done, the interests of Libya first. For years Gaddafi ignored Africa and hobnobbed with the Arabs as a member of the Arab League. When he was convinced there was nothing more to be gained for Libya in this association he unceremoniously ditched the Arabs and turned to Africa. Gaddafi wooed Africans, and Zimbabwe in particular with his anti-white, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and anti-West rhetoric. They were enthralled by his pan-African vision and largess. He was instrumental in turning the Organisation of African Unity into the African Union with a parliament just like the European Union. It was not long before Gaddafi realised that there was nothing to be gained from associating with the constantly warring Africans with their begging bowls. He had eyed Zimbabwe but was offered land with no title deeds, meat which was never delivered or was rejected by the EU because of suspected anthrax infection and a huge fuel bill which was never paid. He, therefore, saw no gain for Libya in Africa. In The Herald of March 31, 2004, Zanu PF and government supporter Nelson Chenga attacked Col Gaddafi for selling out Africa by softening to the West. He said: "Libya has already found a comfortable place from its bitter former colonisers by acceding to and fast-tracking massive investments by blue chip British companies. "According to media reports, Mr Blair's visit last Thursday was merely to pave the way for British companies to cash in on Libya's multi-billion pound defence and oil industries. Among the first to clinch the lucrative deals on offer was the giant Anglo-Dutch oil company, Shell and Britain's leading defence manufacturer, BAE. The British army is expected to train Libyan officers and also offer advice to that country's military as a gesture of goodwill to Libya's agreement to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programme." The question is; where does that leave our old man (mudhara wedu), President Robert Mugabe. He must be feeling pretty lonely and confused. He does not seem now to have anyone to talk to. His kindred spirit Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia is no longer in power. In fact, his successor had the temerity to vote against him at the Commonwealth conference! I am sure our President finds it hard to understand how his African friends cannot sincerely espouse the all important ideology of Pan-African solidarity against Western neo-colonialism, imperialism, white-racism and the importance of national solidarity. They clap their hands the loudest at international conferences when he lambasts the West and describes how he has forcibly taken land from former colonialist Rhodesians and given it to poor landless blacks. Yet, they go behind his back to lure those same Rhodesians to their countries and offer them free land as well as unlimited facilities from international banks. It's just not fair. Now Malawi is edging Zimbabwe in its tobacco production. Zambia is supplying seed maize to us from the farms given to those very white farmers we kicked out. And, just across our eastern border the same farmers have been offered land by our former comrade in arms Joachim Chissano. Is this African solidarity? And the horror of horrors; our trusted friend President Olusegun Obasanjo is hosting the hated former white Rhodesian farmers we kicked out. He wants to give them land so that they can establish commercial farming in Nigeria. Where is it going to stop? The truth my friends is that ideology alone, especially anti-West ideology, can never feed people, build hospitals, schools, roads, dams, bridges or bring prosperity to a people. A few weeks ago we were all, including Zanu PF leaders, anticipating the IMF teams's visit to our country, hoping that Dr Gideon Gono, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, would find favour in their sight. It is still our hope that their report will be favourable and financial aid will start flowing into our empty coffers again. Facts, however, show that this is all wishful thinking, though. Right now, the Americans, the British and other Western countries are, through the World Food Programme, feeding millions of starving Zimbabweans. Are they not the same people we claim to be violently anti? Ngatisvinurei mhani! (Let us wake up). President Robert Mugabe, if he has the real interests of Zimbabweans at heart, must follow Gaddafi's worthy example and be pragmatic. We cannot make it alone. He must stop posturing and singing outdated hymns from a yellowing and torn hymn book which the rest of the world discarded long ago. Sure, America and Britain are no saints and we, too, are not either. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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ANZ Lays Off 167 The Herald (Harare) April 3, 2004 Posted to the web April 5, 2004 Harare ONE hundred and sixty-seven Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) workers have received letters of retrenchment from their company which is citing financial constraints. The notice of intent was issued on February 19 through the ANZ workers' com- mittee. ANZ human resources director Mr Henry Mushunje confirmed the retrenchment, saying the issue had been presented to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare through the Department of Labour. Until the government gave a statement, he said, the workers were still ANZ employees. "We have forwarded a list of 167 retrenches," he said in an interview. "The matter has been directed to the ministry and until the Government issues a statement, the employees still belong to ANZ." The retrenchment, he said, was necessitated by the fact that the company had not been generating income following its failure to publish its newspapers. "As you know, the company has not been publishing for the past six months and now we are in the seventh month, hence the down sizing," said Mushunje. - New Ziana.

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Zimbabwe to amend mining act

www.chinaview.cn 2004-04-04 16:01:25

HARARE, April 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The Zimbabwean government is proposing to amend the present Mines and Minerals Act to give locals a 49 percent equity in all foreign and private mining concerns as part of its accelerated black empowerment drive, the Sunday Mail reported.

A draft of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill will be soon tabled in the parliament, which will seek to amend the present Mines and Minerals Act to give 49 percent shareholding to "historically disadvantaged persons."

Public listed mining operations will offer 25 percent equity tolocals while foreign and privately owned mines will offer a 49 percent equity.

The draft bill, which was last week widely circulated to several stakeholders such as multinational companies, the Chamber of Mines and privately owned mining enterprises, is understood to have sent tremors throughout the mining sector, with some foreign companies reportedly resisting the move.

The draft bill defines historically disadvantaged persons as "any person, category of persons or community disadvantaged by unfair discrimination before April 18, 1980."

The draft bill is said to be receiving strong opposition from some foreign mining companies who were reportedly worried by the 49 percent quantum.

It is said that some foreign and privately owned mining companies were crying foul, saying the bill was negative and amounted to "nationalization" of their operations.

Minister of Mines and Mining Development Amos Midzi said that his ministry was presently engaging in extensive consultations with the various stakeholders in the mining sector.

"We are going to do it in such a way that it does not affect the present mining operations," explained Midzi.

Through the consultations, the ministry's objective would be toensure an increase in the mining sector's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Presently, the mining sector contributes about 6 percent to thecountry's GDP.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining DevelopmentEdgar Chiguduhas said there was no need for panic in the mining sector as the draft bill was still open to amendments before the drafting of the final bill to be presented to the parliament.

"There is no reason for panic as the draft was just an internalpaper prepared as a basis for discussion with the relevant stakeholders and the mining industry," said Chigudu.

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Zimbabwe condemns Congo coup attempt

www.chinaview.cn 2004-04-05 05:32:27

HARARE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government here on Monday condemned last week's coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where four military bases around Kinshasa, the capital, were attacked by armed assailants.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government condemns the attempted coup aimed at removing the legitimate government in the DRC through unconstitutional means.

"This treasonous act is no doubt the work of those who want to see the reversal of the significant gains made by parties in the DRC towards achieving lasting peace and stability in that country.

"Coming closely after another recent coup attempt in EquatorialGuinea, the development is a direct challenge to the African Union's efforts to rid Africa of the perception by its detractors as a continent characterized by perpetual conflict and instability," the ministry said.

It said Zimbabwe was in solidarity with the government and people of the DRC and urged them to continue to work together in consolidating the gains made so far in the peace process.

The DRC authorities foiled the coup attempt in Kinshasa in which one soldier was killed and two others injured during attacksat the Kokolo and Tshatshi military barracks, Ndolo air base and the naval base on the River Congo, north of Kinshasa.

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JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM 5TH APRIL 2004

Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the subject line.

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JAG OLF 253
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
1. "For the tyrant has the power to inflict only that which we lack the
strength to resist" wrote Krishnalal Shridharani (P 21)

2. Aristotle noted...."Oligarchy and tryrany are shorter lived than any
other constitution" (P 21)

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OPEN LETTER FORUM
Letter 1. JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Dear Jag,

Need your help, pse could you run this in your open letter forum, a very
close friend in cape town is looking for her mother, I have told her the
wonderful things you do and how many people you have helped so I am hoping
that someone out there will be able to assist her, she has tried the social
services and received no help what so ever. Pse can you run the below for
her.

QUOTE
Seeking my biological mother Ernestine Louise Engelbrecht.
I was born Charmain Mary Ann 27/10/1961 in Lusaka Zambia
and given up for adoption June 1963 in Harare Zimbabwe.
I can be contacted via P O Box 1376, Sun Valley 7985,
Western Cape.
UNQUOTE
Many thanks

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Letter 2. The Future
Dear Jag,

I have had the opportunity to meet a Zimbabwean who has been detribalised
almost completely. After twenty years away from the country of his birth he
would in all probability, never even consider returning to reside in the
country. However, the lack of any desire to become a 'returning resident'
is accompanied by a rare component - that of making an unusally large
effort to expose the gross abuse of human rights in the country of his
birth by writing to widely read publications. On top of this he has
extensive experience in business and employment consultancy in a free
market driven capitalist world class country.

I could not resist the inevitable Clem Sunter styled query about scenario
planning.

"Tell me what road you see Zimbabwe taking over the next twenty to thirty
years."

Being conservative by nature he chose what Clem Sunter regards as the Low Road.
1. Increased Crime and violence.
2. Increased Poverty.
3. Increased human rights abuse.
4. Wholesale soil erosion - (he has an agricultural perspective historically)
5. Wholesale deforestation.
6. The rich getting richer - coupled with the poor getting poorer as per
increased poverty.
7. Wholesale devastation of the wildlife.

On reflection this represents the goings on in many parts of Africa. His
prediction is a safe bet. (He likes to have a little dabble on the horses
as well.)

What is more telling is the fact that all components of his Scenario Plan
stem from the break down of law and order.
The violent criminals are allowed to get away with their actions - such as
the murders of Martin Olds and Alan Dunn.
The lack of law results in disinvestment and reduced employment.
Human rights are allowed to be abused by the green bombers.
Soil erosion is allowed to take place - as is deforestation and poaching on
the fast tracked land.
The rich are allowed to become richer - as long as they well connected
politically.

Based on these facts, the importance of the Quinnel case in terms of
Constitutionality cannot be over emphasised. The recent article by
Mark Ellis appears to indicate that finally the International Bar
Association has taken note. Effectively, the proceedings of the Quinnel
case will be a trial of the Judiciary. The nagging doubt in ones mind is
timing. Hastings Banda lived to a ripe old age, Adolf Hitler did not.
Germany recovered, Malawi has not. What will we do when "the time hath
come?"

Pro Justice.

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Letter 3.

Dear Jag

I have just been watching INSIDE AFRICA: RUANDA 10 YEARS ON. May I
congratulate you on an extremely well produced documentary, which I found
most thought provoking.

At the start Geof announced "While this was happening, the World stood by
and did nothing!".

Perhaps one day a similar programme will feature Zimbabwe, and again it
will be said "While this was happening, the World stood by and did
nothing!".

At the 11th hour on 11/11/65 (11 yet again), on behalf of Rhodesia, Ian
Smith unilaterally declared independence from Britain. How did the British
react? They lobbied the World and applied full sanctions against Rhodesia.
What they did not count on was the fact that the Rhodesians were mainly of
British decent and were blessed with Churchillian tenacity.

At that time this Country imported absolutely EVERYTHING, even things like
the little sticks for suckers, jams can you believe; and jerseys (jumpers
if you are British). There is no doubt about it, sanctions made Rhodesia.
It became the most viable Country in Africa. It's agriculture "blossomed".
It's industrial infrastructure built up beyond bounds. It's economy became
vibrant and strong. It's dollar became (on the open market) even more
valuable than the United States dollar.

So what did the British then do? They attacked Rhodesia's only true
weakness. No sea port. They threatened South Africa, and in 24 hours Ian
Smith was forced to capitulate!

Up until then No-one went hungry! No-one had no roof over his/her head.
No-one went without education. No-one went without health care.

The British are TOTALLY to blame for our present pain and suffering. They
lauded mugabe into power! AND, in the 1980's after he brutally murdered
tens of thousands of innocent people who he visualised had a different
political opinion to his; THEY ACTUALLY KNIGHTED HIM AS A REWARD!!!!!??????
What do you think this did to his ego?

We in this Country are totally unable to rid ourselves of this ghastly
illegal regime. Imagine the Germans in NAZI Germany trying to get rid of
that! It took the whole World to to achieve it.

At that time it was said "Never again will we allow this to happen". And
just what is happening in Zimbabwe right now?

BRITAIN GOT US INTO THIS MESS. IT IS UP TO BRITAIN TO GET US OUT OF IT.

Mbeki in South Africa obviously views this as a test case of how far he can
go in his Country. He presumably also wants to be a tyrant!

If the world puts the screws on South Africa the problems of Zimbabwe could
be solved overnight.

Concerned Citizen
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More funds needed to cope with worsening conditions JOHANNESBURG, 5 Apr 2004 (IRIN) - In an effort to arrest worsening humanitarian conditions in Zimbabwe, the United Nations is seeking additional funds to support relief efforts through to the end of the year. The request is a revision of the Consolidated Appeal launched last July focuses on strengthening social service delivery, support the country's recovery and tackle HIV/AIDS. The total US $95.4 million in funding requirements for 2003 to the end of 2004 includes US $31.1 million requested by local and international NGOs. So far only US $10.5 million in contributions has been received since the inital appeal was launched last year. "The review and update specifically focuses on strengthening the delivery of basic social services, HIV/AIDS and recovery to reverse the downward humanitarian trend in the country. The main objective in this regard is to prevent loss of life. This will be achieved by striving to meet minimum standards in delivering public health, water and sanitation and reversing the effects of HIV/AIDS," UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Victor Angelo, said in a foreword to the appeal. The country's weakening economy was seen as one of key reasons for deteriorating social conditions. Inflation in Zimbabwe reached more than 500 percent at the begining of the year and over 60 percent of the labour force is out of work. A rapidly declining economy has meant that public services were seriously underfunded and often did not meet minimum standards, the appeal noted. "The quality of and access to social services, in particular health and education, has further deteriorated due to funding and capacity constraints, resulting in critical shortages of health workers and teachers, as well as a lack of medical and learning supplies. Water and sanitation systems' capacity and quality, both in rural and urban areas, are also increasingly inadequate," the appeal said. There was also concern that the 2004 harvest would be insufficient to ensure national food security - with an estimated five million Zimbabweans dependent on food aid and other social safety schemes over the coming months. "In consultation with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, the government will consider making a separate appeal for general food aid once additional information on the performance of the current crop is available," the appeal said. HIV/AIDS continued to be an overriding concern for the humanitarian community. Recent estimates indicated that some 25 percent of Zimbabwe's sexually active population was infected with HIV. "Death and sickness are crippling the society, and profoundly undermining recovery prospects. The magnitude of this tragedy is depleting households as well as local and national public service capacity," the appeal noted. Another area of concern was the living conditions in new resettlement areas, particularly with respect to former farm workers. Former farm workers find themselves without access to income, land or social services, while at the same time, new settlers were arriving and competing for increasing scarce resources, the appeal noted. The UN has requested authorisation to conduct a humanitarian assessment in these areas in order to determine vulnerability and subsequently planning for the delivery of needed humanitarian assistance. One of the main priorities of humanitarian agencies until year end was improving the targeting of food distribution to the most vulnerable. Activities will include the provision of basic food rations, supplementary feeding for children under-five, and therapeutic feeding. Targeted food aid programmes are also expected to bring much-needed relief to the urban population. The latest assessment estimated that almost 2.5 million people in high-density urban areas were vulnerable, due to food insecurity and lack of access to basic services.

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Moneyweb Old Mutual's Zimbabwe nightmare By: Jackie Cameron Posted: 2004/04/05 Mon 13:00 | © Moneyweb 1997-2004 Old Mutual director Tim Cumming says he will return to Zimbabwe for a holiday - despite a harrowing ordeal at the hands of Zimbabwean police and intelligence officials who suspected him and eight others of being international terrorists. Cumming, chairman of Old Mutual Properties and former head of Old Mutual Asset Managers, is among of a group of South Africans on a fundraising journey along the length of the Zambezi River. The Old Mutual Zambezi Wakka expedition aimed at highlighting the fight against malaria took a nasty turn late last week when Zimbabwean police detained seven of the nine for questioning. Cumming and Simon Espley, director of a Cape Town financial "engineering" company, were held under police guard along with their boating and camping equipment at Mana Pools in the north of Zimbabwe. Andrew Weinberg and Brent Wiltshire, both of Old Mutual Properties, entrepreneur William George, attorney Bob Groeneveld, Beige Holdings director Mark Di Nicola, Groote Schuur Hospital neurosurgeon Patrick Semple and photographer Athol Moult were taken into police custody. The seven were interrogated for at least 24 hours and deprived of sleep, food and water. Speaking to Moneyweb on satellite phone from Mozambique on Monday where the group were recovering in the tranquillity of a remote part of Lake Cahora Bassa, Cumming described the ordeal as "unfortunate" and "nasty". "It's appalling this should happen. There was a long list of basic rights that were abused, however no-one was physically harmed," Cumming said. He told how his colleagues were "interrogated through the night and deprived of sleep". "It was like a roller coaster ride. They would be interrogated, given the impression that everything was OK and feel elated - only to be interrogated again by a whole new interrogation team." The line of questioning made it clear to the group that Zimbabwean authorities thought there was far more to the journey than nine guys on an adventure, said Cumming. The intelligence officers appeared to be probing a link to a suspected mercenary group arrested in Zimbabwe last month and said to be planning a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Also worrying, said Cumming, was that it had not been initially clear where his colleagues were being taken. The group managed to enlist the help of a Harare lawyer through SMS contact with others before their cell phones were confiscated. An Old Mutual team was formed to help resolve the issue and officials from the Zimbabwean ministry of health were called in to help vouch for the group. Cumming said the drama began when Parks Board officials questioned the validity of their permits as motorised boats are not permitted in the wildlife-rich Mana Pools area. "Initially we thought we would have to pay a fine or paddle out.but it became clear that it wasn't just an issue of permits. They took our passports. Later, a police inspector arrived saying they wanted us to go down to the police station." As the nine and all their equipment could not fit into one police van, the group were separated, with Cumming and Espley left to fend off monkeys and hyenas while a police guard kept watch overnight. "We were free to move around but we were worried about our colleagues. The level of questioning was quite intimidating, but everyone was resolute. No-one cracked," said Cumming. The next day, once the confusion had been cleared and the group was re-united, the officials "were very apologetic" and urged the men to "come back" to Zimbabwe. "I will personally go back. The people here are like in Zambia - very hospitable and anxious for your business," said Cumming. "Under the circumstances at the moment, Zimbabwe is very sensitive with a number of alleged mercenaries. Then here was another bunch of nine guys with short hair cuts, physically strong and with three inflatable boats," he added. The group will be back in South Africa in about 10 days time.

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IPS Instead of Targeting Sex Workers, Police Harass All Women Wilson Johwa BULAWAYO, Apr 5 (IPS) - It is retold so often that the account of how an embarrassed government minister rescued a female relative, who had been caught in a police sex worker crackdown he sanctioned, has become something of an urban legend. Some say it is surprising that the woman's embarrassment - not to mention that of the official - did not lead him to entertain the possibility that police may have acted too arbitrarily when they set out to banish the world' s oldest profession in the 1980s. Officers' methods included accosting - and even arresting - any 'suspicious' woman walking around after dark, especially if she was daring to move about unaccompanied. Only after outcries from women's lobby groups did police action ease. Sadly, though, it had already resulted in some 'respectable' women seeing the interior of police stations without any justification for their being detained. Recently the arrest of suspected sex workers has again picked up. This is due to periodic enforcement of the 'Miscellaneous Offences Act', which makes it a crime for a woman to 'loiter' for 'purposes of prostitution'. Just last week police arrested 54 women for the offence. According to the state-owned 'Herald' newspaper, Zimbabwe's only daily, their arrest was part of a new operation, code-named 'Restore Sanity Phase One'. Police say the sting was planned after officers received complaints that 'most of the city's lodges and night clubs have been turned into brothels'. Another law, the 'Sexual Offences Act', makes it an offence to live on earnings from a brothel. In effect, it seeks to suppress sex work without actually making the act of having sexual intercourse with a sexual worker illegal. One of the primary areas targeted by the police is the 'Avenues', a district of Harare popular with young professionals and sex workers. In the late evening hours the locale's leafy splendour provides ideal cover for scores of scantily clad figures who make brief, albeit well-timed, appearances aimed at attracting the attention of passing motorists. It is this soliciting police say they want to eradicate. Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, says the operation is double-pronged. It is aimed at sex workers as well as illegal immigrants, many of whom survive by selling the only product they have - their bodies But human rights campaigners are not convinced this is the best way to deal with a problem they say is increasing, partly because of widespread hardships. Janah Ncube of 'Women in Politics Zimbabwe', a non-governmental organisation, says the issue of sex workers is "a very sad and complicated one". She maintains it is a question of supply and demand, and suggests that if police want to eradicate the trade they should also target men since "the women are there because there are people who are after them". Ncube says women engage in sex work because they have little alternative in a country where inflation has risen above 600 percent and unemployment at 70 percent. Unless they are able to earn a decent living in any other way, she says, they simply return to the streets. Ncube says even if it was desirable, legalising sex work would be hard in culturally sensitive Zimbabwe. "For me legalising it is a moral issue". She says the ideal solution is to generate employment which, in turn, depends on economic growth. "No woman wants to have sex with strangers every night; it' s something you do when you're really desperate," she says. Petty Govathson is the co-coordinator of a 300-member fraternity of practicing sex workers and 'potential' sex workers, who include widowed and divorced women. Operating from central Zimbabwe, the name of the Gweru Women 's AIDS Prevention Association (GWAPA) reflects the fact that it began, in 1993, as a local authority initiative committed to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. "But we have gone further," Govathson says. "It's not condoms the women want, but status and a respectable livelihood." With support from donor agencies, GWAPA is able to impart some basic skills to members who are interested, although Govathson says capital is what most members need the most. To date, one of GWAPA's major achievements has been easing tension between sex workers and law enforcement officers. "When we started there was mistrust between the police and the women," Govathson says. "Now we can talk." But this does not mean police have stopped arresting sex workers plying their trade. "That has not changed much, but it has opened avenues for discussion," Govathson says. "We are not promoting prostitution and our goals are what they support." Govathson says she does not know if legalising sex work would starve the profession of its practitioners. "I'm not saying let's legalise it," she explains. "Let's talk about alternatives and, if they're there, then provide them to women who want to abandon prostitution." While 'solutions' to the problem will always be debated, lawyer Wozani Moyo warns that police's targeting of sex workers gives them the license to harass all women. It is quite common for police in the Avenues - and elsewhere - to stop any unaccompanied female after 8 p.m. On two separate occasions, Moyo says she was confronted by police while walking to a grocery store. Her mistake, she says, was that she had chosen to wear shorts. Debates surrounding the problem, and various solutions, continue while the current law - and police action - remains. What is worrying, Moyo argues, is that the charge of loitering is highly discretionary. "It's really the policeman's word against yours," she says. (END/2004)

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Is MDC's Urban Support On the Wane? Zimbabwe Standard (Harare) April 4, 2004 Posted to the web April 5, 2004 THE electoral tide appears to be blowing against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as the 2005 general elections draw near. The results of last week's Zengeza by-election bear testimony to this. Our Chief Reporter, Caiphas Chimhete, looks at the possible reasons why MDC, the only opposition in the country to mount a real challenge to President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF since independence, could be in trouble. HAS last week's Zengeza by election result proved wrong the widely held view that the opposition MDC controls the urban vote? In the recent Zengeza by-election, Zanu PF candidate Christopher Chigumba polled 8 447 votes against James Makore of the MDC, who got 6 706 votes. This is despite the fact that in the 2000 election, the MDC's Tafadzwa Musekiwa, who is in self-imposed exile in the UK, overwhelmingly beat Chigumba by 14 814 to 5 330 votes. Of the 13 by-elections held throughout the country since 2000, the MDC has only managed to win three seats with the rest going to the ruling Zanu PF party. As a result of the defeats, Zanu PF now has 66 legislators in Parliament while the MDC remains with 52 seats and Zanu Ndonga maintains its solitary Chipinge South seat. In 2000, the MDC won 57 seats while Zanu PF got 63 seats. Zengeza is the fourth seat after Kadoma, Bikita West and Insiza to be snatched by the ruling party from the MDC since the watershed 2000 parliamentary elections. The opposition has so far retained seats in Kuwadzana, Highfield and Harare central. Analysts have attributed MDC's poor showing in Zengeza an urban centre to alleged problems of internal party democracy, complacency and lack of new strategies in dealing with Zanu PF, 'a party determined to win an election at any cost. MDC's complacency has eroded its supporters' confidence Ñ the uneven playing field nothwithstanding Ñ said the analysts. On the other hand, Zanu PF has exploited the problems in the opposition and has tightened the screws of repression and violence against alternative voices to maintain its grip on power ahead of the 2005 general elections. Some say Zanu PF introduced the current anti-corruption crusade as a way of regaining the hearts and minds of the voters it lost since 2000. University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer John Makumbe believes the MDC lost the Zengeza seat because of complacency. "They took it for granted that they will win. They thought it was a walk over but there are no walk-overs in elections,' said Makumbe who, however, added that poll 'rigging' and brutal violence by Zanu PF supporters had contributed to the MDC's defeat. Unlike previous elections, MDC's youth wing and other vocal MPs declined to campaign for Makore whom they felt had been imposed on Zengeza by MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. When Makore was named as the opposition party candidate for Zengeza, MDC youths besieged the party's headquarters at Harvest House protesting against the "impositiaon". MDC Secretary-General Welshman Ncube admitted that the selection of Makore as the party's candidate for Zengeza was a major setback. "We had a big problem in the selection of our candidate and that contributed to the results although there are issues of violence and rigging. We definitely need to reflect on that,"said Ncube. While MDC heavyweights were shying away and feuding, Zanu PF literally threw 'everybody' in Zengeza to campaign for Chigumba. A high-powered Zanu PF campaign entourage led by party Political Commissar Elliot Manyika, Harare Governor Witness Mangwende, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Amos Midzi and war veteran leader and chief rabble rouser Joseph Chinotimba laid the groundwork for Chigumba. 'This must be a big lesson for Tsvangirai because he is actually doing what Mugabe has become unpopular for, making unilateral decisions,"said one analyst. Though complacency played a major role in MDC's defeat, other observers pointed to violence by Zanu PF supporters, the youth militia and the State machinery including the police and army. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) Chairman Reginald Matchaba-Hove expressed grave concern over the level of violence in Zengeza, which included the use of firearms. MDC activist Francis Chinozvinya was gunned down and scores of others were injured in the many skirmishes that were reported. 'What we saw in Zengeza is deplorable,' lamented Matchaba-Hove, whose organisation has been monitoring elections for the past few years. To co-ordinate its heinous activities, Zanu PF established 'bases' manned by its supporters around the constituency to intimidate and torture opposition supporters, according to reports. For example, on the last day of polling, suspected MDC supporters were turned away from casting their votes, said Matchaba-Hove. 'We saw people being turned away about 200 metres from the polling stations. We told the police but they said it was outside the regulated 100 metres," said the ZESN Chairman. There are also unconfirmed reports that Chigumba went on a vote-buying spree, dishing out cash, just before the elections. Zanu PF has, however, denied the allegations. The MDC alleged that about 3 000 voters were bussed from St Mary's and Chitungwiza constituencies to vote in Zengeza. Apart from that, an additional polling station was established in Unit H, which was virtually unknown to most voters, except suspected Zanu PF supporters. 'We only came to know of it on Friday, a day before the elections started and we phoned the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) and it confirmed the existence of the polling station,' said Matchaba-Hove, adding that ZESN had noted these Ôadditional' polling stations in previous elections. Edgar Tekere, the former Zanu PF secretary-general, said the MDC would suffer the same fate that befell other opposition parties if it did not transform and stand against Zanu PF's brutality. 'They are falling apart. They need to do something quickly. Vapindwa nemhepo É ' said Tekere, who formed the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) after being kicked out of Zanu PF in 1989. His party failed to dislodge Zanu PF.

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